Apollo's Pov.
Climbing those steps wasn't easy since the professor limited my stats to the same caliber as my classmates. So the only way I can go up is by relying on the techniques taught by Professor Adolfo.
Let's see, my current stats are like this
Name: Apollo Lionheart
Status: Focused
Position: Senior researcher mage
Rank: (Archmage) Temporary Apprentice rank
Mana type: Blue
Level: (16)
Strength: (1835) 57
Agility: (1840) 57
Dexterity: (1842) 57
Endurance: (1835) 57
Stamina: (1830) 57
Intelligence: (1840) 57
Mana: (1711) 57
Ki: (1656) 57
Mana regeneration: 10 per minute
Ki regeneration: 8 per minute
Vitality: 250
Skills/Abilities:
Spell synthesis(Rank SSS) {Passive}
Alchemic craft (Rank SSS) {Passive}
Weapon creation (Rank SSS) {Passive}
Machinery Engineer (Rank SS) {Passive}
Light of Aegis (Rank SS) {Passive}- Solidifies the surrounding mana every time the bearer gets attacked. Can be manipulated by the wielder's will and the size can reach 7 meters.
Lightning Call (Rank SS) {Passive} - 70% increases any lightning-based spells or attacks.
Skilled fighter (Rank S) {Passive} -A little bit higher skills from beginner level in terms of hand-to-hand combat (next level Pro fighter Rank D)
Master Weaponist [Overhaul] (Rank S) {Passive} - a combination of weapon arts crafted by Jeremiah
Mirror Tenfold (Rank S) {Active} - Return twelve times the damage of the opponent's attack, it may be a spell or physical attack.
Automatic Weaponry (Rank SS) {Active} -Automatically creates any weapon the creator had in mind, recommended to have a blueprint to fully create the desired weapon
Flaw: Materials are needed for this skill
Strength: 50% more powerful than regular weapons of the same grade.
Energy bank (Rank SS) {Active} - A space that stores mana and ki, only accessible when energy reaches 0
Disintegrate (Rank SS) {Active} - A skill Apollo gained while experimenting with a certain potion inside the Black tower.
However I think I can still go on, I didn't dare to look back and keep moving forward. Step by step then I felt I no longer had any ounce of ki.
[You need to wait for one minute for it to regenerate to eight]
"It's okay I still have my mana"
I said while still maintaining my breathing though my vision was already blurry. My sense of pain no longer works since I became too numb to feel anything. All that's running inside my head is to keep moving forward.
An ocean-blue mana began to coat my body making my breath even more easier.
"Hoo..." I exhale while still putting my body on rhythm. Timing the circulation of my mana on every step I took and before I knew it I was already up there right on the top of the steps.
"Ahhh!"
I shouted while my back lay flat on the ground.
I could feel the sunlight burning, making my bruises ache. After that, a sudden trembling occurs. It seems my body began to release all the pent-up pressure that accumulated inside it.
"It hurts damn it" I added while my face is covered with sweat.
"I wanna sleep"
"No, you can't" a devilish voice said while a shadow covered the sun that directly hit my face.
When I looked up I saw Professor Adolfo smiling happily.
"Since you did something amazing you should show them what a victor should show"
"I don't really care about that"
"Come on, stand up"
"Nah I am good"
Seeing I am not bulging on my position my professor had no choice but to adjust.
"Click"
I heard a sound and all the limiters he put on me fell on the ground. With all my stats back to normal all my wounds, bruises and even the fatigue I am feeling disappear.
"Satisfied?" Professor Adolfo said, with a hint of sarcasm.
"Yeah, I am" I smirked as I answered.
"Your classmates have been escorted by the staff they should be getting a check-up in the infirmary"
"We should head there," I said while dusting off my uniform.
"Alright let's go"
We then both jump into the air surprising the onlooking students.
On that day and for the next two days the lower class became the top on the record boards, surprising both the lower-year students and the upper years. Because of those achievements, the lower class was put in a much better regard than the rest of the first years. This made more dissatisfied aristocrats and envious glances from the other class.
"We are receiving hate," McKenzie said while boarding their class ship.
"Let them be it's not like they can do anything" Matilda quoted not feeling bothered by their stares.
"Where are we headed again?" Arabella asked while heading towards Samael who hold a navigation compass.
"It's the Lumen kingdom where the Moon Lake can be seen" he excitedly answers while zooming the map to see their next destination.
Lumen kingdom I began to say inside my head. It's one of the few kingdoms where the Holy Crusaders will attacked.
"Sigh, finally they are starting to make a move. I was suddenly getting bored eliminating those spy students"
[You are not worried?]
"I am not and besides I am not alone, those crusaders will face not only my wrath but also the hatred of the two most powerful mage institutions in the empire"
"It's time for the Mage Association and the Mage Tower to make a move"