"Hah !"
Aries let out a sigh from his mouth as he entered the room . Fortunately , they had someone waiting for them after entering the Academy .
Rena had returned to her student council office to fulfil her duties and the staff member led both him and Aurelia to the rooms for them to wait until the end of their entrance exams .
The Academy entrance exams were one of the most important tasks before you officially become a student . This exam tests various of your skills and techniques before evaluation and provide you with a rank for your freshman year .
Aries took this time to complete some tasks he was thinking about . In the last half a month , he was trying his best to improve the [Formless Sword Physique] which is currently incomplete . He had realized some basic fundamental informations about this sword physique and that is , this sword body is divided into four levels :
→ Incomplete
→ Partial Complete
→ Complete
→ Perfection
As you furthur increase your rank , your sword physique could be used to exert more and more amplification power . His physique is currently at the [Incomplete] level which means he can use this to exert a maximum of 10 times the total power of his body .
This is actually a huge boost for people below Rank 4 . This could provide an Middle Rank 1 expert to eliminate a Rank 3 expert in close combat . But , as I said , it is only effective in lower levels . As your rank increases , your power increases and increases the gap of strength between each rank .
An Upper Rank 7 expert is nothing more than an ant in front of Lower Rank 8 experts . This much is the gap in strength and even with 10 times boost , it is impossible to catch up . The [Partial Completion] level provides a 30 times boost , [Complete] level provides a 70 times boost and the [Perfection] level provides a 100 times boost in combat power .
Aries was lost in thoughts when he heard a light knock on his door . He got up and opened the door to see the same staff member who brought both him and Aurelia to the rooms was standing . She saw Aries opened his door and bowed a little before saying :
"Prince Aries , please follow me to the entrance exam hall"
Aries nodded as he entered the room to pick up his sword and armband . He exited the room and headed towards the main building with the staff member .
....
"Seems this year is quite a good harvest"
Instructor Eren said as he took one of the four seats at the end of the large marble table .
The other three seats were currently occupied by three others .
The first person sitting just beside Eren was Instructor Elena . She was also one of the instructors assigned for conducting the entrance exam . Beside Elena was a man . His aura was warm but his presence was sharp like a blade .
He was wearing a dark black coat with a crisp white shirt . His coat was covered with all kinds of embrodiery making it look noble and sophisticated . This person was 'Marcus Blackthorn' . He is the current Dean of Astralis Academy and a Rank 9 mage .
The last person is Instructor Wilson . He sat quietly with an indifferent expression and just waiting for the next candidate to arrive .
They had taken the assessment of nearly 100 students in the past hour and among them almost 76 students were accepted . This proves that they have talent and qualifications to study in the Astralis Academy .
The Academy is a place where only the strong survive . The curriculum of Astralis Academy is extremely strict and only those who could bear the pressure are allowed to study . This is the reason why many students leave the Academy in their senior years .
In the midst of these discussions , the door opened as a young man who just turned 18 entered confidently . The Dean's eyes immediately lit up upon seeing him . He recognized at first glance that this person is special .
The instructors in the Academy , of course , knew the identity of the person in front of them but they couldn't understand the reason for the Dean's surprised behaviour . Marcus ignored them . He looked straight towards Aries and moved his eyes around his body as if trying to pierce some barrier .
'No wasted movements'
'Precise Energy Control'
'This child is special'
Marcus cleared his throat to regain his composure before speaking :
"Welcome , Student Aries Voidhaven"
Aries didn't say anything . He just looked towards the man infront of him with indifferent eyes as he said in his mind :
'System , Appraise him'
[Sure]
[Appraisal Complete]
[Name : Marcus Blackthorn]
[Race : Human]
[Rank : Rank 9]
[Class : Magus]
[Skills : ???]
[Combat Power : ???]
'Hmm , I can't see his skills'
'Well , makes sense . After all , he is a Rank 9 Mage'
"Thank you , Sir"
"Well , you are a lot different than mentioned in the rumors"
"I don't exactly know about these rumors and so , I cannot relate"
"Anyways , let's begin your exam"
"Sure"
"You see Student Carl there ?"
Aries turned his head to see a student standing almost at the end of the hall . He was tall with a buzz cut hair and an average face . He recognized him to be a third year from his tie but the aura he sensed was only Middle Rank 3 .
"You will have a spar with him . The time you needed to defeat him will determine your ranking"
A smirk slowly displayed on Aries's face . The instructors straightened their backs when they noticed Aries's expression . The aura they sensed from Aries was only an Upper Rank 1 at most while the student in front is a Rank 3 .
Carl was among the weakest students in his third year . This could be his lack of potential or he slacked off . His grades weren't high either . He was given a chance by the instructors to conduct the entrance exam of the first years in turn to gain some credit points .
Aries understood the reason Carl was here . But , he had no reason to show sympathy to a stranger . He went ahead with slow steps and stood in front of Carl . They both locked eyes with each other as the instructors watched them .
Aries's eyes were sharp and cold . He watched Carl with indifferent expression . Marcus's expressions were lightened up once again . He knew this expression . The expression of someone who doesn't fear anything and ready to face challenges head on .
He doesn't know what kind of training Aries had gone through but he achieved this state . The state only build in battlefields after almost half a decade of constant fighting against demons . The experts call it 'Phantom state' .
This state keeps your thoughts clear , eyes focused and sharp while sending a cold sensation down the opponents spine .
Aries just stood with his weapon still inside the sheath as Carl's expressions were constantly altering . He raised his sword in a defensive position , ready to defend against anything thrown at him .
Suddenly —
Crackle— Crackle—
Black lightning emerged from Aries's body as it spread through the entire hall . These black bolts rushed towards Carl in an extremely high speed . Carl swinged his sword to block against the attacks . The black lightning rushed towards him but suddenly ,
Whoosh—
They vanished into thin air as if they didn't exist . But , the next moment , Carl's pupils constricted . Just behind the lightning was Aries himself . His eyes glowing with an amethyst hue while his sword was covered with sparks of lightning .
Carl raised his sword once again but it was useless . Aries immediately ignored the sword blade rushing towards him as he bend his body in mid-air . Carl closed his eyes in panic but didn't feel any pain .
He opened his eyes and saw Aries pointed his sword towards his neck . He had a smirk on his face as he removed the sword and helped Carl to get up to his feet .
Aries turned towards the instructors who all looked at him with shock and surprised expression except for Marcus . He was wearing a happy expression but Aries could tell from his eyes that he was planning something in the back of his mind .
.....
Aries exited the hall as he was returned to the room by the staff member . This room was temporarily assigned for him to stay before the rankings of the entrance exam are annouced .
Aries entered the room and lay on his bed . He relaxed his tensed up muscles and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding .
"What a day"
….
3 hours later , Astralis Academy Entrance Exam Hall
The instructors and the dean of the Academy had completed the entrance exam . The students have left to the rooms assigned for them to rest until the results were announced .
"So , let's start voting" said Instruction Eren . "The possible candidates for the Apex position are Aries and Aurelia"
"Indeed , those two are less humans than that of a monster . A terrifying kind of genius who appears once every thousand years" said Elena .
"I think Aries should be the Apex" said Instructor Wilson.
"Why ?" questioned Elena .
"Remember his spar" continued Wilson .
Elena squinted her eyes like remembering an old memory and suddenly , she was surprised as she realized what Wilson was talking about .
Indeed , Aries's spar was impressive . Aurelia who had an SSS-level (Ice Talent) had to give severe blows before she was able to defeat Carl but for Aries , it was an execution .
"If Aries wanted , he could have killed that guy more than 10 times before he noticed what happened" said Wilson .
"So , it's decided ?" Marcus who was sitting quietly with his eyes closed asked as he slowly opened them .
"Yes . Aries Voidhaven will be the Apex of First Years"
…..
[Ding]
[Congratulations , Student Aries Von Voidhaven]
[You have passed the Entrance Exam and are now 'officially' a student of the Astralis Academy]
[Your ranking is : 1]
[You are declared as the 'Apex' of First Years]
[Please report to your Class HCS-1 tomorrow at 9 a.m.]
Aries's smartband was ringing with notifications send by the Academy . He was not surprised when his rank was turned out to be first in his year . Well , he had expected it somehow .
Soon later , the same staff member came to greet him and to shift his room . He was taken to the highest class dorm and settled on the highest floor of that dorm . The students of the Academy are designated rooms according to their rankings . With the top 10 students occupying the 10 floors while the others are below spread according to their rankings .
The Academy dorms were huge . There were many buildings as well because all the students from first year to fourth year stay in the dorms together .
Aries settled in his dorm as went towards the floor-to-ceiling window on his room . He looked outside and spotted the beautiful area of the Academy . Beyond the Academy walls were covered with dense forest which were the 'Wilderness Area' .
'Let's begin the next phase'