Chapter 28: The Academy's First Trial
The classroom screens flickered, displaying the first written exam.
📜 Academic Test: Tactical and Logical Assessment✔ Time Limit: 30 Minutes✔ Failing Score: Below 70% = Demotion✔ Questions: Combat Strategy, Psychological Warfare, Game Theory
The moment Professor Alden Graves gave the signal, the test began.
Graves (calmly): "Start now. If you hesitate, you've already lost."
The room fell silent.
Rei's Strength – The Battlefield of the Mind
Rei's eyes scanned the screen instantly.
✔ Question 1: A team of three faces a stronger opponent. What is the most effective strategy?✔ Question 2: You have one minute to break an enemy's formation. What's the fastest method?✔ Question 3: Given a map of a battlefield, identify the weak points in enemy positioning.
To anyone else—this was hell.
To Rei—this was home.
His fingers flew across the interface, solving each problem within seconds.
✔ He predicted movement patterns.✔ He calculated reaction times.✔ He optimized survival rates down to a decimal.
While others struggled to analyze scenarios, Rei had already moved five steps ahead.
Rei (thinking): This is what I was made for.
Other Students React – The Competition is Real
Rei wasn't the only one excelling.
🔹 Mika Fujiwara's fingers moved swiftly, answering with cold, precise logic.🔹 Zayne Alistair smirked, easily handling the game theory questions.🔹 Even Kozuki Renjou, without expression, was answering at a steady pace.
Meanwhile—
❌ Souta Arclight stared blankly at his screen.
Souta (muttering): "…What the hell does this even mean?"
❌ Kenji Arata was practically asleep.
Kenji: "Tactical warfare? Bro, just punch harder."
Rei ignored the distractions.
With two minutes left, he was already reviewing his answers.
Rei (thinking): This was the easy part. The real challenge comes next.
DING! Test Complete – Results Displayed Immediately
The moment time ran out, the screens flashed with scores.
📜 Top Scores – Academic Test
🥇 1st: Rei Kurogane – 100% (Perfect Score)🥈 2nd: Mika Fujiwara – 98%🥉 3rd: Zayne Alistair – 96%💀 Souta Arclight – 58% (Barely Passed)
Souta (groaning): "What?! Bro, this test was rigged."
Rei (adjusting glasses): "No. You just don't know how to think ahead."
Kozuki's score wasn't displayed—but he didn't look concerned.
Kozuki (calmly): "A perfect score, huh?"
He glanced at Rei, not impressed… but acknowledging him.
For the first time, Rei had beaten Kozuki at something.
And then—
Graves clapped his hands once.
Graves: "That was your warm-up. Now for the real test."
The holographic board changed.
Combat Evaluation – The Physical Test Begins
📜 Combat Test: Survival Match✔ Objective: Last 3 Minutes Against an AI Combat Unit✔ AI Difficulty: Adaptive, Predictive Combat✔ Failing Condition: Knockout, Inability to Continue
Graves (calmly): "Stand up. Now, we see if your bodies are as strong as your minds."
Souta grinned.
Souta: "Finally, something I'm good at."
Rei went silent.
Because this was a test he had no chance of passing.
And this time, his mind wouldn't save him.