Professors and students were waiting to see how strong Zane is since they were not able to see his rank, class and talent.
"Who do you think will win, Principal?" Hannah asked, her sharp gaze scanning the arena floor.
"It may be Zane according to the information I got," the principal replied smoothly, keeping a faint, knowing smile on his face.
"So this is the boy who brought you guys here," Arnold said, paying more attention as he leaned forward in his VIP seat, resting his chin on his knuckles.
Meanwhile down on the Arena Zane’s test had begun. The heavy stone floor trembled slightly under the ambient pressure of the arena’s protective barriers as the gathered spectators held their collective breath.
"This guy I can’t feel any aura or mana coming from him but my intuition is telling me to run, Even if I remove the seal that the Academy put on us, I don’t think I can win" Kane thought to himself, cold sweat beading down his forehead as he stared across the distance at Zane’s relaxed posture.
"Sir, can I ask for something?" Kane said while raising his hand, his voice slightly strained as he tried to mask his rising panic.
"What’s going on" Everyone was confused with what Kane was doing, murmurs rippling through the packed student sections.
"Yes, you can ask," the principal said, raising his voice slightly so it echoed across the arena.
"Can I use full power to fight this guy?" Kane asked with a dead serious look, looking at Zane, desperate for any advantage that might level the playing field.
"What he wants to use full strength on a lad who hasn’t even been accepted yet" people started whispering at each other, shocked by the sheer absurdity of a senior student asking to go all out against an unranked freshman.
That was a surprise turn of events. So what are you going to do, Principal" Arnold asked, while blowing his cup of tea and taking a sip, thoroughly amused by the spectacle.
"Zane do you accept his request" the Principal asked looking at Zane putting his hands in his pocket.
"Do what you want, even if you add more power to him it is not going to win in any way" Zane said while taking his hand from his pocket and cleaning his ear and putting his hand back in his pocket, completely dismissing his opponent.
"Tch-- Show some respect kid," Kane said, his teeth gritting in frustration as his pride took a massive hit in front of the entire academy.
"Respect is earned and not given" Zane said, while taking his hands out of his pockets and taking one step and Then...
FWOOOSH!
A burst surge of Aura came from Zane creating a shockwave that spread throughout the whole Arena.
"What kind of monster is he?" students started whispering, backing away from the railings.
"Is he even a human?" Some students said while being pressed down by his oppressive Aura, struggling to draw a proper breath.
"Woah-- Now I understand why big bro Arthur said he needed to train after fighting together, what a monster" Leon said while covering his eyes, trying to see through the heavy distortion of air pressure.
"What a monster" Primrose said standing at the side line, her usual calm demeanor replaced by stark astonishment.
"WOOW what kind of training did this kid go through?" Arnold said out of shock, nearly dropping his teacup as his eyes widened.
"I knew he was going to put up a show but I didn’t expect him this way," Eveline said, a proud yet nervous smile touching her lips.
"It seems I don’t have a choice," the principal thought. "You can unseal" The principal shouted, his voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere.
"Unseal, what can that help me? The look on this guy’s face is telling me this is a fraction of his power" Kane thought while struggling to stand against the invisible weight crushing his shoulders.
"I will go easy on you, don’t worry," Zane said, his tone casual and unimpressed.
"Tch-- I need to protect my name magic unseal!"
FWOOOSH!
An incredible amount of magic power bursted as he unsealed his magic power, a blinding column of elemental light erupting around him to push back the encroaching pressure.
"Let Fight Now" Kane shouted, lunging forward with all his might.
"I need to protect the name I have built," Kane thought, putting his life into a single desperate strike.
"Quiet" Zane said, lifting his hand with absolute nonchalance.
"Huuh"
"Are you kidding me?" Kane shouted as his advanced spell completely dissipated into thin air upon touching Zane’s outstretched palm.
"What you said I should show you respect I did, Unless you want me to humiliate you" Zane said while stepping down from the stage, leaving Kane frozen in place before he could even land an attack.
"Huh" "this damn kid" Kane thought, completely demoralized.
"He did the same in Evaluation too" students started whispering at each other.
"He is really full of surprises," Eveline thought, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Ooh man I wanted to see at least one of his attacks, what a disappointment."
"This kid is interesting. I want him in my tower" Arnold said, his competitive spark finally igniting.
"I would like to experiment his blood," Boric said too while making a big scary face and his eyes wide open, licking his lips.
"If you want to be killed by the royal family that is" Hannah replied while folding her hands, giving him a cold, warning glare.
"The royal family. You mean that kid is a prince why haven’t I heard of him" Aria asked, turning to her peers in confusion.
"It is not that you haven’t seen him or seen him. It’s just that you last saw him ten years ago before the 5th Queen died" Hannah replied, her expression turning somber.
"Hauh, you are telling me that little spoiled brat and witty, shy prince from ten years ago is that guy," Arnold said, shaking his head in utter disbelief.
"I didn’t expect him to grow this much although I knew he had talent since I was one of the people who witnessed him breaking the crystal ten years ago," Scarlet said, crossing her arms.
"Well he broke another one today" The principal said with a knowing smirk.
"The last time I checked he was sick with mana collisions. How did he survive that and his mom die" Aria asked, probing into the long-buried secrets of the court.
"Even the royal family is looking for that information, maybe we should ask him one day" The principal replied while watching another match begin on the adjacent stage.
"What if he refuses to answer?" Aria asked.
"We can experiment on his body," Boric replied with a sinister chuckle.
"If you want to die that is" echoed from behind a voice, cold and sharp.
"Mmm Princess Freya, what brings you here?" The principal asked, quickly standing up to show respect to the powerful royal.
"To see my brother that is" Freya answered while standing on the balcony, her eyes fixed on the distant figure of Zane.
"It seems I missed the fight," Freya said, looking down at the lingering debris on the stage.
"You really haven’t changed a little Princess Freya," Arnold said, leaning back.
"Well I am better than you who can lead a team of S rank to die, can you give me a good reason for that" Freya asked while watching the ongoing fights on the stage, her tone dripping with authority.
"I am sorry about that," Arnold replied, suddenly losing his casual arrogance.
"Sorry is not a reason," Freya said sharply.
"You better solve that problem before it goes public" Freya said, turning around and leaving without another word.
"You are cooked Arnold" Hannah said while laughing out loud at his misfortune.
After everyone took the exam people chose the towers they wanted. Brandon went to the magic tower and Eveline and Leon went to the martial arts tower as for Zane. The students gathered in front of the tower masters, waiting for their assignments to be made official as the final selection ceremony commenced under the bright afternoon sun.
"Sir, can I attend all the towers?" Zane asked, stepping forward with his hands deep in his pockets.
"No it’s not allowed, you have to choose one" The principal replied, raising an eyebrow at the audacious request.
"Okay, then I will join the Dark Tower," Zane said calmly, stunning the entire assembly into absolute silence.
"What"
"You heard me" zane said, completely unfazed by the collective shock and whispered disbelief rippling through the crowd.
"Why do you want to waste your talent, kid?" Arnold asked, completely baffled by the self-destructive choice.
"I have my own reasons to do so, so I don’t think it’s a waste of talent" Zane replied firmly, his expression entirely unreadable.
"If you say so, go ahead" the principal agrees, letting out a soft sigh as he finalizes the registry.
"Why would he do that with that kind of talent, shouldn’t he be choosing combat class though" people started to whisper around.