By the time the academy's clock tower struck 8:00 AM, the last of the recruits had found their places.
Thousands of students stood in silent, orderly lines, the four months of training had ingrained a sense of military conduct into them.
Their knuckles were white where they gripped their weapons, their jaws were tight, and their eyes darted around, betraying the fear and excitement that churned in their stomachs.
Dravin stood amongst them, his presence wasn't noticed by anyone. It wasn't as though anyone gave the F-rank talent a second glance, their focus entirely on pass the exam.
At that moment, a figure on the high table moved. Sub-Dean Scarlet, who had been observing the assembly, stood up.
In a flicker of crimson light, she vanished from her seat and reappeared in the same instant on the massive, tall podium at the center of the stadium.
The awakening tank that had occupied that spot the day before was gone, leaving a wide, empty stage for her.
Her piercing, ruby-red eyes swept across the thousands of young, tense faces below.
Her expression was one of indifference.
This wasn't her first time addressing a batch of fresh-faced recruits on their first real trial.
She had done this last year, and the year before that, and for many years before that.
She was aware that nearly half the students trembling before her now would not pass. A significant portion of them would not even survive the next 24 hours.
The strong would flourish and become pillars of the academy, while the weak would be culled, their places taken by the next batch of hopefuls next year.
Talking too much, offering words of encouragement or false hope, would be a complete waste of her time. They were disposable.
However, she still had to follow the academy's protocols. Regardless of her personal feelings, the address had to be made.
"The trial will last for 24 hours," she began, her voice cold, easily carrying across the vast, silent stadium without any need for amplification.
"Last year, Sixty percent of the recruits passed the examination. Twenty percent died. The remaining twenty percent failed, either by activating their emergency shields or by failing to secure a kill. This year might not be any different. It could be worse."
A cold wave of fear washed over the assembly. As damages loomed over them, turning their face pale when the students heard it.
She continued. "With the four months of vigorous training you have endured, all of you should be able to deal with a Rank 1 dimensional beast. With your recently awakened Astra Soul Talents and the accompanying boost to your strength, dealing with a Rank 2 beast would be difficult, but possible. However, here at the Chaotic Star-War Academy, we do not accept the lazy or the mediocre."
Her eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint appearing within them. "Therefore, your task is to kill a Rank 3 Primitive Dimensional Creature. Only then will you be considered to have passed. If you cannot use your brain and your abilities to outsmart a single, mindless beast, how do you expect to survive in the real world, where you will face far worse situations with far greater odds?"
"The identification badge you were given on your first day contains a shield matrix. It can be activated by applying your own blood to its surface," she explained.
"This is your only lifeline. However, if this shield is activated, you will be automatically disqualified and teleported out of the dimensional zone. You will have failed. Furthermore, if you are not fast enough to personally activate the shield matrix in a moment of crisis, you will only end up as food for the dimensional beasts."
The weight of her words settled upon the crowd, like a suffocating pillow.
But then her tone changed as she revealed a hint of smile.
"Of course, why would there be risk without reward?"
A spark of greed ignited in the eyes of thousands.
"The bodies of dimensional monsters typically contain condensed dimensional energy. Some of the more powerful or talented creatures will possess dimensional crystals. When absorbed, these crystals can directly increase your strength, speed, physique, or even the purity of your void energy. These are yours to keep. But the reward I am talking about isn't that."
She paused, letting the anticipation build up.
"If you were to kill enough Rank 3 dimensional creatures, earning enough points to acquire first place in this examination, you will be rewarded handsomely."
She raised a single finger. "First, 10,000 Chaos Points, credited directly to your student account."
A wave of shocked gasps swept through the stadium. Chaos Points were the academy's internal currency, and their value was legendary.
They couldn't simply be bought with money; they had to be earned. On the rare occasion they were exchanged, the rate was at least ten times that of the standard Galaxux credit. 10,000 points was an astronomical fortune, enough to purchase high-grade resources.
"Second, a chance to select one High-Level Mortal Grade Meditation Technique from the academy's archives."
If the first reward caused a shock, this one caused an earthquake. The geniuses of the cohort, like Gerald and Rosè, visibly tensed, their eyes burning with intense desire.
A technique's grade was even more important than an Astra Soul's rank in the long run. A powerful technique could allow one to absorb and refine energy at a much faster rate, narrowing the gap created by talent.
Dravin's heart began to pound. With his system, the quality of his base technique was paramount. A high-level technique, when amplified by thousands of times, would produce results beyond imagination. Even without the system, an F-rank talent with a high-level mortal technique could cultivate faster than an E-rank talent, and could perhaps even compete with a D-rank if they were diligent enough. It was a reward that could change one's destiny.
"Third, one High-Level Mortal Grade Combat Art of your choosing."
Another bombshell. While basic arts provided a foundation, true ranked combat arts were what separated soldiers from killing machines. They were the key to unleashing one's full destructive potential.
"And finally," Sub-Dean Scarlet concluded, her voice carrying a note of finality, "one bottle of Decade Condensed Jade Extract."