It was only around 10:20 AM. Inside the fifth testing room, there usually wouldn't be more than 20 people but as the final exam of the year, this time there were a full 50 people.
All students in the same year as him had gathered in the testing room, some had fearful faces or others were gazing at the ceiling.
This time, the test was to eliminate those whose genetic awakening wasn't high enough or had low hopes of becoming an adept. Those who had more than 70% were allowed a chance to continue on the next year where the focus they would receive will be higher.
On the other hand, those that were below the 70% would lose that chance and may have to be transferred to an ordinary school, losing as well all the benefits of a student in the Adept Preparatory program.
The testing room was equipped with a last generation body scanner, a large anima screen, and a large anima-coated glass arena for the students to test their fighting skills. Lots of equipment to test physical strength, speed, the reflex and other few things.
Inside the square, the about to be tested examinees were all standing. Those who performed quite well on the preliminary a few days ago didn't show much stress on their faces while those that didn't have much talent had tense and scared faces.
"Is he that one?"
"I can't believe he really came."
"He must be asking to be eliminated."
When he entered the room, all eyes turned to him. Gazes filled with scorn as he could faintly hear whispers of mockery among the other students.
The examiner this time wasn't one but two, a middle-aged man dressed in a white coat. The students were all that familiar with him, but most knew he was a respected teacher and one of the researchers that worked on the higher floors.
By his side of her there was a female, she wore military clothes and had a white mask covering her face.
The woman was certainly beautiful with excellent curves, in fact it both her figure was between elegant and strong with some defined muscles that even the white coat couldn't hide.
Thomas and all the students could tell this woman was familiar to them by neither of them could tell why.
The students couldn't stop chatting among themselves when the middle-aged man shouted to the kids.
"Quiet! Today on this final examination for the fourth year students in our program I am glad to announce we have a visitor. Miss Shade, please step forward."
Hearing his words, the woman standing beside him gave a step forward, the students closer to the front all could see the weapons she carried all over her body.
All those kids suddenly stepped back as her valiant and fierce aura of her scarred all of them.
"Hehe." The middle-aged man seemed to have found their little reaction a bit funny before he continued. "This lady here before you used to be a pupil of this institute. At seventeen she reached 100% genetic awakening and got her Anima Ability two weeks later. She participated in the battle for the Human Alliance's first colony outside the pacific region of mars. Now, she is the youngest Adept to have been accepted into the Elite Division of the Adept Association of mars. The youngest and most famous adept in our city, The Elite Adept Katherine Shade. "
"The Battle Tigress!" All the students including Thomas had the same realization. For kids such as them, they didn't know much about how the Adept made for them to divide the different ranks and types of adepts which made it hard to know who was the strongest adept in a city with over 100,000 people such as Dexia City .
But even so this woman before them was surely one of the most famous. In all nine human cities that were built on Mars, few achieved what this woman did.
Her power was incredible, like a real tigress who could beat anything with her fists. Her tactics were crude and based on her enormous strength, she was said to have killed twenty high-ranking demons and four green orcs with her bare hands.
What is even more amazing is that she's only twenty years old this year!
With such a powerhouse watching them, everyone got a lot more nervous, Thomas included.
The woman nodded while her eyes swept over the entire testing room. Taking a look at all the students, she roared: "You are all in the institute for quite some time and should know the importance of this test. From the test, if you're above 70% then you've made it. However , this time I'm here to chance things a little. If a student didn't make it, you can challenge someone that's passed the test according to the rules. If you win, you will also make it while the loser shall lose his qualifications! "
'Roar!' All the students were immediately shocked. Never would have they believed there would be such a change in the exam, this time even those who had genetic awakening over 70% began to tense up.
If they passed the test only to be used as a stepping stone for others would be really embarrassing.
The middle-aged man stepped up on the platform and stood next to the huge body scanner and took out a thin screen that had all of the names.
Thomas sat on the clean and smooth ground without caring about the other students, neither of them are his friends anymore so why should he care.
Thomas calmly watched those whose genetic awakening didn't make the requirement and were crying.
His eyes were cold, he didn't feel any pity for them. He knew from first hand experience that they loved to pick on those that were worse than them. Especially this "trash" here.
When they were insulting the classmates lower than themselves, they probably never thought that this day would come. If they didn't waste time insulting others, they would have more time to train and maybe even reach the required level for the exam.
Now, even if he failed in this test, he won't feel desperate as he could already see the path he needed to take. Even without the institute he could still use the system to make himself stronger, and maybe even find out what happened to his father and older sibling.
"Luccas Kyle!"
The middle-aged man's cold voice brought reaction to Thomas, with both his brows and his closed eyelids slowly went up. The tall and slim youth wearing fancy clothes is the present leader of the class, having both talent and a strong background.
They went to the same middle-school as Clarisse and even hung out together to play games. Now he's as cold as a block of ice towards him.
Feeling Thomas staring at him, Luccas shrugged his shoulders feeling disgusted. Walking up to the platform he entered the scanner full of confidence, he already knew very well from now on trash such as him isn't worthy of his attention.
"Genetic Awakening: 100%"
Seeing the result on the screen even the middle-aged man was surprised. In his tablet he could see the information of that student and was even shocked when seeing he was seventeen years old last month.
In the tablet he could easily see the huge background that this youth had as the heir to the Kyle Group, the owners of the genetic improving pill that was more expensive than gold.
He guessed his current level was reached by consuming the medicine of his family, and even if it was somewhat unjust to the other students, it would be fine as long as it could produce strong adepts to protect humanity.
His eyes shone. 'A seventeen year old adept!'
Even Elite Adept Shade seemed to give the youth a second look. It is really rare achieving this at his age, with time he could even rise to the top of the Adept World.
"Luccas Kyle, Genetic Awakening 100%" The Examiner finally recovered from the shock he felt slightly nodded while announcing his score to all the students.
Thomas looked at that huge 100% and felt his blood boil. All this time he knew the talent his old classmate has, but this came as a surprise to him.
He seemed to remember Luccas didn't participate in the simulated test three days ago. He was out because of some family matters and his first appearance in two months was today.
Hearing the middle-aged man 's voice, Luccas let out a breath as his face became filled with pride. He long since expected this result, yet no matter how much he knew what would happen he couldn't control how nervous he felt.
Some students walked forward to congratulate and flatter this young Adept, while others threw glances of envy and jealousy towards Luccas.
As time passed, more and more people were deemed unqualified, dulling the atmosphere of the testing room. Those that didn't pass showed a depression when they were rejected but laughed when others also did not pass.
Sitting on the ground, Thomas continued to observe the examination. Of the 50 students, forty were tested, sixteen barely passed with exact 70% and a bit more, eight were a bit better and got results over 80%, but no one got close to 90%.
Of course, only if Luccas is excluded.
On the field, the number of people waiting for the test slowly dwindled and finally there were only Thomas and another one left.
Soon, a bleak young student stood up and went to the scanner even though he knew that he had no chance of qualifying.
Next to the Scanner, the middle-aged man looked at the last name on the list and his face turned green. Still, he clenched and announced the name with difficulty.
"Thomas Ries!"
Katherine Shade noticed the change in her old tearcher's face and felt curious about the youth that was called.
Slightly raising his head, Thomas opened his eyes and observed everyone in the room. He could not help but sneer internally when he saw the gazes filled with expectations of his failure!
Under many gases, Thomas stepped into the scanner. On the square, the intense gazes focused on Thomas whose body stood inside the scanner.
Like all the past times, he could feel thin energy waves passing through his body together with a slightly tingling sensation in his whole body.
The number didn't show immediately this time instead a huge 0% was placed upon the screen.
However, before the students could even enjoy his failure his number began rising from 0% to 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%... 30%, 31%, 32%... 50%, 51%, 52%...
Many students couldn't keep their mouths shut as the numbers didn't stopped increasing.
Suddenly the number stopped.
[Genetic Awakening 69%]