-Next Day-
Today was the day of the class evaluation exams for the 2nd years . This is a very important competition attended by not only 3rd years but 4th year students as well . By the end of 4th year many students are already on the verge of entering the SSS-Rank level . They are mostly peak SS-Rank warriors . Some geniuses even enter the SSS-Rank before graduation .
The participants of this class evaluation are 2nd year students and the people who just entered as freshmen . The 3rd years and 4th years don't participate . Once you have gotten into the class in 2nd year , you have no other choice but to remain until graduation . Well , re-evaluation tests which occur once a year is an exception but that too is only upto 2nd year . Once you enter 3rd year , the classes are finalized and they can never be changed .
Kaito and his group which includes Akari and Yuuki as well are coming towards the exam site . Kendo looks a little restless . He told Kaito .
"Hey Kaito . It isn't fair that only you get direct promotion"
"Then try defeating a Demon king like me and you could get the chance too"
"Hmph . You are just rubbing salt on my wound , right ?"
"No . I am stating the facts"
Kendo quieted down . All the others started smiling due to Kendo's behaviour . They reached the arena as Kendo , Akane and Kaori had to enter from another gate which is for the participants . They bid them farewell and the group split into two and went separate ways . Akane , Yuuki and Kaito entered the place for audience .
They entered as many students looked towards them . Kaito's name has already spread throughout the Academy in the last few days as he received glances full of admiration and respect . Well , some even gave omnious looks but he ignored . Kaito knows that there is hardly any one who could defeat him as he is now .
The 4th year students all looked towards Kaito . They had their eyes full of a mix of emotions . Kaito couldn't decern the meaning that whether they are proud or jealous but it didn't matter him . This was also the first time Kaito noticed the popularity of Akari and Yuuki in the Academy . Kaito thought it made sense because who doesn't want strong goddesses to protect them .
Many 4th years also looked towards them as some of the weakest among them had glances full of lust . Kaito didn't miss those glances . Their glances made Akari feel a little uncomfortable but Kaito responded quickly . Once his glance met them , the felt an incredible amount of pressure . Kaito who was looking through the blindfold also can release an amount of pressure but if he opens them the pressure increases several fold . There is hardly anyone who can stay still after Kaito's blindfold opened .
Akari flashed a smile towards Kaito as he returned it back . They went towards a place in the arena to sit as the three of them sat side by side . Kaito just spread his mana around the place to see if he finds the person he expects to find . Luckily , he found him . It was Ryou Hajima .
He was suspended from the Academy for 6 months and Kaito realised that his punishment should have been over . He was not only suspended but also demoted from Class S to Class B . His class will never be changed because he is already a 3rd year .
The competition still had some time to begin as Kaito relaxed a bit . His body wasn't completely healed although maximum was completed but still the pain remains .
'Ugh ! I have to search for some regeneration skills as soon as possible'
'More intense fights are ahead and if one injury lasts for too many days it becomes troublesome'
Although Kaito can bear the pain pretty easily but he still couldn't fathom complete movement . Kaito still had some time left as he quickly closed his eyes and entered the 'Skill Library' . Kaito spiritual body entered the library as he walked towards the shelves . He said
"System , find me a highest-rank regeneration trait"
[Order Received]
[Searching a skill book for Host]
[Skill book found]
A book directly landed on Kaito's hands . He read the descriptions .
[Trait : Transcendent Regeneration]
[Rank : Z]
[Can heal almost all injuries except the ones directly on the spiritual body]
[Effect : Complete Regeneration of internal and external injuries]
[Additional Effect : Regeneration increases by 200% during near-death situations]
Kaito sat crossed legged as he kept the book in front . His mana passed through the book and returned to himself for 10 seconds as the system notification popped up .
[Trait : Transcendent Regeneration received]
[Under the effect of 'Grandmastery of Skills' the proficiency reached max level]
[This trait has an passive effect]
Kaito was satisfied . A passive skill means a skill which doesn't require mana to activated instead is active for 24 hours . Kaito came out of the library as he found himself again sitting in the arena . The competition has almost started . Akari and Yuuki are talking among each other .
The competition started as the commentator announced .
"Welcome to all students who have participated in the Evaluation Exams"
"The participants are requested to come in the arena"
The students came in . There were many students with sword and many with staffs . Kaito also saw Kendo , Akane and Kaori . Both Kendo and Akane held a sword whereas Kaori had a staff . He also noticed some new faces which are probably the freshmen . The commentator announced once again .
"As there are new students I shall explain the rules of the exam"
"The exams will be conducted in two parts"
"First , the students will have to go through a magic power and an elemental affinity test to determine their ranks"
"The amount of magic power will determine their rankings"
"Second , the students will be fighting in a duel against each other"
"The final rankings will be decided and they will be assigned classes according to their overall performance"
Kaito was relieved . It was a little different to his re-evaluation but he wasn't worried . After all , it made sense that the Academy can't provide a single dungeon to so many students individually . Kaito was sure of the outcome though . He knew that his friends will not score below 85000 mana points and it will help them reach directly to S-Class .
"Let's start the competition"
"Each participant was given a number upon arrival"
"Please come forward accordingly"
"Number 1 , please step up"
A student who had a little healthy body came up on the stage . There was a mana meter in front of him which can determine mana upto 300,000 points . The boy came and placed his hand on the meter as instructed . The mana meter started to glow as it emitted a greenish light . After a few seconds , the professor who was standing beside him said .
"Higana Haru . Mana : 20,000 points . Element : Wind"
'20,000 ? That means he is at C-Rank'
'Pretty strong for a freshman'
"Next Number 2 , please step up"
The same continued as more students came and had their affinities checked as they went back .
****
This test continued for about 3 hours as all the students have had been assessed . Some freshmen displayed amazing results . Some of the people had even reached A-Rank before even starting at the Academy . The final rankings of the first round was displayed .
[1. Kendo Ichinose . Mana : 225,000 . Elements : Fire and Wind . Year - 2]
[2. Kaori Ayakouji . Mana : 200,000 . Elements : Fire . Year - 2]
[3 . Akane Karuisawa . Mana : 185,000 . Elements : Water . Year - 2]
[4 . Yuki Amano . Mana : 105,000 . Elements : Ice . Year - 2]
[5 . Aoi Hina . Mana : 101,000 . Elements : Water . Year - 2]
[6. Misato Akisawa . Mana : 88,000 . Elements : Fire . Year - 1]
[7. Haruto Hirako . Mana : 86,000 . Elements : Wind . Year - 2]
[8 . Aki Shino. Mana : 82,000 . Elements : Water . Year - 1]
[9 . Ken Izuko . Mana : 79,000 . Elements : Earth . Year - 1]
[10 . Haruko Shiina . Mana : 77,000 . Elements : Lightning . Year - 2]
These were the top 10 students . Kaito was surprised a little as he saw that many students from 1st year has successfully entered the top 10 rankings . During the year Kaito was admitted , only one student from 1st year was able to enter the top 10 rankings . That student was Yuki Amano . She was now ranked 4th in her 2nd year .
The Vice President of Class S last year is also on the rankings . She is ranked 5th . Kaito thought that it's a pretty good score . After all , only 15 to 20 students would be assigned to Class S among all the students present for the exams .
The duel among the students would start in an hour . Kaito already knows the result of the battles as he can predict them . He just sat their as he started his cultivation . This time he wasn't absorbing mana but rather he was absorbing Aether . He wanted to increase the number of Aether circles in his heart . His newly constructed heart is atleast 5 times more durable than his previous heart .
He can absorb a high amount of mana to store it in his heart . Well , he not only absorbed mana in his heart but also started to train his aura core . His aura core which had two elements in them is a bit special . Although , his aura core can contain all the types of elements and that also in an infinite amount but Kaito felt otherwise .
He knows of a saying which says that instead of collecting more types of knowledge focus solely on increasing the knowledge of a single item to the highest level . If you have many things to eat you become confused but if you have only one item you eat that with savouring its entire flavour . Kaito wished to train these two elements in his current core to a high level before trying to absorb more elements .
****
The competition ended after 5 more hours . Many students had already left before completion as some students were still left . The principal was still present as he has the responsibility of overseeing the whole competition to gather more powerful students . Kaito cultivated for a whole 5 hours as his mana capacity has increased . He noticed that rather when his mana capacity increases leaps and bounds his mana now increased very slowly . In this 5 whole hours Kaito raised his mana capacity from 795,000 to only 815,000 . He was still far away from 1,000,000 points .
The final rankings of the competition was announced as the classes were decided . As expected Kendo , Akane and Kaori are all assigned to Class S for their 2nd year . Kaito , Akari and Yuuki got up with relieved faces . They went out of the arena as they met up with the others . The share of congratulations started to circulate among them but Kendo's behaviour was becoming like someone who has a massive amount of pride on himself . Kaito didn't say anything . He let Kendo be for today as he knows that Kendo is in a very good mood today and he doesn't want to destroy anyone's mood .
****
Kaito got up early . Today was the start of classes for the students and Kaito wanted to do a little training . He freshed up as he got out of his room . He went to the training room . Although sword training is very important for a swordsman but physical training is more important . Without a flexible physique and high stamina becoming a swordsman was like searching for a needle in a haystack .
Kaito's habit of training whenever he has time has continued back from childhood . Kaito was comparatively stronger in comparison to people his age but that doesn't mean he was too bulky or huge kind of kid . His body has always stayed the same with negligible fat and muscles covering the entire body . His build was neither huge nor petite . He was tall and his muscles developed .
His training continues to this day . Kaito and Akari's mother actually liked this habit of them . She was from a magic family but her physique was no less than the female swordsmen . She believed that mages need to have strong physiques as well because long range magic casting and continuous mana usage can make the body weak and thus having a fragile body makes it more difficult during a battle .
Kaito completed his morning training in two hours as his watch showed the time to be 7:43 a.m. Classes were scheduled from 9 and thus Kaito returned to take atleast 30 minutes of rest before heading to class .
Kaito took a bath as he wore the uniform . He also straped his sword to his waist .
The uniform of the Academy was both comfortable and stylish . They consisted of blue pants with black shirts and red ties for 2nd years and blue coats . The fabric is stretchable which makes movement easy and these uniforms are actually enchanted magic gear with a defensive and speed boost spell . The sword Kaito carried was the one he forged from the blacksmith shop in the Academy city with his points .
Students below Class B aren't allowed to carry weapons with them and students of Class S are allowed to forge their own sword at the expense of the Academy . Kaito already has an A-Rank sword made by the blacksmith and thus he doesn't need to have any new sword .
The blacksmith in the Academy City wasn't a master blacksmith but rather an normal blacksmith . If Kaito needs to get an S-Rank sword then he needs to visit the Stellar City . The blacksmith in the Stellar City and one in the Pheonix City are the only Master Blacksmith present in the continent as of now .
Kaito met up with the others on the way . He didn't see Akari and Yuuki and assumed they had already gone to classes . They all went towards the Class S .
The class of students where the geniuses gather . The student capacity is comparatively lower compared to the other classes but that it due to the qualifications to enter this class . The competition for the top spot is always fierce in this class and an unsaid rule is applied here 'Talking with strength is more convinient than actual talk' .
Strength is the only this that matters here . Most of the students who graduate from Class S become important pillars for humanity . They have high strengths and most likely to form the demon hunt teams and receive missions in the Demon Territory .
*****
They all entered the class as they were surprised a little . Class S consists atleast 15 to 20 students each year but this year the number has stuck at 12 . There were 12 desks to sit in the Class room from which only 5 were filled . Many students haven't reached yet . Kaito and the others took their seats according to the seats assigned to them . Kaito was sitting behind him with Akane on his right and Kaori sitting diagonal to him .
After about 10 minutes , the rest of the students arrived and the class started . Kaito saw that the seat on his right is still empty . The homeroom teacher of Class S entered the classroom . Kaito actually know who she is . The homeroom teacher for 2nd year of Class S was the same teacher for Akari's year too . The teacher standing in front of them is a peak SS-Rank Awakener and holds the title of one of the strongest swordswoman on the continent , Shiori Chiharu .
"Good Morning , you little guys . I am Shiori Chiharu and I will be your homeroom teacher for this year"
Kaito couldn't say he wasn't surprised a little . He didn't expect that one of the strongest swordsman in the continent actually is a teacher in Stellar Academy . Well , that can be expected to be honest . Stellar Academy is the Academy which stands at number 1 in the Academy Rankings and has never been removed for the last 200 years .
Shiori noticed Kaito as he gave her a little smile which Kaito returned without hesitation . He could sense that her mana capacity is greater than Kaito . She can even be above 900,000 points in mana and is on the verge of becoming SSS-Rank .
['Clairvoyance' activated]
[Name : Shiori Chiharu]
[Race : Human]
[Title : White Sword]
[HP : 452,000/452,000]
[MP : 915,000/915,000]
[STR : 496]
[AGI : 495]
[DEF : 490]
[INT : 498]
[Current Rank : SS-Rank (Peak)]
[Magic Level : 7-Stars]
[Sword Level : Swordmaster (Advanced)]
'She is strong'
'If I were to fight against her in 1v1 . I have no confident in winning'
'Her mana is as I suspected . Its over 900,000 and her stats are also almost at the limit'
'She will ascend if she is given just 2 months of time to diligently train'
'But , this makes it more interesting'
'It will be fun to cross swords with her'
Shiori and Kaito continued to look at each other . He had his blindfold on and so Shiori couldn't see his eyes but she can feel that his gaze didn't move from her for the last 2 minutes . She coughed a little to clear her throat as she said
"Today , a new student will be joining us"
"She was specially admitted by the principal of the Academy"
"She is also from one of the great families of Solar City"
'Solar City ? Why would someone from the magic family join this Academy'
'I think I have to wait and see who this person is'
The door opened as the female student with blonde waist length hair and greenish tinted eyes and a elegant look on her face entered the room . Kaito was so shocked to see her that he forgot to even hide his amazement . Kaito didn't even imagine in his wildest dream that this person would join the Stellar Academy .
"Please welcome , Ms . Seina Shimuzu"