The sun had barely risen when Aidan arrived at the classroom, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and nerves. Today's results would determine his access to the resources needed for Hope's advancement, a crucial step in their shared journey. He had worked tirelessly on the draft Professor Marlon assigned him, and his system had been a silent but invaluable guide, offering insights into beast evolution that even the professor found groundbreaking.
Marlon's reaction had been more than Aidan could have hoped for. Not only had the professor praised his work, but he had also invited Aidan to join his research team. The thesis they would work on together aimed to unravel the genetic and environmental factors influencing beast evolution - a topic that resonated deeply with Aidan's unique abilities. Despite the system's assistance, Aidan was eager to learn directly from Marlon, whose reputation as a leading expert in beast taming was unmatched.
As Aidan took his usual seat near the middle of the classroom, he spotted Darius entering shortly after, his confident stride a stark contrast to Aidan's quiet determination. The two exchanged nods, a silent acknowledgment of their rivalry. Moments later, Maren, their combat instructor, entered the room, her presence commanding immediate attention.
"Today's evaluation will consist of two parts," Maren announced, her voice firm yet encouraging. "The first is a written test. Your question papers will now be sent to your watches."
She tapped a few buttons on her wrist device, and a soft chime echoed across the room. Aidan's watch vibrated, and a holographic display materialized above his desk. The watch's advanced design ensured that only he could see the questions and his responses.
The questions were challenging but familiar, focusing on hypothetical scenarios involving various beasts. One question asked how to counter a Flame-Tailed Ravager in an arid environment. Another required devising a strategy to tame a Skybreaker Hawk without damaging its fragile wings. Aidan's mind raced as he recalled information from the Basic Beast Knowledge archive provided by his system. The archive had been a treasure trove of insights, and he breezed through the test, completing it in just 30 minutes. With time to spare, he reviewed his answers meticulously before submitting the paper.
When the written test concluded, the class moved to the training arena for the second part of the evaluation. The arena buzzed with anticipation as students gathered, each one eager to prove their worth.
"The second test will assess your combat skills," Maren explained. "There are 100 of you, and you will each fight five matches against randomly assigned opponents. Your performance in these matches, combined with your written test results, will determine your rank."
Aidan's heart sank slightly at the mention of random pairings. He silently hoped to avoid facing Darius or any of the other top-tier students. While his strength had grown considerably over the past month, he knew he was still far from their level. Darius, for instance, was at the peak of Black Rank, on the verge of breaking through to Red Rank. Moreover, students like him had not only mastered their beginner manuals but had also learned weapon arts, achieving high proficiency.
That is also his goal to achieve it because if he comes under top 10 he is also getting rewards from the system.
[Academy Quest: Become Top 10 in the Monthly Exam]
[Rewards: Any Black Rank Sword Art, 500 credits]
[Side Quest: Become Top 5]
[Rewards: Intermediate Sword Manual, 1000 credits]
He is still confused what the system means by saying any, is it a random selection from system?
However, He just shrugged and dismissed it for now, He will see it later when the time comes.
As the pairings were announced, Aidan's first opponent turned out to be a mid-tier student named Kalem. Relief washed over him; Kalem was skilled but not unbeatable. The match began with both combatants circling each other, their wooden swords poised. Kalem struck first, a quick thrust aimed at Aidan's torso. Aidan parried smoothly, countering with a diagonal slash that forced Kalem to retreat. Drawing on the techniques from his Basic Sword Manual, Aidan maintained a defensive stance, waiting for openings. When Kalem overextended during an aggressive charge, Aidan seized the opportunity, landing a decisive strike to Kalem's shoulder.
"Winner: Aidan Lorne," Maren declared, a hint of approval in her tone.
The next two matches followed a similar pattern. Aidan's strategy of patience and precision proved effective against opponents who underestimated him. However, his fourth match was a stark reminder of the gap between him and the top-tier students. His opponent, Lina, was a Peak Black Rank student with a mastery of dual blades. Despite his best efforts, Aidan found himself overwhelmed by her speed and technique. The match ended quickly, with Aidan nursing a bruised ego but gaining valuable insights.
His final match was against a burly student named Garrick. Unlike Lina, Garrick relied on brute strength, wielding a massive warhammer. Aidan knew he couldn't match Garrick's power head-on, so he focused on agility and timing. Dodging Garrick's heavy swings, Aidan waited for the right moment to strike. When Garrick's hammer lodged into the ground after a missed attack, Aidan darted in, delivering a clean hit to Garrick's side.
By the end of the combat trials, Aidan had won four out of five matches a respectable performance but not enough to guarantee a top rank. As the students gathered to hear the results, Aidan's system chimed softly in his mind.
[Academy Quest: Become Top 10 in the Monthly Exam]
[Status: Pending]
[Rewards: Offensive Sword Art]
[Side Quest: Become Top 5]
[Status: Pending]
[Rewards: Intermediate Sword Manual]
Aidan clenched his fists. He had done well, but the real test lay in the combined rankings.
"You did well man, cheer up" said Darius sitting next to him. "Like me, Lina also hails from a big family so she had much resources from the beginning or else she is very weak. But don't worry in the next month exam you will surely be able to beat her."
Aidan can only smile helplessly, only Darius has the courage to say this since he is currently the strongest in the whole school.
Darius words encouraged him a bit. He knows he has already tried his best.
"You have one match remaning right?" asked Aidan. Before Darius could reply Maren announced his name for the next fixture.