After five minutes, when some of Kyle's mana recovered his eyes snapped open with a jolt. He hissed because his left arm was pressed by someone.
His body was aching but his eyes darted at his surroundings. A lot of whispers resounded in his ears.
'The last thing I remember is that I killed the Orc.'
He saw a familiar ceiling and could feel the rough touch of the ground on his back. With a groan, he finally pushed the heavy weight pressing on his arm.
"Who is it?"
He mumbled slowly but then the person lying beside him moved away and looked at his face.
"You are awake."
Kyle blinked his eyes and stared at those familiar golden eyes.
'Nine?'
He was dazed. It was the first time he saw Nine eyes so close.
'A golden thread?'
A thin golden thread was crawling inside Nine's eyes. It moved nonstop around his pupils like a snake. It was so thin that If someone didn't look closely no one would notice it.
"Hey, You fine?"
Suddenly Nine moved back with a frown and waved his hand in front of Kyle's face.
Kyle instantly closed his eyes. A sudden green light appeared inside his shut eyes. He didn't know the reason but he felt angry at Nine for some reason.
'What is this feeling? It's the feeling when those powerful individuals tried to probe my and Bia's body. No, it's a little different....'
"I am fine."
Kyle said and shook his head.
'I am thinking too much.'
He wanted to stand but his body didn't listen as he was too tired to move. In the end, he sighed and just sat down on the ground.
"Now only one person is left."
A pleasant voice came out from his left. Professor Aliza was standing a few meters away from him with a frown.
Kyle looked at the Professor. He could see a lot of students lying or sitting around him as well. Some of them were even glancing at him from time to time.
He gazed at the ranking projection floating above his head.
"Oh, Alec is still inside...."
His voice trailed off when a grumble resounded beside him.
"I feel like both of you wanted to show off!"
Nine said and clicked his tongue.
Kyle chuckled. He wanted to come out after seeing the (C-)-Rank Orc but then he thought it would be a pity if he didn't test his limits.
With a sigh, Nine tapped Kyle's shoulder and looked at the ranking projection.
"1_Alec= 3000
2_Kyle= 3000
3_Lara=2700
4_Carcel=2560
5_Mia=2450
6_Nine=2270
7_Lily=1990
8_Jake=1260
..."
"Both of your points are the same so why isn't he out yet?"
"I don't know."
Kyle shrugged his shoulders and closed his eyes. They have to wait until Alec comes out.
...
On the other hand, Alec took a deep breath as he gazed at the dead body of the Orc. It had been five minutes but no new monster emerged from the fog.
He looked at his hands. After he broke through to (C-)-Rank his mana recovered but he was mentally exhausted.
He waited for another two minutes and finally, something stepped out from the fog.
Alec gripped his sword ready to fight. He stepped back and looked at the large leg that just stepped outside from the fog.
His eyes narrowed as he waited for the monster to completely come out from the fog.
Within a second another leg stepped on the stage and the whole monster stood tall in front of Alec who almost freaked out.
A tall ugly brown troll with one round eye in the middle of his face was standing in front of him. The troll was holding a large wooden bat. His arms were muscular and his stomach was bulging out slightly.
Alec looked up at the towering monster with a dry smile.
"(B-)-Rank directly after (C-)-Rank? Is not it a little unfair?"
A determined look flashed inside his eyes as he stepped back once more.
"Don't think I am scared. We will meet again."
This was Alec's last words as he instantly admitted defeat inwardly and he was ejected out from the dungeon.
He appeared inside the training ground. Unlike the others who fell the moment they appeared, he was standing properly. His gaze lingered around when Professor Aliza's voice resounded inside his ears.
"Alright, Alec is out. The practical exam is over."
She gave Alec a side-long glance with a raised brow.
"I am very satisfied with everyone's performance. It seems you all have put in a lot of effort but we will talk about it later because I know no one will have the energy to listen to me right now. So just go and rest. I will see you all in class after two days."
Alec nodded and looked at the ranking projection.
"My and Kyle's points are equal?"
He mumbled with a sigh.
'Does that mean Kyle also killed the Orc? I don't know his actual rank because of the Artifact he is wearing but if he did that means he is at least (D+)-Rank.'
Suddenly someone grabbed his arm.
"Bro, can you stop releasing your aura? I don't know why but you and Kyle are becoming similar day by day. At least stopped showing off that you broke through."
Nine looked at him with an annoyed expression. He was sour all over.
'Damn! I am the one who wants to show off! Why are the both of them taking the spotlight.'
Alec blinked his eyes and instantly hid his aura but it was too late because a lot of shocked eyes were staring at him.
Kyle who was sitting behind Alec chuckled.
"Let's leave."
He said and after stretching his body he stood up with a wince.
"I need rest."
Carcel, Lara, and Mia also stood up. Alec looked back with a sigh and they all started walking together.
Under the envious gaze of a lot of students, they left the training ground and went toward their dorm.
After walking for a while, Lara and Mia said goodbye to the boys and went to the girl's dorm.
Alec and Carcel also left when they arrived in front of the boy's dorm building.
Kyle was walking beside Nine when he started talking with Bia inside his head.
'Bia... Bia? Can you hear me?'
No one replied for a while but after a few seconds, Bia's voice resounded inside his head.
-'I can.'
He stopped in front of his dorm and after nodding at Nine he went inside.
'Where are you? Should I pick you up?'
-'I don't think you can even if you want to. Also, I saw you and the others fight inside the dungeon.'
'You did. How?'
Kyle entered the bathroom to take a bath while talking with Bia.
-'Tsk, it's complicated. After I went with your master he brought me to a building. We entered a room where George and 3 more powerful individuals were sitting. A lot of projections showing the students fighting with monsters were floating inside the room.'
After removing his clothes, Kyle opened the tab and cold water poured down on his body.
"Sss...too cold."
'Well, it's natural the artificial dungeon was created by the Academy so they can probably see what's happening inside.'
Bia stayed quiet for a while. She was eating high-quality meat with the old individuals after the practical exam was over. They were all talking about a lot of things without knowing that she was listening to everything attentively.
-'Kyle, I think you need to clear the matter about your talent. The old man with white hair seems to be the Academy Principal because even George treats him with respect. Also, they seemed to be selecting students to enter some magical Realm.'
Kyle froze. He ruffled his hair with a frown.
'A magical realm?'
It was not something that could be seen easily because these realms were left behind by some powerful individual. Also, information regarding this type of Realm was very lacking.
-'I don't know much. They didn't discuss about the realm but your name was removed from the list of who would enter the realm because of your low talent.'
'Hmm, the matter about my talent is complicated. It's not like I can just go and say my talent increased overnight. That's impossible. They will know about it naturally because I don't think the news about my talent will stay hidden for long.'
Kyle talked with Bia while taking a shower. He came out after drying his hair and climbed the bed. Bia was filling him with a lot of new things and he just replied from time to time.
The more Kyle listened the more surprised he became.
'Damn! Why do I feel like you are spying on them? It's not a good habit but it's bringing a lot of information so how about you stick with Master for a while?'
'It's not bad at all! If not for you being wanted by the whole Continent right now you could have become a top spy!'
An evil grin appeared on Kyle's face as he laughed inwardly.
Bia who was eating suddenly choked when she heard Kyle's sudden laughter inside her head.
The individuals sitting around her looked at her with confused expressions. She wanted to curse but stopped herself and innocently focused on eating without caring about the stares stabbing at her back.
