Evolution: From Little Devil to Devil Empress

“The assessment has been completed. The results are:”

“First Trial: SS+ Rating. Second Trial: SSS Rating. Third Trial: SSS+ Rating.”

“Congratulations to Citizen Liora Augustus. You’ve obtained the qualification to enroll in a: Super-Grade Academy.”

It took the blue-haired woman a few moments to recover.

When she did, a small pen, conjured from numbers and symbols, materialized in her hand as she began to note the results on the translucent screen before her.

At the same time, she didn’t forget to announce the final ratings.

Seeing Liora appear doubtful, especially when she got near the end of her announcement, the woman took the initiative to explain.

“You should have already learned that the form of higher institutes differs. Some are universities, others are colleges, and there are even research centers. Collectively, we like to refer to them as Academies.”

Upon Liora’s nod, the woman continued:

“Academies are divided into different tiers depending on their status and strength. Namely: third-grade, second-grade, and first-grade. Most Awakeners would be happy to enroll in an ordinary third-grade Academy. However, the more talented Awakeners have far greater dreams.”

“Compared to the tens of thousands of Academies reaching the third-grade, there are only thousands of them at the second-grade. Once entering the first-grade, this number is further trimmed down to less than a hundred.”

Though Liora already knew these, she didn’t interrupt but let the blue-haired woman explain. She understood that the woman would not say these for no reason.

Clearly, she was using it as a bridge to introduce what Super-Grade meant.

Indeed, after a brief pause, the woman continued.

“Most people, however, do not know that there is a grade beyond first-grade Academies.”, she shook her head.

“Super-Grade! Such Academies are the pride of our Human Federation. Practically every great official and person among the leadership has graduated from such an institution.”

Saying this, the woman stretched her finger, shooting out a beam that fell on top of Liora’s palm. It turned into a token and fused into her body.

“There are only five Super-Grade Academies at present: the War Academy, the Mechanical City, the Evolution Hall, the Medical Research Institute, and the Bioresearch Academy. These are your choices. Once you’ve made your decision, you can return to the Information World and activate this token.”

“Be careful.”, she especially reminded.

“Your decision will directly impact your future. I advise you to learn a little about each Academy before making your final decision.”

Having said that, the woman stopped speaking.

She waved her hand, clearly intending to send Liora away.

Though not stating outright, Liora understood her implication.

She was not surprised, having already seen that the woman before her was merely an artificial intelligence.

The emotions she displayed during the assessment did not lessen that theory of hers. Instead, they reinforced it even further.

“If I’m not wrong, this woman should be responsible for conducting everyone’s College Examination. Only a part of her overall consciousness is focused on me—akin to a clone.”

“My high rating during the assessment should have caught her attention, thus leading her to transfer more of her consciousness over.”

“Obviously, she can’t keep doing this forever.”, Liora deduced from the clues.

The only doubt in her mind was whether the woman was responsible solely for this city’s Assessment Hub, or was in charge of the College Examination in the entire Information World.

However, looking at the utter lack of emotions on her face, Liora knew she would get no answer even if she were to ask. The other party had already recovered to her initial, indifferent state.

Seeing this, she didn’t linger any longer.

Concentrating on the “Return” button at the corner of her vision, she pressed on it lightly, and her figure dissipated.

Only a few moments after she left, another youth stepped into the void, staring at their surroundings with a dumbfounded look.

“Welcome, Awakener Lukas Hyphestus.”, the blue-haired woman greeted mechanically, her voice countless times colder and more indifferent than when she had addressed Liora.

Soon, another round of assessment began under her instructions.

–

Liora did not know what took place after she left, though she could make an educated guess.

After pressing the “Return” button, she was teleported to her residence within the Information World. However, she didn’t choose to stay here for long.

After confirming that everything was fine, her mind communicated with the capsule.

She urged it to pull both her physical vessel and her consciousness outside, letting her return to the real world.

The process was nearly instantaneous.

One moment, Liora was still in the Information World, and the next moment, she had appeared within a dark, closed capsule.

She immediately realized that the separated part of her physical body had also returned with her consciousness.

Only a faint discomfort remained as evidence of it having ever been gone, which soon retreated into nothingness.

Liora noticed this but paid little attention. Pressing the flickering “Eject” button, she opened the capsule and stepped out.

She was originally expecting to find a hall packed with noisy, chattering students.

Yet the moment she stepped out of the device, she realized she was the only one in the room.

No. More precisely, she was the only student in the hall.

Besides her, Elena and a middle-aged man could be seen standing not far away, conversing with each other as if waiting for something.

The opening of the capsule was silent. Yet since Liora didn’t attempt to hide herself, the two people instantly noticed her presence.

“Liora, you’re finally out.”, Elena immediately exclaimed, flashing before her and inspecting her up close.

It was only after she confirmed there was nothing wrong with her that she breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest.

“It’s been nearly half a day since you entered the Information World. All the other students have already left. I feared that something bad had happened to you.”

Saying this, Elena seemed to have remembered something. She turned to look at the middle-aged man, then focused back at Liora and spoke up.