The Black Miasma, a thick black fog which surrounds the four nations. It appeared after the defeat of the demon king, some say it was something the demon king set up, other believe it’s the doing of demonic tower, but no one knows what exactly it is. There were many who tried to uncover its secrets, but none who went into it came back.

  As Reainhardt signaled Rasmond to take over, Rasmond silently whispered, and asked

  “Sir, is this really true?”

  To which Reinhardt replied in a serious tone,

  “Yes, do what you deem necessary, and increase your strength.”

  Rasmond nodded in agreement and went to continue the assembly, he stood in front of the transponder orb and exclaimed.

  “Now, I will announce the name of the Top Five ranks, also known as the S-ranks.”

  Hearing this, Yota got all excited, he grabbed Ric’s shoulder and started shaking him

  “Hey Ric! Look they are announcing the Top Five!”

  To which Ric nonchalantly replied with a poker face

  “I can see that, I am not blind, so stop shaking me.”

  Yota “Tch”ed in annoyance and said

  “Man at least get excited, you’re no fun.”

  As everyone looked forward to the rankings, Rasmond raised his hand, signalling the magician, who used transferred his mana into another transponder, making it float above Rasmond, as he exclaimed

  “At Number Five, with the Total score of 311 out of 400, we have Albert Rodrich!”

  The floating transponder projected the face of Albert Rodrich, with the marks he gained in each of the exams, it read:

  [ Albert Rodrich ]

  Time management score: 85/100

  Academics score: 53/100

  Obstacle course score: 98/100

  Loyalty score: 75/100

  Most of the students were hyped, excited, and many gossiped, one said

  “As expected, nobles are different than us commoners.”

  Another one exclaimed

  “What can we do? They have access to high level potions, and we just struggle to get a day’s meal.”

  Rasmond continued on

  “At number Four, with a total score of 328 out of 400, we have Stein Rodrich!”

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  The floating transponder projected the face of Stein, with the marks he gained in each of the exams, it read:

  [ Stein Rodrich ]

  Time management score: 95/100

  Academics score: 96/100

  Obstacle course score: 57/100

  Loyalty score: 80/100

  The murmurs of the studetns increased, one said

  “Both brothers in the top 5? The Rodrich family really upped the standards for the nobles.”

  Another replied

  “Yeah but, usually the trevor family would hold that position though, have they dropped lower?”

  To which another one exclaimed

  “They must have, haha, like you guys really think that the trouble maker of the Trevor family would make it to the top 5?”

  Both the students nodded in agreement and exclaimed

  “Yeah, it makes sense, but who do you think are the top 3?”

  The guy adjusted his hair in style, and replied.

  “Of course, the top 3 will all be noble families too, like the Crownbells, or the –“

  As he was saying, Rasmond declared

  “At number Three, with a total score of 357 out of 400, we have Ian”

  The floating transponder projected the face of Ian, with the marks he gained in each of the exams, it read:

  [ Ian ]

  Time management score: 94/100

  Academics score: 70/100

  Obstacle course score: 98/100

  Loyalty score: 95/100

  Many students were shocked, and started gossiping

  “No family name? is he an orphan?”

  Another stated

  “Nah, no way! He is probably something like a secret agent for nobles!”

  Many students were in shock. Some denied it, and some were in awe, as this was an incident that hadn’t happened since the hero, it was unthinkable for them, since every year the top 5 were always noble families.

  Rasmond ignored the commotion and continued.

  “At number Two, with a total score of 395 out of 400, we have…”

  The students were in shocked, some said

  “395?! Its been years since someone achieved that much marks!”

  Another exclaimed.

  “Yeah, Sir Chiron was the last one who achieved it, no one has done that till now!”

  A student joined in, fixing his hair in style

  “Hmph, obviously it is probably a pure blooded noble.”

  The two students questioned him

  “Didn’t you just say that Top 3 will nobles?”

  He fixed his clothes and replied

  “That was a fluke, that commoner Ian or whatever just got Lucky-“

  But interrupting his bragging, Rasmond exclaimed the name

  “Ric!”

  The went silent, as if waiting for Rasmond to say the family name, but Rasmond said nothing, and the transponder projected Ric’s info.

  [ Ric ]

  Time management score: 100/100

  Academics score: 99/100

  Obstacle course score: 99/100

  Loyalty score: 97/100

  Everyone was shocked, and the commotion erupted, most were shocked, and many were in disbelief, as this was the very first time in the decade history of the Kyrus Academy, that not just one, but 2 of the Top 5 spots were taken by the commoners.

  The status of a noble, which seemed unbreakable, unreachable for normal people, began to look a bit easier, thus the gossips began, as one student said.

  “T-This is unheard of!”

  Another joined in.

  “Yeah! This means that nobles are not absolute!”

  And like that, the non-noble students began talking to each other, their gossips irked the noble students the wrong way, and many started to argue, one of them yelled out.

  “These pests now think they can reach us! You peasants are nothing but worms to us nobles! Know your place!”

  The sheer arrogance dripping from his words, sparked anger in the non-noble students, who were most of the time silent when a noble insulted them, but now, they had found courage, and one of them replied.

  “if we commoners are worms, then how do you feel being below the ‘worms’, and not just one, but two of them.”

  The noises increased, the assembly now had become a fish market, as yelling increased, the tension raised, as if a fight would break out any moment, but cutting through the air, a loud voice erupted from the speakers near the stage, as Rasmond announced

  “Silence!”

  His voice echoed across the Assembly grounds, and could be heard across the Academy. All the students who were bickering among themselves stopped, some grabbed their ears, and all of them went silent as Reinhardt continued

  “Behave yourself, you are now a student of the Kyrus Academy, make your behavior befitting of it.”

  As Rasmond warned them all, the students went silent and payed attention, seeing this, Rasmond continued.

  “Now, at number One, with a total score of 398 out of 400 we have…”