The disapproval of the students echoed through the room, Shota knew he couldn't just leave before providing a suitable explanation.
"There's still hope for those who weren't qualified to take the exams, make it to class A, students of class A are automatically taken to the exam hall after their final lessons, whereas in class B only the truly exceptional is qualified."
The gasps of the failed students echoed through the classroom. "If you weren't selected, you either performed below average or you still need a certain level of growth. Like I told you from the beginning, take your trainings very seriously. You all have been continually assessed since the day you enrolled here."
The class went silent, seemingly they realized their mistake however it was too late.
"For the eight students who qualified, the exams holds in the Suzana empire in the Havens academy. However before you can participate in the exams, you need to register for it before it's too late."
"Huh!? Sensei!? What do you mean we need to register? You said the exams are tomorrow and a journey from here to the Suzana empire takes at least half a day!" With concerns, Silver voiced out.
"I know, which is why we'll be leaving for the Suzana empire today, accommodations have already been prepared beforehand. Time isn't on our side, you have five minutes to get your affairs in order then we leave."
With his final announcement, he departed from the classroom to ready the carriage that would transport them.
Mizuko, Mei and Yui all approached Ren, he still couldn't believe that he wasn't chosen. "This can't be happening." He stuttered, tears slowly escaping his eyes.
"Ren..." With a slight mutter, Mizuko could only glance at him with pity. That was another member of their team evicted, temporarily at least.
Although to Mei and Yui, they viewed this as the perfect opportunity to leave Ren behind. He had always been a thorn on their side since their transmigration, well not anymore.
"Take a look at it this way, as you were deemed unqualified, at least you won't be a burden to us." As Mei spoke, the air thickened with tension, the underlying threat in her tone palpable. It was a twisted kindness, a way of asserting her dominance while masking her true intentions.
"Mei!" Mizuko shouted, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. He was displeased with the way she treated their teammates, arrogant and prideful we're the two characters he was stuck with now.
"We did it!" Daichi exclaimed, filled with joy and excitement as he approached Rentaro with a smile.
"We sure did." He replied, folding his hand and squeezing it tightly.
'In order to survive in this world, I must get stronger and the first step to that is the Soul-Hunter exams.' He thought, he viewed the system as a cheat code, something that allows him to continuously get stronger. However what he had no knowledge of, was for what purpose.
Unknown to the two boys who celebrated, a pair of menacing eyes glared at them from afar, Sado's.
"A commoner who has no Soul-Type, and a commoner with a D-rank Soul-Type got accepted over me?" He chuckled softly, unable to accept it.
"Sado, stop." Silver called out to him, with the knowledge that he wasn't thinking straight.
"Impossible!" Losing his senses, he engulfed his right hand with his [Astral Fist] and plunged forward at the two boys.
Alarmed, they stood to their feet.
As Sado unleashed his astral fist, a swirling mass of energy aimed directly at Rentaro and Daichi, Silver stepped forward, his expression resolute. In one fluid motion, he raised his hand, channeling a powerful surge of energy that rippled through the air.
The impact was electric. Silver's palm met Sado's fist with a deafening crack, sending shockwaves through the classroom.
The classroom froze, their eyes wide with disbelief. The sheer force of the impact sent ripples of shockwaves across their faces, mouths agape as they struggled to comprehend what had just transpired.
"I told you, to stop." With a cold gaze, his voice took on a chilling edge, each word dripping with an icy detachment that sent shivers through the air. He squeezed his palm tightly, shattering the [Astral Fist] into several pieces effortlessly.
Sado fell to the ground, ridden by disbelief. Silver shattered his mass concentration of Soul-Energy with just his bare hands?
"Sorry about that, Sado loses his senses whenever he gets angry." He chuckled softly as he ran his fingers through his hair.
'What?' The multitude thought.
'That wasn't an ordinary feat by any chance, who is this guy?' Rentaro thought, he regretted not having the chance to complete this novel now he was had no knowledge how things would play out from here. But there was one thing he did know, humanity was bound to perish.
"Okay, time to go." The sturdy voice of Shota broke through the awkward silence as he walked into the room.
Without a moment to waste, the selected students all matched out of the classroom but before that, Mizuko left Ren words of assurance.
"Don't worry Ren, we'll hold down the mission till you join us."
..
The trip to the Susana empire was long and tiring, the carriage was quiet, the mixture of nobles and commoners making it difficult for them to converse.
It was already past noon after they arrived at the Susana empire. The Suzana Empire was a realm of unparalleled luxury, where the richest nobles reigned supreme. Its cities gleamed with opulence, featuring grand estates adorned with intricate mosaics and sprawling gardens.
Long ago, it housed one of the greatest blacksmith who is said to have created the mythical sword of the Etherbane — a sword used by the legendary warrior Eldrin, whose skills is said to be unmatched.
The carriage stopped at the registration center situated in the Havens academy, the location of the Soul-Hunter exams this year.
As they all alighted the carriage, Shota addressed them from the window.
"Registration closes in thirty minutes from now, till the exams arrives you all will rest in the academy, after pulling some strings you've been granted access to the academy's guest center. You're on your own from now, good luck." As he bid his students farewell, the carriage departed.
The scenery of the bustling empire was thrilling, a sight to behold.
"So this is it huh." Daichi said with a radiant smile on his face.
"Yeah..." Rentaro replied, in all honesty he wasn't thrilled on becoming a Soul-Hunter, but in order to get stronger it was mandatory. After completing the daily quest for today, he discovered that he didn't receive a key.
Soul-Hunters are granted access to several types of dungeons according to their ranks. He couldn't count on the system rewarding him with keys to a dungeon all the time so this was the only alternative.
'This is it.' He thought, squeezing his fist as he glanced at the academy from afar. 'This is the beginning of my Solo Leveling.'
Given the deadline would soon elapse, the eight selected students rushed into the academy. After fighting their way through the long line of people who wished to apply for the exams, they managed to register at the last second.
They were each handed a rectangular tag with several numbers on each, from the number 1241 to 1248.
"What!?" It came as a surprise to Rentaro, the number of applicants this year reached up to 2000. This goes the show the number of individuals who wished to become Soul-Hunters, most driven by monetary means as there were lots to be gained from this job given the level of risks involved.
All participating Soul-Users were expected to proceed to the Haven's academy the next day for the start of the examination. That granted everyone of them hours of rest and time to prepare for the exams.