Supreme Lord: I can extract everything! Chapter 3 Final Exam (I)

A few moments prior.

The second the door to the testing room locked, a holographic display flickered into existence.

A timer began to tick down, and as it reached zero, a cold, synthetic voice filled the space.

[The trial is about to commence. Please verify your identity!]

"Michael Fang, Student ID 53632-29," Michael replied. He maintained a calm exterior despite the flicker of anticipation in his chest.

'Finally, once this is finished, I'm done with this place!'

When he was first admitted to the most renowned academy in the Golden Sun province, his expectations had been high. However, he quickly realized the institution was rife with favoritism and superficiality. They showed little concern for students lacking a powerful background, or perhaps they simply didn't care about him.

While Michael found certain lectures regarding the Origin Expanse fascinating, the rest of his academic life was incredibly tedious.

Most of his peers ignored him since he offered no clear advantages to their social standing, but Michael wasn't bothered by the isolation.

He preferred solitude over the company of superficial "friends" who only sought networking, wealth, or opportunities. In an elite school filled with the heirs of influential clans, genuine connections were a rare commodity.

The students were constantly pressured to be the top performers to uphold their family's prestige. In an era where clans were in perpetual competition, the atmosphere was cutthroat. This intense pressure from parents often led to toxic rivalries between classmates.

Cliques were established early on, transforming what should have been academic rivalry into a miniature battlefield.

During his freshman year, Michael had made a significant mistake. He naively believed that achieving high marks wouldn't offend anyone. He had been motivated to study hard, hoping to build bonds through shared learning and school experiences.

Instead, by taking the top rank in his class, he became the primary target for harassment. As a common student without a powerful family to back him, he was vulnerable. His success only fueled the resentment and jealousy of his peers.

Michael eventually stopped striving for top grades. He decided to blend into the background, focusing on his own growth while ignoring the social games. He was only at this elite Golden Sun province school to gather knowledge for the Origin Expanse, not to socialize.

[Identity of Michael Fang verified. Fingerprint and iris scanning will now begin. Please remain still!]

A soft beam of light scanned his eyes while a holographic interface appeared before his hands. Michael pressed his palms against the glowing surface and waited.

[Match confirmed. Initiating the graduation examination for Michael Fang.]

[Candidate, prepare yourself!]

Following the mechanical announcement, a blinding flash erupted. The light saturated the chamber, forcing Michael to squeeze his eyes shut.

When he finally reopened them seconds later, he found himself standing at the base of a colossal mountain.

'I can't even see the summit. Just how tall is this thing?' He thought, squinting as he tried to look past the clouds obscuring the peak.

A freezing wind bit at his skin, carrying the distant echoes of monster cries. Michael crouched down to feel the damp earth beneath him. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the crisp, cold air.

His physical sensations were perfectly sharp.

'Is this really just an illusion? It feels incredibly lifelike!'

High school graduation exams had evolved significantly over the last few centuries. The most notable advancement was the implementation of these illusory trial lands generated by the examination chambers.

The scenery was breathtaking, and though Michael wanted to explore, he knew his time was limited.

Steeling his resolve, he began his ascent up the mountain path.

A trail wound its way toward the peak, but the route was clearly riddled with traps and hidden dangers.

His final grade would be determined by the distance he covered and his efficiency in overcoming the obstacles placed in his way.

[Select your weapon.]

The robotic voice spoke again as he stepped onto the main path.

"I'll take a thin longsword. Straight, double-edged, with a sharp point," Michael requested without hesitation.

While swords might not be the absolute best in terms of raw power or range, they were among the most adaptable weapons available.

In an unpredictable environment, versatility was key. Furthermore, his brother always trained him in swordsmanship whenever he returned from the Origin Expanse. It was only natural for Michael to pick the weapon he knew best.

A standard double-edged blade materialized, and Michael took a firm grip on the hilt.

"Don't let me down, partner," he whispered, testing the weight and balance with a few practice swings.

He didn't have to wait long to use it. Less than a minute into his trek up the open mountain trail, the sound of rushing air caught his attention.

He snapped his head up. Through the thick clouds blocking the sun, two Emactyls were diving straight for him!

Emactyls were prehistoric-looking pterosaurs equipped with sharp fangs and wide wingspans. Their bodies were an emerald hue, featuring clawed wingtips and short, triangular tails.

Though they were only about the size of a medium dog, they were lethal foes known for their extreme speed.

'Starting off with Low Tier-0 Monsters that have decent intelligence? This exam isn't pulling any punches!' Michael smirked as he shifted into a combat stance.

While many ignored such creatures, Michael had memorized every volume of the Monster Index in the school's digital archives. Other students neglected Tier-0 Monsters, assuming they would quickly move to higher Tiers once they received resources in the Origin Expanse, but Michael didn't have that luxury.

He understood that his survival would depend on the skills and knowledge he had painstakingly gathered.

His habit of constantly scanning his environment had become second nature to him over the years.

As the pair of Emactyls closed in, Michael waited until the very last second before lunging to the side.

His timing was perfect. He moved just as their jagged teeth were about to sink into his flesh.

With his sharp reflexes, he not only dodged the assault but managed to strike one of the creatures as it struggled to pull out of its high-speed dive.

Emactyls were built for ambushes, not durability. Their fragile frames were meant for hit-and-run tactics, not sustained melee combat.

In a single fluid motion, Michael cut one of them down. The second monster tried to retreat, but its momentum was too great, preventing it from banking away and climbing back to safety quickly enough.

Michael lunged forward, his blade piercing the creature's back just as it attempted to take flight.

*Ding*

The remains of the Emactyls dissolved into glowing dust. Simultaneously, the system updated his score based on his performance.

'I feel a bit more energetic. Can this illusion actually simulate the energy gain from slaying monsters in the Origin Expanse?'

This discovery intrigued him, shifting his view of the exam slightly.

After taking a moment to recover and plan his next move, Michael continued his climb.

Within twenty minutes, he had dispatched over ten of the Low Tier-0 creatures.

Though the trial had just started, Michael knew this was merely a warm-up. He expected the difficulty to spike soon; otherwise, the terrifying reputation of the graduation exam would be unfounded.

However, before he faced the true horrors of the test, he had to deal with the theoretical portion.

A screen appeared in his line of sight, displaying several prompts. He had to provide the answers before he could continue the climb.

[1) Define a War Rune. (60%)2) Describe the Origin Expanse. (20%)3) List the vital factors a Lord must consider when developing a territory. (20%)]

'These questions seem... surprisingly basic?' Michael blinked at the screen.

He was aware that the written portions of the final exam were usually straightforward to prevent them from eating up too much time, allowing students to focus on the climb.

Still, one couldn't afford to be careless with the answers.

The accuracy of these responses acted as a multiplier for the final score, which was primarily determined by the altitude reached before time expired.

While other factors were involved, failing the questions was a recipe for a poor grade.

'The percentages show how much weight each answer carries. The last two are less critical, so I don't need to be overly detailed.'

"I'll start with the third one," Michael muttered, recalling his studies. "As a Lord, the primary focus should be on security, economic growth, infrastructure, resource management, social welfare, and maintaining diplomatic relations. These elements ensure the prosperity of the people and secure their loyalty to the Lord."

He felt satisfied with the answer but realized he had missed a few points after reviewing it.

"Additionally, one must not overlook Military Power, the education of the populace, and fostering innovation and cultural unity to ensure long-term stability and cooperation!"

'That should cover it...'

"The second question is trickier because the full truth remains a mystery. The Origin Expanse was formed by an entity unknown to us for reasons yet to be discovered. It made contact with humanity 511 years ago and is now an integral part of our existence.

It is a legendary realm filled with infinite wealth and various races. It is believed that every sentient race in the cosmos can access it, effectively linking the entire universe!

It is a place where humans can transcend their biological constraints to gain immense power. It is a land of constant peril and opportunity, where the line between life and death is razor-thin," he elaborated, going deeper than he originally planned.

He paused to catch his breath and center himself.

He had just finished the second answer and was prepping for the first when he spotted a group of six Emactyls forming in the sky above.

They locked onto him immediately and began their descent.

'Can't you bastards just let me finish this question in peace?!'