20 Stages

Claude and Leo went to the school gymnasium to check the schedule of matches.

"Claude you have a few matches today," Leo said

"Hmm..." He replied

"But before that, you need to go and do the physical exam," he added

Leo guided Claude to the examination room, where they do most of the physical exam. There were quite a few students around as well since some tried to escape the exam.

"Claude, I'll be upstairs. Good luck!" Leo said as he headed to the second floor of the room to watch the exam proceed.

"Hey isn't that the new kid?"

"I heard he scored top on the written exam."

"I sense no strong energy in him."

Whilst the rest continued to gossip around, the examiner finally steps inside the room.

"Everyone will begin the exam. You are free to use whatever means necessary to survive."

Inside the room, there were only 5 students including Claude. As the other student prepares to battle, they summoned their CW while others put out an ACW.

They all stared at Claude and saw he had not summoned nor brought with him anything. Is he planning to fight with his bare hand? They all wondered.

"Alright let's begin." The examiner yelled

Soon the room light turned red as it signals the battle is about to begin.

A robotic woman voice then said, "Stage 1"

Soon the room turned into a virtual world in which low-level monster came out of the room. Since the student was busy fighting for their life, they weren't able to see what Claude was doing. But those who were on the second floor observing witness everything and we're all in shock.

"Hey, did he just take down the monster with his bare hands?"

"Did you see that long range magic he cast?"

Leo was amongst the people who witnessed what Claude just did. He could not believe himself, he too thought Claude was just a weak smart student since he tops the exam. But he was far from that, his martial art skills were very impressive his caster control were even unbelievable.

The examiner only checks only Claude from time to time. Since before he was a kid he has already completed the school simulation exam, and he was the one who designed it as well.

"Well done, Stage 2 be ready..." the robotic woman voice said

The difficulty of stage two was already quite challenging for the other students. However, those with their own Caster Weapon didn't find it difficult at all.

"Hey, watch out?" yelled the male sudden as a fireball was about to hit one of the female students.

In a blink of an eye, it surprised those in the room and the one observing when Claude sudden appeared in front of the female student and blocked the fireball.

"Th-Thanks," she said

Claude ignored her and continued to focus on the exam.

"Excellent work, Let move on to Stage 3."

The atmosphere of the room turned cold, which means they needed to cast heat magic on them ensuring they can survive the harsh weather.

"Sir, why is it so cold."

"Sir, what are we suppose to do?"

The examiner ignored them and just continued to observe. Whilst the other student continued to ponder on what spell to cast, suddenly they felt a warm feeling inside them. They all looked at each other to see who cast the spell but none of them seem to have cast it. In the end, they all gazed at Claude who was a distance from them who seems fine which could only mean he cast the spell.

"Here they come..." The robotic woman voice said

Sudden a gigantic demon lion with 5 snake tail appeared. In just one roar of the demon monster, the students all tremble in fear as they did not know how to face it.

As the monster attacked the four of them, they tried to fight it at the same time run for there life. It didn't take long for the monster to wound them and even cause some of them to be unconscious. Inside the room, it was only Claude who was standing still in the corner just waiting for whats about to come.

"Everyone is down."

"What will that dude do now?"

The monster turned his attention to Claude since he was the last one standing, it then went and charge towards him as it snake tail blasted different elementary spell such as; lighting, to fire, to ice and so on.

It amazed everyone when Claude was able to block all the spell being blasted towards him. As the monster came closer to Claude it surprises everyone when Claude just stared at it. Suddenly the monster stop moving as it slowly froze, moments later it cracked like ice as it shattered into a million pieces.

To those who paid attention to Claude, were all confusing to what just happened. They did not see Claude do anything at all, he just stared at the monster and it suddenly froze.

Apart from the examiner, there were quite a few higher up students who saw what happened. Some of them were impressed while others felt like its a treat.

After the monster vanished, Claude walked towards where the unconscious and wounded students were. Healing magic was then cast at them shocking everyone. As the unconscious student finally gain consciousness, Claude did not say a word and just left the room.

The examiner did not stop him since the exam has ended anyway. He did not even need to tell him how he did for he has always exceeded their expectation.

"Alright, all of you gather round."

The four students felt depressed as they walked towards the examiner.

"Well done you all passed," he said

"What?" they were all in shock as they looked at each other.

"How come?" The female student asked

"The purpose of this exam is not to see how strong you are but how good is your teamwork. Despite you didn't know each other. You need to be able to help those who are weak and wounded. I hope you learned a lot from this test." he explained

"Does that mean we passed because of him?" the boy who was able to witness how Claude defeated the monster.

"Partly yes, apart from you, all of you would have failed since you were unconscious but Claude restored you health which technically means you passed the test since you survived till the end," he added

Whilst Claude was walking down the hall, he was faced with a group of upper students giving him a cold look.

"I'm impressed, will I be seeing you in the Academy Ranking?" The boy who looked exactly like Seid.

Claude ignored him as he walked passed him.

Of course, this didn't please the boy as he grabs Claude by his collar.

"Ivan that's enough." a woman voice said

Ivan let go of Claude as he saw the person approaching them. Despite he is the strongest person in the Academy, the woman in front of them is someone he just could not offend right now.

"Your lucky this time," Ivan said as he walked away with his group.

The woman and her companion did not say a word to Claude as they walked away.

"Claude that was Lady Aria..." Leo said running towards him, "What did she want from you?"

"Nothing..." He said

Of course, Claude knew who she was, she was his cousin and currently the only one in the family who isn't crazy for power and status.