At mid day, when the time for the exams to start came, there were about five thousand awakeners from all over the country present.
Of course, this included awakeners with a three year gap since awakening.
There were other institutions all around the country, but these awakeners still held hope to be able to get into the best institution there was.
While everyone was chatting in their own groups, an older man with white grayish hair walked to the stage.
"Welcome to the Royal Academy of Awakeners."
"Because of how many awakeners there are present this year, we decided to do a complete practical exam."
"You will all be transported to the outskirts of the Forbidden Forrest, along with a device that will record the kills you achieve."
Saying this, he took out the small device from his pocket, it was a rectangular piece of blueish metal, fairly simple.
"This device may seem simple, but the truth is that our engineers, blacksmiths, and array masters have put in a lot of work into it."
"Before being transported, you need to send a wisp of your mana to the device, and using the Apex Network, we will obtain your information, then while you kill, the wisps of mana that come from the killed beast will also be registered by the network, allowing us to get a numerical understanding of the beasts that you killed and their ranks."
"You can also check the top three ranks in the small device, which will light up after you add your mana into it."
"Moving on to the point system, an F rank beast provides 1 point, E rank 2 points, D rank 5 points, C rank 10 points, and B rank 25 points."
"There are no beasts above the B rank on the outskirts, since we have teachers on stand by verifying everything, but still be aware that injuries and even death is possible, therefore... Don't try to fight anything you can't win against."
Every subconsciously held their breaths.
Most of the People here were definitely below the D rank, everyone who was at D rank were nobles or sons and daughters of wealthy merchants.
Commoners who had to get up slowly little by little were at most at the E rank.
There was a disparity because of wealth and status, yes, but every knew there were people born lucky and those who weren't, it was up to them to capitalize and get stronger, or get squashed under everyone else, that is precisely why the academy allows anyone to participate, it is ultimately up to them if they get in or not and enjoy the academy's resources.
"Now... Everyone in straight lines, get your devices in any of the three stations to my right. After getting the device, stand in the transport circle and wait for the teleportation once everyone is ready."
After he was done, everyone followed the instructions, Calux and Seraphiel got their devices and walked together towards the circle and waited patiently.
Of course, their peace wouldn't last, considering the two people that walked over to them.
Princess Karina.
Heir of the Cullingham family, Max.
Calux watched them while they walked over, they both had annoyed expressions, albeit for different reasons.
He could understand Karina's but he failed to understand Max, he had never met the guy other than the brief exchange the day he awakened.
..
Karina was annoyed with all the rumors of Calux and Seraphiel, but to top it off, Max kept pestering her, trying to talk to her, inviting her to dates, and even mentioned that 'They should start getting to know each other considering they were going to be wed in the future'.
That sentence made her explode in anger internally.
"Listen Max, I don't care what your father and my father discussed, I'm not marrying you, my heart lays somewhere else, and I already told my father that I prefer throwing away my title as princess than marrying you who'm I don't like, got it?"
She then walked over to pick up her device and looked around searching for Calux until she found him, talking with the vixen that had seduced him.
No matter, she was a Princess, she wouldn't loose to anyone, in time Calux would understand that she was genuine.
However just when she was walking towards Calux, Max followed by her side with an angry expression, this in turn caused her to turn sour, not wanting Calux to misunderstand and make things worse for her.
..
This brings us back to the present, which the silence was broken by none other than...
Max.
"So Voidbane, it seems you found your self a nice replacement for my fiancé, it's good that you understand and didn't go around pursuing her like a dog."
This single sentence cause a deafening silence to hang over the small crowd that was near them.
Calux narrowed his eyes at the sentence, first of all Sera wasn't a replacement, second he had just made some remarks comparing him to a dog which were utterly disrespectful, especially considering they were both heirs to Dukedoms.
Seraphiel wanted to skewer this man alive, and Karina wasn't any better, but before anyone else could speak, Calux broke the silence.
"You know, I'm not very familiar with you, and it seems your daddy didn't teach you respect, but let me help you out."
Nyra, use your dragon aura for intimidation.
[A/N: Dragon aura is natural to dragons, due to their superior bloodlines they can use this to intimidate and subjugate weaker beings.]
Through their connection, even if she hadn't come out of her space, she could transmit the aura towards the outside, and that she did..
Suddenly, everyone around felt an ominous aura coming from Calux that threatened to take their breath away.
Everyone in their short circle, except for Seraphiel experienced some of the aura, but Max on the other hand felt as if a mountain wanted to crush him into minced meat.
He couldn't breathe, move, or even think.
The only thing he could feel was fear.
Overwhelming fear, he was going to die, it was a certainty.
Suddenly, at the floor just below his feet a small puddle formed, no one had to get close to understand that Max had soiled himself.
For Calux, this was enough for now, there wasn't anything worse than public humiliation like this, and he was definitely satisfied.
After instructing Nyra with their connection to stop, he walked over with a look of pity.
"Oh dear... I'm sorry that my aura scared you a bit, I suggest you go change before the exam.. Wouldn't want to smell like piss would you?"
The people around who were originally scared now broke into small laughter while looking at Max.
He on the other hand wanted nothing more but to kill Calux.
Just you wait, I'll get you back for this, you will die by my hand you bastard.
Without saying anything he left the venue to change, while giving death stares to Calux.
Seraphiel was shocked because it all happened in seconds, but she hadn't experienced anything.
But how could she not understand with how many minds she had working now that Calux had probably suppressed Max with aura alone.
Karina on the other hand didn't dare to utter a word, she didn't understand how Calux could be so strong that just his aura alone had scared everyone in the vicinity without the suppression being directly sent towards them.
But one thing was certain, Calux wasn't a push over, and if she wanted to be in his good graces she couldn't brute force it, else he actually gets pissed.
After a few minutes, everyone was ready, Max stood over a hundred feet away from them, and Karina although stayed where she was originally, never uttered a word and just waited patiently.
In a few seconds, everything went blank, and Calux found himself in front of a forrest emanating a dark mist, he could feel everything around him, and could see that the beasts around were barely F ranks.
Cracking his neck and taking out his sword, he could only smile.
"Void steps."