After class was over, Diaman waited back. Shira waited too, and for some reason he was more excited for Diaman's ranking result than Diaman was.
Diaman and Shira sat silent in the class waiting for MrSan.
Diaman buried his head on the desk. From Shira's view it would seem like he was nervous, but he wasn't. He was just getting used to creating parasites with 'Parasite lab' a skill the system had granted him.
His expectations were a little high — he had expected it would be more complex.
But it wasn't. He first picked his type of parasite, then defined its ability and tasks, then its end.
Diaman realized he needed to put an end to every parasite. After trial and error. Without it, it wasn't complete. It didn't mean the parasite immediately self-destructed, but what happens to the parasite when he releases it from its host?
He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
'My first parasite created.' He smiled.
[Parasite inventory.]
[AETHERPHAGE (Endoparasite.) S Rank]
And since it was entering his body, he had to be extra careful. The parasite's targets were his mana veins. It acted as a sponge, absorbing the mana in him.
It took at least 2 minutes to turn off once activated.
[INFESTED PARASITE]
AETHERPHAGE. (INACTIVE)
VECTOR: SELF.
USE: ABSORB MANA FLOWING THROUGH VEINS.
From information Diaman had gotten from Shira. They were going to measure his mana pressure.
So AETHERPHAGE was going to act like a pressure valve, reducing the intensity to make it seem like he had less mana than he actually does.
Diaman's head jerked up as he heard the door slide open. "Sorry to keep you waiting, we had a meeting."
MrSan stood at the door.
"Shira, you're still here? You should be in the hostel."
"Yeah, I wanna know my boy's rank."
MrSan turned to Diaman. "Good to see you made friends on your first day. Come on."
They moved to the door.
"Hey, Diaman." Shira stopped just at the door's threshold. "Don't sweat it. Just know even if you're D rank, you're welcome in F class."
"...Thank you."
"You bet…"
---
Diaman stood on a raised stage. There was a floating blue orb with wires connecting from it to some monitors. MrSan stood before the monitor watching the readings and tweaked some settings, while Shira peeked over MrSan's shoulder, eager to see his ranking.
MrSan raised his thumb, signaling Diaman. "Place your hand on the orb."
Diaman took a deep breath.
[AETHERPHAGE Activated!]
The parasite swelled, absorbing the mana flowing through his veins, leaving little. He placed his hand on the cold glass. It began to glow brighter and brighter, almost blinding. Diaman shut his eyes tight but kept his palm fixed on the orb's surface, feeling the pull.
But something felt wrong. 'What's happening?' The pull grew stronger, like the orb was trying to pull his real mana out. He held it, but it kept whirring louder.
Diaman looked at MrSan with a worried face. "What's happening?" He raised his voice, but the sound of the orb was louder.
"What?"
"I said what's happening!"
"I don't know, just relax. Don't fight it."
But Diaman did the opposite. He gripped the orb harder and increased the power of AETHERPHAGE in his veins. He needed to block enough mana not to reveal his real rank, but also not to block his mana veins totally.
'Come on.' Diaman gritted his teeth as he struggled to keep the balance, but the orb was clearly winning. He could hear MrSan's voice blur behind him, instructing him not to fight.
The surge continued, causing a whirlwind in the room. Diaman's uniform flapped in the wind. Papers flew around. Diaman became worried—the orb over-surging could draw other teachers, which would make the target on his back larger.
'Shit, this thing is really good. But I can't let it win.'
After a moment of tug of war between the orb and Diaman, the orb's energy surge finally died down as the test completed.
Calmness returned to the room.
''If they knew my real rank... would I even get a Carness when I graduate? Do I even need it?"
[AETHERPHAGE (DISENGAGED)]
"Now what's my rank?"
MrSan's face was stunned as he stared at the monitor. He looked at the screen, then at Diaman and Shira, and laughed, though he looked a little surprised too.
"Dude, that's crazy."
Diaman already knew his attempt to suppress his rank didn't work.
"Come check it out." Shira signaled him to come.
"I think it's a fluke." MrSan adjusted his glasses.
Diaman walked to the monitor. "So what's my rank?" He pretended not to know.
"See." Shira pointed to the screen displaying the rank 'SS.'
"You're even higher than me. That's insane."
Shira was excited for Diaman, but he kept his face neutral.
'SS Rank. What? It almost got my real ranking despite everything.'
"Bro, are you stunned or unhappy?"
"I'm stunned. I can't believe it."
"Right—"
"But it might be a fluke." Diaman and Shira faced MrSan.
"What are you saying? Diaman can't be an SS rank?"
"Not that—"
"I also think it's a fluke." Diaman added. If he could redo the test, he would put in more strength to absorb his mana. At least he knew how powerful the orb was.
"No. Don't let him get in your head and bring you down with his capping." Shira flicked a finger on Diaman's forehead.
"Shira, I know what I'm capable of. I don't think I can get an SS rank. Can I retake the test, MrSan?"
"Yes, you can." MrSan moved around the orb, trying to check if he could figure out the problem. "But after we know what the problem with the orb is."
Shira crossed his arms. "I once said the orb was a top artifact designed to give accurate readings only."
"But I never said one hundred percent, and besides, things can get faulty, Shira." MrSan pushed his glasses up.
Diaman slowly took his backpack and began walking out. At least his rank was still unknown. He paused, watching Shira arguing with MrSan. 'One thing I hate is arguments.' He sighed. "I'm going home."
Shira noticed him at the door. "Wait!" He cast some large pillars of ice towards Diaman to block the entrance. They came at incredible speed, but felt slow to Diaman.
'His he attacking me?' Casually Diaman ignored it and swatted it away. As the pillars collided with his hand, it shattered to pieces like it was nothing and sent flying.
Piece by piece chunks of ice dropped to the ground. 'Shit!' It was too late before Diaman realized he had shown his true rank.
"You see, even an S rank would need at least a punch to destroy those pillars, and you know..."
MrSan's jaw dropped. He should have been scolding Shira for using magic unwarranted, but instead he stood flabbergasted. "How's... Is that possible?"
"If you don't believe it, we can do what I proposed."
Diaman's eyes narrowed as he darted from Shira to MrSan. "What did he propose?"