Chapter 151: Exam Results
It seemed the pressure I’d been applying through consistent victories and demonstrated superiority wasn’t sitting well with the protagonist. Kyle usually maintained his composed, heroic demeanor with everyone - but those he felt genuinely threatened by received this kind of juvenile provocation instead.
Trying to antagonize me by flaunting possession of something I had voluntarily discarded was... funny, actually. The old Adrian had been obsessed with Seraphina, making a fool of himself through transparent pursuit. Whilst I had broken that engagement without hesitation and never looked back.
Kyle was attempting psychological warfare using ammunition that had lost all its power the moment I’d awakened and transformed. He was fighting a version of me that no longer existed, which meant his tactics were fundamentally flawed from the start.
The tension between us was clearly escalating beyond simple academic rivalry. Kyle recognized me as a genuine threat to his position and narrative, and this crude display was his opening move in what would likely become increasingly direct confrontation.
But if he thought taking my discarded ex-fiancée to a hotel would somehow shake my composure or cloud my judgment, he had severely miscalculated who he was dealing with.
I had Transcendent beasts to hunt, businesses to manage, and approaching doom to prepare for. Kyle’s performances barely registered as distractions worth acknowledging.
The next day arrived with my usual morning routine, though I felt noticeably stronger after the previous night’s extensive soul power absorption. Classes proceeded normally until Instructor Sylvia’s afternoon session, where I noticed an unusually large stack of papers on her desk.
The examination results had arrived.
Sylvia waited for everyone to settle before addressing the class with an expression that mixed approval with mild surprise.
"I’ve reviewed your written examination results, and I must say you’ve all performed surprisingly well. It’s quite shocking, actually, given that this was a comprehensive surprise test covering extensive material."
She paused for effect, scanning the room before delivering the most important news.
"First, I’m pleased to announce that everyone in this class has passed the examination. This means that when the end of the month approaches, you will all be receiving your standard monthly allocation of 100,000 points."
The classroom erupted in excited murmurs and relieved expressions. Even students who had been worried about their performance relaxed visibly at the confirmation that they’d met minimum standards.
Elen’s face lit up with obvious relief and satisfaction. Given her family’s financial struggles, that monthly point allocation was crucial for both her development and her ability to support her father.
Sylvia raised her hand for silence before continuing. "Additionally, the top three performers will receive bonus rewards of 10,000 points each for their exceptional rankings."
The atmosphere shifted immediately to competitive tension as everyone wondered who had claimed the top positions.
"In third place," Sylvia announced, "we have Marcus Ironhold."
The result was met with understanding nods - Marcus was known for his approach and solid academic foundation. His Ironhold family emphasized comprehensive education alongside combat training.
Marcus accepted the recognition with his characteristic calm composure, showing neither excessive pride nor false modesty.
"In second place," Sylvia continued, "Adrian Blackwood."
I maintained a neutral expression as several classmates glanced my way with mixed reactions. Some looked unsurprised given my recent combat achievements, while others seemed to reassess their understanding of my capabilities. Being a monster in combat was one thing, but excelling in theory demonstrated well-rounded development.
Sylvia paused deliberately before announcing the final ranking, building anticipation.
"And in first place... Elen Brightwater."
The classroom fell into shocked silence.
Everyone turned to stare at Elen, whose face showed genuine surprise mixed with pride. She clearly hadn’t expected to claim the top position, especially against competitors like myself and Marcus.
The shock was understandable. While Elen was respected for her alchemy knowledge and water manipulation abilities during the examination, most students had underestimated her academic capabilities. She’d maintained a relatively low profile compared to the more prominent combat-focused students, like myself, emmet and Marcus.
But the results spoke clearly - she had outperformed both me and Marcus on comprehensive theoretical knowledge, demonstrating mastery that exceeded even the strongest combat specialists in our class.
"It seems we’ve all been underestimating certain people," one student muttered loud enough to be heard.
"Elen’s not just good at alchemy," another whispered. "She’s our class’s scholar."
I caught Elen’s eye and offered a subtle nod of acknowledgment. Her academic excellence was well-deserved, and honestly, if I hadn’t been copying her answers during portions of the exam, my score would have been noticeably lower.
The irony wasn’t lost on me - I’d used her superior knowledge to secure second place, while she’d earned first through pure capability.
After class ended, Emmet approached while Elen and I were walking together discussing the examination results.
What surprised me more was that instead of ignoring Elen as he usually did, he spoke two simple words.
"Well done."
A smile formed on my face at the unexpected gesture. For Emmet, who rarely acknowledged anyone beyond combat challenges, offering congratulations was practically effusive praise.
Elen, who had grown accustomed to his aloof behaviour, looked genuinely shocked by the recognition. She recovered quickly and responded with sincere warmth.
"Thank you. You did well too, Emmet."
Emmet nodded in acknowledgment before turning his attention to me with his typical directness.
"Spar."
I nodded without hesitation. "Let’s go."
The sparring session proceeded as usual, drawing substantial crowds of spectators eager to watch two of the Elite class’s strongest students test themselves against each other. Emmet fought with his usual aggressive intensity, though I noticed he was incorporating more defensive techniques - perhaps learning from his loss against Seraphina.
The match ended without clear victor, both of us calling it off after some time.
Afterward, I walked with Elen toward the training facility section to book our respective practice rooms. Surprisingly, Emmet joined us rather than departing immediately as he typically would.
The three of us approached the booking station together - an unusual trio that drew curious glances from other students.