Prestige Grinding : I Can Reset My Level-Chapter 187 - 184 : Three sections

I glanced around at the others. Some were already whispering nervously. Others stood frozen, their confidence evaporating as soon as they left their comfort zone.

'The class representative, who always seemed to have an answer in class, is already crumbling.' I shook my head at the thought. 'I was so envious of his confidence and the ease he had to talk in front of crowds... I even told Master about it. This is so embarrassing.'

Master was right. My observation skills were still quite lacking. Turning to look at the others, I saw one boy, visibly shaking, volunteering to scout ahead despite his fear.

'That's better, I guess...'

When I saw a beast appearing between the shadows of the trees, I smiled. It was time for me to do something.

[Iron Bear - Level 15]

It was a massive bear, with red eyes and long limbs that seemed to be strong enough to tear any student apart in one blow. Its roar was deafening, and the students screamed. Some took steps back while others froze in terror. I stepped forward.

"Stay together!" I shouted, standing between the beast and my classmates. "We're safer as a group!"

A few students rallied around me, clinging to the hope my words provided.

But most students… ran. They fled into the forest, their panic driving them away from the safety of the group. I gritted my teeth in anger.

'These cowards! They threw away their chance to walk in Master's footsteps...'

I fumed. Master had spent the whole week teaching them about what one should and should not do in such situations. Master was so mighty, yet he spent so much of his time on these weaklings who didn't deserve his teachings.

Looking at the remaining six students behind me, my anger subsided slightly.

The beast attacked me, and I met its strike head-on.

My strikes were quick, precise, but I let it gradually overpower me. I knew how this needed to end. With a final roar, the beast struck me down, its claws sending me flying against a tree. My body was even dragged away into the shadows by the beast, out of sight.

In truth, I was perfectly fine. Master had placed me here to observe and learn, and now, hidden from view, I could watch how the others reacted.

I could hear them arguing.

"We can't leave him!" It was a girl. She wasn't the loudest, nor the strongest, but she was the youngest. "Netsu tried to protect us. We can't give up on him! We have to find a way to rescue him."

"We're level 9! How are we supposed to beat a level 15 Iron Bear without mana ?!" Asked another student.

After a short pause, the young girl said, "We don't have to defeat the monster. Maybe we can rescue Netsu without fighting the bear directly? We have to find a way."

I watched as the group calmed down and started working together, even devising a plan to rescue me.

'So two of them are tasked to create a diversion, and the others are supposed to rescue me. That's interesting.'

-----------------------------------------

Sora and Kara stood together in the gymnasium, their eyes fixed on the dozens of screens Sora had created. Each screen displayed the progress of the trial, showing the students' every action and reaction.

Kara sighed as she scanned the screens. "Aren't we just like the people who created the tower by doing this? What if we end up traumatizing them with this trial?"

Sora shook his head. "How is this even comparable? Anyone stepping outside the safety of their city will encounter these kinds of situations on their first hunt. The only difference is that most people have higher-level players helping them during their first experiences. However, having twenty level 9 players beat a level 15 monster should be a piece of cake."

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"Maybe you're right..."

Kara shifted her focus back to the screens, analyzing the trials. "Classes two, five, and seven reacted perfectly to the monster's appearance. They immediately started working as groups to take it down. The other classes, including class one, crumbled almost instantly. More than half of the students have already either given up or run away."

Sora nodded. "The three classes that passed have very different reasons behind their success. Class two united to protect Hiyoko and ended up blindly following their leader's orders to make sure she remained safe. Honestly, it feels like she's started some sort of cult."

Kara burst out laughing. "Maybe that's not such a bad thing. I wonder how they'd react if they saw her true form."

Sora smiled before shaking his head. "Class five has a charismatic leader. The students trust him completely, and they move as one. Class seven might be the most impressive. They're divided into two groups, each with a strong leader, and they're cooperating perfectly."

The couple continued to watch the trial as it unfolded, monitoring the students' progress and ensuring their safety. Sora made sure that no one was hurt during the trial, ending the illusion for any student who felt real danger or reached their limit. Those who qualified were allowed to exit.

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After two long days, the trial finally came to an end. Kara stood before the two hundred students in the gymnasium, her gaze sweeping over them.

Using her mana, she split the students in three groups.

The first group had more than a hundred students. The second group had around fifty students, and the last group had forty students.

She could see a variety of expressions etched onto their faces.

Pride. Excitement. Fear. Regret. Envy. Hope. Shame.

"You've all experienced a lot over the past two days," Kara began, her voice calm yet firm. "Some of you faced challenges head-on, others faltered, and some of you surprised even yourselves. No matter the outcome, I hope you've come to understand the purpose of this first exam. This trial wasn't about surviving, killing monsters, or finding treasures. It was about understanding who you are and how you react in the face of danger."

Facing the first group, she continued, "We've heard many of you complain that the monsters were too strong, and that if you had a little more power, you'd have been braver."

She paused, letting her words sink in before she asked, "Do you really believe that?"

Seeing the reactions, and the doubt on many faces, she waved her hand, and a video started playing, projected on the wall behind her.

Letting the students witness how some players reacted and managed to help others despite their weakness, she watched their faces change.

After letting the images talk in her place for a few minutes, she finally spoke. "Right now, all of you are weak. None of your actions—good or bad—can truly affect the world yet. But how you act when you're weak matters more than you think. It shows your foundation, your true character. If you make excuses, take shortcuts, or act selfishly now, those flaws will only grow as you gain strength. The power you'll gain won't fix what is inside you—it will amplify it. if you abandon your teammates today, and refuse to see your mistake, you'll abandon them tomorrow."

Her sharp gaze swept over the students. "That is why this school focuses on teaching young people. You still have the flexibility to face your flaws and to grow as people. For everyone who failed, there will be a second chance in three days. We can't give you more time, and if you really want to become better, it should be enough. But understand this, there will not be a third chance."

Addressing the students that passed, she said. "To those who passed because of your own good actions: congratulations."

Pausing to clap for a few moments, she watched the students erupt in cheers.

However, her next words felt like a bucket of cold water, "The moment you think you've 'done enough,' you stop trying, and that's when you start failing. Pay even more attention to your actions from now on. Keep trying, keep improving, because the day you stop, we'll kick you back to the newbie section."

Kara shifted her attention to the group in the middle. "All of you who passed because you hid behind others or did the bare minimum. You didn't show cowardice, or bravery, so we had no reason to eliminate you. However, don't think we didn't notice how you let your comrades carry you and how you just went with the flow. Here, every individual will be judged. If you continue to slack off, you'll be eliminated. You'll be training separately from the others until we know which group you truly belong to. For now, you're in the temporary section. You'll either join the apprentice section, or return to the newbie section in three days."

Kara let her words settle, watching as some students looked humbled, others resolute. "Newbies and temporary section students can return to the dormitories. We'll see you in class tomorrow." Seeing the students that failed or barely passed the exams move, she continued, "Apprentices, follow me. It's time for you to move to the next section of the school."

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