The individual rankings this time weren't just about talent or ability—they had another hidden purpose.
Mr. Carter, the man in charge of the Ravenshade City Transfer Temple, was using this grand event to get closer to Lily Winter, the renowned prodigy from the Third Academy.
This entire ranking event was orchestrated with care to make a grand impression—not just on the participants, but especially on Lily. Originally, the principals of various academies intended to conduct their internal evaluations separately and report the scores from their respective campuses. A live broadcast would ensure fairness and prevent any manipulation.
But that wouldn't work for Mr. Carter. He couldn't just say, "I like the Third Academy, so I'll supervise there personally." That would raise suspicion.
And what if someone faked data while he wasn't watching? That would render all his careful planning meaningless.
So instead, Mr. Carter made a bold move.
He arranged for all the new students across Ravenshade City to gather at the largest plaza in town. That way, everything would be conducted openly, with transparency, and more importantly—under his direct supervision.
But he didn't stop there.
To elevate the importance of the event, he went as far as to invite Ravenshade's elite city guards, under the justification of ensuring student safety.
Multiple chambers of commerce sponsored the event. One prominent banner read "Darunhua," fluttering proudly under the morning sun. It was clear that Mr. Carter had put his reputation and resources on the line to make this a spectacle.
At the center of the main stage, Mr. Carter adjusted his coat and cleared his throat. His gaze kept drifting toward Lily, who stood quietly among the students. Worried she might not remember him, he reintroduced himself with unnecessary flair.
"Greetings, students and mentors. As the director of the Ravenshade Transfer Temple, I am Mr. Carter," he began with a self-important tone. "This entire ranking system is a gift from me—to all of you. Its goal is to better allocate training resources based on merit and capability."
Murmurs spread across the crowd. Most of the weaker students were less than pleased.
"So it was this guy's idea? What a waste of time," one student grumbled.
"Seriously, why change things up? We've already been delayed for days because of this nonsense," another added.
Mr. Carter heard these complaints clearly—his hearing was sharp. But he didn't let them get to him. He'd poured a fortune into this event just to create an impression on Lily Winter. Why would he care about the opinions of those who wouldn't even make the top 100?
With a smug smile, he continued, "To ensure fairness and openness, we've rented this venue directly from the Transfer Temple. Additionally, I personally sponsored a Dark Gold-grade material as a reward for whoever ranks first."
That last part caused a sudden stir among the students.
Many had assumed the rewards would be modest—maybe some equipment or a scholarship. Dark Gold-grade material was on another level entirely.
"Wait, what? Did he just say Dark Gold?" one student gasped.
"If I knew it was that rare, I would've trained harder this week!" another cried in frustration.
"The Transfer Temple is really going all out this time..."
Laughter and excitement buzzed through the air.
Seeing the rising enthusiasm, Mr. Carter decided to capitalize on the moment.
"All right, let's begin the rankings."
"To maintain fairness, the final score is the sum of talent level, personal level, and combat power," he explained.
"Talent scores are calculated based on growth attributes: SS-grade gives 20 points, S-grade gives 10, and so on."
"The final ranking will be based on the total points. Let's begin with the First Academy."
Mentors had already submitted their student data. A tutor stepped forward and began reading the scores aloud.
"First Academy – Zack Cole, B-grade talent, Level 8, 9-star combat power. Total score: 21. Temporarily ranked first."
"First Academy – Leo, A-grade talent, Level 9, 13-star combat power. Total score: 27. Temporarily ranked first."
Each time a higher score was announced, it replaced the previous top rank.
Mr. Carter had instructed the mentors to emphasize who was currently in first place, building suspense.
The crowd remained alert as the names progressed, waiting for someone exceptional to appear.
Then came the moment.
"First Academy – Ethan, SS-grade talent, Level 13, 49-star combat power. Total score: 82. Temporarily ranked first!"
The announcer raised his voice, pride evident in his tone. He looked at Ethan with admiration—it was clear this was one of his prized students.
"Whoa! 82 points? That's insane!"
"Did he just say 49 stars? This guy's a monster!"
"I barely broke 20. This guy tripled my score…"
The shock hadn't worn off yet when the next name sent another wave through the crowd.
"First Academy – Charles, SS-grade talent, Level 14, 52-star combat power. Total score: 86. Temporarily ranked first!"
"WHAT?! Another one?"
"This guy's combat power is 52? I couldn't reach that if you gave me a year…"
"Is he even human?"
Even Ethan, who had seemed confident, chuckled helplessly as he looked at Charles.
"Well, I didn't expect to lose," he muttered. "But hey, at least First Academy holds the top spots."
Meanwhile, the mentor who'd trained both Ethan and Charles looked like a proud father at graduation. His chest puffed out, grinning ear to ear as other instructors clapped him on the back.
"Old Tim, your class is the star of the show this year," one praised.
"Your students are monsters. Next year, kids will be fighting to join your class," another added with a smile.
The atmosphere buzzed with awe and celebration.
Just then, a voice called out from the direction of the Third Academy.
"Hey First Academy, could you speed things up? You're taking forever!" shouted Fairwind, loud enough for the entire plaza to hear.
The instructors on stage froze.
"...!?"
Everyone turned toward the sound.
All eyes shifted from First Academy's shining stars to the Third Academy's group—where Lily Winter stood quietly, her expression calm and unreadable.
Could there be someone else ready to challenge Charles?
The crowd held their breath.
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End of Chapter
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