My Magical Girl System-Chapter 37: Rank Up

The proctor’s voice cut through the quiet rustle of papers and shifting chairs. "Time’s up. Submit your answers now."

Lisa’s fingers hovered over her terminal for a moment longer, then she pressed the submit button with a soft exhale. Sarah clicked hers a second later, leaning back in her chair with a mixture of relief and indifference.

The proctor collected the results wirelessly, her expression unreadable. "You’ll receive your scores shortly. Those who pass will be directed to the practical evaluation area on Floor 8. Please wait in the hallway until your names are called."

Andrey stood, stretching his shoulders. "That wasn’t too bad."

Lisa nodded, though her hands were still clasped tightly in front of her. "I think I did okay... I hope."

Sarah stood and stretched her arms above her head. "Whatever happens, happens. Let’s just go wait."

They filed out of the room with the other examinees, finding a spot along the hallway wall. Some heroes paced nervously. Others leaned against the wall, scrolling through their phones. A few huddled in small groups, whispering about specific questions.

Lisa leaned against the wall beside Andrey, her shoulder brushing his. "Andrey... what happens if one of us doesn’t pass?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Andrey shook his head. "You both have practical experience. You’ll pass."

Sarah, on Andrey’s other side, crossed her arms and stared at the ceiling. "He’s right. Stop worrying, Lisa. You’ll give yourself an ulcer."

Lisa managed a small smile. "Easy for you to say... you always seem so calm."

Sarah snorted. "I’m not calm. I just don’t see the point in panicking."

A few minutes later, a door at the end of the hallway opened, and a different Association staff member stepped out, holding a tablet. She read from the screen in a clear, professional voice.

"Thompson, Andrey. Chen, Sarah. Sadine, Lisa. Please proceed to Floor 8 for practical evaluation."

Andrey pushed off from the wall. "That’s us."

Lisa let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. "We all passed the written part?"

The staff member glanced at her tablet. "Yes. All three of you achieved passing scores. Congratulations."

Sarah allowed herself a small smirk. "Told you."

They walked toward the elevator, a new energy between them—lighter, more hopeful. The doors opened, and they stepped inside. Andrey pressed the button for Floor 8.

The elevator descended smoothly, and when the doors opened again, they stepped into a wide, brightly lit corridor lined with observation windows. Through the glass, they could see large training rooms—some empty, some filled with practice dummies and obstacle courses. A few contained other heroes sparring or testing their abilities.

A young man in Association uniform greeted them with a clipboard. "Team of three? Right this way. Your practical evaluation will be a simulated gate breach. You’ll be scored on coordination, efficiency, and individual performance."

Lisa’s eyes widened. "A simulated gate? Like a real one?"

The man shook his head. "Not an actual rift—we use controlled mana projections. The monsters are illusions, but they react realistically to attacks. Don’t worry, they can’t hurt you physically. But your performance will be recorded and evaluated."

Sarah cracked her knuckles. "Illusions or not, we’ll show them what we can do."

The man led them to a door marked "Simulation Chamber 3." He swiped his badge, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.

The chamber was large—easily the size of a basketball court—with high ceilings and walls lined with mana-dampening panels. At the far end, a projection device hummed softly, ready to generate the simulated monsters.

"Take your positions," the man said. "The simulation will begin in sixty seconds. Good luck."

Andrey, Sarah, and Lisa walked to the center of the chamber, standing back-to-back in a loose triangle formation.

Sarah rolled her shoulders. "Alright. Let’s make this quick."

Lisa raised her wand, mint-green light flickering at its tip. "I’m ready."

Andrey cracked his neck, feeling the new Ki energy pulse beneath his skin. "Stick to the plan. Sarah, wide-area control. Lisa, barriers and support. I’ll take point."

Sarah grinned. "When do I not do wide-area control?"

The chamber lights dimmed. A low hum filled the air, and at the far end of the room, the projection device whirred to life. Shadows flickered, coalesced, and then—

A pack of goblins materialized, their forms shimmering with illusory light. They snarled, brandishing crude weapons, and charged.

Andrey stepped forward, his hands raised. Ki energy flowed into his palms, shaping itself into a faint, translucent glow. He didn’t have a weapon, but he didn’t need one now.

The first goblin lunged. Andrey sidestepped, his palm striking its chest. Ki-enhanced force sent the illusion staggering back, its form flickering but not dissolving.

"Not bad," he muttered. "But not enough."

Sarah’s wand blazed. "Heartstorm Volley!" Pink hearts streaked across the chamber, slamming into the goblin pack. Three dissolved instantly. Two more stumbled, their forms flickering.

Lisa raised her wand. "Mint Barrier!" A shimmering dome snapped into place around Sarah, deflecting a goblin’s thrown spear.

Andrey pressed forward, his movements sharper now, more precise. Ki flowed into his legs, increasing his speed. He ducked under a swing, drove his palm into a goblin’s chest, and this time, the illusion shattered.

"One down," he said.

The simulation continued, wave after wave. Goblins, then imps, then a hulking troll that shook the floor with its footsteps. They fought as a unit—Sarah’s blasts clearing the masses, Lisa’s barriers protecting their flanks, Andrey’s Ki-enhanced strikes dismantling the larger threats.

When the final troll dissolved into shimmering light, the chamber fell silent.

The lights returned to normal. The hum of the projection device faded.

Andrey stood in the center of the chamber, breathing hard, Ki energy fading from his hands. Sarah lowered her wand, her dress singed but intact. Lisa’s barrier flickered and vanished, leaving her leaning on her wand for support.

The door slid open, and the young man with the clipboard stepped in, his expression impressed.

"Excellent coordination. Your scores are well above the passing threshold. Congratulations—you’re now officially C-rank heroes."

Sarah whooped, throwing her arms around Lisa. "We did it!"

Lisa laughed, hugging her back. "We really did!"

Andrey allowed himself a genuine smile and said, "Yeah, we did it!"

The young man with the clipboard nodded approvingly, tucking his tablet under his arm. "As C-rank heroes, you’ll have access to higher-tier quests, better compensation packages, and priority support during large-scale operations. Your new IDs can be picked up at the main reception desk downstairs. Just present your current D-rank badges for exchange."

Sarah pumped her fist. "Finally."

Lisa beamed, her earlier nervousness completely forgotten. "This is amazing. We’ve come so far."

Andrey allowed himself a small nod of satisfaction. "Let’s go get those IDs."

They turned toward the exit, stepping out of the simulation chamber into the brightly lit corridor. The young man followed behind them, already scribbling notes on his clipboard.

But before they reached the elevator, a sharp, angry voice echoed from around the corner.

"What do you mean I can’t take the evaluation again?! I’m an S-rank hero—or I was! You can’t just lock me out!"

The voice was unmistakable. Loud. Furious. And familiar.

Andrey’s steps slowed.

Around the corner, a small crowd had gathered near the entrance to another evaluation room. At the center of the commotion stood Sein Alpis, her orange hair wild and unkempt, her clothes rumpled as if she’d slept in them. Her eyes were bloodshot, her movements jerky with barely suppressed rage. She was shouting at a flustered Association staff member, who kept backing away with his hands raised.

"I’m sorry, Miss Alpis, but your current rank assessment is pending review. Until the investigation into the Vixion gate incident is complete, we cannot—"

"I don’t care about the investigation!" Sein slammed her fist against the wall, leaving a small dent. The staff member flinched. "I need to prove myself! I need to show them I still have it! Just let me take the damn test!"

The staff member swallowed hard. "I... I can’t. Those are the rules."

Sein’s face contorted with frustration. Her hands trembled at her sides, and for a moment, Andrey thought she might actually hit someone.

He stopped walking.

Sarah and Lisa stopped beside him, their expressions shifting from triumph to concern.

"That’s..." Lisa started.

"Sein Alpis," Andrey finished quietly, his eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them.