Preparations

Everyone was preparing. A group of students were preparing for the next level competition to be held in two weeks. The teachers were preparing the arena for the exam. The other set of students who could not take up this test was preparing to excel in their regular subjects. Martial teachers had informed students that the second level of test will not be a simulation, but an actual test where all their physical and mental parameters will be checked. There will be an actual risk of injury. However, death will not happen at all. Teachers and guards would be there to protect the students. Teachers asked the students to prepare for it.

In the northern end of the school, a building was being re-purposed. It previously had some classrooms for special purposes. No student knew what was in there. Their seniors had said that the most excellent among the final year students would go there for training. They were often trained by all the martial teachers at the school. Each martial teacher excelled in a particular aspect of combat or strategy. They would conduct in-depth class to these students. Such students often had very high starting positions in the army. Only those who had the willingness to go to the army was trained in this manner.

This building was extremely large. There were much equipment on all four walls of the building. It had the height of a four storeyed building. But its inside was not divided into four floors. It just had railings and some equipment on each floor. As many as 60 workers of different martial ranks were inside this building. 7 teachers were standing at the bottom of the building. They were observing a crystal that was hanging in the middle of the building. There was a center pole in the building. It looked like the pole was cut near to the bottom and the crystal was placed in the gap between the upper and lower portions of the pole. These teachers were observing the work that was happening. At the forefront of the teachers was Delvin Hamont. Along with him was Mahaansh. Behind them was Sylvie Revera and the principal of the school Absal Igor. Behind them were the 3 other martial teachers.

Delvin turned to Mahaansh. " I heard your winning team did something interesting in the simulation test." Mahaansh turned to him. Delvin continued " It is not surprising considering their teacher is the embodiment chaos itself." Mahaansh was getting annoyed. He replied " If having spine and behaving like a man makes me that, then I will gladly be one. It is better than cowering like a spineless coward." Delvin chuckled, while others were looking at this exchange incredulously. Only Mahaansh could talk to Delvin like this. Not even the principal of the school could talk to Delvin like this.

Mahaansh said "So, the format is already decided to be that?

Delvin: Yes, it will be in that format. We got the format directly from the provincial government.

Absal : It looks like the Provincial Government is really going all out. They have even given us the recovery medicines.

Sylvie: I can't believe that they want animus to be part of this test. What if an accident happens?

Mahaansh: The teachers and guards will be around the field. What is there to be afraid of? Those twerps should be able to overcome at least this.

Sylvie: Not everyone focuses on destruction and brute force like you. There are sensible ones as well.

Mahaansh: I remember this sensible one needed the brute ones to get materials for one of her experiments."

The atmosphere became tense as both Sylvie and Mahaansh glared at each other. Others looked at their exchange and surrendered. Delmont said "Please stop. We have important matters to discuss." Delmont knew Mahaansh well. He was holding himself aback really well. If it was the person he knew, he would have lashed out by now. Mahaansh was hiding the power of a Martial Lord. Delmont was also a Martial Lord. He was a beginner. But Mahaansh was a middle level Martial Lord and he was hiding it for some reason. Even the principal of the school was only a peak Martial Noble. The difficulty to develop to higher ranks increased significantly. Being a Martial Knight was regular. Transcending to Noble rank was much more difficult.

Delvin continued, "Things are calm only on the surface. There is a storm brewing." He looked at Mahaansh and said " You of all people should know that?" Mahaansh had a solemn expression. Delvin continued " These students are going to face a lot of things when they pass. Let them experience life and death here. In the school we can save them. But out there they can only rely on themselves and their training. Let this little competition be an introduction for them."