Chapter 20

"Who is the son of the Principal?" Steven couldn't help but ask, filled with curiosity about the identity of the Principal's son.

"The son of the Principal also awakened this year," Marco replied to Steven's question.

"Even before he awakened his class, he was already considered a prodigy. He has a high comprehension, which allows him to possess vast knowledge in combat. The kid already managed to defeat an awakened warrior two years ago," Marco added, unable to hide his admiration.

Steven was taken aback by the information. "Two years ago? I was still in school doing written work and that kid was already fighting people?" he thought, unable to believe it.

Hearing Marco, Clyde couldn't help but become curious as well. As he respectfully asked what class the son of the Principal had awakened to.

"Oh! Arthur is a Sword Master class," Marco replied calmly.

But upon hearing this, Steven was extremely surprised and couldn't help but exclaim, "What?"

Clyde, on the other hand, couldn't help but become confused. "What's so special about a Sword Master?" he thought, scanning through the memories of the previous owner of the body.

---

The Sword Master class is extremely special and rare. In recorded human history, only one person has ever awakened to this class. A Sword Master possesses a high comprehension of sword skills, giving them immense power in their attacks. The previous recorded class holder of the Sword Master was Lord Gareth, the founder of their country Eltham. He single-handedly expanded their territory by battling various overlords and powerful beasts. This happened thousands of years ago, and Lord Gareth has not been seen for hundreds of years. There are rumors that he is in a different dimension, leveling up and becoming stronger.

---

After learning all of this, Clyde couldn't help but admire the strength of a Sword Master. "So Arthur must have been born a ruler," he thought.

Clyde was filled with excitement at the thought of seeing this prodigy in the upcoming examination. "I hope he lives up to his reputation," he thought.

"But Arthur should not be your concern. I'm sure he will secure first place. Your battle should be for second place. I hope Steven here won't disappoint the Rangers. Their reputation is quite high," Marco added.

"Don't worry, Uncle Marco. I have trained even harder for the past two months. I won't let the Evirille family down," Steven replied confidently, his gaze focused on Marco.

"That's the spirit, Steven!" Marco said, patting Steven on the back. "Just remember, the most important thing is to do your best and give it your all. The rest will take care of itself."

As they continued to talk, they also discussed the other geniuses they should be aware of in the upcoming examination. With the academy encompassing around a hundred cities, it was estimated that thousands of people would participate, and only around 500 would be accepted. The competition is quite fierce.

Marco look at Frank as he indicated. "I think it's time for us to go Frank."

"Oh is it time already? the train should already be leaving in a few minutes." Frank replied.

As they said their goodbyes and Clyde's said his goodbye to his father, the three men made their way to the underground train station.

Steven and Clyde didn't have to worry about packing as their families would send their belongings once they got accepted into the academy.

Everything from clothing to food and lodging would be provided by the academy during the final examination, allowing them to focus solely on the competition.

The train station was large and bustling with activity. People were entering and exiting the station, each with their own unique purpose.

Some were warriors and merchants, dressed casually and carrying each unique weapon, while others were students, dressed in their uniforms, eagerly chatting and laughing with one another.

The sounds of bustling footsteps and chattering voices echoed throughout the underground station, creating a lively atmosphere. The walls were lined with various posters and advertisements, and the overhead announcements were ringing out with important updates.

Despite the busyness, the train station was well-organized, with clear signs pointing to different platforms and trains.

They made their way in the direction pointing to a secret passage. this is where their train is at.

The secret passage was heavily guarded by several armed guards, who checked each person's identification before allowing them to pass.

The passage was dimly lit. The walls were made of old stone bricks, and the ground was covered with cobblestones. Indicating it's already an old passage.

The sound of their footsteps echoed as they walked down the narrow corridor. They finally reached the end of the passage, where a large iron door stood, blocking their way.

One of the guards stepped forward, unlocking the door with a large key and opening it for them to enter. They stepped into a spacious train platform, filled with steam and the sound of hissing engines.

All the students who were accepted from the first phase are bustling about. There are around a hundred students boarding the train and settling into their seats.

Upon arrival, Clyde, Steven, and Marco were greeted by two individuals from the academy. These two people were subordinates of Marco and served as teachers at the academy. They had been assigned to this city to recruit new aspiring students.

Upon noticing the instructors outside showing respect towards the arriving individuals, the students on board were surprised and curious about who these people were that warranted such treatment.

However, some students recognized Steven and Adam's identities and informed the others on board. Some felt envious, but they couldn't do anything as their families were not influential in the city.

But some students didn't pay it any mind, they trusted in their own abilities and believed they were just as strong as those two individuals.

A student in a corner whispered, "So it's Steven, huh? I hope his reputation lives up to the hype." A young man licked his lips as he muttered this to a girl in the corner. The girl smiled, both of them wearing a creepy grins as if implying that Steven was their prey.

Meanwhile, outside, Steven sensed an eerie feeling as if he was being targeted by someone. He look towards the direction of the two students who were also gazing at him. "Are these people targeting me?" Steven began to smile as if embracing the challenge.

The two students saw this and also smiled. The young man whispered, "Not bad, he can sense us. It might not be easy to defeat him."

Meanwhile, Clyde also noticed this and smiled at Steven. "Not bad, you're quite well-known. You're already being targeted even before the exams have started. Ha ha ha."

"Hmmf, just some pests who don't know the difference between heaven and earth," Steven replied arrogantly with annoyance.

Clyde couldn't help but laugh at his annoyed expression. As they made their way to the front of the train, where the VIP rooms were located.

They would be staying there for the rest of the trip with Marco and the two instructors. The bagon were luxurious and upon entering, they found separate rooms for each of them to occupy for the rest of the journey.

Clyde was assigned to the last room at the end of the VIP bagon. Upon entering, he saw a unique couch and bed for him to rest on, as well as a private restroom.

The train will travel underground for the entire journey until it arrives at the academy. The mode of transportation in this country is underground because the territory outside each city is inhabited by dangerous beasts, making it difficult to navigate and potentially slowing down the trip. While traveling underground is not entirely safe, the likelihood of encountering a beast is close to zero percent.