Nexus Hero Academy Practical Examination Ongoing
"Is there anyone else still inside?"
"It looks like some candidates haven't come out yet."
The crowd of hopeful examinees murmured near the waiting hall. One by one, doors were opening, signaling the return of candidates from the exam zones. Some returned injured, others exhausted. But a few emerged calm no doubt the elites.
"Still, isn't facing a D-class monster too much? Even a full-fledged cadet would struggle."
"You're right. Most candidates shouldn't be able to handle that level."
Just then, the crowd stirred.
"Hey! Look over there someone's coming out!"
—Door A-12 has opened
—Examination Complete
"Dammit… dammit! If only I'd blocked that last hit…!"
The girl limped out, clutching her side. Her breath was ragged, her weapon cracked, but her eyes still burned with determination.
—Cadets: Selene Whitmore
—Score: 885 / 1000
[Selene Whitmore. Second daughter of the prestigious Whitmore Family one of Belester's ruling houses.]
"885 points? That's impressive."
"She must've fought well. The scoring system isn't just about kills it considers survival, evasion, contribution, and strategy. Anything above 500 is a solid result."
"So, that makes four left now?"
"Yeah Damon Reid, Elric Vales, Lucian Crowe… and who the hell is Kael Vi-rel?"
The crowd blinked.
"Kael Vi-rel? Never heard of him."
"Neither have I."
Lucian, Damon, and Elric were nationally known prodigies top 5 in the country and top scorers from the prestigious [School for Designated Heroes]. Their stats, family lineage, and talents were unmatched.
"Kael must've slipped through the ranks… maybe he's one of those late-bloomers?"
"Still, no way someone ranked in the late 4000s could be compared to those three."
"Does that even make sense?"
While the crowd whispered, another gate activated.
A white light flashed.
—Door A-13 has opened
—Examination Complete: Cadets Damon Reid has exited.
A tall boy with a sharp, honest face emerged, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"That was… a bit difficult."
Although he is one the best protagonist character, he is a slow-growing character in the beginning of the game. Even so, he was also an irregular as proof of that.
— Cadets Damon Reid: 989 / 1000
"Whoa!! Did you see that? 989?!"
"He almost maxed the score!"
"Of course. Damon specializes in body enhancement techniques. For this kind of physical test, he's practically built for it."
Despite his power, Damon had one weakness his vulnerability to spiritual, mind and magic attacks. Still, once his physical enhancements were fully developed, few could stand against him.
Damon Reid is very undervalued due to his body-strengthening techniques. But it can be considered an objective evaluation. In the beginning, Candidates with abilities related to mental attack' in the top 1,000 ranks will be able to defeat Damon. Of course, if you try something like that, you will be crushed without hesitation.
Next came another burst of light.
—Door B-10 has opened
—Examination Complete
— Cadets Lucian Crowe: 933 / 1000
Lucian looked up at the holographic screen, and his eye twitched.
"Tch. Dammit…"
He clenched his wand and threw it to the ground in frustration.
"Lucian's pissed," someone whispered. You better avoid him so he doesn't make you a target.
He'd stayed in longer than Damon Reid, yet scored less. Then, his eyes caught another name.
Kael Vi-rel.
"...Who?"
"He must be a magician. Maybe that's how he held on this long."
"This test doesn't favor magicians, though."
"Yeah, unless they got a good terrain layout. Still… it's mostly luck."
Two candidates look at each other and ask the same question.
"Who the hell are you?.
As they debated, the next gate activated.
—Door A-1 has opened
—Examination Complete: Cadets Elric Vales
—Score: 1,022 / 1000
The crowd went wild.
"Over 1,000 points?!"
"As expected of the youngest from the Vales Family!"
"One of the best magic families in the world, they are among the top three family in Belester. Even their non-magic offspring are monsters."
Elric came out, so noisy and stared at the screen and muttered, "I thought I did well… but someone's still inside."
The lights on of the last gate hadn't turned off.
Damon, Elric, and Lucian all approached the last door.
Then a loud voice came from behind.
Hey! Elric do you think you will be able to make it to first place. Damon ask has he wrap his hands around Elric shoulder.
"Are you blind? There is still someone inside who hasn't come out yet,
"Huh! You are right, but are you sure.
" isn't something wrong with the door?"
"Should we call instructor Ronan Wolfe? Maybe the candidate fainted inside out of fear?"
"Damon laugh loud.
"Instructor Ronan Wolfe might need to check it, let go call him."
Just then
The lights on the last door turned off.
The last score was displayed.
—Door C-8 has opened
—Examination Complete:Cadets Kael Vi-rel
—Score: 1,202 / 1000
The Nexus Entrance Examination has ended.
Silence.
Then explosion.
"WHAT?!"
"1,202? That's… over the limit!"
"How is that even possible?!"
From the glowing gate, a figure stepped out calmly. His dark hair was slightly ruffled, his clothes torn, but his stride was steady and proud.
Kael Vi-rel, who came out of there, walked out slowly, and the crowd of candidates parted. Lucian Crowe was frowning, Damon Reid was curious and Elric Vales was suspicious. As soon as Kael left the gym, thunderous cheers erupted.
Gasps rippled through the hall.
"Did you see that?!" 1,202 points.
"He ignored Lucian Crowe, smirked at Elric Vales, and looked Damon Reid in the eyes before walking out!"
"Are you a hero candidate raised by a large guide corporation? Or another raising genius? What. What the hell!"
"Who is this mysterious students, all eyes were on him.
"Where did he come from?!"
No one knew who he his or were he comes form.
And yet, they couldn't take their eyes off him as he walks away.
Kael Vi-rel the lowest-ranked candidate who got the highest score in Nexus Hero Academy's Practical Examination in history.
" His name has begun to spread throughout the school.
Chapter 5 Ends.