In the observation room, all of the teachers were wide eyed open in shock, stunned from what they were seeing.
"He...he... what...?"
"This is..."
"Just who is this kid...?"
The teachers collectively muttered, speechless from the display showcased on the hologram.
In the corner of the room, Rio shifted his eyes to the largest hologram displayed in the room. Team Kojiro's battle had just ended, however no one paid heed to it...
It was because of the impossible sight displayed on the hologram — it was an image of Arcuied bringing down his sword to a fallen Second Year student.
With that, the shock of many were understandable...
In all of the history of mankind, only few were able to bypass the fundamental difference between rank by pure monstrous talent and strength. And those few turned to be the great rulers, and heroes most peopr know today.
Seeing another person showing such quality, and the person was a student at that. It could be said they were witnessing the birth of a potential ruler of men...
However, there was one problem.
Arcuied Valens — was a mere civilian without a noble name behind his back. However... that could be tolerated easily if the name atleast has some form of prestigous reputation.
But... Valens was an unfamiliar surname no one knew about.
Not a noble name, nor even a prestigious civilian name, but his surname held nothing at all.
While one might argue it was just a name, but in the Kingdom's status quo... the name a person held immense significance in their future.
At that moment, countless nobles inside the room realized this grave issue. A wary, alerted glint shone on their eyes as they stared at Arcuied.
This sign didn't go unnoticed to Rio. Looking at their reaction, he wasn't surprised. In contrary, he easily understood why they were feeling wary and alterted.
Arcuied's rise might be the sign of their ultimate downfall.
In the current state of society in the Arthurian Kingdom, the nobles had the most authority than ever in history. They could do anything they want with few to none repercussions. They held that much power.
And with the Kingdom personally guaranteeing their safety and reputation, most of their actions and crimes went unnoticed to the common masses.
But... not all of their actions went unnoticed. No matter how good and great they cover their actions up—some few were still leaked and snitched by other people.
Because of that a lot of rumors and news still circulate about their tyranny and arrogance until this day. But such news were only circulated on the few places in the Kingdom, it didn't reach far into the Capital nor to other places.
..But what's the relation of all that to Arcuied?
It was simple. Arcuied Valens was akin to a potential flame of hope, or perhaps a star of change. Once a mysterious ordinary civilian with no prestigous origins managed to actually accomplish an impossible achievement... then the flare within the common people will ignite.
A shift would gear society to change as normal civilians might reach to aim for grander dreams and goals.
But a short summary of history will tell you that the people above the hierarchy don't want that. They despise ambition and change. It was uncontrollable and dangerous for them. It could potentially overturn their power and authority.
But it wasn't all hopeless for Arcuied and the nobles—if for example, a noble wouly personally teach and adopt Arcuied as a heir then...
At that moment, Rio felt countless stares direct towards him. He raised his head, staring nonchalantly at the swarm of teachers with a smirk.
The nobles took notice of this, their eyes shining with greed.
Rio chuckled indifferently, his mocking smirk taunting the nobles.
...You're after my club? Then come to me and get it.
—
In the middle of the library, a curly black haired student narrowed his eyes in interest.
"Interesting..."
Cassius muttered, his lips curling into a smirk.
"I can't see anything.."
If some other student would hear his words, they would be extremely shocked. Cassius the all-seeing was unable to see? It was one thing if his opponent were the top 10, but if it was mere First Years...
"Very interesting. The only feedback they gave back was a short flash... From the other reports, it's most likely their leader who did it.." Cassius lowered his head, deep in thought. After a while, he shook his head. "Regardless, they can't do anything at this time anyway. The best they can do is stall until..."
Boom—! Rumble—!
While he was deep in thought a loud explosive sound suddenly echoed in the library, rumbling the ground as the shelves and book tored apart from the force.
Cassius swayed, holding onto his staff tightly to not fall.
Woosh—!
Just as he was recovering from the sudden surprise, a feminine suddenly figure leaped to the air with a maddened, furious expression. On the female student's hands, a large steel warhammer was held tightly.
Wihtou hesitation, Cassius suddenly closed his eyes and held the staff on his hand tightly. He whispered.
"[Hurricane of Lightning.]"
At that moment, the wind shook as they converged at the middle of the library, forming a whirling hurricane that sucked the books and rubbles from the ground. Inside the hurricane, bolts of lightning ocassionally flashed within,.
Woosh—!
"Ah...those precious books..." Cassius sighed, pained. He shook his head, staring at the falling figure on the air. "It's a necessary sacrifice.." freew(e)bnovel.(c)om
Cassius nudged the staff slightly, pointing it at the falling female student on the air.
Following his command, the hurricane slowly moved towards Venice who was falling from the air.
Venice narrowed her eyes. She raised the warhammer on her hand, reinforcing it with magic. While the hurricane slowly closed into her, she suddenly closed her eyes...
Cassius stared at her in confusion.
Woosh—!
At that moment, Venice opened her eyes.
"Haaaaaaaaa....!"
Venice suddenly shouted, letting her body fall into the hurricane. She gritted her teeth, holding the warhammer tightly, she raised her arm strongly and spun the warhammer around with inhumane force beyond her imagination.
Woosh—! Woosh—!
The warhammer spun wildly, making Venice body rotate. Venice looked like a spinning tornado against a mighty hurricane. The hurricane slowly dispersed from repellant force of the warhammer...
"What is this inhumane strength, is this girl really a Rank E First Year..? How strange..." Cassius looked at her strangely, taken a back. "Well, let's see you handle this then."
Cassius closed his eyes and tapped the staff to the ground.
"[Somnus..."
Woosh—!
While he concentrating on using the skill, a loud flash suddenly resounde. Before him, fwo figures suddenly appeared, holding a sabre and a katana—Cassius suddenly widened his eyes in shock.
Without wasting any time, Cassius closed his eyes again and quickly casted a different skill.
"[Strengthened Repel]"
At that moment, the wind gathering near his body blew harshly. One of the two figures couldn't react properly, blown away by the wind to somewhere in the library.
Woosh—!
However, the other figure holding a katana...
"This is checkmate," Kojiro said, smirking. "You damn annoying gigolo."
"Hmm?" Cassiu smiled. "Is that so?"
At that moment, the smartwatch suddenly beeped loudly.
[ANNOUNCEMENT: A week has passed in the real world. The test has officially ended. Students who are still in the exam, please stand by and wait for security to escort you back...]
[To repeat: The exam has officially ended.]
Kojiro blankly stared at the air, quickly losing his smug smile. Somewhere in the gigantic library, a green haired student restlessly ran throughout the place.
The student occasionally stopped as he ran, shoving the wooden shelves near him as it formed a small blockade for the bolts of lighning chasing behind.
Crackle—!
Xiao panted, beads of sweat pouring down on his face while his body highlighted darkened spots on some areas.
Behind him, several bolts of lightning chased after him aggressively.
Feeling the bolts of lightning closing into him, Xiao rolled over to one of the shelves near him, using it as a blockade to cover his body from the bolts of lightning. After that, he quickly stood up from the ground and pushed his body to run.
Crackle—! Bam—!
The bolt of lightning exploded upon contact, destroying the wooden shelves on the area. The nearest few were completely destroyed by the explosion, while the far ones had managed to sustain the damage. From the explosion, smoke erupted and covered the whole area.
This kind of scene was happening at four places, at the same time in the library.
'...It was a mistake to seperate the group.'
Xiao thought, remembering what happened earlier.
'If only I had realized that sooner..'
A few hours ago, before this sorry situation of theirs—they had just arrived at this library, exhausted from a long walk. Oddly enough, the entrance path they took was unusually a long, and arduous one.
It took them an hour just to arrive in the library, and when they did arrive in the library... the situation turned chaotic quickly. They met some other student—proclaiming himself as a text examiner for the third phase of the exam..
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