SSS-Rank Talent: Super Upgrade System-Chapter 122: Will Of The Verge!

The air in the wide plaza buzzed with a tense, almost tangible energy.

Director Gareth Sterling’s announcement of potential elimination, coupled with the non-refundable tuition clause, had sent a wave of anxiety through the hundreds of newly admitted aspirants.

Faces that had been flushed with the triumph of surviving Level 3 of the Verge were now pale with apprehension.

Ayra, her earlier enthusiasm slightly dampened by the Director’s grim warning, grumbled, "Eliminated? After all that skull-cracking in the Taiji Basin?

They better not try to kick me out just because my will to fill out forms isn’t S-Grade."

She flexed her S-Grade Crystal Gloves, a silent promise of resistance against any bureaucratic nonsense.

Olenna , standing beside her, offered a reassuring smile, though her own eyes held a glint of concern.

"Fear not, Ayra. The initial tests are rarely focused solely on combat prowess.

Astralis Academy values diverse talents. They seek potential in all its forms."

She glanced subtly at Daniel, who stood with his usual unreadable calm, his S-Grade [Aura Sense+] already analyzing the subtle shifts in the Director’s energy as he prepared to announce the first test.

"The first test," Director Gareth declared, his voice cutting through the anxious murmurs, "is designed to ascertain the very foundation of your presence here.

We call it: Confirming the Will of the Verge Ascender!"

He gestured towards the center of the plaza.

With a gentle hum, sleek black pedestals rose from the polished floor.

Each pedestal held a crystal orb glowing with a soft, blue light.

"Your purpose," the Director continued, his sharp gaze sweeping across the sea of young faces, "your core motivation for climbing the treacherous levels of the Verge, for seeking power within Astralis Academy, this is what we seek to understand.

Each of you will step forward, place your hand upon the Truth-Seeker Orb, and declare your primary reason for being here.

The orb, linked directly to the Academy’s psycho-analytical core, will analyze your brainwave patterns, your heart rate, your very bio-signature to determine the authenticity of your statement."

A collective gasp went through the crowd. A lie detector? But one that delved into the very core of their being?

"Lying," Director Gareth stated, his voice devoid of any warmth, "will result in immediate disqualification and expulsion.

No appeals. No second chances. We seek those with genuine purpose, with unwavering resolve. Deception has no place among the true elite of Astralis."

Daniel felt a faint prickle of unease.

His true, overarching motive is unraveling the mysteries of his SSS-Rank [Soul Assimilation] talent, understanding the fundamental nature of the Verge, ensuring Earth’s ultimate safety, and perhaps, just perhaps, finding a way back to his original world, which was far too complex and potentially alarming to declare openly.

It sounded less like a noble aspiration and more like the ramblings of a power-hungry madman with a god complex.

He would need to be... creative. His C-Grade [Deception] skill, usually reserved for minor misdirections, felt suddenly very, very important.

"The scoring for this test is simple," the Director explained. "A score below sixty indicates a fundamental lack of compatible will, or outright deception, leading to expulsion.

Higher scores will reflect a greater alignment with the core values of Astralis Academy and will contribute to your overall resource allocation.

The test will now commence! Aspirant Olenna Houten, you are first."

All eyes turned to Olenna. She took a deep breath, her elegant composure firmly in place, and walked towards the nearest pedestal.

She placed her hand on the glowing orb.

"My primary purpose," she declared, her voice clear and steady, "is to acquire the knowledge and power necessary to find my lost sister, Lena, who vanished into the higher levels of the Verge.

And to ensure I have the strength to protect those I care about from the dangers this universe presents."

The orb pulsed, its blue light intensifying, then settled into a soft, approving glow.

[Score: 72. Motive: Familial Loyalty, Self-Preservation. Authenticity: Confirmed.]

Olenna let out a small, almost imperceptible sigh of relief and stepped back, a faint smile on her lips.

Next was Ayra. She swaggered forward, her S-Grade Crystal Gloves gleaming. "Easy peasy," she muttered.

She slammed her hand onto the orb.

"I’m here to become the strongest!

To test my S-Grade [Primal Fury Berserker] talent against every monster and every bully in every dimension!

To make the name Ayra Sand of the White Lotus Clan resonate through the Verge as a legend of unbreakable strength and righteous fury!

And maybe," she added with a grin, "to find some really good sparring partners who don’t explode after one punch."

The orb flared with a vibrant crimson light, mirroring Ayra’s own aura.

[Score: 88. Motive: Pursuit of Strength, Clan Honor, Combat Exhilaration. Authenticity: Undeniable.]

Director Gareth actually cracked a small smile. "Aspirant Sand, your... enthusiasm... is duly noted. And appreciated."

Ayra beamed, puffing out her chest.

Lia approached the orb with her usual serene grace, her A-Grade Staff of the World Ash pulsing gently.

"My purpose," she said, her voice soft but filled with conviction, "is to deepen my understanding of the life energies that bind all things.

To use my A-Grade [Lifeweave Affinity] to heal those who suffer, to protect the innocent from the ravages of the Verge, and to offer my unwavering support to my teammates as they navigate the difficult path ahead, ensuring their resilience and helping them achieve their own noble goals."

The orb glowed with a warm, emerald light.

[Score: 92. Motive: Altruism, Knowledge Seeking, Team Loyalty. Authenticity: Profoundly Confirmed.]

Several instructors nodded in approval. A selfless, powerful healer was an invaluable asset.

Then it was Daniel’s turn. The plaza grew silent as those who had arrived with him through the same Stargate turned their eyes toward him.

The SSS-Talent anomaly, the record-breaker, the one who had single-handedly redefined recruit-level power. What profound, universe-shattering purpose drove such a being?

Daniel walked calmly towards the pedestal.

He placed his hand on the orb. He focused, activating his C-Grade [Deception] skill, weaving a subtle aura of absolute believability around his words, not to tell a complete lie, but to present a carefully curated, palatable version of his complex truth.

"My purpose in climbing the Verge," Daniel began, his voice steady, resonant, carrying a weight that made everyone lean in, "is to unravel the deepest mysteries of this new reality, to acquire the strength and knowledge necessary to protect not just my companions, but all of humanity from the threats that lurk in the shadows, both within the Verge and beyond."

The wind seemed to carry his words, making them resonate with a profound sincerity.

"I seek to understand the fundamental forces that shape existence, to harness that understanding for the betterment of all, and to serve as a steadfast guardian against the encroaching darkness, ensuring a future where hope can thrive."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled aspirants, then settling on Director Gareth.

"That is my will. That is my path."

The Truth-Seeker Orb pulsed violently, its blue light flaring so brightly it was almost blinding.

For a moment, Daniel worried his [Deception] skill wasn’t enough, that the SSS-Rank truth of his [Soul Assimilation] was too overwhelming for the orb to process.

Then, the light stabilized, settling into a brilliant, pure white glow that seemed to fill the entire plaza.

[Score: 100. Motive: Unprecedented Altruistic Resolve, Pursuit of Ultimate Knowledge for Universal Protection, Unwavering Dedication to Humanity’s Future. Authenticity: ABSOLUTELY CONFIRMED. Commendation: Exemplary Willpower Detected.]

A collective gasp, followed by stunned silence, then an eruption of bewildered whispers.

One hundred points? Full marks?

Director Gareth stared at the orb, then at Daniel, a look of profound shock, and something akin to awe, on his stern features.

The Academy instructors exchanged disbelieving glances.

Even Ayra and Lia looked at Daniel with newfound wonder.

His "noble resolution," even if slightly embellished by his Deception skill, had clearly struck a chord.

Daniel just offered a small, enigmatic smile.

His SSS-Talent, it appeared, excelled at more than just soul assimilation and record-breaking, it also proved unexpectedly effective at delivering motivational speeches.

He was curious to see how the Academy, and the Verge itself, would react to a hero with such an... unconventional... skillset.

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