The Return of Godkin

Chapter 214: The Last trial

Ray's eyes lit up with respect. Although he was only thirteen years old, he could kind of understand the gravitas of Giselle's words regarding the relationship between humans and soul beasts. Savage soul beasts definitely existed, but that didn't mean that all soul beasts were savage!

"Judging by your performance in this trial, I can give you nothing less than a full score. I'll also tell you this—if you had failed this trial, you would have been rejected by Central Academy even if you had earned a full eighty points up to now. We call this the overruling trial. If you were lacking in moral character, nothing else would have mattered."

Ray and the others were startled, but secretly rejoiced on the inside.

Their choice hadn't been wrong.

"With the conclusion of this trial, Ray has seventy points. Raziel, you have sixty-one points. Violetta and Lily have sixty points and fifty-eight points respectively."

Three of them already earned the minimum number of points required to pass the exam. Now, only Lily lacked two points.

"Follow me."

Giselle nodded to them as she pushed open the door that led out of the room.

All four students of class zero shared a smile. They were one trial short of joining Central Academy. After all of their efforts, it was nearly time.

Giselle led them down the hall and up another flight of stairs to the roof where three people awaited them.

In the center of the three was an elderly grey-haired man. On his left was Seraphina, the Silver Moon Spirit King, and on his right was the elder that had administered the first trial.

The three of them stood in a row, inspecting the new arrivals.

The expressions of Ray and the others soured when they saw Seraphina.

What does she have to do with the last trial?

Giselle walked over and bowed to the three elders, then stood to the side.

"The tenth trial is also known as the Three Hall Review. These three elders will evaluate your previous performance in the trials and give you a comprehensive score that will be added to your total," Giselle explained.

Three Hall Review?

But with that Seraphina who failed us twice here… This trial is…

Ray glanced at Lily. Though she furrowed her brows, her eyes still shone with a stubborn light.

She's only short two points! This trial…

The elder in the middle spoke up, his voice deep as he said, "Raymond, come up."

Ray hastily stepped forward and bowed.

"Full marks for seven trials and zero for two… Your performance has been remarkable, simply outstanding. You're brave, wise, and a capable leader. We've been watching you the entire time. However, we will hold off on your score until later as we want you to take a makeup trial."

A makeup trial? Ray thanked the elder despite his confusion and quickly returned by his companion's side. With seventy points, he was safe either way.

"Raziel Phoenix," The grey-haired elder called out.

Raziel rushed forward.

"Your talent is slightly higher than average and your situational awareness is poor. However, you have the courage to charge head-first in the face of danger. So, overall, your performance has been satisfactory. You get six points."

"Thank you, Elder." Raziel let out a breath of relief. He had sixty-one points so he feared getting a negative score the most. After all, his performance in some trials had been quite embarrassing. And yet, unknown to him was that his accomplishments had already surpassed the average.

"Violetta."

"Your talent is average, but your uniqueness lies in your absolute control over the astrological attribute of your variant martial soul. Not only that, you work well with your team and have a clever mind, undeterred by your weaknesses. Your potential is actually quite impressive. So, you get seven points."

"Thank you, Elder." Violetta smiled shyly as she returned to her friends. Now she had caught up to Raziel.

"Lily Moon."

Lily went up and bowed.

This time, the grey-haired elder did not say anything. Instead, he looked to the Silver Moon Spirit King at his side.

Seraphina coldly snorted. "Lily, you're arrogant and insolent. Though you might be gifted, you lack situational awareness and have impacted your entire team with your actions. Not only that, you're both impulsive and unreasonable. I don't think you're suitable for Central Academy. One point. Your total is fifty-nine."

One point? She only gave Lily one point?

Lily raised her head to glare at Seraphina, biting her lip as she trembled.

The grey-haired elder said, "Ray, Raziel, Violetta, you have been accepted into the academy. Raymond, you will take the fifth trial again in a moment. Lily, you only have fifty-nine points, so you can go now."

Ray, Raziel, and Violetta were stupefied.

Fifty-nine points? Everyone shared the opinion that Lily was the most amazing of them four, yet she had only received fifty-nine points. She was just one point shy of making it into Central Academy, but that one point meant she was rejected and had to return home now.

When they had first arrived in Central City, they all assumed that if only one of them made it to Central Academy, it would definitely be Lily! None of them expected this outcome.

Lily's curled her hands into tight fists but obstinately remained standing there, her face full of pride.

A hand grabbed her shoulder.

She turned around, and her gaze connected with Ray's resolute eyes. He gathered her trembling body into his arms, then looked straight at the elders.

"I don't accept this!"

Harold was taken aback. He wouldn't have been surprised if Lily had spoken these words, but no, it was Ray who said them!

"Why do you not accept this?"

Ray said, "Respected elders, may I ask if Central Academy is fair?"

A cold smile formed on Seraphina's lips. "Nothing is fair in this world. If you want fair, then you need strength. Justice is fought for, not freely and willingly given. Of course, that is under the condition you're powerful enough to suppress everyone."

Ray was stunned. He had never expected such a reply.

He nodded to Seraphina and gave a slight bow. "Thank you for your advice. I have learned from it. Since this is how things are, I have nothing more to say. Elders, I renounce my Central Academy admittance. One day, I will return. One day, when I'm strong enough, I will come back to enforce justice."

Ray turned towards Raziel and Violetta and sternly said, "You two don't need to follow me; this is just mine and Lily's business. You should stay and properly cultivate."

Raziel chuckled. He stuck his hands into his pants' pockets and, as if he hadn't heard Ray's words, casually strolled over. "Since my talent is only average, it seems Central Academy doesn't think too highly of me. Captain, are you trying to ditch me? No way. Back when you defeated that Duskgold Dreadclaw Bear and avenged me, I swore I would follow you for the rest of my life. I can only become strong by following you. I like your plan. We'll return when we have the strength to demand justice."

He arrived next to Ray and placed his hand on his captain's shoulder.

"I never wanted to be a soul master anyway; it was my old man that forced me. The pressure here is a bit too high for me. Let's go back now." Violetta also stood beside them. Speaking as if this were a trivial matter.

"You guys…" Ray was at a loss for words.

He turned to Giselle. "Teacher, my apologies. I'm afraid we aren't qualified to be Central students. It was once my dream, but now my dream has shattered. May I ask where Teacher Alfred is?"

Emotions warred within Giselle's heart as she stared at them.

At that moment, the grey-haired elder said with a gloomy expression, "Good, you're all really stubborn. That stubbornness must have been taught to you. Very good, nicely done. Now leave. You can all get out now."

His cold words stunned the four who were preparing to leave.

Giselle sent them a meaningful look as she quietly explained, "This elder is senior brother Alfred's teacher as well as your grandteacher. Hurry up and pay your respects."

Grandteacher? Teacher Alfred's teacher?

Ray's heart thumped. He tugged on Lily's sleeve, then bowed to Harold. "I pay my respects to grandteacher."

Raziel and Violetta quickly followed suit. Nudged by Ray, Lily was the last to bow.

Harold's expression lightened a few shades, but his voice was as cold as before. "Do you guys think you're something amazing, renouncing everything for the sake of your companions, huh? You fools. Each and every one of you are fools. Why did you even come here? Was it to show off your stubbornness? Your pride? Do you not know what effort is? All you know is how to fight, but not how to beg? Did Alfred teach you his stubbornness? It really is just as they say: like teacher, like student. You're all a bunch of stubborn fools."

The corner of Giselle's mouth twitched as she silently cursed. Aren't you the one who taught the senior brother? Don't your words apply to yourself, too?

"Grandteacher, may I ask you a question?" Violetta asked in a cute voice.

"Hm?" Harold's eyes shifted to her.

Violetta's eyes welled, then reddened as she choked back sobs. "Grandteacher, is this grandma more amazing than you?"

Her question completely blindsided Harold, and he was left unable to answer. He sneaked a glance at Seraphina. "We're about equal."

Tears escaped from the corner of Violetta's eyes before it began to stream down her face. "Grandteacher, it's said that once a teacher, forever a father. We've treated Teacher Alfred like a father, and Teacher Alfred definitely treats you like one too, so you're our grandfather. How can you let your grandchildren be bullied when you're such a powerful Title Spirit King and a battle armor master? We would have had enough points to pass the exam long ago if it weren't for this grandma. Is it because you are afraid of her, you don't speak out when your granddaughter is being driven out?"

Harold was stunned. He was famed for his old-fashioned ways and stubbornness throughout Central Academy, and he had a stern expression that cowed all the inner court students into submission. Yet, he never expected the girl before him to speak such words.

"Me, afraid of her?" He inadvertently let slip his thoughts.

Violetta, throat stifled with emotion, said, "You're not afraid of her, yet you don't care when your granddaughter is being driven out?" After a dumbstruck moment, Harold said, "That's right! Why wouldn't I care if my granddaughter is being driven out? Seraphina, what are you trying to pull? Why are you bullying my granddaughter?"