In the morning, all the students gathered at the central ground as instructed. Many teachers, department heads, and a few nobles were present, standing with an imposing aura. On the high-platform VIP area, the Duke, the City Lord, and the Military Captain sat, observing the proceedings.
The students were filled with excitement, knowing this day marked a turning point in their lives. Buzzing conversations filled the air, speculating about the tutorial dungeon and how aptitude would be measured. Among the chatter, some gossip stood out:
"Did you hear? This year, the successors and prodigies of four prominent elemental mage families have enrolled!"
"That's old news! The real highlight is that the kingdom's second prince and first princess have also joined. And there's even someone from the Empire!"
Pointing toward the front rows of the student group, one voice whispered, "That person doesn't seem physically strong but is rumored to be a military genius."
"And look over there—the one with the refined temperament? They've been personally taught by the White Tower Master!"
Suddenly, a teacher stepped forward onto the stage, inhaled deeply, and shouted, "Silence!" His voice was so loud it made the students momentarily dizzy.
Once the murmurs ceased, the teacher addressed the crowd:
"First, all students will enter the tutorial dungeon in groups. Whatever you gain from the dungeon will depend entirely on your ability.
After clearing the dungeon, each student will have enough time to cultivate their foundation. You are free to use any foundational technique you acquire, whether it's from the dungeon or your family's inherent techniques—there are no restrictions.
If you fail to acquire a foundational technique from the dungeon, you may report to the staff to receive the common-grade technique, Solitary Movement Foundation. Don't underestimate it. Though it is of common grade, with hard work, it can allow the creation of up to five energy points."
Evan thought to himself, The probability of the common-grade technique reaching its full potential is only 0-30%. Anything below the Unique grade doesn't guarantee the formation of energy points. Even Unique-grade techniques guarantee only 60% of their full potential, while Heroic-grade techniques guarantee up to 80% of total energy points. The rest depends on the user's luck and ability. Only Legendary-grade techniques ensure 100% of their potential energy points.
The instructor continued, "After everyone cultivates enough to generate an energy map—created when one begins practicing a foundational technique, mapping all future potential within their energy points and imprinted upon their soul—we will test your aptitude and potential.
This map is unique and impossible to recreate. Its destruction can result in lifelong incompetence.
Remember, you can create your foundation only once in a lifetime. So, make your decision carefully. After forming your foundation, you can choose your energy cultivation path and the department you wish to join. For any inquiries, feel free to contact the assistance staff or speak directly with an instructor."
A student raised their hand and asked, "Can you tell us the minimum criteria for combat education, martial skills, and magic?"
The instructor smiled, took out a flat, chip-shaped metal object, and tossed it into the air. The object floated, projecting a hologram for everyone to see.
"I anticipated this question, so I've prepared an introductory video," the instructor said.
Every student thought in unison, He's so well-prepared!
...
The video began:
The minimum criteria for the combat course is a 3-point foundation. Those who fall below this threshold can only pursue material refinement, research, or assistance practices.
As scientifically researched by experts, the human body can only handle the energy node till the 15-energy-points, when someone tries to create the 16th energy point, he will go into a state of overload and energy deviation, and his soul unable to handle the energy will be shattered, it can understand as the extreme limit a flesh and blood in a foundational stage human can handle, although this limit may vary depending on species such as demons, elves, spirits or bloodlines.
Those who acquire the foundation technique with 15 energy points or more need to report immediately before beginning their foundation establishment, they need to go through a period of training and compatibility tests to avoid accidents.
In case the technique is found to be unsuitable for them, they are recommended to exchange it for credits in the academy network system where corresponding credits can be used to purchase another technique of suitable grade, fair exchange.
Information related to the department will be given after the students form the foundation.
...
Evan thought that was another reason for choosing Primordial Core Triad Matrix, 15-point limit, the human body can't handle a load of awakening 23 energy points but this technique allows the creation of a true clone body which can be cultivated by sharing the energy point map to it, since, in the foundational stage it becomes impossible but in core stage or further, by fusing with true clone body, it will be same as cultivating 23 points energy foundation.
Then students started to challenge the tutorial in order they were called by the instructor.
After a few hours, the instructor called -"Evan Alfred, be ready" Then as his turn came, Evan entered the tutorial dungeon by entering the portal.
--
Evan opened his eyes to observe the surroundings, "Oh, it's different from the black cave, a dense forest wide open landscape, and weak monster hunted by students can be seen, well from what I know tutorial dungeon is not hard, all you have to do is to reach the forest center and defeat the boss which can be done with help of a small group or wait till 24 hours to pass by default(in this case, the reward is degraded by grade or two"
"well there are other methods such as finding hidden pieces which previously I thought as a backup in case I am unable to get Nine-Element Core Formation but I don't need them anymore, I already got the best technique possible so I will wait till 24 hours times up for default pass"
As Evan was roaming he saw a few people surrounding two brother-sisters with both had white hair bullied by a yellow haired leader.
"Hey, You commoners should accept the offer I am presenting, b grateful and I might help after I pass this tutorial"
"What grateful, you just want to use us as bait to lure the monsters so that you can avoid them and reach the goal, but we will be caught and deemed to fail by tutorial and unable to get anything."
"So what, it's not my problem, how about I help you by breaking your legs and throwing you in front of monsters, so you become good bait"
"scoundrel, don't try to pressure us with your title, we will not be suppressed"
Evan thought "There goes the general cliché of a bully and now a main character will come to rescue...coming right, yeah let's wait"
Seeing that the boy was beaten by bullies and other people avoiding this conflict and focusing on their work, Evan tried to ignore "Well they will somehow handle it, all I need is to wait until times up"
He tried to avoid it but stopped, gritting his teeth -"Okay, let's help them or I will feel guilty" By taking a long breath, maintaining a stance, lowering the body center, utilizing the one energy point in the body by rotating the legs, focusing the energy from foot to the center and twisting the body to dash forward and as he reached the 10 meters distance from them, turn its body, releasing the energy and taking a sharp angle turn to dash by activating all three energy points to move so fast that he appears and grabbed the brother-sister pair and run to the forest"
Bullies were stunned for a while unable to comprehend and the yellow-haired leader shouted in anger
"Who is it that wants to go against me"
Evan came to long distance away from them and as he stopped, a brother-sister pair sat there stunned but then thanked him for his help.
Boy said -"Bro, what's your name? You help us so if any help is needed in the future I will help you"
Girl -"Me too, otherwise my brother will create trouble for you"
"Hi, I am Evan, what about your names"
And there the conversation goes on, Evan thought that it would be nice to create some friends and they seemed to be nice people, Since I don't have any particular goal I will help them with finding hidden pieces, that can be considered them be lucky after all hidden pieces which are somewhat random always give minimum rare-grade technique (grade below Unique-grade),
And that's how the group of three walk through the forest making their way through it and unexpectedly meeting the boss monster.
Evan "It seems that during a conversation we unknowingly came to the forest center, well guys let's defeat it"
Although Evan's plans to wait 24 hours times up were completed beforehand, he still doesn't know that his action of helping these brother-sisters will lead to the rise of a future powerhouse.