Reincarnated In A World Of Mana As A Mechanic-Chapter 40: Valdris Dane

Ezekiel stood unaffected by the sudden teleport. The last two times had been enough to strengthen his resistance to the nausea that was caused by the dimensional displacement’s aftereffects.

He glanced around and noted his surroundings, noting the hall that stretched before them like a cathedral—easily twenty meters tall with vaulted ceilings and the size of a football field. Or at least he figured. He hadn’t seen a real field after all, most sports had been abandoned with the rise of virtual technology in his last world.

Crystalline, gleaming formations similar to those he’d observed in the examination halls lined the walls, their soft luminescence providing light that felt both natural and otherworldly.

Shaking his head slightly, the mechanic threw all thoughts of his old world to the back of his head before continuing his observation.

Despite having just endured grueling trials that had eliminated two-thirds of the original participants, every person in the hall appeared pristine. Gone were the torn robes, dried blood, and expressions of exhaustion that had marked their exit from the forest trial. The Institute’s healing magic had apparently worked during the teleportation process itself, restoring not just physical injuries but even replenishing their depleted stamina.

"Impressive." Vahn murmured softly, flexing his fingers and noting the complete absence of the fatigue that had plagued him moments before. "I feel better than I did before the trials started."

Yuri nodded in agreement, though her sharp eyes remained focused on their fellow survivors, noting the obvious details on their faces. "Look at everyone’s faces though. Healing the body is one thing, but the mental strain is still there."

She was right. While their physical forms had been restored, many participants still carried the haunted expressions of those who had faced genuine mortal peril. Most had passed the trial while treading on a thin line that decided their life or death after all. The mental pressure such a trial had presented to them was quite crushing.

This was partly one of the aims of the trials actually. After all, the Institute didn’t wish to train students who would freeze up before such pressure in the future. Exposing them to such a trial while they were younger was to help forge their mental strength.

Their faces might have still been pale due to some having overtaxed their mana cores, but they were otherwise okay. At least enough to listen to whatever the Institute had to say before they were dismissed.

"I should begin by congratulating you all."

A sudden voice reverberated softly, drawing his, and everyone else’s, attention to a floating platform above them. The platform was suspended in the air before them, shimmering softly as the formations inlaid on them kept it afloat.

Everyone among the participants were Awakened, and, despite the fact that the enhancement would vary from class to class, the mana within them was still passively empowering their bodies, allowing them to notice the features of the person atop the suspended platform.

He was a man of above average height. Ezekiel couldn’t see what the man’s physique looked like due to the baggy robes donned upon his figure. The speaker was a figure that immediately commanded respect. Above average height but not imposingly tall, his presence filled the space around him in a way that had nothing to do with physical stature. Flowing robes of deep midnight blue that shimmered with patterns that resembled constellations.

He possessed rich silver colored hair that almost seemed to sparkle beneath the sun, along with a bright pair of blue colored eyes that gleamed with wisdom and experience.

But it was the man’s aura that truly set him apart. Magic radiated from him in waves so powerful the participants could feel it pressing against their consciousness, not too heavily but substantial enough to realize that the man before them could easily wipe them all out whenever he wished.

Of course, the mana insensitive Ezekiel was incapable of feeling this mental sluggishness affect him. The oppressive aura the man radiated was enough to have his hair stand on end though, his body instinctively warning to never fall off the bad side of such a person. Such was the refined, controlled might of someone who had transcended normal limitations.

Soon, Laura sent a stream of information into his mind, providing a detailed background of the man before him, at least one which she had been able to gather during the times he had had her store all the information in his father’s library.

"Valdris Dane." He whispered softly, his voice barely audible to even his companion while his eyes widened in surprise as he read the information transmitted by his AI companion.

This powerful individual had shocked the entire Velmora Kingdom during the previous territorial war between the kingdom and its opposing force. He had led his forces to defend against the stealthy attack led by three brigades within the enemy’s army and had single-handedly held back three enemies of the same rank as him.

What surprised the mechanic was the silver haired man’s Class. He was a Seer!

That’s right! A Seer! A Seer had managed to defend against the joint attacks of two Brawlers and a Mage. Not to mention that he had also managed to dispatch one of his three powerful enemies, all the while wreaking havoc in the opposing army.

As for the exact method Valdris Dane had managed to implement that allowed him to possess such terrifying battle prowess, Ezekiel didn’t know. Such sensitive information was never shared with the public, and even his father who was a Baron couldn’t come in contact with the true unblemished information even if he wanted to.

This man was a great hero who was looked up to by multiple Seer who sought to cast away the bothersome drawbacks of their Class. Unfortunately, such a thing was easier said than done. Nonetheless, Valdris Dane was regarded as the strongest Seer class Awakened.

And now, apparently, the Headmaster of the Star and Cross Institute.

"For those who may not know." Valdris continued, his voice carrying just a hint of amusement as if he’d noticed the recognition in some faces. "I am Valdris Dane, and I have the honor of serving as Headmaster of this institution. Though I suspect some of you have already placed the name."

His gaze seemed to sweep across the assembled participants, and for a moment, Ezekiel could have sworn those ancient eyes lingered on him specifically. Evidently the tricks he had employed during the last trial had caught the Awakened’s attention.

The mechanic frowned, unsure of whether such a development could be considered a good or bad thing.

Valdris Dane didn’t care about Ezekiel’s internal wary, instead revealing a smile as he addressed the many students before him. "I assume you all realize that my Star and Cross Institute isn’t one that would merely teach you. We are here to shape you. Shape you to powerful and dependable soldiers that our Kingdom can lean on to dominate the battlefield. Your goal in the institute should only involve growing! You must cast away the shell hindering your progress and advance like the geniuses you are so as to earn a place in the Kingdom and the rewards that come alongside it."

His eyes gleamed sternly as he glanced about, carefully scrutinizing the students before him before he continued. "Merit matters more than birthright. We don’t care about your parents’ influence and power within this institute, the only thing that matters here is strength. We care less about your family’s wealth or political connections than we do about your potential to contribute something meaningful to the magical arts."

At this, several students—including Edward, whom Ezekiel spotted near the back of the group looking thoroughly uncomfortable—shifted uneasily. The implications were clear: whatever advantages they’d enjoyed in the outside world would carry little weight here.

"We also expect certain standards of conduct. Respect for your fellow students regardless of their background. Diligent dedication to your training and your studies. And we expect you all to understand that true strength does not come not from dominating others with outside influence or threats, but from one’s own personal power."

The Headmaster paused, allowing his words to sink into the minds of the students before continuing. "Your trial points will be tallied and the cumulative points will determine your position on the Institute’s Year One Leaderboard. You will be granted Institution points depending on your position. Those below the 50th position will be granted 100 institute points every month, those holding the 21st to the 50th position will be granted 300 institute points every month. 4th to 20th will be granted 500 institute points every month and the 1st to 3rd will be granted 1000 every month!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Valdris’ expression as he noted the students’ confused expressions. An amused chuckle almost left his lips as he inwardly imagined the chaotic scene his rules would cause once the classes began.

In the end, he simply clapped his hand while revealing a mysterious smile. "All would be explained to you soon. For now, all you need to know is that these points are vital to your education in this institution."

With a wave of his hand, a pulse of mana spread out, interacting with some of the formations gleaming softly on the surface of his floating platform before an azure colored holographic screen appeared before the students, revealing their positions on the trial leaderboard.