Ragnar's number came up quite fast and he entered the isolated chambers. To his surprise, the testing mechanisms of humanity seemed to have improved in the two hundred years. He could feel a trace amount of mana flowing around him, connected to the vessels below.
Given he practiced a high level art and had undergone channel excavation so many times by now, his sensitivity towards mana was extremely high. Hence, this test was a cakewalk for someone like him.
The test begun and he passed the first four levels easily and quite fast. This made sure that he entered the mid-ranks of the class rankings. From here on he was going to show some struggle. Although he could end the examination soon if he wanted, he wanted to slowly show his potential. Showing too much strength all of a sudden would attract unwanted attention towards him.
He didn't want to repeat his past, where his journey was ladden with blood of those who wanted to profit off him.
The test started to become difficult with every level and the sixth level was something Ragnar found impressive. The seventh surprised him even deeper as the trace of mana was very thin and he could barely feel any trace given normal methods.
"I guess the civilization did improve during the time I was dead. Good. Let us see how far it can push me." Rather than moving around , Ragnar sat down and closed his eyes. The next moment the mana inside his body began to spread and then he suddenly opened his eyes and tapped at one of the vessels. Little did he know that his actions were causing a huge wave of distrubance outside.
...
"He managed to pass the seventh level. How can he do that? Are you sure it was Ragnar Avalon who went inside?" One of the students asked.
Gossips began as people were starring at the board with surprise. But the biggest amount of shock and distress was felt by two peoples. One was Martin and the other one was Ralph. This was an unprecedented result. An increase in Ragnar's physical abilities were acceptable, but this was not something either of them had expected to have happened. To think he would be able to clear the seventh level, which was the record for the school was a huge shock.
The eight level began.
"This should be his limit right." Martin rushed towards the examination cell and instructed all the examiners to recheck the entire system. They responded with a thumbs regarding the normal operation of evrything.
"How can he do that? Why is that bastard performing so well?" Martin was slowly turning crazy due to ye events. He couldn't accept the fact that someone like. Ragnar, whom he sought to kick out of the school , could do so well.
"Sir." A voice sounded.
"What is it?" Martin said in an irritated tone.
"Ragnar Avalon has cleared the eight level." The man said in a nervous tone.
"What?" Martin screamed while jumping out of his seat. " Call all the technician and experts. Check the system immediately. There has to be a problem somewhere."
"Stop it." A voice sounded behind Martin. His expression changed when he heard this, since he knew how powerful the owner of this voice was. It was none other than the school principal.
"What is the status now?" The principal asked.
"The test for 9th level has started." The man said.
"Show me the video inside the isolated chamber." The principal said. The video on the screen changed and a figure appeared. He was sitting with closed eyes, completely static. None of the technician managed to understand what he was doing, except for two people in the room. One was Martin and the other one was the principal. As they watched his activities, their suspicion was slolwy becoming the truth.
"That is " Martin said in disbelief as Ragnar lifted his hand to tap the vessel on the right. As expected, he managed to clear the ninth level as well.
"Immediately call a meeting of teachers after the end of the examination. We need to perform a change in ranks, especially related to the name of Ragnar Avalon." The principal said.
Martin nodded. That was all he could do. The tenth test started. Ragnar resumed his static position and while everyone was expecting him to make a choice he suddenly opened his eyes, smiled and left the room.
"Why did he not make a choice?" The principal was looking at the screen with a weird expression. If Ragnar had passed the tenth level, an unprecedented achievement would have been performed in a school. This would have enhanced his status to a whole new level and would have to be informed to the ministry of education. The prospects of someone who manages to reach level ten in mana sensitivity was on another level.
"He must have failed to sense the answer." Martin spoke to himself.
"There is no way that is true." The principal thought. Although everyone missed it, he saw Ragnar's reaction in one of the direction, and it was the one where the mana was being infused. He knew the answer but chose not to attempt it. This made the principal question Ragnar's motives. Just what was he thinking?
.....
"I got carried away for a second back there. To think it would be so difficult to sense the mana, that I had to use a specialized skill for sensing the mana fluctuation. The examinations are way tougher than they were two hundred years ago. The general masses are able to perform well as well. This is not one of the best schools and even here someone was able to reach level seven. That is an achievement on its own and speaks about how much the species have grown in these two hundred years of absence." Ragnar smiled.
He loved challenges and it looked like the current world would be the perfect stage for him to avail them.
As he walked outside, the people around were looking at him as if they had seen a monster. Level 9 was a myth for these people and Ragnar managed to reach that level. The biggest comedy was Ralph's facial expression. It was a mixture of shock, surprise, jealousy, hatred and embaressment. Ragnar loved the expression.
"This is just the beginning. I will show you just how merciless Ragnar Grimes is." Ragnar thought.