The agents were all gathered in Callie's room. While it had taken a bit to find agent 3, agent 4 had managed. They were discussing their classes.

"That Jacopo guy was a slave driver." Agent 4 said. "These weapons weigh a ton. How do you even lift yours, Callie?"

"Rollers are heavy. So I guess I was sorta used to it." Said Callie. "Too bad we all have another class this afternoon."

"I don't." Said Marie.

"Oh yeah. So what are you gonna do all day?" Asked Agent 4.

"I'll manage. Maybe hit the dojo to practice, the kick on this thing smarts." Said Marie.

"I wonder what Axel will do for us to enter the higher classes." Said agent 3.

"I'm kinda nervous. After how hard that class was, I get why he put us in starter classes first. And we haven't even used magic yet." Said Callie.

"I'm sure he has a plan." Said Marie.

Axel Focus.

"How am I gonna gauge if those 4 can move up?" Axel mumbled to himself. "The beginner tests don't cover enough, but the advanced tests cover magic, which they can't use...

"What about a skill set test?" Slynella asked from behind him.

"I suppose. Even if they all have different classes, that program usually works. But one has a multiclass, which the system can't handle." Said Axel.

"But that agent 4 guy's multi is spellsword. If they can't use magic, give him the regular swordsman test." Said Slynella.

"One day, I'll have better logic than a 4 year old commoner. That's a good idea, thanks hun." Said Axel.

"No problem. Now, can you fix the bed again? The kids somehow destroyed it." Said Slynella.

"Of course they did..." Axel groaned. "The Inklings need 2 more days at the least, I'll give them 3. They struggled a bit to adapt to the training weapons, after all."

The rest of the day went without incident. On the second day, Callie tripped with her hammer, and ended up with a very bad headache, but that didn't stop her from doing the afternoon class. On the third day, Marie got shot in shooting class. She wouldn't have noticed had she not left line green handprints on both her gun and the door, because the shot took out her nerves. A visit to the clinic and she was all fixed up. On the last day, agent 4 accidentally hit Jacopo, and the resulting knock back from his barrier tossed the poor squid across the hall. Jacopo wasn't upset, but laughed very unprofessionally for all of 5 seconds. Many students were scared. Finally, the day for the test arrived. None of the squids knew about said test, they just got a message from Axel saying to please report to the front gate at 2 pm. The Inklings jumped at the chance to sleep, but none actually ended up sleeping in, as they all went to practice before they met up with Axel. At lunch, they talked about what they thought.

"On the first class, my class was attacked by raiders. I'm sure Axel can protect us, but why meet outside?" Agent 3 pondered.

"I think it's gonna be like an army physical." Said Callie.

"I mean, he clearly won't test our writing skills. But I'm kinda nervous." Marie said.

"I presume of we do bad, we won't go up. And it'll be very unfortunate if only some of us pass, so we gotta think logically. He is gonna test us on everything we know, and probably our physical stature." Agent 4 said.

"I agree. It only makes sense." Said Agent 3. "But besides me, I don't think anyone has learned all that much."

"Why did you learn so much?" Asked Callie.

"I guess bombers have a lot of weapons. Fireworks, the bazooka, grenades, mines, there was a lot of explosives." Said agent 3.

"Well, lunch is done. Let's head up there. I got a map, before anyone else turns one on." Said Marie. The squids all left for the front gate. On the way, they passed Shealia.

"You guys ok?" She asked.

"You're the fire lady!" Agent 3 loudly said. "Dan told me to look for you to get a job!"

"Heh. We can discuss that later. You have a test now." Shealia said. "I don't know what Axel is planning, but if I know that madman, he made a pre-generated test and a needlessly hard obstacle course. And I assume he is gonna have you fight a weak enemy. That would explain why I haven't seen Chappa yet today."

"Thanks!" Said Callie.

"No issue squiddy kiddies. Now, I'm gonna lie down for a bit. Good luck!" Shealia said.

"...if no one calls me that again, it'll be too soon." Agent 3 thought.

Axel was waiting ahead. "Hey, guys! Move with passion! We got this thang to do!"

The Inklings ran up.

"Sorry sir." Agent 4 said.

"It's cool. Now, for testing I am gonna watch you, and I have 2 helpers as well. Meet High Magister Chappa and
Phoenix." Axel said.

"Are they ok?" Asked a concerned Callie.

"Better than me. They both have a shroud on, they're fine." Said Axel.

"For this test, we have designed an obstacle course, to be completed in a set time. Fail twice, and you will not continue to the next part." Said Chappa.

"After that, you will do basic strength exercises to prove your endurance. Chappa is on standby with power restores, so push yourself on each part." Axel said.

"From there you will all fight a weak, humanoid opponent known as a lesser Cryon. They have minimal armor, and are exclusively close ranged fighters." Said Phoenix.

"We expect to see what you have been learning in class as at least some of your fighting strategy, but improvising is key. If you are hurt, I will heal you after the fight is complete, when either you are rendered incapacitated, or you kill the Cryon." Said Axel. "Is everyone ready?"

"Yes!" Said the agents.

"Very well, Chappa?" Said Axel. Both men closed their eyes, and started raising a massive steel and Rock obstacle course, with water pools, fire traps, boola flingers, arrow shooters, and sections with heavy fog.

"If you little guys can take this, no terrain will be too much of a challenge." Phoenix said as the course was being finished.

Agent 4 was awestruck, but all the Inklings were impressed by the spectacle. "So that's strong magic, huh?"

"You haven't seen anything yet." Said Phoenix. "When they fight, that's an occasion to catch on video."

1 minute later.

"Ok. Chappa, shall I make the clock?" Asked Axel.

"You have the gun arm. I'll take this." Said Chappa. A large analog clock image appeared. It read 5 minutes.

Axel changed his right arm into the plasma cannon, and raised it into the air. "In your marks, get set, GO!" He fired a single shot, and the clock started counting down.

Callie was most suited for the first part. A straight run with hurdles. She passed that part in 7 seconds, with agent 4 right behind her. Marie and Agent 3 took a little longer. The next part was a deep pit with many thick tightropes traversing it. None of the agents passed that part quickly. Up next was a series of stone columns, which the agents had to parkour across. This part was easy for all of them. They just squid jumped.

"Should we DQ them?" Asked Chappa.

"I never said Passives weren't allowed." Said Axel.

"Aight." Said Chappa.

The next part proved far harder. The Inklings had to run across rolling logs, on a river, with fog. Having just squid jumped, they found they couldn't again. They made it, with a few burns, but all kicking. Most of the remaining obstacles went by with various degrees of speed. All agents finished in around 4 minutes, easily beating the limit. Everyone was also exhausted. Chappa quickly restored their energy, and Axel lined them up.

"Well done on the obstacle course. Now is the endurance part. We want 2 straight minutes of push-ups, then 2 minutes of situps, then 1 of lunges, 40 seconds of jumping jacks, and 20 seconds of wall sitting, without a wall. Good luck."

"Ouch." Said agent 4.

"Go!" Said Phoenix.

The agents made it past the push-ups, and situps with ease. The strength training from the classes had done work, even in such a short time. Lunges had to be explained, as did jumping jacks. Unfortunately for the Inklings, Axel explained in the middle of the situps. So they didn't catch a break. The lunges were a pushover, but tired their legs out fast. And the wall sit almost took put all of them, moreso do to balance issues. But no one fell, somehow.

"Alright. Time for the combat practice..." Said Phoenix.

Axel tossed 4 scraps of golden armor and cast a powerful necromancy spell, causing the armor to become Cryons.

Callie went first. Her hammer gave her a range advantage, which she used very heavily, keeping the Cryon at bay with large sweeping swings. It came across as flailing, which made Callie nervous, but she didn't know Axel fought the same way with a battleaxe. Finally she delivered a crushing downwards swing, smashing the Cryon's helmet and head. It melted back into the armor scrap.

Marie went next. The poor thing was dead in 15 seconds, as Marie delivered 3 quick shots, taking out the legs, then scoring a headshot to finish the beast off.

Agent 3 was just as quick. She tossed 3 mines over the Cryon's head, and a grenade into it's face as soon as Axel said go. The thing fell onto the mines, and was shot into the air, where agent 3 sniped it with her bazooka.

Finally, agent 4 went. We sustained a couple weak scrapes on the arms, but forced the Cryon away with a flurry of strikes, following the 9 angles pattern. Then he lopped off the Cryon's head while it was off balance.

"Well. Looks like the ranged classes pummeled, as per standard." Chappa said. "No one beat the record though, but that was something else."

"What record?" Asked Callie.

"You guys are the 107 to 111th people to take this test. One strong paladin killed the thing in 4 seconds, using his shield to snap the Cryon's neck before it even moved." Said Axel. "But anyways, you passed."

"But my technique?" Callie asked. "It was poor..."

"Callie." Chappa said. "Axel has a hammer and 2 axes, and a scythe. He flails just as much with all of those weapons, when he isn't using secret skills. You did great."

And so, the Inklings made it to the advanced classes, and the writer resolved never to write a closing statement ever again.

A/N I am Soo sorry this took so long. I didn't have writers block, I just did not know what to do for this chapter, and I was a bit lazy. The same issue applies to A Tertiary Perspective. I have so many ideas, even for a third book, but no ideas for the next chapter. Such is the life of me.