Chapter 26
“Administrator privileges upgraded for Hero King Kaisir’s secret Swordsmanship Manual.”
The quest offered numerous rewards.
Zeke pondered while looking at the location of Kaisir’s ruins, marked on the map.
The presence of barbarians was concerning, but it wasn’t a place he couldn’t reach. If it truly held the secrets of the Hero King Kaisir, then the risk was well worth it.
Everyone would name Hero King Kaisir first as the most famous hero before the Dragon Slayer Terakan Draker.
However, his feats were so legendary that people debated whether he was a historical figure or just a myth.
There was little known about the Hero King to the point where his existence was debatable, and his ruins had never been discovered. Therefore, the Hero King’s ruins would surely be filled with artifacts of tremendous value, not just the secret Swordsmanship Manual.
Zeke memorized the location of Kaisir’s ruins well and closed the map.
He spent 50 points from his remaining 730 points to unlock Dragon Race Skills Level 2.
―Dragon Race Skills Level 2―
Dragon Scale Armor (Locked) / Dragon Claws (Locked)
300 Karma points needed to unlock Skill Level 3
Zeke read the description of the unlocked Dragon Race Skills.
―Dragon Race Skills Level 2 Introduction―
Dragon Scale Armor: Dragon scales grow on skin making it harder. Excellent effect on magic resistance. (80 points needed to unlock)
Dragon Claws: Summon powerful dragon claws to strike down enemies in one blow. (80 points needed to unlock)
Like Level 1, Level 2 skills also had many useful abilities.
Zeke decided to unlock Dragon Scale Armor and Dragon Claws first for combat.
Dragon Race Skills (Level 2 Unlocked): Dragon Eye (Proficient) / Dragon’s Dignity (Proficient) / Gluttony (Beginner) / Incantation (Locked) / Dragon Scale Armor (Beginner) / Dragon Claws (Beginner)
Incantation, gained from absorbing Bahamut’s heart, was still locked.
It seemed he needed a higher Dragon Race Skill level to use it.
Zeke bought 120 points worth of enhancement potions and decided to keep the remaining 400 points.
He planned to use them as unlock points when system features upgraded.
Zeke immediately began training to master the unlocked Dragon Scale Armor and Dragon Claws skills to use them in combat.
Thus, he was growing into an unmatched expert among his peers.
* * *
“We will now begin the Aura practical evaluation!”
All Special Class cadets gathered at the central training ground.
The instructor in charge spoke loudly again to the Special Class cadets.
“As you know, the Aura practical evaluation is the most important among semester evaluations! You cannot advance without properly passing the evaluation, so do your best!”
The cadets tensed at the stern instructor’s words.
The exam was conducted by having students come forward one by one as called by the instructor for practical evaluation.
They first received physical activation evaluation to check Aura awakening level, then had to record how long they could maintain Aura infused into their sword.
The first called cadet took various agility tests like standing high jump and long jump, and various strength measurement tests according to the instructor’s directions.
The instructor wrote down the cadet’s records with sharp eyes.
“Take your sword and concentrate Aura.”
The cadet took heavy breaths while holding the sword and drew up Aura from the lower diantan as much as possible.
BZZZT!
The sword shook slightly before losing power and dropping.
The instructor recorded the Aura duration.
Watching other cadets being evaluated, Zeke recalled old memories.
‘’Being the Special Class, it’s certainly different from the regular class.’’
In regular class, there weren’t many cadets who had opened their lower diantan, so proper Aura concentration into swords was rare.
But Special Class cadets all showed they could concentrate Aura into their swords, even if the duration wasn’t long.
The difference in levels started appearing from here.
Yet even among these Special Class cadets gathered for their talent, superiority was distinguished.
Cadets who couldn’t properly draw out Aura due to nervousness received low scores and turned deathly pale as if the world had ended.
“Next! Owen Jimenes.”
Owen Jimenes walked out from among the other cadets.
Everyone quietly focused as the second son of the influential Jimenes family appeared.
Owen Jimenes wrapped his whole body in Aura.
WHOOSH!
He soared into the air with movements as natural as flowing water.
Then he showed records far higher than any previous ones in long jump and strength measurements.
“Whew…”
Owen showed a satisfied expression looking at the records.
Among Draker’s influential families, the Jiemens family was known for their expertise in Aura control.
It was the Jiemens family who created the Aura training curriculum taught to Academy senior students.
As such, all Jiemens family bloodline members had talent in delicate Aura control.
Owen held his sword and concentrated Aura.
Soon his Aura-infused sword trembled.
Owen maintained Aura concentration in his sword notably longer than other cadets.
Then at some point, his sword began vibrating differently than before.
WOONG!
When a clear sword-sound rang out, the surrounding students were shocked.
“Goodness, already at the stage of sword-sound ringing.”
“That’s right before the Purple Knight stage.”
The instructors were equally surprised.
At this level, even for an adult in a normal family, showing this level of aura control ability at age thirteen would be considered a prodigy.
Owen Jiemens returned to his seat with a satisfied expression.
Perhaps because of Owen’s remarkable level, the other students who followed were intimidated and couldn’t properly demonstrate their abilities.
After a few more students took the test, it was Reina Draker’s turn.
Reina spoke to the instructor.
“May I be evaluated using the Dragon Slaying technique?”
The instructor responded with a slightly confused voice.
“That’s the evaluation standard for advanced students. If you can’t perform it properly, you might receive a worse score.”
“That’s fine.”
The instructor contemplated before nodding.
With the instructor’s permission, Reina gripped her sword and raised her aura.
WOOOONG!
As soon as she started, her sword rang out.
“Huh…?”
The supervising instructor involuntarily exclaimed in amazement.
It was unbelievable to see someone that age handling aura so naturally.
Soon, Reina held her sword and demonstrated the Dragon Slaying form.
WHOOSH!
Not just the sword, but appropriate aura was imbued throughout her body according to her movements.
The instructor’s jaw dropped at her movements, which were even cleaner and more precise than advanced class students.
This was beyond simply using aura to jump and increase strength – it was at the level of applying it to swordsmanship.
WHOOSH!
Reina completed all the basic forms of the Dragon Slaying technique.
Her movements were perfect, as if she were the textbook itself.
The instructor unconsciously applauded.
“I can’t believe it.”
Even among advanced students, few could perform the Dragon Slaying basic forms perfectly.
Reina caught her breath and returned to her seat.
The students’ expressions as they looked at her were as if they were facing someone they could never reach.
Only one person, Owen Jiemens, glared at Reina while clenching his teeth.
‘’Damn it.’’
He thought he would be ahead of Reina, a pureblood awakened, at least in aura control.
But the result only confirmed the skill gap between him and Reina.
Owen glared at the gloves worn on Reina’s hands.
‘’If I were a pureblood awakened, I would have been better than you.’’
Reina didn’t even care about Owen’s gaze.
She only cared about one person.
“Zeke Draker, Come forward.”
At the instructor’s call, Zeke slowly rose from his seat.
He said to the instructor.
“I would also like to be evaluated using the Dragon Slaying form.”
The instructor frowned at Zeke’s words.
“Do you think the semester evaluation is a joke?”
“You didn’t say that to Reina Draker.”
The instructor wore a displeased expression at Zeke’s words.
The daughter of the Tourn family was known as a genius and was exceptionally diligent, so that was understandable.
But Zeke had been consistently showing an insincere attitude, such as arbitrarily skipping aura practice classes, so he just seemed arrogant.
The instructor spoke with an irritated voice.
“If you can’t perform it properly, you’ll immediately receive a failing grade, so be prepared.”
Zeke nodded and drew Bahamut from the scabbard on his back.
While Bahamut was clearly a legendary sword, it looked like an unfinished piece of junk on the outside.
Other students laughed mockingly at Zeke holding Bahamut.
“Ha, being a pureblood awakened too, he must think he can do like Reina Draker.”
“Let’s see if he can even properly perform the Dragon Slaying technique.”
Zeke didn’t listen to the surrounding voices.
“Whew…”
He gradually drew up mana and injected it into Bahamut.
Then he converted the mana into aura.
TSTSTSTS!
When the aura was about to naturally emerge, Zeke hurriedly scattered the mana.
‘’Reducing power is harder.’’
Zeke immediately performed the Dragon Slaying technique.
WHOOSH!
The basic form of the Dragon Slaying technique was something he had repeated to the point of tedium during his two years at the academy before regression.
His body and hands moved before he could even think about it.
WHOOSH!
He jumped into the air and slashed through empty space with his sword.
The movements were so familiar that Zeke just moved his sword without thinking.
Whoosh!
Since he couldn’t show all his power yet, he carefully performed the forms moderately.
After completing all the basic forms, he returned to his original position.
He looked at the supervising instructor.
The instructor was looking at Zeke with disbelieving eyes.
“P-Purple Knight?”
Zeke looked down at where he had performed the forms.
Though he tried to reduce his power, it seems more aura was unconsciously released.
The training ground floor was split along the pattern of the forms he had performed.
‘’I tried to match Reina’s level… but it can’t be helped.’’
Zeke smirked as he looked at the students staring at him in shock, Owen with his stupid expression, and Reina burning with rivalry towards him.
Unlike his previous life, it seemed he wouldn’t have to struggle with the aura practice test.
The problem arose the next day.
Suddenly, Principal Howard Draker summoned Zeke.
Zeke, who didn’t have particularly good feelings toward Howard, went up to the Principal’s office with a stern expression.
“Welcome, Zeke.”
Howard Draker greeted Zeke with an extremely friendly expression.
“Please sit here.”
Zeke sat on the sofa, wary of the Principal’s excessive kindness.
The Principal personally poured tea and placed it in front of Zeke.
“Thank you.”
Although not thankful at all, Zeke expressed his gratitude superficially and left the tea untouched.
Honestly, he wanted to splash this hot tea on Howard’s sly face.
Howard looked at Zeke and spoke.
“I received a report about yesterday’s practical evaluation. You showed quite remarkable results.”
“I was just lucky.”
“No, it’s not luck. Awakening to a purple knight-level aura at the age of thirteen is never possible by luck alone.”
Despite the pleasant atmosphere, Zeke was overlapping the current Howard with the Howard from before his regression, who had expelled him from the academy.
‘Having an unawakened person like you in this academy itself is dishonorable. As of today, you are no longer a cadet of the academy. Leave immediately, leaving behind your cadet certificate and everything related to this place.’
‘Principal . Please… Please give me one more chance. I’m sure I can awaken to aura next semester!’
In his previous life, Zeke had begged Howard while crying.
But Howard had ruthlessly driven him out.
Thus, Zeke had to wander the continent after being expelled from here with nothing.
He had to live a life of barely surviving, erasing the name Draker.
Zeke forcibly suppressed the murderous intent that suddenly rose within him.
Then Howard got to his main point with Zeke.
“So, Zeke. How about taking the grade advancement exam?”
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I understand it, but it’s a bit ridiculous how much hate he has to the principal. He’s at a school for people to learn and use aura techniques, he can’t use aura. The principal did his job. He even said, he wasn’t kicked out sooner just because of who his dad is. That’s hardly the principals fault. Dude should have quit on his own and went and found something else to do rather than stick around at a place he’s not welcome due to his lack of abilities.