### Chapter: 169
At the Unnamed Academy for the mid-term exam.
The gathered students were all wearing tense expressions.
Today’s mid-term evaluation was an opportunity to shorten the six-month training period in one go!
To put it simply, it was a chance to make a name for themselves among the higher-ups.
Excellent students would naturally attract attention for recruitment, you know?
So for the kids, the mid-term exam was also a battlefield of opportunity.
Well, except for one person.
“Haaaah.”
A boy yawned loudly, making it obvious he was bored.
His relaxed demeanor got under the skin of the other kids.
And why wouldn’t it? He was Kraush Balheim after all.
Starting from his entrance exam score at number one, he took down a level 6 Erosion Beast on his first mission.
He also defeated the noble scion Arthur Gramalte and Sizelry Ephania of the empire.
And he offered opinions to Derrick DuRandall, contributing decisively to vanquishing the World Erosion.
Naturally, the other students felt dwarfed by his overwhelming achievements.
But this laid-back attitude sparked a tiny flicker of rivalry in their hearts.
Here they were at Rahern Academy, the place where the best of the best came to strut their stuff.
Especially when it came to pride—the Unnamed Academy really took the cake.
Those who were born to be martial artists were itching to break that smug air of confidence!
[What a blatant provocation.]
As he thought, Kraush was shamelessly egging everyone on.
His primary target was none other than Mary Diana.
Since stepping into the training hall, she had been leaning against a wall, keeping her eyes trained on Kraush.
“No matter how much he tries to look relaxed, I doubt Mary will let her guard down.”
She was clearly on edge, and Glen‘s words echoed in his head.
Mary was indeed ready—almost like she was back at her peak!
Of course, she had a long way to go before reaching that level, but the fierce energy radiating from her was undeniable.
Suddenly—
Creek!
Just as everyone sank into their thoughts, the sound of an opening door filled the air, and a little white cat and a professor walked in.
The cat sauntered to the center of the training hall and plopped down, tail and all.
Ganon Sarsha, the professor of the 2nd-year students, made an entrance.
“Now, let me explain the mid-term exam format.”
Without a second of hesitation, Ganon started the exam briefing.
Ganon’s assistant produced a magical projector.
Whirrr!
With the whirring sound of the device, an image appeared in the sky—a mountain!
“This is a mountain created through magic. Inside, there are illusory Erosion Beasts that you’ll be hunting today.”
The image displayed a mountain that transitioned into vibrant rainbow colors.
“Starting from the outermost Purple Line to the innermost Red Line, the difficulty and number of Erosion Beasts will change. The most numerous purple line represents level 1, while the least numerous red line represents level 7.”
At the mention of level 7, the students began whispering amongst themselves.
After all, very few had ever fought against a level 7 Erosion Beast before!
“Of course, the scores will also differ based on the zone you enter. Even if you catch every beast in the orange line, it won’t equate to taking down a single beast in the red line.”
At that moment, the screen shifted yet again.
This time, it showed a group of people.
“And here’s an additional rule: starting from the Blue Line, students can engage in combat with each other.”
The students’ eyes changed at the news.
“If you defeat another student, you can take all the points they’ve earned up until that point. Naturally, students who lose will be unable to continue. The eliminated will have to take a makeup exam, so keep that in mind.”
Though there was a makeup exam, for the mid-term, being eliminated was practically the same as failing.
[He’s clearly trying to heighten the tension!]
In a world like this, nothing is ever guaranteed!
You never know where a twist may come from, so even hunting down Erosion Beasts has an element of cautious tension!
The intent behind the exam was transparent.
“This exam is based on relative evaluation. Those scoring below the middle mark will have to take a makeup exam, so keep that in mind.”
As Ganon wiped his face, he glanced at his assistant.
The assistant quickly prepared a spatial magic circle and handed out bracelets to the students.
“These bracelets will keep track of your scores and damage levels. The damage accumulation is linked to your clothing—so as soon as it hits 100%, you’re out.”
As the last instructions settled in, Kraush snapped the bracelet onto his wrist.
“Aha! This is gonna be fun!”
Just then, Balak held up his own bracelet with an excited look on his face.
Still quite small, he was his usual high-energy self.
“This is not the time to be having fun!”
Beside him, Glen warned as he surveyed the other students.
“If we can fight each other, then the ones with high scores will easily become targets.”
The students exchanged glances, immediately averting their eyes when they locked with Glen.
The one most likely to rack up the highest score was undoubtedly the special class students.
Their abilities were already proven to surpass those of the average kids.
It was a given that they would have their scores targeted!
If you timed it just right, you could take them down while they were exhausted from hunting Erosion Beasts, thereby earning their scores too!
“So alliances might be a possibility…”
Karandis chimed in, picking up on the tense atmosphere.
“Kraush! I’m scared! Will you protect me?”
“I’ll be the first to eliminate you.”
“Stop being a brat.”
She pouted, pushing her lips out.
Just then, Kraush felt a tug on his clothes.
Turning his head, he found Haring, looking firm and resolute.
“I will definitely protect Kraush!”
Like a cat guarding its owner—so cute!
“Better keep those points to yourself. If you want to team up with me for future missions, you can’t afford to get eliminated either.”
Kraush smiled, jokingly admonishing Haring, who flinched and murmured.
“…Yeah.”
She replied with a shy expression, just as Karandis’s eyes widened slightly.
She had noticed Haring’s change in demeanor.
“Haring, could it be…?”
“I’ll call out the names, so please enter one by one.”
Before Karandis could ask Haring more, Ganon started to call out names.
“Kraush Balheim.”
The moment Kraush’s name was called out first, everyone realized the order.
It was based on their entrance exam scores.
“What a horrible scheme.”
It was a reminder to the other students of who they had to beat in the mid-term exam.
Kraush stepped forward, the eyes of his peers focused solely on him.
Admiration, respect, rivalry, jealousy—all those feelings mixed together in their gazes.
It felt pretty good.
He was ready to play the role of a shining star to spur the others on!
So for the sake of future battles, Kraush needed to stay in the spotlight.
However, within that gaze, he noticed the fake Aria hidden among them.
Kraush couldn’t quite decipher the emotion in the fake’s eyes.
But just knowing that the real Aria was behind those eyes made him tense up.
“Let’s see.”
Time to shake things up in this mid-term exam!
With that mindset, Kraush stepped into the spatial magic.
In an instant, the scenery around him dazzled with a flash of light.
The first thing he noticed was a forest.
At a glance, it seemed like an average forest.
But he saw that the bracelet on his wrist had turned purple.
Meaning, this was the exam venue for the mid-terms.
Kraush noted the red circle drawn beneath his feet.
Raising his hand, a transparent barrier shimmered into view.
It was the cue to wait until everyone had entered.
As expected of Rahern Academy, claiming to be the cradle of the world’s greatest talents!
They poured a copious amount of magic into this place for the exam!
How long did Kraush have to wait?
A brief while later, the red circle disappeared, and a breeze swept through.
A faint scent hinted there might be an ocean nearby.
“Is this some deserted island?”
How clever of them to set such a location for an exam!
Ding!
At that exact moment, a sound rang from above.
Looking up, he saw the name Sebas, a second-year student, written in the sky.
The number following it was “1.”
Someone had successfully made their first hunt on the Purple Line.
Kraush couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
It was almost as if they were encouraging the students to target the highest scorers.
“This means the top scorer will become the prime target!”
[What’s the endgame here?]
“It’s simple,”
Kraush began loosening his legs.
Fryyyk!
At that moment, the heat of Annihilation Erosion surged from him.
After all, his physical abilities had risen enough to handle Annihilation Erosion casually now.
“I’m heading for the Red Line.”
Level 7 Erosion Beasts—let’s see if you’re up to the test!
—
A quaint island prepared for the mid-term evaluation exam.
“Catch it! Push it that way!”
“Crazy, it’s really an Erosion Beast!”
“Aaaah, you traitor!”
In the exam space, various screens displayed the chaos.
In front of these was a single white cat sitting stoically.
Behind the cat stood several assistant professors and teaching assistants, all with serious expressions.
The reason for their grim faces was simple:
Behind them stood an entirely unexpected person.
“Could you think a bit about the professors and assistants?”
Ganon, the cat, finally spoke up, standing in front of the screens.
The one hearing this response merely snorted lightly.
“Isn’t it fair for me to observe the exam?”
“Well, you certainly have more than enough merit. But while I’m fine with it, the others are in for a tough time.”
His muscular build was apparent even beneath his formal wear.
Multiple ominous scars lined his body; he did not exactly resemble a human.
He was Derrick DuRandall, the former Sword King and now retired president of Rahern Academy.
The president was overseeing the mid-term evaluation.
The professors and assistants were grading the students’ performances while feeling a bit claustrophobic!
“So how are the 2nd-year students doing?”
DuRandall inquired, prompting Ganon to sigh.
“Overall, their skill levels are decent.”
Naturally, it’s Rahern Academy filled with the cream of the crop.
So it was no surprise their abilities would be impressive!
“But compared to the 1st year, they still lag considerably behind.”
But that didn’t mean they were the best.
The 1st-year students underwent the most grueling entrance examination before gaining a spot in the academy.
After all, students aged 15 to 19, deemed the best from each region, had all crowded into one space.
This resulted in a top class that could be considered exceptionally superior even in any generation!
In comparison, the 2nd years clearly fell short.
Many were barely 15 years old.
And on top of that, some older students were merely reattempting after failing the entrance examination the previous year.
Just by looking at that, the quality gap between the 1st and 2nd years was painfully evident.
It had become an unavoidable situation.
All the prodigies had gathered in the 1st year.
Thus, the 2nd year, in many ways, was fated to be weaker.
“So, what about on an individual level?”
At that moment, DuRandall formed a meaningful smile.
Upon seeing that smile, Ganon took a short breath, knowing he understood the meaning behind it.
“Even on an individual level, it’s clear that the 1st years outperform the 2nd years.”
The top-tier students from the 1st year were remarkable individuals who could shine in any era.
There was no denying their superiority.
But Ganon also knew about one individual who not only kept pace with them but did so with even grander achievements.
Kraush Balheim.
Currently the top student in the 2nd year at the Unnamed Academy.
Ever since his entrance into Rahern Academy, there had been constant talk about his achievements.
“If it’s about Kraush, he shouldn’t be far behind the 1st years.”
And it wasn’t just Kraush.
The special class he belonged to could hold their own against the 1st years.
But even among them, Kraush stood out significantly.
Ganon, known for being tough on evaluations, thought frequently about him.
That kid was definitely going to make waves in the future.
“Haha, right?”
Hearing those words, DuRandall chuckled with satisfaction.
Ganon could tell from the start what he wanted.
“Are you that fond of Kraush?”
At those words, DuRandall turned back to the screens.
Without hesitation, he was dashing straight in one direction.
From the looks of it, he was definitely heading towards the Red Line!
Despite being a level 7 Erosion Beast, his eyes held no hint of defeat, which he found rather impressive.
“I’ve never seen someone more enthusiastic than my old buddy.”
At DuRandall’s comment, Ganon raised his head slightly.
“Are you saying he’s as good as the Sword King?”
DuRandall reminisced about his days as the Sword King.
His colleague and friend, the Sword King, was someone he admired deeply.
Even Balok Balheim, renowned for his swordsmanship, acknowledged his name.
He was the one who stole the title of Sword King, leading Balok to inherit the name Sword Emperor.
Thinking back to that friend made him smile slowly.
“That friend had quite the poison in his blade.”
DuRandall recalled that powerful aura and smiled fondly.
Once more focusing on Kraush, he remarked, “That’s why I’m somewhat worried.”
As he contemplated how to prevent that overflow of talent from collapsing under its own weight, he wondered if he should give him a gift.
A star that’s meant to shine shouldn’t lose its luster!
Ganon’s eyes widened slightly with that statement.
“…The son of the Sword Emperor?”
If he went through with that, all the focus would be placed squarely on the Balheim family.
If the world’s balance tipped, something was bound to shake things up somewhere.
He was sure DuRandall understood all that too.
“Long ago, the previous Sefira left behind a prophecy.”
The astrological family, Sefira, held onto a prophecy left by their leader.
DuRandall remembered that clearly.
“They said countless stars would chase after one star that shone brightest above the engulfing dark star.”
“What a cryptic message….”
“So, if you want that star to shine the brightest, many other stars will follow in its wake.”
Ganon didn’t continue speaking.
He simply gazed upon the Kraush portrayed on the screen.
While the implications of DuRandall’s words were lost on everyone here, Ganon understood.
The successor of the Sword King….
He realized that DuRandall had chosen someone to pass on the technique he had honed over his lifetime.
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