Ancestors of the Lost Heroes: Journey in Another World

The group moves on to their next trial, where Professor Bain leads them to a massive cauldron - its rim rising high enough to accommodate a seated person.

"Here we'll test your bloodline aptitude," Professor Bain explains, his voice carrying the weight of a scholar tone. "We'll measure how your body reacts to mana. During this test, activating your bloodline is optional - you may stir it if you wish, as long as you don't manipulate the mana within the cauldron. Either way, the results will remain accurate."

"Emma, would you kindly demonstrate first again?"

"Of course, Professor." Emma approaches the cauldron with graceful precision, settling cross-legged within its depths until only her head rises above the rim.

A mystical blue mist then materializes, reminiscent of morning dew, clinging to Emma's skin like ethereal silk. Her face tightens with concentration as she closes her eyes, focusing on stirring her bloodline. The mist responds dramatically, swirling around her like a miniature typhoon, its movements growing increasingly frenzied as the seconds tick by.

After a full minute of this mystical display, the mist gradually dissipates, leaving Emma alone in the testing cauldron. Sensing the change, she opens her eyes and rises with practiced grace, stepping out of the cauldron with fluid ease.

Throughout the demonstration, Professor Bain studies a stone tablet, his fingers dancing across its surface as he records various calculations and formulas with scholarly precision.

"Very good, Emma," he nods approvingly. "Your bloodline aptitude far exceeds your physical prowess. E-Tier 30 - exceptionally well done."

At the professor's praise, Emma retreats to join the others as Leon steps forward to take his turn in the cauldron. Not brothering to tease Emma as he knows his bloodline talents lack behind Emma.

Stepping into the cauldron, Leon assumes a sitting position, his movements fluid and deliberate. As mist fills the cauldron, he closes his eyes, stirring his bloodline within himself just as Emma had done moments before. The mist slowly disperses, its ethereal tendrils dissipating into the air.

Feeling the last wisps fade away, Leon rises and steps out, turning to Professor Bain for his results.

"F-Tier 20," Professor Bain announces.

"Tch, just short of E-Tier," Leon mutters, frustration evident in his voice.

"Don't fret, Leon," Professor Bain responds. "Only two students in each class reach E-Tier. And to achieve E-Tier in both physical and bloodline assessments, like Emma has—well, that's only seen in perhaps five students across an entire grade. Now go ahead and join the class."

"Very well, Professor," Leon says, returning to the group with acceptance.

As the students take their turns being tested in the cauldron, Alex's turn quickly approaches. Throughout the test, the average number hovers around fifteen. Seeing Alex is next, students begin to whisper, wondering if he'll underperform again.

"I doubt he'll get more than 13," a student sneers, referencing Alex's earlier physical assessment failure.

"Nah, he won't even reach 11," another voice joins in with mocking laughter.

Walking toward the cauldron, Alex lets the whispers wash over him like rain against a window. 'Just ignore it, Alex,' he steadies himself. 'They don't understand anything about your situation.'

At the cauldron's edge, Alex squares his shoulders, determination replacing doubt.

"Alex," Professor Bain interrupts the taunts, "a word of advice. Don't try to stir your bloodline—I want you to simply focus on how the mana gas affects it. Since your bloodline remained dormant for so long, detecting its presence will prove more challenging."

"I understand, Professor," Alex says as he sits in the cauldron. Looking up, he watches Professor Bain release the mana gas, its misty tendrils swirling around him. Alex closes his eyes as it seeps into his pores, the mystical essence flowing through every part of his body. When it reaches his nerves, the mana travels like lightning, connecting his mind to the magical force with incredible speed. The sensation fills his consciousness like water rushing into an empty bowl.

Yet deeper still, in his very soul, his bloodline reacts as if starved since birth. The mana surges toward his soul, causing the surrounding gas to disappear faster than anyone has witnessed before. His body and soul work in perfect harmony, drinking in as much mana as humanly possible.

'More.' A profound hunger overtakes Alex's body and soul, his mind fixating on this overwhelming need. Like a great beast devouring its prey, he consumes all the mana within reach, leaving the cauldron nearly empty.

The students watch in astonishment as the mana gas vanishes at an unprecedented rate. Most wear expressions of concern at Alex's apparent bloodline talent, while Emma and Leon share a different thought entirely.

'He couldn't be, could he?' they wonder simultaneously, observing Alex's remarkable absorption of mana.

Before anyone realizes, Alex has consumed all the mana in the cauldron, yet his hunger persists. For mana exists like air—present everywhere but visible only in concentrated form such as gas. Drawing power from his surroundings, Alex pulls in every trace of mana within reach, for the floodgates have opened and refuse to close.

Like the suction force of a black hole, Alex draws all the mana into himself, filling up like a balloon. His essence expands larger and larger while stretching thinner and thinner. Even as his body becomes saturated with mana, his soul demands more. Trying to halt the process, Alex fights against the hunger in his mind, struggling to overcome the overwhelming sensation. Not knowing what else to do, he attempts to stop the flow of mana by pushing it back the way it came. Without even realizing he can control the mana flow within himself, Alex pushes with all his might, and like a star collapsing in on itself, the mana within him explodes outward with tremendous force.

At this point, Professor Bain realizes something catastrophic is about to happen. Drawing intricate runes around Alex, he creates a protective bubble to shield those outside.

With devastating might, Alex expels the mana, creating an explosive force that crashes against the barrier. A thunderous "BOOM" echoes through the room as Alex forces the mana away. The power slams against the barrier, its efforts to break through proving futile. The cauldron, however, doesn't share the same fate as cracks spider across its edges, marking the testament of Alex's might.

As the hunger finally lessens around him, Alex gradually stops gathering the surrounding mana, his breath now ragged and exhausted.

Opening his eyes, Alex surveys the damage he's caused. His gaze travels across the spiderweb of cracks along the cauldron, the shimmering barrier that contains him, and the bewildered expressions of his fellow students who stare as if he's performed something profound.

"What happened?" Alex turns to Professor Bain, seeking answers from the only person who might understand the chaos he's unleashed.

"Well, it seems your bloodline was hungrier than I anticipated," Professor Bain observes thoughtfully, stroking his chin. "You chose to expel the power instead of cultivating it, which makes sense given you don't yet know how to stir your bloodline - though I suspect that's changed now." He catalogs the facts with scholarly precision, his eyes gleaming with academic interest.

"Don't worry, however. This is invaluable information to learn early on, and with it, I can devise a better plan to handle your unique situation." Professor Bain pauses, a slight smile playing at his lips before delivering the most shocking revelation. "Oh, and you've achieved E-Tier with a standing of 35. Congratulations are in order, as that should be the highest number in your grade."

The irony hangs heavy in the air - Alex, the supposedly weakest student, has just demonstrated the strongest bloodline talent among his peers.

The students erupt into a cacophony of voices, astonishment rippling through the crowd at the revelation that their perceived weakling was actually more attuned to his bloodline than any of them. The two students who had dismissed Alex's potential stand frozen, their jaws slack with disbelief.

As Alex rises to his feet, his presence seems to fill more space than before, as if the mana itself has restructured his very being. The same students who had previously ignored him now study his every movement as he rejoins the group, their minds racing to process the implications of what they've witnessed.

Curious gazes follow Alex, each observer wondering what other secrets this enigmatic classmate might harbor. However, before their scrutiny can intensify, Professor Bain redirects their attention, having already replaced the damaged cauldron with an pristine one.

"Enough staring - we have more tests to conduct," he announces firmly, brooking no argument.

The assessment continues as students showcase their various talents, from lightning-quick reflexes to remarkable physical resilience. Throughout these trials, many discover previously unknown aspects of their abilities, each revelation adding to the day's growing collection of surprises.

As the testing progresses, a clear consensus emerges regarding Alex and his friends. From the raw might of Alex's bloodline to Max's devastating physical strength and Randy's impressive magical aptitude, each of the three companions demonstrates distinct areas of excellence, their individual talents complementing one another in unexpected ways.