“All those who failed to defeat the combat puppet, please return to the waiting room. A person would escort you out of the academy while all of those who passed, please follow me to the training room for the second part of the test”.

The instructor said and started walking deeper into the training hall. Although many were confused with the fact that the instructor was leading them deeper into the training and not to another training hall. No one questioned the instructor.

Therefore, all of the 35 remaining youths followed the instructor. While everyone was following the instructor, Ray kept a tab on his surroundings as he could feel certain pricks on his back, meaning that someone was watching him. This greatly worried and disturbed him. Therefore, he asked Aurora, “Aurora, could you analyze the surroundings and tell me who’s keeping a watch on him. It’s very uncomfortable to have someone watching all your moments”.

Aurora then replied, “Already done it and also found who is keeping a watch on you, but don’t worry. They do not have any ill intentions and are just spectating your test performance, and I feel it will incline more with your intentions if you let them spectate you”.

Ray listened to Aurora’s answer and asked her, “Could you tell me who is it. Is it the dean, who is spectating me?”.

Aurora then answered, “Bingo!!, yep it’s the dean and his system spectating you”.

Ray felt at more ease listening to Aurora’s answer. However, he wondered why the dean would watch him so specifically, did he somehow identify him? Or is it something else? Yet neither did Ray delve deeper into the topic nor did he have much time left to think more about it as they had reached their new destination.

———————————

The instructor had led them in front of another door at the end of the training hall. No one would have thought of any other room existing towards the end of the hall. But still, it came with it. The instructor opened the door and led them in, and what they saw inside left them in shock. Inside the room, there was a huge beast standing. After seeing the beast, even Ray was shocked and prepared for battle immediately then,

He hurriedly asked Aurora, “Aurora, what the hell is that, aren’t beasts supposed to be found in “System Online” only. Why are there beasts over here in the academy, and most importantly that’s an intermediate tier beast standing in front of us”.

To which Aurora replied grumpily, “Really? Ray where’s your brain? in the gutter or did you drop it on the way here, Like really?, can’t you see that the beast is standing there and not attacking anyone along with the fact that there’s no killing intent around it. And what do you mean how is the beast here? Can’t there be someone with a summoning system and summon a beast?”.

Listening to all of this, the gears within Ray’s mind began moving and he understood everything that was happening and felt like an asshole for losing his mind so abruptly. Hence, he reminded himself to stay calm in all situations and use his brain along with his strength. However, he wondered about the reason for a pseudo-intermediate-tier beast to be in the training room and his question was answered by the instructor’s next words, who said,

“Okay everyone, now all of you have to defeat this beast while working in teams of 6 and all those who had fainted are disqualified”.

Only when Ray heard the instructor’s voice did he realize that there were other people with him as well, and as he turned to look at everyone, he saw that 5 of the people that had come with him had passed out on the floor while some had their legs trembling and seemed to be holding their genitals from leaking out. Moreover, just like Ray the other four students who had received top results in the first test had also prepared themselves and were ready to battle the beast with their weapons out.

Seeing this, a glint passed through the instructor’s eyes but he remained silent, his expression indifferent. After everyone regained their bearings, the instructor spoke,𝗈𝒱𝗅xt.𝗇𝓔t

“You will be battling in teams of 6 with and there would be five teams present, fighting one beast each. These beasts are at the beginning stages of the pseudo intermediate tier and won’t seriously injure any of you. Moreover, all the five students who had the best time on the first test, please step forward.

As Ray, Nia, and the other 3 stepped forward, the instructor said, “These five will be team leaders and would be leading a team each, now for the selection of players. Depending on everyone’s performance in the previous test. I will be appointing you all in a balanced manner. Now for the names of every team member along with their leader.

“Team 1:- Nia Jhonson(leader), Ria Thompson, John Summers, Henry Bart, Will Mason, John Grey

Team – Adrian Blake(leader), …..

Team 3:- Hailey Kent(leader), …..

Team 4:- Josh Wilfred(leader),…

Team 5: Ray Xanders(leader), …..”

Ray’s name was called last along with his team members. Knowing that being the leader, it was his duty to gather all of his team members and make strategies to fight against the pseudo-intermediate-tier beast. Although, he was not sure if he could win against a pseudo intermediate tier beast alone. It was a different matter fighting against it along with a team.

Ray looked upon his information and found out his team members, were:- Aliya Rose, and Tim Barns. Elina Barns, Sirius Brown, and Noah blue

After looking at the information and names of his teammates, Ray quickly gathered all of them and asked them about their strengths so they could tackle the pseudo-intermediate-tier beast. The pseudo intermediate tier beast that they had to fight was a mutated night spider. It had many similarities to the night spider that Ray had slaughtered in the game. Therefore, he had a good idea of how to defeat this beast.

As Ray listened to his teammates, he realized that the instructor had put up a balanced team. As Aliya from their team had a system that allowed her to heal people while Tim and Elina were twins who had systems that favored each other and allowed them to have a unique fighting style for themselves. The male twin Tim, had an advanced strength ability to coat himself in a metallic sheen while also increasing his strength tremendously while the metallic sheen provided him immense defense making him a perfect tank. Whereas, the female twin Elina had a system related to curses. She could make full use of her system which allowed her to place different types of curses on different creatures that had various effects and buffs, making her the best support.

Whereas, Sirius had a transformation system. It allowed him to transform into a werewolf, that had increased strength, defense along with vicious effects.

Lastly, Noah had a spirit system that allowed him to use spirit force to attack his enemy causing the enemy to lose a great deal of his strength.

Hence, after hearing everything he made a formation that would be able to utilize everyone’s potential to its fullest while giving them an easy victory with minimal effort and causing the least injuries.

After all, Ray knew that this test was not about showcasing one’s strength as much as it was about teaming together and eliminating the threat in the best way possible. Whereas, Ray being the team leader, he had a gut feeling that his ranking would depend upon how he defeated his opponent and how he utilizes his resources to their fullest.