n

n

n

"from birth I've been bathed and fed with rare elixirs and treasures and even I barely even made it to reach purple level talent.

nyet here you are, telling me you got to this talent from just the resources of just a small clan!

"

nlistening in on Lennox's desperation, Dante only smiled as he replied

n

"Don't complain to me, maybe some people are just born with this level of talent?

"

nDante didn't even feel any shame as he lied straight through his teeth.

nHe himself knew how mediocre his talent was without the ability of his dragon souls, but looking at it from another perspective, his dragon souls were also his abilities, weren't they?

nDante and Lennox continued the conversation as they walked until Lennox brought up quite an interesting topic

n

"So Dante, have you thought about what department you're planning on joining yet?

nI'm sure with the talent you have any department would be willing to take you.

"

nbut Dante's next words shocked Lennox

n

"Actually, I haven't really put much thought into what department I should choose. I'll probably just join the department that can offer me the most training resources.

"

nListening to Dante, Lennox almost couldn't even believe what he was hearing.

n

"you've not even planned already? You're just going to leave your future to chance?!

"

nDante raised his eyebrow as he asked,

n

"Leave my future to chance? What do you even mean?

"

n

"What do you mean? You're telling me you actually don't know?

" Asked Lennox

n

"The departments of The Hidden Dragon Academy were designed to focus on the training of future high-ranking members of the Vaenam kingdom.

nSo this means that most of the people in the Department of war and combat will go into the military and those in the department of Governance and internal affairs will go into government

nSo now imagine this, you, as a member of the department of governance and internal affairs, try to enter the military.

nLet's ignore the drastic lack of training you would have for the position. The real question is how would you advance your career?

nAdvancing in this world is not just about talent and strength, connections play a big role in all of this. If you don't have any friends or connections in that department, why would they promote you over someone who has been in their department for years?

"

nHearing the explanation from Lennox, it all started to make sense to Dante.

nMilitary generals would have their own interests and government officials would also have their own interests.

nSo why would they help someone who hasn't been grown up as a member of their own faction? It just didn't make sense when you look at it ?

nbut even after all this, Lennox wasn't finished as he continued talking

n

"It's not just the military though, resources and funding in the alchemist's guild, rare runes in weapons and formation guilds and even just simple promotion during your time as a government official.

nAll these are things that would require you to have very good connections in your field to even stand a chance at getting

"

nafter hearing all this, Dante had a question for Lennox

n

"So if you know all these problems with joining the wrong department, which department are you choosing to join after all these entrance tests?

"

n

"Well, my future has already been decided.

nMy father is already a general in the army and I already have two older brothers that, although they didn't have enough talent to enter the Hidden Dragon Academy, they have already become squad captains in the military.

nSo based on my family line I have no other chance but to join the Department of War and Combat!

"

nNow that Dante thought about it, he never really took the chance to ask Rebecca about which department she joined in the end.

nIf it came down to it, he would probably just join the same department as her.

nAnd since she's already been in the academy for 3 years, she had to have made some friends that could make life easier for the both of them right.

nAs Dante was thinking all this, he kept on walking down the path but soon he started to make out something in the distance.

nIt was a strange structure.

nIt was just one humongous white marble platform .

nDante didn't stop walking and kept on approaching the structure, but as he got closer and closer, he seemed to see other paths coming from different directions, all leading towards this structure.

nsoon Dante was close enough to make out some fine details and inscriptions on the humongous platform and instantly a word popped into his mind

n

"Awakening Platform???

"

nBut just as Dante's thoughts were starting to run wild, a voice popped up right beside him.

n

"Well, it's very similar but not quite an awakening platform

"

nlooking towards the origin of the voice, Dant could see that Lennox had started speaking again

n

"This platform should be the next stage of the entrance tests, The Martial spirit test.

"

njust as Lennox started speaking, a figure walked out onto the platform

n

"Welcome, aspiring Students to the next entrance test of my Hidden Dragon Academy!

nas you can see, since we've eliminated most of the unqualified contestants, some of you will be rejoined here at the platform for the martial spirit test.

"

nHearing the man's words Dante began looking around to see the kind of people that came from other testing area's.

nThe people all had air of confidence and determination around them. But this was to be expected.

njust to reach this stage of the assessments meant that you truly had to be a top talent amongst the generation.

nwhilst Dante's assessment we're going on the man on the stage started speaking again.

n

"Well, let me not keep you guys any longer, please come on up!

"

nAfter saying his words, the man flew up off the stage and into the spectator stands on the side.

nThe contestants looked at each other for a few seconds before they all jumped onto the stage

nSeeing this, Lennox turned towards Dante

n

"let's not waste anymore time here

"

nAfter saying this, he also joined the contestants and jumped onto the humongous platform, with Dante closely following behind him.

nAs soon as Dante landed on the platform, his whole body shook and terrible hunger pangs hit Dante!

nA devastating urge to consume started growing from deep inside of him as if something deep within his soul was crying out for to him devour!

nDante instantly recognised what exactly that sensation was.

nIt was completely identical to the feeling he felt when he held that rare piece is Spirit Silver in his hand.

n