Chapter 18 - Evaluation

[0:01]

"Tch."

Neo stretched his palm towards the beast's neck and built up an a blue ball of energy which gradually before using his ability [Electric Burst] to fire it like a blue beam of light surrounded by electricity into the back of the creature's neck and killed it.

[Vanessa has killed the main beast]

[Xenos has killed the main beast]

[You have killed the main beast]

[You have gained 300XP]

[You have levelled up]

[level 3>4]

[The time limit has elapsed]

The system displayed a bunch of notifications as Neo fell to the ground.

[You'll be transported back in 0:10..0:09]

"O-ow." Neo groaned as his back hit the ground, he got to his feet slowly and faced the beast they took down. He smiled before hearing footsteps approaching quickly from behind him. He turned around only to see Vanessa and Xenos approaching him.

"We did it!" He yelled highlighting their accomplishment, but his excitement was withheld as saw Vanessa's eyes which showed seriousness.

"Start talking Reo." She demanded to know how he did what he did, even Xenos became curious on how Neo was able to move like that.

"Talk about what?" Neo replied her pretending to be oblivious about what she wanted to know.

"Don't play dumb! You know exactly what I want to -" Vanessa's shouting was cut short by Xenos.

"W-what? We all defeated the large guy right, why can't I access his powers?" Xenos asked himself loudly which only confirmed the suspicions of Neo.

"Just as I thought." Neo replied to his question.

They were all transported back to the hall they were in before the first stage commenced, however there was a significant change. The teams of three that were a total of 373 reduced to 5.

Vanessa and Xenos were taken aback by the mass elimination in just the first stage, earlier principal Helen had told them only a total of 90 teams could qualify for the second stage. That was her original assumption to how many teams would make it.

"Only..5 teams made it this far?" Xenos asked as it was unbelievable as to how the number trimmed down so greatly.

"If you are present here, that means you have successfully passed the first stage of the Aenist Exams." Principal Helen's voice reached out to the remaining participants and they immediately turned their attention to the stage she stood on.

[Vanessa: 35 points]

[Prince George: 35 points]

[Reo: 30 points]

[Xenos: 22 points]

[Kevin: 20 points]

A large holographic panel appeared above principal Helen and displayed the participants with the most significant results in the first stage.

"Congratulations on clearing the first stage." She praised them.

"B-but what happened to the other's who didn't make it back?" A participant from there stammered crowd as he asked.

"D-does that mean.." Another participant stammered.

"No they are not dead, those who failed were simply transported back to their various homes." The principal cleared their doubts.

"I knew it, that city wasn't real was it." Neo spoke his mind loudly. All the participants murmured as they stared at Neo.

"What do you mean it wasn't real?" Vanessa in confusion questioned Neo.

The principal smiled softly, she was surprised that someone actually saw through it after 15 years.

"You are correct." She replied to Neo prompting the other participants murmur to increase as they were all shocked.

"That was my ability [Countdown], I created a domain where everything within it is controlled by my imagination for a given time limit depending on it's scale, for this stage it was 50 minutes. The beasts you all fought were real and at the same time they weren't real. I made it so no one would die." Principal Helen explained her ability and how it was utilized in the first stage.

Neo chuckled softly, that ability was indeed a powerful one which was able to trick even Neo for sometime.

"How did you figure it out Reo?" Xenos asked out of curiosity, it was simply astonishing. Even Vanessa wondered how someone as simple minded as Neo could see through the ability.

"It was simple actually, I first noticed it when I took down the Class C beast and the notification popped up. The beast wasn't bleeding and that's when it hit me, plus no matter the destruction the buildings nearby wasn't affected. Given the stakes of the first stage no one paid attention to their environment" Neo explained, the principal smiled as she was impressed at how Neo quickly broke down the first stage.

Neo's experience in gaming was a major factor which helped him realize that this was merely a diversion, the first stage wasn't a survival stage against the beasts.

"This exams are held like this for the past 3 years to prepare Aenists for the war, the first stage was all about survival. There is no such thing as survival in a war unless it's by your own victory.

The only way to pass this stage was to bring down as many beasts as you can in the given time limit, those of you who passed did just that while those who succumbed to fear, those who realized their difference in power and lost the will to fight lost."

She explained the first stage properly to the participants, it was a test in a test.

From the battle royale for the other participants, only a total of 20 people emerged victorious within the time limit as well which made the total number of participants that qualified to the next stage to be 35.

"The second stage of the Aenists exams will commence at noon, till then you are dismissed. That will be all for today." The principal concluded the exams for the day and all the participants left the hall and headed back home including Xenos, Vanessa and Neo.

After they had all left, a holographic panel played the events of the first stage Infront of Helen's eyes. The final moments of the first stage was re-played in the panel highlighting Neo's skill [The Assassins Instincts].

"That boy.." Helen spoke softly, she watched the movements of Neo over and over and trying to understand just what he was.

"He's quite a strange individual isn't he." A voice spoke from behind her. As Helen turned around to confirm who it was she quickly went on her right knee.

"Your highness." It was the princess of the Silvercrest Kingdom, who was known as one of the greatest Aen user in the kingdom.

"In all my years of training and experience I have never seen someone like him, who is he?" The princess questioned Helen stepping forward and glancing at the holographic panel.

"He goes by the name Reo Elwin your highness. I believe he belongs to the elemental class." Helen replied to the princess.

"Elemental class? And he's this strong? I see." The princess walked away towards the exit of the hallway. "Keep an eye on the boy, he looks special."

"As you wish your highness." Helen replied as the princess left the hall closing the doors behind her.