Chapter 119 - The Ranking's Rules

The student's thoughts were confirmed by Samuel's next words.

"I'll be blunt with all of you. Most of our effort will probably centre around those in the second or third year, but that doesn't mean you are completely hopeless to be selected. The Headmaster himself wants to take a look at those from the First Year to see if there is anyone that might surprise him. This is a one-in-a-million chance for all of you, so I hope that you won't take it for granted. Not only the Elders and Faculty will be present, but it's likely that many dignitaries and experts from the Kingdom will come to watch as well, given the importance it might have for the future representation of Ansem in the Grand Tournament."

All of the students clenched their fists with clear determination in their eyes. They would do their best in the next ranking, even if they had to die. It had become a matter of honour for them and their clans.

"Normally, the Inner Class Ranking is divided into two portions, first you are divided into small parties of three and four students, and have to fight against all the other groups from the three classes in a battle royale style. The Inner Class group whose party is the last one standing, gets 3 points, the second group gets 2, and the third gets 1. The second part is a quick tournament among the 30 students. You'll fight your companions in quick matches, then the 15 winning students would fight in a round-robin manner. The best 10 students would be chosen amongst those with the most victories and would get ranked accordingly. The different Inner Class groups would then get different amounts of points depending on how many students in the top ten they have and their personal ranking.

Normally, the different years would be tested on different days, as I explained earlier. However, given the busy schedules of our guests and the presence of our Headmaster, who is looking for an exceptional talent among you, we have decided that the rankings for the third, second and first years will take place on the same day. We'll start with the seniors, and you'll be the last to be tested.

The format of the battle will then have to be modified. It will be a true battle royale between the thirty Inner Class students from each year. The battle will end when there are 5 students still standing. The 5 students would then go into the round-robin format of the competition. The one with the most victories would be the top-ranked student. The hierarchy of the different classes would be selected from the order in which you were disqualified during the Battle Royale, as well as the group that has more students in the top ten. Bonus points will be awarded to the class with several students in the top five, as well as the one with the top-ranked student. Are we clear?"

"YES, DIRECTOR," said the students in unison.

There were still some doubts in the minds of the students, and they noticed that the test was far from perfect or even fair. But maybe that was the point of this test, to see the creativity, resourcefulness and true individual mettle of the students. Perhaps that was the genius of the rules for this test.

Samuel's deadpan stance only served to cement this thought in the minds of the students. However, Nerun kept thinking that this kind of testing seemed a bit unreliable. He was even thinking that this looked like something that dumb of an old man of his would do. Oh well, maybe it would be for the best to get it all finished quickly, thought Nerun.

If only the headmaster wasn't so lazy and gave me just one day to test all three years quickly. Why headmaster, why do you have to be so irresponsible?' thought Samuel as he wiped the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.

"Well, if you understand, then you are all dismissed. Go to your respective classes and prepare thoroughly for the Ranking. There won't be a chance for regret after it's all done."

Everybody left the Amphiteather with different emotions swirling on their minds. While passing next to knocked-out Solda, Gilfred said to Julian: "Take this fool with you. That way you can at least pay him back somewhat." Gilfred's tone was filled with displeasure and didn't even deign to look at Julian or Solda.

Julian's emotions were in complete disarray, but he limited himself to nodding and obeying with a downcast expression.

Word of the events in the amphitheatre quickly spread throughout the Lyceum, so that by the time Nerun returned to his classroom, virtually the entire Academy had learned of the outcome of the test, as well as of Solda's abject defeat and humiliation.

Although several of the students discussed the subject animatedly and took fun in the disgrace of a member of a noble family, most only gave it a quick thought in passing. Some started to change the way they looked at Nerun but not much more. Even the students present at the event weren't sure how was it that he had won. At least not many people would dare to underestimate him again, and some even thought of getting acquainted with him and becoming friends. Such were the changes in the tides.

"Useless garbage! Forget him then." Said Roman with clear anger on his face when one of his students' lackeys told him the result of the tests. However, he did not have much time to do anything else since he also had to prepare for the ranking that would take place next week. Even if he was considered by many as one of the guaranteed seeds for the special course, he wasn't willing to drop the ball at the last moment.

Solda barely recovered at the end of the day, especially since Samuel had only wanted to reprimand and scare him, not truly hurt him. When he saw himself in the classroom for the Group B of the First Years of the Outer Class he almost fainted again. To make matters worse, once he left the school, his very own father was waiting for him outside the school. Solda's father was a member of the High Nobility, a Marquis under the command of His Majesty, and a powerful Qi Emperor, whose full name was Bryan Albert Dai Lorica. Samuel was standing right next to him in his usual calm and impassive posture.

For a second, Solda thought he had found his missing backbone and was about to make a complaint to his father about the mistreatment he had suffered at the Academy.

"Lord Father, it's so good that you're here. Lord Father, only you can do me justice, I..."

- SLAP

A furious slap made Solda buckle over in disbelief. His father had never hit him before. Nor in private or public. But now, his very own father had slapped him right in front of the School gate. Nerun and the rest of his schoolmates were leaving the academy right at that moment and were witnesses to this event.

"Haven't you caused enough problems already? Do you want to smear our name on the floor?" said Marquis Bryan in a furious thunder-like voice. Then he bowed to Samuel and said, "This is entirely on me Lord Manota. I haven't educated the boy properly. Thank you very much for your mercy."

After having said his apologies, Marquis Bryan was about to drag Solda away in his carriage when he noticed Nerun from the corner of his eye. The look he gave Nerun was enough to cause chills in the latter, however, he did nothing more and left with his son quickly.

'What a powerful and cunning enemy. I guess his son hasn't inherited his savviness. The truly dangerous beast isn't the one who is always showing its fangs, but the one that keeps it hidden until the last second', said Nerun to himself.

That very night in the manor of Marquis Bryan, Solda was standing with his head down in his father's study, while the latter was writing some letters on his desk. "Do you know your mistakes, boy?" said Bryan without raising his eyes to look at his son.

"Father, it had to have been a setup. That beggar cheated, otherwise..."

"Hmmmph..." Bryan snorted angrily, a sound that made Solda shiver from head to toe. "Foolish boy. You lost and you didn't even know why. You won't cry until you see the coffin, will you? There are no excuses for a loser. The fact that you are still trying to come up with excuses is hilarious, not to mention unseemly. No, you lost because you never took the time to understand your rival. You took an order from someone who offered you nothing and in exchange for what? To make another enemy? It's true that I serve House Alaria, but that doesn't mean that I'm stupid enough to kill myself for them for no good reason. I serve them because they are stronger than we are. But I expected more from you. More ambition. What a disappointment you are, instead of trying to make our house stronger, you go and grovel before them. Don't you realise that you were just a pawn to be used to test the limits of that beggar boy and his brother? And you went ahead and offered yourself on a silver platter."

Solda clenched his fists tightly until blood could be seen dripping from his fingers. Bryan couldn't help sighing and simply sent Solda away to rest. He could only hope that his son used this experience to learn and grow stronger. Otherwise, all of the hope he had put in him would be for nought. In the meantime, Marquis Bryan couldn't help but think about that pair of brothers Elijah and Nerun. 'Definitely not simple. If Duke Balrog wants to do something about him... difficult.'

...

The week went by really fast. Nerun's training environment did not change much. Both Reina and Karles were able to eat from the special menu for the whole week after earning some contribution points and with Nerun's patronage, which allowed both of them to make a small leap in strength and increase their Qi by one level each. Nerun further cemented his power as a level 13 Qi Grandmaster and Grand Mana Adept. Although his power didn't seem to be improving, he actually made a breakthrough during his training in the Gravity Room. This could be a trump card for the upcoming Inner Class rankings.

The day of the Inner Class Ranking dawned foggy, with humidity carpeting the already crowded streets of the city of Eonia. Many carriages led by magnificent and powerful Magical Beasts, as well as servants carrying palanquins and such means of transportation could be seen approaching the entrance to the Lyceum.

At the centre of Eonia there was a magnificent palace built with marble, gold and precious stones. It was a magnificent building that made people feel awe just by being near it. Its domes had huge windows that allowed light to enter and made the interior feel mystical and natural at the same time. Although it was regal, it wasn't ostentatious or tacky. This was the Grand Royal Palace of Ansem, the symbol of the majesty of Eonia and the whole Kingdom, as well as the home of Johannes Dai Ansem IV, the Lion King.

At the gates of the Royal Palace, there was an immense obelisk golden in colour, which had several floating rings of precious metals around it, which were filled with mystical runes inscribed all around them. This was the Monument to Alaric, founder of the Kingdom, and one of the landmarks of Eonia. Right in front of the monument, a tall and handsome young man with golden hair and blue and green eyes, dressed regally and fine in manners was talking to a teenager with auburn hair and golden eyes. The latter was quite young, and dressed in white robes with purple vertical bars in the hems of his robe.

"Young Master Karel, I'm quite happy that you have accepted my invitation. This will be a great opportunity for you to see some of the greatest talents of our humble Kingdom. I'm sure we'll be able to enjoy some great performances today, after all, the Lyceum is one of the greatest institutions for the nurturing of experts in the entire continent." said the young man in regal dressing. He was young, around 20 years old, and had already trained to the level of a Qi Monarch, a fact evident by the might he was naturally emanating.

"I'm quite happy to be able to go to the Lyceum as well. I had not found the chance to go and meet the elders from the hallowed institution, however, with this chance to join Your Highness, it's a great honour you have bestowed me to fulfil this small request of mine," answered Karel.

This was naturally Karel St. Ajora, one of the members of the Seed of the Super Soldier, and a special envoy from the Temple who had come to Ansem to further his education. His ethereal voice and behaviour were eye-catching wherever he went, however, his interlocutor was equally noble. It was, in fact, His Royal Highness, Philip Grecia Dai Ansem, the 2nd prince of the Kingdom. Near to them were their escorts, in this case only two people, who were joining them in this short expedition, Tobias the Magick Emperor that was the head of the escorts for Karel, and another member of the Royal Eagle Guards, the personal guards of his majesty, one of its captains, a Qi Emperor. Together they were about to board the Royal Carriage to go to the Lyceum.

The fact that Karel would be joined by one of the King's sons was proof enough of the importance the Kingdom placed on this young man.

Scenes of similar nature were repeating themselves in the houses of many of the noble families, merchant houses, clans and those whose sons and daughters were attending the Lyceum. Next to the Manor of Rademia, where Elijah and Nerun lived, both were also mounting a carriage, joined by Serena who was joining them. Elijah had requested special permission to attend the Ranking as well. They day was only beginning.