The following day, as usual, Erik checked his quests and accepted them. Completed the first and prepared to go to school.
On his way to the train station, Erik noticed several ambulances racing past.
"What the hell is going on?"
Wondering about the unusual number of emergency vehicles, he spotted another pedestrian ahead who was also watching the ambulances speed by.
"Excuse me!" Erik said. "Do you know what's happening? What's with all these ambulances?"
"The Crystal Cross gang assaulted a bank, and many civilians died in the attack," the older man replied.
"I see."
The Crystal Cross Gang was a criminal organization involved in drugs, prostitution, and extortion, among other illegal activities.
They were the most powerful and notorious criminal organization in Frant's capital, but they weren't the only ones.
However, what set them apart from all the others was the fact that no one, even their members, knew nothing about who their leader was.
Erik had seen the Crystal Cross Gang in action when they shook down Mister Fox's farm for protection money. These events happened regularly throughout the city—it was nearly impossible to stop criminals with powers, especially those with military training.
Erik thanked the old man and headed to the train station. When he arrived at school, the place was bustling as usual—with cars flying, leaving, or picking up students.
Scanning the area, Erik noticed Professor McAllister, Principal Harris, and an unfamiliar man walking toward him.
"Erik," Principal Harris said.
"Sir, good morning."
The principal appeared uneasy, almost fearful.
"This is Mr. Kite; he will accompany us today," the principal said.
Mr. Kite was a young man in his twenties—tall, thin, and wearing dark sunglasses. He studied Erik as if examining a specimen in a zoo.
"Good morning, sir," Erik said, extending his hand. Mr. Kite responded with a curt nod and a handshake.
"Excuse me, sir, but why is this man here? What's going on?"
"We are going to test your power today," Principal Harris said.
"Today? I had no idea."
He gave a look at Professor McAllister. The man told him to come as usual, but he thought it was because of class, or at best to train.
"We decided it at the last minute. It won't hurt, I promise you that. We just want to know how strong your new power is."
Professor McAllister explained everything during their walk toward the testing room.
They approached a large red door on the school's first floor. Inside, they found three men working at computer stations with multiple screens displaying different camera views. Some were school workers, while others were teachers.
These men were responsible for monitoring the tests and reporting the results to the principal. Cameras mounted throughout the room captured every angle of the testing process.
The room was spacious, with chairs placed in front of the computer stations for observers—usually family members and guardians—but Erik was alone, having no one to attend. Before them stood a small podium with a bluish-purple bead resting on a red velvet cushion.
Principal Harris turned to Erik. "Go to the podium and inject all the mana you can into the bead," he said. "Just place both hands on it and let your mana flow through. Don't worry—it won't hurt."
Erik nodded and took his jacket off, putting it on a chair. He then went to the podium and stood near the bead, waiting for the adults to tell him when to start. However, Principal Harris and Mr. Kite were talking. Harris always keeping a respectful tone toward the younger man.
Meanwhile, anxiety grew inside Erik. Soon they would discover his E rank. Erik got some levels by defeating Logan and his friends and pumped energy as much as he could. The problem was that he was still considered E-ranked, based on what the system said.
While this wasn't an impressive increase from an awakening perspective, such modest improvements weren't unheard of. A rank jump, in this case, from F to E.
They had likely hoped his brain crystal would be more powerful or that his ability would rank higher on the Jorm scale. His D-rank was merely average—neither impressive nor poor.
"You can start now, Erik," Principal Harris said over the microphone.
The young man glanced at them, then at the bead. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the stone, channeling his mana through his body and into the sphere.
The bead glowed, starting with a faint light that intensified until it illuminated Erik's face.
Erik caught sight of Mr. Kite's disappointed expression. "They found out," Erik said to himself.
"Well... what does it say?" Erik asked.
"Your level is E on the Ferebitz scale," the principal said, studying him. "If I'm not wrong, it was F previously, wasn't it?"
"Yes, sir, it looks like I jumped a rank!" He said with a fake smile.
"Yeah, congratulations," the principal said.
"Thank you."
Mr. Kite and the principal spoke quietly about the test results. Then they turned to Erik. "We need you to do one more thing for us," the principal said.
"What, sir?"
"Show us your new power, at full strength possibly."
Erik nodded, took a pen from his backpack, and injected mana into it. A thin mana coating slowly materialized around the object. After ten seconds, he stopped the flow and willed the mana to sharpen. With one swift motion, he slashed at a nearby chair, cleaving it in two.
Mister Kite and Principal Harris were pleased this time. "Good," the stranger said.
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Your power has been measured to be D ranked on the Jorm scale; it essentially means it is a good power and works well even with low mana levels."
Erik already knew this, though they were unaware of it.
But he wasn't so naïve as to really believe that.
He watched as Mr. Kite and Principal Harris talked until the principal turned to face him.
"You can go with Professor McAllister now."
"All right, sir."