Meanwhile, the students had a range of reactions to Mr. Quinn's revelation.
"Woahh, is that for real?" one student exclaimed in disbelief, their eyes widening at the astonishing information.
"Wow, if that's the case, the Wood Clan must have unparalleled power when it comes to mana, right?" A student from a minor clan marveled.
"The Wood Clan seems incredibly formidable if this is true. But why have they kept it a secret for so long?"
"Maybe they've been avoiding the envious gazes of the Fire Clan, especially since they're always keen on asserting their dominance." another student from the Wind Clan speculated.
"Hush, they might overhear you from the Fire Clan, and they could go on a rampage again." cautioned another companion, their eyes darting around nervously.
"Well, it's the truth, after all" a more nonchalant student pointed out, seemingly unfazed by the revelation.
"If they're truly so strong and blessed with an abundance of powers, why haven't they extended their help to the minor clans under attack from neighboring nations, especially up north?" questioned a student from a minor clan, voicing her concern.
"Good point! Or maybe, despite their many talents, they're just a bunch of cowards, hahaha!" another student chimed in, provoking laughter from those who heard the remark.
Chastine, with her exceptional hearing, caught nearly everything the students were saying about her clan.
Some expressed admiration, while others remained skeptical, going as far as labeling the Wood Clan as cowards.
"Hohoho. Many of you may be pondering this, but that's the truth when it comes to the Wood Clan. So, to maintain fairness in leveling up for all students, regardless of their clan affiliation, they must still undergo tests, hohoho!" Mr. Quinn clarified.
"Due to the disruption in our usual PLM, we will be transitioning to a high PLM. This will entail a few adjustments, especially for those who haven't had the chance to take the exam yet."
"For those who haven't taken the exam yet, here's how your ability levels will be determined. It's different from the old system, which had only four colors. The new system uses seven colors..."
"Like before, we have yellow, white, blue, and red. This time, we're adding three new colors: violet, maroon, and black. The black level represents the highest amount of mana one can harness, typically achieved only by geniuses with vast experience in mana manipulation. On our continent, those who attain the black level are an exceedingly rare few, hohoho!" Mr. Quinn elaborated.
"But don't fret, especially those of you who received blue or lower grades in the previous PLM levels. It doesn't mean we're transitioning to an entirely new system. In the higher PLM levels, lower grades are common because you're still students, and it's expected that your abilities are at a student's level..."
"Such grades are what we anticipate for students like yourselves, so there's no need to lose hope, particularly after this revelation, hohoho!" Mr. Quinn reassured, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
"Anyway, we've been delayed long enough, so let's resume our selection process from where we left off with Ms. Wood, hohoho." Principal Quinn declared with evident delight.
At his words, Chastine promptly took her place at the center stage, once again extending her hands toward a crystal ball.
This one was much larger than the previous one I had shattered, nearly twice its size, she thought.
Upon laying her hands on the crystal, it began to illuminate, rapidly cycling through various colors.
It started with white, then progressed through blue and red before deepening into a darker shade of red.
Slowly, it shifted into a rich violet hue.
Eventually, it settled on the regal color of violet.
Violet level!!
The second-highest level...
A sense of wonderment filled the hearts of some students at the sight of the violet color.
"Woahhhhh!"
Some students were genuinely astonished, marveling at the extraordinary amount of mana Chastine possessed.
Others couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, especially among those from the major clans who found it hard to accept that a seemingly delicate girl like her could have such powerful mana.
'That frail-looking girl can't possibly be strong.' thought a female student from the Fire Clan.
Her gaze was fixed on Chastine, as if she were trying to find any signs of trickery.
Meanwhile, a few students from the major clans, who had only attained the blue level, representing Water, Wind, and Earth, found themselves unable to look away from her.
They had believed that members of the supposedly weaker clan within the major clans concealed substantial mana reserves within their bodies.
Principal Quinn's words had indicated that individuals with this level of power were considered exceptionally strong, with the potential to ascend to the red level.
--
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the gymnasium, a group of students tried to stay away from the noise and commotion.
However, they couldn't help but be drawn to the center stage.
"A very interesting person, a Wood Clan member indeed." said a mysterious voice with a deep, resonant tone, his attention focused on Chastine.
"What's her name again?" the voice asked, looking at his friend, who remained turned away.
"I heard it's Chastine Aphrodite Reign from the Wood Clan."
"Hmm... Aphrodite, huh..." the voice murmured, as though etching the name into its memory.
"Why? Did she capture your interest, Chronos?" chimed in another male voice.
"Uhm..."
His focus remained unbroken, locked on Chastine.
A subtle smirk curved his lips, as if he had just encountered something truly intriguing for the first time.
While the others in his group observed, they couldn't help but be taken aback by Chronos's fixed attention on the girl on the stage.
Their clan, known for having the highest number of students consistently ranking in the top 20, had a reputation for being unfriendly.
They were considered the most reserved among the major clans.
While the Fire Clan was notorious for being noisy and quick to provoke, their clan was famous for its composed demeanor, and it rarely interacted with other clans, particularly within the major clans.
Among the major clans, they held the distinctive title of the "Dark Clan."
While the "Wood Clan" was known for its secrecy, they were famous for a very different reason – they were recognized as the most powerful clan, mainly because of their unique way of ruling.
In contrast to other clans, where members often had some freedom in their actions, the Dark Clan operated under a strict set of rules.
This wasn't just for the sake of it, it was a necessity.
Their extraordinary abilities were extraordinarily potent, but they also carried a great potential for danger.
The clan had learned through experience that their powers had the capacity to pose a serious threat to other clans they might come into contact with.
As a result, these self-imposed rules and secretive practices were meant to protect both themselves and others from the potential dangers their abilities could unleash.