*Slam!*

The door to a bustling classroom flies open. The classroom's students are split into individual cliques. A young attractive male teacher in his early thirties with light brown hair and brown eyes rushed into the room.

"Alright class, sit down! Let's get started, we all don't want to be here for too long on the last day of school."

When they heard the teacher they scattered like mice back to their seats.

The teacher looked around and waited for everyone to be seated and be quiet before continuing to talk.

"I don't want to do this but sadly this is a part of the job… This year the school offered basic cultivation techniques and training methods. So that those who want to go into cultivation in the future have a better understanding of what awaits them. I am now going to announce the results from this year."

The class erupted with protests. From their point of view announcing ranks would only boost the ego of those who are on top and rub salt in the wounds at the bottom. Not to mention, everyone already knew the ranking between themselves anyways.

"Quiet! Let's just get this over with so that we can all go home. I'm going to start from the bottom."

"Ranked last is Arlo Herz with a Grey Arcane Core, as well as, mastery of Chapter 1 of Basic Ki Arts and a slight aptitude for the light element."

It didn't take long for laughter and insults to fill the room.

"Pffff!" "HAHAHA!" "There goes the disgrace again." "Even after a whole year, he's still trash." "No wonder his parents basically disowned him." "What a disappointment." "Trash!"

The teacher didn't even bother to try and stop the kids. It had become such a routine that in his eyes it was easier to just ignore it, especially on the last day of school.

Arlo like many times before could find himself only being able to clench his fists in rage and self-pity. He is 1.94 meters or 6'3'' tall and overweight, therefore naturally stronger than most normal adults. However, with everyone being at least one core stage higher he easily gets overpowered if he tries to retaliate.

The average student after a year of cultivation has a light red core and a complete understanding of 5 or 6 chapters of 7 of basic Ki or 3 or 4 chapters of 5 chapters of Mage Arts. Meaning Arlo who had a whole year to cultivate and could make almost no progress was seen as the worst of the worst. Arlo's lack of natural prowess in Ki arts only made the bullying worse.

Who wouldn't bully someone who was seen as the worst scum on planet earth, especially the son of two of the strongest cultivators in the country, who put him on a pedestal for so long?

The teacher continued to announce the ranks, core color, and ki or mage arts until he got to the top three.

"I will now announce the students who ranked in the top 3. Ranked 3rd is Josh Fitz with a Partial Peak Light Red Arcane Core, complete mastery of 6 out of 7 chapters of Basic Ki Arts, and a high aptitude for the fire element. Great Job. "

Josh Fits was generally loved by the class. Similar to his element he was both hot-headed but also has a fiery passion for cultivation, which makes quite a few people look up to him. Josh is about 5'10"(1.78m) with a slim yet fit physique with red hair, brown eyes, and pale skin.

"Ranked 2nd is Andrew Adkins with a Peak Light Red Arcane Core, mastery of chapter 3 of 5 chapters of Basic Mage Arts, and mastery of chapter 6 of Basic Ki Arts, with a high aptitude for the Earth element. Great work, I expect to see you at the Aragon Academy selection event."

Andrew Adkins is your stereotypical stoic class president, a self-righteous leader, that is also athletic and attractive. Andrew had brown hair and brown eyes standing at 6 feet tall(1.82m). He has sharp facial features and combined with his fit and toned body any magazine would be jumping all over him for a photoshoot. With the exception of a few jealous people, everyone looks up to him and wants to see him succeed.

"To no one's surprise, Ziya Amar is ranked 1st with a Dark Red Arcane Core, complete mastery of Basic Mage Arts, and has already moved onto Beginner Spells, with a high aptitude for not only Water element but also the deviant element Ice. Not to mention what landed her the full-ride scholarship for Aragon Academy the Ice Palace Ability."

Abilities are what differentiates the good from the great. Abilities can be anything and are also the most mysterious things in the cultivation world. The ability Ice Palace allows one to control an area by completely covering it in ice. The ice in this area can be controlled freely while the enemy is left to deal not only against enemy attacks but the negative effects of extreme coldness.

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Like Josh, Ziya is also basically the personification of her element. Ziya has silver, almost white, hair with blue eyes. Her personality is ice-cold as she ignores almost everyone. However, standing at 5'4"(1.62) with her soft facial features, athletic physique, and hourglass figure there was no shortage of people wanting to get closer to her. Due to Ziya being so unreachable people instead started treating her like an idol, gaining her the nickname Ice Queen.

"Alright, just some final thoughts. As I'm sure most of you know Aragon Academy is holding their selection event which will involve sparring with others. I would like everyone to participate even if the chance of actually getting in is near impossible, the selection process is a great experience that all of you should experience. Have a great summer! Class dismissed."

Before the teacher could even get to the door all the kids were already flooding out through the door. Once there were no more kids flooding through the door the teacher looked around and saw only one more student.

Arlo was sitting at his desk with his legs stretched out, half slouched in his chair, looking at the ceiling.

The teacher was about to turn around and leave when he just couldn't stop himself and had to say something. "Arlo."

Arlo looked at the teacher. "Yes?"

The teacher sighed before continuing. "I know you already know this but please don't participate in the Selection Event. I'm afraid the others will only end up targeting you."

Arlo smiled slightly hurt yet also glad that at least someone is concerned about him. "Don't worry sir I won't go. Thank you for your concern."

Arlo stood up and walked out of the classroom before the teacher could say anything else.

Arlo walked out of the main doors into the front of the school ready for someone to jump out ready for his daily dose of harassment. But after waiting for a few seconds nothing happened.

'I guess they already went home for summer. At least I don't have to worry about my clothes getting dirty today.' Arlo thought to himself as he started to walk home.

Arlo lived only a 10-minute walk away from school at the start of the suburbs in the area. Each house in the area was 2 stories tall with a perfectly cut front lawn and a variety of different colored fences.

Once Arlo got to his house he noticed that both cars were gone. Meaning that both his parents and sister were probably out right now.

Arlo unlocked the door, took off his shoes, and went straight to his room. His room was fairly basic. His room included a desk and chair, a bed and a nightstand next to it, and a closet for his few clothes.

Arlo came into his room, threw his stuff on the ground, and flopped into bed. Arlo the whole walk home couldn't stop replaying what his teacher said over and over again in his head.

*Sigh* 'He isn't wrong but if I really do end up going there I'll be kicked out in the first round even if they don't gang up on me. Let alone if I'm even allowed to participate. The Selection Event is in a month. The only way I can get in is if I awaken an ability and train like a mad man for the whole 4 weeks. Even then it's slim that I can even get in.' Arlo thought to himself.

"I've sensed my arcane core which lets me cultivate but without any progress, I'm no different than a normal person."

Aragon Academy is a government-sponsored school whose goal is to raise cultivators that will protect and raise the next generation. These cultivators also play a big role in discovering new things in the cultivation field. People are also starting to believe that cultivation might be the next step for humanity to move forward.

Cultivators were seen as gods and saviors that would advance humanity and Aragon Academy was the number 1 place to go if you wanted to get stronger and get the resources necessary to cultivate to a high level.

Everyone wanted to get in. In a poll at school close to 95% of all student's dreams were to be able to become a government-sponsored cultivator.

The selection event is Aragon Academy's way of selecting potential students, as well as gaining recognition and publicity by streaming it as a live event.

'Whatever, I'll try to talk to Mom and Dad when they get home and decide what to do next...' Just as Arlo finished his thought he started to doze off. Not much later he started dreaming.

In Arlo's dream, he stood in the middle of a field filled with golden grass that went up to his waist.

*Thud* *Thud*

Arlo looked in the direction of the noise and saw a demon as tall as a four-story house. The demon was from one of the shows that Arlo would often watch to escape his daily life. The demon had eight eyes similar to a spider, only sharp canine teeth, four horns, and scars all over his body.

When Arlo looked down he realized what was happening. He was holding a bastard sword with golden and green accents with a crest of a dragon on the handle of the sword.

Arlo had seen this scene play out hundreds of times. It was the stereotypical final fight between the good and bad guys at the end of the show.

Even though Arlo knew how cringeworthy it was he went along with how he remembered the scene. "Open Status! With my 300 unused skill points, I can easily defeat you! Prepare yourself!"

The status window was blue and about two feet by two feet with white writing. The status window had most of its information blurred except for three things…

[ Strength:1530 ]

[ Agility:1310 ]

[ Available Skill Points: 300 ]

Arlo only had to think about doing it for the numbers to change. Both Strength and Agility were now 150 points greater while Available Skill Points reduced down to 0.

Arlo suddenly felt so much lighter and stronger. At that moment the demon took a swing at Arlo. Because of the demon's size, it looked like a massive boulder flying at him. However, Arlo took that chance to jump onto the Demon's arm avoiding the demon's fist.

Arlo ran up the arm and onto the shoulder. There he saw the other hand of the demon coming at him as if the demon was swatting at a fly that landed on him. Before it could land Arlo jumped across the collar bone and slit the Demon's neck.

Arlo jumped down onto the ground facing away from the Demon falling on its face, dead.

*Ding*

[ You have defeated the Demon Lord! -Access Granted- ]

Arlo slowly started to wake up. He felt a little dizzy and light-headed.

In front of him was a familiar large blue transparent hologram-like display. It had a message written on it in bold white letters.

[ You have been given the chance to prove yourself! ]