The First Phase

"Let the entrance exams begin."

The number of candidates were trimmed down greatly, giving space for only 250 candidates who survived the purge. It has always been like this, each year only a total of 25 students got enrolled into the academy, the maximum was 30, displaying how strict the selection process was. Luckily for Roy, he was part of the chosen few.

"The first phase is a survival phase, you are all expected to form groups of three, nothing more, nothing less. You have 2 minutes to do so." Shun Li instructed, passing on a deadline for which they would have to meet up.

Most likely those who failed to meet up with the deadline would be eliminated.

Most of the candidates wasted no time pairing up, some were acquaintances, some families and others acquainted my their parents. In Roy's case however, it was a big problem. It wouldn't take much for anyone to suspect he was a commoner, however the presence of his Soul-Core reduced the possibility by half.

[00:10]

Ten seconds were remaining and a total of 80 teams had been made, time was running out fast but it didn't seem like anyone was willing to partner up with Roy.

[00:00]

The time for the selection period elapsed and Roy and one other individual was left without a team.

"Alright that's a wrap, now that the teams have been selected, you two are dis-"

"He's on our team." Shun Li's verdict was cut short by the voice of Lady Sephrina.

"I see, however next time do stand next to your teammates, once I've made my verdict, it is final." Automatically, the only remaining candidate without a team was disqualified.

Weaving a sigh of relief, Roy approached Sephrina and her teammate, he was sure he was done for. That aside, he couldn't help but think if there was a hidden agenda behind her actions.

"Thanks, but why are you helping me?" With uncertainty in his heart, he asked for clarification.

"Huh!?" Taking a glance at Roy, Sephrina's second teammate began doubting her decision to include him in their team.

"A commoner? Unacceptable." Her second teammate, a noble named Nyx belonging to the Zeus's family, a family where all their affinity revolves around lightning , refused to accept this.

"A commoner? I doubt, besides I can sense his Soul-Energy, doesn't that mean he belongs to the noble or royals?" Sephrina said, in an effort to defend him.

"If he's a royal he'd be well known, but he is not. I know majority of the noble families in the kingdom, he is a face that I cannot recognize. He might possess Soul-Energy, but don't forget even if a commoner manages to awaken, they belong to Grade1!" Nyx said, personally he had no personal grudge against commoners, but as his teammate was a different story. He didn't seem surprised that a commoner had awakened, maybe it was bec

Sephrina was a bit stunned, she didn't think to consider the possibility that he had awakened but why would she? In their kingdom there has been no records of such.

"Is that true? Are you a commoner?" She faced Roy directly, a bit displeased by this revelation.

"Yes, I'm Roy Hiroto, but I doubt that's relevant now." He responded.

"We don't need a burden like him Sephrina, kick him out." Nyx demanded.

Sephrina sighed softly, although it was disappointing that the person she took interest in was a commoner, she couldn't kick him out. "Unfortunately we can't, if we do our team will be down to two members and automatically we'd be disqualified. Plus if he really is a Grade 1 Soul-User that means he's a healer, that can come in handy."

"Tch." Nyx grunted, he couldn't argue with the facts, they needed him or they would all be disqualified.

"The first phase of the exams starts now." As Shun Li spoke, mild tremors went through the grounds of the hall. It was like the hall was trembling from an influx of power, then.

The exam candidates found themselves swiftly in a whole new environment, the best term to describe it would be a wasteland, the aftermath of a war. Numerous buildings were still standing but most of them were cut in half.

"Where are we?" Roy muttered softly to himself.

"My guess is, we are inside the ability of Mr Shun Li." Sephrina replied, taking into consideration that Roy was not expecting an answer, but she still felt the need to tell him given what they were up against.

Shun Li's ability, [Neon Void] allowed him to manipulate a given space as he sees fit, naturally that given space becomes his domain and practically anything he thinks of becomes a reality. In his domain, he couldn't be beat.

Within the domain where the candidates were summoned into, a timer materialized in the air in the form of a huge HUD board.

[1:00:00]

"There are are several beasts hidden within this large space, levelled F-Rank to A+ Rank, it is recommended you hunt down the beasts that ranges from F-Rank to C-Rank. However, do keep in mind that the higher the rank of the beast slain, the higher the individual points. Begin!" As Shun Li's voice echoed within the void, the timer began counting down, they had only 10 minutes to accumulate enough points to pass this stage.

"If the aim of this stage is to accumulate enough points to move on to the next stage, why did he ask that we team up?" Pondering hard on this thought, Roy had no idea his teammates had begun hunting down the beasts.

"Come on Roy, now's not the time to zone out!" Sephrina called to him, bringing his attention back to the matter at hand.

"R-Right." He ran behind them, Nyx on the other hand couldn't care less about what the commoner does, his only wishes were for this to end so he wouldn't be seen with someone like him.

"For a high-class noble she's being so friendly to me? What's her aim?" After living his life with the prospect that nobles and royals dislike commoner kind, he never stopped to think that there were some who really don't care about status in society. There was Jin, but even Roy knew he only gained interest in him because he defied what the kingdom had concluded as a fact.

"Hold on a second!" Nyx called out to Sephrina, raising his right hand up as they all came to an abrupt stop. He sensed an eerie aura which appeared out of nowhere, disappeared completely and resurfaced again. It didn't take long before Sephrina started sensing it too.

"W-what is that?" She spoke softly, her voice seemingly trembling. This eerie feeling sent chills down the spine of Nyx, he had never felt anything so irritating.

Roy on the other hand still had much to learn about sensing Soul-Energy, so far he could only sense the energy off a Soul-Technique, making him unaware of the danger that lurked around them.

However, that all changed as they saw from the ground, a huge shadow hovering above their heads.

Sephrina screamed in horror as she turned to face the monstrosity that approached them.

"W-what is that!?" Roy exclaimed, now being able to sense the eerie and unpleasant aura of the beast.