Bennett looked at Jane one of his eye twitching annoyed

  sweet..taste..of..death?? You seriously- ugh whatever...

  A short ways away their principal is approaching them and separates Jason's group to meet their own instructor and principal.

  Marlow then looked at them with a lazy smile...

  Well well well you kids did pretty good for your situation...

  Even used whatever you kids found to get an advantage in such a disadvantaged situation...

  Now as you remember the rewards are based on merits so I'll be separating you all to get your own rewards and I have to say congratulations!! Everyone did great!

  We have the majority in the top 3 with Aiko in first and ironfang 3rd as for who has the 2nd place badge, Jason.

  So we're in the lead, hah serves them right thinking they could easily get merit points from my academy due to our drop in elite students!! Hahaha!!

  As soon as the principal stopped laughing he continued speaking.

  Anyways that is all now please go into one of the rooms and wait for an instructor to greet you and give you your rewards based on your Merits.

  You're all dismissed.

  Then Marlow just straight up disappeared, giving no one the chance to ask anything.

  Aiko's eyes is shining as soon as he disappeared

  SO COOOL!! did yall see that the principal just straight up disappeared? I couldn't even see his movement. It was like he was there one second and the next he's just gone!!

  Bennett on the other hand rubs his eyes in disbelief..

  When our instructor Jane speed blitzes at least we see some form of movement even if it's a blur and he just straight up disappears?? I agree with aiko that is cool but also terrifying...

  Kaeris just rubs his temple reminded of his lazy uncle

  Ugh there just like each other even if my uncle is around the same Rank as Jane he does this disappearing act just as much.

  Also Bennett Jane was holding back a ton. Believe me she can easily do this also just that she had to hold back and give us a sliver of a chance to react during that time she tested us.

  Ironfang just continued his dumbell training fully healed

  And kivolak is as usual eating meat

  They are both uninterested with what he did.

  Ayaka decided it was enough lollygagging.

  Alright everyone let's go into a room now alright and wait for our rewards no need to stay here like headless chickens

  She then made her way first into a room and then the others followed picking their own room.

  After a few minutes some instructors arrived, each of them going towards their selected student...

  As each of them entered one finally entered Bennett's waiting room and sat across from him.

  He looks old but his aura is pretty intimidating as he observed Bennett.

  He then cut the silence

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  My name is Juniper.

  Pleased to meet you young man..

  He then went for a hand shake.

  Thank you instructor I am Bennett nice to meet you too...

  He then shook Juniper's arm noting the incredibly dense mana radiating in his hand before letting go and sitting back on his chair.

  Juniper just smiled

  You're an impressive young man, you know that?

  I've read your file and you've got one hard life with that Manashackle of yours.

  You know young man your potential is the worst I've seen in my life aside from myself of course hahaha!!

  But that dosent mean just cause your potential is shit you can't rise up.

  W-what do you mean instructor??

  Bennett asked confused

  Oh you don't know? Well your potential is based on your total amount of mana available while you can be a genius it doesn't reflect your potential.

  Ehh but I thought I got a pretty good amount of mana... So how is it that I have shit potential in your words?

  That's a good question, young man. It's cause you have so little mana that compared to even kivolak, the only other one with the lowest mana.

  He has at least over 5x your amount of mana which gives him around medium range of potential...

  Wait, if there mana is so much more than mine how was I able to beat others like Nicole?

  You're a smart young man. Always asking good questions each time as for the answer...

  Your mana is very dense, that's the answer.

  Dense? What does having dense mana have to do with low mana?

  Hmm how do I explain this... oh I know let's say you're trying to use a water hose.

  When you turn on the hose the water flows naturally but the moment you block the space to a minimum it forces the water to compress and shoot out more violently through that smaller space left.

  Okay? But that still doesn't explain the density part?

  Ugh I'm never good at this explaining thing. Basically having denser mana allows more efficient mana use and a more solid structure.

  Similarly to how extremely compressed water is able to penetrate steel like a hot knife through butter while just pouring the water does nothing requiring more water to deal any damage.

  Does that make more sense for you young man?

  Hmm I think I get it so basically despite having less mana I'm able to hit harder due to having higher efficiency and needing less mana to use my own techniques?

  Yes but of course there is a drawback

  It makes your mana harder to control.

  Fortunately you have so little mana that controlling that amount is a lot easier.

  Since others with way more mana will struggle a lot more with denser mana and in turn they compensate that by simply having more mana.

  And you on the other hand.

  You have a pretty big advantage since manashackle is an illness that forcefully compresses and makes mana denser.

  Your body adapted to it so your control isn't impacted as your mana becomes denser everyday but if you're unable to keep strengthening your body faster than your mana becomes denser it will eventually kill you simply by...

  He takes a bottle out of his coat and crushed it causing it to explode

  The hell?? So I have a time limit?

  Yes pretty much but don't worry about it from what I saw you got a few years and as long as you keep making your body stronger your timer won't move.

  Oh that's good but why did you say your potential is bad?

  I felt your mana and just the density in your hand could crush me effortlessly...

  Well because my mana pool is about as small as yours and this extremely dense mana you feel is the result of decades of training...

  Now I'm able to rival those so called protegies with my skills and dense mana something you are also proving...

  Which is why I'm interested in you but that isn't the only reason..

  What other reason could there be? Because aside from dense mana I can't release mana from my body anyways...

  Haha you think I'm stupid young man. I felt it inside your weapon and your shield both held a quarter of your mana and you're able to use that quarter of mana to activate skills in battle but there is a timer when active as it's constantly draining.

  Bennett looked at him in disbelief w-wha how? I thought I hid it well...

  Young man everyone who was watching noticed and the fact you found a way to use mana despite your illness is amazing and so we observed your weapon and saw this.

  He shows Bennett his runes that are faintly glowing.

  It looks like enchantments but more refined, more complete and a lot more advanced.

  So will you tell me about it?

  Bennett is thinking about it struggling but finally decided to answer with a defeated sigh

  Those are called runes instructor I learned them from this book

  Bennett presented the beginner rune book.

  Along with my fighting style and skills all came from this but it's a beginner book so I don't know how to get stronger anymore....

  The instructor grabbed the book curiously and looked it through and soon enough gave it back to Bennett.

  Interesting book hmm then I have a mission for you.

  Eh?? Bennett is surprised and looked at him curiously

  What would the mission be?

  I want you to develop your own runes using what you learned from this book as your base...

  I may not know how it works but I believe you will be able to do this...

  Especially since it works just like enhancement and if you're able to work it out to a high level you can even offer its knowledge to us and in turn give us another path forward and earn a lot of merit...

  But instructor I don't know how to even start. I have a few ideas but my latest test doesn't work...

  He was then smacked on his back.

  Ahahha don't doubt yourself young man you are a human I'm sure you will find a way to advance it especially since you somehow understand the complex parameters of that book.

  What do you mean instructor? Can't you understand it?

  Hah no I barely got the gist of the actual parameters and I'm an enhancement specialist but I can tell this is way more advanced than enchanting.

  Oh but still it's just a beginner book aside from protect and Aegis which is a failed experiment to make a more defensive rune I have no idea how to advance...

  Young man... believe in yourself the fact you already made semi working runes means you got the talent for it and also this is your own way to pave your very own path so will you really give it up?

  What no I won't I finally am able to live my dream and no way will I give it up!!

  Then what's stopping you from just creating your own runes?.

  He said not as just a question but a statement making Bennett understand the instructor believes in him.

  Sorry instructor your right I shouldent doubt myself I got this far and so I should be able to keep moving forward

  That's a good answer to defy your fate and show that you refuse to stand down and accept this cruel punishment you're facing.

  Rise above everything while throwing the middle finger. cause I did the same otherwise I wouldn't be an Elite rank 4 with how shit my potential is.

  A true talent and true genius is born through hard work no matter how hard or easy the path is as long as you don't grow lazy and stagnate you will always keep moving forward and eventually surpass your limit no matter how difficult it is.

  The instructor took a few breaths after that speech looking at Bennett intensely.

  Your right instructor I'll keep on moving forward sorry for doubting myself.

  Bennett said glad someone appreciated his hard work.

  Alright now that's out of the way, it's time for your reward.

  So are you excited?

  Bennett nodded looking at the instructor both curiosity and excitement gleaming in his eyes.

  That's a good young man.

  You are at the 9th highest ranking merit wise so you will get 5 rewards.

  I do hope it's to your liking as it's based on your fighting style habits and weaknesses.

  He then opened the case on the table revealing the reward.

  Chapter End