Gorath, the orc headmaster, meticulously sifted through files, analyzing the potential of the new students. Securing 2.5 million recruits of each race had been no problem for the humans and Vorath. Humans, the most common race in the multiverse, were typically very average; but the strong ones had high aptitude for comprehending affinities, typically in alignment with their interests.
Very few wanted the Vorath due to their low average efficiency. However, Gorath grinned as he examined their files. There turned out to be some gems among them, too. Efficiency wasn't everything. The Vorath had a penchant for thriving under pressure, their inherent battle-lust forging them into diamonds under duress. The orcs themselves had proven that.
The Ursox and dark elves, on the other hand, had been a bit of a problem.
The Ursox, natural crafters and skilled in metal smithing and spirit engraving, were highly coveted by the dwarves. This was the first time the Ursox had been found in the multiverse, making them highly sought after.
Dark elves were always a challenge, notorious for their potent assassination cults and elusive nature, and elves always wanted to train their own.
Gorath's clan, prestigious in training new multiverses, wielded considerable influence, which had helped him secure an even distribution of each race. His insistence on diverse room assignments was strategic.
In the sprawling expanse of the multiverse, shattering racial prejudices and cultivating pragmatic alliances were vital for thriving. Gorath had seen it time and again: races clinging to their own kind, even in the face of mortal danger, stubbornly forming groups that overlooked stronger, more skilled individuals from other races who stood ready to assist. This narrow-mindedness often led them straight to their doom, blinded by the very prejudices that could have been their salvation. Recognizing the strength in every race was crucial, for it was unity in diversity that held the true key to survival.
Hell week was progressing well. The school was essentially a giant array, suppressing the students' ability to sense spiritual energy, preventing their cultivation systems from fully activating. His clan believed that the body was the foundation, and unknowingly, every time they pushed themselves to their limits and entered the medicinal baths, they were reinforcing and rebuilding their bodies with spiritual energy. Many hadn't realized how much stronger they were becoming.
As Gorath continued to review the files, an alert from the array caught his attention. He opened it to find a battle raging in the pagoda. He grinned. Mortal combat was one of his favorite things to observe. He zoomed in to watch the escalating chaos and saw a full-scale brawl.
More and more students were joining but it was restricted to one floor and would soon sizzle out, Gorath didn't want that.
Inspired, Gorath sealed the exits so no one could leave, kicked everyone out of their rooms, and sealed the doors. He then sent out a system-wide message:
"Fight, and be rewarded."
He ensured the array would pull students out and place them in medicinal baths if they were close to death. Most of the students left now were his cream of the crop, there currently 3 million students living comfortably in the infirmary; the goblins would take care of them.
Gorath could watch hundreds of battles at once, his eyes flitting from one skirmish to another, analyzing, evaluating, and learning about his students. Each fight told him something about their capabilities, weaknesses, and potential. But then he saw Finn fighting, and his attention zeroed in on the boy.
Finn was in the midst of battle, surrounded by enemies, his movements fluid and precise. His punches and kicks carried a power that seemed to transcend his physical form. Gorath watched as Finn's understanding deepened with each strike, his focus sharpening to a razor's edge. The boy was in a state of enlightenment, a rare and extraordinary phenomenon.
The orc gasped. Enlightenment. It was possible because, even though they couldn't feel the spiritual energy, it was still all around. Understanding it was hard but not impossible. Gorath had heard of this happening, but it was very rare, especially in situations like this.
Gorath made a decision. He altered the array, stopping it from suppressing their senses and allowing all the students to sense spiritual energy.
Many of the students started to feel and absorb the energy, their eyes widening in surprise and awe. They could sense the power coursing through them, amplifying their abilities and heightening their awareness. But Finn… Finn was different.
Finn was condensing intent, the first step of a weapon affinity. Gorath watched in amazement as the boy's fists moved with blinding speed, each strike infused with raw power and precision. Finn was comprehending a fist affinity, the rarest of all weapon affinities.
Fist affinity was considered the rarest because it required the purest form of martial understanding. It wasn't just about wielding a weapon; it was about becoming the weapon. Every punch, every strike had to carry the weight of the practitioner's soul. It demanded a level of dedication, intuition, and raw physical prowess that few could achieve. Unlike swords, axes, or spears, which could be extensions of the body, the fist was the body. There was no separation, no tool to channel the energy. The power had to come entirely from within.
The orc grinned, his tusks gleaming in the dim light. Finn's fist affinity would make him a formidable warrior.
Gorath watched as Finn's fists moved with blinding speed, each strike infused with raw power and precision. The boy was a whirlwind of destruction, his enemies falling before him like wheat to a scythe. The spiritual energy around him seemed to respond to his will, amplifying his strikes and lending them an almost supernatural force.
The other students were too engrossed in their own battles to notice Finn's transformation. The chaos of the fight masked his extraordinary progress, and while some might have sensed the shift in energy, they were too busy surviving to pay attention.
As the battle continued, Gorath's grin widened. He had high hopes for Finn, and he was eager to see how far the boy could go.
Most students at least the good ones would develop a weapon affinity and intent before leaving, but Finn had shown he was a good seed.
Of course he had monitored other battles too, he saw some really good potential.
Gorath sighed as the battle drew to an end; there were definilty a few good seeds in this batch. Finn's file was added to his priority file. He would simply pay attention for now; and he would instruct the other masters to do the same; if he or another master stepped out this early and gave the boy a big head by by giving him special attention, it'd do more harm than good.
Of course not everyone believed this, some schools would put Finn on a pedestal but Gorath believed it was counter productive if you did something like that to early.
He thought about something and wrote a quick note…