Dragon Clan: Avoid the College Entrance Examination to Slay the Dragon

Chapter 30: Word Spirits and Exams
Darkness filled the dormitory like melted asphalt, the lights of three electronic devices floating in the sticky night. Finkel's old phone rested on his beer belly. "The college has always had a forum called the Night Watcher Forum. I suggest you sign up for one as soon as possible. You've been popular there for a long time."

"Fire? What's on fire?" Gu Yi was puzzled.

"You two have been dug out long ago! Especially you, Gu Yi, your hot posts are still hanging on the forum." Finkel's thumb left an afterimage on the screen.

He lowered his voice to imitate a news report, "Shocking! S-rank freshman can kill A-rank high-risk targets before even starting school. I don't know who came up with this title, but it's such a great one!"

There was a rustling sound from Chu Zihang's bed, and the moonlight just outlined the outline of his straight back. "The mission of the Executive Bureau should be confidential."

"There's no such thing as an impenetrable wall, Junior Brother. The News Department has its own members both on campus and in the Executive Bureau." Finger tapped the back cover of his phone with his fingernails, and the inferior speaker emitted a muffled sound.

Gu Yi scratched his head. "So this is what the forum is discussing?"

"It's more than just a discussion!" Finkel rolled over, the iron bed groaning as if it was about to fall apart. "They even dug out your medical report. Now the odds on the forum betting that you're an S-rank hybrid have dropped to less than 1:1.02."

Gu Yi's knuckles tapped unconsciously against the iron guardrail, the metallic vibrations remarkably clear in the silence. "So, what exactly is the definition of an S-class hybrid? Why do people say I'm S-class?"

"The pinnacle of the hybrid pyramid, a monster whose bloodline purity approaches the critical limit yet remains uncorrupted." Finkel spread his arms, the holes under his vest faintly visible in the moonlight. "Bloodline purity, dragon gene stability, and word power strength—when all these parameters are met, the school board will stamp the file with a gold-plated S. So S-rank is truly rare!"

Chu Zihang's calm voice came from the darkness: "Have you seen any other S-class?"

"I've only met one person in all my years at school, the principal. By the way," Finkel looked at Gu Yi, "the principal's words and spirits are the same as yours, Gu Yi, both of which are time zero."

Gu Yi changed the subject, "Then why are you so sure I'm S-rank?"

"Because you're so strong! When you first awakened your bloodline, you were able to easily defeat the top-tier A-rank hybrid, 'Meatsmith,' a monster that required several kill teams from the Enforcement Bureau to slay. And your Word Spirit is time zero! Do you know where it ranks on the Word Spirit Periodic Chart? 84! That's a very powerful Word Spirit! Only those with top-tier bloodlines can possess it."

"What about Jun Yan?" Gu Yi asked again.

"You mean Junior Brother Lengmian's Word Spirit? His serial number is 89, and it's also a high-risk Word Spirit."

"Then why didn't you say Chu Zihang was an S-class hybrid?"

"Because according to the information everyone has dug up, Chu Zihang's physical fitness is much worse than yours. Everyone predicts that he will get an A this time. Of course, an A grade is also very impressive."

"But isn't Jun Yan ranked higher than Time Zero?"

"But actual combat isn't math, Junior Brother. Jun Yan is indeed a powerful Word Spirit, but Time Zero's combat bonus is too great." Finger raised a finger. "For example, Junior Brother Lengmian can use Jun Yan to roast you, but you have nine ways to kill him before he activates his Word Spirit. Nine ways!" Silence lingered in the room. After a long moment, Chu Zihang's indifferent voice pierced the stillness: "He can indeed do it. I need to recite some obscure sentences to activate my Word Spirit, but Gu Yi can easily kill me."

"That's called Dragon Script, and it's engraved in your genes." Finkel added, "Dragons use this language to communicate, kill, and establish dynasties. The roar in your veins when you recite it is the mark left in your genetic chain by your ancient ancestors."

Gu Yi frowned when he heard this. "Then, Finger, what is the 3e exam?"

"The abbreviation for the exam is EEE, and the full name is Extraction Evaluation Exam. It means bloodline assessment exam. It is mainly used to identify students' dragon bloodline. Dragon bloodlines will resonate with 'dragon characters', and when they resonate, they will produce the effect of 'clairvoyance', which means that they will naturally see dragon characters appear in their minds." Finkel explained to Gu Yi, "This ability is very important for dragon bloodlines. Dragon bloodlines have a supernatural ability called 'word spirit'. Within their 'domain', the words they speak in dragon characters become a rule. Therefore, 'language' is the tool for dragons to exert their abilities. Students who are not sensitive to dragon characters usually lack ability. After 3e, they will be demoted. Those who are too poor will be expelled."

"But Chu Zihang and I have already awakened our Word Spirits. Do we still need to take this exam?"

"It's just a formality." Finkel yawned. "It's just ten syllables of Dragon Script. For monsters like you, it's like copying the alphabet. It won't take long to finish."

Gu Yi's silhouette leaned forward slightly in the moonlight. "So what are you going to do after taking the 3e exam?"

"Here's the point!" Finkel suddenly became excited. "You know our academy is a meritocracy, right? The principal keeps saying, 'The one! The one!' So different bloodline levels have different benefits. For example, at my level, I can only eat pork knuckle and KFC, but if you two get A ratings, you can eat whatever you want, and the benefits are endless."

Silence, like liquid night, slowly permeated the three people's breaths. Chu Zihang's gaze sliced ​​through the moonlight like a knife: "What's your level?"

"E" Finkel answered miserably.

"E? ​​Is there such a level? I remember the lowest is C? The lower one can't even ignite the golden eyes." Gu Yi was shocked.

"I've been held back for too long, and my grades have been downgraded bit by bit. So I need to hold on tight to you!" Finkel suddenly howled and threw himself against the guardrail, the iron frame creaking under the weight. "As long as you get an A grade, I can eat in the high-end restaurant! This academy is a perfect example of bloodline tyranny. Even pork knuckles are limited in E grade, but A graders can reserve veal shanks braised in Burgundy red wine! I can even manage to graduate this year. I don't want to get an F, fellow students!"

Suddenly, a muffled sound came from the wall next door. As lime chips rustled down beside Gu Yi's pillow, a North Texas accent roared through the wall, "Fingal, you bastard! Do you think this is a cowboy bar?"

Chu Zihang turned over silently, but Finger put his legs on the guardrail, "Dear Tang Sen, I'm giving admission guidance to the new students--"

"Damn tutoring!" Another hard kick against the wall shook the blinds at the window. "You're talking about Oxtail Burgundy!"

Gu Yi sighed, "Let's talk about it tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)