Chapter 29: Invitation for the director
Every year, the number of people wishing to enter the Empire exceeded any possible expectations.
Applications for admission had to be submitted at least a year in advance, because the competition was enormous. In the application form, applicants had to describe in detail all their physical, mental, and energetic parameters: from eye color to reaction speed, from the level of neon energy to the techniques they had mastered. Before submission, this information was subjected to mandatory verification through SON to avoid falsification.
However, even approval of the application did not guarantee admission. All applicants were subjected to the so-called 'Examination for the worthy' a multi-stage selection process known among students for its complexity and stringent requirements.
The stages of the 'Examination for the worthy':
1. Characteristics Verification.
The applicants had to confirm all the data given in the application form, demonstrating their capabilities in practice. It was important that the real indicators were even better than the declared ones, because this indicated progress and aspiration for improvement. This stage revealed those who worked on themselves, rather than relying only on natural abilities. The maximum score was 30.
2. Knowledge test.
This stage consisted of a series of tasks that tested intellectual ability, logic, strategic thinking and stress tolerance. The applicants passed both written tests and brainstorming, during which it was necessary to quickly make the right decisions in the conditions of simulated combat or critical situations. For a phantom, composure and intelligence are key qualities. The maximum score is 30.
3. Private Interview.
The final stage was an interview with the university director himself. This stage had the greatest weight, because the director personally decided whether the candidate should be a part of the 'Empire'. The maximum score was 40.
Therefore, the total score consisted of 100 possible points. The passing minimum was 90.
This meant that even the slightest mistake could be fatal. The university accepted only the best, weeding out all those who did not reach high standards. The university itself was characterized by a strict hierarchy, where the strongest was always right.
Among the students there was its own system of hierarchy, which consisted of such ranks:
1. Newcomers: Applicants who had just entered and had not yet earned any battle points.
2. Academics: Students who had started earning their first points.
3. Warriors: Those who have already gained significant experience and have proven themselves.
4. Captains: Leaders among students who coordinate groups during missions.
5. Generals: The top students who are close to completing their studies.
6. Phantoms: Those who have reached the highest level and are eligible for the official title of Phantom.
7. Elders: Alumni who stayed at the university to help train younger students.
There were also ranks among the faculty:
1. Baron/Baroness: Entry level teachers.
2. ount/Vicomtesse: Recognized mentors with a wealth of experience.
3. Count/Graffess: Key faculty members who lead the core courses.
4. Marquis/Marquise: Departmental leaders and project managers.
5. Duke/Duchess: Honorable mentors with special authority.
6. King: The title of Dean who supervises all faculty members.
7. Emperor: The title of Principal, the absolute leader of the university.
Zero stood in front of the majestic university, surrounded by a powerful barrier that was impenetrable to ordinary humans without neons or even phantoms.
His gaze was full of curiosity and cold calculation. The barrier shimmered with neons as if warning everyone of its power, but to Zero it was just a decorative barrier. He smiled, faintly, and said to himself
- Well, time to quietly 'knock' on the principal's door...
Zero concentrated, his eyes beginning to glow a bright shade of lettuce, penetrating through space and time itself. He peered inside the university, revealing the hidden from normal sight. Numerous auras appeared in his field of vision, shining brightly in different colors, depending on the strength of their wielders.
- These are some really interesting individuals here ... - Some of them are much stronger than the strongest on this planet.
But one thing stood out immediately: the headmaster's aura. It didn't sparkle like the others . At first glance, he seemed ordinary. But it only seemed so. Zero was well aware that such precise concealment of aura was a sign of incredible power.
- You think you can hide from me ? - Zero's mind flashed. His eyes flashed even brighter as he focused on Neon's essence, penetrating the deepest layers of hidden energy.
The Director was in one of the training rooms. The scene before Zero's eyes was majestic: a white-clothed man sat in mid-air in a lotus pose, levitating above the ground. His eyes were closed and his face was centered. The director's entire body radiated calmness and equanimity.
- Good afternoon, Director, - Zero spoke mentally, as if addressing his words directly to the man's consciousness.
At the same moment, Zero released a thin stream of his aura. It was a small demonstration of power, almost inaudible to others, but enough to touch the walls of the building where the teachers and the principal himself were located.
- That's great, - Zero thought, - Now all that's left is for him to invite me himself.
The effect was instantaneous. The aura that Zero released was extremely powerful and specific. It could only be felt by those who had combat experience and a high level of communication with neons, namely phantoms of at least A rank.
The professors who were at the university immediately stopped their classes. They tensely looked around, sensing an unknown source of power. Their reactions were natural, for this aura carried an unusual energy, something they had never felt before. Some students also felt the pressure, but were too weak to withstand it. Their knees buckled and they fell to the ground, clutching their chests or shoulders with their hands, as if trying to protect themselves from an invisible blow. The same students who had not reached the right level of connection with the neons only watched with wonder in their eyes. They saw their stronger comrades struggling with some invisible force, but they couldn't understand what was happening.
The entire room was filled with a heavy tension. Although Zero's aura carried no direct threat or hostility, it radiated absolute power, hinting that its owner was far superior to everyone who was currently in the university. The power of the aura was concentrated on the headmaster, but its remnants still spread out over a small area, affecting anyone who was sensitive enough to the neon energy. At this moment, something changed in the training room where the headmaster was. He suddenly opened his eyes, which glittered with sharp intelligence and authority. His body immediately lowered from the lotus posture to the ground, and he confidently leaned on his cane. A slight smile appeared on his face, indicating both interest and enjoyment of the situation.
- Ohohohohoh, someone decided to see me without an appointment," the headmaster said in a slightly joking tone. At this time, an alarm went up in the university itself, but the principal canceled it instantly, only he had the right to do so.
A second - and he released his own aura.
His aura was of a different nature: deep, as if rooted into the very fabric of this world. It protected the faculty and students. Its waves pushed away the remnants of Zero's aura slightly, taking this peculiar challenge as an invitation to a meeting. It didn't take the principal long to realize that his mysterious guest was outside the university. But for such a guest, this barrier wasn't even an obstacle. The principal smiled, feeling his intuition being confirmed.
- Well, this day is getting more and more interesting ... - he said, heading towards the only entrance of the university.
At that very moment, in the very center of SON, AVI activated. Its powerful sensors reacted to the neon energy that was too strong and extremely concentrated.
A message appeared on AVI's main screen:
- Source of highly concentrated neon energy detected. The similarity to the parameters of Project Megalodon exceeds 95%. It is recommended that a rapid response team be dispatched immediately.
The system quickly began collecting data while sending a warning to the top of the SON. This kind of activity was always alarming, as the Megalodon Project was considered one of the greatest mysteries and threats.
[Dictionary Zero]
Examination for the worthy is a multi-stage and extremely complex selection process for applicants to Empire University. It involves three main steps to determine if a candidate is of sufficient developmental level to become part of this elite institution.