Chapter 31 (the web of shame)

"Now, I will start calling names. When

you hear yours, come out side and place

your hand on this alter." Professor Leo

affirmed. "Victoria, luthor, come out." He

said.

Victoria walked out, approaching the

stone circle, and placed her hand. The

sigils on the alter illuminated, displaying

the unit figure above it.

"3,050 units, Mage Apprentice. You may

return back to your position." She

stepped back and returned.

"Next, Hunter Leif." He stepped out, his

unfriendly face still set as he placed his

hand on top of the alter and lit up. "3,150

units, Mage Apprentice." He also

returned to his position.

"Harper Sebastian, step out." She

leaped out of the crowds, walking

arrogantly, placing her hand on the stone

circle. "3,000 units. Mage Apprentice,"

she slightly sneered, returning to her

position at a slow pace. 

"Nest,Griffin Dominic." He walked, his

shoulders and head held high towards

the stone circle; he placed his hand on it

as instructed. The sigils on the alter lit

up. "3,200 units. Mage Apprentice." He

turned back to his position; his eye

overlooked both Drake and Mark.

"Ronan Smith, step out." He strided

towards the stone circle and did the

same, placing his hands on it. "3,500.

Mage Apprentice." Everywhere became

buzzy like a beehive seeing someone

with a bit of a strength gap. Ronan turned

towards Drake's position, putting his

right hands into his pocket, and sneered

at him. He turned away, returning to his

position.

Next is Mark Fist." Both him and Drake

turned to each other as Drake nodded to

him slowly. He walked with a charismatic

aura blowing around him. He placed his

hand on the alter, which illuminated.

"3, 200. Mage Apprentice." He turned to

his position near Drake as he smiled at

him.

"Liam Rafe." Professor Leo called out.

Liam walked to the stone circle, following

the usual procedure. The stone circle

glowed. "3,000 units. Mage Apprentice."

Professor Leo announced, and Liam

returned to his position. Several

students were also examined, with the

average results ranging from 2,700 to

3,000 units.

After three hours. "Alexandra Drake."

Professor Leo called. Drake signed

heavily and walked forward, following the

routine. The stone circle illuminated, and

given professor Leo a hiccup, his eyes

widened. A meteor crashed into the

room, leaving a crater of stunned silence

in its wake.

Everyone stared at Professor Leo's

shocking reaction. Drake turned to him;

he wondered why the sudden outburst.

"Drake, can you be honest with me? How

were the three mana rings around your

heart skilfully developed, successfully?"

Drake was left speechless, as the

question caught him off guard. He was

pondering how to scape through the

situation when Ronan interrupted.

"Professor Leo, don't you think it's

wrong to evaluate his mana capacity with

revealing the results?" He scoffed,

already having a rough idea about what's

going on.

The room instantly erupts in noise.

"Yes, why did you pause instead of

calling out his results?" One of the

students yelled.

"I'm sure there's something wrong with

his mana pool." Another voice added.

"This happens when people treat the

academy as their pleasure dome."

Another student muttered. Whispering

of disapproval filled the air.

Professor Leo signed heavily. "Quiet."

The room fell silent. "1, 500 units. Mage

Apprentice," he announced.

The stone circle mechanism assesses

a mage's mana core capacity by

analysing the total amount of mana it can

hold. To fully comprehend the capacity

of a mage's mana core, the mana pool

must be completely filled.

Drake's mana pool is completely empty,

as he hasn't yet developed an

assimilation technique. The 1,500 units

displayed as his mana pool capacity

result stem from the spherical barrier

surrounding the crystal in his heart,

which serves as his mana pool. This

barrier itself is composed of pure mana.

Drake returned to his position as if

nothing had happened while other

students mocked him, pointing fingers

and laughing disgracefully. Xena

reaching her limit was about to unleash

her rage at them when Drake interlocked

his fingers with hers, calming her down.

"Hum," professor Leo cleared his

throat. "Listen to me attentively." All the

students tried, holding back their

laughter as they attempted to focus on

what Professor Leo had to say. "This

massage is for all of you. None of you

should try to develop the fourth ring for

the time being. Since you are all below

4000 units. Just focus on developing

your skills while practicing with your

current tier, as all physical training will

commence from tomorrow henceforth.

That's all I have for you." Professor Leo

locked eyes with Drake for a moment and

left.

Everyone started to leave the room.

Drake and Mark also emerged, only to

find Ronan and Griffin standing at the

doorway, looking menacing with their

arms crossed.

********

Flash back to the day of the admission

evaluation.

After the evaluation, students started

moving towards their respective

dormitories.

Ronan approached Griffin. "Hey, I am

Ronan." He said and smiled at him

sinisterly. "How may I help you?" Griffin

responded with a heavy voice.

"Cool down, man. I'm here to offer you

a profitable deal." Ronan crossed his

arms. "I noticed that you have some

grudges with that guy called Mark." He

raised his head up, fixing his gaze with

Griffin.

Everywhere turned mute for a moment.

"What does that have to do with you?"

Griffin broke the silence. "You see, I also

have scores to settle with his friend,

Drake. Why don't we work together? I

think this deal is beneficial for both of us;

what did you think?" Ronan stretched

out his hand for a handshake. Griffin

hesitated for a few seconds, then took

his hand.

Fast forward to the day of the dining hall

incident.

Before lunch, somewhere outside the

lecture hall. Ronan called Griffin to a

corner. "Hey, why did you call me over

here suddenly?" Griffin complained.

Ronan pulled him to a corner. "Be

patient; I need you to create an

opportunity where you give Drake an

unaware attack." Ronan suggested.

"Why that? Don't you think we're putting

ourselves at a disadvantage by getting

on the other students bad side?" Griffin

annoyingly restored.

"Hey, keep it quiet. People are

watching." Ronan cautioned. "There's a

saying, 'Know your enemies well before

you go to war with them.' You have a

rough idea about Mark's strength, but

Drake's strength is still unknown." Ronan

elucidated and leaned against the

building wall.

"Then why don't you do that?" Griffin

creased and frowned at his face. "I can

only count on you; if I carried it out, my

actions would be obvious, and he might

avoid taking action." Ronan explained.

"Okay, fine," Griffin reluctantly agreed.

*************

Back to percent.

The atmosphere crackled with tension

as both sides locked eyes. Drake and

Mark,who believed that Griffin attacked

Drake out of animosity towards Mark,

immediately understood the motive and

perpetrator behind those actions at the

dining hall.