The Duke's Worthless Daughter Awakens an SSS+ Guide Core

The arena remained unusually quiet following the formal conclusion of the physical examinations. Under the strict supervision of armed military personnel, the eliminated applicants were escorted toward the southern exits, their expressions ranging from visible frustration to quiet acceptance.

Those who had managed to pass the initial trials stood patiently within the central plaza, waiting for the administration to announce the next phase of the evaluation. Merianah calmly observed the movement of the crowd around her, mentally tracking the remaining numbers.

Out of the original three hundred applicants who had entered the facility that morning, only two hundred and fifteen individuals were left. Nearly one-third of the entire pool had already been stripped away before even reaching the true heart of the qualification examination.

She found the high attrition rate entirely expected given the nature of the institution. The prestigious Nexus Military Academy had absolutely no interest in accepting individuals who crumbled under basic physical pressure. The real selection process was designed to systematically weed out the weak before the academic year even began.

A loud, resonant tone suddenly echoed overhead, shattering the temporary silence of the stadium. The enormous holographic displays hovering above the central courtyard changed once more, flashing a new set of instructions.

[Qualification Examination - Phase Two]

[Tactical Assessment]

A visible ripple of curiosity and anxiety spread through the remaining candidates as they read the glowing text.

"A tactical assessment already?"

One young applicant whispered to his companion, nervously adjusting his collar.

"I thought the physical endurance tests were supposed to be the main focus of the day," another student replied, looking around the plaza for guidance.

Several other small groups whispered among themselves, attempting to guess what kind of scenario awaited them in the next room. They knew that the academy’s intellectual exams were notoriously brutal, but few expected them to follow the physical trials so rapidly.

Colonel Serena Vale stepped onto the central command platform, her gaze sweeping across every single surviving applicant. The murmurs in the crowd died down instantly as her presence commanded absolute silence from the field.

"The physical examinations have merely determined whether your biological bodies are capable of surviving our baseline military training," she began, her clear voice carrying across the loudspeakers.

She paused deliberately, letting her words sink in before continuing.

"The next phase will determine whether your analytical minds actually deserve to lead Imperial soldiers into battle."

The atmosphere within the plaza instantly grew much heavier as the true stakes of the trial became clear to everyone. Many candidates unconsciously straightened their posture, trying to project an air of confidence despite their internal panic.

"The Empire already possesses countless individuals who are perfectly capable of swinging plasma swords or piloting heavy combat mechas," Serena continued calmly, her arms remaining folded behind her back.

"But raw physical strength without proper tactical judgment only serves to create another pointless casualty on the front lines."

With a swift wave of her right hand, she signaled the tech crew to activate dozens of floating holographic projectors throughout the arena. Immediately, intricate three-dimensional battlefields materialized in the open air directly above the heads of the applicants.

The glowing projections displayed a wide variety of hostile environments, each meticulously detailed down to the smallest topographical feature. The students watched in awe as ruined cities, dense alien forests, frozen mountain ranges, and crumbling orbital space stations rotated slowly before them.

"This particular assessment utilizes historical combat simulations that have been accurately reconstructed from actual military campaigns," Serena explained to the waiting crowd.

Several applicants visibly paled as they realized the implications of her statement, recognizing the names of some of the infamous conflicts.

"Actual historical battles?"

A noble cadet muttered under his breath, his previous confidence evaporating completely.

"You are not being asked to simply repeat the history of these campaigns," Serena clarified, her sharp eyes locking onto the anxious young man.

"You are being asked to successfully change the outcome."

The individual holographic terrains suddenly shifted and merged into a single, massive simulation that hovered over the central plaza. A massive burning city appeared before everyone, its detailed buildings collapsing under simulated artillery fire. Thick plumes of black smoke obscured the virtual skyline, creating a tense atmosphere within the simulation.

Bright red digital markers quickly identified hostile positions throughout the urban grid, while blue markers represented the isolated allied forces. The terminal immediately displayed the current status of the engagement for the candidates to analyze.

[Tactical Situation Report]

[Parameter] [Status Details]

[Friendly Forces] - [38 Light Infantry Soldiers]

[Enemy Forces] - [Estimated 120 Mechanized Units]

[Civilian Survivors] - [Unknown / Unconfirmed Locations]

[Primary Mission Objective] - [Rescue Remaining Civilians and Retreat safely]

A glowing countdown timer materialized directly above the tactical report, ticking away the precious seconds.

[Planning Time Remaining: 5:00 Minutes]

Panicked murmurs spread rapidly through the ranks as the candidates realized the sheer difficulty of the parameters.

"That objective is completely impossible," a trainee shouted from the middle of the crowd, throwing his hands up.

"We are outnumbered more than three to one by a mechanized force," another noble student complained, staring at the red markers in despair.

"There simply isn’t enough raw intelligence data provided on this map to formulate a viable escape plan."

Merianah quietly studied the complex holographic map without speaking a word, her expression completely unreadable. Her crimson eyes swept methodically across every ruined street, every collapsed structural foundation, and every flickering enemy marker.

"They claim there isn’t enough information," she thought, a cold analytical focus taking over her mind. "In reality, there is plenty of data available if they would only look past their own fear."

She carefully noticed the exact locations of several damaged suspension bridges, collapsed underground transit tunnels, and abandoned power stations. She even calculated the precise direction of the simulated wind by watching the movement of the smoke columns. To a trained commander, absolutely nothing on a battlefield existed without a specific meaning.

A young noble candidate suddenly stepped forward, shouting up toward the command platform in open protest.

"There isn’t enough concrete intelligence provided here to make a proper military plan!" he argued, his face flushed with frustration.

Serena looked directly down at him, her expression completely cold and unyielding.

"In a real war scenario, young man, you will never receive the luxury of enough information," she responded sharply.

The young man’s protest immediately died in his throat, and he quickly stepped back into the ranks, thoroughly chastised. Merianah could not help but agree completely with the colonel’s harsh assessment of real-world warfare.

Perfect intelligence only existed within the safe pages of military academy textbooks. Real commanders were required to make life-or-death decisions with incomplete, chaotic knowledge every single day.

Her gaze lingered on the western industrial district of the ruined city, noting a series of narrow alleyways.

"Most of these candidates will instinctively choose the shortest physical route to reach the civilians," she analyzed, tracking the potential paths. "Which means the vast majority of them will march their troops directly into the enemy’s strongest defensive chokepoint."

She slowly crossed her arms over her chest, a faint, knowing smile finally touching her lips as she finalized her strategy. If this simulation truly was based on a real historical engagement, then there had to be a specific reason this battle had become part of the academy’s prestigious archives.

The most obvious path presented by the map was almost certainly a deceptive trap designed to test their foresight. She welcomed the intellectual challenge, feeling a familiar surge of adrenaline that she had not experienced in years.

For the very first time since entering these examination grounds, she was no longer being tested as a mere individual fighter. She was finally being evaluated as a true military commander.