Wolford City is the capital city of the planet Rhost. This planet is one of the six habitable planets of the Staller System, a mid-sized system located at the middle part of the human territory.
There are twelve planets in the Staller System but only half of them can actually hold citizens for the time being. The others were either being terraformed or were just used as mining planets.
After humans experienced a few interstellar wars that changed how they see the universe and themselves, they became determined to survive and become a strong race in the future and live without fear of always being annihilated by the other races. In those times, what they needed the most were warriors that could defend their race and at the same time explore the outside universe to collect resources for their race.
To accomplish the things they need and to acquire the things they want, strength is the most important thing to have.
…
On the ground, a huge formation was laid. However, it was still inactivated.
The students moved inside the circular formation as the middle aged man instructed. Raia and the two didn't move to their place because they were already inside the formation.
When the facilitators confirmed that the examinees were all inside the formation, the middle aged man standing on the stage began speaking again.
"I am Hesco, the department head of the Military department. I will now explain the entrance exam for our department. The exam will be divided into three parts. Each test will have requirements for you to pass and if you fail to reach these requirements, we will have to request you to leave the campus. You will earn points based on your performance in each of the tests and the top in the rankings will be given rewards. Do your best, because we will also discuss among ourselves who among you can be recruited as elite students."
The words 'elite students' made the students motivated. Most of them dreamed of being one after all.
"Your first exam will take place inside this formation. For this test, we will activate this formation that will reduce all of your cultivation states to 1st Martial Physique State. I will release my spirit aura for you to carry for one hour while standing. You will pass if you are still standing at the end of one hour. The students who will fall to the ground, faint, leave the formation, or quit will fail the exam. Any questions?" Hesco swept a gaze to the students.
One of them raised his hand and Hesco pointed at him.
"Are we allowed to use weapons or equipment against the spirit aura?", asked a male student.
"No, all of your weapons will be useless when the formation is activated." Hesco declared.
"Who else has questions?" , continued Hesco.
"Are we allowed to use techniques or skills?" asked another student.
"No techniques, no skills. The only things that you will use are your foundation, body and your will to pass the exam. But if you have talent, you can use it." Hesco answered quickly.
Most of the students were a bit disappointed when they heard that talents can be used. They saw it as a bit unfair to them because they didn't have any talent. However, they couldn't do anything about it as that was just the reality.
Some of the students asked more questions to make the test clear. After which, Hesco activated the formation. The students were instantly inside a dome like energy.
It was a grade 4 Cultivation Restraining Formation that can reduce a high-level Martial Spirit State into 1st level Martial Physique State. This type of formation is difficult to create and can only be used on specific targets. The ones above Martial Spirit State won't be affected by this formation. Of course, the department knew that the highest examinee is at mid-level Martial Spirit State and was sure that the formation will all affect the students.
Raia and all the students felt the quick decrease in their cultivation states. It declined until it stopped at 1st level Martial Physique State.
'I feel very weak.' He sighed as he thought to himself how low his power was. However, as he was checking his aspects, he smiled as he realized that the formation didn't affect their states. His foundation and body were still at perfection states while his spirit was still at high state.
At this moment, a wave of spirit aura covered the inside of the formation.
On the stage, Hesco was releasing a 5th level Martial Spirit State spirit aura. He was already at 3rd level Core State so this was an easy task for him.
In an instant, half of the examinees dropped to the ground. The moment they fell, they were sent outside the formation and tended by the facilitators.
The others were shocked when they saw this scene. The other half of the students were still inside the formation but a large number of them were displaying difficulties in their faces.
One by one, examinees fell to the ground, fainted and some even quit.
After all, bearing the spirit aura of a Martial Spirit at Martial Physique is an intense task. For many, it is even considered impossible. However, that was the step they needed to pass if they really wanted to enter the number 1 academy in Rhost.
Ten minutes later, Hesco increased the spirit aura into 6th level Martial Spirit State. The additional pressure surprised the examinees.
Many students didn't make it and were sent out from the formation.
Raia, who was standing calmly, watched all of this happen. He was also feeling the pressure but unlike the others, he can withstand it easily.
On his side, Faye and Aaron were doing fine. There was already some pained expression from Aaron but he was still standing.
They were not allowed to help the others so Raia couldn't do anything about it. He just hoped that Aaron and Faye could pass this test.
Another ten minutes passed and Hesco increased his spirit aura. Students were sent out of the formation feeling defeated and disappointed.
Half an hour into the test, only about a thousand remained. Every ten minutes, Hesco increased his spirit aura by one level and as he did, examinees kept failing. Only five hundred out of the ten thousand examinees were left even before the first test ended.
Raia was feeling the pressure, however, his high state spirit helped him to endure the spirit aura.
He also noticed that the other students showed off some of their talents to bear the pressure easily. There was a young man near them that had an icy aura around him. It's fortunate that he didn't have anyone around him or they will have to move away. There was also this young lady that turned her hair red while it emitted some flames.
Hesco was observing the students around him when he turned his attention to these students.
"Ice and Fire talents, huh." He commented as he expressed a smile.
"That young man is Azel Lander, the son of Major Arman Lander stationed in Dandune planet at the border." The professor beside him said. "The lady with the fire talent is Grace Miller. She is the first one in her family line to awaken a talent."
"Is that so? I look forward to their performance." Hesco said with a nod. He gave a quick sweep of the gaze to the remaining students and saw some familiar faces that he already had some information about and knew beforehand.
Some of the students were living at Wolford City and have some good reputation alongside their families.
"How about him?" He asked the professor as he locked his eyes on Raia.
"Hm? Give me a second." The professor looked up Raia at the tables and spoke. "Raia Lyndon from Forzen City. According to his profile sent to us by his school, he awakened a physique talent not long ago."
"How long are we talking here?" Hesco asked with curiosity.
"Uhmm..Two months."
"I can see that he has awakened a strong physique talent. He is not budging under my spirit aura even for a bit. I feel that I can line him up with the top students this year." Hesco added.
"Really?"
"I am not one hundred percent sure. Let's observe him more."
At the mark of fiftieth minute, a burst of 1st level Martial Warrior State spirit aura surged throughout the formation.
One hundred students were instantly sent out of the formation. Feeling depressed and regretful, many of them cried.
A few more students revealed their talents. One of them was surrounded by a mist of vapor and another one wore some kind of earth armor around his body.
Hesco was satisfied when he realized that the students who possessed talents already exceeded ten. And he knew that some of the students were not yet revealing their talents.
Raia now felt the pressure from Hesco pushing him down. It was not as strong as the one that the rank 5 beasts in the world inside gave him but it was still enough to make him tremble a bit.
Faye and Aaron were gritting their teeth and clenching their fists on his side while their bodies were shaking. There was blood on Aaron's lips and Faye was almost crying.
They endured the last ten minutes like it was forever.
"Time's up!" Hesco shouted as he retrieved his spirit aura and slowly lifted the formation.
Raia assisted Faye and Aaron in taking a seat on the ground.
In the end, the three of them passed with three hundred and fifty others.
"Congratulations on passing the first part of the test. We will move on to the next one after one hour. Use this time to rest." Hesco announced to the 353 students that passed the first part of the exam.
The students who passed were relieved to hear the announcement.
On other hand, those who failed were full of envy and disappointment. However, the only thing that they could do was to move on.
"Are you alright?" Raia asked the two while sitting on the ground.
Aaron nodded. "Yeah, just a bit tired. My body is already at its limit half way through but I just endured it. Now the exhaustion is kicking in."
"Me too. Good thing they gave us time to rest or I don't know if I can pass the next test." Faye said with a deep breath.
"You look fine." She commented as she stared at Raia.
Raia smiled and said, "It was a bit tiring but luckily I can handle it."
As they were talking, they noticed some of the students approaching and talking to those that showed their talents.
The three didn't pay much attention to them and continued with their own discussion.
Five minutes before the second test started, the three stood up to stretch their bodies.
At this time, a figure approached their direction. It was a female student with long dark blue hair. The other students were shifting their gazes to her and looking at her with admiration in their eyes. However, no one was courageous enough to talk to her.
She was only a few meters away when Raia finally noticed her and immediately recognized this lady.
"You..Flawless pill!" He shouted as she looked at the female student.