7 A 40-Meter Surprise

"I'll just depend on my skills then."

The boys and even some of the girls started ogling at the woman that stepped in front. A beautiful woman that looked like a foreigner, probably western.

Noah sighed as he didn't want any attention and he also looked forward to getting information from the participants that went after him, so he has no point in staying behind and waiting.

Also, he has something to do after the test. Something really important.

Noah stepped forward as the people that have a sight on the woman suddenly shifted on Noah. Of course, some are leaking murderous aura but some are just that didn't really care.

Noah isn't really good-looking and his face is common, so of course, people would think Noah just entered for the sake of the woman beside him. This is why he didn't want to go first.

"If only I stepped first." Is what Noah thought.

Not long after, eight other people stepped forward and it isn't what Noah expected. All of the eight participants were releasing aura that was above average than most people here. It's one of the people Noah has a sight on, people who he doesn't want to associate with.

"You're pretty ballsy for someone who has no aura."

A man with red hair stood beside him as his grin reminded him of Kevin. He was tilting his body with his hands in his pocket. His red hair was really spiky, and so was his teeth. He has that punk look with three silver-colored dots below his right eye.

"You don't see it, Vasco?"

"See what?"

The guy beside the red-haired guy talked to him. It looks like a red guy is called Vasco. The guy beside Vasco was a black-haired guy with his hair covering his left eye. He seems a bit emo as his mouth is covered by a scarf that's wrapped around his shoulder. Yet...

"This guy is hiding his aura perfectly..."

The emo guy answered Vasco as his expression looked like he hit the nail of the coffin. You can't see his mouth but it was obvious he was smiling as he stared at Noah.

"What?!"

The other people that heard emo guy, mostly from the people that stepped forward, looked at Noah who was trying to remain calm. He didn't get why he was being stared at but he also heard about his aura being perfectly hidden.

"Is it surprising?" Was what Noah muttered.

The people that heard the emo guy was all surprised, heck, even the woman that stepped forward earlier was surprised. Earlier, her facial expression was really cold, and yet it suddenly changed.

There was also one guy that heard the emo guy.

"Come on now people, now that there is ten of you, you may now enter the building."

Professor Jones said in a weirdly delightful way but he looked like he was sweating for some reason.

Not long after that, the gate opened, and Noah and the others entered only to arrive in a dark room. There was no light and the footsteps of the people that came with him are the only voice that echoed through what looked like a huge room.

Then something was heard as the light appeared from the ceiling. There was a single straw-puppet that was floating.

"Welcome, today, we will test your mana manipulation. Control your mana and hit the puppet by the red line on the floor."

"As you all know, by manipulating your aura. You can do what Normal-type Control Humans can do. You can focus on one part of the body or the whole. As long as you don't walk past the red line, you will not be disqualified. Use your methods to destroy the puppet in any way you desire."

A voice from the speaker said as the remaining lights appeared, lighting up the whole building. It looked like a research facility as everything is white: The wall, floor, and even the ceiling. On the right ceiling was another room where Professor Jones was looking.

It was not long after that Noah stepped in. He was not about to waste time since he has some plans for today.

He opened his palm straight and tightly. He imagined a sword turning to his hand as the aura that was not present inside him suddenly came out. The aura from his body looked like yellow spirits as it went out of Noah's body and gathered in his hands.

Noah just stood straight with his other hand on his pocket and with a single slash of his hands, a bright yellow light appeared in a split second as everyone's eyes widened.

Nobody even noticed but the puppet slowly got split in half. It was so fast that physics didn't have the chance to move the puppet from Noah's attack.

Noah looked at Professor Jones with a monotone expression, his presence was an enigma to him as he never saw anyone who was not intimidated by his presence. Noah didn't even flinch a bit when looking Professor Jones straight in the eyes..

"Did I pass?"

"Y-yes... You may now pass through the gate."

Professor Jones stuttered by the shock as he used his hands to show Noah the next door that just opened in the opposite of them.

Noah did not hesitate and entered the second stage of the building. The others were speechless as they just watched him go to the second stage as the guy didn't care who they were.

Not long after, the puppet was pulled quickly into the ceiling as another new one dropped to replace it.

"How was that possible, he manipulated his aura to reach a 40-meter distance?"

Professor Jones mumbled in his thoughts as what he heard earlier was true. That guy was hiding his immensely huge aura with just mana manipulation. Even Professor Jones is having a hard time on his own without using Artifacts.

(Wait for me, Mel...)

Somewhere inside Ferrarius Academy, the Principal smiled as he watched the participants through a monitor. He rubbed his messy beard as his smile was full of curiosity.

"I have a feeling this will be quite the fun year."