Over a week had passed since then, and all the students were now gathered in the academy’s courtyard.
Just a few hours earlier, an announcement had been broadcast through the speakers installed throughout the academy, instructing every student to assemble in the courtyard within the next two hours.
Now, the students stood in groups, chatting among themselves as they waited for the principal to arrive.
"Man, I hate this." Silva complained with his arms crossed. "I can’t believe we have been waiting for nearly thirty minutes here for that damned geezer."
"He’s not a geezer, he’s a little bit over 30." Michael said with a chuckle.
"Anyone more than 30 is a geezer for me."
Since enrolling into the Evolvers Academy almost two months ago, Silva had been the only person Michael could come close to calling an accomplice.
The rest of his classmates in Class C either envied him or outright despised him, mainly because of the attention he had attracted and, more importantly, his interactions with the academy’s most admired Evolver.
From the interactions they’ve had over the weeks, Michael had come to realize a few things about Silva.
First, the guy was lazy, not to the point where he refused to do anything, but rather, he only bothered putting in effort when something genuinely interested and benefitted him, or when he had no other choice.
Secondly, Silva’s Nature energy was strange. Michael could sense it, yet at the same time, he couldn’t. It was almost as if his Nature energy existed and didn’t exist simultaneously, making it impossible for Michael to properly understand him.
"Apologies for my late arrival." The principal finally appeared with Mr Jin by his side, drawing the attention of the students gathered in the courtyard.
He walked to the front and stood before them, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. Then, in a familiar gesture, he clasped his hands behind his back, straightened his posture, and cleared his throat.
"They were a few things left to put in order before the preparations were complete."
"Preparations?" One of the students raised a question. "Preparations for what?"
"The first level of the Abyss was meant to serve as a sort of appraisal for the students of Class A, but since someone has defeated the boss of the first Level before the goal of the appraisal could be achieved, alterations had to be made. As a result, the management of the Evolvers Academy has decided to hold another appraisal for a specified group of students... In the second level of the Abyss."
The moment the words left the principal’s mouth, murmurs erupted throughout the courtyard as rumours spread like wildfire among the students.
"The second level?"
"Isn’t that too sudden?"
The students exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions growing increasingly grim. Everyone knew how drastically the difficulty increased with each level of the Abyss. The difference between the first and second levels was no small gap.
It was too soon, far too soon, it was beyond their current preparations, even for Class A.
"Without wasting anymore time, I will announce the students to take part in the appraisal effective immediately. Princess Rias."
Princess Rias stepped forward with a smile, and the crowd immediately lit up with excitement.
"As expected of the academy’s most beautiful and talented Evolver!"
"Prince George."
Prince George stepped forward with a prideful stride, his head held high as he came to a stop beside Princess Rias.
"Princess Cecilia." You are reading on g.com, the official source.
One after another, the principal called out the names of the Class A students. Eight of the ten members had already stepped forward, standing side by side with each other at the front.
"Now for remaining students, Silva Ashford. Your performance in the first level, although brief, was more than enough to earn you an appraisal spot."
The crowd gasped at the mention of Silva Ashford’s name. Almost immediately, whispers spread among the students.
"Silva... Ashford?"
"Isn’t he from Class C?"
"Wait, you mean a Class C student made it into the appraisal spots?"
"Damn it... This is what happens when I put too much effort."
Michael looked at Silva as he complained and remained silent for a few seconds, then he said. "You don’t seem thrilled about being offered a shot in ascending to Class B."
"Not really, I don’t plan to be some savior that saves mankind, I just want to live the rest of my days in peace." He sighed, then walked up to the front where the members of Class A stood side by side.
"Now, for the final student to fill the last appraisal spot." The principal’s words sent a wave of shock through the entire congregation of students, even the already-selected members of Class A.
"The last appraisal spot?"
"You mean..."
All eyes immediately turned toward the last two members of Class A, Prince Theron and Princess Suzune.
The tension in the courtyard rose almost instantly, if there was only one appraisal spot left, then it would go to one of them, leaving the other behind. After all, Silva had already taken one of their spots.
The principal glanced down at the list in his hands, carefully scanning the names as Prince Theron and Princess Suzune tightened their fist in anticipation, waiting for his final call.
"The last student is, Michael of Class C."
As the principal finally called out Michael’s name, Prince Theron and Princess Suzune’s eyes shot wide open in disbelief, while the rest of the students gasped in shock.
"Two members of Class C were chosen over Prince Theron and Princess Suzune!?"
Micheal sighed as he stepped forward, ignoring the glares and shocked gazes that were aimed at him and stood right besides Silva.
"Would you look at that." Silva laughed softly. "I knew there was something up with you, but I never imagined you’d be called up."
"Likewise."
"That concludes the appraisal spots, despite the need to see your true capabilities, Mr Jin will be accompanying you in the second level. Now, it is time for you all to-"
"Wait." A bold voice rang throughout the courtyard, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
One of the princes stepped forward, his majestic figure standing tall as his short, royal cape fluttered in the breeze.
"Principal Lucien, since I enrolled into this academy, Your guidance and decisions has led me and my associates down a path that will one day become the reason for mankind’s continued existence. However... This is one decision I cannot agree with." This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
He turned to face both Silva and Michael, his expression carrying an unmistakable air of pride.
"I have trained with all nine of my associates for months, fought unbelievable battles and survived all with them, I know their capabilities, which is why I fail to see how these... Less developed Evolvers was chosen over them."
"You doubt my decision? Prince Ryuen." The principal sighed, knowing this was bound to be inevitable.
"Yes, this is utterly..." Prince Ryuen’s eyes narrowed.
"Unacceptable."
With his final word, the atmosphere changed instantly. The air grew heavier and more suffocating, as though the courtyard had been swallowed by a cloud of volcanic ash.
Michael turned to his left, only to find nearly every student, except the two remaining royals, forced down onto their knees. Some had their heads pressed against the ground, as if an invisible force had violently pinned them down.
Then the pressure intensified, the weight bearing down on everyone like gravity had suddenly multiplied tenfold as Prince Ryuen stared at the two boys.
After a few seconds, Prince Ryuen closed his eyes, and the tremendous pressure disappeared almost immediately, then he turned and walked back to stand beside the other princes and princesses without saying another word.
"Now that you’re satisfied." Mr Jin chimed in. "We leave now."
Mr Jin led the way towards the academy gates, with the eight members of Class A followed close behind, while Silva and Michael trailed at their back.
"What happened to the other students? They fell to their knees, was that a result of Ryuen’s Nature Art?" Michael whispered.
"Hm? You don’t know? That wasn’t a Nature Art, it was Prince Ryuen’s Natural Presence." Silva replied.
"Natural Presence? What is that?"
"Think of it as flexing with your Nature Energy, revealing your Natural Presence is just you showing your opponent the level your Nature Energy and Origin is at, naturally the more your Nature Energy, the stronger your Natural Presence, and Prince Ryuen’s was too much for the other students to comprehend, and they couldn’t withstand it. If Prince Ryuen had kept it up, they would have been crushed under his Nature Energy."
"That dangerous huh?"
"More than you know, but we weren’t affected by his Natural Presence, that’s probably why he just walked away."
They soon arrived at the portal leading straight into the Abyss. Mr. Jin stepped out of the bus first, followed by the ten students selected for the appraisal.
They gathered before the enormous entrance, staring at the portal as an eerie energy radiated from within.
Then Mr. Jin turned to face them, his expression calm as he spoke in a clear voice. "This is completely unlike the first level of the abyss, so I’ll make this clear. Once entered , you cannot leave the second level until it’s cleared, there is only one principle guiding the second level of the abyss. Those who possess power but fails to use them to it’s full extent are fools, do not hold back, do not show restraint, or will you die."
In all the years Michael had known Mr. Jin, he had never seen him this serious. Mr. Jin turned toward the portal, his gaze fixed on its large, glowing entrance.
"Let’s go." He said.
Without another word, he stepped forward, and the ten students followed as they all walked through the glowing portal into the Abyss.
[You have entered the second level of the Abyss.]