"...Brother, I think the crystal malfunctioned. Even those ugly goblins have better mana rank. It must definitely be a mistake."
I looked sideways. Daniel stood beside with an expression so genuinely concerned that I almost felt touched. But being compared to a goblin still hurts though. Still it feels nice to have a guy like him around.
"Thank you for supporting during this difficult period of my life. I don’t think the crystal malfuncted. It’s just my shitty luck."
"I’m serious," he whispered while adjusting his glasses. "I’ve never seen an F rank before."
"Oh well, you do now." I let out a hollow laugh.
A nearby noble student overheard us and snorted quietly.
"An F rank entering Aether Academy? The standards really dropped."
The other students around him started laughing and mocking Ren.
’Damn, I can’t believe I’m actually eting these arrogant young masters on my first day at the academy.’
"...You don’t need to listen to them." Daniel tried to comfort .
"I wasn’t planning to." Honestly, their opinions didn’t matter much to . They are irrelevant anyway. Before I could think further, one of the instructors raised his voice across the arena.
"The mana compatibility assessnt has been concluded. Now, the last test, which is the combat assessnt, will take place. Move to the arena."
The atmosphere instantly beca more tense. Compared to the written examination and mana test, this was the stage people truly cared about. This will prove how much better you are than others.
The students gradually started moving toward the arena, Daniel walked beside nervously while clutching his stomach.
"My stomach hurts. This pressure is making sick."
"What a coward." I muttered under my breath but Daniel heard it.
"Yeah, you’re right. I’m just a coward." Daniel slumped his shoulders down and started walking like a zombie.
I’m really starting to like Daniel. Not in a romantic way. His personality made everything feel slightly less serious.
Soon we reached the combat area. It was massive. There were several circular battle platforms stretching across the area with giant holographic screens which floated over the arena displaying the participants’ nas and rankings.
Students gradually filled the audience sections which surrounded the arena. This feels more like those professional tournants instead of an academy exam.
So looked anxious and nervous for what’s to co while so of the noble heirs looked relatively relaxed like they’d top the ranking charts.
Well they might, since from birth they are drinking high quality mana potions and are fed high food ant to increase your mana quantity and quality. But too bad, they are in the sa year as the protagonist.
A thunderous voice echoed throughout the arena "This year’s batch seem very lively. As expected of the golden batch. Your combat assessnts will start now. Which will be one on one combat."
’That old man must be the dean of the academy. The strongest on the human continent.’ Target set, I must cultivate till I can overpower him.
Soon the conditions of the battle were displayed on the screen.
[Victory Conditions: The opponent must surrender or must be unable to continue.]Murmurs spread imdiately afterward.
"Direct combat..."
"So rankings will depend heavily on matchups."
"Damn it..."
Daniel looked seconds away from collapsing.
"I should’ve pursued accounting instead."
"You still can."
"No. My parents already told everyone I’d beco an elite fighting the demons."
"That sounds emotionally exhausting."
"It is."
The screen above suddenly shifted again before displaying the first matches. Students imdiately searched for their nas.
I also started looking for my matchup and there it was
Match 17Ren Valecrest vs Kyle DrenorDaniel made a choking noise beside .
"Oh no."
"...You know him?"
"He’s from the Drenor family."
"So? What does that have to do with ?" I already knew about Kyle Drenor naturally. In the original novel he was matched up with the protagonist and got defeated in a single move.
Daniel lowered his voice imdiately. "They’re combat maniacs. Their family Aspect specializes in physical reinforcent."
"How troubleso." I muttered anwhile whispers had already started spreading nearby.
"Wait... isn’t that the F-rank guy?"
"He’s fighting Kyle?"
"He’s dead."
A blond-haired boy near the preparation area suddenly looked toward after hearing his na. Kyle Drenor. The guy was built like a tank. A faint smirk appeared on his face. I know what that smirk ant, that bastard wants to humiliate .
The matches began quickly afterward. Students fought across multiple platforms simultaneously while instructors carefully observed every movent.
So battles ended instantly. Others dragged on for so ti. Everyone was showcasing their abilities to the fullest.
Then ca my turn. "Match 17. Participants enter the arena." The instructor called.
Daniel looked at with the expression of a man attending a funeral.
"...Good luck brother. Let’s et in our next lives"
"I won’t die.Thank you for your emotional support." I rolled my eyes.
"That wasn’t emotional support!"
I ignored him and stepped onto the arena calmly while Kyle cracked his knuckles across from casually.
The mont our eyes t, he let out a short laugh.
"You’re the F-rank?"
"Unfortunately."
"Good good, heavens must be on my side for giving an easy win"
His tone sounded casual, but the mockery underneath it was obvious.
Honestly, I preferred people like this. People like him were predictable
Kyle rolled his shoulders slightly before grinning.
"You should surrender early. Saves both of us ti."
"And if I don’t?"
"Then be prepared to be crippled."
The surrounding students laughed. I sighed internally. These personalities really existed in every novel that I’ve read.
The instructor standing near the arena raised one hand.
"Begin."
The mont the signal dropped, Kyle lunged forward towards . Mana surged through his body while bronze-colored light covered his arms and legs. A physical enhancent Aspect. His speed was fast enough to surprise normal students.
But to , Everything looked strangely clear. The mont I entered the Qi Gathering Realm, my senses had sharpened significantly. I could see the shift in his shoulders, the tightening of his muscles, everything felt like a slow-mo.
Almost instinctively, I stepped sideways. His fist passed directly by my face.. Kyle frowned imdiately before attacking again. This ti he was even faster.
A sharp kick swept toward my ribs. I leaned backward slightly. The kick barely missed. Then another punch ca instantly afterward. Kyle was getting agitated because his attacks were not hitting .
My body reacted naturally, dodging all his attacks. The atmosphere around the arena slowly changed.
At first people looked excited to see a one sided beating. But now they were intensely staring at the match.
"...How is he avoiding everything?"
"Wasn’t he F rank?"
"Kyle can’t even beat an F rank"
Kyle’s expression darkened visibly. Mana surged around him more violently now.
"Die...you annoying bug." Kyle threw a punch packed with ridiculous amount of mana.
The arena floor cracked beneath his feet as he rushed forward far faster than before. His fist shot directly toward my jaw. At the last second, I raised my arm and blocked.
BOOM.
A heavy impact echoed across the arena.
Pain spread faintly through my arm as the force pushed backward several steps. This punch was really strong. ’Damn Kyle, are you trying to kill ?’
The audience reacted loudly after the first direct collision.
Kyle grinned imdiately after forcing backward.
"There we go. You certainly need effort to squash bugs"
Mana gathered around his body again before he attacked relentlessly. The pressure on increased continuously while bronze light covered his body like armor.
Each attack carried enough force to seriously injure ordinary students.
But the longer we fought, the stronger my body felt. The Qi inside circulated naturally through my ridians. My movents beca smoother and light. It almost felt like my body was adapting during combat.
Kyle threw another heavy punch toward my chest. This ti instead of dodging, I stepped forward and swung my fist forward while circulating my qi. My fist collided directly against his stomach. He staggered backward and coughed violently. Kyle’s eyes widened instantly like he couldn’t believe the scene that was happening.
I couldn’t believe it. That much power from a causal punch. So this is the difference between qi and mana.’ I smirked. The people that were focusing on our match couldn’t believe what had happened.
"What the hell?!"
"Kyle got pushed back?!"
"He got pushed back by an F rank!"
"How is this possible?"
Anger flooded Kyle’s face and this ti mana violently exploded all around his body.
"You bastard...be prepared to die now"
The bronze light covering his arms intensified rapidly. Now he was actually serious.
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