68 Can't be average

The atmosphere was deathly silent as everyone looked ahead at the city lord representative. No one truly had cared that the other kids died, they had asked for it.

Most kids was just shocked of how quickly they died. One moment they was there and the next moment they was a pile of ash.

Ryan on the other hand thought it was a little extreme, but he understood they only have themselves to blame. The siblings didn't seem to faze by it all and the kids from the big families wasn't surprised either. It was as if they expected it to happen.

"Now that majority of the useless kids is eliminated, let start the exam. Everyone go to the spot you want to take the exam for. If you are here for combat go there, Formation there, alchemy there, and forger there." The city lord representative pointed in four different directions.

The kids below the stage slowly formed 4 groups by walking towards the spot for each exam. Almost half the kids had chosen the combat exam, while among the other 3 groups has around the same number of people applying to them.

The three academies and the city lord sent there own masters of each subject, to be the judges over the exams. Each exam had 1 representative from each academy and a city lord representative.

The people that is standing behind the city representative walked down from the stage, and went to the three groups. There was 15 people in total and 3 of them stayed on stage. While the other 12 split up into 4 for each group.

There were only one group that didn't have judges in front of them, and that was the combat group. The people that will be conducting there exam is the burly city representative that has been talking the entire time, and the 3 representative that stayed on the stage. They are the combat teachers from the 3 academies.

The formation, alchemy, and forger group head  inside the building to take there exam. While the combat group that still have around 500 kids stayed in the same place, looking at the the people on the stage.

Once everyone made it into the building, the 3 academies representative called out there own students from the building. Each academy had 12 rank 3 students coming out, and they stood behind the academies representative.

"For the next test all you have to do is convince the academy student you spar against that you have potential to be one of the best. Everyone here should know that we only have interest in above average people." He pause a little to let his eyes scan along the kids, to see if his words made anyone wavered about taking the exam.

"So at the beginning of each spar explane in words why you are above average and prove it during the spar. It could be as simple as you work harder than an average person. If that is the case than your spar should be able to prove your claim. You would have to show the results of your hard work."

the city representative didn't waste no time as soon as he got done talking he performed some hand signs. Their was a faint glow on the white floor tiles and in certain areas around the surrounding the tiles raised up from the ground. It didn't take long to understand what was happening as 12 small fighting stages was made in a few seconds.

"3 academy students will be at each stage. If for some reason you feel like u want to spar the other one because your element or something, just pick them instead."

The academies students made there way to the stages.

"All you have to do is walked to a stage and challenged them. You will only get one chance to fight so don't hesitate to use your trump cards. There are people controlling the formation and monitoring the spars. You can go all out, the formation on the stage will make sure you will not die."

Ryan and the siblings decided to linger back a little, to have time to think of what they going to say.

"I can't think of anything unique about me. The only thing that comes to mind is im a good overall fighter." Brian said.

"I am having trouble too, the only reason I'm good is because my element. But I don't think I'm using it to the best of its ability and what if someone else have my element here. Now that i think about it Its probably not a good idea to wait to long. If someone better than you go first, than your spar with them will seem underwhelming in comparison and you will have a higher chance at failing." Ryan responded with a hesitant tone.

"You have a good point. " Jessica said emotionlessly, as she made her way in line to fight.

Ryan and Brian stop lingering back and got in line too.

"If I can't think of anything to say when its my turn i will just head to the end of the line again. Brian said after thinking a little.

Ryan didn't respond back to Brian, he had started to pay attention to the spars. So did everyone else.

After around 30 minutes had passed already and Ryan noticed alot of people failed just by giving dumb reasons why they are above average.

Like one guy said there speed is above average, but it was actually only above average for a non speed related element user. His speed was average for a speed based element. He was a good fighter and Ryan thought he preformed above average, but he chose to use speed for the reason he above average and failed.

Some even claim they are above average at learning martial arts but only performed 2 martial arts at the beginner level. There are people taking the exam that can perform there martial art at intermediate level and there reason why they are above average is not related to martial arts.

There was already people that pass too, like the rank2 metal users Ryan fought at the arena. His reasons for being above average is his defense.

There was a girl that could phase through physical attacks without taking any damage and many other unique elements.

Ryan even saw someone passing with only there martial arts skills without using there element.

As time pass less and less people actually passed. There was more that failed than pass at this point and half the kids already took the exam. There was only 2 more kids in front of Elizabeth before its her turn.

Brian didn't actually come up with any good reason he above average but he decided to use a reason he already heard someone else used. Since that guy pass and he feels like he could do better, he felt like he have a decent chance in passing.

Ryan didn't see anyone with his element and many other people pass because there element. So he decided to use his element as the reason he above average.

It didn't take long before it was Elizabeth turn to spar and she walked on stage.