The Pinnacle of Humanity

The place Claude had just entered was known as Atlantia, the capital city of District 11. Silverleaf academy was also the most prestigious school in the area, with many prominent clans putting their members into the schools.

Despite the overwhelming amount of power many Clans and Factions had, they were still forced to make their children attend Hunter school if they wanted a Hunter license.

A feeling of restlessness plagued Claudes mind as he walked through the massive city. The fact that he would have to compete without a reliable Gift was slightly worrying.

Still, it wouldn stop him. As long as it didn go against his values, he was willing to do anything to enact his revenge. Claude eventually arrived at the place was looking for.

”Its time for some fried chicken. ” He spoke.

Walking into the restaurant, Claude couldn help but drool a little. His keen senses only amplified the already delicious smell.

He walked over to a self-order kiosk, ordered a family meal, and sat down in a cushioned seat.

In a few moments, a robot came by and handed Claudes meal over to him.

Like a ravenous animal, Claude began to eat his food.

This… you
e telling me that I had been missing this for all my life?! Claude cried.

As if the flood gates opened, his thoughts were a mix between thankfulness and hatred. On one hand, he was thankful to everyone who had helped him survive in the slums, while on the other, his hatred for his family grew even more.

For now… Ill just enjoy myself.

***

A few hours later, a new Claude stood in front of the fabled Silverleaf academy along with hundreds of other applicants.

He had bought a white shirt and black jacket, along with cap that he thought looked nice. Claude also found a public bathhouse to wash himself in, finally cleaning up the years of unsanitary life choices he had made. Of course, with his new Gift, it wouldn have mattered either way. His immune system was much stronger than it used to be, and it wasn self-destructive either.

The Academy was secluded an hour away from the rest of city, which was mostly due to its large size. The main building was massive, about double the size of a large hotel complex. To its right, left, and back were a variety of smaller buildings, each with unique shapes and sizes. The paths leading to each building all had masterful designs, which always depicted a silver bird soaring through the sky.

Of course, Claude was only seeing all this through the modified safety glass that blocked him, along with all the other new applicants, from the schools beautiful silver entrance.

Suddenly, a melodic female voice resounded throughout the intercoms,

”Greetings applicants, as some of you know, our entrance exams are slightly different compared to other academies, and we change the exam every year.

This year, a series of four trials will be issued, and only by completing all of them may you be admitted into Silverleaf Academy. Each of these trials will be centered around the principles of being a hunter, Teamwork, Awareness, Composure, and Resourcefulness.

The first test being Teamwork, please hurry and choose two teammates. You have thirty seconds before the trial begins. ”

A panic arose within the recruits as many were unprepared for such an event. Although Silverleaf Academy was known for changing their tests yearly, they had never begun the test with no warning. Claude, on the other hand, was calm enough to make rational decisions. His eyes darted around as he tried to find someone that seemed strong.

Despite how his upbringing in the slums sounded, it wasn all sunshine and rainbows, in fact most of it wasn .

He had to fight and claw to get to the safety of Uncle Oaks territory, and even afterwards, he still had to work hard for what he wanted. Although Uncle Oak was a nice man, he wasn an all-powerful saint who could provide for everyone in the territory by himself.

Due to such a life, Claude was a professional at reading someone from multiple different angles. Posture, speech, even where their eyes were directed. Within a second, Claude found his target.

However, before he could reach his target, they had already joined a team. A few people asked Claude if he wanted to partner up with them, but he refused in hopes of assembling a better team.

As the seconds passed by, he was becoming increasingly worried.

What if I can find a good teammate? Im basically screwed, aren I?

Breaking him out of his thoughts was the intercom,

”Ten seconds remain, teams must each step on a single square. ”

As the voice resounded throughout the area, multiple bright squares shone on the smooth concrete pavement. Almost every team went to their squares, except three students who stood by themselves like fools.

The first was a gloomy young woman. She had messy, unkempt long black hair. Underneath her hazel eyes were dark circles, indicating her lack of sleep. She had a skinny, pale body, but not in the same way as Claudes.

The second was a young man, he had a condescending look about him which did not match with his short stature of 160cm in the slightest. His dirty-blonde hair was slicked back, and his eyes were a warm-yellow. He looked like the fools gold version of an arrogant noble.

And finally, was Claude himself.

Realizing that these two would be his new teammates for the first trial, Claude sighed,

”Well, Im f*cked. ”