There was no response.

Neo knocked again.

Silence.

"Is he out?"

He waited for another hour.

There was no indication Professor Daniel was inside the office.

"There is only half-an hour left. I need to return to my class."

Neo massaged his brows.

He was on his way to the class venue when a girl with bright orange hair blocked his path.

"Do you want something from me?"

"I do, actually! Can you give me an autograph?"

Neo took the pen and signed the blank paper.

"Thank you! I never thought I would get the Ruler to sign my diary!"

"No the pleasure is mine. I'm the one who is surprised to be approached by the Treasurer."

The girl froze.

"You know me?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I know you?"

She scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.

"I'm almost always busy with Student Council works.

"Barely anyone recognizes me, since I never leave the student council office

"So I was just surprised you knew me."

"Amelia told me about you."

Neo lied through his teeth.

"I see. Still, I'll introduce myself formally.

"I'm Ophelia Nareth, the Treasurer of the Student Council and a 2nd year student."

"Neo Hargraves, the Ruler and a first year."

They shook hands.

"Did you come to find me just for an autograph?"

"Ah, right! I almost forgot. Percival wants to meet you."

"Right now?"

"Right now."

"My classes…"

"I know you have your classes, but we need you for an important task."

"That is?"

Ophelia looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

She whispered,

"The Student Council has decided to open the application form for you."

Neo's face hardened.

He couldn't believe his ears.

"The application form to join the Student Council? But that only starts from the second semester."

"You are right, to be honest."

Ophelia and Neo started to walk towards the Student Council.

Neo could skip his classes from it.

He would get countless benefits from joining the Student Council.

The best benefit was receiving double credits from the mission rewards.

Additionally, he could skip exams and still receive a passing grade.

'This is the best.'

'The midterms are coming and I haven't studied anything since I was in the visions.'

'If I can join the student council there is no need for me to attend the tests.'

While they were on the way, Ophelia continued to speak.

"Your case is unique.

"Your performance during the S-rank mission has set a historical record.

"There is a rumor about the principal personally sending you on a mission outside the academy.

"And your past is a mystery."

She continued.

"Little brother of Henry Hargraves, no known demigod parents in the recorded lineage, and one of the only two survivors of the Void Window #8477.

"The fact you suddenly became a Ruler is even more surprising.

"No one knows about your bloodline either."

"Are you curious?"

"Yes, I am. Everyone is."

"It's Monarch of Death, the bloodline of Great God of Death, Hades."

"That's impossible."

Ophelia laughed.

"Nice joke. It's fine if you don't want to expose your bloodline.

"The academy policies allow the students to keep their bloodlines a secret.

"The only rule is that if you expose your bloodline, it should be the truth.

"So don't go making jokes like this. You'll get in trouble."

Neo shrugged.

He told the truth.

It was not his problem that she did not believe him.

Ophelia continued.

"Anyway, the outside forces are pressuring us, the Student Council, to verify your abilities.

"They want to know if the principal is spreading exaggerated rumors, or if you really are as strong as they say."

"In short, you are doing this because the orders of your families?" Neo asked. "I'm sure that's abusing your rights as the student council members."

"Not really abusing.

"The application test will help us know your limits, and you'll get to join the Student Council.

"Both sides will benefit."

"Fair enough."

They reached a colosseum.

The gates opened.

As they entered the place, Ophelia pointed him towards a different path.

"I'll go to the spectator seats. You should go down that corridor to enter the battle arena."

"Are we starting the test straight away?"

"Yes, time is money."

Neo nodded.

He followed her directions and walked into a large stadium.

Looking around, he noticed some of the seats were filled.

Almost all student council members were present along with a few professors.

Percival stood at the head of the colosseum high above.

He imbued his voice with Divine Energy.

The volume of his voice increased.

"Neo Hargraves, after careful consideration and a unanimous vote amongst the student council, we have decided to allow you to take a special application test.

"The contents of the application test are same as previous year's test.

"However, since this is a special test, the difficulty would be increased.

"Of course, we will give you an additional reward of 500 credits.

"Do you want to partake in the test or do you want to give up?"

The student council test took place in the second semester.

By that time, the students were properly trained by the academy.

Still, only a few students could pass the test.

Neo was taking the test three months earlier and it a harder version.

He grew excited.

'Finally, I can fight.'

He opened his mouth.

"I'm ready to take the test."

"Good." Percival smiled. "The great me has the record for the earliest clear.

"I hope you can achieve something close to it, since everyone has high expectations from you."

Percival brought his hand down.

"Begin!"

The gates groaned and burst open.

The ground shook as the first wave of golems came out.

There were six of them.

Each one was a hulking figure of stone and earth.

Although slow, their sheer size and strength made them dangerous.

Neo triggered the Essence Breath Spell.

He could fell the weight of the debuff still pressing down on him.

It slowed his movements, dulled his senses, but he knew he had to conserve his strength.

There were four more waves waiting behind this one, and each would be worse.

The first golem made its move.