Unfortunately, Luca knew he wasn't going to get off easy after his next exam. After all, the System had already assisted him in altering the designs of several array formations. Thankfully, the large-scale ones were more complex and required more work to improve compared to the smaller ones. so far, Luca had only managed to alter arrays up to C-grade. Anything from B-grade and up was, at present, beyond his capabilities. Still, with his luck, Athers would also lose his mind over the altered designs.
By the time the young Dragonborn lad arrived, Grandmaster Athers and his two fellow Array Specialists, Masters Teldrin and Helene, were standing off to one side of the exam room. Similar to the magic simulation room that Luca had used in his second exam, the Array Specialist Exam room had a slightly more complex version of that room's array so that it could handle the creation of simulated arrays without causing conflict with the simulation array. Arcturus wasted no time in immediately taking a nap next to them/
As the seniormost ranking Array Specialist, Osric Athers began clarifying the contents of the exam, "This is a rather straightforward test, almost as simple as the Enchanter License exam. Out of the registered array formation designs here in the Mages Guild Headquarters, create a formation here. We recommend you start from the lowest grade before moving up until reaching your limit. This way, we can accurately gauge your abilities, and therefore your grade. As it is simulated, you can use whatever materials necessary to complete your arrays. However, do not overdo it, as it can impact your grading."
Upon confirming that Luca understood the exam, the three Array Specialists sealed the room before activating the simulation array. Once that was completed, Luca began filtering through his knowledge of array formation designs. He agreed that starting from F-grade was much easier compared to immediately attempting to create the most advanced array he could pull off. As such, he chose a rather simple F-grade design for the supportive Lesser Bog Array. Since he was fully aware he'd end up making the altered version due to his dissatisfaction at the original's strength, he planned to make both. Requiring eight small pegs to be embedded into the ground, each of which was made of different materials, a handful of small pebbles and an environment that often saw rainfall, the Lesser Bog Array was a twice-downgraded design based on the B-grade Great Swamp Array, made to impede the progress of those within its confines. While it did not have the illusionary misdirection abilities of the array it was downgraded once from, the D-grade Misty Bog Array, it did not fail in its duty to cause trouble to those who attempt to cross it. Depending on the array was spread out, the effectiveness would increase or decrease accordingly, with the most concentrated being at a 15mx15m scale.
With the simplicity of the design making it a breeze to set up, Luca only needed 15 minutes to complete the original design, which required asking the three examiners to alter the environment. Though he could stop here, he then began to lay out his altered version, which needed 12 pegs instead of 8, as it had been transformed into a double-layered array. With one six-sided layer about 60x60m in size surrounding a smaller six-sided layer of about 45x45m, the Lesser Bog Array now had an inward-focused barrier, making it into a trap rather than an obstruction. Due to the size of the barrier, the power needed to break out of the trap would significantly impact the successful escapees' abilities.
The three judges quietly exclaimed as they witnessed the difference between the two formations. Most layered arrays only appeared from D-grade designs, as they tended to be more complex. However, the ease of construction for Luca's altered Lesser Bog array allowed them to witness a double-layered F-grade array. Master Teldrin queried the young boy, "Did you improve this design yourself? It's remarkable, even comparable to an E-grade array."
"I was trying to increase its capabilities, as a simple obstruction array like the Lesser Bog Array can be ignored by Wind or Earth Mages and speed-focused Rogues. By adding an enclosing barrier to the bog, it can be a decent trap rather than an obstruction. With the exception of Space Mages, I'd hazard to guess that a Lv.4 Warrior or Mage would be needed to break out of its confines. Of course, they'd lose a lot of power after doing so." Luca would never mention the System's aid in altering the designs, so he tacitly avoided a direct answer while indirectly suggesting he had done so. "I've looked into other designs to see if they could be improved as well."
Grandmaster Osric Athers spoke next, "Hoh, you have, have you? What's the most advanced one you've managed to alter so far?" Upon hearing the immediate and blunt response of C-grade by the boy, the old Array Specialist briefly blanched, "God of Light above..."
"I'm planning to create compendiums for my reworked alchemy recipes and magecraft runes currently, but after this, I'll do the same with these designs." Before his three examiners could process his words, Luca quickly began laying out his next arrays. The illusionary E-grade Flowerfield Array, which he altered into having a misdirection influence on top of its original harmonious and peaceful mental influence. The defensive D-grade Stone Dome Array, to which he added a weak but effective self-repair effect to maximize its protective abilities. The rare triple-category offensive, defensive and supportive C-grade Lightning Rod Array that absorbed lightning from both natural and magical sources in its range, with which it could either target an enemy or directly clash against incoming attacks, which he also added a Lightning-type barrier to safeguard against most attacks. Just the four designs he had altered so far were, unsurprisingly, groundbreaking to the three judges, who had gone silent as they witnessed the genius capabilities of the young Dragonborn lad, who had to focus a lot in order to ignore the fervent stares of the three Array Specialists.