Tower of Trials was one of the three Sovereign level Treasures in the academy.
It was found by Alex Xander, the first Sovereign of Humanity in the Trios Ruins, also known as Earth Ruins.
It would create phantoms replicating the strength of those that entered it and was perfect to gain combat experience against other humans.
Alex Xander generously donated the wonderful treasure for the training of future warriors. Many decades after his contribution, the treasure became a cornerstone of Imperial Defense Academy.
It was a commonly acknowledged fact that Artifacts were beyond the level of a Sovereign.
Even the leading power in the cutting edge of star treasures, Trade Union could not forge a single Sovereign Treasure.
In fact, even creating a Level 9 treasure was incredibly hard.
Thus, the only Sovereign Treasures humans had were those from the Ruins.
Imperial Defense Academy was touted as the best academy because only it had three Sovereign Treasures.
The other four academies on Earth had only one.
After a quick search in the internal site, Varian realized the popularity of Tower of Trials.
It was also called as Tower of Honor. The ones who excelled in it were rewarded generously.
Some distance from the gigantic tower, a large crowd gathered in front of a huge holographic list. The discussions were endless, ranging from the latest challengers, tactics to target a particular divine path, their own progress and so on.
Even though everyone would know their ranking, the tower only displayed the top 500. It was called as Honor List.
"Senior Guan recently challenged the Tower. He climbed 3 rankings and entered top 100!" A third-year cadet exclaimed pointing to the huge hologram.
{Guan Wan: Rank 99}
"Woah! Top 100 of the whole campus." The girl cheered but soon, her shoulders slumped and she gnashed her teeth. "I'm also a third year like him, but I can't even rankings."
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Rita. Other than those 500, the rest of more than 5,000 people never make it. If only we can get the resources, I'm sure we can break into the ranking." He comforted her while staring at the list in envy and admiration.
Rita sighed as she eyed the top 100. "Maybe top 500. But top 100 is beyond what resources can achieve. You need great talent."
Her tone was filled with great envy and resentment.
The senior cadet smiled bitterly. Rita came from a normal family and had little resources during her childhood.
She was hailed as a genius throughout. Until she met the real geniuses. With her talent, she was only in the middle reaches of the hierarchy.
Her first blow was not being an Honorary Student. Then not entering the Silver List and not being able to enter the Honor List.
The blows continued to pile up and with them, her resentment.
"Talent is need, of course. But how many of the—" He held his breath as a young man exited the trial.
Not just him, but the attention of the crowd shifted to the young man.
They couldn't ignore the fierce aura eminating from him as he glanced at them with an indifferent face.
His badge indicated he was only a second year cadet, but his aura was at the very peak of Level 5.
He left leaving them a look of distain.
"Phew! I hate these guys." Rita heaved a sigh of relief and wiped her sweaty forehead. "I thought he was going to be angry. His position didn't change after all."
She glanced at his position and muttered. "He is desperate to enter top 5. He won't make it this year."
{Lucas: Rank 10}
The senior cadet chuckled bitterly. "He's only a second year. He got plenty of time."
Rita's face stiffened. "Right. Even many second years have it better than me. There are almost a 100 second years in the list. But—"
"Um, Seniors, is there any first year on the list?" Varian chimed in after hearing their conversation for a while.
The third year cadet looked at Varian and was about to tell him to fuck off when he realized his face was a little familiar.
"Y-You are Varian, right?" He stuttered as he tried to put on a friendly smile.
Good lord.
Was his luck too bad today?
He saw the battle video.
This guy didn't even let go of an enemy who couldn't fight back and punched him till he lost consciousness.
Even when his opponent pleaded desperately, his face didn't melt. Instead, he seemed to even enjoy it!
What's more, his enemy was the second of Xander Family!
The senior already termed Varian as a cruel guy who should not be offended.
"Yes, I'm the Varian on the news of late." Varian generously admitted.
But in the eyes of Senior, it sounded like a warning. 'Don't you even know me?'
"Haha! My bad. I have a bad memory." He said with a flattering smile while sweat rolled down his forehead.
Then with an overly enthusiastic expression, he explained. "There are no first years on the list. Even the 500th position is a Low Level 5."
Rita looked at her friend's cowardice and gritted her teeth. It was all Varian's fault. He was intimidating her friend with his status.
She glared at Varian and said in a resentful tone. "Why ask? There are almost 500 more Low Level 5 after that 500th rank. Not like you'll get into the list anyway."
She was really pissed off at these talented folks.
Why must they be born with better talent? Why couldn't she have that talent?
And why must he go bossing around his talent?
She would admit those 100 second years in the list were Superior to her.
But this guy? He was only a first year and not even a Level 5!
How dare he boss them around?
"Oh?" Varian glanced at her. "You look like you're pissed that you didn't enter the list."
"Haha! She is just in a bad moo—." The senior tried to salvage the situation, but.
"Yes. I'm in the 550s. I can't break in. But so what? I've done this with my hard work. Unlike you, who took resources from your master and got nurtured since childhood." Rita nearly growled at him.
"Rita, stop it. You're offending him at this ra—" The senior grabbed her and awkwardly smiled at Varian.
Rita shook her head and glared at Varian stubbornly. "He's gonna get into the list next year. Until then, I'm still better than him. When he surpasses me, I'd already be enlisted in some other planet. I don't have to fear him."
Varian rolled his eyes inwardly and walked to the tower's entrance.
That woman was crazy. He was just asking a question and it devolved into a 'threat'.
Thankfully, he had a good temper. If it was Narcis, he'd have…
Varian paid the entry price of 100 merit points.
"Let's go, Rita. He doesn't know our names, it's best to leave now." The senior pulled her.
Rita stubbornly stood her ground and yanked her arm. "No. I want to see his deflated expression. He won't even cross 1500th rank."
The Senior sighed helplessly before turning to the tower.
How far will the guy who crushed even the great genius Narcis Xander go?