Chapter 2043 The Competitors

Chapter 2043 The Competitors

The unexpected sight of her father stirred a whirlwind of emotions within Shinta, catching her off guard. Her heart raced, and she found it increasingly difficult to draw a steady breath. Shinta struggled to maintain her composure until a soft voice broke through the chaos.

"Focus, Shinta... concentrate."

It was Annara's voice, transmitted through the tiny familiar nestled in Shinta's ear. From her concealed vantage point in the corner of the hall, Annara offered counsel, her presence a reassuring beacon amidst the swirling emotions threatening to overwhelm Shinta.

"Yes, Auntie..." Shinta's voice quavered slightly as she acknowledged Annara's guidance.

As the event commenced, with the overseer delivering speeches from the stage, Shinta gradually regained her composure. She slowly moved towards the special area at the front of the hall, where the half-blood acolytes had assembled.

Among them stood 65 individuals, representatives from all gene bloodlines, each awaiting their turn to be called forth and tested. Aware that these acolytes posed as her competition for entry into the prestigious halls, Shinta observed them closely, taking note of their demeanor and bearing.

Meanwhile, Annara whispered tidbits of information about each acolyte, providing Shinta with valuable insights to help her navigate the intricate web of alliances and rivalries that existed within their ranks.

Among the assembled half-blood acolytes, Shinta noted with interest the distribution across various bloodlines. Surprisingly, there were only three others from the serpent bloodline. Annara advised Shinta to maintain a cautious distance from them to avoid drawing attention to her identity.

The largest contingents hailed from the wolf and goat bloodlines, each boasting eight representatives who seemed to form their own tight-knit circles. Shinta observed as they clustered together, their interactions marked by a sense of camaraderie and solidarity.

The top tier bloodlines—dragon and bird—each had six representatives, indicative of their esteemed status within the hierarchy of the academy. These individuals exuded confidence and poise, their presence commanding respect from their peers.

As for the bat and tiger bloodlines each boasted three to four acolytes, their numbers mirroring that of the serpent bloodline.

"You don't need to know them all, just recognize thirteen of them," Annara advised, her words a steady reassurance amidst the sea of faces before them.

Her assessment was clear: Lucius Corvin would undoubtedly see Rajh as a prime candidate for his hall.

As the next acolyte was called forward, all eyes turned towards a graceful-looking young woman with subtle, glowing green hair. Elara Greenheart, aged 16, hailed from an ancient clan boasting a mythical deer bloodline—an esteemed lineage coveted by many within the academy.

As Elara approached the stage, a hushed anticipation filled the air. With a steady hand, she pricked her finger and allowed a drop of her blood to fall into the fountain below. An expectant silence fell over the audience as they awaited the result.

One of the lower insignia began to glow—a symbol of the horse bloodline. However, the fountain emitted a brilliant, radiant gold glow, far surpassing the intensity of Rajh's display. It was a clear indication of a higher rank blood gene.

"Rank 8! Mythical horse," announced the staff overseeing the examination, their voices resonating throughout the hall.

The revelation sent murmurs rippling through the crowd as they marveled at the rarity of Elara's bloodline and her remarkable rank. In all likelihood, Elara would be a prime candidate for Grand Magus Sirin, the Peafowl Empress's first choice. The ancient deer bloodline was renowned for its proficiency in light spells, making Elara herself to seek out the female grand magus as her master.

In stark contrast to the graceful Elara, the next acolyte called forth was a dark-skinned, tough-looking young man from the rare mystical Goat bloodline—a Pyro Bison by the name of Rurik Kenaz, aged 17.

"Rank 7, Mythical Goat," declared the staff overseeing the examination,

The Bison was part of the goat family gene, a mid-tier bloodline on par with the snake, wolf, and bat. Conversely, the deer belonged to the low-tier horse family gene, alongside the boar, monkey, and rat genes. However, being part of rank 8 of the low tier was considered more prestigious than the rank 7 mid-tier bloodline, placing the girl above in the eyes of the audience.

These three were the most outstanding and most sought-

after first-year geniuses, but Shinta didn't seem intimidated at all.

"Actually, I am not impressed... I hope the rest are not too disappointing."