Phase Three

Noah didn't bother with the Flowing Partial Embodiment, and directly used the full Embodiment skill. His body released steam as he rose in height to stand at a tall 6 feet height.

Argos had also decided to give his all by investing all of his remaining Essence in his next move. Three Words left his Battlesoul and fused with his body, powering him up significantly.

A deafening silence filled the atmosphere between the two before they finally erupted with speed, accelerating towards each other with mind-blowing speed, their respective attacks brewing with power.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it was at this moment that the number of the participants within the coliseum was reduced to 200.

As if locked by a mystical force, the space within the coliseum constricted disabling any and every participant from moving even an inch. At the time, Noah and Argos were a mere inch away from each other.

The hologram of Oliver Wright appeared once more before the remaining participants displaying his usual laid back smile. "Disperse." As he spoke, the children felt a force brush against them, making all the Essence and momentum they had gathered at that moment disperse. After doing that, the lock on the space around them seemed to have been released, allowing them to move once more. But they noticed that their attacks had disappeared, this caused them to look at Oliver with an expression of fear and awe. If a hologram could do that, they couldn't imagine the power of the actual Principal. What was even more amazing was that their wounds seemed to have all healed up and their Essence Cores had been refilled!

Noticing their attention on him, he only chuckled and began his speech. "Congratulations to you all. At this point, you have already been admitted into the Soaring Star Academy." Hearing his news, an expression appeared on the faces of most of the participants while people like Noah, Leonel, Argos and the like only revealed a calm expression as if they had no doubt on their admission. "All that have reached this stage are geniuses in their own right, but all that remains is to decide the ranking of your strength.

"The current phase of the exam will be simple. Based on the current strength you've shown, all of you will be given an initial rank. This phase will be a one versus one. You will be given the chance to challenge the participant 10 ranks above you. Should you win, you will be placed at his rank while the defeated opponent and those below him will have their ranks decreased by one. The match lasts 20 minutes, if the challenger cannot defeat the challenged then the latter can keep his rank while the former's rank will be reduced by one.

This phase will last 6 hours and at the end of that time, your ranking will be permanent and will stay with you throughout your first year in the Soaring Star Academy. And, of course, these rankings have benefits, like the quantity and quality of the resources you will receive in the academy. Oh yeah, like I said last time, Perks you and your team had gathered from your last match can be distributed and used during this current phase. And everybody is only allowed to deny a challenge 3 times. Good luck."

After his speech, the participants felt a familiar sense of weightlessness before they realized that they had appeared atop platforms that had materialized at the edges of the coliseum, which had now tripled in size to accommodate three stages where opponents could battle.

Noah stared at a large number 7 displayed above him and frowned. His eyes scanned the platforms across him, easily spotting the individuals with rankings higher than his. He noticed that Argos was one of them, sitting at number 5 but didn't really feel a threat from anyone else until his eyes finally rested on the person at number 1. He appeared to be 12 years old like him, with a strength at the 3rd Level of the Intermediate Stage. His face featured black colored hair and eyes that seemed to resonate with the occasional black gas that his Essence generated, hinting at a Darkness affinity. The transmigrator's gut told him that the boy would be a real issue if they were to truly fight.

"Whatcha thinking about?" A voice snapped him out of his thoughts and made him turn his head to glance at a Leonel that had popped out of nowhere, prompting his curiosity.

"How did you get here?"

"Oh, it's possible to stay on the same platform as your teammates to distribute the Perks." Leonel shrugged and answered. "I actually found out by mistake, was wondering how I'd get to you actually."

Noah revealed a weird expression as he glanced at the number 11 that hovered above the boy's head and back at him. "Can't you handle this measly competition on your own? Even Mona and Damien didn't come over to my platform."

"Actually they did." Leonel smirked and pointed at the two who had been standing behind him, waving their hands awkwardly as they felt his gaze on them.

"Do I look like group's thigh to cling on to you guys?" With a vein threatening to pop on his fore head, Noah glared at the trio. "This is a damned one versus one competition for goodness sake."

"We intend to cheat with your Eye soul skill." A cunning smirk appeared on Leonel's face as he rubbed his palms against each other.

Noah paused, thinking about it a bit before realizing that it was indeed a viable plan. He then glanced at the innocent looking Leonel wondering where the kid had gone wrong in life, to be thinking of such a vicious plan at such a young age.

The boy in question felt his nose twitch and looked at Noah. "You… You just thought of me in a bad way didn't you? I'm not a villain or anything, this is for the resources, it's not like I'm killing anyone."

The transmigrator only stared at him for no more than 3 seconds more before glancing elsewhere and muting Leonel's complaints. In the end, he still decided to activate the Silver Dragon Eyes and scanned the platforms around him. "Mona and Damien should be able to easily reach the 15th ranks upwards no matter who you challenge, though you should be careful of the kid with red hair. Leonel, you should be able to win against the girl at number 4."

The trio nodded and smiled, looking at Noah as if he were their benefactor and causing his lips to twitch at their undiluted shamelessness. But soon, a siren rang. This signaled the beginning of the Third phase of the Soaring Star Academy Entrance Exam.