Exam Hall

As they were headed towards the academy, Neo stared into his right palm. He could feel the effects of the training he did last night, it was bitter work but at the same time it felt exhilarating. They arrived at the Haven's academy just before the exams were about to commence. The Haven's academy was a big school for Entry Aenists which had the insignia of a Crescent carved in the middle of the wall.

It's spacious environment allowed for the students under the age of 13 to practice their abilities. Naturally no one was permitted to take the Aenist Exams until they were 16 years of age and above. The three Entry Aenists proceeded to the large hallway of the academy which was big enough to hold a maximum of 5000 people as that was the anticipated amount of people who were expected to take the Aenist Exams.

However since the start of the war, the numbers reduced drastically as the war escalated into a battle of strong and powerful Aenists, in the Silvercrest kingdom 50% of the Aenists who went ahead to fight for their kingdom never made it back.

"This place is huge." Neo spoke softly as he looked around examining the entire hall and the participants. He was joyous, he had this uncontrollable urge to wonder how many strong awakened were present in this exam.

"Of course, years ago before the start of this bloody war every youth in the kingdom were overambitious in becoming an Aenist, each year the exam took place the numbers of youth participating increased greatly.

They were left with no choice but to build a massive venue for the exams due to lack of space in the previous one. Nonetheless I wonder what the exam would be this year, you see the theme changes each year."

Neo could feel the rush of excitement pulsating through his body. "So your saying we don't know what to expect? I don't know why but I'm getting pumped up!"

"Says the guy who doesn't know how to ride a horse." Vanessa slammed her right palm on her face and sighed softly as she spoke, Xenos laughed softly as Neo crossed his arms before scoffing at Vanessa's words.

"Dear participants, we welcome you to the start of the ,15th Aenist Exams. I am Principal Helen and the examiner for this year's exam, this year we are going to be doing things a little bit differently than the previous years." The principal of the Haven's academy addressed the 2000 participants from the stage.

"A bit differently?" Vanessa spoke out loud in confusion to the words of the principal.

"That's right, as you know the usual procedure for the exams are a total of 10 stages, given the situation of the present day it has been trimmed down to 3 stages, as a result the numbers of participants must be reduced drastically as well." The principal's words caused a huge murmur to occur within the hall.

"R-reduced drastically?" A participant in the hall stammered.

"Y-you don't mean.." Another participant stammered as they were all taken over aback by the change in situation.

"Mass elimination." Xenos spoke softly to sum up the principal's statement in just two words.

The others participants murmurs increased after Xenos made it clear that the exams was now all about survival. After a thorough throat clearing by the principal into a megaphone the hall became silent.

"Without any further interruptions, I wish you all the best of luck. Let the 15th exams begin! Contestant 1119 to 2000 please proceed to the next hall while the remaining contestants will have a battle royale within a time range, the surviving 200 will move on to the next stage." As the principal spoke her last words as she anticipated the total amount of people that were mostly likely to make it, she exited the hall not caring about the contestants reaction.

Following her instructions the participant's that fell under 1119-2000 including Neo, Vanessa and Xenos were directed into the next hall. After the last person crossed into the next hall a bell rang and the battle royale for the remaining contestants began.

"Why were we excluded from the battle royale? Not that I'm complaining." One of the contestants that fell in the range of 1119 downwards questioned the principal as she stepped into the hall.

"It is not important why, but do not make the mistake of considering yourselves lucky." The principal's tone became more aggressive as she spoke.

"You are to split into teams of three in order to continue to the first stage." Principal Helen laid out a condition and gave them a time range of 20 minutes to select their three teammates.

"I guess we are set." Xenos spoke excitedly placing his hands over the shoulder's of Vanessa and Neo.

They had no choice seeing as Xenos was the only one they could trust out of the whole participants so they accepted him as his third teammate. After the time range had elapsed a total of 373 teams were formed and they were set to begin the first stage.

"Now that everyone is set, I should inform you. Only a total of of 90 teams will qualify for the second stage, so team work is extremely necessary. Good luck." With her final words she stepped away from the hall.

[You will be transported to the first stage in 3 minutes]

"Transported?" Neo spoke in his thoughts as the system displayed a message in front of his field of vision in a blue holographic panel.

"We should use this time and access our situation, identify our weak point and strong point. So what can you two do?" Xenos asked trying to figure out their abilities and utilize them in a plan of attack.

"I can manipulate and take on the abilities of several creatures I've come in contact with, I got speed and defense covered." Xenos stated his abilities.

"So he falls under the Slayer Aen category.." Neo spoke in his thoughts as he recalled the systems explanation of the different Aen categories.

"I can manipulate light properties." Vanessa spoke proudly, falling under the Knight Aen category meant she was a very special Aen user, the strongest Aenist in Nexarion usually came from this Aen type so any individual who awakened it had the right to boast about it.

"Uh, I can use weapons." Neo spoke not wanting to reveal his abilities, Xenos no wore a look of concern on his face. Vanessa sighed realizing he must have just awakened if he didn't know his ability and that was a problem at their part.

[You are being transported to the first stage]

They disappeared after the time range of five minutes had passed to the first stage of their Aenist Exam.