"The third phase of the test will now be carried out. The combine rankings has been shown infront of you in the table. Students are allowed to challenge those two ranks above their into a fight. If you are able to defeat the challenged, you will be assuming their rank. If you lose, you will be thrown one rank below yours and one below you will rise above you. Choose your opponents wisely. Three stages are assigned for the matches. Proceed with the challenges." Martin said.
The first rank in the combined rankings was held by none other than Ragnar Avalon. He was at the very top everyone was looking at him and those just below him in anticipation of a challenge. To their surprise those ranked second, third and fourth didn't show much activity for now. They let other proceed with their matches first.
Ragnar didn't wait for them and went to sit under a tree nearby, watching them matches proceed. He had thought of this opportunity to be one where his time would be wasted. Little did he know that it was a treasure trove of new innovation that had taken place during the time he had stayed dead.
Ragnar was conflicted with a lot of things. What happened two hundred years ago was clear in his mind. He fell at the hands of the fifth rank demon king Azarthos after being betrayed by his companions. What happened to the demons after that? Why did they betray him? How did Azarthos managed to convince him? What happened to the troops which has followed him after he was dead?
Although he had died, the Grimes organization was by no doubt weak. It's vice presidents and commanders were strong enough to have continued the war. The ones who betrayed Ragnar were other families. Did the Grimes take revenge for him?
Every bit of information about he war two hundred years ago was secret not known to general public. How did the crack leading to the demon realm disappear? Ragnar had made sure that he suppressed all the other species on earth and establish his reign at the peak. Yet now it was a combined species goverment. How did it came to be? There were so many question he had, but he chose to not dwell on them for now. For higher grade of information, he was required to reach a higher level of strength.
During his lifetime, there were no such grades as F-rank and E-rank. It was a system developed after his death. He couldn't understand its structure even now, but what he knew was that the information he required would need at least B-rank prowess to even pry on. His aim was to reach beyond his previous peak, and use all his research to create the perfect form he managed to design and think of in his previous life.
That was the reason he practiced all forms of sword arts and any weapons he could get his hands on while using three different Troll related arts. He had mapped a pathway which would led a normal being like him to a height that was unimaginable by him. Maybe, he could have killed Lucifer himself if he had managed to reach that height.
There was no reason or sense in dwelling on these matters. He knew that he had to improve all his skill to the maximum possible rank and then start even more research on his own paper and how to breakthrough his limits.
One of the biggest things which came as a surprise to him was the presence of both Angel and Demon blood. While he knew what Demons were, he didn't have an idea regarding what Angels were. He had to research about them as well.
For that to happen he needed enough resources to grow his strength at a rapid rate. This was the reason he chose to perform well in the competition. He needed to reach the alpha class as soon as possible to have access to all the resources he would need to achieve his preliminary goals. He had aimed to awaken at least one other other bloodline before he enters university like his previous life.
Unlike his previous life, he decided to work had and increase the purity, and quantity of both the awakened bloodlines to high class. This way he would be able to utilize the resources available to their highest extent. There was also, many formulas, methods, metamorphosis maps, channel maps and other thing he wanted to acheive. The time he had was quite small in quantity.
..... .
"Ragnar" A boy screamed at his face, breaking Ragnar's thought process and bringing him back to reality. When he raised his head, he saw that Ralph was standing in front of him.
"What is it?" Ragnar asked.
"I have come here to challenge you to a fight." Ralph said in a serious tone.
"Did you manage to reach rank three to be able to fight against me?" Ragnar said.
Ralph's expression changed when he hear this and a bit of embaressment flashed on his face. But he held himself together and spoke.
"I don't need to fulfill the rank requirement. Our fight was scheduled to happens today since a long time. Teacher Martin was the one who affixed the date. He will also be the referee for the match." Ralph said.
Everyone was looking at the duo with anticipation. They were aware of the bet between the two. They were expecting a big fight given Ragnar's performance in the first and second phase.
"Very well. As long as the academy allows it, I will accept the request." Ragnar said.
...
"The next fight will be between Ralph Moore and Ragnar Avalon as dictated by the bet both of them agreed on. I will be the one judging the fight. The participants are allowed to go all out and show the best if their capabilities against the opponent in front of them. The winner will be decided when one side is no longer able to continue." Martin said.
Ragnar and Ralph went up the stage and stood while facing each other.
"Are you ready?"
Both Ragnar and Ralph nodded their heads.
"Begin."
The drum was heard and Ralph shot out.