MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 11: Academy-1

Six days passed in a blur, much like a fleeting dream, until the morning of the Academy's entrance exams finally arrived. Registration had been completed via the online portal, requiring only basic details like name and appearance. While providing one's mana rank was an option, Anthony had naturally left that field blank.

His application had been submitted a month prior, allowing the institution enough time to conduct thorough background checks. The academy was meticulous, ensuring they didn't inadvertently nurture a future enemy within their own walls.

The school bore the name Omni-peak Academy, a fitting title given its curriculum covered every imaginable profession. It was a melting pot of diversity where every race was represented among both the student body and the faculty.

Each year, the Academy admits exactly one thousand students. However, many fail to survive the first year; some withdraw voluntarily, others perish, and many are expelled for failing to meet strict requirements, such as maintaining a specific mana rank or passing rigorous coursework.

The Dean of the institution was a legendary powerhouse, a male Dragon known by the terrifying moniker 'The Slaughterer.' It was said that merely hearing his name was enough to cause the faint of heart to drop dead.

Serving as Vice President was a Vampire of such breathtaking beauty that she could have sparked wars in Anthony's previous life. Although he had only glimpsed her image on the mana-net, he acknowledged her as a top-tier existence, even if she was currently far beyond his reach.

This Vice President was feared as 'The Blood Empress.' Her ability to manipulate the very blood within an opponent's veins was a death sentence. While Anthony considered such a power to be a "cheat" and completely OP, he kept his thoughts to himself, remembering his own status window and the countless OP skills he had accumulated over the last five years.

He was eager to witness these various races firsthand and discover their unique traits. His daydreaming was interrupted by his father's call, prompting him to head downstairs.

After a quick nod to the butler, he joined his father who was waiting by the garage. "Is your luggage ready?" Michael inquired.

"Yes, father. I've been preparing since the moment I registered," Anthony answered.

"Where is mother?" he followed up.

"She is meeting us at the venue along with your grandparents," his father explained.

The two entered the car, departing as part of a heavily guarded convoy. Anthony’s actual belongings were sparse, consisting mostly of clothing and a five-year reserve of potions provided by his father's seemingly bottomless supply. To avoid the suspicion of carrying an empty space ring, he had tucked away a few outfits, some potions, and a sword inside it.

During the drive, he stared out the window with a sense of anticipation for the battles to come, confident in his eventual victory. He recalled that the graduation requirement was an SS rank and couldn't suppress a chuckle; he hadn't even been admitted yet, and he already met the criteria to graduate. As he watched the scenery, his father's voice broke the silence.

"Do you understand why the other races usually lead the academy while humans often sit in the middle tier?" Michael asked.

"Bloodline inheritance," Anthony replied simply.

Anthony was well aware of the sheer power of bloodlines. The ancestral knowledge buried in his own veins frequently shocked him with its depth. He understood how broken the system was and felt the irony of his situation—he was a human who was actually reaping the benefits of such a system.

Michael nodded, satisfied with the response.

"That is exactly why they dominate. However, that was the status quo before humanity utilized millions of years of research to bridge the gap. Today, we can finally stand on equal footing in the grand scheme of things."

"Within those walls, you'll encounter others who are far ahead due to their physiques or lineages. But do not be intimidated, my son, for you are the son of NULL Michael."

"I won't demand you be the absolute best, but a spot in the top twenty would be sufficient," Michael stated.

Anthony was momentarily speechless. Top twenty? If he didn't secure the number one spot, he might as well give up on this life. He simply hadn't revealed his true progress to his family yet. Even now, he was suppressing his presence to a mere F- rank aura. He thought about promising his father the top rank but realized he would just sound like a boastful child. He knew from the mana-net that the top fifty were usually dominated by other races, with humans holding only a handful of spots. Instead of arguing, he just gave an innocent smile.

He had no intention of dropping his mana rank concealment for anyone. He had checked the school regulations and confirmed it wasn't a violation; he only needed to reveal his SS rank when it was time to graduate.

"Additionally, children from the other five great families will be in attendance. Form alliances if you wish, though our family name is powerful enough that you needn't bother if you don't feel like it," Michael added.

Anthony didn't care much for socializing. He didn't even know what they looked like. He only knew the Crimson family possessed flame-red hair like his mother, and the Null family was known for white hair. As for the rest, he figured their strength would eventually reveal their lineage to him.

After a four-hour journey, they reached Academy City. The school was so vast it occupied an entire city at the world's center, a necessity to accommodate the myriad of races residing there. It was effectively the heart of the globe.

Upon seeing the Null family crest—a sword piercing a crown—on the convoy, the gate guards immediately stood aside and bowed. They bypassed all security checks, driving straight to the Academic building. Guards rushed to open the doors, and Anthony followed his father toward the examination hall.

As they walked, the crowd began to point and whisper. Anthony ignored them entirely, dropping his usual relaxed persona. A passive skill from his sign-in system had automatically activated.

[Passive Skill: Emperor Demeanor: Your entire being radiates the presence of a sovereign.]

This skill ensured his conduct was flawless. Though he could disable it, he chose not to; he intended to rule this Academy like an emperor.

He noticed many gazes lingering on him, which he attributed to his striking appearance.

In his typical delusional fashion, he half-expected a Dragon King or Demon King to descend from the sky and kidnap him at any moment.

They finally reached the testing area, where a panel of three men and seven women were processing the new applicants.