"Alright! Who wants to start first? I will personally test how strong your soul is. " Liko asked as he stood in the middle of the elevated ring.

As a direct disciple of the Great Spirit sect of the Dielif world, the knowledge of Volus on souls was quite vast. He knew that this test would probably be a direct attack which could result in a permanent injury or death.

*Be careful! He would probably try to attack our soul* Even though it was a rare occurrence during exams, Volus still warned the other four.

"The first one who wants to go. Stand in front of me." Liko said with a commanding tone.

Misa was the first one this time. He walked towards Instructor Liko then stopped in front of him.

"Try to resist as much as possible." Liko whispered some few words that only he can hear. It was an incantation and following that is an invisible force that could hardly be felt emerged from him.

Soul Stab. A Nether magic targeted at the soul. It has a piercing property that is hard to block. A strong version of this magic is fatal but a weak one would still be enough to knock out people with weak souls.

At first, Misa felt nothing but a little annoyance. But as the time goes by, she suddenly felt the pain becoming something more physical. This is due to the body and soul being connected and for humans, the co-existence of the two are essential.

"Wah!" Misa moaned a little due to the pain. She felt prickly needles piercing through her.

"Misa!" Mina, concerned for her twin, tried to run towards her.

"Don't disturb her." Volus placed his hand in front of Mina, stopping her from moving forward.

After some time, Misa was finally not able to take the pain and fell on the ground.

"Not bad! You pass." Liko made two claps before looking at the rest of the enrollees. "Next."

"Let me hold her. You go take your test. " Volus said as he carried Misa to the side.

The same thing happened with Mina and there was almost no difference in the time that it took her to fall.

"I'll help her." Cyziel assisted Mina to stand up and walk. "Ortix you go first!"

"Me? Alright but don't think that I have a weak soul just because I am going first!" Ortix competitively said as he walked towards Liko.

This time it seemed that Liko was more serious due to the results of the previous exam handled by Bruno.

"Prepare yourself!" Liko announced with a serious tone.

Instead of preparing, Ortix yawned as he made a fanning motion in front of his mouth.

This guy really knows how to make people angry. Cyziel thought as he watched Ortix.

After seeing what Ortix did, Liko immediately attacked. This time, what Ortix felt was not the prickly feeling that the twins felt but instead, he felt like something was trying to squeeze his soul. Soul crush. It is a magic that encloses the target with soul imbued Nether energy to suppress those with weak souls. Unfortunately, it did nothing to Ortix. It was not able to move him.

The competitive side of Liko made him angry. More Nether energy was now being released from his body that a visible violet aura was starting to enshroud him.

Nether energy. The energy known to be the opposite of Aether but it was more than just that. Nether energy is what is mostly used for incorporeal magic. This includes magic that attacks the soul and the mind.

Ortix now felt the pain. His soul was now being bombarded by a huge amount of energy. He finally tried to resist. One of the tattoos in his back lighted up but it was not visible to anyone due to his clothes. The tattoo appeared to be a black spiral. What is weird is that it started to move like it has its own life. It started to wiggle in his back like a worm then drilled itself into his body or was it his soul? The pain subsided but he was now looking seriously at instructor Liko. Liko was intimidated for a second but then thought of further increasing his power.

"Stop it Liko. That is too much!" Sara, who was watching the exam, interrupted.

"You are right." Liko's power disappeared in an instant. He then turned to Ortix, smiling. " I apologize. You are really talented. You pass." He was not disappointed at the results. He was even looking forward to the next two. "Next!"

Ortix who was previously having a stony look was now back to his nonchalant character as he jumped down from the elevated floor. "Its your turn guys!"

"I'll be going next." Volus said as Ortix arrived back at their side.

"Are you sure about that? Shouldn't the one with the strongest soul be the last?" Cyziel casually asked.

"Well. That is why I am letting you go last." Volus started walking towards Liko as he looked back at Cyziel. "If there is someone here who has a stronger soul than mine then it is you."

"Are you ready?" Liko asked as he tried to stabilize his energy. He used quite a bit of energy in testing Ortix.

"You may now start Instructor!" Volus answered, closing his eyes to focus on the incoming attack.

Liko used the same power as he used on Ortix and nothing happened but he was not surprised. He already expected that that he would also have a strong soul. He increased his power but it was still not effective even with a stronger enhancement of Nether energy. Liko was now planning to use a true soul attack. True soul attacks are soul attacks were you use your actual soul instead of just using nether magic enhanced by the soul. It is similar to a punch instead of shooting someone. With a punch, you could actually feel and touch your target.

When his attack hit, he was suddenly in tears. No one but him and Volus knew what happened. He heard the cries and resentment of countless souls. It made him kneel into the ground. The other teachers were confused with the sudden turn of events but they knew that it might be due to a backlash of using a true soul attack.

"Liko are you alright?" Instructor Lyka asked.

"Demon! Why does someone like you exist?" Liko ignored Lyka as he looked at Volus then at Ortix and Cyziel. "Why are you friends with this guy!"

"You do not know the whole story." Ortix said.

"What story? The only way to have a soul like that is if he kill---" It was obvious that Liko was full of anger right now and his eyes was full of loathing.

"Instructor!" Mina and Misa shouted. "Without him our race would all be dead! He was the one who took all the pain and suffering for us."

"Liko! Can't you see that you are acting worse than even me." Bruno interjected.

"Calm down Liko! You are not thinking clearly!" Lyka finally helped with a soothing voice, empowered with a calming magic using the light energy.

Liko, trying to calm himself with the help of Lyka, was finally able to see reason. "You are right. I apologize again. You passed. Forgive me for what I said before. I will be vouching for your 100% scholarship whether you pass the other exams. I might not be worthy but if you would accept, I would like to be your teacher."

"Liko! That is cheating! You can't just suddenly take him as a disciple. The other teachers would probably get angry at you. Anyway, you still have one more to test." Sara interjected with a displeased look.

"You are right. Let us continue the exam." Liko replied at Sara before looking again at Volus. "Please think about what I said."

"I will think about it. Thank you." Volus replied as he stepped down from the middle circle.

Cyziel walked and stood in front of Liko. "Take it easy on me instructor!"

"Haiz..I do not want to believe it but you are probably as monstrous as the one before if he let you take last. All right. Get ready." Liko who just went on a near mental breakdown tried to steel himself for another possible absurd scenario.

In contrast, Cyziel just smiled and nodded.

Liko used the same power as he used on Ortix and Volus but Cyziel seemed to not feel anything. He increased its power but then nothing happened. He increased it even further and this time Sara didn't stop him because they were feeling something different. It was so unique that they never encountered it before. He even did true soul attacks but they were all not reaching Cyziel. It was either dispersing before reaching him or it was changing direction as if his soul was afraid of Cyziel.

"What are you doing? Why are my attacks not reaching you? If you have any artifacts you have there then you should turn it off first or I won't be able to test you." Liko asked. He was looking strangely at Cyziel. He was uncertain of what is happening but having experienced the previous testing Volus made him calm.

"Forgive me sir. I am not really using any artifacts. I am also unsure why that is occurring." Cyziel frowned, trying to scrutinize his own body. He really doesn't know why that was happening. "I could try to forcefully accept your soul attack though if you want."

"This is a first time for me. You really are amazing." Liko already accepted the possibility so he was not that surprised this time. "We don't need to continue the soul exam. I am giving you a pass but we could still try what you suggest."

Liko was planning a true soul attack again. Not only would he be able to investigate his target like what happened with Volus but true soul attacks are also one of the strongest souls attacks and at the same time its power can easily be controlled. He was really curious of the anomaly before him but he knew that he need to be really prepared. He protected his soul to make sure that the previous event would not happen.

This time it seems that his attack was not being dispersed but instead it was being pulled towards his target. His face was so full of anticipation as his attack closed in but when his attack reached him. He was placed in a trance. He saw an endless abyss that was trying to pull him. He could feel that there was something in this abyss that was looking at him. He tried to fight back but everything was useless. He lost all hope, thinking that he would die then he woke up. He saw himself lying in the floor and he was full of sweat. Cyziel was still standing in front of him with a naive smile but it only made Liko more scared.

Everyone were looking at them. When the attack hit Cyziel, everyone felt it for a bit. It was only for a second but it seemed that some scary creature was watching them. It was enough for experienced people like them to know that it was something dangerous. Talas was already speechless since the start of the strength exam but this time he was breathing heavily even though he was standing far from the rest. Almost everyone had a fearful look except for Volus and Ortix. The two instead have a complicated look.

*You felt that Ortix?* Volus asked Ortix with a mental message.

*Yeah! Maybe a remnant of the Abyssal energy? We could try asking Cyziel later* Ortix whispered.

"Are you alright sir?" Cyziel asked with a concerned look and offered his hand for help. He was just as surprised as the rest and he didn't know why the instructor Liko just collapsed.

Liko didn't accept the hand but instead he quickly moved away before standing up. His face was filled with horror. Calm down! I need to calm down! He must just have a really strong soul. It must be some defensive mechanism or a racial ability.

"I think everyone would agree that you 3 would get a full scholarship just based on your performances. Am I right everyone?" Liko asked as he looked at the other instructors. It was as if he do not want to continue the next exams. All the startled instructors nodded but one of them walked forward.

"You three are already exempted but we should continue with the other two right? You three could still take the exam if you want. What do you say?" Sara pointed at Mina and Misa but it was obvious that she also wanted to test and see the results of the three for the next exam.

"I'll pass for the next tests if its all right." Cyziel answered.

"If Cyziel won't take it then I guess I will also skip it." Ortix added.

"Same for me. Good luck Mina and Misa." Volus seconded.

Sara seemed both unsatisfied and relieved with their answers. She was unsatisfied because she really wanted to see the potential of the three. She was relieved because the exams for these 3 monsters are finished.

"Personally, I still want to test you guys but all right. We would all help handle your enrollment and-" Instructor Sara stood straight and smiled at the three. "Welcome to Styrtan Institute!"

"Welcome!" "Enjoy your stay here!" The rest of the instructors followed.

"Thank you." The three nodded.

"Talas! Guide Cyziel to Garland's class. Guide Volus and Ortix to Nathan's class which I think is also your adviser." Sara commanded.

"What! Why is he not with us?" Ortix asked, wanting Sara to reconsider her decision.

"Stop it Ort." Cyziel said while looking at Ortix and shaking his head. "We already passed."

Ortix felt down but seeing that he was with Volus then he thought that it was not so bad.

"All right. If there are no more issues. You guys may go!" Sara said as she felt grateful that the enrollees accepted her decision.

Talas led the three away. Beside him was Cyziel and behind them was Ortix and Volus.

The test continued for Mina and Misa then they were given a 50% scholarship which also enabled them to enter the school but they were placed in a different class with the rest.

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

"Those three are already as strong as the top students. What kind of childhood do they have? Or was it because of their race?" Bruno asked fervently. He could finally release the emotions that he was having.

"Don't be stupid. Mina and Misa was the same race as that Volus guy but they are far weaker than him." Lyka answered, curling her forehead. She also has a lot of questions that he cannot understand. "But the issue is why are they far stronger?"

Instructor echo smirked, fixing his eyeglasses. "That's simple! They must be the prodigies of their race. Its not as if we haven't seen other talented students."

"Are you kidding me? Those other two are the strongest souls that I have ever tested. Its as if they are not humans!" Liko retorted.

"Let's not forget that they probably are not doing their best in the strength exam." Bruno interjected.

Liko sighed as he expressed his amazement. "Anyway, Sara why did you place them under Nathan?"

"Actually, that is a way for me to thank Talas for introducing those kids to us. You might not know but that guy is somehow being bullied. It would be also good for the bullies to learn their lesson and mostly, I am the magic teacher for that group. I told you I wanted to continue their test. Right?" Sara placed her two fists on her waist feeling like she won something. "Bwahaha!"

"That is cheating! You reprimanded me earlier about that!" Liko felt victimized.

"Hey I am not taking them as a direct disciple. Anyway, the two of us are both senior instructors but I.." Sara pointed one her right index finger on herself just above her right chest. ".... am the daughter of the dean so I outrank you hahaha!"

"Then why didn't you place Cyziel with the other two?" Echo inquired.

"That would be detrimental you know. You could see that the other 2 are just as talented but in front of Cyziel, they seem tame. It would be great to see them unchained. And most of all, I don't want to teach that guy." Sara suddenly got serious as she lowered her voice. "You guys should have felt it right. It would be better for someone who doesn't know him yet to teach him."

"But I teach that group!" Echo interjected.

"Its not as if you are teaching combat! You are teaching science and technology. You don't think that he would know more than you about this world right? And we still need someone to watch him." Sara convincingly said.

"Uhh... It's not as if I got a choice! Anyway, do you have any other plans regarding those 3?"

"Nope! Why should we? Its not as if they are non-humans. The stronger they are then the better. As long as they don't do anything bad then we don't need to disclose everything that happened here. They would also probably leave for the capital after this year. You don't think that those guys would fail right?"

"Well.. If they do then I don't think anyone else would pass..." Echo was making an odd face that says the scenario is out of the question.

After some time, the teachers went back to their own classes as if nothing has happened. In reality, they knew that the next half of the year would get more interesting.