The loading icon on the holographic screen spun for a few more seconds before suddenly disappearing.
The entire display flashed blue.
Then, one by one, the names of every student began appearing from the very bottom of the rankings, climbing upward in ascending order.
The training ground immediately fell silent.
Every pair of eyes remained fixed on the floating screen.
Students whose names appeared near the bottom frowned almost instantly.
Some lowered their heads in disappointment.
Others simply sighed.
Many of them hadn't performed poorly because they lacked ability.
Their Numbered Gems had been stolen.
Several students had managed to collect respectable amounts during the Practical Test, only to lose everything after being ambushed or overwhelmed by stronger opponents near the end.
Some had even watched four or five Numbered Gems disappear into someone else's Space Bag before they were beaten badly enough to be carried away by the academy medics.
