Reverse Transmigration: From F-rank to SSS-rank-Chapter 12: Elimination Exam

Chapter 12

The large field was filled with every student of Voldrak Academy as I stepped out to join the line. Today was the school’s elimination day, which took place three months right after the entrance exam. A lot of students always end up being eliminated, specifically those who ranked bottom after the exam.

Everyone was so sure I’d be the first to get eliminated, after all, their memory of Lucian was a weak, pathetic F-rank with no backbone. This exam wasn’t just for elimination, it was also a chance for awakeners to climb up several levels. If a student’s performance was good enough, they might have the chance to add an extra level.

The thing with the ranking system was that ranks were decided the moment a person awakened. The only difference between ranks was that they had levels.

Each rank had from level one to six. From what everyone knew, no one except a few could rise in ranks, one could only rise in levels, and those levels were mostly based on one’s combat skills and experience.

And once a student successfully graduated from this academy, job offers from different organizations would start coming in. Depending on how successfully one is able to graduate, you might even get lucky to be offered a job by the topmost world-known organizations.

And those organizations didn’t just operate for the fun of it, it was all about power struggle, killing, and spilling blood to get to the top. Only the final winner gets to rule. As a matter of fact, the people here were more power-hungry than the people from my world, to put it simply, a lot of them were no different from me.

Only the strongest should rule, that’s how the world is supposed to be, but unfortunately, no one here was strong enough to bring balance, that’s the reason this fucked up game kept repeating itself.

It was like a chess game, and the board never changed, only the pieces did. Pawns dreaming of turning into kings, knights thinking they mattered, while the real players sat in the shadows pulling strings.

That was the truth of this world. Everyone here pretended they had a fair shot, that strength was earned by effort alone. It wasn’t. Power wasn’t equal. It never was. Those born with high ranks had the world kissing their boots before they even learned how to stand. The rest? Cannon fodder. Tools. Background noise for someone else’s rise.

The academy made it look like everyone had a chance to rise, but that was a lie to keep the weak hopeful. A false dream. Yes, you could climb levels, but your rank? That rarely changed. If you were born at the bottom, you stayed there, unless you were lucky enough to reawaken a new ability, which would be considered a high rank. And the chances of that happening? Almost zero.

I could already feel a lot of eyes on me as I stayed quietly at the end of the line. It was either for one of two reasons, they must have heard about my history with Dante and all the drama thzjnat happened yesterday, or it was because I was their easiest target to victory in this exam. Well, we shall find out if I was really an easy target.

Actually, I was thrilled for actual combat. This exam was the only time students were allowed to use magic against each other, and I sure as hell wasn’t planning on hiding anything. I was going all out with whatever of my power was available.

"Attention, everyone." A voice cut through the low whispers and side talks of the students. Everyone regained composure, turning their focus to Voldrak’s management staff which stood before us.

Logan, the right hand man to the academy’s director stood there with all the other management staff standing behind him. I recognized them all from Lucian’s memories. Karine, Veyra, Cole, Jalen, Frank, Kayla, Yuval, Drake...in total, they were fifteen.

"I’m sure you all know why you’re here?" His voice came, deep and commanding.

"Yes sir." The students screamed in unison.

"Like always, the elimination exam would be held in a dimension created by Cole. But the rules would be different this year."

The murmurs started the second he said that. Different this year? That wasn’t something anyone wanted to hear right now.

Logan raised his hand, and just like that, the noise died. His calm gaze swept over us. "For the past years, this exam has been a child’s game. A few bruises, a couple of broken bones. And because of that, students who graduate from here end up becoming softies who aren’t even fit for the outside world. That ends today."

The tension in the air tightened. You could feel every student tense up, waiting for what was coming next.

"This time," Logan continued, " There will be no mercy rule. No safety restrictions. You are permitted..." He paused deliberately, then added. "...to use every means at your disposal. If that means killing your opponent... so be it."

The silence that followed was deafening. You could almost taste the fear dripping in the air. Faces that were smug seconds ago suddenly turned pale.

He smirked. "If you don’t want blood on your hands, that’s fine. Just make sure you’re not the one bleeding out. Make no mistake, this isn’t a suggestion. This is law. Once you enter the exam dimension, the academy bears no responsibility for what happens in there. Fight, kill, run, it’s all on you." He continued, then he let it hang in the air before finally adding, "The only rule is: don’t come in last."

That was when the panic hit.

"What the hell?!"

"They can’t do that!"

"This is insane!"

"This isn’t an exam, it’s a slaughterhouse!"

I almost laughed. Oh, this was perfect. The academy finally decided to stop pretending, finally showed their true face of the upcoming pawns. They were basically saying Kill, or die trying.

Logan remained quiet, letting them scream until the noise burned itself out. Then his voice cut through again, silencing any remaining whispers. "The pattern of this exam is simple. Each student will choose a partner, and it would be wise if you chose someone with an ability compatible with yours." He paused, I raised a brow... already looking around for Lilian, she’d probably be the only person willing to partner with me.

Logan continued, "Each pair would be given a unique key, all in different shapes and sizes. And those keys carry points which are clearly written on each one, the goal is for each team to gather exactly a hundred points before the end of twenty four hours."