The Author's Extra: My SSS Skill Turns Souls into Anything!

Everyone soon arrived at the examination arena, where the first round of the Final Examinations was about to begin.

The enormous arena was already packed with students. Several large scoreboards had been placed around the perimeter, displaying the rankings of students across the academy.

While waiting for the examinations to begin, Alden casually walked toward one of the scoreboards.

His eyes moved down the rankings. Then stopped.

[248. Alden — 492 pts — II Year]

Alden stared at it for a moment.

’Seriously?’ His eyes narrowed.

Despite everything he had done recently, his accumulated score was still abysmal compared to the rest of the academy.

’Nothing is going to change that except earning the points myself.’ He sighed and turned away from the scoreboard.

’Whatever. I’ll just have to climb it through pure merit.’ As he walked back toward the examination area, his expression became more serious.

’I have to reach the Upper Academy.’ His hands slipped into his pockets. ’No matter what.’

’The next major part of the story is going to happen there. If I want to survive what’s coming I need to reach the Upper Academy before the plot reaches that point.’

"Alden!" A familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He stopped and turned around.

"Leon? Legion?"

The corner of his lips lifted slightly.

Leon hurried over and immediately slapped a hand against Alden’s back.

"You were amazing back there! You should’ve seen all those shocked and jealous faces when you were announced as the Student Council Advisor!"

Alden rubbed the spot where Leon had hit him. "Was I really that entertaining?"

"Absolutely!" Leon grinned. "Some of them looked like they were about to swallow their own tongues."

Legion approached more calmly, a faint smile on his face. "Indeed. Congratulations, Alden. I’m glad to see you’re finally receiving the recognition you deserve."

He extended his hand.

Alden glanced at it for a moment before taking it in a firm handshake. "Thanks, Legion."

He then turned toward Leon. "And thank you too, Leon."

Leon grinned.

"Heh. Don’t mention it. Just make sure you don’t embarrass us during the exams now that you’re a big-shot council member."

Alden’s eyebrow twitched.

"Big shot?"

"Of course."

"You’re the only one who just called me that."

"Exactly."

Alden sighed. ’Why did I even bother answering?’

The students gradually settled into the enormous circular arena. Tier after tier of seats surrounded the central combat field, rising high enough for even those at the very back to have a clear view of the battles below. The center itself had been cleared into a wide, circular battlefield, its surface reinforced with layers of protective magic to withstand the students’ attacks.

The Student Council had its own elevated section overlooking the arena. Alden sat alongside Seris, Nicholas, Roselle, Nathan, and Augustus, watching the examinations from above.

Above the battlefield, a female announcer floated effortlessly on a small cloud of magic, holding a crystal microphone in one hand.

"Let us begin the first round of the Final Examinations!" Her voice echoed throughout the entire arena.

A massive magical screen immediately appeared above her.

"Each match will be arranged between students of comparable rank and combat ability to ensure fair competition. So don’t worry about your opponent!" She raised her hand enthusiastically.

"Give it everything you’ve got!"

The first matchup appeared.

Two first-year students stepped onto the battlefield.

The crowd immediately erupted as the match began.

Alden watched from his seat, resting his chin against his hand.

’So they really are matching people according to rank and combat power.’

The first battle ended after several exchanges, followed by another, and then another. Students from different years continued entering the arena as the magical screen repeatedly displayed new matchups.

Some battles ended quickly.

Others turned into drawn-out clashes that had the audience screaming whenever either fighter landed a decisive blow.

Eventually, the screen flickered again.

[2. Seris Silverhart — 3,248 — III Year]

VS

[3. Claire Thorne — 3,139 — III Year]

The arena exploded with cheers.

"VICE-PRESIDENT SERIS!"

"GO, SENIOR CLAIRE!"

"Senior Claire will win! Show them what you’ve got!"

"SHOW HER THE POWER OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT!"

"WIN THIS, SENIOR SERIS!"

Seris calmly walked into the arena while Claire followed from the opposite side.

Claire glanced toward the roaring audience and smiled.

"Seems like there’s quite a bit of noise today."

"Seems like it," Seris replied calmly.

The announcer raised her hand.

"Begin!"

The two immediately clashed.

Their battle was nothing like the earlier matches.

Claire’s attacks came fast and precise, forcing Seris to continuously reposition herself. Seris countered with equally sharp movements, her scythe carving through the air as Claire barely avoided each strike.

The audience repeatedly erupted as the two traded blows.

Neither was willing to give the other an opening.

Eventually, after a fierce exchange, Seris managed to gain the advantage and brought the match to an end.

"WINNER IS SERIS SILVERHART!"

"NOOO! She was so close!"

"VICE-PRESIDENT SERIS WON!"

The arena erupted from both sides.

Seris extended a hand toward Claire.

"That was a good battle. I enjoyed it."

Claire accepted her hand and allowed herself to be pulled up.

"Yeah. But next time, I’m winning, Seris."

Seris gave a small scoff.

"Sure. We’ll see."

The scoreboard updated.

[2. Seris Silverhart — 3,248 + 50 points]

More matches followed.

Nicholas stepped onto the battlefield and cut through his opponent’s defense with a single fluid sequence of sword strikes, earning another victory.

Roselle’s match ended shortly afterward.

"Winner is Roselle!"

Augustus barely seemed interested in his own match, simply stepping backward after his opponent was defeated and yawning as though he’d just finished an afternoon nap.

Leon fought, Legion fought. One matchup after another continued.

Then, the magical screen flickered, and Alden’s eyes moved toward it.

[248. Alden — 492 pts — II Year]

A few seconds of silence passed.

Then the first-years erupted.

"HEY! IT’S SENIOR ALDEN!"

"DO YOUR BEST, SENIOR ALDEN!"

"GO, ALDEN!"

Alden stood from his chair. ’Well, finally.’

He stepped toward the stairs leading down to the battlefield.

But before he could take another step, the screen flickered again.

A second name appeared.

The cheers abruptly died. A strange silence spread through the arena.

Alden looked up. His expression slowly changed.

[9. Nathan — 2,430 pts — III Year]

Someone in the crowd finally spoke.

"Hold on, it’s Nathan!"

"That’s a massive difference in rank!"

"Is this some kind of mistake? How is this a fair match?!"

The arena erupted into confused murmurs.

Alden’s eyes narrowed. He slowly turned his head toward the Student Council section.

Nathan was still sitting there.

Alden stared directly at him.

[Alden vs Nathan]

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