Earth's Greatest Magus

With six participants initially eligible for the third part of the exam, the anticipation heightened. However, as reality set in, two participants decided to withdraw, lacking the confidence to achieve the required 90% average with their existing scores. This left only four contenders.

Eugene Houten maintained his position at the forefront with an impressive average score of 95.5%, establishing himself as the leading candidate for the prestigious title.

Mo Xan, an elder participant in his 50s, emerged as the second contender. With over ten years of experience as a senior artisan, Mo Xan's expertise and accumulated knowledge reflected in his average score of 91%.

Winri Lampads, the dark-haired woman, secured the third spot in the lineup. Despite demonstrating remarkable skills in the second practical exam, her overall average was dragged down by the challenges of the written portion given her an average score of 89%.

Emery, found himself a bit discontented with his final score of 85%. With his first exam score at 72%, an 85% average meant that he only received 98% scores on the second exam. This realization left Emery in mild frustration, prompting him to voice his complaint,

"Is this a mistake?"

Grandmaster Odoro responded firmly, "No, unfortunately, the exam marks are for the quality, and there is indeed a minor imperfection in your product. Hence, 98% is all we can give." Emery couldn't help but frown at the assessment.

Determined to stand by his creation, Emery boldly retorted, "If you truly believe that, give me all your originality 2 products; I will trade them for all my 100% quality products."

This remark elicited a silent chuckle from Karin and some of the other masters, including Grandmaster Hypotia. Even Grandmaster Hazard couldn't hide a momentary embarrassment, shaking his head at Emery's audacity. Unfortunately, Grandmaster Odoro was the authority in charge of the rules, and his decision was final.

In that moment, Eugene Houten seized the opportunity to intervene, stating, "Honorable judges, I think this man show such a negativity; one would reflect badly on the institutes. I suggest..." However, before Eugene could finish his suggestion, Grandmaster Hazard stepped in, saying, "Let's just continue to the next part of the exam."

He looked at Emery and added, "I am sure you can do this." Despite the external reassurance, Emery couldn't shake off his internal disgruntlement and made a mental note of the situation.

Grandmaster Odoro proceeded to explain the requirements for the third exam - a fundamental requirement for any apothecary aspiring to receive a master title: the ability to create a tier 8 product.

In response, Emery casually remarked, "I just made one; does this mean I passed already?" Grandmaster Odoro, holding back his irritation, explained, "An excellent tier 8 will give you a 90% mark. With your current score, you need a perfect first-grade tier 8 product or one with higher originality."

Upon hearing this, Emery couldn't help but heave a deep sigh. His first exam yielded a score of 72%, and the second was an impressive 98%. Which mean to reach the average passing score of 90%, he needed a perfect 100% score for his third exam.

The challenge became even more daunting considering Emery's dependence on his [Photosynthesis] skill, which faltered when confronted with ingredients beyond tier 6. This limitation meant that attaining higher originality for a tier 8 equivalent product would be a daunting task for him.

Emery's face remained composed, but a flicker of determination glinted in his eyes as Eugene Houten's mocking words echoed through the hall.

"100% tier 8 pill is almost impossible. I suggest you give up rather than embarrass yourself," sneered Eugene, the smirk on his face reflecting the arrogance of his noble lineage.

As Emery processed the disdainful remarks, a realization struck him – this could be the real reason behind Grandmaster Odoro's insistence on the 98% mark. The challenge seemed orchestrated, by the two of them.

Refusing to be played, Emery turned towards the noble with a knowing smile and replied,

"Impossible for you maybe... for me, I'll just make a tier 9 product instead"

The statement provoked a scoff from Eugene, who couldn't fathom such audacity. "Tier 9!? What a fool! You think legendary level pills are as easy as making bread?! Such big nonsense! If you can't prove your words, you better quit as apothecaries!"

With a sly grin, Emery seized the opportunity to elevate the stakes. "Alright, and what if I succeed?"

"I, Eugene Houten, will run naked around the institutes for ten rounds!" declared the noble.

"Alright, deal!" Emery responded with a chuckle. The fact was that he had intentionally provoked the noble and, in return, achieved a reaction better than he had anticipated. The air was charged with an unspoken tension as the two locked eyes, the challenge now set, and the stakes unexpectedly elevated.

"All of you have one hour," declared Grandmaster Odoro, signaling the commencement of the third exam. This time, the participants would undergo the examination simultaneously, and the challenging nature of the task allowed them to utilize any items at their disposal, whether brought personally or obtained from the institute's warehouse.

All four participants, observed keenly by the 15-judge panel and the rest of the failed candidates, stood poised for the task ahead. Each of them prepared their equipment, anticipation hanging in the air as the atmosphere grew charged with the tension of the impending challenge.

The elderly Mo Xan, a seasoned senior artisan, meticulously laid out 24 diverse ingredients, showcasing his intent to craft something complex. Winry, equipped with a unique crimson cauldron, seemed able to leverage her exceptional flame to the fullest. Eugene, the confident young master of the Houten family, displayed an array of high-grade equipment and multiple tier 8 ingredients, all were limited and cant be found even within the institute's warehouse.

"With this, I definitely could make a perfect tier 8 potion!" Eugene confidently asserted, his gaze sweeping over the other participants. However, his self-assured demeanor faltered when he noticed his opponent, opting for low tier items instead.

Chuckling dismissively, Eugene remarked, "That fool will learn a big lesson today."