Rebirth-Transcending All Beings

Chapter 85: Theory Exam

"That is all, let the exams begin."

The students were led out of the grand assembly dome by numerous instructors stationed around the building,

Each of them bearing their own stern expression and sharp eyes that missed nothing.

Vergil strode forward with ease, acting as though he hadn’t just given himself the most ridiculous title for himself in front of all the applicants.

He acted nonchalant. Shoulders relaxed. Hands in pockets. Gaze focussed on what was ahead.

Elena and Eleanor followed close behind, weaving through the cluster of students to stand next to him.

"Vergil, Vergil," Elena whispered. "Did you even study for the exam?"

"And what’s with the new style. A change perhaps?" She added.

"Worry about yourself," Vergil smirked. "And think of this version of me as a new chance."

"That’s a no," Elena muttered under her breath. "Also I like the new style."

Eleanor said nothing, watching Vergil with an unreadable calmness.

The group followed the flow of bodies down the long academy corridors. Passing through a series of arched passageways before arriving at the main building at the centre of campus.

There were many large doorways, and stairs that led upstairs to perhaps even more rooms. The instructor led them in, opening into what looked more like a lecture hall than a classroom carved of wood and stone.

Rows of wide desks descended in a half circle downwards, towards a single flat floor with a stool, a pedestal and a chalk board.

Didn’t know they still used them.

Dozens of other student remained silent, filling in the seats as they took in the surrounding environment.

To Vergil, this was going to be the most painful part of the exam.

The sheets of test papers were spread out with a black-inked pen waiting at each place. The students were separated a few metres from each other.

Although there was no intricate magic on the floor and walls, the eyes of the instructor said everything.

Vergil took a spot three rows from the front, flanked by Elena on one side and Eleanor on the other.

In total, there were three instructors positioned around the room. The taller, narrowed-eyed instructor at the front stepped up, glancing around to ensure silence before speaking.

"You have two hours," he said simply. "There are five sections on your exam, each designed to test not just memory, but your reasoning and applications.

He paused, clasping his hands behind his back. "You’re not permitted to speak, leave early and should you attempt to cheat, your exam will burn and you will be removed from the academy grounds immediately."

Several students stiffened. A student on the far side of the room gulped audibly.

The instructor’s eyes scanned the room once more. "If you are found to be disrupting others, your score will be reduced."

"If you finish early, review your answers in silence. There is no second chance." He added.

Silence swallowed the room, before the signal came.

"Begin."

The word rang like a clock reaching midnight. A dozen rustles followed immediately as everybody turned their pages over.

Vergil looked down at his exam sheet. The first section had a detailed sketch of a grotesque moster’s mottled skin, six lidless eyes and a deformed skull. Acid dripping from its fangs like saliva.

And beneath it were five questions. Demanding identification, weak points, habitat, mutation factors and possible countermeasures.

Vergil took one look at each question, blinked twice, and realised the reality.

I’m fucked.

He pressed his palms together in mock prayer, resting his forehead against his fingertips like a devout monk begging for mercy and salvation.

’Weaver, I know you can hear me. Your devoted follower is in need of your assistance’

A chime echoed faintly in response.

[Bro that doesn’t work.]

Vergil grinned. ’Even better, now you can help me.’

[I don’t know this stuff. You’re asking the wrong person.]

Vergil exhaled. ’I know, you’re not Weaver.’

In the end, he resigned himself to the void of ignorance that loomed over him.

’Oh well... let’s just start writing.’

And with that he picked up his pen, eyes squinting in confusion as he began scribbling whatever he could.

30 minutes later.

Vergil was still hunched over his desk, furiously scribbling down answers to questions he didn’t understand.

There was not enough time to try and figure each one out. All he could do was make an ’educated guess from his perspective’ and pray it’s right.

His eyes narrowed as he read the next question.

"Describe the lifecycle of a mana Leech. At what stage is it most dangerous to mages?"

Vergil stared at the sketch. Its spiraling tongue alone made hime take it personally.

Life cycle? Does it even have a life?

He began writing.

The mana leech is born angry. It lives to spite mages and dies miserably. Its most dangerous stage is – all of them, cause look at it.

Vergil paused, he sighed. Then drew a crude stick figure of himself attacked by a leech with the caption.

Me vs this thing. Pray for me.

[I thought you were serious about this exam?] The system chimed.

’So did I,’ Vergil replied. ’But what kind of questions are these?’

The next one read. Compare the regenerative properties of ogres and trolls. What energy type is most effective in suppressing their regeneration?"

He blinked.

Ogres regenerate with the power of spite while trolls regenerate slower because they take more pride in their injuries. The most effective energy to suppress them is fire magic and heavy criticism.

He scrubbed out heavy criticism and added.

Flame-based aura or insulting them.Flame-based aura or insulting them.

The clock was ticking, students around him were focussed. Pens met paper. Pages turned. And the pressure was suffocating.

He flipped to the next section which was Energy Systems.

Explain the concept of Energy Resonance. How does it affect team synergy in multi-type hunting parties?

Vergil bit the pen cap, hard.

What the hell does this mean?

Energy resonance is like good vibes made deadly. When team member’s energies match, they glow or something and their attacks get stronger. When they don’t, people blow up. This is bad.

[You’re not even trying anymore. What do you mean people blow up]

"Gotta write something down."

Then came Ethics.

Vergil stared at the title: Combat Law and Ethics in Field Operations.

He immediately knew he was doomed.

You’re on a hunt and a rival team is fatally injured by a monster. What are your legal obligations under the Continental Hunting Pact?

Vergil leaned back, staring at the ceiling in deep thought.

Personally, I would help the monster to kill them and then backstab the monster to take all the loot. But that isn’t right soo.

Help the injured team and call aid? Don’t die.

He skipped to the next one.

Define the boundaries between necessary force and cruelty in monster culling missions.

He paused before writing.

If the monster screams and begs for its life. Maybe spare it. But if it doesn’t then kill it.

Vergil’s gaze flickered once. Elena flipped pages calmly and Eleanor wrote with elegance.

Yuxin who was at the front was focussed and although Zhao Huan looked a little sleepy, he was nodding through the questions with confidence.

Focus. Focus Vergil. We need to pass the exam.

Returning to his own page, he read the next question.

When is it acceptable to use lethal force against fellow academy students during sparring assessments?

When they deserve it.

He hesitated.

Wait no. NEVER. Unless it’s mutually agreed upon? Unless they’re trying to kill you? In that case, kill harder?

His pen paused, crossing the entire paragraph.

Only when theres a direct threat to my life?

He flipped to the next section. Strategic Fieldwork.

A bit more confident here. It sounded more practical.

You’re tasked with leading a squad into the Dead Spiral. Outline your pre-entry preparations.

Although he didn’t know what a ’Dead Spiral’ was, he started writing.

Learn the terrain, arm yourself with light based-tools. Bring anti-curse talismans. Make sure nobody is insane. Leave a will. Kiss your loved ones goodbye and expect to be betrayed.

He underlines ’betrayed’ twice.

More scribbling followed, he made what he would call educated guesses and in some cases wrote whatever he wanted the answer to be.

The ethics section haunted him, glancing at the pages he skipped.

Two rows away someone sneezed, another students tapped the desk out of panic. Somewhere behind him a teacher coughed.

He pressed his palms together again. ’Weaver, I know you’re probably busy doing nothing. But this test is a crime against me.’

[Just saying he aint helping you]

’Just saying... if I fail, it’s on both of us.’

Vergil exhaled. ’Let’s finish it off.’

Am I really going to fail here? I’m going to try my best. If not, it will all be for nothing.

And with that, he flipped the page, narrowed his eyes, and continued the ritual of controlled chaos he dared call "test-taking."

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"Why would I help you? I am enjoying this far too much."

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Side story 1:

"Candidate, may I please ask you to leave." One of the instructor’s voice echoed through the room.

A boy, sitting down, looked up confused. "What did I—"

"Using mana to enhance your eyesight and check other tests is prohibited." The instructor cut in.

The boy tired to argue, but was escorted out by the instructor.

Elena and Eleanor, watched this scene and paid no mind whilst Vergil was too busy drawing pictures on his test.