Chapter 2

The Entrance Exam, or as it was more officially known, 'Calamity Lord Successor Candidate Selection and Aptitude Exam' was well underway. However, even the smartest demons had trouble remembering the official name, so they just called it the 'Entrance Exam'.

It was easier to simply advertise the purpose of the Exam, and what the Academy hoped to achieve for, in the form of recruitment posters:

Become the Calamity Lord today, the posters said, free food, education, and lodging. What's not to like? no pay. Extreme mortality rate. Enjoy a life of paying back debt.

The Academy had dozens of facilities, only few of which were converted for the entrance exam. There was the auditorium for the magic theory test, the arena was converted for the magical power and control aptitude test, and finally, the gym was chosen for the physical ability test.

The ranking and point system implemented for the selection phase was complicated; Only a certain number of applicants were accepted as candidates each year. This number varied, but suffice to say that it was mostly demons with mind-boggling pedigree, from affluent clans, that made it into the Academy. Sometimes, although very rarely, less ideal candidates (in the eyes of the demonic elite) were accepted based on vague criteria, such as uniqueness, potential, even comedic effect. This had the effect of creating a hierarchy within the Academy, which eventually became accepted, further dividing the annual candidate slots by factions.

The Nobility: Demons from powerful clans with considerable backing make it into this faction.

The Elite: Demons with tremendous influence or ability are guaranteed a spot in the Elite.

The Raveners: Demons with exotic pedigree, war magic, or unique ability join the Raveners.

The Commoners: The poor and the powerless.

Besides the officially recognized factions, there were several others, such as the Sentinels, the Tribune, or the Realmbreakers. It was not against the written rules to belong to an official and unofficial faction, however, it was allowed per written rules that should a faction member have divided loyalties, it was legal to execute them with no consequences what-so-ever.

In fact, ironically enough, this rule was enforced by the Tribune - an unofficial faction. In the real world, the unofficial factions had just as much influence as the official factions.

"Def smart goblin. Def teach human all human need to know."

"Perhaps Def focus on how to pay back debt, instead of waste time with useless things," Troma said to his comrade.

Def smirked. "Troma no worry. Def have plan. Academy have newbie tournament. Big prize money. But human have to first pass exam. Come, this way. Goblin show human the way."

As he passed through the hallways, Ain became aware that not all demons saw him as a disgusting, meager creature. Some of them were curious, others respectful even. Especially those who carried an insignia on their shoulder, marking them that they were chosen by the Raveners, showed tremendous respect towards Ain.

After all, the Raveners were mainly practitioners of war magic. They knew their history well. In the ancient days of heroes and overlords, humans and demons fought enough times to become each other's nemesis. Most Raveners would be very well aware that humans only look weak on the outside.

It was the Nobility and Commoners that generally looked down on Ain; they didn't even bother hiding their disdain and hostility.

When Ain entered the gym where the physical test was held, only two demons remained. A large, muscular demon, and a smaller, thinner one who virtually didn't possess any demonic influence in his appearance.

The larger demon glanced at Ain and sneered. "I heard there was a rat in the Academy. You must've lost your way. Allow me to show you why you don't belong here."

The demon turned towards the person-sized rock that was in the middle of the gym, next to the attending evaluator, and drew back his arm.

Ain smirked.

A tremendous shock-wave erupted from the demon, as he shouted out loud and punched the rock. A large slab of mineral broke off the rock, falling to the ground with a loud crash. Bits of stone erupted, spraying the two goblins in rock-gore. But not Ain. For some reason, and although he was the target of the rock fragmentation, he was miraculously spared.

Def licked his lips, removing bits of rock from his robe. "Def just remember that he hungry..."

"Troma didn't eat in days... Troma would eat even demon."

"That is disgusting," Def said. "I like it."

"What did you think human? This is no ordinary rock. It has been reinforced by the greatest earth mage in the Academy. Even scratching it is considered a great achievement," the demon said.

The attending evaluator - a hooded figure - nodded in agreement.

"I thought you weren't supposed to use body enhancement spells for this test. Perhaps I was mistaken," Ain said.

The demon narrowed his eyes. "Are you accusing me of cheating? I did not use magic. Did you see any spell circles? Any mana motes?"

Ain shook his head. "I didn't see any spell circles or mana motes. But I saw the spell you used to conceal them. Are you pretending that your strength is an innate ability? A body evolution?"

The attendant raised his head slightly.

The demon growled. "You are a human, what do you know about magic? You humans don't even have any magic power; even if you pass this test, you will fail the magic theory and magic power test. Slave," the demon looked at the attendant. "Grade me."

The attendant looked at the rock and then nodded. "Seventy-one points. Kalet passes the physical aptitude exam."

"Seventy-one? Hmph," the demon snorted. "I'll take it. It doesn't matter, my place in the Nobility is already guaranteed."

"Lezuli," the attendant chanted, and a magical circle filled with esoteric symbols appeared over the rock. The chunk of stone that fell off the main body burst into smaller pebbles and reformed on the rock, making it whole again.

"Senon is next," the attendant called out, and the smaller demon stepped forward.

Kalet looked at Senon, looking for a patch on the demon's shoulder, but didn't find any.

Senon didn't waste any time. His hand lowered to his sword-hilt and he quietly said. "Actually, I saw the concealing spell as well." Then, without hesitation, he drew his sword and a moment afterwards sheathed it again.

There was no sound of the sword striking the stone, no impact, nothing. The sword went through the rock as easily as if the rock was made of air.

"One hundred points. Senon passes," the attendant said, with a ceremonious tone. "Lezuli."

Kalet was stunned. Not because Senon was also aware of his secret, but more by the fact that Senon achieved a perfect score. A moment before, Kalet assumed that Senon would be a commoner because he didn't have a pre-selection badge; but now it turned out that Senon was superior.

Then Kalet narrowed his eyes and glared at Senon. "You cheated," he said.

"Sorry to disappoint," Senon said, in true Pride Demon fashion. "But I am not as weak as you."

"Ain is next. Step forward."

Ain heeded the attendant and walked towards the rock. Def and Troma were snickering. In their wicked, goblin hearts, they knew that Ain would obliterate that rock so hard that not even the Lezuli spell would be able to put it back together again.

Sure, Senon's physical strength and sword technique surprised them, but they knew, albeit vaguely, what Ain was capable of.

"Stupid demons. Watch. This real power. Human decapitate demon with single punch," Def said, viciously.

Troma nodded. "Human make Bazuzu salsa." Then Troma's stomach growled. "Troma so hungry. Troma gonna die."

"If Troma die, Def eat Troma," Def said.

Unceremoniously, Ain reached for the stone and laid his palm flat against the stone.

Even Senon, who was intent on leaving the gym, stopped and turned around to see this celebrated extreme display of power. Kalet, on the other hand, was more skeptical - he expected the human to fail.

Ain inhaled sharply and closed his eyes.

A luminous purple glow appeared under the attendant's hood, two burning embers of hate and malice, as his head snapped to the side, attention entirely focused on Ain.

Ain smiled, opening his eyes and withdrawing his hand. "Do I pass?" he asked.

"Lezuli," the attendant called out. Nothing happened. Well, the magical circle appeared. For those who could see into the magical realm, the mana flowed into the rock, but instead of binding to it, it simply washed over.

"Lezuli," again, the attendant called out - louder this time, more determined. "Sor Lezuli." A greater variation, still nothing.

"Adrona Lezuli." Nothing. The magical circle this spell produced was tremendous; easily ten meters across.

"Cae Ideta." This time, the rock reacted. The rock turned to dust, spilling onto the floor like grains of sand. Outside the Academy, a strange phenomena appeared. A massive spell circle appeared in the sky for a brief moment. Some of the demons who saw the manifestation of that magical circle recognized that spell: Soul Restoration.

"Well, do I pass?" Ain asked, politely.

"Zero points. Disqualified," the attendant said.

Kalet smirked.

Senon stared in bewilderment.

The attendant produced an insignia from his sleeve, affixing it to Ain's shoulder as he spoke: "Welcome to the Academy. Your selection will be official when you choose your faction."

The insignia Ain was given was pure-white; it did not have a symbol. But everyone knew of its mythical existence. There was no Faction for individuals with a white insignia, because one worthy of receiving it appeared only once in a millennia. Those who wore it were existences recognized to rival, if not exceed, the Calamity Lord. The insignia once belonged to a faction renowned for possessing such tyrannical power that they were capable of extinguishing the soul with a physical blow - a power they used to slaughter the Gods and plunge the world into a brutal Realm War: Soul Ruination.

This ancient faction's name was the Calamity Faction, and its leader became the Calamity Lord who ruled the demon realm for two thousand years.

And of all things, a human got it.