Class Awakening: Working Hard Can Evolve My Classes

The sun was exceptionally bright the next day, casting a wide glow over the entire academy. The growing tension among students since the month started finally popped, everyone’s nerves in an all-time high.

The first-years gathered in the school auditorium located on the twelfth floor. Each class formed a line, with Class A being on the far right, and Class E being on the far left. Class D’s line was situated between Class C and Class E, appearing rather ordinary.

Zeke was at the back of the line, staring straight ahead. His eyes were particularly sharp today, and there was no nervousness on his handsome face–the complete opposite of his classmates. An ordinary sword hung on his back, hidden beneath a sheath made up of black leather.

Just before they entered the auditorium, they were given their weapon of choice.

He naturally chose the sword.

’Is it starting?’

The professors near the auditorium stage began to move, and he saw a familiar figure stepping on to the stage. When this figure appeared, everyone’s gaze focused on them, the entire auditorium turning silent from their presence alone.

When Zeke saw the eyes of the person next to him, he could perceive a sense of awe and worship, as if the figure who appeared in the stage was legendary person. He was a little startled as he didn’t expect this kind of reaction from everyone.

The figure was a short, old man with long white hair. But despite his appearance, nobody dared to disrespect him in the slightest—in an academy teeming with powerful professors and talented students, there was one person they still had to respect, no matter what.

The person on the stage was none other than Dean Pooler, also known as Saint Herta.

Saint was the title one received after reaching Rank 5. Zeke recalled in the texts he had read before that Rank 5 was a watershed, separating the ordinary from extraordinary. Those who achieved this rank were no longer constrained by human limitations, transcending their own race, and becoming a Saint.

Dean Pooler tapped the mic, testing it out with a greeting.

"Hello, hello. Good morning, dear students of Herta Academy."

After verifying that it was working, he paused abd swept his gaze to the students standing across the auditorium, his gaze taking a moment on a few special students.

When his gaze coincidentally met Zeke’s, Dean Pooler smiled slightly.

Zeke felt startled, but when he looked again, Dean Pooler’s gaze was no longer on him.

’Strange...’

He thought, puzzled.

"Seems like everyone is a bit nervous," Dean Pooler chuckled earnestly, "It’s not good to get into an exam, nervous, you know? They say those who are nervous are more likely to fail than pass."

As soon as he said that, the mood in the auditorium plummeted.

The professors expressions’ subtly changed.

A professor suddenly coughed.

"... Ahem."

Seemingly recognizing his mistake, Dean Pooler froze and couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed. "... Forget that. I was just joking."

Unfortunately, the damage was already done.

"But anyway," Dean Pooler quickly shifted the topic. "Today is the day of your monthly class exam. As first-year students, there are only a few opportunities to improve your current situation, and the class exam is one of them."

"I assume you already know that. But let me restate what I said before. Exams in the academy are extremely dangerous. It’s not rare for a student to die during an exam, but we continuously do our best to prevent that. If you ever feel like you’re in danger, don’t hesitate to give up. Class exams occur every month, if this month is a failure, then maybe next month is your springboard to success."

"As youths, you may feel the passing of time as a sign of urgency," Dean Pooler smiled subtly. "But from my perspective, it’s just time."

After speaking, he glanced towards Professor Xavier and gave a slight nod.

He stepped aside and let Professor Xavier take the stage.

"Thank you for that wonderful speech, Saint Herta."

Xavier spoke into the mic. But since his voice was as cold as ice, his words felt like they hid a thick layer of sarcasm, causing most of the people in the room to tremble. But the victim, Dean Pooler, didn’t seem to notice it.

"Now, let’s get straight to the point. The contents and rules of this month’s class exams," Xavier directly cut to the chase. "This month’s class exam is simply. It’s a treasure hunt. As usual, all of you will enter a modified dungeon and encounter various monsters and threats. Your goal is to survive these encounters and find treasures in the dungeon."

"You can detect a nearby treasure and assess its value using your Herta ID. Different treasures have different rarities, as such possess their own value. Remember. Killing monsters and avoiding threats have no reward, this exam only focuses on treasure hunting. So focus on that."

"The exam will last for three hours. Students may resign early using the emergency function in their Herta ID. By the end of the exam, the remaining students will be rewarded based on the total value of the treasures they manage to keep up until the end. The students and class with the largest treasure value will be given special rewards."

Professor Xavier paused, letting all of the first-years digest all the information.

After a while, he spoke again.

"That will be all."

He glanced at Dean Pooler, nodding slightly.

Dean Pooler smiled and snapped his fingers, bringing out a small orb of light.

Woosh!

He pushed that small orb of light forward, and it stopped in the center of the academy.

This was a Dungeon Core.

Once unleashed, it would return to its dungeon state.

When the Dungeon Core appeared, a professor from the side stepped forward and formed a green barrier on the auditorium stage, isolating the students along with the dungeon core.

Zeke was startled, sensing something amiss...

At this moment, Professor Xavier returned his gaze to the students.

"Good luck, and survive."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Dungeon Core expanded, turning into a whirling void that pulled in everything in its surroundings.

The first-year students experienced this process already, so they were no longer as surprised as before, but Zeke hadn’t experienced it yet, so one could only imagine his astonishment in the moment.

’Wait... I thought it was a dungeon simulation, but isn’t this an actual dungeon!?’

His thoughts were carried with him to the dungeon, leaving the auditorium in complete, utter silence.

Professor Xavier turned to look at Dean Pooler, staring at him strangely.

"... You didn’t mess with it this time, did you?"

He couldn’t help but ask suspiciously.

Dean Pooler paused for a moment, then chuckled.

"Well, who knows?"

Professor Xavier and the other professors who heard him all fell silent...

May’s class exam begins!