The Hartley.
When Eleanor announced Ethan’s ranking, the entire classroom fell into stunned silence.
The murmurs about the ranking leap from earlier were cut short.
All eyes focused on Ethan, who struggled to maintain a serious expression, though a hint of pride involuntarily crept into those hazel eyes.
“Ethan made it into the top 1000? Is that for real?”
“He jumped over a thousand ranks in one semester?”
“How did he even manage that…”
The scattered attention was instantly drawn to Ethan, completely overshadowing the attention Morse had just gained.
Such a ranking leap was unheard of in the academy’s history, almost unbelievable.
But not everyone believed it was genuine, and whispers of confusion and doubt began to fill the classroom.
“This doesn’t make sense at all, how could he possibly…”
“There must be something fishy! Advancing a thousand ranks in half a semester? Is it because his last name is Hartley, and the academy is giving him preferential treatment?”
Suspicion filled the air, and a tense atmosphere quickly spread.
The skepticism in the room was palpable, and Ethan’s silence only intensified the conjecture.
Eleanor keenly sensed this unsettling situation and raised her hand to signal for quiet.
“Enough,” she said, her voice firm and calm.
“The rankings are correct, and accusations without evidence are pointless.
You should focus on your own progress and improvement, rather than making unfounded speculations about your classmates.”
As Eleanor’s words fell, the murmuring in the room gradually subsided.
Most students chose to remain silent, though the questions in their hearts were not entirely dispelled.
However, amidst this stifled silence, a student with a scornful look raised his hand.
Eleanor noticed him and nodded slightly, signaling him to speak.
His tone was laced with obvious doubt: “Professor, with all due respect, shouldn’t such a drastic change in ranking be subject to a corresponding review process?
This isn’t an unfounded accusation, but we should at least know how someone can advance into the top 1000 in half a semester, right?
Doesn’t the academy adjust the difficulty of the dungeons according to the rankings?
If we were also assigned to low-level dungeons like Ethan, our grades would naturally be good as well.
This is simply illogical, and we need a reasonable explanation.”
Eleanor’s eyes flickered slightly; she understood the student’s doubts and recognized the need to provide a convincing answer.
“Your question is valid,” she responded in a steady tone.
“The academy does adjust the difficulty of dungeon explorations based on students’ rankings.
Ethan was initially assigned to a low-level dungeon, but his performance on the first day far exceeded the level of his peers.”
She paused for a moment, ensuring the entire class was listening attentively, then continued:
“Considering this situation, the academy decided to conduct a further assessment of him.
Ethan subsequently underwent an additional test, entering a dungeon for high-ranking students alone.
However, this was not publicly announced because you had already completed your tests.”
She looked around, observing the students’ reactions.
Although the doubts had not completely dissipated, this explanation clearly gave everyone a deeper understanding of the situation.
“This decision was made to ensure a more accurate evaluation of his abilities,” Eleanor added.
“The academy’s priority is to ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment of each student’s potential.
Ethan’s outstanding performance in various environments is the real reason for his significant ranking increase.”
She paused, allowing the students to digest this information, then looked back at the list in her hand.
“I see… so that’s what you were busy with,” Julia muttered to herself.
“You were trying to give us a surprise, weren’t you?”
“If he really took an extra test, then it makes sense.”
“I knew the academy was fair.”
Although a few people remained skeptical, most students began to accept the explanation.
Eleanor scanned the room, her tone unquestionable: “Now, I will continue announcing the rankings.
Does anyone else have any objections?”
The classroom was silent, with only the rustling of paper and the occasional creaking of chairs.
“No? Very well.”
She continued in her usual tone, announcing the rankings one by one.
“Sylvie Solaris, 971st place.”
“Lucas Middleton, 85th place.”
“Julia Middleton, 60th place.”
“Karl Darian, 42nd place.”
“Alice Thornfield and Irina Phoenix, tied for 3rd place.”
The revelation of the tied ranking caused a brief stir of discussion.
Everyone’s gaze turned to Alice and Irina, noting their equal scores.
But the two had completely different reactions.
Alice appeared indifferent, while Irina clenched her fist in anger.
“Victor Black and Seraphina Winslet, tied for 1st place.”
This final announcement echoed through the classroom, solidifying Victor’s reign at the top.
The students also started to discuss the long-standing rivalry between the Phoenix and Winslet families, sparked by Victor and Seraphina sharing the top spot.
Whispers quickly spread, as everyone began to speculate about the implications of this shift in dominance.
“The Winslet family won this time.”
“Looks like the Phoenix family needs to step it up.”
However, just as the students continued to talk, they were suddenly interrupted by a cold snort.
“Hmph!”
Irina Phoenix’s eyes were filled with anger, rebuking those smug remarks while inadvertently revealing her emotions.
The students felt the pressure from the academy’s second strongest student, realizing how inappropriate their comments had been.
Sensing the change in atmosphere, Eleanor clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention.
Clap!
The sharp sound echoed in the classroom, and Eleanor began to address the students with her usual seriousness.
“Now, let’s focus on what’s next.
There have been adjustments to the Phase Two curriculum, so please listen carefully.”
With her guidance, a hologram of the human realm appeared before her, and she began to explain the adjustments to the curriculum.
As the three-dimensional map materialized on the podium, she highlighted several key areas.
“Students, please take note.
During the break, monster activity has significantly increased in several regions.
The rise in the number of incidents has forced us to adjust the curriculum to better prepare you for the challenges ahead.”
She pointed to different areas on the map, indicating where monster activity had intensified.
“Normally, you would be familiarizing yourselves with more of the academy’s environment, but following instructions from the Federation, we need to take more rigorous measures.
From now on, we will focus on strategic and combat training, enhancing your operational capabilities in the real world.”
She pointed again to the hologram, explaining the changes in the mana circles.
“As you can see, the fluctuations in the mana circles have become more pronounced.
Mastering mana and using it effectively will be crucial to your survival.
In the coming semester, we will not only hone your combat skills but also help you understand and harness mana more deeply.”
She paused, giving the students time to digest her words.
“While you sharpen your combat skills, we will introduce specially designed courses where you will explore some minor skills that will aid in your overall growth.
In this changing era, adaptability is key, and you must be prepared for the challenges ahead.”
Her serious expression deepened, and she scanned the entire classroom.
“Let me be clear.
The academy will invest more resources and expect results from you.
The upcoming challenges will require each of you to excel.
Those who fall behind will be directly eliminated.
There is no room for mediocrity in the face of the challenges that await you.”
The students listened intently, absorbing the information, and the classroom was silent.
“This year’s curriculum will be more difficult and demanding than ever before, but it will ultimately make you stronger and ensure continuous progress.”
As her expectations weighed on the students, Eleanor turned to the next topic.
“Now, as the first task of Phase Two, you will undergo a test to assess your mana perception abilities.
The specifics of the test will remain confidential, and you will be divided into groups of three.
The specific group assignments will be announced tomorrow.
Ensure you are well-prepared.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the class bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson.
The students were released from the serious atmosphere and began to murmur among themselves.
A mix of anxiety and exhaustion filled the air.
The assignment of three-person groups added to their worries.
“I heard the group assignments are crucial; if you’re grouped with someone who doesn’t work hard, you’re basically done for.”
“I hope my group has some reliable people.”
“Ugh, the original tests and challenges were already exhausting enough, and now I feel like I’m going to collapse.”
In the discussions, some students exchanged nervous glances, while others tried their best to psych themselves up for the upcoming trials.
“What do you guys think?” Julia asked, after processing the information.
“I expected something like this would happen,” Alice replied nonchalantly.
“Father mentioned that things would change.”
“Me too, I heard the same from my father,” Karl said, standing up.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to see the Headmaster.”
“Alright, let’s go together.”
