Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 53: Special Admissions Rank 1

The murmurs grew louder this time, with curiosity replacing irritation almost instantly. Even the arrogant boy who had questioned her earlier leaned forward slightly.

Professor Sterling allowed the noise to ripple for a few seconds before continuing.

"Every year," she said calmly, "each department selects three freshmen to represent them in a school-wide elimination event."

Her fingers tapped lightly against the desk.

"The format is simple. Each department sends three of their best members to participate."

"If one member of your department’s team is knocked out, your team continues with two. If another falls, one remains."

She paused deliberately.

"The event ends when a single freshman is left standing."

Silence settled over the classroom.

Aren could feel the murmurs between each other, even if they didn’t talk to each other before.

"This is not a ceremonial showcase," she continued. "The final surviving freshman earns increased funding allocation for their department."

This was the attention-grabber. Even the students who had been slouched lazily now straightened.

"Imperial Mystic College adjusts internal resource distribution annually," she added. "All influenced by the winner of this event."

"And the Lightning Department?" A small smile curved her lips. "It hasn’t won in five years."

"A whole five years...?" someone next to him muttered.

The news was just as shocking to Aren as they were to the rest of the students. For a department like Lightning, this was detrimental. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Aren leaned back slightly in his seat, folding his arms.

Wouldn’t such a tradition create hazing rituals?

On the surface, it was brutal. Three freshmen carried the weight of an entire department’s funding. If one of them fell early, the entire team suffered.

If all three lose quickly? Well, it’s the entire department that suffered.

If they lost again, the streak would continue to six years, and the whole department would suffer together.

Upperclassmen who had struggled all year in underfunded facilities would know exactly whose performance cost them.

Maybe that’s why the drop-out rate was so high...

And yet—

Aren couldn’t deny its efficiency. It forced competition as well as careful planning. For departments to scout early, for freshmen to mature instantly...

Those who did graduate Imperial Mystic College became leading figures within the Mystic World.

For a moment, no one looked at Professor Sterling. They looked at each other instead. The earlier arrogance was nowhere to be seen at this point.

"So if we lose," another muttered, "the department suffers for another year."

The weight of representing an entire department was too much for them. Professor Sterling said nothing, her expression light as she looked around the room.

Then, as if unable to tolerate the growing tension, a chair scraped sharply against the floor.

"I’ll do it."

A tall boy stood near the back row, brushing imaginary dust off his tailored jacket. There wasn’t a dress code or anything, but if there was, he’d look it the most.

"My family didn’t sponsor my enrollment here for me to hide behind weaker students," he added confidently. "If Lightning needs someone to carry it, I’ll volunteer."

"As will I, professor," a soft and gentle voice rang out.

A girl from the second row stood up. For a moment, the classroom looked almost absurd beside her. She wore what could only be described as formal attire.

Mostly because she wore an entire pale dress to school, along with a small silver tiara-like accessory resting in her neatly arranged hair.

"My family has supported the Lightning Department for generations," she continued calmly. "It would be improper for me to sit idle during such an event."

Unlike the boy’s brash declaration, her words were steady, even if a bit...lofty. The contrast between the two was immediate.

"Alright then," the Professor’s voice rang out. "Any more volunteers?"

Around them, the remaining freshmen hesitated.

One shifted in his seat, clearly reconsidering whether volunteering was wise. Another looked toward Professor Sterling as if waiting for instruction rather than offering themselves forward.

Aren remained seated.

There was really no need for him to join, as the more exposure he had, the higher the chance of someone finding out his secret.

"No volunteers? A shame," Professor Sterling said lightly. Yet, it was like she was waiting for something.

"We’ve still got an open slot," she continued, "If so...shall I pick?"

As soon as she said so, everyone avoided eye contact. One looked at the floor while another pretended sudden fascination with the outside world.

Professor Sterling adjusted her glasses.

"Very well."

Her violet eyes swept across the room, well, swept was an overstatement. It landed on Aren immediately.

"Aren Cross."

Confusion rippled through the room.

"Him? Are you sure professor?"

"How could you put our fate in the hands of a Stage 1 nobody?"

"I think I’m hearing things, must’ve been the wind."

The cocky boy’s jaw tightened slightly, though he said nothing yet. The girl in the dress turned her head just enough to observe Aren more carefully, her expression still composed but undeniably curious.

Aren stood up immediately, hands in the air defensively as he tried to come up with an excuse.

"Professor?" he said, almost stumbling over the word. "They’re right. I’m only Stage 1. I just transferred into Lightning. I don’t even have proper combat experience yet."

Aren even forced a strained laugh. Someone should really give him an award for the amount of acting he was doing.

But that was before Professor Diana narrowed her eyes.

"Oh?" she said softly, the faintest smirk tugging at her lips. "No experience, you say?"

Her gaze sharpened.

"Then perhaps you could remind the class where you’re from."

Aren’s throat tightened.

Gulp.

"How does my hometown matter in this? I—"

"I make it a habit to research my class before I meet them," she cut in smoothly. "One of my students happens to be from Sun City."

The room quieted before someone let out a sharp gasp.

"The same one who entered on a full-ride scholarship."

Her violet eyes locked onto him.

"Anything you’d like to add, Special Admissions Rank 1... Aren Cross?"

What the hell is she talking about...Rank 1? What did Captain Eric and Professor Voss even write in that recommendation?

Aren cleared his throat, forcing a strained smile as every pair of eyes in the room drilled into him.

"Professor," he began carefully, "there’s been some kind of misunderstanding. I really am only Stage 1 in Lightning."

"I didn’t have time to train my Element," he continued. "I was fighting for my life most of the time!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake.

Professor Sterling blinked once before clapping loudly.

"Wonderful," she said pleasantly.

"If you were fighting for your life in Sun City..."

"Then you’ll have no trouble fighting for ours in the Lightning Department."

Aren stood there, mouth slightly open.

First, it was the Urban Hunting Club, then it was Luna as his roommate, and now his identity was pretty much exposed.

What happened to my calm academic life!?