Chapter 107: Mid terms 3

-“How did you think you did?”

-“I think it was alright. I’m confident in my chances of passing.”

-“I got a question on sorcery’s tether, I seriously forgot about it.”

-“You got that? I got a question on it’s laws of enchantment.”

Staring at some of the students happily conversing as they left the class, a triumphant smile appeared on my lips.

I already knew everyone would be getting different questions. And from the looks on certain faces, case in point Dion, and Alistair, they didn’t do too well.

As for myself? I’d say I did pretty well, I might even get the perfect score I was aiming for.

Letting out a loud sigh, I left the class together with Dion.

Unlike the written exam, the second was going to be a culling game.

It would be as longer than the written exam, and also longer than the tournament was going to be.

It’s first part was that we had to find a bunch of eggs spread out through the entire pocket dimension. The more eggs one found, the more points they would score.

In It’s second part meanwhile, we each had to dish out the most powerful attack in our arsenal, at a measuring crystal. The test scores was based on the strength of the attack, and the time it took to charge the attack.

The stronger the attack, the higher the points. I wasn’t ashamed to say that unlike the written exam which I was sure I had aced, I was only going to be somewhere in the top ten in the first part of the culling games.

Unsurprisingly, in the novel, Alistair and Rose took the top spot. With their insane attack power, they were a far contrast to others.

True monsters, those two.

—————

In the middle of a large stadium that wasn’t present in the pocket dimension back when we took the mock exam, the entire first year students stood in straight lines defined by our institute ranking.

In the stands of the stadium, sat the second years, the third years, and other instructors. Not surprising, the numbers of the second and third years, were far inferior to the numbers of the first year’s. Most especially the third year, which only had about fifty- something students or so. A lot had died during missions after all.

In the area designated for the third years, I saw ’him’. The bastard even smiled and waved enthusiastically when our eyes met, as if happy to see me. I ignored him, as if I didn’t notice.

Before us, stood instructor Black, with most of the students staring nervously at him.

“Students, welcome to the culling games.” the instructor began.

As the instructor spoke, he wasn’t shouting on top of his lungs, but every student heard him as if he was speaking right next to us. Clearly an application of voice amplification, using aether.

“Alright, now that the I’ve welcomed you all, pay attention to everything I’m going to say.” His voice reverberated, calling the attention of students.

“For the first part of the culling games, this entire pocket dimension would be used for it. As you remember, this is the place you used for your mock exams, and it has been repurposed for the culling games.

Pausing and staring at the students before him, the instructor continued.

“There have been a number of eggs scattered throughout the dimension, and in other to pass, all you have to do… is gather the eggs. There is no minimum or maximum number of eggs you can take. All you have to make sure of, is that you should be part of the top 64, the top 64 students with the most eggs that is.”

The crowd of students instantly burst into a group of chatter.

-“For the most renowned Institute in the human domain, this test is quite mundane.”

-“Indeed, I thought they would make us fight beasts.”

-“There might be an underlying reason for this, maybe we just haven’t figured it out yet.”

Some of the students, mostly the stuck up nobles of course, were quite not satisfied with the nature of the test.

As for some down to earth individuals meanwhile,

-“Yay, this is going to be fun!” a girl exclaimed within her group of friends.

-“Let’s compete to see who will get the most eggs.”

-“We’re already competing you idiot.”

Instructor Black halted the commotion with a raise of his hand, and uttered in a stern voice; “This part of the test will last a whole of eighteen hours. For each extra egg you find, you are awarded a point, and so on.”

Pausing once again to make sure that everyone understood, after a couple of seconds, the instructor continued.

“And like it has been drilled into you since you came to this institute, the strong is right, and the weak is wrong. That’s how it’s always been, that’s how it is, and that’s how it’ll always be in this world.”

“Like the mock exam, you cannot die. So you’re more than free to snatch the eggs of others.” A cruel smile appeared on his face. “And please, feel the need to be cruel when doing it.”

Gulp!

Some students swallowed. I on the other hand, wasn’t the least bit fazed. If anything, I was barely stopping myself from shaking, out of sheer excitement.

Finished with what he wanted to say, the instructor noticed a lot of students swallowing a mouthful of saliva. It was evident that most of them were nervous.

Not minding it, as he was used to such situations, he gestured upwards. “Before we begin, the vice chancellor has a few words to say to you.” He looked towards the stands, or more precisely, the grand dias nestled between the seating areas of the second years, and that of the third years.

Like a domino, the entire first year’s turned their heads towards the dias. And there from behind the veil, a woman who looked like she was in her thirties stepped out. She was beautiful, but not quite heaven toppling beautiful, unlike a few girls I knew.

But her aura and dignified presence, more than made up for it.

“Hello students.” Her voice came out a bit raspy, but she had a kind looking motherly smile on her face. “This is the first time you’re all seeing me, I suppose. I don’t have much to say to you all.” she continued.

“But all I can say, is that you did good choosing the Astral Mystic Institute. We will train you to the best of our abilities, for you to fulfil your duty, of serving and protecting the human race. So, good luck with your tests, and I hope you’ll continue striving, to stand as a deterrent against any threats that would befall humanity.” She smiled, then retreated back behind the veil.

Only one thing ran in my mind. ’Dang, she’s good.” When I read the novel about how pushing she was on propaganda, changing views with mere words, I almost scoffed. I was like, what were the students, kids? There was no way they would fall for these blatant manipulation attempts.

But if what later happened in the novel shocked me, what was happening currently shocked me even more.

-“Y…yes, I’ll do my best.” A student choked out. And gods, was he crying?

-“I’ll train even harder from now on.”

-“Yeah, we’ll protect humanity.”

It made me realize something, blatant manipulation wasn’t only done by seduction, or a face card. A motherly figure’s words held even more impact, or rather, a parental figure’s.

I glanced at the main cast. While they weren’t nearly as affected by the ’brainwashing’, the gazes in their eyes had changed.

’Curse me.’ I inwardly thought. I had no plans nor obligations to die for humanity whatsoever. Sure, I was going to try and save this world from it’s certain doom, but if I would lose my life trying to achieve that, then what was the point? If that was the case, everyone might as well die with me. I was no saint.

Clap! Clap!

Instructor Black’s resounding clap broke the emotional atmosphere. “Keep all the sentimentality for later. Remember, how well you do in this mid term exams, will determine your placing on the first year’s ranking board.

Your rank might rise a few levels if you do well, or even fall down a few levels, if you perform bad. Also, the graphics of this challenge will be displayed back here, so make sure to put in a good show.”

He paused once more, waving his hand, and sending numerous rings that each landed with a student. “This rings are special spatial storages that’ll be able to store the eggs. In the event that you’re eliminated, the rings will remain, meaning, you’ll lose all your eggs. Now that I’ve said all that, you might as well start.” he disappeared from his spot.

“…”

It took a few seconds before the students snapped out of their stupor. I knew there was no countdown or anything as such, and could have ran out of the stadium the moment the instructor disappeared. But I was in no rush whatsoever.

Chaos began as almost every student ran for the exit of the stadium all at once. The situation became quite like that scene from the entrance exam. The space was made too small for the students to go out all at once. And I had a feeling it was made with this scenario in mind, after all, the institute could have made the exit far wider.

I leisurely walked towards the exit, glancing at the students that were stuck. Each one of the main cast, including Dion and Anastasia, and other particularly strong students, had already made it out. Not that I was surprised, they were strong for a reason after all.

I surveyed the area once more, before stepping on a student’s shoulder, and then on another’s head.

-Hey watch it!”

-“Who the fuck…!”

The second student began, but with a glimpse of my features, held himself back. I stepped on three more students, before jumping out of the exit. The other students behind, that weren’t caught in the cluster followed my example and did the same.

’Now this was what I call ’leading by example’.’ I chuckled to myself.

With one more glance at the stuck students, I disappeared into the wild.

***********

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