"A year after the events of the last chapter, at the academy. After the class is finished"
Mamoro: Well cadets of the second year… as I told you in the beginning of the last year. There's a test in the beginning of this academic year deciding which class u will be in for the rest of the academy years. Class A gets a lot of attention and has more opportunities for vouchers from professional knights. Sadly, not many cadets get to be a part of this class.
Daishi: Sounds easy for me…
Zack and Menori can be heard laughing in sarcasm.
Daishi in anger: Both of u wanna fight again…?
Mamoro: Mister Atsushi, I think you already lost that battle a year ago. Anyways, everyone you are dismissed for the rest of the day. Have a good rest and get ready for the test tomorrow.
Everyone leaves the class. Their faces filled with excitement and challenge.
"Some minutes later, at Meru's old and destroyed training area."
Zack practicing his element destroying more and more in the training area.
Zack thinks to himself: Well… I hope Meru could fix this… I need to learn to control this thing more… too much power with too small surface to concentrate…
Zack: Man, damn it… I wish I had an instructor with more free time…
Zack continues training for hours and hours later until very late at night.
"The next day, in the arena of the academy"
The cadets sitting around the arena watching in a crowd.
Mamoro standing in the middle of the arena: This test is the most important test you will take during the academy. The ones who will pass this test will get in class A. The ones in class A will get special treatment and potential high rank after graduation, As I told you before. The ones who would fail will be in the class B which doesn't get these advantages. So the test is simple.
He points up to a flag hanged to the ceiling: This is your target. Whoever gets this flag in 5 minutes passes… Seems easy, right? The only obstacle you have is that you have to fight me to get that flag. Shall we start?
"After testing four cadets who failed."
Mamoro: Next is… Arakan Emiko.
Emiko, a short girl with kind and calm smile on her face. She has white hair with friendly face. She walks to the arena.
Emiko in excitement: Here!
Mamoro: Begin when you're ready… hopefully, you can win…
The arena gets all covered in mist, and Emiko starts rising towards the flag. Mamoro boosts his legs and jumps towards her and then he boosts his arm and tries to punch her but a physical cloud of mist blocks the punch with Emiko giggling. She appears behind Mamoro as she kicks him with her leg covered in her aura smashing him to the ground of the arena. Mamoro stops himself midway and jumps towards her grabbing her leg and throws her away but she creates a cloud stopping her in the air.
Emiko: Too much effort you give against a simple academy cadet…
She dashes at him trying to slash his shoulder so Mamoro gets ready to block her attack. She changes her direction and kicks his side away and then she flies back to the flag and gets it.
Mamoro smiles while getting up: Arakan Emiko is the first to pass the test to class A.
"Three more cadets to fail."
Mamoro: Next, Hajime Akimi.
A short boy with white hair looks younger than his real age, has dark red eyes and wears casual white and dark blue clothes walks in the arena.
Mamoro thinks to himself: they told me that this kid got potential… But I see nothing special about him…
Akimi: On your mark, Ki-Sensei.
Mamoro boosts his legs with his element. Akimi smiles as the gravity gets reversed around him. Akimi lands near the flag but Mamoro dashes at him hitting his chest with the knee sending Akimi away but Akimi changes the direction on gravity around him again so he's standing in the middle of the air.
Mamoro: Gravity based element? Never seen something like this…
Akimi: Whatever…
Akimi changes the gravity around Mamoro pinning him to the ground making him unable to move then he flies towards the flag grabbing it.
Akimi: I think I passed.
Mamoro: Good job…
Mamoro thinks to himself: this kid… What is his element… I never saw such a thing.
"one more failed cadet later"
Mamoro: Anyways… next is Atsushi Daishi.
Daishi walks in the arena and suddenly jumps in the air towards the flag. Mamoro out-speeds him and jumps behind him then he boosts him arm and punches Daishi to the ground as he hits it too hard spitting out blood.
Mamoro: First rule in the academy, Don't be deceived by your power… even if you're the strongest there will be someone stronger somewhere else.
Daishi in angry voice: Can you shut up already… I'm not planning to lose yet…
Daishi gets up leaning on his sword and he covers his sword with black aura and then he rushes at Mamoro and tries to slash him with it as Mamoro gets ready to block it, but Daishi hits the ground with his sword and then the ground starts shaking as the arena starts to fall apart.
Akimi thinks to himself: this idiot… Is he intending to kill us?! This whole place will collapse soon at this rate…
The cadets start getting out of the arena except Emiko as a piece of rubble fell on her leg breaking it and blocking her way to her blade.
Daishi in anger: All I care about is… Getting my rank as a respected knight. I want to prove myself… even if I kill every single person in this kingdom… I don't give a fuck about this…
Daishi rushes at Mamoro and keeps clashing with him more and more.
"Meanwhile, out of the arena."
Akimi and Menori looking among the cadets to check if someone is missing. Akimi notices that Emiko is missing and starts getting worried.
Akimi nervous thinking: Where is she?! Could she be still in?! No way… The arena is collapsing…
Akimi runs in the arena which is falling apart. Menori tries to stop him but he pushes him away and runs in.
Akimi shouts: Emiko, Are you here? Where are you?
Emiko mumbles: This hurts…
Akimi manages to see Emiko stuck so he rushes to her and tries to get her away but to no avail. A huge piece of rubble almost falls on them but Akimi stops it midway but since he's concentrating on stopping he rock he can't move.
Emiko: I hate that mist isn't effective physically…
Akimi: Take my blade and break the rock… Quick!!
Emiko does as told and makes a cloud of mist after freeing herself helping Akimi to push the rock away by taking some of the weight. He carries her out and once they go out the arena falls in rubble.
Zack: This is… Crazy…
Daishi walks out of ruins holding the flag. Zack pulls him from his shirt in anger.
Zack yells at Daishi: You sick bastard, what you did could have killed everyone here including yourself…
Daishi: Oi… Don't blame me. I didn't break any rule. He said nothing about destroying the whole thing…
Mamoro walks out of the ruins injured so Zack lets go off Daishi as everyone rush to Mamoro to check on him.
Menori: Are you okay, Sensei?
Mamoro: I'm fine… For the rest of the cadets, You will have your test in the alternative arena.