《The Retired Hero is an Extra》


 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Prologue: Good Riddance

    Ashen grey clouds covered the sky as a seemingly gloomy atmosphere enveloped the world.


    ¡ªSwoosh


    Suddenly, a massive black light pillar shot out, spreading from the empty air.


    Following the light, if it could be even called that, a terrifying pressure appeared, splitting apart the clouds as if to clear up the sky.


    Yet the atmosphere of dread only becomes more intense with the passing of time.


    Within the light, stood a dark figure, whose features indiscernible. But the mere pressure the figure gave out caused the air itself to tense up.


    Whoever the figure was, they were absurdly strong, unparalleled even.


    The feeling of loss and utter defeat loomed among the scarce survivors. Their insignificant presence, luckily or unluckily, remained unknown.


    Slowly, the dazzling dark light dimmed down, clearing the silhouette of the dark figure.


    However, that wasn''t the end. The figure seemed to converge all the light in its surrounding as if absorbing it, causing itself to appear pitch black.


    Its size wasn''t gigantic; rather, it was similar to a human, maybe around 1.9 meters tall, donning pitch-black armor, or was it his skin?


    No one really knew.


    Well, even if someone did, they most likely lay dead by now.


    Different from the hopeless survivors, one person remained, their hope.


    Unfortunately, he too wasn''t in his top shape, after the incessant battles.


    "Huff... huff..."


    Yet his condition too wasn''t the best. Despite the pressure and fatigue drowning him after countless battles, he still stood his ground.


    ''For her sacrifice...''


    He told himself for the umpteenth time before gazing around to take note of the destruction, his breathing erratic.


    It appeared he too was on the verge of losing it all and tried to find something. Anything to ignite some hope, some will to fight...


    His feet felt sticky from the small pool of pitch-black blood beneath him. The blood, however, wasn''t his.


    The scene around him was wrought with destruction¡ªrubble, corpses, and blood of both allies and enemies alike.


    ''I am merely fatigued with minor flesh wounds,'' he noted his condition before turning to gaze at the demonic figure still hovering in the sky, appearing superior to his race¡ªhumans.


    Their eyes locked mid-air; everything around them seemingly froze from this minor event.


    It was then, he saw its lips curl up ever so slightly.


    ''H-he smiled!?'' He thought, shocked by the revelation. As a result, his barely restrained mana ran amok, just like his emotions.


    His body turned paler with each passing second, blood flowing from his orifices.


    ¡ªRiiip!


    It was right at this moment that the figure moved and seemingly tried to grasp the sky itself as if it was tangible.


    Suddenly, red floating windows appeared in front of the man, filling his vision, filled with the same message along with a neon sign of danger.


    [Warning!]


    [Warning!]


    [Warning!]


    Ignoring their blaring sound, as if they weren''t the most absurd thing, he moved at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, reaching the floating figure in a second.


    In a flurry of motion, he swung his sword, a golden brilliance swirling on top of the blade.


    All in an attempt to halt the figure''s moves.


    However, it seemed to just be delaying the inevitable.


    "You are strong..." The demon spoke all of a sudden, his voice hoarse and raspy before he struck. "...for a human."


    ¡ªThud!


    All it did was wave his free hand and the man fell to the ground filled with destroyed buildings as the fear-inducing words echoed in his mind, for a second.


    Shaking his head to regain clarity, he kicked the ground to get out of the dust and destruction before pouring a fifth of his current mana reserves into the sword.


    The metallic sword glimmered in the twilight along with its own golden brilliance as several intricately carved runes of various colors came alive.


    The mana became explosive before they clashed once again.


    ¡ªBoom!


    ¡ªSlash!


    After an unknown period of time spent clashing weapons and fighting a life-and-death battle against the figure, the Demon King.


    He stood before the human.


    Or rather, he knelt before the human.


    "That was a tough fight," commented the human, locking eyes with the Demon King.


    His chest had two glaring holes, one on the left side where the human heart ought to be and another on the right, just in case.


    It was courtesy of the human''s full-on blows during the time the Demon King had formed illusions, clones, and doppelgangers to surround the human.


    If not for using his senses to predict the attacks, the man would have suffered far more grievous injuries.


    "What''d you expect, human?" The Demon King sneered, despite his current situation, as if he wasn''t on death''s door.


    Still, the man chose not to retort. After all, he too incurred a massive number of injuries in the trade-offs with the Demon King.


    ''It really wasn''t an easy fight. It was the toughest one ever since I got the system, at least,'' mused the man, looking at his sword which was stabbed through right above the Demon King''s sternum, jutting out of his neck.


    ''Turns out, the Demon King has a unique physiology and anatomy. Maybe just his own bloodline?''


    The man pondered in melancholy as the fights with so-called Noble demons who also had a heart, mostly on their left side, akin to humans, flashed through his mind.


    He didn''t believe for one second that humans and demons could co-exist.


    It was a naive thought.


    Well, even if they could...


    Not like, he wouldn''t kill them all.


    "Phew~"


    Taking a deep breath to bury the resurfacing painful memories before they could impact his psyche once again. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Interrupting his thoughts, the Demon King whispered, "Human. Do you want to know?"


    The alluring voice gave rise to his inner turmoil.


    It was a true devilish whisper.


    "What?" I hissed at his dying form.


    "My story.... My tale...." He rasped through the black blood leaking from his mouth.


    It was a miracle how he was still alive, let alone have the capability to talk.


    But then again, he had already noticed the signs of something similar to mana heart in Noble Demons.


    Surely, their King would have the complete one, right?


    "Why bother? Just die... like the invader... you are..." The man spat through gritted teeth, trying to prevent his emotions from bursting.


    "Ha-ha... I will... die... Don''t worry..." He responded calmly. Yet the hint of mockery in his voice couldn''t be hidden.


    It obviously irked the man, but he decided to entertain the dying Demon King for a while longer.


    ...


    After hearing his story, it could be easily summarized:


    A lowly demon, born to the whim of another, who abused him as his mother died at birth. All other demons ostracized and bullied him.


    Then one fortunate day, he awakened his bloodline on the verge of death, alerting the previous King, who wiped out an entire Province after finding out about it.


    It was done just for a simple reason: Just to keep it a secret.


    After all, as the King, he had too many enemies.


    Yer he taught everything before vanishing without a trace, leaving behind the next King and the strongest demon.


    As he rose to power, he squashed any rebellious demon cruelly and lived like that for a long time, thwarting assassination attempts daily.


    Finally, he felt a woman''s pleasure and the emotions made him calm.


    Yet history repeated itself. Born a boy, killing his mother just like his father.


    Probably, a trait of their bloodline.


    Anyhow, he ruled and taught his son while enjoying himself, knowing he couldn''t impregnate any woman as such was the cursed bloodline...


    The man seemed to have had enough of the story and exclaimed, "Skip all that nonsense, cliche stuff. I want to know who injured you and why the hell you appeared here. I am not interested in knowing about your life or your son''s potential revenge."


    The Demon King''s story was... just too boring.


    Yes, boring.


    That was the only way to express it accurately.


    "A being... He... shattered... space..."


    At this point, the man doubted if the Demon King went senile with his approaching death and uttered random nonsense.


    However, lowering his guard... it was a mistake...


    ¡ªRiiip!


    His sharp claws pierced the human''s chest and held his heart, clenching it in an attempt to destroy it.


    Feeling the hand through his chest, the man thought, ''I was already aware of his attempts to shatter my mana heart to kill me, but this...


    How do I say it?


    It was expected yet unexpected.


    Whatever, it is something I welcome.''


    Death.


    The concept seemed elusive yet it was closer than one could imagine.


    "Good... Riddance..."


    The man murmured with a crazed smile as if he liked what the Demon King did.


    Even the Demon King''s facial expression showed a hint of shock and surprise, albeit for a second as he turned lifeless in the next.


    Gazing around, the man''s eyes darted to look at the signs of collapse around, showcasing the current state of Humans and the reminder of their civilization, if any.


    Yet a content smile graced his face, as if it had nothing to do with him.


    And truly, it didn''t.


    Slowly, the man felt his control over his body and senses fade before his consciousness waned. Despite the situation, the man chuckled as the realization sank in.


    ''Death is approaching...''


    Ignoring the continuous blaring of the system like an everyday routine, his eyes closed with a small smile gracing his lips before he died.... or at least he hoped he died.


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo!~


    Welcome to my new novel!!


    This novel will be slow and a slice of life one, better than the previous one.


    But, no, I am not dropping my other novel, I will continue it after a one-month hiatus necessary for fixing the mistakes in it and sorting out a better schedule than now.


    Tell me in the comments how you feel about it and share it with your friends!!


    This novel is participating in June WPC, so give me your power stones, golden tickets, gifts and whatever you can! At least comment!!

 Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Prologue: Three Wishes

    A dark nothingness surrounded and enveloped me for a seemingly long time before I felt the pitch-black darkness tremble but I didn''t respond.


    Rather, I couldn''t.


    After all, I was supposed to be dead and maybe go through the cycle of rebirth.


    Or maybe some god would weigh my actions and deeds, Karma, was it? Then, they would decide what shall I be reborn as.


    Or maybe go to Heaven or Hell?


    I don''t know.


    It was just a concept of different religions yet no one knew what was true and what wasn''t as no believer would ever believe their religion to lie and be inferior.


    Setting those complicated thoughts aside, I wondered in bewilderment.


    ''Wait a minute? How am I thinking? Ain''t I dead?''


    Confused by my current state, I couldn''t help but panic slightly, thinking the worst.


    ''What if someone trapped my soul or something? Is it even real? Am I not dead? Maybe, I am in a coma...''


    ...


    However, as if to put every single one of my theories and crazy thoughts to waste, a sudden white expanse greeted me.


    It was akin to a small room yet I didn''t know its size as I was locked in place, like usual.


    "The System Space," I said as recognition dawned on me.


    Seeing the familiar scene, my thoughts calmed down too.


    Unaware of the being keeping an eye on me, I continued to wait for the system to show up.


    ***


    [??? POV]


    Looking at the silhouette in white, resembling a man, in the center of System Space, was a man with regality and dignity oozing out of his stout form.


    "The System Space," muttered the silhouette.


    To the man, however, the voice couldn''t be any more clear.


    After all, he could even read the silhouette''s thoughts. This much was nothing.


    But it begged the question how could a blurry silhouette speak?


    "Let''s see what you choose..." The man mumbled to nobody in particular as he waved his hand and the system blared in front of the silhouette once again.


    ***


    If I had my body, I was sure I would be furrowing my brows as the system was taking longer than usual.


    ''Whatever. Not like I can do anything.''


    The System Space was an isolated space, or maybe dimension, of sorts. It was the place where the System usually gave me quests and rewards.


    Waking up here instead of meeting some mythical being, I knew for sure, it was for my feat of killing the Demon King despite my death.


    That was the end goal, anyways.


    Or so I believed at the time.


    ¡ªRing!


    [Calculating Rewards...]


    Suddenly, the system blared into existence out of nowhere but I was used to it.


    Not like I could react even if I wasn''t.


    It had a simple light blue background with words popping up with white like the typical system in most games, novels, animes, manhwas etcetera.


    Though its buzzing sound was surely annoying...


    ¡ªRing!


    [Rewards Calculated!]


    [Dear Host,


    Thanks for killing the Demon King and saving your world!]


    With that message, confetti popped up and music started ringing all around me as if celebrating the death of the Demon King.


    [Reward:...]


    ¡ªRing!


    [Reward has been upgraded]


    [With the system creator''s permission, 3 wishes are granted to the system bearer!]


    Unknown to me, my form of a hazy silhouette wavered for a second, indicating my inner happiness yet also my turmoil.


    "How ironic."


    I couldn''t help but say, knowing full well that it was either me or the Demon King.


    Yet knowing and accepting it were different things.


    The feeling of disgust flowed through me for being stripped of the chance to go to the afterlife, or whatever else it may be.


    In the end, what other choice did I have than to accept my ridiculous situation?


    So, I thought carefully and asked for one of the most common cliche beginning in webnovels.


    ''System, Regression?''


    ¡ªRing!


    [Denied.]


    As if to pour cold water over my expectations, it boldly denied my question much faster than other times. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Well, what did I even expect?


    If that was possible, what was the meaning of going through everything?


    One can just keep exploiting the loophole and might even regress 1683 times and fail to keep their memories, believing it to be their 3rd round, like that one famous novel.


    Stopping myself from going into bragging about that novel, I decided to make the best decision with the limited information.


    ''I need to narrow down what I can and can''t do...''


    In an attempt to draw more information from the system regarding the capabilities of the wishes, I asked it several questions and it fired rapid replies.


    The conclusion I reached after the short question and answer session was simple:


    ''It is pretty useless.''


    Not that it ever helped me to increase my stats by drinking water or basic tasks or something.


    It has always been an equivalent exchange except for probably protection from soul and mental attacks, maybe.


    ''I guess, this is the best bet...''


    It just had way too many limitations. For example: no regression, no resurrection,no afterlife, no power ups, no information about the creator, and no revival.


    Oh yeah? Did I forget to mention that I am deader than dead and it won''t change.


    At least in this world.


    ''System, you said only Reincarnation is allowed, right?''


    ¡ªRing!


    [Yes, Host! If you wish to use your other wishes then you must reincarnate and use one of the wishes for it!]


    "What a scam!"


    I couldn''t help but curse at the absurdity of the situation.


    I was stuck here, in the system space.


    Dead.


    What''s worse?


    1 out of 3 wishes will definitely be used and from what I know of this shitty system, it will definitely play some tricks.


    Driving my mind to overload, I decided to come up with the best decision possible.


    ''Orphan or family? Obviously, a family! A loving one at that! But I don''t want to change my gender or become a first son...''


    ''Who wants to become the heir and deal with clutter all day long? Definitely not me!''


    ''She is dead and nothing''s gonna change that. It''s already been a decade since then...''


    ''Two decades for my parents...''


    ...


    "Curse you system! I am too old for this shit! I just want to live a lazy life."


    "It would be a blessing if I could live a normal life with my parents before getting married and dying of old age!"


    "Who wants to be the strongest or the ruler of the world? Be that if you want! I will just be stronger and live like I want!"


    Finally, I decided to lay down my wishes not knowing it wasn''t easy to fulfill them, given my life was filled with fighting and blood all throughout.


    Not that I had any other option to waste time.


    Something told me in my guts that I didn''t have the luxury to stay here in the system space indefinitely.


    If that wasn''t enough, the System''s rapid replies raised some concern within my being.


    ''I should just go with it¡­''


    I looked, if that was even possible in my current form, at the fluttering blue system window in the System Space and directly stated my wish.


    "Firstly, reincarnation without you, the system, and soul protection to never get enslaved, controlled, manipulated or connected to any other system. I am tired of this¡­"


    Before I could complete my entire wish, the system windows shifted and many appeared and disappeared instantaneously.


    ¡ªRing!


    [Worlds host can be reincarnated into: 178956¡­


    Removing System or potential system worlds¡­


    Adding Soul Protection¡­]


    "Oi!" I interrupted the system and cursed it, "You shitty system, at least listen to my complete wish!"


    Yet it didn''t stop calculating so I just continued with my wish.


    "Fine! Do it your way, then!"


    "Listen here, I don''t wish to save the world again, just a peaceful slow life with a loving family and then marry a loyal wife to spend my life with. Ah! Of course, I don''t want to destroy any worlds either."


    "Secondly, make sure I am born as a second son to a monogamous couple. Seal my memories till I am 10 or 15 unless it endangers my life or of those close to me."


    "And third¡­"


    ¡ªRing!


    [Request Denied!]


    [Administrator Overwrites!]


    [Overwrite Failed!]


    [Error!]


    [Error¡­Error¡­Error¡­!]


    [Creator¡­!]


    [Request Acquiesced]


    [Good luck, hero]


    "Wait¨C"


    I tried to stop the system but it didn''t respond and suddenly I lost all sensation and my thought processes but not before cursing this system one last time before going into reincarnation.


    ''You shitty system! I only got granted two wishes, not three! I will definitely not miss you, regardless!''


    ***


    [??? POV]


    Hearing the ridiculous thoughts of the system''s host, or better known as the Humanity''s last hope, the man''s lips couldn''t help but curl up despite the precarious situation around him.


    "That is going to take some time¡­" muttered the man as his expression transformed to a cold one and he immediately cut off the system and sent the still speaking man to his next life.


    "I do hope you achieve what you must.


    For it affects not just you but a lot."


    "What should I call you?"


    "The Undeserved Hero or the Accidental Hero?"


    "Haha"


    "Who am I kidding, there are no accidents or coincidences. Only Actions."


    "Should I bid you goodbye and luck for your next life with the titles you gained or the name your mother gave you?"


    Despite the man''s ramblings, his hands never stopped as he destroyed the system, once and for all. However, that wasn''t the end of it and he knew it all too well.


    "If fate wills it, we shall meet again, Bhairav."

 Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Prologue: Hard Choice

    After sending the Hero, Bhairav, who defeated the Demon King to reincarnate into a specific world, the man finally had a change of expression.


    Just because he crashed the system and destroyed it, he knew it wasn''t enough to change the outcome.


    Yet he also knew better than anyone else, he would do the same all over again, if given the chance.


    Unlike the system who couldn''t meddle with the power of ''Time'', he was different.


    However, he was already treading a thin line with his life when he made the decision to give the system to someone unworthy of it.


    Yes, the system was never meant for him.


    Recalling those memories while collapsing the remaining System Space, the man suddenly took out a spherical crystal orb.


    "I wonder what path you will choose..."


    The man mumbled out of nowhere before looking at the orb with a radius of merely 7 centimeters with curiosity flickering in his white eyes.


    "Hmm... It will be soon..."


    The man clad in pristine ivory clothing didn''t stop as he finally left the space and directly appeared in the area where the showdown between the Hero and the Demon King took place.


    Undeterred by the corruption of mana and chaotic flow of it, he directly vanished once again, not even gazing at anyone or anything.


    Appearing at the core of the planet which should have extremely hot temperatures, he gawked around with a hint of urgency in his movements.


    The temperature hot enough to melt human and metal alike in mere seconds failed to even lick at his clothes or hair.


    A thin glow of ivory covered his entire frame as he tried to find the core of the planet, condensed after countless years.


    "It should be right here..."


    "The energy reserves couldn''t have diminished so fast, right?"


    The man said to himself as he covered vast distances with every step, trying to find the source of the planet''s mana in the atmosphere.


    ¡ªFssh!


    Suddenly, a sound as if glass shattering alerted him as he appeared at another location.


    "Phew"


    The man released his held breath as he noticed the amount of energy remaining and confirmed if it was sufficient for his goal.


    "Seems more than enough." The man nodded his head before placing the crystal orb next to the core.


    The orb looked miniscule in front of the core which was at least a kilometer in diameter alone with imperfect spherical shape.


    However, the man''s focus was on the small orb which reflected all the colors in the visible spectrum of light.


    A few tendrils of pure ivory color left the man''s hands as it enveloped the orb completely before coming in contact with the core.


    The moment the ivory energy came in contact with the core, the dense energy filled in the core flowed out like water and converged at the small orb which greedily sucked it in.


    If anyone else were to witness this scene, they''d probably go crazy wondering how such a small orb could absorb such a massive amount of energy, let alone glancing at the man who stood calm as if it weren''t anything abnormal.


    ¡ªFssh!


    The seconds ticked by before the core started to crack even more yet at the precipice of its eminent shattering, the small orb vanished from place.


    A small distortion seemed to have occurred in that moment as only the core vanished, its destination unknown.


    The ivory energy, however, still lingered around as the man controlled it and directly manipulated the energy in the core to explode and form a chain reaction.


    "It''s about damn time," stated the man in an eerie voice as he left the place after starting the chaotic activity in the core.


    If not stopped in time, it would definitely lead to more explosions and even the planet might face implosion.


    The man, however, didn''t seem bothered as if he had decided this was the best plan of action, irrespective of the countless deaths.


    The man floated in space using his ivory energy as his gaze filled with unknown intent and meaning locked at the planet hung in the void.


    "Right about now."


    The man broke the silence and as if his words were law, a shocking scene occurred.


    The planet burst apart with countless landmasses flying in different directions to float freely in the void, called the space.


    With the omnipresent vacuum in space, the process remained soundless throughout.


    The human race, who had been celebrating "The valiant Hero who sacrificed himself to slay the Demon King" got the shock of their lives as the earth below them burst apart.


    Their festive and joyous mood turned sour as the sudden impact struck, making them realize the seriousness of the situation.


    Several crevices formed due to the sudden movement of landmass, or rather the tectonic plates.


    While some crevices were empty, some filled with water, and some with even lava.


    That wasn''t the end of it, however. As the abrupt movement of the tectonic plates gave rise to several diverse phenomena.


    In some places, sudden mountains arose, while there could be Tsunamis or abyssal holes in some places.


    The strange phenomenon naturally gave rise to mass hysteria and panic.


    Fortunately or unfortunately, the phenomena didn''t last long as it didn''t take much time for the humans to realize the earth they stood upon had started bursting outward with even more fervor. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It felt as if the earth which seemed to shield them from the massive energy at the core forcefully broke down, under the increased activity of the planet''s core.


    Slowly but surely, all the living beings who once called the planet hom, passed away.


    Some were lucky enough to not even know how while the stronger ones who tried to resist, only got painful deaths because of their own stubbornness.


    Seeing such a scene as a result of his actions, the man''s fists clenched in helplessness for the first time after he reached his current strength.


    "Calm down... It was a hard choice.... but it was the only one..."


    The man repeated those words to calm his agitated heart and console him as he couldn''t afford to brood over such a thing as more pressing matters awaited him.


    His gaze locked on to the remnants of life and the lively planet changed as he snapped his fingers.


    Despite seeming like a mundane act, a vortex of energy spread out from within his being as numerous mystical projections got sucked in the vortex.


    The vortex of energy only increased in intensity as it covered everything within a certain range from the previous location of the planet''s core.


    A large barrier appeared to stop the energy vortex from exiting the region before it suddenly vanished from existence and so did the energy vortex.


    "At least I sent their souls¨C"


    The man couldn''t complete his words as he felt a vast pressure collide against the barrier, seemingly trying to breach it from outside.


    Not wanting to stay here for a second longer, he swiftly manipulated the remaining energy and vanished from that location but not before giving it one final last glance.


    ''I hope no one has to make the same hard choice another time.''


    He prayed in his heart before vanishing once and for all, never to be seen again.


    Unbeknownst to him, he had still been a step too late.


    ***


    Inside a room filled with holographic screens, a man sat at the top, gazing down at his people working and calculating the needed time and energy to breach the invisible barrier.


    It would take too long for the man to breach the barrier by himself, especially when they already had the most efficient weapon for it.


    They had developed a weapon which could continuously target a miniscule singular point in any barrier with pinpoint accuracy to shatter any barrier.


    However, the man''s mere presence seemed to weigh down heavily on the workers below.


    "You needn''t show off."


    A brisk voice, soothing to the ear, seductive almost, echoed next to the man yet he didn''t even respond.


    Used to his antics, she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.


    "Did you get any information?"


    Her voice was too cold this time, freezing even.


    Yet no one wasted time as they responded immediately.


    "-Negative"


    "-Negative"


    "-Negative"


    ...


    After hearing almost everyone''s refusal, one voice managed to garner everyone''s attention.


    "-Nega¨CPositive!"


    Feeling the intense stares at him, the researcher didn''t wait for permission and directly showed them the information he managed to hack.


    Except for the man sitting there languidly, everyone had an expression of shock on their face.


    "Interesting..."


    "He sent a soul to another world."


    The man muttered in a low voice yet his heavy and booming voice was heard by all, shocking them even more.


    Yet like the disciplined researchers they were, they didn''t dare to interrupt him.


    "Stop wasting energy. He fled. The barrier will collapse."


    The woman beside the man said in a stern tone, bringing the researchers out of their reverie as they continued with their work.


    They had just seen the man sent off a soul using the planet''s core to another place, astonishing them.


    However, that wasn''t worth exchanging their lives for.


    "He seems wary of you."


    The man just nodded to the slender woman who returned after giving an order in his stead and nestled into his arms.


    He didn''t mind her presence at all as he just patted her hands and held onto her waist. She was his wife, after all.


    His thoughts, however, were a complete mess.


    ''He already destroyed the system before it could get hacked... Yet I obtained this information... Is it a trap? No, he knows he can''t face me... None of them can...''

 Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Prologue: Surprises

    Seeing her husband lost in thought, she didn''t disturb him and only became more comfortable in his arms.


    Of course, they were at the end of the room and at the top, a one-way mirror stopped any prying eyes yet allowed them to observe everything carefully.


    The woman casually put her face on her husband''s chest after she affectionately pecked his cheek.


    His tender lips seemed to have woken the man from his deep pondering as he felt his wife''s body on his and asked her in a sultry manner.


    "Want 106th child already?"


    His wife pouted at him and harrumphed, "Hmph! Why another child? Can''t a woman enjoy her husband..."


    Her voice turned low at the end as if embarrassed about her demand yet her husband didn''t seem to care as he pulled her closer and planted a firm kiss on her lips.


    "Yes, yes. You can want anything except another man and this husband of yours will give it to you."


    Hearing his mocking tone, she didn''t respond for a second before her expression turned serious, changing the mood around them.


    "Anything, yes?" Seeing him nod, she added, "Levoria wants to help in this one."


    Noticing his wife''s serious words, he didn''t want to ask but he had no choice. "Who?"


    Unfazed by her husband not knowing their daughter''s names, she answered, "The one who recently became an adult." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Isn''t she too young then? Don''t you hate it if I send the children to fight with their lives on the line?"


    Yes, the man had 105 children from the same woman and he didn''t care about them simply because he felt they were weak.


    Also, his wife was just too overprotective, not allowing him to send them to fight, making them useless.


    Of course, they were his children and he wouldn''t throw them out or anything. But that didn''t mean he would love and pamper them.


    "She wants to do it. I stopped her but..."


    Despite her serious expression and voice, he could detect subtle cracks in her facade. ''She doesn''t want to, alas, I can''t miss this.''


    "Enter."


    Ignoring his wife''s stern gaze directed at him, he turned to face the door.


    Behind the door stood a girl with similar features to the couple yet her height was a few inches short of her mother.


    Her short form flinched upon hearing the voice of her father.


    She had only heard it on the day she became an adult. This was her second time.


    Still, Levoria knew better than to disobey her father and entered the room, only to see a scene that she wished she had never seen.


    Her powerful and strong mother sat atop her father in a vulnerable position yet her gaze held the ferocity of a hunter sizing its prey.


    Unaware of the dynamic between her parents, she couldn''t help but almost stumble before she felt a faint power help her balance and stand in front of her father.


    Before she could say any greeting or anything else as it was too late to hide her blunder, her father asked her a question, "Why?"


    "I-I want to prove¨C"


    "No. Why?"


    Her father denied her the right to complete her sentence and immediately shut her up with his monotone voice.


    Levoria already knew from her mother''s explanation that lies or tricks didn''t work on her father.


    Levorie bit her lip slightly before she answered, "I-I want to get your approval."


    That was all she managed to say.


    However, her father had a more intense reaction than she expected.


    "Half. Why else?"


    While some might consider him to be probing too deeply, he wasn''t.


    If he wanted, he could directly read her thoughts yet he wasn''t because he wanted to see what she would say.


    And to say he was surprised would be an understatement.


    He hadn''t expected this child to speak the truth just like that, albeit incomplete. His succinct way of talking was also a method to intimidate others.


    He wanted to see what else she has to say.


    Little did he know, he would get the most surprises of his life today.


    "I apologize, father. I am unable to say that."


    Levoria bowed her head and replied politely. Her every action this time carried a sense of elegance yet her words carried far more weight.


    Her heart was beating wildly as she was extremely anxious about the response and her parents obviously noticed that.


    Despite being overprotective of her children, she wasn''t going to intervene and allowed her husband to take the decision.


    "...You can go."


    After a few moments of dreadful silence with Levoria still bowing her head, her father agreed and gave the approval.


    Levoria immediately raised her head but her father wasn''t looking at her any longer.


    He was looking at his wife affectionately and she didn''t seem to notice it as her mind was focused on Levoria and her well-being.


    After all, she was a mother.


    Irrespective of age, race, human or beast, they couldn''t help but worry about their children.


    However, Levoria had already left the moment she saw her father getting chummy with her mother.


    Even if a child knew how children were conceived, they truly felt disgust seeing their parents act lovey-dovey.


    It was simply unbearable.


    ¡ªBeep!


    Suddenly, an alarm sound rang, bringing the couple''s attention away from each other.


    Unfortunately, it seemed the two were destined to not make love today, or maybe just for now.


    Hearing the alarm buzzing, the two weren''t the least bit worried as they waited for the report.


    "Sir! The barrier is shattering and a large wave of energy is expected to clash against the ship. It is advisable to deploy the Complete Protective Shield."


    The voice had a hint of urgency yet it didn''t forgo the training and etiquette they learnt in their younger days.


    "Deploy it."


    The man calmly calculated the amount of resources needed to deploy the shield and the repair cost if he didn''t.


    In the end, he knew both outcomes weren''t worth it but it was the second best choice after knowing that person had already escaped.


    Taking responsibility, he channeled his own energy into the shield.


    ''I can recover the energy by siphoning it from the surroundings but resources are limited.''


    Just like that the energy wave assaulted the Complete Protective Shield and it defended successfully, not leaving the slightest scratch behind.


    Of course, his energy reserves were at an all time low as the ship made its way through the wreckage to the source of the energy.


    Seeing the scene from the inside of the control room, the man''s expression darkened as he realized the sinister plan of the escaped man.


    "Good. Very good!"


    A small subtle smile crept onto his face as he vanished from inside the ship and directly appeared next to the cracked planetary core.


    He absorbed all the leftover energy and continued to purify it inside his body even after the entire area turned colorless.


    He returned to his room and locked it as he needed some time to complete the purification of the energy and left his wife in-charge of everything.


    It wasn''t the first time he would be doing this so he didn''t really care.


    Unfortunately, he would soon come to regret his decision.


    ...


    A few days passed as the man continued to purify the energy inside his body.


    With his accurate grasp of energy, he easily found that he wouldn''t be able to stop purifying or he might suffer some injuries.


    He merely scoffed at the notion.


    ''As if I wouldn''t be able to. My capable wife can take care of everything.''


    Known to him, Levoria had left the next day that he gave permission and his wife took charge of everything.


    What he didn''t know was that enemies were approaching from the shadows.


    After all, what was the use of giving your enemy a single problem they could deal with?


    The escapee had already informed the others about what he did and how their enemy would be at their mercy.


    It wasn''t just them as several different factions and races which had severe enmity with this man, who casually continued the purification process.


    However, not only the enemies but even he, himself, were in for a surprise during the attack.


    ...


    The attack happened sooner than anyone could have predicted.


    With spaceships launching plasma beams and concentrated beams of mana, several shields activated to defend against the assault.


    Of course, counterattacks worked like a charm and many ships fell.


    The man already noticed it and was rather worried about the status quo as he couldn''t fight for at least 30 more days.


    The battle waged on continuously for many days yet it was just a waste of resources and the enemies were worried if he would come out and fight so they went all out to at least give him a big loss before leaving.


    They were self-aware regarding the fact that they couldn''t defeat him.


    Just as they lined up together to launch attacks alongside their spaceships, a sole woman exited the biggest spaceship.


    She stood at odds against all these strong men and women. She was completely surrounded.


    Her husband inside the ship had his heart clenched with worry as he got ready to suffer the backlash to protect his wife.


    ''No, no, no, no, no! What are you doing! If I lose resources, so be it. If I lose people, so be it. But I can''t lose you!''


    Before he could make a move or the surrounding enemies could offer a truce or something to the woman, she moved.


    With every single move of hers, a spaceship fell.


    Seeing the dreadful scene, they didn''t dare linger and immediately fled as they sensed that man about to come too.


    ''Fuck! Only 1 monster was already a headache, where did this woman come from?''


    They wondered in unison while fleeing.


    The monster in their thoughts himself was baffled by his wife''s strength yet he sported a proud smile.

 Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Sleepy Young Master

    ***


    13 January, Year 2448 of the Holy Calendar.


    On a detached faraway planet in the vast universe.


    Inside the Empire of Solarnelle, a sun-bathed realm, sparkling in gold, warmed by daylight and cooled by moonlight.


    There stood a mansion, decorated to the brim glowing radiantly in a jubilant mood, with twirling towers bustling with activity.


    Several intricately designed beautiful carriages seemingly screaming luxury lined one by one to enter the mansion, for today was a cause for celebration. Each one more opulent than the last as if to show their wealth, or to compete with one another.


    However, one of the twain said cause was actually absent while the guests arrived with gusto, hoping to make connections, vent at their rivals or for their own twisted reasons.


    Inside one of the rooms on the first floor of the vast mansion, a young boy lay on the bed. The light, breathable silk pajamas seemed useless in making the boy uncomfortable despite the cold of the winter evening.


    Undisturbed, he continued to sleep with fervor, seemingly enjoying his nap.


    ¡ªClick


    Suddenly, the door to the room opened and a female entered the room.


    Her attire typical of maids yet the elegance with which she carried herself along with her impeccable beauty would undoubtedly enchant the onlookers.


    "Sigh. The Lady will be mad," muttered the maid in a low voice before she waved her hand. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The chilly air inside the room turned to a chilly draft as it landed on the smooth skin of the young man, trying to awaken him gently.


    Seeing the cold daft have no effect on the sleeping boy, the maid changed the wind direction as it pushed him outside the huge bed.


    ¡ªThud


    Startled awake from suddenly falling off the bed, the boy looked around with wide open eyes before his eyes landed on the form of the maid.


    Blinking his eyes a few times as if he understood what just happened, he held onto his blanket and directly nestled into it on the floor itself.


    Apparently, he wanted to sleep more.


    "Young Master, you''ve been sleeping since last night!"


    Exasperated, the maid said in a louder voice than usual before she added in a threatening, low tone.


    "My Lady has ordered me to get you ready within the next 30 minutes, Young Master."


    Ignoring the maid''s ramblings, he waved her off, "Just let me sleep, Emma!"


    A vein throbbed on Emma''s forehead as she spat venomously, "You have 5 minutes to take a shower before I make you."


    Surprisingly, the threat seemed to work as the boy groaned and immediately rushed to the bathroom, dropping off his pajamas even before entering.


    Emma didn''t mind his rush as all she needed to pick them up was a twirl of her finger. ''He is so embarrassed of being naked in front of me.''


    An evil chuckle escaped her lips as she remembered how bashful he always got despite her being the one who used to bathe and clothe him till he was 8.


    ...


    Unaware of the thoughts of his maid, the boy hurriedly took off his underwear and directly shifted the shower knob to spew cold water on his face.


    "Ahhh~"


    "Cold showers are the best showers!"


    He couldn''t help but speak out his thoughts as he enjoyed the feeling of the cold water on his skin despite the chilly weather.


    "Hmph! If anyone dares to say they like hot showers, then I would fight them to the death."


    He vowed to himself randomly before he started grumbling, "Ugh! If only I could just take 1-2 hour cold water showers daily and spend the rest sleeping and eating!"


    "What a blissful life it would be!"


    Dreaming of such a life, he didn''t know how long passed before he remembered Emma''s threat and rushed out after turning the shower off.


    Drying his body using a dry towel, he wore his fresh pair of underwear before hanging the towel on his shoulders and exiting.


    ''It seems I got out just in time,'' he thought in utter glee, seeing his maid next to his dressing mirror.


    "Young Master, you are getting late for your own birthday banquet. Allow me to dress you."


    Emma said in a neutral tone. She noticed his wet hair and half-dry body and prepared to dry them using magic instead of waiting.


    By the time he walked to her, his entire body was dried from any signs of water and his hair was even styled already.


    ''Magic sure is convenient,'' thought the boy smiling.


    Seeing the happy expression on his face, Emma remembered something and smiled along with him as she started to dress him up.


    Using magic, of course.


    She didn''t touch him or even a strand of his hair. All of it easily done with magic.


    And her Young Master seemed to enjoy such moments. Alas, he just hated banquets.


    "Hmm, it''s done, Young Master," Emma nodded in acknowledgement as she took a scrutinizing glance at him with narrowed eyes to root out all blemishes from his clothes, if any at all.


    A resplendent white shirt made of luxurious silk paired with gem-like black buttons underneath his deep-blue suit jacket.


    The suit jacket had its own charm, adorned with gold chains on his chest with red rubies as buttons pairing well with his ankle length pants of the same color as his suit jacket.


    The pants had intricate golden designs on its sides starting from the waist to the knee with real gold threads.


    His blue-black shoes shone with a bright light, pairing up with his overcoat.


    It hung lightly on his shoulders with its sleeves freely yet it only increased the boy''s charm instead.


    His cufflinks were pure black with his family insignia drawn on them using white gold. The same insignia was present on the left breast of his suit jacket and along the golden design on his pants with white gold.


    The symbol represented a pure white arrow accentuated by the supporting daggers and swords.


    A total of five weapons yet the arrow stood at the forefront, ready to pierce the ones who underestimated the might of his Noble Family because their primary weapon was the bow.


    "You look good, Young Master," complimented Emma as she noticed the proud look on his face.


    "Of course! I am the most handsome!" The boy iterated while puffing out his chest.


    If he had just taken a look at Emma''s twitching lips, he would''ve found something wrong with him.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t have the time to anymore, as the door to his room directly opened with a click sound.


    Drawing both of their attention, a girl not older than the boy entered yet the moment she entered, the boy froze while Emma smiled.


    "Ziva? Why¨C"


    Before he could complete his words, the frozen form of the girl, Ziva, changed as she tried her best to stop her twitching lips.


    Yet the moment he spoke, she couldn''t hold it in any longer and she burst out into peals of laughter.


    "Ahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhah"


    Not understanding the situation, he tried to look for Emma but found that she was already by the door, about to leave.


    "I bid you a great time, Young Lady Ziva."


    Emma bowed before exiting. Not before her laughter echoed, however.


    "Hahahahaha"

 Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Playful Banter

    Ziva''s lips couldn''t help but twitch continuously as she looked at the expression of Jash.


    Currently, it wouldn''t be wrong to say he felt baffled and dumbfounded at the sudden entry of Ziva and then her laughter.


    As if that wasn''t enough, there was also the fact of Emma''s mischievous laughter before leaving.


    Not understanding their reason for their excessive laugh, he wanted to ask but he stopped right in his tracks.


    ''She just wiped a tear from the corner of her, didn''t she? And her eyes... they are anywhere but me...''


    It didn''t take a second longer for him to deduce the cause of it all: ''ME!?''


    Jash directly turned to face the mirror and finally noticed the abnormality.


    Ignoring his still perfectly dressed and styled attire, the abnormality lay on his face.


    Some black marker was used to draw circles around his eye and random scribbles on his cheeks and forehead.


    His expression darkened at his unsightly appearance as he shouted with frustration. "Damn that Emma! Just you wait!"


    However, his entire countenance froze as he remembered Ziva was also in the same room.


    His lazy brain seemed to work as he easily connected Emma''s last greeting, his current face, and Ziva''s entrance.


    Too coincidental.


    ''Did she...?''


    As if to prove his doubts true, Ziva looked away from him and tried to stifle her laughter yet her eyes couldn''t get enough of this sight.


    He also noticed a small black device in her head and suddenly felt dizzy.


    "You...! You are saving it!" Jash barely accused her, feeling indignation at her act.


    ''Not only did you ask Emma to do it. You even save it to tease me later!? I''ll definitely tell...''


    His thoughts broke as Ziva tried to speak amidst her stifling laughter.


    "Puaha... Haha... Hold your... haha... horses... Aunt...


    haha... already... haha... knows..."


    Hearing her barely audible words, he understood that anything he does regarding this won''t benefit him in the least.


    ''A wise man knows when to retreat and when to strike.''


    Iterating the quote inside his mind, he walked to the washroom with a livid expression.


    ...


    "Damn it! This just doesn''t get off!" Jash mumbled in frustration before giving the chuckling girl a death glare.


    It was all her fault, after all.


    Jash thought the worst she could''ve done was colluding with his mom and made him go through such an embarrassment.


    Yet the moment he tried to wash it off in the washroom, he immediately realized that either Emma or Ziva had decided to worsen it.


    The ink just didn''t wash off from his face.


    He was currently using a wet towel to try and scrub it off slowly, even if his skin was already slightly red. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If not for the chuckling girl and the ink on his face that he desperately tried to get rid off, this scene could pass off as a boy blushing in front of his crush.


    Despite not knowing such things, given they were just 12, especially the boy whose birthday banquet was about to start alongside his younger twin sister.


    He knew for a fact that she was weak to compliments, so he decided to hit one casually. "You look pretty."


    His words immediately brought the response he thought it would as she stopped laughing and stared straight into his eyes.


    A small smirk played on his lips but it crumpled not soon after as Ziva didn''t take more than a second to start her second round of laughter, albeit with a hint of red on the tips of her ears.


    Not noticing how his words affected her due to the lack of focus on her, he continued to ignore her as they sat together on the balcony of his room.


    It didn''t have much. Just a few potted plants and a dark brown polished wooden circular table, paired with four chairs.


    Of course, the two just sat together at the end of the balcony, gazing down at the preparations and arriving guests every now and then.


    Those below were far too focused with the hustle and bustle of their friends, partners, rivals, or families that they didn''t even bother looking up.


    Well, the fact that the banquet was held in the main building which was easily a few hundred meters apart helped a lot.


    "Anyways, why are you here?"


    After having his fill of the scene, Jash seized the perfect moment to ask the question that''s been on his mind since he saw her.


    "Can''t I come and celebrate my future fianc¨¦''s 12th birthday?" She said cheekily with a smile tugging at her lips as her head tilted cutely.


    Her black night-like hair seemingly blended in the night with her movements yet they shone as bright as the night sky.


    Her purple amethyst eyes stared into his gray eyes while the wind blew her hair ever so slightly.


    Tranced for a second, Jash couldn''t reply before he eventually did, "Hm? Didn''t our parents already agree to it? They might even announce it now that you are here."


    Jash felt intrigued by the sudden trance he felt for her but his attention was more on their engagement announcement.


    "Who knows? We both already agreed. So, if you want to, you know, *ahem* scurry away... just find me."


    She ended her statement with a wink before standing up, allowing her gown to unravel its vastness and grace.


    The amount of jewels and gold used just on the outer layer was probably more than enough for a large family of 10 or 15 to live out their entire lives easily.


    Not bothered by the extravagance of her dress, Jash''s eyes followed her movements as she closed the distance between them and swiped her finger on his cheek before flicking his forehead, eliciting a painful grunt from him.


    "Ouch!"


    His hands covered his forehead as a reflex and by the time he removed them, her figure had already moved away with a hint of red creeping up on her neck.


    Jash didn''t yet come to his senses from the scene of her approaching figure to notice it and Ziva had already turned around to leave.


    "You still bully me..."


    He muttered in a small voice before looking at her parting back with a hanged breath.


    Her dress didn''t seem suitable for a 12-year-old as it was just too big for her size. Excluding that, only one could describe it: Perfect.


    ''Isn''t she only a teeny bit taller than me? 154 cm, if I remember correctly.''


    Jash mused as he appreciated the color of dark blue which matched his own suit jacket.


    ''Mom definitely had a part in this.'' He didn''t even need to think to know that.


    He admired the tresses of her dress matching well with her falling night-like hair.


    At the moment, Ziva was too self-absorbed to even notice his stare. Even if she did notice, she wouldn''t really mind.


    "Congratulations on your successful awakening!"


    Hearing his loud voice filled with sincerity, a smile inadvertently came to her lips as she continued her brisk pace before replying.


    "Thanks! All the best for yours, Jash!"


    She didn''t stop or turn around to say it as her feelings would be conveyed regardless.


    ''How do I tell you?'' Jash thought with furrowed brows as Ziva approached the door.

 Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Not Awakening

    Not knowing the complicated thoughts running through Jash''s mind, Ziva turned the door knob to leave in a rush.


    For one, it was about time they needed to go to the banquet. More importantly, she wanted to hide that she felt shy because of her own actions.


    However, the words that entered her ears just as she was about to put her foot out of the room, caused her to stiffen and turn around.


    "I ain''t awakening, for now."


    Jash had mustered all the courage he could to barely confess those words and the reaction he got made him flinch in his seat.


    "What, why?" Ziva blurted out the question as if by reflex.


    Ziva and Jash stared into each other''s eyes as Ziva frowned, noticing his hesitation and his fidgeting fingers.


    ''Is he thinking I''ll hate him or something?''


    Ziva naturally didn''t know his thoughts and seeing him not answer, only increased her heart rate as nervousness gripped her.


    "Out with it, already!" She shouted at him yet stood at her spot, not nearing him just in case he reacted negatively.


    Noticing Ziva''s current state of urgency and worry, Jash couldn''t help but feel a little guilty. ''Maybe I should tell her?''


    "Uhm... You know me. I don''t want to awaken... Just because."


    He answered her but indirectly chose to dodge her question which didn''t seem to sit well with her.


    "Just because?" Ziva furrowed her brows at his nonchalance. "You, Caera, Amael, along with countless others in our generation will awaken before turning 15."


    Her voice rose as she continued in an admonishing tone,


    "Every one of us will have to¨C"


    "I know. I know, alright?" Jash interjected her speech, or rather a lecture.


    "Just listen from my side too, okay?" Ziva nodded her head as if allowing him to continue despite getting interrupted rudely.


    "Look, you, Caera and I are different. Neither of us is the first born or the heir apparent that we actually need to bother with an amazing awakening or anything."


    "You and I are already half-fianc¨¦s, so another reason to not bother with it. Plus, our parents, despite being nobles, don''t have that tendency to use their children for political gain."


    "I don''t see any point in awakening earlier and having to go through compulsory training. I''d much rather sleep peacefully."


    "I don''t like the idea of swinging a sword, dagger, spear, or any other weapon repeatedly to learn it. I don''t even train unless forced to."


    "If it were up to me, I would spend the rest of my life nestled in my bed, not bothering to wake up from my loving sleep."


    "Just tell me one reason I should awaken." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash finally fell silent after letting out all his thoughts to someone for the first time. Even his parents didn''t know about his decision.


    But he was sure that he would make them agree one way or another. If not, then at least delay his awakening for a year or two.


    Meanwhile, Ziva who heard his words stood dumbfounded at his approach towards all such things.


    Her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts as she couldn''t help but wonder, ''I mean, I knew you were lazy... but what the hell?''


    In the end, she took a deep breath to curb her anger before she lashed out at him and decided to counter him.


    "Phew"


    "I get what you said. But why?"


    "I mean, it''s somewhat right. However, don''t you know there are various rumors going around regarding some great peril awaits."


    "Don''t you think you should train a day quicker, let alone 3 years!? What will you do if you come to regret your decision?"


    "Even leaving that aside since they''re just rumors and nothing''s confirmed. What of the fact that you will be far weaker compared to others who have trained rigorously for years."


    "Not only would they have a stronger, sturdier foundation. Even their mana usage would be much much better than yours."


    "Won''t the feeling of inferiority gnaw at you?"


    Ziva stopped for a second to take a breath. But unlike her who didn''t interrupt Jash, he did exactly that.


    "Nope. I wouldn''t care. I mean, why should I?"


    "Think of it like this, no matter what someone says, if you are talented, you will easily beat and pass the ones who only have hard work going for them."


    "Plus, irrespective of talent, there are those more of a genius than you. It won''t ever end unless you become the strongest in the world."


    Jash didn''t speak after that as she stormed her foot and directly rushed out of the door.


    "Well, that went worse than I imagined," muttered Jash helplessly.


    In the end, the matter of awakening was just too much of a deal for her to accept his decision despite knowing him well enough.


    In fact, the world Jash lived in had only two classes, those who awakened and those who did not.


    Any other categorisation became meaningless in the face of the overwhelming might of those who could wield the mystical power of mana.


    Not only were there magicians who could directly cast area-wide spells, there were weapon wielders who could cut through mountains, and even assassins who could vanish without a trace.


    There were countless other methods to use mana, some were discovered while some were yet to be discovered.


    It all began even before the Holy Calendar started.


    Mana poured into the world and took everyone by surprise. The only sentient race of the time, humans, didn''t know much about it.


    It was only after the pets, wildlife, forests, wild animals and many more mutated to attack humans did they understand the severity of the situation.


    However, it was too late by then.


    Human society had almost collapsed due to the sudden chance to overthrow the royalty and nobility of their respective kingdoms or empires.


    Many craving revenge, blood, chaos did as they wished.


    It wasn''t until some strong mana-wielders, now collectively known as "Hunters", took charge and created an order.


    Yet it was all temporary as people weren''t going to forget everything that happened to them so fast.


    However, when all hope seemed lost, the Saintess of the Holy Church of the Light took the charge as she followed the Hero, Adonis Solarnelle, blessed by Goddess.


    The two were then joined by other strong Hunters who stood side-by-side to defeat the monsters to finally create a human Empire to live in.


    Sadly, all good things come to an end as the Hero party broke apart, giving rise to the Solarnelle Royal Family and the Solarnelle Empire with 3 ducal families.


    Lastly, the Church of the Holy Goddess of Light went somewhat dormant leaving behind some prophecy, only known to the higher-ups, that is the high nobility.


    In the current date and time, however, such a history was circulated among the masses.


    Recalling the history lesson, Jash''s mood soured further as he spat, "So much for history lessons. That''s definitely fake!!"


    "But Awakening, huh? It''s just forming a core and wielding mana... Nothing special. Though it can definitely be useful to take cold showers or dry up myself and even an area to immediately doze off..."


    Dreaming of entirely different dreams from typical Hunters, Jash finally left his room to go to the banquet.

 Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Tricked!

    Jash left his room unimpeded by anyone as everyone was already at the banquet hall, his family greeting the guests and playing host.


    While the servants worked as waiters or guides to guests gathered together. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Walking down the empty corridors he arrived at the staircase and sighed as he stopped.


    "Was it the correct decision?" He couldn''t help but let his inner thoughts out.


    He was just far too absentminded at the moment after his little quarrel with Ziva.


    ''Is that not her fault for using his mana dissolving ink?''


    Jash tried to shift the blame unto her yet he found it futile. He just sighed once again before descending the stairs.


    His mind, however, swirled with different thoughts.


    One such thought were his forced lessons, be they history, etiquette, mannerism, geography, mana theory, politics, or physical training.


    Despite being lazy and not wanting to do the lessons, he never refused hard work. He just whined and grumbled a lot.


    ''I don''t even understand why Caera and Ziva try so hard?''


    Recalling the figure of his twin younger sister focusing on the lessons and being excited about her awakening, he couldn''t help but scowl.


    ''Maybe, I don''t understand them because they are females?''


    As if struck by a sudden spark of enlightenment, he bumped his fist into his palm with an expression of realization.


    Well, his perception was skewed because he had often heard it from servants and even his own father,


    "Women are unpredictable. One second they can be happy, the next they can be sad, crazy, guilty, or even murderous!"


    He didn''t know how much truth it held but it was definitely the only reason he could find for their "meaningless" actions.


    Of course, they were meaningless in his eyes only.


    "Young Master Jash!"


    Startled awake from his stupor, Jash turned to look at who called him only to find Emma a few meters behind him, approaching him at a quick pace.


    "Where are you going, Young Master?" Emma questioned yet she reached him before he could answer and guided him into another direction.


    "That is the guest''s entry. You ought to be with Young Miss Caera or My Lady would be furious..."


    Not minding the talkative side of Emma as he recognised why she was more quiet when dressing him.


    ''She stayed quiet to not let anything slip out by mistake... Act your age, damn it! You''re... what? 30 or something?''


    Jash scolded her childish nature inside yet continued to nod to her incessant ramblings.


    He already had the experience of making a woman realize her age and called her old...


    ''Definitely never again!''


    Jash swore that day, he would never ever in his life anger a woman regarding her age and to add salt to injury, he already suffered from calling his own mom fat as a joke.


    ''A woman''s age and weight are to never be trifled with...''


    Not knowing that he actually escaped a harsh future if he had actually spoken those words, they were already inside the main manor.


    "My Lady, I''ve brought Young Master Jash!" Emma''s polite tone as she bowed and stopped walking caused Jash to stop his mind from wandering off too.


    His mother was definitely not someone to be trifled with. If she found out he was dazing off again...


    Even the thought sent chills down his spine.


    No matter how much his mother loved and pampered him, he knew there were some unspoken rules he mustn''t breach.


    As if answering his thoughts, he felt his ear getting pulled again, "Ouuu! Aaaaah!"


    Twisting his ear until it was red was his mother as she looked at his teary eyed appearance and just snorted.


    "Hmph! Why are you so late!" She asked in mock anger.


    Making an expression as if he was wronged, Jash answered, "As if you don''t know! You already helped Ziva bully me and now this!" He pointed at his ear at the end.


    "Whatever do you mean." His mother smiled as she replied to him.


    "Ugh! Where is dad? Only he can do me justice!" Jash shouted incredulously, knowing the playful nature of his mother all too well.


    "Brother, leave it be. Dad is busy greeting guests." A sweet voice chirped in, as the figure of a girl no taller than Jash with red hair and blue eyes appeared.


    She looked like the perfect younger version of Jash''s mother if not for her blue eyes.


    Her small cherrylips had the faintest of smiles that could even charm the coldest of hearts.


    Jash felt like his world collapsed as realization dawned on him. ''These... They are in this together!''


    ''I got tricked!''


    Despite feeling tricked, he didn''t pout or complain any longer, at least on the outside as he seemingly understood his current situation.


    ''I should just compliment them so we can go to the banquet and quickly get this over with.''


    He knew his mom-sister pair all too well and understood why they were still waiting for him.


    Though he didn''t forget to glance at Emma from the corner of his eyes who stood next to the wall, at a little distance away, stifling her smile.


    "You''re looking good Caera. The color crimson totally suits your hair color and even personality."


    In response to his "kind" compliment, he just got elbowed in his stomach by Caera as she bobbed her head sideways and pouted.


    "Hmph! As if! I wanted to wear a rose colored dress!"


    ''Caera, you might mean those words. But you can''t hide that you like the current ones too very well.''


    His thoughts and smile were interrupted as his mother interjected, "What about your ol'' pitiful mother? How do I look?"


    Rolling his eyes at his mother''s behavior. He didn''t skimp on praises, noticing her shining eyes as if her world might collapse if he doesn''t praise her enough.


    "Mom. Do I even need to say anything? You''re literally going to steal the show from us! We just turned 12 and it''s our last birthday banquet before we graduate!"


    While his words sounded like a complaint, they were more of a compliment as he continued his praises for a full five minutes before his mother felt satisfied.


    ''Damn it! My throat is so dry!''


    Unfortunately, Jash wasn''t even awake for 1 hour and hadn''t had the leisure to drink water.


    Ignoring his silent protest, his mother brought the two of them to another room, surprising Jash.


    In this room, sat a woman not much different in grace, elegance and beauty to Jash and Caera''s mother.


    She poised a charm different from most women as she had beautiful black hair that cascaded down to her waist with dazzling black eyes.


    To her right sat the form of a younger figure with similar black hair yet amethyst eyes.


    Who else could it be other than Ziva and her mother?


    Yet before Jash could react to salvage the situation, the figure of Caera immediately dashed forth with a burst of excitement.


    "Ziva! Why did you go meet my brother before me!?"


    "I missed you so much!"


    "How are you?"


    "Did you awaken successfully?"


    A barrage of questions assaulted Ziva from Caera who became ever the chatterbox that she used to be.


    Seeing such a scene, Jash couldn''t help but sneak a glance at the two women, only to find the pair oddly smiling at the scene!

 Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Confused Ziva

    ***


    A few hours prior.


    Ziva sat comfortably, despite her voluminous dress, as if it didn''t affect her and calmly gazed outside.


    She was no stranger to Kenton; she used to frequent the city with her mom for as long as she could remember.


    "How do you feel?" A soft voice entered her ears, drawing her attention to the form of her mother opposite her.


    Looking at her mom''s youthful face, a smile graced her lips inadvertently as she replied, "Different. Everything feels different yet the same..."


    For the first time in her life, Ziva felt tongue-tied, unable to find the right words to express her feelings.


    It just felt... magical.


    Not realizing her mom''s joy at her childish excitement, Ziva turned to admire the modern yet natural architecture outside.


    ''What an amazing sight,'' Ziva couldn''t help but be awed by it, irrespective of how many times she had seen the same architecture.


    However, today everything felt different as she could sense and feel the flow of mana in the environment, even if only slightly.


    Meanwhile, a nostalgic smile crossed her mother''s face as she watched Ziva''s cute expression. ''Fufu~ Mana sure is amazing,'' she mused mysteriously, surrounded by dancing mana particles, as if sharing her happiness.


    The duo inside the carriage didn''t know how fast time passed before they heard a voice from Evelia''s personal guard.


    ...


    "Lady Evelia, Young Miss Ziva, we have arrived!" announced the guard, breaking the silence.


    The voice wasn''t loud enough to garner attention but the elegant carriage driven by strong horses spoke volumes about the person inside.


    Especially in an era where one could efficiently use cars or even hover cars without any care of its effects in this world.


    Ignoring the reverence and fearful looks of the onlookers, the one who announced their arrival descended her horse before opening the door.


    She sported long caramel-brown hair yet her sharp eyes belied her strength and awareness.


    ...


    Inside, Ziva and Evelia didn''t exchange words as they stepped off the carriage, feeling a breeze adjust their dresses.


    Ziva, intrigued by the spell, or rather the direct manipulation of the air element as she gazed at her mom''s personal guard with interest flashing her eyes.


    ''This isn''t the time to be distracted! I have to surprise him and... have my revenge! Definitely!'' Ziva vowed her revenge on Jash as she followed behind her mom to reach their destination.


    ...


    Arriving at the Ramille Estate, the mother-daughter duo remained unfazed by the grand mansion. Well, they had seen it one too many times.


    On the way to the mansion, they passed through the lands of the Ramille family and saw multiple gardens and other attractions, creating a feeling of calm and serene environment.


    ''As usual, despite the estate being large and spacious, the security is tight and doesn''t allow any kind of trespassing.'' Evelia observed, sensing the mana signatures.


    Naturally, such an action would be considered extremely rude but who was she?


    Except for someone at her level, no one could even sense her probing and it was her best friend''s family.


    Even if there were few guards even stronger than her, they were busy guarding the main manor and patrolling the town.


    ''It''s not like that oddball doesn''t literally tour around my home every time she drops by,'' mused Evelia as she continued her walk with a slight smile.


    ¡­


    Bored and eager to meet the birthday twins, Ziva couldn''t help but want to curse herself for accepting her mother''s arrangements, just to get permission to come here.


    ''Damn! That wasn''t easy at all!'' Ziva shuddered at the thought of disobeying her mother right now.


    She was the most loving person Ziva knew, but it didn''t change the fact that she might as well become the devil during training or whenever Ziva disobeyed.


    ''That''s enough of a nightmare to recall!'' She wished herself the best and tried to boost her mood by looking around the mansion gardens.


    A small smile played on her lips as she recalled her first time here when she was super shy and appeared to hate the idea of coming here.


    ''I can clearly remember the sheer embarrassment I felt for getting teased over it by Jash!'' Her smile widened at the memory as she recalled another.


    ''That prick! He lied to me that everyone thought of me as an unruly girl...'' her thoughts were racing, not even realizing that she was almost by the main entrance.


    "Evelia! It''s been so long!" The cheerful and loud greeting of a red-haired woman echoed, trying to hug Ziva''s mom.


    It brought Ziva back to the present, only to see the form of a red-haired and red-eyed beauty trying to hug her mother.


    Haaa!


    She just sighed seeing the scene,just waiting for her aunt to take notice of her to greet her and rush inside.


    If not for her mother''s presence, she most likely would''ve sneaked past the two women, one who acted pitifully after her hug was rejected.


    "I greet the Lady of the Ramille Family," courtesied Ziva before she was forced to stop as she felt her cheeks getting rubbed by the excited woman.


    "Ah! Ziva! You only grow cuter by the day!"


    Not being able to save herself from the embarrassment, she turned to her mother, only to see her ignore the duo and directly enter inside.


    ¡­


    After who knows how long she got smothered and showered by the red-eyed woman''s love, she finally got the chance to enter.


    At this point, her cheeks were red. If not by the lipstick of the woman who showered her with kisses, then with her own embarrassment.


    ''I can''t ever let him see me like this! NEVER!''


    Luckily, everything worked out and she devised a plan to annoy Jash after hearing that he was still sleeping, just 4 hours before his birthday banquet.


    ''Even mom agreed! And there was just no way Aunty Sera would reject the idea!'' She smiled evilly before asking Emma to do her part.


    Everything went well and as she predicted before she heard his firm voice about not wanting to awaken.


    ''Not want to awaken? What nonsense!'' It just didn''t make sense to her and she got so angry, they had an argument.


    After a round of argument with Jash, Ziva felt her emotions go into turmoil as she stormed out of his room, clearly irritated.


    Her mind focused on how her playful joke led to such an outcome.


    Despite not focusing on her surroundings, she reached the backside of the main manor and directly rushed inside.


    Finding solace at the back of the manor, Ziva contemplated her actions. She didn''t want her mom or aunt to sense her irritation.


    After all, she didn''t want to break the news to her aunt as she concluded, ''He should tell aunt himself¡­''


    If someone were to compare her to Jash, then she would seem better than Jash at moving around the mansion with familiarity, as if it were her own home.


    Many servants were surprised to see her moving about with such an expression. Random thoughts crossed their minds, but nobody voiced them.


    They were experienced workers and knew that careless words could cost them their lives. So, they continued to do their assigned work. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, Ziva entered an empty room, which was large and stylish, with every ornament coated in gold, silver, or diamonds.


    Yet no one stopped her or advised her not to.


    They were already aware of her identity and the prospect of her marriage with their Second Young Master, seemed to only deter them from getting on her wrong side.


    However, peace didn''t last for the young girl.


    As her mother entered the room after noticing the emotional fluctuations of her daughter.


    As her mother entered, Ziva felt comforted. Evelia silently supported her daughter, respecting her privacy, much to the latter''s surprise.


    ''It''s a matter of heart. Not something I should meddle with,'' nodded Evelia mentally. She knew better than to question her daughter when she wasn''t in the best of moods.


    At the moment, all she needed to do was just be there for daughter and allow her to have someone she could confide in.


    What surprised her, however, was Ziva''s unending silence and yet, her lips curled upwards as she sensed the presence of her approaching friend, Sera.


    Evelia smiled knowingly at Sera who stopped herself from speaking just in time to see the lost and bewildered expression on Ziva.


    ''Just what did my son do to make this cutie feel this way? Just let him come¡­'' Sera didn''t know the specifics and just blamed her son for it, as Ziva was supposed to accompany him.


    ''I even arranged their matching clothes.'' Sera mused sadly before leaving abrupt as she sensed Caera and Jash nearby.


    Seeing her friend leave, Evelia sat beside her daughter on the comfy sofas as she patted her back slightly.


    Her black dress left no room for anyone else to sit on the large sofa as she awaited the newcomers.


    ¡­


    Ziva didn''t even notice her mother''s hand on her back for the time being as she was lost in her memories of childhood she had spent with Jash.


    Suddenly, she was startled awake by the shaking of her form by another girl around her age, and then a barrage of questions assaulted her senses, making her dizzy.


    "Ziva! Why did you go meet my brother before me!?"


    "I missed you so much!"


    "How are you?"


    "Did you awaken successfully?"


    Ziva even failed to notice Jash, her mom or aunt as all her attention was focused on the form of the blue-eyed red-haired girl who kept questioning her in an excited tone.


    ***

 Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Dreaded Banquet

    Jash noted the odd behavior of the two women but chose to focus on the form of Caera. ''She is too excited to meet Ziva...''


    ''Maybe she''ll answer,'' thought Jash, hoping to get some answers from Ziva in response to Caera''s questions, as he was curious too.


    It was definitely not because she teased him instead of answering when he asked her a couple of minutes back.


    ''As if that ain''t enough! This troublesome girl used mana ink to get my face scribbled!''


    Mana ink, as its name implies, can only be used and removed by someone who can harness mana. Thus, the removal of the ink from his face by Ziva led Jash to realize that she had awakened.


    "Caera, my dear, give the girl some time to answer, alright?"


    Jash stiffened slightly at his mother''s smile, even though it was directed at his sister, not him.


    "...Yes, mom!" Caera nodded with a serious expression, not wanting to get her mother''s ire.


    Now that the room turned quiet, Jash and Caera''s curiosity piqued as they stared into Ziva''s eyes to get her to answer.


    On the other side, Ziva gulped, seeing the twin''s stares. She didn''t know how much time was left before they had to enter the banquet.


    Of course, her presence wouldn''t be known to others as only her mother would be attending the banquet.


    "Ahem" Ziva cleared her throat before answering the questions one by one,


    "First, I went to him because I heard he was sleeping. So, don''t you think he deserved a lil'' punishment?"


    Jash''s lips twitched in response to seeing his sister nod to Ziva''s mischievous words.


    ''How cruel!'' If not for his curiosity, he might have clutched his chest, pretending her actions hurt him deeply.


    "And yes!! I missed you too! A lot! I couldn''t wait to come here..." Caera pounced on her, hugging her tightly, cutting her off, just like a certain someone tried to hug Evelia when she arrived.


    Reciprocating the warm hug, Ziva continued, "I awakened successfully! So mom was super strict and didn''t even allow me to come here!"


    "I barely convinced her! Just to surprise you two!"


    Finally, Ziva''s eyes darted to Jash, who merely smiled at her.


    "Ah, right! Before I forget..."


    "Happy birthday to you two!! It''s your 12th birthday today!! Soon, you can awaken!!"


    Ziva congratulated them excitedly. Caera almost bombarded her with questions again, but Jash cut her off, saving Ziva.


    "Thank you," Jash said, bowing in a gentlemanly manner, surprising everyone.


    ''Do you guys really consider me a deadbeat?'' He couldn''t help but wonder at the apparent disbelief painted on their faces.


    Yes, he was lazy.


    Yes, he slept during classes.


    Yes, he hated studying.


    But none of it meant that he didn''t do it! He just didn''t want to be tied to do all of that and that''s why skipped it mostly.


    ''Maybe I should rethink life,'' he thought, wiping a fake tear from his eye. He pretended to be hurt, but they just rolled their eyes at him.


    "Yep, that''s the you I know!" Ziva gave a thumbs-up at his exaggerated acting, eliciting a chuckle from Jash and Caera.


    After the short interlude, the trio chatted a bit.


    Well, more like just the two girls chatted as Jash soon felt left out with the girls'' unending chatter almost giving him a headache.


    ¡ªClap


    However, he was saved as Sera clapped her hands to get their attention.


    "Alright, alright. That''s enough for now!"


    "Both of the stars of the night are busy here while the banquet is already starting!"


    "Let''s go, shall we?"


    While her actions and words sounded polite, the twins knew better than to refuse her when she was serious about something and so they decisively left.


    Ziva waved at them until they left, then turned to her mom with a glint in her eyes.


    "Mom. This dress..."


    "Ahem" Evelia coughed, interjecting her daughter, "Oh dear! Look at the time! I should be at the banquet too."


    With that, she left the room swiftly.


    Ziva sighed in resignation, knowing her mother would most likely not answer her yet she wanted to ask.


    After all, she had already noticed the similarity in their dress and didn''t really mind it. ''I already agreed to the engagement...''


    Unaware that it was Sera forcing Evelia into making Ziva wear this dress, she continued to wonder what it meant.


    ''For one, it could be a statement... But I am not even going to attend the banquet...''


    She didn''t know what to make of it, her mind already a mess from the previous quarrel with Jash.


    "Ugh! I even teased him!"


    She covered her face with her palms as she felt embarrassed, just remembering how she had asked him to look for her if he wanted to sneak out of the banquet.


    "I am so stupid..."


    Ziva mumbled to herself as she had a nagging feeling about him seeking her out.


    "There''s just no way he would stay in a place he deems boring for long..."


    "Maybe, I shouldn''t have come..."


    The moment such a notion came to her mind, she immediately rejected it vehemently.


    "That''s the best spot to be!"


    Deciding her next plan of action, she immediately stood up and left the room, heading towards a specific garden.


    ***


    Sera dragged Jash by the wrist after catching him when he tried to scurry away even before entering the banquet.


    Usually, he wouldn''t do that.


    ''At least not so early. Only after mom gets busy,'' he completed the thought in his mind.


    He didn''t dare to say it out loud, given Caera was super excited to be at the banquet and be everyone''s center of attraction.


    Unfortunately, he hated that.


    Even though he didn''t know the reason, he just felt uncomfortable being stared at and it was actually pretty common in this time and day.


    ''There are just too many damned Hunters and they like the fame and respect they gain. Though I''d rather not have that.''


    Recalling his forced classes and summarizing them as he saw fit, he was almost near the dreaded banquet hall. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The hustle bustle, the silent chatters, the show-offs, the highs and the lows...


    He could see and hear them vividly despite all of it being enclosed in a noise cancellation barrier, preventing any noise from leaving the banquet hall.


    The cost to maintain just this barrier alone would bleed the lower ranked nobles dry, let alone the several protection barriers in place.


    Admiring the luxurious door and the reflection of his sister and mother on its shiny surface, Jash couldn''t help but comment,


    "Damn! We are filthy rich!"


    Hearing his comment, Sera stopped in her tracks and stared straight at him.


    Unaware of the looming danger because of his words, Jash continued admiring his reflection in the door as if it were a mirror.


    Suddenly, he felt a chill go down his spine and turned around to locate the potential source, only to see his mother''s death stare, making him gulp in nervousness.


    "Behave inside." That was all she said and he involuntarily nodded.


    The air around him changed from that of a slouch, deadbeat noble to an elegant and graceful one, just like he ought to be.

 Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Banquet Begins

    ***


    Inside the luxuriously decorated hall, waiters and servants entertained the guests'' requests. Lavish tables filled to the brim with sumptuous food, juices, and desserts occupied one corner, while the other side pertained to adults.


    The waiters politely served any kind of wine asked by the esteemed guests who arrived to attend the birthday banquet of Jash Ramille and Caera Ramille.


    "Ugh! Why is there only wine!? Damn it!" complained a ginger-haired man in a low voice.


    "Shut up! You drunkard!" An orange-haired woman shut his mouth by shoving food down his throat.


    Despite their distinct appearance, they didn''t stand out in the crowded banquet hall.


    After all, humans had lived harmoniously with Elves and Dwarves for more than a millennium.


    It had been a long time for people to get used to their differences; however, that didn''t mean it was all roses and sunshine.


    Their short forms might have drawn funny looks if they weren''t already renowned as some of the finest artificers and blacksmiths in the Ramille Dukedom.


    Surely, no one would want to offend them, right?


    Unlike dwarves who like to be boisterous and didn''t like the pretense humans pushed forth, the elves were entirely different.


    They remained reclusive and rarely attended such events, so no elves were present in this event.


    Except for a certain half-elf who was busy drinking wine and seemed drunk even when he had arrived.


    "Hiccup... Bring me... Hiccup... the 25 one..."


    Not refusing the confusing request, the female waiter served him a 25-year-old wine with great familiarity.


    However, before she could leave, he immediately held onto her wrist, panic rising within her.


    She was but a lowly servant. She didn''t think anyone would go against this eccentric half-elf for her.


    Even though he was handsome with his red hair and longer ears, she didn''t want anything to do with him.


    Luckily for her, it seemed she had just overthought.


    "Hicc... Bring... Hicc.... Bottle..."


    ''Phew. It seems he only wanted the bottle...'' the female waiter thought before acquiescing to his wish and directly left him there, informing the Head Maid and Butler to send a male waiter to the half-elf.


    No way would she stay any longer near this half-elf. Yet she remained professional, doing her job well and even requesting to appoint a new server.


    Just as she left his side, a human with sharp features, wearing a butler''s attire popped up from nowhere, sternly looking at the drunkard.


    "Master, please refrain from causing any misunderstandings," he advised like the butler that he was.


    His words, however, just fell on deaf ears, making him sigh before he vanished once again.


    Seeing the scene, some "nobles" clicked their tongue in distaste.


    "Tsk, why did they even have to invite such a person?" A tall man with extravagant clothing that screamed luxury spoke out.


    "You''re correct, Lord Keger!" A short man with a port-belly hurriedly agreed, buttering up Lord Keger.


    "How could they put the esteemed Lord Keger and that foul person in the same place!" The short man said with a scowl.


    Those near him quickly agreed with whatever nonsense these two spouted.


    Such scenes were commonplace throughout the banquet hall.


    Everyone was trying to talk down their rivals or those who had rejected their advances and ploys.


    Many young men and women snickered amongst themselves, seeing such scenes, considering others inferior to them.


    It was all but the same for one table.


    On that table were the forms of 2 children, different from the other nobles. They looked amazingly beautiful from such a distance.


    Yet none dared to approach due to the identity of these guests.


    They were none other than Amael Blake and Amelia Blake, the only children of Duke Arthur Blake.


    They were a ducal family alongside the Ramilles and Arnes. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the Solarnelle Empire, after the Imperial Family, the three Dukes held the highest power and if they joined hands, even the Imperial Family would feel threatened.


    Ignoring everyone''s gaze falling on him, Amael spoke to his sister, "Do you want something?"


    Amelia had a sad expression on her face after so long had passed and her friends were nowhere to be seen.


    She pouted at her brother and replied, "I want to meet them!"


    Her cute tantrum seemed to only melt the other youngsters in the banquet and even brought a small smile to Amael''s face.


    Some girls even blushed, just from seeing him smile.


    "Ames, just wait a little more, okay?" The sincere tone of her brother made Amelia stop, but not before crossing her arms across her chest and a "Hmph!"


    ''Don''t blame this one me. You brought this on yourself, Jash,'' Amael smirked in his mind, guessing Jash''s expression when he found out about it.


    ***


    Unaware of the little devil waiting for him inside, Jash waited for his mother to open the door, allowing him to make a stunning entrance.


    And she did just that.


    Noticing the change in her son''s demeanor as if he was looking down at anyone deemed inferior, she unconsciously smiled and finally pushed open the door.


    Seeing the door pushed open from the outside and the figures of the three people entering, everyone inside the banquet hall turned quiet.


    They didn''t want to be marked as someone who was rude or disrespected the Ramilles.


    No one who got marked had a nice ending, and no one present here wanted that.


    Even if they were being basked by the numerous intense gazes, Sera remained indifferent in the face of it all.


    Unlike Sera, Caera couldn''t remain completely calm, but she did her best since it wasn''t her first time at such an event.


    ''My 5th birthday was even grander than this! Even big brother was here! I mustn''t embarrass myself!'' Caera firmed her mental state before she regained her bearing.


    On the other hand, most gazes drew to Jash who seemed different from all of his previous appearances.


    There were even rumors of him being a lazy guy, unwilling to put in the hard work required from a noble''s child.


    Many even wanted to curse him but they were scared of the Ramille''s wrath.


    However, today was an eye-opener for many such people.


    Jash had a calm and noble demeanor around him. His arrogance and pride shone in his eyes despite his young stature, surprising many.


    Most guests didn''t expect to see such a look in the eyes of a youngster, much less someone like Jash.


    ''Damn! I definitely don''t want to be here!''


    Contrary to what they believed and Jash displayed, he just didn''t want to be here.


    He really wanted to make a run for it but his mother''s sneaky glances at him sent chills down his spine.


    ''Hm?''


    Suddenly, Jash felt weird and turned to check the cause of it, only to see the pouting face of a white-haired little girl wearing a red gown with red earrings.


    ''Amelia? Why does she look angry?'' Jash wondered before his eyes darted to the person sitting next to her.


    ''Deal with it,'' mouthed the white-haired boy to Jash upon noticing his gaze. He too was dressed nobly, donning a black shirt, trousers, blazer, and shoes.


    ''Curse you, Amael! You''re useless!'' Jash thought, trying his best to keep his facade despite feeling helpless at his friend''s betrayal.


    ''He ought to at least give me a hint, right?'' Jash couldn''t help but want to beat Amael for always making trouble between him and Amelia.

 Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Annoyed Jash

    ***


    While the banquet seemed to have just begun, a strange man with graying hair, dressed rather plainly compared to others, stood poised next to an elegantly designed car.


    The car boasted a vintage aesthetic yet the absence of wheels and hovering a meter above the ground hinted at its impressive technology.


    Suddenly, a sleek man with deep black hair and a graying hairline appeared. His exquisite clothing made his bearing to be of someone from nobility.


    Yet his presence seemed to have stirred no phenomenon in the area around him and the other man immediately bowed before opening the door for the newcomer.


    As the seemingly older man drove the car to the main manor in the estate where the banquet was being held, the younger man nonchalantly surveyed the Ramille Estate.


    With ease, the car crossed over 500 meters as the Ramille Estate boasted more than a kilometer radius, allowing them to drive a car there.


    Usually, Ramille had a separate villa for occasions and for their family use. These villas would naturally be more beautiful and bigger than the manor they actually resided in


    Yet, contrary to expectations, the banquet was being held in the main manor instead of the newly built villas.


    These new villas were constructed to accommodate numerous guests, with some rooms even equipped with Sound Proofing Runes, which was the norm.


    Also, one such room would''ve been used by Ziva had she not gone to the forest.


    Currently, some strange guests resided in those rooms, looking over the banquet hall as mere observers, having no intention to reveal their presence.


    "Don''t you think they should''ve just celebrated it in one of those newer ones?" The younger man asked.


    His question wasn''t thoughtless as the main manor was old and built a few centuries ago unlike the new villas built with runes and didn''t require the barriers to be used for the banquet.


    "Master, I think the lady just wanted to celebrate it on a wider scale since it is their 12th birthday."


    Not surprised by the driver''s answer, he just nonchalantly nodded.


    In a sudden shift of expression, he remarked, "Oho? Something interesting¡­"


    As if used to his whims, the elegant driver kept quiet before reaching the same entrance used by Sera and the twins.


    ***


    A few minutes prior to the strange man''s arrival.


    The grand entrance of the twins alongside Sera, considered one of the most beautiful women naturally attracted everyone''s attention.


    Not minding the obvious looks of everyone, she continued to move to the center of the hall where her husband, Carcel Ramille, stood.


    Usually, Carcel would have to greet the guests and Sera would talk with a group of ladies.


    However, everything was different today because of the unexpected presence of the spectating guests.


    Evelia also heard about it from Sera before Ziva returned from Jash''s rooms, leaving their conversation incomplete.


    However, she understood the crux of the situation and decisively chose to not allow Ziva inside the banquet.


    It was one thing to do it and send a statement of their potential engagement, but to do it in front of those "special" guests?


    That would be sheer stupidity.


    By the time Sera reached Carcel, Evelia''s gaze flickered with countless emotions as she too sat alone due to the disparity in status of other guests.


    Meanwhile, despite their desire to approach her or her family, many guests found themselves unable to even engage in conversation


    It was already a miracle or a fortune for many attending guests to get a glimpse of three Duchesses in a single event.


    ...


    While being the center of attention might be enjoyable to some, Jash wasn''t one of them.


    And he totally didn''t like what was going on at the moment.


    In addition to keeping his facade, he also had to act like he cared and greet all the people his parents introduced him to while continuing to extend their wishes to him and Caera.


    "...here, meet..." Carcel and Sera introduced every person of importance in their city.


    Jash did not like to mingle with others, so he kept his greetings short, and Caera followed suit.


    Given his reputation, nobody was particularly surprised by his behavior. However, Caera following him along was a surprise for all the attending guests.


    Suddenly, Jash felt the annoying gaze of a certain group of old men gathered at the banquet.


    ''Damn! Why the hell are they here?'' Jash cursed inside his mind, identifying them.


    They were partially the reason behind his avid escapades from parties and banquets.


    ''These damn geezers! They want to use me like a pawn, just to fight against my brother for their heir position!''


    Just remembering his meeting with them soured his mood at a time like this.


    He truly hoped his mother would notice his discomfort and speed things up.


    ''Who the hell wants to be the heir? He is the first son! He doesn''t have a choice and he likes to do it! So, let Brandon deal with it!''


    Jolting him awake from his thoughts was the entrance of a man who appeared to be in his fifties. His arrival didn''t go unnoticed, as his imposing presence seemed to fill the room.


    ''Grandpa?'' Jash couldn''t help but doubt as the last time his grandfather showed up was years ago, forcing him to train once or twice.


    "It''s almost time for the gift ceremony," Carcel commented as he noticed his father enter, even surprising him.


    ''He wasn''t supposed to be here right now...'' Carcel wondered what happened but chose to ignore it.


    As the cake cutting ceremony approached and most of the important guests were already present, the joint event for adults and young people began as they gathered in the beautiful garden area of the manor.


    Many youngsters were awestruck by Caera and Jash''s elegant attire, lacking the same luxury as them.


    However, Carcel interrupted their envious thoughts as he stood with Sera, breaking the silence.


    "As you all know, today my son, Jash Ramille and my daughter, Caera Ramille, turn 12, and this party is to celebrate their 12th birthday."


    As his words ended, guests witnessed various magical celebrations. Many guests were surprised by the delicate preparation of this event. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Happy birthday, Jash. Happy birthday Caera," Carcel and Sera wished the twins, to which the twins thanked them with a smiling face.


    Although Jash was internally bored of this pretense, his body language didn''t show his inner thoughts.


    The guests started clapping and closed the gap to give them gifts according to their status.


    Amael and Amelia were the first ones to arrive to wish them and give gifts.


    "Happy birthday, Jash. This is your gift from me," Amael gave him the key to a supercar, which had limited models.


    The few who could recognize the key were surprised by it. Especially considering how Jash hated going out and the car might just rot in their family''s garage.


    Amael smiled slightly, noting Jash''s almost crumbling expression.


    ''This guy...! He definitely gave me a car on purpose!'' Badmouthing Amael internally, Jash turned to look at Amelia, hoping for a better gift.


    Yet she totally ignored him and just handed a red gem to Caera with a reluctant look.


    ''It seems she likes it. How cute!'' Jash and Caera thought in unison, a smile forming on Caera''s face as she smugly showed it off to Jash.


    "This is a Fire-type mana gem of Rank A from the Blake Family," Amael introduced the gem.


    ''So freaking annoying,'' Jash thought, his lips twitching as he felt the three singling him out.

 Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Gift Ceremony

    Many guests were surprised to see the Fire-type Rank A Mana gem, an item too expensive for even some attendees.


    Sensing the reactions around him, Amael maintained his signature smile, radiating kindness without the slightest ripple in his mind.


    ''Such an outcome was expected the moment I arrived to represent my family,'' Amael mused.


    Following the Blake''s children, the other guests arrived and gave various artifacts, gems, and other expensive things.


    Jash thanked them briefly, recognizing the gifts as attempts to forge a healthy relationship with the Ramille Family, a mere pretense.


    The Head Butler, Edward, immediately took the gifts and moved them, allowing the twins to accept gifts from others as well.


    Out of nowhere, the red-haired half-elf broke the line, garnering hatred but he didn''t seem the least bit bothered about it.


    "Lazy boy, this... hicc... is one... hicc... the Elixir... hicc...


    Rank A... hicc... I made... hicc... help you... hicc...


    forced to train... hicc..." His tipsy voice was barely audible to Jash.


    Even his parents and Caera wanted to know what the half-elf said or gave, but Jash''s reaction stunned them.


    "Ahem. Thanks, Uncle Serron!" Jash thanked him with a smile wider than any other.


    ''As expected! Uncle really is the best! To think he made something to help me during forced training!'' Jash thought to himself, holding back tears of gratitude, deciding inwardly that this was the best gift for him.


    Caera ignored Jash''s response and bluntly asked, "Where''s my gift, Uncle Serron?"


    The half-elf, Serron, chuckled and shifted, nearly stumbling before steadying himself and handing a glass vial to Caera.


    "My dear niece, hicc... I brewed... hicc... Rank A Elixir... hicc... to help awakening..." Hearing his words, Caera''s eyes sparkled, feeling this was just what she needed!


    "Thank you, Uncle Serron! You''re the best!" She didn''t hide her feelings and her reaction made the hearts of a few boys melt.


    Those who cursed that half-elf earlier were green with envy seeing those gifts.


    Serron ranked among the top ten potion makers in the Solarnelle Empire! His skills were widely acknowledged.


    Still, he lived in the Ramille Dukedom as he was, in fact, Sera''s brother¡ªhalf-brother, to be precise. Not many knew the inside information as such knowledge was closely guarded and no one would want to reveal it.


    Moving past the complex politics, the ceremony continued, making Jash feel bored to death.


    ''Not only do I have to stand here like a spectacle, I also have to show this darned basic courtesy and accept these useless gifts!''


    Useless, only for him.


    If others could get their hands on even 10% of what he got, they''d be satisfied with it, not to mention Caera''s gifts.


    Naturally, others were surprised to see such gifts, which made theirs pale in comparison.


    Many girls tried to talk to him while giving gifts, but his proud demeanor deterred them. However, it was worse for boys trying to talk to Caera; they had to pass Jash first, feeling inferior and merely hoping not to make a fool out of themselves.


    As the ceremony reached its pinnacle, the most important dignitaries presented their gifts, heightening tension and underscoring social hierarchies.


    Well, some people just didn''t work by the norm. Be it Serron or Amael. But Amael could be excused since everyone knew they were close friends.


    The first notable figures to present gifts were the dwarven couple, following the tradition. It was the tradition for all the guests who attended the event to come bearing gifts, irrespective of their personal feelings.


    ''He must''ve really wanted mead or ale,'' Jash thought, noting the annoyed look on the orange-haired dwarf.


    "Carcel''s boy, this is a rare piece of Rank A defense artifact, I worked on it myself when..."


    ''Damn, this old man! Who wants to hear your story!'' Jash cursed his luck, feeling deep inside he always had terrible luck when it came to people.


    However, the guests reacted differently, stunned due to the price of such an expensive gift.


    Yet the dwarf continued, recounting how he had been stuck in his artificing path when he created this piece, and how he always held it dear..


    Jash offered a word of thanks after that long-ass narrative, itching to run away.


    Amidst the ongoing ceremony, a notable figure strode forward with an air of arrogance, his steps muffled by the soft grass.


    ''Ahhh! It is the representative of those oldies!'' Jash felt their stares intensify, scrutinizing his reaction.


    "Although it might not be much, this is a rare Ice Crystal from..." one of Lord Keger''s servants, allowed only for special guests, passed the gift to Edward, who held it.


    This Ice Crystal would help the user wield Ice attribute magic more freely and was greatly beneficial for smithing as well.


    This rare item was something only a few could afford to gift, and those oldies were at least capable of doing this much.


    Noting Keger''s reluctance, Jash smiled kindly, "Thank you for this gift. I will use it well to craft a portable cold shower!"


    Let alone Keger, even the onlookers, wanted to beat Jash for ridiculing the gift, but he barely contained himself due to pressure from his backers.


    Finally, the last influential figure, the cold beauty, the Duchess of Arne, Evelia Raven Arne, came forward to give her gift.


    Suddenly, a beautiful bow materialized in her hand, sending a ripple of mana through the surroundings and crushing the air with its sheer weight.


    The onlookers gawked, wide-eyed. None expected such an aloof figure to gift one such prized bow.


    The Ramilles were widely known for their skilled usage of the bows and Caera trained with it too, making rapid progress unlike her lazy brother.


    Evelia didn''t waste much time on pleasantries, handing over the bow to Edward, who respectfully accepted it.


    "This one-of-a-kind bow recognizes its master, and only they can wield it properly. For anyone unworthy, it is but a piece of junk."


    Her succinct explanation dumbfounded everyone, greed flashing their eyes. Yet Sera rolled her eyes at her friend''s actions and scoffed inwardly, ''Show-off.''


    Ignoring her childish friend, Evelia left without giving Jash a gift, leaving him confused.


    ''Am I not her future son-in-law? How come she didn''t give me something? No way she expects me to train and earn that bow''s acknowledgement...''


    Lost in thought, Jash was abruptly pulled back by a mellifluous voice, ''Your gift is with Ziva.'' His mind momentarily drifted, captivated by Evelia''s enchanting tone, before his brain grasped the implied meaning.


    However, he didn''t get the chance to think more as a question broke his reverie, drawing everyone''s attention to him.


    "So what was the best gift according to Young Master Jash?" one of the people spoke up.


    After the gift ceremony of a big family, it was a tradition to select the best gift. Everyone looked forward to Jash''s choice.


    ''Damn! I have to do this now!?'' Jash disliked the attention and couldn''t help but wonder how different his life would be if he were born after Caera.


    ''Wouldn''t they have asked her first then?'' He mused, intrigued by the notion. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If Caera were older, she would''ve received gifts before Jash, standing in his current position.


    Despite the favoritism, Jash knew it had nothing to do with his gender. His gaze remained impassive in the face of reality, a silent acknowledgment of his prior acceptance.

 Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Best Gift

    The question shattered the silence, prompting the attendees to speculate amongst themselves.


    "I think he would choose Serron''s gift," one woman said to her group of ladies.


    "Lord Keger''s gift is also worthy of being the best gift," the woman beside her remarked.


    "The dwarven couple are not far behind either, and don''t forget the Blakes are there as well," added another.


    "So which influential family would have the honor of the best gift?"


    As all the gifts were presented, people chatted freely, deeply intrigued by his choice. However, the majority were more interested in Caera''s choice.


    After all, rumors about Jash''s lazy personality, which was unlike a noble''s, were widespread and even surpassed the rumors of Caera''s talent.


    Amidst the chatter, Keger overheard praise for his gift. Although he disliked Jash so far, he needed to fulfill his uncle''s wishes. This gift was meant to win Jash''s favor and possibly sway him to their side.


    ''Why are they so fixated on this incompetent fool? He has no chance against Brandon!'' Keger thought, recalling the argument with his uncle.


    Many had approved his notion of selecting Caera over Jash as a potential heir as she had much more of a chance in the succession battle.


    Yet the elders of his faction were adamant about choosing Jash over Caera, confusing the members.


    ''All they want is control of the Ramille Dukedom, but they fail to see that they will never achieve it with Jash...''


    Keger secretly gritted his teeth in annoyance from the memory before his attention snapped back to Jash.


    "I appreciate all the gifts so far, but tonight, I have chosen the most pleasing gift I have ever received as the best gift," Jash said as he took out the glass vial Serron had given him and showed it to everyone.


    He thought, ''Good thing I didn''t hand it over to Edward,'' as he pocketed the vial and glanced at Caera.


    The attendees didn''t appear surprised in the slightest by Jash''s predictable choice, especially since he received no gift from Duchess Evelia Arne.


    Still, the captivating sight of the small vial, containing a transparent viscous liquid with twinkling golden particles, left the attendees yearning.


    Oblivious to their desire, Caera spoke immediately, "I am grateful for all the gifts presented to me, but if I have to choose one of them..."


    She held her breath, pausing for effect, drawing people in with her eloquent speech and melodious voice before biting her lip gently.


    ''What should I choose? If I choose the bow, Amelia would surely be upset, but I really like the bow...''


    The dilemma gripped her heart, hesitation flashing her expression as she realized the weight of her choice and the silence hanging in the air.


    "I... I¨CI think the b¡ªfire type mana gem is the best gift!" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her tone rose as she stumbled over her words, noticing Amelia''s expression crumple at just hearing the letter ''b''.


    Ignoring the gasping attendees, Caera focused on the shocked Amelia and her lips curled upwards inadvertently.


    On her side, Jash obviously noticed the interaction, lamenting at her correct choice, ''Tsk. Would''ve loved to see Amelia angry at her too...''


    He clicked his tongue inwardly and felt a wave of relief. ''Finally! It ended!''


    Well, the banquet hadn''t really ended but just began as the hosts were finally free to talk with the guests instead of only courtesies.


    Jash didn''t care about any of it, quite the contrary. Inside, he was actually smiling as the guests busied themselves, for their own reasons.


    ''This is the best chance!'' He thought.


    Recognizing the opportunity to scurry away, he seized it, and mingled into the crowd once the obligatory part of the event was over.


    ...


    "Damn! Just my luck!"


    Jash cursed his luck, glanced over his shoulder, and hurried his pace. He really didn''t want to get entangled with another guest.


    After several failed attempts to leave the main manor without alerting his parents, he finally escaped.


    Yet every time someone or the other would coincidentally meet him and strike up a conversation, forcing him to return inside.


    ''But now I am free!''


    Right when thought arose inside his mind, his body shuddered for an unknown reason.


    ''Just who did I offend in my past life to never be able to get rid of these coincidental meetings!?''


    Without needing to be told, he turned around to see who ''coincidentally'' met him, but his gaze shook when he saw who it was.


    ''H-how...?'' His mind nearly shut down at the sight of the one person he didn''t expect to see.


    "Big brawthar Jash! Whare are you going?"


    The mischievous, little devil with white hair and red eyes spoke in a cute, half-nonsense voice. Who else could it be but Amelia?


    "I... Uhm, ahem," Jash coughed before coming up with an excuse, "Ahaha-ha, Ames, you see, big brother Jash has to go..."


    "Yes, he has to go and check on his room! He forgot to close his lights!" he added, biting his lip, hoping she''d believe his lousy excuse.


    "Oh? Is that sho?" Amelia tilted her head cutely before adding with a giggle, "Big brawthar is sho sthupid!"


    Jash''s lips twitched at her teasing, thinking, ''Yea, no way, she bought that.''


    "Sigh, your big brother is really stupid. But that aside, how are you here? Does Amael know?" he asked.


    When she flinched at the mention of Amael, Jash knew he was right and smiled. ''Gotcha! So easy!''


    "He must be worried about you, I should send a message or maybe take you to him?" Jash asked, appearing thoughtful, placing his finger on his chin.


    Seeing panic fill Amelia''s watery eyes, he stifled a laugh as her little hand clung to his jacket''s hem.


    Since Amelia had just turned 7, she was quite small, just a little over a meter in height and barely reached his chest.


    "I want tho be with brawthar. Pleassse!"


    Her teary eyes and cute expression melted Jash''s heart, and he sighed, taking her with him. But he didn''t forget to signal a maid to inform Amael that Amelia was with him.


    Looking at her walking happily beside him as if she had just avoided her worst fear, Jash wanted to tease her.


    "By the way, where is my gift?" Jash asked suddenly, looking slightly down. Seeing him like that, Amelia panicked slightly, ''Oh no!''


    Noticing her state, he clutched his chest and acted hurt, "Sniffle¡­ Sniffle¡­ It was okay if Aunty Evelia didn''t bring me a gift¡­ but to think even Ames didn''t bring me a gift¡­"


    ''Hehe. Let''s see what you do now!'' thought Jash, smirking inwardly at his successful plan.


    "Ah no! I-I¡­ don''t cry¡­" Amelia choked on her words as tears formed in her eyes before she suddenly recalled something. ''Wait, why am I in the wrong? Isn''t he the one who made me wait for so long! Yess! It''s his fault!''


    Concluding everything to be Jash''s fault, Amelia didn''t mull over it and stopped in her tracks, confusing Jash.


    "Big brawthar Jash! Hmph! It is obviously your fault for making me wait! I won''t talk to you," she said, placing her hands on her hips.


    Seeing the sudden change in her tone and the way she stuck her tongue out before harrumphing made Jash tense up as he realized his mistake. ''Damn! She forgot about it and I made her remember¡­''

 Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Embarassed

    ***


    After departing from the room, Ziva paced through the garden with great familiarity as if it were normal routine to her.


    Yet her mind focused on nostalgic memories.


    A wry smile erupted from her rosy lips as she recalled arriving for the first time, finding Jash lying on the grass with closed eyes while Caera chased a white-haired girl nearby.


    *Image*(Check paragraph comment)


    "Haha,"


    A dry chuckle escaped her lips, remembering her initial jealousy until she recognized the guest.


    ''They are cousins, for god''s sake,'' she reminded herself, trying to not dwell deeper into her emotions regarding Jash.


    ''I always considered him a close friend because unlike other nobles, he felt like a genuine person, not some man putting on pretenses. He even lived as he wished¡­''


    To her, she could vividly feel the memories as if reliving the past as her cloudy eyes gawked around the garden filled with flowers, the chatter, the laughter, the whining, the teasing, the fun and games, she could vividly feel them all.


    Ziva truly felt like she had time-traveled to the past, just to relive those happy memories before an inevitable short parting with him. After which, everything would have changed in irreversible ways, for the better or worse.


    ''Sigh. I hope he actually awakens before turning 15¡­''


    ¡­


    Lost in the nostalgic ride of her memories and her own misguided thoughts, she finally reached a large tree.


    "It is still the same," muttered Ziva with recognition, looking at the 10 meter tall tree with a 3 meter wide trunk.


    The top of the tree didn''t have lush green leaves or some fantastical purple leaves, it just had a simple base with some railing, imitating a roof.


    Ziva didn''t linger on the ground anymore, climbing the stairs carved out of the brown trunk to reach the roof without hesitation.


    ''He really asked for this to sleep in the open under the stars on his 5th birthday¡­'' Ziva couldn''t help but smile in amusement, recalling Jash''s weird antics.


    Her chest warmed, knowing he trusted her enough to share his decision with her before even his own mother.


    ¨CWhoosh


    A cold daft hit her in the face as she stood in the staircase, gazing at the open roof, appearing strangely clean.


    Walking around the bulkhead on the roof, she climbed it using the jugged trunk easily and sat there, gazing at the night sky.


    ''Hmm. He really made this place free of the fast-blowing winds,'' Ziva mused as she felt the temperature around her stabilize.


    The wind which assaulted her face and ruffled her hair seemed absent now, yet she felt uneasy despite the comfort and warmth the place brought her, being close to her heart.


    In the end, she couldn''t help curling her feet and holding them to minimize her presence, her eyes filled with sadness, of the temporary parting approaching soon, gazing at the endless night sky.


    Looking at the almost full moon, she slowly relaxed as her senses opened up to the outside world, allowing her to sense the ambient mana in the atmosphere.


    Feeling the prominent presence of wood and air elemental mana in her surroundings brought her a strange sense of calmness, prompting Ziva to close her eyes. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***


    Unknown to Ziva, Jash approached her, or rather the strange tree slowly.


    Holding the sleeping form of Amelia in his arms, he grimaced, ''Damn! She has grown so heavy!''


    Despite his inner complaints, he held her firmly as he didn''t dare to wake her up after he somehow managed to coax her.


    ''Ugh! Why are girls so difficult to talk to¡­'' he thought, recalling his encounters with Ziva and Amelia today. A strange twisted stereotype sprouted from its seed state.


    ''Maybe I shouldn''t have told anyone about my 5th birthday gift¡­'' he thought, recalling revealing it to Amelia on his 10th birthday.


    ''Even Ziva came here and changed it for her own comfort,'' complained Jash yet he didn''t seem angry at the turn of events.


    Rather he remembered his 10th birthday fondly,


    ''Luckily, such large banquets are generally reserved at 5th and 12th birthdays, or at the coming-of-age ceremony.''


    Jash suddenly smiled, realizing he would be free from attending his brother''s coming-of-age ceremony as he would be in the academy by then, which rarely allowed students to leave.


    ''Ahhh¡­ So satisfying! I will meet all these people one less time¡­''


    Just like Ziva, Jash also remained lost in thoughts before he arrived below that huge tree molded to his taste for his 5th birthday.


    ''Uncle Serron''s gifts are always the best,'' chortled Jash inwardly before ascending the stairs.


    Being a half-elf, Serron naturally had more affinity for mana and even a better bloodline alongside his wood auxiliary affinity, allowing him to make this place for Jash.


    ''Being an elf surely is insane,'' gulped Jash as he recalled the stories about the elven race.


    Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he reached the roof, enjoying the cold draft. Unlike Ziva, he found the wind comfortable but, feeling Amelia tremble in his arms, he walked around the bulkhead, hoping to climb it.


    Yet his arms were already trembling, his muscles aching from lifting Amelia for so long, his untrained arms were too wobbly as his muscles tensed.


    Amelia had felt drowsy halfway through and he picked her up, but he didn''t know when she slept along the way.


    Cradling in his arms like a toddler, he didn''t have it in his heart to wake her up from her cute and peaceful slumber.


    "How am I going to climb it¡­"


    He wondered aloud in a low voice, his words directed at no one but him in particular as he really felt lost at the moment.


    A soothing feeling enveloped him as if to provide him salvation, and suddenly he stood atop the platform, gazing around dumbfounded.


    ''I don''t remember having such a mechanism here¡­''


    Gawking at the bluish colored hue leaving him, which enveloped his form and made him ascend, his gaze finally landed on the girl in front.


    His mouth flew open as he felt enchanted by the sight of Ziva holding her knees, he couldn''t draw his eyes away as the sight of her figure with the moon in the night sky as her backdrop dazzled him completely.


    Feeling an intense gaze, Ziva''s lashes fluttered to reveal her amethyst irises, locking onto Jash. However, her sight fell to the little girl, a pang of unknown jealousy rising within.


    Unconsciously, the desire to be held by him crossed her mind and her face turned beet red with embarrassment.


    The two were too locked in their thoughts to notice each other''s emotions at the moment and broke out of their reverie with the sounds of insects waking them up.


    Embarrassed, they couldn''t look at each other, and Jash forgot how he had risen to the height.


    He stepped closer with slow steps and said, "I met her by chance and she fell asleep."


    Ziva stood up by the time he reached her side, nodding wordlessly, trying to hide her blush. ''He won''t notice in the darkness, right?''


    Unable to stop her rising anxiety, Ziva focused on his actions to find out if he noticed or was still oblivious to it.


    Feeling her burning gaze, Jash wondered, ''Hmm? Why is she staring so intently?''

 Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Temporary Parting

    Though confused, Jash ignored her inquisitive gaze and inched closer, pointing his index finger at her.


    Looking at the golden ring on his finger, he said, "Pour mana into the storage ring, there are some mattresses inside."


    Ziva touched the ring and circulated the mana from her glass-like transparent mana core to her finger.


    The storage ring directly absorbed a small amount of mana as she willed to take out two mattresses, a pillow, and a comforter.


    The items tumbled out a meter in front of them, Ziva''s eyes widening in astonishment. ''Just how many sets does he have?''


    Glimpsing into his storage ring, all she saw were mattresses, pillows, comforters, silk and linen pajamas along with some food.


    ''Most of it was even brand-new!''


    ''Others splurge on clothes, weapons, and jewelry, but you on pillows and mattresses!'' Ziva screamed inwardly, glaring at Jash as he tucked Amelia into a makeshift bed.


    "Ziva, can you put the second mattress perpendicular to this one," requested Jash before pointing toward his left hand held by Amelia using his free hand.


    ...


    After a few moments of setting up, Ziva sat on Jash''s right some distance away.


    Jash''s shoes and her matching dark blue heels, similar to their matching attire, lay behind them as they sat barefoot on the mattress.


    Turning to face Ziva after a few moments of silence, he asked, "Where is my gift?"


    A vein throbbed on Ziva''s forehead. ''Of all the things he could ask, he chose this!''


    ''What''s up with her today?'' Jash wondered, unable to understand her at all today.


    Despite his confusion, he didn''t ask, just wanting his gift instead of stepping on a landmine. ''It''s not like I am greedy or anything...''


    Ziva took a deep breath, steadying herself before replying, "...You already get your gift."


    "Huh? When? Where? What?"


    "ME!" Ziva proclaimed proudly, her thumb pointing at her chest, her voice ringing with a hint of defiance.


    ''Eh?''


    The only response he could form after her haughty "ME!" was confusion. ''How are you my gift?''


    It seemed she read his mind as she puffed out her chest in pride before stating, "You get to meet me when I wasn''t allowed to leave my house. Isn''t that the best gift?"


    Jash deadpanned in respone to her haughty tone, making her avert her gaze and cough awkwardly.


    "Ahem. You aren''t awakening, so it''s not..."


    Jash caught her sneaking glances at him and smiled wryly, understanding the unspoken words.


    ''I should at least tease her, no?'' It felt only fair to him after he didn''t get any presents from her.


    Deciding to lighten the mood and tease her simultaneously, Jash smirked, "What? Enamored by my handsomeness? Can''t help but want to steal glances?"


    "Oh, come on," Jash waved his hand before adding, "I am your future fianc¨¦! No need to steal glances! You gonna get the whole deal, girl!"


    Hearing his taunting words and noticing the cheeky smile on his face, Ziva''s lips twitched, "Just how narcissistic have you become?"


    She unconsciously voiced it out, stiffening the moment she realized her actions.


    However, Jash, on the receiving side, didn''t seem to mind and even acted more prideful.


    "If a man can satisfy his woman with his figure... That''s also a source of honor." Jash nodded to himself at his words.


    Hearing his righteous tone, Ziva couldn''t help but cringe and directly smacked his head.


    "Ouch. What was that for?" Jash spat, filled with indignation.


    Ziva shivered from the cringe, "Just why the hell do you see movies with such cheesy dialogues..."


    "...And don''t you dare use them on me ever again," she added with dangerously narrowed eyes.


    Jash gulped in slight fear as he felt a chill run down his spine. ''Damn! She really means it!''


    Shirking off the awkwardness, he said seriously, "Wasn''t it you who said my gift was you? How come I am wrong when we change perspectives?"


    Ziva tried to answer but couldn''t find the correct words to retort, causing her to shut up in the end.


    However, she couldn''t stand his smug smile, "Hmph! You made me want to puke at your words! That''s your fault!"


    ''What the hell?'' Jash was dumbfounded by how confidently she spouted nonsense.


    ''Nevermind, it''s better to not talk anymore.''


    ...


    Silence, broken only by the occasional chirp of insects and the twinkling of stars overhead, enveloped them.


    Jash had his eyes closed. Her presence was like a serene lake, making him not want to escape.


    Unknown to him, Ziva crept closer to his side ever so slowly before she slowly placed her head on his shoulder with her neck reddening, jolting him out of his peaceful state.


    ''What?'' Jash barely turned his neck to see her face but a pang of pain made him wince as he turned to look ahead.


    ''She is so damn close!''


    Jash felt his heart pound faster and faster as her body heat transferred to him due to their intimate contact yet he resisted the urge to meet her gaze.


    ''My sides ache and I can''t even rub them!'' Jash thought, distraught, realizing his right hand was behind her back.


    "...D-do you really not want to awaken¡­?" Ziva muttered in a low voice, distracting him from the close distance.


    Her feelings weren''t different from Jash, her heart thumping loudly against her ribcage, her face heated up with a visible blush and her legs felt momentarily weak.


    Jash gulped his saliva before answering, "...y-yes."


    Ziva remained silent for a few moments, only humming once, which spiked Jash''s anxiety uncontrollably.


    "I can''t force you," Ziva broke the silence softly, yet her voice tinged with reluctance. "But you know it''s gonna happen... right?"


    Instead of replying, Jash muttered, "I-I¡­ I am sorry," in a low voice before he put his hand on her waist, making her flinch, feeling the cold of his fingers through her dress. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her abdomen was the thinnest part of her dress, allowing her to feel his trembling fingers.


    "I don''t know why you even stay friends with me¡­" Jash continued in an almost inaudible tone.


    Even Ziva missed his words as her focus was on his hand, making her brows furrowed as she felt she missed something important.


    Yet she didn''t ask and clasped his hand between her hands, moving it to her stomach and firming her grip. She guessed ''He needs to be comforted,'' before continuing the conversation.


    "...W-we won''t be seeing each other till the academy¡­"


    Taking note of her cracked voice and her attempt to change the topic, alongside her firm grip, Jash didn''t mind and just put his head on top of hers.


    His thumb rubbed against her palm, giving a sense of comfort as he fell quiet, their small actions providing each other the sense of security much needed by the young couple.


    At their age, it was much too hard to figure out their feelings between friendship and more, especially with their backgrounds when others only befriended them for benefits or on their parent''s orders.


    Unbeknownst to them, there was another lingering presence sitting in the staircase, the red-haired girl didn''t linger for long though, leaving after all she could hear was silence for five long minutes.


    Back to the heartwarming sight of Amelia, Jash and Ziva.


    "She fell asleep, huh?" Jash let out inadvertently as he could feel the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest on his side.


    Not minding it one bit, he heaved a deep breath of relief, ''It feels good to have someone you can trust fully¡­''


    Jash had no idea that this would be the last time he could be so free with Ziva¡­


    ***


    {A/N}


    I know the story is going super slow, but that ends now! The next chapter will start the main plot, and I will also try to upload more chapters from tomorrow!


    Don''t forget to give power stones and comment! Comment a lot, please!


    Also, I put up a few pictures in the previous chapter, so go check them out and join my Discord for more!

 Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Midnight Irregularity

    Jash sat in his favorite spot with Ziva lying on him, clasping his right hand, while Amelia held his left for an unknown period of time.


    ''At least it is January, or I would be compelled to move away,'' Jash mused as the gentle cold breeze caressed a few strands of his hair.


    If not for the cooling sensation of the cold wind, he would''ve sweated buckets with Ziva lying so close to him.


    ''Sigh. What am I even thinking¡­'' Jash cut off his strange thoughts, closed his eyes, and tried to relax, despite the slight discomfort.


    ''I wish I could record her vulnerable side to tease her later.'' Jash smiled slyly, recalling how she recorded him after using mana ink sneakily. Alas, he didn''t have a recording device.


    Lost in his thoughts, he didn''t know how much time had passed before he drifted off to sleep.


    ¡­


    Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours. Slowly but surely, time passed. In the blink of an eye, an entire year had gone by.


    12 January, Year 2449 of the Holy Calendar.


    A few minutes before midnight.


    Despite his approaching birthday, Jash was exercising out of his bed.


    "97¡­!"


    ¡ªDrip S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "98¡­!"


    ¡ªDrip


    "99¡­!"


    ¡ªDrip


    "100!"


    ¡ªDrip


    Sweat glistened and fell to the floor from his chiseled physique as he finished his push-ups for the day.


    Without taking a break, he switched to a forearm plank, counting inwardly, ''180.. 179¡­ 178¡­''


    He didn''t mind his sweat-drenched figure. Even in breathable dark gray shorts made of rare fibers, he still looked handsome.


    Alone in his room, he continued his intense workouts, unknown to most of the mansion''s inhabitants.


    Usually, he slept most of the day because of his nighttime training, preferring to keep it a secret to avoid interference.


    Of course, both Sera and Carcel knew about his routine. Hence, they didn''t force him to wake up early and train.


    But they didn''t confront Jash about it, glad he put in some effort without even being forced to train.


    Jash, however, was mostly unaware of their charade, believing they were oblivious as he wasn''t invested in the prowess of strong hunters or his forced lessons.


    He aced all the tests, outscoring even Caera, who studied regularly like the ideal child, thanks to his analytical brain that helped him read and understand most books quickly.


    Reading books the day before the test hadn''t been tough, even if they had questions requiring high analytical skills.


    ''What use is getting praised as a genius if they just want me to put in more effort?'' Jash scoffed at his hypocritical teachers, who complained about him but did a 180 after seeing his results.


    Not wanting to remember those times, he stood up after completing his 3-minute plank, sweat dripping from every inch of his 1.6-meter-tall body. (5¡ä4¡å)


    Feeling the sticky sensation of sweat, Jash used a clean towel to wipe it off.


    ''I will shower after a 5-minute rest.''


    Glancing at the clock to note the time, he realized it had crossed midnight.


    "Happy 13th birthday, I guess?" Jash muttered in amusement.


    He had already talked with his parents about not awakening until he was 15 or had to do it before entering the academy.


    "The academy, huh¡­"


    Jash muttered with no expression on his face, but his clenched fists spoke volumes about his hatred rather than a drive to become stronger, unlike others his age.


    ''Maybe I should aim for rank 1 and get the perks to sleep or something¡­''


    Lost in his delusions, he didn''t know how much time had passed before snapping out of it and recalling the changes in Caera.


    A wry smile hung on his face as he shivered at even the thought of daily training for 6 hours, followed by mana cultivation alongside their common lessons¡­


    "Just how does she do that? Does awakening drive one crazy or something?"


    Unbeknownst to Caera, her efforts to make Jash understand the significance of awakening and choose to awaken even one day earlier backfired.


    His hatred for awakening grew ever more prominent, and his determination to delay it increased.


    ''I''d much rather stick to my current routine instead of following some insane training schedule¡­''


    "But it does change everything," Jash said, his expression morphing to a contemplative frown.


    After all, a lot of things had changed. The time he spent with his parents wasn''t much different, however, the conversations seemed a bit different and irrelevant to Jash.


    It more or less revolved around Caera or other nobles'' children who had undergone awakening and their potential classmates at the academy.


    "Even Ziva is not allowed to talk on calls anymore," Jash mumbled, a hint of sadness in his tone.


    ''She must be training!'' Jash concluded, recalling his last conversation,where he fell asleep only to wake up in his room with his grandfather. It was still fresh in his mind.


    "He definitely heard it but didn''t force me or anything. Rather he just left after I woke up and I haven''t seen him since," Jash said rather helplessly.


    His grandfather was known as the best long-ranged combatant and held titles such as ''One Hit, One Kill!'', ''The Silent Shot!'', ''Trueshot!'', and many more.


    Yet everyone called him by his moniker, ''The Keen!''


    It wasn''t even connected to him being an archer; it was more about his scouting ability, patience, observation skills, and never missing even the subtlest of details and whatnot.


    However, to Jash, none of it held any meaning as he knew better than anyone that his grandfather wasn''t the calm, old, wise, all-knowing sage!


    "That old man is just as boisterous as any other knight in the family, if not for mom¡­" Jash unconsciously clasped his mouth shut, remembering how scary his mother could be.


    Cornelius Ramille was the strongest man around until his daughter-in-law narrowed her eyes at him. It was a given, considering her fierce protectiveness of her children.


    Not wanting to dwell on it on his birthday, Jash glanced at the clock, his eyes widening in shock as he stared at it speechlessly.


    ''Damn! I have been rambling for over 15 minutes¡­?''


    Flexing his arms, he noticed the remaining sweat had mostly dried up. He finally moved to take his well-needed shower.


    However, just as he reached for the bathroom door, a sudden headache made him flinch.


    His hands instinctively clutched his forehead as he tried to ease the pain, but it felt like his head was being struck by a hammer.


    ''It hurts¡­! Ugh¡­''


    The pain was too much for Jash, who wasn''t used to such sensations. It soon overwhelmed his senses, causing him to lose his balance and tumble.


    Unfortunately, things didn''t improve as a mind-numbing pain soon took over his remaining consciousness.


    It felt as if countless needles were piercing his brain, forcefully altering its structure. His memories, both new and old, got jumbled up, becoming unrecognizable.


    Unable to even make sense of his situation, his body fainted reflexively to save his life.


    Several artifacts on his body lit up with glows of varying colors to protect him, but from what?


    Not sensing any external threat to him, they deactivated. But not before some artifacts notified the other holder, his parents.

 Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Awakening Within

    ***


    After losing consciousness and all senses due to the system forcing him into the path of reincarnation, Bhairav naturally couldn''t feel or see anything,


    Despite his pseudo-death state, he felt like he was traveling the void instead.


    In his current state, he was incapable of forming thoughts, but if he could, he would surely not give a damn to the system''s enduring mystery.


    What would change if he knew or not?


    It just had to fulfill his wishes.


    Although it only listened to two of them and he cursed at it a lot, he didn''t mind it as long as he wouldn''t have the system in his next life, just as he wanted.


    Still, traversing the void, seeing nothing but sporadic stars along the long-winded path, would drive anyone crazy.


    Fortunately, he didn''t actually see it or perceive it with any of his senses, sparing him from perceiving time and space.


    He just ''felt'' it.


    Unaware of anything except the void that he somehow ''felt,'' attributing everything mysterious to the system or its creator, he endured what seemed an eternal emptiness.


    ¡­


    Suddenly, he seemed to have collided with something before going dormant for at least a decade, or so he thought.


    ''At least it saves me from being a baby with memories¡­''


    ''Wait! I can think again?''


    Finally, regaining his sense of self, he could think again but not for long as he didn''t really have a brain, or even a body, to think.


    His consciousness once again faded to the unknown, not knowing when he would wake up and have to live again.


    ¡­


    While being in the void, surrounded by nothing but darkness, Bhairav hibernated with his memories replaying again and again as if a broken record was being played.


    Yet they didn''t seem to budge his spirit in the slightest as if nothing could bother him in his current state.


    It would be torture for some to relive their life or just having to go through and contemplate about it.


    Self-reflection was scary for most.


    However, to him, it didn''t have the slightest impact or appeal. He had already overcome such minor attempts to break his mental fortitude.


    If Bhairav could, he would''ve sneered at such attempts since he had to deal with demons, humans and monsters with different abilities from unknown places.


    He had no choice but to harden his resolve and accept his past as it was the best he could do.


    Naturally, he had regrets but he came to terms with it and overcame all such walls to ascend as humanity''s strongest force.


    Not that it was glorious or anything, only the man himself knew the number of assassinations, conspiracies, honey traps, seductions, backstabbing by those once called friends, ploys in the guise of celebrations¡­


    The list of what he suffered was endless yet the figure of his lover sacrificing herself to save his life was even clearer to his parents'' figure.


    It wasn''t an excuse but he was just 10 around his parent''s accident.


    He was 30 when he died¡­


    With the countless battles he fought, being covered in blood and more, his outlook on life itself changed, let alone the faces of his parents.


    If not for having their pictures, he might''ve even forgotten their appearance.


    ¡­


    Just like that, life continued for him in isolation and hibernation.


    There were times when he felt a familiar energy around him but he didn''t have a proper consciousness to dwell over it or find out the root cause.


    In the end, he truly rested for a long time.


    Today, he jolted awake, or rather his sealed memories were unsealed alongside his personality or individuality.


    "Hmm¡­?"


    Bhairav let out a sound as he was groggy right after waking up from his peaceful slumber.


    Looking around, he found himself in a first person perspective, although he couldn''t move or control anything.


    As if he was watching a movie from someone''s eyes, the life and memories of someone named Jash Ramille played out in front of him.


    "What¡­ is¡­ this¡­?"


    He wondered in intrigue, disinterested in the lackluster life of the young man. It held no appeal to him.


    Nothing more than a mundane life of a boy getting pampered and loved by his family, happy times with friends, groaning, whining, tantrums etc etc.


    The only remarkable thing was the memories didn''t start from 3 years or so of his age but from the moment he was born, giving him access to even baby memories.


    "This¡­ feels¡­ too¡­ real¡­"


    Given he could feel the sensory and even environmental cues alongside the emotions of Jash, Bhairav was quite confused.


    Unfortunately, he lived through those 13 years of life, with the memories getting connected to his, without break.


    ''I see¡­'' sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was all he needed to understand the current events.


    He was reborn as Jash Ramille and lived a life he desired, but failed to achieve in his past life.


    Ironically, he couldn''t help but be pessimistic. After all, everything was fine for him too, till he was 10.


    ''Also, Solarnelle Empire, Arne, Ramille, Blake¡­ it strangely feels familiar¡­''


    ''Awakeneing¡­ Mana¡­ This is going to be complicated¡­''


    Bhairav didn''t have to think about it for too long before realizing that mana and awakening were words only used in novels, alongside the familiar names.


    ''I am in some novel¡­''


    However, he didn''t know which one.


    But did he need to?


    ''Don''t most novels have the same trends¡­?''


    He couldn''t help but curse at the authors who kept repeating the same things, circling around the cliches and calling it unique.


    He failed to notice when his thoughts grew clearer and more coherent, flowing without pause.


    His attention once again got taken over by one of the memories that played in front of him.


    It was the memory of a beautiful girl in Jash''s room, where they conversed happily before they argued.


    ''So he is unawakened, huh? Good, good. That''s good!''


    If Bhairav could, he would definitely lighten his heart by cursing, given the insane difficulty he was forced to live with.


    Yet he tried to find a silver lining within it. ''At least, it will allow me to do things my way!''


    The rest of the memories weren''t important enough for him to pay close attention, allowing him to connect the dots.


    ''The talent and age of the ones in my generation are monstrous. The protagonist and villain are definitely from this¡­''


    ''Hmm¡­ given this layout¡­ maybe an academy attack¡­? Assassinations¡­? Kidnapping¡­? Torture by demons¡­? Bad aptitude¡­? Cursed by some higher entity¡­?''


    ¡­


    Without even realizing, Bhairav started to refer to Jash as ''me''.


    Alongside his string of thoughts, he came up with some crazy theories regarding the new world he found himself in.


    Yet he remained without control, acutely aware of the contrasting personalities within.


    ''Well, I wonder what he thinks¡­''


    As Bhairav delved into his, or rather Jash''s memories; Jash explored his new reality.


    Ultimately, the decision to merge their personalities or vie for dominance, or choosing to harmoniously surrender, rested solely with the duo.


    Essentially, they were born of the same soul but inhabited different worlds with unique circumstances.


    But they remained distinct ''individuals'', and no one would want to lose themself to the other.


    ***


    {A/N}


    So, I am having problems with posting 2 chapters because I keep feeling they are inadequate or not edited enough. Can you tell if this chapter is good enough or needs improvement? I need that feedback to increase my chapter posting speed.

 Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Veil Within

    ***


    After enduring agonizing pain for a long time, Jash, who had lived a peaceful life, lost consciousness.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t just lose consciousness¡ªhave a memory gap and regain it.


    As soon as Jash lost consciousness, he felt his senses abruptly return.


    Afraid of the mind-boggling pain yet again, he tried to resist regaining his senses.


    However, his efforts proved futile. His senses re-emerged, but they brought unexpected sensations.


    Similar to Bhairav, Jash found himself submerged in unending darkness.


    Being the naive 13-year-old, he couldn''t help but fear the darkness as it slowly gnawed at him, chipping away his sanity slowly but surely.


    Unlike his counterpart, his mental fortitude crumpled after spending some time in the nothingness.


    Even if there was no concept of space and time in this strange place, it felt like a second and an eternity at the same time. It was enough to make anyone go insane.


    Luckily, Jash got saved from eternal damnation.


    Just when he was at his utter limits, about to shatter, the scenery in front of him abruptly shifted to a more vibrant one.


    In his desperation to find anything to prove he was still alive, the strangeness of the situation eluded him.


    His situation, in one word, was bad.


    He didn''t even have time to realize he couldn''t think, feel, or see in actuality.


    That was the striking difference between the two individuals, despite sharing one soul.


    ...


    Looking through the scenery frantically, Jash tried to find some semblance of life and figure out his situation instinctively, even without actively thinking.


    Fate, however, was a cruel mistress, indifferent to one''s misery, constantly sending challenges.


    Just like that, a vivid tapestry of a young boy''s life played out before Jash.


    The first memory Jash witnessed was being pampered by a strange, unfamiliar couple. Yet warmth and happiness surged through him.


    He lived these memories as a spectator, unable to comprehend the sudden change.


    He was merely a spectator who vividly experienced every emotion and environmental cue, be it smell, taste, pain, or any other sensation.


    Going through something like this would break anyone''s mind, but Jash didn''t suffer such consequences.


    A golden, shimmering light enveloped his consciousness, preventing it from collapsing before the inevitable clash between the two personalities.


    Unaware, he continued to live through the memories, going through a rollercoaster of emotions before utter despair clouded his senses.


    Feeling the gaping loss of one''s own parents at the tender age of 10 broke him down, yet the indifference and greed of Bhairav''s relatives was the final straw.


    However, as one can expect, when darkness overcomes one''s life, a shimmering ray of light¡ªhope¡ªexists.


    That hope was his uncle, who helped him circumvent everything, shielding him from the harsh reality of society, and fighting for his wealth and his parents'' murderer.


    Jash became so immersed that he couldn''t distinguish himself from the boy, experiencing everything from a first-person perspective, unaware of the change within his own being.


    Alas, all good things must come to an end.


    Faced with the gripping reality of getting kicked out and taken advantage of by the same uncle at the age of 18, the boy broke.


    Fortunately or unfortunately, the life Jash witnessed to the point of having trouble differentiating himself from the boy, Bhairav, didn''t end there.


    Bhairav was sensible, doing part-time jobs to earn his own expenses ever since he entered high school as he didn''t want to be a burden to his guardian, his uncle.


    Steering clear of girls despite being proposed by his crush. It was anything but easy, given teenage hormones.


    At this point, Jash felt his own emotions burgeon with pity for the boy, or perhaps for himself. He didn''t know.


    Yet the life he witnessed didn''t get better.


    Bhairav lived on the streets, barely scraping by, just another high school graduate without a college degree.


    However, things took an unlikely turn when the boy went back to his uncl¡ªno, his parents'' house.


    Jash could feel the boy''s emotions vividly, his rising heartbeat, adrenaline coursing his veins, nervousness, rage, doubt, hatred, anger, grief, regret, helplessness...


    The number of emotions he felt the boy go through was staggering in and of itself.


    But Jash couldn''t comprehend how the boy could have taken such drastic actions.


    ...


    Looking at the boy for another year, living as a fugitive and a wanted criminal, always on the run.


    Despite his pressing situation, he didn''t even steal a penny.


    Yet Jash couldn''t help but doubt, remembering the brutality with which Bhairav killed his traitorous uncle. His father''s best friend.


    It was inevitable.


    His actions allowed Jash to differentiate and extricate himself from confusing Bhairav as himself.


    But he couldn''t stop the memories.


    Finally, going through life here and there, the boy found a job¡ªa questionable job of being a male escort.


    Turns out some women, married or unmarried, find themselves attracted to criminals.


    Never having even held a girl''s hand, the job was tough, but all he needed to do was be an eye candy.


    Not difficult, considering he looked handsome already. With a little bit of work being put in, he looked hella fine.


    It didn''t take long for him to get famous among a certain clique of ladies. But it didn''t last long, just like everything in his life.


    On one particular night bustling with guests, he served a young woman. He wasn''t tempted by her allure or anything but just serving her once brought trouble to him.


    The woman drank quite a bit of strong liquor, nearly half a liter of wine with 39.8% alcohol by volume, becoming heavily intoxicated.


    ...


    Living through the memories, the naive Jash had already matured after experiencing such a hard life, feeling all the hardships too vividly.


    Unfortunately, as the world around him distorted and broke down, he couldn''t see anything more.


    The last thing he sensed was actually words that didn''t belong to the tapestry of memories he had lived through.


    "Any more and he will break." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***


    ''Hmm... Forcing him out won''t bode me well...''


    Despite knowing the repercussions he would face for his actions, Bhairav didn''t mind it one bit.


    After all, what use would it be if Jash gets tainted and breaks even before their clash?


    That too, in a clash, where everything will change.


    He didn''t want Jash''s decision to be influenced any more than what was already beyond his control.


    ''Plus, there is just no way that darned system will show itself... My memories would be more or less just a hazy blur for him.''


    Bhairav seemed to be in his own world, while his control over the soul waned due to his direct interference.


    He wasn''t even keen on taking over their soul.


    If he had wanted to, he could''ve just asked the system to reincarnate him.


    Why bother to seal his memories?


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t that easy, given his knowledge about unknown enemies and his decision was slightly influenced from the Demon King''s final words.


    He didn''t take them to heart or believe them to be true, but the unbridled fear and rage in the Demon King''s eyes at the mere mention of their existence were eerie enough.


    ''If there are beings strong enough to shatter space and exile the demon race, then...''


    ***

 Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Soul Duality

    ***


    In the nothingness that seemed to have become Bhairav''s home.


    His spirit or his body materialized, but with its radiance dimming as seconds ticked by.


    Suddenly, he sensed a disturbance in the space around him, and quickly looked in that direction.


    Looking at the familiar face of Jash Ramille in front of him, his focus narrowed in on the new spirit, but he didn''t do much.


    It was difficult to articulate his actions with mere words as he didn''t really have a body, nor was it his soul.


    After all, the soul was a singular existence with two personalities or individuals formed from it.


    ...


    Time passed uneventfully until Jash finally woke up in a daze, only to find himself surrounded by the bizarre nothingness.


    Just as he was about to panic, he heard a firm and mature voice clearly.


    "Relax."


    It was just one word yet his mind immediately calmed down, as if a spell had been cast on him.


    Trying to locate the source, Jash flailed around, but it didn''t amount to any change despite his relentless attempts.


    Before he could exhaust himself fully, a spirit appeared in front of him in the form of Bhairav.


    The difference in their radiance was stark, easily noticeable by Bhairav, but Jash failed to notice, as he was too shell-shocked after recognizing Bhairav.


    He didn''t know anything about their current situation, yet the life he had just lived through forced him to calm down in the face of an inexplicable situation.


    "Hmm." Bhairav hummed with little amusement before they both stared each other dead in the eye, or what they presumed to be their eyes.


    "You must be confused. Unlike me, you can''t speak, move, or do anything except think. That too, only because of the memories increasing your mental strength."


    Bhairav said in a matter-of-fact tone as if he weren''t ridiculing Jash, but just stating the truth.


    He didn''t wait for any response, however, and continued explaining.


    "I believe you have some hypotheses regarding the current situation."


    "Let me confirm your conjecture:You and I are of the same soul."


    Silence engulfed them as Jash''s spirit wavered at the astounding revelation. He didn''t know much about souls; his knowledge was not even at a superficial level.


    Yet one fact remained: one soul could only allow one life to exist.


    Duality of souls was a curse.


    As if reading his thoughts, Bhairav confirmed, "You are correct in thinking that only one of us can exist."


    The bombshell remark threatened to exhaust Jash''s spirit and his barely reliant mental fortitude.


    "Before you think of it as me possessing you, just know that I am the reason you were formed, but I have no interest in taking over."


    The words stunned Jash to the point of cursing. ''Then why the hell are we here? Just go away!''


    "It''s not that easy, youngling," Bhairav commented, as if predicting his thoughts.


    "There are only 3 ways to end it... without dying, that is."


    Jash had an ominous feeling about the last words spoken, as they seemed to hold a hidden meaning he couldn''t make sense of.


    "First, we both clash, and the victor absorbs the other, or whatever remains of the loser, to heal themselves."


    "Second, we both agree to merge our personalities, giving birth to a new distinct one with both our memories."


    "Third, one of us surrenders and ceases to exist, leaving behind his memories and heritage to the other."


    Listing the options, Bhairav turned quiet, giving Jash time to contemplate which option to choose.


    But inwardly, he thought bitterly, ''He won''t choose any of them...''


    ...


    On the other hand, Jash thought about everything he could, given his limited knowledge, but he didn''t know what the correct option would be.


    ''I don''t know what he will choose...''


    ''He did say he doesn''t want to take over me... but why would he list these options instead of just surrendering?''


    ''There has to be some catch...''


    Unable to come up with a solid reason, he moved on to mull over the three options instead, considering the pros and cons.


    ''The first option is a no-go. There is just no way I can win.''


    ''The second option is too dubious... Merging? Who knows what the result will be?''


    ''Surrender? He didn''t do it... And there''s just no way Imma do it!''


    ''...''


    After a string of thoughts, Jash didn''t decide on any option.


    Even if he did, how would he tell the other party, when all he could do was think and analyze?


    Bringing him out of his stupor was the surprisingly calm voice of Bhairav.


    "You can''t decide, right?"


    It sounded as if he expected this situation.


    Unlike Jash, Bhairav had lived through Jash''s entire life, making Jash predictable in his eyes.


    "Well, I can''t cease to exist but you can''t leave if both of us exist."


    "The only option we have is, Merging."


    "Don''t mistake it for forming a different personality, or us ceasing to exist."


    "You have seen my partial memories, so you should know, my world had mana too. I can help you become the strongest, but that''s not your goal."


    "We can compromise."


    "I will give you memories of mana and training, including my sensation and emotions of that time, helping you become accustomed to mana itself."


    "After all, you''re naive in thinking, everything will not go just as you wish."


    "Didn''t you already see it?"


    Jash could only agree in his thoughts, but Bhairav didn''t mind as he waited for him to come to terms with it.


    "I guess, you''d be confused."


    "Let''s just say I will live through you and slowly merge into you, changing everything about you, but it won''t affect me much."


    "Unless I exhaust myself completely, I can live here. Inside our soul."


    "I have no motivation to live."


    Stopping after saying what he wanted to, Bhairav waited for Jash''s decision.


    Naturally, Jash wouldn''t agree so easily. If he were just the young naive Jash Ramille, he might''ve agreed.


    But he had already witnessed 19 years of treachery-filled life of Bhairav.


    No way he would take the words at face value.


    There had to be a hidden meaning.


    ''Does he want to influence me into accepting the tempting offer before he slowly takes over my body?''


    Jash didn''t know why, but the thought of losing himself to even his own counterpart, didn''t sound good. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And the idea didn''t seem to budge, no matter how he tried to counter it.


    Again, his deep thoughts paused because Bhairav spoke, drawing his attention for an unknown reason.


    "You have already changed with just the easy part of my life... If I wanted to take over you, I wouldn''t have interfered, weakening myself."


    "Just one look at those memories will crumple your spirit, enough to be stomped in less than a moment."


    "If you''re so wary, how about an alternative?"


    "I will become your master!"


    Jash wanted to hear more about this proposal but Bhairav refused to budge in the slightest.


    Unknown to Jash, Bhairav had already overstepped his bounds multiple times, and he would cease to exist soon without any benefit to Jash.


    That was something he didn''t want to see. What use was reincarnating, if his new life also suffered?


    In the end, it all depended on Jash''s decision.


    Not only had Bhairav interfered with the memories, but he even allowed Jash to think in this space, further crippling himself. And he even gave that information to Jash! Albeit indirectly.


    ***

 Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Outside

    ***


    Back to the time before Jash fainted.


    Inside the master bedroom of the Ramille Family Mansion.


    A man with jet-black hair with a few strands falling on his temples sat on a comfortable chair, his green eyes looking at the neatly arranged documents on the table.


    His hands moved at the speed of a blur as his eyes scanned the documents before signing them or putting them onto a different stack.


    He continued to go through the documents submitted by the nobles under him, merchants in trade, new guilds, approval of budget and various other aspects concerning his territory.


    ¡ªCreak


    The door creaked open loudly, yet the man remained undisturbed.


    The sound of heels clacking against the marble floor echoed amid the rustling papers.


    However, the man''s attention didn''t waver in the slightest as if the newcomer hadn''t even entered the room.


    ¡ªClack Clack!


    The sound of footsteps became louder before stopping. A slender hand snaked its way onto the man''s neck before a sweet voice entered his ears.


    "Edward did a good job, right?"


    Despite the sweetness of her voice, the man just nodded instead of voicing his opinion, knowing fully well she just wanted to start a conversation.


    Not minding his response, the woman remarked, "It''s close to midnight. It''s their 13th birthday."


    Suddenly, the man stopped going through the documents before he turned to address the woman.


    "Sera, my dear, we''ve been over this already."


    Hearing her husband''s gentle tone, Sera couldn''t help but bite her lips lightly.


    She wanted to yell at him that it wasn''t over, yet she didn''t have it in her to fight with her husband.


    While she was absorbed in her thoughts, her husband stood up and hugged her from behind in silence.


    Taking her to the bed in his arms, she sat in his lap as he held onto her hand and caressed it.


    Recalling the time his son refused to awaken, he thought, ''She is too worried about Jash.''


    ''Haa... She almost went crazy back then...''


    Looking at the frown on his wife''s face, his heart pained, but he didn''t want to force his son into awakening.


    ''Failing it is not worth it and she knows it too.''


    Absorbed in his thought, he jolted when he heard his wife speak in a rather low tone.


    "Say, Carcel, what if something happens to Jash because he doesn''t awaken? He only trains a little at night. He''s too weak."


    Carcel chose his words carefully before speaking gently, "I know you are worried, and I am too. But forcing him is not the way here. We can only hope he chooses to awaken before it is too late."


    Hearing her husband''s reassurance and feeling his warmth on her body, she didn''t feel the need to say more.


    The two knew each other like the back of their hands. It was easy for them to figure out each other''s thoughts too.


    "Darling, you''re focusing too much on Caera, it might backfire in the long run," Carcel said in a reprimanding tone.


    "So what? Brandon is in the academy and won''t leave till he is 18. But when he graduates, Jash and Caera would already be in the academy!"


    "Haa... You''re being overprotective."


    Sera didn''t reply to Carcel''s last comment. It was the truth, after all.


    The two cuddled for the next few minutes in silence, enjoying the rare moment of reprieve from their day-to-day lives.


    They didn''t need to sleep for extended periods of time; they had a high degree of control over their bodies and emotions.


    Thus, they didn''t crave carnal activities much. But that didn''t mean they never did it.


    Well, they did have 3 children, so it was a no-brainer.


    ...


    Out of nowhere, the couple felt tigs at their mind and immediately poured their mana into their storage rings.


    Several items of different shapes¡ªcuboids, cubes, spheres, keys, bracelets, tabloids, and many others¡ªshot out.


    Seeing so many of their artifacts ringing simultaneously, the couple immediately became alert, their eyes widening as they shot forward at incredible speeds.


    The bed behind them cracked with the sheer strength they had used to kickstart their momentum.


    The door was spared, as they left through the open balcony.


    Nothing but a blur remained of their presence as the air whirred and split apart from their sheer strength.


    It took them less than ten seconds to reach their destination: Jash''s room. They entered directly through the balcony.


    Their speed didn''t give enough time for the runes to react to their mana signature and open, causing the balcony gates to shatter into pieces.


    Sera dashed forward, leaving Carcel behind, who masterfully prevented any stray splinter from entering the room.


    Arriving inside the room, Sera''s blood froze as she saw Jash sprawled on the ground, unconscious.


    Before she could rush forward and force-feed him healing potions and elixirs, Carcel held her wrist, stopping her.


    "What?" She shouted in anger, her mana flaring up, ready to attack if he didn''t let her go. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But when she turned to look at Carcel, she found his gaze fixed on Jash. The look on his face made her shut her complaints.


    She could feel his trembling fingers and seething rage barely reeled in. ''He is the same as me...''


    Sera had forgotten for a second that Carcel loved their children just as much as her, if not more.


    Still, his stance of not inspecting Jash bugged her.


    "There are no signs of attack. No mana signature except the artifacts."


    With just these words, Sera momentarily calmed down, trying to find out what happened to her son, even if his condition took precedence.


    Suddenly, a figure flashed by them and they both turned to look at the lean man, neatly dressed despite the time.


    His deep black hair bore a striking resemblance to that of Carcel and Jash. The only difference being his graying hairline.


    "Father..." Sera muttered in a low tone, her eyes slightly teary.


    Cornelius focused solely on sensing the room with his mana sense, sending pulses into the surroundings.


    "Strange..." mumbled Cornelius, a glint flashing in his eyes, as he couldn''t quite put his finger on what transpired here.


    The couple, who heard his mumble as if it were the loudest sound, were shocked, to say the least.


    Unlike the general consensus, the duo knew much better about the extent of Cornelius''s adventures during his youth and old age.


    They had a hard time accepting the fact that he was unable to figure out what happened here.


    "This isn''t the time for this!" Sera shouted, realizing the father-son duo forgot about Jash lying there.


    She barely restrained herself from rushing to check on him, unwilling to waste any more time.


    Who knew what would happen if they kept delaying it?


    Cornelius awkwardly averted his gaze, then stepped forward and appeared beside Jash. His mana enveloped the fainted boy, lifting him gently to the bed.


    The white mana enveloping Jash appeared tainted with black, a sight that didn''t surprise the couple¡ªit seemed natural.


    The mana cleared Jash''s remaining sweat before Cornelius used his exceptional mana control to send tendrils of mana into his body.


    ''Hmm? He seems totally fine, internally and externally...''


    A strange look appeared on Cornelius''s face, as he couldn''t find any irregularities or the cause of Jash''s fainting.


    By the time Cornelius checked Jash, just over a minute had passed since he fainted.

 Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Flutter

    Unable to decode Jash''s ailment, Cornelius didn''t waste time and immediately brought out a vial containing a colorless liquid.


    He forced liquids from various vials down Jash''s throat, using his mana as if it were an extension of his body.


    ''No change, huh?''


    Cornelius wasn''t just feeding the potions to heal Jash; he was taking note of how they acted inside Jash''s body.


    Unfortunately, he found no difference, despite the numerous potions.


    ''He is unawakened, I can''t just feed him everything...''


    Naturally, Cornelius knew better than anyone what potions he could feed Jash, so he tried all that he had on him.


    He didn''t hold many potions to begin with, as most didn''t aid him due to his strength.


    Unable to think of any other solution at the moment, he reconsidered. ''Should I try an elixir...?''


    He wasn''t sure about trying an elixir on Jash. After all, elixirs were made for severe illnesses and mostly for the awakened hunters, so finding a suitable one that wouldn''t harm Jash would be difficult..


    Although expensive, elixirs did the job almost perfectly, making their demand skyrocket, yet they remained scarce.


    But that was about it.


    "Why aren''t you feeding him an elixir already?" Sera''s frustrated shout brought Cornelius out of his stupor.


    However, just as he was about to take out an elixir, he saw Jash''s unconscious body flinch, confusing him.


    His eyes focused on Jash to try and find anything. ''Hmm? What''s this all of a sudden?''


    On the opposite side, Carcel noticed his father''s focused state and forcefully yanked Sera from her position.


    She was relieved at the sight of Cornelius taking out an elixir, but seeing him halt, she almost rushed at him to take the vial and feed it to Jash by herself.


    Offended by Carcel''s rude behavior, she was about to shift her frustration onto him when he suddenly clasped her mouth.


    Shocked by her husband''s odd behavior, she was dumbfounded and couldn''t react for a second.


    She wasn''t weaker than him; she simply didn''t expect him to treat her like this..


    However, what made her frown was Carcel''s gaze. He didn''t even spare her a glance!


    Despite the situation, which might compel anyone to fight, she refrained from reacting impulsively.


    Instead, she followed his sight and narrowed her eyes, looking at Jash flinching uncontrollably.


    He didn''t have any expression on his face yet the sheer intensity with which his body twitched and trembled pained her heart as a mother.


    In that moment, she even forgot her husband''s audacity, her motherly distress overcoming all other emotions.


    As the hands around her mouth and waist tightened in tension, she didn''t need to look at Carcel to know his feelings.


    ***


    Outside the room, the entire mansion was in utter chaos. Hearing the sound barrier shatter twice in quick succession alerted the guards.


    Even the servants and maids residing in the mansion were terrified of what was to come.


    "Just who dares to attack the Ramille Estate! The family mansion at that!"


    Many such shouts echoed across the halls as the guards became alert and looked for any sign of infiltration.


    One of them in particular had a horrified expression. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Emma, still clad in maid attire, rushed out of her room upon hearing the sounds.


    ''That...! Isn''t that from the first floor?''


    Recognizing the source, she immediately panicked, realizing her oversight.


    ''Even if Young Master sent me away, I should have stayed guard!''


    Unlike others in the hallway, she dashed forward, using the air to boost her as she nimbly moved across the hall, reaching the staircase.


    Determination marred her face as her heart pounded nervously before she darted up the stairs, reaching the first floor.


    ''Young Master... I hope nothing goes wrong...''


    With a single thought in her mind, she zoomed past everyone to reach Jash''s room.


    The others weren''t surprised seeing her speed, rather they also started to use mana to their full strength.


    Despite the movement of various hunters inside the hall, not a speck of dust rose in the corridors, let alone the walls or floor cracking.


    ***


    Looking at Jash''s twitching body for more than five minutes, the trio remained silent as they didn''t know what to say.


    Cornelius was their best bet to find out anything, and his furrowed brows alone were enough to make the husband-wife duo anxious.


    Even with their emotions in turmoil and their focus on Jash, they could sense the movements on the lower floors.


    Sensing the guards getting closer to the barriers and about to activate them, Carcel commanded in a stern voice.


    "Stop. Go back to your positions and stay alert."


    Despite the distance, everyone downstairs heard his voice loud and clear, halting them in their tracks. They followed the order without question.


    Though Carcel''s voice echoed through the hall, it didn''t even reach inside Jash''s room..


    He didn''t want to take any chances with the strange state of Jash, leading him to exert such deliberate control over his power, making him sweat.


    Unfortunately, a frown broke across his handsome visage as he sensed three distinct mana signatures approaching.


    ''Emma, Caera, and Kesha.''


    He naturally identified them as they closed the distance, but he didn''t make any effort to stop them.


    His gaze shifted to Sera, who held her gaze at Jash, undisturbed by the surrounding disturbances.


    Jerking her slightly, he wanted her to deal with the three newcomers, but she ignored him completely.


    ''Damn! She has become a statue or what?''


    In the end, he couldn''t help but pinch her arms to get her attention using a bit of force, something he didn''t wish to do.


    Finally, Sera turned to face him. Yet her face had an expression that screamed, ''If it ain''t worth it, you''re done for.''


    Not intimidated in the least, Carcel nudged her in the direction of the door.


    Understanding the cue, she immediately spread her senses outside and froze upon noticing the three presences mere five meters away from the door.


    Carcel left the predicament to her, turning back to gaze at Jash, his tense expression relaxing at the sight of Jash on the bed.


    It was much better than seeing his body twitching in unimaginable pain.


    Even seeing him awake and well, as usual, would be a much better sight for Carcel.


    Meanwhile, Sera released a bit of her mana, pulsing softly towards the door before pushing back the three.


    Before it could strike them, however, she reeled it in.


    No matter how urgent the situation, Sera wouldn''t hurt her daughter.


    Even if it were only Emma and Kesha, she couldn''t do it. She just couldn''t bring herself to be cruel to people she had known since they were children.


    That''s why she assigned Kesha as Caera''s personal maid and Emma as Jash''s. Both were trustworthy and so were they strong.


    Of course, they were bound by multiple mana contracts, oaths, vows, and many other restrictions were placed on them to serve the direct family of Ramille duchy.


    Back in Jash''s room.


    Sera had just turned back from the door to Jash when she noticed his eyes fluttering open and immediately dashed to hug him.


    Now that he was awake, nothing else mattered to her. Carcel and Cornelius made no attempt to stop her, knowing it would be futile.

 Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Comfort

    Carcel and Cornelius watched silently as Sera enveloped Jash in a protective embrace. Her relief was palpable, almost tangible¡ªa stark contrast to the tension that gripped the room just moments before.


    Though Cornelius observed carefully, his eyes still narrowed in thought. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.


    It was a brief moment of respite amidst the chaos and uncertainty.


    Jash''s eyes blinked continuously, revealing a confused but gradually focusing gaze with each flutter.


    He looked up at his mother, then at his father, and finally at Cornelius. His body, still weak from everything it had gone through, eased slightly in Sera''s warmth-filled arms.


    "Mom... Dad... what happened?" Jash''s voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper.


    Sera tightened her embrace, tears of relief about to stream down her cheeks. "Y-you scared us, Jash. But it''s fine now."


    Interrupting the emotional scene, Cornelius stepped closer, his expression grave. "Jash, do you remember anything? Anything that might help us understand what happened?"


    Jash furrowed his brow, trying to recall the events that had led to his current state. "I...I remember feeling a sharp pain, like something was tearing me apart from the inside."


    His body trembled in Sera''s embrace, worrying her, but he continued with a shaky voice.


    "I-it felt like it changed m-me, but then everything went b-blank."


    Carcel exchanged a worried glance with Cornelius. "That doesn''t tell us much," he muttered, his icy expression relaxing as he added, "But at least you''re awake."


    Despite the warm family reunion, guilt overwhelmed Jash''s very being. Only he knew that whatever he said was a half-lie. Yet lying was much better in this situation, in his opinion.


    ''There''s no way anyone would believe in reincarnation and everything and then... the novel thing...''


    Jash couldn''t bring himself to utter the truth, as he himself had a hard time believing it, let alone accepting himself as a mere extra in some novel.


    Bringing him out of his inner guilt, Sera gently stroked his hair; her gaze never leaving his face. "We''ll figure it out, Jash. We have to."


    Warmth coursed within Jash as he put the complex matter to the back of his mind and let himself enjoy the comfort of his mother''s embrace.


    At the same time, outside the room, the mansion''s staff remained on high alert. The guards had returned to their posts, but the tension in the air remained palpable.


    Emma, Caera, and Kesha stood just outside the door, concern etched on their faces.


    Emma barely maintained her composure as regret consumed her fully, while Caera wondered what went wrong.


    Kesha, ever observant, stayed alert to any unforeseen situation, her priority on guarding her master, Caera.


    Taking note of their interactions, Carcel ordered them, "Leave for now. Just keep an eye out for anything unusual and report it immediately."


    As the three nodded despite their hesitation and retreated a little, Caera stood rooted on the spot.


    She didn''t say anything but her stand was obvious, causing Carcel to rub his forehead slightly, knowing how stubborn his daughter could be.


    Looking at Sera to get some help, he noticed her focus on Jash, and sighed a little.


    "...Whatever. Just come in, Caera."


    Without another choice, he acquiesced to her adamant request, allowing only her to step in.


    Ignoring the slightly astounded Caera, Carcel turned his attention back to Cornelius, who broke the silence. "We''ll need to run some tests to make sure you''re truly out of danger."


    Jash nodded weakly, still in Sera''s embrace; his trust in his family evident. "Whatever is needed."


    Sera helped Jash sit up, her movements careful and gentle, "You''re fine, Jash. We''ll get through this."


    His mother''s words comforted the unease he felt in his current situation as he resolutely waited for whatever tests he needed to go through.


    His mind, still a complete mess, considerably calmed down due to his enhanced mental fortitude and his family''s presence.


    ''I hope nothing goes wrong...'' Jash prayed inwardly as he looked at his grandfather.


    Cornelius prepared a series of diagnostic spells, his hands moving with practiced precision. As the magic enveloped Jash, a faint glow emanated from his body, revealing the extent of the internal damage.


    The result was the same, however. It showed no damage, whether internal or external, except for his raised heart rate and large amounts of sweating.


    "This... this isn''t just a simple ailment," Cornelius murmured, his eyes widening in shock. "There''s something... something sinister at work here."


    Carcel''s expression hardened. "Sinister? Dark magic or... Curse magic? Here, in our home?"


    Cornelius nodded grimly. "It seems so. But who targeted Jash, why, and how..."


    Sera''s grip on Jash tightened protectively. "We''ll find out who did this. And they''ll pay."


    Her eyes burned with the ferocity of a lioness as they seemed to blaze anyone who dared to look into her eyes.


    Jash, despite his weakened state, murmured, confusion etching his tone, "Dark magic...? Curse magic...?"


    Even though he knew the reason for their intense reaction, he couldn''t show that.


    After all, this topic was taught in the academy, or only those who experienced it knew.


    Looking at the confused Caera, Jash mentally noted, ''As expected!''


    ''Acting a bit differently might not be much, but if I change all of a sudden, like a know-it-all... Now, that will cause a problem.''


    Luckily, Jash was smart enough to understand his own situation and acted accordingly, or things might not turn out so well.


    Why?


    "Ahem." Carcel coughed before explaining, sensing the confusion of his kids.


    "Curse and Dark Magic can be treated as forbidden, but they aren''t completely. They are similar to the sinister sacrificial magic."


    Noting the apparent shock, he gave the final verdict, "It also leads to possession by some evil spirit or other evil entities..."


    Before he finished, Sera smacked him, making him hurriedly add, "Jash is fine, though!"


    One look at Cornelius, who nodded, conveyed the seriousness of the situation to Caera.


    Meanwhile, Jash felt cold sweat flow down his neck. ''Damn! Could it be an evil spirit? I don''t know anymore...''


    He had not even considered the possibility of it actually being something like that!


    In that moment, the family''s resolve solidified.


    With grim determination, each wished to uncover the mystery behind Jash''s ailment, no matter the cost.


    And whoever was responsible for this dark or curse magic would face the full wrath of the Ramille family.


    Jash didn''t know yet that this small event would lead to the decimation of numerous dark mages and curse mages.


    Not that they didn''t deserve it.


    However, at the moment, Jash was too absorbed in being comforted by Sera, putting everything to the back of his mind.


    Finally, relaxing in her embrace, he fell asleep as the tension left him, allowing his family to go and quench their anger.


    Excluding Caera, of course.


    Unfortunately, Cornelius wasn''t fully of the same mind and wouldn''t let his son and daughter-in-law take any rash steps.


    ''Something is weird about everything...''


    Little did they know, Cornelius himself was confused by the situation, sensing only a fleeting sinister presence.


    Unable to grasp the root cause or find the perpetrator, he had his suspicions¡ªdifferent from Carcel and Sera.


    Only Jash could confirm it, but would he now? S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Cease

    ***


    After everything Bhairav had shown and done, Jash didn''t know what to believe anymore.


    As both their forms were blurring and wavering, the short time remaining became apparent.


    Despite the situation, Bhairav remained unnerved as if it had nothing to do with him.


    After all, he had already done his best. The decision was not his from the start.


    ''I won''t force him to choose a specific path. I don''t want him to end up like me...''


    Bhairav didn''t linger on his reminiscing thoughts, as his focus shifted to something else before turning to face Jash.


    "We don''t have much time."


    Despite the unease coursing through Jash opposite him, Bhairav didn''t have all the time in the world for Jash to accept the situation.


    He needed to be fast, or he might regret it.


    "You have already changed. Your memories¡ªthey are just continued¡ªfrom my memories. They are entwined."


    Bhairav explained cryptically, not wanting to waste time on another explanation.


    ''He will know when it is the right time...'' Bhairav analyzed and went quiet.


    On the other side, Jash had trouble forming coherent thoughts yet he yearned for more.


    He wanted to hear more about those cryptic and mysterious circumstances Bhairav kept playing around.


    ''There is definitely something at play...'' concluded Jash.


    ''Yet do I agree or do I not?''


    His dilemma didn''t end there, however.


    ''Will I truly be Jash Ramille? Or will I be him? Or just an amalgamation of us both?''


    Realizing the urgency of the situation, he didn''t waste time on analyzing anymore and directly chose what felt instinctively right.


    ''Master! I accept!'' he thought with the idea of conveying it to Bhairav.


    Noting the small smile on Bhairav''s face and hearing his last words, Jash disappeared from the space.


    "Good luck."


    ...


    Bhairav wasn''t surprised by Jash''s decision and bid him farewell before focusing on something else entirely.


    Throughout the time Jash remained unresponsive, he felt a familiar eerie energy around him.


    Naturally, it had been receding ever since he had woken up, trying to hide from him.


    His mere presence mortified the eerie energy as if it stood in front of its mortal predator.


    Yet all its efforts proved futile.


    "Now, now, I wonder what you are?"


    "Hiding far and low, creeping under the scars,"


    "Where are ya hiding, oh lil'' one?"


    "Don''t want to meet this nice ol'' man, naughty one?"


    "Hehe"


    "Ready or not,"


    "Here I come!"


    Jash moved with impossible precision in the nothingness, his expression serene as if he hadn''t just muttered some nonsensical, cringe gibberish.


    Not even feeling ashamed, but rather proud of his words, he landed on the barrier of the soul.


    His form was also sizzling in and out of existence like Jash, but he knew how to utilize it, so it wasn''t much of a problem... for now.


    Looking around the soul barrier, or what he assumed to be the soul barrier, Bhairav finally found the source of the familiar eerie energy.


    Multiple red vines snaked around the barrier, trying to shatter it and ensnare the soul with their deadly thorns of crimson color.


    Yet the pulsating moment of some dark-green viscous material visible through the thin red vine walls looked disgusting.


    Not minding the weird appearance of the vibes, he inched closer to the barrier, and the vines retreated in response.


    Minimizing their presence instinctively from his mere presence left him intrigued about their origin.


    However, what intrigued him was something else.


    ''There is no way these vines couldn''t break the soul barrier, given they envelop it entirely...''


    ''The System definitely listened to no damage, controlling, enslaving and whatnot request...''


    ''Still, they are disgusting and I don''t want to leave behind any lingering problems.''


    Without even leaving the barrier, Bhairav masterfully manipulated the weird golden power coursing within the barrier.


    Despite the power being untameable by anyone, he did so with ease.


    The encroaching vines sizzled with the slightest contact with the golden power, let alone now.


    Bhairav released the golden strings of unknown energy outside the barrier, allowing the vines to almost shatter the soul barrier in an instant.


    Fortunately, the golden strings shot out of the barrier, cutting down the number of vines and healing the barrier at the same time.


    Unbothered by his actions of eliminating an unknown source of threat, maybe even alerting the perpetrator, Bhairav remained unperturbed.


    Even his dimming spirit didn''t scare him, let alone something like this.


    Using the power definitely took a toll on his consciousness, or his spirit, yet he just looked at the remaining vines with wonder.


    They had coalesced into one sphere, and tried piercing the barrier to enter from one place, leaving behind the others to fend off the golden energy.


    But how could it fool Bhairav?


    Less than a moment later, all the vines were done for, an abyssal black smoke sizzling out of the sphere.


    Rest of the vines were sundered by the golden energy, leaving behind no evidence of their previous presence.


    ''Darkness?'' Bhairav mused, looking at the blob of darkness right outside his barrier.


    He could feel his soul pulse with liveliness, wishing to absorb the darkness.


    However, he could also feel the golden energy keeping it at bay.


    ''Golden¨CProtective, can be attributed to the system.''


    ''Darkness¨CDestructive. Yet the soul craves it.''


    In the end, he too made a decision based on his intuition alone, just like Jash.


    Unfortunately or fortunately, both decisions would have a lingering impact throughout his second life.


    Or if he hadn''t ceased to exist by then...


    Yet Bhairav appeared undeterred in the face of the implications his actions might cause.


    He directly manipulated the golden energy to envelope and seal the darkness inside his soul barrier.


    Not inside the soul.


    It would linger close by, forever kept bay by the golden strings of energy, never to meet the ever-yearning soul.


    He wasn''t stupid enough to risk something the golden energy, he thought of as the system''s protective mechanism, rejected and repelled.


    However, his actions caused his spirit to almost wane and blink out of existence.


    Or rather cease from all phases of life itself.


    ''I have already given Jash what he needs and the rest would be known at the appropriate time...''


    In his potential last moments, he didn''t have any evil thoughts but just considered if what he had done for Jash was enough or not.


    He also had thoughts about his life, but not of regret or grievances.


    Rather he thought back to what his mother or girlfriend told him in his hard times.


    There are no strong men or women. You can be strong and weak to the same person at the same time.


    I love you the most in this world. However, if you find someone surpassing my love, be with her.


    A dry chuckle escaped his lips as he remembered the happy times and how the situation changed.


    Shirking away the loving memories which did nothing but hurt him, he changed his line of thoughts back to Jash.


    ''It truly puzzles me how someone, who is supposed to die in the first academy arc, going to live? And why was he even cursed, in the first place?''


    ''Well, whatever. Nothing to do with me...''


    ''At least, not anymore.''


    With that, Bhairav bid farewell to the world, ceasing to exist as he coalesced back into his soul, leaving everything behind to Jash, only to be unlocked after meeting the preset requirements.


    *** sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    {A/N}


    Thanks to the support of everyone, this book finally got contracted!!


    Yay~


    Also, with this chapter, the prologue has ended, what does that mean?


    The real thing starts now!!


    I will release lots of chapters from tomorrow!!


    I truly wish to win June WPC, so if you like the novel, at least leave a comment, it helps!!


    Thank you, once again!

 Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Nightmare

    Unaware of Bhairav''s actions after he had left and come to his senses, Jash lied through his teeth to his family. Despite guilt gnawing at his heart, he maintained a calm facade.


    Fortunately, he at least got to sleep comfortably and peacefully after they supported him¡ªor at least that was how it was supposed to have gone.


    Apparently, Jash had a nightmare.


    Not really a nightmare. More like snippets of memories associated with his previous¡ªBhairav''s life.


    It was difficult to distinguish the two, however, it wouldn''t be right to call them the same either.


    But if Bhairav were here, he wouldn''t hesitate to call them one and the same.


    After all, Jash''s personality was in one way or another influenced by his wishes for a stable, peaceful, and easy life from the system.


    That was exactly what Jash got.


    However, he would remain unaware of it for the longest time, as he was the one in the dark about most things.


    Bhairav''s presence lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder of his past.


    Back to his fleeting dream as he slept in his room, his mother worriedly looking over him.


    ...


    Looking at the countless scenes of wielding all kinds of weapons¡ªsword, knife, dagger, bow, spear, claws, knuckles, fist, legs, bones...


    Each weapon felt like an extension of his will, wielded solely as a tool for the purpose of survival.


    Naturally, such a weird sight would scare many, but they were just snippets of different scenes to Jash.


    He didn''t even have any background information, only looking at the hideous demons and vile humans being butchered from first person perspective.


    Yet, there was a haunting familiarity to each image.


    Without any pause, he continued to see the instances spanning ten years until the final one, where he fought the demon king and even his death in battle.


    The final battle was a blur of violence, despair, pain, relief, grief, acceptance, and practiced techniques.


    Luckily, he didn''t feel any of those memories as vividly as his first experience, or he might have felt like dying from all the pain.


    However, the death remained the last memory after most were skipped, waking him up with a shocker. His heart raced as he struggled to separate dream from reality.


    ...


    "Haa... Haaa...."


    "I... I-I am a...alive..."


    Jash barely muttered, while gasping for breath, as the scene of his heart being pierced was too much for his fragile mentality.


    However, a pair of hands embraced him from behind, bringing him to the present.


    "It''s fine, Jash, it''s fine," muttered Sera to placate his uneasy heart.


    Hearing his mother''s gentle tone alongside her warm embrace, he felt his heart rate lower after the cold sweat drenching his clothes evaporated because of Sera.


    "T-thanks mom," mumbled Jash as he closed his eyes for a few seconds, wishing to spend more time like this.


    It truly kept him away from all the burdens, bearing heavily on his mind.


    Yet confusion clouded his mind as he thought, ''But... why did I wake up like that? Why does my chest hurt...?''


    Surprisingly, he couldn''t even remember what he dreamt or what went wrong.


    Jash decided not to linger on it as he already had a plethora of information he needed to sort out.


    And the first on his list was accepting his past life and sorting out his complicated emotions.


    Awakening, planning for his future, and everything else could be left for later.


    However, he needed his mother to give him some space to do anything of the sort, making him wonder, ''Just what do I ask mom to leave?''


    Unable to come up with a plausible reason to be left alone, another dilemma overwhelmed him.


    Hopefully, he wouldn''t have to make up blatant lies or useless excuses, as she would most likely sense his intent and lie.


    She was his mother, for god''s sake!


    No way she couldn''t see through his amateurish attempts.


    He didn''t know much about such things, but Bhairav''s experience with lying to his mother frightened him.


    ''Truly, if not for all this stupid reincarnation thingy, I wouldn''t mind continuing to live the way I used to...''


    Recalling his absurd ending in the novel, a cold shiver ran down his spine.


    ''I die, only for that trashy protagonist to get my sister as a heroine! What kind of author comes up with such a wretched plot?''


    ''That protagonist be damned! Who the hell does he think he is to get Caera!?''


    Jash couldn''t bring himself to believe about reincarnating in a novel, but did it matter?


    Wasn''t there a saying along the lines of


    Precaution is better than cure.


    ''And what were you on? To read a harem novel!?''


    Still, that didn''t mean he wouldn''t berate his past self, or Bhairav, for reading a harem novel.


    It just didn''t sit well with Bhairav''s personality he grasped.


    Waking him up from his loathing thoughts were a few muffled syllables.


    "...h..."


    "...Ash..."


    "...Jash..."


    Bringing him out of his reverie was Sera, making him realize his mistake.


    ''Damn! This isn''t the time for this! I can''t afford to get sidetrac¨C''


    "JASH!"


    Sera finally had enough and shouted his name. It was enough for him to go into a daze once, but to awaken from it momentarily before returning again?


    Her worries overtook her emotional side, causing her to shout a little too loudly for convenience, resulting in Jash looking at her with a dumbfounded expression.


    Too worried about Jash and any potential remnants of the curse or dark magic, she didn''t seem to notice as she bombarded him with questions.


    "Jash, are you fine?"


    "What happened?"


    "Why do you keep going in a daze?"


    "Tell me, if you feel the slightest discomfort!"


    "You need to..."


    Unable to even comprehend his mother''s rapid questions along with how she shook him, he gave up trying to do anything.


    ''Ugh. Stop! Please, mom! Stop! I am really fine!'' Jash thought inwardly, unable to open his mouth as he feared instead of words, something else might flow out.


    ...


    Only after making Jash answer every single question of hers and checking him multiple times did Sera relax, allowing Jash to breathe freely.


    Unfortunately, he had too much to think about at the moment.


    His kid brain had already changed and molted due to its neuroplasticity.


    It was something Jash had never even heard about!


    If not for learning about it through Bhairav''s memories, he doubted he''d ever find out about the human body with such precision.


    ''Ugh.... That''s not important right now...''


    Shaking off the useless thoughts, he finally spoke, "Mom, can you leave me alone for some time? I feel like I need some alone time to think things over..."


    Jash''s gray eyes averted meeting Sera''s narrowed red ones, but she reluctantly nodded and left wordlessly.


    "Well, that was anticlimactic," mumbled Jash, watching his mother leave without any drama.


    "Haa... Whatever... I don''t know anymore..."


    In the end, Jash finally had time to accept his situation, only if he could.


    As battling through the various thoughts and memories lingering in his mind wouldn''t be easy. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, everything came to a screeching halt as a sudden pain assaulted his brain, altering its connections once again.


    Thankfully, he was alone when it started or...

 Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Distracted

    Unable to even scream in pain as his nerve endings and connections mysteriously changed, Jash suffered for what felt neither long nor short.


    New information seamlessly blended within his overly convoluted memories, making his brain mushy.


    Still, he didn''t release a single yelp despite the agonizing pain overwhelming his senses.


    This was a stark contrast to when he fainted just a few hours earlier due to pain far less shocking than the current mind-numbing one.


    While being alone in this situation came with the advantage of no one excessively worrying over him, it also had its disadvantages.


    He was left alone to suffer for who knew how long, with no relief in sight at the end, and no one to comfort him after his relentless suffering.


    Fortunately, Jash couldn''t formulate any thoughts at the moment; his body instinctively continued to endure the nerve-wracking pain.


    ...


    "Haa..."


    "Haa..."


    Panting for deep breaths, a layer of sweat enveloped his form as Jash finally regained his sense of self.


    The forcefully imprinted information immediately overtook his mind, causing him to try and digest it.


    It was about one of the novels Bhairav read and to which the world seemed to correspond.


    If that were all, Jash would have ignored it.


    But the information regarding mana and how to wield it with great expertise alongside the thorough experience were ingrained into his being.


    Luckily, these memories were slow and took a few minutes to showcase their presence, allowing Jash the respite to form coherent thoughts.


    ''He fulfilled his words... in a rather peculiar manner,'' mused Jash, recalling his conversation with Bhairav.


    Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. ''So that''s why all this combat-related knowledge found its way here.''


    All of those experiences felt like his own, making him think he could definitely fight much better than anyone he had observed.


    If he couldn''t even have such confidence, then the memories he gained were truly wasted upon him.


    Yet a sigh escaped his lips as he mumbled to no one in particular, "I should awaken soon..."


    Sadly, most of the fighting techniques utilized mana as their foundation, something he didn''t have access to, unless he awakened to become a hunter.


    The most he could do was replicate their forms, but it also led him to wonder about his choice last year.


    "Maybe my decision to not awaken last year was a blessing in disguise?"


    Recalling the feeling of awakening mana from his new memories, he recognised it to be completely different from how he had seen Caera use it.


    Even the awakening was worlds apart.


    He wasn''t sure which was better. But having a solid foundation felt ninety-nine, if not one hundred, times better for sure.


    At least, he knew what mana felt like and how to manipulate it with great mastery.


    Despite his reluctance to accept the situation and everything as the absolute truth, a curiosity plagued his mind.


    ''Just how strong was the demon king? Maybe like mom or dad? Maybe grandpa...?''


    He didn''t know.


    As thoughts of his family lingered, Jash''s mind drifted to the mysteries of mana and its familiar yet unfamiliar touch.


    "Damn! I should''ve focused on the difference in power levels!"


    Jash knew that he barely scratched the surface regarding information on hunters, but it didn''t really bother him in the slightest, as he would learn it soon enough.


    "Phew..."


    Heaving a resigned breath brought him back to the important part. Instead of wondering about the new memories or other complicated things, he started to wonder how to go about it.


    ''First and foremost, I have to awaken. I don''t care about all the crap in place for the protagonist or villain, I''d rather leave it to them. I mean, it doesn''t have anything to do with me, right?''


    Not bothered by his self-centered line of thought, he continued thinking.


    After all, he had already seen what happened with Bhairav, who literally sacrificed himself in order to save the world and help others.


    ''What use is being a hero? Also, if my world is actually that novel... Then, all I have to do is get stronger to finally live comfortably with my family as I wish.''


    ''Meanwhile the protagonist would save the world and the villain will impede it, only to give XP packets to the protagonist.''


    Shrugging aside the long-term goals, Jash returned to relevant ones.


    ''Anyways, I have to awaken, train, get stronger before the academy arc... It''s where I''m supposed to die...''


    His contemplative expression changed to a wry smile as he mumbled, "Ziva stayed single till her death. I don''t know how to feel about that..."


    On one hand, he felt happy that she didn''t go and be with someone else.


    Yet he felt she had robbed herself of happiness because of his stupid decisions leading to his untimely demise.


    Suddenly, the text from the novel resurfaced when he died, eliciting a dry chuckle from him, "Haha."


    "To think Ziva''s random words from that day would come true..."


    "I would really regret not heeding her advice and awakening earlier when death approaches...?"


    "Nope. Not really."


    "If my guess is correct, I awakened around this time..." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And even the curse or dark magic thing happened in the original one, pushing me to awaken in a moment of weakness..."


    Trying his best to make sense of his guesses, yet it turned out futile as they were just guesses.


    "Tsk. If only the author focused on male side characters instead of defining even the movement of an extra female''s curves!"


    "Why couldn''t you see the shitty harem-centric writing of the author earlier!?"


    Jash found himself on the verge of cursing as every single darned event in that novel led to the protagonist bagging a girl!


    ''Seriously now!? What the hell was wrong with you to even read it?''


    Just having to recall the novel he couldn''t even use except for finding females, which he felt was useless, the book had minimalistic useful information!


    ''The book should''ve been called something along the lines of Harem Collection in a Fantasy World instead of the original title Hero''s Journey: Blessed by the Goddess.''


    ''Ugh... Even the original name is cringeworthy...''


    Huffing and puffing in frustration at the book''s idiocy, Jash felt the urge to punch someone, barely resisting the urge as he clenched his fists and teeth in anger.


    ''Why am I torturing myself with such thoughts?'' he questioned his sanity, shaking his head in frustration.


    Unable to figure out the answer, Jash gave up and focused on what was in front of him, literally.


    "Damn! When did I enter the bathroom?" Jash shrieked, noticing his changed surroundings.


    He hadn''t even realized his actions while he busily mulled over the new pang of memories imprinted into his being.


    ''I really might have fallen, if not for regaining my bearings at the correct time!'' Jash noticed before he distracts himself again.


    He recoiled at the feeling of cold tiles underfoot. His clothes clung uncomfortably to his damp skin.


    The slight height difference to the shower area nearly caused him to trip.


    Still, that wasn''t important; he had far more pressing matters to ponder.


    Taking off his clothes to finally relax under a cold shower and maybe try to come up with a way to confirm if his world was actually inside the novel or just similar to it.

 Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Unexpected Warmth

    Jash turned the shower knob with great familiarity as it started spraying cold water directly on his pale skin.


    Glancing at the shower head, he couldn''t help but get sidetracked. He compared its functioning with typical showers back in his first life.


    Showers generally released water pumped from underground to a height using an ''electrical pump.''


    But right in front of him was a simple shower mechanism with a single knob to flick it off or on. The temperature selection remained affixed on the side wall. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All he needed to do was move the knob and water would flow, following the temperature he set up.


    It all worked using complicated lines carved with special tools, called runes, connecting the mana stones to the showerhead, forming a complete circuit.


    It worked by siphoning the ambient mana and recharging itself.


    Naturally, it was much more efficient than some prototypes. It had been refined over time, supplemented by the accumulated knowledge and experience from other races.


    Unaware, Jash couldn''t help but muse, ''The difference in technology in these complicated mana circuits is insane compared to my first life! Maybe due to different races pres¨C''


    ''Wait! What the?''


    Jash''s countenance stiffened as he realized he had just thought of those memories as his first life.


    The cold water continued pouring over his body as he shivered, not from the low temperature, but from how his thoughts had changed.


    ''Was it manipulation? Tweaking my brain? Altering memories? Or something else?''


    Jash tried to discern when his line of thoughts shifted but remained clueless about his current situation.


    Unknowingly, he had mulled over the memories so much that his brain just accepted them as a part of him.


    They were already in continuation, so it didn''t really matter much in the first place.


    The only one refusing to accept them was Jash.


    Yet he continued to be absent minded as he finished his shower before drying and dressing himself.


    Without putting in active effort, he still managed to do his chores, unlike the previous him.


    While his lazy personality certainly changed, it didn''t deviate much, as he was still hell-bent on living an easy life without having great goals or burdens.


    Unfortunately, the weight of knowledge bore heavily on him, allowing him to regain his bearings as he sat on the edge of his bed.


    His brain moved rapidly through many ideas and situations, ignoring his unkempt appearance.


    ''I feel like my thought process has quickened,'' noted Jash as he tried to take note of the subtlest changes within himself.


    However, it wasn''t easy.


    His mind kept wandering off, thinking about the knowledge of skillfully wielding the elusive and ethereal power, mana.


    Despite being present in both his lives, it seemed to have different natures and followed a different set of rules.


    Yet the fact remained: mana was mana.


    This allowed him to feel a false sense of familiarity with his body when all of it was just inside his brain.


    The feeling became a constant reminder to awaken.


    However, he believed something else took priority.


    ''I have to confirm if this is the world of the novel... But how?''


    Raising the question, his thoughts swirled for a few minutes, recalling some event that would help him confirm his suspicion.


    ''If I visit the church, it will be clear as day...''


    ''But... I don''t really believe in the Goddess worshiped in the Church...''


    Jash was never a believer, as most nobles didn''t really believe the fabled tale spread throughout the Solarnelle Empire.


    He too was raised by his parents and the servants in the mansion differently from how a commoner would be, instilling a belief in nothing but himself and his family.


    His feelings of atheism and narcissism, to a certain degree, only skyrocketed with Bhairav''s memories.


    Recalling the fabled tales of God, or rather Gods, in those memories from his mother, he couldn''t help but doubt their authenticity.


    Yet they belonged to an era long past, before mana even came into that world.


    The fables he heard from Sera were far different and downright exaggerated.


    "In the end, it all boils down to a show," mumbled Jash helplessly, recognizing the crux of the situation.


    "Nobles just like to put up a pretense of being kind and benevolent by donating to the Church, but are depraved deep down..."


    However, in his case, he held zero or maybe even negative belief in the ''Goddess''.


    ''No way the believers won''t sense the difference with me... And if she takes note of me, then...''


    Jash trembled as his teeth clattered from the mere thought of being caught by a God for who knows what reason.


    Going into a God''s domain was the riskiest plan he might have to go with if he couldn''t find a safer solution.


    Sadly, it was extremely hard.


    Since the novel more or less focused only on the protagonist and his harem, he couldn''t recall any noticeable events before the academy began.


    ''Either I wait till the academy or check it now, but there''s no way my presence won''t have butterfly effects. That''s just impossible!!''


    Not knowing where to start, given his absurd situation, Jash quietly contemplated the best time to confirm.


    "WAIT!" Jash suddenly shouted as he stood up, hitting the bed so hard it seemed he had jumped.


    "How did I forget something so important!?"


    "There''s the last birthday banquet of the Royal Family before the Academy Arc begins!!"


    "Excluding the protagonist, who basically lives inside the church, most major characters from nobility would be present!"


    "Even if I don''t know every one of them, it would be the best bet to confirm the reality of this¡ªmy world!"


    Calming himself down after reaching the conclusion, he didn''t waste time mulling over things he couldn''t change or affect, for now.


    ''I need to awaken as a hunter first...''


    However, awakening wasn''t going to be the same for him, given he was a victim of pseudo-forbidden magic.


    Sera and Carcel would be fools to allow him to wander around before confirming if he was well and fine.


    ¡ªCreak!


    Catching him off guard, the door creaked open, and a girl who looked like him entered.


    ''What is she doing here?'' Jash froze upon identifying the guest.


    "Ja¨C... Jash... h-how a-are... y-you?"


    Hearing her shaky and trembling voice laced with concern for him, Jash''s heart warmed as he got up to hug her.


    "I am fine now. Everything''s fine, Caera," he muttered into her ear as he enveloped her in a warm embrace.


    He could feel her flinch before holding him back with her trembling arms as she buried her head in his chest.


    Jash''s eyebrows rose up involuntarily as he felt her light grip. ''It seems she is afraid of losing control of her strength and hurting me.''


    A warm smile graced his lips as he patted her back gently, afraid to frighten her.


    Time passed slowly before Caera broke the hug reluctantly and muttered in a small voice, "Mum and dad are waiting for you. Just tell me whenever you feel ready, and I will bring you to them."


    "Okay," Jash nodded in response as he patted her head, causing her to stiffen before running away, feeling embarrassed at his gentle touch.

 Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Siblings Bond

    ***


    Back to last night.


    After Jash fell asleep, everyone inside his room left, save for Sera.


    Caera walked out of the room in an absentminded manner, her steps unconsciously leading her.


    "...ra..."


    "Yo...n...g Mi...s Ca...ra..."


    "Young Miss Caera!"


    An urging for her brought her back to the present as she looked around, confused at finding herself in the training ground.


    "What am I doing here?" she mumbled subconsciously.


    "You were walking without a care in the world, Young Miss," answered Kesha, her personal maid.


    Kesha stood guard nearby to make sure she was there to escort her master, Caera, at all times.


    Unlike Emma, who left Jash upon his orders, Kesha remained faithfully by Caera''s side.


    She ensured all of her master''s needs were met, ready to be served at any time.


    "Kesha? Why are you here? Didn''t Emma leave?" Caera asked, in an attempt to change the topic.


    Kesha recognized Caera''s attempt but refrained from pointing it out, sensing her distraction.


    "It is my job to be by your side at all times. Emma is... just different," Kesha answered but hesitated at Emma''s topic before going silent.


    Noting Kesha''s stern expression, Caera pursed her lips. ''That''s your elder sister!''


    Apparently, Emma was Kesha''s older sister but it didn''t seem Kesha cared about it much.


    To be fair, they were only a year apart in age and were raised without much difference yet they had contrasting personalities.


    Or maybe it was because Emma served Jash, who was laid-back and Kesha served Caera, who was serious and hard-working.


    In hopes of leaving the previous topic altogether, Caera implored Kesha, "Can you make sure no one disturbs me for a while?"


    Just as Kesha nodded and bowed professionally, Caera hurriedly added, "Ah... Uhm... If he wakes up, TELL ME!"


    She didn''t wait for a reply and ran straight to change her clothes for a training session.


    Despite it being midnight and her birthday, thoughts of Jash and her concerned parents overwhelmed her mind.


    Bothered by everything replaying in her mind like a loop, she didn''t know what to do other than distract herself by training.


    ''Training improves strength. Strength thwarts problems,'' Caera recited her mantra mentally which gave her the courage to train everyday.


    She exited the changing rooms clad in a gray combat suit, made with flexible materials to ease the fluidity of movements.


    Reaching the training area for mages, she looked on with a determined look in her eyes.


    In front of her, training dummies made from wood, straw, metal, leather, clothes, and other materials were affixed at different distances.


    All the training dummies had blue lines running through them, connecting to form a full circuit.


    Narrowing her eyes in focus, Caera clenched her practice staff before chanting spells and moving her mana in a set pattern inside her body, materializing a small fire in front of her red staff.


    Locking her eyes on the closest wooden training dummy, the fire grew into a ball before shooting towards it.


    ''F-Rank Spell: Fireball!''


    It was the weakest spell of the fire series and she had learned to control it at will. The time it took from start to finish was merely 1.2 seconds.


    ''Too slow!'' Caera furrowed her brows, her eyes tracing the path of the spell as it landed.


    ¡ªBoom


    A small explosion sound followed by a small burn mark on the wooden dummy echoed as Caera clicked her tongue in displeasure.


    The blue runes on the wooden dummy lit up as the damage got healed in less than a second.


    ''I can''t give up!'' Caera hardened her resolve, clenching her teeth.


    She continued chanting spells, rooted in place as she struggled to master basic chanting, let alone moving chants.


    Luckily, she didn''t have to speak some gibberish but only mumble words in a specific order and tone.


    The mana in her surroundings resonated with her chants, moving and forming the spell after she materialized the fire using her light red mana.


    Even her range of spell was limited to just 10 meters, for now.


    If only some other novice mage looked at her casting spell after spell gracefully without as much as a drop of sweat on her face, and the cast time reducing with every cast.


    Only Caera had the nerve to consider herself weak when she could cast the same rank spells as herself in about 1 second!


    That too, when she had just awakened less than a year ago and was just 13!


    Alas, she really was weak, according to her.


    Well, she just had to stop comparing herself to the adults, who had awakened for at least a decade.


    ...


    Caera didn''t realize how long had passed before her mana reserves felt empty, causing her to stop casting spells.


    Despite her sweat-drenched face, she didn''t stop and shifted her grip on the staff from one hand to two.


    ¡ªClick


    With a sudden sound, the shaft dismantled into two, revealing a pair of blades hidden within.


    Dual wielding the swords, Caera started to move and attacked the training dummies with all her strength, trying her best to maintain form and speed.


    ...


    After a long time, Caera fell to the ground as she laid on her back, drenched in sweat.


    She was fatigued after her intense round of training, unsupervised by anyone, or at least she thought so.


    On the verge of sleeping, she heard a sudden sound, startling her.


    "Caera, I will overlook your late night training today, but never do such intense training unsupervised."


    ''Grandpa...'' Recognizing the familiar voice, Caera relaxed for a moment before she heard another pair of footsteps.


    "Young Miss, Young Master Jash has woken up," Kesha informed the moment she spotted Caera, ignoring her current state.


    Upon hearing about Jash, Caera''s eyes widened as she sat up straight.


    Her face scrunched up at the sharp pain in her tired muscles caused by her sudden movement.


    Yet it wasn''t enough to stop her from meeting Jash as she rushed out to shower before donning a black dress.


    ...


    Standing in front of his room''s door, she hesitated to enter, recalling her mother''s words, "He asked for some time alone, Caera."


    Yet what truly made her nervous was her mother''s stern expression.


    ''Haa... What am I supposed to do?''


    In the end, she barged into the room and gathered her courage to ask him, but her voice cracked in between.


    "Ja¨C... Jash... h-how a-are... y-you?"


    The momentary silence afterwards made her heart pound in anxiety which calmed down immediately at Jash''s next action.


    "I am fine now. Everything''s fine, Caera."


    His words calmed her heart but the sudden hug surprised her, making her flinch in response. It made her conscious about accidentally hurting him due to her tense muscles.


    Despite her hesitation, she gave in and hugged him lightly, finally burying her head in his chest before she felt his hands patting her back gently.


    Time seemed to pass slowly as Caera felt the warmth and comfort after a long time. However, recalling Sera''s words, Caera broke the hug reluctantly and muttered in a small voice, "Mum and dad are waiting for you. Just tell me whenever you feel ready, and I will bring you to them." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Okay."


    Everything went well before her stern expression and calm facade crumpled at the head pat, causing her dash out of the room from sheer embarrassment.


    Unaware of Jash ordering Kesha, Caera continued to dash with a red tint on her face, feeling embarrassed at how she enjoyed the head pat.


    Involuntarily, her hand reached for the same spot on her head, her heart warming at the affection and care her brother displayed for her.


    Deep down, she had a soft spot for her family. Especially Jash, whom she felt responsible for.


    But she had a hard time showing her soft side, unlike her mother.


    "Stupid lazy panda..."


    She mumbled inaudibly as if annoyed, yet a small smile graced her lips.


    *check paragraph comment for image*


    ***

 Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Without Plan

    After Caera dashed outside, Kesha was just about to chase behind her, but Jash interrupted her, ordering in a stern tone, "Let her be for 5 minutes."


    Five exact minutes later, Kesha disappeared, heading towards Caera.


    Taking note of the interactions, Jash smiled wryly.


    ''Looks like the memories changed me in unexpected ways,'' thought Jash, sensing the difference in his speech and actions.


    Not minding the small interlude in his unique life, he went back to sit in front of his mirror.


    ''Haa... I can confirm my hypothesis later on, but what about awakening?''


    In the end, the matter of awakening depended on his parents as it was a complex process and would need their supervision as well as resources.


    "Normally, there would be no problems with anything..."


    "... but I am the one who rejected his awakening and now, after everything happened..."


    "... It wouldn''t be tough to convince them for awakening. The only problem is when will they allow it?"


    Jash thought to himself loudly, hoping to come up with a solution.


    He knew better than anyone the protective nature of his mother and he couldn''t see any future where she allowed him to awaken right after the curse or dark magic.


    Unfortunately, no matter how much Jash tried to come up with a solution, they seemed to have a very high likelihood of failure.


    "Whatever. Let it just go with the flow..." muttered Jash helplessly as he stood up to leave his room.


    Eventually, he abandoned his search for a solution and made his way to the dining hall, where breakfast time was nearing.


    Just as he exited his room, however, his eyes met with a distressed Emma.


    "Oh? Emma, what are you doing here?" Jash asked her out of sheer curiosity yet it turned out to be a bad idea.


    "I apologize for my oversight, Young Master. It was my fault everything happened. I should''ve stayed by your side, irrespective of your orders as your safety is my top priority!"


    Jash''s eyes widened at her speech, yet he almost felt lightheaded as Emma fell to her knees and bowed even more.


    "Please punish me for my mistake, Young Master!"


    Feeling dizzy at seeing Emma''s overreaction, Jash didn''t know what to tell her anymore.


    ''It''s not like it is her fault or anything!''


    ''Bhairav didn''t tell me, but I am sure it could''ve happened sooner or later...''


    ''There was also a possibility of the memories existing since I was born.''


    ''Anyways, what do I tell her?''


    Unable to come up with a response, Jash stayed quiet, formulating a proper response to give her.


    Yet Jash didn''t notice how Emma''s expression paled with every second of tense silence.


    "Emma, get up," said Jash in an authoritative manner, startling Emma, who complied.


    "Firstly, it wasn''t your fault. Even if you were nearby, it wouldn''t have made a difference."


    "Even mom or dad would have been helpless in the face of it, let alone you."


    "Plus, it''s better not to blame yourself since whatever happened didn''t happen at the exact time."


    Jash said each sentence in a deliberate, slow voice, making sure Emma understood it all.


    As he noticed the complicated expression on Emma''s face, he added with a tone of finality.


    "Emma. Do not brood yourself over it. Just move on. Or you want to keep such an attitude and be negligent in your duties."


    Jash turned and walked away, unfazed by the mix of emotions flashing across Emma''s face behind him.


    ...


    Finally, Jash arrived at the dining hall, filled with servants roaming around, placing delicious food dishes on the long table.


    It had a seating capacity of nine, four on each side and one for the head of the family.


    ''Damn Nobles! They really remove one seat to show off their authority,'' Jash wondered in disbelief.


    The memories of a world without nobles or social classes intrigued him to no end.


    It even felt better than his own world, but was it really?


    Jash didn''t know which was better, at least, for now.


    ''Maybe after I get all the memories...'' hoped Jash inwardly as he walked and sat at the table.


    He sat nonchalantly in the second seat to the left of the head, ignoring the surprised onlookers.


    Jash ignored them as he watched the servants arrange the dishes on the table expertly as if practiced a million times.


    ''No meat, huh?'' Jash noted that despite the number of dishes, not a single one had any kind of meat, be it from livestock rearing or monster meat.


    It wasn''t much of a surprise to him as he had seen the same thing every single time for as long as he could recall.


    ''Haa... I really couldn''t stand meat... '' A wry smile crossed Jash''s lips, recalling when just the sight of it made him sick.


    ''If I wasn''t born in this family, I highly doubt I could even survive...''


    Naturally, the food costs were enormous, given the absence of cheaper food¡ªmeat¡ªon the table.


    Hunters mostly killed and sold off the carcasses of monsters as food, so it was quite readily available over grown food. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''It really would be too scarce, if not for elves and their food choices,'' Jash mused inwardly before he senses his surroundings turning eerily silent.


    ''Hmm?''


    Looking around with slightly raised brows, he found the source: his parents and their wide-jawed expression.


    They probably didn''t expect me,'' Jash mused, as he had watched the servants change the dishes here just a few minutes earlier.


    For obvious reasons, Jash didn''t dine with his family many times.


    Still, his parents immediately recovered as they both reached the table, all the while scrutinizing Jash.


    ''They are probably looking at me to find any aftereffects.'' Jash guessed, based on their piercing gaze.


    Yet he met their eyes as Sera sat next to him with Carcel opposite to her.


    ''She is skipping it again?'' Jash wondered, noting Caera''s absence and his parent''s silence over it as the food was served to them.


    Unbothered by their strange looks, he dropped a bombshell remark, staring straight into Carcel''s eyes.


    "Dad, I want to try awakening."

 Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Conditon

    Jash had thought long and hard about how to tell his parents about awakening, but he decided to be just direct with it. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he found it a bit odd that his parents had already started breakfast without waiting for Caera or asking about his well-being.


    ''Whatever. That''s not relevant for now,'' decided Jash before dropping a bombshell remark.


    "Dad, I want to try awakening."


    Jash barely stifled his laughter at his parents'' reaction to his words.


    Carcel almost choked on his food while Sera spat her food directly onto his face, stunning him further.


    Without skipping a beat, Jash felt Sera touch his forehead before asking, "What got into you, Jash?"


    "Did something happen again?"


    "Tell me what happened?" Sera said in a cold voice. She never thought her son, who disliked training and always denied Carcel''s bow training, would ask for something like this.


    ''She won''t stop if I don''t respond...'' Jash thought, knowing his mother and chose to interrupt her before she could question him further.


    "Mom, it''s not like that. I just found the motivation to awaken myself, but if you don''t want me to do it, then never mind..."


    ?"NOOO! WAIT!" Carcel shouted, midway through cleaning himself with a napkin. He got the chance he always wished for, and would he waste it now? Hell no!


    He was a smart man, so he knew if he questioned Jash anymore, he would most likely lose his motivation he just found towards awakening.


    Despite being an extremely loving father towards his children, Carcel did not want his son to lag behind others his age and would always try to persuade him to just watch him train, if not train with him.


    But Jash just liked to lay around, always declining as if he had some stringent hatred for fighting. Carcel would love to be harsh on his son, but his wife''s death glares would always strike whenever he tried to do so.


    "I will tell Edward to arrange everything by tomorrow. Don''t word¨C"


    Jash felt like jumping up and down in joy after hearing those words, but his happiness deflated as his mother immediately interrupted.


    ¡ªBam!


    "NO WAY! How can you even allow it? After everything that happened!"


    Sera slammed her palm on the table in anger at her husband, who had acquiesced so readily!


    She had just been stumped for a second, processing the conversation and he already agreed. It didn''t sit well with her at all!


    "You can''t just¨C"


    Interrupting his mother''s speech, Jash asked, "Mom, didn''t you want me to awaken last year only?"


    He knew what was going on in his mother''s head and wanted to find a compromise to awaken before something untimely happened.


    ''It was one thing for me to be lazy and not awaken, but if I know a potential future, I would be the most idiotic person alive if I don''t try to change it!''


    Thinking so, he added, "And what''s the guarantee that whatever happened to me will not happen if I don''t awaken?"


    "Don''t you both still go out and fight monsters at the same level as you, if not stronger. Even grandpa has to do it!"


    Jash shifted his gaze to his father right after he finished his sentence, hoping for timely help, and he wasn''t disappointed.


    "He''s right, Sera. Even we don''t know what unknown danger lurks behind, let alone him. Awakening and growing stronger will at least provide him with a chance to fight back. It''s all for the best."


    Carcel explained in his usual stoic voice, yet the excitement on his face couldn''t be hidden from his wife.


    "Battle Freak," Sera mumbled in a low voice, only audible to her and Carcel, who chose to ignore his wife''s whining.


    Sera''s heart pained, learning of her son''s ailment. She was just too soft and caring, only to her family though.


    If she could have her way, she wouldn''t allow any of her children to become Hunters and fight for their lives. Her heart always wanted her son to smile and be like other children but she didn''t know what could make him give up being lazy.


    Unfortunately, the world they lived in wasn''t so kind to anyone, forcing her to steel her heart and approve her son''s awakening, in hopes of it changing his disposition.


    "Alright, I will allow you to awaken, but on one condition," she sighed, addressing Jash. Yet she was firm on her condition.


    Naturally, Jash couldn''t be happier as this outcome was more than welcome from his side.


    "You will have to get checked by a priest from the church, who will arrive in a few hours."


    Hearing Sera''s stern voice, Jash was momentarily stunned before he nodded readily.


    ''Great! I can ask about the protagonist or the other guy!''


    Unknown to his parents, Jash found this to be a great opportunity and refrained from speaking anymore.


    ''If only I could go to the church myself...''


    While Jash hoped so inwardly, he knew it was a far fetched dream.


    Firstly, he was a duke''s son, so his parents wouldn''t allow him to go on a normal day, let alone right after he was targeted.


    Bringing him out his reverie was his mother''s gentle tone, "Since you wish to awaken, you should know one thing: As you are awakening a bit later than others, you might find yourself a bit behind but don''t let it get to you, okay?"


    Jash could sense Sera''s worry from her words alone. ''She probably thinks I might compare myself to others and get depressed.''


    "Whatever results you get from awakening, don''t forget you are the son of Ramille and nobody can look down on you," Carcel added while clearing his mouth as he finished his food, easing Sera''s tension at the same time.


    "You guys..." Jash felt a little emotional as a warm smile crossed his lips. "Mom, Dad, you need not worry. I know what I am doing."


    Taking a deep breath, he finished resolutely, "Knowing me, do you think I will care enough to get depressed?"


    After finishing speaking, Jash got up to leave the room as he too had finished his dinner while subconsciously a determined smile emerged on his face.


    ***


    {A/N}


    I have guests at home so only one chapter today. I will try to make it up to you guys tomorrow.

 Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Priest Andrew

    The Ramille couple was still at home as the day began, having spent a sleepless night due to worry and tension surrounding Jash.


    They found Jash''s presence at the table surprising, but the events of last night were too fresh in their minds to bother him with their curiosity.


    Naturally, the couple knew the odd feeling of eating at such a table, which was quite large for a family of four, but this was a common thing for nobility as they would usually greet their guests at the table.


    As the breakfast continued silently, Jash broke the silence by asking to awaken all of a sudden.


    As the conversation deepened, Carcel was ecstatic from the sudden motivation of Jash, but Sera was too worried despite hoping for Jash to awaken as soon as possible last night.


    If not for the recent incident, she would have been thrilled to hear the same thing.


    In the end, she agreed on the condition of getting a proper checkup by a priest from the Holy Church of Light as they were the ones with the most expertise in such matters.


    However, her mind felt numb for a few seconds after Jash left the room and a palpable silence enveloped the room.


    She broke the silence in an exasperated manner, "Honey, he smiled! He smiled after talking about awakening with a resolve!"


    "I thought I hallucinated for a second, but did we see the same sight?" Carcel responded, jumping out of his chair.


    To say the couple were surprised would be an understatement.


    It was one thing for him to smile and laugh after sneaking away from training or to accept awakening reluctantly.


    Yet not only did he ask to awaken himself, he even smiled right after!


    "Carcel!! Make sure his awakening goes unhindered and get him the best resources! I don''t care about the cost, just make sure he gets the best!" Sera requested Carcel with a hint of excitement in her voice.


    Well, more like she was ordering her husband, but she didn''t seem to care.


    Sera did everything to see her children smile, she never denied their request, causing many people to believe she was spoiling her children too much. But for a mother whose only wish was to see her children happy, she didn''t care how the world saw her.


    Bringing her back from her happy state was Carcel as he agreed readily to her request.


    "Did you think I would be petty after knowing his wish? I will make sure he gets the best of the best!" Carcel gushed while calling Edward.


    As if suddenly recalling an important detail, Sera instructed, "That and everything is fine but don''t forget the checkup!"


    Carcel paused and nodded seriously before his previous excitement returned to his features.


    Edward was a man in his fifties and had seen Carcel''s childhood but even he was surprised to see Carcel so excited to do something in the recent years. The only times he remembered the similar state of Carcel was when he married Sera and when his kids were born.


    ***


    On the other side, Jash returned to his room, thinking to himself, ''That went easier than expected.''


    Whistling happily, he reached for one of the empty notebooks on his bookshelf.


    ''It would be a good idea to write everything down,'' wondered Jash, recalling the numerous plots where people suddenly get amnesia or eidetic memory upon reincarnation.


    He definitely didn''t want to become either of those extremes and so, he jotted down all the details in a language not from this world.


    ''Unless there is another transmigrator, reincarnator, or possessor in this world, this is safe.'' Jash nodded to himself in approval before a thought creeped into his mind, ''Oh shit! What if there exists some artifact or ancient tome that can read and translate every language?''


    ''Nah, nevermind. Such things need to be hella rare. Prolly only the heaven''s chosen ones can find such things.''


    Jash didn''t linger on the thought for long as he finished writing within 2 hours.


    "Ah~ I am finally done. So tiring~"


    Jash yawned and stretched to reduce the chances of a sudden muscle cramp.


    "Now, I can finally rest~"


    Just as Jash blurted out his thoughts, a sudden knock took away his dreams.


    ¡ªKnock! Knock!


    The sudden disturbance made Jash grumble, "Just who is it?"


    "Young Master, the priest has arrived from the church."


    "Ah, it''s you, Emma," recognizing the voice, Jash exited his room.


    "Alright. Let''s go, shall we?"


    His sudden agreement stunned Emma, who obviously heard his disgruntled mumbles and was shocked to see the stark contrast from a second earlier.


    "Emma?" Jash called her out again, confused by her unresponsiveness.


    "Yes, Young Master," bowed Emma as she led the way.


    It seemed Jash was quite eager to go and meet the priest to the other servants along the way, but they smartly went about their work. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It didn''t take long for them to arrive at the guest room on the ground floor of the family mansion.


    As if unbothered by any etiquettes Jash directly barged into the room, leaving behind the frozen Emma, who was just about to knock and seek permission.


    The inside of the room wasn''t excessively luxurious, just enough to showcase their might as a ducal family.


    With gold coated window panes to chandeliers made up of pure silver and even plush sofas with jutted jewels.


    Inside the room stood only three people. Sera, Carcel and a stranger.


    The three had already stopped talking the moment they took notice of Jash outside the room.


    Naturally, Jash''s eyes quickly locked on to the figure of the stranger, trying to ascertain any clue he could.


    The moment he looked at the figure of the gray-haired man, he smiled at Jash gently, showing no sign of offense at Jash''s rude behavior.


    Yet Jash didn''t want to get chided by his parents later and greeted the man with proper etiquette, "I, Jash Ramille, greet the Priest of the Light."


    Despite the succinct greetings, the man didn''t take offense and reciprocated in the same polite manner, "Greetings, son of the Ramilles. May the blessing of Light befall you."


    Carcel and Sera didn''t mind the formality much, but they felt relieved deep down at Jash''s behavior.


    It was an unspoken rule to not offend the priests, irrespective of one''s belief in the Goddess of Light or not.


    So, they were kind of nervous, considering how much Jash disliked following proper etiquette and acting noble-like.


    It was a different matter for Jash to be that way when it was just family, but it could lead to potential negative results if he stayed the same towards outsiders, especially a priest.


    That didn''t mean to say they wouldn''t stand with Jash if things took a turn for the worse.


    Meanwhile, the concerned parties seemed to hold no regard for their expressions or presence as they observed each other.


    "Jash, this here is Priest Andrew from the Church of Light. He is one of the higher-ranked members of the Church. It wouldn''t be a stretch to call him the Head Priest if..." Sera introduced Andrew to Jash but stopped midway.


    ''I wonder what secret does this old coot hide,'' mused Jash with intrigue.

 Chapter 32: Chapter 32: A Priests Woes

    "I apologize for my discourteous behavior. I was a bit too anxious," Jash bowed his head slightly in a polite manner.


    "Haha. That is understandable," Andrew waved his hand as if implying to let the matter rest.


    Despite his curiosity, Jash chose a more courteous manner to deal with Andrew.


    "If you don''t mind, can you please?" Sera gestured towards Jash in a hurried tone.


    Andrew smiled despite the urgency and nodded, "Of course. If I may?"


    ''Nice save, mom,'' Jash gave a thumbs-up to his mother internally for the timely assist.


    He really wasn''t one for all the pleasantries before getting to the crux of the matter and it seemed Andrew didn''t mind too.


    Feeling the looming shadow over him, Jash looked up at Andrew easily towering over him, but he wasn''t the least bit afraid.


    ''I am sure grandpa is nearby.''


    Jash was no fool and wouldn''t trust anyone, but the sense of security his family gave him was more than enough.


    "Do not tense up and relax yourself fully," advised Andrew as his expression turned serious.


    Noting the change in mood, Jash ignored the sudden change in Andrew''s attitude.


    Meanwhile, Sera and Carcel also distanced themselves from the duo, choosing to observe from the side.


    Jash glanced at his parents and what he saw made him inadvertently relax.


    Sera was still on the edge and seemed ready to interfere at a moment''s notice while Carcel''s entire gaze focused on Andrew with a serious atmosphere around him.


    Noticing the change in Jash''s natural defense, Andrew turned to the Ramille couple and only smiled wryly.


    Unlike them, he could clearly sense the presence of Cornelius weighing down on him, from a hidden place.


    He just shook his head before focusing back on Jash opposite him as he weaved spell patterns, chanting mentally and sending a burst of mana from his core to the outside.


    In response, Jash''s eyes widened in astonishment as he watched multi-colored mana shooting out from Andrew''s body


    He couldn''t comprehend what was happening.


    The mana flowed through the unknown spell patterns before it seamlessly blended with it.


    Yet that wasn''t much surprising since Andrew was definitely strong enough to do that.


    ''Beautiful...''


    That was the only thought remaining in his head as the spell was completed before he could marvel at the sight anymore.


    It didn''t take even a second for Jash to be surprised again as the spell enveloped his entire form.


    ''White mana... Black mana... blue...''


    Unable to comprehend the multitude of colors in the mana enveloping him, Jash found himself in a trance.


    Suddenly, the knowledge of a phenomenon known as ''dispersion'' from his previous life came to him.


    Dispersion of light is the splitting of white light into its constituent colors due to the refractive index of the surface and the wavelength of the light.


    Slowly, the information regarding the seven prominent colors appearing during dispersion appeared in his mind.


    Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red.


    Finally, Jash was able to see the mana itself diverge from black to white before splitting to the seven colors like rainbows before forming black yet again.


    It seemed complicated and simple at the same time.


    However, only one thought came to him. ''So this is the difference between mana in our worlds?''


    Before he could continue on that line of thought, he felt a prickling sensation as the mana circling around him tried to enter inside his body.


    Naturally, since Jash was unawakened, he couldn''t interact with mana.


    It directly pervaded his system, but not before putting him to a temporary comfortable sleep.


    Unable to resist, he felt drowsy and slept.


    *** sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since the time he came here, Andrew was curious about the incident since the one to invite him was the famous Cornelius Ramille.


    ''His title is not for show, so just what could it be for him to invite me?''


    Andrew knew better than other stubborn priests how nobles functioned and accepted the situation, unlike them.


    He wasn''t delusional enough to believe a ducal family became believers.


    ''Not like I will be able to tell anyone about it. Whatever it is.'' Andrew thought to himself before exiting his carriage and entering the Ramille Estate.


    Looking at the cars arranged to lead him inside the estate, a dangerous thought echoed to him.


    ''Just why do carriages not go obsolete? These cars are so much more efficient.''


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t voice it out and chose to conceal it.


    Looking at the expansive estate of the ducal family from the comfy inside of the car, he shut off his thoughts.


    Only when he was already inside the guest room, waiting for someone to attend to him did he notice the abnormality.


    ''The servants are too quiet. That''s weird.''


    ''This old geezer has also locked onto me since the moment I arrived...''


    However, to say he was surprised at the sight of the Ramille couple when he was lost in thought would be a major understatement.


    Yet he maintained his gentle and calm demeanor till the point he cast the inspection spell.


    Throughout the duration, he scrutinized Jash for any abnormalities after hearing about everything from the Ramille couple.


    ''He seems normal though,'' concluded Andrew as the spell took effect and finally started to enter Jash''s internal system.


    After a full three minutes passed by, he still found nothing related to either dark magic or curse magic, astounding him.


    ''This is... weird.''


    Well, it would be a surprise if he could find something which was removed by Bhairav using an otherworldly energy and sealed within it.


    "Nothing," mumbled Andrew to himself before removing the spell, allowing Jash''s hovering body to fall slowly.


    Yet before his body could touch the ground, it was transferred to the soft sofa.


    Sera didn''t seem to notice Andrew as her gaze focused on Jash before she questioned, "How is he? Is he fine? Any remnants?"


    "He is mostly fine. And no, there are no remnants of any sinister magic," Andrew responded calmly despite his internal confusion.


    "Nothing? Are you sure?" Carcel inquired, confusion gnawed at his senses.


    Contrary to Sera, his gaze was focused on Andrew and he found his vague answer strange.


    "Yes. As I said, there really are no such signs. Regarding his awakening, however, I''d suggest waiting at least a week," answered Andrew in quick succession.


    Carcel didn''t question him further, knowing his father would want to have a talk with Andrew as well and it seemed he understood it as well.


    Without exchanging any more greetings except a nod with Carcel, Andrew exited the room, only to vanish as he found himself in an unknown location.


    Despite his situation, not a single hint of panic displayed on his face. ''I guess, it is inevitable.''


    "Before you ask, I already said what I knew and that was all I could glean using my spell."


    He appeared to speak to no one but he knew he was being heard.


    As if to prove it correct, a firm voice entered his ears, "You mean, you failed to notice how he tried to comprehend your mana technique?"


    "WHAT?" Andrew couldn''t believe what he heard for a second as it seemed impossible for an unawakened to even react to mana, let alone achieve such a monstrous feat.


    Yet his surprise fizzled out, remembering the person he was talking to.


    ''It seems another contract will be needed. Sigh.''


    ***

 Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Endless Possibilities

    Jash woke up in confusion an hour after Andrew left and was told by his mother to wait a week before awakening.


    "Is that so?"


    A rhetorical response was all he could mutter as he buried the truth within.


    He didn''t mind waiting a week, but what bothered him was that Andrew had already left.


    ''At least he will come next week to check on me again,'' Jash consoled himself.


    However, he didn''t plan to train or do anything different this week.


    After a brief chat with his mother to reassure her that awakening was his own wish, Jash returned to his room, changed to get comfortable to laze around.


    Before the memories, he considered increasing his power and training a tiring task; he rather liked just using his brain to ace tests and play around.


    Naturally, he was smart enough to know that being weak was not a great thing in a world where the strong ruled. So he decided he would start his awakening and training when he turned 15 before joining the World Academy.


    A mocking smile crept his lips as he recalled his previous thoughts and he couldn''t help but mutter, "How naive..."


    As if to prove his thoughts incorrect, a rather dark past of his resurfaced.


    ''But Awakening, huh? It''s just forming a core and wielding mana... Nothing special. Though it can definitely be useful to take cold showers or dry up myself and even an area to immediately doze off¡­''


    Just recalling his own words darkened his face as he vowed to never let anyone know of it, no matter the cost!


    "Ahem," Jash coughed to get rid of those memories before thinking to himself, ''Anyways, what am I to do now?''


    "Nothing, of course!"


    Jash answered to himself with a wide smile as he rolled around his huge bed, enjoying the soft mattress beneath him.


    Unlike typical extras, authors, haters, transmigrators, regressors, possessors, reincarnation and the like, he wasn''t the least bit interested in the plot.


    He even cursed his past life self for reaching such a trashy book.


    "Whatever. A man gotta do something to survive, nah?"


    Talking and nodding to himself as if finding his own words convincing, he finally stopped moving.


    ''My supposed death is in the academy arc, so training, awakening... blah blah blah... It doesn''t matter to me now.''


    With all the memories from basic forms to advanced forms of techniques, he truly didn''t need to care about getting stronger.


    Still, he doubted the memories ever since he got them.


    Yet he wasn''t an idiot to ignore something like his own death. He loved his life a little too much to ignore that.


    The strange thing was his nonchalance and indifference towards changing the entire plot of the novel which begins with his death.


    As he would be the only casualty during the beginning itself, it would lead to a larger impact on all characters in the novel, given his background.


    And he was going to change that.


    It was truly a wonder how he didn''t care of the consequences it would have for other characters, his family and even the world at large.


    Jash was not someone who would change the future only a little bit so that future will remain predictable.


    That would just not be him, he loved his life and peace a little too much that he wouldn''t mind changing everything to enjoy his peace and quiet, even if it led to the world''s destruction.


    ''Just be the strongest. Simple, right?'' mused Jash.


    Only he could be that free about something.


    Was it his fault though? What is he supposed to do then? Just lie down and take it for the plot to progress?


    Never!


    However, he wasn''t some psychopath, wanting everything under his control or something.


    "That shit is better left to those chuunis," jeered Jash, recalling memories of Eighth-Grader Syndrome.


    "Anyways, if anything goes wrong... Then, don''t we have the protagonist? When else will his plot armor ever come in clutch?"


    Of course, Jash knew that protagonists, heroes, heroines, villains, and villainesses came with not only plot armor but also were calamity magnets in themselves.


    Anyways, it wasn''t any of his concern.


    ''Whether the villain handles it or the protagonist has nothing to do with¨C''


    Jash stiffened in the midst of his thoughts and immediately sat up straight.


    "Wait, wait, wait! I keep thinking and calling them villain and protagonist, but who are they? How come I never cared about their identities?"


    After coming up with this thought, the idea just didn''t leave his mind.


    The only clues he had was the protagonist and another important character came from the church. The protagonist naturally defeats the other guy and gets hailed as the saint and hero. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, Jash ignored the females as he believed they were just there for the sake of the hero''s harem.


    Immediately he felt the chills imagining the scene of fifties or even hundreds of women asking for a man to satisfy them.


    "Your sacrifice will be remembered, O'' Protagonist."


    Jash mock saluted the protagonist for taking care of so many brainless women, even if some died for emotional development, or for the protagonist to get one or two more women.


    "Whatever. Let''s just ignore him since it is confirmed I haven''t met him. The problem is the villain..."


    Jash''d mind shifted to the possibilities as he kept thinking of the possible main villain or the antagonist.


    ''It has to be someone who can rival the illogical plot armor...''


    ''Most likely someone from nobility...?''


    ''Some human prince? Or from another race? Or someone from a ducal family?''


    ''Also, he needs to be smart...''


    ''What else...? Handsome! Of course!''


    ''Wealthy? Nobility, duh.''


    ''Maybe have no sister?''


    ''Since the plot didn''t have ntr elements, it does tone down a lot of options...''


    ''But what if it is some commoner plebian the protagonist treated like shit or had his crush or sister enamored by the protagonist?''


    ¡­


    The possibilities were endless and Jash truly couldn''t go through them within a few hours.


    He didn''t even realize and the week elapsed as he continued to add, remove, diversify, and group the various possibilities.


    In the end, he still couldn''t confirm who could be the main villain.


    No matter how much he thought about it, there could be way too many.


    Even shortlisting them didn''t have much of an effect as he didn''t even know much about the other races.


    And who''s to say the main villains couldn''t be from other races or even from some race yet to appear before humankind.


    That wasn''t to say he didn''t have a guess.


    "The most likely one should be him... But I truly hope I am wrong..." Jash mumbled to himself, knowing fully well unless something unexpected happened, his guess would end up correct.


    Even his excitement for the awakening had waned due to the strenuous week he spent.


    Being overfed and overcared for definitely didn''t feel nice when done for a week continuously.


    He really couldn''t get used to the feeling.


    At least, he would get a few answers from Andrew tomorrow.


    That was the only respite in his mind as he fell asleep, a serene expression appearing on his face.

 Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Morning Discovery

    Morning arrived, and Jash got ready for his secondary check up by Priest Andrew before he would awaken in the evening today, or at most tomorrow morning.


    Jash along with his parents and Caera had breakfast before they settled in the guest room, waiting for the priest to show up.


    ''So boring,'' thought Jash as the silence with the worrying glances cast over him from time to time felt never-ending.


    ''I thought I got used to the feeling, alas...''


    Finally, the door opened to reveal a man with slightly gray hair, wearing a pristine white robe adorned with golden engravings representing the Church''s dual colors.


    He didn''t wear fancy priest costumes; the clergy in this world didn''t seem much focused on showmanship, or at least he wasn''t. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Really, now? Is that the symbol of the Goddess of Light?'' Jash wondered, observing the golden engraving in the center of the robe with the other patterns only serving to accentuate it further.


    It was a major symbol with the face of a female and her hair but no specific features were carved on her face as it seemed to radiate light in all directions.


    If Jash didn''t know about the Sun actually not being the sole source of light, he''d definitely compare the symbol to the Sun''s radiance.


    Taking equal strides, Andrew arrived in front of the couple and the twins as he greeted them.


    After the formalities, Andrew sought permission, "May I?"


    With the underlying understanding of him referring to Jash, he stepped forward and allowed Andrew to probe him once again.


    ''I hope I don''t faint again,'' Jash secretly prayed in his heart as he saw the sight of Andrew effortlessly weaving and casting spells.


    However, the one to find the sight more awe-inspiring and dazzling turned out to be Caera as she too awakened as a magician, like Sera.


    It would be a lie to say Sera wasn''t intrigued by the spells, but her focus remained on Jash for the first signs of discomfort to act without a second''s rest.


    In the midst of it all, Jash relaxed as the soothing aura of the spell overcame him, causing him to get examined easily.


    Luckily, his prayer seemed to have been heard as Andrew didn''t cast any higher-ranked spells to check Jash''s condition, unlike the first time.


    However, that wasn''t the only difference this time as his eyes narrowed into pinpricks, following every subtle cue of Jash.


    He really had a hard time accepting an unawakened boy could try and comprehend his mana technique.


    Yet seeing was believing.


    Looking at Jash''s eyes locked in on the revolving mana of his spells, Andrew couldn''t help but sweat slightly, realizing the implication of the minor actions.


    ''What monstrous talent, even before awakening,'' he clicked his tongue inwardly.


    If not for the contract he was forced to sign yesterday, he''d definitely want to tell the world about it.


    ''And to think there is nothing wrong with him in the slightest,'' noted Andrew as his spell slowly finished.


    The results weren''t surprising in the least.


    "You are absolutely fine and go for your awakening at any moment," declared Andrew with a calm voice despite his inner turmoil.


    Oblivious to the changes brought about due to his eagerness, Jash beamed with delight at the verdict.


    Yet he still had some questions regarding the Church he had to ask.


    "Priest Andrew, if you don''t mind me asking..." Jash trailed off in the end, seeking permission to have a conversation before his parents swooped in and he got no time for it.


    "Go ahead," Andrew gave the green signal, curious about what this child would ask.


    "As you are well aware of, most nobles learn of the children their age who might be their classmates in the World Academy. So, I am curious about the Church. Do they have someone impressive in our generation?"


    While Jash''s question might be off-putting or ill-timed, it wasn''t really so.


    Everyone knew that the current generation was known by various nicknames:


    The Second Golden Generation, Generation of Monsters, Generation of Heroes, Second Coming of the Hero, to name a few.


    His curiosity also made sense to Andrew who didn''t really mind telling it as it would be known in two years time, regardless.


    Still, he chose to be cryptic instead of straightaway revealing the information since he had to withhold Jash''s information from others too.


    "Hmm. Every year, the church sends quite a few talented aspiring priests, so their presence should be no surprise."


    "Regardless, if you ask me, I can think of at least three who have talents rivaling other noble scions."


    Andrew smiled mysteriously as he finished his sentence and turned to face the Ramille Couple.


    Meanwhile, Jash lightly clenched his fists realizing, ''Maybe it is really that darned novel.''


    Before he could lose himself in his thoughts, a chirpy and melodious voice interrupted him, "Good luck for your awakening."


    "Thanks," answered Jash with a smile.


    Glancing at Caera who turned her head to a side after hearing his word of thanks, he couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Let''s go," Jash said pointing at their parents and Andrew before holding her wrist and leading her out of the room.


    Without being able to say anything, Caera was led away by Jash to the training ground.


    Though confused, she didn''t try to release his grip or push him away, afraid to hurt him. She patiently waited for him to explain.


    Finally, Jash left her wrist and turned to face her before saying his request. "Can you show me how you circulate mana, use it to cast spells and everything?"


    Caera nodded without any hints of hesitation, knowing Jash was set to awaken and glancing at mana might help him.


    ''Even if I witnessed her awakening, it is different from seeing her manipulate mana,'' thought Jash as his eyes focused on the figure of Caera.


    Looking at her trying hard to cast a spell without any equipment aiding her, his lips curled upward.


    ''She really is trying to give her all,'' mused Jash as he observed her from 15 meters away.


    Slowly, her mana manifested into a small fire which formed different varieties of spells and she explained it after casting her spell.


    "After I move the mana from my core through my body and have the intent to manifest a fire, alongside the correct chants, it manifests..."


    "...Next, I have to say the correct chants to make sure the manifested element is molded into a desired spell..."


    As Jash continued to listen to her explanations, the memories from his past life regarding magical spells clashed slightly with the new knowledge.


    Fortunately, he could manage it since they were only the basics of the basics.


    ''It seems I need to sublimate the knowledge from my two lives before I can do anything regarding this...'' concluded Jash.


    "Thanks, Caera. I think that''s enough for now." He stopped her from going into the theory of the spells or more detailed explanations.


    "...Okay. As you wish," grumbled Caera as she saw Jash leave the room.


    "Woah. Could it be, you enjoyed showing off?" teased Jash as he turned around before running away with a peal of laughter.


    "LIKE HELL I DID!" Caera shouted at his vanishing back in a hurry as she didn''t expect him to hear her disgruntlement.

 Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Awaiting Awakening

    Time passed slowly as Jash traced the same path in his room, awaiting the call for his awakening.


    ''Ugh. Damn these overprotective plots,'' Jash cursed for the umpteenth time as he raced around his room.


    Every few seconds he would glance at the wall clock to check the time.


    "What''s taking them so long?" Jash grumbled in dissatisfaction.


    If not for his parents'' fiery protectiveness, they wouldn''t have spent an hour or so talking with Andrew before setting him free.


    Jash didn''t know the content of their conversation, even though it was about him.


    After teasing Caera, he''d arrived in his room and slept with peace of mind, thinking, ''By the time I wake up, the awakening apparatus would be ready.''


    Unfortunately, it''d been three hours since he woke up and had lunch yet there were no signs of such a call.


    ''The past me lost everything but gained the freedom to do anything, anytime,'' Jash thought, comparing that life to his current one.


    Although there was freedom in that sort of life, he didn''t wish to experience it.


    Jash shivered as he realized his train of thought, and couldn''t help but mutter, "Comparison is indeed the enemy of fun..."


    Not wanting to linger on such negative thoughts, he exited his room to find his parents and directly ask them the reason for the delay.


    "Ah. Jash, there you are!"


    Hearing the familiar voice, Jash turned around with a smile to face his mother.


    ''She probably came to take me for the awakening herself, right?'' Jash hoped for it to be true.


    "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow¡­"


    Before Jash could respond or ask her anything, the pain from his ear being pulled overwhelmed his senses.


    "Shtop! Ow! Mom! Ow! It¡­ow¡­hurts!" Jash barely begged his mother.


    "Hmph! Someone''s being cheeky recently~" Sera smiled before turning to face the empty corridor.


    "Don''t you agree, my dear daughter?" Sera questioned rhetorically.


    Hiding in the next corridor, Caera flinched before appearing, knowing it was futile to hide anymore.


    "M-mom I-I¡­ I was j-just¡­" Caera stammered as she couldn''t reply.


    Sera naturally knew her daughter well enough and didn''t pressure her, for today.


    "Yeah, yeah, save your excuses. I am taking this brat for his awakening. You wanna come?"


    Hearing her mother''s question, Caera nodded immediately before freezing as she heard her mother''s laughter, making her embarrassed.


    Meanwhile, Jash was still in pain, but he gritted his teeth and just endured it.


    ''Saying anything won''t help me at all in my current situation,'' thought Jash as he realized his mother''s motive.


    ''So, she really came here to bring me for the awakening process? Couldn''t she just send Emma?'' S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash lamented inwardly yet a smile graced his lips, only to be turned into a frown as the pain increased.


    In all honesty, he had no idea what Sera was trying to do by hurting him before the awakening.


    That just didn''t go well with her personality.


    ''Wait! Could it be that she is trying to delay my awakening until tomorrow?'' Jash felt as if he had been struck by lightning.


    Maybe he had really caught the crux of the matter, or maybe he hadn''t.


    ''It''ll all be clear in a few moments,'' Jash believed as he was finally allowed to walk freely behind the mother-daughter duo.


    Caressing his ear, Jash accidentally blurted out, "Damn, that hurt."


    "Did you say something, my dear?" Sera questioned him less than a second after his blunder.


    Noticing the warm smile on her face, Jash wasn''t fooled and immediately denied. "No, no. I said nothing. Maybe it was the wind."


    "Ho? Maybe." Sera''s smile widened in response as she turned to Caera, who secretly snickered at Jash.


    Of course, Sera could sense each and every moment of theirs, but she chose to forgive Jash today. Just for today, though.


    In a few moments, Jash, Sera, and Caera arrived outside a room where several guards were securing a perimeter.


    The guards immediately saluted Sera and stood at attention as Edward stopped his conversation with a guard and approached them.


    Bowing slightly, he said, "The teleportation gate is active, my Lady, Young Master, Young Miss."


    Sera nodded and took the lead with Caera while Jash started walking behind them to enter the room.


    When the doors opened, he could see a teleportation circle etched on the ground.


    It was made with runic carvings along with some light blue symbols and hieroglyphs lighting up the round corners.


    As its name suggested, it was used to teleport people.


    In this case, from the Ramille Estate to the location of the awakening chambers, as they were in a hidden place, away from the mansion to prevent unforeseen accidents.


    Jash reached the center of the circle and tried to understand the carvings, but all he saw were weird lines which made him dizzy and forgo any attempts at understanding them.


    Sera and Caera supported him as they noticed his lightheaded state while the guards activated the circle.


    In the blink of an eye, they were already on the other side.


    As Jash was busy wondering how quickly that circle worked and gawking at the new surroundings, he felt Sera suddenly hug him, she whispered, "Everything will go well, so don''t worry about anything, okay?"


    Jash nodded and hugged her back to ease her worries. ''She really can''t stop worrying, even though she was playful just earlier.''


    Unlike Caera, he never felt embarrassed with such matters as it always felt loving.


    Remembering Caera, she too came and patted his arm before teasing him, "Be strong, Lazy Panda! Or you''ll be left in the dust."


    Jash smiled and flicked her forehead as he chortled, "You''re getting even more stupid, Caera, if you think I care about all that."


    Looking at Caera pouting at her brother but not responding brought a smile to Sera''s face before her lips parted.


    "Alright, alright. That''s enough, you two."


    The twins immediately straightened up, hearing Sera''s stern voice as she led them forward.


    Naturally, the two had already arrived here last year for Caera''s awakening.


    Arriving at the room where the ceremony would take place, Jash saw Carcel waiting outside.


    The two exchanged a look and just nodded seriously, without exchanging a word, causing Sera to shake her head.


    "It''s his awakening, can''t you say something positive to him," she mock complained, predicting the results already.


    Hearing his wife, Carcel smiled, "He''s our son, I believe in his talent. Plus, he is in the know."


    "Hmph" Sera just decided to ignore the obvious as she had lost count of how many times she explained everything to Jash this week.


    Since everything else was prepared and they were just waiting for Jash, they decided to move in and start.


    ''My awakening took quite a long time to prepare,'' Jash thought as he realized it had been a week since he asked for it.


    ''Also, didn''t they prepare everything last year already?''


    While his request was sudden, it shouldn''t have been that difficult for his parents to fulfill it, given their resources and power.


    If he were to guess, he''d hold the events of last week accountable for the delay along with the check ups by the priest.


    Yet it didn''t matter now.


    ''Finally, I can awaken!'' Jash couldn''t mask the excitement in his eyes as the mere thought of wielding mana thrilled him to no end.

 Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Awakening Begins

    As Jash saw everyone distancing themselves from him, he took giddy steps to enter the mana room, where he would awaken.


    It was a white-marble room with runes all over the borders of the walls.


    Even though he wasn''t sure of their exact usage, it was easy to guess they were Mana Gathering runes and were probably some of the best ones since he was here.


    ''Maybe the Mana Rooms of Mage Tower are even better,'' Jash wondered, but didn''t dislike the outcome.


    Relaxing and staying low-key was more his style.


    Going to the Mage Tower to awaken and spread the news wasn''t something on his list, even if it made the awakening much smoother.


    Not wanting to distract his mind with knowledge of the Mage Tower, he shook his head.


    ''No matter the world, it depends on the mana quality and its concentration.'' In the end that was all that mattered.


    While Jash took unhurried steps, Sera couldn''t hide her pang of worry as she was really feeling a little scared.


    By her side, Carcel wrapped his hand around her waist, knowing fully well about her worries.


    After all, no matter how prepared they were, the chance of a failed awakening was always present.


    Everyone can try awakening at any time after they turn 12, but if they fail once, then their internals would be damaged, and going through an awakening again would be even more dangerous.


    Comparing Sera''s worry to Caera''s awakening was futile, given the difference of Jash being the victim of curse or dark magic.


    That''s why the security of the Ramille Estate was on high alert today. No one except the Ramille couple and Caera was allowed anywhere near the awakening chambers.


    That was the only respite to Sera''s worry-filled heart.


    If not for needing some people to activate the runes in the mana room, Sera would have liked to allow no one else except the three.


    Unaware of everything going around him, Jash walked towards the middle of the room, where a large circle was drawn.


    He couldn''t help reminiscing, ''It''s just like last year, except for our positions.''


    Even the barrier to protect Caera was the same one casted by Sera to protect him during her awakening.


    Meeting their gazes, he could see the love and care they had for him.


    The nervousness felt palpable to him, causing him to feel goosebumps on his skin.


    Well, the stern and calm expression on his father''s timed visage helped Jash calm his excited heart.


    ''He has too much trust in his blood, or what?'' Jash wondered, locking eyes with Carcel.


    Carcel could sense his son''s feelings and even his heartbeat as he nodded, before instructing the guards to activate the rune formation.


    In response, Jash took a deep breath and closed his eyes to calm his state of mind before the process began.


    Just as he opened his eyes, they widened in astonishment at the dazzling sight awaiting him.


    There stood Carcel, holding a distinct Mana Gem.


    Despite never having witnessed all Mana Gems, Jash instinctively knew this one was better than the one used during Caera''s awakening.


    ''Hers was already an A-rank Mana Gem! Could this be...?''


    Jash''s barely calmed heartbeat quickened again at the thought of using such a rare Mana Gem to awaken, which was almost impossible to buy with any amount of money.


    It was so rare that it could only be used during item exchanges of equivalent worth.


    After all, a Mana Gem was a highly rare stone found inside monsters in dungeons. Even C-ranked beasts had barely formed Mana Gems, let alone the weaker one.


    That is why the appearance of a Mana Gem above A-rank stunned Jash completely.


    Of course, he knew Mana Gems were used during awakening despite their rarity, due to it being a pure form of mana, thus increasing the chances of success.


    ''If I remember correctly, it also has way less impurities than a Mana Stone, posing no injuries while forming the mana core,'' Jash recalled the information instilled by Sera.


    Even Caera used a rare A-rank Mana Gem, which was so costly it alone could buy a couple of lands in Kenton.


    Generally, the number of monsters decreased with the increase in rank, increasing the rarity of mana gems with each rank.


    Even then, only a marginal number of those monsters formed a Mana Gem, resulting in a negligible supply.


    Yet despite being only one rank above, an Integration-rank Mana Gem was incredibly rarer than an A-rank Mana Gem due to it being a major bottleneck.


    Even some S-rank hunters had difficulty getting an Integration-rank Mana Gem, let alone S-rank Mana Gems.


    That was just a pipe dream for most.


    That is why Jash felt emotional and choked out his words, "Dad... I can use A-rank... just fine. There''s no need..."


    It didn''t matter to him what rank gem was used in his awakening because the memories would somehow balance it out.


    "Don''t even try to convince me. Your mother would kill me if I cheap out here," Carcel said, giving him a look that said it can''t be helped.


    "Cough, cough."


    Before Jash could rebuke his father, Carcel coughed awkwardly as he was elbowed by Sera.


    Helpless, he could only smile at his parents'' antics while glancing at Caera.


    No hint of jealousy or envy showed on her face despite the difference in treatment. She only gave him a look that said: FIGHTO!


    Though grateful, Jash didn''t know how to react.


    On one hand, Caera was encouraging him and on the other hand, Carcel just gave his own Mana Gem. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wasn''t a guess but a facet, stemming from the knowledge that one could increase their strength in two ways:


    First, gradually absorbing Mana from your surroundings and consolidating it in your Mana Core, increasing its power over a long period.


    Second, using Mana Gems to move the mana inside the body and gently nourishing the Mana Core with it.


    However, absorbing mana through a Mana Gem wasn''t advisable as it hindered the natural growth of the Mana Capacity.


    Since it would fill before it could grow bigger. Thus, Mana Gems were suggested to be used as assistance to cross a bottleneck and rank up from the peak of the previous rank.


    Carcel was already at the peak of S-rank, and this Mana Gem, along with a few more Integration-rank or, if he was lucky, S-rank Mana Gems, would have helped him become SS-rank like in the original plot.


    Realizing another change in the plot, Jash smiled wryly, ''Not like I care about the darned plot!''


    Finally, Jash took off his shirt and sat in the meditation position.


    Carcel held the Integration-Rank Mana Gem and placed it in Jash''s hands before returning to his position.


    ''Beautiful.'' That was all Jash could think of as he found unable to shift his focus from the sight of the gem.


    It was radiant and similar in appearance to crystals. However, the similarities ended there as it emanated a soothing energy.


    It felt both familiar and unfamiliar to Jash as he clasped the Mana Gem in his hand.


    ''It''s just two-three fingers thick and only a little longer than my palm,'' observed Jash with intrigue.


    Yet what truly dazzled him was the intermixing of seven different colors as they formed black and white in different proportions while some colors didn''t mix at all, giving it an ever-changing hue and charm.


    Suddenly, a stern voice from Carcel brought him out of his reverie.


    "Jash, you may begin awakening now."


    ***


    *Check paragraph comment for reference image of the Mana Gem*

 Chapter 37: Chapter 37: His Awakening

    After Jash sat in the meditation position on the ground, the lines about awakening from the novel assaulted his brain.


    ''Ugh. Damn! What''s this?'' Jash cursed at the sudden pain, as if it warned him of what was to come. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ||During the awakening ceremony, mana continues to flow and surge, transforming the individual''s body. Bones might shift and elongate, muscles may grow and change, and the senses could become heightened or altered.


    These changes cause pain and discomfort but are necessary to fully harness the power of mana.


    Mana can feel like a burning sensation or intense pressure.


    The duration of the awakening process varies from person to person. It depends on the individual''s ability to endure pain and how adaptable their body is to the flow of mana.


    The process can also be dangerous.


    If the body cannot handle the overwhelming power of mana, it may lead to a failed awakening, leaving the person with internal injuries or as a cripple for life.||


    Despite the memories of the novel, he focused more on the memories of mana from his previous life:


    [A normal awakening was not difficult. The person usually absorbed ample amounts of mana from their surroundings or mana gems.


    The Mana Gem usually helped complete the formation of a Mana Core in the lower dantian or near the heart.


    Civilians generally awakened at the age of 16, as declared by the Council for common people to follow.


    For common people, the awakening process involved forming their Mana Core in the initial stages and gradually growing it over time.


    Irrespective of their talent, a person''s Mana Core could only be formed after they turned 18, allowing the body to finish growing up first.


    Despite all this, most civilians chose not to awaken and risk their lives or had pitiful talent to not even have a use as cannon fodder.


    ¡­


    "That''s all a facade. The ones at the top didn''t have much power difference and wanted to control the world. Hence, the shitty outcome where the world has to suffer."


    "Also, ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C ¨C ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C ... ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C and #@$@#@$#..."]


    The memories of his previous life abruptly stopped as Jash tried to gauge the identity of the speaker.


    ''What do I do then? Go with the novel information?'' Jash doubted which method to choose.


    Although familiar with all the senses of his last life''s awakening, he could feel his body itself was different in this world.


    "You only have the middle dantian in your body. It is located right above the sternum in the center of the chest below the heart."


    A sudden voice entered his ears as if guiding him, allowing him to make a decision before something unwanted occurred.


    Ultimately, the time for such thoughts wasn''t long as mana surrounding his body wouldn''t wait for him to decide.


    Despite knowing which path to take, he gritted his teeth as he could feel the mana in the air increasing at a constant speed.


    The heaviness in the air, the pressure of mana, the familiar yet unfamiliar energy and soon enough it entered his body.


    Jash could feel every single sensation vividly as the mana flowed around him before spreading all over his body.


    He winced a little due to the sudden prickling sensation of mana poking the insides of his body.


    ''I need to focus on the mana movement inside my body and guide the mana from the gem to my heart...''


    Jash recalled the instructions.


    It was unknown whether they came from the strange voice, Sera''s repeated teaching, past life memories, or the novel''s knowledge.


    But at the moment, he couldn''t afford to lose focus, or it might damage him severely.


    Heck, he could even fail his awakening.


    Trusting his instincts, Jash tried to follow the flow of the intrusive mana within his body before attempting to control it.


    Although he knew how to form a Mana Core, he didn''t want to take any chances and proceeded cautiously.


    ''It is flowing aimlessly,'' Jash observed the flow of mana inside him before infusing his will and controlling it.


    Sweat drops appeared on his entire body as he struggled to succeed.


    After several attempts, he finally altered the flow of mana as a whole, instead of controlling different strands, to converge at his middle dantian.


    Under his masterful guidance, mana flowed easily, without causing pain in this step of the process.


    In the end, Jash had an easier time forming his Mana Core than others who suffered a lot.


    After feeling the mana converging in his upper chest area and stirring in the direction of his heart, he forcefully changed its course.


    ''Just why the hell is it going to my heart?'' Jash thought in frustration as it was a critical moment.


    With no other choice, he guided the mana from the Integration-rank Mana Gem to his potential Mana Core''s location.


    A milky white energy slowly gathered near the center of Jash''s chest, forming a grain-sized crystal.


    ''The first step was successful,'' Jash mused yet his focus only intensified as he prepared for the next step.


    The awakening process had two parts:


    First was known as the Mana Core Formation. One needed to form a primary Mana Core in their body, middle dantian, to be more precise.


    Second was to guide the rest of the mana throughout the body and cleanse it of impurities. This process also transformed the body to become a better vessel for mana.


    As mana was the fuel and the body was the vessel that contained it, it was very important to make your foundation as strong as possible during the awakening.


    ''I need to have a solid foundation,'' reiterated Jash to himself, having experienced the difference in foundation himself.


    This caused Jash to focus more mana from the gem into his Core and complete its formation and at the same time, direct the mana through his body


    As time passed, black gooey substances began to come out of every pore in Jash''s body.


    Fortunately, they vaporized and disappeared due to the special room as soon as they touched the floor, saving the trouble of cleaning or smelling it.


    While the process might have seemed easy, only Jash knew the mind boggling pain he felt.


    It wasn''t something a sane person could handle.


    His muscles clenched, each movement sending waves of agony through his body, pain rippled through him like a tidal wave, each crest crashing against his nerves and leaving a wake of throbbing ache.


    It felt almost unbearable, but Jash gritted his teeth and refused to give in. He knew that this was just the beginning as endless challenges to his peaceful life awaited him.


    ''I can''t give up! Not after knowing everything! I refuse to let my family suffer!'' Jash thought, a wave of determination coursing his body as he continued to endure the pain.


    Despite the mind-numbing pain, Jash had yet to let out a shout of agony as he endured it all.


    His body trembled all over as it changed internally: his bones cracking, his muscles breaking and healing as his skin reddened.


    After a while, his body had mostly transformed except for his brain and heart.


    A few drops of blood leaked from his mouth as he clenched his teeth too tightly to endure the pain.


    Yet he didn''t even get a moment of respite to take a deep breath as another wave of pain assaulted him.

 Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Record Breaking

    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"


    Jash screamed in pain for the first time since the process began, unable to hold it in any longer. It was one thing to have memories of pain, but another to endure it.


    It was already a miracle he hadn''t screamed or rolled on the floor earlier.


    His heart ached not just from the physical strain but from the weight of his determination.


    ''NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO''


    Shouting inwardly at himself to close his mouth and endure it again, Jash couldn''t help but want to curse the author.


    ''Damn that author! What the hell is mindbreaking pain!? This is impossible!''


    ''If I ever find you, I will definitely strangle you, no, I will make you go through this pain!''


    Even if it felt like Jash was venting his frustration at the author, it was done more so in a desperate attempt to distract himself from this new pain.


    Though it wasn''t to say he didn''t mean his words.


    Desperation clawed at his resolve, but he clung to his purpose as a surge of mana coursed through his brain and heart, transforming them just like the rest of his organs.


    A pain that would break anyone''s mind apart¡ªthat''s what the author called it in the novel. Almost 60% of people who failed their awakening would fail at this point.


    ''Shit! Just 60%!? That has to be a lie!'' Jash shouted inwardly as he gritted his teeth, recalling the description from the novel.


    Despite the mind-shattering pain, he knew that the process of laying the foundation was more painful the longer it took.


    However, at the same time, it was more beneficial to last longer as it would result in a better foundation for mana.


    ''The longer I persevere, the better it is for me,'' Jash reiterated, though his condition suggested otherwise.


    Tears streamed down his face, his breath hitched with each attempt to inhale against the stabbing pain in his chest and head.


    ''Endure... Endure... Endure... Endure... Endure... Endure...


    Endure...'' Jash recited the word inwardly.


    Digging his nails onto his knees to focus on the movement of mana, Jash grew resolute to last as long as possible.


    His suffering wasn''t just physical; it was a testament to his unwavering will.


    The pain reached astonishing degrees as his thought process crumpled with the only thought to continue.


    If it were a normal person awakening, they would only endure it for 10 minutes before ending the ceremony, a genius might endure it for nearly an hour.


    Yet Jash could be called a monster as over 3 hours had passed since he started awakening.


    Unbeknownst to him, he was already close to the time of Caera''s awakening. She had lasted for 3 hours 31 minutes before ending the process.


    By no means that was bad¡ªeven a genius among geniuses would last around two hours¡ªand that was enough for her to be in the spotlight.


    However, there were already quite a few highly talented youths who had lasted around or even longer than Caera.


    This just went on to say the number of geniuses that existed in their generation.


    Naturally, Jash remained unaware of such things as he continued to hold one with all his being.


    His mentality holding on to his vestiges of consciousness, preventing him from fainting.


    Jash only had a single thought in his mind as his teeth clattered, and his eyes scrunched up due to the insufferable pain.


    His body felt like it was on fire, his mind overwhelmed with the searing agony that threatened to consume him.


    His heart beat wildly against his ribcage, increasing his blood flow.


    At the same time, he felt like he was being electrocuted from his insides as his nerve endings sent shocks of pain, causing his body to twitch.


    For Jash, time seemed to stand still as his misery felt eternal.


    Finally, it crossed the four hour mark of his awakening as he unconsciously sat there, absorbing the mana and cleansing his body.


    Thankfully, the pain had reduced after his brain and heart transformed safely.


    Naturally, they didn''t morph into something different entirely, but just a bit more enhanced and stronger compared to those with lesser time of awakening.


    Of course, it wouldn''t show much of an effect until a few rank ups way later.


    Not that it mattered to Jash at the moment.


    He even remained unaware as blood started exiting his pores to give room to his newly formed blood from the transformed bone marrows.


    Even his veins were bursting and repairing at the same time, allowing for the fresh blood to flow smoothly.


    All the fat on his body was now gone, replaced by tight muscles.


    However, Jash had already become numb to the sensation of pain itself by now. He had no clue about his remarkable achievements.


    It was just his subconscious desire to last longer, holding onto his consciousness albeit not realizing his precarious state.


    Eventually, he even reached near the last record for the longest foundation process.


    It was held by none other than Jash''s grandfather, who was one of the 13 SSS-Rank hunters in the world and endured for 4 hours and 37 minutes.


    During the entire process, Jash experienced pain he couldn''t even understand or explain. It even made the pain from his last life pale in comparison.


    He could only think so because he hadn''t felt the excruciating pain of having your bones being taken out after his skin was ripped apart.


    Alas, he only got the memories of it with altered emotions and feelings.


    If his past self had allowed him to experience everything with complete realism, he would have most likely broken, becoming nothing but an empty shell.


    After all, his previous life self didn''t really care about the methods to become strong to achieve his goal except for sacrificial or sinister methods.


    Pain used to be an everyday thing for him, though.


    He had long lost his sanity at that time and didn''t care about such a meager inconvenience.


    Self-harming would be a depreciating word for the things he did. If not for the system, it''d be a surprise if he didn''t die right after one fight.


    Well, Jash had no clue about it and couldn''t be bothered with unknowns, allowing him to focus on his goal of a slow and comfy life.


    Yet it didn''t really matter at the moment as Jash reached the 4 hour 30 minute mark, just eight minutes shy of breaking the world record.


    Every second felt like an eternity, but each one was a step closer to his goal


    His whole body was now burning red, steam coming out of it. Blood poured out of his body, staining his pants crimson, a small pool forming underneath him.


    Even though the Mana Room removed any residue from his body, the stench of iron was heavy in the air.


    Without any surprise, he crossed the eight minutes safely.


    He had beaten his grandfather''s record and was on his way to set a new record.


    Even if it was a moment to celebrate, Jash''s subconscious continued the process.


    It only stopped at a total time of 4 hours and 59 minutes.


    Ultimately, he could open his eyes to feel his newly set foundation.


    He tried moving his body but his eyes turned droopy and he found his body too stiff to move.


    That was when he knew he f¡ª


    Eh? What?


    That was when he knew he had outdone himself.


    ''Shit! I messed up!'' Jash screamed inwardly as he took notice of the color crimson through his blurry vision.


    He had no idea how much time elapsed but by noticing his current state it wasn''t hard to guess he did extraordinarily good. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Observer

    ***


    Since the moment Jash fainted on his birthday, Cornelius had kept a close eye on him as he failed to detect any abnormality after the fleeting sinister presence.


    However, doubts lingered in his mind throughout the week.


    To solve them, he checked on Jash both when he was sleeping and during the day.


    Of course, Jash remained unaware of everything transpiring around him, reassuring Cornelius about his grandson''s health.


    Though the only anomaly he found was Jash walking in a daze every now and then or him mumbling to himself.


    It was pretty strange, but not to a degree that would worry him, as he really couldn''t find any irregularity in Jash''s body.


    ''It might be some aftereffects like PTSD,'' concluded Cornelius. But he still checked up on Jash without anyone knowing for the entire week.


    Currently, he remained afloat in the sky, observing Jash''s awakening while being on the lookout for dangers.


    After all, one can never be too safe.


    As the awakening process began, a small smile couldn''t help but grace his lips.


    ''He really is a genius,'' Cornelius mused, sensing the mana in the awakening chambers excitedly creeping closer to Jash''s form.


    It made him recall how Jash had tried to figure out Andrew''s mana technique while being examined.


    Albeit, he remained unaware that Jash was momentarily tranced by his past life''s knowledge about the law of light instead of comprehending the mana technique.


    Yet his smile grew wider as he thought to himself, ''It was a good decision to make him sign the secrecy contract.''


    When Andrew had visited, Cornelius made sure to keep a close eye on the process and ended up forcing the priest into a secrecy contract.


    The contract wasn''t just a piece of paper, though. It was a Mana Contract.


    It could have severe penalties for the one breaking the contract, from dropping in ranks or even crippling one''s usage of mana itself.


    Naturally, it had its limitation of not being able to add a death clause.


    The worst it could do was make the individual suffer unbearable pain and turn them into an idiot unable to do anything.


    However, that was enough for most people.


    After all, who would want to lose their strength after experiencing such a life?


    No one.


    That''s why Cornelius felt his heart at ease at the moment.


    If word about Jash''s crazy talent leaked, it wouldn''t be good as many leeches and pests would appear.


    Something he didn''t wish to see anytime soon.


    ''Even if the other races are living harmoniously within the Solarnelle Empire, who knows how long that will remain the case?''


    ''The other nobles and even the imperial family are also not something to be taken lightly...''


    Worries couldn''t help but flash his mind as the talent of his 3 grandchildren was too monstrous, and that wasn''t good for a single generation.


    The only relief being the abnormal talents in the newer generation weren''t few and far between. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, all of his worries turned into astonishment and excitement as time continued to pass and Jash continued to persist.


    In place of worry, a thrill took root in his mind as a wide grin erupted on his face.


    ''Close to mine? Surpass it!'' Cornelius couldn''t help but hope for his grandson to surpass him.


    As if his earlier worries had never existed, he continued to cheer for his grandson as his record broke.


    Yet his smile only widened, if that was even possible.


    To his astounding excitement, his body leaked out a wave of mana which was reeled in by him in less than half a second.


    The sudden wave of mana alarmed the guards as they immediately started looking for the source.


    Uncaring of the dutiful guards, Cornelius had a single thought in his mind: ''Break that 5-hour mark, son!''


    His excitement was palpable at the moment yet it all came to an end at 4 hour 59 minutes.


    ''One minute! Just one more minute and...!'' thought Cornelius, lamenting the missed opportunity.


    ''Even if you broke my record, it isn''t really the world record...''


    The moment the thought popped up in his mind, a sad smile erupted on his lips before a flash of complicated emotions appeared in his eyes.


    Luckily, no one was there as he immediately concealed them and vanished from place.


    A weird mix of grief, reluctance, regret and acceptance laced his tone as he mumbled to himself, "I wonder how different everything would be if only..."


    ***


    Unaware of his father overseeing Jash''s awakening, Carcel couldn''t help but keep a strong front for Jash and Sera.


    He had already noticed Caera''s supportive front and smiled at her actions. ''Good girl! She really cares for Jash.''


    After ensuring everything in the room was in place, he nodded and announced, "Jash, you may begin awakening now."


    A resolute look appeared on Jash, surprising his parents and Caera for the second time yet he began the process before they could express their surprise.


    Carcel''s grip on Sera''s waist tightened involuntarily, causing her to look at him with a helpless smile.


    ''He really can act, huh?'' Sera thought as she shifted closer to him, allowing him to feel her body next to his.


    If not for Caera''s presence, Sera would have no doubt snuggled next to him with no gap between their bodies.


    Fortunately, such a scene remained for their private time as she sought comfort in her husband while he sought comfort in her.


    Their relationship was truly harmonious, but it was relatively strange for nobles to show such passion towards their partners.


    However, the two of them didn''t really care and their children were already used to it.


    It would have been a different matter entirely if they knew about Cornelius perceiving everything.


    Meanwhile, Caera looked as fired up as she was on her own awakening.


    ''Lazy Panda, you better do good or...'' Caera threatened Jash inwardly but didn''t complete the thought, afraid she might jinx it.


    Luckily, nothing went wrong with Jash''s awakening as he successfully established his Mana Core.


    Despite his Mana Core Formation process being different, they didn''t really care as it was a personal process and differed slightly for every person, no matter how much they knew the theory.


    So, it didn''t raise any flags for Jash, saving him from the hassle to explain. Well, he didn''t even know such an event would happen.


    ''You hoped for a normal awakening and look at you!! You already surpassed me, lazy brother!'' Caera thought with mild amusement as a smile crossed her cherry lips and her blue eyes twinkled in excitement.


    She really didn''t have any negative feelings for Jash, only feeling interested and happy about the result.


    Seeing this, her parents couldn''t help but think, ''Our daughter is truly an angel!''


    And they weren''t wrong in thinking so.


    Alas, that was the only respite for the couple amidst their worry over Jash''s condition and the pain he must be suffering.


    Yet they stood stupefied with their eyes and mouth wide open as Jash broke the record of awakening with his grave determination.


    The moment stood still for the trio despite their concern regarding Jash''s worsening condition, as time closed to 5 hours, yet it stopped exactly one minute before.


    However, looking at the stumbling Jash, they immediately darted to hold him.


    ***

 Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Silent Struggles

    "Jash!"


    "Jash!"


    Several shouts echoed in the chamber as Jash stumbled in his steps, yet the voices remained distant echoes to his blurry consciousness.


    Before he could collapse, however, a pair of slender hands firmly took hold of him.


    "Ca... era...?"


    Jash barely mumbled with hints of resignation as blurry strands of red hair appeared in his vision alongside the small hands.


    Despite Sera and Carcel having the strength to reach his side and hold him within a second, their attention was diverted at the last moment.


    Caera had utilized mana inside her body to reach Jash faster, but she failed to realize the state of the environmental mana in their current location.


    Thus, Sera and Carcel had to make sure no harm befell her or Jash, resulting in the couple trying to fight off the rampant mana targeting Caera.


    "CAERA!" Sera shouted in an unsettled tone, her worry and anger palpable for the young girl supporting Jash.


    ''Wha...t''s going... on...?'' Jash barely formulated a coherent thought as his consciousness seemed to return to him.


    He couldn''t really differentiate the hazy scenery around him or the low voices entering his ears.


    His parents, however, didn''t seem to care and immediately dragged their children, ignoring Caera as she tried explaining her emotional outburst.


    Her eyes had water droplets forming at the corners as she realized the risk of her actions, observing the mana flow around them.


    Still, she coped with her feelings as they left the awakening chambers cautiously, only to be stunned by the sight of the guards frantically looking around.


    ¡­


    After everything settled down one way or another, Sera and Carcel stood near as Jash lay on his bed.


    Unsurprisingly, he remained spotless, as if he hadn''t just gone through a horrendous experience.


    It wasn''t really tough to clean him; a single wave-like gesture of Sera''s hands was all it took.


    In less than a second, all the blood-stained clothes were cleaned, and Jash''s sweat was gone.


    Not surprised in the least, Carcel stared at Jash with a mix of emotions¡ªpride, worry, anxiety, and determination.


    "It seems like I need to tell Father about this before we announce it publicly," Carcel said, contemplating various things.


    "Do that," Sera agreed succinctly, her eyes affixed on Jash''s face as she caressed his sharp cheeks.


    "Haa." Carcel sighed but chose to remain silent wisely.


    At that time, Jash''s eyes fluttered open yet his vision remained hazy and cloudy, prompting him to blink multiple times to correct it.


    Even though there was no movement except his eyes, his parents noticed it as they had been keeping a close eye on him..


    "Urgh," Jash grunted as he felt a slight headache incoming after waking up.


    "Jash, calm down. Your body needs some time to adjust to the changes," Sera advised in a gentle manner as she massaged his forehead.


    Jash''s body relaxed subconsciously at the familiar touch.


    It took him a couple of minutes to come to reality and he immediately fired his questions, "What happened? Why am I here? Why did I faint? Where''s Caera? I remember seeing her..."


    Before he could continue his thoughts, he was swiftly interrupted by Carcel.


    "Well, for starters, you awakened. That''s what happened," Carcel said with a simple tone and continued upon seeing only more confusion appear on Jash''s face.


    "Your awakening time was 4 hours and 59 minutes. A new world record. You fell unconscious probably because you have never gone through such pain, or maybe it was a side-effect of such a long awakening time? Who knows?"


    Carcel shrugged his shoulders, indicating he was as clueless as Jash here.


    "Don''t worry, though. You are absolutely fine, or Father would have come here himself by now. Regarding Caera..."


    "Caera is in her room as punishment." Sera continued where Carcel trailed off, startling Jash at his mother''s actions.


    ''How can she bear to punish Caera? That doesn''t make sense at all!'' Jash thought, finding it hard to believe, yet the fact lay bare in front of him.


    Then it finally hit him. Something he ignored from Carcel''s explanation.


    ''Wait a minute! 4 hours 59 minutes? World Record? New Record? ME!?'' Jash thought in indignation.


    ''Now, it makes sense why I suffered so much! Damn it all!'' He cursed inwardly as realization dawned on him.


    Of course, he was aware of the importance of setting one''s foundation after the formation of the Mana Core.


    That''s why he aimed to be somewhere around Caera''s awakening time, hopefully less than her.


    ''At least that wouldn''t make me an outstanding genius like now!'' Jash thought, incredulity enveloping his mind.


    Since even one hour of awakening time could be called a genius, let alone Caera who tripled that and Jash who broke the world record.


    Or at least everyone believed that was the world record.


    Everyone except Cornelius.


    Even Jash wasn''t privy to such a detail as it wasn''t mentioned in the novel. It focused too much on making the protagonist appear the best.


    ''That stupid protagonist had an awakening time of 4 hours and 15 or so minutes...'' Jash recalled the important detail from the novel.


    As it changed his point of view at the current time.


    The longer one''s awakening time, the higher their potential, or at least chances of reaching the Integration-rank or higher.


    This world had a different ranking system than most worlds but that''s something even Jash doesn''t exactly know about since he couldn''t be bothered about it in the past.


    "Uhm, by the way, you guys aren''t planning to make it public or something, right?" Jash suddenly asked as it would be too troublesome for his liking.


    "Hmm. It depends on Father," Carcel answered with a thoughtful expression, allowing Jash to breathe freely.


    "Dad, there''s no need to announce it. Just tell Grandfather. I don''t want any more attention than I already have. It will be too troublesome," Jash pleaded with a soft tone and a helpless look on his face.


    The expression showed his mindset, as if saying: What''s the meaning of life? It''s all tiresome.


    "And I am quite tired from all this. Let me rest for now, please," Jash quickly added before Carcel could say anything, causing him to close his mouth.


    "Sigh Okay," Carcel said with a sad voice as his lips twitched at Jash''s expressions.


    He was very excited to announce his son''s heaven-breaking talent to the whole world, but he couldn''t do it if Jash requested in such a manner.


    Sera''s already sharp gaze bore into him, sending chills down his spine. He knew better than to anger his wife.


    "Thank you, mom," Jash said, turning to his mom, conveying his gratitude with a tired smile.


    Sera''s expression morphed in less than a second from a death glare to Carcel to a soft and lovely smile to Jash.


    Carcel really felt like cursing his luck for getting such talented children. All of them knew how to win his wife''s favor easily. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, Jash remained unaware of his father''s ''evil'' thoughts as he thought to himself, ''Finally, I will be able to check the differences in my body!''


    No matter how tired he looked, he couldn''t mask his excitement from Sera, who pinched his cheek slightly before kissing it as if he were a kid, then left with a teasing smile on her face.


    Rubbing his cheek, Jash saw Carcel being dragged along and couldn''t help but smile at his father''s pitiful state.

 Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Changes

    ''I can freely check the changes now,'' mused Jash as he got up from his bed and stood in his usual exercising area.


    After the refreshing sleep, his pain was almost gone. He had only suffered the aftereffects of such an excruciating process.


    ''Don''t want to suffer DOMS now,'' thought Jash as he started doing a series of calisthenics, then jogged and jumped in place.


    "Delayed-onset muscle soreness, commonly referred to as DOMS, is muscle pain that begins after you''ve finished working out. Hmm. It normally starts a day or two after, though. You won''t feel it during or immediately after your workout. That''s a different kind."


    Recalling that the muscle soreness he had already experienced had a name felt refreshing to Jash, but he didn''t want to suffer again.


    He carefully felt the changes in his body, both internal and external.


    Besides the familiar feeling of mana coursing within him, he had to get accustomed to the changes in his body.


    Jash could feel the exaggerated change in his body strength as he needed much less effort to reach the same height or extent.


    The next thing he felt was his heart rate not increasing in response to his physical training as it seemed to have improved its blood pumping capacity.


    ''Even my thought process feels smoother along with my senses,'' Jash mused as a small smile graced his lips.


    The refreshing feeling of fatigue alleviated as he continued to adjust to the changes the awakening brought him.


    It took him a few minutes to get used to his transformed body.


    Although he couldn''t really use mana for now to avoid raising suspicions from his family, it didn''t stop him from sensing it and trying to manipulate it.


    A wide grin appeared on his face as he felt the mana move according to his will.


    Even if his efforts resulted in negligible results, it was just his first try.


    Many would do anything to achieve such success, yet he didn''t realize the absurdity of his feat; he just attributed it to his past life.


    Finally, he gazed at his toned physique in the mirror, scrutinized his shirtless body, and noted, ''I didn''t sweat a single drop.''


    Out of curiosity, he touched his muscles, only to find they were tighter than before, yet his skin remained the same.


    It couldn''t help but make him wonder, ''Why is my skin the same when everything else changed?''


    Yet his mind was much more focused on appreciating his looks than his skin. ''Meh. Skin is too microscopic to even be noticed. But damn, do I look handsome?''


    For the next two minutes, Jash went into a narcissistic ride to compliment himself.


    At least he was happy even if he didn''t really get that main character lean muscular 8-pack physique.


    Still, his looks were something many men would envy and, at the same time, many women would want to have him.


    Too sad for them, he was already booked long in advance by a certain someone, who was busy with her own family.


    "Ahem, ahem," Jash coughed to get rid of his awkwardness after realizing his line of thoughts were too dangerous.


    "...Anyways, what about elements? I have seen Caera use fire and she has red hair, so it makes sense. Then, do I have darkness because of my dark hair?"


    Jash questioned himself as he took hold of a few strands of his glistening hair. Though intrigued by the sight, his mind quickly cycled back to the elements..


    "Isn''t there some sort of elemental awakening after one awakens, as the final part or something?" Jash mumbled to himself.


    He found it too weird that he didn''t find any elements or anything related to them in his memory.


    Still, he had memories of those fantasy novels from his past life, and one of them went into great detail regarding the elements.


    [The elemental awakening occurs after one survives the merging, allowing you to feel your element and turn the mana in your body into that element.


    Naturally, most newbies hurt themselves and everyone around them in this step, as no one who felt mana for the first time could just transform the excess mana and turn it into any element.


    There''s even a risk of losing control, and all the ambient mana could go berserk. Well, that''s an extreme case.


    However, if it happens, then you''re lucky if you get off easy by not learning any element but if not, then your newly built mana channels get injured, ruining your future development.


    Of course, if you successfully awaken your element then you would have an easier time learning that element.


    In the case you give up, it just means you will have to try and learn every element available just to see which one suits you the most.


    Not only would it waste lots of time, and even your proficiency won''t be as good as people who learned it in their awakening.]


    ''Hmm. That''s a bit complex and is not even gonna happen...'' concluded Jash as he could clearly remember many such novels.


    Most just chose to glance over the element thing and mentioned some elemental orb with which one can check their affinity.


    Nevertheless, just the thought of finding his element excited Jash as he couldn''t help but jump around to curb it.


    To distract himself from thinking about unknown matters, he decided to take a shower.


    As the cold water poured on his skin, he felt a sharp coldness from it unlike prior times.


    "Hiss. What just happened? Why did I feel cold?" Jash muttered in indignation.


    "This... Did my skin become sensitive or something?" He quickly thought of a possibility, yet his face darkened.


    In a fit of anger from the indignation, Jash voiced his frustrations.


    "There''s just no way!"


    "How will I enjoy my cold showers now?"


    "This is so unfair!"


    "Damn it! If only I had not awakened!"


    "Why did no one tell me!?" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If only..."


    Amidst his grumblings, he even cursed the awakening process and imagined a life without it, forgetting the fact that he would have to face it one day, which might lead to his death and his family''s end if he didn''t work to change such a negative future.


    After accepting his bleak reality with a lost look on his face, he increased the water temperature and took a shower with not-so-cold water.


    He maintained his lifeless look till he laid back on the bed, about to sleep. Yet his expression morphed into a sneer as he suddenly remembered something.


    "The protagonist''s element was light, wasn''t it? Truly befitting of a hero, I guess?"


    Jash mocked the author, but he knew it wasn''t even a surprise as the so-called hero literally lived in the church and got blessed by the goddess in the latter stages.


    "What then? Does the main villain have an element of darkness? Maybe even some God or Goddess of Darkness in conflict with the Goddess of Light?"


    Jash really felt the author was an idiot for using such a stupid cliched concept, completely forgetting his problem with awakening as he jeered at the novel before falling asleep once again.


    It was truly a wonder how he could sleep so carelessly after being awake for less than an hour.

 Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Hunter Ranks

    "That''s not how you do it!" Caera shouted in exasperation before glaring at Jash and taking the bow from his hands.


    Holding the bow with its grip in her right hand, she slanted it a few degrees before drawing the bowstring and nocking the arrow.


    As the arrowhead rested on the grip of the bow, she fixed it using her left thumb before closing her left eye and aiming for the target.


    ¡ªWhoosh!


    The arrow pierced through the air as it made Caera''s hair flutter in the wind even though she had already tied it primly. It truly made for a picturesque scene.


    ¡ªBam!


    A small sound echoed as the arrowhead struck true to the wooden target''s head.


    The arrow fell to the ground before the training dummy recovered its previous state, but it took a few seconds, unlike when Caera used a fireball spell against it.


    "Hmph! That''s how you do it!" Caera said with a proud smile as she crossed her arms and held her head high.


    Alas, her pose broke as veins popped on her forehead when she turned to look at Jash, only to notice him in a daze.


    Unaware of the danger he was in, Jash wondered just what went wrong yesterday.


    ''Why am I here? Why did she drag me? I could''ve slept instead of being here...''


    Many such thoughts swirled in his mind as he got lost within them from the moment he misfired an arrow.


    ''Even missing a shot on purpose didn''t get me any rest,'' lamented Jash inwardly, noticing Caera''s unique form.


    Although he used swords and various melee weapons in his past life, it didn''t mean he had never met archers or fought them.


    He knew a thing or two about the importance of posture and movement in weapon wielding, so he didn''t really need to be taught.


    It''s just that he couldn''t just magically know it.


    ''That''d be way too suspicious and no way my genius can explain it! Maybe seeing things and learning at once, but that''s the extent of it. Improving something would be stretching it already, let alone having prior knowledge.''


    Jash had come to that conclusion already, but he really disliked the idea of training.


    In the end, his mind replayed the scene of his morning.


    ¡­


    Jash lay sleeping peacefully in his bed in light, breathable pajamas yet it seemed someone didn''t really like that.


    Before he could wake up by himself, he was jolted awake by a sudden splash of water hitting his face.


    Jash''s eyes shot open and he sat up with a start, looking around for the perpetrator in confusion, only to find Caera standing next to his bed with her usual stoic expression.


    Yet her twitching lips made it obvious she was having a hard time holding in her laughter.


    Although she might look cute to an onlooker, Jash could only see the face of an evil girl enjoying irritating him.


    "You''re so lazy, brother. You''re always sleeping," she said in a sweet and playful way.


    Despite her nice behavior, Jash chose to stay quiet and ignore her provocative look.


    Getting out of bed, he ruffled her hair before dashing towards his bathroom.


    As he turned around to see her surprise and shock, he couldn''t hold his laughter at her messed-up hair.


    He didn''t wait for her to regain her bearings and entered his bathroom, but not before cheekily saying, ''Way to go, lil sis, way to go. At least fix your hair before waking someone up."


    While Jash enjoyed the shower, he ignored the banging on his bathroom door and Caera''s shouts which got muffled by the sound of water hitting the hard tiles.


    However, his plight didn''t end with waking up early as he was thrust into forced training by Caera at 5 AM.


    "It''s just five in the morning, who even wakes up so early?" Jash grumbled all the way to the training ground.


    ¡­


    By the time he remembered how he found himself here, he felt a sharp pain in his forehead, jolting him awake from his reverie.


    "Owww"


    Another sharp pain rose from his chest before he could even make sense of the forehead one.


    "That''s what you deserve for ignoring my kind teachings," Caera said with a smile that wasn''t really a smile as she removed her fist from his chest.


    "Urgh," Jash grunted, not because of the pain, it was not even painful. It was more so from the suddenness of the pain.


    "Why!?" He asked in indignation.


    "Hmm? What do you mean why? You haven''t trained at all for as long as I remember! Even your bookish knowledge is limited and won''t be of any help!"


    After Caera vented her frustration at him not understanding something so simple, she looked to find his expression, saying he didn''t agree with her.


    "You don''t agree, right?" Caera asked rhetorically, yet her smile grew dangerous after seeing him nod.


    "Just answer this question and I will stop. It''s basic, nothing no one our age doesn''t know."


    Despite the smile on her face, Jash felt uneasy at her truthful words, but chose to shrug it away, thinking, ''Nah. I''d know.''


    The nonchalant smile on his face crumpled the moment he heard her question.


    "What are all the hunter ranks and their difference?" Caera asked with a smug smile.


    ''Uh, no, what? I have no idea!'' Jash thought in panic as he truly didn''t know much about the topic.


    "What happened, genius? Don''t know?" Caera mocked him with a grin upon noticing his panicked expression.


    Before he could retort or say anything, she continued proudly, "Hmph! It seems this great little sister of your has to teach you everything!"


    "Ahem," Clearing her throat dramatically she started with a warning. "Listen carefully, or else..."


    "Starting from the basics, the ranks go from G to A, then the Integration Rank before the S, SS, and SSS ranks."


    "Besides Integration Rank, each rank has the same three sub-ranks; Early, Mid, Late."


    "Also, the color of one''s mana defines the ranks and subranks, the denser the color, the higher the subrank."


    "While the ranks from E to A correspond to a major color change:


    A-rank is violet


    B-rank is indigo


    C-rank is blue


    D-rank is green


    E-rank is yellow."


    Caera paused her explanation to confirm if he was paying attention, and only continued after confirming it.


    "Well, the G-rank is nothing more than what you are at now. G refers to the glass mana core as it remains transparent and glass-like instead of a mana core with some color. Only after you change your entire mana pool to a light-red color, can you then breakthrough to F-Rank."


    "It doesn''t follow the same rule for sub-ranks, as it has six of them: Light Red, Red, Dark Red, Light Yellow, Yellow, Dark Yellow." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s all. As it will take a long time to even reach A-rank, let alone Integration-rank or above, it makes no difference to know about it."


    Caera stopped her explanation and smiled as she looked at the contemplative expression on Jash.


    Yet she found herself dumbfounded the next minute at Jash''s questions.


    "Why is it so complex? Instead of letter coding, can''t we just use the color of the mana to define the ranks? Won''t that save a lot of time and effort?"

 Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Shocking Revelations

    Jash paid close attention to everything Caera said, believing it to be important yet he had a hard time grappling with everything at once.


    ''Why is it so... complex?'' Jash thought in utter confusion as Caera finished.


    After an entire minute of mulling over it, he broke the silence and asked the question plaguing his mind. "Why so complex? Instead of letter coding, can''t we just use the color of the mana to define the ranks? Wouldn''t that save a lot of time and effort?"


    To him, the entire ranking system felt unnecessary, prompting him to question the one who ''taught'' him.


    Opposite him, Caera''s expression turned dark at his question, but she took a minute to calm herself before responding.


    "Fuu..." She inhaled sharply before turning to face Jash with a bright smile.


    "It''s not like I created the ranks and it''s not even that complex for you to complain. What happened to your genius, eh?"


    Just as Jash opened his mouth to talk back, she gave him another strike.


    "It''s simple enough that even those who don''t have access to mana understand it, yet the one who broke the record can''t?"


    Finally, her bright smile turned into a mocking smirk, causing Jash to pause in his tracks.


    ''Damn it! So unfair!'' lamented Jash with an indignant expression as he chose to ignore her taunts. ''I might as well read about it from the library later...''


    In the end, he went through an unwanted training session which ended with him having a dead look on his face as he exited the training ground.


    "It''s fine, really. You don''t need to be so down," Caera consoled him, patting his shoulder as they walked side-by-side.


    "Haa... That''s not-... Haa," Jash tried explaining himself but ended up only sighing ruefully.


    "Learning how to handle the bow and achieving an accuracy rating of 78 isn''t all that bad for your first day. Also, don''t forget your body is still untrained and this was the first time you wielded a bow!"


    Even though Caera tried to cheer him up, Jash didn''t feel all that happy about his talent with the bow.


    ''Though incomplete, I have past life memories and knowledge about combat and mana. Yet all I got were these ridiculous results... Maybe I should just stick to the sword and other melee weapons...''


    Jash found his future direction lacking as he truly thought of wielding a bow to be easier and better than fighting with a sword.


    ''I would just have to move like a monkey in the front, taking damage and getting smeared in blood. Urgh... Why could I not have talent in the bow?''


    Just as he regretted his lack of talent, Caera nudged him, jolting him awake from his reverie.


    "You weren''t listening, were you? Haa. Seriously, that''s your problem. You never listen!" Caera shouted exasperatedly before walking away.


    Dumbfounded by her sudden change in behavior, Jash dashed to her and asked straight away, "What happened? What''s gotten in your head?"


    Listening to his rude tone, Caera didn''t want to answer and freed her wrist before walking away at a pace faster than he could muster.


    "Caera!" Jash shouted her name and took a step forward, only to find himself encapsulated by a white-black mana shell.


    ''Grandpa?'' thought Jash in recognition, relaxing his guard fully.


    Yet it only served to perplex him as he hadn''t seen Cornelius since the day he got his past life memories.


    ''Just what could he want to talk to me about?'' mused Jash, forgetting about his recent altercation with Caera.


    Meanwhile, Kesha, who witnessed the morning training to the twins'' quarrel, left after feeling the distance from Caera increase, but not before glancing at the place where Jash stood a second ago.


    ''I must inform Young Miss before she hurts herself further by blaming herself for Young Master not coming to placate her.''


    The single thought caused Kesha to increase her pace, unaware of the eyes observing her every action.


    Not only her, Cornelius remained aware of every action within the family estate as long as he wished for it.


    Usually, he didn''t stay at the Estate and remained outside to explore some ruins or unknown lands as it served to fuel his curiosity.


    However, it was different these days as he was taking note of Jash''s behavior to resolve his dilemma when the chance presented itself.


    Looking at the downcast Jash, who was lamenting about his talents after doing better than most in his first attempt, made Cornelius''s lip twitch.


    "This child is so troublesome," mumbled Cornelius to himself. "Still, I should tell him about it before he becomes even more prideful."


    To alleviate his worry and prevent Jash from going down the wrong path, Cornelius decided to have a small chat with him.


    Well, more like forcefully brought him in, but that''s not what matters, right? It''s the thought that counts.


    Seizing the appropriate moment, Cornelius took on a serious expression as he stared straight into the calm eyes of Jash.


    However, it was his turn to be surprised to see Jash remain calm under his gaze.


    Even the strongest hunters wouldn''t dare look him in the eye, yet here stood Jash, meeting his gaze.


    His grandson''s achievements caused his lips to curl upwards, but he concealed it instantly and broke the silence. "Jash, I heard about your talent from Carcel, but there''s something he doesn''t know. Under no circumstances are you supposed to tell him about it, do you understand?"


    Hearing Cornelius''s grave tone, Jash nodded with a stern expression on his face yet he was also curious about it.


    ''What is it that caused Grandpa to be super serious?'' wondered Jash, hoping for a quick answer and he truly didn''t have to wait.


    "Congratulations on your awakening and surpassing my time, alas, you failed to break the world record," Cornelius paused immediately as he noted Jash''s shock.


    To Jash, he really didn''t know how to react. It was like a thunder struck his happy life, sundering it into dust.


    Despite his internal turmoil, he tried his best to calm himself as he squeezed out his question, "Who?"


    However, Cornelius didn''t respond and changed the topic, leaving Jash puzzled.


    "There''s another thing to note. The awakening ceremony¡ªyours or anyone else''s¡ªis all artificially created by the ambient mana. It isn''t natural. You''re aware of this, yes?"


    "Also, you know who awakened naturally after countless years of waiting. Your life is far from easy. You may consider yourself the most talented in your generation or even the world, but that''s not true at all."


    "Keep this in mind."


    Before Jash could respond or question further, Cornelius waved his hand, and Jash vanished from the space.


    He was stunned at finding himself in his room.


    He couldn''t help but mutter incredulously, "Just... what?"


    His face scrunched up as he tried to grapple with the intent behind his grandfather''s sudden actions.


    "Something even dad doesn''t know? Just what is he hiding? Better yet, who?"


    "Natural awakening... there is just you, no? Even the protagonist couldn''t do it, but you did it, my friend."


    A smile blossomed on his face as the figure of a white-haired boy his age came to Jash''s mind.


    However, his smile morphed into a serious expression as he prayed, "I just hope my hunch doesn''t come true."


    S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Bitter Pill

    Shaking his head to get rid of the distracting thoughts, Jash focused on what his grandfather said.


    ''Hmm. He''s indeed right. It would do me no good if I can''t see reality and become delusional.''


    Thinking so, Jash seemed to remember the mention of someone having a higher awakening time than him.


    "Just who is it for Grandpa to ask me not to tell even Dad about this?" mumbled Jash with furrowed brows.


    His mind worked at breakneck speeds, recalling all kinds of talented people, mainly females, who helped the protagonist or stood as roadblocks, mainly males.


    As if he were used to the incongruity, he didn''t dwell on the details much and focused more on the individuals and their plots.


    Yet all he got as a result was frustration as he couldn''t help but curse lightly, "Just who is this darned mystery person?"


    "Are they some freaking recluse or what?"


    "Maybe some world guardian protecting the world from otherworldly threats?"


    "No way! That''s impossible! If they existed, where were they when the world was on the verge of destruction?"


    "So annoying!"


    In the end, Jash gritted his teeth and wisely put the matter at the back of his mind instead of wasting his time.


    "Whatever. Not my problem, for now. Maybe they were assassinated due to their overwhelming talent or something. Even if they are alive, what are the odds of us meeting?" He shrugged off his curiosity and returned to the day''s events.


    ''What prompted Grandpa, though? Maybe my talent in archery? No, that sucked. Then, my behavior afterwards?'' Jash contemplated the reason for the sudden chat.


    As he recalled his mannerism and downcast expression, he felt as if he was inevitably closer to the truth, his eyes narrowing in focus not on his line of sight but his internal musings.


    "Yeah, that has to be it!" Jash shouted in slight exhilaration, planting his right fist into his left palm.


    "It was because I behaved as if expecting to have talent in everything just because of my unbeatable awakening time! Maybe that''s the reason the academy death even happens!"


    Jash muttered to himself in a moment of contemplation before regaining his bearing and looking around with a serious expression.


    ''I hope no one heard that.'' Well, he was more worried about the embarrassment it would bring instead of any other consequences.


    Though a bitter pill to swallow, he felt at least partially correct in his assessment.


    After ensuring no one was eavesdropping, he returned to his musings. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''The last thing is this natural vs artificial awakening. Damn! So complex!'' Jash lamented the complexity of almost everything mana-related.


    In truth, he didn''t have any problems understanding or remembering them, it was just a slight inconvenience for him.


    "Just why can''t things be streamlined for easier understanding?" Jash complained, despite knowing it was useless.


    Feeling helpless, he pursed his lips and focused on the knowledge regarding awakening he had learnt when he was an 8-year-old.


    [


    Awakening wasn''t all that complicated but required significant funds for a private awakening or one could visit the Hunter Association to awaken.


    Naturally, it won''t be for free. In return, they require the person to sign a contract to work for different tenures and departments based on awakening results.


    Obviously, one needed to reach at least the age of 18 to work for them after graduating from the academy they attended.


    Of course, this all had nothing to do with Jash, as he didn''t have to become a corporate slave for the Association when he was the second son of the Ramille Family.


    Being one of the three founding ducal families in the empire, their wealth surpassed many as they worked in various industries throughout the years.


    Back to private awakenings.


    A Mana Room with a constant and pure flow of mana was essential, being the bare minimum to awaken while a Mana Gem increased the chances of success, became an additional requirement.


    Of course, no one rich enough to afford a private awakening would care about a meager mana gem.


    Hence, rich people, mostly nobles, do not have to wait for their children to form Mana Cores gradually.


    Since they can simply afford to use Mana Gems solely for their children to awaken immediately. This also became a way for people in power to control newly awakened hunters.


    In contrast to private awakenings, the Association usually shares a single Mana Gem among a thousand civilians to awaken them due to the low drop rate of Mana Gems.


    Thus, the Mana Gem which helped complete the formation of a Mana Core remained lacking for a thousand civilians.


    Although they too awakened at the age of 12, as stipulated by the Hunter Association for everyone, their awakening remained incomplete.


    Their awakening process involved forming their Mana Core in the initial stages and gradually growing it over time, typically between ages 13 and 18, depending on talent.


    The Hunter Association would then pick the talented individuals under 15 to recruit directly instead of the contract and sponsor them to the Solarnelle Academy.


    Still, they wouldn''t recruit everyone into the ranks without evaluating their results upon graduation and throughout the Academy years.


    Heck, even passing the entrance test wasn''t a cakewalk.


    That''s why no academy cared about age; they only focused on the awakening. Therefore, no admission are allowed in most academics after 18 years of age.


    18 years is the limit until someone can awaken their powers. If they don''t, they just have to live their life like that¡ªunable to use mana.


    The only way forward for such people without mana''s support would be to get stronger by training their body, the crude way.


    Even with all that and the Association''s support, there are many unawakened people in the world and they might just be the ones who have bodies unsuitable for mana itself.


    Not all fall under the same category as some can''t afford the cost for a safe awakening ceremony, but at the same time don''t want to accept the Association''s contract.


    "Ah, If you''re wondering if awakening is so good and necessary, why isn''t the Imperial Family making it free for the public. Then, Young Master, you are too naive.


    Just like everything else in the world¡ªmana is a resource¡ªlimited and expensive. So why would anyone risk spending something like that without a guarantee if their investment will be successful or not.


    Also, people can never be trusted; the one you help today might stab you in the back tomorrow. Why increase potential competition?"


    "Of course, some noble families and even the Church of Light have some planned ways, making it cheaper or easier for the general public to awaken.


    Naturally, they expect the return over it, just like the Association does. The Church one, though, is done in an attempt to gain believers and increase faith in the Goddess, while nobles do it to increase their army power to fight against monsters & dungeons."


    ]


    Recalling all the complex information regarding awakening, Jash was in an unpleasant mood. "Urgh, so useless."


    "Damn! I am already awakened! What''s the use now? Can''t I just recall the relevant information?"


    Even though he said that, Jash did focus on the subtle details from his lessons and the practicality of it instead of just rote-learning the books on awakening.

 Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Vague Insight

    Despite finding the additional information slightly useful, it didn''t matter to him at the moment.


    Not wanting to go through the wrong memories once again, as he didn''t know what might get triggered, Jash made a crucial decision.


    ''Maybe I should head to the library?''


    Thinking so, he left his room directly but stopped in his tracks as he soon heard a voice calling for him.


    "Young Master Jash." Emma bowed as she moved from her position outside the door and stood in front of Jash.


    He flinched momentarily at her unexpected presence before questioning her, "Emma? What are you doing here?"


    "Young Master, it is my duty to assist you," Emma answered in a matter-of-fact tone.


    Nodding to himself, Jash didn''t waste time evaluating the change in her actions and instead got to the point.


    "I am heading to the librar¨C No, wait. Emma, do you know the difference between the types of awakening?"


    Instead of delving into books, Jash thought of asking her as a shortcut, saving him time and effort to search the books.


    "Uhm, you mean the private awakening and the ones sponsored by others? But why would you¨C?"


    "No! Not that! Natural vs Artificial Awakening!" Jash interrupted her midway through her question, but she didn''t seem to care.


    "Ah, that! Young Master, I''d suggest heading to the library instead of asking me or anyone else," Emma said sternly before adding, "Also, don''t go searching for it online."


    Jash''s expression soured as a frown marred his face, only to be quickly replaced by a look of bewilderment.


    ''Online? Online as in Internet? INTERNET!? This world has internet!?'' Jash chided himself as he really didn''t know about it.


    ''Damn! I really should search about my world instead of thinking I know everything about this world!''


    He took a few seconds to remind himself to look out for unexplored elements since he hadn''t confirmed if this world was the novel itself.


    Even if all the signs pointed to it, he wouldn''t believe it unless he had some solid proof regarding his theory.


    Not that it mattered, though. He was already hell-bent on not dying, thereby changing the starting plot itself.


    ''The cliche of the Hero facing enemies and someone sacrificing to save his and his friends life so that the Hero gets an awakening or some shit. Why should I care? I plan on changing everything to suit myself, not someone else.''


    With that thought, Jash ascended the stairs with Emma in tow and started walking down a certain hallway on the second floor of the mansion.


    Unknowingly, he remained lost in his own world to the point of not even realizing where he was headed.


    If not for the timely call from Emma, he really might just die of second-hand embarrassment.


    "Young Master!" Emma shouted before hurriedly pulling him back, preventing Jash from hitting his face on a wall.


    Stunned by the sudden shout and pull, he stumbled before balancing himself with Emma''s support and looked at the wall in confusion.


    "Where?" He mumbled in confusion, prompting Emma to clear it.


    "Young Master, you were walking in random directions without a care in the world and ended up almost..."


    ''Damn it! Just how stupid can you be, Jash?'' He scolded himself inwardly as he got the gist of what she said, even if she didn''t complete her sentence.


    "Let''s just head to the library," Jash implored, not wanting to linger on his mistake.


    "As you wish," Emma was happy to oblige and led the way with a smile.


    However, the reason for her smile remained elusive to Jash as he couldn''t help but wonder if it was because of his stupidity or his request for her to lead the way.


    ''Whatever. Not like it matters,'' concluded Jash as he followed behind her.


    Without any surprises or accidents, they reached the small library in the mansion.


    "Emma, isn''t this where our classes and tests take place?" Jash asked, his eyes fixed on the door.


    "Yes, Young Master. It contains all the knowledge you or the Young Lady might seek before going into the Solarnelle Academy," Emma responded curtly.


    Hearing her response, Jash turned to face her and asked as he pointed his thumb at his chest, "You mean to say it was here all the time and it was me who ignored it..."


    Seeing Emma not answer, he absentmindedly entered the miniature library.


    It wasn''t extravagant with special designs or anything.


    After all, it was a place to study. Also because Ramilles believed education should be provided to all, so it came as no surprise how plain the room was.


    With lightly painted yellow walls, the room had more wooden stuff than even the mana lamps, lit up using a mana stone.


    Jash walked with great familiarity before arriving in front of a bookshelf and reading the titles of the books.


    "Introduction to Awakening"


    "What is mana?"


    "Monster Encyclopedia Vol-I"


    "Hunter Ranks"


    "Advanced Knowledge on Awakening"


    "Beginner''s Guide on how to use mana"


    ¡­


    After glancing past all the books, he only picked out a selected few.


    "Awakening Vol-I to Vol-V and this Advanced Knowledge on Awakening should do the job," mumbled Jash as he placed them on the table and started to read them after making himself comfortable.


    He wanted to pick up all the books, but he didn''t really have the time to finish them today.


    Despite his dislike for studying, Jash focused on each word in the book and even wrote down the things he found interesting.


    Three hours flew by.


    ¡ªRustle rustle


    Rustling of pages sounded as Jash closed the final book and leaned back on his wooden chair as he closed his eyes.


    ''There wasn''t anything I didn''t know or hadn''t experienced in the five volumes. The jogged memories of this morning already filled the few gaps I had.''


    ''But this last book... It did the job,'' mused Jash as he sat back straight and turned to see his notes where he had noted the points.


    {The first one, a normal¡ªartificial¡ªawakening: All the person has to do is absorb ample amounts of mana from the gem and the room they were in to awaken with all the knowledge they would have. It has a high rate of success.


    However, even the most talented one with an awakening time of 3 hours and 56 minutes can''t beat a naturally awakened person. Maybe one needs to cross the threshold of 4 or 5 hours for it. But is that even possible?


    After all, the naturally awakened person is literally blessed by mana in the sense that they don''t even have to do anything. The mana awakens them directly.


    The biggest difference would be that natural awakenings only happen until the age of 13. After that, only artificial awakenings can be done.}


    "Haa..." Jash sighed as he re-read his note for the 4th time.


    "Even if useful, the information seems based on myths and whatnot. It doesn''t give me anything to work with."


    Frustration etched his features as all his intense 3-hour session netted was some mix-matched information. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even if he could make sense of it somehow, he still frowned as the comparisons were vague, and the only useful point could be the difference in interaction with mana itself.


    "I guess I will work with what I have until I can ask Grandpa or someone else," concluded Jash before leaving.

 Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Mana Core

    Exiting the library, Jash encountered the firm figure of Emma, who steadfastly followed behind him as he headed to his room. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''I think I might get some time to study this book after lunch,'' mused Jash as he turned to face Emma.


    "Bring my lunch to the room."


    "Yes, Young Master." Emma bowed politely before vanishing.


    Despite their strained relationship since his past life memories returned, Jash made no visible effort to mend it.


    After all, he knew her all too well. ''It will only have the opposite effect if I do anything at this time.''


    Although her overly polite behavior was starting to get on his nerves, it was still bearable for now.


    "I guess I should read to distract myself." Mumbling to himself, he picked up the book with the title ''Hunter Ranks.''


    Sitting comfortably on his bed, awaiting his lunch, he read the book.


    ¡ªRustle


    Calling it reading would be a stretch since all Jash did was turn the pages every few seconds, barely staying on each for more than 5 seconds.


    ¡ªCreak


    Luckily, his lunch arrived before he could flip through the book in its entirety.


    Looking at the numerous dishes lined up neatly, he too stood up from the bed, only to sit at his balcony table.


    Enjoying the light winter breeze and hot food rejuvenated his mood. Naturally, no one stayed in his room after delivering his meal, giving him complete freedom to reflect.


    Yet he didn''t seem to utilize the opportunity.


    He picked up the book again after eating and continued to flip through. In less than 20 minutes, he reached the last pages, and only then did his pace decrease.


    ''This... Caera didn''t mention it,'' noted Jash as he found much more detailed explanations about the ranking system.


    ''I wonder who made such a complex system?'' Jash mused, curious about the creator yet found no such records.


    ''Maybe, I''d find something about them if I enter the main library or inside the Solarnelle Academy?''


    Jash believed his guesses made sense and continued to focus on the end pages of the book.


    Finally, after another 10 minutes of careful reading, he closed the book and placed it aside.


    ''Even though I have the knowledge of the novel and countless others, this system is new.''


    He recalled the differences in the protagonist''s ranking system due to the Blessing of the Goddess but shrugged them off, knowing he couldn''t follow that path without the Blessing.


    ''And no way would I risk getting caught and interrogated regarding my past life by a Goddess!'' Jash firmly resolved to not get entangled with the Church.


    Cycling back to his current need for the ranking system, he compared his mental image with Caera''s explanation.


    ''If I had to point out the differences, then it''s not that difficult. Instead of the three sub-ranks, I''d say using the color of mana would be a better indicator, but it''s not really accurate.''


    Recalling the description of the three sub-ranks, he couldn''t help but want to beat himself up over his stupidity.


    ''Damn! I really am living without knowing anything significant!''


    Shaking his head to move on from his inner-scoldings, he went through the information pertaining to the mana core itself.


    Mana cores are small, spherical, glass-like structures located at the middle dantian in the body, right above the sternum, below the heart.


    ''That''s what I know,'' Jash briefly reflected on the information before turning his attention back to fill the gaps.


    The same ranking system was followed by the three races: humans, elves, and dwarves. For some reason, these races which appeared around 1200 years ago also adapted and accepted this model.


    ''Unknowns again. Not like history has ever been accurate or something, so I guess that''s that?'' Jash shifted his stance, opting to lean thoughtfully against the wooden railing.


    The next thing he recalled were related to the color of the mana core itself and how it affects the mana inside one''s body.


    Of course, it played an important role throughout one''s life as it not only makes it quite easy to assess one''s level, whether they be an ally or enemy.


    The different races could modify and evolve the method with their prior knowledge at different thresholds, which helped improve it significantly.


    ''Is improve even the right term?'' Jash wondered if that was truly the case.


    After all, it was entirely possible, they just merged their own racial system into it and it somehow worked for all three races.


    Well, some did go to the extent of calling it a miracle from the Goddess as the one who spread the mana method was the fabled hero.


    ''But who gave the darned ranking system? Back then, it was just colors!'' Jash felt curious rather than angry as he had already realized his mistake.


    He had ignored the existence of colorblind people, which struggled differentiating the ranking but the new ranking system made it more streamlined.


    Although they still couldn''t judge based on color, unlike others.


    Moving on from the mana core to the mana itself, Jash recalled the seven colors listed by Caera, and the image of the dispersion phenomenon appeared in his head.


    ''Light... The seven-colored power system... It certainly isn''t just a coincidence...'' pondered Jash, his mind spinning with the implications


    However, he didn''t linger on it for too long.


    ''The Color of Mana is dependent on the Mana Core''s color, but not directly.'' Jash recalled what was mentioned in the book.


    As one progresses their rank, the color of their mana changes. The denser and darker the color, the more one has advanced in rank.


    Of course, at the start of each rank, mana is a bit murky and turbid.


    Slowly, purification occurs and it becomes more condensed and darker before advancing to the next color and becoming more deadly.


    ''The difference between the sub-ranks and even ranks increased from E to A rank. If late E-rank had roughly 2~3 times the strength of an early E-rank, then late D-rank would be at least 4 times stronger than early D-rank.''


    The striking difference between them was obvious, as the light-colored mana could be said to be a refined form.


    In comparison, the mana at the next sub-rank was more concentrated and potent, with a stronger essence.


    It wasn''t just a difference in color; instead, the essence had changed, and its power had increased manifold.


    That meant the same amount of mana would be more destructive if used by someone of a sub-rank, let alone an entire rank, higher.


    In the end, Jash couldn''t help but sigh and blabber, "What''s the use of books? It doesn''t matter until I can''t feel it myself to quantify it."


    As if the world listened to his pleas, he felt a chill go down his spine, causing him to look around in panic before he heard the most dreadful thing ever.


    "JASH!"


    "I know you can hear me loud and clear, so don''t even think of sneaking away. Your training begins today!"


    His expression fell as his lips twitched from the loud calls from his father. ''He could''ve just asked Emma to bring me. What a weird habit.''


    Feeling helpless, he shrugged his shoulders and mumbled, "Well, whatever can I do? Not like I have an option."

 Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Basic Training

    As night approached, Jash arrived at the training ground, finding it deserted.


    "Where did he go after calling me?" he muttered, glancing around the training ground.


    It was a vast room with white tiles and a transparent rooftop. It was different from the one where he trained with Caera in the morning.


    ''This is so empty,'' noted Jash as he quickly got bored of it.


    Fortunately, he didn''t have to wait long, as Carcel arrived shortly after.


    He was wearing a white shirt and pants which did not hide his large muscles. His sharp eyes and well-built body made him very imposing to anyone who saw him.


    Yet Jash remained unfazed in the presence of his father, instead wondering about Caera. ''She prolly doesn''t need it?''


    He wasn''t sure, as Caera had been training for a year longer and usually with Sera.


    His internal pondering was interrupted by Carcel''s serene voice. "So you came here yourself?"


    Noticing the smirk on his father''s face, Jash''s lips twitched. ''He really wanted me to not come!''


    Though it might seem contradictory to Carcel''s calls, Jash knew his father would only be so sure about it after getting his mother''s permission.


    Since she approved his training, it gave Carcel the right to drag Jash into it if he had to.


    ''Damn it!'' Jash lamented inwardly before responding, "I am here, so tell me what''s the training today?"


    Carcel''s eyebrows rose as he smiled. "Given your lazy attitude over the years, it really is a wonder how you got such talent. Hence, first and foremost, body strengthening exercises."


    Jash''s barely stable facial expression crumpled upon hearing about the training he would undergo.


    ''Can''t I just learn basic martial arts and then learn some mana technique?'' Jash mused, suppressing the urge to voice his complaint.


    After all, Jash wouldn''t be learning for just a few days. He easily had 2 years before the academy began.


    So, he really didn''t wish to make his life any tougher than it already was.


    "Jash, get ready for training. It won''t be easy at all," Carcel grinned as he channeled his mana to activate the rune formations throughout the room.


    Not only did it prevent anyone from noticing what was happening inside it, it also functioned as self-repairing and sound-proofing.


    This was his extra measure for safety because he was going to make sure Jash didn''t lag behind the others in the academy.


    Naturally, it wasn''t anything fancy but cold hard exercises.


    Out of nowhere, Carcel stated, "Remember, the most important thing for a Hunter is not their mana, but their body!"


    Jash felt puzzled at the sudden declaration and voiced out his doubt, "Dad, isn''t mana more important? One can cast spells or coat their weapons with it. Besides, mana is the cornerstone for one to even awaken, let alone advance their ranks, as a Hunter."


    Carcel grinned, "That''s what most people think. But if your body isn''t sturdy enough to hold the overwhelming mana, what good is it? It might as well be your bane at that point. Although most Hunters deny it, it''s the truth."


    ''Did it seem like I didn''t know?'' Jash worried if his lie would get caught or not.


    After all, he already knew about it and was planning to start today even if his father hadn''t called him for the training.


    ''This just makes things easier, though.'' He nodded to himself as it wouldn''t matter if he showed better-than-expected results.


    However, what if he showed results without undergoing any training?


    Now, that would indeed be problematic.


    Unaware of his internal agreement, Carcel said sternly, "You might not like the method, but it is what it is."


    With that being said, Carcel didn''t hesitate and produced a set of training equipment from his storage ring.


    Before Jash could make sense of the situation, he felt his wrists and ankles becoming heavy. The feeling only lasted for a second as he directly fell to the ground.


    "What...?" he blurted out in surprise before taking note of the weights tied to his ankles and wrists.


    He couldn''t even move and could only look helplessly at his father, in hopes of getting them removed.


    Yet his pleading went unanswered as Carcel didn''t even look at him, instead arranging the other equipment as he went on to say, "This will be your personal training room until the Academy Entrance Tests."


    Not getting the expected reply, he turned around, only to find Jash sprawled on the ground with a hopeless expression.


    "Stop acting. It''s not even that heavy! Just some 5 kg per weight," Carcel scolded Jash all the while his eyes twitched at the sight.


    ''Not heavy, my ass! 5 kg per weight, that''s 20 damn kg!!'' Jash swallowed his complaints upon seeing his father smile and could only think about them to himself.


    With no other option in sight, Jash tried to get up.


    However, he kept failing and stumbling until a few dozen tries before barely stabilizing himself. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His arms and feet felt like heavy lead as he couldn''t even move them with all of his strength.


    As he struggled, the thought of using mana crossed his mind repeatedly, but he restrained himself each time.


    If he used mana in a so-called body training, his training might not end until he lost sensation in his entire body.


    "Alright, alright. Stop being a crybaby. You have to wear them 24/7 until you get used to them."


    Hearing the hope of their removal, Jash felt slightly motivated and better, only for his hope to be drowsed by Carcel''s next words.


    "After that, I will increase the weight."


    ''How cruel,'' commented Jash inwardly as he went through the torture disguised as training.


    It seemed his father decided to go easy on him today and only asked him to get used to weights and run in them.


    Believing his training would end soon, Jash pulled through it with his sheer will.


    ¡­


    After about 15 minutes, Jash could run freely in the weights, as if his body adapted to them.


    Carcel grinned at the sight and couldn''t help but excitedly say, "Stop!"


    Before he could continue, however, he was dumbfounded as Jash literally stopped and laid down on the ground.


    He even went to the extent of closing his eyes.


    "Who said your training ended?" Carcel said, with a few veins visible on his forehead.


    If he planned to end Jash''s training before, he really wouldn''t end it any time soon after witnessing Jash''s pathetic condition.


    Unable to refuse, Jash followed along the training session as he continued to jog, run, sprint, and some weight-lifting.


    Only after Carcel was satisfied did he nod. "Okay, the basic training is done. Go rest for tomorrow. We will do more advanced training."


    Stunned speechless, Jash barely nodded and returned to his room.


    Without even having the courage or strength to shower and have dinner, he directly fell on his bed and fell asleep pretty fast.


    Although all he did were light exercises, the added 20kg were nothing to scoff at.


    Also, since he had never trained even that much, his body wasn''t used to it. The result was obvious.


    Yet his father thought otherwise.


    "His talent is really out of the norm," Carcel muttered to himself in the training ground.


    "According to my estimates, he should''ve collapsed in the first hour only. Yet he completed the entire 3-hour session..."


    "Looks like I need to increase the pace."


    Jash who was sleeping peacefully suddenly felt a chill go down his spine and felt really uncomfortable for a moment.

 Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Resolve

    "Urgh," grunted Jash as he woke up and blinked his eyes multiple times, yet the absence of sun made him doubtful.


    ''Did I sleep for an entire day?'' he wondered, but the thought quickly got buried due to the revolting pain from every muscle in his body.


    As if that wasn''t bad enough, his grumbling empty stomach added to the muscle contractions, spiking the pain.


    "Arghhhhhh"


    "Damn it!"


    ''He should''ve gone easy on me!'' Jash complained inwardly, but it was useless as just moving his arms to hold his stomach caused an immense amount of pain.


    However, his tense body and tightened facial expression were relaxing, as if he were getting used to the pain.


    ''No, this... this is different,'' mused Jash as he could feel his twitching muscles decrease in frequency.


    Eventually, the pain faded away, leaving behind the bewildered Jash. ''Just what in the magical world happened?''


    Confused yet intrigued by his body''s condition, he decided to probe it using the little amount of mana he could muster.


    Despite the familiar feeling of it, he just couldn''t get the hang of it. Something felt lacking.


    "It''s enough," mumbled Jash involuntarily, his mind focused on harnessing mana inside his body.


    Luckily, the limited knowledge from his previous life was enough to notice the changes inside his body. They were surprising, to say the least.


    "How?"


    That was all Jash could formulate as he was too stunned by the feeling of his strengthened muscles. They were undamaged to the point it made him doubt if they were even hurting in the first place.


    Unable to come up with a reason to explain it, Jash backtracked a little before arriving at the only plausible explanation.


    ''It has to be the awakening! Nothing else can make sense of this strangeness.''


    Jash suddenly shivered as a dangerous thought took root in his mind.


    The vivid image of his father forcing him to go through that brutal torture in the name of training if he ever discovered it. "He must never know!"


    "I can easily make an excuse of muscle pain due to his excessive training and mom would take care of everything after that," Jash smiled evilly as he cooked his revenge.


    Of course, that didn''t mean he would actually laze around.


    He was lazy, yes. But did that mean he wished to die?


    The answer would be a clear-cut no.


    Few people truly wished to die, even if they claimed to be suicidal. After all, the final step required a tad bit too much courage.


    In that regard, Jash truly had ways to minimize his efforts to achieve optimum results, possibly preventing his potential death.


    Given his strange physique, it wouldn''t be hard for him to double the gains with half the effort.


    "Gotta get out of bed before any of that happens, though," chuckled Jash as he looked at the clock.


    ''It''s not even 5 AM.''


    Shaking his head, he went to freshen up as the sweat from last night really started to irk him after waking up.


    ¡­


    Around 7 AM, Jash stood in his training clothes.


    It had already been roughly an hour since he had his early breakfast, making it the perfect time to train.


    Naturally, the moment he finished breakfast, Carcel really wanted to come and train him, but Jash somehow escaped it.


    He sighed, recalling Carcel''s stubborn words. "You will still be training in the evening. No excuses."


    "Fuu¡­"


    "Haa¡­"


    Taking deep breaths to get rid of bothersome thoughts, Jash returned to himself.


    Focusing on his breathing rhythm, he began doing various moves, starting with the basic postures before slowly moving his legs and hands.


    If someone observed him performing the basic martial art technique, they would truly be enchanted by the beautiful demonstration of coordination and form.


    It was the most basic method that had been passed down through most of the noble families, with each one improving it to fit their kin over the generations.


    Though the method helped everyone, it helped weapon-users the most. In short, the warriors.


    As if a dam broke loose, copious amounts of information flowed inside Jash''s mind as he continued to practice the martial art.


    ¡­


    The broad categorization of a Hunter post successful awakening could be said to be Mage and Warrior.


    Only after their awakening would their path be decided. If a person had a larger mana pool and fewer mana veins, they would choose the path of a mage.


    If a person had more mana veins and less mana pool, they would train their body more to increase their weapon mastery.


    Although several other paths existed and people chose to tread them for a variety of reasons, these two were the most common.


    Naturally, the reason the two paths became mainstream lay in the fact that fewer mana veins resulted in slower mana flow and less quantity inside the body, making it impossible to be a warrior.


    As a weapon-wielder, warriors had to coat their bodies, weapons and even their internal organs with mana with large amounts to defend against others on the front line. They could also choose to specialize in speed and burst attacks instead if they wished to.


    However, in the case of mages, all they had to do was speak words in a specific order and tone. The ambient mana would then resonate with the chants, moving and forming the spell after the mage used their own mana to cast and define its shape.


    ¡­


    Breaking his form and the flow of memories, Jash mumbled in curiosity. "Just how did grandpa cast spells, then? Isn''t he a warrior too?"


    Such a thought roused his curiosity as he hoped for an answer from the mess of his memories.


    Luckily, he got his answers in the next second, as the final memory regarding the breakdown ended.


    "I see, I see. So, that''s how it is!" muttered Jash in understanding as his eyes lost focus.


    "So, this categorisation is only valid till early A-rank? After that, things aren''t so simple?"


    Nodding in agreement, he felt it was right until something struck a chord within him.


    "Wait a minute! So simple? Who the hell calls this so simple? If this is simple, just what the heck is complex?"


    Jash had a hard time accepting his own thoughts, unaware that they truly weren''t his.


    Despite his almost perfect memory before, he now had a hard time even recalling specific things, with random information coming to him.


    ''Just what is happening with me? Did Bhair¨Cmy past life mess up with the current me?'' Jash wondered in fright.


    With a grave expression on his face, he compared what he learnt versus what he recalled currently.


    ''Hmm. This is far too refined,'' observed Jash, feeling goosebumps at the scary thought.


    As if to pour cold water on his rising anxiety, the memory of him accepting Bhairav''s offer assaulted him, leaving him speechless..


    "Haah." Letting out a breath of relief, he gritted his teeth and turned to stare at his own eyes in the mirror. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I will focus on what I can control and understand instead of wasting time on things too complex or involving unknown variables. Also, explore the internet, if that''s what it''s even called. Learn a bit about the world and its name, if it has any."


    Jash spoke to himself with great resolve as he really disliked the feeling of not knowing something obvious.


    Instead of wasting his time on the unknowns, it was better to focus on something productive.

 Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Surprise Visit

    Though Jash''s determination to fulfill his resolve reached an all-time peak, it was easier said than done.


    Carcel''s daily training wasn''t going to stop since he somehow managed to get Sera''s permission, making every attempt of Jash fail.


    As a few days passed, Jash walked around his room, anxiously biting his nails.


    "Just why is every attempt to stop dad''s training met with failure?" he questioned himself in a frustrated tone, his expression sunken..


    Stomping the ground to stop his mindless walking, he punched the wall in front of him.


    It didn''t even budge. Surprisingly, Jash felt only an itch in his knuckles, that didn''t even turn red.


    Looking at his unharmed knuckles, he blurted out, "The training is working. Darn it!"


    Although it was a bit tedious to wake up with DOMS(Delayed-onset muscle soreness) pain every day, it felt quite good to notice the changes in his body.


    Not only did it ease out his personal training, but also increased his access to mana itself.


    ''If not for the increasing intensity everyday, I wouldn''t want to skip it!''


    After all, the effects of the training were obvious.


    Still, it was a problem for Jash as he couldn''t just start practicing the techniques he got the knowledge of.


    ''How would I explain their source?'' The question stopped him from delving into them every single day.


    Unfortunately, it was becoming increasingly harder for him to control himself as he felt he was somewhat wasting time.


    ''Maybe I should just come clean about everything?'' The thought never left his mind since he got the memories. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet he somehow curbed his urge to just say everything as it would seem like a madman talking.


    It was truly vexing that he couldn''t do anything his way.


    ''They are my family, and I believe they will trust me, but I don''t know what will happen if I do. What if something worse happens? What if I am incorrect and everything falls apart?''


    The endless possibilities haunted his mind every time he tried to come clean regarding his reincarnation and memories.


    It was to the point, he couldn''t help but doubt, ''Maybe someone or something is stopping me from speaking?''


    In the end, he had no solution for it.


    At least for now.


    However, it was far from being enough to make him stop achieving his goal.


    ''I need to be strong. Stronger than anyone my generation, or it will be annoying. But it will garner attention and that''s annoying too!''


    Despite his inner dilemma, he was determined to survive and was already training to his most optimum limits.


    Having the memories of an expert who would even cut off their blood and bones for their enemy''s death helped him gauge out his limits extremely well.


    It was more so because the memories originally belonged to him and were just returning to the rightful owner.


    Each time he improved and needed the next step, it would appear in his mind in the most perfect form.


    "Yet it becomes obsolete when the next step comes," mumbled Jash in awe.


    Even his self-learned knowledge had morphed and evolved to be more perfect over the time, if he wasn''t effectively learning something new.


    After everything was said and done, he was still clueless on how to start his mana cultivation or even trying to rank up.


    "What do I do about this?" he muttered helplessly, unaware of the keen eyes watching him everyday.


    "Interesting..."


    Startled by the sudden voice, Jash became alert and looked around everywhere.


    "Who''s there?" he shouted, his eyes darting around the walls, roof, floor and the balcony of the room.


    "Hmm. It''s me, you brat," a firm voice echoed before Jash felt a sudden tick on the back of his forehead as he stumbled forward.


    "Grandpa Inigo?" blurted Jash in surprise. ''How come he''s here? Wasn''t he chasing after-''


    "Owww"


    Another smack landed on the back of his head before a reprimanding tone followed, "Didn''t I tell you not to call me Grandpa? Don''t compare me to that all-serious grumpy guy!"


    Jash''s lips twitched hearing this and he couldn''t help but retort, "I''ll tell grandma that you hit me!"


    Although childish, it was Inigo''s bane and worked like a breeze every single time.


    "Tsk, tsk. You have grown but still want to snitch? What a rude brat," snorted Inigo, but changed the topic immediately.


    "Anyways, Samantha mentioned you finally awakened. So, she asked me to do the same I did for Caera."


    ''Finally!'' Jash felt elated, forgetting his dilemmas momentarily.


    "Grandma said? She didn''t come?" Jash asked innocently, not hiding his excitement and eagerness at all.


    "Huh! Who will manage the territory then? Those midgets still want a piece of the volcanic region!" Inigo used derogatory speech for dwarves and their entire race might chase after him, if they weren''t doing it already.


    "Well, not like they would trespass or anything. Grandma made a treaty with them, you know?" Looking at Inigo''s questioning expression, Jash facepalmed.


    ''This old man, he is really not good at anything!'' Jash lamented Inigo''s ignorance towards his own territory.


    "That''s your region, your territory. You know that, right?" Jash teased his grandpa, only to hear a childish answer.


    "Of course I do! I protect that piece of land forced onto me!"


    ''Haa. One can''t really get through his thick skull,'' Jash recalled his mother''s advice and just gave up trying to talk some sense to this old man.


    Sometimes, he even wondered how his grandfather even seduced women. He didn''t seem to have the brains for it, or maybe that was all a hoax?


    Jash had no clue and didn''t even want to find out about it. ''Grandma has already made him stop, though. Also, he fears her despite her being only at the late SS-rank while he is an early SSS-Rank Hunter.''


    Ignoring the matters regarding his grandfather, he returned to his main point. "Ugh. Whatever. When are you gonna do it?"


    Inigo smirked at Jash''s words, "Heh! What''s the hurry? First, your body has to be in the most optimum state. Also, the process will be painful."


    Jash''s expression turned serious as he recalled the time Caera went through the process last year and how she was howling in pain.


    The cries of pain from her brought about an uneasy feeling into his heart, so he chose to console himself, ''Painful? Isn''t that an everyday thing now? Even that darned awakening was so painful! It shouldn''t be that much, right?''


    However, it seemed Inigo could read his thoughts and sneered at him, "Brat, if you are thinking it will be the same as everyday muscle soreness or your awakening pain, then... Good luck to you, I guess."


    Hearing his words, Jash couldn''t help but grit his teeth in frustration not at Inigo for teasing him, but at himself as he knew it to be the truth and tried to deny it inwardly.


    "Just when? When will you do it?" Jash questioned impatiently.


    Although extremely rude, Inigo didn''t seem to mind and answered in a relaxed manner, "Let''s see... I just came here, so I need to observe you. A week, at the minimum? Maybe a month. Depends on you."


    "Ah! Before you bring it up, I already heard about you breaking that geezer''s record. It doesn''t matter, though."


    As if caught red-handed, Jash could only open and close his mouth like a fish, cursing his rotten luck inside. ''Damn it all!''

 Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Mana Veins

    "Mana veins are basically channels for mana inside the human body, present even in the unawakened population. Though their exact location is known, they remain unusable until one awakens."


    "The channels simply allow the flow of mana inside the body to be smooth and streamlined. Also, as you already know, they are the indicators for one of the paths the awakened Hunter has to take."


    "At awakening, after the formation of the mana core, the mana floods these channels, unblocking them and allowing for the transformation of one''s internal physiology, albeit slightly. Naturally, they are only in their rudimentary phase."


    "Irrespective of the path one walks, the mana veins and innards evolve and strengthen with advancements in Hunter Ranks, or through certain treasures if one is lucky."


    "Well, there are also some mysterious ways to improve them one way or another using extreme mana control. However, they are quite limited and rarely does anyone use it outside their own family."


    Reiterating the main points regarding Mana Veins to his grandfather, Jash couldn''t help but question, "What''s the best time for these secret methods?"


    Nodding at Jash to indicate his knowledge was accurate, Inigo answered, "At your current rank, that is, G-Rank."


    As if already aware of the next question, he added, "The reason for it is simple enough. Think of it like this, consider a drop of water and you let it slowly fall on a hard surface, maybe a rock? Nothing will happen in the short term, but over the course of days, months, years, it''ll bore a hole through it."


    "Just like that, your mana will unclog the veins itself as you advance each time, but if you already have them cleansed, it will help you widen them, allowing for a higher amount of mana flow."


    "Also, the mana at every advancement can be used to better enhance your body, so it''s a win-win situation."


    Jash slightly nodded with a contemplative expression on his face. It would be a lie to say he wasn''t surprised by Inigo''s serious answer.


    ''He really answered it seriously,'' Jash thought before asking impatiently, "Okay, I understand now, so can we start?"


    He sported an eager expression on his face as it had already been 11 days since he last met Inigo, and now he could finally go through the process of strengthening himself.


    ''After this, I can at least try advancing to F-Rank as it can be attributed to the passive effect of training.''


    Or at least, that was the plan.


    Suddenly, Jash was pulled out of his inner ramblings by the forceful voice of Inigo, "Where''d you go, you brat?"


    "I-I am here!"


    "That you are. Anyways, you know the protocol, so we can start any second."


    Hearing the confirmation, Jash immediately sat down and closed his eyes, removing his shirt.


    On the other hand, Inigo looked around before sending a wave of his mana to create an isolation barrier.


    He didn''t want any interruptions during the process as it could lead to permanent negative effects.


    The moment he spread his mana to envelope the training ground, the heads of Sera and Carcel turned in its directions, but they ignored it.


    Despite their anxiety worry, they could only believe in Jash.


    "Mom, is it time?" Caera asked seriously, bringing Sera''s attention back to her.


    "Yeah," she answered succinctly.


    Caera clenched her fists and focused on her training. ''I can''t let that lazy panda become stronger than me! What does it matter if he has more talent? I will work extra hard to make up for it!''


    Aware of her daughter''s feelings, Sera just smiled. ''Usually, any talented youngster would also work hard, making it impossible to bridge the gap with hard work alone, but Jash...''


    Jash truly didn''t work like the typical child praised for his talent. He despised training every single moment of the day.


    In his words, it was entirely useless.


    However, that wasn''t meant to say he didn''t work hard, he just did it smartly and at his convenience. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Isn''t life all about enjoying? Why go through such lengths every darned day?'' That''s what he believed in.


    Of course, he wouldn''t miss an opportunity to get stronger without any effort and he was in the middle of one right about now.


    "Close your eyes and don''t lose focus of where my mana is going or all this will be useless," Inigo instructed strictly, a stark contrast to his usual self.


    Without any moment of respite, Jash felt Inigo''s boiling mana flood into his body. The moment Inigo channeled his mana into Jash''s mana veins, Jash felt a huge amount of pain..


    ''This...! I have to bear with it!'' Jash gritted his teeth and focused on the flow of mana, trying to not feel the pain.


    Although bearable, it was a different kind from any pain he had gone through.


    He remained unaware of the shock and surprise in Inigo''s tone after looking at his body. "This!? His mana veins are already widened!!"


    He didn''t know that Jash''s awakening method had already widened a few of his mana veins to support his new abilities.


    It wouldn''t be a stretch to say that Jash was capable of being both a mage and warrior. To add to this, his huge mana pool and dense mana veins would not hinder his progress in either path.


    Unfortunately, Jash didn''t know of it. Even if he did know, he wouldn''t care. Just one path was already tiring enough for him, let alone both.


    The sole reason he chose the warrior path was because it felt natural and instinctual. It felt... just right.


    Despite the shocking discovery, Inigo didn''t stop and his mana kept flowing through Jash''s body, unlocking his blocked veins.


    The mana forcibly opened the blockages¡ªa dangerous process only Inigo could perform using a secret art to control mana.


    It was to the point that thin threads of mana were visible throughout Jash''s body if someone looked at his skin.


    Jash''s body started to leak, releasing blood from his pores. This was different from awakening, as Inigo was disrupting the natural path of Jash''s mana circulation and creating new paths by forcibly opening the blocked veins.


    Naturally, Jash felt a mind-shattering pain, eliciting all kinds of wails and screams as he struggled to focus on the mana flowing within him.


    This was mainly because his path of mana circulation was a bit too natural and it clashed strongly against Inigo''s mana.


    Thankfully, Inigo had made him exhaust his mana reserves or his insides would be a wreck by now.


    Despite being unsure of it, Jash felt inwardly betrayed. ''Damn it! Caera went through it with just a little trouble, so why is it so painful for me?''


    And he was right¡ªthis was only the foundation that Inigo laid and it would be worked upon by the battle junkie Carcel.


    For the young Jash, it wouldn''t be anything short of torture.


    Alas, he remained unaware of it as he believed only pain would be the cost for such a power-up.


    ''Damn free stuff! There''s nothing free in free stuff!'' Jash cursed inwardly with what little focus he could muster as his entire focus remained on the flow of mana.


    Suddenly, he felt a stinging pain and heard Inigo''s voice, but he couldn''t make sense of it.

 Chapter 51: Chapter 51: F-Rank

    "You''re doing great, boy. Keep it up! Just a little more!" Inigo mentioned, for the first time since the process began.


    As it neared its crescendo, Jash seemed to have lost all sensations, solely focused on the mana flow as instructed.


    It eased Inigo''s expression; not having to worry about any negative aftereffects, he wiped a drop of cold sweat from his forehead.


    Removing his hands from Jash''s back, he muttered, "Thank god he got through it, just Sera is crazy enough, let alone Samantha!"


    Fortunately, Jash didn''t hear this or he would probably want to beat the old man for not caring about him at all!


    It was just him worrying over how his wife and daughter would react over anything else, he didn''t even seem to care about Cornelius, who was supposedly stronger than him.


    "Aren''t you going to come out?" Inigo asked seemingly no one in particular as he fixed his red hair akin to cascades of fire.


    "..."


    "Tsk, tsk, you are always like this."


    After getting no response, he grumbled a little, yet his attention remained on Jash''s changing form.


    His eyes appeared lost as his expression stiffened due to pain, and his skin marred with crimson blood.


    "I wonder what surprise he''ll have in store this time?" Inigo asked aloud, bemused by the strange phenomenon.


    Meanwhile, all Jash felt was the collision of mana inside his body, rupturing his mana veins, healing them and making new connections at the same time.


    His sanity was fading with each passing minute as the warning about the possibility of being crippled during the process proved true.


    His mind went blank and he couldn''t even hear his own screams anymore. But just before he lost consciousness, he felt a soothing sensation.


    Jash started to cough blood as his senses returned to him and he sprawled on the cold tiles of the training ground, his breathing ragged.


    His mind was numb from what had just happened, unable to make sense of anything for a few seconds as he tried to compose himself.


    Before he could regain his bearings completely, however, he heard a strict voice, confusing him.


    "Good lad! You actually went and did the most crazy stuff? Who thought you''d break through F-Rank in a single go?" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Breakthrough? F-Rank? What does grandpa mean?'' That was all Jash could think before things clicked. ''F-Rank!? I advanced!!''


    Elated at the words of his grandfather, he couldn''t help but want to test it and feel his mana core, but he got interrupted.


    "Alright, alright, you shouldn''t use mana temporarily. Let your agitated body calm down first," advised Inigo, out of concern.


    Jash nodded in response and postponed his inspection as he took deep controlled breaths to pace his breathing rhythm.


    Only after he was satisfied with his condition did he move, even though he was being observed by Inigo, he didn''t pay any mind to his presence.


    Moving up and trying to stand, Jash noticed that the wounds around his head and face were healing.


    It seemed the pain he endured was well worth it, especially considering his new regeneration rate.


    Yet it only raised questions inside his head as the rate of healing felt absurd to him. This type of healing was out of the norm for an F-rank hunter, let alone a newly ascended one.


    Despite it being a boon, Jash, who had just recently awakened, was already capable of the same. Of course, it had a cost.


    "So tired," blabbered Jash as he felt insanely weak in his muscles and his movements felt wobbly.


    "Interesting," mumbled Inigo to himself, a curious glint flashing his eyes as he observed Jash''s healing speed.


    In this world, hunters were ranked from G to SSS, with Integration-rank as the chasm, their ranking, however, were based on their ability to perform in similar Rank Dungeons and their Mana Core Rank.


    After all, one may have a Mana Core of Indigo color(Rank B), but your combat ability and utility were taken into consideration by the Hunters Association when giving the ranks.


    Unaware of the complex system and the implication of his absurd healing rate, Jash called out his grandfather after gathering his nerves, "Grandpa? What just¨C"


    "Ignore it. Treat it as a blessing, or a curse if you are already tired," Inigo joked trying to lighten the atmosphere as he interrupted Jash mid-speech.


    "Anyway, you seem better now, so why don''t you try to channel your mana the way I showed you. Ah, right. Do control your breathing while doing so."


    Inigo yawned as he stepped aside, allowing Jash, who had returned to sitting shirtless, focused on channeling his mana from his mana core.


    Just one round of circulation made him feel all his previous pain and tiredness leave his body as his depleting stamina replenished rapidly.


    In return, it increased his healing speed as the last of his muscle ache or internal injuries healed at an absurd pace.


    "How?" He blurted out due to the extreme surprise. ''Just how can a normal mana circulation method achieve this?''


    As if reading his thoughts once again, Inigo smirked, "This is no normal circulation technique, brat."


    Feeling proud, Inigo puffed out his chest before adding, "This is something only I know in this whole world, and only with my blood can one learn this technique without dying."


    "Didn''t Mom and Caera achieve this much as well?" Jash questioned, without pause, knowing something was off about this entire charade.


    Inigo just smiled in response, though. "Not really. As I said, only I know it. They both did pass it and get most of the benefits out of it, but it''s nowhere near enough yours."


    "Also, I''d suggest you try to change your entire mana to light-red colored before leaving or even your F-rank mana core would be useless."


    Jash nodded seriously and continued to follow the same circulation method of mana.


    ''I really want to try a proper mana cultivation technique...'' lamented Jash inwardly, unable to utilize it in front of Inigo.


    It would raise all sorts of unwanted questions he didn''t wish to answer for the longest time possible.


    Unbeknownst to him, Inigo was concentrating the mana inside the room using the training ground''s functions.


    If not for the huge amount of ambient mana, Jash might''ve failed in the last step when his mana core''s outer layer shattered before being replaced by a sturdier layer of light-red mana, indicating his advancement.


    Even though it was faint and barely noticeable, it was a fairly distinct change in the essence of mana itself and would show its effects in combat training.


    In the end, Jash continued the same way for 1 hour straight before giving up as he felt too bored about the whole ordeal.


    His mind just shut itself down, refusing to focus any longer. ''Maybe I should have rested after all that pain.''


    Rest had already become a luxury with his daily training with Carcel as he would be in pain all the time.


    However, he currently felt no pain. He seemed to be in his top condition if not for his deteriorating mental strength.


    "I guess that''s your limit," Inigo commented with no change in expression and nodded to himself.


    Jash just ignored the comment and stared at him, prompting Inigo to ask, "What? What are you looking at, brat?"


    "Nothing, nothing." Shaking his head, Jash walked out of the training grounds to take a quick shower, grumbling inwardly. ''He could''ve at least cleaned me using spells!''

 Chapter 52: Chapter 52: First Hunt Awaits

    Sitting on the cold floor of his room with closed eyes, Jash''s chest kept rising and falling with a slow rhythm.


    Seconds passed as the surrounding mana moved towards him, as if he were a vortex sucking it in.


    It was a subtle phenomenon, so minor that one might miss it if not paying close attention.


    Suddenly, Jash opened his eyes and the movement of mana stopped momentarily before gushing towards his core at crazy speeds.


    Naturally, the entire process remained imperceivable to the naked eye. He even felt a form of shackle breaking inside him.


    Dark red mana phased out of his entire body, with light orange mana replacing it and flowing through his widened mana veins.


    The process felt more natural and smoother than before, making Jash wonder, ''Is this because I am becoming accustomed to mana?''


    Even the shattering of his core before being enveloped in light orange mana compressed the core back to its original size, making it denser and sturdier..


    The entire process didn''t last long, just an hour.


    But it wasn''t over yet. Jash still had to adapt to the changes brought by the breakthrough, even though he was still at F-Rank.


    It wouldn''t be wrong to call it a difference in the rank itself. After all, the color of his mana changed, reaching the threshold of orange, having more energy than red in the spectrum of light.


    "This light thingy... the mana core color and everything revolves around it..." Jash muttered in realization as he stood up.


    Despite his thoughts, he didn''t waste time and started practicing basic martial arts before moving on to more complex forms.


    It helped him grasp the rough increase in his power as he blurted out in surprise, "Almost TWICE!?"


    It really came as a surprise to him how each step could make one feel so much stronger.


    ''Comparing it, I am only roughly 4 times stronger than a newly ascended F-Rank and 5 times stronger than a just awakened Hunter.''


    Thinking so, Jash tried to humble himself as he didn''t really want to spar with Caera to learn the difference again.


    "Shit! Never Again!" Jash vowed to never be arrogant, remembering the unpleasant memory of losing to Caera pathetically.


    "But damn, this feeling of getting stronger sure is addictive as hell," mumbled Jash with glee twinkling in his eyes.


    ''At least, it gave me a reality check and I improved,'' he nodded to himself, reminiscing the hours of sleep he couldn''t get because of feeling weak.


    "Luckily, dad had to go and clear some dungeons, or I would be forced to go through that boring training again, " sighed Jash.


    When he trained alone, he could practice without holding back, as only authorized personnel could enter the training grounds. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The training grounds were covered with runes, glowing softly in the dim light of the evening, adding an air of mystique to Jash''s solitary practice.


    Remembering the solo training brought a smile to his face. "Those were good times."


    Finally, he stretched his arms and stopped after making sure he was somewhat used to the changes.


    He felt the strain in his muscles easing as his strength increased and a pleasant tingling sensation in his mana veins.


    ''I have really improved from the first time I did it,'' noted Jash with a serious expression.


    "Anyways, first things first, gotta shower." Mumbling to himself, he went to shower.


    As he stood under the shower, the water barely felt cold. He sighed, nostalgic for the prickling sensation a cold splash sent through him right after awakening.


    The nostalgia prompted him to comment, "Man, the sensation of cold water was so much more intense back then. Much better than this... unfeeling water."


    ¡­


    "Phew"


    Taking a deep breath, Jash slapped his cheeks, "What''s wrong with me? Why am I behaving like an old man, who''s looking back at his life on his deathbed or something? Seriously! What the heck?"


    Shaking his head to get rid of the numbing sensation on his cheeks, he exited his room to go have dinner.


    Over the course of the entire year, he had developed a habit to at least have one meal per week with his family.


    To be precise, it improved from once a month to once a day before dropping to once a week so that they could enjoy their meals too.


    ''I mean, I am no jerk, alright?''


    Just because he had a problem with meat dishes, his family would remove it from the table every time he joined them.


    There was also the option of telling them he was fine with it, but that would be too sudden unless he chose to explain about his past life.


    However, he had already decided against it, for now.


    If someone were to ask him, "Why not just ask your family to quit meat?"


    He would simply answer, "There''s no reason for me to impose my habits onto others'', especially my family. That''s just straight messed up."


    Smiling as he recalled certain idiots, who believe that everyone should follow their advice, he reached the dining hall.


    Taking note of Sera and Caera already seated at the table, he sat down next to Caera with a still smiling expression.


    "What happened?" she whispered, intrigued at his smiling expression.


    Jash smiled smugly, causing Caera to roll her eyes, as he answered, "Heh! Guess what? I reached light orange mana core rank!"


    "Hmph! As if that''s something great! I am already on the verge of entering E-Rank!"


    "Tsk, tsk. I have only awakened for less than a year, unlike you, missy."


    "So what? You are the one who chose to delay it!"


    As the two continued to banter, Sera smiled warmly at the sight before a teasing glint appeared in her eyes as she turned to look on her right.


    The two were so busy in their teasing, they didn''t even realize Carcel had returned home!


    He too smiled, looking at his children getting along well as a nostalgic feeling overcame him before getting drawn out by the intense gaze from his wife.


    Her loving gaze brought a small smile on his lips as he noticed her teasing smile. "Not again. And I just arrived."


    Despite his low murmur, Sera heard it loud and clear, shooting him an unfriendly look before shifting her focus on Jash and Caera.


    "You two," she called out to them. "Why are you even arguing? Just go spar with each other."


    "YES!" "NO!"


    The two replies instantaneously, making Sera pause as a confused expression appeared on her face before she smiled, as if reaching a solution.


    "Why don''t you both go for a dungeon run?" she suggested slyly, looking at the dissatisfied expressions of the twins.


    They turned to face her in unison before nodding solemnly.


    "A dungeon, huh? Doesn''t sound too bad. I just hope this poor mage can keep up with me." Jash somehow found a way to tease Caera despite the serious topic.


    "Hmph! As if! I can solo any dungeon you can barely survive in! Rather, it''s better you don''t come, or I will have to carry you."


    Naturally, she wasn''t one to be left behind and immediately came up with a retort.


    Before the two of them could begin their banter again, however, Sera interrupted them, "Looks like they will be going for their first hunt. What do you think, Carcel?"


    ''First hunt? It has a nice ring to it-'' Jash thought before his eyes widened in realization.


    "DAD!!"


    The two called out in unison as if realizing it at the same time.

 Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Dungeon Prep

    After the surprising visit from Carcel, the family continued their dinner. They then spent some time with him as the twins eagerly inquired about the dungeon.


    Yet all they got in response was, "You will know tomorrow."


    Be that as it may, it did nothing to diminish their enthusiasm for their first hunt.


    When morning arrived, Jash got ready for his dungeon run, wearing his black combat outfit with straps to hold his sword and a pair of daggers, his storage ring, and a nano-armor bracelet.


    ''Hmm. This sure feels amazing,'' mused Jash, feeling the nano-armor bracelet on his wrist, activating it with a small amount of mana.


    The world was technologically advanced, and even though mana allowed people to create miracles, humans combined it with technology to create a better environment for the masses.


    The Nano-Armor was one such invention.


    It was made of tightly packed carbon atoms enhanced by mana. It spread throughout the body, covering the wearer and protecting them from harm.


    Although thin and light, the mana-enhanced atoms made it sturdy as well.


    While it was an expensive item, it safeguarded the wearer''s life in crucial moments and did not hinder their movements as it adjusted its size to fit the wearer.


    This was one of the rare inventions that reduced the casualty rate in dungeons. It was created by the Artisan''s Association, known for major technological advancements in weapons and hunting.


    The Artisan''s Association was a dwarven association where other races were the minority, but it changed when humans succeeded in combining mana and technology, while elves revealed their own creations.


    The best blacksmiths, forgers, artificers, technicians and almost every other profession requiring intricate work was a part of it, even architects, carpenters, designers and various similar professionals.


    Shaking his head to get rid of the specifics he read last night, Jash deactivated the nano-armor after taking a good look around in it.


    Feeling satisfied, he muttered to himself, "Let''s go."


    With a calm state of mind, he arrived at the main gate of the estate, finding Caera dressed in her combat outfit.


    The moment their eyes met, sparks seemed to fly as they were eager to prove who was better despite the obvious difference in rank.


    Just when it appeared the duo would start a round of bantering, Emma interrupted them, "Young Master, Young Miss!"


    Hearing her, the twins turned to face her with a questioning gaze, prompting her to answer, "Everything is ready. We can depart anytime now."


    "Let''s go, then."


    "Yeah, no one wants to waste time with him."


    Despite Caera''s taunt, Jash stayed calm and ignored her, further irritating her.


    Observing the scene, a warm smile appeared on Emma''s face before she cast a sidelong glance at Kesha, who remained unmoved despite everything.


    "Just what''s wrong with her?" Emma muttered before shaking her head and following behind Jash and Caera.


    As they left the estate in one of the many hovering cars, a sizable security team followed them, observing everyone along the way.


    Instead of feeling odd about it, the twins didn''t feel anything, as if it wasn''t the first time something like this had happened.


    ''This is one of the few perks of being a Duke''s child,'' Jash mused, smiling and ignoring the pouting Caera.


    "Emma, where are we going?" Jash asked, out of the blue. Even Caera perked her ears, eager to glean some information.


    As if on cue, the driver turned the car and Emma smiled. "It is one of the latest F-Rank dungeons near the outskirts of Kenton City, Young Master."


    "Is it claimed?" Caera butted in the conversation and Emma nodded looking at her. "Yes, Young Miss."


    Jash nodded and closed his eyes, falling back into his contemplative state, trying to make sense of how dungeons were managed in this world.


    In the whole world, 60% of the dungeons were owned by the Hunter Association. It was obvious that they had the most hunters in the world.


    Not to mention they easily had 3, maybe 4 SSS-Rank hunters and the main goal of the association was to make sure nobody could take advantage in this society where the strong eat the weak.


    ''Like cops or something? I mean, they are pretty much responsible for maintaining public order and implementing laws to keep the noble families in check.'' mused Jash with interest.


    Yet it brought another question to him, ''Just why would the Imperial Family allow such an organization to exist? Isn''t it kind of vying for control?''


    The answer to that lies in the fact that dungeons were quite numerous, and no one knew when another one might pop-up. Besides, even dungeons had ranks!


    Naturally, no amount of hunters could protect even a single piece of land if the entire world was filled with dungeons.


    ''It makes sense,'' accepted Jash as there could also be quite a few hidden dangers or SSS-Rank hunters in seclusion.


    ''Isn''t that why neither the association nor the Imperial Family can enforce their words on the noble families carelessly?'' wondered Jash, recalling the power dynamic in the Empire.


    ''6 of the SSS-Rank hunters are from noble families. 3 from the ducal families, then grandpa Inigo and the father of the current Empress. There''s also the Archduke, and even the Royal Family has one, no?'' Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash felt a shiver run down his spine as he felt half the SSS-Rank hunters were from the noble families and the Hunters Association only had 3 confirmed SSS-Rank hunters?


    It just didn''t make any sense to him.


    After all, all the SSS-Rank hunters were like the pillars of this world and they maintained an equal power distribution among the authorities.


    ''Maybe it has something to do with the remaining 3 or 4 SSS-Rank Hunters. Anyways, where are they again? The total should be 13, yeah?'' Jash blinked his eyes in confusion and decided to ask Emma about it.


    However, just as he was about to open his mouth to ask about it, the car stopped and his attention was stolen by the sight of trees and a forest-looking area.


    The ride had gone quiet after Jash and Caera''s questions, and Caera didn''t bother Jash, noticing his rare contemplative expression, but it ended on a confusing note.


    After taking a look outside and finding nothing magical, everyone got out of their cars, including the twins, who wore perplexed expressions.


    Yet their confusion ended as they felt the difference in environment from the insides of their car to the outside air.


    Jash took a deep breath before a surprised expression appeared on his face, "This... The air feels so fresh¨C"


    "¨Cand rich with mana." Caera completed his sentence.


    Bringing them back to reality was the smiling Emma as she informed, "We need to walk from here, inside this forest to reach the dungeon entrance."


    "Lead the way," Jash nodded at her.


    With solemn expressions, the twins approached the dungeon entrance under her guidance.


    Yet it failed to hide their excited, eager to prove themself, expressions.


    The trio walked through the forest, surrounded by the security team to prevent any danger from approaching them. After a ten-minute walk, they arrived in the middle of a patch of grassland.


    Stopping right behind Emma, Jash and Caera turned to look around as they finally spotted the dungeon gate, the mere sight of it leaving them with astonished expressions.

 Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Dungeon Entry

    A blue gate with security devices to catch trespassers appeared in their line of sight. The entrance seemed like a closed gate, but one could pass through it like air. If there were restrictions, one would be blocked.


    Noticing the presence of Jash''s entourage, the hunters moving about stopped and greeted them while the security team bowed in greeting.


    Ignoring this, Jash and Caera''s eyes shone like jewels as they reflected the sight of the blue magical gate.


    It stood 2 meters tall with many people wearing black suits surrounding it. They were members of the security team assigned to guard the dungeon and inform their higher-ups, in case of any mishap.


    Usually, officials of the Hunter Association would be around as whenever a new dungeon was found, the Hunter Association had to be informed.


    Only established nobles could claim the dungeons for their own, and this was the case for the Ramille Duchy.


    Although Jash remained unaware who had registered it, he was sure that his family name was enough to deter the Hunter Association from claiming it.


    Naturally, he thought of all such things even though he was somewhat dazed by the sight of the blue portal swirling around, radiating a dense mana into the atmosphere.


    His reverie was broken when the hunter-in-charge of this dungeon arrived to greet them.


    "We greet the Young Master and Young Miss. We have already arranged for your entry, and everything is ready."


    The twins nodded as Caera returned to look at the dazzling sight while Jash observed the woman.


    She sported long brown hair with almond-shaped hazel eyes wearing a tight-fitted black attire as she led a team of five.


    Noticing his stare, she continued without a ripple on her face. "You may wait before entering the dungeon in the lounge if you wish to. Everything has been prepared for your convenience."


    "Let''s go then," Jash accepted the offer readily, as he felt the need to adapt to the mana-dense atmosphere.


    He wasn''t an overconfident idiot who believed everything would happen his way or something. ''It''s always better to be safe than sorry.''


    Caera awoke from her daze and was a little surprised, but she followed the brown-haired lady alongside Jash to the nearby lounge, where hunters usually rested or gathered before going into the dungeon.


    These lounges were created to encourage bonding among hunters and help them relax before entering the dungeon.


    The brown-haired lady led them straight to the premium area, which was clearly better than the other seating areas.


    Just as she was about to leave, Jash asked, "Can you tell us something about the dungeon we are about to enter?"


    The lady paused and pointed at the table, "It has everything we are allowed to inform you, Young Master." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dumbfounded by her answer, Jash nodded at her, allowing her to leave before picking up the document from the table to read, only for it to get snatched by Caera.


    ''Whatever Not like it will change anything if I read after her.'' Jash shrugged his shoulders and waited for her to finish reading.


    Finally getting to go through it, Jash felt amazed by the work. ''It is quite detailed.''


    It described the dungeon type, rank of monsters and even the boss monster.


    "So, it has some G-Rank wolf-type beasts, huh? And a F-Rank boss, but no information regarding it? It''s a simple blue gate, after all." mumbled Jash more to himself.


    Dungeons were generally ranked based on the rank of the boss monster and the quality of the mana present in them.


    There were no G-Rank dungeons in the world. The rank started at F and continued till SSS without any Integration-Rank between them, different from humans.


    Then, there were types of dungeons with many classifications, but only three were commonly known: blue gates, green gates, and purple gates.


    Blue gates represented dungeons without any restrictions on entering or leaving. No matter the rank, a person could enter and leave without even killing a single monster inside. Most newly awakened hunters were brought to such dungeons.


    Green gates were similar to blue gates, but they differed in enforcing a rank restriction and only allowed a certain number of people to enter. Nobody could enter until the people inside came out or were dead.


    Purple gates were entrances to the most dangerous dungeons. When a hunter entered, the portal to exit the dungeon disappeared and would not reappear until the dungeon boss was killed. There was usually no rank restriction on entering, but the number of hunters inside would be limited, prohibiting any hunter outside to enter until the number inside decreased.


    If dungeons were not cleared for a long time, the boundary separating the dungeon and the outside world would gradually weaken.


    Also, the unstable mana would increase over time and slowly corrode the dungeon. This phenomenon had many names, but outbreak and dungeon break were the most common ones.


    In such situations, the monsters inhabiting the dungeons inside would come outside.


    To prevent this from happening, dungeons were meant to be cleared on a regular basis. This was also the reason that every hunter, no matter their rank, was needed.


    If only talented individuals advanced as hunters, who would clear the rank-restricted gates?


    Since even an F-Rank dungeon break would be enough to wipe out millions of people if left unattended. This just went on to signify the importance of hunters in this world.


    Hence, several academies, in addition to Solarnelle Academy, existed and flourished, training people to become capable hunters and survive longer.


    Naturally, the Solarnelle Academy was the dream of every person who wanted to be strong in their field, but if they couldn''t enter it, they still had other academies to join and learn from.


    ''That''s a lot of information,'' Jash thought as he massaged his forehead in an attempt to alleviate the frying of his nerves.


    ''I just came to go for my first hunt, not some hard lessons in college or something!'' Jash cursed his brain for recalling all the information needlessly.


    Feeling helpless, he chose to enter the dungeon instead of waiting for another jolt of information to assault him out of nowhere.


    "Enough resting. Let''s enter the dungeon," Jash declared as he stood up.


    "Tsk. You are the one delaying it," chided Caera, feeling annoyed because of the delay.


    "Yeah, because unlike a certain someone, I haven''t reached the peak of F-Rank."


    After saying his piece, Jash didn''t wait for Caera to come up with something to retort and headed directly outside to where the blue gate leading to the dungeon was located.


    ''Did she arrive?'' Jash wondered, and just as he tilted his head to the side, he was surprised to find her standing next to him, in a battle-ready state.


    "Let''s enter, shall we?" Caera suggested as she activated her nano-armor.


    Jash caressed the black bracelet on his wrist and activated his nano-armor with a small amount of mana before walking closer to the gate.


    Suddenly, Jash turned around and ordered, "Only Emma and Kesha will enter, besides us. The rest of you, wait here, and don''t enter unless someone triggers the safety bracelet."


    Emma, Kesha and the security team didn''t mind and nodded, trusting the safety bracelet.


    After all, it was a defensive artifact that would signal their team outside in the event of a life-threatening situation.


    It also functioned as a barrier that would activate if a critical attack hit either of them, holding out until the security team could arrive to help.

 Chapter 55: Chapter 55: First Battle

    ''These security devices will surely be helpful,'' mused Jash, knowing the importance they held in every hunting team''s life-and-death situation.


    Since dungeons were unpredictable spaces, anything could happen inside to the point that a dungeon which seemed stable today could explode tomorrow. Explode being just another term for dungeon breaks.


    Hence, being naive or careless could result in death in an instant. Sera, as their doting mother, didn''t want any such accidents to befall them.


    If preventing her children from experiencing and fighting in such environments didn''t stifle their growth, she would never risk sending them into the dungeon.


    However, the world was such where weak people couldn''t even live freely.


    Moving on, Jash had his entire focus in front of him as he stepped closer to the gate with Caera next to him and Emma and Kesha right behind them.


    As soon as they stepped into the gate, they disappeared into thin air, invisible to the outsiders, who became vigilant and surrounded the perimeter.


    Upon entering, they found themselves in a place resembling lush mountain paths, with multiple trees in sight.


    But the twins were feeling disoriented from the teleportation and took some time to recover before noticing the moist atmosphere around them.


    Emma and Kesha stayed close to them, determined to protect the twins. They had long become accustomed to the feeling of disorientation from the teleportation due to their experience with dungeons.


    "A forest?" Jash mumbled in disbelief.


    Caera clicked her tongue and scoffed, "Obviously!"


    Ignoring her, Jash turned to face the sisters guarding them, "Uhm, can you two stop being so sensitive? I think we can get by on our own."


    "Yeah, don''t intervene unless our life is in danger, which by the way won''t happen," added Caera, not bothering to even look at them, her eyes were fixed on the forest entry.


    Both Emma and Kesha were A-rank Hunters and could save the twins anytime in the F-Rank Dungeon.


    Despite this, they hesitated for a few seconds before relenting to their request and nodded. They took a few steps back and stopped emitting their A-rank pressure.


    "Alright, let''s go!" Caera announced before walking into one of the entry points.


    "Haa," Jash facepalmed as he muttered, "Just why is she so hasty?"


    Without any other choice, Jash followed behind her, only to find her hiding behind a tree, observing a gray wolf ahead of them.


    ''It should be G-rank, right?'' guessed Jash, observing the wolf, which looked different from the wolves he had memories of. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It looked far more ferocious than one would expect of a wolf, its snout easily being 3 meters above the ground.


    ''Damn, this guy is around the same height as Caera and me combined,'' observed Jash before he turned to look at Caera.


    Although it was one of the weakest monsters, being at G-Rank, it was still dangerous for a recently awakened hunter.


    Looking at her wielding a bow and aiming at the wolf prowling in the grass, he was both dumbfounded and astonished.


    The sight was enough to make him almost curse out loud, but he somehow managed to stop himself in time.


    ''Just when did she get that bow''s acknowledgement?'' wondered Jash, recalling the bow given by Ziva''s mother, Evelia, to Caera at their birthday banquet.


    The memory inadvertently made him look at his strapped daggers, ''Well, I too received something I can use.''


    Contrary to their playful banter, Ziva did give his gift¡ªa pair of daggers, to be precise.


    It was a thoughtful gift, considering they would at least serve as emergency self-defense, irrespective of the path Jash walked upon awakening.


    ¡ªWhoosh!


    The sound of air being split brought Jash back to the present as he couldn''t help but click his tongue, looking at the arrow heading for the wolf''s head.


    "...And it''s dead."


    Unlike typical bows, Caera used a much better one, making the speed of her fired arrows faster and more precise, giving the unprepared wolf no time to even dodge.


    "Caera, don''t do that again. It won''t work with the smell of blood already in the air," he suggested in a low voice, walking closer to the dead wolf.


    Unfortunately, he failed to take into account that it was Caera''s first kill. Even though it was just a monster, it wasn''t a pleasant experience.


    Nor was that the case for Emma and Kesh, who were surprised to see the calm state of Jash as he headed towards the corpse.


    "J-just s-stop!" Caera shouted, her voice trembling like her hands.


    "Hmm?" Confused, Jash stopped and turned around to find Caera struggling since a few seconds as her breathing turned ragged, with Kesha helping her.


    "Young Master, you should leave the wolf''s body. The hunters outside will collect it," implored Emma with a strange expression on her face.


    ''Oh shit! I messed up, didn''t I?'' Jash cursed inside, the realization of his mistake dawning heavily on him.


    Acting calm in the face of a monster''s corpse was something even some veterans had a tough time with, let alone a newly awakened kid.


    With no way for him to get out of this mess, he just let it be and awkwardly said, "Uhm, I-I will be back in a while."


    Out of sheer embarrassment at his stupid mistake, Jash dashed away without waiting for any reply.


    Not like he had to care about his safety or not as Emma immediately followed him from a distance where she could intervene should anything happen.


    As he continued to run, his focus didn''t wane from his surroundings but he summoned mana inside his body, allowing the bracelet to absorb it.


    The nano-armor ended up covering his body up to his neck in small, matte black scales from inside his clothes, not interfering with any other armor a hunter might be wearing.


    Less than a minute since he activated his nano-armor, his eyes narrowed. ''On my right!''


    Suddenly, he jumped to his left, rolling on the grass and a wolf pounced at his previous location, leaving deep gashes on the grassy ground.


    It seemed the wolf had sensed him and wanted to make him its food, howling in rage.


    ¡ªAwoooo!


    "Heh! As if I care!" He mumbled to himself before unsheathing his sword and jumped to his right.


    ¡ªBam!


    The wolf once again missed Jash who easily dodged the attack.


    Naturally, the wolf became wary and growled at him, showing his killing intent. The wolf never sensed the observing Emma whose eyes turned cold as her stealth skills were too high.


    "Come again!" Jash shouted, unaware of Emma''s change.


    Seeing his provocation work with the wolf charging towards him, he moved his right foot behind his left and waited for the wolf to jump on him again.


    He easily evaded the pouncing wolf, but he used his feet to slide to the right side of the wolf and unhesitantly swung his sword in an upward thrust.


    ¡ªSwishh!


    ¡ªThud!


    The sword pierced through the wolf''s stomach as gravity did the rest of the work, passing through the spine of the wolf, killing it instantly.


    Unfortunately, its body was too heavy for Jash, and he ultimately lost his grip on the sword handle when blood sprayed out on his face from the cut.


    He moved aside as the wolf''s lifeless body slumped down and gazed at its dead body, trying to feel something.


    Yet...


    ''Why? Why don''t I feel anything? Just WHY!?''

 Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Team Hunt

    Unable to figure out his own feelings, Jash gave up, pulled out the sword from the wolf''s body, and swung it downward to get rid of the blood smearing its surface.


    "At least the sword is good," he remarked, looking at the sharp blade before sheathing it into its black sheath.


    The sword he brought was quite powerful and a bit overkill for an F-rank dungeon, but it didn''t really matter as there were hundreds, if not thousands, of such swords in the armory.


    Still, he didn''t just choose it for its aesthetics; the weight was just right, not too light or heavy. Every swing served to increase the damage done by the wielder.


    Feeling the sensation of the gem placed on the hilt of the sword, he liked the balance between the ruggedness and the smoothness.


    ''These mana stone-imbued weapons are really one hell of an invention by the dwarven race.''


    Recalling the dwarves, Jash''s hand involuntarily touched the earring on his left ear. ''They sure are good at their inventions.''


    "What? Already!"


    A surprised voice brought Jash out of his reverie as he turned to look at the source.


    "So you''ve finally gathered yourself, lil'' girl," Jash mocked with a smug smile.


    "Ugh. I can''t stand you," Caera''s mouth twitched as her eyes dodged the sight of the lifeless wolf.


    She had only stabilized her emotions and followed behind Jash and was greeted by his blood-drenched form.


    However, Jash didn''t seem to mind and rolled his eyes, "Whatever. Not like we can stay near their bodies, so let''s move forward, yeah?"


    Despite her inner repulsion to the feat of killing, Caera reluctantly nodded and followed him from a distance, grumbling, "I don''t want to get my clothes dirty."


    Ignoring her lame excuse, Jash marched forward, always alert to his surroundings in case of any monsters.


    ''Since the report detailed only wolves, the boss monster would most likely be a wolf too, right?''


    Shaking his head to focus on the present and putting the thought to the back of his mind, Jash sensed a presence near him.


    He stopped in that instant and raised his hand to signal for Caera to take on her battle stance as well.


    Trusting in her capabilities, he didn''t even check on her. Instead, he unsheathed his sword silently, and inched closer to the presence he sensed earlier.


    Caera, always attentive, noticed his signal. Immediately, she gripped her bow, nocking an arrow and aiming in the direction he moved in.


    They were already quite far into the forest but encountered next to no monsters due to the prior cleaning done by the hunters.


    Only a marginal number of monsters were left for the twins to practice their moves on.


    ¡ªSwish!


    Without any hint, Jash swung his sword but all it cut was empty air, making Caera focus on the area in front.


    "3 Wolves!" she exclaimed, surprised to see one of them dodge the surprise attack and gathering together to surround Jash.


    "Not on my watch," she muttered and directly shot the nocked arrow at the wolf whose vision was being blocked by Jash.


    Without waiting for the result, she put the bow and quiver of arrows into her storage ring, bringing out her staff.


    ¡ªWhoosh!


    ¡ªPsst!


    "Nice shot!" Jash whistled as he moved out of the way after hearing the wind and the arrow pierced one of the wolf''s eyes, impairing it for a while.


    Using the gap effectively, Jash dashed towards the wolves, who also noticed him but did not charge at him immediately.


    Being animals, their senses were far better than humans'', allowing them to sense the blood of their own kind on his body.


    Naturally, it made them wary of Jash as he seemed like a hunter looking at his prey¡ªthe wolves.


    Though these G-Rank monsters do not have the mental intellect to think so far, their beastly instincts made them aware of the danger.


    Still, one of their kin had gotten injured and was howling in pain while one had died to this human, prompting them to howl and try to attack him.


    Alas, it was too late.


    Jash had already stabbed his sword in the middle of the injured wolf''s head, bringing it near death''s door.


    ¡ªAwooooooo!


    As it cried out in pain for the last time, its lifeless body slumped down, enraging the other two wolves, who howled in rage.


    ''Already!?'' thought Jash as he immediately retreated, confusing the wolves since his weapon was still stabbed in their leader''s head.


    "F-Rank Spell: Fireball!" Caera shouted in determination.


    "Damn! Why are you even shouting? Not cool at all!" Jash complained in his mouth, feeling the rising heat as it sizzled the moisture in the air.


    The spell was quite weakened due to the moist environment, but it was still far stronger and concentrated than the last time Jash saw it.


    The sight of it made him shudder as he couldn''t help but imagine if he would be able to defend against it.


    ''Damn it! These mages are really more annoying than sneaky archers! Yet here she is, the combination of both!''


    He cursed his luck for having such a talented younger sister; it made him feel like his advantage with the awakening time was really useless.


    Fortunately, he didn''t get a lot of time to lament his situation as the confused wolves also felt the rise in temperature, dumbfounding them and allowing the spell to strike true.


    ¡ªBoom!


    An explosion sounded as the small ball of fire with a diameter of 20 centimeters clashed with a 3.2 meter tall and 1.7 meter wide wolf.


    Unexpectedly, it engulfed the wolf in flames while the other one tried to escape, prompting Jash to spring into action.


    Unlike last time, Jash gripped the pair of daggers¡ªgifted by Ziva¡ªin his hands. He bent his knees a bit and channeled some of his mana around his legs.


    In the next instant, he sprung up toward the wolf at high speed, taking it by surprise as it faced the other side.


    His speed was comparable to Caera''s, despite being 2 sub-ranks weaker than her.


    Although the targeted wolf wanted to dodge, Jash had already reached its side and swung his daggers like a sword, lacerating the wolf''s flank.


    Due to the extent of the injury and sudden blood loss, the last wolf stumbled as its eyes darted to the burning wolf. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It had long died, but the fire didn''t seem to wane as if wanting to leave only ash behind in the place of the wolf''s body.


    Not wanting to give the dying wolf a chance, Jash didn''t show any mercy and stabbed both of its eyes, reaching for the brain, immediately killing it.


    "Phew"


    "That was some work," remarked Jash as he wiped the sweat on his forehead with the only clean part of his sleeve.


    Meanwhile, Caera looked on with her jaw wide-open. The scene didn''t make any sense to her.


    Although Jash had easily soloed a lone wolf, tackling a group of them was different.


    After all, that was common knowledge and it was logical as one could be attacked from behind while attacking one enemy.


    Experience was a major prerequisite to fight a group of monsters yet Jash did it effortlessly, raising suspicions in her mind.


    While Caera''s reasoning was right, it was Jash who was the abnormal one.


    Unaware, he complimented, "Good timing there!"


    Putting aside her suspicions, she responded in kind, "Yeah, you too."


    In the end, it was their first team hunt, and it went way too well for the first time.

 Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Wind Blade

    After taking care of their first group of wolves with immaculate coordination, the twins progressed further inside, trying to locate the boss monster.


    No matter what, the iron-rich smell of blood along with its presence on Jash''s skin made him uncomfortable as he was in the lead.


    While Caera did have an easier time than him, she too didn''t want to spend any more time fighting and killing than necessary.


    Her soft heart didn''t really sit well with all of her actions, but it was the only way to live in this world, which made her feel helpless.


    Unaware of it, Jash complimented, "That dagger had good timing."


    Caera gave an awkward smile to Jash, wondering why he didn''t feel an aversion to such sights, "Thanks..."


    "...Can we get this over with quickly, though?" she urged him, in hopes that he would stop fighting every group they encountered.


    Looking at her uncomfortable posture and her eyes dodging the sight of the lifeless bodies, Jash sighed.


    "Hmm. Our team work has improved manifold, so there''s not much of a need to fight strays anymore," he acquiesced while handing her the dagger she''d thrown.


    Unsurprisingly, her arrows had reduced in number as several of her quivers had emptied out. She had only brought 160 arrows.


    "How many arrows do you have now?" Jash inquired as he navigated his way deeper into the forest.


    "37 F-grade arrows and 3 enchanted ones for the boss," responded Caera, her eyes on the surroundings as she remained vigilant.


    Meanwhile, the two observing the twins were dumbfounded at this point.


    It started with awe, amazement, and pride at their masters'' achievements until it turned to surprise, shock, and finally, astonishment.


    "Kes, do you think it makes sense for two first-timers to navigate this well in a forest-type dungeon?" Emma blurted out her thoughts to her younger sister.


    "...Not really," Kesha replied after a moment of hesitation. "But if you observe closely, it is Young Master Jash who is navigating easily while Young Miss Caera is just following behind him."


    Emma nodded, her eyes focused on the twins as she had already been stopped by Kesha when she tried to jump in during their first fight against the three wolves.


    "Kes, do you think they can clear it?" Emma asked curiously. She really wanted to see if that were the case.


    "Can you stop calling me Kes? Also, who knows. Maybe they will," replied Kesha, even though she found her older sister to be annoying.


    Their duty wasn''t to wonder, but to protect.


    "Yeah, yeah, sure." Emma rolled her eyes and seemed to agree as she suddenly exclaimed, "Hey, Kes! Look!"


    "When will you stop..." Kesha muttered under her breath and focused on the scene and her calm expression moped into a solemn one.


    Jash had stopped walking and Caera did the same, observing him. But that wasn''t all she did.


    She immediately took cover and aimed her bow at the place Jash was staring at, nocking an arrow without pause.


    Their smooth movement and coordination implied great improvement in fighting together as if they were seasoned veterans.


    Since they had become accustomed to fighting together, Jash had decided to directly aim for the boss, but he found something else.


    Moving a bush in front of him, he eyed the small clearing where a wolf lay on the ground and 7 other wolves remained around it.


    ''F-Rank wolf!'' He noted immediately due to its bigger size and the rest of the wolves seemingly subservient to it.


    Without peeking for another second, he backed away briskly. ''I hope it didn''t sense me yet.''


    Alas, it was a pipe dream.


    ¡ªAwooo!


    The moment he backstepped, the F-Rank wolf opened its eyes and howled for its minions to go kill him.


    It had sensed the blood of its kin on the human and wanted to feast on his meat to get its dead kin''s revenge.


    The 7 wolves too seemed affected by the howl and repeated after their leader.


    ¡ªAwooooooooooooooooo!


    However, not all of them followed as two of them charged towards him from the front, but he easily retreated to a safe position, accelerating his steps.


    Just as the wolves were about to collide, an arrow whooshed past Jash and struck one wolf''s snout.


    It howled in agony from the pain as its companion looked back at it before growling in rage.


    ¡ªGrrrr!


    The other wolf tried nearing Jash, but he was already one step ahead. The sound of the claw and metal colliding echoed instead of blood spattering.


    ¡ªClang!


    Even before it could claw towards him, he had aimed his sword in such a way that it halted the claw, stopping it before it could even gain any momentum.


    ¡ªPsst!


    ''Not again!'' he grumbled inwardly, hearing the arrow fly past his ear into the wolf''s head, incapacitating it right then.


    ¡ªShing!


    Despite his revulsion, Jash drew his sword at the retreating wolf, severing its head from its body and relieving it of its agony.


    However, he didn''t spare a single second to check either wolf''s body and without any hesitation, he dashed towards Caera.


    "Hurry! 6 more! 1 F-Rank!" he shouted at Caera, who had already placed her bow back into her storage ring and was gripping her staff.


    She didn''t even spare him a glance and continued to cast the spell, wind gathering around her staff as she aimed it at the clearing.


    5 wolves appeared from inside, growling and howling at the sight of their bloodied kin, one on its way to death while the other was already dead.


    Seeing their brutal way of killing, the five wolves only got more enraged yet their instincts warned them of danger as they warily pranced forward.


    Meanwhile, Jash wasn''t calm at all. Although he found the previous fights quite boring and tiresome, he really didn''t wish for a real life-and-death challenge.


    ''What''s with this shit! I don''t remember signing up for blood-pumping adventures! Where''s my simple life!?''


    Cursing inside, he still remained vigilant and used mana around his entire body to strengthen them, keeping an eye on the clearing where the lone F-Rank wolf remained, muttering to himself, "Anytime now..."


    "E-Rank Spell: Wind Blade!"


    Hearing Caera''s spell name, he instantaneously sprung into action. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Taking the slumping form of Caera into his arms, he ran in the opposite direction, causing the wolves to rush, but that was their last mistake.


    ¡ªSwoosh!


    With the sound of wind, numerous wind blades attacked the unguarded wolves, leaving behind deep gashes on their body.


    One of the five got heavily injured as it was leading them and died on the spot while the other four only suffered flesh wounds.


    Stubbornly resisting as they followed their Alpha''s commands, they followed the trails left behind by the twins.


    Unfortunately, they failed to realize their movements became sluggish the more they ran. They remained oblivious to the numerous small cuts on their bodies, ignoring them until they succumbed to their injuries, whimpering on the ground.


    By the time the lone survivor, the F-Rank wolf arrived, the four had already died, enraging it to its core as it started hunting crazily.


    At the same time, Jash finally stopped running after his pace dropped, panting for breath. "Haa... Haa... Haa... Haa..."


    He stopped using mana to strengthen himself as he slumped to the ground, but not before raising Caera.


    It was an instinct¡ªan urge¡ªto protect her as her older brother. It wasn''t something that could be explained.

 Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Anomaly

    While Jash and Caera were resting and trying to recover their mana, the outside was in utter chaos.


    The stable F-Rank dungeon''s blue gate pulsed out a wave of mana, alerting the security team hunters before hues of purple and green appeared.


    All the hunters in the area became wary and their vigilance was raised to another level as they waited for the strange phenomena to end.


    Unfortunately, they recognized the phenomenon as it always occurred when something inside the dungeon changed, resulting in an increase in its rank or difficulty.


    Alas, they couldn''t stop or interfere with the process.


    Let alone them, even SSS-Rank hunters were helpless in the face of such an event; the most they could do was wait and try to evaluate after it finished.


    It didn''t take too long for the event to finish, only five minutes, but to the security team, it was one of the longest five minutes of their lives.


    "Hurry up! Check if it''s restricting entry or not!" a man shouted, and others followed his commands.


    One by one, hunters ranging from A-Rank to F-Rank tried entering the dungeon, only to get repulsed by a strong wave of mana coming off the gate.


    The strongest one of them, an Integration-Rank hunter who had just shouted a command, clenched his teeth and walked to enter. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just like the others, he too was thrown away like a ragdoll, even though he was manifold stronger than they were.


    The scene of a blue gate that was stable for months changing all of a sudden was enough to fill the heads of inexperienced hunters with fear.


    Luckily, before any of them could succumb to it, a wave of mana assaulted them from the skies, freezing them in their spots.


    "Back off," he announced and the entire area surrounding the dungeon entrance was emptied out as he landed from the air.


    ''At least S-Rank!'' thought the hunters due to the feat of him flying and the pressure they felt emanating from him.


    No amount of magic made it possible to fly freely before achieving S-Rank and it was taught very well, so that some idiot doesn''t end up offending one of them.


    "Is it just Emma and Kesha besides the Young Master and Young Miss?" the lone man asked, prompting the leader of the security team to answer immediately.


    "Yes, sir!"


    Hearing the succinct response, the man nodded to himself before giving out the order, "With the two of them inside, it shouldn''t pose any issues. But report back to the estate."


    Without waiting for any response, he continued to evaluate the dungeon gate with even more green and purple pulses of mana dominating the original blue.


    ''I hope it doesn''t turn into a purple gate,'' prayed the man despite his strength of SS-Rank.


    Unlike most hunters, he wasn''t delusional and acknowledged the truth: in front of Cornelius or Inigo, he was but an ant.


    That''s why he didn''t wish to get their aggro onto him, despite it not being his fault.


    "The two should be enough to take care of it, right?" the SS-Rank hunter muttered to himself.


    ¡­


    Inside the dungeon.


    While the outside remained in chaos, nothing out of the ordinary was happening inside the dungeon.


    Jash and Caera had climbed a tree for a quick rest. They chugged down a couple of mana recovery potions that appeared to be colorless.


    Caera was on the lookout as Jash tried to circulate mana throughout his body to get rid of his bodily fatigue.


    Both of them didn''t just have physical fatigue; the mental fatigue was the one making things difficult for them.


    Caera had just used a spell above her rank, emptying her entire mana core. If not for quickly drinking a few potions, just a nosebleed wouldn''t have been the end of her misery.


    Jash, on the other hand, had to supply and control the mana inside his body from leaking out and giving his location to the crazed wolf, all the while his eyes tried to find a good footing for him to utilize.


    "Don''t you find it strange?" Caera asked, bringing Jash to the present as he opened his eyes.


    "Hm? What?" he replied, confused at her odd phrasing.


    "The F-Rank wolf, shouldn''t it ought to have found us by now?"


    "Well, can''t you hear the sounds? It might even have gone berserk by now, you know?" Jash said as he finished stretching out and disembarked the tree.


    "Come on," he requested her to stop wasting time and follow him.


    "Yeah, maybe you are right," she responded as she jumped from the tree and dashed in a direction.


    "Ugh. Just why!?" Jash shouted as he rolled his eyes before following her.


    The two were headed in the same direction they''d found the F-Rank wolf in.


    Although there was a chance of it having gone berserk, Caera didn''t seem to mind and actually went to try her luck in finishing it off.


    With no other choice, Jash caught up to her and grumbled, "What if it''s already berserk, you idiot!"


    "What do you think its rank is?" Caera asked, ignoring his complaint.


    Naturally, he figured out her intention and answered exasperatedly, "Prolly (F+)-rank? The presence it radiated makes me believe it ought to be the second strongest monster in this dungeon."


    "Precisely!" she nodded at his analysis and increased her speed with an excited grin on her face.


    Seeing her expression and action, he followed along but a strange thought came to his mind. However, he vehemently denied it, ''No way! There''s just no way, right?''


    Catching up he inquired, "It could be berserk, making its prowess just short of (E-)-rank! Why are you going towards it?"


    "That''s all the more reason to go after it!" she announced and finally decreased her pace, recognizing the clearing from before.


    "Ugh. Damn it! You mad or what!" Jash cursed at her, feeling helpless as his guess came true.


    It turns out she wanted to try fighting that berserk wolf to breakthrough E-Rank in one go.


    ''Just how did I forget she is so close to condensing the yellow mana core?'' he couldn''t help but think to himself, recalling the monster rankings.


    Usually, monsters were categorized into three sub-ranks, just like humans, but it was different.


    Where humans had early, mid and late sub-ranks, the monsters were graded using (-), () and (+).


    For example, (F-)-rank, (F)-rank, and (F+)-rank.


    Naturally, some hunters also used the same ranking system for humans as it made it more uniform and easy.


    Alas, it wasn''t all that important.


    ''The important thing is these darned monsters are without the mental capacity to converse with humans till B-Rank!'' Jash thought hatefully.


    That''s why most monsters below B-Rank tend to go berserk in dungeons because of it.


    Going berserk simply meant losing control of themselves and following only their primal instinct to kill indiscriminately.


    Yes, they were unable to differentiate between their own kin!


    However, in exchange of their reasoning and little bit of restraint, they gained a huge power-up, elevating them almost an entire sub-rank above their current strength.


    In the most extreme cases, some could even rank up if they were already close to it before.


    Alas, most monsters who went berserk died shortly after or dropped in ranks significantly so that one could just run away and wait for them to die or serve themselves on a silver platter.


    And Caera wished to face a beast on its last legs! That was nothing short of crazy!

 Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Fateful Discovery

    "There is definitely nothing here! Let''s just go get the boss monster and leave."


    "Shhh. It should be here," Caera rebutted strongly, moving a bush to the side.


    "We''ve already been at this for 10 minutes, you know? It''s useless!" Jash countered with a frustrated expression.


    ''I don''t know why, but my gut feeling is telling me to leave quickly,'' he thought as he used the tree trunk as a foothold to jump ahead, following Caera.


    Apparently, she firmly believed she saw something in the clearing where the F-Rank wolf was resting and they were currently looking for it.


    Not exactly they, since Jash was more focused on making her agree to leave instead of hanging around.


    It was one thing to accidentally come across it, but waiting for it in its home? Now, that would be completely stupid.


    Unfortunately, nothing he said fazed her as she stubbornly persisted to find that thing.


    Having enough of this tiresome search with a lurking threat, he couldn''t hold it in any longer, "Just what did you even see!? Just say it!"


    It wasn''t the first time he asked her what they were looking for, but her replies remained the same every time.


    "Look, I really don''t know, alright? You were already running and the last scene I saw were the wolves getting hit and something shone in the clearing."


    "And I am telling you that it must''ve been the wolf!" Jash rolled his eyes before continuing, "Anyways, as I was saying, we really need to¨C"


    "Shh!" Caera threw a branch at his face to shut him up, annoying him further.


    However, just as his eyes followed the direction she pointed, he was frozen on the spot, his mind failing to comprehend what he just saw.


    ''Just how...?''


    ''Impossible!''


    ''What in the world...?''


    ''There''s just no way!''


    ''No... It can''t be...''


    He couldn''t help but deny it with every fiber of his being.


    It just didn''t make any sense.


    ''How can this be here!? There''s just no way!'' Jash refused to accept the scene before him when he felt a kick on his shin, bringing him out of his frozen state.


    "Owww"


    "What are you doing, Caera!?" he grumbled in a louder voice, prompting her to pout her lips.


    "Firstly, lower your voice. Secondly, I''ve been calling you for so long, damn it! Stop going into a daze! We''re inside a dungeon, you!"


    At the end of her dialogue, she couldn''t think of any appropriate word to call him and chose to change the topic.


    "Anyways, look at that scrap. It must''ve belonged to one of the hunters or maybe from a dead one? I think we should return it to said hunter''s family as a memento?"


    Caera suggested with a serious tone, dumbfounding Jash further as she tried to pick it up.


    "NO!" he exclaimed out loud, a clear sense of warning within his words.


    Alas, he was a tad bit too late.


    She had already picked it up and asked, "Why?"


    Before another second passed, she immediately complained, "Damn! This is so heavy!"


    Not wanting to bother holding the heavy scrap for a second longer, she unhesitatingly put it into her storage ring.


    All of this happened within the span of three seconds, giving Jash no time to interrupt as he gazed at the entire thing from start to finish with a crestfallen expression.


    Looking at it, Caera felt amused, "Why do you have such an expression as if the entire world has ended or something?"


    Choosing not to answer, he remained silent and ignored her for the time being despite her numerous calls and led her out of the area.


    ''The when, why, how doesn''t matter anymore. What matters is what to do now?'' he mused gravely.


    ''Damn! My life really sucks! And a scrap? That''s like blasphemy! Although just a part, it is still a part of a Holy Sword! One that was literally crafted by those darned Angels!


    But... how did I even get it in my past life?''


    That was all the information he recalled after looking at the hilt, or what remained of it.


    Unfortunately, he had no memories of the system, or he wouldn''t be so clueless about its origins.


    ''Wait! Why should I even care? What if I just avoid it? Surely, it won''t come back to me forcefully, right?''


    After thinking so, Jash visibly relaxed as he increased his pace and headed further inside the dungeon.


    "Just what''s wrong with him?" Caera muttered to herself, but just shook her head and followed him.


    If not for the noises caused by the F-Rank wolf getting farther and farther away, she wouldn''t have left the clearing.


    Ironically, Jash had lost his focus on the noises as he smiled, ''Good thing she is following without complaints!''


    If only he knew that he was the one leading himself into the pit, he would''ve chosen to return instantaneously.


    Along the way, they met many groups of wolves and Jash tried his best to evade them to save time, but some just couldn''t be avoided.


    ''I should probably speed things up. Seeing anything after my nonchalance at the gory sights won''t matter,'' thought Jash.


    He knew that everything that transpired in their first dungeon raid would be reported to his parents.


    If Jash used his past life''s fighting style, he would face the same dilemma he had been avoiding from the start.


    After all, how could a person who detested training suddenly become such a veteran sword user without mistakes?


    Focusing back on the current scene, he narrowed his eyes as he noticed three wolves charging towards him from the front.


    He immediately changed his footing and channeled mana into his hands and legs, dashing forward towards one of the wolves on his right.


    With immaculate timing, he feinted a sword thrust to its head before slashing its stomach as it instinctively stiffened and tried to back away from the thrust. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before it could get any time to regain its footing, he let go of his sword and swung his dagger to blind the wolf.


    He didn''t even wait to confirm if his attack connected or not, and sidestepped to dodge the attack of the wolf next to him.


    ''She took care of one,'' Jash noted as he glanced at the whimpering wolf.


    He was aware that the last wolf would try to ambush him and prepared accordingly. Thankfully, Caera reduced the numbers from three to two and would also take care of the blinded wolf.


    The wolf appeared confused, seeing that its surprise attack had missed. But before it could even turn its body, Jash threw the second dagger.


    The throw was swift, not giving any time for the wolf to move as it got struck by the dagger in the middle of its head.


    "Phew"


    He released a breath of relief as he stopped the mana circulating in his right arm, looking at the limp wolf.


    He removed the blood from his sword and daggers as he picked them up and sheathed them while coming back towards Caera with arrows in hand.


    She nodded at him and placed the used arrows in a different quiver before they went into another path, leaving behind their dumbfounded maids¡ªguards.


    "Something''s wrong," Emma muttered to herself, finding the number of wolves to be quite alarming.


    Kesha, on the other hand, didn''t seem bothered. "Stop overthinking it. They''re handling it quite well. This experience will be beneficial to them."


    While her words made sense, Emma couldn''t help but feel uneasy and muttered, gazing in the direction the twins went, "I hope so too..."

 Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Into the Wolf Den

    After walking around aimlessly, trying to find the boss monster in the challenging forest terrain, Jash and Caera finally found a cave near the only river inside the dungeon.


    It was inconspicuous at first, making the twins circle it once before they finally noticed it due to the putrid smell.


    "Why does it smell so bad?" Caera complained, covering her nose with her left hand, wielding daggers in her right.


    Although Jash appeared nonchalant without trying to shield his nose, he nodded wordlessly as he stood in front of the cave, his senses sharpened with a primal warning.


    The air hung heavy with the metallic tang of blood, mingled with the earthy scent of damp moss and fresh bark.


    He had a hard time differentiating them at first, but he managed to work with it within a span of seconds.


    ''Thank whoever gave me the past life memories, or this would be so much worse,'' he felt gratitude towards the memory giver for the first time.


    If not for having seen and felt the vivid sensations of far worse scenarios, he feared that he might''ve fainted from the strong scent of blood.


    "Just what happened here?" Caera muttered in a confused tone, barely holding herself from puking at the sight of the cave''s entrance.


    "I don''t know about that, but it sure screams that it is the location of the boss monster," Jash responded as he scrutinized the entrance.


    Just like the nearby walls, it had rocks mounting it before a wide gap appeared. Though it appeared entirely dark due to the lack of light.


    With the trees working as natural camouflage in front of it, few rays of light pierced the dense canopy, making it difficult to find the irregularity due to the decreased visiblity.


    It seemed the perfect place for a boss monster to settle, but the confusing thing was the red pool on the ground around the entry, with ominous claw marks all around.


    Rivers of crimson stained the earth, contrasting starkly against the verdant hues of the forest floor, a stark reminder of violence amidst the tranquility of nature.


    ''It seems like some infighting occurred here?'' Jash guessed in his heart as he observed the nearby areas for any clue.


    A few scars marred the tree trunks, jagged claw marks etched onto the bark with desperate effort that spoke of the helplessness against a formidable foe.


    Each mark seemed to pulse with a foreboding energy, as if the very essence of the creature that made them wasn''t spared any mercy.


    Looking at the haphazard and light marks, Jash formulated a scenario where two (F+)-rank wolves fought each other along with their followers, vying for dominance.


    ''Wait a minute! Isn''t there that wolf too? Did it really go after its own kin?''


    Jash shivered at just the thought of fighting such a crazy monster; alas, the boss monster, new or old, was supposed to be inside.


    His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, the weight of familiarity and memories of a lifetime filled with battles etched into its familiar grip.


    His heart remained as calm as a serene lake despite the frightening scene in front of him, a mixture of caution and finality driving him forward despite the ominous signs before him.


    Turning his head to face Caera, he approved of her adjustment to this nightmarish scene.


    "Adjust as much as you can, we''re going in," he whispered in a hushed tone, wary of even the whistling wind as his senses tingled. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Every nerve in his body tingled with awareness, every sense attuned to the slightest hint of danger in this abnormal place.


    "What? Why?" Caera questioned his decision in an alarmed manner, unable to understand the change in his attitude.


    Wasn''t he the one who kept persuading me to ignore that berserk wolf? So why, of all times, is he saying something like that now!?


    "Keep it low!" Jash commanded before explaining, "The wolf you wish to fight is probably inside too, and if not, it''s still worth it if it belongs to the boss monster."


    Hearing his reasons, she stood stunned before a disgusted expression appeared on her face. She just couldn''t get used to this sight of carnage.


    In that moment, she felt a hand clasp her shoulder, surprising her as she looked at his determined expression and steeled herself.


    "I am the stronger one! I should be the one consoling him," she mumbled to herself as she clenched her fists on the dagger''s hilt.


    In that moment, as the twins stood at the threshold of the wolf den turned river house, they knew they weren''t contending against merely a beast of the wild.


    They were going to face off an embodiment of raw, untamed power that dared to challenge even one''s sanity in the deepest part of the forest.


    Meanwhile the two, Kesha and Emma, were observing them with Emma frowning as she muttered, "I hope they don''t enter."


    For some reason, she was feeling uneasy for a while and all it took was a single glance at the anomaly for her to hold it accountable for her feelings.


    Beside her, Kesha wore a serious and determined expression as she meticulously observed the twins'' movements before speaking.


    "I think they will go in."


    Hearing her, Emma immediately glared at her, "Kes, can''t you say some nice word-"


    "Look," Kesha interrupted as she pointed to the distance, "They''re going inside."


    "There''s just no way-" Emma''s words got stuck in her throat as she froze on the spot before blaming Kesha.


    "You just jinxed it Kesha!"


    Kesha just shook her head at her sister''s exaggerated worries and jumped to follow the twins from a distance where she could hop in to save them any time.


    Despite her grumbling Emma too followed, staying a bit closer to the twins, just in case, as she still blamed herself for not being able to prevent Jash from getting cursed two years ago.


    Although no one else blamed her, she herself did.


    As she followed the twins, they came across many disgusting sights, such as the entrails and viscera of wolves, and some small animals with their heads squashed on the ground..


    Caera naturally couldn''t hold it in for a long time and puked multiple times, emptying her already empty stomach, just releasing bile.


    Each time this happened, Jash stayed by her side, making sure she adjusted as quickly as possible.


    Unfortunately, his bravado only gave rise to suspicions in Emma''s mind.


    Even though she knew that Jash was a talented genius, given his unconquerable achievement during his awakening, she couldn''t help but doubt.


    After all, raw talent and experience were two entirely different things.


    One might be talented in fighting, but if they never bothered practicing, they would find the idea of hurting and injuring someone slightly repulsive.


    This was one of the reasons Emma had been scrutinizing Jash for any discrepancy since she saw him remain calm while Caera threw up.


    Fortunately, Jash didn''t show off his sword mastery, which could be considered at the level of a veteran A-Rank hunter.


    Naturally, his body couldn''t handle it right now, but his sword mastery was truly terrifying.


    Well, just his indifference made her skeptical, let alone seeing his mastery of combat.


    Unaware of such things, Jash walked further into the cave, dimly lit with luminous moss, before he finally entered a larger cavern.

 Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Dark Descent

    "W-what? What just happened here?" Caera blurted out in surprise at the gruesome sight in front of her eyes.


    Huge bodies of 4-5 meter-tall wolves lay scattered on the ground, shredded into multiple pieces.


    The scene was spine-chilling to the point not only Caera but even Jash had a hard time controlling himself.


    The gray earth was marred crimson from fluids sprayed out of their bodies.


    Gritting his teeth and clenching the grip on the hilt of his sword, Jash took a step forward, his feet sinking into the crimson pool beneath.


    "Arghh," he grunted due to the uncomfortable sensation creeping up on his feet.


    At the moment, he didn''t even have the liberty to spare Caera a glance.


    She couldn''t bear it any longer and began to throw up uncontrollably at the macabre sight.


    Nothing inside seemed alive anymore except for the twins and their maids, who immediately supported the vulnerable Caera.


    Suddenly, Jash froze in his steps as the primal fear of death overwhelmed his senses, the surroundings seemingly playing with his mental state.


    Despite the twins freezing Emma and Kesha moved with practice ease, indicating their experience, something the twins lacked.


    However, Jash wore a determined expression as he dragged his other feet into the crimson pool and took slow deliberate steps.


    "Young Master...!" Emma called out in worry, barely stopping herself from rushing in and forcefully bringing him back.


    "It''s fine," Jash gulped nervously, "We have to get used to such sights, and worse, if we are to become hunters."


    His voice cracked with nervousness and the dimly lit, damp atmosphere of the cave didn''t help with it either.


    ''She won''t stop,'' he thought despite his tense state, his senses tingling to detect any danger before it befell him.


    Just when Emma was about to rebuke him, he signaled for her to stop.


    Unable to refuse, she could only shut her mouth and channel her mana to save him at a moment''s notice.


    Their conversation echoed off the walls of the empty cave, reaching Caera.


    She repeatedly coughed and tried to stop retching, but one glance was all it took for her mental barrier to collapse.


    "It''s fine, Young Miss. There''s no need to push yourself further," Kesha consoled her.


    Unfortunately, Caera only found them to be empty words. After all, Jash was going further and he had awakened a year later than her.


    While Kesha''s words were indeed the truth as most F-Rank hunters would''ve already fainted at the first sight, Caera couldn''t believe them.


    Gritting her teeth with great determination, she punched her thigh to distract her mind with pain, a tactic that works well to keep oneself awake.


    Slowly, she got up and could control her urge to throw up.


    Although it was a massive step forward, comparing herself to Jash, she felt no better.


    "I''m the one who''s supposed to protect and lead him, not the other way around..." she mumbled to herself, in an attempt to motivate herself.


    The sight completely stunned the two maids, who were having a really hard time digesting the fact that the twins were still at F-Rank.


    It was the rank where one could only be referred to as novices and being looked down upon by everyone.


    Unbothered by what went behind his back, Jash reached the middle of the cave, where the crimson pool reached above his knees.


    Even if he had gotten somewhat used to the uncomfortable sensation, it was difficult to move without being able to see the ground.


    ''Just why am I doing this?'' he wondered with every step, unable to come up with any conclusive answer.


    Was it to break past his limits or was it to make Caera break hers?


    Maybe it was due to finding the hilt near that F-Rank wolf and the anomaly regarding this presumed wolf den.


    In essence, he didn''t even know what was driving him forward yet he continued to move until he froze on the spot.


    ''What the...?''


    He found himself unable to even formulate proper thoughts at the moment, he was too astonished.


    Curious of the reason he stopped, Caera approached to see what was ahead and saw monsters with big toothless jaws sucking on the carcasses.


    It was too horrendous that she immediately averted her eyes.


    These monsters were called Leeches, usually E-Rank. They had brown cylindrical slimy bodies.


    They stayed hidden inside walls, caves, earth, trees, or anywhere inconspicuous, slumbering until the scent of blood attracted them.


    However, many novice hunters had lost their lives underestimating these monsters who liked to stay hidden in the dark.


    "Aren''t we supposed to be in a F-Rank dungeon!?" Jash exclaimed in a controlled manner, cautious to not attract their attention.


    His question wasn''t addressed to anyone in particular, it was more so to vent his frustration.


    "Young Master, this is an explorable type of dungeon where the dungeon boss is hidden and needs to be eliminated before reaching the reward room, if any. However, being a blue gate, one can leave it as they wish without clearing it all the way."


    Emma explained patiently yet she too was puzzled due to the anomaly and instinctively felt this was the cause of her uneasy feeling.


    "Whatever. Not like we have any other choice," Jash murmured as he unsheathed his sword, unsettling the trio.


    Holding his sword, he channeled mana into his body and noted the distance between him and the trio, nodding to himself. ''It''s enough room for me to fight.''


    Caera wanted to help, but she just couldn''t handle such sights and her fire magic might just burn the entire thing down.


    Although that wouldn''t be a bad thing, it would also prevent them from exploring the insides.


    Emma stepped closer to Jsah while Kesha took it on herself to protect Caera as they looked at Jash charging forward.


    Without alerting the carefree leeches, he immediately beheaded one, which didn''t even react to his presence.


    ''That took a lot more strength than I expected,'' noted Jash, making calculations whether to continue the fight or not.


    The leeches remained unaware of the demise of one of their own until blue blood flowed from its neck as its dead body splashed into the pool.


    The leeches had slimy brown bodies, making it harder to slash them as their secretory fluids made their skin as slippery as an eel.


    They were small in size, roughly half a meter to a meter. They used their mouths to suck on tree barks, earth and anything, which helped them survive in their environment.


    "Kiieeeeeeegggghhhhh," a creepy sound echoed through the cave as the enraged leaches slithered off their food, hiding inside the pool.


    With his senses working full throttle, he heard the water''s movement and felt the water current hitting his body, trying to gauge their position.


    Despite their gross appearance, Caera composed herself and looked at her brother, who remained calm despite the numerous invisible leeches approaching.


    Luckily, she didn''t panic and instinctively used her fire magic but was stunned when she noticed Jash move his sword in a horizontal slash.


    His mere action confuses her, leaving her wondering what he''s planning until the figure of a leech approaching Jash scares the living daylights out of her. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Jash!'' she shouted internally, worried of any accidents, and chose to throw her dagger unhesitatingly, hoping it would cleave or impale the ambushing monster.

 Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Unshackled Limits

    ¡ªSplurt!


    A sudden spurting sound echoed right behind Jash, disorienting his senses for a fraction of a second as his ears twitched in surprise.


    Still, it wasn''t enough to take away his attention from the front as he scrunched up his closed eyes further, hyper focusing on his sense of hearing.


    The viscous movement of fluid aggravated his sense of touch as he finally swung his sword in a full arc, slamming down two leeches in one swing.


    ''She can handle it,'' he thought, trusting his back to Caera as he twisted his grip on the hilt and struck another leech with the flat of his sword.


    His sword just wasn''t sharp enough to slice through them while they actively focused on him, resulting in him using it as a blunt weapon.


    However, the movements which felt familiar to him only roused the curiosity of the three onlookers.


    Only Caera didn''t focus on it, choosing to channel her dark orange mana into her iris, allowing her to see better in the dimly lit cave.


    She watched on as the three leeches increased to five, rushing towards Jash masking their presence in the guise of each other. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash had a dark red mana core, thanks to his recent breakthrough, but his body was still adjusting as it continued to absorb the mana.


    His overall strength could easily be comparable to any hunter with a light yellow or even yellow mana core, easily rivaling an (F+)-rank monster.


    That''s how he managed to cleave through his first (E-)-Rank monster in one go, and he hoped to do it again.


    ''This should be doable,'' he reiterated to himself, swapping out his two-handed grip to one-hand.


    Using the sword like a baseball bat to swat away the leeches, he gripped one of the daggers in his free hand and used it to impale the leeches.


    Channeling mana into his arms to strengthen his blows, he also directed some into his legs to leap and change his position, just in case.


    As the five leeches got within his range of 2 meters, he swung his sword to push away the four through the thick crimson pool.


    Without waiting for the result, he instinctively thrust the sharp end of the dagger into the mouth of the fifth leech.


    The dagger easily entered its open mouth, coming out of its body a few centimeters down its back, spilling blueish blood from its insides.


    It hadn''t died, though.


    It twisted and turned its body in agony, trying to get Jash to drop the dagger but he remained persistent, unaware of the sixth leech approaching him.


    ¡ªWhoosh!


    Another ambush failed as it got flung away due to the momentum of Caera sharp arrow piercing through its slimy body.


    ''Nice one!'' Jash praised inwardly before he leaped a meter to the right, avoiding the first four leeches, who were hot on his tail.


    "Tsk," Jash felt annoyed at their persistent chase as he cut the body of the leech hanging on his dagger using his sword.


    ''Something''s wrong,'' he thought anxiously. His intuition warned him of some danger but he couldn''t make anything out of it.


    ''Let''s be quick,'' he told himself and let go of his reservations. ''Whatever happens thereafter is for future me to solve!''


    With that being said, he immediately switched his stance and mana channeling method. Though the latter remained invisible to the naked eye.


    Usually, mana channeling or mana circulation methods would leak out mana from the body, allowing more experienced hunters to notice the changes.


    However, as one increased in rank, their control over mana also substantially increased, allowing them to manage the leaking mana.


    Though rarely could anyone below A-Rank even go near a measly 5% mana leakage.


    Naturally, Jash went up and beyond any such claims, reaching a staggering 2.3%, that too, only because his body was too weak to sustain any higher amount of mana.


    ''I hope this works,'' he prayed in his heart for the three to not know of it as it would be too much hassle to explain.


    Just as he moved, he felt a certain sense of inefficiency and incongruity.


    ''No... this is wrong...''


    Unable to resist following his instincts, he gave in and his posture altered slightly, making him feel a rush of air as he whizzed past the water.


    Stabbing the tip of his sword into one and the dagger tip into another, he threw them towards the other end of the cave.


    He didn''t stay in one position for longer than a second and moved to and fro, eliminating more than 10 leeches in a few seconds.


    However, the aftermath was nothing to joke about.


    "Haah... Haah... Haah... Haah..."


    He panted for deep breaths, his nose oozing out blood as his veins and arteries were on the verge of bursting.


    His mana channels were much calmer, but his mana core greedily absorbed all remnants of mana in his body.


    His face paled as a sense of vertigo overcame him, almost making him stumble if not for using his sword as a stick to stand.


    ''Definitely never doing this again!'' He cursed and promised inside, unwilling to go through such pain once again.


    Fortunately, it was him who did this crazy act.


    If it were some other hunter at the same rank as him, even if they could use such methods as last resorts, they wouldn''t.


    After all, it would truly be their last resort, resulting in nothing but death due to the aftereffects.


    This was one of the times when the positive aspect of his absurd awakening time showed up, helping him stand despite his internals being a mess.


    ''Did I go overboard?'' he wondered, thinking of what answers he could provide when he would get interrogated in the near future by his parents.


    Luckily, he didn''t have to worry about the trio finding out about his different mana channeling technique as it remained strictly internal.


    To the other three, his performance was mind-blowing to say the least.


    It went beyond the mere concept of excellence.


    It was rare for an F-Rank human to defeat similar-rank monsters so easily, let alone massacring monsters an entire rank above them!


    Furthermore, if they didn''t know any better, they might mistake him as a veteran. His calm and composed aura gave him such a vibe.


    Barely standing, he turned to the three who were watching him.


    His pitiful look snapped the three out of their shock and reverie as Emma appeared next to him and handed him healing potions.


    Kesha led the worried Caera towards him, but forced her to calm down and not rush.


    "It seems... we need to go deeper... into those caves... to find the boss monster," Jash murmured, taking gulps of the potions in between his words.


    His words stunning the three, who expected him to give up.


    "NO!" Caera was the first to voice her rejection as Emma and Kesha nodded softly.


    "Something''s wrong... There is no reason for us to explore this dungeon any further," she declared in a stern voice.


    She took in consideration the sudden appearance of E-Rank leeches as well as the ominous crimson pool before coming to the decision.


    Although he understood her reasoning, he felt an even greater need to explore the dungeon to its depths.


    ''Just how do I convince them? It seems too arbitrary coming from me,'' he mused thoughtfully despite his weakened state.

 Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Feral Confrontation

    Jash tried hard to come up with a reason that would sway the three to go along with his proposal to descend deeper.


    However, no matter how much his thoughts raced, nothing concrete came to him.


    ''Just what can I say?'' he wondered as he straightened his posture, ignoring their inquisitive looks.


    After seeing him change his pattern of sword wielding and the sudden shift in his forms and postures, they''d have to be idiots to not question it.


    Sadly, that was life.


    It wasn''t the same as a fantasy novel consisting of an overpowered protagonist powerleveling everything in his way and everyone around him not using their brain.


    Well, what did it have to do with Jash?


    He was too focused on coming up with an excuse to notice the blood leaking from his mouth.


    ¡ªDrip!


    Only after it detached from his chin and fell into the water with its sound echoing loudly in the tense silence did he notice it.


    "Jash!" Caera called out as anxiety overwhelmed her senses and she tried to approach him.


    Alas, she never reached him.


    Just as Jash touched his wet lips, a bad premonition arose within him. ''Shit! What now!?''


    As the danger bells increased in his mind, he instinctively tried to move out of his position, but his legs felt like lead.


    He couldn''t move, prompting him to curse inwardly, ''Move! Move! Move! Move, damn it!!''


    At the last moment, his primal instinct of survival came into play as he stopped using his sword as support and stumbled into the crimson pool.


    Although it felt extremely disgusting and repulsive, it was still much better than staying in the same position when he clearly sensed danger.


    ¡ªSplash!


    Luckily, he didn''t have to even stay inside for half a second as Emma pulled him out and carried him outside the pool.


    Kesha, who had already pulled Caera, nodded at Emma as the four now stood back to the pool''s entrance.


    Unable to comprehend the sudden shift in her position, Caera felt slightly dizzy as she looked ahead.


    Yet the sight in front of her, despite her blurry vision, made her blood freeze. It left her truly motionless, unable to even think.


    "Huah... Huah... Huaaa..." Jash opened his mouth wide, allowing the crimson pool to separate from his nose, returning his ability to breathe again.


    Feeling the strong grip of Emma, his eyes narrowed in confusion as an uncomfortable sensation washed over him.


    Raising his head, he found the three facing forward and followed their line of sight.


    ''How? No... Impossible!''


    That was the first thought after stupefied for a couple of seconds, stunned at the figure in front.


    It was the same figure he saw before.


    The F-Rank wolf the twins had escaped from.


    Strangely enough, it looked too different yet the bloodlust and anger in its eyes as it looked at him confirmed his guess.


    Its gray fur was marred with caked blood and wounds as several scars were visibly present on its body.


    Yet the most glaring one would be a deep gash on its neck, probably from a bite of another wolf.


    ''Did it fight the boss and escape?'' Jash believed it made sense as boss monsters couldn''t exit their specific areas.


    As if to prove his conjecture to be true, an enraged howl echoed soon after.


    ¡ªAWOOO! AWOOO!


    The wolf whose eyes were reddened with madness regained a little bit of clarity as its body involuntarily shuddered hearing the incessant howling.


    Noticing this, Jash immediately came to a conclusion, ''Its current fighting capability should be around the threshold of E-Rank.''


    Turning to face Caera, he asked, "Caera, you wanted to fight it, right? Go for it!"


    As he said that, he unstrapped his daggers along with their scabbards and threw them in her direction.


    Stunned by his sudden voice, she broke out of her reverie and thought what nonsense was he spouting.


    Until he threw his daggers out of the blue and she immediately caught them.


    "Are you crazy?" she called him out for his absurd behavior.


    "Huh? No! I can''t move and it wants to kill me! Aren''t you supposed to protect me? Plus, you also get to fight it, just as you wished."


    Jash shrugged his shoulders as he couldn''t comprehend her two-sided way of doing things.


    Despite knowing what he meant, she still found herself tongue-tied as she looked at the daggers in her hands.


    "Are you sure about giving these daggers? They will corrode," Caera asked, wanting to confirm it.


    "Oh yea!" Jash facepalmed before adding sternly, "I forgot, don''t get them dirty!"


    His warning left her speechless, though.


    At this time, his sword and her daggers had already melted and corroded due to attacking the slimy leeches.


    If not for this set of daggers being of a higher grade, they would have suffered the same fate.


    Shaking her head at his antics, Caera just strapped them in place of where she previously strapped her daggers.


    Before moving, she took out a bow and aimed it toward the wolf, taking out a different arrow from her usual ones.


    The wolf finally took note of her as she channeled her mana into both the arrow and the bow.


    ¡ªGrrr!


    It took one step closer but stopped due to the presence of Emma and Kesha.


    The two had remained quiet throughout the exchange between the twins as they focused on pressing down the wolf with their mana.


    If they hadn''t done it, the wolf would have already charged at Jash due to its berserk state.


    Alas, its instincts were quite heightened and warned it of not going against these two weak-looking two-legged creatures.


    The two obviously felt the mana in the atmosphere stir near Caera and didn''t engage the wolf themselves.


    It was already quite injured and the twins could''ve taken care of it if not for the sudden ambush.


    Aiming the silver-golden arrowhead with yellow designs all over it, Caera felt her mana drain at a rapid pace.


    ¡ªGrrrr!


    The wolf growled, feeling threatened at the sight of golden tendrils of lightning around the arrow.


    Jash, on the other hand, observed everything calmly as he tried to get a feel for what went wrong with his legs.


    Looking at Caera just about to shoot, he praised inwardly, ''Lighting enchanted arrow? A good choice.''


    He nodded to himself, ignoring the fact it could very well get dispersed towards other creatures due to the pool.


    ''As long as she pierces through its flesh, it''s as good as dead,'' he mused, ignoring the difficulty of the situation. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, Caera wasn''t a pure mage.


    Calling her a Ranged Battlemage would be more appropriate.


    A Battlemage in general was a type of mage who would also fight in melees with great control and proficiency over such weapons.


    They directly reduced the burden of protecting them from their allies and could even go for solo hunts.


    Naturally, one needed intrinsic talent for becoming one as comprehending the different fighting style wasn''t easy.


    Especially when even learning the basic mage spells required some degree of talent and mana control.


    During her learning phase of being a mage, Sera found out that Caera had a talent for being a Battlemage.


    And she couldn''t be happier as her training with the bow wouldn''t go wasted, so she decided to follow this path!


    A Battlemage was a rare talent, and such people were always in demand to the point they easily got scouted by the Hunter Association or other top employers.

 Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Mortal Dilemma

    ¡ªBzzt!


    Lightning crackled around the arrow as Caera released it, and within a second, it was already in front of the berserk wolf.


    The wolf had kept its entire focus on the arrow; yet, all it could see was a blur approaching it.


    It instinctively dodged the arrow but the speed caught the wolf off-guard, allowing it to scrape against its furless cheek and side.


    As soon as the lightning came into contact with its skin, it penetrated deep into the wolf''s body, electrocuting its insides.


    ¡ªGrrr! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though it dodged the direct hit, the lingering lightning made it whimper in pain as it moved its body around to get rid of it.


    The arrow that it dodged finally lodged in the cavern wall before it crumbled apart, leaving behind a charred area.


    All enchanted arrows crumpled to dust, becoming one-time use items and the reason they weren''t well-liked.


    But it wasn''t like there was no way around it.


    If one reached a high enough rank, they could create arrows of their own mana and elemental affinity without having to worry about their usability.


    It was just that Caera was far from that level as of now, but that didn''t mean she didn''t have good instincts.


    ''Success!'' she nodded internally at the first step of her plan working as she immediately dashed towards the wolf unimpeded.


    The wolf remained unaware of her swift movements as it focused on its agony and how to end it as fast as possible.


    Suddenly, its instincts warned of danger and it moved out of the way.


    At its previous location, a dagger slashed nothing but air.


    "It missed," Jash blurted out, observing the scene with intrigue.


    He hadn''t expected Caera''s arrow to miss due to his overestimation of her abilities, but that wasn''t without reason.


    Her performance up until now was praiseworthy, if one ignored how Jash fought after unshackling himself to finish things fast.


    "That''s a nice ability! When did she learn it?" Jash muttered in surprise, wide-eyed at the sight.


    After the wolf dodged Caera''s attacks, it tried to slash at her, but she too evaded skillfully, trying to inflict damage on it.


    Finally, after a plethora of rounds of attacks and dodges, she struck true to the wolf''s flank.


    As the dagger got impaled, she let go of it and jumped back by kicking on its hilt, pushing it deeper.


    Alas, that wasn''t the end.


    She used her mana and fire element to put the lone dagger on fire, but its blade remained unharmed due to its high quality.


    Naturally, she knew they weren''t just some random pair of daggers, given who they came from.


    As if it was something to be proud of, Jash had a smug expression on his face, oblivious to Emma''s funny face.


    ''Hmph! That''s my daggers! Mine!'' Jash praised arrogantly, letting his narcissistic side takeover for a split second.


    However, he immediately cringed inwardly at his own words. ''She was right. I really need to close down on those things.''


    If Caera knew what was on Jash''s mind, she would no doubt come at him with the dagger instead of the wolf.


    There she was, fighting the wolf with her life on the line, and he was here making stupid jokes and cringing over them!


    Luckily for him, Caera had no no free time to pay any attention to him, fully focused on the crazed wolf.


    Despite the impaled dagger and the other blazing dagger, the wolf remained steadfast, growling in rage as it swung its claw at Caera''s abdomen.


    Alarm bells rang inside her head as it was her first time fighting a monster with reckless abandon.


    "It''s dangerous!" Jash shouted, noting the recklessness of the wolf to at least injure Caera heavily, even at the cost of its own life.


    That was the toughest enemy one could ever end up fighting.


    One might remain wary of those with good or bad intentions, but what about crazy people who had nothing to lose and no care for any gains?


    The wolf was exactly that kind of enemy!


    Fortunately, Caera was no slouch and had practiced extensively, unlike a certain someone relying on their past life memories and experiences.


    She didn''t withdraw her attack entirely but used the blazing dagger to deflect it and gain some distance.


    ¡ªTnng!


    A sound of metal clanging against metal seemingly echoed, making Jash extremely uncomfortable yet it did the work.


    Some fur around the wolf''s paw got incinerated before it instantaneously quenched it in the crimson water, giving rise to steam.


    ''Impressive,'' Jash mused, observing the fight carefully while recovering his mana passively.


    His focus was diverted yet he could see the outcome as clear as day.


    The wolf was on its last legs since it had been nearly an hour from the first time they met. It was even having a hard time standing straight.


    Unfortunately, Caera wasn''t in her best state either.


    She was exhausted and the numerous small cuts and injuries only worsened the situation for her.


    ''She should win,'' Jash thought to himself, believing in her potential.


    ''There''s no way someone destined to be a Heroine would lose so easily,'' he lamented her fate as a heroine.


    Sadly, he couldn''t deny its advantages and allowed him the ability to guess much more accurately.


    And just as he predicted, the wolf fell after a few more exchanges as its skin burned, wounds cauterized and fur incinerated.


    Still, it was alive.


    It drowned in the crimson pool as it couldn''t stand on its three limbs. The fourth one was severed by Caera.


    Although the battle was brutal, Jash had a different opinion.


    "Caera, finish it! What are you waiting for?" he shouted, wanting to test her mettle.


    "But..." she hesitated to do it and bit her lip before she finally muttered, "It''s stopping too low..."


    "What kind of dumb thought is that? It was ready to fatally injure you even at the cost of its life! There is no need for any sympathy!"


    Hearing the quiver in her tone, Jash felt fully enraged. ''How can she be so soft? That would only get her killed!''


    ''No, it might be worse. On the verge of death, that darned protagonist will save her while showing her the flawed way, and she will become enamored with him?''


    Just the thought of it disgusted Jash to no end as he hardened his resolve to push her, but Emma''s voice brought him to reality.


    "Young Master..."


    "What?" Jash lashed out. "Do you think what I am saying is wrong? Aren''t you two hunters as well? Tell me if I am wrong!"


    Despite their inner wish to help Caera, they found themself in a steep hole, unable to choose as his words were indeed correct.


    However, the sudden change in his attitude and his anger shocked the trio completely.


    With hesitant, unsteady steps and slightly moist eyes, Caera reached the wolf''s body.


    She raised the dagger, but she just couldn''t thrust it inside the dying wolf.


    ''Is this her limit?'' Jash wondered, having calmed down in the precious moments of silence that followed.


    "Forget it, Caera. Don''t do it if you can''t," he declared with a sigh of resignation, not wanting to break her vulnerable heart.


    Hearing him, Caera had mixed feelings in her heart. Both relief and disappointment washed over her.


    Unable to make a decision, she bit her lower lip until blood leaked out as she stood in the same position.


    Should she follow her mind or her heart?


    She didn''t know and would never even get the time to make a decision.

 Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Dungeon Escape

    Just as Caera relaxed her complicated expression, a splash of red water caught her attention, causing her to miss the ominous pair of red eyes.


    The red eyes glinted with ferocity as the half-dead wolf made a last-ditch effort to take Caera down with it.


    ¡ªBam!


    Before it could even take a step forward, Emma reacted in less than a microsecond, utilizing her speed and precision to blast away the wolf.


    Her wind elemental affinity was at full display as the entire crimson pool got pulled along the wolf due to the immense air pressure.


    The wolf didn''t even know what hit it as it died, leaving Caera frozen in place.


    All of this happened so fast that Jash and Caera couldn''t even see it.


    By the time they blinked, everything was finished, with Kesha holding Caera, who clutched her stomach.


    The feral sight of the wolf along with the close sensation of death had terrified her.


    If not treated in time, it might even give rise to a long-term trauma, but that wasn''t what mattered now.


    She wasn''t in the right state of mind to understand anything or even talk as beads of tears fell from her closed eyes.


    "Y... M..."


    "Y...u...g M...t...r!"


    "Young Master!"


    "Huh? Yeah? What?" Jash blurted out as soon as he came out of his reverie.


    His eyes immediately scanned the pristine clean appearance of Emma opposite him before involuntarily shifting to Caera. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He immediately flinched at her current state and couldn''t connect the dots as everything happened too fast for him.


    After giving up on forcing her against her wish, he had his head down. Despite this, his sharp senses gave him a rough idea of what happened.


    Alas, that wasn''t enough.


    He wondered in confusion, ''Just... what happened here?''


    "Young Master!" Emma called out to him for the nth time.


    "Uh, yeah?"


    "We should leave. Now!" Emma chided him slightly due to his absent minded state but sighed in relief as he nodded.


    Shaking his head to clear any lingering feelings, he walked to Caera. ''We can''t stay here anymore...''


    ''It''s better to get out before something worse happens,'' he told himself as he gently patted Caera''s trembling shoulders.


    Noting how she flinched from the slightest touch, he thought, ''She''s traumatized. This won''t be easy.''


    Jash felt guilty for her current condition because if he had stayed quiet and let the wolf bleed out to death, nothing would''ve gone wrong.


    It was his own impulsiveness and rash decisions that led to this situation, which he realized a few minutes too late.


    "Caera," he called out to her but upon hearing no response, he frowned. ''It''s useless.''


    Even though Jash had previous life''s memories, he was no insensitive jerk that would trouble a person who''s down.


    He took a different approach than shouting at her.


    "It''s fine, Caera. Nothing happened. Okay, something did happen but it''s fine," he consoled her, rubbing her slouching shoulders lightly.


    Unfortunately, he got no response.


    ''What to do now? We have to leave too.'' His face scrunched slightly as he turned to look at Emma and Kesha for help.


    The two were nearby and nodded at him.


    "I apologize in advance, Young Miss," Kesha whispered in a low voice before hitting the back of her head.


    Caera''s head jerked with confusion and fear before she lost consciousness.


    "Did you just... knock her out?" Jash blurted out, dumbfounded by the barbaric method. "I don''t know what I was expecting, but it was definitely not that."


    "That was the best method, Young Master," Emma answered in Kesha''s stead as she inched closer to Jash.


    "Oi, oi! I am perfectly fine! Don''t you knock me out!" He instantly switched his position, looking at Emma as if they were mortal enemies.


    Emma barely stifled her smile as she coughed awkwardly, "Ahem. Young Master, you misunderstand me. I was just trying to help you."


    It was, in fact, true. All she wanted to do was make sure Jash didn''t have a breakdown and start blaming himself as she herself did.


    Luckily, it seemed Jash didn''t have such a feeble mentality, which was another strange point to him.


    One way or another, he ended up exposing himself at multiple places, leaving subtle cues for anyone to piece together the incongruities in his personality.


    Unaware of the many suspicions rising within Emma''s mind, he ignored her dubious behavior, saying, "Let''s go."


    With Kesha carrying Caera and Emma being on the lookout, they easily arrived at their entry point after following Jash''s pace.


    All it took for them to return was a little over an hour.


    "Well, that was quick... and anticlimactic," Jash commented, looking at the portal they entered from.


    Emma and Kesha just nodded as they hadn''t released their A-Rank pressure at Jash''s behest.


    He wanted to try fighting if he could, but as it turns out there were no monsters left in this dungeon.


    ''I want to come here again,'' Jash thought to himself, planning a probable way to prohibit entry into this dungeon.


    "Emma, is there a way to stop other hunters from entering this dungeon? I think Caera would need to enter it again to solve her trauma."


    "Uhm, Young Master, I can pass on the order to temporarily seal it, but it won''t work until..." Emma trailed off at the end of the sentence.


    "Just do that then," he nodded, not minding her refusal,


    That was just the first step either way.


    Getting permission from his parents to enter this specific dungeon would most likely be the major task.


    He stopped right in front of the portal before giving a last longing glance, muttering to himself, "See you soon..."


    Emma and Kesha had already stepped out as Jash was the one in the front and he abruptly stopped, prompting them to re-enter.


    Fortunately, they froze in their spots due to mountainous pressure overwhelming them as an overbearing voice echoed, "What happened inside the dungeon?"


    Back inside the dungeon, Jash remained unaware of the misunderstanding he caused.


    Shaking his head to get rid of his regret, he stepped into the shimmering blue portal, making him lose his senses.


    A huge wave of mana rushed towards him and he found himself in a temporary daze before seeing the blurry figures of the security team.


    Blinking his eyes rapidly to get rid of his muddle-headed state, the first thing he notices was the temporary camp that was set up outside the dungeon gate.


    ''Hmm?'' He was confused at the sight of all the security personnel surrounding the dungeon gate.


    Instinctively, his eyes turned to look for Emma, Kesha, and Caera.


    ''At least they are fine,'' he noted and felt relieved before his eyes narrowed as he observed the maid sisters'' expressions.


    Not only them, but everyone was looking at him with strange expressions.


    ''Just what happened?'' he asked himself in confusion, but it all cleared up as he felt a mana pulse.


    "Who?" he asked, curious about the one scanning him as he couldn''t locate them.


    "It is me, Young Master. I was notified of an anomaly in the dungeon you and the Young Miss entered," the man explained as he landed on the ground near Jash.


    ''So overwhelming!''


    That was all Jash could think of as the mana pressure the man emanated was too much for him, even though the man was actually actively refraining from harming anyone.

 Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Sealed Dungeon

    Outside the dungeon, the security team members anxiously awaited the dungeon gate''s fluctuation.


    Only the SS-Rank hunter remained in the sky, observing the proceedings with a frown.


    The sudden anomaly baffled him, causing grave concern since he was unable to figure out anything regarding it despite his extensive experience.


    Luckily, the wait didn''t last long.


    Five hours since his arrival here, the dungeon gate fluctuated, teleporting three figures outside.


    The SS-Rank hunter''s eyes narrowed as he quickly identified them, but his expression hardened in the next second.


    His emotional turmoil caused an unconscious release of his mana pressure, which barely harmed anyone and only pressurized them.


    "What happened inside the dungeon?" he asked in an overbearing tone.


    He had already accounted for Caera''s condition and the absence of Jash when he inquired, controlling his mana.


    Just before Emma or Kesha could open their mouths, another ripple appeared on the blue-green-purple gate, teleporting Jash out.


    Immediately, the tense atmosphere calmed as he appeared mostly fine with minor flesh wounds.


    Even Caera''s injuries weren''t much, allowing just a few days of rest to heal her up, if not for her unconscious state.


    That was the root cause of the SS-Rank hunter''s presumptuous behavior, which calmed down soon as he floated down to show himself.


    As soon as Jash regained his bearings after being surprised due to the thick mana pressure, he squinted his eyes.


    "Tell me about this so-called anomaly," Jash asked, intrigued about it, but turned to face Caera, "Emma, Kesh, you both make sure Caera is fine."


    Seeing them nod, he turned back to the SS-Rank hunter and calmly said, "Start."


    It was an astonishing sight to witness a F-Rank hunter remain calm in front of an SS-Rank hunter despite their obvious hierarchy.


    There were even times when sensitive lower ranked hunters fainted due to the overwhelming mana pressure high ranked hunters conveyed.


    It was something akin to a trait that couldn''t be hidden unless one actively pursued such a path, like an assassin, thief, rogue, or some other.


    "As you wish, Young Master," the SS-Rank hunter replied despite his surprise.


    "I was returning to the main estate when I felt a disturbance in the mana and got a notification of a dungeon defect, so I immediately arrived here."


    "Wait," Jash interrupted him and requested, "Do mom and dad already know? And what''s your name and position?"


    Understanding the point, the SS-Rank hunter nodded. "Yes, the Master and Lady are both aware of it."


    "To answer your second question, my name is Theodore and I am one of the three Security Heads."


    "Oh? So you are the third one I have never met!" Jash felt that it made sense and gestured for Theodore to continue.


    He began without any pause, "As soon as I arrived, I noticed the gate was a mix of three colors, but it was much more nuanced than now."


    Following his gesture, Jash finally took a good look at the blue gate he had entered the dungeon through, only to frown in confusion.


    "What is this? Since when did gates become a mixture of colors?" he asked in bewilderment.


    Unfortunately, he got no response as everyone present shared his bewilderment.


    "That I do not know, Young Master. But the gate simply prohibited any entry from F-Rank to Integration-Rank, excluding myself," Theodore concluded.


    ''Hmm. Could this be the effect because of my past life?'' Jash thought and tried to put it into practice.


    He turned to face Theodore, "Try sending those hunters inside again. See if it''s still restricted."


    Theodore nodded, instantaneously pointing out the ones to try entering, but to his surprise, the same scenario repeated itself. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What?" Theodore couldn''t help but exclaim in utter confusion.


    Meanwhile, Jash secretly nodded to himself, ''As expected.''


    Without waiting, he tried to enter the dungeon... and got repelled.


    ''What...? This makes no sense!'' he was left utterly confused by the strange occurrence.


    According to him, it should have allowed him entry, but it didn''t.


    ''Wait a second,'' he thought as if a sudden idea came to him. ''Could it be because the sword hilt is not with me?''


    That was all he could come up with. Unfortunately, he couldn''t test it now as Caera remained unconscious.


    "Anyway, Theodore," Jash called him out suddenly, ordering, "Prohibit anyone from entering the premises around the dungeon. Not that anyone can enter the dungeon itself."


    Theodore nodded and left to make proper procedures to seal the area, ordering the security team to evacuate the people in close-by regions, if any.


    The hunters consisting of the security team were trained with the sole purpose to guard the Ramille Family and protect their interests.


    Thus, Theodore obeyed Jash despite being much more powerful than Jash.


    Usually, only Carcel could order them around as he was the Family Head and held the Duke title.


    Sera too could order them, but her orders would remain secondary to the Family Head''s in case of a conflicting order.


    After all, all of them were people who were bound by a mana oath contract from a young age.


    Since they were mostly orphans with no backing, they had no surname and only served the Ramille Family without the slightest thought of betrayal.


    Simply because mana oaths couldn''t be broken due to their complexity and would alert Carcel the moment one of them even had a thought of betrayal.


    That''s why only High Nobility and other people of equivalent status were even allowed to bound people with Mana Oaths in the first place.


    These were different from how Cornelius bound Andrew to keep quiet about Jash. That was a mana contract.


    Both of them functioned on mana but differed significantly in their principles. Mana Contracts did have loopholes and punishments instead of limitations.


    Mana oaths alerted the other party but didn''t force execute punishments, just limiting their ability to divulge.


    All these complex machinations were developed because slavery was not allowed in this world.


    No matter who it was or how much power they wielded, if it became known that such a person dabbled in slavery, nothing else mattered anymore.


    They would face heavy criticism from the masses as well as other major powers to the point of even destroying such despicable people.


    It all started hundreds of years ago when other races appeared in their world as slavery became the norm amongst other races and their own.


    During the initial years of distrust within races, nothing changed before the only female ruler ascended the throne of Solarnelle Empire.


    She brought about many reforms, and banning slavery was just one of them.


    But the major role was forming a Council of Races consisting of all the major power holders in the world.


    It was a requirement to enact certain rules and regulations for everyone to follow, or the world would become nothing but a thug''s world.


    Well, she was hailed as the second coming of Adonis Solarnelle, so there was no end to her achievements and glory.


    ''What was her name again?'' Jash asked himself as he recalled the information regarding the security team and got distracted.


    "Whatever, who cares. I don''t even know if that''s the truth or not," Jash mumbled to himself as he was already at his destination.


    A car.


    After all, they were heading home despite Caera''s unconscious state, as the Ramille couple had summoned them after receiving an account of everything.

 Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Silent Reflections

    Jash sat alone inside the car awaiting the arrival of Kesha and Emma after performing emergency treatment for Caera.


    His eyes fluttered shut involuntarily as he couldn''t resist the fatigue for too long.


    ''Not now,'' he told himself and instead chose to pinch the back of his hand.


    The pain helped him remain awake as he chose to assess the damage that he had suffered from going beyond his limits.


    He channeled his mana circulation technique, and his expression scrunched up due to the stinging pain.


    "Phew." His expression eased as the pain reduced with every cycle, allowing him to feel better.


    Although he could still feel some pain around his mana core from overloading it, it wouldn''t cause him much trouble in the long run.


    ''My current condition does not require an immediate potion to heal the numerous small injuries that I sustained in the dungeon run.''


    He was well aware of his improved healing speed and calculated the time required to heal completely. ''At most a day or two.''


    "Not that bad," Jash muttered as he kept his eyes shut and relaxed on the comfy car seat. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was thoroughly impressed at the result of employing a technique from his past life with one he learned in this life. The way it worked was nothing short of extraordinary


    To this date, he followed the mana circulation technique that his grandfather Inigo taught him, saving him from any questioning.


    However, this time wasn''t so simple.


    Even if he did use the same technique, his method of employment changed to a far advanced stage, something unique to his constitution.


    ''If only I could use the one from my past life,'' Jash thought, feeling helpless.


    He didn''t really know where that technique came from, but it just seemed to suit him much better.


    "Only the phrase perfection itself can define it," he mumbled to himself, drowning in the memories.


    Alas, it just wasn''t possible for him to use it.


    ''At least I have this one,'' Jash sighed, thinking back to how bad the other techniques were.


    After all, his current technique was just a toned-down version of something used by one of the apex hunters in the world.


    It couldn''t be compared to any other technique available for him.


    Well, anyone who had an SSS-Rank hunter once in their family would have access to such techniques, that is, if they left their heritage behind.


    So, it wasn''t really that great of an advantage unless one accounted for his wider mana channels.


    Absurd was the right word for it.


    Suddenly, the noise of the car door opening broke him out of his reverie.


    ¡ªClick!


    Turning to face his left, Jash opened his eyes to the sight of Caera being supported by Kesha and Emma.


    ''She''s awake, at least,'' he noted, observing her slightly shivering body, trembling lips and her eyes darted around, blinking rapidly and shifting nervously from side to side.


    Her face clearly reflected her discomfort and anxiety; a reminder of the trauma that was still fresh in her mind, not something easily shaken off.


    Seeing her distress and understanding her condition, he chose to stay silent while she settled into the car with Kesha''s help.


    Jash looked at Caera, who was holding Kesha''s hand and unwilling to let go, forcing Kesha to sit next to her.


    "Let''s leave," Jash instructed the driver after Emma settled in the front passenger seat.


    His calm facade barely retained its effectiveness as Caera trembled, even at the touch of the seat belt.


    Yet he didn''t know what to say, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly, unable to formulate the correct words for this situation.


    As if catering to his dilemma, his memories came flooding at the perfect moment, guiding him with the solution he needed.


    "Caera," he called softly, respecting her need for space and waiting for her to meet his gaze.


    When she looked up, he continued, "I know that encounter was terrifying and left you shaken¡ªit probably felt like you were staring death in the face."


    Noticing her flinch at his words, his tone softened further. "It''s normal to feel this way after such a close call."


    Despite his comforting words, they seemed to bounce off Caera, who appeared to have built a shell around herself.


    All he received in response was Caera nervously biting her lips, struggling to maintain eye contact as her eyes mirrored the lingering horror.


    ''Just what do I do?'' Jash could only ask himself, hoping for another guidance, but he received none.


    The lack thereof seemed to indicate that he needed to rely on his own words¡ªwords that were his own, not from the past, but the present.


    Hesitating on whether to say what he had in mind or not, he finally broke the awkward silence.


    "It''s fine to take your time, just don''t dwell over it again and again," he advised, based on his personal understanding of her character.


    Caera finally nodded slightly in response, prompting Jash to face the window on his right.


    The car ride remained silent for a few seconds as it moved back into the city.


    "J-jash," Caera called him, stuttering slightly, but he immediately responded.


    "Yes?"


    "So-some se-security t-team hunters a-are mis-sing," Caera shifted her attention to the outside and asked with a shaky voice.


    "They are sealing the dungeon on my order," Jash coolly replied to her question.


    Taking note of her confusion, Jash nodded and explained before she troubled herself to ask.


    "There was some unseen anomaly in the dungeon and also because I think it''ll be a necessary step for you to re-enter it to conquer your fear."


    Caera visibly stiffened at the mere mention of the re-entering the dungeon, but Jash ignored it.


    ''It should be temporary,'' he believed with all his heart and hoped for that to be the case.


    Although curious, Caera refrained from asking further about the dungeon, wanting nothing more than to bury her trauma with it.


    The rest of the ride remained silent with occasional comforting by Kesha.


    Finally, the car arrived at the Ramille Estate, specifically the family mansion, and all of them got out.


    Jash desperately wanted to rest a bit because his body was tired, even though he appeared fine from outside.


    ''I also need to shower,'' he thought and faced the three, "I am going to my room. Take care of her, Kesha."


    "I will," Kesha nodded in determination, but Jash''s eyes focused on Caera''s vulnerable form before he turned and left without another word.


    He still needed a bath because he was covered in the blood of the wolves and leeches.


    ''This nano armor was designed to make sure no lingering residue was left yet it doesn''t work too well,'' he noted in displeasure.


    However, if not for its futuristic features, the ride home itself would have become impossible since the stench of monster blood was strong and unpleasant.


    As soon as he reached his room, he didn''t care and directly entered the shower.


    Every drop of water against his skin made him wince from the numerous small injuries.


    The method he used was quite extreme, so it was natural for his body to be unaccustomed to it.


    In fact, he could bear the pain, but his sensitive nerves made it hard for him to remain indifferent in their face.


    For the first time, he took a quick shower so as not to aggravate his wounds and rest as soon as possible.


    "So tiring," he muttered as he yawned, forgetting everything else as he exited the shower and instantly lay flat on his bed.


    It was still afternoon by the time they had returned, so he decided to sleep until dinner. ''It''ll be annoying to make up some excuse anyway...''


    His body needed rest, fatigued, he quickly fell asleep.

 Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Dreaded Dinner

    As Jash slept, his body twitched, causing his face to scrunch up in discomfort.


    "Hooo... haah... haaa..."


    Jash suddenly got up from his bed, waking up from his dream as he heavily panted for air.


    Reflexively, his hand reached his forehead as a slight headache assaulted him, "Arghhh!"


    To his surprise, it was gone just a few seconds later. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''What just happened?'' he wondered, his hazy eyes darting around the room in confusion.


    Finally, he got up from his bed and walked to the balcony, hoping to clear his mind by taking deep breaths of fresh air.


    "Fuuuu..."


    "Haaaa..."


    After many cycles of breathing, Jash felt calm and returned to his room. ''Did I have a nightmare?'' he wondered.


    He couldn''t quite recall what transpired after he slept and shook his head to get rid of his troubled thoughts.


    "How long did I sleep?" Jash muttered, his eyes instinctively turned to look at the clock, finding it was almost 7 PM in the evening.


    "It''s already dinner time!?" he exclaimed in surprise, hurriedly changing his clothes as his current ones were soaked in sweat.


    He left his room and saw Emma standing alert next to his room''s door.


    "Hmm? Did something happen?" Jash asked Emma, noting her unusual expression.


    "Ah, that," Emma felt tongue-tied for a second before continuing, "Lady Sera has arrived and wanted to meet you when you woke up."


    "Okay," he said calmly, but only he knew how nervous and anxious he felt at the moment.


    ''I don''t know what kind of nightmare I had, but I sure as hell am going to have one even when I am awake soon.''


    Jash shivered as his own thoughts turned against him, making him fear the awaited confrontation.


    "Uhm, Young Master," Emma interrupted Jash''s internal musings as he turned to face her with a questioning look.


    "Young Miss didn''t want to leave her room, so Lady Sera visited her..."


    Jash didn''t mind her trailing off at the end of the sentence, her words served more than enough as a warning. "I see."


    Unable to shake off the uneasy feeling, Jash walked downstairs and headed towards the dining room where he saw no one.


    "Huh? Where is everyone?" he asked, baffled by the food served on the empty table.


    ''Whatever. Maybe they are with Caera,'' he made a wild guess and chose to sit on his designated seat.


    His silent wait didn''t last long.


    Soon, Sera arrived wearing a black suit. She had just arrived from the office and hadn''t changed yet.


    As soon as she returned, she heard everything much more clearly and rushed to Caera''s room after she refused to leave her room.


    Unaware of the background things, Jash felt a chill run down his spine.


    ''Her mood seems off,'' he noted, seeing Sera''s frigid expression.


    "Care to explain?" She asked in a cold, detached voice.


    Jash met her gaze and nervously gulped his saliva, saying "What?"


    "I heard you both went into the boss area of the dungeon despite signs of an anomaly," Sera said.


    But her tone turned into one of scolding as she continued, "Jash, I''m proud of your talent, but there''s a fine line between being daring and foolish."


    "And such carelessness has led to the demise of countless geniuses." Carcel completed her sentence, appearing from behind her.


    For them, Jash was indeed a genius. His talent had shown his capabilities so far, but as his parents, they couldn''t help but worry.


    He was still a 14-year-old child, after all.


    He might act mature, but he was still a child who would continue to make mistakes and learn from them.


    In the end, it was their job as parents to ensure Jash understood the risk.


    "It was her who wanted-" Jash tried to argue, only to shut up as Caera arrived. ''What perfect timing!''


    He was already feeling guilty inside, so there was no way he would shift the blame on her, at least not now.


    "It wasn''t supposed to have an anomaly, and we had good team coordination. Besides, both Emma and Kesha were following us."


    Jash just spoke the truth, not wanting to argue about it meaninglessly. He couldn''t just say that he wasn''t a child and that it would''ve been safe.


    ''If only I didn''t force her,'' Jash regretted inwardly, but his determination quickly overtook his regret.


    ''No! It''s better this way. At least that scum won''t have this chance to get closer to her!'' he had long resolved to keep Caera away from that guy.


    On the other hand, Sera misunderstood the blazing determination in his eyes to be a sign of defiance.


    She sighed and took a seat along with Carcel and Caera, but refrained from saying anything further.


    "By the way, how''s she feeling?" Jash changed the topic as the silence irked him for some reason.


    "Not much better," Sera muttered, though her eyes were glued to Caera, who had her head hung low.


    "It''s no big deal. Everyone suffers from setbacks one way or another, but what matters is learning and improving from the experience," Carcel remarked firmly.


    Sera nodded at his remark, wholeheartedly agreeing with it.


    However, her eyes squinted at Jash, who had just started to place some food on his plate before it was served.


    "Ahem," he coughed awkwardly after her fierce glare. "Mom, that''s so unfair!"


    "Is that so?" she jeered, cocking an eyebrow in intrigue.


    Unfortunately, Jash swallowed his complaints and went quiet, inwardly irritated. ''Just serve the food already!''


    He was literally starving after the tiring day, given how he had basically not eaten anything since the morning.


    "Alright, alright. No need to make that face. And Sera, you should stop teasing him," Carcel intervened, trying to stop their argument.


    Luckily, it worked.


    "By the way, why did you seal the dungeon? You couldn''t even enter it, right?" Carcel tried to make small talk till the food was served.


    "Not just me, no one at the site could. It was strange. Too strange, in fact." Jash had a hard time explaining it appropriately.


    "Well, father has gone to check it out, so maybe you''ll get some results," Carcel added, trying to ease the atmosphere.


    "That''d be great. Then we can re-enter and conquer it, right? Caera?" Jash dragged her into the conversation, startling her.


    She had been looking down at her empty plate, fiddling with the cutlery, trying to minimize her presence, she wasn''t expecting any attention.


    "No! None of you is entering any dungeon!"


    Surprisingly, it was Sera who directly prohibited their entry into any dungeon.


    Before Jash or Carcel could rebut her, the food was served and she used it as an excuse, "Just focus on eating. No chit-chat during mealtime, remember?"


    ''Tsk. What kind of rule is that? We are a ducal family!'' Jash cursed inwardly, but quietly began the meal.


    It was a tradition he didn''t want to break. He shivered at the mere thought of breaking it.


    The last time he did it was an accident, and he was just a 5-year-old kid, yet the scolding from that day was still vivid to him.


    With no other option, the family quietly finished dinner in peace with Sera feeding Caera a bit forcefully.


    ''Her mood is terrible, and it will impact her diet,'' Jash thought, but he didn''t dare voice it out.


    Finally, the meal ended and the first thing he did was say, "Mom, I personally would like nothing more than not having to go into dungeons."


    His words confused her, seeming contradictory to his previous statement, though it aligned with his personality.


    Observing her expression, he smiled. "You were the one to suggest the dungeon raid in the first place, no?"


    "So, after going through it, it isn''t enticing anymore. It was boring and brought about a risk for no reason! Hence, no more dungeon raids!"


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo!~


    It''s been a while, I guess?


    As you all know, this novel participated in June WPC, and it won!!


    Amazing, right?


    This is all thanks to all the support and love from you, dear readers!


    So, Thank you!!


    Also, the book will soon enter premium, so I hope that you can continue to support it in any way you can!

 Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Enlightenment

    Jash had weighed his words throughout the dinner before speaking his mind, as they were his true innermost thoughts.


    ''If not for all the crap in this world, I''d much rather spend my time enjoying life lazily,'' he thought delusionally.


    In essence, he was still the same lazy guy but with knowledge he''d much rather not have.


    ''As the famous quote goes: there is nothing more accursed than knowledge in this accursed world,'' he reiterated to himself.


    "Jash, what do you mean? Not raiding dungeons will stagnate your progress!!" Carcel chided, bitter at Jash''s lack of conviction.


    "Mom said no. And honestly, I don''t like this whole concept of raiding. It feels too barbaric," Jash refuted with a distant look.


    His expression seemed to resemble that of a person looking back at their past to reflect on their actions over the course of their life.


    "Ugh. Fine! You can go into dungeons," Sera said, unable to let the father-son pair gaslight her any longer.


    Before they could rejoice, however, she quickly added, "But only after Caera reaches the Orange Mana Core. Also, you need to take more guards with you."


    Her verdict left both Carcel and Jash helpless as they really couldn''t be happy, but it was still a step forward.


    As if recalling something, Carcel said, "Honey, not many hunters can enter dungeons of low ranks, won''t it be difficult?"


    "Yes, Mom! Kesha and Emma are enough!" Jash remarked, interrupting Sera before she could even disagree.


    "...Alright." She finally relented with a hesitant expression, but not before shooting her husband a sharp glare.


    Being the recipient, he stiffened involuntarily as he had sided with Jash, misunderstanding him as a battle lover just like he was.


    In fact, he was far from that.


    ''Finally, I got what I wanted. Now time to leave,'' Jash smiled to himself, feeling glad that it all worked out in the end.


    Unfortunately, he had a bad premonition in the next instant as he felt his mother''s eyes turn to him.


    "By the way, I heard that you used some different form of movements inside the dungeon all of a sudden?"


    ''Damn! Why now!?'' Jash cursed his bad luck as his smile froze in response to her words.


    She seemed to be simply curious, while Carcel was far too intrigued by it and had been wanting to see it in training himself.


    "Uhm, it''s nothing Mom," Jash said, trying to get away with it, but how could it be so easy?


    "What do you mean nothing? You fought E-Rank leeches using it!" Carcel butted into the conversation.


    "Although they are one of the weakest and can even be defeated by many F-Rank hunters, you faced a bunch of them."


    ''Ugh. Just what do I say?'' Jash felt muddleheaded at the situation, unable to formulate a plausible excuse for his technique.


    "I don''t know, it just happened. I really don''t know, okay?" He blurted out in the heat of the moment under their stares.


    However, his random blabbering had far-reaching effects, something he didn''t think possible.


    Sera had her eyes widened for a split second but she instantly composed herself, unlike Carcel who had his eyes and jaws wide open.


    "Just... j-just what did you say!?" he stuttered and exclaimed at the same time, excited at the prospect of it.


    "Ah, w-what? I just-"


    "No, no, no, what did you say!?" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That I don''t know!"


    Hearing the same words again reaffirmed Carcel as he turned to face Sera and muttered, "Could it be...?"


    His excitement was palpable as he had a proud expression, and the smile on his face was almost infectious, even affecting the dumbfounded Caera.


    She had refrained from participating in any of the conversations, whether they involved her or not.


    But even she felt interested at her father''s actions, prompting her to mumble in a low tone, "Just what could it be...?"


    Sera, sitting next to Caera, naturally heard it with her extreme senses and a small smile appeared on her face as she nodded.


    "Yes, it is most likely an enlightenment," she explained for the clueless twins, who only grew more puzzled at the new term.


    "Ahahahahahahah," Carcel laughed boastfully. "He sure is my son!"


    Sadly, no one gave him any attention at the moment as the twins were waiting for an explanation from Sera.


    ''Enlightenment? Isn''t that from those cultivation novels?'' Jash wondered in intrigue, the concept foreign yet familiar.


    "Well, as the word itself suggests it is the process of becoming more aware about a particular aspect of life," she began, taking note of their unawareness.


    "Specifically in Jash''s case, it refers to him gaining a sudden understanding of his weapon art or path itself and manifesting it in an unconscious state."


    Though clear, her words only complicated things and raised more questions.


    "Hmm. Let''s take an example," she suggested. "Jash was fighting using his sword and daggers initially, right?"


    Jash nodded, recalling the moment, ''I sure was using them at the time.''


    "Well, then what happened? He switched to using only a sword and decimated those leeches easily, right?" Sera asked with a smile.


    Seeing their serious expressions, she continued, "Caera, tell me, did it feel strange and unnatural to watch?"


    "What about you Jash? How did it feel to you?"


    "Hmm. It felt strange at first, but more natural and smoother the moment I changed as if that was how it was supposed to be since the beginning."


    Jash explained his feelings of that time with a contemplative expression.


    "That''s exactly it! That''s what enlightenment is!" Carcel jumped in between their conversation out of nowhere, startling the twins.


    "Eh? Just that?" Jash blurted out, disappointed after knowing about it.


    The atmosphere in the room suddenly became cold as Carcel stared at Jash, repeating his words, "Just that?"


    "You call that ''Just that?''! Do you know countless hunters spend their entire lives without ever getting one?"


    "And even the ones who get it are either on the verge of death, making it useless for them," Carcel scolded sternly.


    "Some who get it don''t even have the time to understand its essence, wasting such an important opportunity for petty gains!"


    Jash had a strange expression on his face as he listened to his father''s rambles, ''Why is he talking about it so fervently?''


    As if struck by lightning, he had a wild guess and thought, ''No way! There''s just no way!''


    To check if his guess hit the mark, he asked, "Dad, could it be that you wasted your opportunity?"


    At his words, Carcel''s expression froze and morphed into a downcast look, prompting Sera to sigh and take charge.


    "Alright, that''s enough," she said. "Jash, take Caera to her room and get back to yours, you both should rest for a day before training again."


    She didn''t wait and left with the downtrodden Carcel in the next second.


    ''So something like that indeed happened,'' Jash mused in intrigue as he looked at Caera and asked, "Let''s go?"


    She silently nodded and followed his lead until reaching her room before enveloping him in a hug and rushing into her room, closing the door.


    ¡ªBang!


    "Haa... Why even act like that?" Jash muttered with a wry smile and quickly made his way to his room.


    At the moment, only one thought coursed through his mind as he couldn''t really be sure. ''This enlightenment... Did it happen or not?''


    In a way, it could be said that Jash had such a fortuitous encounter since it wasn''t just his past life''s memories guiding him.


    It was his own technique improving and changing in fundamentals with a prior base and idea that he had.


    Also, he wasn''t entirely present in the moment of the fight; it was his body''s trained reflexes and movements doing the most part.


    Hence, his muscles and mana got strained to an extreme, tiring him out to the point of fainting.


    Carcel wasn''t wrong with his words. It was extremely difficult to make use of an enlightenment.


    Although Jash seemed oblivious to it, he just so happened to be one of the few lucky ones to get the most out of an enlightenment.

 Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Dungeon Reentry

    Beneath the ethereal glow of a mana portal, its hues of blue-green-purple swirling like a cosmic dance, a young man stood resolute yet vulnerable.


    Winter''s chill pierced through his simple nano-armor and flexible black clothes, sending shivers down his spine.


    His clothing remained a blend of practicality and agility, providing no protection against the biting winter winds.


    "Fuuu... it''s so cold," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible to even him over the howling wind.


    With a steady hand despite frequent shivers, he retrieved a seemingly worthless piece of scrap, some remnants of a few golden carvings remained on it.


    Yet its long-lost resplendence didn''t impede him from recognizing its true worth.


    "This is it," he muttered a little dramatically as the memories of obtaining it replayed in his head.


    It was not only an important piece but also a token of hard-earned triumph over his younger sister.


    Memories of rigorous training and beatdowns amidst his relentless determination flooded his mind, contrasting sharply with the desolate landscape before him.


    As memories flooded in, he instinctively clasped the sword hilt, or what little remained of it, close to his chest.


    After a few seconds passed, he subconsciously raised his head and fixed his gaze on the peculiar portal.


    His mixed emotions burst in his heart as he unconsciously blurted out, "This is what I am here for!"


    Just as he was about to enter the portal, he looked around to make sure he remained alone in the mysterious area isolated from people.


    Even though the dungeon hoisted a unique gate as its entrance, all the interested hunters had long given up on it.


    Many came in search of the unknown and so did they leave empty handed.


    Recalling the warning about the public irregular gate, his heart pounded aggressively.


    "It doesn''t matter what others think of it, I have to solve my mystery," the man consoled himself.


    In the next moment, he stepped forward resolutely, taking the first step to cross the threshold into the unknown depths of the dungeon.


    The gate initially repelled him, but as he held the sword hilt, or the scrap retrieved from within, it reacted, momentarily blinding him with a bright light.


    The portal''s magic enveloped him, whisking him away from the wintry solitude into a realm unknown by others.


    His departure left no trace, the abandoned site offering no clue to the mysteries unfolding within.


    Silence descended over the winter breeze once more near the portal, its luminescence dimming as if to conceal the secrets it held.


    Only the echo of his whispered words and the memory of his determined silhouette lingered against the backdrop of winter''s chill.


    Suddenly, in the place the boy stood a few moments ago, a black clothed woman appeared.


    "He entered it," she said, holding her wrist.


    "Keep watch." Another voice sounded from the black band on her wrist, though nothing could be discerned about the speaker on the other end.


    "Copy that!" She replied before vanishing, or at least tried to.


    Just as she was about to find out why she failed to vanish, a grumbling voice entered her ears, startling her.


    "Tsk. Another idiot."


    Before she could even process the words or understand her situation, her entire body was disintegrated to dust.


    "Can''t they take a hint already?" the voice had a grumbling tone to it as another one responded to it.


    "Calm down, Theo. It''s no big deal to take care of these pests," the voice sounded feminine and pleasant to the ear.


    However, that was just an illusion.


    "Damn it, Lessie! Stop using your technique without reason," the man, Theo, complained as he waved his hand to nullify her technique.


    Lessie pouted at his demeanor, but chose to go silent before she noticed another intruder.


    "Let me take care of him," she suggested with a playful smirk before flying down and taking care of the intruder.


    "Just why is she here? She is just an S-Rank," Theo muttered under his breath, cursing his bad luck.


    Although he was her master in a sense, he truly didn''t like working with her, being an SS-Rank hunter himself.


    "If not for Young Master''s orders to seal the area at that time, I could be on another mission." Theo sighed, but stayed alert.


    Unlike what others assumed, this single dungeon attracted far more eyes than any A-Rank or even S-Rank dungeons due to its unique restriction.


    It was only thanks to it being located and listed under the Ramille family name that no one had yet tried to illegally get access to it.


    Fortunately, the Ramilles were always known for being wise and they opened the area for anyone to come near it.


    They could freely try to enter it upon the condition that they would need to comply once they exited it, if they exited at all.


    Even the Hunter Association and Mage Association had sent numerous hunters from all species in hopes of figuring something out.


    Alas, no one got any results.


    Only today did the silent observers get active after hearing the reports from their subordinates'' before they vanished.


    For some reason, no one deployed around this dungeon could be contacted anymore.


    Of course, the Ramilles had already given free entry for 10 months and only forced everyone to evict after that.


    Though reluctant, the ten months had been nothing but a waste of time, so most hunters and researchers did leave.


    What they left behind were spies or their own subordinates to keep a close eye on the happenings of this dungeon.


    Oblivious to the complex situation unfolding outside, where his family might be removing tons of subordinates of influential people, the man finally came to.


    "Ugh," he felt extremely disoriented due to the teleportation effect of the dungeon, but recovered within a second.


    Compared to his first time entering the same dungeon, it was a monstrous improvement, given the timeframe of nearly 11 months.


    It was the 5th of December, Year 2450 of the Holy Calendar.


    As soon as the young man recovered, the first thing he did was put the sword hilt away to safety, back into his storage ring.


    "This is different," he muttered in shock as his eyes scanned his surroundings.


    The lush forest and hills had turned rather lifeless with spots of red all around the area.


    As he stepped further, a suffocating stench of rot and mildew assaulted his nose, making him instinctively cover it.


    Though it failed to provide any reprieve, the man cursed under his breath, "What the hell? Why does it stink so much!?"


    Unfortunately, no one remained to answer him, nor was it the end of his uncomfortable situation.


    With every step he took, the ground squelched beneath his feet, and his eyes struggled against the strong irritating gasses in the air.


    "Ugh. I have to... go deeper..." he muttered to himself, his voice muffled by his arms against his face.


    Continuing further, he finally found the source of all his discomfort.


    Rotting bodies of small animals to wolves to dead and decaying trees appeared everywhere he looked.


    The condition only worsened the further he went.


    If earlier the spots of red were sparse, now the earth and soil themselves seemed to have been dyed red.


    The visible insides of creatures with fungus and mold growing on them were more than enough to make the man nauseous.


    Yet he gritted his teeth and repeated in his mind, ''Hold it in... Hold it in... Hold it in... Hold it in...''


    Sadly, it didn''t last.


    As he approached his destination, following the path he remembered, he saw a harrowing sight. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His body froze as he couldn''t help but curse his stupidity, ''Shit! Shit! Shit! Why did I even come here?''


    Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret and he would have to face whatever he saw.


    As seconds ticked by, a chilling dampness settled in his bones, amplifying the oppressive silence and unease.

 Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Entirely Different Experience

    Arriving at his long-awaited destination, all the young man saw were remnants of crimson with the decaying stench growing stronger.


    It was to the point that the man couldn''t even breathe without agitating his nose and throat.


    Even though he was a hunter, someone far stronger with more resilient senses than common people, his sharper senses only served to worsen his situation.


    ''Way to go, Jash, way to go!'' He mocked himself for his pathetic display as he stepped towards the cave entrance.


    This was the same cave entrance he entered with his younger sister, Caera, where she got traumatized, partially because of him.


    Thankfully, it had long become something of the past and she had moved on, almost reaching mid E-Rank.


    All she needed was a strong trigger to break through and she would reach an Orange Mana Core.


    Compared to her, Jash was much more monstrous.


    Not only had he awakened a year later than her, he also skipped training many times yet he recently broke through to E-Rank.


    His mana core had morphed to a more compact and stronger light orange color.


    ''I am roughly 15 times stronger than the first time I came here,'' Jash mused as he finally entered the cave.


    Channeling a wisp of mana into his eyes, he could see much better in the dimly lit dry cave.


    ''I would''ve much rather preferred the crimson pool than this,'' he thought as every step disgusted him.


    If it were only the smell, he might''ve chosen to cut off his sense of smell by covering his nose using mana, but that wasn''t the case.


    It would be really stupid of him to lose one of his senses in a dungeon where people die despite being alert all the time.


    ''No more rookie mistakes,'' he chided himself internally every time he almost sealed his sense of smell.


    After his fair share of experience inside various dungeons, he had long come to understand that things can take a turn for the worse anytime. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately or unfortunately, he never had to go through another anomaly during any of his hunts.


    ''It proves that the first time could''ve been a coincidence, or I just haven''t entered another dungeon like that,'' he theorized.


    Currently, he had a few theories, but the one he wanted to believe in was: ''It was just a coincidence, nothing more.''


    However, he wasn''t stupid enough to believe it.


    There were various possibilities, ranging from it only taking effect once every rank of a dungeon to it only taking effect in specific dungeons or under specific conditions.


    Technically, there were many possibilities, but Jash had already tried and tested various methods before concluding these as the most probable.


    ''It wouldn''t surprise me if it''s something totally out of comprehension, like a miracle,'' he sneered at the idea, but kept it at the back of his mind.


    "Hmm? Isn''t this where her arrow connected?" he mumbled to himself, looking at the charred cavern wall.


    Tracing the spot with his hands, he recognized his position and walked further inside the dungeon.


    Up until now, he had not found any living creatures inside the dungeon, but he wasn''t so sure about this path.


    Unlike an overconfident idiot, he prepared himself by shuffling his hands around and gripping the hilt of his weapons.


    Jash appeared ready to unsheathe and use his best attack at the slightest moment in his vision as he focused on his surroundings.


    He missed nothing, be it the slightest moss or a cracked wall or a claw mark or a red spot or be it the uncomfortable sensation due to wind or the putrid stench.


    Working his brain full-throttle, he cautiously took every single step, ready to dodge in case any trap got triggered.


    Fortunately, it seemed he was thinking too much as he walked for half a minute before encountering a diversion.


    "Both the caves are narrow and too dark to see anything past a few meters," he muttered in contemplation, looking closely at the paths.


    ''It''s obvious that the one that seems used is where the boss monster ought to be,'' he guessed in his heart.


    Unfortunately, both the paths had bloodmarks, but the disgusting scent of decaying corpses had decreased, surprising him.


    "Is it because it''s still alive?" he mumbled in confusion before taking the left path.


    It had a few claw marks on the inner walls, as if someone had tried to capture an escaping prey.


    ''If push comes to shove, I should at least be able to escape, right?'' he hoped for it to be true in his heart.


    Even if he had already reached a new major rank, it wasn''t enough to rid his anxiety about the unknown boss monster.


    Something that could remain alive despite being sealed for 11 months, possibly more, wouldn''t be an ordinary foe for sure.


    Despite the danger involved, it did nothing to shake Jash''s resolve as he continued further down the path and stopped after a few tens of minutes.


    The path seemed endless but that didn''t make any sense to him as he thought, ''Since when did wolves start building traps?''


    Although he had prepared for it, he too didn''t really believe it.


    It was just that this dungeon seemed far too much of an anomaly for him to ignore any possibility.


    As if to prove his point, he finally saw a wolf''s corpse.


    Its rotten sight did emanate an unpleasant scent, but it was far more bearable than outside.


    ''Did it die recently?'' Jash observed carefully and noted that it had a shriveled-up corpse, unlike the others.


    ''Maybe it starved to death due to a lack of prey?'' he guessed in his heart and nodded as it seemed the most logical reason.


    Its size, however, still served as a warning.


    Even its corpse easily expanded well over 6 meters, possibly 7 when it was alive.


    "(F+)-Rank at the minimum, maybe (E-)-Rank?" he mumbled to himself with a calculating expression.


    His eyes narrowed in thought before he shook his head, "Forget it. Most, if not all, of them should''ve already starved to death."


    Be that as it may, he didn''t let down his guard and continued farther down for more than an hour.


    All he saw were scarce corpses of the wolf with no visible cues of any fights around their dead bodies, indicating his guess to be correct.


    "Just when will it end?" he yelled in frustration, his voice echoing off the empty cave walls, adding to his agony.


    If he were just another hunter, he''d be delighted at the discovery of their guess being right and the prospect of free loot.


    Alas, he was far from ordinary.


    Nothing in this dungeon, or any F-Rank dungeon for that matter, enticed him in the least.


    His family could easily buy anything they needed up to A-Rank, setting a smooth journey for him.


    ''If not for that compulsory darned academy, which noble would even care to go and raid dungeons?''


    And Jash was absolutely right.


    That was the exact reason the Solarnelle Academy was established in the first place, before other academies followed suit due to the increase in population.


    Since the world had become a safer place to live under a single Empire with academies birthing better hunters, it formed a virtuous cycle.


    "Damn it! What does it matter to me?! It''s just annoying!" Jash cursed in frustration, his patience seemed to wear thin.


    Still, that didn''t stop him from walking further into the dungeon.


    Only the amount of mental power he was using to stay at guard at all times was wearing down.


    It seemed that the dungeon wanted the hunters to lose their sense of danger before presenting them their bane.


    Before they''d know it, they would have already become some monster''s food.


    "Ah! Finally!" Jash exclaimed as a teardrop fell from his left eye.


    For the first time, he felt happy to find the boss room inside a dungeon.


    Alas, his happiness didn''t last long as he felt an ominous feeling in the next second. ''Shit! Something''s off!''

 Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Unescapable Path

    Unable to shake off the ominous feeling, Jash reflexively backstepped.


    As if to confirm his suspicions, he heard a raging howl, seemingly angry at him for not entering.


    ¡ªGrrr! Awoooooooo!


    His body shivered instinctively. Following his instincts, he didn''t linger, quickly backtracking to the diversion.


    Something just seemed wrong.


    "Haa... Haa... Haa... Haa..." Jash panted for breath, clutching his chest as he felt all the breath in his lungs escape.


    The feeling was dizzying and excruciating as his heart thumped loudly in his chest, serving as a backdrop to the harrowing silence.


    Glistening sweat dripped from his face as he looked at the cave he returned from with an anxious expression.


    "Strange," he muttered, feeling no fear despite the ominous situation he faced.


    Still, he shook his head and chose to take the less traveled path despite the frustration building up within him.


    ''No... I am already here... I am not leaving without finding the cause of the anomaly, and if it was merely a coincidence or not.''


    Thinking so, Jash cautiously crept deeper into the narrow cave, his face bearing a solemn expression and focused on the slightest detail.


    The towering walls seemed to close in on him, and the eerie silence was only interrupted by the soft sound of his footsteps on the dry mud floor.


    Suddenly, a low rumble filled the air, and Jash''s grip on his sword tightened as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation.


    ''What''s this?'' he wondered, focusing on the darkness, trying to pierce through its falsities and find the origin of his discomfort.


    In the distance, he saw a massive silhouette, its blue glowing eyes pierced the darkness like beacons of hope to the unwise.


    To the wise, however, they appeared beacons of doom.


    ''It doesn''t matter what it is. I can deal with it,'' Jash motivated himself as he drew closer to the unknown.


    After his fifth step, the full terror of the situation became clear¡ª


    In the center of the cavernous area¡ªdifferent from the narrow path¡ªsat an 8-foot tall monster.


    Just one glance at it and Jash froze in his spot, unable to even formulate a coherent thought, forget about his ability to move.


    Its gray fur bristling, its sharp claws hanging by its side, lying in grooves formed on the ground.


    The unknown monster peacefully devoured the sparkling mana gems, its huge mouth ravenously gulping them down.


    It licked its lips and finally turned to see Jash, as if only registering his presence after feeling satisfied.


    Without another second wasted, it swiped its claws from its still position.


    Unfortunately, all Jash saw and felt was the claws swiping him away, leaving deep gouges on his chest and throwing him away.


    Blood spurted from his mouth and nose as he remained unresponsive.


    ¡ªBoom!


    His back collided against a wall, giving rise to dust clouds around him. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmph!" The monster snorted and waved its hand. The dust cloud immediately dispersed after its paltry movement.


    Throughout the scene, it had moved not even a millimeter from its spot, but a look of surprise appeared on its huge head soon.


    Its blue eyes scanned the area it had thrown Jash in, only to find nothing there except a blood trail.


    Uninterested in the human, it continued to devour mana gems greedily.


    However, its seemingly simple action of injuring Jash wasn''t without consequences.


    Its expression scrunched up as it looked up before looking at the remaining mana gems and chose to just devour them.


    Unaware, Jash remained lying on the floor with bloody gashes on his chest, huge amounts of blood leaking out.


    "Haa... Thank god... it didn''t follow..." he stuttered his gratitude for his lucky stars and took out some healing potions from his storage ring.


    Uncorking them, he poured three vials on the gashes and drank another two.


    Even though healing potions were nothing short of miracles, they couldn''t regenerate blood out of nowhere, they just hastened the body''s natural regeneration speed.


    Of course, the mana countered the problem where a cell could only divide a number of times before reaching its limit and dying, decreasing lifespan.


    If that were the case, they would be used for torture instead of hospitals and as healing agents.


    That''s not to say no one used them for torturing, they were used for interrogation and other purposes.


    And currently what Jash felt was nothing short of torture.


    "Argh," he grunted, his face scrunching from the stinging pain.


    "Damn! Why did I go there!?" he cursed himself before shifting his focus on making a better plan.


    ''There''s an unknown tall monster that can insta-kill me and there''s something that''s giving me dangerous vibes.''


    He contemplated over the possible options he had as he fought off the excruciating pain and also got some rest to heal as well as recover his mana.


    If not for instinctively using all of his mana at once to protect himself, that casual slash would''ve finished him off way before the academy.


    ''This way, I might not even survive until my supposed death!'' he raced his thoughts, trying to come up with a solution.


    "Do I have no choice but to use them?" he mumbled with a complicated expression, but he didn''t delay it any longer.


    Despite his narrow brush with death, Jash didn''t feel the least bit fearful of it. On the contrary, he focused on his next steps instead.


    Fiddling with the storage ring on his finger, activating it and bringing out a sheenless set of gray armor.


    It was a set of full armor made for a knight, encompassing every part of the wearer.


    From head to toe, one would be covered in a seamlessly bizarre armor, giving one the highest protections among similar armors.


    Jash gritted his teeth reluctantly and willed some of his mana to interact with the armor.


    The gray armor immediately enveloped his body before shrinking to fit his size, making it an advanced type of armor.


    It was terribly hard for others to find such armor and if not for it having his family crest, he would''ve loved to wear it all the time.


    "It doesn''t impede my movements at all, rather makes them even more fluid," Jash mumbled, surprised at its capabilities once again.


    He had tried it once, but this would be the first time he would actually equip it to fight.


    "Well, an A-Rank artifact is a bit of an overkill, but who cares?"


    Jash shrugged his shoulders as he mused, ''This darned dungeon has way too many anomalies. Better be safe.''


    In the next second, he put away all his weapons except his sword and then altered his mana circulation method slightly.


    ''Hmm. This feels better,'' he noted before moving back into the first path.


    With each step, he left deep indentations on the slightly dry, dusty ground before reaching the boss room quite quickly.


    He didn''t hesitate, just pushed his focus full throttle before entering the boss room, putting the thought of that unknown monster to the back of his mind.


    ''I just hope it''s not the same one,'' Jash prayed inwardly as he entered the boss room.


    His vision got blinded for a moment due to the sudden change in environment.


    The boss room was full of luminescent moss lighting up the entirety of its insides with nothing but a single wolf inside.


    Despite trying to run away from the boss room he found himself inexorably drawn back to the path he tried so hard to avoid.

 Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Lupine Guardian

    As soon as Jash regained his vision, his head involuntarily turned to take a peek at the entrance.


    Behind him was a huge gate that was sealed shut.


    ''So I can''t leave anymore,'' he thought seriously and focused back to his front, finally taking note of the boss monster.


    The lupine boss could easily pass off as a D-Rank, much more powerful than Jash, who was currently at early E-Rank.


    Generally, someone around his rank would have a hard time even defeating (E-)-Rank monsters, but he was an anomaly, having already dealt with E-Rank monsters as an F-Rank.


    Alas, the difference between ranks wasn''t so simple.


    ''What the heck!?'' Jash cursed his bad luck for encountering such a boss monster.


    Not only were boss monsters easily 5 times more powerful than monsters of the same rank, they were incredibly hard to deal with.


    Boss monsters simply had other abilities that differed from their normal counterparts.


    Analogically speaking, they were basically the caretaker¡ªguard¡ªof the Dungeon, preventing entry to the Reward Room behind it.


    The Reward Room was where the first clear reward of the dungeon was present.


    It could be anything¡ªitems, artifacts, materials, potions, techniques, sacrificial methods.


    Of course, low rank dungeons did not usually give worthwhile items, but they remained better than crafted ones of the same rank.


    It was strange, so many tried uncovering the secrets, but none had succeeded.


    ''Well, it''s indeed enticing for commoners to try their luck,'' Jash mused, believing he didn''t need anything like that.


    Yet here he was, trying to kill the boss monster and take the reward from here.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t take it without killing the boss, or else the runes around the door or portal wouldn''t activate.


    ''At least it makes stealing the treasures impossible before someone retrieves them,'' he jeered at the fools who attempted it nonetheless.


    Naturally, the results were much worse as the runic formations simply destroyed each other, sealing it forever.


    Looking behind the monster, Jash only saw a similar gate to the one he entered from which could only be accessed if Jash could somehow manage to kill this boss.


    ''Damn! If not for the difference in ranks!'' He lamented his weakness, but didn''t have an option.


    The difference between ranks was much more steep as one reached higher and higher since the difficulty to rank up increased exponentially.


    As if to prove his point, the wolf-like monster woke up and its piercing red eyes met his gray eyes.


    In the next second, the air was filled with a deafening growl as it rose to its full height.


    ¡ªRRRRAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHH


    The walls vibrated as the beast roared and the temperature in the isolated cavern increased quite a bit.


    This heat was unbearable for a normal human, but Jash remained steadfast, determined to bring an end to it one way or another.


    Although it increased his mana consumption, he didn''t care. ''It can''t be helped.''


    Silence took over the cavern as the two stared into each other''s eyes, but the standoff didn''t last long.


    As the monster moved from the center of the cavern, where its massive form dominated the space, Jash could finally see its true form.


    It was a four-legged beast two times the size of the wolves outside, but its fur had distinct red, lava-like vein patterns that radiated intense heat.


    A single jagged horn with reddish hues on it jutting out from between its ears glinted menacingly in the dim light.


    It was like nothing Jash had ever seen before.


    It looked similar to any other wolf, but they were nothing compared to this monstrosity.


    ''No... Something''s not right here!'' Jash thought as he entered into a hyper focused state.


    Despite his suspicion, he didn''t want to end up getting caught by surprise and die without knowing how.


    The lupine monster was definitely a D-Rank yet it hadn''t pounced on Jash already, confusing the latter.


    No monster carcasses could be seen around the beast, which glared menacingly at Jash with saliva dripping from its mouth.


    It growled, its muzzle twitching as it sniffed the air.


    ''Can I take it down?'' Jash wondered in self-doubt.


    Normally, large monsters like this one required long-range hunters to hunt them efficiently in a team with strong defenders.


    Sadly, he didn''t get the time to mull over it as the black-red wolf dashed at him, swiping its claws to tear him apart.


    Jash sidestepped in the blink of an eye and slashed his sword at the wolf''s paw, leaving a small abrasion.


    The boss monster seemed so crazed for hunger that it didn''t even care and swung its claws once more.


    "Argh," Jash grunted as he parried with his sword and got pushed back due to his unstable footing.


    It didn''t wait for him to recover and opened its mouth, revealing its massive jaw, and emitted a stream of fire.


    All Jash could feel was an intense heat approaching him as he kicked off the ground to dodge the attack instinctively.


    ''Dangerous,'' he judged the attack and marked it as a must-dodge.


    Even if he wore A-Rank armor, he didn''t want to test if he would end up like cooked meat inside or not.


    However, the boss was no pushover as it was a D-Rank monster.


    It had already charged at Jash the moment he dodged its attack, surprising him.


    But all it did was surprise him as he used a small burst of mana to kick off the floor and land farther via air.


    This time, Jash had prepared a surprise for the monster.


    As soon as it reached his previous position and found no one, it turned around to locate its prey, but all it received was a sudden pain in its flank.


    Due to the height difference, Jash had an easier time evading and attacking, but one attack was nowhere near enough to stagger the boss.


    ''Now!'' he shouted internally and used his sword as a foothold to climb upon the surprised wolf.


    He did not give any time to his foe and attacked again, focusing on causing as much damage as possible before jumping off.


    ¡ªRrraaagghhh!


    The wolf grunted in pain due to the numerous slashes and flesh wounds, not used to the sensation itself.


    Jash also realized that he failed to give any substantial damage as he complained, "What the heck are you made of?"


    His question was valid since his sword was a B-Rank artifact he had been using for quite some time.


    Of course, his limited rank didn''t allow him to use any effects of both his armor and sword, making them nothing more than cold weapons.


    However, he did succeed in enraging the boss monster. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It rushed towards him, using the dungeon wall as its foothold, making a few stones fall from the ceiling.


    Jash''s eyes widened at the sight of the ominously glowing orangish-red claws as they grew bigger.


    The wolf didn''t give him a chance to retaliate as it dashed and slashed its claws angrily.


    It could sense that Jash was by far one of its weakest prey yet it could take it down, making it go crazy.


    It stopped caring for using its long-range attacks and tried tearing its prey to shreds.


    Jash didn''t mind the challenge and circulated most of his mana into his arms, shoulders, and chest to handle the attack.


    The last of his mana was channeled to his legs to dampen the impact as he lowered himself further.


    ''A chance!'' His eyes lit up as he changed tactics midway and pounced on the other limb of the wolf monster.


    ''Worse comes to worst, my armor is strong,'' he told himself and went on with his decision.


    Luckily, it didn''t come down to it as the monster was quick enough to dodge, changing its path.


    It instinctively felt the strike would''ve cost it a limb.

 Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Veiled Threat

    ¡ªRRRRRAAAGGGHHHHH


    The boss roared in annoyance, making the cavern walls vibrate, but Jash only saw it as another chance.


    From his lowered position, he kicked off the ground to close the distance, leaving behind dust and an indentation in his wake.


    He gripped his sword tightly and swung it in a horizontal manner, aiming for the wolf''s lower jaw, just above its head.


    The monster was caught unaware as it had just lowered its head after roaring to find a sword scraping its flesh.


    ''Nice!'' Jash wanted to make the most of the strike and ducked, slipping past its head and slicing its stomach.


    Alas, the monster jumped away, escaping with just a minor scratch.


    "Huff... huff..." Jash panted for breath as he ended up overexerting himself due to his excitement, and the monster got a slight break.


    It seemed to have regained its sanity slightly as it stopped giving chase idiotically and pointed its horn at Jash.


    The mana inside the cavern suddenly started acting strangely, moving and converging at its horn.


    ''What? It can do that! That''s cheating!'' Jash complained, observing the changes.


    The large movements of mana alerted him, and he was dumbfounded as it charged an energy beam-like attack.


    ''Dangerous!'' Alarm bells seemed to ring inside his head as Jash gave up the idea of disrupting the attack, choosing to dodge it.


    Using a chunk of his mana to burst in his legs, he covered half the cavern in two seconds.


    The cavern easily spanned 80 to 100 meters, making it difficult to cover such an extensive distance.


    ''My mana is low,'' he noted, wary of the next challenges.


    However, it proved to be the correct decision.


    In the next second, the wolf released its attack, a concentrated arc of fire which traveled in a straight line.


    Yet it immediately spread in all directions up to ten meters, making Jash gulp nervously.


    ''It shouldn''t be able to launch such an attack again, right? At least not in a series, right?'' Jash nervously prayed in his heart.


    Fortunately, he was still in his right mind and took this chance to attack the wolf from behind.


    A cowardly move for sure, but did it matter?


    He wasn''t a sucker for pride and honor, he just wanted to end this fight and not die due to insufficient mana.


    Without any reservations, he thrust the tip of his sword into the wolf''s rear, aiming for the only other opening in its body.


    The wolf instinctively felt danger and tried to move its hind limbs, changing Jash''s target to its knee joint.


    Due to the sudden movement, he also couldn''t change target and his sword pierced through its skin, getting stuck in the bone.


    ¡ªVRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHH!


    An almost primal scream of pain escaped the wolf''s mouth, making Jash nauseous due to its loud intensity.


    Thankfully, his armor protected his ears or bleeding wouldn''t be where it ended.


    The wolf, enraged to its core, turned around and swiped its claws with blood-red eyes at Jash, wanting nothing more than tearing him to shreds.


    "Ugh," Jash moaned in pain as the claws landed on his chest, hurling his body to the other end of the cave, colliding against the walls.


    The attack disoriented his senses and the wolf would''ve loved to finish him off, but the sword was still struck in its knee.


    While the armor saved Jash''s life, the wolf limped towards him with blood flowing through its one leg, lower jaw, stomach and back.


    It glared murderously at Jash with seething hatred in its eyes, making his heartbeat faster


    ''Damn! That''s scary!'' Jash joked to lighten the mood and calm himself, but it proved impossible.


    Finally, the beast was upon him and just as it was about to bite into Jash''s armor, he moved.


    Jash swiftly moved around the boss with a pair of daggers and slashed continuously, using the boss as a whetstone to hone his skills.


    This served to only enrage it further as its eyes shone red with blood starting to ooze out from them.


    His attack made the boss monster slam its legs furiously, but he was already far away, using his agility to escape the claw slashes.


    The ground around the wolf was melting due to the intense heat in its mana-empowered claw slashes.


    Jash just ignored the beast as it roared again. Its whole body that was dark was becoming more orange as the heat inside its body increased.


    The blood covering its body due to multiple attacks made the beast look terrifying, but Jash stared at it calmly.


    ''It''s doable,'' he thought, clenching the daggers in his hands.


    Jash dashed again to draw the beast''s attention, but the beast had finally used mana around its body, making its defenses sharper.


    It put a halt to Jash''s plans, but he didn''t stop. He accelerated further, trying to outrun the injured beast and swarm it with attacks with his higher agility.


    Unfortunately, that wasn''t easy as his speed was not enough to outrun the (D-)-Rank beast.


    Even if its agility was hampered due to the knee injury, it didn''t affect its dexterity as it raised its leg to strike Jash.


    He sidestepped, not wanting to get hit again.


    ''I fooled it once due to the dust cloud, but I don''t have any weapon good enough to face it after these.''


    The daggers he wielded were the same ones Caera had used to fight in this dungeon at the end; yet they appeared new.


    If he had to compare, they were better than his sword, but he couldn''t just quit wielding a sword because of weapons, right?


    In the end, he finally used a burst of mana in his legs to propel himself into the air.


    His feet kicked off the dusty cavern wall behind him, and he burst forward, appearing above the boss monster from behind it.


    It looked around in confusion as Jash hadn''t appeared in front of it after circling it, but the sound of him leaping made its ears twitch.


    Jash''s eyes shone as he landed on the head of the monster, plunging his twin daggers into its eyes, blinding it in one go.


    ¡ªVRRRRAAAAGGGHHHHH!


    The monster howled in pain and flailed around frantically, trying to get rid of the annoying human above it.


    Yet Jash held firmly to the daggers, even embedding his feet into the scabs formed from prior wounds. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sweat dripped from his head due to the intense heat from the monster as his armor saved him from melting.


    As the monster writhed in pain, Jash mercilessly turned its head and pushed it towards the wall.


    However, before the collision, he jumped off the monster. His feet felt like roasted meat due to standing on the monster directly.


    He couldn''t even stand due to the burn, causing him to use his hands to balance himself.


    ¡ªBam!


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t the end of the blind monster as Jash hoped for it to be so.


    It backed away from the wall with its bleeding skull yet it seemed insufficient to end it.


    "What...?" Jash screamed unconsciously at the next turn of events.


    Suddenly, the beast which was backing off had its head sliced off cleanly, startling Jash as he couldn''t even see anyone else.


    ¡ªBzzt!


    ¡ªBzzt!


    ¡ªCrack!


    ¡ªCrack!


    Soon, cracking sounds filled Jash''s hearing as he found himself unable to even utter a word.


    The pressure from this boss was nothing compared to the other entity he had encountered in the dungeon, yet the current situation was far worse.


    ''Is it that?'' Jash thought, recalling the figure of that 8-meter-tall monstrosity.


    The cave walls cracked open to reveal a black-gray space, surprising him as he had never even heard of such a phenomenon.


    In the next instant, his awe morphed into shock and fear.


    For the first time in his second life, he felt the sensation of fear and not just any other fear, an overwhelming sensation of fear.


    It was as if he were not even a speck of dust in front of whoever existed outside the confines of the dungeon.

 Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Glimpse of the Beyond

    ''What is happening?'' Jash wondered in shock, only able to think the same question repeatedly.


    He could see nothing but inky blackness as an overwhelming pressure distorted his vision and impeded his senses.


    ¡ªRoar!


    He could hear a mix of sounds, ranging from roars to whimpers to wailing and celebrating. It was a cacophony of chaos.


    A few unknown creatures emerged from the broken dungeon walls, sending a chill down Jash''s spine.


    Although he couldn''t see them, their presence felt creepy to him.


    ''Move! Move! Move! Damn it!'' Jash anxiously tried to move and look around, but his head remained pivoted, not budging an inch.


    ''How?'' He questioned this strangeness, unable to believe what was happening after defeating the Dungeon boss.


    It wasn''t the first time he defeated a dungeon boss, so the strangeness of the phenomenon could only be attributed to his past life.


    At this time, whether he could move or not would have made no difference as he had way too low of an amount of mana.


    ''There''s no way I can deal with even one of them,'' he thought, feeling a mix of helplessness and resignation.


    Jash''s heart raced as he tried to accept the surreal situation he found himself, feeling as if he had stumbled into a realm beyond human understanding.


    Either way, he could feel the pressure easing as he could formulate thoughts as the seconds ticked by.


    It was merely a misconception, as time didn''t actually pass at that moment.


    Even if it wasn''t, Jash would''ve given up upon seeing the monster he deemed unfair shivering in fear.


    The hidden looming danger hadn''t even entered yet everything was already out of order.


    But one thing was different about the anomaly this time.


    Contrary to the first time where it only appeared outside the dungeon, there was no change there at this time.


    It was completely opposite of what happened the first time.


    Unaware of it, Jash prayed, ''I hope someone notices this and comes?''


    Truthfully, he didn''t have much hope, simply because it was impossible to enter this dungeon, as it repelled everyone.


    He also only entered because of the scrap or piece of the legendary relic he found.


    ''But why does it repel everyone?'' Jash asked himself once more as that question was on everyone''s mind since its existence became known.


    "This isn''t for you," a soft, gentle voice echoed, as if explaining why the dungeon prohibited entry.


    Hearing the voice startled Jash to no end as he couldn''t track or identify anything about the voice.


    "It''s useless," the voice continued in the same mellifluous tone.


    Inside the unknown energy was a terrifying being whose pressure alone was enough to erase Jash from existence.


    It didn''t have a form, a gender, or anything to identify it as living or nonliving.


    If it chose to not show itself, no one would know it existed except for beings already aware of its existence. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It had been monitoring this specific dungeon and awaiting someone to enter it, but it hadn''t expected anyone so soon.


    Though nothing exceeded its expectations as Jash and Caera had to escape with their tale in between their legs.


    That''s why it sealed off the dungeon.


    Yet today, it was startled awake from its long slumber and surprised to see the same human inside the dungeon.


    While observing Jash with curiosity, it chose to switch its form, taking on a feminine shape as it tried to understand his motives.


    For some strange reason, she couldn''t read his thoughts or get a reading about him.


    She had already pried open the entire planet''s secrets yet she found his existence intriguing.


    "First a reincarnator, a regressor, then a transmigrator, and now this human. Someone has messed up the balance."


    She muttered to herself and chose to interrogate the human who dared enter the dungeon.


    Something that did not belong to this world was finally showing itself and everyone remained none the wiser.


    Until now no monster had moved an inch despite their firstmost tendency being to kill.


    A dangerous presence permeated the air, and the monsters halted in their tracks.


    From the inky blackness of the shadows, a single colossal eye emerged, the vibrant, golden-white hue of its iris piercing space-time.


    The eye''s elliptical pupil narrowed, exuding an air of mystery about it. Its beauty still made an observer lower their guard.


    Fortunately, there were none, or else anyone daring enough to admire the beauty would''ve been wiped from existence itself.


    The unblinking stare held a quality that seemed to paralyze the monsters in insignificance. They instinctively felt their insignificance in its presence.


    As the eye surveyed the dungeon, Jash remained oblivious, while every other creature recognized the entity as a force beyond comprehension.


    The once-rampant monsters now stood frozen, their instincts warning them of the futility of challenging this ancient, enigmatic being.


    Just as the eye finally moved towards Jash and narrowed him in its vision, something strange happened.


    Before it could react, strange threads of golden energy exited Jash''s body, unknown to him.


    The fine golden threads contained an untamed darkness within them as it started to spread in the surroundings.


    It started to wrap around the inky-black energy, permeating through it as it strangled every single monster.


    None of them could even move, let alone escape its clutches.


    It devoured every monster, irrespective of their rank or strangeness, not even leaving any trace of the fearful monsters behind.


    Its next target seemed to be the inky black energy and the widened eye that watched everything in shock and astonishment.


    "How? Why do you follow such a lowly being?"


    The same voice echoed, yet only silence ensued as the golden threads enveloped the dungeon, trying to consume it entirely


    However, the second eye opened as well, interrupting the process.


    Both the eyes glared at the golden threads yet they remained unabated and the golden aura took over the whole dungeon, excluding nothing.


    ''Just what is happening?'' Jash wondered to himself, unable to see or feel anything.


    Yet he felt warm and comforted for a strange reason.


    "Alright. If that''s your wish."


    ''What?'' Jash could only think in confusion as the inky black energy grew smaller before vanishing, and so did the golden threads.


    They returned to Jash, and though he didn''t feel anything, he could move now. The first thing he did was look up.


    Unsurprisingly, his eyes instinctively closed as all he could see was a bright white flame-like existence mid-air.


    "This place wasn''t meant for you," it said, confusing Jash entirely.


    ''Not meant for me? I was the wielder of the Holy Sword!'' He thought to himself yet he felt slightly dizzy in the next instant.


    The white-flame-like being''s flames wavered for a second as it tried to erase Jash''s memories, but it miserably failed.


    The golden energy deep within Jash churned as it easily resisted such a simple attempt of manipulation.


    It wasn''t simple, as the entity tried to erase the memories imprinted in the soul instead of the brain.


    Unfortunately, that triggered the golden energy as that was its goal:


    To protect its hosts from any manipulation, slavery, binding to a system or anything that would damage the host''s soul, or try to control it.


    That was what he had requested from the system, or rather the system creator.


    Although Jash had no clue about the system at all as all memories regarding it were sealed alongside many others.


    "Just what are you?" the entity said rhetorically, unwilling to let a mere human have memories of its existence.


    Alas, it couldn''t exert itself anymore than her current form if she didn''t want to suffer from punishment.


    Beings at her power level could scan entire planets within a second if they wish to, so how could they be allowed to go around freely.


    ''Seriously? Just what is going on?'' Jash could only ask himself as he couldn''t make sense of anything.

 Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Desperate Crawl

    In the end, she couldn''t do anything about the human retaining memories of its existence.


    Despite being overwhelmingly powerful, she had already manifested her most optimal form, which came at a significant cost.


    If she tried challenging the limitations, it would totally not be worth the expense.


    Just as she tried to call back her manifested form, the frozen time shattered.


    The peace and quiet from the temporal powers broke, and it wasn''t something just its white-flame form could take on.


    Shards of frozen time whizzed around, each one a glinting blade of light, surrounding the manifestation that dared mess it up.


    The air crackled as time accelerated around the white-flame form, distorting and blurring the space frenziedly.


    If it had been a real living being instead of a mere manifestation, it might have aged by decades in mere seconds.


    If the rate of time acceleration remained the same, it could have easily taken much more than just a few seconds¡ªmaybe minutes, hours, or even days¡ªbut it wasn''t fixed.


    "Ugh," her grunt resounded in the area as her form vanished from Jash''s sight.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t understand anything that happened after he slammed the dungeon boss against the wall.


    ''Just where did it come from? Why did the dungeon feel like it broke apart? And the boss was killed? Then, the energy¡ªwhat am I? Just what the heck happened here?''


    Jash had a plethora of questions he wanted to ask, alas, no one was there to clear his doubts.


    He stood there with a stunned look on his face, perplexed by the strange events as things got unnecessarily more complicated than he hoped for.


    To his dismay, he didn''t have time to care about anything else as the dungeon walls didn''t exist anymore.


    Finally, the frozen time seemed to have caught up to him as his body started convulsing.


    Jash writhed on the ground, muscles twitching uncontrollably as the overwhelming temporal force tore him from the inside out.


    It wasn''t a force that he, or anyone else on his planet for that matter, was supposed to be exposed to.


    ¡ªCough!


    Blood spewed from his mouth with each agonized cough, his vision blurring as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.


    Though he couldn''t see properly, he squinted through his hazy vision, barely making out that the creepy monsters were dead.


    ''I... am... alive...'' he thought to himself, unable to speak as blood kept dripping from his mouth and nose.


    His throat felt raw with each breath feeling like a laborious task.


    His body was so fatigued from bearing the burden that all it wanted was to rest, and he too wholeheartedly agreed, wanting to sleep.


    ''I... can''t...'' he told himself, barely able to form thoughts in his drowsy state.


    Despite the pain, his body wanted to shut his consciousness, wanting to recover as he remained unconscious.


    No matter how hard he tried, he found it too hard to keep his eyes open, let alone move from his position.


    ''This... is not... the... time...'' he reaffirmed his will and tried to use mana to alleviate his pain, but it backfired.


    The calm mana inside his body became unrestrained, but its low quantity saved him from the problem of messed-up meridians.


    Fortunately, all hope was not lost.


    As time ticked by, it also started returning to normal around the dungeon.


    It allowed him an advantage over the collapsing dungeon before it got eroded and exploded, ending his life.


    Thankfully, his body too stopped convulsing, leaving him with muscle cramps and pains to deal with.


    ''Dealing with them is much better than dealing with all the unknowns here,'' he thought to himself as he clenched his teeth.


    He wasn''t going to lose his life over such a stupid thing, so he gritted his teeth and crawled on the ground, moving toward the reward room.


    That was the only place that remained unharmed during the entire process, as if nothing could affect it.


    Every inch of the ground Jash dragged himself across worsened his condition, but he couldn''t give up now, could he?


    A certain memory popped into his head, recalling the events that happened earlier.


    Surprisingly, his determination only flared up as he closed his eyes, focusing entirely on moving forward.


    ''I can''t die!'' He exclaimed inwardly, his reasons unknown.


    He didn''t know but his closed eyes prevented him from seeing the strange events all around him.


    The mana inside the dungeon was chaotic, trying to erode everything, and it did so at a slow pace.


    The area encompassed by the dungeon was shortening every second and Jash remained clueless about the approaching death.


    It wasn''t the same as getting killed, it was akin to having your entire self eroded by an unknown energy from beyond the dungeon.


    For the sake of it, one could refer to it as spatial powers or the void, but Jash knew better than to have such preconceived notions.


    That''s why he didn''t hesitate to move despite his condition, wanting to leave as quickly as possible.


    Of course, if he fainted or slept, he would be dead.


    ''Come on! Come on! Come on!'' He motivated himself as he felt he was close to the reward room.


    ''Damn this armor!'' Jash cursed his heavy armor, which, despite being life-saving, was a burden he couldn''t get rid of.


    Since his mana wasn''t really following his commands, he couldn''t even use his storage ring, so he couldn''t even take it off. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His armor had chipped in quite a few areas with multiple burn marks across its surface, but that wasn''t a problem for an armor of this rank.


    With some mana, it would recover to its peak state.


    Also, it allowed him to keep the pair of daggers with him, not leaving them behind like the sword he lost.


    ¡ªClang!


    In the end, his determination paid off as his hand collided against the door of the reward room.


    "Finally...!" Jash muttered, but it felt like speaking after decades.


    It was difficult for him, but he kept crawling across the muddy floor and opened the door with his leading hand.


    The so-called rewards room''s gate was open yet it seemed way too far, but in the next instant he was suddenly teleported.


    Unable to resist, he found himself in a strange room with golden-brown tiles with strange patterns all around.


    He couldn''t make out anything about his surroundings, but instead of making him panic, it calmed him down.


    "It''s the reward room," he mumbled with a sigh of relief.


    Jash could recognize the weird room at first glance as they all looked the same, with a small area and a few steps before an Altar.


    For some reason, he could walk on the steps of the Altar and as he reached the highest step, he saw a necklace on top of a stone slab.


    Without any hesitation or worrying over traps, Jash snatched it with his trembling hands.


    Just as his fingers closed around it, the world around him twisted and blurred, randomly teleporting him out of the reward room.


    The entire experience with Reward Rooms was always strange, irrespective of the hunter''s or dungeon''s level.


    No one could emulate the reason for the strange teleportations with the reward room, even if it looks like a door instead of a portal.


    ''It has nothing to do with me,'' thought Jash as he found himself back on the ground with the necklace in hand.


    His body didn''t seem to have moved at all and the overwhelming pain and drowsiness returned to him.


    Not wanting to leave it to luck, he put the necklace over his armor, around his neck, as the dungeon would probably close soon.


    Since that was the case with Dungeon Defects that resulted in anomalies.


    With both taken care of¡ªboss defeated and reward retrieved¡ªsuch dungeons would soon disappear.


    This prompted Jash to leave as soon as possible or he would be trapped inside this dungeon forever as it would disappear from their world.


    Alas, he didn''t know that his situation would be far worse than that.


    ''So close,'' Jash thought, looking at the exit portal of blue color behind the open doors of the reward room.


    However, he failed to notice the dungeon closing in, as the air crackled with tension.


    He didn''t know yet but each inch he dragged his body across was a desperate race against the encroaching dungeon.


    It would soon close forever, sealing with it anything that remained inside until time immemorial.


    Luckily, Jash was just too close to the exit portal that it made no sense for him to miss it even if he wanted to.


    "Finally," he muttered as his hand touched the portal and he felt the disorienting effect take over his senses.


    For a second, a weird sensation enveloped him, making him feel strange all over yet it had a different effect for him.


    ''So warm,'' he thought, as that was his true experience at the moment, and it made him comfortable.


    He didn''t realize but he was on the verge of going unconscious within the span of half a second.


    That''s why he fainted right after teleporting out, unable to keep his eyes open for a second longer.

 Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Dungeon Aftermath

    Outside the dungeon, Theodore and Lessie had been patrolling the area for the past half day.


    "There''s another one?" Lessie grumbled in dissatisfaction as she got annoyed by the increasing number.


    "Which one of these pests is this now?" Theo asked, a bit calmer, but annoyed nonetheless.


    "I don''t know?" Lessie replied, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Let me guess... I''d say about 200?"


    "Tch." Theo clicked his tongue in annoyance and casually waved his hand, willing his mana to finish off the intruder.


    They had never bothered interrogating, capturing, or even checking their bodies.


    It was a useless endeavor, after all.


    "They are just useless pawns; they don''t even have any information to extract," Lessie complained, pouting like a little girl.


    Theodore didn''t buy her act and only focused on his senses, making sure nothing went wrong.


    Well, nothing more significant than Jash being able to enter a dungeon no one else could, despite their best efforts.


    Thankfully, their job was to keep the area void of intruders and they were quite good at this job.


    The two had long informed Sera and Carcel about Jash entering the dungeon, shocking the couple.


    They had only allowed Jash to try his luck because they thought he would face the same outcome as any other hunter.


    Unfortunately, their prediction was off the mark, and he was inside the dungeon alone!


    It wouldn''t have been a problem if this were a normal dungeon, but it was just way too... unique.


    Hence, Carcel ordered Theodore to take care of all the intruders lurking in the vicinity.


    That''s how the current situation came to be.


    While some might consider Carcel''s order to be barbaric and savage, no hunter would think of it as such.


    They hadn''t shied away from letting others try their luck with this dungeon, and setting a deadline was just a precaution.


    After all, no one wants other nobles'' people in their territory as they might be working as spies or something.


    It was a common point all of them agreed upon, and if a spy was found, no one would dare own up due to the fear of becoming a scapegoat.


    Of course, Nobles weren''t eternal.


    Many had lost their nobility status, some demoted and some even promoted.


    With every new territory being developed and conquered back, a new noble would get appointed or an old noble be promoted.


    It was the Solarnelle Empire''s Imperial Family''s way of doing things.


    In the end, Carcel''s decision might get frowned upon due to the extreme methods but that was about it.


    And currently, it wasn''t what mattered as the "spies" were currently too far away to notice and felt nervous.


    Their end wouldn''t be nice if they failed in their mission since they could easily be discarded without any consequence.


    The sole person sharing their anxiety was the dungeon operator, who was appointed by Cornelius as he left for some reason.


    He was supposed to find something, but the only thing he found was Jash entering the dungeon.


    He nervously waited for the Young Master to return to get any information, so he impatiently kept staring at the dungeon portal.


    A long time had passed, but looking at the dungeon still closed meant Jash must be alive, so he kept praying for Jash''s safe return.


    Even though it had nothing to do with him, he would be the first to die if something actually happened.


    Suddenly, the man''s eyes went wide at the astonishing sight in front of him.


    "The gate is changing!" The dungeon operator shouted, equal parts excited and equal parts nervous.


    His shout was only heard by the two flying hunters, Theodore and Lessie, who narrowed their eyes at the dungeon gate.


    ''Something''s wrong!'' The two thought at the same time, alarm bells ringing in their head the instant they saw it.


    By this time, the dungeon operator also felt something amiss and was about to back away but instinctively stepped forward.


    Jash''s body was thrown out by the dungeon gate like a ragdoll and he caught it, terrified at the prospect.


    "The Young Master is alive!" He shouted gleefully as soon as he felt the body warmth and breathing.


    Unfortunately, that was the end of the good news as Jash had closed his half-open eyes the moment he came out.


    It wasn''t hard for Theodore to recognize Jash despite him wearing his armor due to the familiar mana signature.


    "Young Master is bleed¨C"


    ¡ªSwish!


    The dungeon operator was about to convey Jash''s condition, but got interrupted due to high speed wind.


    He couldn''t make out his left from his right as he was dragged by a strong force, unable to resist due to his weak physique.


    However, even he felt a huge shockwave and pulse of mana affect him and propel him farther away.


    ¡ªBoom!


    ¡ªBOOM!


    A lot of explosive sounds echoed around the location the dungeon gate used to be as the two were carried away by Lessie.


    "I hope he can contain it," she murmured to herself, dragging away the two unconscious people.


    Usually, she would have ditched the dungeon operator but Theodore had snatched the two and thrown them at her, ordering her to take them away.


    She didn''t question the orders and complied, taking them both back to the Ramille Estate at her top speed.


    Meanwhile, Theodore used a vast amount of his mana to contain the sudden explosion of mana around the existing dungeon gate.


    Luckily, his instincts had warned him in advance and he mobilized his mana earlier, or things would have been much worse.


    The entire area in a radius of nearly 200 kilometers was devastated, leaving behind a wasteland.


    "Phew"


    Yet Theodore sighed at the sight and said, "Thankfully, it wasn''t much."


    He had ended up using more than half of his mana reserves to contain the explosion from harming any humans belonging to the Ramille Dukedom.


    "Well, this also took care of pests," he muttered in a tired tone and flew away, back to the main estate where a lot of things were happening.


    "Take them to the Medical Facility!" Sera shouted with urgency, upon noticing Jash''s unconscious state.


    She had come outside after sensing a S-Rank hunter racing towards her estate and upon confirming it to be Lessie, she grew anxious.


    It only worsened after she witnessed Jash''s condition, drawing her attention away from the mana explosion. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That too was strange as no monsters exited, just a large explosion occurred, but it wasn''t even on her mind to investigate it.


    "...and that''s what happened," Lessie said, finishing her account of everything as she stood respectfully in front of Carcel.


    "Okay, you can go now," Carcel dismissed her, his thoughts revolving around Jash.


    "Haaa..."


    A sigh escaped his lips as he massaged his temples, trying to make sense of the events.


    If not for having to take care of the aftermath after hunting down so many spies, he would''ve been standing next to Sera.


    In less than a minute, both of them were taken to the medical facility under Sera''s stern orders.


    Currently, the extent of Jash''s injuries was unknown, but seeing him alive was enough to calm her somewhat.


    "Wake him up and get the information," Sera said to no one in particular, referring to the dungeon operator.


    The poor guy was blissfully unaware of the difficulties awaiting him since Sera sensed that he was fine.


    Suddenly, a shadow detached from Sera''s and vanished in the sea of shadows, likely to carry out her command.

 Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Fragments of Revelation

    While a lot was happening outside, Jash remained oblivious as he dreamt of a forgotten past from his previous life.


    Usually, the system''s leftover protocol would sweep in to stop the memories from entering his brain, halting at just a dream.


    However, the golden energy deep inside him had overworked itself, exerting a level of force it wasn''t supposed to.


    It was currently absorbing and making the inky-black energy to be a part of itself, strengthening itself in the process.


    In the end, Jash was its owner and it had to protect him, so that he could wield it one day as he ought to.


    Though, that''s far into the future.


    Currently, Jash was experiencing the core memories and emotions that were sealed by his previous self.


    It wasn''t a nightmare like the last time, but quite a neutral one.


    While his body was treated with several healing potions and pastes, his consciousness swam in the memories of mana techniques.


    "This one is good..."


    "But this is better for agility..."


    "Then the strength isn''t up to the mark..." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Isn''t there any mana circulation technique that encompasses all aspects?"


    His past-life self muttered after having gone through hundreds of mana circulation techniques and their contents.


    [#### #### ## ## #### ##### ## # ###### #### #########]


    "Hmm, are you sure? What if I create one?"


    His past life self seemed to be conversing with someone, but Jash couldn''t hear or see anything else.


    All he could see and hear were his past self''s words and the messy room.


    "Alright. I will make one myself!" Bhairav affirmed before muttering with a cheeky smile, "But let''s get out of the enemy''s territory first."


    It turns out he was actually stealing the mana circulation technique from someone he deemed an enemy.


    Unfortunately, Jash could only observe, and the scenes abruptly shifted from looking in a certain direction inside a room to being in a cave.


    Inside a damp cave, quite a few paper scrolls with different languages written on them were sprawled around.


    "Ugh. I am so close, just what am I lacking?" Bhairav muttered to himself as he got up to peruse through the texts once again.


    However, the texts remained a mystery to Jash, as he was unable to read or understand them, even though he had memories of the languages from his previous life.


    It was strange, but he didn''t really care, knowing he won''t have those memories after he woke up.


    Alas, the strangest thing was he could make connections between the perfected technique he received in inheritance and the one Bhairav was actively working on.


    "It''s been 4 years already and I have reached the peak of Mortal Ranks yet I can''t find the last step?"


    Unlike a typical person who would feel depressed or frustrated after not getting the results they wanted, Bhairav was calm.


    Honestly, his calmness was eerie.


    It was so strange that a man who was considered a genius of mankind, the hope, the hero, the most talented to get stuck here.


    Yet he didn''t seem bothered by his failure, he instead learned from it every single time, trying to overcome the challenge.


    "No way! How could I miss something so simple!!"


    "It''s always been with me!"


    As if he had gained some sort of enlightenment, he started mumbling strange words, confusing Jash.


    "The elements... fundamental components... combine... form the physical world..."


    "Wood... Water... Fire... Earth... Metal... Air...


    Space... Light... Darkness..."


    "Harmony... Balance... Disbalance... Creation... Destruction..."


    He didn''t stop, but Jash felt dizzy from all the strange mumbles, causing him to abruptly leave the dream world at the most pivotal moment.


    [Congratulations Host! You________]


    Alas, Jash missed the system notification he could''ve heard unlike the first one as he had a greater immersion at the moment.


    ¡­


    "Haa... Haa..."


    Unconsciously, he started panting for breath the moment he woke up, sitting upright as a reflex.


    His body seemed to have adjusted to the pain as he felt nothing of his previous predicament.


    ''Just... what did I experience?'' he thought in confusion before a headache assaulted him.


    "Arghh," he grunted in the sudden pain before it eased out, leaving him with some parts of the dream he lived through.


    ''This... did I just retain the dream!?'' he wondered in disbelief, skeptical of the whole ordeal.


    Fortunately, his mind got diverted from the complex thoughts in the next second as he felt a pair of strong arms envelop him.


    "Jash!"


    Hearing his mother''s worried voice and feeling the sudden hug, he felt weak and barely uttered, "Mom..."


    His sense of weakness seemed to have vanished as he really felt comfort from the warm hug despite the plethora of thoughts running inside his head.


    ''Those aren''t important,'' he told himself and chose to focus on the current moment, knowing fully well he wouldn''t be able to experience such moments soon.


    The academy was truly cruel, as it was the precursor of the novel and the world''s destined path he sought to change.


    ''I will make sure I succeed,'' Jash reiterated to himself when Sera broke the hug.


    Her eyes were moist as she inquired worriedly, "Are you fine? What happened inside? Just what did you go through? How did you even enter it?"


    After getting bombarded by several questions from Sera, all he could do was smile wryly.


    ''At least give me some leeway to answer, no?'' he mused to himself, but wisely kept his thoughts to himself.


    While bold, he wasn''t an idiot to antagonize his mother for no reason when she was just worried about him.


    Thankfully, his chance to speak soon came as Carcel took the hit.


    "Sera, my dear," he said in an endearing tone. "Give him some space to answer, will you?"


    Naturally, he got Sera''s death glares as she went quiet, knowing her impatience got the better of her.


    But who gave the right to probe her when he knew her the best?


    Unfortunately, what''s done was done, and he too shifted the focus to Jash very smartly. "Ahem, Jash, you should answer your mother."


    Caught between his parents'' concerned gazes, Jash hesitated for a moment. ''I need to be honest,'' he thought before beginning his explanation.


    "Mom, Dad. I don''t know where to begin, but I am sure this is the right thing," he said, taking out the sword hilt that allowed him entry.


    It definitely confused his parents, though.


    "I know what you''re thinking. Why do I have it instead of Caera, right? Well, let''s just say I won it."


    At the end of his sentence, Jash shivered slightly, haunted by the memories of the spars that were nothing short of traumatic for him.


    "Anyways, what matters is this was obtained inside the dungeon and is the one thing that allowed me entry."


    Before their shock could fully set in, he quickly added, "You know what that means, right? This belongs to the dungeon and is not some hunter''s keepsake."


    The Ramille couple nodded gravely, understanding the significance of the event.


    Most dungeons had nothing good as rewards yet many hunters entered it, trying to get something out of it besides the monster carcasses.


    Some dungeons actually had random rewards placed around different monsters, but it was just way too rare.


    Calling it abysmal would not be a lie if one were to consider the odds.


    Yet what confused the Ramille couple was the specific item in Jash''s hands, as it didn''t seem anything impressive.


    It just looked like a scrap, how could it have any significance?

 Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Unseen Mystery

    Fortunately, Jash couldn''t hear their thoughts about the scrap of a hilt he was holding; otherwise, he would really be left speechless.


    "Let me see it," Carcel implored, intrigued by the new discovery related to the dungeon.


    Jash nodded and handed it over, finally realizing that his mana flow had returned to normal without any abnormalities.


    ''I don''t think they''ll be able to find anything about it,'' he guessed in his heart as the piece wasn''t even reacting to him.


    "Hmm. It''s not reacting to mana or aura at all. This is strange, too strange," Carcel muttered in contemplation after assessing it for a few seconds.


    "Hand it over, lemme see," Sera demanded and snatched it before employing her mana and aether, but the piece remained unresponsive.


    Neither did it absorb nor did it repel any of the forces employed by the couple.


    While mana was a common source of power in this world, most hunters walking the path of a warrior awakened a force known as aura.


    At the same time, mages achieved the force known as aether/ether/prana, but its most common name was aether due to the human race.


    The elves called it prana, a higher form of mana and the force of nature. Dwarves referred to it as ether, while humans named it aether.


    On the other side of the spectrum, aura was a name used by all three races alike, so there was no disparity in its naming sense.


    Anyways, this all was something Jash was aware of, so he was unsurprised when his parents used those terms or forces itself.


    ''They look interesting,'' he thought, glancing at the forces he was seeing for the first time, impressed at the possibilities in this life.


    ''In my previous life, there were no such things. We just called it mana for easy naming and no one refuted it,'' Jash smiled wryly at the stark contrast.


    It was really amazing how two worlds that seemed similar at first glance could have so many differences.


    Of course, his wry smile made his parents assume that he was already aware of the results and let them try it for their own satisfaction.


    Their wild guess made them feel slightly embarrassed as they directly handed it back to Jash.


    ''Maybe I should give it another try?'' he wondered and circulated his mana, trying to connect with the hilt.


    Unsurprisingly, it didn''t react.


    Or so everyone believed.


    For a fleeting moment, the sword hilt emitted a barely perceptible golden glow, unnoticed even by S-Rank Carcel and Sera.


    "It responds to nothing. Now what?" Jash uttered the question subconsciously, only realizing the significance a second too late.


    ''Shit! What did I just...?!'' he scolded himself but had no time to dwell on it.


    "Now? Nothing. You will rest till the approaching banquet and then the entrance test," Sera declared in a stern tone.


    Her tone made it clear that no refusal would be heard and he had no other option except accepting the outcome.


    "Haa... Alright." Jash agreed with a heavy heart but he wasn''t done yet.


    He quickly added, "But that means no training too, right Mom?"


    Being the child that he was, he failed to hide his eagerness and enthusiasm at the prospect of no training.


    "Jash you have just entered E-Rank, so just do enough to consolidate your strength," Carcel explained before Sera could say anything.


    He was truly the bane of Jash''s laziness.


    "Ugh," Jash grunted but nodded nonetheless, well aware that his parents just wanted the best of him.


    "Anyways, back to this," Sera interrupted, pointing at Jash''s hands. "How do you have it?"


    ''No way! The question I dreaded the most had come,'' he thought, a chill running down his spine as he forced a smile.


    "Ahaha-ha...hahaha-haha," Jash chuckled awkwardly, his gaze darting away from his parents.


    He wasn''t wrong in his words, as he had to "fairly" compete with Caera in archery and melee fighting, as well as efficiency in clearing dungeons, to get it.


    Naturally, she didn''t hand it over so easily, she actually forced him to spar with her at least once a month.


    ''I am just glad that it''s over,'' he told himself to calm his nervous heart.


    It wasn''t like the twins hated each other or anything; it was just that their dynamic was a bit strange from the beginning.


    ''Others have prodigious little sisters who insult their elder brothers or get kidnapped by masters or some other stuff, and here I am¨C''


    Jash''s line of thought was broken by Carcel, who asked, "Do you know anything about it?"


    "Uh? Huh? What?" Jash stammered, clearly surprised by the unexpected question.


    "Uhm, how would I know? I do have it but all it did was allow me to get inside the dungeon and nothing else," Jash said half-truthfully.


    He just couldn''t blabber everything in one go. At least not until he confirms his conjecture at this upcoming banquet.


    So, he tried to change the topic, "By the way, what did I get as a reward? I remember it was a necklace, I think?"


    "Ah right!" Sera exclaimed as if she had forgotten about that and handed it over to him.


    "It works as protection from mental attacks, but that''s all the runemasters could figure out," Carcel explained in her stead.


    ''She must be thinking about something else,'' Jash thought as he looked at his father, taking the burden away from his mother.


    It seemed that words weren''t needed to be exchanged between the couple to understand what was on their mind.


    "Dad, is it just from mental attacks? Nothing else?" Jash wondered loudly, curious about the strange necklace.


    It had a golden chain with cyan colored crystal like a pendant more than a necklace, it was Jash who had a weird identification sense.


    Inscribed with various runes not only on the pendant but also on the chain, it seemed a very intricate accessory. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Opposite the scrutinizing Jash, Carcel stood dumbfounded. He couldn''t understand what was wrong with his son.


    Since most hunters would pay two to three times the price for protection against mental attacks as they were the most vulnerable.


    Any awakener could grow stronger through mana techniques or make their body strong through rigorous training, but the mental aspect was different.


    It required one to go through real life-and-death situations and overcome those fears to strengthen their mental defenses.


    Such was the case for Caera after her traumatic encounter with the wolf in their first dungeon raid, but she only improved from it.


    That''s why many hunters wanted anything that would aid them in protecting their psyche as it remained vulnerable for the protected hunters.


    If one were a genius, their family, clan, guild, team, association, or any affiliation would want to protect them.


    Thus, hindering their growth opportunities as true hunters.


    Of course, it was better than losing said talents as Caera would''ve died if not for Emma''s presence.


    The same had happened to various talented hunters, forcing many to employ guards when they go into raids.


    Well, there was a roundabout way.


    Just don''t tell the newbies that they will be protected and they''ll be much more cautious.


    At the end of the day, what mattered were strong hunters, not privileged ones.


    Hence, Carcel ended up misunderstanding Jash''s words as him not wanting to rely on external items for mental protection.


    Unaware of his father''s thoughts, Jash''s line of thought was far different from Carcel''s guess.


    ''I don''t think I need mental protection. I was fine even after meeting that strange entity, no?''

 Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Upcoming Banquet

    After another hour or so, the Ramille couple left Jash to take care of their own matters, giving him ample time to rest.


    ''So Caera hasn''t yet broken through to Mid E-rank?'' he mused, lying relaxed on his bed.


    He had returned to his room after the conversation, feeling mostly fine with minor scrapes that would heal on their own.


    Thanks to the high-ranking Doctors and Healers present inside the medical facility, he was back to his peak state in no time.


    All his injuries healed easily, except for his unstable mana pathways, but that was something that healed automatically.


    The things he witnessed in his dream triggered a domino effect, allowing him to restore his mana circulation.


    It also validated the technique he received, making him eager to try it once his condition improved.


    ''Caera has been training for an extra year yet she hasn''t reached Mid E-Rank, let alone me,'' he thought to himself and sighed.


    He had just entered E-rank, and his body hadn''t fully adapted to the change, so he postponed trying the new mana circulation technique.


    "I will do it when I am Mid E-Rank and inside the academy. That way, no one will even know or ask me its source," he mumbled.


    "Anyways, it''s good that Caera was still trying to break through, or else," Jash muttered, worried about her reactions.


    Caera had been training in an isolated underground area where she could try to break through until she succeeded or gave up.


    It was fairly rich with densely concentrated pure mana, easing the process of ranking up, even if it was just a subrank.


    Caera mostly went there for rank ups unlike Jash who went for his E-Rank breakthrough, doing the rest in his room.


    He really wasn''t one for all the luxuries. He only wanted to enjoy the luxury of sleep, alas, it remained a far-fetched dream.


    ''I will be able to sleep as much as I want after I escape my predetermined demise,'' he mused as a smile blossomed on his face.


    Jash believed that sacrificing some sleep now would allow him to enjoy it more in the future.


    No matter how stupid that line of thought was, he truly deluded himself with it and went to sleep once again.


    This time, however, he didn''t have any special dreams.


    ¡­


    The days passed quickly, and Jash fully recovered before getting forced into light training with his father.


    Carcel and Sera were mostly busy dealing with the aftermath of the dungeon explosion and the removal of the spies.


    While Caera had already reached Mid E-Rank and ended up sparring with Jash to consolidate her rank.


    "Damn! You''re cheating!" Jash complained after their sparring session.


    He felt bitter as she didn''t even give herself a handicap despite being a sub-rank higher than her!


    ''Just what''s wrong with her!?'' he wondered in confusion for the nth time.


    "Hmph!" Caera just snorted in response and jeered, "It''s your fault for not catching up with me!"


    Jash rolled his eyes in response, but kept silent, not even trying to argue with her.


    He had already tried and failed to reach her every time, getting frustrated over it and gave up in the end.


    Jash still found a way to tease her, "You talk big for someone who can only defeat me because of the rank difference!"


    "Hah! And you think you stand a chance in front of Amael?" Caera sneered in response.


    "We don''t talk about him! He is in a different category, alright?" Jash exclaimed, feeling strange inside.


    Even though Caera wanted to keep arguing with him, she too knew that his words were indeed correct.


    While the two were struggling with consolidating Mid E-Rank and Early E-Rank, Amael was already at the Late E-Rank.


    "He''s a monster, no?" she muttered, feeling inappropriate to even compare with him. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He sure is! Did you forget he had a natural awakening unlike anyone recorded in the past few decades?"


    Jash agreed with her words but deliberately used the word recorded, knowing fully well there ought to be some unrecorded hidden monsters.


    No matter what someone said, he firmly believed in the prospect of hidden monsters waiting to become teachers to the protagonist or his harem.


    It was just such an overused cliche that there was no way to make Jash think otherwise, especially given the kind of events in this world.


    ''I''ll be sure of it at this banquet either ways,'' he thought inwardly before getting distracted by Caera.


    "...what do you think about the banquet?" Caera asked him tentatively.


    "Hmm? I don''t know, to be honest. It is compulsory for all nobles to attend, irrespective of their children''s age," Jash replied thoughtfully.


    "Well, it only takes place if the Imperial Family has children attending the academy that particular year, so it makes sense."


    "Mhm." Jash nodded at her words but didn''t quite like the arrangement.


    The Imperial Family forced all noble families to stop holding birthday banquets for their children after they turned 12.


    Only the coming of age ceremony when they turned 18 was allowed.


    Yet the Imperial Family would hold a banquet in December every time someone with their blood entered the Solarnelle Academy.


    This went on to show their confidence in their bloodline, as everyone, regardless of their status, had to take the Academy''s entrance test.


    There were no exceptions to it.


    "The annoying thing is forcing all of us to attend, including the Associations," Jash grumbled in annoyance.


    "Jash," Caera called him seriously, stopping in her tracks.


    "Hm?" Jash turned to face her, confused at her sudden solemnity.


    "Don''t ever say those words in front of anyone else," she advised with a grave expression.


    ''What does she-,'' he thought for a second before it finally struck him.


    "Yeah, don''t worry. I will be extra careful next time," he nodded with a serious expression.


    It turned out some of his previous world''s habits had indeed come through inadvertently.


    The two worlds were fundamentally different as one had an open government while this one had the Imperial Family and nobility.


    It was quite obvious what would happen if someone dared to badmouth the Imperial Family, even indirectly.


    That''s why he understood her point quite easily and made a mental note to always be careful regarding his speech.


    Although he did hate etiquette and mannerism classes, he had taken them until everything was ingrained in his body.


    He had long become accustomed to the strange traditions of the nobility and adhered to their strict standards.


    ''Damn these noble houses! Can''t a kid relax?'' he mused, though he kept such rebellious thoughts to himself.


    "By the way, what do you think? Will something interesting happen at the banquet?" Caera asked, attempting to change the serious atmosphere.


    "Who knows? But it should be quite boring like any other banquet since it''s in the heart of the Empire," Jash said his random guesses.


    "Think before speaking, will you?" Caera chided him as she massaged her temples, unable to comprehend Jash''s recent behavior.


    "Ah! What does it matter? It''s just you and me," Jash justified his slip of tongue, but Caera just shook her head and left.


    "Just be sure to get ready and keep your tongue in check, or I''ll tell Mom about you skipping training," Caera said playfully as she stopped before running away.


    "Ugh, so troublesome," Jash grumbled and decided to just stay silent.

 Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Grand Imperial Gathering

    The city of Adonia, capital of the Solarnelle Empire, shone with unparalleled brilliance and magnificent style as it prepared for a momentous occasion.


    The atmosphere buzzed with an energy that could only come from a grand celebration, and the air was filled with excitement.


    Why would it not?


    After all, today''s Empire-wide banquet hosted by the Imperial Family was a significant event.


    Today marked the day when the Imperial Family hosted a banquet for all of the nobility before the grand opening of the Solarnelle Academy.


    All eyes were on Prince Avon and Princess Ava, the beloved jades of the Imperial Family.


    The Imperial Family spared no expense to ensure that the celebration was nothing short of spectacular.


    The streets were adorned with colorful banners and 3D holograms, casting an iridescent hue over the city.


    No corner was left desolate in the entire city, as this was a much more significant event than the last one.


    Last time, only the First Princess attended the Academy. However, this time, the Second Prince and the Second Princess were together.


    Also, the number of influential people whose children would be joining this year was at an all-time high.


    It was enough for the Imperial Family to splurge alongside a few big investors to make the event memorable for all.


    Yet no one dared to be presumptuous, ensuring that something could be done better during the Enthronement Ceremony of the Crown Prince in the future.


    In the city, intricately designed arches and magnificent floral arrangements were present everywhere along with a vibrant vibe.


    It didn''t matter if they were simple alleyways or high-rise buildings of the rich, everything looked pleasing to the eye.


    The city had essentially transformed into a majestic wonderland, captivating the hearts of its residents and visitors alike.


    "Wow!" A small girl exclaimed in shock, her eyes shining at the sight.


    "It''s really wonderful, isn''t it?" her mother said, equally excited yet cautious of the visitors.


    Such scenes were aplenty, and not just commoners but even some lower-ranked nobles had similar scenarios.


    In some places, parents chided their children to behave and not embarrass themselves at the banquet, while others asked their kids to make connections.


    Just like that, the sun dipped down the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city.


    Following the setting sun, guests began to gather in the grand courtyard of the royal palace.


    Nobles, leaders of various organizations, and esteemed envoys from far and wide came to pay their respects and participate in the special banquet.


    The air of the Royal Palace was filled with animated chatter and laughter as everyone exchanged pleasantries, marveling at the extravagant display of wealth.


    However, it was the banquet hall inside the palace that was a sight to behold.


    The tables were adorned with fine linens, sparkling silverware, and delicate crystal glasses, along with diamond-studded chandeliers.


    The aroma of delectable dishes wafted through the air, enticing the taste buds of those fortunate enough to be allowed in attendance.


    In this peaceful world, such banquets weren''t unheard of yet hidden alliances and enemies existed.


    Quite a few nobles and people in power ended up becoming wary of each other, but that didn''t stop them from forming connections.


    In any world, the connections one had were just as important as their individual strength.


    That''s why every invitee found the time to attend the event as many new partnerships and alliances would form just in this celebration alone.


    Naturally, since the most influential people were gathered today, one could say that they came to make world-changing decisions instead of enjoying the banquet.


    Since the people present could change the course of the future for the world as a whole.


    Of course, they were oblivious to how the world was supposed to have a destined path which was being forcefully bent at not one, not two, but three different ends.


    Alas, the first one remained unaware of their own role in this ever changing world, unaware that they were the most pivotal person in its destiny.


    Anyways, one of the people wasn''t going to attend as the Church had sent a delegation of adults.


    Rather, he was quite busy trying to change the course of upcoming events, preventing the potential destruction of the Church.


    One could say that only one of the three was truly trying to alter the course of events, regardless of the consequences.


    And currently, he was inside a carriage, riding to the Royal Palace after going through a teleportation portal.


    ''Damn! Why do I have a bad feeling about today?'' Jash thought in confusion, his facial expression tightening in anxiety.


    Jash''s frustration boiled over. "Why couldn''t we just drive? This is ridiculous!" he snapped, glaring at the carriage.


    It was nothing more than a stupid attempt to divert his attention.


    "Because that''s the tradition!" Caera said, rolling her eyes and telling him for the seventeenth time.


    "I told you to read some history and cultural books, didn''t I?" she asked rhetorically.


    "Hmm. The weather is really nice today," Jash said, trying to dodge her question.


    "You really are helpless, huh?" Caera sighed in defeat. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ugh. I told you, all this history is distorted! The winner writes whatever they wish, always villainizing the loser!"


    Jash had really tried explaining this point, as he knew that it was just a matter of perspective before one calls a person a hero or a villain.


    If a person destroyed the world, they are a villain?


    But what if their whole world, their family and loved ones, were taken away from them because of the world?


    Was it wrong to seek revenge from the world itself and want to destroy it?


    ''No, it isn''t! As long as no one can stop you, it''s their fault for overestimating themselves!'' Jash mused internally.


    It wasn''t like anyone would understand his unique perspective, so he chose to stay quiet.


    "There are so many people here! Even elves, dwarves and mixed ones among humans!" Caera exclaimed, eager to meet them.


    "As if! Every single living being in our world is competing with another for resources, there''s nothing good about it!"


    Although Jash preached the truth, Caera ignored him and chose to enjoy the moment instead of brooding over it.


    "Hmph! You''re such a joykiller. You should''ve gone with Mom!" Caera complained, irked by his constant grumblings.


    She was really annoyed by his negative and hateful attitude related to everything she saw.


    ''If not for wanting to confirm this world''s state, I would''ve much rather stayed home!'' he thought to himself.


    Indeed, he really wanted to just rest till the world academy entrance test, unlike others who were eager to come here.


    Not only was he forced to wear these uncomfortable clothes and get ready after waking up early, but he had also sparred with Caera the previous night!


    ''It''s so unfair!'' he cried out inwardly, hiding his thoughts on the outside.


    ¡­


    Unlike Jash and the Church''s person, there was another guy coming here.


    With his status, he didn''t have an obligation to come early yet he had arrived right on time, roaming around the courtyard.


    He seemed to have a pleasant aura around him as women of all ages found him eye-catching.


    Yet the boy was just too focused on his own thoughts.


    ''Oi system! Are you sure about this?'' he thought, or rather communicated with his system.


    {Yes, host! I told you this is the best place to farm points before the main event, the Academy, starts!}

 Chapter 82: Chapter 82: President Aoife: Hidden Price of Power

    A/N: The next few chapters aren''t for everyone, so read at your own risk. Or continue from Chapter 95 as we are back to the banquet in it or chapter 96 as we are back to Jash in it.


    ***


    Somewhere on an unknown planet.


    A woman with striking red hair sat in a luxurious leather chair, her sharp yellow eyes glued to the computer screen.


    ¡ªClick!


    ¡ªClack! S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The continuous sounds of mouse clicks and clacking keys echoed in the silent room as she continued to work.


    ¡ªKnock Knock!


    "Come in," she permitted entrance, but didn''t even glance at the newcomer.


    ¡ªClack!


    The newcomer was a woman in her twenties, wearing a tight-fitting black coat and skirt over a white shirt, dressed like a typical secretary.


    The secretary-like woman bowed and said, holding out a phone, "Miss President, it''s your brother."


    The woman on the chair finally had a change in her stature as she paused her actions and put her left hand in front of her secretary.


    Yet her eyes were still on the monitor, unfazed by anything.


    The secretary just nodded as if used to it and handed the phone over and stood up straight, fixing her long black hair.


    "You may leave," the red-haired woman said calmly and the secretary complied.


    ¡ªClick!


    As soon as the door closed with a sound, she raised the phone to her ear and said, "Hello?"


    "Miss President."


    Hearing a different voice than she expected surprised her, but she maintained her calm demeanor.


    It wasn''t the first time her brother got caught up in some strange problem, so she knew how to deal with it.


    "...What do you want?" she asked directly after a few moments of silence on both ends.


    "I heard that you have a husband? Do your admirers know that?"


    This time she couldn''t maintain her composure.


    No one was supposed to know about this. ''Did he blabber about it?''


    As if sensing her thoughts the caller continued, "Did you forget you kept your brother in the dark too?"


    A chill ran down her spine as the man on the other end of the phone seemed to know her deepest secrets.


    "You must be quite curious-"


    "Just state your demands," she strategically cut him off, not wanting to waste her time over such a matter.


    "Hmm. My demands, huh?"


    The voice on the other end turned contemplative before he said resolutely, "Resign."


    "Impossible!" she replied instinctively.


    "Then the deal is off," the man declared in a tone of finality.


    It seemed he had no interest in riches and just wanted her downfall.


    It was strange and rare, but that was it.


    Her position attracted enemies for various reasons, from sexism to personal grudges, making the threat all the more repetitive.


    However, she had remained steadfast and resolute in the face of all such challenges.


    "Wait. Anything else? Just name it," she counter offered, unwilling to let her family get hurt.


    That was the reason no one ought to know about her personal life.


    Even her secretary only knew about her brother, not her husband.


    "Anything, eh? Interesting," the voice turned playful as he continued, "I wonder if your husband would agree?"


    Her face turned red with rage, yet she kept her emotions in check as she said gruffly, "Don''t cross the line."


    "Ahahahahahahahah"


    The man laughed for a few seconds before his voice turned serious, "Look here, Miss President, you''re the one who has to pay, not me."


    "Don''t misunderstand¡ªI have no regard for you, your family, or the nation!"


    His voice turned rough, bestial even as he continued his threat.


    "And I repeat, do not think you''ll have your revenge because that''s impossible."


    Then his voice seemed to contain anger hot enough to burst the entire world in its blistering flames.


    "I am the one who will have his revenge."


    With that he hung up the call, not giving her the time to reply or comprehend the words.


    The next instant, she cursed loudly and crushed the phone, throwing it into the corner of the room.


    ¡ªBeep!


    A notification sound from her secured monitor caught her attention, and as she read its title, her hands clenched in anger.


    "This b*stard dares!!" she shouted and slammed her mahogany desk.


    ¡ªBam!


    However, her desk didn''t even creak under all her might; instead, it was her pale hands that reddened.


    Her face flushed red as she gritted her teeth and smashed her keyboard, unable to keep her calm after reading the entire mail.


    "Just how dare he!!" She yelled, her frustration boiling over.


    In the next second, she stood up, kicking the chair back to vent her emotions.


    She closed the monitor displaying a mail with the title "Come here if you want them to live, Miss President."


    It didn''t contain anything else except an address and time, inviting her to a possible trap that she couldn''t avoid.


    ''Just how did those idiots get caught?'' she grumbled inwardly while taking deep breaths to calm her emotions.


    No matter what, she was the president of a nation, and if photos of her emotional turmoil leaked, it would give her haters another chance to put her down.


    Finally, she barely returned to her calm facade and left the room, turning to face her secretary a few meters away.


    "Give me a spare phone," she demanded after walking elegantly to her table.


    Hearing her voice, the secretary immediately stood up in respect and followed the orders, briskly opening a drawer.


    The drawer was filled with the latest phones as if the president used to break them every now and then.


    The familiarity with which the secretary set up the new phone and handed it over spoke volumes about the President''s behavior.


    "I''ll be leaving for a while. Handle it," the president ordered and walked away, her heels striking hard against the marble floor.


    "Yes, ma''am!" was all the secretary said and kept standing until the president was out of her sight.


    "Phew..." She released her held breath and muttered inaudibly, "She seemed super pissed. Pity her brother."


    On the other hand, the president didn''t care about anyone''s view of her as she walked briskly.


    Her flawlessly draped sky-blue dress accentuated her curves, causing the men and women to turn their heads at her.


    While women felt jealous of her figure, the men had a hard time controlling their thoughts.


    Fortunately, none were stupid enough to approach her.


    ''Idiots,'' she thought, used to the lascivious stares from old men and teens alike.


    That was also a reason why she never revealed her marital status, keeping a shush over it.


    After all, who would want to know that their dream woman was claimed by someone else?


    Apparently, excluding some degenerates, no man would.


    "I''ll drive myself," she declared, exiting through a back door and ignoring the security protocols completely.


    She was determined to keep the situation quiet, even driving a car with tinted windows and a unique registration number to avoid detection.


    Thanks to the unique registration number on the car, no one dared to stop her on the way.


    ¡ªScreech!


    After a tense two-hour drive, she arrived at the address.


    It was no small feat, as even the most experienced drivers might falter in the face of emotional instability.


    Yet she didn''t seem to feel anything about it.


    Unperturbed by the emotional strain, she stepped out of the car and walked into the desolate area, scanning for any signs of danger.


    ''There are no cars excluding mine and nothing else in the area,'' she observed.


    Or at least, that''s what she thought.


    "Oh my, what a coincidence!"


    A familiar voice echoed in the area, irking her to no end. ''That''s him!'' she thought in recognition before hearing the voice again.


    "Well, well, how lovely! If it isn''t the beloved President, Miss Aoife."

 Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Anything: A Desperate Bargain

    ¡ªTap!


    ¡ªTap!


    ¡ªTap!


    The slow yet paced steps brought immense discomfort and anxiety to Aoife as she waited for her adversary to show himself.


    "It''s been a while, Miss Aoife," he said as he finally showed himself.


    "Who?" Aoife blurted out, unable to recognize the man.


    Aoife took in his dark attire and calculating hazel eyes as he approached, smiling sinisterly.


    "Oh, of course, you wouldn''t remember," the man smiled maniacally.


    Looking at him, Aoife felt uneasy as she failed to understand if he was even the same man who had threatened her openly on the phone.


    "You must be curious, no?" He asked tentatively, maintaining his smile.


    "Luc'' come out," he called out to no one in particular before a woman with golden hair appeared.


    Her beauty seemed on par with Aoife, surprising her, yet what shocked her was the man''s nonchalance towards her.


    ''Why did I not notice it? He doesn''t even seem interested in me,'' she thought, perplexed by the man''s motives.


    However, it was still a bitter pill to swallow.


    How could she accept a woman as beautiful as her appearing out of the blue with a man being entirely indifferent to not just one, but two top-tier beauties?


    It seemed impossible to her, but the truth was quite apparent right in front of her.


    "You don''t even remember her?" the man asked, bringing her out of her reverie.


    "...No." She shook her head after giving it another second of thought.


    "Hoo? It seems people in high positions really hold no regard for people like you and me, Luc''."


    "Yes, boss. It''s better to just finish her than try to reason with a self-righteous wench like her!" Luc'' spat venomously.


    Her words startled Aoife but she didn''t let it show despite the ominous premonition in her heart.


    ''Just what''s with these people?'' she thought and decided to get this charade over with.


    "You...! I don''t care what your motives are; just tell me what you want!" Aoife demanded..


    "Haa... Are you perchance stupid? Can''t you understand from our conversation?"


    The man looked at her as if he were looking at some inferior idiot, and not even someone deemed equal.


    The look infuriated her as she told herself, ''Control! Control! I have to get them out of here!''


    "Looks like she won''t understand like this, boss! Let''s bring them over," Luc'' implored the man politely.


    Despite her obvious hatred towards Aoife, she maintained a polite and respectful demeanor regarding the man.


    "You''re right," the man nodded, approving her line of thought and ordered, "No need to hide. Everyone, bring them out!"


    ¡ªRustle! Rustle!


    His loud order was followed by several men coming out of the various bushes in the distance.


    The sight of so many mercenary-like men made Aoife panic inwardly before her eyes landed on the two familiar figures.


    "Aron! Julius!" she called out subconsciously the moment her eyes landed on the figure of her brother and husband.


    While Aron didn''t really resemble her features, he was truly her brother and Julius... Well, he looked too plain to be her husband.


    Meanwhile, the man just enjoyed the sight of different emotions flashed on Aoife''s face, ignoring everything else.


    ''This is... fun? No. Satisfying?'' he thought, perplexed by his own emotions.


    He naturally felt no sympathy for the trio, ignoring her horrified look as she finally noticed that Aron and Julius were unconscious.


    "What did you do to them? How dare you touch them!" Aoife hissed through gritted teeth.


    "Whoa! Chill out, missy! It''s just some anesthesia at play," the man clarified, more so in a teasing manner than placating.


    He really seemed to be enjoying it as his subordinates grinned like hungry hyena, awaiting the orders to devour the prey.


    Unlike him, all of them were indeed interested in the red-haired woman opposite them, each wanting a piece of her.


    Yet none of them even spared a glance at Luc'', already associating her as the boss''s woman.


    Although none had ever seen the two act affectionately, none of them wanted to risk it, especially when another equally enticing beauty stood before them.


    "State. Your. Price." Aoife said each word clearly as her face turned red from anger.


    "Again? Did you get Alzheimer''s or some other memory loss?" the man sneered at her attempts to negotiate. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It seemed he was hell-bent on wanting to destroy her instead of any peaceful and civil solution.


    "Well, if you want to hear it, then listen," he suddenly said, confusing everyone present except for Luc''.


    "You might not remember, but you advised your grandfather to ignore normal citizens'' complaints and move on with the project 14 years back."


    ''14? Who would remember something so back into the past?'' Aoife thought, frowning.


    "At that time, I used to live happily yet my life turned upside down because of your advice."


    "Do you know what they did? They brutalized and killed everyone after torturing them in multiple ways."


    "It was an ugly sight."


    The man''s voice cracked with emotion as he continued, "I...I escaped alive that day... but I had already lost everything."


    "And it was your fault."


    "However, I didn''t blame you or anyone else, ever. That''s how I was raised, after all."


    The man''s eyes turned bloodshot as if he was forcing his tears to not fall.


    "You know what''s your fault and why you are here? It''s because you didn''t change. No, you did change."


    "For the worse."


    "The number of displaced people and death tolls due to government negligence is at an all-time high, even higher than the nations without any government."


    "Unfortunately, it never ended."


    "Every single person inside your government is trash. They are scum, beyond reproach."


    While his words and emotions were raw and could be felt, Aoife felt nothing in her heart at his story.


    She appeared rather... bored.


    It was true that she never cared about the low rung of society, and why should she?


    People who accepted their destiny without even putting in any effort to change it were irredeemable trash in her eyes.


    So what if she had to sacrifice a few good humans to get rid of them?


    It was well worth the sacrifice.


    And as if he could see through her thoughts, the man''s voice returned to normal, yet it was just too eerily calm.


    "Anyways, my reasons don''t matter. Just like you, I want to end you, destroy you, and make you lose everything."


    With that being said, the man took a sharp turn and walked to the town unconscious men and held them by their necks.


    "Stop! Release them!" she shouted in anger and fear, unable to keep her facade when it came to her brother and husband.


    "Yeah, that''s the type of emotion I want to see on your face," the man grinned sadistically.


    "So, tell me, who do you want to say goodbye to first? Your husband or your brother?"


    As he said so, his hands wrapped around their necks, ready to twist them and finish them off mercilessly.


    In his eyes, it was an act of mercy, given his hatred for this woman.


    "Boss, calm yourself," Luc'' said, patting his hands, interrupting the sequence.


    The boss just glared at her, not releasing his hold as he continued to choke them


    Looking at their faces paling and their necks reddening, Aoife finally couldn''t take it anymore.


    "Wait! Just tell me what you want! I''ll do anything!" she shouted in exasperation, too worried about her brother and husband.

 Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Unleashed Fury

    "Anything? Anything she says," the man reiterated before bursting into forced laughter.


    "Haah," he scoffed with disgust as his eyes remained focused on the still unconscious men.


    "Luc''. Wake them up. Now!" he ordered before turning to face Aoife.


    The man silently stared at her murderously, not hiding his hatred in the least.


    It was as if he couldn''t care less about the consequences of his actions, but that wasn''t the truth.


    "Nothing will work. Network and satellite jammers are activated here," he remarked, looking at the clenched phone in Aoife''s hands.


    Unlike his appearance, he had planned every single step to get the results he wanted, irrespective of the cost.


    ''Even if it costs me everything, it doesn''t matter as long as I satiate my vengeance.''


    That line of thought motivated the man to make his move today.


    "You look anxious," he began. "What? You thought you''d be able to go for your broadcast?"


    "No. I am not involved politically," he clarified before Aoife could even come to that conclusion.


    Though her thoughts were a mess after looking at her husband and brother, she was mature enough to keep it in check.


    Hence, her first guess was his political involvement which persisted despite his words.


    After all, there was no trust between them.


    He was literally blackmailing her!


    Not wanting to think about this hateful man, her eyes darted to her loved ones, only to freeze at the sight.


    Both of their cheeks were swollen and red with fingerprints with slightly bigger marks on their necks.


    ¡ªThud!


    "Boss, they aren''t waking up," Luc'' stated, dropping their bodies as if they were a bag of rice.


    "Hm?" the man made a sound of acknowledgement before advising, "Kick them. Stab them. Crush their family jewels. Just wake them up."


    A chill ran down Aoife''s spine hearing his savage and barbaric words yet the worst hadn''t even come.


    The golden-haired woman nodded without the slightest twitch on her face, raised their bodies, and took her position to drop a flurry of attacks.


    "NO! STOP!" Aoife shouted in desperation, but no one cared about her emotions at the moment.


    Truth be told, it was the first time someone refused her words since her childhood.


    Many did oppose her opinion from time to time but they always agreed in the end.


    However, the man seemed uninterested in her mental state or anything else as he ignored her desperate pleas.


    ''Not enough,'' he thought, noticing how Aoife had yet to even shed tears or break down.


    "Luc''. Take it up a notch," he commanded, his voice full of malicious intent.


    Finally, Aoife couldn''t take it anymore and closed her eyes.


    She wasn''t stupid enough to believe that any of her rash actions would get her out of here.


    Instead, she believed that the longer she stood her ground, the higher the chances of a rescue or some miracle.


    Unfortunately, she remained unaware of the crazy preparations the man made today.


    Not only were all kinds of radio waves blocked, he even had hundreds of guards in the area.


    No one could enter even an area of two kilometers radius from this place, not to mention the core area where they stood.


    However, that wasn''t all he had planned, and it was yet to be unveiled.


    ¡ªBam!


    Suddenly, the loud sound caught everyone''s attention as Aoife visibly flinched and reflexively opened her eyes.


    The sight that greeted her wasn''t a pleasant one, though.


    Blood splattered on the ground from multiple wounds caused by the sharp heels of Luc''.


    Fortunately, the awake sight of her husband made her feel a slight happiness before worry overwhelmed her mind.


    "Haa..." her husband panted for breath, unaware of everything that happened after he got abducted.


    Only when he recognized the figure of Aoife near him did he calm down and immediately called out, "Da-ugh"


    His incoherent speech was cut short as he received a sharp slap on his left cheek.


    "Why weren''t you waking up sooner? You had little Luc'' work so hard¡ªwhy?"


    His words drew puzzled looks from his men, while Luc'' appeared unfazed and seemed to be... enjoying it?


    "S-stop!" Aoife, the most affected by everything, stammered in her words.


    Yet in the next second everyone''s attention was caught by a sound as if an animal was being slaughtered.


    ¡ªSquelch


    "AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH"


    All the men instinctively covered their crotch as they sucked in a cold breath at the sight excluding the man who had ordered such a despicable thing.


    On the other hand, Aoife seemed to have witnessed the most devastating sight in her life as her face appeared to have lost all its color.


    Yet the sight of Luc'' as she looked calmly at her work with an admiring look was enough to send chills down any man''s spine.


    It turns out that she had smashed his family jewels for real!


    Without any hesitation at all!


    Even Aoife''s husband gulped in nervousness, unable to imagine the pain he must be going through.


    And truly he was as he rolled on the ground, clutching his bleeding family jewels.


    Only, the culprit seemed to not like it as she threatened, "Stop moving or I will cut it off."


    Her threat might not have worked before, but now? It worked wonders.


    Despite all his agony, Aoife''s brother stopped moving, though his body still twitched due to the unexpected sensation.


    A chilling silence fell over the area as Aoife''s husband felt relieved to have woken up after only a beating.


    The silence soon broke when the mastermind addressed Luc'', "Girl, what did I tell you about letting your personal feelings into work?"


    Luc'' immediately bowed. "I am sorry, boss. But I couldn''t help it," she justified her actions.


    "Understandable." He nodded to her and the confusing conversation ended.


    "Wait! What do you mean personal!? What did my brother ever do to her?" Aoife cried out.


    Her tone was raw with her seething rage, but it only served to amuse him.


    "What did he do, huh?" he reiterated with a creepy smile. "Why ask when you know him better?"


    "Boss, may I?" Luc'' interfered, wanting to say it herself.


    Understanding her intent, the hazel-eyed man nodded.


    "How would you feel if someone touched you against your will? I''d want to kill them. You should be glad your brother''s still alive." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not for long, though," she mumbled to herself as the others registered her loud words.


    Gaining some sense of self, her brother looked at Luc'' through his blurry vision and rambled, "Yugh-yuh-yughh..."


    His words remained a mystery to them, but it was obvious he recognized her.


    "Yes, yes, she''s the assassin you sent to kill me," the man mentioned matter-of-factly as if it were no big deal.


    Everyone at the scene looked at him as if seeing a crazy person.


    Just who the heck employs an assassin paid to kill you as your subordinate?


    "You know, your brother thought he could have his way with her just because she also works in honey trapping," the man casually steered the conversation away.


    "Only an idiot would try to gain an assassin''s enmity."


    Hearing the man''s reproachful words, Aoife''s brother finally realized who this woman was.


    In the next second, he seemed to have lost all hope as the weight of his realization finally sat in.


    ''The man opposite isn''t someone we can hope to escape from,'' he thought, the light in his eyes dimming.

 Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Underworld Sovereign

    Uncaring of the words spoken by the man, Aoife''s brother wore a pained expression as he recalled his identity.


    Victor Aller.


    The most wanted man in the nation of Megrale.


    No one knew where he came from or if that was even his real name, but that''s how he was known by the whole underworld.


    One day, he appeared out of nowhere and swept through the major power holders before anyone could understand what happened. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since that day, everyone feared him as he mercilessly removed every single person in the underworld, taking charge as its sole sovereign.


    His power contested with the president of Megrale, Aoife Dell, as he didn''t give a shit about the rules and regulations.


    Earlier, the bigwigs of the nations were involved in the underworld for various reasons, but after his appearance, they lost everything.


    That would be fine and acceptable if Victor actually talked and re-negotiated the terms, but he didn''t!


    Instead, he actually publicized their black deeds; be it forcing prostitution or slavery, he had no reservations about revealing everything.


    Worse yet, he actually uploaded the proofs and testimonials online!


    But when they tried to take it down, they realized it changed nothing as it kept reappearing.


    However, the sole reason they blamed Victor was because the underworld was the place where all the evidence existed.


    The ones in the trade were naturally no idiots and wanted to keep some fail-safes, which fell into the hands of Victor.


    In simple terms, they lost not only their underworld positions but also the one in the Megrale nation.


    Heck, they were even jailed and investigated due to the public pressure, forcing the president to even resign!


    That''s why Aoife could even become the president after the opposition lost it all.


    Her brother didn''t like her taking his position and related Victor to Aoife, wanting to get some dirt on him.


    In truth, all he wanted was to prove Aoife had connections to Victor and use it as leverage to force her into handing over her position.


    Despite considering herself the smartest and wisest, she was unaware of her own brother''s sinister intentions.


    Anyways, it was not as if any link existed between the two, except Victor''s unbridled hatred for her.


    Finally, reality also seemed to set in as Aoife''s brother realized everything.


    Even though he had truly sent quite a few people to get some information, it all failed.


    In the end, he chose to send spies for honey-trapping.


    From muscular men to effeminate men, and even all kinds of women, muscular, fit, slim, chubby, etc etc, of all ages between 18 and 40.


    Yet the end result was always disappointing.


    None of them ever returned with any useful information, if they returned at all.


    It wasn''t just him who tried such methods.


    Many had sent quite a few assassins and double agents to get something, anything about Victor, only to fail miserably.


    That was until he heard of the codename ThornRose and arranged a meeting with her.


    Unsurprisingly, he was captivated by her beauty and attempted to force himself on her, but she escaped.


    She escaped and continued with the order for the money involved, uninterested in anything else.


    She was a professional through and through, even able to keep her personal feelings aside for her work.


    Of course, he garnered a negative opinion about her, but she had already left.


    ''But just what happened that an assassin turned into his subordinate?''


    The question plagued his mind despite the perilous situation simply because he didn''t have any hope of escaping anymore.


    Meanwhile, Victor and Luc'', or ThornRose, were done saying what they wanted to.


    Neither mentioned anything about Aoife''s brother''s true motives, believing it to not be the correct time to get the most intense reaction from her.


    ''I have to break her slowly, step by step,'' Victor had informed everyone about his course of actions long ago.


    Although anyone would be intrigued about his reasons, none spoke of it.


    Even now, no one believed his super generic gangster backstory.


    The only one convinced was Luc'' since she had already heard about his entire life from him.


    ''There was a time when boss gave up on revenge and even lived a happy life with his girlfriend,'' she thought, reminiscing the time he narrated his life.


    It was the same day when she had successfully infiltrated the underworld and even Victor''s organization using her assassin skills.


    She did quite a few tasks before even getting to be a part of the underworld officially, not to mention how long it took to get a glimpse of Victor.


    Victor was elusive, and despite numerous attempts, no one betrayed him. The reason for his subordinates'' unwavering loyalty remained a mystery.


    ''He had already noticed I was a spy long before I had a chance to meet him,'' Luc'' thought with a wry smile.


    That day, she was called to his room and couldn''t help but feel disgust for Victor, imagining what she must go through.


    However, she was trained as an assassin since she was 10, and only later did she discover how wrong her life was.


    Unfortunately, it was too late by then to fix anything.


    Anyways, what greeted her eyes upon entering his private chambers was him fully dressed-up instead of being half-naked or something like her imagination.


    ''At least he''s hot,'' she couldn''t help but think along those lines, recalling the kind of men and women she had slept with before as part of her job.


    Yet his next words stunned her speechless, making her frozen despite her professionalism.


    "You''re here to honey trap me or kill me?"


    Luc'' felt a shiver run down her spine at the casual menace in his voice.


    "Honey trap, I guess?" he muttered after looking her up and down before saying, "It won''t work."


    "I have no interest in anyone," he stated casually as if he wasn''t standing opposite one of the most vicious assassins in Megrale.


    "Y-you...! Are you crazy?" she shouted, dumbfounded by his lack of caution.


    Despite the advantageous situation, her honed instinct warned her to not act against this weird man.


    Her instincts had saved her life at multiple instances, so she followed them, not wanting to make a mistake that would cost her life.


    "Hm?" Victor hummed questioningly before tilting his head, "You''re... different."


    Without waiting for her to understand the intent behind his words, he continued, "You know, all the others attacked directly, or at least acted seductively."


    "You, on the other hand, remained calm and professional. You truly exceed your reputation, ThornRose, BlackRose, Ambrose, or should I say Luciene?"


    Her entire thought process collapsed as she heard him mention all of her codenames and even the real name, which she had nearly forgotten.


    "H-how...?" she stammered yet he just smiled genuinely.


    Victor''s genuine smile unnerved her, and his silence functioned to unsettle her, who was unable to grasp his motives.


    "I will give you two options, die or live. Choose," he declared, his tone taking on a serious backdrop, making her involuntarily bow.


    It was instinctive.


    She felt as if she were facing a higher predator and the only option was submitting to him if she didn''t want to die.


    There was no way she''d want to die.


    After all, who would continue to live their life as an assassin and honey trapper without having a solid reason to?


    And it seemed Victor was already aware of her reason, which didn''t quite sit well with her.


    Well, that''s how she came to work under him as Luc'', short for Luciene, and continued till date.


    ''Just what are you up to, boss?'' she wondered in confusion as he derailed from the initial plan.

 Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Breaking Point

    Unbothered by the feelings of anyone around him, Victor dropped his facade and turned to Aoife''s husband.


    He brought a knife seemingly out of nowhere, slicing Aoife''s brother''s neck with just enough strength to draw blood.


    "N-NO!" Aoife screamed desperately yet her pleas had no effect on Victor as he calmly gave an order.


    "Follow along, Luc''."


    Luc'' immediately complied, taking out a knife strapped under the hem of her skirt and slicing apart Aoife''s brother''s cheeks.


    Unlike Victor, who did it way too slowly and carefully to the point one sneeze or scream from the man below would kill him, Luc'' was brutal.


    Her personal vendetta ran deep, coming to light, as she lightly sliced apart his skin, drawing blood slowly and gruesomely.


    Now, it was Aoife''s turn to be shell shocked at the sight.


    It didn''t take her long to understand that no one would really come to save her and her family.


    "How does it feel to have your misdeed catching up to you, President Aoife?" Victor emphasized his last words, sneering at her.


    In truth, he never wanted such a day to come, but who forced him to get involved in such complex matters involving the dark side of the world?


    As he observed the crumpling of Aoife''s expression, he couldn''t help but think, ''Soon her arrogance and pride will shatter too.''


    It was to be expected since she was similar to a sheltered rose, who wouldn''t survive one day in the wild.


    All her life had been easy without any problems.


    Even after she became the president, all she faced was minor opposition as not many dared to oppose her openly.


    In the end, it got to her head, giving rise to her nonsensical pride and ego, which Victor wanted to break apart.


    His goal was to break her sanity, by slowly chipping away at it.


    Unfortunately, he had to change his plan midway and take extreme measures today due to unpredictable events.


    ''If not for fearing her involvement, I would have done it so very slowly over the next 10 years,'' he cursed his luck inwardly.


    Victor wasn''t sadistic by nature, but this woman forced him to use the worst methods for his vengeance today.


    "Why are you rambling ''no'' and ''stop''? Didn''t you mention anything? Why don''t you try begging? Maybe it''ll help."


    Although Victor himself felt cringey about his words, he had to set an ambiguous tone for his purpose.


    Excluding Aoife who had a stiff expression and the unfazed Luc'', the other listeners had a hard time controlling their laughter.


    "Pfft... Haha..."


    However, the cacophony of laughter resonated like the haunting chimes before something unpleasant, greatly unnerving her.


    Her breathing fastened as she felt a lump in her throat, unable to breathe normally; dizziness overwhelmed her senses.


    The situation overwhelmed her as the words echoed endlessly in her mind: ''Anything¡­ Anything¡­ Anything¡­


    The sheer shock was too much to handle as her mentality slowly seemed to be crumpling and her legs gave way.


    ¡ªThud!


    She fell on her knees with tears streaming down her face as her expressions remained frozen.


    The drastic shift from her prior arrogant self to someone that had seemingly given up all hope was enough to make everyone pause in their tracks.


    It not only surprised the guards, but Victor himself as he felt lightheaded, ''No... no... no... no... no... no...


    no... no...''


    He denied reality right in front of him, stood up from his position as if he couldn''t care less about his actions.


    A look of panic appeared on his face as he didn''t want such a result.


    ¡ªSpurt!


    "Urk!"


    Suddenly, everyone''s attention was drawn by Luc'' stepping on Aoife''s brother''s leg, puncturing it, resulting in him grunting in pain.


    "S-sthop..." Aoife pleaded as her red hair covered her tear-stricken face.


    Her words didn''t seem coherent as she had a hard time even opening her mouth, her face covered in tears, snot, and saliva.


    She appeared extremely pitiful with her perfectly shaped body, raising the protective nature of a few guards.


    Yet, in the next instant, their blood turned cold as they saw a scene they never wished to see.


    Victor held Aoife by her cheeks, completely disregarding Luc'', mumbling crazily with a cold look in his eyes.


    "You can''t give up. Not YET!"


    "Who gave you the right to!"


    "NO! NO! This isn''t how it''s supposed to be!"


    Even though they seemed like mumbling to Victor, the others could only point it out as him hysterically screaming.


    They even categorized him as a full-blown psychopath who''s crazy enough to not want his enemy to break.


    However, the sight of him casually holding her wet face and screaming into it with an indifferent, cold look literally sent chills down their spines.


    The guards weren''t normal mercenaries, they were veterans who had seen their comrades getting tortured or did the deed themselves.


    Yet, even they couldn''t help but gulp nervously, looking at Victor''s blood drenched face.


    "YOU. CAN''T. GIVE. UP." Victor addressed Aoife, emphasizing each word next to her ear.


    Although she had a strong mentality, it wasn''t enough to hold for so long in the face of such threats, coming from a complete stranger.


    It wouldn''t be a lie to say she wasn''t affected by her brother trying to force himself on Luc'', she knew him better than that.


    The only thing she felt was annoyance at him being stupid enough to let such a person go.


    What truly broke her wasn''t Victor''s next actions and repeating her words.


    It was the helplessness that came with realizing that there was no rescue coming, implying no escape from this place, unless...


    However, she didn''t even need to think about it for a second to understand that the man opposite her wouldn''t care about anything she does.


    Even if she offered herself to him, she couldn''t see him letting the three of them go.


    The hatred in his eyes was raw.


    She couldn''t even understand where it came from, but it bit her, devouring her completely.


    Her slowly chipping sanity collapsed completely at the dawn of her realization.


    Hence, when she felt his grip on her cheeks, she didn''t even offer any response that Victor hoped for.


    Indeed, he was a smart man and he felt that he had completely destroyed her hope.


    ''Hope doesn''t reignite without reason... but how?'' he contemplated a way to give her hope before destroying it.


    ''This time, I want to make no mistakes,'' he thought to himself, realizing that she had given up hope a bit too early.


    She was the president, for god''s sake!


    How could she give up so soon? What if someone heard she was so easy to break?


    Where''s the satisfaction in that?


    It wasn''t that Victor couldn''t have ended things right here, but a sense of emptiness seemed to be gnawing at him.


    While cold and indifferent on the outside, he was secretly worried about something.


    ''I can''t waste time like this,'' he thought, the sense of urgency driving him forward.


    "You," he called out to Aoife, bringing his face closer to her before hissing, "Didn''t you say you''d do anything?"


    Aoife was startled for a fraction of a second before she nodded weakly and mumbled inaudibly, "Yeah... anything... as long as..."


    Her low muttering was audible to Victor who coldly ordered, "Strip."


    S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 87: Chapter 87: No Escape

    A/N: This chapter may be disturbing for some, so read it after this warning


    ***


    Aoife froze at his words, unable to accept the severity of her situation.


    "What''s wrong?" Vector hissed, his voice remained icy. "Didn''t you say you''d do anything? Time to prove it."


    Before she could respond or anything else, Victor clenched her cheeks, a tone of finality in his warning, "Remember, your words hold weight."


    "Ah," Aoife''s voice turned incoherent as he released his tight grip and walked away.


    Her breathing turned ragged as she noticed him dragging her husband and brother by their hair.


    He seemed to have no reservations about his actions, as though he weren''t committing an immoral act.


    Yet Luc'' didn''t seem to show any change in her expression, confusing the few guards who dared to look in her direction.


    Even the guards wore surprised expressions, fully aware of Victor''s intense hatred for crimes related to sex.


    It was to the point that he literally castrated some guards who thought they could use the organization''s name to get away with their evil deeds.


    However, the one on the receiving end had no way of knowing any of this.


    Aoife''s mind turned fuzzy before determination coursed through her, looking at the state of her husband and brother.


    She clenched her teeth and started unbuttoning her shirt with shaky fingers.


    "NO! DON''T" Her husband shouted in exasperation and tried to move, only to be held down by Victor.


    Victor''s gaze shifted from Aoife to her husband and brother before finally settling on Luc'' as he addressed her.


    "Luc'', take hold of them and make them watch it," he instructed in a detached icy tone.


    Luc'' took hold of the two men, who watched with hateful eyes as tears of blood streamed down their swollen cheeks.


    Even Aoife''s pitiful appearance wasn''t enough to stir the unmoving heart of Victor, let alone these two guys.


    Meanwhile, Aoife''s trembling fingers finished their task, and she remained kneeling on the floor, with her open shirt.


    The cold air against her exposed skin was a stark contrast to the heat of her rising panic.


    She could feel the lascivious gaze of the guards focus on her, a searing reminder of her vulnerability.


    Only 4 exceptions existed, her brother and husband who looked at her with bloody eyes and Luc'', who appeared detached.


    While Victor''s gaze was unwavering as he assessed her, his face a mask of detached satisfaction.


    "Good," he said, his voice devoid of warmth. "Now that you''ve shown your willingness, let''s see how far that goes."


    Aoife bit her lip, bleeding slightly as her hands trembled when she tried to push her limits more.


    Victor then turned away, moving to a small muddy patch on the ground, his actions a chilling contrast to his previous demeanor.


    Digging at it, he retrieved various tools and implements, his plans easy to imagine.


    ¡ªClang!


    The sound of metal against metal echoed through the room as Victor revealed each intimidating tool, amplifying Aoife''s sense of dread.


    Despite the serious situation, Luc'' remained stoic as she stood, holding the two men down.


    Her eyes darted to the tools before a hint of recognition appeared in her weary eyes as if they were simply part of her routine.


    She made no move to assist or intervene, leaving Aoife to face Victor''s plans alone.


    ¡ªBam!


    Victor threw the tools nearby Aoife, examining her with a critical eye.


    "You know, when you''re in power, it''s easy to forget what it feels like to be powerless. But you''re lucky," he said matter-of-factly.


    Then his tone turned chilling, like his smile, "As you''re about to get a very real lesson soon."


    Aoife''s heart raced as Victor picked up and dropped the tools, assessing them before glancing at her and dropping them.


    Aoife''s breathing turned shallow, her eyes darting between the tools and Victor''s inscrutable expression. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The reality of her situation sank in deeper with every second as her fingers pressed against her bare skin.


    "I want you to remember this moment," Victor continued, his voice low and menacing. "Every second of it."


    He finally closed in and hissed, "This is the price of your arrogance, the cost of believing that you''re untouchable."


    His words cut through Aoife''s haze of fear, sharpening her sense of impending horror, her resolve crumbling with each passing moment.


    Luc'' looked on with an unreadable expression, while Victor''s gaze remained cold and determined.


    Under his fierce gaze, Aoife tried to steady herself, but the fear was far too overwhelming.


    Her hands trembled uncontrollably, and she could no longer keep her composure. The reality of her situation was inescapable, and she was at the mercy of Victor''s whims.


    Victor approached her with a sharpened metal rod in hand as it wickedly gleamed ominously in the dim light.


    "Let''s begin," he said, his voice, steady and unyielding.


    As Victor made his first move, Aoife''s eyes filled with tears, her body shaking uncontrollably.


    She didn''t know yet but her dignity and strength were being systematically dismantled as Victor hoped for.


    In the end, the once-mighty president was now nothing more than a figure of despair.


    Victor''s plan wasn''t unfolding as intended, but it was the best outcome right now.


    Unfortunately, Aoife''s ordeal was far from over. Each moment dragged on, a harsh reminder of her helplessness and Victor''s unyielding resolve.


    As the night continued, the clearing became a source of unrelenting tension and fear, with each passing second amplifying the darkness of the situation.


    Victor''s resolve to break Aoife''s spirit was unshaken, underscoring his deep-seated hatred and cruelty.


    Still, he hadn''t even actually hurt her physically.


    He traced her milky smooth skin with the sharp tip of the metal rod, threatening to puncture it.


    It was far worse than getting stabbed as the tension underneath her made Aoife stiffen up, in fear of accidentally scarring herself.


    "You know," Victor began, turning to face the two men, "I don''t consider someone who''s ready to offer herself as a woman."


    ¡ªBang!


    ¡ªBang!


    Blood splattered all around as a bizarre silence enveloped the surroundings as two bullets were shot.


    "Fuu..." Victor blew air at the muzzle of his pistol.


    "I usually respect women, but not the ones who don''t respect themselves."


    Before the scene in front of her could register in her senses, Aoife heard his words, almost turning to him before another word echoed in her mind.


    "Goodbye."


    ¡ªBang!


    With that, the three lay dead on the ground, startling the guards as the decision seemed abrupt yet Luc'' showed not the slightest sign of shock.


    "It went as you planned, boss," she commented and he nodded at her before she asked, "Now...?"


    "As planned," Victor replied as he turned around to leave, glancing one last time at the three of them.


    The three had expressions of shock and disbelief painted on their faces, with Aoife''s being highlighted.


    Yet her bare upper body and the blood wound on her head didn''t even faze him in the slightest.


    As he walked away, his chest tightened. ''What''s happening?'' he wondered, bewildered.


    ''This wasn''t part of the plan!'' he complained inwardly, wondering what went wrong.


    ¡ªThud!


    In the next second, he fell to the ground with a loud noise but no one seemed to notice him as the guards were busy contemplating what to do with the bodies.


    Luc'' was the only one who noticed but her expression remained indifferent.


    ''Anyways, it doesn''t matter if I got betrayed or not, I got my revenge, although unsatisfactory,'' he mused before a creepy smile appeared on his face.


    "Not like you all will¨C"

 Chapter 88: Chapter 88: A Life of Duality

    Inside a dark room, far from Victor''s location on the same planet.


    ¡ªRing!


    ¡ªRing!


    ¡ªClick!


    "Report."


    A stern, masculine voice echoed in the empty room as the man picked up his phone and put it to his ear.


    "It''s done."


    "Alright."


    ¡ªClick!


    With just that as the conversation, the man ended the call and put aside his phone before his gaze darted to the kneeling figure.


    "...You''ve performed well," he said to the kneeling figure after a brief silence.


    "Thank you!" replied the kneeling figure with ecstasy, their voice androgynous.


    "But don''t underestimate him. This is not the end¨C"


    The man paused mid-speech, turned his head sideways, and then focused on the kneeling figure as he commanded, "Leave."


    As if used to the sudden shift in their boss''s moods, the kneeling figure nodded and was about to leave when two words entered their ears.


    "Be careful."


    Their boss wouldn''t normally say those words, making the figure immediately grasp the seriousness of the situation as they left the room.


    The man, now alone, moved and exited the room, climbing the stairs upwards.


    With each step, his expression softened before finally morphing into a genuine smile as he reached the ground.


    "Sweetie~"


    A voice echoed nearby, making the man''s eyes crinkle in amusement as an idea took shape in his mind.


    "Honey~"


    With each alluring voice, the man''s eyes formed crescents as he walked opposite the voice.


    "Anata~"


    "She''s even going across languages," the man mumbled with a helpless smile before the figure of his wife came into his eyes.


    Her eyebrows were furrowed as she looked everywhere, trying to find him, and only one word came to his mind.


    "Cute."


    How her eyes moved around, how frustration seemed to be boiling on her pretty face, how her eyes twitched, how she pouted...


    Every single detail entered his eyes as he stifled his laughter at her cute form and reached out to her, hugging her from behind.


    She couldn''t see him because he was good at escaping from people''s vision... or so he thought.


    "Aha~ Caught ya~" She muttered with a mischievous smile as she held his arms and pushed him on to the wall. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A kabedon!


    He really felt speechless at his wife''s ability to always find him, making all of his attempts to tease her pointless.


    Despite his failure, a smile adorned his face as he teased, "What next? Will you kiss me forcefully, darling?"


    "As if!" She snorted, but a light blush crept up her cheeks as she pushed her body against his.


    Just as the two were about to finally lean in for the kiss amidst their tension, a sharp voice chirped in.


    "Mommy! Daddy!"


    Panicking, she didn''t care and pushed her husband towards the wall, causing him to collide with it, while she stood with her back straight.


    She fanned her face to get rid of the heat rising when she finally realized she went a bit too hard on him, and turned to face him.


    He did have a pained expression on his face, but he too stood with his back straight.


    Before the couple could speak, their 5-year-old daughter rushed in their direction, her smile infectious of her happiness.


    Even though their moment was disturbed, the two genuinely smiled at their daughter as she approached them and jumped.


    The couple, aware of her antics, held her together before she climbed upon her father''s shoulder.


    "Papa scooter!" she shouted excitedly, enjoying the view from the best seat in the world.


    Her mother shook her head and smiled, a bit envious of the father-daughter duo, but instinctively, her hand reached her belly.


    Feeling the slight bump, she felt happy, realizing it was a small sacrifice for the successful birth of her next child.


    Turning back to her husband and daughter, she heard their stupid conversation and a sad smile flashed on her face for a brief second.


    "Papa! Papa! Park! Park!" the five-year-old girl demanded.


    "Yeah, yeah, papa promised, na?" he said, struggling to suppress his laughter.


    "Hmph! Papa bad!" his daughter pouted, which only made him want to laugh more, finding it extremely adorable.


    "Alright, alright, papa will learn to be like mama, okie?" he asked sweetly, knowing his daughter very well.


    "Hmph! Better! Let''s Go!" she exclaimed her true thoughts in one go, unable to hide her excitement to visit the park.


    Meanwhile, the man sighed inwardly, ''This mother-daughter, just how can they be so same?!''


    He felt it was unfair to juggle a moody wife and a lively daughter, especially with his wife''s current pregnancy!


    Just remembering how much he suffered during her first pregnancy made him feel a chill run down his spine.


    Thankfully, neither of the two girls could hear his thoughts, or who knew what his outcome would be?


    "PARK! PARK! PARK!" his daughter cried out, her eagerness too apparent, bringing his attention back to the present.


    "Let''s go," he responded and walked to the main gate of his house, his wife didn''t need to be told to do anything.


    By the time he reached the door, she was already there, holding a straw basket in her right hand and using her left to hold hands with him.


    Their daughter was on his left shoulder and arm as the family of three finally exited.


    To say the neighborhood was lavish would be an overstatement.


    All the houses looked similar with slightly different designs and paints, none higher than 15 meters.


    "There!" his daughter guided him, pointing at the park in their vicinity.


    It wasn''t huge or anything, just over five thousand square feet(~461 square meters), but it was easily more than thrice their house''s area.


    By the time the three reached the entrance of the park, the little girl was too excited and was already wanting to get down.


    As soon as her feet touched the ground, she dashed away, reaching their picnic spot and called out, "Mama! Papa! Here!"


    The couple could only follow her lead, setting up their sheet and basket as they watched their daughter excitedly playing in the open area.


    The two weren''t oblivious to the curious glances directed at the woman''s slight baby bump.


    It was quite obvious she was pregnant and everyone knew she was already pregnant when they moved in, so it was a big surprise.


    Nevertheless, some men had hatred-filled and envious eyes as they glanced at the man next to her.


    The reason?


    Simply put, his wife was quite beautiful, and she didn''t even wear make-up!


    Yet she looked better than those TV models who''d look worlds apart with and without make-up.


    No one knew why such a woman chose to live with this man, and even didn''t dress up too much.


    She mostly wore casual clothes yet anyone could spot that her figure was well maintained and her skin was tight and supple.


    With brownish hair and almond shaped black eyes, her beauty only got accentuated by her rosy lips.


    On the contrary, compared to her husband, he seemed to only have a similar height to her and a good build.


    His looks...left much to be desired.


    Uncaring of the judgmental glances, he teased his wife, "Let''s continue where we left off after returning home."


    "Shut up!" she exclaimed in a low voice, too embarrassed to say it out loud.


    As the two continued their playful flirting amidst the stares, an ominous black eye appeared in the sky, invisible to everyone.


    It scanned the area before pinpointing the figure of the man''s wife, then his daughter, and finally him.

 Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Veiled Consequences

    The ominous black eye vanished from the atmosphere before reappearing at the location of the dying Victor.


    It had spanned two entirely different areas and gleaned information worth hours in fractions of a second.


    Yet its invisibility forbade anyone from even knowing of its existence.


    The pupil crinkled in amusement as its focus turned to the sky before returning to the events on the ground.


    Luc'', who remained unmoving and indifferent, finally moved to check Victor''s condition, appearing ''worried''.


    However, she noticed his lips moving and tried to read what he was trying to say.


    "There... shall... be... no... escape..."


    It took her a few seconds until she succeeded, but her blood turned cold at his dying words.


    Still, she moved, and to ensure her goal was achieved, she stabbed his heart from behind.


    Victor barely felt the stab as blood filled his mouth, making it hard for him to breathe.


    His already tightening chest was one factor, but the blood and stabbed heart were the final straw.


    The light in his eyes started dimming as his creepy smile turned serene.


    His lips quivered for one last time, trying to convey his final thoughts, which Luc'' struggled to understand.


    It wasn''t that she was interested in a dying man''s words, but the notion of no escape unnerved her despite her professionalism.


    Her deeply honed instincts warned her of an ominous outcome should she continue to ignore the signs.


    Alas, who knew that her attempt to understand by staying longer than she should would be the cause of her demise.


    "As... planned..."


    Reading his expression, her eyes focused on his dying state, unable to understand how it went according to plan.


    Yet she didn''t wish to take any chances and chose to decisively leave the vicinity.


    Victor, on the ground, taking his last breath, thought to himself, ''Would life turn out to be better if I didn''t choose this path?''


    Sadly, there was no medicine for regret in this world.


    Suddenly, his dimming eyes lost all their light, shattering his dying thoughts as an invisible black light passed through his body.


    The pupil in the sky turned into a crescent shape as if its objective was achieved and disappeared without anyone noticing it.


    Back on the ground, the guards were busy discussing their next plans, and Luc'' was running when a chill went past their spines cumulatively.


    Everyone in the vicinity felt the ominous sensation of dread and tried to locate its source.


    "L-look," one of the guards stumbled, falling on his butt as he pointed at the sky.


    All the guards turned to look in the direction of his finger, only to find an approaching missile.


    "Oh, that''s a missile," one of them exclaimed in recognition.


    ¡ªSnap!


    The guard next to him snapped and shouted hysterically, "You stupid mongrel! That''s freaking coming toward us!!"


    Only then did the guy finally understand their reactions and panic also started to take root within him.


    Not to mention the armed guards, even Luc'' was having a hard time believing it.


    She cast a hateful glance at Victor''s corpse and cursed inwardly, ''Why the frick did I wait here!? I should''ve left immediately!''


    Unable to calm her agitated heart, she pinned all her grievances onto Victor.


    Unfortunately for her, he was dead, or at least that''s how his body appeared to be, and nothing could save her from her plight.


    The missile approached at a speed far beyond human capability. Its sound lagged, trailing behind as it exceeded the speed of sound.


    With each acceleration, a sound barrier shattered as it easily crossed the speed of Mach 10.


    At that speed, the missile would obliterate everything within a 1-kilometer radius, decimated by just the sheer impact.


    That was not even considering the aftereffects and thermal impact, which could easily gross over a 5 kilometer radius.


    If it actually carried radioactive bombs, then the devastation would easily extend over tens of kilometers.


    Sadly, no one knew what it contained or where it would truly strike as they tried their best to escape, but it was approaching.


    And it was approaching fast.


    Before they could even exit their patrolling area, it was just a few kilometers in the air, accelerating further due to gravity after its midpoint.


    Then...


    There was no then.


    ¡ªBOOM!


    Only dust rose and traveled far and wide, destroying everything in the vicinity before the loud explosion sounded.


    Any living being''s body was reduced to dust as the heat rose in the area due to the extreme temperature.


    In the next instant, numerous small explosions sounded in the surrounding area of a few tens of kilometers.


    The missile landing had set up a chain reaction as all the bombs and mines underneath the ground started to explode.


    ¡ªBoom!


    ¡ªBoom!


    Though not as loud as the first strike, it was more than enough to make anyone deaf¡ªif they somehow survived the missile, that is.


    Not even the ground was spared as it got overturned due to the manifold explosions rocking the entire area around Victor''s dead body.


    Of course, his remains too were not left.


    In the end, the people of Megrale tried to find out what happened but the extreme heat prevented anyone from even getting close.


    The land had already turned into glass in some places, the rest was scorched black.


    Meanwhile, the family of three and those in their vicinity also witnessed the missile launch into the air.


    The aftershocks of the earthquake-like landing seemed to have impacted them too as they sought support from nearby trees.


    The man held his wife and daughter closely, his face serene.


    ''So that''s how you chose to off yourself, huh?'' he mused to himself, ensuring his family was secure.


    His entire life was ironic, filled with duality.


    He hid everything from his wife and daughter yet hoped to live a normal life with them.


    ''How stupid,'' he chided himself as he shook his head when a smile appeared on his face to comfort his family.


    ¡­


    A few days passed before all media outlets in the world displayed the news of the President of the Megrale nation perishing.


    However, that wasn''t the end of it.


    The elusive Victor Aller was also supposed to have died in that missile attack, which was credited to the stellar sacrificial hero, Aoife.


    "Quite ironic," the man muttered to himself as he watched the news with his wife in his arms.


    Although it seemed she heard him, she didn''t.


    Her mind was wandering in her sea of memories as a sad expression painted her face, as she reminisced, ''Victor...''


    "It''s fine," patted her husband, knowing about her past.


    "Mhm." His wife sniffled slightly. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was truly hard for her to know that her first love was defamed by such titles when she knew he wasn''t such a person.


    At the same time, her husband didn''t get angry over her recalling another man while in his arms, as though he didn''t care.


    In truth, he did care, but he didn''t want to hurt her and this was the first time she reminisced about Victor as he died.


    Victor truly remained an enigma to the world even after his death, with his origins and real name a mystery.


    Except for the couple who were the only two people alive who knew him.


    Or so the couple thought.


    He wasn''t dead, at least not in the truest sense.

 Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Twilight of Deception

    The world was left in a state of shock following the devastating missile strike.


    Megrale''s national leaders and global authorities scrambled to make sense of the disaster.


    The official narrative quickly solidified: the missile attack was attributed to a rogue faction, a last-ditch attempt by Victor Aller to ensure his legacy, even in death.


    However, the true story was far more convoluted.


    Amid the ruins, the elusive Victor Aller was neither dead nor alive in the conventional sense.


    After the missile''s impact had created a maelstrom of destruction, his body wasn''t left there, yet he hadn''t died either.


    Unknowingly, the world became vulnerable to the remnants of Victor''s shadowy network.


    His subordinates were now more determined than ever to see their fallen leader''s vision come to fruition.


    At the global level, the mystery of Victor Aller remained unresolved yet the official story had already painted him as a terrorist.


    Naturally, his still loyal followers fueled whispers of his possible survival, resulting in widespread conspiracy theories.


    Unbeknownst to the world, the truth lay buried beneath layers of deception and intrigue, waiting for the right moment to resurface.


    The legacy of Victor Aller was far from over¡ªit was about to enter a new chapter.


    It was one fraught with danger, hope, and the relentless pursuit of a vision¡ªbeyond the reach of conventional understanding.


    And so, the shadows of his demise lingered, hinting at the beginning of a new and uncertain saga.


    ¡­


    "You haven''t really left even after your death," a man muttered with a remorseful smile as he stared at the moon.


    His eyes darted to the bottle of liquor and pack of cigarettes beside him before he shook his head.


    With a smile, he took both the items and kept them in his car as he drove into the distance.


    After a few hours of driving, he arrived at a small house.


    With great familiarity he entered it and reached for the backyard, finding a tombstone there.


    It read [Here lies, the most beloved son, Allen Vox.]


    The man''s eyes darted to the figure of a woman before a sigh inadvertently escaped his lips.


    "What''re you doing here?" he asked and then quickly added, "He''s already dead."


    He didn''t know how many times he had to tell her that for her to understand.


    "I know, I know that he''s... but I just..." she whispered in response, her voice low. "It''s just... I can''t let it go so easily."


    "Haa... Babe, you''re pregnant, think of the baby at least?" he said helplessly to his wife, who was sad for another man.


    He didn''t feel uncomfortable or hatred for the man, but it would be a lie to say he didn''t dislike Allen.


    "For you, and the whole world, he was Victor Aller, the most wanted criminal, but for me... he was the greatest friend, Allen Vox."


    "That''s true, but he''s dead," he muttered and uncorked the liquor bottle before pouring it next to the tombstone.


    Just as he was about to light up a cigarette, a slender hand stopped him. "He quit," she whispered.


    "Oh, my bad," he replied and put it away, planning to destroy it since he never even tried cigarettes.


    Plus, smoking near a pregnant woman was a terrible idea, especially since he was the father.


    As the couple went on about their ritual and sat on the ground, grieving the death of Allen Vox or Victor Aller, a pair of invisible eyes observed them.


    ***


    After his supposed death, Victor, or Allen, hadn''t planned any failsafes, he truly wished to end his life after taking care of his enemies.


    In essence, he would lose the purpose of his life.


    Yet he continued to observe the world and how it shaped after his death before observing his ex-girlfriend and her husband.


    Even watching them act mushy with each other wasn''t enough to tug at his heart strings, he felt nothing.


    His emotions ran dry as he accepted that this was the best outcome for his only surviving loved one to find happiness.


    In his life, the only decision he regretted the most is leaving her when he got her pregnant, yet he would do it again even if he could go back into the past.


    ''Sometimes, regrets are better than living a life without them,'' he mused, observing the state of his world from various perspectives.


    "Well thought, human."


    A sudden voice echoed as the vision around him turned into darkness, where nothing could be seen.


    Allen felt he couldn''t make sense of anything, but he didn''t need to.


    "Who are you?" he asked directly, instead of waiting to be told, despite his unknown situation.


    Honestly, he had nothing to fear since he had nothing except himself, which he gave up on as well, making him completely fearless.


    However, the other entity seemed to have expected such an outcome, responding, "Good! Very good! As expected!" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the other party was feeling good and gloated at their correct guess, Allen reiterated for clarity, "Reveal your identity."


    The other entity stopped their ramblings, saying, "Very well, then."


    "I am the God of Darkness, the anti of the Goddess of Light."


    "As she takes on a female form, to represent hope, enlightenment, new life, and positivity, I take on a male form to represent despair, failure, death, and negativity."


    Allen was stunned speechless at the bold claim of being a god as he truly found the notion absurd, but he wisely chose to not interrupt.


    "Before you ask about other Gods, they exist. But they aren''t relevant to you as you have a task to achieve."


    "Why me?" Allen asked the first chance he got, not caring about speaking to a god or whatnot.


    "Because you are the best fit," the God of Darkness replied instantaneously as if he were waiting for this question.


    "So, I have no other choice?" Allen asked, wondering if he had any say in the matter.


    "You want to deny it?" the God of Darkness asked, slightly surprised.


    To say he expected Allen to deny or even have the thought of it would be a blatant lie.


    He believed that any human would be eager to accept it¡ªto be reborn in a world with mana, magic, and all kinds of fantasy elements.


    Wasn''t that a man''s dream¨C


    Oh, right! He forgot to mention it.


    "Ahem," the God of Darkness quickly began, "You will be reborn into a fantasy-like world where you can use mana to grow stronger."


    His thought process was too fast for Allen to comprehend.


    In the time one second passed for Allen, a few minutes or even hours had passed for the God of Darkness.


    It was like the two were in disjoint dimensions of time, living in different timelines. Though, Allen remained oblivious to it.


    "Well, that sounds interesting, but what is mana and fantasy-like world?" he asked curiously.


    "What!?" the God of Darkness blurted out, unable to hide his surprise.


    Even he, a God, couldn''t believe that a human in a world of internet with millions of fantasy novels wouldn''t know of them.


    "You know magic? The one in movies, novels, animated series, comics and all?" he asked hopefully.


    Thankfully, he could sense that Allen seemed to have a slightly better idea now, but that was it.


    ''This isn''t going to be easy,'' the God of Darkness thought to himself, and chose to go the extra mile to ensure his goal would be achieved.


    He didn''t know if choosing Allen would turn out to be the right choice or not, but Allen was the best bet he got.

 Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Shadow of Fates Eclipse

    As the God of Darkness gave a brief explanation, Allen understood some part of it, feeling conflicted about entering such a strange world.


    Allen''s confusion about mana and fantasy worlds served to further amuse the God of Darkness, who shook his head with a touch of exasperation.


    "Magic," the God of Darkness explained, "is the fundamental force that shapes and governs reality in many realms."


    "In this new world, you''ll have the ability to harness and manipulate it, to alter the very fabric of your surroundings."


    Allen''s eyes widened, a mix of curiosity and skepticism flickering across his face as he chose his words carefully, "So, you''re saying I''ll get to use... magic?"


    The God of Darkness nodded, seemingly satisfied with Allen''s growing understanding.


    "Yes, exactly. But you must grasp that this power comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities," the God of Darkness added.


    As Allen''s emotions peaked, the God of Darkness''s expression turned stern.


    "Remember, it isn''t merely about wielding strength," he warned, "But also about navigating a world rife with struggles."


    Allen mulled over the new set of information, reconciling with the similarities to his recently ended life.


    As if grasping the overall details, he finally came to a conclusion and raised his head, looking straight in the darkness.


    He didn''t know or care where he was looking and asked, "And what''s my role in all of this? What am I supposed to do in this fantasy world?"


    The God of Darkness remained silent, but his presence intensified, becoming more ominous and overwhelming.


    The very air seemed to tremble as if ready to shatter anyone who dared oppose him.


    Yet it didn''t affect Allen in the slightest, seemingly being protected by the God of Darkness himself.


    "Your task is to stand against the chosen one of the Goddess of Light. They wish to remove my influence in the world, and you must prevent that."


    "It''s a destiny intertwined with both light and darkness as your actions will influence the balance of power and the world as a whole."


    God of Darkness paused to let his words sink in before addressing the most important issue, "There''s a light bearer, a twilight bearer, and you shall be the darkness bearer."


    Allen took a deep breath, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation. "And if I refuse? What then?" he asked boldly.


    Yet the God of Darkness just chuckled, a sound that reverberated through the darkness.


    Suddenly he stopped and declared, "Refusal is not an option. It never was."


    "The wheel of fate has already begun to move. If you wish, you may consider this a chance for redemption and a new beginning¡ªshape your own legacy."


    As the God of Darkness spoke, the darkness around Allen began to shift, forming images of a vibrant and strange world.


    Allen saw glimpses of fantastical landscapes, towering spires of magic-infused crystals, and mystical creatures roaming through enchanted forests.


    Yet the darkness seemingly paused, surprising Allen.


    "Human, I can sense your emotions and thoughts. Your last regret, do you wish to see what would happen had you chosen a different path?"


    Allen''s lips opened and closed but he couldn''t say anything before he finally pursed his lips.


    "No," he rejected without any hints of hesitation on his face.


    "Oh?" The God of Darkness raised an eyebrow. "Your entire being¡ªheart, soul, brain, emotions¡ªwishes to know yet you''re denying it?"


    "You''re right," Allen began, "but it''s not worth it. She''s happy with her husband and I am satisfied with her happiness and my death."


    A serene and relaxing smile appeared on Allen''s face as he closed his eyes and gave in to his surrounding darkness.


    "As you wish, human." The God of Darkness muttered and the encompassing darkness started moving again.


    Right before Allen vanished forever, the God of Darkness gave one final piece of advice. "Prepare yourself, Allen Vox," he intoned.


    "Your journey begins now. Embrace the challenges and the mysteries of this world, and you may find a purpose that transcends your previous life."


    While grappling with confusion over the direct yet cryptic words, Allen was blinded by a flash of spectral dark light.


    A powerful pull emerged, as if he was being drawn through a vortex.


    The sensation was both exhilarating and disorienting, and before he could fully process what was happening, the darkness gave way to light.


    Yet it seemed it wasn''t time for him to wake up yet.


    The light around him shifted, contesting with the darkness overwhelming inside him, but neither backed down.


    At that moment, a new element came into play as a mysterious robotic voice echoed:


    {Villain System 2.0 welcomes the host.}


    {Scanning for connection...}


    {Initializing...}


    While a strange Villain system was being installed, Allen remained inside a mysterious, never-ending darkness. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, the God of Darkness''s eyes pierced through space-time, passing through the void.


    His dark, ominous eyes flickered across different timelines before settling on one.


    "So this is what you feared to witness?" he muttered, looking at the desolate scene.


    Allen Vox of an alternate timeline was crying over the tombstone of his girlfriend and daughter, vowing to take revenge.


    "Interesting," the God of Darkness muttered, observing the flow of time in a different ratio, existing in a different dimension.


    As he continued observing, he went through multiple timelines before returning to the first one where he had taken Allen Vox or Victor Aller from.


    His dark, ominous pupils observed Allen''s girlfriend and her husband, and the invisible pupil crescented in intrigue.


    It turns out that this timeline was by far the best one across several hundred that he observed.


    Currently, he observed the couple living peacefully as their first child was born, noting that the now elder sister appeared the happiest.


    "You let him have her because he loved her, even knowing she was pregnant with another man''s child, and still took care of your daughter?"


    The God of Darkness couldn''t help but smile at the interesting development.


    However, his smile wasn''t genuine or happy, it was a menacing smile as if he had found an interesting toy.


    "No wonder you were the most suitable to help me regain my rightful¨C"


    He paused mid-sentence, realizing he still had those darned limitations placed on him as his expression fell.


    He waved his majestic hand¡ªmade of darkness¡ªand the scene in front of him distorted, returning to the void of darkness all around.


    "Soon. Just you wait¨C" he said as his presence grew more menacing and fractured the void of darkness.


    He vanished in the next instance, ignoring the past life of the human he had sent into another world.


    However, he hadn''t just sent him into a world without information, he had ingrained tons of information into Allen Vox.


    Alas, even a God remained unaware of the surprising presence of the system Allen received.


    It was truly a mystery where a system came into play amidst the power struggle of Gods where they were merely messing with each other using their pawns.


    Nevertheless, the system would turn out to be the biggest blessing.


    Although whether it was a blessing to Allen Vox or the God of Darkness remained to be seen.


    No matter who benefitted or not, one thing was guaranteed.


    The journey ahead promised to be fraught with trials, revelations, tribulations, and challenges at every step.


    Whether Allen will be able to overcome whatever came next depended on his adaptability.


    The adventure had just begun.

 Chapter 92: Chapter 92: System: An Unexpected Emergence

    On the other side, Allen found himself in a strange space, paralyzed for a few seconds.


    ''What''s going on?'' he wondered in confusion.


    One moment he had died, the next he was summoned by a God and sent into a fantasy world. But now, where was he?


    Just as he was grappling with the strange occurrences, another shock awaited him.


    {Villain System 2.0 welcomes the host.}


    {Initializing... 99.99%}


    ''Villain... system?'' Allen thought in utter confusion.


    He didn''t remember having any conversation regarding a system with the God of Darkness, nor did he have any such memories.


    As if sensing his confusion, the system introduced itself.


    {The system is highly autonomous, sent by a higher being to guide and assist you on your journey.}


    {The Host was selected by the God of Darkness, who used his power to send you into this world.}


    ''A system? What''s that?'' Allen asked, perplexed by the succinct explanation.


    {The system is a tool which will help you complete your goals, free from anyone else''s control, but it''s best for the Host to complete the mission of a God.}


    ''What do I call you then?''


    {Just call me ''System'' as I am not a living entity. I am a part of you from now on since the being who sent me can''t intervene directly.}


    ''Who sent you?''


    {I cannot share that information with the Host yet. Only when the Host reaches certain milestones will you be granted authority.}


    {If you wish to learn more, increase your authority and upgrade the system.}


    ''Then what are your features and how will you help me?''


    {Since you''ve not read fantasy novels, I''ll explain the basic system stuff.}


    {Any changes you make in this world will result in corresponding Villain Points depending on their effects on the destined path.}


    {These points can be used for a variety of things.}


    {Firstly, the Shop feature allows the host to buy several things using Villain Points which will help you gain power more quickly.}


    {Also, it allows the host to buy and sell whatever you want, at preset prices.}


    ''That sounds too utopian,'' Allen thought after hearing the brief description.


    {It''s still locked as the host needs to first gather enough points to unlock it.}


    The system chimed in, breaking his idea of growing stronger easily, but he didn''t find it too strange as it would make things too easy.


    ''Any other function?'' He continued the conversation.


    {Yes, Host. There is the Inventory where you can store anything inanimate up to a certain size, but it can be upgraded.} S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Let me guess, it''s locked as well?'' Allen mused, already expecting that to be the case.


    {Yes.}


    ''Anything else you have that I can actually use?'' He asked, tired of the useless features.


    {There is the Status Screen and then, the Quests.}


    ''Hm? Status Screen? Wait! Isn''t that like those RPG-games?'' Allen queried, finally finding something familiar.


    {Yes and no. The Status Screen lets you evaluate your own status according to the world''s power system.}


    ''Okay... what about the Quests then?'' He asked, guessing what it could be in his heart.


    {Quests are missions offered by the system and they have rewards when you complete them, but they might also have penalties upon failure.}


    ''Do I have an option to refuse them?'' he asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.


    {Yes, Host can deny quests, but it is advised against it as the quests are generated by your set of actions.}


    {Failing them with or without accepting them would still result in incurring penalties.}


    ''Understandable. So, that''s RPG-like, but are there categories in quests? Like side, additional, hidden, and Main Quest?''


    {Naturally.}


    {The Main Quest is part of your goals and won''t hinder your progress. Nor will they force the Host to change his way of doing things.}


    {You are free to decide on the methods to clear any quest, and the system will reward you based on its judgment.}


    ''So, you mean, you are the one who decided if I succeeded or failed?'' Allen asked skeptically.


    {Yes, Host. But fret not as the system is an unbiased tool made to help the Host as long as they follow the simple mechanisms.}


    {Also, there are many more features that the Host can use with the help of Villain Points, so I''d suggest the Host to work on it.}


    ''I don''t trust you, though,'' Allen remarked, already doubting whether this system would help or hinder him.


    On second thought, Allen realized that he knew nothing about the new world and his knowledge regarding fantasy was next to none.


    Without the system introducing some basics, he''d be clueless in the middle of nowhere.


    To test his theory and figure out the system''s intentions, Allen asked the question that was bugging him ever since he came to his senses.


    ''Tell me, where am I right now?''


    {We are inside your consciousness as the body you have entered isn''t yours and is currently resisting.}


    ''Wait? I am supposed to kill someone and take over their body to start my life?'' Allen asked in surprise.


    {That''s what the God of Darkness did to test your resolve, but it''s different with the system here.}


    The system actually downplayed its role, as Allen''s soul would have perished without its intervention.


    The body he would inhabit belonged to someone exceptionally talented.


    It was as if the Heavens themselves were jealous of him and fated him to a tragic life.


    Unfortunately, even the Heavens wouldn''t have expected a system to interfere and alter the course of destiny itself.


    {Host, you will learn more about the system with time, but as you are now, you can''t do anything.}


    ''I know that, but it''s not like I have any other choice,'' Allen shrugged it off.


    {Hence, the system will give you the world background till the process of acclimatization is complete.}


    ''Hm? Wha¨C'' Allen''s thoughts were cut off as he went unconscious due to the system.


    Apparently, it was forcing the basic knowledge about it as well as the world itself into Allen''s soul.


    It was far more detailed than what Jash gained from Bhairav since the system was in a different league altogether.


    Of course, it was entirely different from Bhairav''s system as he was a hero, and gained a similar system unlike the Villain system.


    Back to Allen, he finally understood why he got connected with a strange Villain System.


    It turns out the world is from a novel, forcefully imprinted into his being, making it unforgettable.


    Hero''s Journey: Blessed by the Goddess


    The novel''s name made him cringe, but he endured.


    Not like he had any other option.


    ''So I can grow stronger by killing monsters as well as completing quests,'' he noted, going through the system information.


    ''This locked option also seems interesting,'' he thought and recalled the information regarding it.


    {Host will encounter several opportunities like techniques, skill scrolls, artifacts, items and many more.}


    {Host can merge them if the items are of similar affinity and get a stronger version of that particular item.}


    ''It will be super expensive,'' he guessed in his heart, looking forward to this one feature.


    ''So, the best way to earn points for me now is to finish some quests,'' he mused, not seeing any other possibility.


    After all, refusing them would forfeit the rewards, but since he would do them anyway, why not accept them?


    In the end, he got everything he needed to work with at the moment, and he finally asked the system one final question.


    ''So whose body am I in?''

 Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Echoes of Resistance

    Despite his question, the system remained silent for a moment before delivering an entirely different response.


    {Process finished. Host can start his second life.}


    Even before he could understand the system''s message, he lost consciousness.


    In the next moment, he was startled awake in an entirely different body.


    His movements were disoriented and sluggish due to the difference in body size.


    "Who is this?" he muttered in confusion, rubbing his droopy eyes and getting off the bed.


    ¡ªThud!


    Unfortunately, his sense of balance was completely off as he directly fell on the ground with a loud sound.


    "Urgh," he grunted from the sharp sensation of pain and complained, "Damn, this body is so soft!"


    Well, he was used to his hardened body where pain was a constant companion, so he felt awkward in this soft, unfamiliar form.


    Still, he gritted his teeth and dragged himself into the mirror, but before he could even move, a sudden screen startled him.


    {Calibration with Host''s body...}


    {Error!}


    {Error!}


    {Need manual calibration!}


    The sudden panels in front of his eyes were not something he was used to, making him wonder if he was dreaming or was his body on drugs.


    "Host? Right! I have a system, now," he mumbled in realization and understood the messages, choosing to ignore them.


    His first priority was finding the body he was thrust into.


    {It''s transmigration.}


    The system seamlessly corrected his mistake as he tried to understand the different terms and finally reached a mirror.


    However, the mirror was at a height of a meter, and he didn''t even have the confidence to stand straight to look into it.


    "I guess I need to calibrate my body?" he muttered to himself questioningly.


    The moment he thought so, a system prompt came into his vision.


    {Quest Issued!}


    {Quest: Calibrate your body and get used to it.


    Reward: Ability to use mana.


    Penalty: High chance of discovery that you''re not the person who this body belongs to.} sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Huh?" he blurted out in surprise, not expecting a quest so early on. It felt strange.


    {Host need not think much. It''s the system making up for its mistake as it can''t calibrate your body due to external factors.}


    "Wait, what external factors and what''s with this ominous penalty?" he asked tentatively, but the system didn''t reply.


    Instead, he just gritted his teeth and got to work.


    First things first, he tried to stand up properly, taking support.


    He tried walking, but-


    ¡ªThud!


    It took him quite some attempts to be able to walk normally and during that duration, he noted one thing.


    ''I am not in the body of an adult or child, so it has to be a teen.''


    ''Maybe 14 or 15?'' He made random guesses as he changed his movements to jogging and running.


    Although he limped and struggled, he was able to get used to this new body within ten minutes.


    At least, his lower limbs were following his mental instructions properly.


    Hence, he switched to his upper body and performed some basic exercises he knew to have the ability to move in times of danger at the minimum.


    After another ten minutes, he felt he had reached an optimum stage and waited for the quest rewards.


    Alas, they never came.


    "System? What happened?" he asked while wiping off the sweat from his forehead thinking, ''Why does it feel so hot?''


    {Quest Incomplete!}


    "What? How?" He blurted out in disbelief, feeling scammed.


    Fortunately, he didn''t like to waste time and moved on, coming back to the first thing he wished to know.


    Who was he?


    With that question in his mind, he finally got a good look at himself in the mirror.


    The first thing that came into his sight were the striking silver-white hair and then his reddish-amethyst eyes hidden beneath his silver eyelashes.


    "This... Are kids even allowed to be this handsome?" he murmured in admiration.


    His height allowed him to guess his approximate age, being only around 1.6 meters (5''4'''').


    Then his eyes followed downwards, taking in the sight of his lavish pajamas which felt too expensive to even own.


    Just when he was looking at his clothes, his eyes fell on a dark object on the ground.


    ''What''s that?'' he thought curiously and picked it up.


    It turned out to be a black-colored sword sheath, intriguing him further as he unsheathed it.


    The silver blade gleamed in the moonlight as swirling patterns of dancing shadows flickered on its surface.


    "Hm?" he hummed questioningly, taking note of the strange sight and his system appeared all of a sudden.


    {Detected that the Host is in contact with a mana-infused weapon...!}


    Without any hesitation, he dropped the sword, not wanting anything weird to happen.


    For now, he wanted to discern his identity as the top priority.


    ''My features... could it be...?'' he thought skeptically.


    He swept a glance around his room to confirm his guess, and the luxurious insides with velvety beds and carpets came into sight.


    "Definitely not some random person... Probably a noble..." he muttered in contemplation and it seemed his guess was right.


    "So, I am him, right?" he mumbled before taking his name or at least he tried to.


    "RETURN MY BODY!"


    A loud voice rumbled his insides as he wondered just what went wrong.


    {Warning...!}


    {Warning...!}


    {Warning...!}


    The system blared warnings one after another, but even it couldn''t do anything.


    It wasn''t a nobody its host had transmigrated into, but Amael Blake.


    Amael Blake was too exceptionally talented for him to give up on his body just because of a setback and someone else possessing it.


    Unfortunately, he met Allen Vox, or rather, Victor Aller.


    "Shut up!" Victor shouted, uncaring of any consequences.


    "You''re dead! A dead man''s not supposed to trouble the living world!" Amael retorted sharply.


    "Not like you''re alive!" Victor too wasn''t one to be left behind.


    However, he knew Amael''s personality and the reason he even ended up becoming a villain was because of his childhood friend Jash Ramille''s death.


    He vowed to take revenge, but the protagonist stood in his way with an annoyingly naive forgiving mindset typical of such ''Heroes''.


    As if that wasn''t enough, he even tried to swoon not only Caera but also Ziva, Jash''s proposed fiance.


    However, Amael lost it all when the protagonist tried to flirt with his own younger sister, Amelia.


    There was no forgiveness or compromise.


    He straight out declared the protagonist his mortal enemy and fought till his death.


    Though, his sister didn''t end up becoming a heroine like Caera, but a villainess who stood in the protagonist and his harem''s way.


    ''Should I just tell him?'' Victor thought in a dilemma, but chose it directly.


    He didn''t want to get lingering headaches from this strange remnant.


    {Does the Host wish to share his memories with Amael Blake?}


    {Yes/No}


    The always silent system blared into activity as if it were waiting for this timing, and Victor naturally agreed.


    "Yes."


    "Yes? What yes??" Amael asked but got stunned speechless due to the surprising amount of information he received despite his remnant state.


    It contained everything about the novel and how it was actually true, despite seeming impossible.


    Yet Amael didn''t care.


    "Just hand me over my body," he declared.


    "That''s impossible. You''re but a remnant who will dissipate with some time," Victor tried talking some sense but it didn''t work.


    {Detected the remnant will is trying to harm the Host''s soul!}


    {Does the Host wish to forcefully extinguish the remnant will?}


    {Yes/No}

 Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Eternal Shifts

    "Yes," Victor agreed without a moment of hesitation.


    He truly wasn''t interested in wasting his time with a remnant that shouldn''t even exist anymore.


    The question hadn''t even stirred his emotions in the slightest. He had killed far too many to care.


    ''I already know his future, but acting like him would be hard,'' Victor mused, recalling the details of Amael Blake.


    First Son of Duke Blake and the heir apparent with a half-sister, Amelia Blake.


    ''His father slept with another woman and got her pregnant, giving birth to Amelia and that woman just so happens to be a sister of Sera Ramille.''


    The information flowed seamlessly into his mind as he tried to recall it while the system was busy dealing with the real Amael Blake¡ªor what remained of him.


    ''A constrained couple, yet they love their children,'' he thought before his expression soured as he muttered, "Annoying."


    He wasn''t one for acting like a family when he was in their son''s body.


    It wasn''t because of guilt but because he had lost his family too long ago, and his emotions along with them.


    Ultimately, he couldn''t compel himself to change or to feel emotions for a group of strangers.


    As if wanting to force him go the route he detested, the system chimed in at the perfect time.


    {Removal of Remnant Will failed!}


    {Integrating...!}


    {Access Denied!}


    {Override!}


    {Forceful Integration Initiated...}


    "Wait, what!?" He voiced out in confusion before frustration overwhelmed his emotions as he read the system messages.


    "I never agreed to any integrations!" he shouted in grievance.


    Yet the system couldn''t care less.


    ¡ªThud!


    "Urgh," he grunted as the sudden nerve-wracking pain hit him. He fell to the ground, clutching his head.


    His teeth ground in agony as he took the toll of a forceful integration with the remnant will.


    However, his frustration slowly dissipated as he got the past memories of Amael and his plans for the future.


    It helped him fill up the holes inside his head as he completed the entire storyline of Amael Blake, allowing him to alter it to his whim.


    Though the pain was definitely not something that would go away anytime soon as he rolled on the ground due to the sudden bursts of pain.


    One second he''d get used to it before the pain would spike, and the next second, it would have already vanished.


    The excruciating cycles of pain continued for thirty minutes¡ªnot too long, but for him, it was worse than anything.


    "NO! JUST WHY!?" he cursed the moment he returned to his senses since the changes were too apparent to him.


    His rippleless emotions were morphed and forcibly changed due to the remnant will of Amael Blake.


    Just as he was about to complain and curse out loud at his shitty situation, the system surprised him.


    {Quest Process... 99%}


    {Error...!}


    {Quest deemed impossible!}


    {Calculating Rewards...!}


    "Oi System, what the f¨C" He began, but the system cut him off.


    {The system failed to account for the remnant will and had to forcefully integrate it.}


    {Hence, there is no longer any previous or true owner.}


    {Welcome Amael Blake to the Villain System 2.0!}


    Several confetti appeared on the panel as if congratulating him, but he didn''t feel the slightest bit happy.


    "What do you mean?" he asked with a dark face.


    {For the lack of a better term, consider Allen Vox as your past life as you''re now Amael Blake.}


    "Does that mean that I was Amael Blake and I am Amael Blake?!"


    {Yes, Host. There was a low probability of you ever regaining your memories throughout your life as Amael Blake, however.}


    "So, am I not a transmigrator? Was I reborn instead?"


    {No, Host is a transmigrator since your soul didn''t go through rebirth and the ###### ## ### ##...}


    "System, I can''t hear you!" He complained, unable to hear anything except a beeping after knowing he was still considered a transmigrator.


    {Insufficient Authority!}


    "Huh? Seriously, I need to upgrade you," he muttered in helplessness.


    He had swiftly grasped the system''s workings, despite lacking any prior knowledge.


    Thus, he didn''t act like a manchild and whine about the things he couldn''t change. Instead, he accepted them as it is.


    "What about my quest reward?" he wondered aloud, an attempt to change the topic.


    {Calculating...}


    {Congratulations! Host has completed his first quest!} S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    {Quest Rewards: Already given.}


    "Given? Where? When?" he muttered in bewilderment.


    In response to his own confusion, his body instinctively tried using mana and it worked perfectly.


    But it was far worse than the memories of the past.


    "It seems Amael truly had no talent for mana," he mumbled in irony.


    Not only did Amael''s mana pool have a smaller size, he couldn''t even wield it as per his command.


    "Just how did he contest with the protagonist?" he asked in intrigue, interested to know what sort of advantage did the OG Amale have?


    {It is recommended that the Host find his own path and overcome the shortcomings to guarantee his survival.}


    The system chimed in, pouring cold water over his plans once again.


    He ignored the system and continued to feel the magical euphoria mana gave him at the moment.


    Right after he stopped, he recalled something.


    "System, Status Screen!"


    {Host has initiated the Status Screen command for the first time.}


    {Status:


    Hunter Rank: F+ Rank


    Strength: E- Rank


    Agility: E- Rank


    Endurance: E- Rank


    Stamina: E- Rank


    Mana: F Rank


    Mana Color: Dark Orange


    Villain Points: 0}


    "Hm? That''s different from this world''s power system and too strange?"


    The system hadn''t adopted the flawed complex power system of the word and instead improved it better based on its own understanding.


    {The ranks give you an estimate of a hunter at the same rank based on the data in the Hunters Association and world''s average.}


    ''It actually went one step further?'' he thought doubtfully, but the system didn''t seem to hear his thoughts.


    {Congratulations for completing the tutorial!}


    {System Update Initiated...!}


    {Welcome to the world of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia!}


    For the first time, he was entirely shocked not because of the world''s name that remained missing from the information, but the sudden system update.


    It truly came out of nowhere.


    "Who gets it this easily?" he mumbled in interest if it was that easy for all system bearers?


    Uninterested in its host''s mind, the system continued with a brief description of the world, presenting him with new information.


    {The name Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia represents the eternal potential of the world''s inhabitants that came to be accepted by the three races as they live in harmony.}


    {Though the origins of the name remains unknown, it was deciphered by the human race over the countless years they evolved.}


    {In the world, the mana color plays an important part instead of other power systems regarding mana.}


    {It follows a unique system granted by the Goddess of Light, or so everyone believes.}


    {Then,...}


    The system continued giving some basic information about the world as well as about itself as the seconds ticked by.


    The transmigrator, now Amael Blake, absorbed it entirely as if he were a sponge.


    He easily got used to this new world despite the difference being as big as a chasm.


    Within a few days, Victor, now fully immersed as Amael Blake, was accepted by the Blake Ducal Family without suspicion despite the change in his personality.


    As time passed, he easily dissolved within the Blake Ducal Family due to all the memories and emotions he gained.


    Alas, the time for the banquet came, where his perfect streak would come to an end.


    All due to the unexpected presence of yet another anomaly: Jash Ramille.


    ***

 Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Convergence of Shadows

    ***


    ''How am I even supposed to farm any points here!?'' he asked the system.


    {This is the biggest event before the main plot starts, so the Host should find some opportunities to sow discord.}


    ''Amongst whom, you dumbass!? Kids!? What''d that get me!? There''re only those diabolical heroines and delusional Young Masters!''


    The boy was having a hard time maintaining his friendly expression as he cursed the system inwardly.


    {Don''t forget that most attendees have a child or two in the Academy already or will join in the same batch as you or as your juniors!}


    ''You mean...?'' he wondered, with the system reading his thoughts and providing the answer directly, saving him from the hassle of wording everything.


    {Yes, the Host can do that and gain Villain Points!}


    "Oh! Young Master Amael, long time no see!"


    Suddenly, a voice greeted the boy, bringing him out of his dreaming state.


    "If it isn''t Miss Levi!" Amael responded with a pleasant smile as he took the young girl''s hand and greeted her cordially.


    Of course, quite a few girls stared at Levi with hatred in their eyes while none of the boys could so much as even glare at Amael.


    The difference in their standing couldn''t be more apparent.


    "Oh my!" Levi said with a light blush on her cheeks which Amael smartly ignored.


    "Miss Levi, how''s Lord Killion?" Amael asked politely about her family lord.


    "Lord Killion is busy due to the recent dungeon outbreak as you know, so I am afraid he couldn''t make it," Levi answered.


    Though Amael didn''t miss the change in her tone¡ªit sounded flat and filled with dissatisfaction as he didn''t play along.


    "Ah, that is unfortunate! I was hoping to make acquaintance with him today. Maybe next time?" Amael responded politely.


    Yet his acting sadly worked wonders.


    "Why not? In fact, why not visit Killion County instead?" Levi tried to make the most out of the situation. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''As expected,'' Amael smirked inwardly as his trick worked.


    "That sounds amazing! Indeed, why didn''t I think of that?" Amael continued his act with a dazzling smile.


    "Ah, pardon me, Miss Levi, I need to go find Jash," he apologized, wanting to end this charade.


    ''Disgusting. Pathetic,'' he thought inwardly but kept his act nonetheless.


    "Yes, yes. Don''t forget the visit to Killion County, then," Levi responded, understanding her cue to let him go.


    Although she appeared pitiful and sad, Amael wasn''t one to be fooled by outer appearances.


    He was far too good at identifying people''s intentions no matter how well they tried to hide it, not to mention Levi was around his age.


    ''Amateur,'' he thought, rating her acting skills as he moved on with a gentlemanly gesture..


    He didn''t need to bow since her nobility ranking was lower, but she gave a curt bow as a part of her etiquette training.


    The noble rankings were crucial in daily life, but their importance was indeed highlighted at such official gatherings.


    Naturally, the Imperial Family of Solarnelle Empire, the host of today''s banquet, were at the top of the pyramid.


    Right below them came the three Dukes and one Archduke, followed by Marquis, Count, Viscount, and lastly Baron.


    While the Archduke ought to be somewhat higher than the Duke, like the Grand Duke, it was different in the Solarnelle Empire.


    As mentioned before, the three duchies were formed by the descendants of the friends of the first Hero, Adonis Solarnelle.


    It served to distinguish them from the Archduke.


    The Archduke was nothing more than a King who just so happened to be the last remaining Kingdom which had to surrender or face extinction.


    ''Even their plotline is quite messed up since the current Archduke has an ambitious daughter who stupidly becomes a sub-heroine.''


    Amael found the plot, or so-called destiny of the world, to be quite a breath of polluted air.


    He believed that something like that should be banned due to its low quality.


    ''Anyways, did I get any Villain Points, system?'' he wondered in intrigue.


    {Calculating...}


    {Congratulations! Host has gained 1 Villain Point!}


    The moment Amael heard it, he almost stumbled in his graceful walk.


    ''What the heck? 1 Villain Point!? Seriously!'' he thought in disbelief, complaining to the system about its tyranny.


    {Nothing changed. Just a few females who got jealous and will plot against Levi. Unless it actually takes place, nothing changes.}


    ''Tsk. Such a stingy system!'' he grumbled, long used to the feeling of getting scammed.


    The darned system was similar to the fine print in contracts like terms and conditions which most people ignore.


    It promises rewards but only half-ass them, repeating the same thing every damn time!


    ''No change happened yet, so no points for now. Not a villainous event, no point.''


    Amael reiterated the system''s messages internally as he walked around, observing the animated conversations around him.


    The scene around him was repulsive, filled with insincere smiles and shady conversations.


    Ambitious individuals whispered deceitfully, their eyes glinting with the thrill of manipulating the gullible.


    Of course, Amael wasn''t any different from such people, so he wasn''t one to judge them, but his hatred for this was real too.


    ''That''s why not many dare to hold large-scale events,'' he mused, recalling the past events.


    Such events were the ideal grounds for ambitious, snake-like individuals to target gullible sheep, preparing to fleece them.


    Well, there was another reason besides such a common sight.


    After all, if anything wrong happened, the host would be held responsible, throwing the false moments of peace into chaos.


    Of course, it couldn''t be denied that no one wanted to take risks themselves.


    However, since the host, none other than the Emperor, was daring enough to invite them all, it was in their best interest to come and show respect.


    Even if they didn''t gain anything, they wouldn''t lose anything either. At most, they could just enjoy the food and have a look around.


    ''I am sure some curious souls are already trying to snoop around,'' Amael thought, taking note of suspicious people long ago.


    ''At least nothing strange happened in this banquet,'' he recalled, feeling relieved.


    This banquet was one of the few rare events where nothing went wrong.


    No attacks, no fights, no terrorist, no cult, no racism.


    It was literally the embodiment of perfection.


    ''More like the calm before the storm,'' Amael commented and the system agreed.


    {Indeed, this is a precursor to the main and most awaited event, the Academy!}


    ''Hm? Most awaited? By who?'' Amael asked, but the system went silent.


    It turned out even the system was excited about the Academy and let out its own feelings by mistake.


    Shaking his head, Amael was about to find a person mentioned in the novel, when he heard a voice.


    "Young Master, the Young Master and Young Miss of the Ramille duchy have arrived."


    "Take me there," Amael ordered his maid, who he had ordered to inform about their arrival.


    It was a given for maids and butlers to be moving around since most attendees were of high status.


    One wouldn''t expect them to do their things themselves when they were raised to get their work done by others since they were kids.


    That was also one of the points that Amael had a hard time adjusting to, as he was used to doing his work himself.


    "There, Young Master. That is their carriage," his maid informed him after arriving at the entrance.


    "Finally," Amael muttered inaudibly, eager to meet the ''friend'' whose death pushed him to go down the path of death.


    ''I need to see what makes you so different,'' Amael mused, determined to meet face-to-face despite memories of meetings.

 Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Restless Prelude

    Unaware of the anomaly in his friend, Jash grew impatient while sitting in the carriage with Caera.


    "Why is it taking so long?" he grumbled in annoyance.


    "Calm down, will you?" Caera replied with a frown.


    She didn''t like his hastiness one bit, wondering what had happened to this joykill brother of hers.


    Meanwhile, Jash had actually planned his actions after arriving right on time.


    ''Ugh. If the banquet is in full swing, I can blend in with the crowd and pass the time all the while confirming the truth.''


    Unlike Amael or the other guests, who were either forced to or had purposefully arrived early, Jash had no intention of doing so.


    In fact, his parents weren''t even in the same carriage. They would arrive even later than him.


    ¡ªScrik!


    Jash pushed aside the curtains blocking the outside view, resigned to find out the cause for the delay.


    "No wonder!" he cursed under his breath, but Caera seemed to have heard it and hummed curiously, "Hm?"


    Knowing her personality, he just rolled his eyes in exasperation. ''Just my luck,'' he thought.


    "The guests are conversing at the entrance gate while some are literally blocking the path," he explained in a dissatisfied tone.


    "Well, it makes sense," Caera said, and Jash nodded, though his frustration remained.


    He was forced to attend despite his uneasy feeling, wanting to run away from discovering the world''s truth, delaying it as long as possible.


    "I get it, I get it, alright? Everyone is curious about this big of a celebration!" Jash agreed in an overly dramatic manner.


    There were many rumors in the market about why such a significant event was being held, inviting the future prospects of their world.


    Some said the Emperor wanted to flaunt his children, while others thought it was to announce the successor.


    As the First Prince had long graduated from the academy and the First Princess too would be graduating this year, the rumor had some weight.


    But people who knew the Emperor personally knew that couldn''t be the case.


    In their eyes, he might like his children, but there was no way he was a fool who''d take a risk this big without giving his younger children a chance.


    In simpler terms, he wanted to allow Prince Avon and Princess Ava to compete in the succession battle as well.


    ''It doesn''t matter who participates, the winner is already set in stone,'' Jash thought, remembering the events of the Imperial Family.


    If his prediction proved to be true, then the next successor wouldn''t be a prince, but a princess.


    ''How would the world react if the second female ruler is born soon?'' he mused with a contemplative expression.


    "Jash!"


    A hissed whisper and nudge brought him out of his reverie as he noted that their carriage was about to enter.


    ''Finally, I can get out of this damned box!'' He put away his discomfort and put on a fake smile.


    Following Caera, he disembarked from the carriage as it was led to the parking area within the Royal Palace.


    As soon as he stepped out, the Imperial Guards, in charge of the security, came into his view.


    They were maintaining discipline in the area by identifying the guests as well as putting up the selected maids or butlers as their guides.


    "Greetings, Young Master and Young Miss of the Ramille duchy," a guard greeted them with a curt bow of his head.


    Jash and Caera just nodded before looking at the maid approaching them.


    Sensing their gaze, the guard introduced, "She shall be your guide and will lead you to the venue."


    "Let''s go," Jash said, with a nod to the maid who bowed her head almost to a ninety degree.


    ''So strange,'' he thought, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the overly polite attitude of the maid.


    Although he had gotten used to such things over his life, it wasn''t supposed to be the same at the Imperial Palace.


    However, Jash''s attention was quickly stolen by the chatter in his surroundings. ''So noisy,'' he thought, his ears aching.


    As the loud animated conversations entered his ears, he didn''t forget to filter out any useful information within them.


    Despite his emotional turmoil, he wasn''t one to let go of such a golden opportunity.


    ''Hm? So some think it is because of the upcoming marriage of the First Prince? Nah, definitely not...''


    ''Engagement talks of the other three? Nope, they don''t have much of a choice there...''


    ''Maybe of Prince Avon since he ended up falling for a daughter of the Warmis Clan?''


    Jash knew from the novel that Avon ended up liking that girl, but as the rule of cliches, she too is a harem member.


    ''Just who isn''t a freaking harem member!?'' Jash cursed inwardly, remembering Princess Ava and her plot.


    Then it hit him!


    ''How come I forgot her!'' he clicked his tongue subtly, making sure no voice leaked.


    When compared to the Warmis Clan, one of the best alchemist clans in the Empire, the difference was stark.


    Princess Ava was kind-hearted and truly wished to help others, even commoners¡ªshe was truly different from her siblings.


    Not that it mattered, though.


    She also ended up as one of the many women in the protagonist''s harem, but there was still a high chance she could be the successor.


    It just depended upon if the protagonist defeated Avon after getting involved with the Warmis Clan daughter, who would then seek revenge.


    The usual story ends with the protagonist unaliving Avon, becoming the public enemy number one.


    ''And at that exact moment, Ava will support him, right!?'' Jash cursed inwardly, guessing the entire plot without even knowing if it was real.


    Still, he trusted his instincts and believed his thoughts were true, regardless.


    ''Anyways, there should be engagement talks between Ava and Amael, no?'' Jash thought as his eyes narrowed. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Mom and dad talked about it once,'' he recalled with a dazed expression.


    Of course, they immediately changed the topic, so he wasn''t privy to the details.


    But according to rumors, after the natural awakening of the future heir, Duke Blake and Emperor Solarnelle wanted to betrothe their children to each other.


    However, not many even knew that Amael had awakened naturally, unlike the rest of the awakened Hunters.


    Still, some rumors went around which said the heir of Blake''s had received countless marriage proposals post his awakening.


    ''As if! That greedy Emperor just wanted to tie down the talented genius,'' Jash sneered at the foolish attempt.


    It was impossible to tie down a Heroine to someone who only had training in his mind.


    While Amael was indeed a genius born once a millennium, he focused more on training as a Hunter and the Heir.


    So, his time was already cut short for the most part of the day, it would be incredibly hard for him to stretch it any thinner to make time for a girl.


    ''Even dad wanted to...'' Jash thought but gulped as he glanced at Caera before looking away.


    ''It would indeed be a good thing, but... forget it,'' Jash sighed inwardly, as he was one of the few who were aware of Amael''s progress.


    ''Even Caera just reached Mid E-Rank, yet that guy is already about to enter Late E-Rank!''


    Just thinking about otherworldly talent irked Jash as he had his reservations about Amael after gaining many more memories.


    As if on cue, a voice interrupted their walk around the palace while the maid gave brief introductions about the areas.


    "Jash! Caera!"


    Turning to the source, both of them recognized the person, speaking in unison, "Amael!"

 Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Caught You

    Amael''s face broke into a small smile as he approached them, his usual air of effortless confidence surrounding him.


    He had a way of making even the grandest surroundings seem casual, and today was no different.


    His easy manner seemed to cut through the formalities of the occasion, adding a touch of familiarity to the high-stakes atmosphere.


    "Finally, you two have arrived!" Amael said, stopping right in front of Jash and Caera before turning to the guide.


    "You may leave," he ordered with the proper politeness expected of him, and she hesitated for less than a second before leaving.


    Acknowledging her bow with a nod, Jash said blankly, "Thank you for being our guide until now."


    "I was starting to think you might miss all the fun," Amael chimed in, his gaze returning to the twins as the maid walked away.


    Jash, trying to hide his inner emotions, forced a smile in response and Caera interrupted before he could say anything.


    "You know how it is," she said, glaring at Jash, "He just dislikes all such things and threw a tantrum of not wanting to come." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Amael''s lips twitched as he stifled a laugh, or so it appeared on the surface.


    Jash''s gaze narrowed, noticing Amael''s fleeting smile and the subtle twitch in his eyes. ''Something''s off about him,'' Jash thought.


    Unaware of the seed of suspicions being planted in Jash''s head, Amael chuckled lightly, "No surprise there, I see."


    "It''s not like we''re early birds or something," Jash grumbled slightly, but quickly hid the irritation that got carried away in his voice.


    Caera just rolled her eyes at his words and instead chose to focus on Amael.


    "It''s good to see you, Amael. How''s everything going at your end? How''s Ames?" Caera asked curiously.


    "Amael''s eyes sparkled with mischief before he replied, "Oh, you know, just the usual stuff."


    "Hm? Did you engross yourself in training again?" Jash asked in genuine dissatisfaction.


    It was strange how the three were acting very un-noble-like.


    This behavior, however, was due to the area they were in.


    After the maid left, Amael continued taking them around the Imperial Palace, giving them a thorough tour as well as get some alone time.


    It seemed Amael''s plan to observe Jash would really work well as Jash''s facial expressions eased and became more natural.


    ''I really hate crowds,'' Jash noted the change in his mood and how quickly his surging emotions calmed down after getting alone.


    "Uhm, no. Not really!" Amael denied Jash''s claims, saying, "Unlike you, I am also busy with training as the next heir!"


    "Whatever. Tell about Ames," Caera cut the arguing duo off, asking in a stern tone.


    ''Thankfully, I am not the target of her stern glare and anger,'' Jash paid his gratitude inwardly, finding Amael''s situation amusing.


    But he had no plans on helping the guy.


    He might''ve helped if it weren''t for the suspicious vibes he gave off.


    It wasn''t right to call Amael different, but he wasn''t the same either.


    "Uh, right! Ames!" Amael exclaimed slightly, trying to draw their attention with his exaggerated expressions.


    "Ames is fine. Just a tad bit too excited about her awakening in a year and 3 months," Amael shrugged his shoulders as he said so.


    "Right, it''s already the Year 2450, and our academy will start in the Year 2451," Caera muttered in a low voice.


    She was one of the few who was actually eager to know about Amelia Blake the most despite being only half-cousins, if that was even a term.


    While Caera and Amael were chatting casually, Jash continued to observe the shift in Amael as the conversation steered to their ranks.


    "...and that''s how I finally reached Mid E-Rank," Caera concluded with a smug smile.


    "Oh, that''s really good," Amael responded with a subtle smile, as if he were happy for her.


    Unfortunately, the twins knew him, and easily figured he didn''t mean it in the slightest.


    "Hah! You say that but you don''t even mean it," Caera rebutted, not giving a chance for Jash to butt in.


    "No, No! I am only at Late E-Rank," Amael refuted before his smile faltered as he guiltily said, "Oops."


    ''Crazy,'' Jash thought while Caera blurted out, "Crazy, crazy, you''re a freak!"


    Amael''s smile faltered briefly, revealing a flash of irritation before he regained his composure.


    "You''ll probably be Rank 1, no?" Jash said, talking about the academy ranks, finally getting a chance to speak.


    His eyes narrowed as he observed Amael''s expression and reactions very closely, the uncanny suspicion bugging him.


    ''His eyes dilated, eyebrows moving, smile became forced for a split second before he...''


    "Yeah. I think I have no competition," Amael agreed, interrupting Jash''s observation.


    Yet it seemed he already got what he wanted.


    ''He has been acting a bit different and his words and expressions seem off, as if he doesn''t mean them.''


    Jash compiled all his observations as the three of them continued further into the palace.


    The grandeur of the Royal Palace was on full display, with golden chandeliers casting a warm, inviting glow over the marbled floors and exquisitely decorated walls.


    The hum of conversation seemed to be a backdrop to the back and forth between Amael and Caera.


    While Jash continued scrutinizing Amael, hoping to confirm his doubt, or worse, confirm that his conjecture was just a fallacy.


    ''If Amael changed and I met him before I got these memories, then what''s the guarantee nothing else will change?''


    Jash''s troublesome guess was reasonable as he would end up losing the know-how of the world if that were truly the case.


    In essence, he was going to change his death, so the chances of the world following the novel were next to none.


    If by some miracle, it got steered back into its destined path, then someone else will have to die.


    ''Anyone but me,'' he thought grimly.


    "You didn''t ask about my Rank, huh?" Jash asked playfully.


    He had thought of various ways to confirm his conjecture when he recalled that he wasn''t mentioned to have awakened earlier in the novel.


    "Forgive me, I just thought you''d be F-Rank at most since you didn''t want to awaken," Amael responded with a polite smile.


    ''Caught you!'' Jash smirked inwardly, feeling triumphant as he pieced together the clues.


    "Huh? Didn''t Aunt and Uncle tell you about him awakening a year after not wanting to?" Caera asked in confusion.


    However, it was natural for her to think so.


    The twins were already aware of Amael''s absurd talent yet for some reason, he was unaware of Jash''s?


    It didn''t make sense.


    And that worked as the final nail in the coffin, serving as enough proof for Jash to believe that the world had already started to change.


    ''Either that, or it was never the same one, to begin with. But just a world similar to the novel,'' Jash mused, leaning towards the former.


    The latter made no sense as then, the novel in his mind would lose its purpose.


    Unaware of the seed of suspicion sprouting inside Jash, Amael came with an excuse on the spot.


    "You know how it is at home. Mom and Dad don''t even sit at the dinner table together, let alone talk," Amael said with a helpless expression.


    Although it was the truth because of Amelia, who was born out of marriage, it didn''t mean they''d not share news with him.


    Of course, it could only work as a cover as Jash couldn''t help but smile to himself. ''Your disbelief-filled expression says otherwise.''


    "Anyways, he''s hovering around early E-Rank," Caera jeered, catching a stray Jash, who didn''t expect her to mention it.


    ''This girl... she''s so much trouble,'' Jash thought in annoyance yet a smile was plastered on face, observing the dumbfounded expression of Amael.

 Chapter 98: Chapter 98: It Begins

    While Jash believed that Amael was too easy and he caught him, Amael was indeed shell-shocked, but for an entirely different reason.


    {Error...!}


    {Error...!}


    {Error...!}


    {Host is advised to keep distance from this person and not to antagonize them!}


    For the first time, the system issued a warning to Amael about not antagonizing a person.


    That was the moment when he heard Caera''s remark about Jash''s rank, stunning Amael further.


    It amplified his reaction to the system message as information regarding Jash that he was aware of differedd from the present.


    Turns out, It was the system that failed to read Jash and when Amael inquired, it sent an optimistic message.


    {Maybe in the future after the system is upgraded, but for now, he can''t be appraised.}


    Usually, the system only failed to glean information about those stronger than its host, however, the first exception came into being.


    Oblivious to all this, Jash gloated in his mind as Amael paused in his tracks, surprising them.


    "What happened? Did we reach the banquet area?" Caera asked in confusion, feeling out of place in this quiet area.


    "Uhm, not yet. Just a bit more and we''ll be there," Amael clarified right after he came to his senses.


    ''Did he get that surprised by my rank?'' Jash guessed in his heart but immediately denied it. ''That''s highly unlikely.''


    After all, it didn''t make sense for Amael to react so intensely since Jash was still weaker than Amael.


    Unfortunately, Jash couldn''t think of anything to which he could attribute Amael''s odd behavior to.


    Even if he thought he caught Amael, he didn''t really know what he was actually aiming for.


    ''I know something''s fishy, but so what?'' Jash thought, irked by the complexity of his own thinking process.


    Luckily, he didn''t have to vent inwardly as a topic he too wanted to hear about came from Amael, who was trying his best to act normal.


    "You both heard the rumors, right?" Amael asked and seeing the twins nod, he continued, "Do you have any guesses?"


    Jash smirked slightly and teased, "Oh, you know, I was thinking it might be about your engagement."


    Caera snickered, keeping a hand on her lips to hide it, and gave Amael a playful look.


    It always intrigued her to talk about others'' engagements despite knowing they won''t happen unless they turn 18.


    Of course, she didn''t like talking about her own and would immediately refuse to talk, even going as far as entering closed door training.


    Anyways, looking at Amael struggling to form a response, as if his words were caught in his throat made her praise Jash inwardly.


    ''He doesn''t want to get engaged to Ava?'' Jash wondered in intrigue, noting Amael''s reaction. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah-haha," Amael awkwardly chuckled and tried to change the topic, "I don''t think it''s that."


    Taking a pause to look around the area and nodding to himself, he added, "After all, it''s not everyday for the palace to be this charged with energy."


    "Oh, we are here," Amael mentioned, gesturing for the twins to take a good look around the banquet area.


    As they approached the grand hall where the banquet was set to begin, Jash''s mind raced with the implications of the suspicious revelation.


    The intrigue of the evening was far from over, and he was more determined than ever to uncover the truth about Amael.


    ''There''s a high chance for it to be related to the world''s truth and its connection to the novel,'' Jash mused, half-believing it already.


    His hunch usually proved to be true, so he thought all he needed to do was find some incriminating evidence.


    Bringing the twins'' attention back to him, Amael, ever the embodiment of charm and curiosity, smiled gracefully.


    "Let''s not keep the fun waiting. I''ve a feeling, tonight''s going to be quite the event," he said eloquently, stealing a glance at Jash.


    Jash nodded, his earlier frustration giving way to a cautious optimism, not missing the small movement Amael made.


    "Agreed. Let''s see what this night has in store for us," he mumbled with a serene expression.


    While the two conversed with hidden intentions, Caera remained blissfully unaware and just refocused her mind back to how she entered.


    She wanted to be perfect without letting out the slightest hint of a mistake while evaluating her potential classmates and rivals.


    Naturally, among the numerous noble attendees, some would have children with enough potential to be her rivals.


    Of course, Jash and Amael had different views on it.


    Amael had a calculating gaze, ready to gain some Villain Points in this event by acting as he wished.


    Jash, however, wore a different expression.


    His strained emotions were barely concealed behind a tight smile, his irritation with banquets and crowds resurfacing.


    ''Damn! Why do I even hate them so much?'' He rhetorically asked himself, knowing fully well the answer.


    With that, the three stepped into the bustling hall, with lavishly dressed nobles and invitees roaming around.


    Some wore expressions of false sincerity while the gullible ones found them to be real and fell for their tales.


    Many nobles with clothes adorned in gold and silver, platinum and diamonds, stood with like-minded nobles.


    Their disdain for the mundane dripped from their expressions yet none seemed to care about certain groups.


    One such noble just so happened to be someone who complained at the 12th birthday banquet of Jash and Caera.


    It was Lord Keger.


    His excessively luxurious attire, quite suited to his figure, garnered quite a few eyes of intrigue and hatred.


    He stood smugly full of himself until he caught sight of Amael Blake, Jash Ramille, and Caera Ramille entering together.


    He gestured to his confidant to make his bootlickers follow him as he went ahead to greet the trio.


    His actions drew the attention of other nobles, who noticed the three important guests he was approaching.


    One was the heir of a Duke and the other two were the children of another Duke, their hierarchy was still better than most nobles here.


    Naturally, they lamented their lack of insight as they couldn''t just go and greet the three of them before Keger.


    It would be unwise to cut him off unless...


    "Jash... hicc... Caera... hicc..."


    The drunken calling of their names brought their attention to the caller, but their eyes lit up in recognition.


    "Uncle Serron!" The twins said in unison.


    The scene baffled Lord Keger as he grumbled inaudibly, "Damn this drunkard!"


    Unfortunately, he had no other choice to lose the chance to greet them as he wasn''t anywhere near Serron''s hierarchy.


    The only difference would be Serron''s disregard for such a hierarchy since he didn''t like the human''s nobility system altogether.


    He was brought up by his elven mother, after all. The Elven customs came more naturally to him.


    However, it seemed their meeting too wasn''t going to be conducive.


    "His Imperial Highness, The Second Prince of the Solarnelle Empire, Avon von Solarnelle!"


    "Her Imperial Highness, The Second Princess of the Solarnelle Empire, Ava von Solarnelle!"


    "Have arrived!"


    As soon as the announcements were made, the banquet hall which was abuzz by the lively chatter came to a screeching halt.


    All conversations ceased as everyone''s head bobbed, their eyes focusing at the entrance.


    The siblings, with distinct features, entered and many nobles'' children could only gasp in awe, jealousy and desire.


    Yet the adults'' focus shifted, behind the Prince and Princess.


    The doors closed behind them with a resonant thud, seeming to signal the beginning of a night full of revelations and surprises.


    ''So it has begun,'' Jash thought to himself, noticing the fully closed doors.

 Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Dance of Deception

    As they moved deeper into the hall, their arrival took center stage.


    The attention quickly focused on the two gorgeous figures, ignoring the shut doors, and the atmosphere buzzed with curiosity.


    The Prince and Princess were undeniably the highlight of the evening, their presence commanding immediate respect and admiration.


    Amael''s lips curved into an imperceptible smile as he observed the crowd''s reaction while Jash''s lips almost twitched.


    Jash resisted the urge to roll his eyes, saving himself from unwanted attention and choosing to focus on observing the flow of events.


    ''I don''t need to be anywhere near the center stage,'' he mused, slowly blending in with the back of the crowd.


    Meanwhile, Amael took a contrasting approach, choosing to stand at the front of the crowd alongside Caera, who didn''t want to act impolitely.


    It was clear that the night''s excitement was only beginning and the high-profile arrival of the Imperial scions had set the tone.


    Unlike Jash, Amael was ready to seize every opportunity the evening might offer.


    At the back of the crowd, Jash sighed inwardly, liking his quick decision to be just one of the many people in the room instead of standing out.


    ''This will be interesting,'' he thought from an outsider''s perspective, as if the upcoming events had nothing to do with him.


    Deep inside him, Jash felt that the evening''s events would unfold with a sense of inevitability.


    However, he was also mentally prepared to uncover whatever secrets lay beneath the surface.


    His instincts told him that this night would reveal more than what he truly hoped to have bargained for.


    The night stretched ahead, filled with potential and promise. The banquet, with its lavish d¨¦cor and well-dressed guests, was just the backdrop.


    What truly mattered was the subtle interplay of power and influence that would reveal itself in the coming hours.


    As the trio settled into the rhythm of the evening, each with their own agendas and expectations, the stage was set for a night that promised to be anything but ordinary.


    "I greet all the respected and honored guests that have graced the Imperial Banquet with their presence," Avon began to address the attendees.


    Taking his pause as her cue, Ava continued, "You all must have questions over why the doors are closed or where are the high-ranking nobles."


    Hearing their words, the atmosphere turned slightly tense with their rousing curiosity yet the smart ones were busy making guesses.


    "No need to overwork your brains, this banquet is a place for you all to relax," Ava added with a beautiful smile before falling silent.


    Avon effortlessly took the ropes and explained, "Today''s event has been planned by His Imperial Majesty, the Proud Emperor and the Sun of the Solarnelle Empire!"


    His pride in his tone couldn''t be anymore obvious yet everyone''s expression only turned more active at the mention of the Emperor.


    "You might have several questions, but before that," Avon said, gesturing to the ceiling.


    As everyone gazed at the ceiling, Ava continued where he left off, "It is marked with the latest runes."


    ¡ªFssh!


    Followed by her words, a strange sound drew everyone''s attention, causing quite an uproar as the attendees were surprised to see their own appearance mid-air.


    The technology wasn''t new to them, but the implication of it finally being applied to such a large-scale were far-reaching.


    However, before the nobles could make calculations about it, the holographic screen vanished.


    "With this, the high-ranking nobles and Father Emperor himself will observe," Ava continued.


    She stopped to let the weight of her words set in and passed the bastion to Avon to announce the main event.


    "In this event," Avon started explaining, "only the ones eligible for the Solarnelle Academy can participate, but of course, it''s not obligatory."


    ''Heh! As if these greedy nobles would leave a chance to show off their child''s potential,'' Jash sneered inwardly with a critical eye.


    He was a sucker for details and that''s why he could confirm that everything besides Amael seemed to fall into place.


    ''Now, it''s just the main dish,'' he thought, waiting for Avon and Ava to finish their performance and actually talk about the event.


    Sadly for him, the two siblings continued to rouse the onlookers'' curiosity, fully aware that the onlookers'' inability to interrupt.


    They believed it to have gone perfectly, using the Emperor as their shield, making the nobles gulp down their impatience and annoyance.


    However, they couldn''t keep going on like that.


    Even though many young nobles were enamored and dazzled by their looks and impeccable timing, it had to end.


    "Time to announce the event!" Avon and Ava exclaimed in unison, keeping aside their personal feelings.


    Although siblings, they were of Imperial blood, a sense of rivalry and competition was the least of their concerns because of their similar age.


    ''Finally,'' Jash and Amael thought at the same time, unaware of the other''s thoughts, but for entirely different reasons.


    "Those who wish to participate, gather near us," Ava implored, and every young noble moved, willingly or forcibly.


    Surprisingly, even Jash arrived, willing to participate with a hidden smile on his face.


    Unlike him, Ava and Avon visibly smiled at the sight of every eligible noble scion participating in this little game.


    While the participating youngsters were mulling over what it could be, the other present attendees soon noticed an anomaly.


    A white mist seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, slowly enveloping the center area and the participants.


    "What''s this?"


    "How can this be?"


    "Could it be that something went wrong?"


    Just as the hushed murmurs were about to grow intense and panic was about to break out, a person wearing a golden armor appeared.


    "Everything is under control," he declared, and his commanding presence shut everyone up.


    ''Imperial Guard Vice-Captain!'' The attendees recognized the man at once.


    They weren''t stupid enough to voice their complaints to a S-Rank hunter, who could contest with SS-Ranks if need be.


    The highest among the nobles present was barely at the Integration-rank, and she definitely didn''t want to have to do anything with this.


    In fact, she was just here because of her niece, the daughter of the Warmis Clan Head.


    Meanwhile, inside the mist, the youngsters weren''t aware of anything, their surroundings had suddenly changed to that of a lush forest.


    Some were composed, some were panicking, some were scared shitless, and some... just indifferent.


    "Greetings to the participating youngsters as well as the spectating guests."


    A sudden polite yet heavy voice sounded in the ears of every single person inside the hall.


    Hearing the voice, only one question hung in everyone''s mind, ''Who?''


    However, it didn''t matter as the next words of the feminine voice were all the introduction it needed.


    "As per his Imperial Majesty''s orders, you all are inside an illusion. Your task is simple, escape the illusion."


    The instructions ended, not giving any information that could be useful before it suddenly returned.


    "Oh, I forgot, but even the Imperial highnesses weren''t told about the event beforehand."


    Unfortunately, it was something that didn''t even need a mention, everyone was aware of the fairness employed by the Emperor.


    As if she couldn''t sense their obvious thoughts, she announced, "Also, the most impressive performance will have a special reward bestowed unto them from His Imperial Majesty!" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her final words gave the encouragement the participants needed while the spectating nobles could only hope their child or family member won.


    However, there was one exception.


    ''What a farce,'' Jash thought to himself, closing his eyes and lying down instead of rushing anywhere.


    "Let the dance of deception commence," he murmured softly, already anticipating the layers of pretense to come.

 Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Forest of Deceit

    As the mist swirled around them and the instructing voice ended, many youngsters were filled with confidence.


    They were proud of the training and equipment their family had given them.


    However, they soon realized that they hadn''t brought anything with them.


    Obviously, the Imperial Family would truly be a bunch of fools if they allowed the guests to bring weapons with them.


    There were runes scanning everything about an attendee when they entered, including their storage rings, so there were no loopholes.


    Downcast, the youngsters began to make sense of their new surroundings.


    Some attempted to navigate the dense foliage, their wary movements betraying the sense of confusion along with their rising frustration.


    A selected few took a more measured approach, studying the illusion''s features with detached curiosity, staying alert about their surroundings.


    Amael, in particular, wasn''t fazed in the least as he moved with calculated steps, trying to locate either other participants or the exit.


    Whatever he could find first, however, his cold smile indicated that he had no plans to leave without causing a mess.


    As he navigated the illusory forest, it felt real to him¡ªthe sensation of rough bark, smell of gritty soil and dead leaves, the howling wind.


    "This is going to be fun, you were right," Amael mumbled to no one in particular as he vanished from his place.


    Meanwhile, Caera was in another area, trying to fight her way through the numerous bat-like flying monsters.


    "So annoying!" she yelled in frustration, and moved on to cast a fire spell to throw them into disarray.


    Luckily, her little gimmick worked.


    However, when the monsters regained their senses, they found their target had long escaped, causing them to screech in anger.


    ¡ªKieeeeek!


    Just then, another participant stumbled upon them and got immediately killed¡ªdisqualified, to be precise.


    Naturally, it was just an illusion, so the most it could do was fool one''s brain into believing the situation to be real.


    Fortunately, there were healers present to take care of the disqualified participants, to tend to any mental damage suffered.


    "You need not worry, the illusion is aimed to not impact anyone''s mental strength, it''s made just for the purpose of the event."


    One of the healers explained to the distressed nobles'' who tried their best to hide their feelings.


    Some did outright choose not to consider the losers as their family, but they knew when to stop as the Emperor was observing.


    Unbothered by the chaos outside and inside the mist, the high-ranking nobles were giving stares to Sera and Carcel with strange expressions.


    Looking at their daughter impressed them as she decisively chose to retreat, but their son?


    He was literally resting inside the illusion!


    Oblivious to the second hand embarrassment he caused his parents, Jash had found a tree to recline his back against.


    His skepticism was unwavering as he kept his eyes closed, ignoring the situation indifferently.


    Unlike other participants, he was busy recalling the events that happened here, trying to remember the point of exit.


    Unfortunately, the protagonist wasn''t here, so the author ended this arc vaguely, prompting Jash into putting in some effort.


    ''The illusory forest was an elaborate setup, designed to test more than just physical prowess,'' he recalled the forest''s description.


    ''...meant to provoke responses, reveal hidden traits, and observe how participants handled unexpected challenges...''


    The words of the novel replayed in his mind as he continued to mull over it.


    His impassive and indifferent expression stirred the observing nobles in the halls, especially those whose kids were still in the mist.


    In the hall, whispers and speculations grew louder as the guests debated the purpose and implications of the trial.


    The unrelated nobles, though silent, were visibly intrigued. They had anticipated a spectacle, but this¡ªthis was a test of a different kind.


    The Imperial Guards'' expressions were carefully neutral, their practiced facades hiding their own evaluations of the participants.


    Excluding them, the Emperor and high-ranking nobles watched from the sidelines, their roles undefined as they stood before the holographic screen.


    The Emperor''s smile was as enigmatic as the illusion itself, masking the underlying strategy of his scheme.


    The real objective was concealed beneath layers of spectacle and deception, a game where only the perceptive would find the truth.


    As time passed, his smile grew wider and so did the more perceptive nobles start to grasp at the intent of the event.


    As the initial panic gave way to a more calculated approach among the participants.


    Inside the illusion, some participants began to work together, forming alliances as they tackled obstacles.


    Similarly, some chose to eliminate other participants, hoping they''d be the last one standing and win the Emperor''s grace.


    Unlike others, Ava and Avon treaded their paths carefully, aware of their father''s usually complex schemations.


    The siblings hadn''t doubted for a second that they must perform better than others, to prove the pride of the Imperial Family.


    In another part of the forest, Caera had met quite a few nobles, teaming with a few and taking down those with malicious intent.


    Still, the one who garnered the most attention was Amael as had found an illusory sword, usable only in the illusion.


    While Avon had a golden spear, Ava with a katana, Caera with a magic staff, Levi with a rapier, and many others who had weapons.


    The one who commanded every guest''s and disqualified youngsters'' attention was Amael as he swiftly dealt with any monsters with a few swings.


    The forest became a stage for their individual strategies, each move a reflection of their understanding of the game.


    Despite everything happening around him with every single participant trying their best to stand out, Jash, however, remained a solitary figure.


    He was busy contemplating a deeper understanding of the evening''s true nature.


    ''The real challenge is not merely escaping the illusion but navigating the layers of deception,'' he mused.


    Jash''s calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the growing determination of others, his strategic patience setting him apart from the crowd.


    Though, the unwise labeled him as stupid and losing the advantage he could''ve easily gained.


    However, the night was far from over, and the true significance of the event was still shrouded in mystery for most.


    Only twenty minutes had passed outside, but more than four hours had passed for those inside the illusion.


    Yet the illusion remained an intricate puzzle, its complexity designed to test more than just brute strength or wisdom.


    Amidst the growing tensions and anticipation at the final outcome, Jash frowned. ''So noisy,'' he complained inwardly.


    He could hear the distant rustling of the other participants as they scrambled to explore the terrain and find an exit.


    Each movement, each whispered strategy, was a part of the larger game unfolding around him.


    ''Damn! It''s that annoying thing!'' He berated his luck inwardly, trying to cover his ears. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A sudden burst of laughter pierced through the forest, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.


    It was clear that some participants had already begun to falter, their composure cracking under the pressure of the illusion.


    Despite his dissatisfaction, Jash''s lips curved into a faint smirk; their reactions only confirmed his suspicions about the true nature...


    "The forest is meticulously crafted, every detail designed to provoke specific responses," he murmured softly, reiterating the lines from the novel.


    Jash''s calm demeanor was both an advantage and a strategy.


    While others were busy reacting to the apparent obstacles, he was observing the subtler signs of the world''s tale.


    Right then the mist began to dissipate, revealing more of the forest''s artificial terrain.


    Jash''s eyes remained closed for a moment longer, allowing him to center his thoughts accordingly.


    When he finally opened them, he rose with a deliberate slowness, his posture relaxed but alert.

 Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Beneath the Mist

    Jash''s soft murmur was barely audible, but the Emperor''s keen ears caught it. His smile froze for a moment as he thought, ''Impossible!''


    Fortunately, no one seemed to have noticed his small movements as they were busy admiring the display of power by Amael.


    Even the Emperor was quite impressed and already guessed that Amael could easily win and defeat his children.


    Yet his attention was now being diverted by Jash.


    Not only him, but a few nobles had also kept an eye on Jash, in hopes of finding something interesting.


    His slow movements caught their interest as they nudged their friends and rivals to make some light bets.


    Oblivious to the attention he unconsciously commanded, Jash moved.


    His careful movements¡ªlike a seasoned veteran¡ªthrough the illusion appeared deliberate as if each step was calculated to avoid the obvious pitfalls and traps.


    Meanwhile, in the hall, the guests'' curiosity shifted to a blend of amusement and impatience as they watched.


    The nobles exchanged glances, their discussions ranging from speculation about the illusion''s design to the potential outcomes for their children.


    The high-ranking nobles, though outwardly composed, were increasingly intrigued by the Emperor''s unconventional test.


    Their attention shifted to another Duke''s child¡ªJash¡ªwhose actions captivated their interest.


    After all, many wanted to see what was his reason to not move for so long.


    Was it some trap of the illusion, or had he given up, or had he come up with a solution to escape the illusion?


    Meanwhile, Jash had no such grand goals, his focus was simply on escaping the annoying noise and the illusion.


    As he navigated the forest, he observed the increasing tension among the other participants.


    Their strategies were evolving, some alliances broke down while new ones emerged.


    By that time, the illusion''s purpose had become clearer to a few perceptive participants as well.


    It was a test of adaptability, a challenge to see who could maintain clarity of thought amid chaos.


    ''Idiots,'' Jash sneered inwardly at the other participants, maintaining an indifferent facade.


    He couldn''t care less about the other participants, ignoring them and moving with finesse to avoid stumbling upon any of them.


    Jash''s path through the forest was methodical; his movements were fluid and precise.


    He was not merely seeking an exit by luck, he was avoiding every trap¡ªparticipants and monsters alike¡ªtrying to get his peace.


    While unraveling the deeper layers of deception was the goal of the wise, he was one step ahead.


    ''I already know why that darned Emperor arranged this, there''s no reason to scourge the illusion,'' he reminded himself.


    Another two hours¡ªten minutes for the spectators¡ªhad passed as the night wore on, the illusion continued to test the participants, pushing them to their limits.


    Jash, with his detached approach, remained a step ahead, his mind always working to piece together the clues to find an exit.


    Most participants were busy trying to find a weapon to navigate the forest, fight monsters, emerge victorious and succeed in exiting.


    Yet Jash hadn''t encountered any living thing despite moving through the forest for hours.


    It was to the extent that some spectating nobles began to speculate if he knew the path or something.


    Unfortunately, they knew better than anyone that it didn''t make sense, especially when Prince Avon and Princess Ava themselves were struggling.


    Also, they could see behind the mist, the true nature of the forest, unlike the participants.


    With each passing moment, the forest seemed to shift slightly, adapting to the participants'' actions.


    Hence, it made no sense for anyone to be able to move in a pre-planned manner as no one could predict the numerous combinations.


    Even if they could, keeping every single one of them in mind and being able to recognize them... the notion itself seemed ridiculous.


    Of course, they guessed that he had figured it out, indicating his excellent talent, like another key figure, Amael Blake.


    However, Amael had taken on more of an angelic approach, allowing any participant to join his group.


    They eliminated the participants who only aimed for others'' elimination instead of completing the test righteously.


    Only Amael himself knew how much of an act he was putting up to maintain his image, and not get targeted as a public enemy in the future.


    Unaware of the change brought by Amael, Jash''s awareness of the illusion''s fluid nature allowed him to remain composed and strategic.


    He was ready for whatever came next, confident that he had already begun to unravel the path to leave this deceptive dance.


    ''This mist is annoying,'' he grumbled inwardly, feeling discomfort all over.


    Though he evaded the traps, the true nature of the forest was everywhere. It wouldn''t spare him from feeling different sensations based on his location.


    The mist, once barely affecting his vision, began to intensify, affecting his senses and adding to the challenge.


    "This mist... Is it amplifying the forest''s effect?" Jash pondered aloud, considering the growing annoyance because of the mist.


    There had to be a reason for him to feel that way, so he tried his conjecture out.


    Moving without a pattern, randomly taking lefts, rights, backward, forwards appeared strange to the spectators.


    However, the ones who had already figured out the illusion''s name, they were aware that Jash was on the verge of solving it.


    It would be an understatement to call them shocked, but they masked their expressions well, being used to it.


    If one person was unhappy with the result, it would surely be the Emperor as he hoped for his children to shine in the event.


    Although he couldn''t be unfair, his children had the advantage of firsthand experience with illusions, unlike most participants.


    In essence, he was having a hard time believing Jash''s performance, which seemed to be beyond the realms of normal. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Amael''s performance, while exemplary, could be explained on the basis of his natural awakening.


    His talent itself could be said to be at a different level altogether.


    Yet Jash?


    It was incomprehensible!


    However, it was right in front of his eyes and he couldn''t deny it.


    Oblivious to having become the source of the Emperor''s annoyance, Jash continued to sense his surroundings with his utmost concentration.


    Fortunately, he wasn''t in the spotlight as most still couldn''t make sense of his actions, choosing to focus on Amael, Avon, and Ava.


    The three had totally different approaches.


    Amael bulldozed his way through everything, gathering allies while Ava too had allies, she took a more calculated approach.


    On the other hand, Avon remained alone, trying to face everything by himself, making his decisions in the smallest of intervals.


    Though the others too had good performances, it couldn''t be compared to the three of them.


    Mostly because the total number of participants excluding the two groups led by Amael, Ava and the soloist Avon, didn''t exceed 10.


    Out of the 10, one was Jash, who was ignored by most.


    Another was Caera, whose team got eliminated after encountering two monster groups, leaving only her and the Warmis Clan Head''s daughter.


    The rest were barely scraping by, but their performance too was a source of pride for themselves and their family.


    One team consisted of three members, while another had four, creating a dynamic situation for the spectators.


    Since they were busy fighting amongst each other before being forced to join forces after initial conflicts.


    It was really an interesting sight: the glares, gritting teeth, unveiled animosity yet the situation made them group up.


    Just when the atmosphere was super tense as the event was nearing its end, the mist started to dissipate completely.


    As the mist began to clear, anticipation built among the spectators.


    Although surprised at the suddenness, everyone was interested in seeing who''d be the first one to appear beneath the mist.


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo~


    It''s been 17 days, I guess?


    Well, I just realized that this is chapter 101, that is, we crossed a 100 chapters in 70 days!!


    Although it took a bit longer than my first novel despite it having longer chapters, I would like to thank everyone for reading and supporting my novel!!


    For this, I am announcing a goal: 1 Extra chapter per 5 genuine reviews!!

 Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Unseen Spotlight

    As the mist finally lifted, the hall fell silent with ripe anticipation.


    The relatively few nobles, who had seen their children still inside, wished to see their kin come out first.


    Alas, even they knew it was a far-fetched dream, but what was wrong in expecting such a good outcome?


    The disqualified participants were eager to see who emerged first, knowing firsthand how difficult it actually was.


    Beneath the mist, the first figure to emerge from the thinning haze was Amael, his expression calm and victorious.


    ''Easy,'' he thought, his expression portraying his feelings.


    He had navigated the illusion with apparent ease, his strategic alliances and decisive actions paying off.


    The crowd murmured in appreciation, but their focus quickly shifted back to the clearing area.


    Followed by Amael were the group he helped and allied himself with.


    Moments later, Ava appeared, her demeanor composed and slightly relieved, albeit her relief was unnoticeable.


    She had managed to leverage her alliances effectively, balancing cooperation with her own cunning.


    Her arrival was met with nods of awe and respect, earned by her magnificent performance and her unique methods.


    Despite the spectator''s excitement, none moved to greet her as they waited for everyone to appear.


    As Ava stepped aside, Avon emerged next, his solitary figure marked by a determined expression.


    His approach had been a test of endurance and individual skill, and though he appeared worn, there was noticeable respect in the spectators'' gazes.


    After all, he seemed to have given his all, and his composure didn''t betray the slightest hint of his inner anxiety.


    Unlike Ava, who could only swallow Amael''s arrival before her, he couldn''t.


    However, being one of the Princes, there was no way he would discard his calm and composed facade over losing such a minor competition.


    ''I will take first place in the Academy Entrance Test,'' he thought, with fire blazing in his eyes as he took his spot next to Ava.


    Unsurprisingly, the groups had already moved away, knowing their place without the need to be told.


    Meanwhile, Jash, still hidden in the thinning mist, observed their arrivals with keen interest.


    ''I think Caera will be the next one?'' he mused, looking at the center of the illusion where the exit was located.


    The forest had quietened, its annoying illusions slowly unraveling in the mist''s retreat.


    His own journey had been a solitary one, characterized by laziness, patience and meticulous navigation.


    The other participants had faced various challenges, but he had chosen to rely on his own instincts and observations.


    ''Is it time?'' he asked himself, wanting to exit at nary a time to gather attention.


    To confirm, he turned to look outside, finding Caera along with another girl, who shared her beauty.


    Yet Jash was unfazed, instead his eyes darted to Avon, who had a soft expression, looking at the girl next to Caera.


    ''She is that Warmis Clan girl?'' Jash wondered in intrigue, unable to believe he found one of the dumber girls so easily.


    Unfortunately, he had no plans to get involved with either the protagonist, the heroines, the villain, or the villainess.


    Of course, the thing about Amael being a villain or not, him being different that what he remembered was a different matter altogether.


    ''By the way, didn''t she come here?'' Jash thought, recalling someone he wished to see but didn''t want to meet at the same time.


    His expression fell unbeknownst to him as he realized she wasn''t here.


    "Haa... whatever," He sighed and took the initiative to exit as the next group was just about to.


    In the next second, surprising everyone in the hall, the final wisps of mist disappeared, revealing the remaining participants.


    Looking at the perplexing scene around him, Jash took a deep breath, savoring the clarity of return from the illusion.


    ''It''s over,'' he mused in relief, unaware of the attention he got from the one guy he disliked a lot.


    ¡­


    During the entire process of the mist dissolving and dissipating, the Emperor''s gaze remained fixed on Jash.


    A mix of intrigue and frustration etched itself on his face as he glanced at the arrival of Amael, followed by his children.


    He had hoped for a dramatic display from his children, but Jash''s quiet competence had defied his expectations.


    In the case of the top 3, there was a similarity that they looked for the exit, setting it as their goal.


    However, Jash had ignored everything, taking a much more reserved approach and lying flat instead of showcasing his prowess.


    But the Emperor understood.


    Jash was the son of a Duke, there was no reason for him to impress anyone or to maintain their family name.


    The Solarnelle Academy Entrance Test was a better place, and one needed to wisely keep their cards hidden.


    Yet the Emperor''s lips twitched subtly as he noticed what Jash had achieved.


    Unlike any other participant, Jash ended up deciphering the illusion itself, forcefully stopping it from sending him first.


    ''This... Is he better or Amael?'' The Emperor pondered, curious about the answer. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, Amael too had unraveled the mysteries of the deceitful illusion, albeit he was fighting and focused on finding the exit as well.


    It was difficult to compare the two when their approaches towards the test were entirely different from one another.


    In the end, the Emperor clenched his fist, a small smile appearing on his face.


    Noticing the Emperor''s complex mood and strange emotions, the nobles around him exchanged glances.


    They assumed it was probably because of Amael defeating Avon and Ava, but the Imperial Pride forced the Emperor to smile, regardless of his personal feelings.


    While they all guessed wrongly and focused on Amael, Avon, and Ava, the Emperor''s gaze was focused on Jash.


    ''He looks too calm,'' noted the Emperor, observing the mask of calm satisfaction Jash wore.


    He had not only survived but had done so in a manner that spoke volumes about his adaptability and intellect.


    ''Yet he didn''t want to appear first?''


    It roused the Emperor''s curiosity, but he wasn''t one to let his emotions control him.


    "Let''s go," he ordered to the nobles around him and they nodded in kind.


    The Emperor, though perturbed, could not ignore the results.


    He had to acknowledge the prowess demonstrated by all the participants, despite his initial disappointment.


    As soon as the Emperor and the high-ranking nobles appeared, everyone in the hall bowed and said in unison.


    "Long Live His Majesty!"


    The Emperor acknowledged their greeting with a simple nod.


    The awe, respect and fear alongside every emotion present in the eyes of everyone was very apparent to him.


    He walked through the now-open doors toward the slightly elevated area and stood atop it alone.


    A few daring nobles wondered about the Empress''s absence, but none had the guts to speak of it.


    Ignoring the curious glances coming his way, the Emperor surveyed the area and a faint smile painted his face.


    All the participants and exalted nobles gathered around as he addressed the assembly. His voice, though steady, carried a hint of the weight of his expectations.


    "The illusion has tested each of you in ways beyond simple endurance. Your responses varied; from panic to calm to understanding to solving."


    The hall remained silent as the Emperor paused despite the enthusiasm coursing through the veins of the ones who succeeded.


    While their chests were swelled with pride alongside their family, the failing participants had deflated looks.


    ''Hah! He sure knows how to put on a show,'' Jash scoffed internally, observing the impact of the Emperor''s words, whether they be a lie or the truth.


    However, in the next second, Jash almost cursed. ''Shit! Why did he look at me! No way, right!?'' he thought distressfully.

 Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Fated Reward

    ''Why was he looking at me!? There''s no way I just imagined it!'' Jash thought, perturbed by the unexpected occurrence.


    He had done his level best to not get any unnecessary attention from any key figure, be it a strong hunter or a calamity magnet.


    ''As if those calamity magnets being here together isn''t irksome, even the Emperor!'' Jash yelled internally, somehow maintaining a calm exterior.


    However, his attention was caught by the Emperor who continued his speech with a very long pause.


    "Before I announce the most impressive performance, I would like to express gratitude for playing along with my little game."


    His words were steady, not polite in the slightest, yet the nobles clamored otherwise.


    "No, no, Your Majesty, it is our blessing to be here today..."


    "Your Majesty, we are the ones in luck to have children who could participate in a game..."


    While many nobles said one thing or the other, it was the low-ranking ones who said a lot.


    ''What nonsense!'' Jash grumbled inwardly, irritated by the noise of so many sycophantic noble.


    In his eyes, they were no different than a bunch of third-rate trash complimenting everything the average Young Master did.


    It was quite unfortunate Jash couldn''t speak out his true feelings and had to maintain his expression amidst his twitching eyes and lips.


    He was just too weak to have a say in such matters despite them being so fake that even an idiot would notice.


    ''Even if I am strong enough, there''s no way I am dissing the Emperor! Who''d want to take their responsibility then?''


    Those were Jash''s true thoughts. He couldn''t care less about strength, it was about living a life without unnecessary burdens.


    That''s why he didn''t really want to be so strong that no one could stand as an equal.


    ''The path to power is lonely, when one achieves it, they have no one around them,'' he mused, recalling the reason for his last battle.


    In truth, he could''ve skipped the battle with the Demon King and let him take over the world, yet he chose to fight.


    He just wanted to end his life, who knows why he ended up in another?


    By the time Jash came to his senses and rapidly blinked his eyes, a few minutes had already passed.


    ¡ªClap!


    The sudden applause shocked him. ''What!? So soon?'' he wondered in confusion, but followed along.


    As the Emperor concluded his address and the round of applause ended, murmurs of anticipation rippled through the hall.


    The nobles and participants alike focused their attention on the Emperor, waiting for the name of the one who would be bestowed with the special reward.


    The Emperor stepped down from the elevated platform, his gaze traveling amongst the participants for a moment.


    The hall fell into a hushed silence, each eye tracking the Emperor''s every movement.


    With deliberate steps, the Emperor approached Amael, his presence commanding and regal.


    Amael stood poised, his earlier calm now mingled with a subtle but undeniable sense of triumph.


    "Amael," the Emperor''s voice resonated through the hall, "You have demonstrated exceptional skill and resolve. Your performance surpassed all expectations."


    He extended a hand, holding a gleaming medallion embossed with the imperial crest. "For your exemplary performance, I bestow upon you this special reward."


    Amael''s eyes flickered with gratitude and finality as he accepted the medallion.


    The cool metal felt nice to the touch, as he remained unbothered about its weight symbolism.


    After all, it symbolized not just the Emperor''s favor, but the culmination of his hard work and strategy.


    He bowed deeply, acknowledging the honor with the respect it deserved.


    The crowd erupted into applause, their claps echoing through the grand hall.


    However, before anyone could say anything, the Emperor silenced them with a single raise of his hand.


    "With this, you may take any one item from the Empire''s treasury," the Emperor declared, shocking everyone in the hall. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Nobles exchanged impressed glances, recognizing the significance of the special reward.


    A single thought coursed their mind, ''Why would the emperor give such a reward for such a simple test?''


    Unfortunately, no one knew the answer and the one who did couldn''t be bothered with it.


    ''This stingy Emperor, he knows Amael wouldn''t know what to pick,'' Jash thought, clicking his tongue internally in displeasure.


    He knew better than anyone why the Emperor gave the reward, just like the novel entailed and how Amael wasted the chance.


    ''That''s why it was even mentioned in the first place, to make Amael seem stupider than the protagonist.''


    Remembering the details, Jash couldn''t help but think about changing the novel''s plot. ''What if I tell Amael what to pick up?''


    The image of a certain armor appeared in Jash''s mind and he pondered on what should be his next steps.


    Meanwhile, the Emperor''s stern gaze fixed on Amael as he congratulated him once again, his words heavy with expectation.


    "May this medallion serve as a reminder of your potential and a token of the high regard in which you are held."


    Amael nodded, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thank you, Your Majesty," he said, his voice steady and appreciative.


    As Amael stepped back, the Emperor turned his attention to the remaining participants and declared, "Let the achievements of all be acknowledged."


    "Each of you has faced challenges that have tested your limits. Carry forth the lessons learned here with pride and determination," he advised them.


    The hall buzzed with renewed energy as the participants absorbed the Emperor''s words.


    Following which, the atmosphere was charged with a blend of relief and anticipation for the next phase, that is, the long-awaited banquet itself.


    Amael, with his medallion now prominently displayed, stood as a beacon of success, his achievement marking a high point in the day''s events.


    Yet only he knew his internal thoughts.


    ''Everything worked out as it should have, so why did I gain these points?'' he asked the system in confusion.


    {Host, you helped others and eliminated the trash, and the special reward... If looks could kill, you''d be deader than dead.}


    Amael merely chuckled at the system''s remark, thinking of taking the one thing that would net him tons of Villain Points.


    {Hold your horses, host!}


    ''Hm? Why?''


    {That weapon originally got stolen by a different villain, but if you take it...}


    ''You mean, it won''t affect much since we both are in the villain camp?''


    {Exactly!}


    ''Then what do I take?''


    As if clearing his confusion, Jash brought Amael out of his reverie. "Congratulations, Amael," Jash whispered with a warm smile.


    "Thanks," Amael reciprocated with a satisfied smile, yet Jash could notice the nuanced difference.


    Fortunately, Jash had come to help Amael.


    ''If I can''t interfere with the protagonist yet, then why not make his enemy stronger?'' Jash thought, finally coming to a decision.


    Thankfully, the Emperor had returned to the elevated platform or Jash would''ve stayed in his position.


    "You know," Jash began, "I heard there is this very good armor inside the Imperial Treasury. I forgot its name, though."


    "Hmm." Jash pretended to contemplate as Amael felt skeptical about his sudden approach, something that didn''t happen in the novel.


    Meanwhile, the Emperor was keenly eavesdropping on their conversation, his interest in Jash rising by the second.


    Oblivious to the attention he got, Jash acted as if he suddenly remembered. "Ah, right!" he exclaimed.


    "The armor is black, made up of meteorite iron and mithril and orihalcum as its outer protective covering," he muttered in a daze.


    As if remembering it, the system sent a confused message to Amael.


    {Ah! I know what he''s talking about! But how does he know?}


    Sensing Amael''s confusion, the system shared the armor''s details with Amael and also its suspicion about how Jash knew of it.

 Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Imperial Banquet: Uncovering Facades

    ''Isn''t that what I get in the latter parts of the novel after killing that scum? Why would it be in the Imperial Treasury?'' Amael wondered, skeptical.


    {No, that is possible. The question is, how does he know of it?}


    Amael, agreeing with the system''s words, could do nothing but become more cautious of this so-called friend of his.


    After all, Amael Blake and Jash Ramille were supposed to be friends, so it would be far easier for Jash to notice the changes in Amael.


    In fact, Jash was already contemplating multiple possibilities, hoping to figure out the cause of change in Amael''s personality.


    ''So he knows?'' Jash thought, noting the subtle shifts in Amael''s expression¡ªfrom confusion to shock to surprise.


    It was truly a wonder how Jash could read so many emotions others missed on Amael''s seemingly indifferent face.


    Fortunately, the Emperor was focused on Jash and missed the minute reactions from Amael, or both of them would have garnered his attention.


    As if on cue, Jash suddenly felt creeped out, prompting him to look around, trying to locate the source of the discomfort.


    However, he suddenly stopped as a dark realization settled in. ''Could it be that darned Emperor again?'' he thought grimly.


    Unable to do anything about the greedy and power-hungry Emperor, Jash pretended to have not noticed it.


    Next to him, Amael stood confused about the strange reactions from Jash, but chose to wisely stay quiet.


    He couldn''t afford to get caught, especially by the one guy who would die at the first arc itself.


    Naturally, he didn''t believe Jash could change that fate, especially since even the protagonist and Amael were helpless in that scenario.


    So, how could someone weaker and less talented than them manage to do something like that?


    ''And to boot, I even have a system,'' Amael mused to himself, wanting to steer clear of the suspicious Jash Ramille for as long as possible.


    Fortunately, Jash was of the same mind, wanting to figure out the changes in Amael, but maintaining a safe distance as well.


    Just as the two were busy in their own thoughts, the Emperor announced the beginning of the banquet and the hall became abuzz with excitement.


    Some nobles eagerly whispered about the event that just occurred, some chiding or praising their kids for their performance.


    There were also the aloof ones, who remained indifferent and chose to not comment on any happenings of today.


    As the banquet went on, a lot of complicated stuff happened.


    ''One can''t truly use their mana after the banquet begins,'' Jash noted, trying to use his mana inside the hall.


    He attempted to enhance his vision with mana to locate his parents or the one he dreaded meeting, but still wished to see.


    ''They really like to splurge,'' Jash cursed inwardly, recalling the event where one could use mana and everything freely.


    As his prediction turned out, only the ones inside the illusion could use mana, not anyone who didn''t participate or got disqualified.


    Even the size of the banquet hall expanded to almost four times after the official announcement.


    Several tables filled with tantalizing dishes came into view, begging to be devoured by the guests.


    The guests¡ªnot limited to just nobles, but also including dwarves, elves, merchants, and the associations¡ªbegan feasting.


    Yet Jash had a different expression as compared to the rest of the guests when looking at the food.


    ''The Elves don''t eat meat, while dwarves prefer meat... what a crazy coincidence that both are present here.''


    His thought really made it hard for him to ignore their presence as his observing nature came to picture, diverting his attention.


    In the end, he failed to find anyone to talk to besides Serron and Caera.


    ''At least I don''t have to act like I''ll puke at the sight of meat anymore,'' he mused, glad that the numerous dungeon runs allowed him to "adapt".


    Of course, only he knew that he didn''t need to adapt.


    His past life memories of humans eating even dead and decaying corpses made him immune to a little meat.


    Heck, even he could vividly recall the scenes of eating food while sitting at the body of a demon or human.


    Even being drenched in the blood of demons or humans couldn''t stop him, let alone well-cooked meat dishes.


    ''Though it did help me fake being sick to skip training,'' Jash reminisced, a small smile briefly flashing by his face.


    He continued to roam the banquet hall, trying to gather information or finding someone he could talk to.


    Because of his seemingly "lackluster" performance, he wasn''t surrounded by other participants like Amael and Ava.


    No one dared approach Avon as he appeared to be in a terrible mood despite him trying his best to mask it.


    ''Idiots,'' Jash labeled them, focusing on the more important part.


    The fake promises of dealings, lies about blessings, tricks of cheating, or veiled threats from some maniacs were quite noticeable.


    ''That Emperor, I am sure, knows of it but doesn''t care,'' Jash thought, his impression of the Emperor falling further.


    It wasn''t that the Emperor didn''t care. Rather, it would change nothing no matter how many times he interfered.


    Simply because the people present at the party weren''t weak-minded idiots; they had lived through such deception all their lives.


    They knew better than to act on impulse, and tarnish their relationships, who knew if the other part would even follow their words or not.


    They might just deny any such agreements and laugh out loud, looking at them making a fool of themselves.


    After all, many cunning and snarky nobles in high ranks had done these things in the past too.


    Everyone was well-versed in world history, aware of instances where some people randomly attacked or other different tensions.


    It was common knowledge that over the 2000 years of history, there were many instances where people gathered and shit went south.


    So people kept their cool despite all the enticing deals and promises, pretending to be interested while not.


    ''Still, some young and arrogant nobles fall for these tricks,'' Jash thought, finding a few of the boring conversations amusing.


    Although the conversations themselves were extremely boring and seemed repetitive, Jash found some funny ones.


    One such conversation was about letting another noble have their dungeon since they were weak and asking them to not take loot.


    ''As if! That would never work as long as the nobles are still selfish,'' Jash sneered at the idiot of a noble who genuinely praised the idea. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even the one proposing didn''t expect such an outcome, his sleazy smile almost faltering for a second.


    Excluding the animated chatter Jash focused on, there was another more important matter he chose to ignore.


    That was matchmaking.


    Many young and old, noblemen and noble ladies were present, adding weight to their world.


    Of course, even if someone was stupid enough to fall for the tricks, and wanted to do something, they''d rather not.


    ''The security measures placed around the palace are next level,'' Jash mused, remembering the numerous guards on duty.


    Not just the imperial guards, the shadow guards of Dukes and Marquises,.high-ranking hunters¡ªwere all present in the vicinity.


    Therefore, one wrong move from anyone suspicious would be met with the opposition of several hunters.


    Hence, the party continued peacefully and people continued to chatter around, waiting for the hosts of the event to conclude the event.


    ''When will it end?'' Jash wondered. The banquet had switched from interesting to annoying with time for him.


    As if not wanting it to end, a smooth mellifluous voice interrupted his walk.


    "Jash!"

 Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Reluctantly Eager Reunion

    Jash froze in his tracks, hearing his name being called. ''Finally...!'' he thought, turning his face to look at the person who called him.


    "Mom¨CZiva!?" He called out to Sera, recognizing her voice, but changed midway, blurting out Ziva''s name.


    ''She came?'' he wondered in disbelief, having thoroughly searched the banquet hall, failing to find any trace of her.


    Besides, she wasn''t anywhere near that illusion, which only served to deepen his confusion.


    "Mhm." Ziva hummed, understanding his surprise. "Good evening," she muttered with a hint of mischief in her eyes.


    "Evening," Jash replied. "When did you come here?" He asked without any unnecessary pretenses.


    It wasn''t in his nature to act pompous, so he just got to the point, curious about her whereabouts.


    "She was by Evelia''s side," Sera interrupted their conversation, making sure the two were aware of her presence.


    Jash glanced at his mother and simply nodded at her words. ''If she was by her mother''s side, it makes sense.''


    Unfortunately, Jash was unaware that his decision to participate had not only attracted the Emperor''s unwanted attention, but it even gave Amael Villain Points.


    Well, he didn''t know about the system or Villain Points, to begin with, so it didn''t really matter.


    In the plot, Jash didn''t even come here, unwilling to partake in such annoying events.


    Hence, his participation altered the entire event along with the change in Amael and Ziva''s presence.


    Oblivious to the changes his presence brought along indirectly, Jash was having a hard time assessing his emotions.


    During the past years of training, his memories returned randomly and one such memory was of his girlfriend.


    Although he didn''t know her looks or name or anything else for that matter, the vivid sensation of reliving those moments was too much for him to dismiss.


    ''Just what do I think of her? Only Amelia and Ziva are the ones who didn''t enter the protagonist''s harem.''


    Thinking so, Jash struggled to place his emotions as her presence stirred them in unexpected directions.


    ''It isn''t love for sure. Maybe slight attraction? Or affection for a true friend of the opposite gender?''


    He guessed in his heart, unable to put a label on his mixed emotions.


    Unlike him, Ziva wasn''t struggling with her emotions at all. ''I don''t mind being with him,'' she thought, glancing at him once more.


    In the end, she decided to let her future self figure it out, avoiding to burden her mind with unneeded thoughts.


    Their silent stare almost grew a bit heated when Sera broke it, "Well, you two should have a proper conversation after so long."


    With that being said, she walked away after the two turned to look at her.


    ''What am I supposed to talk to her about?'' Jash wondered, exchanging a glance with Ziva.


    Still, the two didn''t linger at the same place, choosing to move along.


    "So, what rank are you at?" Jash began the conversation with a generic question in their world instead of asking her well-being.


    "Mid E-Rank," Ziva replied nonchalantly, then gave him a questioning look as if asking his rank.


    "Early E-Rank," Jash muttered, a bit embarrassed, but his disclosure surprised Ziva to the point of stopping in her tracks.


    "What? How?" Ziva''s eyes widened in disbelief as she recalled their past argument about him not wanting to awaken.


    As if sensing her confusion, Jash clarified, "I awakened at 13, just a year later than usual."


    Though his words were uttered in a low voice, only audible to Ziva, not the ones nearby interested in their conversation.


    After all, two children of Dukes being together, while their parents were friends, were bound to give rise to rumors.


    The guests and everyone else were busy discussing rumors, some stealing glances at the two, curious to know their relationship.


    They didn''t know that those rumors could indeed be the truth, the engagement talk was real and neither party had rejected it.


    However, the reasons were entirely different. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The previous Jash had believed no one would suit him better as a partner, given her familiarity with him.


    To Ziva, it was just a matter of comfort. She already knew Jash and his personality, trusting it somewhat.


    The main deciding factor could be the fact that they had already seen their parents in a friendly relation unlike other nobles they met.


    Fortunately, their parents knew what emotions kids go through and didn''t officially bind them.


    After all, how could kids know what marriage entails in its entirety?


    Hence, no official knots were to be tied until after the coming-of-age ceremony when they became adults and graduated from Solarnelle Academy.


    Naturally, they expected their children to easily make their way through the entrance test, knowing their talents.


    Reaching E-Rank even before entering the Academy was something only a few managed to do yet they had done it.


    Instead, Jash''s feat of reaching E-Rank despite awakening a year later was much more astonishing.


    That''s why Ziva was too astounded to even react for a few seconds as she walked by his side absentmindedly.


    But that wasn''t too bad, as it gave Jash the time he needed to ground his thoughts and feelings.


    ''It''s better to not talk about those things for now. Anyways, there''s 4 years till graduation,'' decided Jash inwardly.


    On his side, Ziva was slowly returning to her senses, accepting the fact that Jash was just as talented if not less than her.


    ''No. He might as well be more talented than me...'' she concluded, casting a sidelong glance at him.


    ''He''s in a similar category to Amael, isn''t he?'' she wondered, calculating the time he would take to reach the late E-Rank.


    If she compared pure numbers, it was obvious his and Amael''s time would be somewhat close.


    ''However, his growth inside the academy should increase, so faster than Amael?'' she pondered, unable to decide.


    In her heart, she never considered any other guy except Jash her friend and Amael an acquaintance.


    Plus, she had assumed that Jash was a better choice than a random noble to spend the rest of her life.


    Unfortunately, realizing his monstrous potential made her doubt her own decision.


    Unable to know her inner thoughts and how much they changed in the past few seconds, Jash slightly nudged her to draw her attention.


    "Why did you not participate?" he asked, referring to the ''Forest of Deceit''.


    "Uh, huh," Ziva let out confused sounds before comprehending his words and answered, "It would''ve been of no use."


    To anyone else, her succinct reply might seem rude, but it was enough for Jash to understand her intent.


    ''Yeah, right. How did I forget about her element?'' he chided himself internally, having a hard time believing he forgot such a major aspect.


    Unlike most awakeners who were yet to awaken elements as they had not yet reached E-Rank, Ziva had long awakened hers.


    Of course, just reaching E-Rank wasn''t enough to know one''s elements, it was just a prerequisite.


    ''Her element is unlike regular ones, akin to the light and darkness of the Hero and Villain¡ªa typical clich¨¦.''


    Just the thought was enough for Jash to roll his eyes. Luckily, Ziva was engrossed in her own thoughts, sparing him from another thing to worry about.


    ''She could''ve easily escaped the illusion using her element, and even decipher the illusion easily,'' Jash mused, recalling about her description.


    After all, she was a rare Heroine who remained unconquerable until the end yet she was too strong to be labeled an Extra.


    ''Even the role villainess doesn''t define her since she wasn''t one to begin with,'' Jash recalled the tons of discussions from fellow readers.


    ''If that darned author had confirmed anything related to any character, I would know so much more...'' Jash cursed internally.


    Right then, a soft, sweet voice broke his reverie, "How did you reach E-Rank so fast?"

 Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Catching Up

    Hearing her question, Jash turned to look into her eyes. "Well..." he began before facing forward.


    "I trained hard, of course," he added in all seriousness, only for his expression to fall in the next second.


    "As if!" Ziva mocked, rolling her eyes in exasperation, not even half a second after his answer.


    "You and training? That''s impossible," she continued, her eyes twitching at his blatant attempt to lie.


    Of course, Jash truly believed what he said.


    In his perspective, hard was the right word for the training he did. He didn''t care about others'' thoughts on it.


    ''But thinking about it again, I can see where she''s coming from,'' he told himself, but his emotions didn''t seem to listen.


    "You shouldn''t joke about someone''s efforts," he spat through gritted teeth, somehow irritated at her disparaging demeanor.


    Even so, he inwardly chided himself. ''Damn! I am supposed to be mentally an adult, so why am I even getting annoyed by her remark?''


    He didn''t know but it was especially so because it was the truth that it irked him.


    In the eyes of others, he was a genius who worked crazy hard to reach his current rank, even if it wasn''t the truth.


    On a smaller scale, some jealous people would think it all had to do with his ducal family and his insanely good talent due to genetics.


    Though rare, such people indeed existed, always finding excuses for what others could achieve but they couldn''t.


    Fortunately, Ziva wasn''t in either category, so she felt bad for her own words, almost wanting to apologize.


    But how could she?


    Jash kept his demeanor intact, ensuring that their conversation continued to project a harmonious atmosphere for the bystander.


    If she suddenly apologized, won''t they make up some short of crazy rumors like she was pestering Jash?


    There was no way she wanted that!


    Just as she was in a dilemma on what to do, Jash helped her indirectly, saying, "Just keep it in mind. Also, even I do work hard."


    "Mhm." Ziva nodded with an audible sound before asking again, "So, how did you...?"


    As if anticipating her question, Jash replied, "It just... happened, sort of. I ran some dungeons, some alone, some with Caera..."


    "I got force¨C" Jash paused mid-sentence before changing his words seamlessly, "I trained rigorously. It wasn''t easy."


    "You just¨C Nevermind," Ziva stopped herself from pointing out his errors, knowing he was trying his best to keep his composure.


    ''He doesn''t seem the least bit embarrassed, though. How cute,'' Ziva thought, an unconscious smile tugging at her lips.


    In the next second, she slightly shook her head, wondering, ''What''s wrong with me?''


    ''I''ll think about it later,'' she told herself, choosing to ask something she was curious about.


    "Anyways, did you or Caera get to know your element?" She asked, her tone laced with interest.


    "Huh? You didn''t talk to her yet? She''ll be pretty angry," Jash remarked with a subtle smirk, thinking to himself, ''It''ll be fun to watch.''


    "I did want to find her, but she was busy with... another girl and the group of young ones surrounded them," Ziva replied with a smug smile.


    Her expression seemed to be screaming: Now what, huh? Hehe~ I knew it!


    But Jash just ignored her overdramatic expression, lamenting the interesting drama he lost, instead focusing on her words.


    ''Drama is drama, no matter where I get it from,'' he mused to himself with a teasing smile, making Ziva, who caught a glance, feel uneasy.


    "Well, I don''t know mine, but Caera did get fire element. I mean, it was obvious given Mom taught her personally post-awakening."


    Jash shrugged his shoulders as he said so, knowing fully well that fire wasn''t all she had to be one of the heroines.


    "Isn''t she good with bows and magic? Fire will help her a lot as a battlemage," Ziva remarked, remembering what her mother had told her.


    "True. In my case, I think I will have to wait till the academy, unlike geniuses like you," Jash teased, making her feel superior.


    Of course, it was just a gimmick and she knew him far too well to fall for it.


    "Says the guy who could probably fight me," Ziva refuted with a small smile, clearly meaning her words.


    Jash too smiled, not really denying her words since he was already aware of her element, making it not very effective on him.


    Elements were just like that, some wouldn''t change anything even if someone knew it, but others, not so much.


    A few rare elements were always preferred to be kept to be used as Hidden Cards.


    Obviously, it became easy to do since most awakeners did have more than one element.


    It was just that the efficiency and time invested to improve them was not well worth the effort in most cases.


    However, elements that could directly impact the opponents'' psyche¡ªtheir mind, thought process, disorient their senses and many more¡ªwere different.


    ''Ziva has one such element,'' Jash mused, feeling interested in trying it out. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He wanted to see if his past life existence would help mitigate the impact of her element or not.


    ''Maybe in the academy,'' he guessed in his heart.


    Although she was playful and wouldn''t mind playing pranks on him, she would never do anything that could potentially harm him.


    ''There''s also the fact that she can''t fully control her element yet,'' he thought, remembering the problems of having a mental element.


    In the world of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia, elements were broadly classified as mental or physical.


    Physical elements like water, fire, earth, air, plant, metal, lava and many more existed in reality, but mental elements were different.


    They differed fundamentally in their functions themselves as they impacted the opponent''s psyche.


    They could create illusions or directly attack the mind, causing nightmares.


    ''The most likely one that people use it for is seduction, though,'' Jash mused, doubting if she would ever do that.


    But then again, she didn''t really need to use it for such a purpose.


    She was already gorgeous enough to get quite a few eyes of desire¡ªhidden and open¡ªin the venue while they glared hatefully at Jash.


    Naturally, he considered them as pieces of trash and moved on. He had no interest in dealing with them¡ªthere was no need to.


    ''Her mother probably already noted them down,'' he thought with his smile widening, knowing their outcome.


    However, there was no pity for them in his heart. He wasn''t a goody-two-shoes protagonist or hero.


    If there was one thing he absolutely hated to his core, it would be people who consider other humans as a means of pleasure.


    Those who do not even consider them humans.


    ''Even then, the most hateful are the doormat females who let men trample them!'' Thinking so, Jash''s mood shifted abruptly.


    Fortunately, he got out of his chaotic thoughts by a sudden pull, stopping him from thinking something crazy.


    ''Huh?'' he looked around in confusion before he felt the grip and raised his head.


    "Mom!?" he exclaimed, perplexed at her presence. ''When did I arrive next to her?'' he wondered.


    He clearly remembered being next to Ziva as the two walked in silence after agreeing that they could spar equally.


    In haste, he was already looking around and found Ziva standing next to Sera, who remained quiet despite her son''s state.


    She already got used to him going into a daze randomly, so she didn''t seem to mind.


    But Ziva sure did.


    She was almost pouting as she pretended to look away, trying to act cute partially.


    ''Damn! She''s not supposed to act like this!'' Jash cursed inwardly, knowing she hated acting like that even as a joke.

 Chapter 107: Chapter 107: The Banquet’s End

    No matter his internal thoughts, Jash retained his sense of self and calm as his eyes narrowed in suspicion.


    Jash''s attention shifted abruptly to his mother''s face, catching the small smile and her twitching lips.


    ''So she''s the one who wrongly influenced Ziva,'' Jash concluded without second thought.


    His mother always liked to watch drama and misunderstanding was one of her favorite tropes, so there was no mistaking it.


    She was the one who prompted Ziva into acting that way. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Even her neck is reddening from the sheer embarrassment,'' Jash noted and cast an angry glance at his mother.


    ''Just how do you even get the time to watch those trashy dramas!'' he thought in anger, cursing the very dramas he too enjoyed.


    Of course, he still maintained public decency and kept his mouth shut, unaware of the cause of the sudden pull.


    ''We are still in the banquet hall... Is it concluding?'' Jash guessed, feeling relieved that it finally got over.


    His gaze unconsciously drifted to the Emperor and Avon, before finally on Amael.


    ''His plans really got hitched,'' Jash mused, glad that Amael won instead of Avon, just like the novel.


    Although most events did occur according to what he knew, it also wasn''t a confirmation if the world was really the novel or just similar to it.


    ''No matter, I will figure it out soon,'' he concluded, knowing the Academy Entrance Test was the arc where everything began.


    Soon, his attention returned to the embarrassed Ziva, his lips twitching as he barely stifled his laughter at her sight.


    ''Just how did Mom even make her do something so... mortifying?'' Jash wondered, intrigued by his mother''s cunning.


    However, he didn''t get the time to mull over it anymore as the Emperor began his final speech.


    ''Damn, so boring,'' Jash thought, not wanting to listen to it. Sadly, he had no choice but to pay attention.


    "Esteemed Guests and Honored Companions," the Emperor began, glancing over all the guests present.


    It didn''t matter whether they were eating, drinking, chatting, or enjoying the evening, everyone turned to look in the Emperor''s direction.


    "While the splendid banquet draws to a close, it is just another beginning for the young ones to partake in the Academy," he added, appearing regal.


    His words filled those with downcast appearances with hope as they looked on with awe, respect and hope at the Emperor.


    Some even hoped to become an enigmatic figure like the Emperor in the future, and it was as if he could read their thoughts.


    He continued with a smile, "I am filled with immense pride and gratitude. The upcoming generation of hunters truly deserves its name."


    ''How slick,'' Jash thought, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes.


    He was well aware that most of the ones who struggled against the illusion would most likely fail if they participated in the Entrance Test.


    ''No way they can pass something way more difficult,'' he mused, aware of the ramped-up difficulty of the Entrance Test.


    Just like him, Amael was of the same mind, but he didn''t let the slightest of his emotions show, maintaining a calm and kind facade.


    Oblivious to the two anomalies'' thoughts, the Emperor glanced at Jash subtly before focusing on Amael.


    ''He definitely looked my way!'' Jash thought in displeasure, compared to the ones around him who wore excited impressions.


    It seemed just one glance of the Emperor was more than enough to make them happy.


    "Tonight, we have celebrated not only the achievements of the Imperial Family, but also other talented ones."


    As if his words weren''t enough, he glanced at everyone who participated in the Forest of Deceit, call it a test or event, it didn''t matter to him.


    Although his attempt to flaunt the Imperial Family had fallen short, it successfully reinforced alliances and showcased his humility.


    As an Emperor, he was always alert, looking for the silver lining instead of finding faults in everything.


    Taking advantage of Amael being the clear winner, he could even incite great relish in other kids to work harder.


    After all, the reward he gave would make even some titled nobles drool in jealousy, wanting to take it for themselves.


    If not for Amael being the son of a Duke, they were ready to pounce on him like the greedy hyenas they were.


    Some even regretted why their child couldn''t be as exemplary as Amael, or at least have a satisfactory performance.


    Taking note of the atmosphere in the banquet hall, the Emperor continued, "Your presence here is a testament to the unity, harmony, and strength of our great Empire."


    "Each of you contributes to the prosperity and grandeur of our empire," he added, "And for that, I am profoundly grateful."


    His words stirred various emotions in the listener as their chests swelled with pride and their noses raised skyward.


    Yet Jash could only grumble inwardly about how slick the Emperor was.


    ''He can really pull that crappy speech in front of so many people as if it is true,'' he criticized, annoyed by the sweet-talk.


    As if the Emperor also knew his thoughts, he swiftly concluded his speech on a good note.


    "Let us depart with hope that our collective vision and unwavering commitment will continue to guide us toward a future of unparalleled greatness."


    Hearing his final statement, many attendees had eyes filled with blazing motivation to achieve anything and everything for the Empire.


    "May the Holy Goddess of Light bless our path forward!"


    The Emperor prayed, lowering his head slightly and the atmosphere suddenly turned fervent inside the hall.


    Everyone followed suit, lowering their heads and said together, "May the Holy Goddess of Light bless our path forward!"


    ''Seriously? How crazy,'' Amael thought, his goal to oppose the Goddess of Light being too tough to bear.


    Unlike him, Jash couldn''t care less.


    He had no concept of Gods or Goddesses, his past life made it clear that no such beings existed.


    ''Even if they do exist, they aren''t like her,'' he mused, knowing the kind of Goddess she was and the protagonist''s journey.


    In essence, his standard of Gods was far different from this world.


    Only a being detached from the mortal and immortal, mundane and special, weak and strong, physical and ethereal, corporeal and incorporeal...


    ''There''s no way such a being exists,'' he told himself, choosing to focus on the present rather than thinking about the unreachable.


    Looking at the dispersing crowd with some leaving the banquet hall at the dead of the night, he nodded gleefully.


    However, he didn''t let go of his calm expression.


    ''Phew, she''s back to normal,'' Jash secretly heaved a sigh of relief as his eyes fell on Ziva''s figure.


    She appeared the same as earlier, before his mother gave her some sort of messed up idea and got her to act like that.


    "Let''s leave as well," Sera said, her voice cutting through his thoughts.


    "Alright Mom," Jash nodded, looking at Ziva walk alongside them from the corner of his eye.


    ''Did Aunt Evelia ask Mom to take care of her?'' he wondered in curiosity, but it didn''t matter as it was a good thing for him.


    As the three reached the doors after a silent walk, they found Evelia waiting for them.


    She smiled at Sera, her intent and meaning indecipherable to Jash and Ziva, but Jash did have a wild guess though.


    ''No way...! Did she try to force us together?'' Jash thought but immediately denied it, feeling a chill go down his spine.


    While their mothers talked, the two appeared like lost ducklings awaiting their mother duck''s instructions.


    "We''ll take our leave," Evelia said, causing Jash''s eyes to twinkle with mischief.


    ''Finally...'' he thought in relief. The two mothers'' seemingly never ending gossip had finally ended, after all.

 Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Reflective Departure

    As the final words of the Emperor''s speech seemingly lingered in the hall, Jash and Ziva followed Sera and Evelia, standing at the grand doors.


    The footsteps of others echoed softly on the marble floor.


    The excitement of the evening had left a palpable energy in the air, but the night''s chill was beginning to set in.


    Jash kept his gaze steady, his thoughts still swirling around what would be the best way to irritate Ziva.


    He glanced sideways at Ziva, noting her somewhat dazed expression.


    She seemed lost in thought, likely still processing the embarrassment she had experienced earlier.


    "Are you alright?" he asked, his tone gentle but curious.


    He knew better than to press too hard, but a part of him wanted to ensure he teased her right when it was her sore spot.


    He wasn''t one for caring about others as if they were the most fragile being to exist.


    Ziva shook herself out of her reverie and offered a small, appreciative smile. "I''m fine, just a bit... overwhelmed."


    Jash nodded in understanding as he at least knew this feeling all too well.


    As the four began to walk outside the hall, their feet set in a slow rhythm as their mothers allowed them to converse some more.


    Rather, the two wore intrigued expressions, eager to eavesdrop on their own children.


    "It was quite a show tonight," Jash remarked while grumbling inwardly, ''The Emperor certainly knows how to annoy others.''


    "Yeah," Ziva agreed, her eyes reflecting the dim light of the path.


    Both wisely chose not to comment on the Emperor or his glib speech, not wanting any trouble to come their way.


    Sadly, their small talk was interrupted as they reached the outer courtyard, where a chill breeze greeted them.


    Evelia and Sera too were deep in conversation, but their voices remained low, only audible to each other.


    The four paused, Sera and Evelia looking around for their carriages while Jash and Ziva enjoyed the night sky.


    ''I can go home,'' Jash thought, grateful for the prospect of a quiet end to the evening.


    He was eager to escape the formalities of the banquet and return to the more familiar comforts of home.


    However, he stole a glance at Ziva from the corner of his eyes, planning to make her embarrassed even in the presence of both their mothers.


    Luckily, they didn''t have to wait for long, their carriages arriving within a few seconds.


    ''I can''t sit before Caera is here, no?'' Jash mused, turning his head back to the direction he walked from.


    Standing at his side, it took Ziva a second to understand his action as she too followed his line of sight.


    She knew for a fact that if she didn''t meet Caera, she''d be in deep trouble, probably never getting to hear the end of it.


    The wait gave them the much needed interlude to reflect on the night''s events.


    The Emperor''s grand finale had been a spectacle, but it was the quieter moments, the ones away from the crowd, that truly mattered to Jash.


    Even though it helped him gauge a lot of things and also note Amael as someone suspicious, he didn''t particularly like the event.


    It was taxing, not physically but mentally as his social battery drained too fast.


    If not for it being Ziva he talked to, there was a high chance he would have escaped the conversation within seconds of greeting them.


    On his side, Ziva seemed to have regained her composure by the time they caught the slightest sign of Caera.


    "She''s here," Ziva murmured, noticing the striking red hair of Caera from a distance.


    "She''s talking to someone," Jash added, scrunching his eyes to find the figure of another girl next to her.


    "It seems she made another friend," Ziva mentioned casually, not bothered in the least.


    However, Jash was the most bothered.


    ''Why is Caera talking to her? They only interacted for the first time at the Academy Entrance Test as opponents...''


    The change in plot made him feel conflicted as it could impact what would happen in the event where he''s supposed to prevent his death.


    Unlike him, Ziva had no such reservations about it, saying curiously, "She''s the same girl Caera teamed with?"


    "Yeah," Jash replied unconsciously, his mind busy evaluating the Warmis Clan Head''s daughter and her plot with Avon and the protagonist.


    ''Definitely do not want to drag it unto me,'' Jash told himself, sure of not wanting any more unnecessary trouble.


    He already had more than enough on his plate.


    As if Caera finally noticed them, she smiled and walked faster after bidding farewell to the girl next to her as their carriage seemed to be waiting just for her.


    "It''s been so long, ZIva!" Caera greeted enthusiastically, having seen Ziva come near her, only to leave.


    In one aspect, this girl was similar to Caera''s brother; she disliked socializing unless absolutely necessary.


    Caera just sighed and the two had just begun to talk when Sera and Evelia said to leave.


    Though reluctant, Caera could only nod and agree as the rest were only waiting for her.


    Ziva walked behind Evelia, and turned around to bid farewell, "See you soon, I guess?"


    "Yeah, you too!" Caera replied, eager to meet in the Academy while the hint of mischief in Jash''s eyes became more pronounced.


    Looking at her about to enter her carriage, he recalled her earlier chat with Caera.


    "Ziva," he called out, his voice carrying a hint of mischief, "the Warmis Clan Head''s daughter has a name. It''s Rura!"


    Without waiting for a response, Jash hurriedly entered his carriage, shutting the doors behind him forcefully. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "See you at the academy!" He shouted as he completely sealed the doors, leaving behind a fuming Ziva.


    Her face was beet red from secondhand embarrassment as she was about to ask Caera about it, but hesitated.


    Yet Jash literally just shouted it out instead of a normal farewell!


    ''Hmph! I will definitely make you pay,'' she vowed inwardly, planning to embarrass him in public as well.


    She even forgot that it was Sera who had coaxed her into pouting, choosing to blame it on Jash as well.


    Oblivious to Ziva''s silent plotting for revenge, Jash heaved a sigh of relief.


    Choosing to ignore the strange look he got from Caera and Sera, Jash settled into his seat.


    A sense of calm washed over him as he could finally relax and be himself without any act.


    The night had been long--too long, in fact--but it had brought with it a blend of challenges and revelations.


    With a final glance at the distant lights of the banquet hall, Jash leaned back and closed his eyes.


    "Mom, where''s Dad?" Caera asked as the carriage began moving.


    "Carcel''s staying back, he has some work," Sera mentioned vaguely, but neither Jash nor Caera pressed on.


    They knew their mother enough to know she wouldn''t share something she didn''t wish to, no matter the amount of pestering.


    ''Still, that''s better than her being dramatic, like in other matters,'' Jash praised one quality of his mother inside.


    He didn''t bother thinking about what his father was busy with since not knowing anything would only make it impossible to figure out.


    ''Either way, my parents were alive even after the Academy graduation,'' he recalled, eased by the knowledge.


    The rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the cobblestone lulled him into reflective silence.


    The evening had come to an end, but its echoes would linger for a while longer, shaping the days to come.


    ''I wonder what''s next?'' Jash asked himself, curious about the academy.

 Chapter 109: Chapter 109: New Years Eve

    Snowflakes drifted silently through the crisp, cold air, settling gently on the frosted ground with moonlight casting a serene, silvery glow.


    The soft blanket of snow bore many footsteps as the city''s populace was active, awaiting this day with excitement every year.


    The soft crunch of footsteps and the muffled cheer of a distant New Year''s celebration alongside animated conversations hung in the air.


    Icicles hung from rooftops like nature''s chandeliers, and the starry sky seemed to stretch infinitely above.


    Inside cozy homes, families gathered around crackling fires, their laughter and warmth a stark contrast to the icy calm of the wintry night outside.


    Meanwhile, others enjoyed the wintry night by visiting high-rise malls, shopping districts, movie theaters, restaurants, and bustling streets.


    No matter the place or the people, similar types of excited words were being exchanged.


    On the street, two old men were sitting under a tree with smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the winter scenery. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Old Man, did your granddaughter also get selected for the Entrance Test?" A gray-haired man spoke to the man with a receding hairline next to him.


    "Haha, Yes. Yes, she did. I am so happy for her," the balding man replied with a gleeful, proud smile.


    "Although I am worried about her. She is very clumsy," the man added, his eyes filled with worry.


    "Yeah. With so many big names attending this year, we can only hope our children remain out of their sight," the gray-haired man spoke.


    "Exactly! I had to remind her so many times to stay away from any trouble," the balding man replied.


    "Heh! I asked my grandson to stay away from them in its entirety," the gray-haired man smirked, taking a jab at his old friend.


    "Oh, good, good. That''s a good idea!" the balding man said excitedly, ignoring the light-hearted jab by his long-time friend.


    Just like them, many others were discussing the same thing.


    Some talked about the big names while others expressed their worry and anxiety over whether their children could pass the Entrance Test.


    It was the eve of New Year, just a few hours and it''ll be 1 January, 2451.


    Although the weather was too cold and it was snowing, this was the time when most academies did their admissions.


    Of course, the first one to hold it was the world''s best academy, the Solarnelle Academy.


    No one would want to go to any other academy if they could get into it, after all.


    Unfortunately, the number of admissions were limited and the tests were quite rigorous for most young awakeners.


    Especially because normal people had to go through the Hunter Association to awaken in the first place.


    And only if they completely formed a mana core, were they trained and sent to participate in the Entrance Test.


    Yet that wasn''t all.


    They had to pass the test to get a sponsorship to study at the Solarnelle Academy.


    This rigorous process made sure no weak person attended the Solarnelle Academy.


    If they wanted to learn, they had no other option than to enroll in other academies, sometimes even without sponsorship.


    However, that wasn''t the case for nobles'' children or those from rich families, irrespective of the race.


    "Welcome to 24N News. We are filming the arrival of the Nobles and the participating awakeners," the reporter said, reporting outside the teleportation gate.


    Teleportation gates, unlike circles used for short distances, were usually used for long distances. For example, across entire territories of nobles.


    Their primary use is to facilitate trade between the three races, given the great distances separating them.


    Even if the races lived harmoniously, the elves and dwarves needed specific environments to thrive, unlike humans.


    That''s why the importance of teleportation gates came into view.


    Simply because the teleportation circles were made of runes etched on a surface and could be drawn by anyone knowledgeable enough.


    Of course, a continuous stream of mana must be supplied for them to be fully operational; otherwise, they are nothing more than drawn glyphs.


    In comparison, teleportation gates were similar to dungeon gates, allowing instantaneous travel to far away places.


    Hence, they could only be operated in the presence of space mages or with the help of very specific spatial artifacts.


    Naturally, the control of such artifacts was very limited to prevent rampant terrorist attacks at places of great importance.


    Jash and most nobles used similar teleportation gates to travel to Adonia, the capital city, for the Imperial banquet.


    Given the safety, it became the most viable method for transit if one was rich enough and below S-Rank.


    Since hunters at and above S-Rank could literally fly at crazy speeds, there was a chance they''d reach faster than the entire process of teleportation.


    As the portals are two-way, unlike teleportation circles, which only send people one-way to a set destination, provided its coordinates were preset.


    Also, the Circles could be easily ruined by tampering with them as anyone with enough knowledge about runes could do it.


    But gates were secured as long as that artifact was working fine, or that spatial mage didn''t go batshit crazy.


    Therefore, the strong hunters didn''t like even that slightest chance and the delay caused by the portal having to get activated at both sides.


    If a monster horde was rampant, who would have time to play house and activate the teleportation portal?


    It would be like setting a target on their back, even making the evacuation of people a tougher task than it needed to be.


    Yet those same strong hunters who detested using teleportation gates were using them with their family.


    Some obviously came to spectate and find someone suitable enough to recruit, betroth into their family, or pass their legacy onto.


    No one knew what objectives the person next to them had.


    "A few guests had already arrived yesterday, with the majority having arrived today, and only some of them are still not present," the reporter spoke.


    He was smiling while giving the view behind him where everyone--the affluent, the nobles, the merchants, the commoners, the Hunter Association--were arriving.


    "This is the first time when so many talented people will be enrolling in the same batch," he said excitedly, spittle flying out of his mouth.


    "And according to the Hunter Association, even the chosen candidates are no joke this year!" he stopped as the Teleportation gate started shining.


    "It seems that the next family has arrived," he reported, the camera shifting from him to focus towards the teleportation gate.


    Out of the teleportation gate, many people arrived, surrounding the young ones in the middle.


    However, their attire spoke volumes about their identity.


    The females donned pristine white gowns with a subtle golden sheen, adorned with delicate golden embroidery.


    The Intricate patterns made of a golden accent at the soft, billowing sleeves of their gowns seemingly catching the light.


    One thing in common was all females having a veil below their eyes with golden patterns similar to their earrings.


    In comparison, the men wore white robes with golden trim and flowing cloaks, complemented by golden belts and embellished clasp.


    Yet both the attires reflected purity, reverence, kindness, benevolence as if embodying the radiant essence of the Goddess of Light herself.


    "Even the delegation from the Church of Light has arrived!" the reporter excitedly clamored for the people watching him.


    In the Church of the Goddess of Light, attire is both ethereal and majestic, making it quite easy for the reporter to identify them.


    Still, many reporters like him stayed around, wanting to catch as many elusive figures as possible.


    The hype for this year was incomparable to any before, making it all the more worth it.

 Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Shades of Ambition

    "May the blessing of Light befall you."


    The voice of so many members of the Church of Light resounded in the area as they lowered their heads fervently.


    For a moment only silence followed before the entourage from the Church moved away, leaving space for the next arrivals.


    However, a few reporters were curious about the participants from the Church this year.


    ''Surely, there''d be some talented ones rivaling the nobles of the three races.'' That''s what most believed and were quite curious about.


    Unfortunately, having curiosity didn''t mean they''d get an answer.


    A golden-white sphere appeared around the entire group, isolating them from the onlookers.


    The cameras could no longer record anything except their appearance as they walked away.


    "Looks like the Holy Church has some capable candidates this year!" The reporters tried their level best to keep up the hype.


    Despite their personal dissatisfaction, no one would dare to go against the only Church in the Solarnelle Empire.


    However, it seemed that the participating candidates did want to show themselves.


    A girl with long, radiant golden hair and green eyes asked innocently, "Why did we separate ourselves?"


    "That''s what His Holiness ordained us to do," a female with a veil on her face replied with a smile, though invisible.


    "Hmm. But why?" the golden-haired girl asked again, wanting to show off the Church''s might.


    Before anyone could reply, another young voice chimed in.


    "Vivia, we shouldn''t go against the words of His Holiness."


    The stern voice made the pouting girl, Vivia, turn as she looked at the silver-haired teen, his orange eyes shimmering with golden hues.


    He wore a calm and polite smile on his face as he addressed her, wanting to make her understand their position.


    Vivia''s expression fell at his sight, a flicker of frustration crossing her eyes, but she controlled it before anyone could notice. "Right, Caeron," she nodded.


    Of course, Caeron caught sight of her expression but didn''t address it, knowing the reason for her dislike.


    ''Phew... Now we won''t have to show ourselves before the Entrance Test,'' Caeron thought, heaving a sigh of relief secretly.


    Just then, another boy around their age appeared, "Alright! Now, you both should just focus on the Entrance Test ahead."


    ''Damn it! Where did he come from all of a sudden,'' Caeron cursed inwardly, feeling uneasy.


    "You''re right," he agreed and moved aside, feeling a sense of strangeness from the golden-haired boy and his golden eyes.


    Meanwhile, Vivia''s smile brightened at his presence and the two began to chat, leaving Caeron aside.


    However, he didn''t mind it, choosing to get along with the not-so-talented participants from the Church.


    Of course, it was just in comparison to the trio who could easily rival most children of nobles.


    Speaking of nobles, the teleportation gate flickered once more, announcing another arrival.


    The arrival of the next group was met with a mix of curiosity and anticipation


    This group wore blue suits, and was surrounded by tons of security teams belonging to them.


    After a few seconds passed, the interested reporters got a glimpse at the identity of the group.


    As the security scattered a bit, between them, a beautiful young girl next to a couple with a majestic aura could be seen.


    Both the girl and the man had striking blue hair and black eyes while the woman had black eyes and green hair.


    However, her presence was in no way any lesser than the man''s and the young girl''s facial features resembled hers.


    "As you can see, the Archduke has also arrived!" the reporter shouted as the couple along with the girl eloquently went past the reporters.


    They didn''t wait a second as they sat in their luxurious cars and left the premises, with their security team following alongside.


    "Both the Archduke and the Archduchess themselves came with their daughter! For more such news, stay tuned," many reporters announced.


    They were presenting the same news with different words, trying to appeal to more audiences than other channels.


    After all, most of the media channels across the world had their reporters set eyes on this batch of students in the Solarnelle Academy.


    Since the general populace wanted it, they displayed it.


    That''s how they earned money after all.


    Naturally, the increased attention on the special candidates only heightened the nervousness of the normal participants.


    On the other side of the spectrum, some were excited at the aspect that they were going to meet people they could never meet normally.


    The nobles, however, had different moods


    ***


    Inside the Imperial Palace in Adonia,


    "Don''t let down the name of the Imperial Family," said an older man to Avon.


    Avon could only swallow his feelings and say, "Yes, I will never let someone tarnish the name of the Imperial Family."


    The man just smiled, placing his hand on Avon''s shoulder. "That you must, Avon, that you must," he said.


    Avon shifted uncomfortably, his brother''s grip tightening painfully on his shoulder, causing him to suppress a flinch.


    Just as Avon was about to yelp, he withdrew his hand, still smiling.


    Despite the discomfort and pain, Avon hung his head low, not daring to show his feelings to his older brother.


    He was the First Prince, someone who had graduated as an A-Rank from the academy, a feat considered rare.


    There might not be even one of them every graduating year yet he was the top of the year, by a huge margin at that.


    ''I wouldn''t suffer if not for that Amael,'' Avon thought, directing his hatred to Amael for stealing his spotlight.


    Unfortunately, he failed to see that it was his own shortcomings that led him to failure, not someone else.


    Despite his outward composure, a storm of frustration brewed inside him, fueled by his recent failure.


    "I wonder what would happen if Ava outranks you?" the First Prince muttered as he left.


    His mocking voice was loud enough for Avon to hear clearly, making him grit his teeth in denial.


    "I will definitely rank first," he vowed to himself, already pushing his limits since his defeat at the banquet.


    Meanwhile, Ava was catering to her sick mother in an isolated room.


    No one was anywhere near that room when suddenly the First Prince showed up with a gentle smile. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    --Knock Knock


    Perplexed by the sudden knocks, Ava stood up to open the door and exclaimed in recognition, "First Brother!"


    "Hello, how are you doing Ava?" he asked with genuinity, lacing his voice.


    "I am doing fine, First Brother. But how come...?" she asked, not completing her question to prevent it from being rude.


    "Nothing much. I just came to inform you that your mother will be well taken care of during your Academy term."


    "Really?" Ava blurted out, unable to believe the notion, but she soon calmed down as the First Prince nodded.


    Although smart, she couldn''t see through the facade of kindness displayed by the First Prince, or was that a facade to begin with?


    No one knew for sure as the First Prince was just too strange to be evaluated in a few words.


    However, it worked out well for Ava as she could fully focus on the Entrance Test and her years at the Academy with peace of mind.


    "I am sure you will rank first among the Females in the Entrance Test," the First Prince said with a proud smile.


    Ava nodded in determination, feeling the weight of the Imperial Family on her shoulders.


    "I will surely try my best to rank in the top 3 overall, First Brother," she declared, fierce resolve in her eyes.


    As it turns out, the Entrance Test has two rankings, one based on the gender, that is, male or female.


    The other one is a cumulative ranking.


    Of course, it wasn''t to discriminate against the students, but to ensure that both genders had a Representative in their year.


    ***

 Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Silent Preparations

    Back at the Ramille Estate,


    Jash casually leaned against the balcony railing, gazing at the sky.


    "It''s finally time, huh?" he muttered to no one in particular.


    "Haa..."


    Heaving a sigh, he shook his head and walked back inside, heading to bed.


    Unfortunately, his much-loved sleep evaded him as he tossed and turned, trying to relax.


    Thankfully, he had to undergo no training today, so his day was a bit too lax.


    In the end, it seemed that was the reason for his inability to sleep.


    "Damn, my sleep schedule!" He grumbled under his breath, tossing aside a spare pillow to vent.


    "Should I try thinking of boring stuff to put myself to sleep or complex?" he mumbled in contemplation.


    Sleep, it seemed, was his primary source of concern when most awakeners around his age were getting fired up for the Entrance Test tomorrow.


    "Whatever helps me sleep, I guess," he decided on thinking about boring stuff before moving to the complex.


    ''Amael would most likely be having that conversation, no?'' Jash mused, back to lying on his bed.


    ...


    "Haha, I am sure you''ll get the First Rank this year," the Emperor smiled as he talked with Amael.


    "It seems so," Amael agreed politely before adding, "But what can be said about the Elves, the Dwarves, and the Church?"


    "Maybe they will have someone better than me or the style of the Entrance Test being against me, like a group test."


    "As they say, I can just try my best and hope for it to be the best among all," Amael concluded, a polite smile ever-present on his face.


    The Emperor also took on a contemplative stance and the two walked in silence before he turned to Amael.


    "I''ll advise you to not hold back in the Entrance test since you aren''t the only one who can do such a thing."


    With that as his parting words, the Emperor left, leaving Amael to think to himself what the cryptic words meant.


    ''System, do you think he means what I think he means?'' Amael asked his system rather than wasting his time.


    {There''s a high chance for that to be the case, Host.}


    It seemed the system agreed with whatever web of complex thoughts Amael went through.


    Since a lot of politics was involved, not all young awakeners had shown their strength in the Imperial Banquet.


    As a public event, it naturally stopped the schemers from showing off, preparing instead to give a sweet surprise during the Entrance Test. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having once been the most wanted man, Amael was naturally aware of such things. What he found strange was the Emperor''s advice.


    ''It never happened in the novel, though,'' he thought as he entered the treasury to get the promised special reward.


    In the end, Amael chose to focus on the present as the sight of the treasure was too dazzling, even for him.


    Although he was the heir to a duchy, he hadn''t gotten access to any Family Treasury ever, so this was his first time.


    {The description paled in comparison to the real thing.}


    Even the system gave a rare word of compliment to the Imperial Treasure as Amael glanced around.


    Piles of gold, silver, platinum, and mana stones were left to rot on the floor of the Treasury.


    Several pieces of equipment were scattered around, seemingly having no value yet they could be considered Family Treasure for any commoner.


    Amael, of course, spared them no more than a single glance before choosing to move ahead.


    His eyes grasped the contents around before arriving at rows of shelves and glass cabinets on all sides.


    From equipment, to books, to scrolls, to artifacts, to potions--everything one could imagine--was present here.


    Looking at the sharp weapons and sturdy armors, Amael had a rare smile as he passed by them.


    He didn''t even spare any book a glance, irrespective of what they contained--be it a spell, a mana circulation technique, a weapon technique.


    His footsteps only stopped at the sight of a pitch-black sword as he continued to stare at it for a prolonged period.


    {Host, remember what we are here for!}


    The system chimed in, reminding Amael of the specific armor that Jash informed them about.


    Although both carried suspicion about how Jash was so certain about it, they agreed that it was a better choice than taking this cursed sword.


    Of course, the system said that it could remove the curse... for a price.


    ''Damn, you system!'' Amael cursed inwardly, recalling the "reasonable price" the system demanded.


    ''Who the hell asks for 9,999 Villain Points just to remove a curse!'' he complained, all the while looking for that armor.


    The system refused to answer, even though Amael was right in his assessment.


    The sword''s curse would easily be removed after it got stolen by that villain who perished due to the curse.


    ''Oi, System, how did that sword even get stolen in the first place?'' Amael asked, wanting to know how that was even possible.


    {I don''t know, Host. I am not omnipotent or something.}


    Hearing the reply, Amael just kept quiet, thinking to himself how it happened with all the security in place.


    ''With all these runes and many hunters at S-Rank and SS-Rank, it makes no sense,'' he wondered.


    Obviously, it was the system who told Amael about all of it, he wasn''t at a level to notice the number of eyes observing him.


    That''s why he had to waste his time and stop at random things, pick them up and then move on.


    It really increased the time and difficulty to get the armor he came here to take.


    ''Do I even need it? The Academy doesn''t allow it,'' Amael asked his system once more, unwilling to waste this chance.


    After all, he was the one who got it, just a little later than now


    {Host, we both know that it''s not for the Academy.}


    ''Yeah, yeah, I know,'' he told the system, and just then the system yelled in his mind.


    {There!}


    Amael''s eyes turned in response, and his lips twitched at the sight of the black armor lying on the ground.


    ''Just what kind of idiot grades things here? No wonder it got stolen and no one even knew,'' Amael cursed the idiot appraiser.


    Just as he picked it after picking random things, he took a look around and walked out.


    "What a waste," a security guard commented as Amael picked up a seemingly subpar artifact.


    "But it''s sufficient for his rank," another chimed in.


    The others agreed as they were well aware of the side effects of using artifacts of higher ranks.


    "Still, he could''ve saved the chance and taken a better one when he grew up. Not like he needed it now. The Entrance Test is tomorrow, no?"


    Hearing the first one talk again, they couldn''t help but agree this time.


    The security personnel didn''t know, but Amael had his system, which would allow him to smuggle the armor into the Academy.


    Of course, they also didn''t know the true worth of this armor, or would it have been lying as a piece of trash?


    {Host has gained...}


    Looking at the number of Villain Points he gained, Amael smiled as he walked out, making the security personnel think of him as stupid.


    ...


    While all this was going on at the New Year''s Eve, Jash had finally fallen asleep as he recalled the scene of Amael and the Emperor.


    He didn''t know yet that his words had changed the entirety of the scene itself.


    Well, that and the system...


    Oblivious to the turmoil in the world, he slept blissfully, enjoying his relaxing sleep with a happy smile on his face.

 Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Countdown to the Test

    As morning arrived, the sun rose higher, casting its first golden rays over the excited crowd; the anticipation for the Entrance Test grew palpable.


    Across Adonia, countless people were eagerly moving to the areas where they could spectate the Entrance Test.


    Many loud conversations were taking place between the excited parents as some proudly boasted about their children.


    "Is your son in the Entrance Test too?" one man asked another man walking beside him.


    "Yes, but he was so nervous... Back in my day, we used to be excited about such things," the older man chuckled.


    "Haha, but this time there are many big shots here," the first man matched his tone and laughed along.


    "I''m just happy that he might study at the Solarnelle Academy. I didn''t let him know, but I was so proud of him when he told me about this," the older man smiled.


    Several people around them were also conversing and discussing the contenders who might secure a high rank.


    "With so many talented contenders this year, it should make for quite a spectacle," one man said to his companion.


    "I doubt they''ll match Prince Avon, though. He''s already a Mid E-Rank hunter," his female companion replied confidently.


    "Oh come on, even Caera Ramille is a Mid E-Rank hunter, and so is Princess Ava," a person passing by the couple butted in. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I am not so sure. Isn''t there Ziva Arne as well? She would be a tough candidate for sure," another passerby added.


    Surprisingly, the people nearby heard the conversation and started talking over each other, unwilling to accept their guess as wrong.


    "A bunch of idiots," a man with spectacles scoffed, adjusting his glasses.


    His comment silenced the discussion, and the crowd glared at him, ready to beat him up if unsatisfied by his words.


    "You all will lose money today," he declared. "The winner will surely be Maximus," he added proudly, leaving the listeners stunned.


    "Who''s that?" someone asked. "Is it you yourself, idiot?" another added.


    Hearing the second remark, the man''s cheeks reddened, and people clicked their tongues at his foolishness.


    "No wonder you seemed stupid," a girl began, "The entry for the participants is not from here."


    Maximus had a shocked expression on his face, as if he just had a realization, and immediately dashed away, leaving behind the snickering crowd.


    "So what if someone is bad with directions?" he yelled, trying to save face, but it was useless.


    "By the way, why did none of you mention Amael Blake and Jash Ramille?" a person asked, breaking the status quo.


    Unfortunately, it seemed no one was interested in answering him as they walked by, giving him strange glances as if he were an idiot.


    The mood got a bit tense with that mention as they all separated and walked ahead, entering a huge dome-like building.


    It was made up of frosted glass, making it seem opaque blue, yet it was just normal glass.


    Inside, there were multiple queues leading to a small portal and advanced security in front of it.


    As soon as anyone reached half a meter within the portal''s range, they were scanned completely, including their storage rings.


    Only if they didn''t carry any non-permissible items would they be allowed to use the portal.


    These portals were connected to different seating areas in the stadium where the Entrance Test would be displayed for all to see.


    Still, as additional security, each portal gate had B-Rank and entire domes had some A-Rank hunters to make sure that no one suspicious entered.


    This year, the security was even especially focused upon due to the presence of many high nobles from all three races alike.


    Of course, they didn''t need such security as they were strong enough to defend themselves, but it would ruin the reputation of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Thankfully, only a handful of selected guests and participants and their invitees could enter the main stadium where the Entrance Test could be spectated live.


    Naturally, the floating holograms were available at even this stadium as it was much better for aesthetics as well as visibility.


    Nevertheless, the high rank guests like S-Rank Hunters and above didn''t have many restrictions.


    They could literally see everything taking place, so it didn''t matter in the first place.


    While the entire Solarnelle Empire was celebrating as all the participants and famous nobles arrived, two were indifferent.


    Amael''s focus had remained fixed on the black armor for the entire night after acquiring it.


    In the solitude of his study, he meticulously examined every inch of the armor, noting the precise engravings and the subtle hum of mana it radiated.


    His thoughts drifted to the Emperor''s cryptic advice, weighing its implications.


    The more he pondered, the clearer it became that the Entrance Test was just as complex as the novel described it as.


    ''Any advantage there can tip the scales,'' he thought but scoffed at the notion.


    Excluding Jash, who was the most suspicious, there was only that blessed protagonist Amael needed to be wary of.


    "I''m stronger than I should be. Winning should be a given, right?" Amael mumbled to himself, reflecting on whether his enhanced strength would guarantee success.


    {Host, you have altered some minor plots, and the Heavens would always find ways to make their chosen one the best...}


    "Yeah, yeah, I know. Stop repeating the same thing over and over again," he ordered the System, tired of its continuous warnings.


    ''Put the armor into the inventory since using it in the Entrance Test is a no-go,'' he told the System, well-aware of the rules and regulations.


    Despite his rude speech, the System didn''t care and did as asked, deducting a fair share of his Villain Points as the cost.


    ''My precious Villain Points!'' Amael lamented, his heart bleeding at the dropping number.


    {Stop being so overdramatic, Host. It is time to earn them now!}


    ''Yeah,'' Amael mused, exiting his room and leaving for the venue of the Entrance Test.


    His mind turned to the various contenders he would face--their stories, rumors, the alliances and rivalries that would shape their actions.


    He knew that some would approach the test with pure skill, while others would use cunning and strategy.


    His preparation was not just about his own capabilities but understanding and calculating those based on the novel context.


    "Let''s get going," he told himself.


    Amael made his way through the streets of the capital, his thoughts fixated on how to gain the maximum of Villain Points.


    The city buzzed with excitement, vendors and citizens eagerly anticipating the event.


    Amael, however, kept his focus sharp, scanning his surroundings with practiced vigilance despite the bustling activity.


    Despite the security teams of his family guarding him, he didn''t let his guard down as he continued on his path.


    His family eagerly waited at the venue, trusting in his abilities to easily ace the Entrance Test.


    At the Ramille Estate, Jash slept soundly, seemingly indifferent to the upcoming major event.


    Though he too had been waiting for it--for his own reasons--he didn''t really care all that much.


    For him, following his heart and getting enough sleep was his priority.


    The stark contrast between his unpreparedness and Amael''s cold calculations to maximize profit displayed the difference in their beings.


    But, how could Jash''s family let him miss such an important day?


    --Tnng Tngg


    Dozens of alarms rang in his room, disturbing his sleep as he stirred awake.


    "Ugh," he let out a strange sound, annoyed at getting his sleep disturbed before his eyes fluttered open.


    "Shit! Isn''t today the Entrance Test?" he exclaimed in shock.

 Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Arriving at the Test Venue

    Jash awoke with a start, his mind immediately focusing on events of the day ahead.


    The bed seemed to be yearning to be slept upon, but its yearning was now overshadowed by a blend of annoyance and mild sadness.


    "Goodbye," he muttered, caressing his trusty bed. "I will be back to sleep on you after graduation," he told the bed with determination.


    A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he wiped a lone tear from his eye,


    It turned out his sadness wasn''t from being unable to meet his parents but from being separated from his comfy bed.


    Shaking his head, he remembered that he was already running late, exclaiming, "Shoot! As if I am not late enough!"


    He dressed quickly, his thoughts racing through the details of the Entrance Test he was well aware of.


    "Every detail matters, and every preparation, no matter how small, is crucial," Jash mumbled to himself, focusing back on the day ahead.


    Oblivious to each other''s polar opposite mindsets, Jash and Amael moved through their routines with a mixture of focus and trepidation.


    Both fully aware of the weight of what was to come.


    Of course, Amael had nearly arrived at the venue of the Entrance Test while Jash was still getting ready.


    After more than ten minutes, Jash finally prepared to leave, his thoughts constantly drifting back to the tasks he had yet to complete.


    ''This year''s Entrance Test is unlike any before, with intense competition across all races,'' he thought.


    The Entrance Test usually was not only a challenge of ability but a test of endurance and mental fortitude.


    However, this year, it was going to be taken to another level due to the higher average talent, making it all the more enjoyable for the spectators.


    Bets were already being placed and many had bet on themselves.


    "I will strike it rich," Jash mumbled subconsciously, dreaming of the money he would get after betting on himself.


    Though the odds weren''t as crazy as 100 to 1, they were still higher than most famous participants.


    ''Getting 37.5 million with an investment of just a million is really crazy indeed,'' he smiled to himself, remembering the odds of Amael.


    "Damn guy! His odds were only around 1.1 to 1! Just how many people bet on him to win? Even Avon''s odds are 2 to 1."


    Jash wanted nothing more than to bet on Amael and have an easy time during the Entrance Test, doing just enough to pass.


    "If only he won, I wouldn''t be bothered, urgh," Jash grumbled in annoyance.


    The plot indeed favored the protagonist such that he would defeat the seeded candidate, Amael Blake.


    ''It would really give the church some hype since they didn''t produce any good participants for quite some years,'' he recalled from his lessons.


    "Anyways, the pressure of the day can push even the most prepared to their limits," he smirked.


    That was the best way to give his final speech or so he believed.


    If only he came back to the present and realized he hadn''t even reached the Venue yet, not to mention participate in the event!


    "Just where am I getting lost today?" he yelled in disbelief, unable to stop overthinking for the day.


    Still, he regained himself and gathered his belongings before taking a moment to steady his breathing and focus his mind.


    After all, a calm and clear perspective would be essential for success.


    As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting shorter shadows across the landscape, Jash found himself on his way to the venue.


    ''Faster, faster, faster,'' he urged inwardly, knowing the sports car he sat in was going at its fastest speed.


    If not for his status, the current speed would be nothing more than a pipe dream.


    They had literally emptied the areas and posted security teams through the way from the Ramille Estate to the teleportation portals.


    Meanwhile, Amael had a rare moment of quiet contemplation, choosing to refine his strategies and prepare for any uncertainties of the test.


    ''I hope nothing goes wrong with that guy,'' he prayed, referring to Jash.


    While both were anomalies in their own right, the two were much too different to be even classified in the same category.


    Jash wanted nothing more than an easy life, unlike his past while Amale had no option other than to seek chaos.


    The God of Darkness was a literal God, not someone he or the lowly system could hope to defeat.


    Or at least the current level of his system.


    However, Jash didn''t know about Amael''s system or even his own, from his previous life.


    It was really strange for him to change the plot instead of faking his death and letting it go down the route it''s supposed to.


    For Jash, it was something that needed to be done without any reason but Amael had his reason--the Villain Points.


    Unaware of the complexity about each other, both were especially wary of not the protagonist but the other suspicious person.


    Oblivious to the strange fate ahead, Jash calmed down in his fast moving car, choosing to reflect on his journey and the opportunities that lay ahead.


    ''I hope I reach on time, though,'' he prayed and closed his eyes, leaving it all to the security team.


    Thankfully, he reached the teleportation portals on time and reached Adonia before the Entrance Test began.


    Unlike some idiots who took the wrong route, he walked with his back straight into the correct place as if he had done it many times.


    ''Finally...'' he mused to himself, heaving a sigh of relief at appearing right on time.


    Unfortunately, he had arrived a little late to miss the view of the capital city.


    As the final hours before the test ticked away, the city''s atmosphere grew ever more electric, charged with the promise of change and the thrill of competition.


    The city of Adonia began to stir as well, with families and competitors alike preparing for the day''s events.


    The air was thick with the tension of unspoken rivalries and the promise of new beginnings.


    As Jash and Amael moved towards their respective destinies, the stage was set for the Entrance Test--a pivotal moment that would shape the future of many.


    Most weren''t confident in their abilities, their nervousness clearly visible on their faces as they waited for the Entrance Test to begin. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Some waved their nervousness and hesitation goodbye as they started conversing amongst themselves.


    Naturally, the cunning ones used this chance to glean information about one another.


    However, the places where the nobles or the people in power sat weren''t approached by even the daring ones.


    In the grand scheme of things, this was just the beginning and it made no sense to offend someone in power, even if accidentally.


    After all, who knew what might offend these people in power?


    Also, some rumors stated that each step taken, each decision made, would echo through the halls of the Solarnelle Academy and beyond.


    Though no one knew how much truth they carried, it was wiser to be on the cautious side.


    And with the final preparations complete, the test that would brighten or dull the futures of many was all set to begin.


    The anticipation of what was to come filled the air, as the world seemed to hold its breath for the unfolding drama of the Entrance Test.


    It was a place where skill, strategy, and resolve would all come into play.


    As the time for its beginning approached, the city settled into a tense calm, the stage was set for the Entrance Test--a pivotal moment that would shape the paths of all who participated.


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo~


    So, this is where Volume 1 ends. I know it''s the major cliff, being carried upon for a long time, but Volume 2 will be where the main stuff starts, so get ready!!


    Also, as thanks for all the support and love my book''s been getting, I will set some extra chapter goals:


    Every 150 Power Stones, Every 50 Golden Tickets, Every 5 reviews, Every Gift worth 1000 coins = 1 Extra chapter(Am I being greedy?)


    5 Extra chaps for Supergifts!


    {No, you didn''t pay extra for this part}

 Chapter 114: Chapter 114: The Test Begins

    After being teleported to the test venue, Jash adjusted his position and steadied his breathing as he waited for further instructions.


    ''So this is the test venue,'' he mused, his eyes taking in the sight of the huge waiting area enclosed within walls.


    It was adequately lit with various mana stone lamps, and it seemed he was one of the last to arrive, as everyone was looking at him.


    Ignoring their strange gazes, Jash casually made his way to the place where other nobles were seated.


    ''Thankfully, the first round is done in different places for the three races,'' Jash thought, sitting on a random empty seat.


    Of course, his neighbors could only keep their mouths sealed shut due to his status as a Duke''s child.


    Everyone had already seen or heard about his performance of the Imperial Banquet, having an unfavorable impression as a result.


    Yet it seemed Jash had no idea about their inner thoughts, focusing on the participants and the ticking time.


    ''So, the groups have only formed amongst the non-nobles and the ones from the Association?'' he mused, scanning the area.


    Nearby, a group of competitors huddled together, exchanging last-minute tips and strategies.


    Despite their low voices, they carried a sense of camaraderie born from shared preparation.


    ''Probably from the Hunter Association training camp,'' Jash guessed, his gaze shifting to other areas.


    The sense of camaraderie among the competitors was a small comfort amidst the stress for others, but that was not the case for Jash.


    He couldn''t help but feel disgusted by the fakeness in their grouping, recognizing it at first glance.


    ''They are the ones who''d betray each other, if given the chance,'' he lamented, choosing to find a better sight.


    After all, he wasn''t like the lone contenders who envied their ease, wishing to shake off their own tension.


    He didn''t have any tension about the entrance test.


    ''There''s just no way someone like me will fail it,'' he thought, retracting his gaze and turning to look at the nobles.


    The first one he actually recognized was Amael standing a short distance away, seemingly in complete control.


    Amael''s calm demeanor was a stark contrast to anyone else in the area, which made Jash smirk at the sight.


    ''Surely, I will get to see something interesting soon,'' he guessed, and recalled his own plans and strategies to win 37.5 million.


    Thinking so, Jash''s gaze fell on the sight of fellow nobles who had rotten expressions on their faces.


    ''They''re only realizing now that Amael has always been a formidable competitor,'' he scoffed at their idiocy.


    He never liked mingling with them and today was going to be no exception.


    As he noticed someone approaching to talk to him, he walked away to greet Caera.


    "Look who decided to show up," Caera teased as Jash approached, cutting off any attempt at a polite greeting.


    Jash''s lips twitched as he replied with a restrained smile, "It was you, wasn''t it?"


    "But of course!" Caera proudly admitted, making veins throb on Jash''s forehead.


    He couldn''t understand how shameless his sister could be!


    "Whatever. Tell me, did you meet brother?" He asked, in an attempt to change the topic, but Caera played along.


    "Hmph! He says he can only meet after the entrance test is over as the Vice-President of the Student Council," Caera complained.


    "Well, I guess we will meet the two of them together," Jash replied, unfazed by her hurtful expression.


    He was too used to her playful nature, albeit she restrained it because they were in a public seating.


    If not for it about their Elder Brother Brandon, who was also the heir to the duchy, she wouldn''t have let her perfect mask fall.


    While the two were busy conversing, a voice interrupted them, "You two, keep quiet."


    Turning to the speaker, they didn''t recognize him but the emblem on her chest and arm indicated that she was from the Solarnelle Academy.


    The twins quietly nodded and Jash returned to his seat.


    By that time, everyone was either seated or standing, though it made no difference anymore as they all focused in one direction.


    The grand stage at the far end of the large room.


    ''It''s no different than an auditorium,'' Jash and Amael mused, noting the similarities.


    Naturally, they didn''t know it.


    Slowly, the seconds passed by as the Solarnelle Academy officials roaming about began to gather below the stage.


    Suddenly, a few people wearing similar attires, tight and fitting blue-white clothes, appeared on the stage out of nowhere.


    The officials all stood with their backs straight below the Grand Stage, making the reality of the test begin to sink in.


    ''They''re not going to observe this phase, if I am correct?'' Jash guessed about the audience, focusing on the instructors.


    The sudden appearance of the stage caught many participants off guard. Some gaped in astonishment, while others whispered anxiously.


    The man at the leftmost corner stepped forward, his voice cutting through, "Good day, everyone."


    His expression turned cold as if he were disappointed at not getting any response, but he continued nonetheless.


    "I assume you all are well-aware of what we are here to do today, so let''s begin with that," he declared, smiling menacingly at the crowd.


    "The entrance test consists of three major stages you need to pass before you can be admitted," said a woman as she took a step from the rightmost corner.


    "As for the first stage," continued the man before turning to the women standing in the center.


    As she nodded, he turned back to the students and dropped a bomb, "It is of course the written test."


    Before the participants could even react to that the other speaker, the woman, said, "Take the passage to your right."


    Out of nowhere, a passage appeared, surprising even the nobles slightly.


    They had never seen such things happen even as nobles, not to mention the commoners who were flabbergasted.


    They could never hope to reach the same level of preparedness as the nobles in the written test.


    As if sensing their worry and anxiety boiling over, "The Solarnelle Academy only caters to the best of the best among the three races,"


    "You think this is a disadvantage?!"


    "Then, you can''t even hope to compete against those of the other races for admission. Just give up!"


    --Thwack! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The oldest man on the stage struck his cane against the Grand Stage as he ended his speech, giving the participants their much needed dose of motivation.


    Of course, he wasn''t done yet.


    "See, while you all were hesitating, someone already walked ahead of you," he said, pointing his cane at the back of the well-dressed guy.


    Who else could it be other than Jash?


    Even Amael was slightly surprised but Caera literally facepalmed after recognizing him.


    "This guy... he just wants to get it over with..." Ziva blurted out subconsciously, knowing him just like Caera.


    The man with a cane barely stopped his lips from twitching as embarrassment threatened to consume him.


    ''Damn you! I will definitely find out who you are!'' he cursed inwardly at Jash for embarrassing him.


    Unfortunately, Jash couldn''t be bothered with their long-ass speeches. He wasn''t here for that.


    He was here to win.


    "Go! What are you all waiting for?" the cane man shouted in exasperation, prompting everyone to dash and leave.


    When all the participants had left, he turned to face the women in the center.


    "Leonard," she said, her voice icy to the ear, making the man flinch.


    "Next time you want to do something like that, ask for permission," she said, her voice devoid of any kindness.


    The others on the stage felt a chill run down their spines as Leonard gulped and barely uttered, "Y-yes, Professor Aileen."

 Chapter 115: Chapter 115: A Surprising Start

    "Hoh?" Jash remarked, impressed by the smoothness of the teleportation.


    At the end of the sudden passageway that appeared out of nowhere was a lone portal.


    After entering it, Jash felt an exhilarating sensation instead of the disorienting sensations he felt every darned time he used teleportation.


    It was the same for when he arrived in Adonia, making this one truly a marvel in his eyes.


    "Maybe I should learn how it''s made," he mumbled to himself, his eyes shining with interest and greed as it would sell like hot cakes.


    "Haha,"


    A sudden laugh put Jash on his guard as he didn''t expect any response, having sensed no one nearby.


    ''What am I getting tense for?'' he thought, well aware that there were thousands of people who could kill him with a mere sneeze in this world.


    The next second, he dropped his guard as the person appeared in front of him.


    ''Hoh, what an interesting kid,'' the man thought before appearing in front of Jash.


    Currently, the same person had appeared in front of everyone as soon as they teleported, scrutinizing each and every participant.


    It was difficult to say anything about this person, but Jash seemed to have a hint of recognition.


    ''Now that I think of it, isn''t he...?''


    Just as the thought struck him, Jash relaxed, knowing nothing would happen to him and it was just another minor test.


    "Oh? Why did you give up, kid?" the man asked, his brows raised in intrigue.


    "Because this is the Entrance Test, and there has been a zero death toll in it," Jash replied calmly.


    "Also," he added, "No matter what I do, it would make no difference in your presence."


    "Hmm. Aren''t you curious why you''re here instead of the written test?" the man asked after accepting Jash''s answer.


    Looking at the man nodding to himself, Jash shrugged, "I was asked to come here for the test, so who knows? Maybe it began already?"


    "Hmm?" the man hummed questioningly, wondering what nonsense Jash was spouting.


    "Well, if I get delayed because of another test proctor, that''s not my fault, right?" Jash said, a smile blossoming on his face.


    It turned out he was planning to use the guy as a scapegoat for his reason for delay and saving himself from taking any blame.


    "You''re a smart kid, I''ll give you that," the man praised, stunned by Jash''s bold response. "But... time to go and write that test," he declared.


    In the next instant, Jash opened his eyes and found himself seated in a classroom, if it could be even called that.


    ''This... This is more like a freaking lecture hall!'' he exclaimed inwardly, looking at the steps in the classroom and the huge board at the lowest level.


    The desks were wooden and seemed fixed to the ground with strange wires around them.


    ''Is this the futuristic classroom?'' Jash pondered, recalling how the author described them.


    The wires functioned to display live holograms instead of books, and even the Professors used the same holograms to teach the entire class.


    Before he could take a good look around, Jash noticed that all the seats were filled with random people.


    ''Nearly 200?'' he guessed, remembering the class strength and how these rooms actually were the same.


    In the next second a person wearing a similar uniform to the officials entered, silencing the nervous participants with their aura.


    Her fierce look stunned the children speechless as she directly began the test, skipping any formalities.


    Deep inside, she was cursing that old man for taking so long to test the students of the Golden Generation.


    "Now then, without further ado, we''ll begin the first phase of the test." She began, not even giving anyone enough time to sort through their thoughts. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash didn''t care, though. His mind was in its right place.


    He didn''t recognize her, but it didn''t matter; what mattered was that the test would begin soon.


    The woman snapped her fingers, creating a loud clicking sound, catching the attention of everyone, irrespective of their inner turmoil.


    ¡ªClick!


    ''So forceful,'' Jash noted her use of mana to form a spark and burst it to start the first phase, disliking the annoyingly loud sound.


    However, his eyes suddenly caught something in front of him¡ªon his desk, to be precise. ''A piece of paper...?'' he recognized, looking at the clear white sheet.


    "You should all have received pieces of paper, one page each, correct?" The female proctor announced.


    Jash''s eyes inadvertently darted across the room as he found the same sheet present at every desk, be it at his side, the front, or the back.


    ''Everyone indeed received the same piece of floating paper,'' he observed, turning back to the female proctor.


    ''With the snap of a finger... impressive...'' he thought half-heartedly.


    After all, it was nothing more than a parlor trick in his eyes.


    ''To think the Academy resorted to such petty methods to impress students...'' he lamented their lack of originality, ignoring the impressed crowd.


    ''It is but a simple trick once figured out,'' he mused, waiting for further instructions.


    "You are to pick up the paper before you. Written on it is a simple ID," the instructor continued.


    "The paper is enchanted and responds to mana, so don''t even try being smart or you''ll end up disqualified," she said with a smile.


    However, her smile appeared more demonic than even demons themselves to the participants there.


    "Also, you don''t need a pen to write," she added, and the desks transformed to a hologram of a keyboard.


    "Answer the questions written on the screen before you, using the keyboard," she finished, turning silent.


    Everyone mechanically obeyed her instructions, already used to the keyboard-screen mechanism as it was commonplace everywhere.


    ''This... Isn''t this similar to computers? Just a tad too advanced,'' Jash mused.


    If he had noticed it, surely Amael would''ve too. Just like him, Amael had also spent some time with the old observing man.


    However, his approach was to keep his guard up until the end to impress the man and even giving vague answers of their location.


    Although both were aware of his identity, it would be foolish to reveal it as they didn''t have any bias for it.


    While one might think their family could''ve told them, it was entirely false.


    The Academy isn''t so stupid, they change the entrance test every year, except one of them.


    Obviously, it was the fighting to decide who would be the year representative and other things.


    Still, it was a long time away as just the written test was about to begin.


    As the participants turned in their ID, they had to use a password.


    [Type in your name.]


    Seeing the prompt, they all followed it and easily got access to the exam screen, which showed a reducing timer.


    [00:04:59]


    All the participants focused on the screen, well-aware that it would definitely have a time limit once it began.


    "I would desist from engaging in any form of malpractice since this place is being monitored entirely," the proctor said, breaking the tense silence.


    She suggested, "Also, the questions assigned for every examinee are in random orders and the time allocated for this stage is fifty minutes!"


    The bewildered students tried to express their displeasure concerning the sudden rush of information.


    However, the moderator couldn''t care less. It wasn''t her duty to babysit the students and listen to them whine.


    "Your time starts now!" She shouted as the timer reached [00:00:00]


    [Written Test Begins! Good luck!]


    Everyone instantly buried their faces into the screens, not wanting to miss even a second and end up failing this test.


    It would be better to die of embarrassment if they actually failed in this test!

 Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Uncovering Hidden Intent

    As everyone fully centered in their focus to answer the questions correctly, Jash was thinking about something else.


    He paused for a moment to analyze all that had transpired so far.


    ''If anything, this Academy shit is never so simple,'' he wondered, trying hard to recall the bits and pieces about the Entrance Test.


    Alas, the questions were really different and even the written test was just glossed over as the protagonist easily passed it.


    Without information, even he was feeling helpless, but it wasn''t like everything went according to the novel.


    ''No idea, let''s begin solving it,'' he told himself, cycling back to answering the questions in the way he knew best.


    Some of the questions were fairly simple while some were multiple choice, giving two plausible answers, confusing the participants.


    However, Jash didn''t linger longer than a few seconds on any question, answering them on the fly as if it didn''t matter.


    ''At least there was no negative marking for wrong answers or something,'' he reiterated, shifting in his seat as his pace increased.


    Unlike him, Amael had come prepared. He focused solely on answering as many questions accurately as he could, avoiding unnecessary distractions.


    Most were like him, trying to answer only the correct ones, unaware of the inside things like the two of them.


    Despite that Amael chose not to make random guesses so as to not spite the Academy staff into a misunderstanding.


    Either way, the written test only served to eliminate the less knowledgeable.


    Imagine someone being unable to answer the hunter ranks or monster categorization or dungeon classification or basic mana theories.


    In the end, the written test would only be eliminating fewer than 10% of the participants, based on myriad other factors.


    The test, as previously mentioned, began the moment they arrived at the venue, irrespective of their prior knowledge.


    That''s why most nobles did arrive on time, even though they didn''t know the reason for their family to force them into it.


    Meanwhile, there was another major force, distinguished from the others.


    It consisted of all three races, known as the Church of the Goddess of Light. After a very long time, they finally managed to nurture 3 seeded candidates this year.


    The first was Vivia, the sister of the current saintess and the daughter of the Pope of the Church.


    Just in case someone misunderstood, the two weren''t biologically related to each other or to the Pope.


    Chastity was a must for either position, so they were never related by blood.


    However, the bond of fervent devotion brought them together alongside their talent for the light element or healing element.


    In the case of Vivia, it was the healing element unlike the Saintess who had the light element.


    Then, there was Caeron, who was disliked by Vivia for some reason.


    The last guy was the most important and pivotal person in the whole of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia as well as the novel "Hero''s Journey: Blessed by the Goddess."


    With radiant golden hair and shimmering golden irises, he looked amicable and fiendishly handsome with a height of 1.7 meters.(5''7'''')


    Currently, he was doing the same thing as anyone else but it was easily noticeable that the speed with which he answered far surpassed his peers.


    It appeared as if he was already aware of the answers and didn''t even need to read the questions.


    Apparently, that was the truth indeed.


    ''Good, the questions are way too easy,'' he thought, his eyes moving at a fast speed across the screen as his hands tapped in the answer.


    A confidant smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he happily marked all the answers.


    Just when the timer reduced to twenty minutes, a voice echoed deep within the confine of his mind.


    (Host, you have done enough to secure the same marks.)


    As it turns out, the protagonist also had a freaking system.


    The villain had a system and so did the protagonist. It seemed Jash was the only anomaly without any system.


    Yet if one were to compare the three''s feats, Jash could easily overshadow the protagonist if he just put in the effort required.


    Unfortunately, in the case of Amael, even Jash was left feeling helpless.


    If Jash knew that both the mortal enemies had a freaking system, he''d curse the one who was freely distributing systems.


    Though, he was busy solving questions at a speed far surpassing the protagonist or Amael.


    Despite the two of them having a system to aid them or the protagonist even already knowing the questions, Jash nonetheless was ahead.


    He had been forced to study too much and with his brain retaining everything easily, it was hard for him to give wrong answers.


    Still, he had some lingering doubts in his mind unlike the two who accepted that there was nothing special in the written test.


    ''If my previous life memories taught me anything, it would be to never expect anything simple or straightforward from such tests.''


    Recalling the countless novels with academy arcs he had read, Jash couldn''t help but frown, trying to decipher a hidden condition.


    ''Maybe If I answer all the questions correctly?'' he guessed, but immediately denied it, knowing it was next to impossible for anyone to do that.


    Unable to think of anything, his gaze inadvertently fell on the paper that was said to have the ability to respond to mana usage.


    If one used their mana to increase their eyesight to cheat or increase their body''s movement speed, it would result in instant disqualification.


    ''But what if that isn''t the case?'' Jash pondered, wondering if the real test was using mana while not getting caught.


    ''No, that can''t be it,'' he denied it within a second as the proctor would immediately notice the attempt and disqualify the participant.


    In fact, that was what was happening in various rooms where the proctors kicked out participants as the paper reacted to the usage of mana.


    Simply, no one was good enough with mana manipulation that no amount of mana would leak from their body.


    Hence, the idea itself became impossible.


    ''The flow of mana within the body is something any hunter can sense,'' Jash recalled, focusing on the question on his screen.


    It talked about a theory stating that if one could control all the mana perfectly from their core, there would theoretically be zero leakage of mana.


    ''However, controlling that flow from one''s mana core is a different story entirely. To do that, you need to be focused and calm...''


    Jash remembered the bare minimum to even begin, not to mention the theory which seemed only possible for someone with special talent in mana manipulation.


    ''Or someone with memories of it and getting reborn into a new body,'' he thought, ironically rolling his eyes at the absurd thought.


    ''The restriction on using mana¡ªcould it be to teach them to not be overly reliant on it?''


    Jash guessed but didn''t fully believe it. It seemed too far-fetched and even if it were to be the truth, it could never be the complete truth.


    In the end, he just sighed as the test was about to end. ''The questions weren''t all that difficult for anyone who studied well,'' he noted.


    That meant the true test was the ability to keep one''s cool while focusing on using their body correctly to answer the question while being under the pressure of time.


    ''It all adds up. When you think of it that way... the first stage becomes very easy to overcome!''


    Thinking so, Jash almost facepalmed, realizing his foolishness at not trusting his own thoughts.


    Just as he was done deciphering its intent, the timer stopped. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [00:00:00]

 Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Trial of the Mind

    "Okay, time''s up!" The proctor announced as the timer struck zero.


    Before anyone could react, the screen blacked out, closing on itself as the hologram ceased to appear, vanishing from the desks.


    As the screen blacked out, the only thing left in their vision were the wooden desks. Their desperation and lowered face didn''t bother the female proctor at all.


    "So heartless," a few muttered, only to get glared at by the proctor as they gulped in nervousness.


    ''That''s the academy for you,'' Jash commented inwardly, looking down on the idiots who thought the academy would leave loopholes.


    ''Well, whatever. Just need to keep going,'' he told himself as the proctor''s voice echoed with a smile on her face.


    "That''s the end of the first phase of the exams. I hope you were all able to answer the questions properly," She said cheerfully.


    Though she seemed happy, many of the examinees weren''t. It became even more pronounced upon looking around.


    Many uneasy faces full of tension appeared in sight yet the proctor seemed more than happy to get rid of her duty. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The smile on her face only served to tighten the nerves of the naive students.


    ''It''s none of my business, though,'' Jash sighed, observing it from his detached perspective.


    The fact that he could complete his task without any issue was his primary concern. Also, he had deciphered its true intentions.


    Hence, he wasn''t bothered in the least, knowing that it was nothing short of a lesson in the form of an Entrance Test.


    ''The only thing I have to worry about is the next phase of the exam,'' he shook his head at the thought, refocusing on the proctor.


    "I won''t be the one handling the next aspect of your exam. As such, I shall be taking my leave," she said in delight.


    Her expression seemed to be screaming that she was forced into this babysitting job, with the burden of even kicking out a few examinees who used mana.


    ''She''s crazy,'' Jash thought, noting her smiling expression as she paused at the gate.


    "By the way, turn the paper and it will have the area you need to reach for the next stage of the Entrance Test."


    As soon as her words fell, the examinees hurriedly turned their paper and saw the words appearing on it magically.


    "She left..." Jash muttered, looking at the empty spot at the gate.


    However, he didn''t linger on it for long and exited the room like the others, wanting to find this place for the second stage.


    "T97998, huh?" he mumbled, looking at the large number and a sigh escaped his lips.


    ''Looks like coming late did affect things,'' he mused with a wry smile before walking away from the room.


    Surprisingly, no buildings were present outside the room, just a bunch of students searching for their next test location.


    ''What''s with all these useless theatrics...'' Jash cursed inwardly, disliking the whole concept the Academy was going for.


    As if reciprocating his feelings, expressions of frustration, annoyance and helplessness appeared on those around him.


    ''I don''t recognize anyone,'' Jash noted, his eyes narrowing on the faces of the examinees around his age.


    It wasn''t that he hadn''t seen them during the written test, but he didn''t quite recognize anyone.


    ''So, they separated us based on our identities?'' he guessed, taking in the frantic looks of the ones that deliberately dodged him.


    "Wait a minute!" he exclaimed, a strange thought taking root in his head. "Could it be...?" he muttered as if he were on the final piece of the puzzle.


    "It can''t be that the entire test is nothing but a fake, just an illusion to trick the brain..."


    As soon as he uttered those words, the world around him seemed to dissolve, everything vanishing from his sight.


    Everything¡ªexaminees, the ground, the building¡ªmelted away as if it were never real, to begin with.


    His eyes closed reflexively, unable to take the disorienting sight in.


    Upon opening them, the sudden brightness made him blink rapidly to get used to the difference in brightness.


    As it turned out, he stood right outside the passage he entered after listening to officials on the stage about the three tests.


    "Congratulations! You have passed the first of the three stages!"


    The sudden word of commendation took Jash by surprise as he looked around to locate its source, only to find no one.


    "You may pass to the next one."


    The voice sounded once again, giving instructions as Jash''s body started to move on its own, obeying the command.


    ''Enchantment Spell of Sound Magic?'' he figured it out as it was quite obvious.


    However, he really couldn''t stop his body as it moved across random areas¡ªgardens, pavements, dry lands, river banks etc etc.


    Only after his limbs were about to give up did he stop as he raised his head to look at the number above the doors.


    "T97998...? So it wasn''t all an illusion and the test did happen inside it?" Jash mumbled in confusion, trying to think of a feasible reason.


    However, he realized that it wouldn''t matter how much he thought, the academy operated on another level entirely.


    ''It isn''t something I can just guess... This all wasn''t mentioned in the novel itself,'' he pondered, assessing the differences.


    Unlike him, Amael actually didn''t figure it out. It was his system that helped him figure out the illusion and get out of it.


    Same was the case for the protagonist who was blessed by the Goddess herself.


    Still, the two indeed figured it out later than Jash as the system had stayed silent until the last moment.


    Of course, Amael had to pay a "reasonable price" of Villain Points unlike the protagonist whose system came in clutch with plot armor.


    Unaware of the crazy feat he achieved, Jash continued inside the room.


    Though his mind was focused on what would be the next stage¡ªor Trial, to be precise.


    ''Trial of Mind, Body, and Mana?'' he guessed wildly, not caring about it in the least.


    ''So, she''s supervising the test this time,'' he mused, remembering the Enchantment magic he was forced with.


    Shaking his head, he entered inside, only to find himself in an empty room of white. "Hmm? Not again..." he sighed in irritation.


    It was the same old trend of trying to shock the examinees and impress them.


    ''For goodness gracious, everyone is well aware of the Solarnelle Academy''s prestige!'' he lamented inwardly.


    Suddenly a gust of wind began gathering in the arena, drawing his half-hearted attention as he rolled his eyes.


    "Here we go again," he muttered in disbelief.


    However, it was just him who would have such an exaggerated reaction as even the distraught students would be excited by the vast stage before them.


    "Taking charge of the second round is none other than one of the Senior Professors within Solarnelle Academy... Professor..."


    The same voice that congratulated him echoed as Jash caught the sight of the man who appeared from within the tendrils of wind on the stage.


    He was none other than¨C


    "...Leonard Tremayne!"


    Jash''s eyes bulged in surprise as he recognized the man¡ªthe one who had been embarrassed in their previous encounter.


    "Nice to meet you-" Professor Leonard Tremayne greeted, smiling at first with his usual cheerful grin.


    However, the moment they met eyes, both froze in spot. ''It''s him!'' the professor thought in hatred.


    Even his greeting stuck in his throat as he looked at the one student he didn''t wish to meet, at least not so early.


    His lips twitched as he caught Jash''s annoyed expression, the murmurs from the hall ringing in his ears.

 Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Unprecedented Strength

    "This guy... he just wants to get it over with..."


    The resonant words only seemed to stab the Professor''s heart as if they were thorns instead. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Still, the scene of being scolded was fresh in his mind as he regained his composure and coughed to clear the awkwardness.


    "Ahem, ahem. Now then, without wasting much of our time, it''s time to begin the second round of the test," he said without any formalities.


    Even his expression remained stern as if nothing affected him but that was his exterior facade.


    "The requirements are quite simple, really." Leonard Tremayne continued, looking at Jash who responded with a slight nod.


    Despite his reservations about the professor in front of him, Jash chose to listen and follow the instructions.


    ''There''s no way she stopped paying attention, especially after our reactions,'' he mused, waiting for the real instructions.


    It wasn''t just him who thought so, even Leonard was of the same mind as he knew that Jash was the first one to appear for the second test.


    "The purpose for this second round is to test your physical ability," the professor began, catching Jash''s attention.


    "As prospective students of Solarnelle Academy, it''s important that you''re capable of utilizing your powers to their fullest," he explained.


    Jash didn''t respond, just looking straight at Leonard, awaiting the test itself instead of meaningless conversation.


    ''He''s no doubt one of the senior professors, although weaker than even some younger ones,'' Jash reiterated, focusing on the details


    Opposite him, having confirmed that Jash was indeed paying attention, Leonard tapped his cane on the ground, producing a sharp sound.


    ¡ªThwack!


    One of the walls of the room gave away, revealing complicated machinery beyond as a platform arose from the ground.


    It wasn''t too high, just a few centimeters above the ground, more like an elevated platform. A training dummy without any features materialized on it.


    Above, a huge screen hung from the ceiling displayed real-time scores of the examinee undergoing the test.


    Although there was another miniature hologram in front of Leonard, displaying the scores and ranking of everyone.


    Currently it was empty as Jash would be the first one to take this test.


    "The first criteria," Leonard began and pointed at the training dummy. "Physical," he said as if that were enough.


    The training dummy along with the platform worked in tandem to evaluate the strength behind one''s punches.


    "Come," Leonard called out to Jash who turned to the training dummy with a disappointed expression on his face.


    ''I think he''s gonna call me...'' he thought, anticipating the call from the annoyed professor and that''s exactly what happened.


    "Where are you going? I meant, come here!" Leonard exclaimed in disbelief.


    Considering Jash''s status, Leonard believed that he would know the drill for such basic tests.


    Alas, it was Jash who didn''t do things as they were expected to be done.


    He walked towards Leonard in a leisurely manner and looked him straight in the face with an expression that said, "What?"


    Though Leonard did his best to reel in his emotions, his eyes twitched at the sight as he roughly put cuffs on Jash''s hands.


    "Mana cuffs," Leonard mentioned before Jash did something even more unsavory than last time.


    A small smile plastered on Jash''s face as he lamented inwardly, ''He is being overly cautious. I am not that scary, though.''


    Despite his contradicting thoughts, he really did plan to blame Leonard for putting on the cuffs on him.


    It didn''t matter that he recognized them or was already aware of the entire procedure of the second test.


    ''Or at least until it also has some hidden agenda,'' he thought, recalling the complex first test which many failed.


    After all, it didn''t matter if they deciphered the hidden intent or not, the next test would continue without any problems.


    "Now, go do your best," Leonard told Jash after seeing the latter admire the mana cuffs instead of moving.


    As their name suggested, mana cuffs blocked the mana of a hunter depending on their rank and were mainly used to isolate hunter criminals.


    However, they also eased the process of testing the body and making it stronger without mana itself.


    Of course, some may consider it inhumane or brutal, but it didn''t matter to the Solarnelle Academy, or anyone for that matter.


    ''At least it''s regulated and few can get their hands on it,'' Jash sighed as he caressed the black cuffs flowing with a strange network of runes.


    ''Literally everything works with runes, maybe I should learn them,'' he thought as he reached the training dummy and felt his connection to mana being cut off.


    "Hmm," Jash hummed and closed his eyes, put his right foot forward, and turned his body a bit.


    He stretched his arms a bit, relaxing his legs to get rid of any tension built up previously as Leonard closely observed him.


    He tapped a few places on the hologram, nodding to himself at Jash''s preparations instead of randomly throwing a punch.


    The thought that Jash wasn''t just trying to get this over crossed his mind but he immediately dimmed it.


    Oblivious to the complex mood of his proctor, Jash took a deep breath and concentrated on the dummy opposite him.


    With that single deep breath, Jash opened his eyes and punched the machine,


    ¡ªBam!


    A loud noise echoed in the silent room as Jash moved away, straightening his arm by jerking it randomly in order to not feel the sting on his knuckles.


    He soon got the hang of it after five seconds and turned around to look at the dummy¡ªits chest where he had punched, to be precise.


    "So, not even the slightest mark, huh?" Jash muttered as a frown marred his face before he turned around to the proctoring professor.


    Meanwhile, Leonard doubted his eyes and the machine itself as the resultant value was not something an early E-Rank hunter could achieve.


    Of course, Jash couldn''t see it as he would only be able to see the total results from this round and he was aware of it.


    "Professor! Professor!" Jash called out repeatedly a few times but got no response and just as he was about to punch...


    "Yeah, what?" Leonard blurted out as he felt a punch closing in on his face, but it stopped as soon as his voice leaked.


    It turned out Jash felt annoyed for wasting his time and was about to punch Leonard in the face to get his attention.


    In the end, he just smiled awkwardly and put his hands behind his back, but abruptly brought them forward.


    "What now?" Leonard asked, his expression dark as he noticed Jash''s clenched hands..


    "The mana cuffs," Jash replied, pointing at them with his eyes and fingers both.


    With a not-so-good expression, Leonard took off the mana cuffs and put them away.


    "The next is testing your mana," Leonard mentioned and pointed to an empty wall adjacent to the one the first test was held on.


    Wasting no time, Jash followed Leonard''s sight while rubbing his wrists a bit as he proceeded to ready himself for the next test.


    A crystal, thrice the size of an adult''s palm appeared lodged on a strange black platform that had many runes on its surface.


    Without wasting any time, Jash walked over to the orb and put his palm on the crystal orb.


    As soon as a light yellow light glowed out of the crystal orb, Leonard stopped him, "That''s enough. You can remove your hand."


    ''I didn''t even have to channel my mana into the orb? It just checked on its own... Amazing!'' Jash thought, impressed by the testing orb.

 Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Trial of Might

    Unlike the impressed Jash, Leonard was thinking something else entirely: ''This reading is normal, so the measuring machine should be fine.''


    He was still doubting the results of the strength test, but he didn''t have time to waste, so he moved on to the next one.


    "Next, strike that training dummy with your strongest attack aided by mana," Leonard instructed, pointing to the first training dummy.


    Although confused by the impatience in Leonard''s actions and commands, Jash nodded and returned to the first platform.


    "What weapon do you want to use?" Leonard asked, snapping his fingers once again.


    This time, the wall behind him transformed into a weapon rack, displaying all kinds of weapon prototypes ready for use.


    ''Yeah, I don''t have a weapon,'' Jash mused, remembering the ban on storage rings for the entire Entrance Test.


    "Sword," he answered, and Leonard brought tens of swords forward to pick from.


    After a brief adjustment and taking a grip on all the swords, Jash finally picked a 1-meter-long sword with a single sharp side..


    "The dummy can handle even C-Rank hunters'' attacks, so attack it with your all," advised Leonard.


    "The final score you get will appear there," he added, pointing to the empty screen hanging from the ceiling.


    Jash nodded and returned to the dummy''s side, swinging his sword to get a feel and adjust to its weight.


    ''This test is worse for those who rely on artifacts, be they mages or warriors,'' Jash smirked at the thought of the pampered nobles.


    Simply because it wasn''t easy to adjust to a new weapon one was holding for the first time.


    There was a high chance it would reduce the efficiency of the wielder, resulting in only subpar results irrespective of their real strength.


    ''It''s more so a test of talent than strength,'' Jash mused, masterfully getting used to the sword in seconds.


    His mental proficiency of using anything as a weapon and wielding it to slay foes helped him adjust easily to any melee weapon.


    Especially so for a sword, something he had been wielding and using ever since he started training.


    ''Jash''s presence seemed to reduce as he held the sword, entering a focused state effortlessly, getting ready to attack.


    ''He entered a focused state so easily?'' Leonard noted, surprised by Jash''s monstrous talent and anticipating another crazy reading.


    Without wasting any time, Jash looked at the dummy in front of him, his eyes taking in the subtle grooves and jugged parts on its surface.


    His eyes, moving at fast speeds, narrowed in on the upper chest region of the training dummy, his sword pointing to the ground.


    In the next second he swung¡ª


    ¡ªSlash!


    His sword was pointing at the ceiling before he retracted the blade, looking at the minor scratch at the training dummy''s chest.


    Though it didn''t even take a second to heal.


    ''Lacking,'' Jash noted, sensing the strain in his muscles as he executed that swift strike.


    Although it was too fast for anyone at his rank to perceive, Leonard had seen it wide and clear, his jaw hanging wide.


    Leonard struggled to comprehend how a kid could deliver an attack on par with top E-Rank or even some D-Rank hunters. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, he didn''t know that Jash had still managed to hold back, not using a sword that suited him and also his mana circulation.


    ''If only I could use that one,'' he sighed internally, knowing he had no option to use that until some time into the academy.


    In essence, he was using a mana circulation method that Inigo gave him instead of the one he had refined from his past life.


    ''Still, it can''t be compared to the one that I made for the battle against the demon king,'' he lamented his lack of strength to use it.


    Nevertheless, a small smile appeared on his face as he would get to use the lesser version of it after entering the academy.


    ''I just need to wait till D-rank for that one,'' he guessed in his heart, not so sure when he would be able to use it.


    "Well, whatever," he muttered, putting aside the sword as the memories of the harsh training he went through replayed in his mind.


    Not only was he forced to train with his father, he also had to spar with Caera and the hunters of their family.


    Sometimes even Emma and Kesha helped the twins to get better at fighting hunters instead of monsters.


    After all, they did get enough hands-on experience with the several dungeon expeditions they went on.


    Due to all these factors, Jash never got the time to focus solely on sword master, having no other option to polish it with every fight.


    Still, there were certain limits that would only break at crucial moments of enlightenment, however small they may be.


    In the end, Jash had been stuck in his sword master, unable to achieve anything more.


    So, he chose to focus on refining his mana control and increasing the strength behind his attacks with the least amounts of mana.


    ''If only I had achieved the intermediate level of sword mastery,'' Jash lamented the wall in his breakthrough but shook his head.


    ''This is not the time to be thinking about this,'' he reminded himself, shaking his head before turning to face Leonard.


    Thankfully, Leonard had composed himself after the shock he got from watching Jash''s performance.


    The time Jash spent in introspection was more than enough for Leonard to do so.


    "Congratulations for achieving such a high score in the test," Leonard praised the moment Jash turned around.


    "Mhm. Thank you," Jash responded politely, changing his mind about annoying the already annoyed professor.


    However, Leonard''s words made Jash curious about his score, so he turned around to check it.


    "6481?" Jash blurted out, astonished by the unexpectedly high score.


    ''What the hell!? That''s higher than the protagonist, right?'' he thought, trying to recall the scores mentioned in the novel.


    Alas, even if it was indeed higher than the mentioned score, Amael and the protagonist were neck-to-neck in the novel.


    And now, they both had a system willing to help them, there was no way they would only have the same score.


    Albeit, their test had not yet been conducted, so it was difficult to guess their new scores.


    Oblivious to it all, it didn''t stop Jash from recalling the scores mentioned in the novel.


    ''If I remember correctly, Amael was leading by less than a hundred points with his score being 5499 and the protagonists being 5436...''


    It eased Jash''s heart to know that he was performing better and could get the comprehensive Rank 1.


    ''I won''t be losing my money,'' he thought with a small smile.


    By the time he was done thinking, Jash returned the sword to Leonard, who was silently observing him.


    "Let the flow take you," Leonard said vaguely after a great deal of hesitation.


    "Hm?" Jash hummed questioningly but Leonard kept his quiet for the entire time before Jash gave up.


    "You may go and wait for the last round to start. The Trial of Might has ended," Leonard said instead, making Jash leave.


    "What did you think you did?" The same feminine voice echoed in the room, questioning Leonard.


    "I just did what I felt was right. It''s on him to comprehend it, though," Leonard answered politely, "Besides, not like you stopped me."


    The voice didn''t respond and a silence fell over the room as Leonard waited for the next candidates to show up.


    ''He''s a monster. I am sure he will figure it out,'' Leonard mused with a smile, the negative feelings for Jash submerging within.


    Of course, his dislike for him was still strong.

 Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Thoughtful Interlude

    "What did he mean?" Jash muttered contemplatively as he exited the room where the second trial occurred.


    "Trial of Mind and Might, what''s next?" he mumbled in a slight daze, his mind focused on interpreting the vague words from Leonard.


    ''Is it related to my sword mastery?''


    Thinking so, Jash mulled over the words, repeating them again and again, "Let the flow take you... flow take you..."


    Moving absentmindedly, it finally clicked in his mind as he blurted out, "I see. So that''s what he meant..."


    ''Well, I do know the wall blocking me, but it''s not so easy to rid myself of my ingrained habits and let the sword flow.''


    Despite his thought, a sigh escaped his lips as he knew it was something that must be done for the next stage.


    In the world of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia, the mastery of weapons was divided into 7 levels: Fundamental, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster.


    Of course, those were the known and classified realms, many more might or might not exist.


    Currently, Jash was on the brink of Intermediate sword mastery, and the advice Leonard gave him was wholly applicable throughout.


    ''So troublesome,'' Jash thought, grappling with the complex details of so many power systems.


    "At least the Master and Grandmaster realms have nothing to do with me..." he sighed, feeling relieved about it.


    The Master proficiency required, at minimum, A-Rank, but only the talented ones could take that step.


    Most could only achieve it at the Integration-Rank, which naturally distanced the Grandmaster level.


    It could only be a pipe dream for most as the minimum requirement was reaching S-Rank, a major hurdle so to speak.


    Though the hurdle of crossing the levels of different proficiencies remained, he was confident in his talent, memories and abilities to achieve it.


    Even the highest realm was within reach as long as he lived to see that day and increased the amount of effort into it.


    Anyways, Jash shook those thoughts out of his head as they didn''t matter at all for now.


    The last test awaited him.


    ''It will be the major deciding factor about the representative rank,'' he mused, recalling its details as he walked in random directions.


    He didn''t mind as the scenery was quite serene, something he admired along the way.


    Fresh green grass, the oxygen-rich air, and long trees provide shade with colorful flowers on both sides.


    Small paths were made through this garden-like area to move around and Jash did exactly that.


    "This is... paradise," Jash mumbled in praise, feeling relaxed at the scene.


    Unfortunately, he had to bid farewell to it as he finally found a shimmering portal in the middle of his path.


    ''I''ll be back,'' he told himself as he stepped into the portal.


    "Ah, this is the same," he unconsciously blurted out, feeling the difference in teleportation compared to the normal ones.


    Looking around, Jash found himself back in the same area where they had first arrived before the first stage.


    ''Interesting,'' he mused, intrigued by the place where the first two tests had been conducted.


    However, his inner thoughts were cut off as a shadow appeared in his peripheral vision.


    "Wait for the others before the last one begins."


    A calm, declaring tone was all he heard as he turned around to find the professor from the center of the stage behind him.


    "Yes," Jash replied, nodding respectfully as his eyes darted to the three stars on her shoulder.


    Unbothered by his gaze, she vanished in front of his eyes, reappearing on the empty stage where a single chair was placed for her.


    ''Where are the others?'' Jash wondered, curious at first but soon came up with a hypothesis himself.


    ''They''re probably conducting the Trial of Might,'' he thought to himself and nodded at his conclusion. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, he had no other option than to wait for others to arrive, so he did just that.


    Meanwhile, the other participants were struggling to do their best and not fail at the first two rounds itself.


    There were obviously thousands of examinees from each race, with humans having the most participants as well as dismissals.


    Elves and dwarves had the least dismissals as they focused on the basic education quite a bit and their racial traits helped them.


    For example, elves with adequate talent easily figured out the illusion while dwarves easily understood runes and machines.


    In return, they could find the point with maximum impact and get a higher score, even if only by a small margin.


    Still, the passing score in the second test was a bare minimum of 100, so no one could theoretically fail it.


    In essence, it was conducted to distinguish the examinees before the third test.


    After all, if one couldn''t even damage the other person and could get easily knocked out, how would it even be a match?


    That''s why the Academy came up with this method this year to test the upcoming examiness.


    Naturally, the only ones aware of it were in the confines of the Academy, observing the entire process through holograms.


    The third test would still occur inside the Academy grounds, and the first two were nothing short of a prelude.


    Hence, most professors appointed were on the lower end of the spectrum.


    Only 3 SS-Rank Professors with 3 stars of authority were sent, one for each race to maintain safety in the rare event.


    Of course, the accompanying professors were all S-Rank professors, be they 1 star or 2 star.


    "He completed it faster than we anticipated," one professor with three stars on his shoulders commented with a rare hint of praise.


    Another professor chuckled, "That''s why it''s fun to teach and watch the younger generation."


    "I agree," the first one said, a small smile tugging at his lips.


    Despite the casual conversation, several professors also stood respectfully at the side.


    They were merely 1 star professors, not having the right to speak or disturb the professors so high-up in authority and strength.


    Naturally, this area was different from where the Principal or Vice-Principal would be staying in.


    If they were here, the 3-star professors would behave the same as the meek 1-star professors in front of them.


    Not that it mattered to anyone as they were just arriving to check the results and leaving, being busy with the preparations of the Graduation Ceremony.


    Obviously, if one batch of students was arriving, another batch would be leaving.


    "This batch will be wilder than the one that''s leaving," a 3 star professor said as she stood up, taking her leave.


    Her comment hung in the air but no one denied it as they looked at the results of both the trials.


    Not only the humans, even the elves and dwarves had very talented students and when such students faced each other...


    "Their egos would no doubt clash and it''ll be annoying to deal with childish tantrums," another older professor said with a frown.


    "Maybe we can apply the new rules this year?" a professor suggested, but the room fell silent.


    Even the professor about to exit stopped and turned around, her gaze locking on the one who spoke.


    Despite her strength as an SS-Rank, the ones staring at her were her equals, if not stronger. It was enough to overwhelm her.


    The professor who suggested it wasn''t as bold as the others and usually kept quiet.


    Currently, she blamed herself for being a loudmouth when she could''ve easily escaped this moment if only she kept quiet.


    "That''s a good idea, let''s refine them and propose it," the female professor about to exit said as she put her stuff on the table and sat back down.

 Chapter 121: Chapter 121: The Final Test

    Meanwhile, in the Academy''s deepest room...


    A man casually flipped through pages and files as he sat at a large mahogany table inside a room big enough to easily fit tens of cars.


    His expression was calm and serene as if nothing could disturb him, but he raised his head from time to time to look at a screen on the wall.


    There were three screens in total, and his gaze darted to all of them in less than a second before focusing back on the huge pile of papers.


    As if used to the process, he appeared unperturbed and continued to perform his duties before a frown appeared on his face.


    His pursed lips parted as he commanded, "Enter."


    The person outside the door flinched, then entered with a deep breath, hoping it would go well.


    "Good morning, sir," the entrant greeted politely yet the man didn''t even glance at him.


    However, the new entrant seemed used to this behavior and carefully approached the desk, stopping half a meter on the side.


    "Sir, someone broke the record for the Entrance Test," the new entrant explained his reason for disturbing the man.


    Hearing this, the man''s hand paused for a fraction of a second before he replied, ''Naturally. Who was it?"


    As if the man knew such a thing would occur, he asked for the identity of the person despite the guesses in his heart.


    ''Avon, Amael, Sylvie, Zaos, Grunghin...''


    The man listed the names of the most talented examinees, expecting one of them to be the record breaker.


    That''s why when the new entrant said a different name, he didn''t believe it for a second and raised his gaze to the entrant''s face.


    "Jash," the person reported again, "Jash Ramille."


    "Hmm. He has two monsters of a grandfather and even that elder brother of his..."


    The man said so and returned to his work, though, a small smile of anticipation was plastered on his face.


    ''It would be interesting to see how you perform in the final test,'' he mused with interest.


    ¡ªKnock Knock! S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Right at that time, another person came and knocked at the doors as the man regained his calm and allowed her to enter, "Come in."


    "Greetings, principal," she said, bowing slightly in respect of the man opposite her before turning to face the man beside the desk.


    As if sensing her gaze, he immediately said, "I''ll take my leave, sir."


    "So, what happened for you to show up?" the man, the principal of the Solarnelle Academy, asked.


    "These are the new rules we wish to implement this year," she said, placing a thick document on the table.


    Despite the advanced technology allowing ease of access and making it hundreds of times faster, the Academy still used papers.


    Of course, everything was available online, it was just a formal procedure.


    "So, you finally put it into action, huh?" the principal commented as he picked it up and perused the file.


    He was aware of the professors wanting new rules ever since the current graduating batch, however, it wasn''t so easy to change them.


    "I see, so you want to use the next test as justification, right?" the principal asked as she nodded before he added, "How sure are you?"


    "If things continue as they are, 100%."


    Hearing her confident tone, he smiled and focused on all the altered rules and new ones being introduced.


    As events unfolded in the Academy''s depths, the examinees began returning to the first venue they had arrived at.


    At least the ones that made it through the first two rounds, the rest were sent into spectator stands in the Academy.


    Though those examinees were unable to even qualify to take the exam, they were able to enter the Academy grounds and enjoy spectating.


    As time ticked by, almost everyone had arrived, but this time only hushed murmurs and whispers were being exchanged.


    The imposing presence of an SS-Rank professor was unsettling for many, even if all they did was a silent staredown, especially since they were hegemons.


    And the three of them stood up at the respective venue of each race.


    "Congratulations for being one of the examinees to take the last test for the academy," they began with the same line.


    "If anyone''s curious to not see some faces around you, then they were most likely disqualified."


    The words stung but the examinees strained their focus to hear them, unwilling to miss anything and end up getting disqualified.


    As long as they could enter the Academy, not only themselves, they could even live for their friends.


    ''Fools,'' Jash thought, noticing their expressions and he was sure the ones coming from power thought the same as him.


    Not just the examinees, even the professor viewed them as immature fools.


    Still, she maintained her professionalism.


    "Out of the 17,680 candidates across the three races, only a thousand would truly enter the Solarnelle Academy."


    Her words only made the students more nervous as they realized the number was at an all-time high, a strange coincidence, or was it really?


    ''It''s the world itself or some nonsense like that. It''s always that kind of thing, Jash cursed inwardly, finding it stupid.


    If the world thought more children¡ªtalented ones at that¡ªcould help the situation, it was surprisingly stupid.


    It would only aggravate human greed as they wouldn''t want anyone to oppose them. Rather, they would prefer the strong to serve them.


    However, now was not the time to think about that as even Jash found himself caught up in the participants'' heightened emotions.


    ''Damn, it''s really hard to not get caught up,'' he lamented, unable to extradite himself.


    "...your next test will be explained to every examinee at the same time. Take this portal to the academy."


    She finished saying what she wanted and stepped aside as a freaking portal materialized on the stage.


    ''It should allow many teleportations at once,'' Jash guessed, roughly calculating its size to be enough for 4 examinees to go side-by-side.


    ''Hm?'' Jash turned his head in confusion, feeling someone''s heated gaze but found no source.


    "Weird," he muttered, looking around to find anyone suspicious but he only caught the sight of the examinees going into the portal.


    Unlike the first time when they hesitated, they were rushing over.


    No matter what the results, they would still be able to claim that they had stepped into the sacred academy grounds.


    "Slow down!" the female professor shouted with a frown on her face and immediately all the rushing examinees froze in their spots.


    "One last thing, while only 1000 would become the academy''s students, there are other academies as well. Also, a few scouts."


    Her meaning was clear, some might like your performance and give you admission into an academy or sponsor your education.


    It just depended on who you could impress.


    Naturally, the ones who understood it beamed at the thought and shared it with those next to them, making them excited as well.


    However, they still carefully and in a disciplined manner entered the teleportation portal.


    "Tch. How dare these filthy things ignore me," a noble cursed as he wasn''t allowed to go first, but that was a common sight.


    No one cared about your damned identity at this moment as there was no way anyone would remember them.


    ''Such a dumbass,'' Jash scoffed at their idiocy internally.


    According to him, anyone with a functioning brain would keep their disdain hidden, alas, not everyone could use their brain.


    Rather, a smile appeared on Jash''s face as he observed the scene and waited in the back, unlike the first time.


    He had already spearheaded the way once and the order would change nothing.


    ''They aren''t going to start it without explaining the rules now, can they?''

 Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Saint of... Fortune?

    Jash was correct in his guess.


    As soon as the examinees stepped through the portal, they found themselves in small preparation rooms with other examinees.


    Each room held up to five examinees, with no regard to the order of their arrival.


    The examinees were tagged using mana to make sure they would end up in the room with the ones they didn''t know.


    However, it was only true for the most part.


    Mostly, the nobles and the talented found themselves huddled together, overshadowing the others in the room.


    Only, this time, it wasn''t just humans but elves and dwarves as well who were huddled together.


    It ended up making the randomization far easier due to most not knowing people in the other races.


    Still, there were a few exceptions.


    "Princess Sylvie, it''s been a while," greeted a well-dressed girl, with a genuine smile plastered on her face.


    "Oh, Princess Ava," Sylvie, the princess of elves, replied. Though she was unsure of calling it a long time.


    For elves, they could easily outlive any human by three times, so what was a long time for Ava wasn''t all that long for Sylvie.


    As Sylvie and Ava caught up, another room revealed familiar faces.


    "Zaos!"


    "Grunghin..." the long green-haired, blue-eyed elf with pointed ears sighed as he took the name of the Dwarven Prince.


    Grunghin, with fiery orange hair and amber eyes, grinned at the sight of Zaos, the elven prince.


    The other three in that room were humans, who distanced themselves due to the rumors of animosity between dwarves and elves.


    Of course, it was just a long time ago and Grunghin approached Zaos with a feisty grin, wanting to go for a hug.


    However, Zaos tried to evade it, not wanting to meet Grunghin if possible.


    Meanwhile, Avon, Amael, Ziva, and Caera were all in rooms where they failed to recognize anyone else, making them sit patiently.


    The same was true for the protagonist, who greeted the ones in his room with a kind and warm smile.


    The only one who had a different attitude to all this was Jash.


    He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to get some peace and quiet in the room, which he luckily got.


    At least until the final examinee showed up.


    With silver hair shining in the light, his orange eyes shimmering with golden hues, he caught all the attention with his characteristic smile.


    Jash only looked on from a distance, his wish for quiet forgotten in the face of the newcomer.


    "You''re from the Church, right? What''s your name? Have you ever met the Saintess?"


    After the teen answered all the questions with his polite smile, his impression increased in the hearts of the three people.


    ''Caeron Agria,'' Jash called out his name inwardly, trying to remember his plot and mention within the church.


    After all, if he turned out to be someone from the protagonist camp, Jash''s behavior would be different.


    ''Saint of... Fortune?'' Jash mused, finding it ironically funny. Since the actual name contained fortune, while Caeron''s life was anything but that.


    In fact, it was better to call him the "Saint of Misfortune" or so Jash believed.


    ''This guy... just what kind of crazy plot he has!?'' Jash thought in disbelief.


    It starts from Caeron being treated as a precious treasure by the Village he had lived in due to his latent charm. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They all believed that Caeron was a Treasure from the Heavens due to the good fortune he would bring to the Villagers that were close to him.


    Yet, at the mere age of 4, Caeron was kidnapped by a greedy man who heard of his good fortune and sold him off to make a small fortune himself.


    For the next few years, Caeron continued to live as nothing but a slave until he was found by Members of the Church.


    They were investigating illegal slave traders and human traffickers in disguise to find the root cause, but their anger boiled at the sight.


    In the end, they saved and freed the slaves, offering them a chance to also come with them and become a part of the Holy Church.


    Naturally, Caeron declined, wanting to return to his family and village but his saviors had complicated expressions after hearing his village name.


    Rekrodival village had been destroyed by monsters, taking the lives of every single individual.


    Only when the High Priest in-charge of the mission heard about it, he went to meet Caeron in person and felt something strange.


    In simple words, a lot happened and Caeron ended up going to the Headquarters of the Church of Light.


    Due to most of the slaves already around 12 years of age, they were taken to the Pope and Bishops who advised them to awaken.


    Almost everyone accepted and after awakening, Caeron''s potential became evident.


    However, it was only when the Saintess accidentally saw him and his potential did she promote him to a Saint Candidate.


    He was the third one, the first being Vivia and the second being the protagonist.


    Yet the two didn''t get along with Caeron at all, only getting along with each other, isolating him.


    Of course, the major factor was the Saintess hiding the fact that Caeron was a Descendant of the First Pope of the Holy Church.


    Not only that but she also hid the cause for Caeron''s fortune, which was a blessing from the heavens.


    Sadly, Caeron also remained unaware of it and these words were the one of the last the Saintess uttered on her deathbed.


    "If only I had revealed his origins... his powers... he would be here... The Saint of Fortune..."


    Obviously, the one who heard it kept it a secret forever and Jash only shook his head after recalling the entire plot considering Caeron.


    Although intriguing and useful, Jash couldn''t decide on what to do with the guy.


    Should he win his trust or align himself with Caeron?


    In the end, it was much too complicated as his identity as the duke''s child hindered him from forming connections with just anyone.


    Looking at Caeron comforting the three and telling them to be strong and face the challenges head on, Jash couldn''t help but scoff inwardly.


    ''You yourself are just putting up a mask to cover your real personality so as to not get judged and keep your place in everyone''s heart....''


    ''...yet you have the nerve to give them advice,'' Jash completed his mocking comment, keeping it to himself.


    After all, it was the best thing to negotiate support from Caeron.


    ''No matter what his fortune isn''t something that can be ignored, plus the sword legacy of the forgotten swordmaster he can get to...''


    In essence, Jash didn''t need that inheritance as he had more than enough sword techniques, but it never hurt to look at a prominent swordmasters legacy.


    And the best part was that Caeron didn''t just have a sword master''s legacy!


    ''Still, the problem is his False Personality...'' Jash noted the serene smile on his face while Caeron''s legs were slightly wobbly.


    The False Personality Caeron showed was that of an Ideal Man who was both righteous and confident while also possessing Dignity.


    Unfortunately, that was something Caeon faked since he was sold as a slave. He had no other option, if he wished to continue living and one day return home.


    Understanding this, Jash didn''t take any hasty steps and waited for it to naturally happen.


    Just as he was thinking so, a portal appeared at one end of the room and from it came a person wearing the Solarnelle Academy''s clothing.


    ''Now what?'' Jash wondered, putting the matter of Caeron at the back of his mind.

 Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Unexpected Twist

    "I hope you all are ready for this," the person addressed the examinees before continuing without any regard for them.


    "State your choice of weapon for this test and nothing other than what you ask for will be with you."


    ''It seems the academy only wants those who can respond to spontaneous things,'' Jash mused, noting the bewildered expressions of the two elves and one dwarf.


    Caeron maintained his facade as if nothing could faze him, so Jash just chose to ignore the guys for now and instantly said, "1 meter sword."


    The academy personnel raised an eyebrow in interest before quickly handing over the sheathed sword with a smile.


    "Hammer!" the dwarf exclaimed, seeing the sword, not wanting to be left behind.


    "Hammer? What kind?" the man asked with furrowed brows, he didn''t seem to like the ambiguity of the request.


    "Uhm, warhammer!" the dwarf said, thinking that was enough to explain his point.


    "Here," the man said with a darkened face, ignoring the dwarf''s grumblings about the hammer not to his liking.


    "A magic staff," Caeron implored, glancing away from the dwarf and after the two elves had chosen a longbow and a spear each.


    ''So not all elves use bows,'' Caeron thought in interest while the two elves were intrigued about him being a mage.


    The only one with a plain old indifferent expression was Jash, which finally changed as the man suddenly declared, "Go!"


    It was really abrupt but before the other four could react, Jash had already dashed in.


    ''I really didn''t want to spend another second there,'' he heaved a sigh of relief before appearing in the academy stadium.


    The air was rife with anticipation, and he could feel the weight of expectations pressing down on the examinees.


    ''The crowd is no joke,'' he commented inwardly, hearing the loud chanting-like cheers from the eager audience.


    Meanwhile, most examinees were having a tough time, feeling burdened by the expectations placed unto them by their beloved family members.


    Some were feeling it in the nerves, barely calming down after recalling the tough journey they had gone through to stand here.


    Their minds racing with doubts and suspicion after looking at the strangely calm and indifferent faces of the rich¡ªnobles, merchants, clans, alike.


    Still, they managed to push away the nagging doubts and focused on the immediate task, trying to find an announcer.


    Jash too inadvertently glanced at the grand stage once more, where the officials were now taking their positions.


    The reality of the test¡ªthe gatekeeping test¡ªbegan to sink in.


    While the examinees felt anxious about the test, their parents and guardians eagerly anticipated the figure of their ward.


    They had been pre-informed about all these formalities and possible mass teleportation of their wards to the arena.


    The fact that not all would be present remained a bugging thought due to the tests they were going to have beforehand.


    Hence, they could only pray that their good wishes to their sons and daughters worked and they would succeed.


    Unfortunately, life wasn''t all sunshines and rainbows.


    While many were happy to find their wards there, some weren''t lucky enough to see them.


    Still, they clung to the hope that it was merely a matter of not spotting their children in the crowd.


    Sadly, their last straw of hope was shattered by the loud noise of crackers bursting.


    ¡ªBang! Bang!


    Ignoring the loud commotion outside, the noble families discussed the outcomes and boasted about their own kin to each others.


    As many big names were participating in this year''s Entrance Test, even those who did not participate came here to see the performance of their future rivals.


    After all, Solarnelle Academy, or any academy for that matter, was not a peaceful place where they only focused on developing talents.


    Over the course of years, the academies had become the place where many talents came from and many diminished.


    Only those who had actually graduated from the harsh academies knew the ruthless truth hidden from the common populace.


    This place was meant to train the young privileged children out of their protective shells!


    This was the decision made by the only Female Empress in the history of the Solarnelle Empire, and no one could change it.


    "Welcome to the final phase of the Entrance Test!!"


    A young man''s voice diverted the audience''s attention as they looked around the stadium, amazed by the various decorations.


    "This is yet another year for the Solarnelle Academy and we are here at the opening ceremony to witness the future talents compete against each other!"


    Cheers rang out amongst the crowd as some overexcited people clammered about their children.


    "That''s my son!!"


    "That''s my daughter!!"


    "That''s my sister!!"


    "That''s my father¨C"


    "Ahem, I am Rui, your host for today," the young voice said, unable to hear the crowd after the last shout.


    Why would someone shout about their father from the crowd!?


    Eyes turned to him in the huge stadium as he donned a black suit and stood on a flying platform above the stage covered in an opaque-white barrier.


    Not only the crowd, even the examinees focused on him.


    "It can''t be..." an examinee blurted out, pointing his trembling finger at the figure of Rui.


    Confused by his gesture, someone asked, "What''s the matter, Ren? What happened?"


    Yet Ren''s expression worsened before a look of horror appeared on his face as he began to let out incomprehensible murmurs. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, no... Yes! This has to be a dream!!"


    ¡ªSmack!


    "Say it clearly, idiot!" another one from the group of five said with an angry expression.


    "You-"


    Before the girl who asked politely could chide the boy who hit Ren, Ren yelled, his voice cracking in denial, "He''s Rui! That RUI!!"


    "RUI!! The one who is known for terrible pranks and randomly messing up this test!"


    Only after hearing his voice did they understand, but then it was Ren''s turn to feel confused.


    No one gave him the reaction he anticipated, they just chose to ignore him.


    "W-what? Aren''t you guys understanding!?" he screamed in frustration but this time, even the girl distanced herself from him.


    "Are you an idiot? Do you think he can mess up the Entrance Test?" the one who hit him earlier remarked, annoyed by the stupidity of Ren.


    Everyone ignored him while Rui was the only one who was smiling, stealing a glance at Ren.


    ''Interesting,'' Rui thought to himself, planning to take out these guys first.


    However, Rui failed to notice three people totally ignoring everything and only looking at him.


    One was naturally the protagonist, aiming to do his best while the next one belonged to Jash and Amael.


    The latter two were very much aware of how the test would go, knowing the rules were the only thing that mattered.


    ''Hope he didn''t change them,'' Jash mused, ready to curse the 18 generations of Rui if he did his shit with even the rules.


    Yes, Rui was going to mess up and Ren was absolutely correct.


    Just that no one would think the Solarnelle Academy would allow it... or so the large majority believed.


    Only those who had been played by Rui had disgusted expressions at him and pitiful at the examinees before their mood turned intrigued.


    After all, it was not every day that such a talented generation would have to go through the difficulties, right?


    As if anticipating the rising anticipation reaching its crescendo, Rui smiled cheerfully and began, "Every year, the Entrance Test is conducted separately for males and females..."

 Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Format Unveiled: What to Expect

    ''No, no, no, this darned f¨C'' Jash almost cursed at the thought of Rui changing that, but his next words calmed Jash down.


    "...and this year, it''ll continue to be the same."


    Not just Jash, even the audience was ready to go and beat the shit out of Rui if he did something like that.


    Heck, even some professors who were older victims of Rui''s pranks wanted nothing more than to skin him for his insolence.


    Unbeknownst to them, Rui was sweating himself, feeling the presence of the Vice-Principal narrowing down on him.


    Since the spectators were eager, placing bets and speculating on outcomes, served to add to the pressure that had already mounted.


    Rui secretly took a deep breath, reminding himself, ''It''ll be fine; I have the permission.''


    Meanwhile the examinees were trying their best to keep their cool, not wanting to be swept away by the burden placed upon them.


    Yet many, like Jash, were thinking the same thing, ''If only this damned guy would announce the rules and start it!''


    With a final glance at the crowd and a brief, reassuring smile to himself, Rui felt a strange sense of satisfaction.


    The anticipation was almost unbearable, but he forced himself to remain calm, taking in every detail of the environment.


    The test would soon begin, and he had come too far to falter now. Rui''s heart raced, but he kept his focus on the task at hand.


    The stakes were high, and the pressure was immense, but he was ready to do his job in the best way possible.


    Finally, Rui began speaking once again, "It seems many interesting people are participating this year..."


    His voice carried over the murmurs of the crowd as it slowly hushed down yet they had to strain to hear.


    The examinees sharpened their focus as the reality of the situation set in.


    "Just what''s taking so long?" Jash grumbled in annoyance, hating the long wait.


    However, Rui didn''t seem to hold anyone in his eyes as he beamed at the negative reaction, seemingly enjoying their plight.


    "So... we have changed the format of this year''s tournament quite a bit!" Rui exclaimed, trying to hype it up.


    And indeed it worked as many people were surprised at the change of events as it had never happened before.


    Despite the first two tests being different each year, everyone knew that the third test would be the same, separating the participants based on their gender.


    "Oh, don''t worry! The format has only been altered slightly!" Rui''s voice was amplified across the stadium.


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t enough for quite a large number of parents and guardians of the participants.


    "What? Wait, why is there even a change?"


    "My son''s been preparing for it for the last two years! That is so not fair!!"


    Many conversations broke out among the crowd, but before the audience was confused even further, Rui coughed.


    It wasn''t that he wanted to diffuse the situation, but he was forced to do it. The pressure from an SS-Rank hunter was no joke.


    "Now, now, we all know that looking at the same thing with little to no change every year got boring, " Rui said, confusing them further.


    "So the professors thought that we needed a change and luckily, the principal approved it," Rui sneakily mentioned the principal.


    And as expected, many voices died down just from hearing his mere mention.


    "In short, this year, both our girl and boy participants will be teleported to one location chosen by us,"


    "Now, that''s the same, isn''t it?" Rui asked, tilting his head with a big smile. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Therefore, they will only have one weapon they chose right now for the entire duration of the test!" Rui exclaimed and got the expected reaction.


    His smile brightened as he continued, "Now, our lovely participants will fight for the supplies, survival, weapons, points and also arrive at the final location."


    "Every participant will have to fend for themselves, and this means they can also steal from others or force them into subordination to increase their numbers."


    As soon as he mentioned it, the so-called friends in the examinee group distanced themselves from each other and eyed each other warily.


    "But, but, but there is a slight twist! At the final location, a boss monster will be present!!" Rui''s excitement was evident as he reveled in the challenge.


    Though he turned quiet after mentioning the shocking detail, revealing nothing about the final hurdle.


    Of course, that was also a test of resources, knowledge, skill, leadership or own strength.


    However, he also skipped over one detail purposefully.


    ''Nothing can be done about him,'' Jash sighed, shaking his head.


    He was well aware of the gimmick of a boss monster they placed, something either Amael or the protagonist could solo.


    ''This should be an easy victory, right?'' Jash thought, wondering if that would truly be the case.


    Deep inside, he couldn''t help but find something odd about the entire situation being too easy and decided to just stay alert.


    "The time limit is three days, and once it''s over, the custom suits will freeze any movements, halting ongoing fights," Rui concluded with a wide smile.


    Anyone with eyes could tell that he enjoyed toying with the participants feelings and he was planning something shady.


    "Oh, right! I almost forgot... there are no rules!" Rui exclaimed at the top of his lungs, but the audience remained silent.


    "Yeah, you guessed right. Everything else is allowed¡ªwin by trickery, wisdom, or strength. It doesn''t matter... or does it?"


    Hearing Rui''s ambiguous instructions angered the examinees who were plotting to get others to work for them while they relaxed.


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t Rui who came up with the test, but the professors with the approval of the Principal.


    There was just absolutely no way they would allow an easy entry into the sacred Academy to anyone unworthy.


    ''In the end, only one''s own strength matters,'' Amael thought, isolated by the other examinees in fear of his status.


    His thoughts were absolutely correct as no amount of trickery or traps would work if the enemy was just that strong.


    Unsurprisingly, some examinees would only understand it after facing it firsthand, especially the ones targeting Amael to get Avon''s favor.


    Uncaring of the schemes, plots, tricks going on in the heads of young kids, Rui finally said something that eased the worries of many.


    "Oh! And don''t worry, our instructors will activate the barrier around the students if the attack might be fatal," Rui began with a tone of sincerity.


    However, it was just a mask. "But of course, once the barrier is activated, poof! You are out," Rui concluded, smirking at the cursing examinees.


    "That means that we don''t care if your injury is not fatal, so be careful!" Ru shrugged his shoulders casually, uncaring of the glares he received.


    At this point, even the Vice-Principal was barely resisting his urge to slap Rui to death along with the person who suggested him as the announcer.


    Zander facepalmed, frustrated by Rui''s vague explanation and odd antics as they weren''t a good show at all!


    Of course, the ones who were watching it and had no connection to the examinees enjoyed it, especially the ones who had failed the Entrance Test in the past.


    And only because the audience was entertained and excited to see the fights did Zander, the Vice-Principal, retain his sense of reasoning.


    Thankfully, even Rui also caved in under the growing pressure of Vice-Principal Zander as well as the eager audience.


    "So are you guys READY?!" Rui''s expression almost immediately turned into a bright face despite the cold sweat on his back.


    ''I am done for,'' he thought while the audience screamed loudly, cheering for it to begin.


    "YES!!!"

 Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Startling Start

    As the excitement reached its crescendo, the examinees still grouped together received their nano-armor¡ªthe custom suit Rui had mentioned.


    Every examinee activated it immediately, as it was the one thing that would save their lives while also giving them some form of protection during the test.


    "Alright! Here we go!" Rui yelled as everyone raised their heads to see him wearing a hat that appeared seemingly out of nowhere.


    Rui beamed at the crowd below him with a delightful smile, his palms placed across the other over a cane that also appeared alongside the hat.


    As he held the cane directly to the ground in a poised manner the onlookers finally had reason to believe that Rui was totally committed to his role as an announcer.


    Alas, it was only meant to extinguish the slight hope ignited in the examinees'' heart that nothing would go wrong.


    "Now, without further ado..." Rui declared with a snap of his fingers and instantly, every candidate that was supposed to partake in the Academy''s exams vanished.


    For a second, they were surprised and watched as a white hue surrounded them until they faded away and disappeared.


    It was a surreal experience, almost as if they were being transported and moved somewhere else.


    "Let the Solarnelle Academy entrance exams'' finale begin!" Rui exclaimed , his animated voice booming through the air with a delightful glee to it...


    After the examinees were teleported, the audience¡ªincluding parents, guardians, and others from far and wide¡ªlooked up at the sky.


    A huge screen was visible mid-air, allowing view from all angles as if bending the rules of physics itself.


    But then again, this was a world where people could fly and teleport through space, so it wasn''t really out of place.


    The venue¡ªthe stadium¡ªcould be described in simple terms as a sprawling stadium, able to easily accommodate half a million people.


    However, it wasn''t the stadium that anyone was interested in looking at, everyone''s eyes were glued to the huge floating screen.


    It didn''t matter if they were in this stadium or another throughout the Empire, the scenery remained the same.


    The plain grassy fields, open grassy plains, thickets of small forest-like regions, small streams and small rocky regions, skies, the clouds...


    Everything one could dream appeared on the screen¡ªall specially designed by the academy itself to evoke the feeling of a miniature island.


    Surrounding this miniature island arena was a transparent yet crystalline-like curved dome that surrounded the arena''s wide expanse.


    Obviously, it was a structure put in place as a measure of security and safety as well as isolation to prevent anyone from finding its actual location.


    Nevertheless, it also served to provide the onlookers who sat around the stadiums on their respective seats a clearer view of all that was going on.


    Slowly, this eye-catching and stylized landscape disappeared from the humongous holographic screen.


    Only to be replaced by the screen being split into various regions of the arena to provide a panoramic view of everything.


    But even as everyone settled down in their seats, their feverish excitement and anticipation for the clashes didn''t wane.


    In fact, it only increased as time passed, hoping to find out more.


    However, the thing about the test spanning three days was a bit too troublesome.


    They all could not deny that they were immensely curious about the fights, the winners, the dark horses making it big and more!


    Yet just as someone was about to leave, a breath-taking scene appeared.


    All the split screens with different views showed similar examinees appearing randomly with huge distances between them.


    "W-what? L-look!" an onlooker shouted, pointing at one of the many screens.


    What followed from the audience''s reaction were looks of immense shock, audible gasps, confusion and undoubtedly, unparalleled excitement...


    After all, when would they get the chance to watch such talented students free-falling from the sky?


    Yes, some candidates were free-falling from the sky towards the ground at a rapid speed while some were inside deep waters or deep into monster caves.


    However, the most exciting part was their apparent lack of a safe way to land, escape, or come out of the water.


    Well, the ones who complained were in the minority, their voice getting drowned by the ones shouting excitedly.


    One second, they were lamenting the slow start, the next second, such exciting shots appeared.


    No doubt many of these examinees would have their photos go viral on the internet in the coming few days.


    "You all weren''t expecting that, were you?!" Rui''s animated voice boomed like a cascading wave through the audience stands.


    "That''s what makes this so exciting! Unexpected situations!" the young announcer continued with a contagious yet gleeful excitement.


    This time, even the audience was excited about it, save for the ones who had their friends and family participating.


    "So, how will our candidates survive this sudden curveball? Only way to find out is to keep watching!"


    Rui commented and exclaimed like a seasoned commentator trying to ramp up everyone''s excitement.


    Finally, it seemed he had decided to focus on his job as an announcer, making the audience want more of the nasty comments.


    Despite the situation going out of hand and expectations, Vice-principal Zander didn''t step up or try to stop it.


    Instead, he focused on the examinees, shaking his head in disappointment as he watched those eliminated right after teleportation.


    Of course, the Academy didn''t really play fair, sending some in random environments, even desert or volcanic ones to mountains and icy ones.


    Yet, they ensured that the difficulty remained consistent.


    What did it mean? It meant that the stronger you were, the more difficult your location would be after the teleportation.


    Sadly, Jash had shown a tad bit too much of his talent and was suffering under the same category of monstrous geniuses.


    ''Shit! Shit! Shit! SHIT!!'' he cursed inwardly, regretting his decision to go all out.


    Alas, there was no medicine for regret in any world.


    ''I was doing just fine at the side line, why did I have to show off?'' He asked himself before the thought of his bet came into mind.


    "NO!" he screamed in frustration, recalling how he excitedly bet everything from his personal expenses upon himself!


    Unlike him, the others were suffering too... just for different reasons.


    Some were eliminated due to drowning, being unable to land safely, or being targeted by an entire group of monsters.


    Still, none of that would stop the extremely talented ones from shining as they survived through all the hurdles being thrown at them.


    "Where are we?!"


    "And why is it so dark?!"


    Someone was even unlucky enough to get teleported inside the ground itself...


    "I can''t see shit! What is this place even?!"


    "Hello!? Is there anyone? Hello? HELLO...?"


    "No... where am I...? Mommy uwaaaa¡­"


    Unfortunately, not everyone could bear the pressure and even succumbed to crying on the screen.


    Naturally, they were disqualified on the spot with no realistic chance of joining any academy after their pathetic display.


    They weren''t charities set up to baby sit children, but to prepare the next generation of hunters, so there was no way they''d take weak-minded students.


    All this happened while some candidates were making remarks, lamenting and voicing their opinions about the weird situation they were currently in.


    Just as the survivors thought they could relax, a gleeful, animated voice suddenly rang out across the expansive island.


    "Welcome, aspiring hunters, to Solarnelle Academy''s entrance exams!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ugh, not again..."


    All the examinees groaned, recognizing the voice and feeling frustrated as their expressions fell, wanting to curse this guy!!

 Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Betrayal [Extra]

    "I know you guys don''t understand a thing but don''t worry. You''re safe... for now," the gleeful voice continued with an almost concealed snicker.


    ''Did he just snicker? Well, it''s Rui... so I wouldn''t put it past him,'' Jash asked himself inwardly and answered.


    He didn''t even need to focus on it to know that, it was just easy to recognize the guy''s habit, having the knowledge about his character already.


    "Now, now, don''t panic. This was just a screening test. Well, sort of," Rui said with a shrug, visible only to the excited audience.


    "And you might wonder why?" Rui grinned. "Because we made the rules!" He laughed, holding his stomach.


    "This bas¨C" A boy nearly screamed, but another boy held him back.


    "Calm down. It''s not worth it," he shook his head while placing an arm on the first boy''s shoulder.


    "Okay, okay. Before Professor Zander actually gets angry, let me explain," Rui said hastily, sensing the growing dread.


    "After the random teleportation, you had to try your best to survive, but many failed... Haa..." Rui sighed, disappointed.


    "Anyways, best of luck to you guys. And as I always say it''s sometimes too late to qui¨Cumm umm," Rui''s mouth was frozen mid-sentence.


    He struggled intensely to speak, alas, the ice started freezing his mouth muscles, stopping him from speaking completely.


    Suddenly, a man clad in the uniform of the Solarnelle Academy with neat gray hair appeared mid-air, not even sparing Rui a glance.


    "T-that¨C Isn''t that Vice-Principal Zander!?" One audience member spoke in disbelief, and conversations broke out immediately.


    Yet Zander himself didn''t care the least bit about such chats, it was just the audience trying to have something to talk about.


    Rather than that, he focused on sending his voice across to the island where the test was actually taking place.


    "All of you can notice the subtle glow around your wrists from the suit, right? Only after it changes to white does the test truly begin,"


    "Anyone who attacked other examinees within this duration would get a penalty, depending on the extent of damage," Zander declared authoritatively.


    Even though the examinees felt it was unfair as it was Rui who selectively didn''t mention it, they still kept quiet.


    They didn''t have it in them to complain to the Vice-Principal himself, even if they weren''t aware of the hidden test.


    ''Damn! These guys are even assessing our reactions!?'' Jash thought in slight surprise despite everything going almost as he expected.


    Of course, things change and it was most likely his own show-off that altered Rui''s plans to a slight degree.


    "But that''s all... the end result is all the same," Jash mumbled to himself, shaking off the unease he was feeling in his location.


    Just then, the struggling Rui was freed after getting the scare of his life as he began speaking about the things he omitted.


    "The island you''re on is teeming with dangers and well-known monsters. Use any means at your disposal to win against them!"


    ''Wow, he still didn''t mention that the Academy mixed real monsters with simulated ones,'' Jash mused, sarcastically praising Rui.


    "Once the glow on your wrists turn white, you''d better be prepared for anything!" Rui continued explaining in a monotonous voice.


    His excitement seemed to have waned after the encounter with the Vice-Principal, but he soon returned to himself.


    "Your main goal for this exam is survival! Survive until the timer runs out while aiming for the highest scores!"


    "Ah, right! You''re also permitted to attack yourselves but trust me when I say this..."


    "You won''t even have time for that!" Rui said with a delighted clap that resounded through the minds of all the examinees.


    His irritating words only made the examinees grit their teeth and plan revenge on him when they were strong enough, though.


    Even Jash was one of them, despite knowing everything, he disliked Rui''s way of doing things as it didn''t sit right with him.


    "I should remind you once again though..." Rui said with a thoughtful tone, a stark contrast to his monotonous or playful tone.


    "Ranking or not, passing is all that matters as you''ll be accepted into the academy all the same..."


    "Why then did the Academy bother to make this exam different, you ask?" Rui questioned, seemingly with a tone that implied he knew the exact reason why.


    His next answer however, really got on almost everyone''s nerves, especially because they thought he''d be kind enough to explain.


    "Who cares as long as I''m enjoying this! Your suffer¨CAhem! I mean your battles will be fun to experience, so make sure to go all out!"


    ''He crossed the line with this one,'' Jash thought with a smile, not his normal smile, but a chilling one.


    He was human and he too had emotions, surely it would get on his nerves as well.


    Jash had almost had it at this point if not for knowing about the hidden assessment going on since before the first trial even began.


    Still, only a few could contain themselves, bursting at Rui''s continuous interventions, causing them trouble.


    Yet all their complaints were shrugged off by Rui with a, "If your concentration breaks with just this much... sucks to be you, I guess!"


    "RUI! GO TO HELL!!" Some candidates straight out cursed him while some were even using more vulgar language.


    "You cheeky bas¨C!" A few others voiced in resentment.


    "My my! Are you guys complimenting me? That''s so nice of you!" the top-hat wearing announcer responded happily to the few insults that were thrown at him.


    It seemed he didn''t mind them at all and that was just how he was as a person.


    That''s why Jash chose to be the part of the ones secretly plotting against him.


    After all, everyone ought to have a weakness and it just so happened that Jash knew Rui''s weakness.


    "I''d love to accept more compliments but I digress. Let''s get back to the main topic," Rui continued.


    As if right on cue, the glow on the examinees'' wrists turned white.


    "Woohoo~" Rui whistled at the sight of so many attacks¡ªbetrayals from the so-called allies.


    It was a sight to behold, with both the audience and Rui equally excited by the disqualification of so many candidates.


    Almost immediately though, all of the examinees'' confusion became short-lived as they soon realized the situation they found themselves in.


    "Aaaaahhhhh!!!"


    "Nooooooooooo!!!"


    "That damn retard!!!"


    "Screw you Rix-!!!"


    "WHY YOU!"


    "Muuummmyyy!!!"


    So many different forms of frightened shouts, annoyed curses and screeching cries for help filled the air.


    Although they were all awakeners and they could tank the damage if they wanted to, they all knew instinctively that it was impossible.


    After all, they wouldn''t know just who would attack them?


    An ally? A monster? A friend? A stranger from a different race?


    It also did not help that if the nano-armor considered it a fatal injury, they would immediately be teleported out.


    Obviously, the thought of getting disqualified without even getting a chance to show off their skills was far worse, even more than losing after a fight. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Also their pride which was brimming with determination, courage and immense hopes and dreams for the future, would not allow for them to take it easy.


    Coupled with that was a thirst to prove themselves worthy of being admitted to the most prestigious academy in the world.


    They wanted to prove to everyone, more so to even themselves, that they weren''t admitted just because they were of age to attend the academy...


    But because they had the strength and willpower to see their academy life through till the end.


    "Meaningless," Jash commented, knowing what was going on in the minds of these needlessly prideful individuals.

 Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Explosion!

    As Jash looked around at the chaos unfolding like a well-orchestrated disaster, the action continued to unfold with fancy displays of magic.


    Candidates were scrambling, some screaming, others frantically assessing their surroundings, and a few already out of the game, disqualified.


    The once confident faces now betrayed fear and desperation amid a few rare expressions of grim determination.


    ''These idiots... they really had the guts to underestimate the test,'' he mused, clicking his tongue in annoyance.


    Though he couldn''t even see one candidate, his expressions were akin to someone observing everything from a bird''s point of view.


    Well, thanks to the description from the novel, Jash didn''t need to look at it to know.


    Soon enough though, different youths began to pull out myriad spells out of their arsenal to attack their surroundings indiscriminately.


    After all, who knew where they''d get attacked from?


    Some examinees, however, had flashier spells than others and their immense skills immediately stood out, causing the crowd to go wild with excitement!


    "WOAH!!"


    Most people were now actively interested in the flashier displays, especially the ones who had been the first to pull out a beautiful spell.


    Caera created rings of fire around her, while the archduke''s daughter had water floating all around her.


    Rura Warmis had used earthen blocks as footholds, easily skipping with finesse between the dense trees.


    The sight of three beauties putting on such a show garnered much more attention than anyone from the male category.


    Of course, some females did cheer for Avon, Amael and quite a few handsome nobles when the figure of a golden-haired youth came into view.


    "Oh my! How beautiful!" Rui commented as the replay of the golden-haired youth swung his sword with extraordinary precision.


    His superhuman speed and accuracy stunned many as he easily handled a group of four wolves.


    Next to show up was Amael as he helped someone before getting betrayed yet he masterfully defeated the traitor, basking in glory.


    "YAY!!"


    The cheers grew louder as Rui''s commentary provided brief descriptions of the scenarios, skillfully avoiding names as he described the action.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to, it was just that he wasn''t permitted to take any names during the event.


    Naturally, since bets were being made, there were people with knowledge about the talented ones and they made their bets on that prior information.


    As if that wasn''t enough, the next person to appear on the large screen was Sylvie who just so happened to be one of the rare ones falling from the sky.


    Yet, to everyone''s surprise, she had a simple smile on her face.


    And the reason for her nonchalance was revealed soon before the eager eyes of the audience.


    Sylvie, the elven princess, summoned a massive green vine from the ground, adorned with red roses.


    Her long light green hair fluttered with the air as her aquamarine eyes focused on the approaching vines.


    She used her daggers and stuck it into the sides of the vine while sliding downwards to the ground.


    Unlike others, she ended up creating a pathway for a lot of people.


    However, as if to prove people''s beliefs about elves and their love for nature correct, the harmless-looking and inviting giant vine suddenly began to jut out hardened green spikes from its sides.


    It only left Sylvie''s pathway harmless while causing other candidates who tried to dirty the giant vine to either be immediately disqualified or thrown back into the air.


    Through all this, she had nary a smile on her face, it marred by displeasure at the attempt of others as she continued sliding downwards harmlessly.


    Of course, the major reason for it was the absence of elves who were trying to latch onto her pathway. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next to appear on the screen was an unknown youth who immediately transformed into a trail of blue lightning.


    No one recognized him despite his skills and could only think of him as a dark horse or someone who hid too well.


    The audience was dazzled as he streaked through the sky towards the rocky plains of the island.


    At this point, the crowd was getting immensely entertained by just how talented a lot of their generation''s youths were.


    Alas, the screen seemed to be hating on certain individuals quite a bit, not even showing a single glimpse of them.


    Jash just so happened to be one of them, though he didn''t know it yet and would actually celebrate not getting attention.


    He moved swiftly, staying low, his eyes scanning the area for threats.


    "Damn this shit!" he cursed under his breath, feeling the dirty water stick to his legs.


    He had actually been teleported to a marshy region, something he didn''t like one bit.


    Not only did it rouse memories of the crimson pool from his first dungeon exploration, but it was also extremely icky and disgusting.


    Though not so much as that crimson pool, it nevertheless got on his nerves due to the numerous insect-like creatures.


    Due to the academy mixing reality and fakes, there were some creatures without any benefit on the island, just to serve as an additional challenge.


    Already, the island was a maze of rocky outcrops, thick foliage, and hidden dangers.


    "I can''t see shit," he cursed once more, seeing nothing but the marshy region and forests all around.


    He too wished to see others grappling with their circumstances¡ªbattling monsters, fighting each other, fleeing, and crying...


    Now, now, he was no sadist but it wasn''t all that bad to enjoy the mayhem, after the earlier illusion of safety had evaporated.


    Raw survival instincts had taken over and that was a sight Jash definitely wanted to witness.


    He had been only waving his sword to throw away the buzzing insects, and nothing other than that.


    "Just let me get out of this place!" he exclaimed with teeth ground in frustration.


    Jash''s mind raced, strategizing a way to escape his situation.


    The academy had thrown them into this environment, testing not just their strength but their ability to adapt.


    He grumbled inwardly, ''Who the hell wants to adapt to these marshlands!''


    After a few minutes of carrying his feet heavy from the soaking water, he heaved a sigh of relief, "Finally..."


    In the distance, he spotted a group of candidates huddled together, their temporary alliance already fraying as tensions boiled over.


    Jash smirked, thinking, ''Even amidst chaos, human nature sure is predictable.''


    The true test was not just surviving but navigating the treacherous dynamics of competition and fear.


    However, why should he care? He was bent on eradicating the ones trying to find an exit.


    As he carefully approached a dense thicket, Jash noticed a shimmer¡ªa trap, likely set by the academy to ensnare the unwary.


    He easily avoided it, his instincts honed by intense training and fighting experiences.


    Each step was measured, every movement calculated.


    ¡ªSplash!


    The sound would definitely alert the group and Jash too ducked behind a boulder after hearing it.


    ''What happened?'' he thought, not having noticed anything or anyone nearby.


    He had been alert all throughout¡ªevery sound, every movement in the periphery of his vision made him wary.


    As no sounds echoed, he became suspicious and recalled something from the novel, his eyes bulging at the gripping reminder.


    ''Shit! Shit!'' Jash cursed inwardly before rushing in the opposite direction without a second thought of them discovering him.


    The sound of distant shouts and calls reverberated as a few spells shot past him but he remained unperturbed, focusing on moving ahead.


    ''Damn these retards,'' he thought, pursing his lips and dodging the stray attacks.


    Now, as most candidates were now on the ground and a lot of them were rejoicing at their success...


    ¡ªBOOOOM!!!


    A big explosion shook the island, immediately disqualifying a good chunk of the unaware in an instant!

 Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Complex Relations

    Unlike the silently cursing and escaping Jash, the stadium was alive with sounds¡ªcries of panic, roars of monsters, and the occasional explosion of magic.


    Just when the oblivious audience and examinees were rejoicing in their situation, a sudden explosion shook the island.


    ¡ªBOOOM!!!


    Dust clouds rose as a large number of examinees were disqualified within seconds, unable to showcase their skills.


    Some survived by the skin of their teeth, like Jash, who felt something was wrong and immediately moved away.


    The audience, initially cheering, fell into stunned silence as the sudden explosion unfolded, not to mention the disoriented examinees.


    However, none of the talented ones were disqualified, as if the explosion was placed in specific locations to avoid targeting them. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, no one could complain about it as even Jash, the son of a Duke, was almost disqualified.


    Meanwhile, Rui made a strange sound, disturbing the silence, "Aaaaaaaah..."


    "Explosions are truly an art!" he exclaimed with his eyes turning a shade of crazed red as he basked in the limelight.


    Despite the hatred-filled and murderous glances being cast his way, Rui shrugged them off, zooming in on Jash''s crumbling expression.


    ''Impressive,'' Rui commented, believing Jash was very good at managing his expressions.


    Little did he know that if Jash didn''t care about his money and was aware of the hidden test, he would''ve been cursing Rui at the top of his lungs.


    ''Calm down, Jash, calm down. Think of the money, damn it!'' Jash repeated it inside his head as if it were a mantra.


    Unlike others, he was well aware that this trick was pulled off by Rui as he was a member of the planning committee and no one noticed it.


    At this point, it was too late for even Vice-Principal Zander to remove Rui as it wouldn''t salvage the situation at all.


    In the end, he just let the test continue and decided to punish the troublesome guy after the test was over.


    There was another person who thought similarly to Zander, it was Jash. ''I will definitely let you feel the joy of your pranks, Rui.''


    As if the threat was something pertaining to his existence itself, Rui felt a chill go down his spine and blamed it on Zander.


    "Ahem, ahem, let''s clear out the dust," Rui commented, diverting the attention and showcasing the dilapidated state of the examinees.


    The explosions obviously disturbed not only the examinees but also the flora and fauna of the entire island.


    Avalanches, tsunamis, and floods occurred in one place whereas some places had earth cracked open with lava flowing through it.


    In the forest-like region, several trees were lit with fire while the desert turned into glass at some places.


    Despite all the changes in geography, Jash was left stuck in the marshes.


    If he could, he would curse his luck openly, but he could only do it inwardly, ''Just how bad is my luck!? What kind of cardinal sins have I committed?''


    Not wanting to grieve over uncontrollable factors, Jash stood up as he gritted his teeth, bearing through the pain from being thrown off.


    Due to the proximity to one of the explosion''s sites, Jash was thrown back into the direction he spawned at.


    No matter how much he knew, he could also forget things at the spur of the moment, he was only human.


    "Ugh," he groaned as he turned around, having to explore another way out of the marshes as the previous one wasn''t safe anymore.


    With a sword strapped around his waist, Jash weaved through the way, relaxing as he knew the candidates he found were disqualified.


    Although unaware, the way he appeared and his struggle seemed to the audience to raise his value and even some bets were made on him.


    Sadly, most were of the type, "When will he be disqualified?"


    Too bad for the betters that they were going to lose a ton of money to the betting platforms today.


    Meanwhile, in another area of the courtyard though, the Solarnelle Royal Family was watching the Prince and Princess.


    "So those are the famed young geniuses¡­" Adrian, the first prince of Solarnelle Empire, said, his eyes seemingly locked onto each one of them.


    "Whatever you''re scheming in that mind of yours Adrian, I''d implore you to stop," the Empress said, noticing the strange light in Adrian''s eyes.


    She wanted him to not mess around with the kids due to the prophecy she feared would arrive while Adrian didn''t retract his gaze.


    Instead his gaze solidified with a glint of mischief, lingering over Ava and Avon before shifting to Amael, Caera, Ziva and Jash.


    "I make no promises mother," Adrian responded with a shrug to his mother''s words, a small smile playing on his lips.


    "Just don''t cross the limits," the Empress said with a side eye.


    "It''s already a headache with what you did with the two of them, not to mention whatever it is you''re planning to do."


    The tone of the Empress carried resignation as she knew her son too well, unlike the facades he played with Avon and Ava.


    Even the whole thing about being a successor was nothing but a sham orchestrated by this guy for "fun."


    ''If he wanted, he could already be the crown prince,'' the Empress sighed at her son''s weird antics, giving in as a mother despite her precarious position.


    The Empress, after squeezing time and clearing a bit of her schedule, stood directly beside Adrian, choosing to focus on the test.


    Although the Emperor had also wanted to show up to support his kids, he had way too many duties to attend to that could not be put off.


    As a result, he couldn''t spare the time to come along.


    Of course, it spurred the feelings of self-doubt and not being up to the mark in Avon''s heart when he found out.


    After all, the Emperor was the epitome of power in his eyes unlike Ava who only had eyes for her mother.


    In fact, the two were quite distant due to the difference in their birth mothers.


    Ava was born to a childhood friend and maid of the Emperor, while Avon was born to one of the Empress''s ladies-in-waiting.


    Of course, that''s why the Empress was always distanced from her husband, only giving birth to Adiran and the First Princess.


    Considering the complex system of the Imperial Family, many might think the Empire was in unstable hands...


    Yet only the people involved themselves knew the reason for their actions and why the Empress never fought the Emperor despite his known infidelity.


    Sadly, she was the mother to all four children in the eyes of the masses, the truth only known inside the Imperial Family.


    Or to anomalies like Jash and Amael.


    Talking about them, Jash had finally escaped the marshes after a tough journey of a couple hours.


    ''Damn! I am never talking random teleportations in my life!'' Jash vowed inwardly, taking the first step into the next terrain.


    A forest.


    "At least the creatures here are just mosquitoes," he muttered with a twisted expression, looking at the bite marks of the insects all over his limbs.


    Though it wasn''t really painful, it was very irritating and some bites were super itchy, making Jash want to slice apart his skin.


    Alas, as Rui mentioned, there was no time to even attack oneself.


    He had to keep moving if he really wanted to emerge victorious as first rank and win this whole thing.


    Taking in the new surroundings, Jash mumbled, "A few hours passed, I guess? So, how much audience is left?"


    Naturally, the audience weren''t going to sit for three entire days and watch the screens.


    And there was just no way the Academy would force the audience and extremely busy people to stay here for three whole days just to wait for the results.

 Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Hidden Instincts

    In the audience, only a few people who were free or had their immediate wards participating stayed while the busy folks left.


    Naturally, the ruling class of all three races left, unwilling to leave their domains unprotected for three long days.


    Even if the elves could dismiss it and stay, they had no reason to, as the test was really long, and a few messengers were left in place.


    For example, if someone stumbled upon the location before the third day, the ruling class would be alerted by their remaining servants.


    Of course, the Academy wasn''t formed by a bunch of idiots who''d allow such an incident to tarnish their prestige.


    That''s why the final location was nothing short of a lie that would only show up on the third day, preventing anyone from finding it.


    Obviously, the ones who graduated from Solarnelle Academy were long aware of their methods to get their decided results.


    In the end, only the commoners and nary a rich spectator were left, watching with great gusto every single thing.


    Fortunately, the Academy would play the highlights of the three days on the last day before the boss monster appears.


    Oh well, it wasn''t known if someone would discover it or would it have to be unleashed by the Academy for some fun.


    ''I mean, where''s the fun in a plain boring test without some twists?'' Jash thought in dersion, privy to everything.


    Shaking off his thoughts, he unsheathed his sword and swung it.


    ¡ªSlice!


    The sword easily sliced off a small rabbit attacking him from his left as it stopped right after the body divided into two.


    Jash glanced casually at the falling body before moving on, shaking off the blood from his sword.


    ''I can''t let it become scrap when I don''t even have a spare weapon,'' he mused, aware of the consequences of such carelessness.


    "Hm?" Jash hummed, hearing some muffled noises around him right after taking down an unranked creature.


    Without any hesitation whatsoever in his steps, he dashed towards the direction of the noise.


    "Shh... I heard something," whispered a man in a black suit to his companion.


    He whispered but his sneaky movements revealed his inexperience in walking in such terrains as his steps made noises.


    The two looked ahead, trying to find the source of the disturbance but only saw a silver sheen of a sword stained in red.


    "Wha...t?" the first man stammered before a barrier suddenly activated, transforming him into motes of white light.


    As if enraged, the second guy didn''t think and directly raised his spear at the coming sword.


    "Don''t you think I am an easy target!" he shouted as he tried to block the coming attack with all his might.


    Jash, looking at the pitiful attempt of a block, could only maintain an indifferent expression while his gaze flickered with great disappointment.


    "Haa..." Jash sighed, noticing more than ten openings in the boy''s stance with a single glance.


    "Pathetic," he uttered under his breath before kicking the ground to increase his speed for a split second.


    ''They''ll have to do better if they want to keep up,'' he mused inwardly in disregard of the boy opposite him.


    "AAAAAHHHHHH," the boy shouted as he did a wild stab at Jash.


    ¡ªThrust!


    Unfortunately, all it met was nothing but air, exclaiming in disbelief, "What!?"


    By the time he noticed, Jash had already increased his speed, dodging the poor thrust after easily seeing its obvious trajectory.


    Looking at the wide-open right side of the boy, Jash side-stepped and directly slashed once more, but this time the barrier didn''t activate.


    ¡ªClang!


    "Hm?" Jash hummed in confusion as his sword was repelled before noticing the silver armor on the boy.


    "Ah-hah...haha" the boy chuckled nervously, feeling proud of his armor as it saved his life.


    "I see," Jash muttered before swinging his sword in a downward arc, cutting a deep gash into the boy''s leg.


    "AAAARRRGGHHH," Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He instantly fell down while screaming in pain, but Jash ignored the wails, taking the spear and armor before pointing the spear at his neck.


    That action was enough for the barrier to activate and take the boy to the healing area prepared for the injured by the academy, free of cost.


    ''I can''t stay here any longer,'' Jash thought, immediately donning the poor quality armor and keeping the spear at his back.


    Though the increased weight slowed him down, it wasn''t sufficient to force him to face the monsters and examinees gathering at the wail.


    All they saw were a few splash marks of blood and nothing else before they left due to the numerous beasts coming by.


    Meanwhile, Jash was complaining about the entire idea of taking the stuff before eliminating the examinee from them.


    ''It was a good idea to straight away eliminate one so that it seems I guessed that the equipment will disappear as well.''


    Despite his inner thoughts, he really wanted to know what kind of idiot designed that no amounts of equipment will drop after elimination.


    The only way to get it was¡ªpure looting¡ªtaking it off the body before they get eliminated.


    Thankfully, Jash played it safe or his actions would seem too convenient for a test he ought to have no information about.


    Praising himself inwardly, he ended up glancing at his glowing wrist and a curse almost slept his lips.


    "Just why couldn''t they use the bracelet as a scorer and make a darned leaderboard!" He exclaimed while running away.


    His voice leaked and someone tried giving chase but ended up losing Jash due to his crazy speed.


    Utterly unaware, he was busy thinking of ways to get on the planning committee and make such an obvious, needed change.


    ''If only they added it in numbers instead of this freaking increasing glow!'' Jash thought inwardly, taking note to not yell again.


    Due to the increasing glow, he would become a target at night, just like those with higher scores.


    Of course, his score couldn''t possibly be even in the top 1000, let alone bright enough to be easily noticeable.


    It was just that the Academy planned to use the glow not only as a score but also as a beacon of location, enticing fights among the talented examinees.


    Currently, the most glowing one was of Avon as he was trying his best to show that he was better than Amael.


    While Amael was busy helping others and maintaining his image as a good guy despite his inner shrewdness.


    Though no one betrayed him because he warned them with a smile after taking care of the first traitor, something he allowed himself.


    Sadly, Jash didn''t have time to know all that, his focus on lasting till the last day with minimum effort and taking care of the "boss monster".


    ''Anyways, that guy was too weak, I really hope the last day is some fun,'' he thought with a predatory smile.


    It seemed his father''s battle freak nature had rubbed on him after training with him for so long.


    If only someone had seen him right at this moment, they''d be surprised to know that Jash was actually itching for a good fight.


    He didn''t know it himself, but it wasn''t just Carcel''s presence and nature influencing him, but Jash himself deep down... or his past life, to be precise.

 Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Contrasting Spectacles

    Oblivious to the changes within, Jash continued moving through the forest, taking breaks and resting once in a while.


    He even took care of a few small birds, animals, and some weak participants that attacked him.


    If he could skip them, he would do so to save his time, not stopping and fighting every person or monster he encountered.


    Though he did fight each and every (F+)-Rank monster for polishing his skills as well as getting some points on the side.


    His decisiveness and finesse were displayed only a few times as others were also doing quite well.


    Amael and his group, in particular, were something the majority of the audience¡ªcommoners¡ªliked as it resonated deep within them.


    Since the nobles were obviously well aware of the harsh truth of their world, they just couldn''t understand what Amael''s goal was.


    After all, he wasn''t just any noble, but a duke''s heir and must have gotten lessons in line with it yet he was leading a group.


    "Let''s see what the audience favorite is doing," Rui said, and the audience cheered eagerly, getting mesmerized by Amael''s handsome display


    His reddish-amethyst eyes hidden beneath his silver eyelashes with striking silver-white hair added to his charm.


    It allured quite a few girls as they were one of major supporters in the loud cheers aside from the commoners.


    As the cheers quietened, the audience focused on Amael and his group moving through a grassland with grass reaching till their waists.


    But from the audience''s perspective, they could see that Amael''s group was at a junction of small mountains and the grassland.


    And they seemed to be on their way to the mountains veiled by the long grass hindering their vision.


    It needed no mention how much of an inconvenience it was to walk in it with weird monsters popping left and right.


    Though one of them had a scythe-like bone and it was being used to cut off the grass and pave a path through it.


    "Anyone else interested in finding out where they got it from? Because I sure as hell am!" Rui exclaimed and the audience played along.


    ¡ªSnap!


    Snapping his fingers to create an effect, Rui changed the screen of the replay while Amael and his group made their way through it.


    Amael stood at the forefront with his sword unsheathed and two melee weapon users standing at either side with a small group in the back.


    The group in the back was undoubtedly made up of mages, archers, crossbow users, and a hunter with two armored men taking a defensive stance around them.


    There was no lie in calling the long-range attackers as nothing but a paper that has the potential to do the highest damage.


    Unfortunately, the slightest ambush could shake them and take the six of them down in one go.


    While the mages casted their spells, Amael was the first to engage in a direct clash.


    ¡ªClang!


    The four at his side kept taking turns to damage the 7 foot tall monster which had 3 pairs of legs and 1 pair of scythe-like arms.


    Surprisingly, its scythes could effortlessly cut the grass which they were having a hard time due to the risk of dulling the blade.


    Amael''s eyes flickered at the sight as he ducked down before cutting off one of its legs and rolling on the ground to dodge its arms aiming for his head. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "SKRIEEE," the brown-skinned monster shrieked in pain but all it got was a rain of arrows, crossbows and two wind slices.


    The mages had cast it in such a way that another pair of its legs would get cut as Amael had them target it.


    "That''s smart! If they had targeted its arms, they would only be wasting mana," Rui explained with a smile for the unaware audience.


    Due to the fake sense of peace and security, most common folks didn''t even know much about monsters, and needed someone to tell them.


    As if feeling enlightened, they nodded and looked back at the scene where the monster had already lost all its legs.


    Yet they shivered in their seats as the monster sprouted wings out of nowhere!


    As if waiting for this moment, Amael shouted loudly, "NOW!"


    In the next second, the arrows and spells alongside a bullet directly attacked its skin, not the wings.


    "Wow! He''s not the audience''s favorite for nothing!" Rui exclaimed before explaining how the wings sprouting weakened its chitinous exoskeleton.


    Though most of the audience was dumb to not understand the terms, they dumbed it down to the wings weakening its body somehow.


    Just as Amael harvested the two scythes off the monster, Rui snapped his fingers once more and the screen switched to a dashing boy.


    "Booooo!"


    Despite the audience''s less than likely reaction, Rui didn''t care. "Now, now, let''s focus on what is in the cave," he mentioned.


    The audience gasped before shifting in their seats in excitement, waiting to see something amazing like Amael''s group.


    The difference being they expected the dashing boy to get hunted like the monster Amael''s group did with immaculate teamwork.


    Truthfully, even they knew they were expecting a bit too much since most examinees didn''t know anyone next to them.


    Even if someone did, they were sent to different locations, so the coordination was always a mess amongst any teams formed during the test.


    Amael''s group was too much of an exception, but they didn''t know that they''d get an amazing spectacle nonetheless, just not what they expected.


    In the arena, Jash ran towards what seemed like a cave, but he didn''t encounter anyone else on his way after his last rest.


    He easily arrived in front of the cave, not finding any traps or monsters nearby.


    To his surprise, the cave was not deep at all, and he could see a sword lying around.


    "A sword?" he muttered before a smile appeared on his lips.


    Jash went in excitedly and crouched to pick up the sword, only for a shadow with a dagger emerged beside him.


    A figure of a young boy who was blended in the shadows appeared and attacked Jash from his blind spot.


    The boy smiled, thinking about how he had fooled yet another person in his trap.


    While the dagger approached Jash''s neck at a fast speed, he turned around and slapped the dagger out of the boy''s hand.


    He didn''t even use mana, using the boy''s momentum against him, almost breaking his bone.


    Without pausing, he stepped out of the cave just as a sword slashed at his previous spot.


    Jash smiled, feeling the exhilaration from the battle he sidestepped an ice shard spell aimed at him.


    "Arghh, he''s tougher than expected," the first attacker groaned before vanishing into the shadows.


    Noticing it, Jash smirked as he threw a sword at the cave entrance, and the boy''s heart rate went up.


    Alas, that was all he could do as a barrier appeared, transforming him into motes of light.


    In that split second that his companions were stunned, Jash took out the sword strapped on his waist and unarmed another guy.


    "Urgh," he barely groaned before getting eliminated as well.


    Yet Jash did not want to waste time and turned to the third guy trying to run away, throwing a spear at his head, activating the barrier.


    "Now, the mage," Jash mumbled, moving inside the cave to find a shivering guy at the end, trying to cast a spell but messing up every second.


    Ignoring the magic staff, Jash eliminated the guy and took the spear, the sword from the cave, and his own.


    "Tsk, that idiot took that sword along with him," he clicked his tongue, lamenting the loss of a sword which took down the first guy.

 Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Grace Under Fire

    Shaking off his disappointment, Jash went inside the empty cave to rest for some time and take down any monster or examinee straying into it.


    Due to the cave being shallow, it allowed him to see what was right outside, but a person approaching from a distance wouldn''t be able to.


    "This will work," he muttered while setting up a bow and a quiver full of arrows he found atop a tree when he climbed it to rest. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was most likely left by an examinee who got swept by some flying monster or got forced to fight a melee battle and lost.


    ''There''s no way it''s unused,'' Jash noted, spotting small tear marks on the string, a clear sign of usage, albeit minimal.


    ''I''d much rather camp somewhere near the final location, but it doesn''t exist yet,'' he sighed at the shrewdness of the Academy.


    Though he approved of their trickery and wits, being the recipient didn''t feel good anyway.


    Meanwhile, the audience was captivated by Jash swiftly dispatching three F-Rank examinees.


    "Woah! That''s not what I or anyone expected, right?" Rui said with a toothy grin, replaying it once again before sighing.


    "Haa... looks like it''ll be some while before anything happens in this one. On that note, let''s take a look at the other half!"


    Rui could see the location of other examinees and thus knew that it would take time and luck to have any encounters with others.


    That''s why he switched to the female part of the tournament, livening up the mood due to their beauty and sophistication.


    No matter the world, certain stereotypes existed such as women being more elegant than any normal man.


    Naturally, the crowd was excited to look at the girls, some fulfilling their sadistic desire while for some, the dominating ones did the thing.


    Besides the strange people that even Rui ignored were the young girls idolizing the teens they witnessed doing impossible feats.


    ''Hmm, it''s time,'' Rui thought and singalled for the screen to switch after an overall view of the male''s test.


    The first figure to appear was Sylvie, moving effortlessly through the forest as if the leaves were her personal pathway.


    Every time a participant came in her radius of 5 meters, the buried would light up as they would be instantly disqualified by her plant magic.


    Being of royal elven blood, she was talented and even had the talent to manifest her element, a rare element at that.


    Since elves were usually close to nature, the plant element wasn''t very rare for them, but her talent made up for it.


    Her versatility and ease of using it stunned the audience as Rui commented, "Woah~ That''s the pride of elves for ya!"


    The elves in the stands cheered the loudest, followed by the girls admiring her figure and technique before the men enamored by her looks woke up by the loud ruckus.


    "Looks like she won''t be fighting any major battle for now," Rui said, "So, why not check out the pride of humans?"


    The screen shifted to the figure of Ava, wielding a katana and fighting a bear-like monster that was twice her height.


    Despite facing a towering bear, Ava stood resolute and unafraid, striking with precision.


    Of course, that was just the perception of the unaware audience; those with a critical eye could notice her amateur stance and form.


    Still, none of them frowned; in fact, they wore smiles, recognizing that this year''s newcomers were far more talented.


    Oblivious to all of it, Ava had only one focus in mind: the monster opposite her.


    It had some light gashes around its paws while a few cuts marred its yellow fur around its stomach and back.


    The audience gaped at the sight as Ava remained unharmed, using her light legs to reach speeds impossible for the monster to attack her.


    Unfortunately, she had a limited mana pool and stamina, so no matter how much she could dodge, she still needed to deal damage.


    Hence, she was lagging behind others while fighting the bear slowly but efficiently, taking almost 13 minutes to deal the final blow.


    However, the audience were composed by her calm breathing after such an exhausting battle and how she didn''t get as much a scratch on her.


    "Well, who would have guessed that someone could take an Ursidael like that?" Rui remarked, wiping an imaginary sweat from his forehead.


    Though he didn''t rest and changed to another place where a girl was wielding a rapier and fighting against a mage.


    It was Levi, daughter of Count Killion, who was wielding the rapier and using its light weight to swing it fastly to shake off the damage from the spells being fired at her.


    While her enemy seemed quite experienced, firing spells after spells, not letting Levi close in on her at any cost.


    ¡ªBoom!


    It wasn''t until an explosion shook both of them off balance that Levi got hit by a fireball, though it didn''t do any damage.


    She was wearing a special fabric useful against mages, but it still hurt her pride as her expression twisted.


    "Why''s there a freaking explosion!?" she complained before cursing, "Damn it! Where''s that wen¨C?"


    Just as she was about to curse, a stray arrow passed by her ear, startling her yet it served to only enrage her.


    Not only had she lost one of her targets, someone dared to target her!


    "You''re done for, whoever you are bit¨C!"


    Before she could say it, Rui had shifted the screen to the source of the explosion while sighing inwardly.


    ''Thankfully, the audience can''t hear their voices or else,'' he thought with a sigh of relief as cold sweat was already forming on the back of his neck.


    Still, he had to maintain his image, "I really didn''t expect an explosion to go out at such an important juncture of a fight,"


    "Let''s look at what caused it, yeah?" He seemingly asked the audience which played along.


    "YEAH!!"


    Rui smirked and replayed the scene before the blast occurred.


    It was none other than Caera who appeared, holding a magic staff in one hand and a dagger in another.


    She was standing and chanting a spell while a group of four girls were cautiously approaching her, unaware of the danger.


    "E-Rank Spell: Fire Blaze!"


    She muttered the spell name and the entire area within a two-meter radius was set ablaze at the same time.


    Yet that wasn''t the end of her spell as the fire spread and instantly reached a three-meter radius, surprising the group of girls.


    Before they could react, they were already eliminated as the burn damage was a bit too much, activating the barrier immediately.


    Meanwhile, Caera didn''t stop chanting, summoning a fireball and increasing its power by making it spin on its axis.


    Before the audience could make sense of her actions, she threw the E-Rank Fireball in a seemingly random direction.


    Yet it triggered a mine beneath the ground, causing an explosion.


    ¡ªBoom!


    Unaware of the approaching Levi, Caera left the area after canceling the spell and extinguishing the fire.


    She went in the direction the mine was located, which just so happened to be even farther from Levi, making it extremely hard to catch up.


    In fact, it would turn out to be a stupid action as the explosion attracted not just one or two examinees but even some monsters.


    "Poor girl, may she be satisfied by her result," Rui said with a praying gesture as he shifted the view to the air.

 Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Unconventional Ones

    While many times Rui displayed the scenes for the audience, the best ones were reserved for the highlights on the third day.


    But there was a twist. If a better moment appeared, the last one on the list would be shown on the day itself or maybe the next day.


    The Academy was rating the fights and when it would be best to show them, especially right before the audience went to sleep.


    Sadly, examinees lacked such luxuries, as they could be attacked by nocturnal predators or other competitors.


    At least the academy staff also had to accompany them, making sure no one got hurt by fatal wounds, poison, or anything toxic.


    Yes, even if the examinees ended up eating something toxic, the specially made customized suits would recognize and eliminate the examinee.


    Of course, the Academy had carefully placed only mild toxins which could be treated but nevertheless be used as grounds for disqualification.


    This test, as repeatedly emphasized, was not just about strength but also about wits and knowledge.


    As if to display that, the screen shifted to the figure of Ziva who was casually eliminating an entire pack of wolves!


    "Now, that''s what I call smart," Rui complimented with a rare hint of a genuine smile before going into the details.


    "With her element, she emulated the sound that wolves make after a successful hunt, gathering the pack together,"


    "Then, she placed the body of another monster which was freshly hunted by some wolf only," Rui said, pointing at the bits and pieces of its remaining bones.


    "Lastly, she disguised her smell with that of a wolf using that wolf''s body, but didn''t touch a single drop of wolf blood."


    Finally, the pieces of a puzzle were set together and the audience understood what she had done yet her element intrigued them.


    Unfortunately, Rui just smiled, "It''s a secret~ You only know if you know, else you don''t~"


    Infuriated by his response, the audience cursed at him while admiring the planning done by the girl on the screen.


    Yet Ziva wasn''t done as she distorted the senses of the monsters that approached after smelling blood.


    No one saw how exactly but the scene was only left with the monster''s dead bodies.


    It was a clear massacre.


    The sight sent chills down the spines of men who fantasized about her and girls who idolized her for a moment.


    Surprisingly, her training had transformed her from a gentle, emotional girl into a scheming one.


    Obviously, even some professors took her actions as excessive but it didn''t matter as they weren''t the majority.


    However, even they were stunned by her choice of weapon, a retractable whip-sword.


    It looked exactly like a sword but was made up of several parts that could be separated and functioned as a serrated whip.


    And somehow Ziva could use it exceptionally well despite its well-known difficulty amongst the populace as most shifted to swords after some time.


    Little did they know that Ziva was the only one with enough talent to use this weapon and even reach the Master realm of proficiency with it.


    Sadly, she only reached it during her last fight while she was an A-rank hunter fighting an Integration-Rank.


    Something that was seemingly impossible was made possible by her and that''s why the protagonist made every attempt to thaw her icy heart.


    Not like it mattered since she wasn''t meant to be his, even his cheat¡ªplot armor¡ªdidn''t help, let alone his efforts.


    Though no one knew her future and how it would change with the presence of Jash who was hell bent on changing it at any cost.


    Or would it even go his way?


    Still, it was a distant future and neither Ziva nor the audience were aware of it as they just seemed to be focused on their own goals.


    Just like them, Rui was focused on his own goal of having fun and working as the announcer.


    "Alright, alright, enough gawking, let''s switch to the dwarves as well?" Rui commented, finally eliciting cheers from the dwarves.


    At the sight of their prince, Grunghin, with fiery orange hair and amber eyes, the dwarves cheered boastfully, louder than any prior cheers.


    Unlike humans who were corrupted with selfishness or the reserved elves, the dwarves believed in letting it be and really enjoyed letting themselves loose.


    Despite that, their nation was well-maintained with their own rules and had less criminals than humans.


    Only elves were the ones who had literally the least number of criminals, not even totalling a 100.


    Well, not like the Church had any criminals, so the elves having even that many would surprise anyone as they had their World Tree to pray to.


    Anyways, it''s not something that needs any mention now as currently the audience was also interested in the dwarven prince.


    "What the hell? Those geezers think this is a good location to hold an Entrance Test!?" Grunghin cursed as he was struggling to travel.


    Not only was his height short, the sledgehammer on his back didn''t help in any way.


    Though it wasn''t much for Grunghin as he was a dwarf, born with short height but extremely strong and sturdy physiques.


    Heck, he could easily wield a weapon twice or thrice the weight of this sledgehammer, the problem was its size.


    Nevertheless, he got used to it and eliminated quite a few irksome examinees who laughed at his pitiful sight.


    "Voila!" Grunghin''s smile widened as he heard the sound of spells being thrown around.


    He dashed forward and saw two mages fighting with each other.


    "Wind Bla¨C" A boy, midway through his chant, stopped at the comical sight of a flying sledgehammer before he noticed the dwarf.


    Alas, it was too late and he got eliminated without even a chance to defend himself from the menace.


    His next choice was to dodge, but he had no time because of his attention being spared thin with his already ongoing duel.


    Grunghin looked at the barrier turning into motes of white light with a grin before turning towards the other mage, who had a pale face.


    "Hehe, let''s have some fun, shall we?" Grunghin snickered before charging at the terrified mage.


    Despite his fear, he managed to switch his spells and throw them at the approaching Grunghin, who dodged most of them.


    Even if the size of the sledgehammer impeded Grunghin, he didn''t care and focused on eliminating the human mage.


    Still, the daggers made of water hit his face and arms, leaving behind small cuts.


    Luckily, none of them struck his eyes or the suit would have activated the barrier, eliminating him under the audience''s sight.


    The suit was carefully designed to activate only in fatal situations or at the discretion of test conductors monitoring every participant closely.


    If they deemed it necessary, they could activate the barrier but they only did it if it was absolutely necessary.


    They would not activate the barrier if the wound or the injury could be treated at their medical blocks, and the students would be fine after a few days.


    Not caring about any of it, Grungin swung his sledgehammer, "HAAH!"


    Somehow, the mage dodged the swing, but Grunghin continued attacking him, moving erratically to dodge all spells.


    In the end, the boy landed with his back against a tree and cursed at the sight of the approaching sledgehammer, "FU¨C"


    His curse was left half-spoken as Grunghin spared no mercy and broke his ribs, resulting in a barrier covering the boy before the full force could hit.


    "Haha, Now, this is fun!" Damian laughed before smirking, "Wait till I meet you, my best friend." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Right at that moment, Zaos sneezed, looking left and right, trying to figure out why he would sneeze?

 Chapter 133: Chapter 133: The Unfazed Contender

    "Wh-hat!?" a professor stuttered, checking Jash''s screen after a few hours.


    He expected him to be in the race, fighting other examinees or monsters or dismantling traps, or at least struggling.


    But...


    Jash was right there... sleeping.


    Yes, he had the gall to sleep in the cave while other examinees struggled to find food, water, and a place merely for a short respite.


    "W-what the?" another professor shouted, hearing the first''s stunned voice and turning to look at his screen.


    Almost every person in the observation room was glancing at Jash in shock and felt that he was crazy.


    If not for his high scores and achieving first place in both the earlier tests, they would have thought that he gave up.


    But how could they? sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially when he was nothing short of a seeded candidate and believed to get a top 10 finish in the Entrance Test.


    Despite their exaggerated reactions¡ªtwitching lips, trembling arms, gritted teeth, or veins throbbing on forehead¡ªthey restrained themselves.


    "Let''s replay it," a female professor said, unshaken by the entire spectacle as others nodded at her words.


    "Yeah, maybe he overexerted himself?" one professor said with a forced smile, trying to find logic in Jash''s actions.


    Unfortunately, all of them were set to be disappointed as nothing exemplary was shown from his side after the 3v1 to occupy the cave.


    Oblivious to being targeted and disliked by most professors, Jash slept peacefully as if the Entrance Test were just a cakewalk.


    In fact, one professor even appreciated his carefree and free-spirited approach, observing, "He''s relaxed because he feels no threat."


    Hearing her speak, the professors next to her were stunned and one braved through, "What do you mean by that, Professor Aileen?"


    However, it seemed that she had no intentions to answer and just walked out of the observation room with a subtle smile.


    A fire was burning in her eyes¡ªa fire to make Jash strong and actually utilize his talent as she had long noticed his lousy acting.


    Well, she was the only one with the right to call it lousy, fully aware that only someone at the SSS-Rank could detect it, or had to be special¡ªlike her.


    Surprisingly, Jash shivered at the exact moment she smiled as if she were going to be a great hindrance to his dream life.


    Feeling uncomfortable all over, he walked up with a start, bobbing his head to make sense of his location before it struck him.


    ''The Entrance Test... Shit!? Did I just sleep here?'' he lamented his situation inwardly, unable to blame anyone for his failure.


    It wasn''t really a failure as he did get a good rest while others were busy and the moonlight outside seemed peculiar.


    He didn''t need to think much to recall the reason. ''They really don''t know how to pull their punches,'' he mused with a nonchalant smile.


    Jash didn''t realize but his smile resembled that of a battle junkie itching for battle as he exited the cave with an eager look.


    Sometimes, people who are used to controlling their emotions fail to do so, letting them run rampant.


    However, that''s a good thing since emotions weren''t meant to be fully restrained, just enough that you maintain your humane side.


    And the professors who had lost interest in Jash were busy with looking at Avon, Amael, Ava, Caera, Ziva, Viria, Levi, Grunghin, Zaos, Sylvie, Yirox, Helios, Caeron...


    In the end, there were just one too many talented examinees for them to stay focused on any one of them.


    If not for the professor''s high ranks, they''d have a headache coming in while looking at the tens of seeded candidates alongside a few dark horses.


    Thankfully, none of them met each other as calculated by them, making sure the best was saved for the last day.


    Also, the fact that one of the talented ones would end up disqualified too soon would hurt their pride¡ªthier psyche.


    That was an outcome no one wanted to see as losing a prospect was far worse than losing a failed prospect.


    That''s why they ensured subtle changes were made, forcing the major candidates to not clash until the last day.


    Though their major role was in ensuring that they didn''t fight before the total surviving number dropped to a meager 2000.


    That was the total number of students to be accepted this year, and no one could change it.


    Though there have been batches with less students, the maximum has always been 2000 and it was assumed that this year would have 2000.


    While all of them were making efforts to maintain the status quo, there was Rui who wanted to disrupt it, just within the limits.


    Surely, he didn''t want to get punished... right?


    Anyways, he was currently glimpsing at Jash who navigated through the forest with ease as if it was daytime.


    His eyes shone with mischief as he deployed a trap to ensnare Jash and have some fun.


    Alas, Jash was too perceptive to the flow of mana and sensed the change in his environment no matter how muted it was.


    "This... this wasn''t here," he mumbled, frowning at the sight of a new flower on the ground.


    As he thought about it, his eyes bulged in realization and he instantly backstepped, trying to outrun the special trap designed for him.


    ¡ªSwish!


    The sharp sound of air being sliced echoed as stone spears erupted from the ground, aiming at Jash, who had already stepped out of their trajectory.


    ¡ªCrumble!


    Yet the stone spears shattered upon hitting the ground and tree trunks, becoming nothing but gravel.


    "So useless," Jash muttered, brooding over the weapons he could have used before realization dawned on him.


    ''It has to be that guy!'' he concluded, recalling the figure of Rui dressed in proper announcer''s clothing.


    Despite figuring out the cause and effect, Jash didn''t stand there like an idiot; he chose to get out of this place.


    Unfortunately, just as he took his first step, the environment around him changed.


    "An illusion?" he mubmled to himself in doubt, noticing the stark contrast between the lush forest and the sandy desert.


    Yet the feeling of the wind, the sounds of small creatures like salamanders, and the sensation of his feet sinking into the sand were too real to dismiss them as mere illusions.


    "To think something that can create things that are so real is being used here," he mumbled in astonishment.


    His bewilderment was overshadowed by the impressive illusion as he looked back from the corner of his eye.


    One look and he found out that he was being surrounded by something though he couldn''t quite point out what they were.


    ''Although they''re illusions... I can really feel their presence,'' he noted, intrigued by the level of illusions being used in the Entrance Test.


    "What a lie! It''s that guy who''d done it of his own accord," Jash clicked his tongue and spat the truth with a disdainful expression.


    However, Rui just snickered at the scene, smiling as he recalled all the examinees who got eliminated due to his tricks.


    Soon though, it was Rui''s turn to be bewildered as a wild smile appeared on Jash''s face as he unsheathed his sword.


    ''This killing intent... so nostalgic,'' Jash thought as he wielded the sword, deliberately falling for the trick played by Rui.

 Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Sword and Skeletons

    Unlike anyone else who''d be troubled in their current situation, Jash was smiling crazily, finally feeling that his itch to battle would be scratched.


    ''This is truly... a good opportunity for me,'' he thought with a calm smile, composing himself and restraining his leaking emotions.


    As if right on cue, the ones holding animosity showed up.


    "Undead?" Jash blurted out, his smile widening, unable to reel in his excitement.


    They were a ragtag group of skeletons with some scrap-like weapons in the front before more and more of them appeared in his eyes.


    Yet Jash remained unfazed, fully aware that it was just an illusion and that he was in no real danger.


    A plethora of weapons¡ªspears, machetes, swords, daggers, khukris, sharp claws, greatswords, axes¡ªin hand they approached.


    ''They''re humanoids but since they aren''t humans, I can fight all of them without hesitation,'' Jash mused, noting the closing distance.


    As the distance neared a mere five meters, he moved from his stance, breaking all hell loose.


    He slashed, sliced, swung, cut, thrusted, and used the flat of the sword in a continuous harmony, deflecting all attacks on him.


    However, the wide smile and falling apart skeletons reflected the reality of his swift and hidden counter attacks even though he was on defense.


    ''Thanks to the illusion, I don''t have to hold back anything at all,'' he mused with a small smile gracing his lips.


    The mana inside his body boiled violently, ready to be unleashed at a moment''s notice and take down his enemies.


    Still, Jash continued to forcefully circulate it inside his body, strengthening his muscles, tendons, ligaments and reducing tension and friction.


    Using the mana as a coating and protecting the tissues from any wear and tear, he increased the time it would take for his body to fatigue.


    His already abnormally powerful body was further enhanced by the abundant mana within, boosting his efficiency.


    He didn''t stop swinging his sword, using it to parry, block, and evade, all the while slashing it to incapacitate the skeletons.


    "Huu..."


    Jash exhaled deeply, his eyes scanning the battlefield littered with fallen undead, then focusing on the remaining enemies.


    Naturally, since they were undead, they didn''t have an emotion like fear and charged at him regardless of how many he destroyed.


    Nothing mattered anymore as Jash almost got into a trance, fighting the horde of never ending skeletons.


    The mastery of his swordsmanship rose visibly as unnecessary movements started reducing with greater efficiency.


    In simpler terms, if he could only take down one skeleton with a single slash earlier, then he could take down two or three with the same slash.


    To top it off were the reduced amount of mana and physical stamina consumption as he started losing the sense of battle.


    The repetitive slashing grew monotonous and boring as he cut down skeletons with ease as if it were straight out of an action movie.


    Jash''s movements slowed down as he felt the lingering presences around him dwindle away and his unfocused eyes regained focus.


    It turned out he had half-entered a trance state and got pulled out of it due to the lack of enemies to fight against.


    "Is it over...?" he mumbled in disappointment, thinking, ''It''d be such a pity if that was all though...''


    Just as the thought rose in his mind, he felt stronger presences and malicious intent all of a sudden from all around him.


    Despite his situation, his reaction was different.


    His voice tinged with anticipation as he smiled, talking to himself, "So it really isn''t over yet."


    As the skeletons came into view, he also noticed that they were donning armor made of some metal that fully covered them.


    ''It''s broken and dilapidated but the energy they emanate is far more powerful!'' he observed with a critical eye.


    However, his smile only became more stuck on his lips as the distance closed and swung his sword to stretch his tense arm a bit.


    "This is just the start," he muttered before charging straight into the lines of the undead enemies. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The size difference or the larger numbers or their armors or their better weapons¡ªnothing seemed to deter him in the least.


    He didn''t even realize himself that his itch to battle was like an itch that, no matter how much you scratched it, would only feel like it wasn''t enough.


    Holding the sword firmly, Jash swung it, taking off the helmets worn by a few skeletons as they moved their necks at the last second.


    ''Better than before... probably F-Rank?'' he guessed, not knowing their true rank since they were a horde.


    If he was just facing one of them, it would be so much easier to take it down yet a multitude of F-Rank Undead wouldn''t be easy for someone at the Early E-Rank.


    Yet Jash stood staunch, eager to fight it out, as if to defy the logical thinking the world seemed to work on.


    ¡ªSwish!


    "Ugh," Jash grunted, moving his head in the nick of time to dodge a sudden arrow being launched at his head.


    ''At least there aren''t any mages yet,'' he thought, relieved slightly due to not having to deal with those pesky mages.


    Sadly, it seemed he himself jinxed it as a fireball flew towards his face while wind blades shot at his arms, to unarm him, literally.


    Sweat dripped from his forehead as he narrowly dodged the attacks, using an undead as a meat shield while blocking an axe swing.


    ''They are slowly getting stronger,'' he observed their quicker movements and how it was becoming harder to deal with them.


    Despite his precarious situation, Jash seemed to be enjoying it.


    Little did he know that it would continue to change him fundamentally as it were the aftereffects from reincarnation.


    The memories he gained without real effort, coupled with his unique soul aspect¡ªsomething rare even in this world¡ªwere beginning to manifest their influence.


    Naturally, it was caused simply because this was the first battle that felt real and something he could actually do.


    Unlike the time in the dungeon, where he barely survived due to unknown external factors, this battle was manageable with a little overexertion.


    The feeling of fighting continuously without pause as if his life was on the line spurred his past self into his being itself.


    Despite it being an illusion and he knew it, it was undeniable that the thrill of the battle got to him, ignoring the fact.


    As if he wanted to reach unattainable heights, he had decided to get the most out of this opportunity, not wanting to regret it later.


    After all, being able to sleep with peace of mind that he was the strongest was far better than making half-assed efforts and having to stay awake for fear of the strong.


    Thankfully, the memories he only witnessed but never really got the feel of were also fusing within him.


    ''The insights from my past life, something I never understood, are now becoming one with me.''


    Rather than thinking about them actively, they were pouring within his mind, trying to get refined and polished for his current body.


    ''Come at me!'' he exclaimed, eager to try his new style eagerly.


    ''Faster and stronger!''


    His thoughts narrowed onto using the undead as test dummies to refine his swordsmanship, feeling the wall to the intermediate realm of mastery cracking open.


    ''Just a little more...''

 Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Shattering the Illusion

    As if to fulfill his wish, a bunch of daggers came flying at Jash in the next second as his eyes tracked their trajectories.


    Falling into an unknown state of flow, he swung his sword with his wrist, moving at speeds that mimicked a shield.


    Unknowingly, the fluidity of his wrists allowed him to move the sword easily and parry the flying daggers in one go.


    Yet he didn''t stop, moving his feet to turn around, carrying forward the momentum from his sword to continue his offense. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His sword slashed through a bunch of weapons aiming for his neck, chest, stomach, and thigh before swiftly cutting through the undead wielding them.


    He completed the set of actions in one swift motion as if nothing could impede his moments while his eyes became unfocused.


    He didn''t realize his situation resembled an enlightenment his father, Carcel, had described.


    In a twist of foot, another undead fell with a thud, colliding with other bones littering the ground.


    For the next few seconds, Jash seamlessly blended in with the fight, moving in its flow.


    His sword aimed for the openings through the rusty armor worn by the undead while deflecting their weapons.


    The angle of deflection resulted in their weapons clashing against each other, getting tangled and stalling them.


    Using that moment of opening, Jash easily took care of the undead one by one until he ended up taking down the last one.


    ¡ªSwish!


    His sword swung vertically downwards, slashing its skull through its broken helmet as its body staggered back.


    Jash didn''t follow the turn of events and ended up plunging his sword into the ground.


    Only when he failed to continue his natural set of moments did he come to his senses, feeling a sense of euphoria wash over him.


    However, the euphoric sensation of reaching the intermediate realm of sword mastery didn''t last long as his fatigue caught up.


    "Huff... huff..." he gasped deeply, panting for breath as lungs ached from the excessive movements his body had undergone in a short period.


    ''Is it over?'' he asked internally, his eyes crinkling in pain from being hyper focused while a few drops of blood leaked from his nose.


    His hand inadvertently reached above his lips at the warm sensation as he brought his fingers to see what it was.


    "Blo...od...?" he muttered in confusion before his head cleared up.


    ''Mana deviation...'' he realized, checking his mana reserves to find them utterly empty.


    It seemed his body had overexerted himself in the exchange of upgrading his sword mastery, but a smile soon blossomed on his face.


    "This is just an illus¨Cahhhh," he mumbled, before his facial muscles ached due to the smile on his face.


    It was not just his mana reserves, but also his body suffered from pushing his limits, though he wasn''t aware of it.


    Nevertheless, his internal satisfaction remained as he combated the pain, awaiting the illusion''s end as he believed its goal must have been achieved.


    Unfortunately, it was just what Jash believed...


    ¡ªNeigh!


    The sound of hooves cracking against the floor echoed all around him as the hair at his neck rose in fear.


    "IS HE FREAKING CRAZY!?" Jash screamed at his loudest despite the pain accompanying his exclamation.


    Another wave of the undead, one stronger than the previous one, was coming with higher grades of Undead this time.


    ''This illusion wasn''t created to be fought and won,'' Jash concluded without wasting his time on anger.


    He just added a few more points to Rui''s revenge and how to exaggerate it to a certain someone.


    His expression turned frosty as he continued to run his thoughts while being mentally fatigued as he still had to break the illusion.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t have a cheat-like system like Amael or the protagonist.


    But he didn''t want something like that either, it was way too binding and there was no need for it.


    ''There it is,'' he noticed at the place where he appeared after entering the illusion as he dragged his body towards it.


    ''This darned Rui! He really made the core of the illusion at the same place one appears,'' Jash cursed inwardly.


    In essence, any illusion was just a formation that worked on the brain, manipulating it into believing that something is real or unreal.


    Both types of illusions exist and various factors like the creator''s element, ability, mastery and many more affect it.


    The most important factor is who it is going to impact as two people could indeed have entirely different reactions to the same illusion.


    Either way, the core of the illusion, or the formation per se, was what brought it into effect, so it was also a weakness.


    Usually, the cores were well-hidden or the formation master would play another trick on it.


    There could also be formations with sub-cores or other substitutes, but it wasn''t something Jash had to deal with.


    The illusion he was inside was merely a simple trick, something not even comparable to what the Imperial Family played with.


    If he could crack that illusion, then how difficult would this one be?


    In fact, it was time for Rui to be surprised as Jash dealt with something he deemed to be luck-based.


    The only reason the undead hordes were so big and so many was because the core was present in plain sight.


    It was to create a sense of pseudo-balance in case he were accused of malicious intentions.


    Only Jash knew that Rui was in no way stupid and that''s why he was able to come up with the correct answer so quickly.


    Still, he had been fighting for nearly an hour with his concentration at its peak alongside the trance-like state.


    It was more than enough to drag him down as he tried to break the core, and the illusion as a result of that.


    Unfortunately, the Undead could care less.


    They were fast approaching with great momentum to eliminate the living from their Realm of Bones.


    ''Shit!'' Jash cursed inwardly at their sight, increasing his pace despite the pain coursing through him.


    Even though it was an illusion, it was extremely real or breaking through the next realm of sword master wouldn''t be possible in the first place.


    If it were so easy, everyone would be using illusions to get past any walls in their life as a hunter and no one would be scorned.


    However, that was just an idiot''s dream.


    Whereas Jash was trying to reach the core before the Undead caught up to him and he tried his best despite the challenge ahead¡ªbehind him.


    Thankfully, the Undead failed as Jash ended up breaking the core and the illusion shattered like a glass.


    A relieved smile appeared on his face before his illusion too broke apart.


    He woke up with a start in a dark area, unable to guess his location before a grunt escaped his lips, "Arghhh..."


    In the next second, his mental fatigue caught up to him as he fell unconscious on his back.


    Oblivious to him, a small chest appeared next to him mysteriously as if to reward his efforts inside the illusion.


    Meanwhile, the initiator, Rui, was messing around with other examinees when he realized one of them completed his test.


    "Oh? Which one?" he mumbled excitedly, eager to see which examinee surpassed his expectations.


    "Huh? It''s him? How? Impossible!" he exclaimed in surprise, unable to believe the outcome.

 Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Unseen Dynamics

    Rui''s reaction was exaggerated but it made sense since he didn''t think anyone would be able to break that illusion.


    Much less fight in it for an entire hour against the neverending hordes of undead!


    "Maybe he was lucky?" he said, trying to console himself and believe it, but the timing didn''t match.


    If he was lucky, he would''ve gotten out within the first few minutes as he tried to escape the undead and stumbled upon the core.


    But 1 hour? S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Something doesn''t add up," Rui blurted out in confusion, utterly perplexed by what happened.


    "What doesn''t add up?"


    A cold voice entered his ears, freezing him on the spot as the colors on his face drained.


    "P-professor Aileen," Rui blurted out in surprise, recognizing her chilly voice and turning to look at her.


    Thankfully, Rui wasn''t actively commenting as most of the audience had returned and it was night, or else his image would''ve fallen.


    Currently, Rui was just wearing a set of pajamas to be in comfort and enjoy messing around with the examinees to an acceptable standard.


    Unfortunately, something like that didn''t bother Aileen.


    She was still donned in the professor''s uniform and had entered the private premises of Rui yet he himself didn''t dare to complain.


    Rather, his throat was parched at her sudden appearance and her inquisitive tone that he forgot to breathe for a second.


    "I asked you, what doesn''t add up?" She asked, her voice dropped to a chilling whisper, laced with an edge that promised consequences if unanswered.


    "T-that," Rui stammered, unable to tell her the truth and cursed his luck inwardly, ''Damn! Just why is it she who heard it!?''


    "That?" she asked again, "Don''t waste my time."


    Her second sentence seemed to press Rui into almost blurting out the reason but Zander appeared right at that moment.


    "Professor Aileen, I don''t think it''s quite right for you to press a student like that," Zander said, without asking about the situation.


    It seemed he was observing, but he wasn''t. He had just sensed a pulse of mana when he was leaving the stadium and came here.


    The trembling Rui and presence of a professor was more than enough for him to figure it out.


    "Vice-Principal!" Rui greeted in delight while Aileen greeted in mild dissatisfaction, "Vice-Principal."


    However, she maintained her respectful tone and demeanor in front of him despite the light in her eyes dimming.


    "May I inquire what was it that you wished to ask from Rui at this hour?" Zander said after nodding in acknowledgement.


    "I was observing a student and he suddenly fell unconscious where no trap or anything was placed," she began.


    "I doubted my eyes but when I began checking all the participants, a very few of them were struggling at places without any traps or monsters,"


    Her eyes then turned to Rui as she continued, "And who would I come to ask except him? That''s when I heard his mutters."


    As if she finished what she had to say and Rui''s significance had ended, she turned to face Zander, awaiting an answer.


    "Is that so?" he muttered before casting a side glance at Rui who trembled all of a sudden, feeling his miniscule presence.


    "Professor Aileen, I will check what you''ve said and take care of this matter," Zander said, leaving no room of discussion.


    "...Alright," Aileen agreed after some hesitation but she had no choice and flew away.


    "S-sir, it''s not wha¨C" Rui began explaining the moment Aileen left but Zander raised his hand to stop him.


    "The academy allowed you to interfere within an acceptable range. No need to say anything unless you broke that agreement."


    Hearing Zander''s cold words, Rui shut up and just nodded, knowing he stayed within the agreed-upon limits.


    It was just that the limits were set at different levels for different participants.


    Someone at the level of Jash, who secured first place in both earlier tests would have to suffer quite a bit more than others.


    It was not a personal vendetta or some politics to prevent him from reaching rank 1. The academy had no place for such things.


    To this day, the Solarnelle Academy was the one place with the least amount of corruption throughout the Empire.


    Of course, excluding elven and dwarven domains as information about them was hard to get even for the Imperial Family.


    They were powerhouses and were in an open alliance with each other as well as humans, so provoking either would be a bad idea.


    Not like there were many negatives about cooperating as all three races progressed a lot when working in tandem and even sharing their technology.


    Heck, even some elven and dwarven professors existed within the Solarnelle Academy to reduce race discrimination.


    The academy''s integrity got bolstered by the cooperation of elven and dwarven professors, though this diversity sometimes led to factional differences due to the difference in opinions.


    The difference in opinions was also the reason Rui found himself unable to speak the truth about Jash.


    If he actually told Zander about the extreme test he gave Jash with a pseudo-balancing luck-based exit...


    Just the thought was enough for Rui to wipe it off from his mind and act like nothing happened.


    His shock, surprise and disbelief didn''t matter as it wasn''t worth it and got replaced by amusement.


    ''It''ll be fun to watch their disappointed faces,'' he thought, bemused by the interesting situation.


    After all, he himself couldn''t know what exactly happened inside the illusion, not to mention the Academy Staff or the audience.


    All they got was just another footage of Jash sleeping.


    This time, underneath a tree''s roots with some gap for breathing though he wasn''t aware of it himself.


    Since Jash was mentally fatigued, he couldn''t wake up anytime soon and literally continued to rest until noon of the next day.


    Even Rui himself didn''t expect Jash to take so long to just wake up.


    Yet when Jash woke up, he felt slightly tense, his head was aching and it even elicited a groan, "Ugh."


    Jash squinted against the darkness, his eyes scrunching in reflex before slowly fluttering open, only to see darkness all around him.


    ''Where... am I?'' he wondered, his mind racing despite the throbbing pain as he tried to move.


    The first thing he felt on his hands was the rough texture of soil and he instantly recognized it, ''Soil? Did I get buried or something?''


    Unaware of the pit he had fallen into after entering the illusion which threw him underneath a tree, he could only speculate.


    Thankfully, the hard sensation of the root as well as wet soil and the few thin rays of sunlight helped him calculate his position.


    "I am under the wat¡ªtree!?" he exclaimed, almost saying water due to the memories of a funny video.


    However, he was the most astounded one by his own bizarreness to joke despite his potentially precarious situation.


    It truly eluded him how he could do so when he was the least like that.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t get the time to think about it as his hand came across a metallic box.


    "Hm? What''s this?" he asked himself before bringing it closer to his eyes, "A ''Reward Chest''?"


    The top lid of it was written in beautiful cursive writing that Jash barely read due to the sparse light.


    "There''s an actual reward for this!?" Jash exclaimed in doubt, opening it at once.

 Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Lost Wanderer

    The reward chest opened to reveal two similar vials of potions, each of a different color.


    "Mana Recovery Potion and Healing Potion?" Jash exclaimed in recognition, his brows arching in doubt.


    No physical harm had befallen him, but the potions could still be useful for the rest of the exam.


    Anyhow, the reward chest and the potions perplexed him, as rewards weren''t ever mentioned in the novel or any information about the Academy.


    Unlike him, the staff were in disarray trying to figure out how he got the reward chest from another place.


    It was actually a reward from a chain-quest where different numbers of clues pertaining to the same objective were left in various places.


    Many participants were solving the puzzle, unaware that others had already moved ahead.


    Only after solving the puzzle at five different levels would two examinees come face-to-face and realize the futility of their struggle.


    Of course, the reward being two potions and the sub-rewards at each stage were meant to make up for it.


    Unfortunately, that same reward chest was with Jash, who was... just sleeping.


    If only Jash knew they considered him to be lazily sleeping around, he''d one hundred percent go and beat the shit out of them.


    Though they were at least A-Rank hunters, it wasn''t realistic, but Jash wouldn''t care at that point.


    Well, there was a much higher chance of him not giving a damn and just ignoring them, just like he did with almost everything.


    He had a simple motto that he followed: Why take unnecessary stress and tension if it can just be forgotten?


    It wasn''t really complex, but applying it in real life was difficult where every person was burdened by one tension or another.


    And as if to prove this point, Jash threw away the reward box and pocketed the two vials, placing them next to the sword.


    Thankfully, he had gotten a belt from an examinee, allowing him to secure the potions and give them a layer to prevent any accidental damage.


    However, he pursed his lips in the next second, pondering about his next set of actions.


    ''What even is left for me to do?'' he wondered, relaxed after his breakthrough in sword mastery.


    It took him a few seconds to come to a decision. "Maybe I should stabilize it," he mumbled to himself, still in deep thought.


    He absentmindedly tried to dig his way out of the soil and find some examinees to stabilize his impetus breakthrough.


    Just as he moved, a stinging pain erupted near his heart at the mana core.


    "W...what?" he uttered through bated breath, caressing his chest to placate the unexpected sensation of pain.


    No matter how realistic the illusion was, it was after all only an illusion, so Jash remained oblivious to his body''s condition.


    His mana was entirely exhausted to bring him back to consciousness and maintain his bodily functions.


    Though his body didn''t really exert itself, his brain sure did¡ªthe sensations and nerve signals wouldn''t stop immediately.


    And that''s exactly where mana came in.


    It served as a mediator between the lucid state of being in an illusion and the real world, working to restore the balance.


    That''s why his entire mana was almost depleted.


    It was only because he was relaxing that he didn''t realize it after waking up and it only showed effects as he moved.


    Nevertheless, Jash''s mind was sharp enough to conclude that his mana was exhausted, taking the best steps to solve it.


    In a hurry to restore his mana, he took out the vial of Mana Recovery Potion and gulped it down in one go.


    "Aargh," he groaned at its bitter taste amid the rising pain before a cool sensation spread through his stomach.


    It slowly crept to his mana core, immediately dousing the burst of pain with a fresh wave of pure mana.


    Well, it all happened within a second of taking the potion but for Jash, that might''ve been hours.


    The pain was no worse than during his awakening ceremony, and it would worsen if he emptied his mana core as a higher-ranked hunter.


    Though their higher absorption rates prevent the problem unless they are in a mana-less environment.


    Then... good luck.


    In one way or another, Jash too was in a similar situation without mana, buried under a tree.


    If not for immediately consuming the Mana Recovery Potion, he might''ve suffered more and even damaged his Mana Core in the long run.


    ''Damn you, Rui! Just you wait!'' Jash vowed, gritting his teeth while clutching his chest.


    Fortunately, the staff was busy looking out for other examinees as only a few thousand examinees were left after an entire day.


    Or they were busy trying to figure out the source of the reward chest that Jash received from nowhere.


    Sadly for them, they were destined to not find out anything about it and could only edit that part out, lest someone claims favoritism.


    Meanwhile, Jash finally dug his way out of the soil and squinted his eyes against the sharp sunlight shining on his muddy face.


    The stark difference in brightness forced him to be caught off-guard for a second, but no one was there to take advantage of it.


    After dusting himself off, Jash trudged back to the cave, in hopes of encountering someone.


    Alas, all his luck seemed to have been used or was it really bad luck?


    "Damn it! When I didn''t want to fight, I encountered so many examinees and monsters, so where are they now?"


    Jash grumbled in frustration, unable to encounter even a hair of an examinee as he traversed the forest.


    No matter how much he looked around or the amount of noise he made, he only found some weak E-Rank monsters.


    One swing was all it took to eliminate them as he didn''t even look back to check on them.


    In fact, his frustration could also be attributed to his rumbling stomach as he didn''t eat anything since the start of the Entrance Test. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If not for hunters being stronger due to the presence of mana in their bodies, he would''ve long craved anything edible.


    He was no different than a starving teen finding his fridge empty after being given hopes of a sumptuous meal.


    Sadly, his stringent choice of food being carried from his past life was really difficult to fulfill.


    ''So annoying,'' he thought, remembering the long periods of starvation in his past life.


    Despite the situation of his previous world dropping to a level where humans would even eat rotten food, he didn''t even eat fresh meat.


    And that same habit, instinct, routine, or whatever you call it, had become a part of his soul across two lives.


    Even before regaining the memories, he puked at the sight of meat, not to mention eating it.


    That was impossible.


    The only change would be his past life experiences of chewing on fresh self-cooked food even when standing in pools of blood and flesh.


    "Ugh," he groaned with an irritated countenance as he stepped into a desert next to the forest before turning back.


    "As if a desert would have any food when even the forest didn''t..." he muttered, turning to look at the leafy treetops.


    "Just what is the use of having such lush trees when they can''t even produce the smallest of a nut," he complained, punching a tree trunk.


    ¡ªThud!


    ¡ªKieeek!!

 Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Satisfied Monkey Chaser

    As soon as Jash punched a tree with all his might, a loud thudding sound echoed followed by a screech.


    Turning around, he stared dumbfounded at the figure of the 1-foot small monkey, scratching its red butt after falling on it.


    Soon, the monkey also noticed Jash and started shrieking and hooting at him, "Kii! Kieeek! Ki Ki Ki!"


    "I don''t know what you''re saying but..." Jash replied before a chilling smile blossomed at his lips.


    ¡ªShwaa!


    Unsheathing his sword, Jash put it in front of him and completed his sentence, "...you''ve arrived at the perfect time."


    On the other hand, the monkey trembled visibly at the crazy sight of Jash, wondering what this two-legged creature was talking about.


    Yet the fight was inevitable the moment Jash saw the skin of a banana fall alongside the monkey.


    ''If I can''t get him to take me there, I can just chase after it,'' Jash smirked, believing his plan to be foolproof.


    With full confidence in himself, he dashed at the monkey, kicking up a small dust cloud and swinging his sword.


    However, he changed its trajectory to only leave cuts on the body of the monkey.


    Only... his sword cut nothing but air as the monkey was already far away.


    Despite his hunger gnawing at his sanity, Jash knew better than to underestimate an enemy who could easily dodge his attacks.


    "Ki ki?" The monkey whined, tilting its head in confusion as its red tail formed a question mark ''?'' sign.


    In the next second, its tail formed an exclamation point ''!'' mark as it moved away yet again, using its hindlimbs to jump.


    "What?" Jash blurted, struggling to believe the monkey was dodging his attacks so easily..


    With his emotions in disarray, he missed the snorting and playful demeanor of the monkey as it toyed with him.


    Although it could slightly understand Jash''s animosity, it didn''t care and made even more fun of him, mocking him with its tongue.


    Each time Jash''s sword neared, the monkey dodged at the last second, as if mocking him to try harder.


    "Damn you," he cursed, unable to cut even a hair strand of the green-colored monkey despite so many attempts.


    Unknowingly, the incongruency within his brain and body with relation to the sword mastery was slowly getting resolved.


    With each focused swing, his sword improved and the monkey was finding it harder and harder to dodge despite Jash''s increasing anger.


    He was gritting his teeth to the point of his gums bleeding as he really couldn''t stand it, hunger really took a toll on him.


    Not only did it lower his energy and stamina, it even deeply affected his mental state, making him nothing more than a monkey chaser.


    However, only the monkey knew that it was barely dodging the attacks despite using its long tail.


    Even though it had a prehensile tail it was having a hard time to actually grasp branches and jump away.


    Jash forced the monkey to stay grounded despite his crazed state.


    It was more of a subconscious instinct to take down the monkey and achieve his goal with the highest efficiency.


    Unfortunately, Jash couldn''t see himself or how stupid his actions were getting as the monkey even got a few hits in.


    Though all it gave Jash was a few bruises and nothing more than that.


    ''Seems like it only has high agility,'' Jash noted, feeling the damage being done despite the attacks.


    While it may seem stupid to allow an unknown enemy to attack, he needed to gauge the monkey''s rank.


    No matter the number of monsters and their discerning features he knew about, there were just way too many to know them all.


    Unless he chose to go deep into research about Monster Zoology, there was no way to figure out the monkey without a few exchanges.


    Even if it could be potentially dangerous and his conclusions could even be false, he wasn''t functioning at full capacity.


    Hence, he really believed the monkey was just an agility-type annoying monster.


    "Now, you''re done for!" He yelled, using mana to boost his speed at the last second, taking the monkey by surprise.


    In the next second, Jash found himself being pushed backward while a few strands of red flow in the air.


    The monkey''s tail easily deflected Jash''s full-powered sword slash as if it was no big deal.


    "Huh?" Jash let out a confused sound at the sight, utterly perplexed before his gaze came across the monkey.


    Or its lack thereof.


    Only its enlarged tail was visible, slowly returning to normal as the monkey reappeared.


    It was even smaller than 5 inches and Jash stood there for a while, dumbfounded and astounded.


    "What the hell!?"


    Those were the first words he spoke as he realized he''d been had.


    ''This... is just a stimulated monster,'' he concluded upon seeing it disappear shortly after becoming even smaller.


    Fortunately, he stabilized his swordsmanship with its help, serving as a whetstone to increase his sharpness and agility.


    Of course, he himself didn''t know all of it yet and was busy cursing whoever arranged this damned test.


    However, his complaints turned to all smiles as a bunch of bananas appeared at the place where the monkey dematerialized from.


    "Wait!" he stopped himself at the last second, choosing to slice them apart with his sword before kicking away.


    "3... 2... 1..." Jash counted, closing his ears and hiding behind a tree, waiting for something.


    "Hm? Did I guess wrong?" he mumbled to himself before taking a peek from the tree''s side to really find the bananas.


    He was doubtful if it was another test or not, but it didn''t turn out to be so as he ran towards them, instantly swallowing a handful.


    He couldn''t care less about them being poisonous, it was a trouble for his future-self either way.


    Thankfully, they weren''t poisonous and the professor who made that test was smiling satisfactorily with the data from the fight.


    Also, Jash''s cautious side won brownie points from the professor as he generously graded it.


    Yes, most trials were created by the professors and had to get approved by the Principal before making their way into the Entrance Test.


    And the decision to decide the grade, passing or failing the tests fell directly into their hands.


    Naturally, there were some professors who didn''t do it, choosing to take other roles in the Entrance Test.


    Though Jash didn''t really know about the behind the scenes of the Entrance Test, not being a professor or having talked to one. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even the novel only mentioned the female professors sacrificing themselves for the protagonist or their sisters entering his harem.


    They could be villains or just brothers taking revenge for their sister''s misery yet the world labeled them differently.


    Fortunately for them, Jash was going to change the entire novel or its plot by surviving and before that, securing First Place in the Entrance Test.


    At least those were his aspirations, even though he remained unaware of the weight they carried.


    As it not only changed the fates of those directly involved, but even of those unlinked to anything.


    And it would be really hard to imagine Jash being such a person with how zealously he ate a dozen bananas in one go.


    Feeling satisfied, he licked his lips, "Now, just a day remains... I should head there."

 Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Not My Problem

    "W-what? Where''s the promised reward!?" an average teen with torn clothes and scars marring his body cried out.


    While Jash was joyously heading to his planned destination in a relaxed manner, one of the two finalists battling for the promised reward finally won.


    Alas, all he saw was an empty place with no rewards left there as he broke down at the sight, his face fell in despair; he had given everything for it.


    "And that''s a lesson on not trusting others easily, not to mention mere papers," Rui commented with a grin.


    He masterfully hid his inner thoughts and emotions, making sure no one figured out it was him who stole the chest.


    He even took the liberty to handle the situation and made a spectacle of the examinee who was considered a strong contender... until now, that is.


    The unfortunate examinee didn''t even realize the audience was laughing and enjoying themselves at his expense.


    To add insult to injury, his defeated foe was laughing hysterically despite almost being disqualified.


    Though nothing of it lasted long as both of them were disqualified by two sharp, green arrows.


    They couldn''t even react before their barrier activated, teleporting them out of the island.


    In essence, they suffered the most; not only did they gain nothing, but they also got disqualified when only a little over 2000 examinees remained.


    In their place, appeared a blue-eyed and green-haired elf before kicking away, not even sparing a glance around.


    "I hope I don''t meet him," he muttered under his breath, holding a longbow on his shoulder as he ran across the mountain.


    Unlike him, the one he didn''t want to meet was actively looking for him.


    The orange-haired dwarf, Grunghin, was fighting a human mage who mocked him for his height.


    The mage sneered, "Didn''t realize kids liked playing with oversized toys." His words sparked Grunghin''s fury immediately.


    "Tell me if it''s a toy or not! You stickly mage!" Grunghin yelled before slamming it at the mage''s body who dodged easily. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite being a mage, his long legs helped him evade Grunghin and his stubby legs.


    Still, he couldn''t even cast a spell, so there was no way for him to win against Grunghin and he did get taken down at the end.


    ¡ªPtui!


    Grunghin spat, "Pathetic! All he knows is how to jump around like a monkey!"


    In his rage, he had forgotten Zaos, who he was trying to find and have a bout with.


    "Shit! How did I forget it?" he exclaimed before calming down, "There''s no way he got eliminated so I can still fight him!"


    Once again, Grunghin began searching for Zaos, with one praying to not meet the annoying guy while the other wanted to fight.


    It wasn''t animosity or anything, just plain old rivalry and also because Zaos and Sylvie never fought Grunghin seriously.


    It was just some light spars, something his whole dwarfish blood disliked to the last atom.


    He believed in going all out, even against friends to gauge who will be able to stay alongside you as your friend till the end.


    But the elven prince and princess saw no reason to fight him, even becoming friends with him.


    And Sylvie was better than it at Zaos, telling Grunghin that she wasn''t allowed to fight because of her weak control over her element.


    Only Zaos was left to suffer as she pinned it unto him, being her elder sister.


    However, Zaos also swiftly escaped every single time, using one excuse or another until the Academy Entrance Test itself came out.


    Truth be told, both of them actually fought in the Entrance Test, but lost to the protagonist in the end.


    What happened next was easy to guess, they initially dismissed his skill, attributing their defeat to fatigue.


    Only after losing to him miserably later on did the two accept it and make him his rival before giving up and becoming his friends.


    Alas, it was a harem-centric novel, so there was no need for a sausage fest.


    Grunghin was sent to be a blacksmith for the protagonist and his harem while Zaos became the Elven King, standing as his backer.


    Of course, Grunghin also became the ruler of the dwarven region, but their rulers and monarchy were different.


    Anyways, with two entire regions as staunch support and even both their princesses as his harem members, who could say shit to the protagonist?


    Not to mention the church and even the Solarnelle Imperial Family...


    All these details were going on inside Jash''s head as he had stumbled across sledgehammer marks on the ground.


    He wisely changed his path, not wanting to encounter the crazy guy and let him latch on to the protagonist.


    ''Even if I don''t want a harem of women, I also don''t want men!'' he justified it inwardly, trying to ignore the elephant in the room.


    No matter if he encountered them or not, if he secured the first rank, all kinds of overconfident idiots would show up.


    "No, right? I am not a poor protagonist of humble origins who seems easy to bully but a full-fledged son of a freaking Duke!"


    He blurted out his muttering while walking randomly, trying to reach his destination by luck or after only 2000 participants remained.


    ''Or on the last day, whichever happens first,'' he mused, shrugging his shoulders and putting the matter to the back of his mind.


    His current priority was to find something to eat too, he had eaten the bananas at once, not rationing it like the other examinees.


    Of course, he didn''t really mind not eating as the second day was about to end and by the next morning, the final test would begin.


    ''I don''t think I messed up much till now, so no major changes should happen for now,'' Jash mused, appearing thoughtful.


    He was remembering the things he changed from the novel and could only remember minor events or things without much consequence.


    At least, they weren''t supposed to have consequences anytime soon, but maybe soon in the future.


    ''The first biggest change with immediate results will be securing first place,'' he mused, dismissing the armor he suggested to Amael.


    It couldn''t change anything about the Entrance Test, except for the event where Jash was supposed to lose his life.


    "Hero complex much?" he said before a wry smile appeared on his face.


    It was not really him, but him at the same time who did those things, and he would do it yet again.


    Of course, saving his life was the priority but the instincts of a hero ingrained from his past life were hard to dismiss.


    No amount of betrayals ever changed his mind of saving his world, so why would he let random kids die?


    ''Not like they have long lives ahead,'' he mused with a dry chuckle, shaking his head to dispel the depressing thoughts.


    "It doesn''t have anything to do with me," Jash told himself, not wanting any part of the protagonist''s problems.


    He had the support of humans, elves, dwarves, church and everything else, so why should Jash care about it?


    "I am not a hero, I just want an easy life," he mumbled under his breath, trying to calm his thumping heart.


    Thankfully, it calmed down as he swung his sword to cut off a plant next to him.


    ¡ªScreee!

 Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Moonlit Reflections

    Just as there were animal-like monsters, plant-like monsters also existed in the world.


    However, it was extremely difficult to differentiate normal plants from plant monsters due to their similar appearances.


    Unlike aggressive animal monsters, plant monsters couldn''t move or attack on their own.


    They could only act passively, luring their prey into range with their guard and then... taking them down all at once.


    While this wasn''t true for every plant or animal monster, the higher their rank, the more unique they were.


    Who knew what all species of monsters were left to be uncovered in the wild?


    Yet it was quite easy to guess that Jash had encountered one such plant monster on his stroll and immediately cut off its stem.


    The action made it produce a loud noise which could disorient most hunters of the E-Rank and even cause F-Rank hunters to faint.


    Unfortunately, it met Jash, who was the top of the top amongst E-Rank Hunters despite being only at the Early stage.


    Poor plant didn''t even get to sense anything after its loud screech before it died and wilted immediately.


    "I freaking hate plant monsters. They don''t even give anything," Jash grumbled in irritation at the wilting stem and flower.


    He couldn''t care less about his earlier thoughts, then switching to the annoying plant monsters as his eyes turned upwards.


    "What the heck? Why are there so many!?" Jash blurted out, noticing the dense cluster of plants in front of him.


    Just like any other small plant, they had a green, leafy stem with green branches filled with big leaves and some buds.


    Only a few had flowers at their axial ends or on some branches.


    Unlike popular belief, these plants had a growth limit because their flowers inhibited further growth, known as cymose inflorescence.


    In such plants, the main axis did not grow continuously as a flower grew terminally on the main axis.


    Thus, limiting the growth of the main axis, making them nothing more than the size of a human''s waist or shoulders at most.


    If only the scientists and researchers of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia focused on plant and animal sciences, they might gain more insights into monsters.


    "All this knowledge really helped my previous world''s people to fight off the sudden mutations caused by mana,"


    "Not like they would care about it in this world as people only believe in their strength here," Jash commented while walking away from the flower bed.


    He had already killed one plant monster and it let out such an annoying voice, there was no way he would go over the entire flower patch.


    Thus, he had already left the area, moving to another part of the grassy plains he was walking on.


    By now, he had already crossed several regions on the island: forest, swamp, hills, and riverbank.


    Yet he would be the least watched examinee on the screen except for his 1v3 fight and sleeping footage.


    Of course, Rui used the reward chest footage with the comment, "Sometimes just relaxing can be rewarding as well."


    He didn''t tell anyone about the illusion or his theft, knowing Vice-Principal Zander way too well.


    Since he rewarded Jash for the pseudo-balancing trial, Zander kept quiet and even saved him from Aileen.


    But if he let others discover it... even Rui didn''t know what''d become of him if he was that careless.


    Though he also wasn''t aware of Jash wanting to hack him to death literally and was planning a much worse method of revenge.


    Oftentimes, humans feared separation from loved ones more than death itself.


    Ignoring the money grubbers or some exceptions, most humans followed their emotions to make decisions.


    And if one was going to get distanced from their friends and family, it''d be a far worse punishment than death.


    That''s why some people believe lifetime imprisonment and isolation was better than a death penalty.


    In reality, it could even make the person psychotic or crazy, so it wasn''t really feasible.


    However, Jash was disjointed from such realities, having lived such a life¡ªbeing alone despite being surrounded by countless humans and demons.


    That''s why the sudden familiarity and acceptance from Ramille Family would be too hard for him to accept if not for having his memories sealed.


    The fact that his previous life''s memories arrived only after he was a teen helped him adapt more quickly and in an easier manner.


    Unlike him, Amael was a different case, having his previous life as the dominant manner made him quite distanced from the Blake Family and forced him to put up an act.


    Unfortunately, Jash only knew that Amael was different and nothing more, or he would''ve tried to resolve it.


    Even if he would have done that for Amael, Rui was a different case and he planned to make Rui''s life a living hell.


    Rui, unaware of the danger ahead, eagerly made his final comment and said good night before leaving.


    As night fell, the moon shone beautifully, and Jash lay on the grass, enjoying the moonlight.


    "Interesting," he mumbled, thinking how moonlight was nothing but a reflection of sunlight yet it was so cold and relaxing.


    ''Is this also referring to the dual nature of light? Being able to give heat and cold as well?'' Jash mused, a relaxed smile on his lips.


    He had no worries about the test or anything, he was even counting the stars in the night sky while speculating random things.


    His mind was really something, wandering across numerous topics within the span of a few seconds. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As if nothing could tie him to one exact point in life, Jash continued to think of various scenarios.


    The most predominant one was which would be the most effective way to capture the spotlight when taking the first rank.


    ''Defeating them at their peak? No... it would hurt their pride and I would get unnecessary enemies...''


    ''Defeating them after they tire themselves out? No... their pride would refuse to accept it and unnecessary problems would come my way...''


    ''Fighting them in a 1v1v1v1...? Nah, too eye-catchy...''


    Jash spent a good ten minutes on coming up with a solid plan, all to only end up sleeping in the cool wind.


    His sleeping frenzy was another sort of footage that would be used to plant the difference between him and other examinees should he secure Rank 1.


    Not just him, every examinee who had higher chances of becoming Rank 1 had some of their footage cut and kept for that purpose only.


    The only difference between them and Jash being, his footage would be the most sensational and offensive to his batchmates.


    Not like he cared, though.


    If he did care, why would he relax so casually while others were working hard for nearly 40 hours already.


    However, the audience was more deeply engrossed with other examinees such as their favorite, Amael.


    Avon, despite trying his best, still fell short of him while his sister was praised by all of the audience for her decisions.


    Yet the fan favorite was the elven princess, Sylvie, and Caera, who outshone all mages, being a battlemage with an awakened element.


    Barring them, the consensus among the professors was of someone else getting Rank 1 in the female category.


    Even her scores in the second test were overall just a few hundred short of Jash, almost tied with the second highest in boys.

 Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Path to the Final Battle [Extra]

    The sun''s first light shone brightly across the lush grass as dawn approached, casting long shadows over the grassy plains.


    Jash awoke to the chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of the wind through the grass.


    He rubbed his eyes and stretched, his muscles aching slightly from the previous day''s exertions. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite the chill in the air, he felt a sense of satisfaction¡ªhis plan was progressing, and he was still very much in the running for the top spot.


    ''Hopefully so,'' he mused, knowing that the key aspect to securing first place still awaited him, but so did Amael and the protagonist.


    He had subconsciously considered anyone other than the two not even worthy opponents aiming for the first place.


    ''If not for Amael being different, I could even count him out,'' Jash sighed before shaking his head and standing up.


    Glancing around, Jash took in the serene landscape, where the once-encountered flower patch had given way to rolling hills and scattered trees.


    Jash could see the distant outline of the next region he planned to explore¡ªa gorge that promised both new challenges and opportunities.


    ''It is also the location for the final battle,'' he thought while his hand inadvertently touched his stomach.


    ¡ªGrr


    "Hungry," he mumbled, feeling his rumbling stomach and its noises.


    Alas, he had no rations, so he knew he needed to find something to eat soon.


    The bananas he had devoured the day before had done little to sustain him for the long haul.


    On an empty stomach, he secured his weapons and adjusted his attire, he reminded himself to stay focused.


    ''This darned test will be over soon,'' he lied to himself despite knowing it was far from over, and securing the top rank required both strategy and endurance.


    "No need to push myself over it, let''s just go with the flow after arriving," he muttered, starting towards the gorge, his boots crunching softly on the dew-kissed grass.


    The path ahead was not clearly defined, but Jash had learned to navigate through less obvious terrain with ease.


    He was skilled at reading the subtle signs of the land¡ªbroken branches, disturbed soil, and animal tracks.


    His past life experience to track demons and traitors had taught him how to survive and thrive in such¡ªand worse¡ªconditions.


    "Hm? There''s someone here?" he wondered aloud, seeing smoke rising nearby as he approached the grassland''s edge.


    ¡ªRustle!


    He used the long grass and some bushes as cover to peek at the source, not wanting to alarm them and get in a meaningless fight.


    ''My performance doesn''t matter at the moment,'' he told himself and raised his head to finally notice a group of examinees gathered near a makeshift camp.


    They were sitting around a small fire, cooking what looked like a simple meal of dried meat and small fish.


    The group''s conversation remained a hushed whisper, with Jash only being able to hear their laughter and joy at reaching this point in the Entrance Test.


    No one would be foolish enough to discuss their plans and strategies out in the open.


    ''The distance is just fine,'' Jash thought, choosing to keep his distance, not wanting to draw any attention to himself.


    Yet the thought of fighting and eliminating them echoed in his mind once before he gave up.


    ''Nah, it''d be too bad if I make it reach 2000 all of a sudden,'' he told himself, moving on and slipping into the gorge''s shadowy depths.


    The towering rocks overhead created a cool, dim environment that was a welcome change from the harsh sunlight.


    The gorge was alive with the sounds of flowing streams of water and distant calls from insects, monsters, and birds.


    Jash kept his senses sharp, aware that the area could harbor both monsters and other examinees.


    ''I hope I meet no one though,'' he prayed inwardly and continued going deeper into the echoes of the gorge.


    After a few hours of trekking, he finally stumbled upon a small stream. The clear water was a welcome sight, and Jash decided to take a break.


    Kneeling by the stream, he cupped his hands and took large gulps of water.


    As he refreshed himself, he spotted a small fish darting about in the water, pecking at some plant.


    It gave him an idea¡ªmaybe he could eat the plant as a meal.


    Acting on it in the next second, Jash fashioned a simple dagger from his array of weapons, going into the water and harvesting the whip-like green plant.


    With careful precision, he pulled out a few more dark green, wavy leaves.


    It wasn''t much, but it would serve to tide him over until he could find something more substantial.


    Rinsing the leaves thoroughly to remove any debris, mud, or algae, Jash ensured they were clean and free from contaminants before consumption.


    Taking a small bite, he exclaimed, "Bitter."


    The fibrous texture alongside salty taste made it a chore to eat it and Jash chose to chew upon it as if he were ruminating.


    Though he ate in silence, his thoughts drifted back to the other examinees, aware that many were working hard, pushing their limits to secure a high rank.


    Some were likely struggling with the same challenges he faced, while others might be exploiting every opportunity they could find.


    "Not like it matters," he muttered while tearing apart the tight leaf, confident in his own abilities and strategy.


    The key was to stay one step ahead, to anticipate the moves of others while remaining focused on his own goals.


    Jash decided to move on, aware that staying put too long could make him an easy target, not for other examinees but also for Rui.


    ''I don''t want him messing around with me anymore. Once was already enough,'' he mused and got a move on.


    He moved on, not needing to pack anything as all he had was already on his body and continued deeper into the gorge.


    His goal was to find a suitable location to rest before the final test began, ideally one that was hidden from prying eyes but still accessible enough to be a strategic advantage.


    Also, he would stay on the lookout for anything that might help him despite him believing that he needed nothing.


    "Finally," he muttered, finding a small cave nestled into the side of a hill¡ªa perfect spot to camp as a sniper-archer.


    The cave was dry and protected from the elements, offering a good vantage point to observe any approaching figures.


    "It''s similar," Jash mumbled, remembering the first cave he settled in.


    At the same time, he used some clothing to make a makeshift pillow to rest as much as he could.


    After all, why waste time doing this or that when he could just rest?


    As he lay on the cave floor, staring at the ceiling, the peaceful sounds of the forest lulled him into a relaxed state, though his mind remained active.


    His perception was being pushed to full throttle, running through various scenarios and strategies.


    Unknowingly he yet again drifted off to sleep despite the sense of anticipation fighting against his drowsiness.


    He remained oblivious that his excessive sleep was a cause for worry despite his talent and performance, something he had no control over.


    Nonetheless, his mind was set on the idea of taking the first rank despite it being a wild and dangerous thought, but Jash was determined to emerge victorious.


    "I''ve come too far and interfered too much to falter now," he mumbled under his breath as his voice faded into the background.


    With a final thought of the challenges yet to come, he closed his eyes and let the forest''s serenity carry him into dreams of triumph.

 Chapter 142: Chapter 142: About Damn Time [Extra]

    The path to survival was filled with obstacles, but Jash didn''t mind facing them head-on, though he rested soundly for now.


    Meanwhile, the audience cheered as time went on and more and more examinees encountered each other.


    Although it was initially rowdy and full of participants, the competition had thinned out significantly as not many examinees remained until now.


    Out of the few, many were nervous about not being adequately taught to compete with the specially trained ones.


    For them, fighting and losing seemed like a waste of time as they would eventually learn and be able to compete with other privileged students.


    At least that was what they hoped for as the prerequisite being their passing the Entrance Test and entering an academy, if not the Solarnelle Academy.


    The Solarnelle Academy, surpassing even the offerings of Noble and Imperial Families, was unmatched in its prestige.


    Still, The other academies weren''t looked down upon by the general masses despite the disparity.


    Simply because the Solarnelle Academy was the oldest, gathering all types of knowledge in one place.


    Those families may have one specialty where they outclass the Solarnelle Academy, such as the Church.


    And nobody could dare say they could teach healing magic better than what one could learn from them.


    Similarly, blacksmithing for the dwarven masters was their pride while it was the plant magic and archery for the elves.


    Of course, Cornelius Ramille was an exception to the archery, being able to compete with the Elven Royalty in it.


    Even with all of that being a given, the privileged participants only numbered around two hundred or so, including both males and females.


    These participants were the ones who were taught or thought they had a chance at winning.


    One couldn''t dismiss the fact that they were too proud and wanted to show off in the Entrance Test.


    But it made sense, as there was no real risk except for a few injuries which could be treated within a few days at worst.


    However, the audience couldn''t care less about all those things, they only wanted to see fights and something entertaining.


    So, most of the focus was now on Amael, Avon and an unknown boy, who were defeating all their opponents quite skillfully.


    "It seems that the new guy is giving his all, not wanting anyone to take his spotlight," Rui commented.


    The new guy was Yirox, a mage, and although he was not as excellent as other mages, it was enough for him to defeat other participants with relative ease.


    "4," Yirox muttered as he looked around, counting the examinees who ran away.


    With short chocolate-brown hair and a decently handsome face, Yirox was striking but not comparable to Amael or Jash.


    Still, he seemed to share a similar height with them despite being on the skinnier side.


    He didn''t rush after the escapees, choosing to sit down and regain his stamina since casting spells against a group took a toll on him.


    "It should probably be soon," he exhaled, hoping for the final boss to show itself and get the points for slaying it.


    "Looks like we need to switch again as everyone''s resting now," Rui mentioned with an exaggerated sigh for the audience.


    It was obvious with how the sun was right above their heads, telling them the final boss might show up anytime as it was the third day itself.


    "Hmm, who should I show?" Rui mumbled under his breath, contemplating which contestant to show before his eyes lit up.


    ''Yes, the girl''s side is quite active right now!'' he noticed with excitement.


    In the girls'' tournament, Caera, Ziva, Vivia, Sylvie and Ava were doing their own things as he locked onto Ziva.


    Many people had cheered and were surprised by the performance of the girls as well despite the difference in style.


    Although Ziva was actively using her mana, she was making sure she recovered enough before moving around, heading deeper.


    Currently, there were quite a few monsters that she took down as soon as the screen focused on her, giving a short replay.


    The screen didn''t focus on her for long, for her brutal methods to take down monsters without any hesitation didn''t sit well with her looks.


    Well, mostly because it wasn''t what the audience wanted to see.


    The screen shifted to Ava, who was keeping both her mana and stamina in check, taking a safer approach.


    Though her cautious approach made for less compelling viewing, leading the screen to shift to other competitors before focusing on Caera and Vivia.


    Caera had now come close to Vivia, both having a magic staff in hand, after eliminating a few examinees only.


    Yet both shared the inherent kindness and never went overboard like Ziva who went to extremes or Sylvie who eliminated them quickly.


    While Freirae, a dwarf with yellowish-orange hair was having a much easier time fighting as nobody she encountered had enough strength to defeat her.


    However, none of them would meet each other despite their closing distance on either part¡ªthe males and females.


    The time was ticking with only 10 minutes left, and more and more people were getting eliminated, the number closing in to 2000 quite fast.


    Some of the people got sad after their son or daughter got eliminated, but they were still happy for them for getting selected into some Academy.


    Naturally, surviving till this point guaranteed admission, but they didn''t know that Solarnelle Academy had planned a little surprise.


    Meanwhile, in the VIP rooms, some were happy about their children reaching or even surpassing their expectations.


    Just as there were happy ones, there were also sad ones.


    Some unlucky ones were even kicked out of their homes and families for their subpar performances.


    Jash''s parents were eagerly waiting for the result, expecting not much from their children.


    "It seems I have been holding them back," Sera sighed as she slumped on her seat. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Being alone with her husband allowed her to relax and not put up any facades and her guilt was gnawing at her.


    "Darling," Carcel called sweetly. "It''s not your fault. You only want the best for them," he said while caressing her hand.


    Sera remained quiet for a few seconds before shaking her head, "No, it''s indeed my fault."


    "Let me," she stopped him from interrupting and continued, "I was overprotective, stopping them from achieving their full potential."


    Her eyes turned to the ever-switching screen as she added, "I don''t know what the results will be, but they will grow too much by their graduation."


    "Mhm." Carcel agreed, knowing what was going on in her mind.


    As both of them were graduates of the Solarnelle Academy, they knew better than anyone how much it would change their children.


    Their once-naive shells would be shed off, ready to face the harsh realities of the cruel world.


    "Sera, it''s fine," Carcel consoled in a soft voice, giving support to his wife.


    "It''s not a matter of your fault or not, what has happened has happened and it can''t be changed," he said in a tone of finality.


    "What mattered is how you treat them and guide them after their graduation as they will easily be at B-Rank by that time."


    Hearing her husband''s logical words, Sera couldn''t help but agree, whispering, "Okay."


    Rather than saying a word of thanks or mentioning her love, she leaned in closer, resting her head on his shoulder and chest.


    It was a sign of trust and love, more than any words could explain as actions spoke louder than words.


    Right at that moment, the screen paused and buzzed as Rui yelled at the top of his lungs, "It''s time, everyone!!"

 Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Boss Monster

    The timer was decreasing, and the screen displayed the final location: a small stone platform marked with the Solarnelle Academy insignia.


    Yet, a groove on the platform suggested it was designed to hold something before the Entrance Test concluded.


    "That, everyone, is the final place! Only after defeating the boss monster would it appear," Rui commented with excitement.


    The audience cheered wildly at the sight of that platform sinking into the earth as if it was never there to begin with.


    "On to the boss monster," Rui gesticulated before the figure of a blue snake-like creature sleeping underwater appeared.


    "For a twist this year, the boss monster needs to be found before engaging it," Rui grinned as he announced the change. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Loud gasps resonated from the stands as the audience gaped at the sight of the imoogi-like creature.


    Two horns jutted out from right above its eyebrows as they extended horizontally to the front in a curved manner before rising up.


    The horns were silverish in color, appearing like a check mark ''?'' as they inclined at a slight angle to its head.


    However, its blue-green scales around its neck and head were the most shocking to the audience.


    After all, it was already an (E+)-Rank monster, and being in its favored territory, it could even give trouble to a D-Rank hunter.


    Yet the academy expected the examinees to take care of it!?


    Preposterous!


    Unfortunately, the academy predicted that only the top 5 will be able to defeat it after teaming up, but that''s no good.


    So, they hid the fact that the monster was actually injured in its core, its rank dropping to (E)-Rank or even (E-)-Rank.


    Meanwhile, the one who knew the truth was resting peacefully, waiting for the final moment.


    ¡ªRumble!


    And as if to wake him up, loud rumbling echoed across the island as the participants were forcefully pulled closer.


    It was the same for both¡ªmales and females.


    They were on the same island yet couldn''t see or meet each other and even had the same monster as their enemy.


    It was a stimulated monster, after all.


    "Now, let''s see what the participants are doing," Rui said with a wild smile, drawing the audience back in.


    At this time, everyone who had arrived on the first day when the Entrance Test started had already returned.


    This was the climax they all were waiting for, so no one wanted to miss it.


    Or maybe they wanted to see their progeny raise their name in front of the masses and secure the first rank.


    Alas, it was just a pipe dream with all the geniuses they''d heard about.


    Of course, there were no less idiots leaving it all to luck, hoping for their progeny to win it by a stroke of luck.


    While the participants got engaged into sudden fights after being yanked closer to each other, Jash was startled awake.


    "Urgh," he groaned in displeasure before he composed himself a subtle smile graced his lips.


    ''It''s already that time,'' he realized and stretched before walking to the entry of the cave.


    Feeling the cool wind blow and refresh him, he sat at the side, dangling his legs from the cave entrance.


    "So peaceful, this is what life is all about," he mumbled in relaxation, taking in the sight of the gorge and small stream of water within.


    ¡ªROAAR!


    A sudden roar stole his attention as he cursed, "Damn it! Did I just jinx it!?"


    However, he didn''t move, just turning his head to look in the direction of the voice, already knowing what it was.


    "So, that''s the place?" he wondered aloud, pinpointing the boss monster''s location by the devastation it had caused.


    Meanwhile, the group that had stumbled upon the boss monster considered themselves lucky¡ªuntil they got disqualified within seconds.


    Its sight was no less flashy and attention-grabbing, immediately telling everyone, "I am the boss monster."


    "Well, this will be interesting," Jash muttered, not moving an inch despite the obvious events occurring next.


    Lots of groups or even lone examinees rushed in at the area, hoping to win or at least show off their skills.


    Naturally, the screen for the audience showed the rushing examinees as some unleashed their hidden cards and instantly took down their opponents.


    Shifting across the fighting and dwindling participants, it stopped on Jash as the last one, showing his relaxed and observant attitude.


    Yet no one in the audience disparaged him due to the sense of confidence his smile exuded, unlike those who were merely hiding.


    Sadly, the academy didn''t favor cowards, so many hiders were pitted against other examinees after the forceful closure, eliminating most of them.


    Only a few hiders turned out to be actually strong, turning the tide on the unsuspecting opponents.


    "What a contrast," Rui muttered in the speaker, showing Jash''s confident attitude and at the same time the boss monster.


    At the exact moment, the boss monster turned its eyes, seemingly in Jash''s direction and they supposedly met gazes.


    Of course it was just a stimulated monster so it was done to make an effect and give a vivid sense of rivalry for the audience to anticipate.


    They could see Amael, Avon, Helios, Yirox, Grunghin, Zaos, Sylvie Ziva, Caera, Ava, Vivia, and many more rushing at the boss monster.


    However, the way Jash looked dismissively at the ground from high up in the cave gave a cool look to him.


    Just that he himself didn''t know he was being used as such, and he would hate to know it.


    No one knew then that this clip would actually go viral as a thumbnail due to the final fight commencing soon.


    Jash watched with mild amusement as examinees scrambled, eager to fight the boss and become the Year Representative.


    Alas, there was no cover to hide and attack the boss monster.


    So, there was no use in hiding, and Jash was aware of this, choosing not to rush blindly like an idiot.


    As it meant that the only way to attack the boss monster was to do it without any cover.


    It seemed like whoever thought of this wanted many confrontations at the same time.


    ''It might as well result in people teaming up to fight against each other instead of the boss,'' Jash mused before tilting his head.


    ¡ªBam!


    An arrow passed by his head as he straightened up, and an angry look appeared on his face.


    ''Which idiot disturbed my mood?'' he cursed inwardly, pursing his lips silently.


    "Hah! Look, you missed such an easy shot! Should''ve let me shoot a spell!"


    A barely audible mocking voice reached Jash as he saw two elves, one with a bow and one with a staff.


    But the bow elf remained quiet, his arms trembling slightly as his lips quivered, "H-he... mo-mov...ed..."


    "Huh? What nonsense?"


    However, it seemed the elven mage found it too hard to believe and thought his friend was making excuses and lectured him.


    "We are elves, what if you missed? There''s no need to lie¨C"


    ¡ªSwish!


    ¡ªSwish!


    Sadly, he never got to complete his words as two arrows arrived next to their heads, activating the barrier and teleporting them out.


    Their shocked expressions came into view before the audience as the point of view shifted to an aerial one.


    It turned out they were standing more than a hundred meters away from Jash with tons of cover in between.


    Yet the archer''s ability to target Jash and miss it slightly astounded many until they saw Jash take the two of them out in one go!

 Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Walk Amid Clashes

    "Don''t disturb me," Jash muttered coldly before putting the bow down and smiling again as he enjoyed the cool breeze.


    The audience sucked in a cold breath at his contrasting display while even Rui felt speechless for a second.


    Jash seemed way too relaxed mostly, but this... this was crazy!!


    Nonetheless, Rui didn''t have much time to mull over it as the screen changed suddenly.


    "It seems someone has already arrived at the boss monster!" Rui exclaimed while the screen displayed a dwarf with brown hair.


    He was just a few steps away from the water body where the boss monster had just awakened from.


    "And it seems more will arrive soon," Rui spoke as the screen displayed an eagle view, showing that neither of them was too far from the water body.


    "The girls are a bit far from their final location, but isn''t that better?" Rui asked the crowd, implying they would get to focus on both in real time.


    "YEAAAHH!"


    The crowd yelled in agreement, shaking the arena due to the huge number of people shouting. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Right now, as you can see on the screen, the boys are not too far apart from each other," Rui added, trying to make the audience focus on the screen.


    Meanwhile, at the boss monster''s location,


    An elf was the second participant to arrive, and just after him was a human and both were stunned by the sight of the boss monster.


    The pressure it gave off was no joke!


    Not to mention it easily towered over them, with double their height and the rest of its length submerged in the water, making it an extremely dangerous foe.


    Alas, the three arrived from different directions and took a moment to notice each other. By then, one had already been eliminated.


    "W-what?" the human said, noticing the instant barrier of the elf before the same happened to him, followed by the dwarf.


    "Oof! Looks like it''ll be some time since someone who can fight the boss monster arrives," Rui commented with a sigh.


    The eager audience as well felt cheated at the performance of the examinees despite knowing the difference in strength.


    Most of them would faint or freeze at the sight of such a monster, let alone fight it.


    Yet they had the nerve to comment about the examinees, but it wasn''t strange in any manner.


    It was the nature of living beings to pass comments upon others as it was easier than having empathy and understanding the situation.


    "Huh? That''s it?"


    "Yea, so boring. Back in my days, we used to fight with our all, not allowed to even stand still..."


    "Uncle, you''re not even a hunter, so what back in my days?"


    "Hahahahaha"


    "Emotional Damage!"


    While all that was going on in the stands, the examinees were reducing in number by the second.


    No one could last a second against a boss monster.


    Several teams and solo examinees kept getting eliminated at its simple attack using the water element.


    Right at that disappointing moment, Jash stood up with a long sigh as the screen shifted on him.


    "Time to reap my rewards, I suppose," he murmured before jumping off the cave and landing steadily.


    Unlike others still rushing to their eliminations, he walked at a brisk pace humming a tune to himself.


    His disregarding attitude didn''t sit well with any examinee who happened to see him and came to attack him.


    "Let''s see what you have to show, arrogant ba¨C"


    ¡ªSlice!


    Before the approaching opponent could finish his sentence, Jash swung his sword, targeting his neck.


    In less than a fraction of a second, he eliminated the guy, leaving him with no dignity whatsoever.


    Despite the survivors being at least F-Rank, none were his match besides Amael and the protagonist.


    At least that was Jash''s own belief and he was set on proving it to be correct.


    ¡ªBoom!


    ''It seems they met,'' he mused, noting the sound of a collision near the boss monster.


    The ones he was referring to were Grunghin and Zaos as Grunghin didn''t listen to anything and started fighting.


    "Listen, we have to fight the boss monster," Zaos tried to reason but Grunghin couldn''t care less.


    "No! I only found you and this is the best time to go all out against you!" Grunghin exclaimed with a wide grin, ecstatic at the thought of exchanging bouts with his best friend.


    The screen in the audience also shifted to them as Zaos swiftly dodged, shooting arrows while Grunghin slammed his sledgehammer.


    Both made deft maneuvers as the dwarves and elves cheered for their princes respectively.


    At random intervals, Zaos switched to using daggers and short swords, but Grunghin dodged all of the throws Zaos made.


    "Come on, friend! Give it your all!" he declared, wanting more from Zaos.


    Alas, their battle got interrupted as a stray spell came flying their way.


    "Which idiot¨C" Grunghin cursed at getting interrupted but dodged nonetheless, not wanting to get hit by a stray spell.


    It would be too humiliating to lose because of such a thing and he would even lose the chance to fight properly with his friend.


    "Come out, coward!" Grunghin shouted after the explosive spell landed but no one showed up, making him grit his teeth.


    Yet what infuriated him the most was how Zaos vanished from his sight.


    "No matter, I will meet you and him at the boss monster!" Grunghin announced in anger before moving away.


    "Ohh, seems like we won''t get a spectacle before the boss monster," Rui said with a sad expression before changing it completely.


    "Look, something interesting!" he shouted as the screen shifted to display Amael and Avon opposite each other.


    Jash, like Rui, picked up on the events from the clashing and clanking sounds near the boss area.


    ''So it seems the inevitable will happen and I can only change small things?'' he mused, wondering who encountered who.


    ''Unless I actively eliminated one of them; these encounters were bound to happen,'' he thought, wondering what would change if he had intervened.


    The ones he eliminated, he believed, had no major role in the Entrance Test or maybe the academy itself.


    Nonetheless, it was just pure speculation as the protagonist was also supposed to have encountered someone, but he had yet to find anyone.


    The ones that were actually in a heated exchange were Avon and Amael as Avon couldn''t accept his earlier loss.


    He wanted to redeem himself and held his spear in a firm grip, looking at Amael with a hint of animosity.


    Of course, Amael had no other choice but to play along, knowing he couldn''t offend the prince without good reason.


    After all, his target ought to be the protagonist not Amael, and it would soon change either way.


    "Greetings Prince Avon," Amael said with a polite smile, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.


    "This is no time for greetings," Avon said coldly, raising his spear as they were already in the range where they could attack and defend from each other.


    The audience saw it all, and the crowd cheered wildly, with both having significant support from their respective fans.


    But Amael had a lot more supporters due to his actions in the Entrance Test unlike the soloist Avon.


    "Sigh, it seems I can''t get through you," Amael responded with a sigh before taking a stance and holding his sword with his right hand.


    "This is going to be interesting," Rui shouted, wanting to hype the crowd even more as the tension crescendoed.


    "Uhm, excuse me, passing through..." A voice made both of them stop in their tracks and raise their guards.

 Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Not Enough

    Amael was calm, and his face bore a polite smile. He was in the same state as before when he faced any other opponent.


    Despite seeing the Imperial Prince challenge him, he didn''t mind, hoping to escape his radar and let the protagonist catch his attention.


    While Avon was busy contemplating how best to defeat Amael, he was cautious, not wanting to end up losing and having to meet the First Prince.


    Yet, it seemed fate had its own plans as a gentle male voice suddenly cut through the tension, "Uhm, excuse me, passing through..."


    Both turned to look at the newcomer, who had flowing white hair, orange eyes, and a well-built body.


    Yet his confident smile as he looked at the two of them was surprising, at least for Avon.


    Avon''s face darkened as he asked, "You... who are you?"


    "Oh, me? I am Caeron, a priest devoted to the Goddess..."


    As Caeron began his introduction with a fervent expression, Amael was scrutinizing him with narrowed eyes, knowing about the ''Saint of Misfortune'' already.


    "Haha, you seem like a tough guy as you managed to arrive here," Amael said right when Caeron took a pause.


    Both Caeron and Avon turned to look at Amael who suddenly raised his hand and waved at them.


    "Anyways, see you at the boss monster," he said before leaving without a second thought.


    "You... come back here!" Avon shouted with a dark face but his anger turned to the one who distracted him.


    Being made the scapegoat and forced to stand against Avon, Caeron gulped nervously but kept up his confident expression.


    After successfully escaping, Amael took a moment to check his progress. ''Oi System, did I get anything?''


    {Yes. You''ve gained 23 Villain Points since the Entrance Exam.}


    ''Hm? That''s a lot,'' Amael mused with a smile, thinking that what the system said about the academy giving many points was true.


    The system, meanwhile, was still processing the changes but was unable to pinpoint the exact cause beyond Amael''s actions.


    Both couldn''t even reach Jash due to his passive benefits saving and protecting him from any such scans.


    If only Amael knew that Jash was helping him farm points, he wouldn''t hesitate to befriend Jash wholeheartedly. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alas, Jash, too, was suspicious of Amael and kept his distance, unable to shake the feeling that Amael had undergone some change he couldn''t yet grasp.


    Currently, Jash was approaching the boss monster slowly as if nothing could faze him in the least.


    "Not like anyone will defeat it so soon," he mumbled as if justifying to himself about his deliberate slow pace.


    If not for his plan to maximize points and screen time by eliminating examinees masterfully, he would''ve rushed to the boss monster.


    However, doing that would only aid him in being able to solo it when no one notable was nearby.


    It was a no-brainer to have a lower value than being able to fight other talented ones while taking on the boss monster.


    It wasn''t a team hunt but a competition at that point, something the Academy aimed for.


    Already knowing it, Jash was eager for it to happen, knowing it would help him secure First Rank and the money he bet on himself.


    ''Also, the Year Representative perks are not that bad themselves,'' he mused before side stepping and walking ahead.


    His walking pattern turned random as he would jump, slow down, and widen his stride unpredictably.


    "Good try but..." he began before he threw a dagger at the top of a tree.


    ¡ªClank!


    The dagger struck nothing but a barrier as the mage wasn''t ready for something like this.


    He hadn''t anticipated someone to be able to see through him and the last words he heard terrified him.


    "...it was too obvious," Jash said as he walked beneath the tree and picked up his dagger.


    The area behind him transformed abruptly.


    As the examinee was eliminated, spikes of wood and rocks emerged in the exact spots where Jash had altered his path, surprising the audience.


    At this point, even other professors wanted to know how Jash figured it out while Rui was numb at the scene.


    Unfortunately, no one explained it to the professors or the audience as their attention was stolen the moment Jash neared the boss monster.


    "This much is enough," Jash murmured before sitting down on a rock and matching eyes with the imoogi-like monster.


    He sat at the exact precipice of the monster''s attack range, if he was a meter ahead, it would''ve already attacked him.


    Fortunately, it wasn''t alive and was forced to stay inside the water as any alive monster wouldn''t hesitate to attack at Jash.


    That was on the drawback of stimulated monsters and Jash knew it all too well as that was one tactic Zaos used in the latter parts of the novel.


    Meanwhile, all types of conversations began amongst the audience and even in the VIP rooms where the nobles from all races were present.


    "What''s he doing?"


    "Is he not going to fight? Just going to wait... so boring"


    "What do you mean? Didn''t you see what happened to everyone who tried attacking? They were eliminated..."


    "Yeah, and it only took one attack. There''s no way someone strong like him can''t gauge it out."


    The audience made wild guesses, hyping it up without intervention, while the nobles were wary and suspicious of his motive.


    "Could it be that he wants others to tire out the monster before taking out?" someone muttered before shaking their head.


    "No way, it''s a stimulated monster and it won''t tire unless set on that mode. Surely, the academy didn''t..."


    Surely, the academy chose that exact mode!


    Or it would make no sense for any examinee to be able to defeat it if it wasn''t even realistic.


    However, none of the stimulated monsters till now were on that mode, making it hard to believe.


    However, the nobles weren''t one to speculate too much, relying on evidence and information.


    Although Jash''s awakening time wasn''t known, his performance at the Imperial Banquet was subpar.


    Subpar, only when comparing to Avon, Amael and the likes of them, but not others.


    In fact, he had high bets on being in the top 50, not the top 100 or 10 because the participants from all races also had higher talent.


    Despite the scarce information, it was still available and some people liked to bet based on the odds, so some random bets were also placed.


    Not like the Academy cared about the bets as the gambling stations were all licensed and had to give a cut to the Academy.


    Still, the gambling only grew more as earning so much easily was better than toiling for your whole life and only living hand-to-mouth.


    And it became more pronounced since the licensed ones had to pay the money, regardless of their own losses as the Hunter Association licensed them.


    Even though no S-Rank or above hunter would chase them, being targeted by the Hunter Association wasn''t what anyone wanted.


    Especially since they could just earn it back in one year, at the next Entrance Test and the Ranking Matches of the First Year Students.


    Sadly, the rest of the years were always internal and not many guests were allowed.


    At least it was broadcasted and they could still function for gambling, making them agree to their demands.


    Just like them, the Academy and the betters were happy, especially the winning betters.


    Jash had also bet on himself, for this very reason, knowing he would receive the money without any problems if he won.


    Currently, he sat on the rock for a few minutes, observing the boss monster and how it attacked and eliminated the examinees with only one attack.


    ''When will they arrive?'' he wondered, getting tired of watching the same scene repeat itself again and again.


    Yet the question the professors and the audience had in mind was why he was even waiting.


    Given the strength he showed up until now, it made no sense for him to wait as he could definitely fight the boss monster.


    Though only the professors thought he could defeat it, aware of the monster''s weakened state and how they purposefully made it so.


    Thankfully, they were smart and guessed that there was no way for Jash to know it and that was the reason for him to not move.


    A plausible explanation, indeed.


    But some examinees had figured it out during the Entrance Test on the basis that it didn''t leave its territory, afraid of something or someone.


    The only explanation would be it was either injured and protecting itself or someone else.


    Unaware they had attacked it, only to lose.


    Even if it was injured, it wasn''t something F-Rank hunters could even dream of taking on.


    And to add insult to injury, not even all the 200 privileged ones with special training had achieved E-Rank.


    It was simply impossible to reach E-Rank without enough talent, hard work, fortuitous encounters and resources.


    One thing could compensate for the other, but some minimum standard was required nonetheless.


    Even if they wanted to boost themselves to higher ranks, it was essentially stupid and impossible.


    Of course, their parents, guardians and sponsors wouldn''t want that, preventing them from taking that step despite the numerous resources at their disposal.


    Jash was one such example, or so everyone thought, but it was his own decision to not speed up the ranking process.


    Why should he mess up his foundation for impressing others?


    He could do it by reaching S-Rank or even SSS-Rank in the future and the ones with weak foundations would be stuck at A-Rank.


    Integration-Rank was truly a bane for such hunters, capping their ranks for a large part of their lives.


    That''s why Jash was not satisfied with his strength at his own rank, wanting to be unmatched in the same rank, thinking, ''It''s not enough.''

 Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Other Side

    While Jash waited for the unabated monster and continued observing the event, several encounters happened in nearby areas.


    By the time he decided to move, only a few hundred male examinees remained uneliminated.


    Even out of them, quite a few had survived by hiding and escaping, using a survivor''s mindset.


    The Academy would take them in regardless, as survivors were needed for reports in uncertain situations.


    It was also a way of life, after all.


    Excluding them, most were converging at the boss area, leading to many fights happening on the way.


    They shared a similar thought: ''One less competitor is one less competitor.''


    Alas, some were even eliminated during the fight by a third party.


    "Haha, what a bunch of idiots, wasting their time fighting¨C"


    ¡ªTsssch!


    As if he too was one of them, a fire-type spell landed on him, force-activating the barrier and eliminating him.


    Meanwhile, the audience was obviously enjoying the intense moments with vivid commentary from Rui.


    Yet they were eager to see the final battle as well.


    "Hey, hey, hey!" Rui called out to the audience, "You all didn''t forget the girls, right?!"


    "WOAH!!"


    The crowd cheered loudly, anticipating more heated battles to come while waiting for the key battle.


    The screen changed to show figures of three beauties looking at each other warily, not yet moving.


    It was none other than Sylvie, Caera and Vivia looking at each other, neither of them moving, waiting for someone to make the first move.


    Sylvie was moving around at her own pace when she felt a presence showing up nearby.


    Upon closing in, she found not one but two girls standing a bit far away from each other in a standoff.


    Of course, the two also seemed to have noticed her and were waiting for her to arrive.


    As she stepped towards them, a voice came from the girl on the left, "She''s here as well now, let''s begin."


    Seeing the golden-haired girl straight up talk about fighting made the other two frown a bit.


    Even if they didn''t recognize each other, they could notice the signs of being effectively taught in mannerism and etiquette.


    It was easy to notice, especially since they were girls, but they didn''t understand the golden-haired girl and where she got her confidence from.


    "It seems you can''t understand," Vivia said as she took a step back and planted her foot firmly on the ground with a focused expression.


    Caera and Sylvie exchanged looks, catching the sight of the golden-haired girl and each other before taking a stance themselves.


    Unlike them, Vivia had already cast light-elemental spells to boost her physical abilities.


    She was akin to a battlemage like Caera, but differed as her power came from her element rather than her mana veins and inherent body.


    No matter how similar the two seemed, they couldn''t be compared and Caera proved it by easily sidestepping despite the swift attack.


    While Vivia had been using a magic staff since the beginning, just like Caera, she had switched her weapons mid-way.


    It was mostly to save her mana as mages oftentimes expended more mana than warriors.


    However, her element allowed her to circumvent the expenditure with physical stamina, though much less than Caera''s.


    Of course, that didn''t meant Caera anticipated the sudden strike, unbalancing her as she tried to regain her footing.


    "What''s this?" Caera blurted out as a vine caught her feet and Vivia was the same.


    It seemed Vivia''s decision to attack Caera and eliminate her in one go backfired as Sylvie attacked both of them.


    Though Caera and VIvia had similar styles to the point it was uncanny, their choice of weapons differed.


    As Vivia used her rapier and shortsword to cut the vines, Caera worked to untangle her feet with the tip of her staff.


    Seeing the scene, Sylvie''s aquamarine eyes widened for a split second before scrunching due to the sudden fire lit by Caera.


    Unable to get out of the vine grabbing her foot, she lit it on fire without a single care for her or Vivia''s foot.


    As if not wanting to be left behind, Vivia used the light blessing to protect her feet as a barrier of wind appeared.


    It fluttered the light green hair of Sylvie, blocking her view while Vivia remained unaffected and Caera broke the vine, jumping away.


    Unfortunately, their fight had to temporarily stop as a loud noise attracted their attention.


    ¡ªBoom!


    The three exchanged a glance and nodded as if understanding each other within a split second and rushed to the boss area, some distance apart from each other.


    No matter their determination to eliminate either one, neither wanted to lose the boss monster while being busy with such a meaningless fight.


    The same thing was true for other talented girls, a yellowish-orange hair dwarf, for example, Freirae, also immediately eliminated her opponent before dashing at the final destination.


    Meanwhile, Ava, a katana strapped on her waist, increased her pace after hearing the disturbance.


    All of them had the same thought in their mind: ''I hope I am not too late...''


    Yet some fights didn''t stop.


    The Archduke''s daughter was one such person.


    Her striking blue hair and black eyes, paired with her elegant figure, were focused as she fired water spells at her opponent.


    ¡ªSwoosh!


    Alas, her efforts turned futile as the girl with pink hair opposite her had a shield with high magic resistance and defense.


    It saved the girl from every attack, though her own footing wasn''t very stable due to the shock from defending such spells.


    Nearby, Rura Warmis easily passed them by, having the inherent advantage of earth element in the gorge.


    "Damn it," the Archduke''s daughter gritted her teeth and went ahead, but not before giving a death glare to the pink-haired girl.


    The pink-haired girl, trembling, crumbled to the floor as soon as the blue-haired girl left.


    "I''m saved..." she muttered with a sigh, believing herself to be safe when a sword suddenly pointed at her neck.


    "E-eek!" she screamed and a barrier activated, eliminating her as an advising voice entered her ears.


    "Don''t let your guard down," Ziva said, hoping her advice would reach the terrified girl.


    "I have eliminated too many examinees and killed many monsters, but I won''t accept second place."


    Her voice was full of determination like her amethyst eyes that were blazing with fire as she carefully moved towards the boss area. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her pace increased with every step before stabilizing at a manageable speed which wouldn''t exhaust her excessively.


    It was not a good idea to reach the boss monster after getting tired out, so she kept her pace fixed.


    Alas, the girls who only saw a shadow of her flash by thought that she was an idiot who went full speed.


    Poor fellows didn''t realize the immensity of heaven and earth, unable to gauge the height of Mt. Tai.


    If only Ziva had cared about their existence, she would have fought them, but she actually went on energy conservation style.


    Fully devoted, she skipped fights and chose an easier path, even if it might be longer.


    "What a pity! Looks like we have reached an impasse here as well," Rui commented with a sad expression.


    Yet his expressions transformed into utter bliss as he declared, "But the final battle is about to begin on the other side!!"

 Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Before the Final Clash

    "You''ve arrived as fast as me, but... don''t interfere," A boy glared at another as he spoke.


    The other, however, didn''t seem to care and just grinned as if challenging the first boy.


    ¡ªSwish!


    "A bunch of idiots."


    A low voice echoed, and two barriers activated, eliminating them in one go as they were within the boss monster''s range.


    Jash made the comment with a yawn as a bored look was plastered on his face.


    "Waiting for others sure is annoying," he muttered to himself before he frowned suddenly.


    "Why do I sound like the guy who got stood up by his date?"


    His voice turned discontent as he felt dissatisfied with the thought, even if it was his own.


    Thankfully, the sound of rushing footsteps awoke him from his internal musings.


    Though not for long...


    ''What does it even matter? They''re gonna be poofed either way,'' he mused, closing his eyes and resting his head on his palm.


    Meanwhile the ones approaching sensed his presence and could only see his back, getting alerted at the sight.


    They wondered why someone was so close to the boss monster, which looked incredibly terrifying to them.


    Only someone crazy would do that!


    Their assumption saved them from getting eliminated as they changed their direction and stayed far away.


    However, some idiots actually considered it a good chance and bypassed Jash, only to get eliminated within a second.


    At the same time, one or two attacked Jash, only to meet the same fate of quick eliminations.


    Seeing this, the few who actually took caution gulped nervously, seeing their inevitable eliminations from both parties.


    Obviously, they''d consider Jash a monster as well since he didn''t even say anything and quietly sat on a rock.


    Unfortunately, the situation would only get more tense as every examinee who wanted to prove themselves would arrive soon.


    No way they''d leave the boss monster if they were confident in their skills.


    Also, the fact that some of them would indeed be strong was a problem for the weaker examinees.


    ''They wouldn''t even serve as cannon fodders,'' Jash mused as he opened his eyes and jumped off the rock.


    Not in the direction of the monster, but backward as a spell immediately engulfed the rock he sat upon.


    ''Who else was it going to be if not you,'' Jash thought inwardly, not even glancing at the source.


    It was the Silver-haired, orange-eyed, Caeron Agria.


    The [Wind Hurricane] spell consumed the rock by leaving deep cuts and crevices on its surface.


    It was made unusable as it shattered after the spell waned off.


    However, the scene appeared different for the examinees nearby.


    They held in their breath, hoping not to get noticed by the boss monster or these two monsters.


    Sadly for them, it was just the beginning as the convergence of all the talents was about to soon happen.


    "You were here earlier," Caeron said, "So you must be waiting for others to take down the boss monster, yes?"


    Caeron''s voice echoed while he stood nearby at a safe distance from the examinees as well as the boss monster.


    "Also, you were the only one sitting around, don''t you think that''s unfair and unequal for the others?"


    Hearing the chiding tone, Jash just rolled his eyes. ''Him and his rightful facade,'' Jash scoffed internally.


    "Well, technically nope. I was just waiting to eliminate competition," Jash said truthfully with a casual shrug.


    His tone was as if he hadn''t just offended everyone who heard him yet no one actually took action.


    They were waiting for the confrontation with the new guy and him and hoped to take both of them down.


    Alas, Caeron was much too afraid inwardly and was somewhat of a coward, so there was no way he would attack first.


    The only reason he attacked earlier was to gauge the guy''s strength and since he escaped it, Caeron chose to keep his distance.


    Of course, Jash''s casual confidence was the most likely reason for Caeron''s decision, which differed from the arrogance of others.


    If it was pure arrogance, he might''ve considered it, but the way Jash put it... it seemed inevitable. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thankfully, the standoff didn''t last long as more examinees showed up, cautious of the duo.


    ''This is what I wanted,'' Jash mused sarcastically with a shake of his head, clearly disliking the exaggerated situation.


    However, the next second, everyone nearby was caught off-guard by a sudden presence of bloodlust, staggering a few right in their tracks.


    Some barely composed themselves and raised their weapons, alerted by the disturbance in their surroundings.


    Only Jash frowned, wondering, ''Where did that come from? I remember no such mention.''


    Unlike others, he had little reaction to the bloodlust, accustomed to such sensations from his dungeon training.


    Not like any amount of bloodlust would cause him to stagger due to his past life, but his current feat was remarkable for his fellow examinees.


    On the other hand, Caeron was cautious, but this much bloodlust was not enough to break his facade.


    In the end, anyone who had gotten specialized training would have trained in hunting dungeon monsters, so they would also be used to experiencing this much bloodlust.


    Naturally, it didn''t take long to track its source¡ªthe boss monster itself.


    It was yearning for more eliminations, or was it programmed to act that way?


    ''Or worse yet, it was changed due to the changes because of me?'' Jash pondered, not expecting it to bring changes so soon.


    Yet he shook that thought off, aware that he would end up stirring quite a hornet''s rest, so what did it matter when?


    It was inevitable, and facing one more challenge ahead of time wouldn''t matter much in the long run.


    Looking around at the stunned examinees, Jash quickly made a decision and unsheathed his sword.


    Before any of them could react, he had already dashed at them, dispatching the easy targets before anyone else could.


    In fact, he was just taking advantage of the monster''s sudden leaking of bloodlust, or he would have to waste his time and stamina even more.


    Although the bloodlust might have caused problems for others, it was nothing for him, making him treat it as a golden opportunity.


    ''Faster, faster, faster...'' he kept repeating the word in his mind as if it would make any difference.


    "Hmm," Jash hummed in satisfaction, holding in his urge for deep breaths so as to not appear weak.


    He had just eliminated nearly 10 examinees either by his sword, or pushing them into the boss monster''s range.


    At this point, the results mattered more than his method as he wanted to get rid of the unstable factors as much as he could.


    Meanwhile, the audience was going bonkers at the crazy sight, wanting nothing more than it to get even more intense.


    "Now, that''s a good sight," Rui commented with a wide grin, holding the mic at an angle, appearing extremely attention-grabbing.


    Fortunately, his words were indeed true.


    Or else he would be hearing the audience booing him just like it happened many times already.


    While they were excited, the gamblers were getting nervous as Jash seemed stronger than his earlier assessment.


    If he secured First Rank, the amount of money they''d lose... it was unimaginable.


    Some had even put all their savings and even houses in the bets... and they would be getting a harsh lesson real soon.


    Bringing them out of their self-misery was Rui''s excited shouts, "There it is, there it is everyone!!"

 Chapter 148: Chapter 148: The Golden Arrival

    Just as Rui exclaimed for the audience, the screen shifted to the approaching examinees, specifically at some.


    Be it Avon, Amael, Zaos, Grunghin, Yirox, Helios, or other nobles from the three races, they elicited a series of cheers from the eager audience.


    They all arrived one by one with their own flair yet paused in their steps at the sudden bloodlust.


    However, how could it stop them when they were the cream of the crop, and very few could rival them.


    A solemn look appeared on their faces as they exchanged wary glances amongst each other.


    The monster wasn''t the problem; it was the examinees next to them, as putting your guard down meant losing this chance.


    ''These idiots... they are thinking about their own reputation and family name,'' Jash mused with a disdainful look.


    Of course, no one was paying him much attention, considering him one of the smart ones who chose to wait for others.


    Little did they know two geniuses among them could solo this injured beast and actually had the guts to do it!


    If not for Jash purposefully trying to achieve this situation, it would''ve never happened.


    Of course, some would arrive, fight, and attract the boss monster, spelling doom for many.


    Yet did the academy want that?


    No. They wanted excellent students, something beyond exemplary this year, given the talented generation.


    Despite the tense standoff, Jash''s eyes scanned the area, trying to locate someone matching the protagonist''s description.


    ''Not here?'' he frowned at not finding anyone who could closely fit into that description.


    And it wasn''t just Jash looking for the guy, Amael too had kept an eye around, trying to look for the protagonist.


    He even asked his system to give the status windows of everyone nearby and was currently assessing them.


    Sadly, there was nothing about Jash... yet again.


    ''System, you''re kidding me, right?'' Amael asked, frustrated by the lack of information and unsure of the system''s intentions after studying all the statuses.


    Only a handful were in E-Rank, let alone being in the late E-Rank where he was, making them quite easy to deal with.


    Of course, being geniuses, everyone could fight across ranks, so why would Amael be left behind?


    That''s why such a thing made no difference when comparing geniuses as no one could fight across entire ranks.


    At least that was the common knowledge besides those who used forbidden methods or sacrificial ones to gain a boost of power.


    And there was no way, there''d be someone with such a method in the Academy Entrance Test.


    Every candidate was screened at multiple levels and even if someone like that sneaked in, they''d be teleported at the first sign. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Academy wasn''t a charity and nor was it a forgiving place, only god knows what would happen to such a person.


    Thankfully, such incidents were unheard of in not just the past years, but even a few past decades.


    {No, Host. The system cannot read him, so assessing is impossible unless you see him in action.}


    ''Can''t I just make a rough guess by then? Why would I need you?'' Amael grumbled inwardly, ignoring the glaring Avon.


    Who knows how Caeron escaped from Avon and attacked Jash after he dashed away and Amael wasn''t the least bit interested in knowing that.


    His focus was divided between the system, his surroundings, and the boss monster.


    To be exact, his focus was on finding the protagonist and taking note of any movement by Jash.


    No matter how sure he was of his victory, it was always better to account for unknown factors early on.


    That''s why the first target in Amael''s mind was the protagonist with his plot armor and then Jash.


    However, the absence of the protagonist steeled his target, but the problem was how to initiate an attack.


    As if right on that moment, a newcomer appeared on the other side of the boss monster, alone.


    The closest examinee to him was at least a few meters away, and he was yet to enter the last area of the boss monster.


    ''That''s it,'' Amael thought, but before he could say anything, a loud shout rang out from nearby.


    "Look, he is directly gunning for the boss monster!"


    Everyone got alerted, turning to look at the one who shouted and who he was talking about.


    Who else could it be except Jash?


    Unlike Amael, his entire focus was on finding the protagonist as he recalled a popular line:


    "Protagonists always arrive late, oftentimes last, to become the beacon of attention and stand out to the crowd."


    Although Jash was unaware of its credibility, the situation truly suited itself.


    The person dashing from the opposite side had golden-hair and golden-eyes, shining as if they were the sun itself.


    His hair flowed like rays of sunlight while his eyes added another layer of confidence and purity to his appearance.


    Jash didn''t even need to spare a split second to realize it was the damned protagonist.


    With a sword in hand and a determined expression, he was heading for the boss monster, unaware of the dangers lurking ahead.


    Even he looked up after the shout as he wanted to explain that he wasn''t attacking it.


    Alas, call it plot armor or his protagonist halo, he didn''t get any time to as the examinee closest to him launched an attack.


    Of course, he easily swung his sword to block the attack and even pushed the guy towards the boss monster accidentally.


    Sadly, his credibility went down with that one move as no one even needed to insinuate.


    "This guy... he thinks we are a joke, waiting before fighting the boss monster!" an examinee shouted, gritting his teeth.


    Not just one, many were angry at the golden boy for breaking the status quo, alas, the boss monster stood in between them.


    ''At least he succeeded in getting all the attention,'' Jash clicked his tongue, seeing the protagonist hog all the attention.


    Not that Jash wanted any attention, it was just that he couldn''t let the protagonist get Rank 1.


    ''No way I am losing my money because of some shit plot armor!'' he cursed inwardly as the situation worsened.


    Of course, the protagonist was the protagonist, how could he get no time to explain?


    He stopped right in his tracks, saying, "Uhm, I have no idea what''s going on here. I just defended myself and it was all an accident."


    Before anyone could think of it, Amael agreed, "Yeah, it could be an accident."


    However, it didn''t have the same effect as the golden boy hoped as Avon readily rejected the idea.


    "There''s no way," Avon said, "Even if he arrived just now, the situation is clear from how we''re all standing at a distance."


    "Yeah, that''s right..." another examinee added, followed by others.


    "Makes sense..."


    "He''s lying..."


    Hearing others agree with him, Avon gave a smug look to Amael, who appeared to have lost.


    Only, Amael was snickering inwardly at how easily Avon fell for his words and made the situation go just as he hoped.


    Unfortunately, Jash figured out Amael''s intentions and raised his eyebrows in intrigue.


    ''What''s he aiming for?'' Jash pondered, unable to think of any reason for his ''friend'' to go against the protagonist.


    It only roused Jash''s suspicions about Amael and he even wondered if that was really Amael or someone else?


    ''Could it be that he too got reincarnated or regressed or something?'' Jash made a wild guess but didn''t have time to continue the thought.


    The battle was about to begin with everyone arriving at the conclusion that the golden boy wanted to sneakily take down the boss monster.

 Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Confronting the Beast

    "Poor him," Rui commented with a sigh, but his grin conveyed his excitement for the audience.


    The crowd was just as eager, if not more, to see the final clash. The pity they felt for the protagonist was overshadowed by excitement.


    At the final area, everyone besides Amael and Jash had actually believed the narrative, feeling angered by the protagonist.


    Though neither Amael nor Jash felt any sympathy for the guy, both liked the situation and how it occurred.


    After all, the protagonist deserved it, or so Jash believed, smiling inwardly.


    ''What''s strange is Amael''s movement,'' he mused, stealing a glance at Amael before everyone moved and the battle began.


    ''He also insinuated the narrative; so was it fate, or some hand of the Goddess herself?'' Jash doubted the convenience of the situation for a second.


    It seemed far too smooth to him to not doubt.


    After all, there was a good ol'' saying: "Just when things are smooth, life loves to throw a wrench in the work."


    Before Jash could spend another second to mull over it, a boy dashed towards the golden boy immediately and raised his sword as he swung it.


    ¡ªWoosh!


    "...And another idiot bites the dust," Jash mumbled to himself with a shake of his head.


    The overexcited boy forgot why everyone had been cautious in the first place. His lack of awareness was evident by his reckless charge.


    "Oh well, he played his part," Jash uttered after noticing everyone raise their weapons and get ready to attack the protagonist as well as the boss monster.


    What better than stealing the boss monster right under everyone''s noses?


    However, the boss monster wasn''t something to be taken lightly as it raised its head and shrieked, "GUAAAA!"


    The loud shriek rocked the eardrums of the examinees at the front as they covered them in an attempt to block the noise.


    Immediately following the shriek, a wave of water surged from the boss monster, washing six examinees away in one go.


    Not expecting the boss monster to be so strong in the least, a few halted in their tracks before gritting their teeth and moving.


    "There''s no way I am gonna lose this one!" A boy shouted as he slashed his spear vertically downward after a jump.


    His target, the monster, didn''t even react as the spear just scraped against its tough scales, leaving behind only a scratch.


    Seeing this, the rest of the examinees were stunned but the mages, archers, hunters and all long ranged warriors took the chance.


    In that gap, several arrow heads bounced off the monster and so did the daggers, only causing minor scratch marks.


    However, the magic spells gave them hope¡ªhope that was snatched away soon.


    Although it caused more damage than the physical attacks, it wasn''t anything fatal.


    Only a few ice spikes, fire balls, wind blades, rocks, water missiles landed on it, not even causing a drop of blood to leak.


    "Idiots, move out of the way!"


    A loud sneering voice made the examinees glare at the source, a dwarf.


    Of course, only the scarce dwarves recognized him alongside Zaos and Avon but only the former cheered for him.


    "Yes! Idiots like them shouldn''t be here in the first place!" a dwarf declared loudly before a human jabbed at him.


    "Your attack also failed, so you''re also the idiot he was referring to," the human commented with a mocking smirk.


    "You..." the dwarf''s face turned white with anger as he launched an attack at the human who easily countered it by jumping away.


    In no time he was at the edge of the boss monster''s range, nearby Grunghin who was readying himself for a strike.


    "What an idiot," the human sneered before stepping away, causing the dwarf to step in the monster''s range as well as Grunghin''s.


    Unfortunately, Grunghin''s attack had already begun and he couldn''t change it, and even if he could, the dwarf would be eliminated by the boss.


    Meanwhile, Jash observed everything with a particular smile. His eyes remained fixed on the boss monster, even as he fought an opponent.


    It was blatant disrespect and his opponent was fuming as he still couldn''t defeat Jash.


    Yet Jash couldn''t care less and directly aimed for a gap, plunging the sword into the boy''s abdomen.


    If not for the barrier stopping it and teleporting him out, his fear, evident in his horrified expression, would have come true.


    "The professors are still as dutiful as ever," Jash commented with a shrug, no longer paying attention to the one he defeated.


    Thankfully, the examinees nearby didn''t have any interest in him, looking at Grunghin''s attack.


    ¡ªBoom!


    Finally, it landed with a blast, making the water in the stream rise up and pushing the monster back by half a meter.


    "Didn''t seem to damage it in the least," a human commented truthfully, not realizing the sensitivity of dwarves with their power.


    Within one second, he became the dwarves'' common enemy, realizing it only after receiving their collective death glare.


    "W-what?" he panicked, not knowing anything about it. Alas, no one seemed interested to help him.


    Simply, some were in the same boat as him and the ones in the know... obviously didn''t want to get involved.


    ''So weak,'' Jash noted, comparing the attack to something he could do at the precipice of breaking through to E-Rank.


    Though it sure was impressive for the other examinees who were mentally comparing themselves or already giving up.


    After all, the unimpressed expression on the faces of at least five faces told them they weren''t even cannon fodder here.


    Sadly, that was true.


    Their only use here was their number and to serve as a distraction for the boss monster, if necessary.


    Of course, if one stepped out of their bound, they''d be eliminated.


    However, the ones who believed themselves equal or superior to Grunghin immediately waltzed forward.


    Just like him, they held their weapon and took their stances, wanting to take down the boss monster.


    Naturally, they were wary of each other and the likes of Avon, Zaos, Yirox, and the protagonist didn''t like that.


    Although the protagonist was the common enemy, he stood apart from the idiots trying to take down the boss.


    Besides them, Amael and Jash had a wait-and-see attitude, both standing in their positions and Jash raised his brows when his eyes scanned the field.


    ''Makes sense Zaos stood back, but what about Caeron? Isn''t he a mage? Why''s he taking another step back?''


    Jash found Caeron''s distancing strategy funny after calculating the rough distance between him and Amael.


    ''Anyways, it still went according to how it was in the novel, with just a bit of animosity for the protagonist,'' Jash mused with interest.


    It seemed that fate itself shaped the scenario for the protagonist to shine, alas, it failed to account for anomalies.


    With the True Anomaly, Amael Blake, and Jash Ramille in presence, how could it go according to fate''s plan? S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two didn''t even look at each other and were readying themselves for an attack.


    Their aim: to slice off the horn of the imoogi-like monster.


    Meanwhile, the many other examinees had the same goal while the mages and everyone cast their spells.


    Blades of Wind and Water, Fire Balls, Fire Arrows, Ice Spikes, Ice Arrows, Earth Arrow, ThunderBall, physical arrows, daggers, spears, swords...


    Everything came flying for the monster, impeding the examinee''s path to its head as they could only change their aim.


    ''Perfect,'' Jash noted and moved.

 Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Felling the Boss Monster

    Jash charged through the chaos, leaping over retreating examinees whose weapons collided and were flung about.


    His eyes darted around, catching sight of the repelled weapons as well as examinees, calculating the distance between him and them.


    With one step, he was closer to the boss monster; with another, he was mid-air before stepping on a repelled dagger.


    Using its hilt as a foothold for a split second, Jash jumped up using the same method to reach the monster''s head.


    "Perfect," he muttered, noting the situation of the boss monster getting overwhelmed by the onslaught of spells and attacks.


    It caused it to be momentarily disoriented and Jash had counted on just that, choosing to believe his mental calculation.


    Seizing the chance, Jash hurtled towards the monster and brought his sword down in a precise arc, severing its horn cleanly.


    "KUAAGH!!" The boss monster roared, confused and enraged, as the horn fell away, leaving a gaping wound.


    It seemed to have come out from its primal reaction, causing many examinees to falter and stumble, even if they weren''t in its direct vicinity.


    Jash, however, was very much expecting it, taking hold of the horn as his prize and kicking off from the monster.


    Still, that didn''t mean he was entirely unaffected by the loud roar.


    However, he was among the least affected, using mana to seal his ears, minimizing the impact.


    Some examinees had tried, only to fail or were unable to do it in time, leading to the same results.


    Meanwhile, on the opposite side, the protagonist and Amael climbed the monster''s body, trying to slice off its horn.


    Yet what met their swords was the flailing monster as they both cursed instinctively, "Oh no!"


    Due to their aim being off, they ended up slicing off different parts of the horn, and their swords even collided.


    However, both knew there was no time for anything else as they used mana to cover their ears and distance themselves.


    Alas, what would a meter of distance matter when they were far closer than Jash, and weren''t ready for it.


    The worst part was the lack of cooperation.


    But no one doubted it, especially given that the golden-haired boy had been named the common enemy just minutes ago.


    Still, had they worked in tandem, their swords would have flashed from opposite angles and their combined effort would have completely removed it.


    The monster''s movements only became more erratic as it thrashed around, struggling to regain its bearings.


    If Jash''s decisive strike had already left it reeling, then the attack from Amael and the protagonist served to only further enrage it.


    Alas, its erratic movements splashed the water away, robbing itself of its inherent advantage.


    Of course, the examinees unable to overcome the shock from its roaring were swept away in the water, getting eliminated to prevent any harm.


    Though a few were dealt with by other examinees, who were jealous and eager to reduce their competition.


    ''So stupid,'' Jash commented inwardly, looking at their actions.


    Everyone knew about the Entrance Test being broadcasted, so it was quite stupid to act obnoxiously and create a negative impression.


    Not just the professors, there were several hidden scouts amongst the audience, so it only decreased their chances to get selected.


    After all, who would want a troublemaker?


    Someone so selfish as to eliminate a teammate for a reward they might never receive.


    That was utter foolishness and such examinees could only hope they changed earlier when left with no other choice other than the Hunter Association.


    ''Well, they deserve to be their dogs and slaves,'' Jash thought with disregard, already recovering from the earlier roar.


    It wasn''t just him though.


    Amael and the protagonist both were recovering at absurd paces, almost catching up to him despite the difference in effect.


    ''Something''s up,'' Jash thought with narrowed eyes, noticing the change in their expressions.


    He was sure that they wouldn''t be stronger than their novel counterparts, but this situation seemed to defy it.


    ''I better let them suffer before taking them out,'' Jash planned with a nod to himself, appreciating his decision to wait.


    If he had already fought the boss monster and defeated it, giving his all, he would be at the mercy of others.


    A scene he didn''t want to see.


    Luckily, his gamble paid off, helping him gauge them while not having to show his everything.


    ''All they can talk about is my deftness and precision, nothing more, nothing less,'' Jash smirked inwardly, praising his genius.


    Of course, it was just his narcissism blinding him from seeing that his sword could shatter at the slightest touch.


    That''s not all. He also sliced off the horn in one go, directly from its root¡ªthe hardest part of it.


    If that didn''t give a rough idea of his strength then what else could?


    Especially since both of them had the system keep a close eye on him, allowing them to get a rough idea about him.


    {Rough Estimate: Early E-Rank}


    ''Better to consider him a sub-rank higher, so Mid E-Rank?'' Amael mused, wary of the new threat while keeping an eye on the protagonist. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    (Host, he is nearly as strong as the past you)


    ''Imposs...ble,'' the protagonist''s thought broke as he found it to be unbelievable and even his focus on Amael loosened.


    At that exact moment, Amael was looking at the protagonist and saw his gaze fixed at the boss monster instead of him.


    ''Weird. I thought he glared murderously at me. Was it just my imagination?'' Amael thought in confusion and suspicion.


    Was it fate or something else that made the protagonist seem unaware of Amael, allowing him to not raise any suspicion?


    Unlike them, Jash had nothing to help him gauge them, and so he did the next best thing.


    "It''s mine!" he shouted before raising his sword,


    ¡ªCrack! Crumple!


    And it shattered due to his movement, making him feel extremely embarrassed.


    Though he masked it, and didn''t need to act, spurring the others into moving against the boss, something he wanted.


    Of course, the over smart ones considered it to be Jash''s scheme and not an honest mistake despite it being one.


    Poor them didn''t know they were being used to deplete their vitality and mana while also damaging the monster.


    ''It''s going to be crazy,'' Jash mused with a suppressed smile, aware that only a few tens of examinees would survive its onslaught.


    Just like him, a few were waiting for others to attack and reap the rewards, making some examinees target them instead.


    During the fight against the boss monster itself, several betrayals occurred, with many examinees getting teleported outside.


    When the total count dropped below 20, the area seemed almost empty besides some small pools of water and blood.


    Of course, the blood belonged to the monster as its scales were almost falling while its body was injured at various places.


    A lot of blood leaked from its body yet it stubbornly stayed in its position.


    ''It''s tired,'' Jash noted and so did the others, planning to take it down and become the champion.


    No matter, everyone had fought hard to get this victory, and they too were exhausted despite their strength.


    The mages like Caeron and Yirox were running low on mana while the warriors, Avon, Grunghin, Zaos, Amael, the protagonist, the lightning boy were tired physically.


    ''Not like none of them are faking it,'' Jash rolled his eyes, huffing for breath as if he was the most tired.

 Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Brawl Before Boss

    Just as the fight was about to end, a few examinees became greedy and targeted the top competitors.


    Of course, figures like Avon, Amael, Zaos, Grunghin, Caeron, Yirox, the lightning element guy, and the protagonist were the major targets.


    Yet they excluded Jash, wary of him putting on an act and only two went to take him down at once, thinking they could pincer him.


    The others each received only one.


    However, it was enough to anger someone like Avon as he felt he was being looked down upon.


    Alas, he still had some semblance to his sanity and gritted his teeth to keep shut and maintain his dignity in front of the world.


    Unlike him, Grunghin couldn''t care less as he spat venomously, "Freaking idiot! Who do you think you are looking at!"


    "Hah! Can''t believe a midget has the gall to still yap!" the human sneered with a mocking smirk on his face.


    Before their conversation could continue or any fight could begin, a sharp sword wind cut through the air, interrupting them.


    "Damn you!" a dwarf screamed in fright after barely dodging the attack performed by the golden-haired boy opposite him.


    "Your fault for underestimating me," the golden-haired boy whispered before swinging his sword, only to abruptly change its direction.


    "Haa... Haa... Haa..."


    An elven mage was the one who stopped the attack, saying, "This... isn''t the... time to... fight amongst ourselves..."


    He was the only elf besides Zaos to have survived until now and actually took a neutral role despite the heated situation.


    The golden-haired boy had a surprised expression on his face as he looked at the elven mage.


    Jash noticed a flicker of regret in the golden-haired boy''s expression, making him doubt his eyes.


    ''Why does his expression show... regret?'' Jash wondered.


    There was no way for Jash to recall every character''s description, but someone who reached this far...


    ''Why does he seem like someone unimportant?'' he wondered, guessing that the guy had an average performance in the Entrance Test.


    ''Could it be the protagonist and he became friends later on? But he''s a guy... I don''t think the protagonist swung both ways, though.''


    If only someone could hear Jash''s wild thoughts...


    As if redemption for his thoughts, a human mage and a dwarven warrior wielding a morningstar targeted him with the dwarf even attacking him.


    Unfazed in the least, Jash casually lifted a dagger and blocked the strike easily, not even moving half an inch backward.


    Of course, it wasn''t that he was too strong, it was just that the dwarf was weak and too tired to garner enough strength. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before the yellow-haired dwarf could say anything, though, Jash pulled his hand a little backward and pushed forward.


    The dwarf was surprised at how easily Jash blocked the strike, but he didn''t give up and continued pushing through.


    However, feeling no change for a few seconds before it went down and got pushed back all of a sudden, his eyes widened.


    ''Why does his strength seem higher than mine? Is he already a Mid E-Rank!?'' the dwarf thought to himself.


    He really couldn''t understand how the human could force him back.


    "HAH!" The dwarf pulled his morningstar and backstepped, getting into a proper stance while creating some distance.


    He pointed the tip of his weapon at Jash, making it clear that he was now ready for his attack.


    But Jash still didn''t glance at him, instead twirling his daggers and squatting down before dashing straight left, ignoring the dwarf


    "What the¨C?" The dwarf was shocked by Jash''s move. Running away while in the middle of a fight was strange, very strange.


    "Shit! That''s where he is!" The dwarf clenched his jaw as he saw Jash swing his daggers in a similar manner before throwing one of them.


    Unlike the dwarf, the human mage hadn''t anticipated this situation and was a second late to sidestep to dodge it.


    "Urgh," he groaned as the dagger drew blood, slicing off the skin from his arm.


    Jash didn''t wait and directly dashed at him, dagger in hand, immediately swung at the mage, taking him out in one go.


    He didn''t give a damn about the neutral elf or what was happening with others.


    He was targeted, so he ought to take them out as quickly as possible.


    "What!?! YOU!" The dwarf yelled, rushing towards Jash and swinging the morningstar in a wide arc.


    Jash instantly back stepped before tilting his body to the left and throwing the dagger at the dwarf''s head.


    After swinging his morningstar in a wide arc, he didn''t have any time to react and was teleported by the barrier.


    After all, a sharp dagger hitting the head could leave some worrisome wounds and could even prove to be fatal.


    Despite the swift execution, Jash did not let his guard down.


    On the other side, Amael and the protagonist frowned, seeing Jash''s skill with the dagger when he was a swordsman.


    Both wanted to curse their system for being really useless if not for the spectacle opposite them.


    The golden-haired boy saw the neutral elf''s expression fall and he closed eyes, not wanting to see the elf''s expression when he took care of the dwarf attacking him.


    Ultimately, there was no other way after Jash swiftly dispatched his enemies and kept his guard up while heading towards the boss monster.


    The clash was inevitable and the neutral elf could only feel defeated.


    Nearby, Avon went ahead and dashed towards his opponent, spinning his spear in his right hand.


    He swung his spear, but his opponent blocked it and got pushed back before slashing with his own spear at Avon.


    Due to the shock of being unable to eliminate his opponent, the spear grazed his shoulder, drawing blood.


    Of course, the customized nano-armors given didn''t prevent damage as it worked more as a protective device than armor, and it was meant to work that way.


    Without a change in expression, Avon touched his shoulder, and looked at his hand to see a bit of blood on it.


    He glared at his opponent, unable to believe that he even got injured on top of being unable to swiftly take the guy down.


    It hurt his pride more than anything to see Jash quickly dispatch his enemies while he struggled.


    Worse yet, even Amael had already taken care of his opponent, a mage, without letting the guy cast any spells.


    "Don''t you underestimate me!" Avon yelled with gritted teeth, channeling what little mana he had, increasing his speed.


    ¡ªClang!


    Small sparks were produced as the two spears collided, with Avon pushing back his opponent.


    But he did not stop, continuing to attack his opponent, trying to take him down as soon as possible.


    Meanwhile, the others were in a similar situation excluding Caeron who just left his opponents range.


    He recognized Jash as a greater threat than the golden-haired boy and was not going to stand against the crazy guy.


    While the others were also exchanging attacks, Jash suddenly dashed at the boss monster, prompting Amael and the protagonist to do the same.


    ''Nice,'' he smirked inwardly while maintaining a confident demeanor on his face.


    He wanted the two of them to fight each other for the boss monster and also planned to draw the others in.


    While his plan was easy to get caught, he knew it was inevitable.


    The moment he dispatched his opponents and walked towards the boss monster, everyone got in a hurry.


    No matter their opponents, there were no teams, only selfish people yearning for the Rank 1.


    Hence, neither examinee would want to lose the opportunity to slay the boss monster and fulfill some condition to get Rank, if it even existed in the first place.


    Of course, Jash had a different motive, aware that just slaying the boss monster wasn''t enough to secure Rank 1.

 Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Unexpected Play

    Jash mentally played with them, and Amael had to play along, not knowing Jash''s schemes, but he couldn''t act against the tide either.


    ''Just what''s his game?'' Amael wondered in frustration, unable to get a read on him.


    Meanwhile the golden-haired boy was in his own realm of thoughts, ''This... this never happened.''


    Unaware and unbothered about their thoughts, Jash casually glanced at them before refocusing on the boss monster.


    It seemed to be on its last legs, its horns cut off, many scales shattered and cracked, and a few dangling against its skin.


    With every second, its blood loss increased, teetering it even closer to the jaws of death.


    Yet its eyes showed a flicker of defiance and anger despite being nothing more than a simulation.


    Using the realistic approach allowed the monster to display basic emotions like anger at being attacked or having its territory invaded.


    However, its defiance wasn''t expected by the professors and they immediately cut off its emotions.


    Their decision was to prevent it from going berserk, leading it to become nothing more than a sitting duck.


    Of course, the examinees or the audience could never notice it, excluding Jash.


    ''Hm?'' his eyes narrowed in confusion, thinking that he might have hallucinated for a moment.


    But he shook his head in the next second, quickly shaking off the confusion, focusing on the protagonist and Amael closing in on the boss monster.


    Despite them holding great animosity to each other in the future, none of that was reflected at the moment.


    Even if Amael himself knew everything about the future, there was no real reason to show his hostility openly.


    Since he had not experienced those moments himself, why would he feel any emotions towards a stranger?


    Only the bias created after going through the novel information prevented him from seeing anything else.


    Meanwhile, the protagonist himself was confused at the set turn of events, going with the flow with no other option.


    As if to break the monotony of the situation the nine examinees one-by-one defeated their opponents, getting slightly injured in the process.


    The one with a fuming expression was Avon as he couldn''t believe he was the fifth to defeat his opponent.


    Not like anyone was happy to be behind anyone else as they considered themselves as the top geniuses.


    Everyone but Jash and Caeron.


    Caeron because he had no interest and felt that these ranks didn''t matter much, what mattered was staying alive.


    On the contrary, Jash knew that Amael was more talented than him, if not for his unfair advantage of a past life.


    So, he had no arrogance or pride over the fact.


    It was just that, a fact.


    Nothing more than that.


    That''s why his emotions were stable throughout, not being stoked in the least unlike them.


    "That''s mine," Jash yelled, throwing a spear at Amael and an axe at the protagonist, distracting them for a second.


    ¡ªWoosh!


    "Ugh!" both groaned as they were moving and had to transfer the momentum to their weapons to block the strike.


    Jash had thrown the weapons at the last second, making it impossible to dodge by side stepping, forcing them to deflect.


    He seized that moment to thrust his sword through the boss monster''s head... or at least he tried to do so.


    At the last moment, a stray ThunderBall spell forced him to let the sword escape his grip.


    ¡ªBzzt!


    Retracting his hand at the last second, Jash didn''t even turn around to look at who sent a spell at him.


    Instead, he ducked down, rolling ahead on the floor as an ice arrow passed by his previous position.


    Without any hesitation whatsoever, he inhumanely used the monster''s horn he had taken and drove it inside its dying body.


    ¡ªSpurt!


    Blood spurted but the sound of attacks landing echoed as it wasn''t just him being attacked.


    Since he, Amael, and the protagonist were in the lead, they were targeted by everyone, and any attacks aiming at the boss monster were neutralized by one another.


    Of course, the ones attacking wildly were getting more and more agitated by their unsuccessful attempts to breach the three''s defenses.


    Yet a stunned silence befell the area after the boss monster started dematerializing, leaving behind its horn as if it were real.


    As the others were bewildered, Jash swiftly pocketed the horn and kicked away, having already planned an escape route.


    On the other side, Avon had just reached the golden-haired boy, instantly clashing against him and was forced to step back.


    His expression distorted before he realized that the attacks had stopped, inadvertently looking at the boss monster.


    "What!?" he exclaimed in disbelief, being the first to react as others were too stunned by the sight, allowing Jash the window to escape.


    Of course, Amael had caught Jash trying to escape from the corner of his eyes, but that was all.


    The arrow was approaching his head, and even though no new spells were being cast, it was still going to reach him.


    It was fired by Zaos, making it all the more formidable, forcing Amael to focus on deflecting it, so as to save time and strength.


    ''The chase would be annoying,'' he thought with a frown, not ready for Jash''s action as it was out of the plot.


    For some reason, Jash was going overboard to the point of showing off.


    However, it was something else that mattered to Amael.


    ''Oi System! This! Doesn''t this change the story?'' he asked his system, wanting to get Villain Points, alas, he was asking to be disappointed.


    {Error! Host has not caused these changes! Unable to find source! Error!}


    ''Damn this system,'' Amael cursed inwardly and felt a stray spell turning to him. He turned and tilted his head to his left, dodging it by a hair''s breadth.


    Though no one was focusing on him or anyone else, they all had their eyes set on Jash, aiming to defeat him until...


    "Wait! Isn''t the Entrance Test over now that the boss is taken down?" the neutral elf exclaimed, happy for this madness to end.


    Yet his words did nothing to stop any of them from chasing Jash, all the while being wary of each other and attacking even.


    The one with the highest advantage was Zaos, he could just stay in the back and fire arrows at everyone.


    While Caeron and Yirox could indeed have done the same, it took longer to cast spells and moving and casting was too much to ask for.


    By the time they completed their spells, there was a high chance the others would have been out of their range.


    Of course, they weren''t slow, it was just that everyone was on their nerves, using everything at their disposal.


    It didn''t matter what they did, after all, there was no use hiding it if they couldn''t even tank Rank 1.


    Sadly, it was all useless as the Entrance Test had ended.


    Long ago, indeed.


    However, the audience and the examinees were the only ones unaware of it. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As time closed in, even the sun was on its setting throes, signaling the end of the Entrance Exam.


    Yet the audience was excited to see what would happen next and so the academy forced the examinees to stay within a limited area.


    "Shit!" Jash cursed, knowing what came next.


    "Finally!"


    "Caught you!"


    It was the others who were looking for him, finally catching up to him and forcing him into a corner.

 Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Backup Plan

    "Haha," Jash chuckled dryly as he channeled his mana, enhancing his speed and strength.


    "We can talk," he said, not believing his own words in the least.


    "Talk, my ass!" Grunghin exclaimed, sharing their sentiment, and even ended up attacking Jash in a fit of anger.


    Yet Jash sidestepped and then backstepped, only to find himself against an invisible barrier as an arrow landed near his feet.


    The examinees seemed hellbent on not giving Jash any escape as they kept attacking him, making him regret his decision.


    Had he not taken down the boss monster out of suspicion, Jash''s plan would have gone smoothly.


    He would step back, leaving the stage to Amael and the protagonist, getting the others agitated by speaking like an orator.


    ''That way, I wouldn''t be in this shit! Damn that flicker in its eyes!'' Jash cursed inwardly, not happy with his current situation in the least.


    However, it was actually a good thing as the professors didn''t miss his change in movement during that split-second of emotion in the monster.


    If it was a real monster, it would''ve gone berserk and definitely dispatched all the examinees easily.


    But, considering a real-life scenario, it would have spelled their doom.


    So, they already decided Jash as the winner as he gave up whatever plans he had, trying to kill the monster before anything could go wrong.


    Naturally, it wasn''t just this one action that earned him Rank 1; it was due to their observations since the start.


    Well, except for Jash appearing late and taking the backseat to reap the rewards at the perfect time.


    But that''s something that could be worked upon, or so the professors considered.


    And the current situation just solidified their decision as who could fight against the most talented in their generation all alone.


    Jash didn''t even have any weapon to boot!


    He used the horn he had cut to deflect and parry attacks, causing his opponents to tangle up, allowing him to escape.


    Two swords, one spear, one sledgehammer, one archer, two mages and a lightning martial artist...


    Those were the weapons or basically the opponents he had to face all at once.


    Thankfully, he was familiar with their fighting techniques from the novel and his past life had more or less synchronized its experiences within him.


    It was just his body that was lacking to be able to use everything to its fullest.


    ''Thankfully, I reached the intermediate sword mastery or else,'' Jash thought, unable to complete his dangerous thought as a kick landed on his sides.


    "Urgh," he gritted his teeth due to the lingering lighting element on the attack causing him discomfort more than pain.


    Just when Jash was about to use the horn to injure Avon''s arm, he got kicked from behind him.


    Attacking someone from behind was not considered good by nobles, but the one attacking him was no noble.


    Even the ones he was fighting against were too agitated to even care about their principles and integrity.


    That was how every life-and-death battle went, nothing mattered except for victory as anything besides that meant death.


    Still, Jash wasn''t one to lament his situation and immediately picked himself up, using his free hand to push him away from the ground.


    Although rolling on the ground was also not considered noble-like, Jash couldn''t care less.


    ''No amount of integrity, morals or principles can help one in the face of death,'' he recalled the life lesson from his previous life.


    After all, being a hero was not all rainbows and sunshine.


    While he may have been a hero to the humans of his previous world, he sure as hell was a villain to the demons.


    And that''s why he ought to be despicable, for the sake of his race.


    That''s why he had no hesitation to do anything to survive and win, unlike others who had some sort of hesitation.


    A few times, they even clashed weapons, protesting, "It''s not right to gang up on him!"


    However, it changed nothing as someone mentioned they didn''t know how much time was left and he was the key.


    Only, Amael was similar to Jash in that mindset, except, he had several bottom lines and Jash had his own.


    Though none of them stopped either from executing their plans.


    Both wanted to achieve first rank but that was impossible.


    Still, Jash had a better plan.


    ''I need to eliminate someone...'' he mused in a hurry, his eyes darting around the area, trying to find the weakest link.


    While doing so, he bent backward, but Avon was prepared for it and pushed his spear downwards.


    Jash used his free hand to push Avon''s spear further downward and used that split moment to shift himself to his right and dodging the Icicle.


    Of course, he was devious enough to pull Avon in the line of the flying arrow, using him as a meat shield.


    "Urgh," Avon grunted at the sudden pain from his left shoulder, immobilizing him for a second as blood dripped from his mouth.


    ''Forget the weak link,'' Jash decided to make Avon the weak link, alas, a sharp sword slash forced him to create distance.


    Avon used that opportunity to wipe the blood from his mouth, channeling his mana to coat his arms and stop the bleeding.


    He tightened his grip on his spear, ready for any betrayal but it never came as he saw Amael clash with Jash.


    Of course, the scene of so many fighting against Jash as he maneuvered deftly despite that made the crowd awe at his ability.


    Sadly, it also made the crowd angry at them as it was a cowardly tactic.


    More people cheered for Jash despite their dislike for him during the starting period where he just rested.


    Yet nothing changed the fact that Jash felt no sympathy for his opponents and started using them to tank his damage.


    His stomach was rumbling, his limbs were trembling, his head was aching¡ªthe three days of exhaustion caught up to him as he continued the fight.


    It forced him to use this tactic but the audience didn''t mind as Jash was indeed giving them a good show.


    Sadly, everyone was swept by his flow as he kept going with the flow.


    Only those with abundant experience in battles could tell that Jash wasn''t in the battle at all.


    Everything was just instinctively following the flow of the battle, allowing him to survive until now and even injure others.


    Jash countered Amael and the protagonist''s swords at the same time as everyone grew more and more tired.


    No matter, they were still kids and being able to fight such an intense battle, heavy on the mind and body was no joke.


    Gritting his teeth, Jash overexerted himself, kicking the protagonist in the stomach who backstepped in time, making Jash lose his balance.


    Despite his precarious situation, Jash had already thrust the horn at Amael''s thigh, scratching it as Amael retracted his leg.


    "YOU FU¨C" Grunghin cursed as Avon stopped his hammer from attacking Jash, indicating he wouldn''t allow anyone else to win.


    And it was the same for everyone.


    Why would they put in so much work? S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For someone else to take the credit and win?


    However, that was all Jash needed as he had finally changed the area of the battlefield.


    ''My backup came into action, huh?'' he mused with a wry smile.

 Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Time to End This

    Looking at the bunch of weapons within arm''s reach, Jash smiled, praising his decision to prepare this area in case things went awry.


    He would seem too out of place if he appeared near the boss area with all sorts of weapons, so he had to dump them.


    Of course, it was also due to their weight slowing him down.


    Turning his head, his eyes caught sight of the familiar cave in the gorge and the small stream near it.


    "Perfect," he murmured, barely audible to even himself, let alone anyone near him.


    Yet they too had caught on that something was wrong the moment they saw a smile appear on Jash''s face.


    ''It was the correct decision,'' Jash mused, picking up a sword.


    "Finally," he muttered with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, feeling the sword hilt fit right into his hand.


    "SHIT!" Amael cursed, taking a step back and becoming serious in the next second.


    It was instinctive as he recognized that Jash was near his level in sword mastery, just like the protagonist.


    ''How...? Didn''t he awaken one whole year after the protagonist and the other? Not to mention me!'' Amael thought in disbelief, his jaw tightening as he struggled to process the unexpected development.


    {...}


    The system was just as speechless as Amael, unable to figure out a plausible explanation.


    After all, it was with Amael when Jash''s news of awakening arrived and how the awakening time wasn''t shared.


    It was something dubious, but not unheard of if the time was too less or too high.


    ''Definitely higher in his case,'' Amael guessed in his heart, feeling annoyed that he still hadn''t accounted for this variable.


    Even if the Imperial Banquet had been held a few days back, he had enough time to think of something.


    But all he did was train and discuss plans with his system, and thinking whether to choose that armor or not.


    Currently, it was in his system inventory, which was locked due to the lack of Villain Points.


    Though it was just the requirement to unlock it and he didn''t really have to spend those hard-earned points.


    Unlike Jash who thought of weird possibilities, Amael''s lack of novel-reading prevented him from thinking of such a possibility.


    Just like Amael could adjust quickly and improve his fighting style by leaps-and-bounds without the system''s help, Jash was no different.


    In fact, he already had memories of fights at the pinnacle of his power, something that could contest against an ancient demon king.


    Who knew how old that monster was?


    Yet Jash had not only fought against him, but even defeated him.


    Though calling it that way was wrong as it wasn''t really him who did that even if he had those memories.


    ''More like nightmares,'' Jash shuddered as he used his sword to deflect an arrow and Icicle at the same time.


    The memories from his past life were guiding his movements, mana flow¡ªeverything!


    While his eyes were seeing and not seeing at the same time, unable to focus on the present, he was living the moment.


    He was blissful.


    The others, not so much.


    After all, Amael had just cursed and with the way Jash easily stopped the attacks from damaging him was enough reason.


    No one was stupid enough to think that nothing was up.


    Yet there just had to be that one idiot, the neutral elf, still lingering, trying to stop everything.


    Getting annoyed, Grunghin couldn''t care less and started attacking Avon opposite him with wild abandon.


    If not for Avon stopping him, Jash would''ve already been eliminated and the battle would have been long over.


    Gaining some distance from Avon, Grunghin saw that the elf was nearby and directly attacked the guy.


    Not expecting to get attacked in the least, he was instantly eliminated.


    However, Grunghin''s one action had far-reaching consequences as the partial trust broke apart.


    Now, everyone was an opponent with no allies.


    At their wary and angry expressions, Jash smirked inwardly, ''Hehe, took them long enough.''


    He looked at both Amael and the protagonist eyeing each other warily, and noticed the unknown emotions in the eyes of the protagonist.


    ''Hm? He''s not supposed to know anyone but Caeron here,'' Jash doubted his eyes before finding Caeron preparing a spell.


    Nearby, Yirox was doing the same while Zaos had distanced himself from everyone, with an arrow nocked on his bow. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Taking in the sight, Jash stepped forward when he noticed some mud shackles among the thick earth.


    He dashed past them as he saw the shackles clenching and gripping the space where he was about to step.


    He knew who used this kind of trick and turned to see a boy with short chocolate-brown hair with almond eyes, Yirox.


    A look of surprise appeared on his face before turning into one of grim determination..


    However, he was attacked right at that moment by a spear from Avon, injuring his arm due to the suddenness of the attack.


    Jash noted with a smile, ''Perfect.'' He picked up his pace, increasing the damage to everyone by diverting their focus onto himself.


    Jash looked at the guy with blue hair and pale-green eyes, who stood against Grunghin, with lightning crackling all over his arms and limbs.


    He appeared to be an adept martial artist who could easily contest with anyone here besides Amael, the protagonist or Jash himself.


    It wasn''t overconfidence from Jash''s side, though.


    He lowered his sword and dashed toward the guy, who was a second too late to react to Jash''s advance, yet he dodged the side slash.


    He even countered it with a palm, trying to unarm Jash and make him weaker.


    Alas, that was a pipe dream.


    Even if Jash was not as good as the martial artist, he wouldn''t lose just because he lost a weapon.


    He had already proved it by wielding a horn from a monster and survived until now.


    Besides, the horn got chipped, something Jash didn''t like and he didn''t want its quality to decrease further.


    That''s why there was no way he would let go of the sword.


    Heck, he even turned around and swung widely at Grunghin, using the slight opening caused due to Grunghin wielding a large weapon.


    "Argh," Grunghin almost lost his grip on his sledgehammer due to putting up next to no defense.


    Meanwhile, Amael and the protagonist chose not to intervene anywhere else, focusing on each other only.


    They knew that the end result would be between them and as if agreeing silently, both darted in opposite directions to get rid of others.


    Now... the battle was only to dispatch everyone before the final duel began between the Villain and the Protagonist.


    Of course, it was different from Jash''s perspective, who only thought they were helping him.


    After all, both of them were in the Late E-Rank, the highest among everyone here.


    Excluding Jash and the neutral elf guy who got done in, everyone else was in Mid E-Rank.


    So, the difference between them was clear once Amael and the golden-haired boy got serious.


    ''They definitely gauged each other and wanted to exclude others from their fight,'' Jash mused while blocking Grunghin''s sledgehammer.


    Neither of the two interfered with him, considering him an anomaly and strange exception to their battle.


    No matter how they thought of it, it made no sense for someone two sub ranks lower than being able to perform equal to them.


    Was it their pride or was it their confidence to consider Jash merely an equal despite him fighting against them too?


    Who knew what was on their mind as they quickly eliminated the others despite the complaints and third-rate threats.


    Meanwhile, Jash was busy playing around with Grunghin and the martial artist whose name eluded him at the moment.


    ''Time to end this,'' he decided, taking note of the battlefield.

 Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Lightning Duel

    Grunghin side-stepped, and now Asher was facing Jash, and the lightning-guy was in front of them.


    "Let''s team up for now," the lightning guy proposed, setting aside his pride and ego.


    Grunghin opened his mouth, wanting to deny, but his anger and frustration made him want to defeat this pesky human at all costs.


    Even Grunghin was convinced that he couldn''t defeat the sword guy anymore despite his stubborn dwarven pride. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, the lightning guy was different, he didn''t belong to any noble family or an elite force.


    That''s why, he always thought that the difference between him and the other kids from nobility would not be that big.


    Alas, it could never be the truth as Amael and the protagonist were a cut above the rest.


    Even if he had never encountered Jash, the situation wouldn''t change. Just that the two were stronger than anyone in the original storyline.


    "Listen, you don''t want to lose like this as well, right?" the lighting guy said, trying to reason with Grunghin.


    "...Okay," Grunghin agreed with gritted teeth, as he saw no other option.


    Unlike one would think, Jash was readying his attack, not wanting to give any time for them to coordinate.


    Mana exited his core and channeled through his meridians.


    This created a cold sensation around his chest due to the emptiness and a hot, searing sensation throughout his body¡ªthe meridians.


    ''Ah! Bear it, Jash!'' he told himself, clenching his jaw to keep the pain at bay and focus on his enemies.


    A spark appeared around the lightning guy, and after the first spark, another two appeared as lightning cackled on his forearms and lower leg.


    He muttered something, and the lightning dissipated, focusing on his hands and foot only.


    This scene, unlike any other, got even Rui reeling in surprise as he exclaimed out loud, "This boy!! He has mastered his element¡ªlightning¡ªto such a degree!!"


    Not just him, many people were surprised. It was known that lightning was a tough element to master.


    And now a somewhat unknown boy had mastered it enough to be able to use it in such a manner!?


    It was entirely different from Jash, Amael or the golden-haired boy defeating others and their awe-inspiring performance.


    They literally had SSS-Rank hunters to teach them with immense resources to support their growth.


    However, the lighting boy was a dark horse, something the audience appreciated very much.


    "Hmm, this boy is quite good, but he got played," an old woman who was watching the tournament spoke as her lips curled upwards.


    "But his potential is impressive, even his element," she mumbled, smiling as she reviewed a floating document.


    Only five documents were floating around her, signifying the number of participants still in the Entrance Test.


    She repeatedly looked at them and then got back to observing the tournament.


    Meanwhile, the girls'' part of the Entrance Test had already concluded, so the focus remained on this part of the Entrance Test.


    Back on the island, the lightning boy dashed toward Jash with incredible speed as his element boosted his agility a lot.


    His fists flew towards Jash''s face, but Jash did not stay still, anticipating the move.


    He had already been preparing an attack, so he was expecting such a situation, as he caught the sight of Grunghin from the corner of his eyes.


    His lips couldn''t help but arch upwards as he swung his sword and moved at the same time.


    ¡ªShwoosh!


    ¡ªShiing!


    His sword traveled in an arc, bypassing the lighting boy''s attack and slicing his wide open flank.


    Yet the barrier activated in time, teleporting him out and giving a sort of bounce back to Jash''s sword as he turned his wrists.


    In that split second, his grip loosened as he reversed his grip, followed by moving in a peculiar pattern towards Grunghin.


    At this moment, Grunghin had just noticed the barrier teleporting the lightning guy out as he was mid-swing of his attack.


    Alas, Jash was two steps ahead, already reaching him while ducking, sword pointed diagonally upwards.


    Not even wanting to give Grunghin any time, Jash had already set his swing in motion, reaching Grunghin''s chest before the sledgehammer could squash him.


    Due to the activation of the barrier, Jash got repelled slightly, which he used to dodge the dropping sledgehammer at his previous position.


    ¡ªBam!


    Even though most of the force was lost due to Grunghin''s connection being cut, the sledgehammer was heavy.


    It dropped with a loud sound as he had loosened his grip after catching the sight of the undodgeable sword strike.


    "Huu..."


    Jash took a deep breath as he stood up, relaxing his muscles and feeling the pain from over straining them.


    Sadly, the battle hadn''t ended yet and he had to face the most formidable ones at the same time in 1v1v1.


    However, he didn''t know that even the two of them were eyeing him warily due to his performance so far.


    ''Oi, system! Is he supposed to be that strong by any estimate?'' Amael asked his system, not even expecting a response.


    {...}


    Well, it wasn''t just one system that was speechless, even the protagonist got the same response, prompting him to tighten his grip.


    Turning to look at the duo of archenemies, Jash started walking towards them, the twitch in his lips obvious.


    He was barely keeping his emotions of pain under a tight lid as he walked right after overexerting himself.


    It was no simple feat, though.


    Imagine exercising to your limits, on an empty stomach, only to be told that you had to walk home and cook for yourself.


    The exertion would catch up, leaving you lying in fatigue as the body''s instinct to recover in sleep would try to take over.


    Jash was doing just that, though, no cooking was involved in it, but something far more excruciating.


    Outside, the audience was in a stunned silence, unable to understand what Jash did and even Rui was silent.


    Of course, he knew what Jash did, but how? He had no idea.


    Let alone him, even Sera and Carcel were looking on with confusion, seeing the apparent difference in Jash before the Entrance Test and during it.


    It wasn''t something that could be explained by talent or by just happening in the spur of the moment.


    This caused them to forget even about Caera''s performance as they wondered how Jash could perform such a sword move.


    "Honey, did you teach him that?" Sera asked him, her voice lowering at every syllable.


    Carcel gulped and immediately denied. "No! He would never learn something so bothersome!" he said.


    Yet under the icy stare of his wife, he could only confess, "He asked to read the sword moves once... Yes, he only asked to read!"


    "Don''t look at me like that! I am telling the truth," Carcel continued, averting his wife''s fierce eyes.


    Unfortunately, he was rather excited at seeing his son fight in such a way, rousing Sera''s suspicion.


    "You know..." Sera began, "I think we should have forced him to put in more effort."


    "What!?" Carcel turned his head, all his excitement washed away as he looked at his wife in utter horror.


    Who was she? Where was his wife?


    Those were the questions on his face which Sera obviously read and her lips twitched as she pinched his arm.


    "Ouch, at least this is my Sera," Carcel muttered underneath his breath, which only increased the intensity of the pinch.


    "Ow ow ow ow ow!" he squeaked before she stopped suddenly as the fight had just begun.

 Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Machinations and Duels

    As Jash walked towards the two, a sudden thought came to him, ''I don''t know his name.''


    He had always referred to the golden-haired guy as the protagonist since his name seemed blurred in his memories.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t know; it was more like he wasn''t allowed to know.


    ''Might as well ask,'' he thought, approaching the two who were eyeing each other warily as well as him.


    "Hey..."


    ¡ªClang!


    Before Jash could say anything, the two clashed swords with each other, forcing him to take a step back.


    However, he almost dashed in, trying to intervene and enter the fight, but stopped at the last second.


    ''Wait, what am I doing? Isn''t this what I wanted? So why?'' Jash thought to himself, confused by his own instincts.


    It wasn''t that he actually wanted to fight and make his body cry in pain; if possible, he''d avoid fighting altogether.


    Sadly, the situation was too suspicious, as the two had just stood at a distance when Jash performed his sword move.


    At that time, the two could''ve fought each other or even eliminated Jash after he executed a sword move.


    Surely, there''d be a window to take him down right after he executed a move that was somewhat out of his league.


    ''Even if they weren''t expecting it, their sudden clashing is strange,'' Jash thought with an observing eye, rooted to the spot.


    Amael and the golden boy kept exchanging attacks at a slow pace as their speed kept rising steadily.


    Jash''s eyes followed every movement that the two were making, wary of some sort of alliance against him.


    ''Yeah, that''s highly likely. After all, they weren''t enemies at this time,'' Jash concluded, his eyes narrowing in concentration.


    Both weren''t even using anything except their bodies and sword to fight, the mana boosting not only speed but also reaction time and all senses.


    To keep up with them, Jash had to exert his core and use mana to make sure his body was ready to react at any moment of time.


    ¡ªClang!


    Accompanied by the loud metallic clangs, Jash''s ears began hurting after a few minutes of their tempo rising.


    It wasn''t just one clang every few seconds, but more than a few clashes every second.


    The ringing noises made Jash frown as his concentration was getting broken due to the unrhythmic sounds.


    On the other side, the golden-boy countered most of Amael''s attacks with a focused look, similar to that of Amael.


    Due to that, Amael attacked with even more intensity, causing the golden-boy to also put in more mana and strength, being forced to match Amael''s strength.


    To the audience, all of it was starting to get blurry as their speeds rose to the level of most E-Rank Hunters, something most of the audience wasn''t used to.


    Even though there were several E-Rank hunters in the Entrance Test, none had the leeway to exert themselves fully to reach such speeds.


    Only someone like Amael and the golden-boy could do that and still say, "This is not even our best!"


    Of course, the clueless audience didn''t know and could only compare it with Jash''s sword move which was slowed and replayed for them to see.


    As if already anticipating this, the screen''s speed slowed, allowing the audience to get a better view.


    However, the VIP rooms had no need for it, the screen being at its normal speed as they could even point out gaps and faults within the moves.


    Inside one of the VIP rooms, the dignitaries from the Church knelt on the floor with their heads lowered.


    All of them had fervent expressions as the holographic image of a blindfolded woman seemed to be gazing at the screen.


    The head of the delegation was the only one who had his head raised as he gazed fervently at the Saintess.


    Her expression remained stoic as she watched the duel going on despite her blindfold.


    Though it would make no sense to anyone else, no one here had even the slightest of a question about her integrity.


    Unbeknownst to anyone, the Saintess looked more closely at Jash than the duel.


    She couldn''t tell much about him due to the distance and it being a holographic video call.


    If she was there, the screen would be enough for her to see what she wanted to, alas, it wasn''t possible.


    "Tell the Principal that the top 5 at the end of the second year of this batch..."


    The Saintess began explaining to the room about what she had decided before her hologram closed off.


    She didn''t give any time for them to question her decision or try to understand it.


    She had ordered and they had to do it.


    That was all.


    "Everyone! Did you all hear the Saintess?" the head of the delegation asked as everyone echoed unanimously, "YES!"


    "I''ll go arrange for it," a girl with a veil on her face said, still kneeling and lowering her head.


    "Very well!"


    She moved only after getting permission and left to arrange for everything, not paying attention to anything else.


    At this point, they already believed that the reason the Saintess agreed after all the badgering was that the winner was decided.


    Alas, it was the opposite.


    She expected him to lose and wanted to meet Jash, making a balanced choice to meet five instead of three or ten.


    What her motives were or what she planned to do remained a mystery to even the Church Members.


    However, it was something pleasant for them as they would be able to witness the sight of the Saintess with their very own eyes.


    While this was happening in one room, someone in another VIP room was looking on with a critical eye.


    Nothing about the person could be discerned except the real holders of the VIP room were unconscious.


    "A pity I can''t finish them."


    A hoarse voice sounded from under the cloak before it vanished and the room returned to its earlier state.


    Nothing about their gender or age could be discerned by their voice as they finished just before Amael and the golden boy were about to engage with Jash.


    In another room, Amael''s father spoke, "That sword boy is good. But when did he get this good at his basic footwork and sword mastery?"


    Despite his tone, a smile lingered at the corner of his lips as he watched Amael dodge every counterattack from the golden-haired boy.


    He even countered some of the counterattacks, as they reached near Jash, ready to pull him in their tempo.


    Unfortunately, they were in for a good surprise. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although it appeared that two weren''t moving a lot, if one looked closely, they had already circled around Jash multiple times.


    Each time, the radius decreased as they neared Jash at too fast a pace for him to react.


    Or so everyone thought.


    After all, Jash had not moved or even turned from his initial position, holding the sword by his side, not even in a stance.


    Only, he knew how hard it was to recover his mana with so many clashes nearby and having to keep his focus on it.


    His nose was on the verge of bleeding as he overexerted his half-recovered mental strength.


    He was almost abusing the cheats he got from his past life without a care in the world.


    Unfortunately, everything had a limit and Jash was about to push it right when he got the golden chance.


    ''I am done for after this,'' he thought before making his move, unaware of the observing and planning eyes behind the screen.

 Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Unyielding Strikes [Extra]

    ¡ªClang!


    Right when the two clashed their swords near Jash, he used that chance to forcefully strike the point of collision of their swords.


    "Let''s end this," Jash whispered under his breath.


    The two were pushed back by the sudden force and were confused by what Jash whispered, having seen his lips move.


    But both of them felt their hands tremble due to the extreme force of the recent attack.


    And they were about to find out what Jash meant as he kicked away the ground, rushing into them.


    Just now, Jash had used his sword horizontally to attack their center of force which made them wary of his next attack.


    Within a few breaths, Jash stood opposite the golden-haired boy, slicing at his chest with his sword which got blocked.


    ¡ªClang!


    Yet Jash seemed to have wanted that only, as he kicked the boy on his shin and used the rebound force to get away.


    ¡ªWoosh!


    Due to backing away, Amael''s sword cut nothing but air as Jash had already gotten away and the golden-haired boy was pushed back.


    The sudden kick on the shin served to disbalance him as he took two steps back to regain his footing.


    Meanwhile, the audience was getting hyped and Rui announced, "Come on, everyone!! The threeway fight has just begun!!"


    At the same time, Jash had shifted his weight to his right leg, working as his backfoot, allowing him to reverse his direction.


    By the time Amael lifted his sword, Jash''s sword slipped through his sword and made a small cut on his chest.


    "Argh," Amael stepped back, straightening his arm holding the sword, which he moved at the last second to block Jash''s sword.


    A drop of blood leaked from the cut, but it wasn''t anything major or the suit would have activated the barrier.


    Still, it made Amael glare at Jash while the golden-haired boy was planning to move and eliminate Amael.


    Sadly, Jash was one step ahead, already attacking him and using the same tactic to dodge the attack.


    Though Amael didn''t get kicked due to the distance, saving him from embarrassment.


    ''Now!'' Jash thought as he twisted his wrist and the sword along with it before bringing it down on the golden-haired boy.


    Unlike Amael who felt that the events of the novel did not relate to him, Jash took them on a personal level.


    Could there be a brother who''d be happy to know that his sister was with a man with a harem of uncountable women?


    And why?


    Because he died, making her depressed!


    Of course, Jash had his own tinted lens to blame it all on the protagonist and his shit luck to attract dangers.


    Like really, why would he have to die if not for the protagonist causing that incident in the first place?


    In truth, it wasn''t even linked to the protagonist, but not like that would change Jash''s opinion on it.


    He forced mana through all his wide mana veins, heating them up due to the insane speed he was circulating mana at.


    However, as Jash was about to land the attack, Amael slashed at him, and the golden-haired boy moved out of the trajectory.


    Despite the situation seeming like Jash had wasted the attack, he twisted his foot to change direction at the last second.


    He didn''t hesitate to let some power dissipate and parried Amael''s sword before making his sword follow the flow.


    Unable to predict the sudden change in direction, the golden-haired boy got a slash at his chest.


    ¡ªClang!


    ''Just as predicted,'' Jash thought before turning and delivering a roundhouse kick to Amael''s wrist, forcing him to retract his attack.


    The force behind the kick was enough to make Amael drop his sword had he not pulled back, damaging his muscles in the process.


    Meanwhile, the golden-haired boy had a huge opening on his clothes, revealing a bronze-colored armor underneath.


    Despite this, the force pushed him back over a meter, leaving marks on the ground.


    ¡ªCough!


    The golden-haired boy ended up coughing a mouthful of blood due to the internal shock from bearing the full brunt of the attack.


    Rather than damaging Jash, Amael ended up giving him more momentum to attack the two of them.


    Alas, they were no allies either.


    Of course, Jash believed that their fragile alliance had never existed, to begin with. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was all just a farce to take him out all of a sudden, but it gave him the time to recover, so why would he complain?


    In fact, he was glad about the method as it allowed him to give his all at once, instead of wasting his time.


    ''I don''t know how much time remains before the third day ends,'' Jash mused, changing his target to Amael once again.


    Their fight continued for a few minutes as it only got more intense by the second.


    Not just Amael and the golden-haired boy, even Jash got quite a few minor injuries as the fight continued.


    ''Not good,'' he thought with a gasp as he realized his own condition.


    Unlike them, he didn''t have enough mana or stamina to fight for a long time due to the difference in rank.


    It was inevitable and one of the reasons fighting across ranks was so challenging.


    If someone simply had twice or thrice the amount of mana, even an idiot would be able to stall long enough to tire his opponent.


    Of course, it didn''t apply to the current situation as all three were monsters amongst geniuses.


    Well, at least not for Jash as he had minimal mana wastage as compared to them and being able to last this long was crazy enough.


    Though the audience didn''t know, the ones in the VIP rooms all knew the actual situation and how much of a crazy talent Jash had.


    "Just because he has 2 SSS-Rank hunters'' support!" someone spat venomously.


    Well, no one cared as haters were everywhere and his voice was drowned by the excited crowd.


    After all, the three had just moved after appearing fully exhausted.


    ''I can''t waste a second more,'' Jash decided to go all out on this one and hope it goes as he wished.


    Naturally, it had to be a wish as he had already reached the last part of his plan, and the rest depended on him defeating them.


    ¡ªSkree!


    The three clashed their swords at an awkward angle, creating a jarring noise that disrupted their focus.


    Sadly, all three had enhanced senses to a higher degree, so no one gained any advantage in that part.


    Yet, Jash had already moved even before the clash, his right foot aiming for the golden-haired boy and left punch heading towards Amael''s face.


    He seemed somehow out of place to be using his hands and feet amidst a sword fight, but who cared?


    They were free to do the same, if they could, that is.


    On the receiving end, they instantly pulled their sword back, turning its grip to dampen the impact of the point-blank attack.


    Unfortunately, the force from the sword clash hadn''t fully distributed, shifting as they moved their swords while Jash applied pressure.


    He wanted to pressure them on both sides at once and take both of them down at once.


    In this battle, there was no use to take one down as it would only end if all three got out or two were taken out at once.


    Alas, the two had fought each other a bit more than Jash, having planned wordlessly to eliminate him first, which failed.


    That''s why they were set to face the consequences of their actions.

 Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Breaking Point

    Attacking them in parallel was surely a good tactic if one ignored that it left Jash vulnerable to any attacks and traps.


    Thankfully, the two were too focused on defending and didn''t have any time to attack Jash.


    They didn''t believe that the simple attacks would eliminate them, but after the long battle, such wounds had accumulated.


    If not injuries, then bruises and internal injuries had already begun to form.


    ''Let''s wrap this up,'' Jash thought, looking at their response as well as the slight hint of nervousness on their faces.


    Jash swiftly turned towards the golden-haired boy, who staggered back as the kick connected to his sword grip which struck his armor.


    In the next second, Jash turned to face Amael who somehow managed to parry his punch while giving a bleeding injury at the same time.


    ''Tsk,'' Jash clicked his tongue inwardly, retracting his left hand and shaking off the blood.


    However, knowing there was no escape, he quickly regained his footing, rolled forward, and swung his sword in a wide arc.


    "Argh," the golden-haired boy hadn''t predicted the sudden counter as he had just swung his sword at Jash''s head.


    His calf had a slight deep cut, causing his lips to tremble in pain as the cut skin collapsed due to weight being put on it.


    Of course, that came from Amael who had forced down his sword in that instant.


    Unable to continue fighting, he was teleported out without a chance to show his trump card. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    {What a fool!}


    Amael''s system chimed in at the protagonist''s elimination, raining down Villain Points!


    Anyone else would''ve been gleeful and forget their current situation, but it was Amael.


    He immediately held his sword vertically, stopping an attack from Jash who didn''t waste half a second.


    Only, he wanted to eliminate Amael too before he could use his trump card.


    After all, Jash had truly given his all despite the numerous injuries on his arms and several dents on his armor as well.


    ''Can''t,'' Jash thought, changing his mana circulation to the one from his past life, enhancing his strength by 10% all of a sudden.


    The sudden increase in strength baffled Amael as Jash''s sword pushed his back, forcing him to backstep and create distance.


    ''Not enough time,'' Jash thought with clenched teeth, knowing the burden he was placing on his body to win this.


    It was something he would never do yet he was doing just that.


    Even if he did get that boost in strength, it wasn''t for a long period of time and he was basically aggravating his injuries.


    No matter, he was set to get that First Rank, secure the money and the Year Representative position.


    "Can''t believe you caught up," Amael said, initiating a conversation despite the situation.


    However, Jash didn''t reply, knowing it was a waste of time and he would get no information on why or how Amael changed.


    ''If it was the Amael I knew, he would''ve talked to me the moment we saw each other, not fight,'' Jash thought in confusion.


    However, he also knew that Amael was going easy on him in the beginning or there was no way the fight would last so long.


    In fact, Amael was still holding back, talking to the system about what would net him more Villain Points.


    If getting Rank 1 was beneficial, he would go for it, if not then so be it.


    Amael placed any bets on himself because he anticipated something would go wrong, and it did indeed.


    The protagonist was eliminated at Rank 3, a position with no credibility as no official rankings existed, based solely on the Entrance Test.


    Their ranks would be decided based on a test after the Academy began, allowing someone to even take Rank 1 and the Year Representative Spot.


    ''System, do it fast, I don''t think I can keep holding back for long,'' Amael complained to the slow system, noticing Jash''s aggressiveness.


    {Hold on, Host...}


    ''What if he can''t?'' Amael asked, cursing at the system in his mind, which the system obviously read, but chose to ignore.


    {Calculating...}


    {Finished Calculating!}


    Hearing the outcome from the system, Amael smiled and stopped holding back anything.


    At that exact moment, Jash had also decided to end it.


    ''Just a few seconds,'' he counted, checking up on his own condition and calculating the remaining time.


    Amael saw Jash slashing down with his sword, and the force behind the attack snapped Amael''s sword into two.


    A surprised look appeared on his face as he hadn''t expected it, but the sound of Jash''s sword shattering stole his focus.


    ¡ªKshh


    Before Amael could remove his hand from the hilt, he suddenly felt the hair on the back of his neck rise.


    {Danger!}


    ''Danger!'' he thought at the same time as the system before the barrier activated and teleported him out.


    Jash looked on with the horn in his hand, saying, "You really helped, huh?"


    "Haha," a dry chuckle escaped his lips as it was finally over.


    "I don''t need to hold anymore, right?" he asked rhetorically as he collapsed on the floor with a groan, "Argh!"


    Finally, as Jash stopped forcing his mana to follow the paths he wanted it to, blood started to leak from his nose.


    His head felt like it was being hammered by countless people due to overusing his mental strength.


    If one looked closely enough, they would see his hands bleeding as he forced his body to match others'' strength.


    The skin on his hands was somewhat torn while the same could be said about his arms after so many grazings.


    He closed his eyes due to fatigue as a sudden line from his past life came to him, "The best way to predict the future is to create it."


    Despite his situation the thought prompted a wry smile to appear at the corner of his lips.


    Such an image was present on the screen, causing goosebumps to rise on the onlookers'' skin.


    Even if the victory was brought at the skin of his teeth, it was a victory nonetheless.


    And it was obvious how much they cheered at the sight as the Entrance Test ran longer because of three.


    The most disarray, however, was amongst the VIP rooms as they were well-aware of the notoriety of Brandon Ramille, the heir to the duchy.


    And they had already seen that Caera Ramille was a rare Battlemage.


    Then, there was Jash...


    A man in one of the VIP rooms commented, "Another monster in the Ramille family¡ªthe future sure is ever changing."


    Many nobles and people in power grew ever so slightly more cautious about the growing power of the Ramille Family.


    Of course, it wasn''t just their family they grew wary of, but many others whose children showed promise.


    Simple, it depended on the person himself to see who would be a threat if they grew stronger.


    What did it matter if a duchy grew strong when they were already beneath Counts?


    That''s why, only those who they interacted with, partnered with or competed with mattered.


    Still, they knew better than to underestimate the ones who showed slightly worse performances.


    After all, who knew what the future held and where the winds would blow?


    ¡ªDing!


    A loud sound attracted the attention of everyone back to Rui as he announced, "The Entrance Test is finally over!!"


    "We have both our Rank 1 from the male and female category!! But before that, let''s have a better look at the female ones while the two recuperate."


    "Urgh," the audience groaned, knowing nothing could match what they saw.


    "I promise it will be worth it!" Rui yelled loudly, shocking the audience.

 Chapter 159: Chapter 159: The Gathering Storm

    Back on the island, where only female participants were taking the Entrance Test.


    Unlike their counterparts, there weren''t many fights happening despite the number of talented girls.


    It wasn''t that they were afraid or anything; it was just that the fight with the boss monster had erupted earlier than the boys'' side.


    If not for that, the number of fights wouldn''t just be some minor skirmishes between the crowd''s favorites.


    Be it Princess Ava, wielding a katana and swinging it in precise arcs to defeat monsters and examinees alike on her way.


    Or be it the beautiful Elven Princess with her long light green flowing hair and jewel-like aquamarine eyes, using her daggers or her green vines adorned with roses.


    Or be it the yellowish-orange-haired dwarven girl, Freirae, who used a greatsword to defeat her foes.


    Not paling in comparison to the three most important females in the three races was Vivia, casting spells effortlessly and also healing her injuries, being one of the rare holders of healing element.


    Then there was Caera, the Battlemage, who used spells, dagger, bows, swords, and every weapon she could get her hands on to fight.


    Falling slightly behind her were girls like Rura Warmis and Levi Killion, who were just a tad bit weaker than them.


    Despite that, Rura using her earth element freely came as a surprise as awakening elements was nothing easy.


    Alas, fighting wasn''t what she was best at, so it mattered little for the VIP guests.


    If they were keeping an eye on anyone, it was Lyra Thalorien, the sole daughter of Archduke Thalorien.


    With her vibrant blue hair, cascading in waves and her piercing black eyes, which contained a hint of something else, she caught the attention due to her water magic.


    In the observation room, the professors looked at the screen, which was split into countless figures of the participants.


    One of the professors in the observation room couldn''t help but comment, "We have too many participants with awakened elements this year."


    The others nodded wordlessly, agreeing to his statement but not responding with words, busily switching between the various screens.


    "Not like it changes who will get First Rank among girls," Aera, the professor with straight long black hair, said, silencing others.


    "Aera, we don''t know for sure," the professor with his back straight and a stoic expression on her left retired.


    "Jin, we do know," Aera replied, twirling the tip of her hair without even sparing him a glance.


    "No, that''s not..."


    Just when the two began rebutting and retorting, the other professors rolled their eyes with the same thought: ''There they go again!''


    Choosing to ignore them, as everyone was used to it, the other professors turned to the screen, focusing on the one most likely to win.


    A girl with hair as dark as the night itself yet they seemed to have a sheen of their own, reflecting the golden hues of the bright sun.


    Her purple amethyst eyes, complemented by black eyelashes and light-pink lips, added to her charm.


    However, it was a charm so dangerous, few men would dare to go near her, let alone have the guts to talk to her.


    Her expression remained one of casual indifference and a focus on her goals as if nothing else mattered.


    What destroyed her beautiful sight was the retractable whip-sword she wielded without any hesitation.


    Her control and mastery of the whip-sword was as beautiful as it was terrifying, making her scenes brief yet impactful.


    Of course, that didn''t mean that the observing professors or the VIP guests shied away from it.


    Instead, they looked on with great fervor, wanting to know more about her strengths and limits, making plans with her.


    After all, mere rumors of engagement dissuaded many nobles as she herself was a duke''s daughter.


    Contrastingly, the professors only looked on to find pot¨¦g¨¦s and talented hunters, with her fulfilling all those conditions.


    Little did they know that Ziva had talent far surpassing their imaginations, alas, she had her own limitations.


    Not like it changed anything for them as they were busy observing the fast-changing events on the island.


    The boss monster, the same one faced by the male participants, was startled awake by a fight between two girls.


    Naturally, the two got no time to react as they were immediately teleported out with the help of their barrier activating.


    ¡ªROAAR!!


    Its loud roar attracted everyone as spells landed on after a few minutes of the loud roar, eliciting more roars and eliminations.


    The situation was no different than the other side until one of the nine most talented girls arrived at the place.


    However, before them a girl with dark green hair and deep-blue eyes appeared, stopping in her tracks at the sight of the boss monster.


    Unlike the girls before her, she didn''t attack, but stayed a distance away from the boss monster, wary of it.


    She looked back and saw no one, and chose to find some cover instead of getting targeted by whoever arrives next.


    She didn''t know, but there was a girl who was hiding nearby and had observed her strange calmness and planning.


    The look on the green-haired girl was far too calm in the face of a boss monster as if she held no fear for it.


    ''Strange,'' the observing girl thought, aware that she was hiding due to her lack of strength.


    ''When I arrived, didn''t I instinctively take a step back, wanting to find a safe hiding place?'' she recalled, comparing herself to the newcomer.


    Nevertheless, she kept her composure and stayed alert for any attacks, just in case.


    Although she looked confident and was a strong contestant, she still recognized the reality that she wasn''t the pinnacle of strength.


    She shivered as the scene from a fight she just so happened to witness played in her mind.


    The sword''s transformation into a serrated whip, taking down multiple monsters with ease, reminded her of her own struggles.


    ''I had trouble with just one, and that girl took down 4-5 in one go!'' she shivered at the scene and had made her escape immediately.


    ''I hope she didn''t see me,'' the observing girl prayed, awaiting the main fight and hoping to gain something.


    Unlike all the formidable participants who were treated with respect and care by others their whole life, she was different.


    She had been raised by her father who was just an E-Rank hunter and worked as a technician to feed them.


    ''I will enter and become a successful hunter,'' she had promised her father who couldn''t believe that his daughter had grown up so wonderfully.


    While she was busy reminiscing, she failed to keep her entire body in check as strands of her stunning pink hair almost got revealed.


    Fortunately, no one except the green-haired girl was nearby, saving the pink-haired girl from being discovered.


    However, the situation didn''t remain so peaceful for long as a few girls, arrogant and full of pride, arrived and attacked the boss monster.


    "Hmph! Only someone like I¨C"


    Before a newcomer could even finish her declaration, she was eliminated mercilessly by the monster.


    ''That''s what you get for being arrogant,'' the pink-haired girl smirked, recognizing the girl from her waiting room and how she demeaned her.


    At the same time, all the girls were approaching the area, fighting amongst themselves or letting themselves be eliminated. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 160: Chapter 160: A Stark Contrast

    Not everyone was greedy to face the boss and allowed the one who carried them there to eliminate them.


    The same had occurred on the boys'' side, except it wasn''t shown on screen due to the heated battles there.


    Of course, there were heated battles on this side too, but it paled in comparison as most of them diffused quite easily.


    The early awakening of the boss monster had served as a beacon for everyone to gather, prompting them to swiftly end their fights.


    As seconds turned into minutes, the candidates swarmed toward the boss area.


    The two girls having green and pink hair were hiding and observing respectfully, the latter recognizing her limits. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was similar to those who allowed themselves to be eliminated instead of hindering their leader''s progress.


    Except she was stronger than them and reached the place by her own strength¡ªor perhaps by luck.


    As she was regulating her breathing so as to minimize her presence the figure of a beautiful elven girl came into view.


    The first to arrive was Sylvie, who casually strolled around the area, using her vine to test the boss monster''s reaction.


    After gauging its speed to exceed her current limits, she pushed herself away from its range, using her vine as a footing.


    ''Who''s she? She''s really skillful,'' thought the pink-haired, wary of another girl being stronger than her.


    She didn''t know yet, but she was in for a big surprise, about to see ten or even more girls stronger than herself.


    Slowly, her expressions fell after the appearance of Vivia, Ava, Caera, Levi, Lyra, Rura, Freira, and lastly, Ziva.


    The pink-haired girl clenched her fist reflexively at the sight of the black-haired girl walking casually with a bloodied weapon in hand.


    ''No, I can''t go down,'' she reminded herself, firming her mind and controlling her trembling arms.


    It wasn''t fear exactly, but more of a primal emotion at the sight of someone far stronger than oneself.


    While she was busy restraining herself and keeping herself in check, the green-haired girl had eyes flickering with coldness.


    She had a cold expression on her face, as if she put none of them in her eyes but even she felt uneasy at the sight of Ziva.


    Only until Ziva greeted Ava and Caera, recognizing the two and nodding at Rura, having slight remembrance of her.


    However, it was just a polite gesture, she wasn''t going to hold back as neither would want her to go easy on them, even if everyone wanted the First Rank.


    In truth, the rank didn''t really get decided based on this one fight, but encompassed everything since the beginning.


    It just so happened that no one knew about such a thing, so they could only make assumptions and give their best, based on them.


    And to prove their strength to themself as well as their families, they began channeling mana.


    No words or any war calls were needed as the fight was inevitable and the boss monster was not something one of them could take down.


    Unlike the boys with inflated egos, most girls here had gotten put down by someone or the other, having faced defeat.


    That moment of defeat redefined their pride and arrogance, allowing them to not lose their thinking ability.


    Well, mostly.


    Despite it being an unspoken agreement, there was no way anyone would comply to the end.


    After all, what if defeating the boss monster was the key to securing Rank 1?


    Due to such a deduction, it was going to happen somewhat similar to the other side.


    They had channeled their mana, Vivia, Caera, Lyra and Rura casting spells while the rest got ready to engage in a melee.


    Of course, they attacked from their own positions, as no coordinated teamwork existed due to a lack of trust.


    But there were exceptions to it, Caera helped Ziva and Ziva agreed to protect her and Rura, just in case something happened.


    Being dragged along obviously didn''t feel good, but Rura accepted the bittersweet feeling, knowing that was the best option for her.


    Just like them, Sylvie and Ava were coordinating with their eyes, leaving Freirae, Vivia and Lyra to be solo.


    Of course, Levi gritted her teeth, feeling her pride being hurt and decided to attack the boss monster at will, not caring about anyone else.


    ''She should at least keep her guard up,'' Zive lamented Levi''s stupidity before focusing on her own attack.


    Her eyes narrowed at the boss monster''s eye as she moved faster than anyone else or before any spell could be cast.


    Using a strange movement art, she dodged the water balls, and water spikes shot by the boss monster at her.


    In one go, she reached the boss monster''s body as spells landed on it, and she used that chance to climb it.


    Before the others could even reach the boss monster, she let her sword separate and puncture its eyes.


    Alas, it was not stupid.


    It flailed around, moving his head and saving one of its eyes and Ziva managed to injure the other eyes.


    "GUAAAAARRRRHHH!" The monster shrieked in pain as its body moved erratically, pushing Ziva off it, but she landed with a summersault.


    Sadly, the others had to bear the brunt of the water waves caused by the monster''s crazy movements as it attacked with reckless abandon.


    At that exact moment, Lyra took charge, controlling the situation with her water element affinity.


    Of course, she could only dampen the force and divert it, not fully conquer it and reverse the attack.


    She was strong, yes, but not at the same crazy level as the monster.


    Being slightly lacking to be a Mid E-Rank hunter surely helped her gain a footing and gave her the courage to stand alone against the monster.


    "Nice," The melee fighters either said, mumbled, or thought it before using the gaps to close in and attack the boss monster.


    Unlike them, Ziva shied away from attacking, choosing to seize a perfect chance rather than try her luck.


    Fortunately, spells like Fire Tornado, Earthen Spikes, and Light Blinding arrived, further angering the monster.


    Poor stimulated monster never thought it could be defeated so systematically!


    Of course, comparing this to the mismatch, disarray and chaos in the boys'' battle would be nothing short of crazy.


    "Look, didn''t I say it would be worth it? Just trust me," Rui shouted as the battle ended faster than the boys''.


    Those who had been teleported out and wanted to see the conclusion were now filled with embarrassment upon seeing the scene.


    As if to point it out, the screen divided into two, showing both in parallel.


    Poor boys didn''t even get any consolation prize, and only got embarrassed for trying their best to gain victory.


    Well, the ones who participated in the last battle had downtrodden expressions, unable to accept their defeat.


    Though, Caeron was a full exception, not feeling a single shred of sadness for losing, rather he was glad to have made it thus far.


    Similar to him, Amael had a wide smile on his face as the system had told him that getting second position would result in more Villain Points.


    That had caused him to make a mistake, not on purpose, and surprisingly, Jash exploited that and defeated him.


    "The academy, huh? It will be interesting," he muttered to himself, but the system chimed in.


    {Hadn''t I said that already, host?}


    ''Yeah, yeah, sure,'' Amael replied, rolling his eyes at the shameless system.

 Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Limits Tested

    ¡ªThump!


    The boss monster collapsed, unable to bear the onslaught of attacks for so long, succumbing to its injuries.


    Its limp body was moving up and down slightly as if to prove that it still had some semblance of life within it.


    The nearby girls had distanced themselves at the sight of its huge body collapsing, saving themselves from any aftershocks or last-ditch attacks.


    Looking at the swift dispersal of the boss monster, the pink-haired girl''s lips trembled as she mumbled, "Mons...ters... all o...f them, monsters..."


    Due to her low voice and the loud noise of the boss monster''s collapse ringing in their heads, no one could hear her at all.


    Fortunately, she had kept herself hidden or she would''ve been in the same condition as the boss monster in even less time.


    Her eyes were full of determination to reach their level one day, locking fiercely onto the figure of Ziva.


    However, seeing nothing happen after taking down the boss monster surprised them.


    "Looks like it has come down to this," Ziva muttered, confusing the ones around her as she channeled her mana.


    Though a second late, the others also understood and started preparing to attack and defend.


    A battle was about to ensue amongst them, to find who would claim the title of the strongest.


    ¡ªRuaowh!


    A strange sound echoed suddenly, disorienting everyone to varying degrees, with Ziva being the least affected and Levi being the most.


    At that moment, the green-haired girl came out of hiding, holding a fan-like object in her hand.


    Covering her mouth with the fan and lowering it slightly, the same noise echoed again.


    This time, however, the source was clear and they immediately noted, "Sound element!"


    It was one heck of a scary element if used correctly and the most useless if given to an idiot.


    And one look at how expertly the green-haired girl used, it was clear that she belonged to the former category.


    Despite all of that, her eyes were fiercely locked on the figure of Ziva, who seemed mostly unaffected.


    In fact, Ziva wasn''t fazed in the least.


    It would be the same if someone around her rank used a mental attack on her.


    Nothing like this would work on her, her strange element protecting her passively itself, not even requiring anything from her.


    Just her body with affinity to it was enough, her being able to control it was just cherry on the top.


    Sadly, the green-haired girl hadn''t predicted the full negation of her ability, allowing the others to react as well.


    "Finally decided to show yourself, huh? What about the other one?" Ziva asked with a casual expression.


    Her words shocked the green-haired girl and made the pink-haired girl gulp and hold her breath despite being disoriented.


    Yet, Ziva remained unfazed, her expression casual as ever.


    In the next second, the green-haired girl increased the pitch of her voice, amplifying her voice up a notch.


    But it remained largely ineffective on Ziva, who was already heading towards her.


    Of course, she was also human and got fatigued after fighting for so long, so her pace was a bit slow.


    If Ziva had a few minutes to catch her breath, she would return to somewhat the peak of her power.


    Despite this, the green-haired girl panicked slightly as she backtracked, still sending sound attacks, focusing them on Ziva as much as she could.


    It dampened the impact on others, allowing them to regain their senses as Caera was the first to begin casting a spell.


    Unlike others who had a wait and watch attitude, she wanted to help her friend, so she couldn''t care less about the proximity to others.


    Thankfully, Rura somewhat felt that Caera was her friend and tried to guard her despite not being able to recover properly.


    ''Weak... I am so weak!'' she thought self-deprecatingly, ''If only I was as strong as her!''


    Alas, there was no answer to hopes and prayers without the efforts and talent itself.


    But, she didn''t really have to blame herself, she had a crazy good talent, just not in fighting. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the scene nearby her, Lyra dismissed her thoughts of befriending Rura. ''Useless,'' she labeled Rura.


    Being the third to free herself, after Sylvie, she was already planning on finding ways to become better.


    All this Entrance Test¡ªshe had dismissed as mere child''s play until faced with the harsh slap from reality.


    It forced her to realize her weakness and learn that there were people stronger than her, not just in strength but other aspects as well.


    While she was growing, there was Ava nearby, who felt nothing but helpless about the situation, like always with her mother.


    Negative thoughts took root in her mind, ''I am so... useless... helpless even... I deserve to fail...''


    Fortunately, Sylvie put a hand on her shoulder at the correct time, bringing her out of her reverie.


    Sylvie wore a serious expression on her face as she focused on creating a vine on the ground for the green-haired girl.


    ¡ªThud!


    Unable to focus on her surroundings, the green-haired girl fell down.


    Still, she didn''t give up, increasing the intensity of her attack once more, forcing others to take a step back and balance themselves.


    Yet Ziva just slowed her pace, not stopping despite Caera''s spell being disrupted, which was supposed to be her support.


    ''No...no-NO!'' The green-haired girl denied her situation, forcefully pushing her limits, wanting to win this whole thing.


    However, it had no effect on Ziva.


    But how could the green-haired girl know that her bane was participating in the Entrance Test?


    Not just her¡ªeven some professors had their suspicions about the situation.


    The sound element was rare to begin with, and it showed up in a girl they had never heard of or even seen.


    Then, there was Ziva, being totally unaffected in the face of it.


    However, that made no sense as her element wasn''t a 100% negation, it could only help one achieve that feat.


    Nonetheless, there was no way to interrogate her as she was a Duke''s daughter.


    Well, even if they somehow got the permission, it was going to be of no help as she herself had no clue.


    She just knew that it worked, and work, it did.


    Meanwhile, the girl on the ground pushed herself to the limit, her nose bleeding and her skin paling.


    But she didn''t stop; the intensity of her attack rose, causing the jarring sound to make Freirae, Rura and Levi collapse on the ground.


    Being a dwarf had its own shortcomings unlike elves, who despite their longer ear could choose to selectively hear.


    Not that it wasn''t getting harder for her, but the situation demanded it.


    The green-haired girl was just far too stubborn as she continued despite the deteriorating condition of her body.


    Even the increasing pressure on her mana core started to hurt her yet she only reminded herself, ''Levoria, you can''t lose!''


    Blue veins were starting to appear around her arms, and blood was oozing from her nose, down her cheek.


    It was clear that she was going beyond her limits for this attack.


    However, as if to prove it wrong and relieve them, a arrow fast approached,


    ¡ªClang!


    Ziva deflected two arrows as the third one aimed for the girl on the ground, eliminating her.


    Seeing the arrows, Ziva grew wary of the newcomer when she heard a carefree voice,


    "Oops! Looks like I was late to the party..."

 Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Clash of Ambitions

    "Oops! Looks like I was late to the party..."


    The girl appeared with a bow in her left hand, arrow in right, with ashen-black hair and oceanic-blue eyes.


    Her hair was tied higher than the others and ended at her shoulders, shorter than theirs. No one there could deny she wasn''t beautiful.


    With a piece of black fabric strapped on her left hand, aiding her grip on the bow, she seemed ready to fight.


    "I just heard an annoying voice, and had the urge to get rid of it... so, what now?"


    As if her words were what they waited for, all the girls distanced themselves, in groups or alone.


    However, when the battle was about to begin, a loud rumbling sound shocked all of them.


    The ground shook as a small stone platform, marked with the Solarnelle Academy insignia, emerged.


    Everyone''s attention was turned to it except for the newcomer who had used that moment to wield her bow and at least eliminate one examinee.


    ''Not her¡ªshe already deflected it,'' she thought, shifting her aim from the girl with the strange whipsword.


    She aimed at the rapier-wielding girl, Levi, and shot her arrow despite the shaking ground.


    Even when her own balance was a mess, the arrow she shot accurately landed on Levi''s hand, making her drop her weapon.


    "Aaaaah!" she yelped in pain, attracting others'' attention before another arrow whooshed by, aiming for her unprotected abdomen.


    Sensing the approaching arrow, Levi''s eyes widened before the barrier activated, blocking the arrow and teleporting her out.


    "What!?" Caera blurted out, struggling to believe someone could have such good aim despite the unstable footing.


    ''She must be around my age, so how?''


    She couldn''t make sense of it even though her family, the Ramilles, were known for their archery skills.


    Nearby, Sylvie, from a lineage of the best elven archers and mages, watched with a similar state to Caera.


    She had seen all kinds of talents in her elven family yet they could barely compare to this newcomer.


    Meanwhile, seeing the surprising change and appearance of the newcomer, a SSS-Rank Hunter himself narrowed his eyes.


    "So you were alive all along, huh?" he mumbled under his breath, inaudible to anyone but him.


    To anyone''s surprise the man was Cornelius Ramille, intrigued by the archery style, who chose to observe more closely.


    Despite his eyes flickering with intense emotions, he chose to not act.


    Instead, he restrained himself and decided to keep an eye on the girl to confirm his doubts.


    Unaware of attracting a SSS-Rank Hunter''s attention, the girl targeted Rura next, finding the weak links quite easily.


    "Argh," Rura reacted to the pain a second too late as the arrow still grazed her even after Caera pulled her over.


    "What''s your name?"


    A sudden question stalled everyone in their tracks as they turned to Ziva, the one who asked the question without a change in her expression.


    "...Elara," the girl answered after a bit of thought and felt that it wouldn''t matter if she told them her name or not.


    ''Not like anyone would know me,'' she thought while nocking two arrows at the same time and firing them.


    Just like her, no one wanted to lose, channeling mana throughout their body or casting a spell.


    Seeing the scene, the audience wanted to know why no one cared about that loud rumble and the platform?


    Sadly, their question wasn''t answered as the girls continued their fight with Freirae deflecting the arrows coming her way.


    Obviously, the fight wasn''t one vs all, but a free fight, anyone could choose to fight and eliminate they wanted to.


    Unable to bear the excessively long fight, Ziva tried closing the distance to Elara, who skillfully created space after each shot.


    She seemed more like a wild hunter than a disciplined, trained fighter like the others.


    After all, the difference between someone who trained systematically and fought methodically would show on its own.


    Just clearing a few dungeons was different from living in the wild and growing up there, it wasn''t something that could be matched just via talent.


    It was a difference of mindset itself, not something one could bridge without ample experience in dungeons and hunting.


    Still, they all had common thoughts about losing to Elara as they could not accept their loss by a girl who they didn''t know minutes before.


    The sole exception being Ziva, who didn''t waste time chasing after her but chose to protect Caera and Rura.


    ''They would be vulnerable to others,'' she noted the difference and decided on her move.


    Meanwhile, Vivia was targeted by Lyra, both being mages.


    Only Ava and Sylvie were focused on taking down Elara while Freirae was starting to struggle.


    It wasn''t a sense of camaraderie motivating anyone, though, but a shared sense of victory and defeat. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No matter who it was, winning this was something they all held in high regards, regardless of their share of reason.


    Lyra wanted to prove to the world and herself that she was ready to bear the weight of the Archduke title.


    Sylvie, Ava and Freirae wanted to make their race proud while Vivia wanted to make the Church proud and prove that she wasn''t hopeless.


    On the other side, Rura was content with reaching this spot, but still wanted the high rank to raise the status of her clan and prevent any sorts of forced marriage.


    Caera just wanted to show to Jash that hard work was necessary and how his idiotic choice to delay awakening was entirely stupid.


    Last but not least, Elara wanted to gain a stable footing to investigate the circumstances regarding her family.


    The only one who wasn''t bothered about it was Ziva.


    She had no interest in any ranking, nor did she wish to prove to anyone her strength or her standing.


    Ever since the banquet, she was contemplating her decision regarding Jash and what to think of him.


    Now that he could best her in a spar or even defeat her, she wasn''t so sure about being with him.


    With the lack of romantic feelings, she really didn''t understand her feelings, and there was no way she would talk to her mom about it.


    She was similar to Sera, and would end up making Ziva do something embarrassing, just to tease her later.


    Not wanting such a situation, Ziva ended up putting all her focus and time into training to divert her focus.


    However, it ended up making her grow a bit isolated from others and a bit detached as she grew tremendously.


    Being on the verge of reaching Late E-Rank, she was stronger than any girl nearby, allowing her to swiftly eliminate them.


    However, during the battle, she became distracted and made mistakes that got Rura injured and ultimately eliminated.


    By that time, even Freirae was eliminated with Vivia and Lyra on their last steps and Elara huffing and puffing with her low stamina.


    Coming back to the battle, Ziva took a look around and realized, ''I can get Rank 1 while he should at least struggle, right?''


    In the end, the thought of getting Rank 1 while Jash failed to, she ended up focusing on the ongoing battle.


    ¡ªSchick!


    She twisted her sword, separating it into a bladed whip, thinking, ''Let''s end this.''

 Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Nullis: Fortified Mind

    With a sound, Ziva''s sword turned into separated parts of the blade, serving as a serrated whip as she channeled her mana.


    Unlike before, she didn''t hold back on using her element, unleashing it at full capacity and aiming directly to defeat others.


    Of course, that didn''t mean she was soft on them, even though she held no animosity towards them.


    It was just that she had yet to gain enough mastery over her element to use it without harming the other party.


    That''s why she had restrained herself from attacking anyone with her element until now. Her element was that special, after all.


    Her element, like most mental elements, was unique and known as ''Nullis,'' and it was nearly impossible to find anything related to it.


    Having no other choice but to understand it from scratch based on the record of other mental elements, she had a hard time finding its utility.


    Only after the long hours of study and practice did she get something out of it even though she awakened it soon after reaching E-Rank. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While it might just be a prerequisite for others, it seemed it was the only thing holding her back from unlocking her element.


    Overall, she discovered that Nullis was a versatile mental element that combines strong defensive capabilities with potent offensive potential.


    Yet all of that potential eluded her control, the defense being mostly passive and only needing her to enhance it if it wasn''t enough.


    She had tested it against various forms of attack, and it shielded her from mental, illusory, and auditory assaults.


    However, every time she tried to use it for offensive purposes, she failed to control it and ended up failing to use it.


    Of course, she didn''t give up and discovered that it could repel the attacks, turning those very threats against their source.


    It became a valuable asset in her arsenal, capable of functioning in both defensive and offensive scenarios.


    But it better remained as a hidden card, to be used only when the situation was urgent or in a life-and-death battle.


    ''If only I could control it freely,'' Ziva lamented while trying her best to keep Nullis under her control.


    Since Nullis could dispel illusions and mind-affecting enchantments, she had not participated in the Imperial Banquet.


    As it would effectively reveal the true nature of things and allow her to see through deceptions, making it useless for others.


    Before that though, it provided a robust resistance against mental attacks, such as telepathic intrusions or psychic assaults, by fortifying the user''s mind.


    In simple terms, the illusion would fail to work on her, and if it did, she would still have an easier time compared to others.


    Lastly, she discovered its connection to sound attacks, that is, as Nullis neutralized sound-based attacks, rendering them ineffective.


    It wasn''t just limited to sound mages or sound elemental warriors but also traps and advanced weapons like sonic blasts.


    ''Even Sound Manipulation spells fail against it,'' Ziva mused, recalling the green-haired girl as she focused on attacking everyone around her.


    Instead of targeting someone and risking injury, she opted for a dampened effect on everyone, believing it to be a better choice.


    No matter how brutal she had grown, she still didn''t want to injure Caera, and that''s why she did that.


    The others didn''t matter much to Ziva; she generated a mental pulse to disrupt everyone''s cognitive functions except her own.


    That was the best part about Nullis, the user won''t be affected at all, unlike some elements.


    Of course, her attack, ''Mental Disruption,'' only caused slight confusion, disorientation, or temporary loss of control over one''s actions.


    Well, as it was being shared by the girls, the effects were minimal and almost everyone could handle it.


    ''It won''t make a difference as everyone got affected,'' she had already predicted this, choosing to target Vivia and Lyra.


    Both being mages had more to do with mental strength than physical, weakening them massively.


    As predicted, both failed in the middle of casting a spell, suffering a backlash from the mana.


    Their cores ached in mild pain, easily manageable, but the blood at the corner of their lips was visible.


    Unfortunately for Lyra, Vivia had the healing element, healing herself immediately.


    Not like it mattered as Ziva attacked them simultaneously, inflicting flesh wounds before swinging her whip-like sword again.


    They tried to conjure magic barriers to deflect or block the attack, but due to their mental disruptions, the spells were a second too late.


    ¡ªShatter!


    They broke like glass and the metallic whipsword passed through eliminating them at once.


    Just as Ziva turned around, a slightly surprised expression appeared on her face.


    A few moments ago when Ziva used her element, it affected Elara heavily as she hadn''t gone through training for mental attacks.


    It robbed her focus, disrupting her footing and making her stumble, resulting in her pace decreasing in that second.


    Seizing that moment, both Ava and Sylvie sped up and Sylvie blocked her paths using her vines, tapering them to prevent Elara from escaping.


    Ultimately, she got eliminated as the katana blade closed in, activating the barrier for her safety.


    However, what got Ziva surprised was the figure of pink-haired girl falling from a tree and about to get eliminated by Caera.


    ''Isn''t she the one who ran away?'' Ziva recalled the girl, even recognizing her despite the brief encounter.


    Nevertheless, she pulled back her sword, making it take the form of a simple sword as she walked towards Caera.


    Only the four of them were left and Ziva knew that her mental attack made her the enemy if not for the suddenness of the situation.


    ''Maybe I should try that?'' she thought, exchanging glances with Caera and hoping that she understood.


    Alas, Caera was one stubborn soul and started preparing a spell, forcing Ziva to focus on the other two.


    Before doing anything, Ziva willed her element to directly attack Ava and Sylvie''s mental strength and mental barrier.


    Sadly, it didn''t work as she was too weak to use the move as of now.


    ''I just wanted to weaken their mental faculties, rendering them incapable of defense or offense.''


    Unlike stubborn idiots, Ziva didn''t force it, moving on to using the last attack she discovered of her element.


    It was Cognitive Overload, which worked by focusing Nullis energy to overload someone''s senses or mental¡ªthought¡ªprocess.


    ''It should only give them intense headaches, right?'' she guessed before shrugging, ''What''s the worst? Just some temporary paralysis.''


    Not caring about the two at all, Ziva stopped using Nullis and directly focused on the Cognitive Overload.


    Of course, she wasn''t defenseless, taking the best form she could to defend against them while her mind was focused on using her element.


    She trusted her hard-earned bodily instincts to help her in this battle, or else, she may end up hurting Caera as well.


    After all, her element had adverse effects on everyone without exception.


    And using Nullis, Ziva could interfere with the enemy''s mental processes, making it difficult for opponents to execute complex strategies.


    Even maintaining coordinated efforts would be tens of times harder, like it was for Ava and Sylvie at the moment.


    Especially since it was a prolonged battle, in which Nullis specialized in eroding the focus and concentration of enemies.


    Right now, Ava and Sylvie ended up getting injured instead of damaging her as they were more susceptible to mistakes and less able to execute their plans efficiently.


    Her element was quite overpowered in a sense.


    After all, it also provided defense against mental attacks.


    Anyone attacking her would most likely find their psychic or mental assaults ineffective, in rare cases it might even backfire, causing them to suffer from their own attack''s repercussions.

 Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Ending the Entrance Test

    Ziva used her elemt to overpower Ava and Sylvie, eliminating them despite their struggle against her elemt.


    To everyone''s utter shock and horror, she had basically decimated half the top girls.


    ¡ªBoom!


    At the same time as their barrier activated, creating a gap in her sight, Caera''s condsed fireball spell struck Ziva.


    At least that was what Caera thought until finding Ziva walk out unscathed from the explosion.


    "But how?" Caera asked in shock before remembering that Jash advised her not to mess with Ziva.


    She thought he was joking or messing a with her, but her currt situation seemed to reflect he was aware of Ziva''s abilities.


    And indeed he was, whether it was from the novel or by talking to her at the d of the Imperial Banquet.


    Talking about Jash, he was in the same position as earlier with intse muscle pain.


    Ev the slightest movemt was ough to elicit screams from deep inside him.


    ''It should be time for that now,'' he sighed, knowing he would have to grit through the pain for it.


    At the time, he was the only one on the island, similar to Ziva after she easily eliminated Caera.


    Though she gave a caring remark as they parted, "See ya soon, fiery fire firer."


    With Caera eliminated, Ziva approached the stone platform to examine the groove more closely.


    The groove appeared meticulously crafted, with a shallow indtation that deeped outward, matching the shape of the monster''s scale.


    Its edges were smooth but distinct, hinting at the precision of the original carving.


    The channel was slightly curved, accommodating the natural contours of the thing it was meant to hold.


    The groove also seemed to hold the same insignia of the Solarnelle Academy itself.


    It was as if the groove was not merely a decorative feature but also a functional one, designed with both artistry and purpose in mind.


    Looking at it, Ziva was confused for a second as the size closely resembles that of the boss monster''s scale, but...


    ''Wasn''t it just a simulated monster? Where do I find its scales?''


    Without another choice, she could only return to the place where the boss monster was defeated, looking for its scales.


    On the other side, Jash was still in the same position despite knowing what needed to be placed and where.


    He needed time to recover a bit and gain some mtal resilice to bear through the pain.


    ''Damn! Why did I ev bring them away in the first place!?''


    He inwardly lamted his own decisions, regardless of it being his own backup plan and the reason for him to have won the battle.


    No matter, the problem remained the same.


    However, the audice that was watching the scre being split to show Ziva and Jash were too excited at this point.


    They had se one amazing thing after another, increasing their excitemt to unprecedted levels.


    "Damn! What''s he doing!? He should be searching like the girl!"


    "Yeah! He''s just a lazy ass, sleeping everywhere!"


    "True! It''s suspicious that he won at all..."


    "You blind or something? We all saw what happed on both sides, idiot!"


    "You...! You dare!"


    Just like that, quite a few brawls were about to begin amongst the audice as they failed to capture the importance of the evt right now.


    For them, the fights were the beauty of the Entrance Test and now that it was over, nothing else mattered.


    Of course, that wasn''t to say everyone in the audice was the same as some were patitly waiting for it to d.


    "It was fun while it lasted, yeah?"


    "Yeah! I wonder if these talted kids will ever face difficulties such as this in their life."


    "True, they seem too sheltered..."


    As heated discussions had begun amidst the audice, Rui wanted to do something, but he couldn''t.


    He had no authority wh it came to the lovely audice.


    After all, who knew what kind of crazy shit he would try to pull?


    Thankfully, Vice-Principal Zander didn''t have to step up again as the scre focused on Ziva.


    She had found quite a few intact scales on the monster''s neck which she took and tried to fit in the groove.


    "Ohh, this was quite close!" Rui commted as she tried the sixth scale, but it failed to fit in the groove at all.


    After countless attempts, Ziva felt like attacking the groove itself as it seemed to be useless itself.


    Just like that, she was forced to act like a clown, diminishing the reputation she had built after securing victory in the final battle.


    Alas, the audice found her futile efforts to be funny wh she had finally had ough.


    "Damn it!"


    §®??¦¥?§²¦´§Á.?¦¨?


    For the first time, she vted her frustration, scooping as many scales as she could before taking a step.


    "Hm?"


    Suddly, something shined in her field of vision, attracting her atttion.


    Unlike all the other scales, that scale appeared to be shiner, smoother and sturdier upon picking up.


    She could tell the differce based on the first touch and felt that it had to be the one.


    It would be utterly stupid for it to be one of the numerous similar looking scales wh a differt, unique one existed!


    ¡ªTak!


    Just as she placed it on the surface of the stone platform, it sank in perfectly, leaving no gap behind.


    At least that was how it was supposed to go, but the scale was scratched, attacked and damaged in many places.


    Thus, it wasn''t a hundred per ct the same as the groove, but it was surely the correct one.


    Still, it reminded her that ev if the monster was simulated, its scales were real, or else Ziva wouldn''t be able to keep it by her side.


    Just like the female side had real scales of the monster, the male side had the real horns of it.


    And Jash was the one to cut off its real horn perfectly, unlike how Amael and the protagonist made a mess of the other one.


    Due to having the lore from the knowledge, Jash was already aware of the horn being an important setup.


    That''s why he chose to keep it by his side, and it ev served as his emergcy weapon wh he became unarmed.


    It saved him from elimination despite its chipped surface. Though its chipped surface was much to Jash''s dislike.


    "I have no other choice, do I?" he asked rhetorically to no one in particular as he barely stood up.


    ¡ªClack!


    Just as he stood up abruptly to get all the pain together, his teeth clacked against each other, stopping him from thinking about body pain.


    Instead his gums hurt insanely for a second before being replaced by the rest of his body.


    The pain was no joke either.


    Ev merely walking became a chore for him as groans leaked from his mouth at every step.


    "Ugh, why did I do this?"


    "Argh, so annoying!"


    "Owww, definitely not doing this again!"


    Every step of his was laced with a groan and a complaint as he reached the boss monster area after a few long minutes.


    During that time, Ziva had tried placing other scales and removing the one she had, all without success.


    In the d, she had no other option but to wait as the Entrance Test would only d after both the male and female participants had finished it.


    Yes, to place the scales and horn in the groove on the stone platform was the way to d it this year.


    It could be differt, similar or ev the same next year. No one knew.


    Not like it mattered to either Jash or Ziva as they were going to be inside the Solarnelle Academy by th.


    Finally reaching the stone platform, Jash couldn''t help but put his hand on it to take support and stand for a few seconds.


    "Huff... huff..."


    He breathed heavily as he had be holding it in, trying to keep the pain at bay, though it didn''t really seem to have helped.


    ''Hope I''m not the first one here,'' he prayed inwardly as his eyes evtually looked at the groove.


    This groove was distinctively shaped, reflecting the unique curvature and dimsions of the monster''s horn.


    Taking out the horn and holding it in his left hand, Jash couldn''t help but sigh at its currt state.


    ''Too bad, but it gotta work,'' Jash shirked off the responsibility as he tried placing it according to its size.


    The channel began with a broad, tapered oping, designed to fit the horn horizontally..


    One d of it was deeper and larger in diameter while the other was shorter, pointed almost as if made perfectly to its dimsion.


    As the groove extded outward, it maintained a consistt depth, suring a snug and stable placemt.


    Just placing it once, Jash easily fitted it despite the cracks and signs of chipping away on its surface.


    However, it was fixed and didn''t budge, just like what happed with the scale Ziva placed on the groove at her side.


    As if the mechanism was done confirming the authticity of the items, the stone platform sank deep.


    But not without leaving a floating holographic message in its place.


    [Congratulations for ding the Entrance Test!!]


    Alongside the message, confetti burst with vibrant colors, symbolizing celebration and joy as well as the d of the Entrance Test.


    "Finally...!" Jash mumbled, wanting his long-awaited rest.


    Looking at the sce, the audice burst into loud cheers as the Entrance Test had finally concluded and the winners would be announced shortly.


    Of course, Ziva and Jash both felt a sudd pull and were teleported out of the Island despite not knowing their currt surings.


    S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Crowning Champions

    "And this marks the d of the Entrance Test!!" Rui spoke as the crowd loudly cheered.


    Many people were dissatisfied with the results, but the Entrance Test was something where only one''s strgth could guide their results.


    Of course, it wasn''t just the participants who failed to be the top 000 that got upset by the result.


    Ev the Elv Royalty, Solarnelle Imperial Family, Dwarv Royalty, Hunter Association, Church''s delegation, and nobility were dissatisfied.


    No matter who they were, they were disappointed, all besides Jash and Ziva''s family. Though the atmosphere was contrasting.


    Ziva''s parts expected her to get a good score, maybe the last 3, so it wasn''t all that unexpected for them.


    For Jash''s parts, the results were confusing. They hadn''t anticipated him fighting against Late E-Rank opponts, let alone winning.


    Oblivious to it all, the two were in separate rooms, unlike the earlier eliminated participants who were in the healing facility.


    They had be well-rested and were ev checked by the healers for any hidd injuries.


    As a result, Jash was able to walk at his own pace without any major issues despite the sharp ssation of pain in his muscles.


    Of course, a full recovery in such a short time after overexertion wasn''t realistic.


    ''There should be no problem,'' Jash thought, confidt that he would be fine by the time the Academy started.


    Suddly, one of the gray walls of the room parted to reveal a man with the academy''s uniform.


    ''A professor,'' Jash noted with a single glance as the studts and professors had tirely differt uniforms.


    The man was one of the professors who was in charge of picking the sces for the scre and just so happed to be the one who caught Jash sleeping most of the time.


    "So you won," he said to Jash with a polite smile on his face but the disbelief and mild dislike for Jash was visible. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though Jash had no idea why, he couldn''t care less. ''Whatever, not like he''s of any importance,'' Jash shrugged and nodded.


    "Yes, I won, and now?" Jash quickly tried to d this, being tired and bored after the fighting and island survival.


    "Well, there is the portal," the professor said, gesturing outside, where he came from.


    "It will take you to the stage outside for the winners announcemt. Step in it," he spoke and turned.


    "Alright," Jash replied, following the professor and finding the blue portal right there and instantly stepped into it.


    The professor watched Jash leave and muttered, "I can''t believe someone like him won."


    Although the announcemt was yet to be made, it was quite obvious who the winners for both the parts of the Entrance Test were.


    That so, the professor found it hard to believe that someone who slept half the Entrance Test actually won it.


    Sadly for him, there was no rule that refrained Jash from doing that, making the professor just swallow his dislike and distaste.


    Contrary to Jash''s situation, Ziva actually got a visit from a polite professor.


    Maybe, he was polite due to the brutality and disregard displayed by Ziva, or maybe he was like that.


    "Congratulations on being the one to conclude the Entrance Test. You may now pass through that portal."


    The professor simply informed Ziva after a polite greeting, harboring no ill-inttions towards her.


    As Ziva moved with a curt nod, the professor said, "Your performance was outstanding, particularly your choice of weapon"


    "You truly exceed any expectations..."


    "Can I go?" Ziva asked, interrupting his praises, she wasn''t the least bit interested in any of it.


    She had an impatit expression on her face, as if wanting to leave right that instant, making the professor feel embarrassed.


    "Oh, yeah," The professor smiled and gestured toward the portal, allowing her to step through.


    Meanwhile, the test conductors were making sure the injured participants would be fully healed in the medical facility soon. ??¨N§¦?¦Ñ?§Á.?¦¨?


    They also had to retrieve those who had hid during the boss battles, ev disqualifying some to be considered for the limited 000 admissions.


    Yes, it was mean to do so, but who could say anything?


    Not like anyone had the time for it as many girls and boys appeared on a stage prepared for them.


    Jash too appeared on the stage and saw the huge amount of people sitting in the stadium cheering loudly for them.


    Thankfully, no one nearby recognized him as he quietly moved to the back, avoiding the limelight.


    ''Shit! Maintaining an image is not easy,'' he cursed, lamting his situation as he had gone overboard, up and above his own expectations.


    Well, if a transmigrator villain and a darned protagonist couldn''t mess his calculations up, th what ability did they ev have?


    Talking about them, the two also appeared on the stage before no more girls or boys appeared.


    "Our winners have arrived," Rui announced with great fervor.


    Just like Jash, Ziva too had arrived a few momts later than him.


    However, for the 50 studts on the stage, they had absolutely no idea who would be the winner of the Entrance Test.


    After all, the appearance order was random, and ev Jash praised it, ''This is better than just showing up one of us.''


    "Congratulations to the winners of this Entrance Test, you shall be named the Year Represtative for boys and girls respectively, for now."


    Hearing Rui''s announcemt, the examinees left behind in the gray rooms were upset and ev tried to protest.


    Alas, no one cared about them as the audice was ecstatic and the 50 examinees themselves were looking at each other with great apprehsion.


    At that time, a small whisper tered Jash''s ear as he turned to look at who it was questioningly.


    "Congratulations."


    "Hm?"


    Only at turning did Jash''s eyes narrowed for a split second as he recognized Amael, but the fridly smile on his face confused Jash.


    ''Why''s he fridly all of a sudd?'' Jash wondered, his eyes turning to the gold-haired boy, ''Look at him, he''s so depressed.''


    The protagonist had a sad look on his face, full of disbelief as if the world itself had ded.


    Not caring about any of their reactions or thoughts, Rui began, "The winner is..."


    "For first place among the boys'', we have Jash Ramille!!" Rui exclaimed loudly, followed by a huge of applause, cheering and whistles.


    ''What the hell!? Why am I in the spotlight already?'' Jash complained inwardly while maintaining his expression.


    He had expected Rui to build some kind of suspse instead of revealing so blandly, but who knew what goes on in that crazy guy''s mind.


    "And for first place among the girls'', we have Ziva Arne!!" Rui announced with the same fervor that he used to shout Jash''s name.


    Thankfully, the audice fully supported him, not giving a lukewarm response and reciprocating similar to just a few seconds earlier.


    In fact, a large part of the audice hadn''t stopped from the second he took Jash''s name, not wanting to miss the opportunity to celebrate the conclusion of the Entrance Test.


    After all, they would have to wait a year or so for the next Entrance Test...


    Not wasting any more of the precious time giv to him, Rui announced, "As you all know, the rules state that the winner will become the Year Represtative of the first-year studts."


    "So we will have Ziva Arne and Jash Ramille as the First Year Represtatives."


    The cheering continued while a discontted participant grumbled, "Just announce it at once, already."


    Of course, the poor guy got marked by Rui while the others on the stage respected his sacrifice.


    ''You will forever be remembered in our hearts...''

 Chapter 166: Chapter 166: The Principals Presence

    The crowd was cheering and growing rowdy as the Entrance Test ded and ev the results were announced.


    Of course, it wasn''t without reason.


    ''It''s time for him to arrive, no?'' Jash mused, ignoring the stares and the spotlight he was in.


    ¡ªWoosh!


    The air suddly blasted off in all directions, silcing all the noise that could be heard in the stadium.


    "Hah," Jash secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the sight, aware of who it was.


    ''So flashy,'' he clicked his tongue inwardly at the needlessly flashy trance of the man floating in the air.


    "Finally, the principal has arrived," a murmur low ough to be easily missed was actually heard by a vast majority of people.


    Everyone looked at the moving wind, trying to find its source and also the elusive Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Finally, the figure of a slightly older man appeared, who had grayish hair and black eyes, wearing a pristine suit. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had a short beard that suited his sharp face with eyes that seemed to contain an aged wisdom.


    Just by catching a glance of his eyes, one could see the wisdom underneath.


    ''He looked older than grandpa,'' Jash noted, ''Still, his presce is no joke, ev wh he''s not releasing it.''


    While Jash could only guess it in his heart, all professors and those ranked S or above felt the Principal''s presce was akin to that of a dragon.


    His unique appearance included features from all three races: slightly longer ears than humans but shorter than elves.


    Taller than any dwarf and most humans yet the muscular stature and strong build seemed to have come from his dwarv lineage.


    Despite his impressive presce, the Principal had no family backing and was once deemed insignificant trash because of his mixed heritage.


    Although rare in the early years, inter-race marriage and dating became quite a common thing.


    That''s why one could see half-elves or those with minute elv or dwarv bloodlines within them.


    ''Of course, those darned races banned anyone in an important position from having lovers from other races.''


    While Jash thought so, he knew that the same was the case for the humans, but he chose to convitly ignore that.


    A confirmation bias, if you will.


    The Principal''s voice cut through Jash''s thoughts as he finally spoke, "Congratulations to the Year Represtatives for getting your positions and ranks."


    His voice was sere and calm as his gaze fell over Jash and Ziva before turning to the audice.


    However, he couldn''t really focus on them, or else his passive presce of SSS-Rank would bring great oppression unto them.


    Although he appeared to be an ordinary man if he wasn''t in the air, he was the strongest hunter in the whole world.


    Turning to face the examinees back, he added calmly, "If you''re upset or disappointed by the results, th know that you will get your chance to compete again, next year."


    ''They really do make the Year Represtative hold the position for a year, ev if they lose their rank,'' Jash thought with curiosity.


    However, he suddly seemed to recall something as his expression soured.


    The Principal of the Solarnelle Academy, Fdril Vale, was considered the strongest hunter in the world.


    ''He''s also a SSS-Rank, but the strongest? I doubt that,'' Jash guessed, always thinking of untouched elemts or hidd monsters.


    Anyways, his guess might be wrong or might be correct, but it would change nothing of the currt situation.


    Meanwhile, Fdril turned to a differt spot and called out, "Professor Zander."


    ?¡Ì¨N¦¥?¦Ñ??.§³§°?


    Right th, Vice-Principal Zander showed up, nodding to Fdril''s words.


    "Take both of our winners to their rooms and give them their gifts," Fdril implored before turning to the audice.


    "With this, I announce the Entrance Test''s d. To the new studts, we will meet again at the oping ceremony in the next three days wh you will ter the Solarnelle Academy," Fdril added and disappeared just like he appeared.


    Professor Zander quickly signaled Rui, who was still in awe and was nervous about his tertainmt being discovered.


    Nevertheless, he understood his role as the commtator, "I hope you joyed the Entrance Test!"


    "Now..."


    While Rui addressed the crowd, Zander disappeared and appeared next to the stage where the examinees were huddled together.


    "You guys follow me," Zander said, addressing Jash and Ziva and they both immediately nodded.


    "The rest of you, the staff will guide," Zander added before walking away, with Ziva and Jash in tow.


    The two nodded to each other behind Zander as Jash had a small smile gracing his face.


    It seemed to be telling Ziva, "Now what? Ev I won."


    However, Ziva averted her gaze, not getting into his tirades and quietly followed behind Zander.


    Dumbfounded by her change of attitude, Jash could only wonder, ''What''s up with her?''


    He was fed up with the changes in the plotline and couldn''t understand why everything was ever-changing.


    Of course, he forgot to account for the changes brought by himself as Amael was the one who was supposed to win, and not the protagonist.


    ''Shit! Just what the hell is his name!?'' Jash cursed inwardly, getting angry due to the frustration from the pain as well as the changing state of evts.


    While the two were being led away, the remaining examinees were guided away by the staff members and one of them had a particularly downtrodd face.


    "It''s fine, isn''t it? We got exposure and that''s the reason we came here," Caeron said, consoling Vivia and the protagonist.


    "Why the long face, huh? Vivia? Helios?" he asked again, unable to understand their situation.


    In fact, from their perspective, he seemed to be mocking them, but neither had anything to retort with.


    Meanwhile, the VIP rooms were also a hub of discussion,


    "He didn''t perform that well," a person said.


    "Well, what could he do in front of the two monstrous giuses, let alone that monster of a kid," another replied.


    "Inform them about all of the evts" he continued, "We can help them against each other if everything works out."


    In another VIP room, the tire area was thrashed as the noble left after his son faced an early defeat, leaving behind the words, "That can''t be no son of mine."


    Unlike this impulsive noble, a man was consoling his son who couldn''t ev get into the top 000.


    "It''s fine, son. Life is like this only. At this young age, you wanted something, but you didn''t get it so you broke down, and that''s absolutely fine,"


    Patting his son''s head, he added with a smile, "But if you had won, you might have become too proud and lost sight of its true value, since it would seem too easily gained."


    While his words might seem random or strange for the Entrance Test, they carried profound wisdom that any mature person would relate to.


    "Do you get it son? And what if the Goddess has better plans for you?" he said with a final pat before taking his son with him.


    "Wow! What an ideal father!"


    "That''s why he gets marriage proposals despite being a single father..."


    If only those who believed in ''seeing is believing'' noticed how the son''s expression had be froz in terror all the time, they''d know how wrong they were...

 Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Ranks and Privileges

    After Ziva ignored Jash, he too only looked ahead, the two following Zander through a long corridor wordlessly.


    Zander glanced at them a few times and caught them purposely ignoring each other, that is, wh one looked on, the other would face the opposite direction.


    Thinking they were just kids in their rebellious phase, not willing to agree that someone could rival them, Zander shrugged it off.


    Thankfully, the walk wasn''t too long for it to become uncomfortable, and they arrived at a room, tering it after Zander.


    It was a small room with just ough space for a table, three chairs and a sofa set.


    "Have a seat," Zander gestured towards the sofas, prompting Jash and Ziva to sit next to each other.


    The sudd closess surprised Zander but he couldn''t care less, knowing their backg and ev their parts.


    "Drink this," Zander offered, pointing to the snacks and a drink on the small snack table in front of the sofas.


    Seeing their hesitation, Zander added, "It will help you guys, especially you."


    His last words were directed at Jash, making Ziva frown slightly in confusion, though she picked up the glass.


    ''Damn! Why is he giving me that pitying look?'' Jash wondered, feeling uncomfortable from Zander''s gaze.


    ''Whatever, it''s his problem,'' he dismissed it and directly picked up the glass to take a sip without hesitation before gulping it down in one go.


    The liquid was cool and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness and a subtle tingle on the tongue.


    ''That felt good, wish there was more,'' Jash thought, his eyes drifting to Ziva''s untouched glass.


    "First of all, congratulations on your win," said Zander, ignoring Jash''s strange actions, focusing on what was assigned to him.


    "I am Vice Principal Zander as well as a professor, and I teach about the Ice elemt, as you might have heard."


    Giving a brief introduction, Zander moved on, "As you''re aware, this Entrance Test is to admit studts but also to decide the first-year studt represtatives."


    As he said so, he fiddled with a strange bracelet on his palm and a hologram appeared above his palm from his bracelet.


    It was other than the famous Solarnelle Academy''s insignia, a small shield-shaped emblem with claw marks to indicate successful defse.


    But the intricate gold designs etched on it seemed to portray the story of a divine shield, connecting with the Goddess of light.


    Its backg was light blue, contrasting against the dark wood shield with metal bars to help support it.


    Last but not the least, on the top of it, there were some thread-like luminesct extsions of color.


    If one looked closer, they could count the threads as each of them represted the number of people responsible for protecting the world.


    Basically, the total number of SSS-Rank hunters was what it tailed.


    ''All this idea about it visioning that one of the studts would become a SSS-Rank and increase the number of threads is so stupid.''


    Despite his inner thoughts, Jash kept his face neutral while sneakily glancing at Ziva''s untouched glass.


    It seemed he still wanted to take her glass and drink it as she had yet to take a single sip from it.


    ¡ªTwack!


    Disrupting his thoughts and sight, Zander took out two blue- rings with gold designs on them.


    "Take them," he gave it to them as a wave of cool air made the rings float and land on Jash and Ziva''s palms. ???¦®????.?¦¨?


    Although it would be surprising for anyone else, the two had already se SSS-Rank Hunters, so it wasn''t anything shocking for them.


    Not caring much about their lackluster reactions, Zander explained after taking note of the curiosity etched on their faces.


    "These rings represt your status inside the Academy. And only by wearing them, you can use the privileges of being the Year Represtative,"


    "It also makes you a part of the studt council, but your role and position is undecided as of now,"


    "Talking about the studt council, they have their own authority inside the Academy, and it can ev rival that of some professors, but not all of them,"


    "You will learn more about this once you join officially as that''s something the studt council will explain."


    Seeing the look of slight apprehsion on ZIva''s face while Jash sat there, unbothered about the whole details, Zander looked at Ziva only.


    "There is no need for any worry, these rings don''t have any function that will jeopardize any kind of information about you to anyone."


    "Thank you, professor," Ziva nodded in response to his words and directly asked, "What are the privileges exactly?"


    ''Hm? Ah, right!'' Jash was fiddling with the ring and thought for one second that it ded before he heard her question and continued playing with the ring.


    "Well, you both already know that one can''t leave the Academy''s gs after tering as a studt, unless the Academy needs you to leave for some assessmt or something else," Zander said.


    Ziva naturally nodded, having not met her elder brother, while Jash''s slight nod indicated his own long-awaited reunion with Brandon.


    ''He should be graduating now only, right?'' Jash recalled about the graduation ceremony soon and felt it to be a waste to be after the oping ceremony.


    Totally ignoring the unatttive Jash, Zander carefully explained, "With these rings, you can leave, but only for a week at most, or you will be punished to some extt."


    ''That''s the only thing that''s actually useful,'' Jash rolled his eyes inwardly, already in the know.


    This was another reason he had tried so hard to win it, of course, money came first.


    ''It would be better to skip some nonssical plot inside the academy to explore outside,'' he concluded not long after confirming the state of the world after the Imperial Banquet.


    Of course, as mtioned, there was no way to exit the academy without proper reason, if he wasn''t the Year Represtative.


    While being a member of Studt Council also gave the privilege, it was far more restrictive than being the Rank of the year itself.


    Without a doubt, the Rank of the whole year, regardless of their gder, would get slightly more privileges than just the Rank of their gder.


    Nevertheless, it was all far away and Jash chose to focus on Zander''s words to sure nothing was differt.


    "I am sure you have heard about this, but inside the Academy, most of the facilities do not use money. Instead, we use our own point system, which grants you YP," informed Zander.


    "YP stands for Year Points. Of course, you can still buy some YP monthly using real money or exchanging them from other studts as well," he added.


    This was done to sure that normal studts could live comfortably and earn their facilities, suring that competitivess amongst studts was always high.


    But no matter how anyone tried to equalize the social status, there would always be some sort of inequality prest.


    In the d, studts were allowed to buy YP monthly, but the conversion rate was very high to discourage this behavior.


    One YP costed a 00 Solaris Marks.


    ''Of course, one can still get it cheaper by exchanging it for something from other studts,'' Jash scoffed inwardly.


    He was already aware of the academy''s futile efforts as ev limiting the amount of YP to be purchased based on rank didn''t work all that well. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Between Loopholes and Privilege

    Strictly speaking, studts would always find loopholes.For example, some rich young masters might promise befits to their families.


    Or if those earning it and in higher ranks used their money to exchange for YP, selling it ev higher than 00 Solaris Marks.


    Solaris Marks was the currcy used for all kinds of transactions betwe common folks and hunters alike.


    In the Solarnelle Empire, it was the currcy ev accepted amongst the elves and dwarves after various s of negotiations.


    Anyways, 00 Solaris Marks was nothing for any rich noble.


    Heck, ev Jash had a million lying a and would now get 37.5 million after winning the bet.


    ''Good reminder, I need to claim it,'' Jash suddly recalled the bet after going through the problems with YP.


    Though it indeed helped bring a false sse of equality to some sse as ev commoners could earn it based on their performance.


    Plus, it was not like Rank was allowed to exchange an infinite amount of YP; ev they could only exchange 00 per month.


    ''So, the maximum the top Ranks can spd for YP is one million,'' Jash mused, knowing the 00 YP per month was for the top .


    At rank , it capped out at 500, quite a stark increase to sure only the most worthy got it.


    After all, won''t the academy d up wasting resources if some weak-ass noble got thousands of YP and hoarded the training areas?


    Ev if someone had talt, they''d be helpless against such a tactic, and it had already happed once...


    ''That''s the darned reason the Academy became super strict with some of their rules while some are full of loopholes,'' Jash sighed, getting a glare from Zander.


    Zander thought Jash wasn''t listing, to begin with. Wh he saw Jash sigh in the midst of his explanation, it obviously created a negative image of him in Zander''s mind.


    Glancing at Jash, Zander said in a stronger tone, "As first-year heads, we give you a 00 YP monthly, and you can spd it however you like."


    Jash raised his head and exchanged a glance with Zander, bringing a smile on the latter''s face as if he won some battle.


    Returning to the diligt Ziva, he suggested, "If you climb to a higher position inside the studt council, you would get ev more."


    While this statemt was completely bland to Jash who had ough funds for three years to buy YP monthly, it grabbed Ziva''s atttion.


    It wasn''t that she couldn''t use Solaris Marks to purchase YP, she felt it was better to get as many as she could.


    After all, she had heard rumors that no amount of YP is ever ough inside the academy due to the various training areas.


    Contrary to her, Jash was not the least bit interested in it, already aware of the discounts one would get for being the Year Represtative.


    ''Some training areas ev become free for overall Rank , so why bother?''


    That was his thought process as he listed to the privileges mtioned by Zander, who continued listing them out.


    Finally, he came to an important point, piquing Jash''s curiosity as well.


    "Remember, while this position does give you some authority over studts, it doesn''t give you any right to force or threat others,"


    "Right now, you might feel like you are the first ranker, so you are the best and whatnot. But this could very well change at the next assessmt test,"


    "And if you are not in the Top by th, your title of Year Represtative will become nothing but an empty title."


    Zander concluded with a grave tone, trying to instill the gravity of the situation into the two rebellious kids opposite him.


    ??¨N????§Á.?§°?


    "What assessmt test?" Jash asked, causing Zander to get surprised while Ziva gave him a sidelong glance.


    "Well... all you need to know is that it will assess all your strgths and weaknesses," Zander mtioned with a small smile.


    Jash''s expression nearly turned to a scowl as he sneered inwardly, ''As if I need you to tell me about it!''


    While the information from the novel couldn''t be rock solid because of the changes Jash brought until now, it could still be referred to.


    He was only trying to see the limits of Zander, and how much he was willing to stretch it thin.


    "I saw both your performances, so I am sure you both already know that there are many giuses in your batch," Zander began.


    "Now, they are already aware of your elemt and unique weapon, so they would prepare accordingly," he said to Ziva before turning to Jash.


    "The same goes for you, they would make plans to counter your sudd burst in strgth and swordsmanship and martial arts,"


    "Simply speaking, they won''t make the mistake of underestimating either of you," Zander ded his part and looked at their serious expression.


    Looking at them, a small smile graced his lips for a split second before vanishing without a trace. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash, who had kept a close eye on Zander while pretding to be worried, was in utter disbelief, ''Did I just imagine it?!''


    Before Ziva could delve deeper into her worries and Jash could make sse of things he just saw, Zander broke the tsion with a light chuckle.


    "Now, now, no need to be so tse and worried all of a sudd, it''s not like the assessmt test is tomorrow or anything,"


    "Also, it should be a team match, not a solo one, but I can''t confirm it for you or tell anymore about it," Zander said while waving his hand.


    ''Did he just go beyond his limits?'' Jash wondered inwardly, barely keeping the same expression, struggling to believe his ears.


    Zander, one of the strictest professors, actually revealed such a thing of his own volition!


    Before Jash could be any more shocked, Zander piped in, "Before I forget, let me tell you this: There will be a writt test which can help or stop you from achieving your spot in the Top ."


    More or less, writt tests were permant within the Academy, so it did make sse for it to be this way.


    Meanwhile, Jash, unable to hold his curiosity, asked, "Why tell us in advance?"


    Noting his smile, Zander reciprocated with a smile before answering, "Don''t worry; count this as one of the privileges."


    ''I am damn sure I don''t have a good impression on this guy,'' Jash thought skeptically, not believing a word of it being a privilege.


    He knew one thing for sure, though. Having a good or bad relationship with professors could impact your life inside the Academy.


    That''s why he wanted to know why Zander wt the extra mile, something that never happed in the novel.


    Contrary to his overthinking self, Ziva was casually sipping from the glass while listing to it.


    No one could guess what was on her mind as she asked, "Do professors usually interve with the studts and their decisions?"


    A bit surprised at the sudd question, Zander smiled, replying, "We just make sure that nothing bad happs to the studts inside the Academy,"


    "But we want to give them an experice of real life, so to answer your question; No, we do not interve unless rules are brok," he said carefully.


    ''This guy, he is too daring,'' Jash mused, turning his head to Ziva who looked down for a few seconds before nodding.


    It seemed that she also understood the underlying meaning behind Zander''s words.

 Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Unspoken Thoughts

    It obviously meant that studts could find loopholes a the rules and were free to exploit them.


    And while being aware of it all, the professors wouldn''t do anything about it.


    ''They really want to make it as unfair as the outside world, huh?'' Jash wondered, guessing they were quite desperate to create a realistic situation.


    Breaking Ziva and Jash from their respective thoughts, Zander added proudly, "One thing we can guarantee is that no outsider will touch ''you'' while you are a studt inside the Academy."


    Jash resisted the urge to roll his eyes as that was the time wh he was supposed to have died due to the Academy''s mismanagemt.


    However, he knew it was better to let it be for now, as he couldn''t change that evt and its disastrous consequces.


    Because he was the son of a duke, grandson of two SSS-Rankers; the Academy really came under the threat of extinction.


    If not for Caera mtioning Jash''s own request to not extinguish the future of others, the academy would''ve closed down.


    Of course, its reputation was in the dirt, with not many people still having the same trust for the academy during its gold days.


    ''Not like any of it matters now,'' Jash mused, vowing to prevt any deaths to reduce the repercussions for the Academy.


    After all, he knew of the bleak future that happed in the novel and if not for the plot armor, ev the protagonist would be dead meat. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Due to his internal musings, Jash didn''t hear everything and only heard the final words from Zander,


    "Anyways, that will be all. We will talk more, but it will be after the oping ceremony in three days, and I need to leave now."


    Saying so, he disappeared from the room as if he was never there, surprising both of them, only slightly though.


    And it wasn''t because of his way of disappearance but the abruptness with which he ded the talk.


    Suddly, his voice carried over into the room, "You guys probably know each other, so leave whever you feel comfortable."


    Both recognized the voice belonged to Zander and looked a before turning to face each other.


    "So, how''s it feeling? Getting Rank and all, huh?" Jash began the conversation way too casually, finally feeling free from all those noble lessons.


    ''Now, I won''t have to take those damned etiquette lessons ever again!'' he thought inwardly despite his pding lessons for these three days.


    That''s why he wanted to stay here longer, to not get involved in any forced training, whether it be for getting stronger or nobler.


    He had no interest in either for these three days, planning to get the most of the Academy by utilizing everything from his past life.


    He would be freed of all those restraints he placed upon himself so as not to get questioned about their sources.


    "Feels like nothing much, what about you?"


    Hearing Ziva''s answer in a similar casual tone, Jash was surprised, irrespective of how long she took to reply.


    "Hm? Did you want to fight me?" Jash asked abruptly, making Ziva flinch slightly at the sudd mtion.


    She felt that her mind had be read, but it was just Jash observing her with narrowed eyes, focused on her body movemts.


    It wasn''t hard for her to fathom how he could do that; he was born into a family of archers.


    If archers didn''t have a ke eye, what good were they


    Ev though Ziva had se him use the sword mostly, she wasn''t fooled into believing he couldn''t use a bow.


    The question was, how well could he use it and could he defeat her if he used a bow?


    She was sure that his swordsmanship only paled to her and he could make up for it easily.


    But the tricky part about her was her elemt and the whipsword, excluding them, she was only confidt to be able to draw with him.


    ?¡Ì???§²??.??§®


    Of course, this was based on his performance from the Imperial Banquet where he was holding back.


    Being aware of his personality, she already calculated that he was holding back and raised the bar already.


    The problem was she didn''t know that his sword mastery reached Intermediate, the same as her.


    In the d, she got caught due to her line of thoughts, making Jash smile as he got something to tease her about once again.


    Not wanting to be on the losing g, she asked, "Don''t you dislike spotlights? Why try so hard th?"


    A bit startled inwardly, Jash maintained his smile. "Brandon always complains about not getting First Rank or being the Year Represtative,"


    "So, I thought, why not try and get it? After all, I wanted to see what''s so good about it that ev he wants it so bad."


    ''Did she believe it?'' The thought plagued Jash''s mind as he wasn''t sure if his excuse worked, but it was a half-truth.


    Indeed, Brandon had complained and lamted, but only after Jash asked him about the Year Represtative perks.


    Not like Brandon said anything about the perks, but it was ough to make a child curious, and served as the perfect excuse.


    Ev if Ziva cross-checked, it would make sse, alas, she just believed him.


    "Hmm. The privileges are indeed good, it makes sse," she mumbled while bobbing her head up and down.


    ''What the? It was so easy?!'' Jash thought in disbelief, his expression falling as he saw her believe his words blindly.


    He felt a bit guilty about it, but shook his head, ''No, Jash. This isn''t the time for it.''


    "By the way, you tried your best as well, huh? Won''t Caera be a bit angry with you for hurting her?" Jash asked, changing the subject.


    "Hmm? How do you know if I met her or fought with her?" Ziva asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicions, making Jash feel a drop of cold sweat.


    "Huh? Wh did I say that? I mean, you are First, so she will be hurt because I got it while she failed," Jash brushed it off with a smirk.


    "Mhm. I don''t think she would mind it, she''s the one who wanted you to awak the most," Ziva mtioned, based on her old chat with Caera.


    "Well, what happed is already in the past, but what about you? She really wanted to win this, you know?" Jash shrugged and asked curiously.


    "If she wants it so bad, she should grow stronger and take it," Ziva said what was in her mind without any hesitation.


    Their conversations were always like that, talking without filters and without caring about anyone else.


    "Well... Can''t argue with that. Also, the same goes for you, if you want to get over all Rank ," Jash smirked, teasing her.


    Ziva just gave him a blank stare before getting up and starting to walk.


    Jash, surprised by her sudd actions and finding them strange, called out, "Hey! Ziva? What''s wrong, huh? Afraid?"


    More like he wanted to provoke her to get a reaction out of her, but all he got was total silce in response.


    "..."


    It seemed she was in no mood to reply to him anymore, choosing to walk away siltly.


    "Seriously, what''s up with you?" Jash asked persisttly.


    "At least say something, you...!"


    "Why can''t I ever understand you..."


    Not getting any response despite pestering her, Jash sighed and gave up, just walking siltly by her side to the exit.


    Meanwhile, a strange thought came to him, ''I wonder what the protagonist is doing? Will it be the same as after losing to Amael?''

 Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Helios Auris

    ***


    As Jash had anticipated, the protagonist, or Helios Auris, was behaving differtly from the novel, in fact, way too differt.


    ''Just how did I lose...? I was supposed to be stronger...''


    (Host...)


    The system did not have emotions but it could sse his, and wanted to console him, feeling the profound sadness within.


    Unable to accept his loss, Helios was reluctantly consoled by Caeron, despite his frustration with the latter.


    In the d, he just asked for some alone time, "Vivia, can you do me a favor and tell them I wish to be alone?"


    He didn''t ev wait for her to agree and tered his room, locking the door.


    Vivia stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds before leaving, trying to justify his actions as she had se just how much he trained for becoming the Year Represtative.


    "Just what wt wrong?" Helios yelled from frustration building within him due to his failure, it was a major failure.


    "How?!"


    He kept repeating the same question in differt ways, but couldn''t come up with ev one plausible answer.


    It only served to fuel his frustration as his system remained silt, not helping him in this predicamt, unlike always.


    The system was a part of him, something that ev Jash and Amael didn''t know about.


    After all, no system was ever mtioned in the novel Jash read in his past life or from which Amael received his information.


    The two were oblivious about it all, and the protagonist was smart to keep it a secret.


    He wasn''t just a cliche goody-two-shoes protagonist that both of them considered him to be.


    He too had a life, a complex one, just like them, ev if that trashy author never mtioned it.


    Although the start of his life couldn''t be more cliche.


    He was the apple of the eye of his parts, of his village, of everyone a him, being the kind and brightly shining kid.


    His gold hair and eyes were considered a good om by the villagers as whoever was near him never wt through hardships.


    Ev some people with frequt illnesses started to feel better with him a.


    His body, soul, mind, presce¡ªhis existce itself¡ªwas nothing short of a blessing to the world, not just a small village.


    Bathed in the light of the Goddess at birth, he shone like the sun, tearing apart the vast darkness of the space and providing warmth and light.


    The Village Head had ev called him the "Coming of the Hero".


    Alas, every good thing comes to an d, and so did his village.


    After a dungeon appeared nearby, the villagers panicked, not ev knowing what to do.


    They decided to report it, but before they could, the dungeon immediately broke apart.


    Waves after waves of mana were st across, causing shockwaves and ev some weak elders to die from the sudd increase in mana. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A few infants also got inflicted with it, facing the same d.


    However, that wasn''t the d as monsters after monsters exited the dungeon.


    No one ev knew their name, just that the monsters had six eyes, four feet, two arms and were -3 meters tall.


    Unlike human skin, they were all deep blue-black with their arteries and veins being gre and visible atop their skin.


    Sadly, that wasn''t their skin, but their armor as their skin was searing hot, ev a single drop of their blood was ough to melt through a human''s skull.


    Despite all of it sounding terrifying, the strongest among them was just at (B+)-Rank.


    Though there were no Hunters in the village; the d result was obvious.


    "Helios, RUN!"


    Hearing his parts'' desperate voices, he ran and ran and ran... ???§¦??¦´§Á.§³§°§®


    Tears leaked from his eyes, getting mixed with the dust and dirt all a as he ran until his legs bled, but he didn''t stop running until he fainted.


    Dried tears, caked blood, dirt, mud, pale skin, wrinkled lips, sunk cheeks¡ª


    He remained like that for a prolonged time, unable to muster up the strgth to ev move.


    On the verge of starvation, he was found unconscious by the Church members, who were on duty to look for traces of the dungeon break.


    Luckily, he had come far away while the monsters were busy taking down the villagers and some vagrant Hunters.


    They thought they hit the jackpot, but only ded up as monster food, and the Church was chasing them after they hurt a Church member.


    That''s wh an escaping Hunter yapped everything, causing them to come here.


    "He''s alive, and a kid. He''s likely from that village and a survivor," a priest said after checking him up.


    "Take him to the Church and heal him," another priest suggested, knowing it was better.


    "You mean..."


    "Yes, if he can, th he should awak," the head of the delegation replied before anyone could refute.


    Now, it was absolute.


    However, Helios only woke up after another few days, finding himself in a simple room on a wood bed with sheets.


    Overwhelmed with grief, Helios wept uncontrollably, yearning for his parts or a release from his suffering.


    But he was calmed down by the Head Priestess who brought him back.


    "You can awak, grow stronger and save others from that situation, or you can lamt, cry and feel depressed, helping no one, not ev yourself."


    Hearing such words, the naive Helios did his best and easily crossed 4 hours of awaking time, reaching 4 hours and 30 minutes.


    Obviously, his awaking time was a guarded secret, ev within the Church as it was the first time to have someone so talted.


    He was personally visited by the Saintess who revealed that he was blessed by the Goddess.


    She only revealed it to the Pope, who chose to conceal it, and just call Helios a Saint Candidate.


    Just like Vivia, who was a saintess candidate, and Caeron who also became a Saint Candidate.


    Three saint candidates were unheard of in one geration as it mattered little.


    Only one could become the saint or saintess, after all.


    Oblivious to it all and ev to being blessed, Helios put in all his effort to grow stronger.


    At the time of the Academy Entrance Test, he hoped to become the Year Represtative and did his best.


    However, he ded up losing to Amael and th slowly but surely grew stronger than Amael.


    The first evt of Jash''s death unsettled him, forcing him to break down his shell of naivety and grow up to see the harsh truth of the world.


    It was a trauma for not just him, but everyone a.


    Despite his intse desire to help others overcome their suffering, Helios felt increasingly powerless, realizing that all he could do was focus on his own training and growth.


    Sadly, fate had other plans as he ded up attracting girl after girl, ev wh he didn''t wish for it.


    Helios was differt from typical harem-seeking protagonists, he was forced to be this way.


    After many brushes with death, he gave up and accepted his destiny filled with wom, having a harem and using everything he could to grow stronger.


    Despite this, he had never slept with any of them, not ev kissing them.


    He was far too gone on the path of revge and vanquishing monsters from the world to care about such things.


    Alas, he was se as a scummy man because of jealous weaklings who spread rumors about him.


    And upon seeing countless wom vying for his love, the rumors were confirmed without ev ever asking him or any of the girls.


    However, he never gave a damn about any of it until...

 Chapter 171: Chapter 171: A Hero’s Unwritten End

    Being one of the most talted, Helios had garnered quite a few emies and because of the wom''s affection, the emies only multiplied.


    By the d of the academy, he had tons of people coming for his life, but he turned them into experice packages.


    After defeating countless assassins and becoming accustomed to such threats, he found it easier to handle them than deal with the oft annoying monsters.


    Time after time, month after month, year after year, he ded up reaching S-Rank before the age of 5.


    Becoming the youngest to do so, he was celebrated in the world as the Hero of the young geration.


    It all changed, however, wh it was revealed that he was blessed by the Goddess herself.


    People began calling him the second coming of Adonis Solarnelle, the first hero blessed by the Goddess herself.


    Naturally, he became revered by the common populace while feared by those in power, afraid of losing their power and authority.


    Regardless, Helios cared little about it all, choosing to go clear dungeons and areas of dungeon breaks to save people.


    It only served to establish him as a hero as he broke all prest records by reaching ev SSS-Rank at a young age.


    All of it was going well until life threw him a cruel twist.


    The sky dungeons increased in number, ranks, strgths, and mana in the world became dser.


    Over time, the abundance of mana in the vironmt led to Hunters achieving random breakthroughs to higher sub-ranks.


    Naturally, monsters thrived more than humans in such vironmts, growing in number and taking down human settlemts.


    The threats from monsters and dungeons only continued to escalate.


    However, the worst was yet to come wh the elv and dwarv domain suffered massive damage due to multiple dungeons at S-Rank and over oped.


    Due to the lower number of hunters, many populaces were relocated, decreasing the total area of their domains.


    As time wt on, the situation worsed despite more and more people praying to the Goddess wh the Cult of Death showed up.


    No one knew it ev existed wh they showed up randomly, wearing skeleton masks and doing wanton slaughters all across.


    Not only humans, elves, dwarves, ev monsters¡ªthey cared little about who.


    They seemed to have a craving for blood, irrespective of its source, causing chaos and mayhem everywhere.


    Yet more cults like this sprung up out of nowhere, taking down a large chunk of civilians and ev unaware hunters with them.


    In the d, ev Helios felt hopeless wh he heard the Goddess say that the world would d soon if he didn''t surpass SSS-Rank.


    Helios finally obtained the true legacy of his predecessor, Adonis Solarnelle.


    Nevertheless, there wasn''t ough time for Helios to be able to rank up and help in fighting against the threats at the same time.


    And the situation seemed to wors with time wh finally the skies and earth itself split op, hordes of monsters attacking the planet.


    The majority were weak, and the SSS-Rank hunters easily took down half of them before meeting their match.


    Only, Helios had to fight someone above SSS-Rank, a rank that ev knew existed until th.


    With the blessing from the Goddess, the legacy from the previous hero, countless opportunities and resources being showered on him, Helios reached Peak SSS-Rank.


    But wh he was on the verge of going for a breakthrough, the cunning emy attacked, wanting to give them a taste of hope before destroying it.


    It wasn''t a demon nor was it a human, but a completely differt being, who only mocked all their efforts.


    Helios ev asked why in anger, and the response stunned him.


    "HAHAHAHAHAHA! You think defeating them or me would be the d? How laughable!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We are but merely his pawns and wh he comes, ev that Goddess of yours will scurry away, isn''t she a bitc¨C"


    ???¦¥?¦Ñ??.?§°§®


    "DON''T YOU DARE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE GODDESS WITH THAT FILTHY MOUTH OF YOURS!!"


    Helios expericed a rage so intse it was almost ali to him, finding it strange.


    For the first time, he felt that the emotions wer''t truly his, but it mattered little as the rage served to function as the trigger.


    Like any protagonist, he ranked up in the middle of the battle.


    Unfortunately, his emy couldn''t care less and annihilated others while Helios ranked up, being protected by the Goddess herself.


    As a result, more than 70% of the humans, elves and dwarves ded up dead by the time Helios ranked up.


    In a fit of rage he clashed against the emy geral, unaware of not having stabilized his own condition.


    Still, he was blessed by a Goddess, who loved her chos, protecting him from the shadows and helping him in the fight discreetly.


    Nevertheless, Helios was bound to fail a world that was destined to meet its d at the hands of a higher being.


    Ev after defeating the emy geral on his own last breaths, Helios saw the sce of the sky tearing apart and a weird creature stepped in.


    Just its gaze left him in fear and trembling.


    It looked a, clicked its tongue, if it had any, and turned away, not ev caring about anyone.


    "This guy... he''s not the leader..."


    That was all Helios could mutter before someone else showed up and eliminated everything off the planet, be they Helios''s allies or emies.


    After giving his all to save the world from its impding doom, Helios still failed at it.


    And it faced the same ding as Jash''s previous world, just at the hands of a differt being with completely differt goals.


    Helios was the last person alive in that world, looking at the spectacle, which chilled his soul.


    Due to his idtity as a blessed, he had a strong protection on his soul and existce, something the newcomer notices, so they completely ignored Helios.


    It led to him seeing it all as his tears of sorrow, regret, grief and ev anger dried out.


    He was stranded in the op world, looking at the crumbling buildings and living beings, leaving behind nothing but pools of blood.


    His emotions itself fizzled out as he witnessed the harrowing sight of the world''s d, something neither Jash nor Amael knew about.


    They only knew that the world was in danger, the why-how eluded them, and ev the harrowing d Helios lived through.


    Unable to ev have cohert thoughts anymore, Helios stared vacantly at the sky and earth, waiting for the final gates to op and consume him.


    It mattered little what would happ after death, but he wanted for it all to consume him and d his pain and misery.


    Finally, he saw what he had be waiting for, he moved his wrecked body, wh he realized it was impossible for him to move.


    It was his soul that phased through everything, waiting for the final gates to op... to a new tomorrow.


    It moved with the goal in mind, following the light that would set Helios free from this neverding hell.


    However, his misery wasn''t going to d any time soon.


    Just as his soul neared what seemed to be the threshold of the afterlife, it unexpectedly vanished.


    "O'' tired warrior! O'' brave soul! This one implores you to conclude thy journey!"


    The sudd words rang in Helios''s consciousness, something that shouldn''t exist in his soul as he would have to be dead for it.


    "I understand thy heart, but you must not stop from righting the wrong, rewriting what''s writt, altering it all,"


    "That is thy journey, young warrior. Only thy shall decide what shall be its fitting d and wh."


    "Correct thy wrong, A Hero''s Failure, thy unwritt d!"

 Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Heros Resolve

    After everything was said and done, Helios found himself in his younger body post awaking.


    "I don''t know why, what, and how, but if this is a chance¨C"


    (System Initializing...)


    "Wh-what?!"


    The sudd sound in his head interrupted his resolve to right his wrongs and save the world. It confused him greatly.


    (...99.99%)


    "Just what''s going on?! Show yourself!" Helios shouted, flailing a his young limbs and falling down.


    ¡ªThud!


    "Oww," he yelped in pain, unable to fully control his younger body due to its differce in strgth and size.


    Uncaring about his conditions, the sound in his head continued,


    (System Initialization Finished!)


    (Searching database...)


    "W-what!? What system? Initialization? Database?" Helios stuttered, not able to accept reality.


    Though his dial was far greater than wh he lost the First Rank in the Entrance Test to Jash, as he had gott used to a lot of unusual things by th.


    (Data found...!)


    (Greetings, Host! Welcome to the Savior System!)


    "Savior system?! What are you and why are you in my mind?" Helios yelled, wanting clarification.


    (I am a System, granted to you by a higher being to guide and assist you on your journey to right your wrongs and save the world.)


    "You mean the one who st me into the past??" Helios immediately asked, wanting to know more about it but the system''s response wasn''t satisfactory.


    (The Host is too weak to know about that being or anything related to it.)


    (Also, I am not in your head, I can also materialize...)


    ¡ªFwip!


    A backg scre with gold and borders appeared in front of Helios''s eyes.


    "W-what?! Won''t others see you th?"


    (No. Only the Host can see the system.)


    The same words he heard appeared on the scre as he tried talking to it in his head and worked.


    (The Host is blessed by the Goddess of Light and is the Hero, so the system will assist you in completing your goals and saving the world, suring you can address your regrets.)


    "So can you help me grow stronger?" Helios asked, a fire of hope burgeoning within him.


    (Yes, that''s my goal, but it''s not that easy.)


    "That''s fine. As long as I can save the world from its destruction, I will do everything within my power to achieve the goal."


    Hearing Helios''s resolve, ev the system was affected, seemed to respond with urgcy. It st all the basic information regarding itself into Helios''s mind.


    In simple terms, it was similar to Amael''s system, but without the Villain Points and being forced to change the plot.


    All Helios had to do was correct his regrets, right his wrongs and grow stronger to save the world.


    "By the way, you''re going to be with me for a long time, so what do I call you?" he asked, not feeling right about using it as a tool.


    (Just call me ''System'' as I am not really alive, and I am a part of you from now on since the being can''t interve anymore.)


    "Alright, System? Wh will I be able to grow stronger using you?"


    (Only wh the Host reaches a certain strgth, the system will inform the host itself.)


    (The system advises to use your memories to grow stronger faster. However, it warns against using the true legacy of the first hero.)


    "Hmm? Why?" Helios frowned in confusion. That was his best bet to grow stronger than ever, after all.


    (Firstly, if the Goddess notices your actions, it may lead to significant changes. To balance these changes, the world might suffer sooner.)


    (Simply, any changes made by you will be altering the future¡ªthe balance of the world¡ªand to fix it, the world will have to pay a price.)


    ?¡Ì?¦®????.§³??


    "So, you''re saying that I must be extremely careful on what I change and why, or it will have negative consequces?"


    (Exactly, host!)


    In the d, Helios remained on the g, contemplating the advantages of returning to the past.


    The prest and future were ever-changing and had probably already changed, so what should he do?


    He was sure about saving the world, but was that ev possible?


    If the system was correct, th every time he saves someone, someone else will have to pay the price.


    (Host, if you vanquish the emies and transcd the worldly limits, any actions made by you will bear no consequces, but...)


    "That sounds too far-fetched, right? And there is no guarantee that I will be able to live till th."


    Nevertheless, he was the protagonist for a reason, vowing to give his all to achieve that.


    After that day, he started training like crazy, wanting to make use of the system as soon as possible.


    One day, he discovered that he could use System''s Status Scre, displaying not only his, but also other''s strgth.


    ''This will help me gauge others and make it easier to know their weakness in advance,'' he mused.


    He wasn''t stupid to not use the advantage handed to him on a silver platter, planning to use it on all his future emies to find their weakness early on.


    If he couldn''t change them and had to ultimately eliminate them, he would have an advantage over them, and not just from his past life.


    This contrasted sharply with Amael, who wouldn''t hesitate to eliminate threats before they could fully emerge.


    But th again, he was someone with a differt path in his past life and didn''t hesitate to ev kill himself. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two were differt extremes¡ªpoles apart¡ªand thus, were archemies if one considered the original novel or Helios''s past life.


    ¡ªDing!


    (Quest Failed!


    Quest: Rank First and become the Year Represtative


    Reward: Invtory Upgrade


    Palty: Invtory locked for a month.)


    "Damn it!!"


    Helios cursed, smashing the table in front of him as the quest failure notification from the system brought him back to the prest.


    He had revisited his memories, searching for what led to his failure, but found nothing he could pinpoint.


    As a result, he was frustrated, dying the reality that was in front of him, just like he died everything.


    (Host...)


    The system tried to get his atttion, but only succeeded to get his ire. "What?" he asked, irritated at the pestering system.


    (The Host can merge their sword technique, bringing it closer to the true legacy, making it easier to use in the future.)


    "What''s the use of it? I already lost! Why did I not get it earlier??"


    (It was based on the performance from Ziva Arne, Jash Ramille, Amael Blake, the host, and several others.)


    (Creating techniques is impossible from memories alone, but if supplemted by real life usage, it becomes easier.)


    (As a result, the host will get a sword technique that is stronger than the currt one, being a far stronger version.)


    "But will that be ev suitable for me??" Helios asked, doubtful of the system for the first time.


    (Yes! It will increase your power by approximated 4%)


    Hearing the number, Helios was pleasantly surprised, his previous emotions getting replaced by his excitemt at getting stronger once again.


    So what if he had to start again and work to increase his mastery over the sword art created by the system?


    It was beficial for him in the long run as it would help him improve his mastery over the sword itself, if only very little.


    ''Just you wait, I will defeat you all...''


    Helios resolved, fire burning in his eyes as his depression washed away, realizing his mission to save the world...


    ***

 Chapter 173: Chapter 173: High Stakes

    After getting ignored by Ziva, Jash followed her out until a staff member took them to the portal that would send them back to Adonia.


    ''So damn tiring, I can rest now, right?'' he thought as he found a car nearby, much to his relief.


    The driver opened the door for Jash, who sat inside and closed his eyes and waited for the car to start.


    ''Hm?'' he opened his eyes in confusion as he did not hear the door closing or the car starting.


    "Miss Ziva, I am ordered to bring the both of you back to the Ramille estate in the capital, Lady Evelia is there as well."


    "Alright." Ziva nodded and entered the car, turning to face the outside, not even sparing Jash a glance.


    Though confused, the driver quietly went to drive after feeling an intense glare on his back.


    ''Just what in the world is mom planning?'' Jash wondered, irked by getting ignored for no reason whatsoever.


    He thought the ride would be relaxing and relieving, but it just made him sit straight as he continued to mull over the possibilities.


    The drive towards the Ramille Estate in the city of Adonia was deathly silent with only Ziva being truly relaxed as she enjoyed the city''s vibrant atmosphere.


    Arriving, the driver stopped the car at the main gates and was about to exit and open their doors, but Jash couldn''t bear it any longer, getting off instantly.


    The driver could only politely open Ziva''s door as she walked in with a knowing glance at the surroundings, having been here in the past.


    Ahead of her, Jash had already entered the living room and saw the Ramille and Arne families sitting there.


    Brandon and her elder brother were absent, as the graduation ceremony was yet to commence.


    While their grandparents weren''t there because they got busy after making time to attend the Entrance Test in their busy schedule.


    "Oh, here he is," Caera intoned when she saw Jash coming in.


    She lifted her head, looking behind Jash for Ziva, and ignored her brother as if she hadn''t seen him.


    ''My day is just bad,'' Jash concluded after seeing Caera purposefully act distant and how her expression brightened at the sight of Ziva.


    ''She''s even waving enthusiastically to her? You lost to her, you idiot,'' Jash chided mentally, not wanting to get involved.


    He was all for teasing them, but getting involved with drama with them? That was out of the question.


    ''There''s no way I wanna get in those messes again,'' Jash quickly shook his head at those emerging memories, burying them deep within. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He would much rather prefer going all out and get in his current state than getting in between the drama caused by two girls.


    ''The latter is far too dangerous,'' Jash almost shivered at the thought, suppressing it with a small smile instead.


    "Congratulations on winning," Caera spoke first, saying it to Ziva rather than Jash.


    "Thank you," Ziva replied politely before getting pulled across by Caera and her mother.


    "Congratulations on winning, Jash," Caera added curtly before turning her head.


    Jash forced a smile as his lips twitched, and he uttered, "Thanks."


    ''At least she''s not demotivated,'' he thought, knowing how most reacted after losing the Rank 1.


    After all, every examinee considered themselves the best and believed they were powerful enough to stand beside the powerful hunters.


    While many only hoped for it to raise the name of their families or to depict themselves as a proud member of nobility or some other shit.


    "Jash," Sera called out, her tone pleasant yet serious, "Congratulations on winning to the two of you."


    "Thanks, mom." Jash was a bit surprised by his mother''s serious tone, but replied nonetheless.


    "Thanks," Ziva replied with a small smile before turning to her mother.


    "Do you mind sitting here for a moment?" Sera implored, and Jash did not mind, sitting down on one of the empty sofas.


    "Can you tell me what happened for you to go all out? And how did you use that sword technique after only seeing it once?"


    Sera asked all at once, worried about her son, but also wanting to let him grow strong, not wanting to hold him back.


    "Oh, well, ahem, I-I b-bet on myself, ahem," Jash answered, averting his gaze before turning back with a natural smile.


    While Sera was dumbfounded to hear his bet, all conversations ceased as Jash felt the gaze of Evelia, Caera and Ziva narrow in on him.


    Still, he said proudly, "Regarding the sword technique, I practiced it and even talked about it with dad, just not letting him know until I could master it."


    Jash shrugged, "I haven''t mastered it, by the way. It was only because my sword mastery had reached Intermediate that I could imitate the sword move."


    "Oh, that''s my son¨C." Carcel boastfully declared before getting a look from Sera and immediately shutting up.


    "What bet? And how much?" Sera asked, anxious about Jash getting into wrong habits.


    "Not much," Jash said vaguely, trying to get out of it.


    "How much?"


    Hearing it the second time from his mother, Jash could only answer truthfully, "1 million, all of my Solaris Marks..."


    Silence.


    That was what followed his answer before the clacking of teeth echoed from opposite him, "Tell me you didn''t...''


    "I did, mom, see," Jash said, showing her the balance of 37.5 million from his bank account.


    "You...!" Sera barely controlled her urge to hit Jash as Carcel held her back, trying to calm her down.


    "Sera, I think we should talk about this later. He just won¨C," Carcel tried but only failed.


    "Quiet, Carcel," she turned to Jash, "Now, tell me why did you bet all of it?"


    ''This is different,'' Jash thought, feeling the warmth of family, he expected for his mother to get angry about injuring himself or showing off.


    But here she was, being unexpectedly strict about preventing Jash from falling into the addiction of gambling.


    In all his new life, he had never seen his mother go overboard about anything concerning him.


    "I just did it because I felt confident about winning," Jash gave the model answer that any gambler would give when asked why they did it.


    "Jash, never ever repeat that. That''s a sign of getting into a gambling addiction," Sera chided him softly.


    Even though her tone was soft, her facial expressions were serious, making Jash nod and agree with her, feeling the weight of her concern.


    Seeing the heating atmosphere, Carcel chose to intervene before the matter escalated, "Jash, go to your room and rest."


    Sera stopped speaking, understanding her husband''s underlying concern with a simple gesture and chose to quieten herself.


    "Okay," Jash replied and stood up to return to his room.


    ''Sorry, mom, but I will have to make such bets for the goal of a peaceful life,'' Jash apologized silently in his heart.


    Though it soon turned to cursing, ''If only that darned protagonist was useful or Amael got me enough money.''


    Jash knew that very well that he was one of those people who would do what felt right for their goals as long as the consequences were within reach.


    He was even planning to exploit the loopholes inside the Academy, if need be.


    So the matter of him betting everything on himself wasn''t over, and won''t be over anytime soon.

 Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Shopping Spree

    Jash woke up the next morning, having slept right after dinner, with no energy to do anything the previous day.


    ''I should meet him today,'' he mused, walking towards the garage and choosing a car at random to sit in.


    The driver politely opened the door, and Jash told him to go for a round.


    Jash kept looking outside the car window and suddenly said, "Take me there."


    The driver nodded and turned the car to the ''Hex Auction House'' on the side of the road.


    As soon as Jash stepped out of the car, many people immediately recognized him from the Entrance Test.


    Word spread quickly as the manager personally came to receive him and took him inside.


    However, no one could take his photos because the bodyguards arranged by his parents prevented it.


    Jash entered the lift and looked at the screen in front of him curiously as the manager put his face near the screen.


    "Iris scan completed. Welcome..." the robotic voice said as the panel to choose the floor appeared in front of the manager.


    Jash didn''t really hear her name, nor did he bother to ask.


    The lift she had led him to was a VIP-only lift that only a select few could use when they entered the auction house.


    The higher floors with VIP rooms were not accessible from the normal lifts, and only people who were registered in the Database of the auction house could enter them.


    Of course, any VIP would be guided by someone, so it was safer than asking the VIP to scan themselves.


    On the other side, the manager proudly explained it all, believing Jash was curious about it when he simply didn''t care.


    He glanced at the multiple numbers that were present on the screen in front of him and the one that glowed with a white hue.


    ''Floor 29, huh? Then 30 must be for the Head of the Auction House,'' Jash guessed, passing the time in the lift.


    The lift shortly arrived at the 29th floor, and he stepped out of it, following the manager.


    Jash found many rooms on the floor, with only gates visible from the outside and having numbers atop them.


    The manager walked towards a certain room, asking Jash to follow her before using a black card to scan and enter the room.


    In truth, she couldn''t believe she was going to get business with the one who won the Entrance Test.


    After all, everyone knew he was the son of a Duke and had two SSS-Rank Hunters as his backing.


    Though absurd, everything Jash faced would''ve been the same had he not won the Entrance Test.


    ''Well, I wouldn''t get all that unnecessary attention from the public,'' Jash shrugged, knowing they will forget it sooner or later.


    "What may I help you with, Sir?" the female manager asked, her face neutral despite her excitement, implying her professionalism.


    "Show me what I can buy right now," Jash demanded, and the manager happily complied.


    Well, no matter the world, as she was the one attending Jash, she would get commission out of every purchase.


    And anyone would be happy to make more money.


    Jash watched as she tapped her bracelet and phone, causing a hologram to project onto a wall.


    It displayed a list with all kinds of items; clothes, weapons, artifacts, armors, land, decorative stuff, gifts, cars, motorcycles, and more.


    Jash just skimmed past them, not feeling interested in any of it.


    "Isn''t there something like computers, CPUs, and more of that sort?" he asked, unimpressed by the stuff the manager showed.


    "Oh, yes." The manager retained her professional smile despite her inner shock.


    She had displayed the list that even some managers had never seen, being for the highest VIPs yet Jash held no interest in any of it.


    Truthfully, it wasn''t that Jash fancied none of it, but his budget didn''t allow him to buy whatever he liked.


    While Jash was shopping to get ready for the academy, Caera was planning to take Ziva with her.


    On another side in the estate, their parents were having a talk of their own.


    "Carcel, we need to make him stay away from any potential bad habits," Sera said, her face furrowing in worry for her son.


    Initially, she was expecting to only have to console Caera for her loss, but it seemed that it was never needed.


    Instead, she had to ask Jash and worry over his condition, especially because he won the bet.


    "Sera, it''s good that he won, and I know what you''re worried about, but you should let him be," Evelia interjected, trying to reason with Sera.


    She knew that Carcel would never be able to convince Sera with how stubborn she could be.


    "Evelia, I know, but even though it''s not a big deal, what if he ends up losing once? That''s all that''s required to get into a massive problem," Sera said, worry etched on her face.


    Before she could get a response, she added with a shaky voice, "You are already aware of his talent, and have already seen it firsthand."


    "Yeah, I know. He would definitely become an SSS-Rank hunter, and that''s why you should not force the topic," Evelia interrupted.


    "If you pressure him too much, it would only end up worsening things as he would feel pressed to let loose," she reasoned with Sera.


    "He will be joining the Academy soon, so let''s not dampen the mood, yeah?" Evelia ended with a smile on her face.


    She was well aware of the problems that came with winning a big gamble, as one wouldn''t be able to stay their hands.


    "I guess you''re right, but I will talk to him once again," Sera sighed, turning to Carcel, "You also talk to him once."


    Carcel nodded, having chosen to stay out of their discussion lest he become the topic of discussion and somehow end up angering Sera.


    If only the three knew that Jash was literally planning to buy some rundown area to place a bunch of computers, they''d be dumbfounded.


    After getting all the stuff he needed, Jash paid the money and got it all placed inside a space ring.


    "They even give a space ring complimentary, huh?" Jash wondered aloud, fiddling with it.


    A space ring was extremely expensive to the point the cheapest being a hundred thousand Solaris Marks and having just one cubic meter of space.


    The one in his hands had more than 100 cubic meters of space, but it wasn''t anything much to Jash.


    His space ring itself could hold more than a 1000 cubic meters of space, being extremely expensive because even money couldn''t buy it.


    It was a custom space ring, specially made on order from the Mage Association for Jash, keeping in mind the design and space.


    Even being able to detect the slightest trace of mana of the bearer and warn the recipients he was in danger.


    It was one of the finest ones and only those with enough power could order it.


    Not only was making it extremely difficult, the materials were very rare to begin with, on top of needing a space mage to make it.


    Unfortunately, it couldn''t be taken into Solarnelle Academy to maintain a sense of equality among the students.


    "That''s real annoying," Jash muttered after arriving at the rundown house he just bought in an unpopular area.


    Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Shopping Fatigue

    Exiting the car under numerous stares at him and his car, Jash directly entered the building he had purchased.


    "It''s too cheap for the total area," he mumbled and the door creaked open. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªThwack!


    It also lost its hold on the hinge and fell to the ground, raising a small dust cloud at the entrance.


    Jash backtracked and exited, ordering, "Get this all fixed by the end of the day."


    "Take me to the clothing stores," he ordered the driver as he sat in the car, leaving the remodeling to someone from the guards.


    It didn''t matter who did it as long as it was done.


    "Wait," he said as the driver started the car and stopped immediately after hearing his voice.


    "Place the computers, get the wiring and everything done. I want it working with enough protection to not be a problem."


    Leaving behind orders, he left to do some shopping as well for the Academy.


    Not that he wanted to or needed to; it was because his mother forced him to go with Caera and Ziva as the two were going.


    ''Why even shop when you can only wear the uniform?'' Jash thought about countering, but he knew better than to argue with girls about shopping.


    ''They''re crazy about shopping and no one can deny that,'' he thought, remembering the scenes of a girl shopping enthusiastically.


    As the car sped toward the clothing stores, memories of his forgotten love surfaced, as cloudy as ever.


    He couldn''t see her face as it was cloudy in his memories, but he knew that she was someone important and close to his heart in his previous life.


    Jash guessed that it was his girlfriend but then, why couldn''t he remember her face?


    That was just strange. What kind of man would ever forget the face of the only girl he fell in love with?


    Not to mention it was his first love, she was the one to bring him out of his depression and his status as a fugitive.


    ''Well, committing a murder¡ªjustified or not¡ªwas surely enough to make me a fugitive,'' he recalled with a small smile.


    "Am I turning into a psychopath?" he mumbled to himself the next instant, realizing he was smiling as he recalled murder.


    But then again, he had literally fought and killed hundreds of thousands of demons so what did it even matter?


    ''Let''s stop this foolish behavior and try to recall information about important characters or those who were overshadowed,'' he told himself during the car ride.


    While thinking so, he tapped away at his phone, as it showed pictures of multiple people and their names alongside the traits.


    It contained both information from his past life and what he gathered in this life.


    That was another reason for his money requirement as good and useful information was never free, while the free information could be anything.


    ''Truly, I never expected these two families to be in touch, makes sense to that event that happened later on,'' Jash mused with an evil smile.


    He was planning to use this information as leverage and get something out of it without revealing himself.


    Alas, that wasn''t something he could do just because he wanted to do it.


    ''Not like there exists a convenient cloak for me to use as a disguise or something,'' he joked.


    He knew that if he was the protagonist with plot armor, such a thing would appear within arms reach and would surely get it.


    ''What a drag,'' he scoffed and closed his eyes, resting on the backseat when the car stopped the next second.


    ''What the hell?! We arrived already?'' he cursed inwardly, feeling angry at himself for wasting his time about this and that.


    He was angry because he was helpless, he couldn''t make the mistake of underestimating all these old foxes, just because of his greed.


    Jash wanted results, and fast, but that was impossible due to his lack of strength.


    As the saying goes, ''Strength moves all.''


    His eyes turned into crescents as he looked at his phone and dismissed Caera''s message after reading it.


    "Perfect timing," he muttered inaudibly as a smile emerged on his face.


    He was already looking forward to what would happen today, the only day he actually had to prepare for the Solarnelle Academy.


    Even though the opening ceremony was three days later, it was three days from results and in the morning,


    Today was already the first day, and noon had long passed, making it all the more unrealistic to come out and buy stuff he needed.


    ''I don''t even need the new stuff,'' he sighed, accepting his fate about this rather than listening to his mother''s lessons on why gambling was bad.


    He knew already, but it wasn''t like he had other options to make quick money.


    Plus, he had already spent like a fifth of what he won from the bet, making him feel like he needed more.


    ''At least I won''t be wasting money to buy YP,'' he shrugged as he stopped walking.


    "Now, where are they?" he asked nobody in particular, having seen Caera''s message to meet at this place.


    Feeling clueless, Jash could only look around, trying to find the two of them as he waited there for nearly ten minutes.


    That was when the two of them showed up, dressed plainly despite the weather as if to show their status as a hunter.


    Jash rolled his eyes at their primly dressed condition, while he had only put on a hoodie and a pair of jeans to match.


    He didn''t bother dressing up or choosing according to some fashion or anything, feeling that it didn''t really matter how he dressed up.


    "Finally made it, huh?" he said to mock them, but Caera only giggled while giving him a strange look.


    "Hehe~ Ziva, let''s go somewhere else or his dressing sense rubs off on us," she said purposely in a voice that Jash would hear.


    And his lips twitched as he chose to just ignore her, not having anything to say to her about this.


    If it were any other topic, he would''ve loved to argue that it wasn''t like that, but when it came to clothes, Jash just preferred the comfortable ones.


    ''Comparing to my past life... it''s better than finding anything without holes to wear,'' Jash sighed at the thought and followed the two of them in.


    Although he wasn''t a frequent shopper, he was sure that girls loved to shop, and a lot at that.


    ''I just hope the whole day isn''t wasted like this,'' he prayed inwardly as he saw Caera pick up dresses from everywhere.


    From casual tops, jeans, hoodies, sweatshirts, coats, to long dresses, one pieces, overcoats, fur coats...


    It was as if she wanted to try everything and even buy it as she went to the trial room, leaving behind Ziva, who carefully chose her set of clothes.


    "Luckily, there''s some clothes for me too," Jash sighed after turning to the men''s section, deciding to not get involved with the two of them.


    He really didn''t want to sit in one place and watch Caera wear hundreds of clothes and then tell her how she looked.


    ''If only she accepted the words instead of forcing it until it aligned with her perception,'' Jash shook his head, quickly disappearing amidst the crowd.


    Unlike them, he was done with choosing his clothes, shoes and everything within two hours while the two had just begun.


    He had returned to see how much they progressed as he had nothing to do after being done with his shopping.


    "How the hell is she still wearing dresses and why is Ziva even trying on different shoes with each dress??"

 Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Threats by the Roadside

    "Urgh... what an exhausting day," Jash grumbled after the two girls finally finished their shopping.


    He had to wait for them to finish, or so he was told, and with no better option, he did just that.


    "At least I got one thing done," he sighed, looking outside the car window to see the street lights being on. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The only thing he got done today was the building that he asked for restructuring as it was cheap and not accessible by teleportation portals.


    It didn''t matter how many times Jash had gone through them; he always feared that someday, one would go wrong.


    He really didn''t want to wake up stranded in an unknown isolated place with nothing on him.


    Plus, the discomfort never disappeared despite getting used to it; in fact, he was the only one who found them uncomfortable.


    Imagine being able to reach a place within seconds, cutting off the hours of traveling and traffic, who wouldn''t be happy?


    Well, Jash.


    ¡ªScree!


    "Argh, what the hell?" Jash cursed as the car stopped suddenly, jolting him out of his reverie.


    "Young Master, there was someone on the road," the driver replied nervously, shifting his eyes between Jash and the person in front of the car.


    "So troublesome," Jash mumbled, sensing the driver''s confusion, getting out of the car instantly.


    "Young Master¨C" the driver called out, but Jash was already out, making him follow his Young Master.


    After all, if anything happened to Jash, the first person to be held responsible would be him.


    Unafraid of anything due to the security team following him, Jash turned to look at the person in front.


    It was a middle-aged-man with messy black hair that seemed to reach his chin from his scalp.


    Looking at the perfect template of a random assailant who would first seek help, Jash felt intrigued, ''Hm?''


    ''Maybe it''s the type where I help an old man by the road and get some inheritance, a mysterious master, or some helper?''


    Those were his thoughts exactly as he reached near the man and said, "Hey, uncle, what are you doing in the middle of the road?"


    However, Jash got no response as the man seemed to be mumbling something.


    "What are you saying, uncle?" Jash asked again, his brows furrowing as he inched closer.


    "this... can''t be..."


    ''What can''t be? Why is he only repeating it?'' Jash wondered and doubted his ears for a second, but the man kept repeating the same words.


    The man suddenly looked at Jash, shouting, "I''m sorry!"


    Jash was confused for a second as tears were streaking down the man''s face, but it wasn''t sympathy that he felt in that second.


    ''Danger,'' his instincts warned as he immediately backstepped.


    In that instant, the man had brought a sharp dagger, coated with some viscous liquid, stabbing at Jash.


    As Jash stepped back, he gained an extra fraction of a second, delaying the dagger''s contact.


    Though that wasn''t really needed as the man''s hand was cut even before Jash could complete his maneuver.


    ¡ªClunk!


    Blood spurted and fell on Jash as the dagger was hurtled away by another security team member.


    Unlike others'' expectations, Jash wasn''t too surprised, as he jerked the blood off his hands.


    "Don''t kill him," he ordered right as he had backstepped, everything happening within seconds.


    The middle-aged-man didn''t even get any time to express his pain as his mouth was covered while a blade was touching his neck.


    All it would take for him to die was less than the time needed to blink.


    "Honestly, I am not interested in who sent you, but why did you shout ''I''m sorry'' and why were you crying," Jash stated casually.


    He knew that his words and actions would be reported to his parents, but he wasn''t bothered.


    After all, it was just another two days before the Academy started and the world would have already gone to shit by the time he graduated.


    So, what did it matter if he remained indifferent to someone killing him and blood on him?


    Wasn''t that similar to the Entrance Test?


    What better answer than "my senses were still in high alert mode after three days of intense fights, especially the last one"?


    "Look, either you answer, or these guys will get me the answer. Choose wisely," Jash said, watching the man''s increasing tears.


    He was one insensitive prick when it came to those that aimed for his life, and he was already expecting the cliche blackmailed answer.


    "I... hicc... I," the man began, freed from the hand grasping his mouth, but Jash said coldly, "I don''t have all day, be quick."


    The frosty tone frightened the middle-aged-man as he sniffled, swallowing his tears and deciding what to speak.


    "They said, they will kill my daughter, after... uwaaa," the man cried instead of giving any good answer that Jash wanted.


    "Haa..." Jash sighed at the answer, and ordered while standing up, "Bring his daughter to where I am going, and also him."


    The man''s blood ran cold as he feared what would happen next, thinking he just sold himself and his daughter to the devil, "You...!"


    "Good job," Jash complimented as the security team knocked him out and led him away while Jash returned to the car.


    The rest of the ride was silent as they arrived at the rundown building Jash had purchased.


    "Wow, now this looks good," Jash noted, admiring the sleek glass, balanced with the marble designs and plants.


    It wasn''t too high or too low, just enough to be useful to Jash.


    But it differed greatly from the nearby buildings that looked rundown, however, they had changed owners in the past few hours.


    Because it was Jash that bought this building and re-built it, the nearby buildings were being bought and sold at astronomical prices.


    Of course, Jash had already reserved 4 buildings next to the one he bought, and he would pay for it from his parent''s pockets.


    "What about those 4?" he asked the person who came to receive him, clad in black clothes, giving out nothing about his or her identity.


    "Greetings Young Master, milady already processed the money, they are yours," the person responded in a feminine voice.


    But were they truly female? Jash had no idea, nor was he going to ask.


    "Alright, turn them into some kind of restriction for entering this building, and leave the rest of the area for gardens,"


    "I want it to be filled with herbs used in potions and some decorative plants as well. Arrange for it," he ordered without any hesitation.


    "As you wish."


    Jash nodded, walking past her and looked at the half-empty ground floor with nothing but a few sofas and a reception desk.


    Ascending the stairs instead of the lift, Jash skipped the first floor which was nothing but an area to gather and look out at the scenery.


    On the second floor, he found a few rooms, all of them having the most advanced monitors, CPUs, hologram projectors and everything that he bought.


    However, one room in particular had 5 monitors set up against 3 CPUs being freely set, that is, it could easily be set and freely explored upon.


    "Perfect," Jash said with a smile before his smile cracked at the sudden noise.


    "Ahh! Give me that! I want it!"

 Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Sinking into the Unknown

    "Who is making so much noise in this newly set up place?" Jash grumbled, deciding to find out the cause.


    The voice was especially annoying to hear, being high-pitched, like that of a child.


    "NOOO!!"


    Hearing the sudden scream, Jash frowned and used mana to boost his speed, bursting into the room in one go. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s happening?" he yelled, ready to attack, but it all turned into a look of bewilderment as embarrassment crept in.


    ''Seriously!? That''s all,'' he felt like saying that out loud but swallowing his words.


    What greeted him upon entering the room was a girl older than him, looking like any typical adult.


    However, she was trying to snatch a strange doll as if her life depended on it, shouting at the top of her lungs with moist eyes.


    "Young Master, she is that man''s daughter, and according to reports, she is mentally ill," the one who had cut the man''s hand said flatly.


    Jash nodded at the person next to him, whispering, "I get that, but what''s with this situation?"


    "Uhm, that I don''t know," was all that Jash got as a reply, confusing him further.


    After all, a girl who was mentally ill should supposedly be extremely dependent on her loved ones, but here she was, making it hard for hunters to take away her doll.


    Though they weren''t using mana or most of their strength so as to not injure her, unaware of Jash''s intentions, it spoke volumes of her abnormal strength.


    ''I don''t remember anyone like her... I was trying to find that guy who''s good with computers,'' Jash contemplated, appearing thoughtful.


    "Hmm, what do I do now?" he wondered aloud before turning his gaze at the girl, unable to think of any use of her.


    She was mentally ill in a world where there existed a mystical energy: mana.


    It spoke volumes about her illness and how unlikely it was for her to get treated.


    And there was the hope of it being something off with her to have such an illness as 99.99% of the populace didn''t have it.


    ''Surely, something good would come out of curing her, if she''s even ill to begin with,'' Jash thought, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.


    He had indeed overlooked her after hearing of her condition, but now that he took a better look, he could see her eyes pausing on him longer than anyone else.


    Her eyes were also looking at the room, trying to find an escape route, but she hadn''t made the hasty decision to break the window and jump from it.


    ''So she can use her brain, huh?'' Jash noted, knowing that while it was glass, it wasn''t something so fragile anyone could break.


    In fact, simply brute forcing through it required the strength of a B-Rank hunter.


    And someone who could notice it at first glance was no idiot despite her records portraying her as so.


    ¡ªClap!


    "Alright, enough of your act," Jash said decisively, not wanting to waste what little time he had before returning.


    Everyone turned to him, wondering what he meant as only the person next to him didn''t seem surprised.


    Of course, the girl in question didn''t even react as if the words weren''t targeted at her.


    "Yeah, you, I am talking to you," Jash said, pointing at her, catching her sneaky glances.


    ¡ªSigh


    Finally, the girl stopped fighting over the doll, snatching it and sighing as she said, "Looks like I was correct about you."


    "Well, then what do you think I will do next?" Jash asked with a subtle smile as if responding to her challenge.


    "I don''t know? Get me subdued to know about me, maybe?" she said with a shrug, unbothered despite the security team being on guard.


    ?§Ô?§à¦Ô#¨À&??-¦Ó§à?-!?¦Ò§è#-+§¾§å#-


    "You see the sweat drops on their foreheads? It only appeared after you stopped putting on an act, so do you think they can even subdue you?"


    Jash responded just as casually as her, unafraid of his life being in danger.


    "Well, then, how about you tell me how did you know, or was it a fluke?" she asked, curious about it.


    "The simple answer is I didn''t," Jash answered truthfully, shrugging casually while pointing at the person guiding him.


    "It was because this person was too close to me, making me suspect something was amiss," Jash added as if that were all.


    "So, you meant to say that you truly invited me without knowing?" The woman''s appearance morphed as it started to disappear.


    It was as if she were a hologram or a simulation, disappearing after completing whatever its goal was.


    "Jash Ramille, I will remember you," she said her parting words, confusing everyone in the room.


    When her presence vanished, only the doll remained. Jash picked it up and ordered, "Check on that man."


    Jash saw a security member contact others and then examined the doll, finding a zip at its back.


    "Young Master, it could be dangerous," the person next to him wanted the moment Jash was about to unzip it.


    "It doesn''t matter," Jash replied, gesturing to the ceiling, referring to the SS-Rank Hunter from his family in the sky.


    Of course, he knew that his parents'' protectiveness wouldn''t go down after his performance and would rather rise to unprecedented levels.


    He had gambled on that when he asked for that man''s daughter, already suspecting the whole situation to be dubious.


    ''Why did the SS-Rank person not move despite someone attacking me? Nor did they interfere at this moment...''


    Unlike idiots who considered themselves to be at the top of the pedestal after winning, Jash was even more cautious.


    He hadn''t expected to meet someone completely unknown and never mentioned in the novel so early on.


    Not like he didn''t meet countless people that had no mention in the novel, it was about their strength and significance in the world.


    The stronger a person, the more the power and authority they wield in the real world.


    And that''s why Jash was interested in knowing about the woman, making him unzip the doll.


    "That''s all?" Jash blurted out, finding nothing but a simple piece of paper in it.


    Taking it out, he read: "100 meters"


    ''100 meters, what does she mean¨C'' Jash thought in confusion before it clicked.


    And at the same time, word came about the man in captivity, "Young Master, he is no longer there, no traces left either."


    "Ignore that, go search in a radius of 100 meters and bring anyone or anything that seems out of place."


    Jash ordered in a louder tone, displaying the sense of urgency underneath.


    "Quick, quick, leave, hurry up!" he exclaimed after seeing that they were hesitating and didn''t move despite his order.


    In the first place, they were here for his safety, not to listen to his orders and his safety had been jeopardized more than once already.


    Unfortunately, Jash wasn''t interested in their reasoning, sending them even faster. "Hurry up and go!"


    "There may be another threat nearby, will you go look for it now?" he said coldly, showing them the paper and how it only read two words.


    They eventually left, leaving behind four with the sharpest senses to alert them in case of any danger to Jash''s life.


    However, the person involved was relaxed despite the situation being more than enough to give him turmoils had it been in the past.


    ''Just who is she? Is she someone from the Villain''s side who remained hidden until the end?'' Jash mused, lounging on the sofa.

 Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Forced Employment

    "Young Master, we found this guy lurking around," one of the security personnel said, holding the old man''s arms.


    ''Finally, some results,'' Jash yawned, already feeling tired after sitting around for a few minutes, wanting to sleep.


    Looking at the man''s appearance, Jash doubted his eyes for a second.


    The man had black hair with a few gray strands mixed in, but they were immaculately styled while his dark eyes were looking around in nervousness.


    "Who are you? And why were you on my private property?" Jash asked, locking onto the man.


    It seemed to create a sense of oppression on the man who was already being held by strong hunters after being forcefully brought here.


    He had initially resisted by force but gave up the moment he couldn''t gauge anyone''s strength.


    "Hmph! What private property? Who dares sell my land without my permission?" the man harrumphed, emanating confidence in his tone.


    Yet all he got in response was Jash''s narrowed eyes scrutinizing him.


    ''This guy... he has got some nerve. He''s not even at B-Rank,'' Jash scoffed at his idiocy inwardly, but decided to play along.


    "Call that manager and ask her what''s this mess," he said, turning to the one who had processed the purchase and talked to Sera.


    "Yes, Young Master," the person nodded despite feeling there was no need to do so.


    The man likely saw the expensive cars and hoped to steal something or gain something out of this whole ordeal.


    Unfortunately, the security members were taught to not question orders unless it contradicted earlier orders.


    In that case, they have to heed the Family Head''s orders or their husband/wife.


    Currently, they were under direct command of Carcel, then Sera, then Brandon.


    In the whole hierarchy, there was no Jash and Caera because they weren''t the heirs.


    Surprisingly, there was no mention of Conrelius either, but it made sense as no SSS-Rank hunter could stay as a family head.


    The sole exception being the Emperor and the dwarven and elven people as they had their own rules as well.


    However, it was mandated for every SSS-Rank hunter to be a part of the Council of all Races that protected the world from major threats.


    After all, a single SSS-Rank monster was no different than an apocalyptic event if they ever reached the living areas of any species.


    Fortunately, no such incident had occurred for the longest time, the SSS-Rank hunters swiftly working to dispatch the monsters and clear any high dungeon of SS-Rank or SSS-Rank as quickly as possible.


    SSS-Rank dungeons were super rare and the last that appeared was more than a decade ago, but SS-Rank dungeons weren''t so rare.


    And thankfully, for dungeons at A-Rank and above, the person of one rank above could enter it.


    Yes, there was a possibility of it, but no guarantee, as every dungeon differs, with some not even allowing entry to more than one person at the same time.


    But that was the case for the present, and Jash knew for sure that the situation would continue to decline as time went on.


    Just like him, Amael and Helios were aware of it, both having their own set of plans for when that time arrived.


    But Jash was a step ahead, wanting to keep an eye on the new dungeons and see when they break and under which conditions they form.


    As it had remained a mystery for as long as history goes back with many theories and hypotheses being proved wrong over the centuries.


    That''s why Jash had come to this area specifically to meet someone he knew he was sure to find here.


    And even the reason he didn''t hide such big movements when he could''ve done everything while being under the radar.


    In the end, he had found the man, but he claimed that the land belonged to him.


    ''Looks like I won''t have to scam him, he came ready to be scammed himself,'' Jash smiled inwardly.


    He could directly force the guy to work for him due to his lies and defamation, which was a better outcome than manipulating him.


    ''I don''t want him to try and escape my control, that''d be troublesome,'' he mused, waiting for the call with the manager to end.


    "Young Master, the manager confirmed that the land belonged to him, but he lost it to pay off his loans."


    Getting the response he expected, Jash nodded and turned to the man, "So what now? You want me to put you in jail for tarnishing my name?"


    Jash''s tone was frosty, sending chills down the man''s spine as his expression crumbled under the pressure.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t know his current situation, but he had to take the risk, for his daughter.


    She had been selected via the Entrance Test, even reaching the ranks of top 100.


    He gritted his teeth and countered, "You can''t as you basically abducted me."


    Jash''s eyebrow raised in interest as the man was indeed somewhat correct, but did it even matter to him?


    ''Did this guy forget that nothing of the sort matters to people in power?'' Jash mused with disinterest.


    "I don''t really care about your thoughts or anything. Just tell me if you''re useful," he said, waving his hand as if dismissing the matter.


    This time, the security was on high alert, doing a background check in advance and finding records of the man.


    They could sense his strength of borderline C-Rank, but were still cautious of him having some artifact to hide his rank.


    Of course, it would be revealed the moment he fought, but it was idiotic to be caught off-guard twice in a row and it''d be their heads rolling on the ground if that were to truly happen.


    "You¨C!" The man was about to curse but Jash coldly interrupted.


    "I didn''t ask you," he said, turning to the security personnel next to the man and gesturing for them to tell whatever they found.


    "Young Master, this man is a master of computers, VR, and is a good programmer or so it says," the security personnel eyed the man strangely.


    "But, it is very coincidental that he always got into the interview round of Arkwright Tech.


    Arkwright Tech. was a company under the Hunter Association that worked with everything related to technology.


    In fact, they were the biggest players and almost had a monopoly over the whole market, so him getting short-listed every time he applied was suspicious.


    Not like Jash really wanted any of that information, he came here for the man only, and that''s why his thoughts went to that strange woman he met earlier.


    ''Just how did she know? Does she have prophetic abilities or is she from the future?'' he wondered, getting lost in his musings.


    "...In short, he is a tech expert and we can make him work here?" Jash asked after returning to the present.


    He had not really heard everything, especially about the man''s daughter, disinterested in the whole thing.


    "You...! Do you think I will work for you?! Do you think you''re everything just because you secured the First Rank at the Entrance Test!!"


    Hearing the man shout uncontrollably, Jash scowled, but it turned into surprise at the next exclamation. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Just you wait! My daughter is in the top 50 and she will surely revenge me!!" the man yelled before huffing and puffing, trying to catch his breath.


    ''Wait! Daughter? Since when did he have a daughter?'' Jash thought, astonished at the discovery.

 Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Last Peaceful Sleep

    Jash glanced at the security personnel beside him, silently inquiring about the so-called daughter.


    Without any regard to the man, the security personnel nodded and touched a few times on his bracelet.


    A hologram depicting the figure of a pink-haired girl with black eyes appeared, frightening the man at once.


    "Is she your daughter?" Jash asked for confirmation, his eyes still fixed on the image.


    He signaled the security personnel with a look. The hologram shifted to display her fights during the Entrance Test¡ªboth videos and photos.


    ''Hmm. Interesting,'' Jash mused with a smirk, terrifying the man opposite him as realization dawned on the latter.


    The man seemed to have forgotten that Jash was the son of a duke and even if he did something to the man, there would be next to no retaliation.


    Though the law was advanced and strict, it was still subject to manipulation by those in power. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In essence, the man was more worried about his daughter as Jash could directly abduct her, making her never enter the Academy.


    Then, everything he sacrificed for her happiness would be for naught.


    The man gritted his teeth, fighting back his own fear and resolve, "I-I''ll do it! Just leave her out of this!"


    MVLeMpYr.com-exclusive


    "Hm?" Jash got confused at the sudden words, but didn''t seem to mind it.


    The situation just became advantageous for him, after all.


    "Alright, you can rest assured that nothing will happen to her as long as you do not tell her anything about today."


    "Can you do that?" Jash asked with an eerie smile, instilling fear in the man''s heart despite being stronger than Jash.


    Alas, the man seemed to have understood his situation and just nodded quietly.


    "Good," Jash nodded, relaxing his expression as he ordered, "Get used to the computers here and tell them if you need anything."


    Jash referred to the security personnel despite knowing they would never come here after escorting him back.


    Leaving the man with them, Jash walked to another room on this floor, heading to the basement using a secret passageway.


    Naturally, he had asked for an escape route, secret passageway and everything personally, but left the design and everything to them.


    The design was intentionally conspicuous to avoid any accusations of shady dealings.


    Although it wouldn''t really matter except it being annoying, and Jash hated annoying stuff more than anything.


    "Finally," he muttered, alone in the hidden basement that was nothing more than a training area.


    It was constructed from materials so resistant that even B-Rank Hunters would struggle to even scratch them.


    "Really now, just how did they get this all done in one day?" Jash wondered aloud as he walked to one end of the area.


    Without any reservations, he pressed a button on the wall as an opening appeared.


    Passing through it, Jash finally found what he was looking for, a super comfortable chair and a simple computer.


    Although it was the best one amongst all the computers, Jash just used it to surf through the information of his future classmates.


    "At least they will be my future batchmates," he shrugged, filtering the information into nobility, orphans and commoners.


    ¡ªClick!


    In under a few minutes, he skimmed past hundreds of students belonging to nobility, not focusing on them at all.


    His core focus was examinees who he could recognize based on the novel''s memories and orphans with good performances or suspicious ones.


    With no backing, it was extremely hard to rival the noble scions, and those who could do it had some hidden backing.


    And Jash was trying to figure out such candidates and stay on guard against them.


    Even though they weren''t really threats in themselves, who knew what kind of suicidal techniques they learned.


    "Why should I risk it when there''s no need to," he mumbled before focusing on the information of the pink-haired girl.


    ''So she''s the strategist of the hero, huh?'' Jash mused, noting her feats in the Entrance Exam and how brief her role was in the novel.


    Sadly, there were no arcs dedicated to her, except for her father''s sudden abduction and her dying while trying to find him.


    "Urgh, whatever, I have no interest in her, there''s a better person suited for this," Jash grumbled and stood up.


    ¡ªTak!


    He picked up his bracelet and phone after putting all the data into them, planning to peruse it later.


    It had already crossed dinner time, and he would get an earful about getting close to strangers on the road and whatnot.


    "At least, it''s just the last two days," he sighed, returning to the second floor and exiting the building.


    Jash didn''t wait for anyone and directly sat in the car, commanding, "Back to the Estate."


    Not waiting for any response, Jash casually sat in the backseat, looking outside the car window to enjoy the sights of Adonia, for the last time.


    ''Who knows what will remain of it by the time I am out of the Academy,'' he thought, wanting to enjoy the ride home.


    It was quite obvious that he was going to be grounded for protection and the same would be the case for Caera and Ziva.


    No parent wants anything to happen to their children and the same was the case for them.


    Well, calling it "no parent" would be wrong, as some had just abandoned their children for failing the Entrance Test or for other reasons.


    Not like it mattered to Jash as he enjoyed the night scenery of Adonia as memories from his past life and world flashed.


    They were vastly different, with his previous world having been destroyed by the lack of people being able to harness mana and use it for betterment.


    ''This world is at least 1000 times more advanced than my previous one,'' he mused, the images overlapping within his head.


    As time passed, they reached the Ramille Estate and Jash entered the living room, ready for his round of scoldings.


    "Hm? No one?" he blurted out, seeing the empty living room as his steps led him to the dining room.


    Again, the room was empty.


    Sighing, he gave up and returned to his room for the night..


    Before entering his room, however, he said to no one in particular, "Tell Emma everything I said and let her be in charge of that place."


    ¡ªClick!


    Opening the door, he entered it, not waiting for any response or presence to show itself.


    And he directly threw himself onto the bed, choosing to get plenty of rest for the upcoming opening ceremony and the trouble that came along with it.


    Naturally, he''d be getting targeted by all kinds of nasty rumors and demeaning comments, but that wasn''t his concern.


    ''Urgh, I would have to go to school again?'' he grumbled inwardly, comparing the school to the academy.


    But that wasn''t accurate.


    The Academy taught him to fight and survive as a Hunter, while school... Well, that''s pretty annoying, if you don''t have friends to bunk it and have fun.


    Unfortunately, Jash couldn''t do the same for the academy, but it gave crazy amounts of freedom in comparison, so what did it even matter.


    "Just a small sacrifice to reach your goal, Jash," he motivated himself one last time before falling asleep.


    For the first time, Jash knew that this was going to be his last peaceful rest for many years to come, so he enjoyed it fully, sleeping for more than 12 hours in one go.


    *Check paragraph comment for image of City of Adonia*

 Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Solarnelle Academy

    Solarnelle Academy.


    When considering the epitome of power and ability, a person had to possess some form of education in whatever art or craft they possessed.


    As the institute that stood above all others in the Empire, Solarnelle Academy was the dream of anyone who aimed for the top.


    And there Jash was, standing before the gates of such a prestigious place, though he didn''t seem as excited as those around him, who avoided him.


    "It''s the Rank1..."


    "Shh... What if he hears us? I heard that..."


    Such whispers were obviously making their way to his ears, so calling them whispers would be wrong.


    Ignoring them, Jash focused on the magnificent, shiny white surface of the large gate leading to the Academy, which resembled a castle on its own.


    The towering building seemed to touch the clouds as the white gates stayed before it.


    "Have a safe and productive time, Young Master."


    Those were the parting words from the staff working in the Ramille Estate as well as Emma.


    While his parents were worried about things going wrong over the past two days, nothing of the sort happened and they were relaxed.


    After all, the academy was the safest place, or so it should have been had Jash not known about the brewing storm.


    He glanced behind, finding no one but students and couldn''t help but let out a sigh.


    ''They sure are strict with all their rules,'' he thought in amazement before scoffing, ''And yet it gets attacked, with only one casualty: me.''


    Due to the strict rules of the Solarnelle Academy, no one except the student was allowed on the premises.


    All the farewells had happened even before the teleportation point for safety precautions.


    ''The high number of students with important backgrounds was meant to cause some mess,'' Jash shrugged, resuming his movement.


    He had paused to take in the refreshing scent of the air as well as the purer form of mana while appreciating the beauty of the Academy. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was a stark contrast to the sprawling, ultra-modern cityscape which Jash had left behind.


    The image of Adonia at dusk, with the sky transitioning from deep blue to purple hues still lingered in Jash''s mind.


    The towering skyscrapers with sleek, curved designs dominating the skyline, their facades made of reflective glass and glowing with soft neon lights in shades of blue, pink, and green. Luxurious hover cars glide smoothly over the roads with some small areas lit up with neon accents around the buildings.


    Their speed left nothing but trails of light behind them on the wide and clean streets, populated by autonomous vehicles and hunters clad with equipment.


    Elevated walkways connected the buildings, creating separate pathways for hunters, keeping them apart from the unawakened.


    However, the only respite among this concrete jungle was greenery¡ªtrees and plants¡ªincorporated into the urban landscape with vertical gardens and trees lining the walkways.


    Amongst those tall buildings, holographic billboards displayed vibrant advertisements and information, adding to the dynamic energy of the city.


    The overall atmosphere was one of technological advancement, energy, and a harmonious blend of nature and innovation.


    Of course, this uniqueness belonged solely to the city of Adonia due to the highest population of elves and dwarves in the city.


    ''All in all, it really looked like the capital of the Empire, having its own distinct identity,'' Jash mused, reminded of the city.


    It was really strange¡ªhe felt nostalgic for a city he just glimpsed around for a few hours of ride.


    Yet what about his home city?


    He seemed to have no such feeling, but there was a reason.


    ''This Academy... feels more like home than the city of Adonia,'' Jash sighed, knowing how different the Ramille Dukedom was from other regions.


    "Just where is the Academy located?"


    "You idiot. You don''t even know something so basic?"


    "Oh, why don''t you enlighten this fool, then?"


    "Hmph! Then listen..."


    Hearing the loud talks about it, Jash couldn''t help but leak out a chuckle at the sheer idiocy.


    ''No one really knows the exact location of the Academy excluding the Principal,'' Jash mused, shaking his head as he passed by them.


    The Solarnelle Academy seemed to be located on a fairly large yet lush floating island in the sky, its surface dotted with verdant forests and sparkling lakes.


    To add to its mystique, it was encircled by mystical cascading waterfalls that never seemed to reach the ground.


    All of it being covered by a pulsing transparent dome, as if it were some kind of bubble keeping it afloat.


    The dome''s surface shimmered with an ever-changing array of colors, signaling its active defenses against intrusions.


    ''This is really interesting,'' Jash thought, looking at the sight first-hand, it was beyond any expectations.


    Even he was wide-eyed as he took in the Academy''s architecture, a perfect blend of ethereal elements and modern futuristic design.


    It exuded enchanting seamless natural beauty, evoking a fantastical sense of euphoria.


    This fantasy-like place, the Solarnelle Academy stood as the epitome of excellence, where the majority of excellent Hunters had graduated from.


    Even the widely-known SSS-Rank hunters were known to have graduated from the Academy.


    Thus, it was a dream of almost every youth present in Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia to be able to attend it.


    Just behind the wide-open gates were huge Teleportation, situated outside the Academy premises for an additional layer of security.


    ''As if they really need it with this pulsing dome,'' Jash rolled his eyes at the theatrics, as he passed by the gleefully chatting freshmen.


    Some had become friends during the Entrance Test while some were just exchanging information and gauging each other.


    They had no idea that the bubble-like dome had an actual purpose!


    It served as an impenetrable fortress of protection, a magical barrier designed to repel any unauthorized teleportation attempts.


    It prevented even spatial mages from jumping in by mistake or on purpose, failing their attempts at teleportation.


    After all, this seemingly small island on which the academy was situated, was literally a small nation of its own.


    However, it had one advantage: every form of status, whether nobility or commoner, was completely cast away.


    Or at least that was the motive in creating it to be so isolated from the real world.


    In fact, no one even knew if it was on an actual floating island or within some secret realm or some other ancient secret.


    Not like it mattered as the only way to infiltrate or attack it was if someone with enough authority inside the Academy betrayed.


    But that wasn''t realistic.


    The number of restrictions cast onto them with mana oaths and contracts were way too numerous.


    ''Just a single thought of betrayal would put their life in jeopardy,'' Jash mused, still unable to believe how the attack even happened.


    While being busy in his considerations for his life and wondering if he could prevent the attack itself, Jash missed an important part of the Academy.


    The Academy had too much area lying around with nothing and after the students started flooding in, there was a constant need for relaxation.


    thanks-for-using-MvLeMpYr.com


    And to curb any potential meaningless fights, the Academy had created Entertainment districts and many more!


    The newly established districts offered a variety of amenities, from serene gardens to bustling social hubs.

 Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Opening Ceremony

    The Academy used its own currency, YP (Year Points), for all transactions, so there was no problem in continuing using it for the new areas.


    Over time, more small quarters and districts took form, with their own set of guidelines to follow.


    Of course, the situation remained the same, that is, only students, professors and staff of the Academy could visit these places.


    That meant that not even one person on the Academy premises was unaffiliated with the Academy, even if it was just a cook or waiter.


    Well, they too needed staff anyway, making it all the more self-sustainable as even some students did odd jobs due to a lack of YP.


    How they had done it, so many people still could not fathom, but one thing was completely and irrefutably certain in everyone''s mind.


    All of the Academy''s prestige and self sustainability had only been possible because of one person.


    The Past Female Empress and ruler of the Empire, who was the sole creator, owner, Principal, and Dean of the Academy during her time.


    Naturally, she was the one who gave it to autonomous people and restricted them from putting any undeserving person as their successor.


    And due to her influence, the Academy worked in a similar manner as to how she envisioned the future.


    At the academy, only strength and power would take you far, along with a good amount of reasonable intelligence and wit.


    ''She sure was different from every other imbecile to ever grace the Empire as its ruler,'' Jash disparaged in his mind.


    Had he said that out loud, the blissful and animated conversations around him would have stopped for a deathly silence.


    Even if the Academy was free from any form of discrimination, that didn''t mean one could say whatever came to their mind.


    Around him the sprawling courtyard was graced with gentle rays of sunshine, enveloping it in an inviting atmosphere that was completely packed.


    Despite it being early morning, all the students looked youthful and excited for the journey ahead excluding Jash...


    Impromptu friendships were forming between the freshmen in just over a few minutes, causing them to have discussions about the Entrance Test.


    After all, they could see its champion, so why wouldn''t they talk about it?


    Some didn''t care though, choosing to stay away from all of the machinations, focusing on their dreams and aspirations instead.


    ''Damn this noise!'' Jash cursed inwardly, his irritation growing as he moved further into the bustling crowd.


    A buzzing atmosphere of animated but almost chaotic conversations that were nothing short of nonsense if one actually tried listening.


    Finally, arriving at the auditorium mentioned for the Opening Ceremony, Jash felt like he could relax, but it was even worse.


    Some seniors and professors had set up booths and stalls which lined the periphery of the courtyard.


    ''What a scam,'' Jash ignored everything on them, knowing it was just a way to trick the naive juniors into fake promises.


    Well, at least some stalls offered festival-like dishes, being the only thing Jash approved of.


    Everything else¡ªpotions, ''enchanted'' trinkets, and unique talismans¡ªseemed dubious, being nothing but fakes.


    Many students eagerly browsed these stalls, hoping to find charms for good luck or ''enchanted trinkets'' to aid them, unaware of its true nature.


    Just like how Jash ignored it, most nobles chose to do the same, irrespective of the race. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They would much rather take in the almost festive atmosphere at the Opening Ceremony with an open heart instead.


    ¡ªDong!


    However, it all began to disperse with just one loud sound, signaling the start of the Opening Ceremony.


    As everyone began to rush inside the large auditorium fitting in all the official thousand as well as another thousand inside it.


    Jash heard an indistinct murmur of someone nearby:


    "I just need to avoid other influential people. I will only mess with those who can''t do anything to me."


    Jash smiled at the unfamiliar voice, already knowing who the nervous whisper belonged to.


    ''This will surely be interesting,'' he thought, already inside before the loud announcing sound.


    enjoy-at-MVLeMpYr.com


    After all, it had forced not only the freshmen inside but also the seniors and staff to scramble about.


    With just one glance around, Jash caught quite a few nervous faces with some fidgeting with their fingers, clattering their teeth, or even biting their nails.


    He casually walked past them, maintaining the same slow pace since he entered the premises of the Academy.


    Despite his slow pace, no one behind him urged him to increase his pace and anyone who wanted to was pulled back by someone else.


    After all, offending the Year Representative on Day One would be completely stupid.


    ''The first rows are so far away,'' Jash grumbled inwardly, finding the loud hub-bub and buzzing noises to be super annoying.


    They seemed to dig at his brain, causing him great discomfort.


    ''If only I left early with the two of them,'' he lamented not going with Ziva and Caera despite them going way earlier than him.


    ''And this darned attention-seeking uniform code really makes it worse,'' Jash cursed, getting to hear many unwanted whispers.


    It wasn''t that they hurt his feelings or anything; they were just annoying, and it wasn''t that hard to get on his nerves.


    Imagine getting annoyed first thing in the morning due to your sleep getting interrupted, only to be forced to go through the chores.


    Yes, Jash considered all the security checks to get past the teleportation portals to be chore.


    However, his different from others uniform allowed him to go through it faster, but it annoyed him regardless.


    If only he had a system inventory where he could place everything and wouldn''t have to worry about his belongings.


    Of course, the Academy strictly prohibited any kind of artifact, potions, treasures, or anything considered unfair inside their premises.


    ''What a drag,'' Jash grumbled, feeling uncomfortable from his uniform.


    Normally, the student uniform was blue-white with golden designs and the Academy insignia on the upper arm area.


    In contrast, the student council''s version had red and purple accents for easy distinction.


    ''If only they used black, it would look so much cooler,'' Jash mused, but knew such a thing wouldn''t happen.


    The majority of the populace either prayed to the Goddess of Light or just didn''t pray, but everyone knew that she had some hatred for the color of darkness: black.


    Thankfully, no such racism or discrimination ever followed into the populace despite her firm beliefs.


    It was just that any prayer to the Goddess of Light could not have black colored items, and she never got angry.


    It didn''t matter if someone had the element of darkness or shadows, they could still pray to the benevolent Goddess.


    ''Benevolent, my ass! She''s a straight-up racist and colorist,'' Jash cursed a Goddess, not believing in her omnipotence or omniscience.


    ''If she was, then she would''ve already discovered me and sought me out,'' he shook his head, reaching the front row.


    Looking at Ziva, he passed a polite smile, thankful for her to have kept a seat for him.


    There was no way he wanted to hover around the back, scrambling to look for a seat under the eyes of the professors on the stage.


    The professors were there even before the loud ringing sound, though many had been unaware of it.


    "Welcome to the Solarnelle Academy!"


    The voice boomed unexpectedly, like thunder, signaling the start of the Opening Ceremony all of a sudden.


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo~ It''s been a long while~


    There we go my dear readers-


    Your academy arc has officially begun!!


    That''s more work for me and my brain though, sigh~


    That''s fine ??(???????)?¤Ä


    (Insert burning house meme)

 Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Principals Welcome Address

    "Welcome to the Solarnelle Academy!"


    The voice belonged to none other than the Principal of the Academy, Fendril Vale.


    However, his sudden appearance startled many, as his mere presence felt quite heavy, making some students feel as if they were holding weights on their shoulders.


    The stronger ones were relatively fine, only because the old man was suppressing his powers.


    Regardless, all the students were excited to see the old man as he was none other than the strongest human in the world.


    He was the most famous SSS-Rank hunter due to his position as the Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    It went without saying that his presence had soothed the populace countless times during periods of unrest.


    Thus, he was more of a public figure than any other SSS-Rank Hunter and also came to be the most admired among them.


    His sudden appearance left the students in shock, stunned for a few seconds before they came to the present.


    ¡ªClap! Clap! Clap!


    A huge round of applause started by the excited and eager students, its sound reverberating throughout the auditorium. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The principal''s white coat was a magnificent sight to behold, embellished with intricate golden decorations on his shoulders.


    It enhanced his aura of wisdom and authority.


    Naturally, the prestigious symbol of the Solarnelle Academy was emblazoned on it, albeit on the back of his coat.


    ''Hypocrite,'' Jash thought in his mind, looking at the old man as the air around him chilled for just a fraction of a second.


    His gray lively eyes turned into the eyes of a dead man, going unnoticed by even him as his blood ran cold.


    "Hm?" Sitting next to him, Ziva was the only one that felt the atmosphere around her change, frowning at it.


    ''Does he hate the Principal for that laborious Entrance Test?'' she guessed in her heart, having noticed a similar change when the Principal first showed up.


    However, it was not like she had the time and liberty to mull over the topic, deciding to confront Jash about it later.


    No matter her questionable feelings of inferiority and unsurity, she still considered Jash to be her friend, wanting nothing more than the best for him.


    On the other side, the Principal didn''t notice anything odd, looking at the varying reactions of the students.


    He maintained a soft smile as he began, "As most of you already know, I am Fendril Vale, principal of the Solarnelle Academy."


    The students turned silent, wanting to hear every word spoken by the oldest SSS-Rank hunter as it could prove to be vital.


    "The Solarnelle Academy was founded with the dream to make a place where all talents could learn equally."


    "You might find our curriculum harsh, but it is necessary to train hard to become one of the best or you can simply choose not to."


    His words were met with a deafening silence before he released a wry chuckle.


    ''Only an idiot would squander their chance here,'' thought most of the new entrants.


    However, Jash was one of the few who actually liked that there were no forceful classes or anything of the sort.


    ''Surely, I don''t want to live like a prisoner for the next four years,'' he mused as his eyes were droopy, bored from the speech.


    "The world might seem peaceful, but you never know when another unwanted calamity might be upon us,"


    "And I doubt that anyone here would want to be unprepared for it?" he asked, falling silent and giving the students a good look.


    "This Academy is the right place for nurturing your spirits as well as your strength, if you have a similar dream as us, the professors."


    His words were true and served to ignite a fire in the hearts of the youth who had given up due to their not-so-impressive results.


    As if his goal had finished, he disappeared as abruptly as he had arrived, but not before leaving a sentence.


    "That will be all from me. Professor Zander will explain the rest."


    His parting words left the students yearning for more as it was not everyday they could hear or see the strongest man in the world.


    With the Principal''s departure, the atmosphere shifted soon, as the Vice-Principal took the stage.


    "I am Vice-Principal Zander, and I teach Ice Element," Zander introduced himself for formality, as everyone knew him.


    But even the Principal had followed the protocol so who was he to disregard it?


    ''Get on with it already, I am tired,'' Jash urged inwardly, having spent his social battery on the way to the auditorium itself.


    Thankfully, Zander too could see the dissipating fire in the students'' eyes, saying just the right thing to reignite it.


    "The Academy does not hinder you from fighting each other for ranks or any other disagreement, but you all must follow the rules."


    His words were followed by a hologram appearing behind him, showing simple numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.


    They weren''t divided into alpha, beta, omega, gamma or some cringey titles like Leviathan, Dragon, Legends.


    It was a simple classic numbering system which Zander explained, "As you see here, we have only five classes each year, and each class consists of 200 students."


    "Right now, you will be distributed according to your evaluation by the faculty council, but it will also be random."


    Zander didn''t explain but it was actually easy to understand, the students were divided into different power levels.


    And each class must have a similar average, so the Faculty Council would only put the students in these similar tiers of power.


    Then, a computer software would calculate the best options and one of the 10 would be applied as the Principal approves.


    ''Truly, a retarded system,'' Jash thought hatefully, disliking the last part. ''Just why not let someone choose it at random?''


    Though it was just his thought as most of the students didn''t even know about it, nor did they care.


    "Of course, there will be no individual rankings until the Assessment Test, which will happen in a few months," Zander added.


    His words were the fire the students needed to burn in determination and get a better rank to salvage their situation.


    "After the Assessment Test, you will follow the same Assessment System like your seniors here, and know one thing: your ranks are everything here." welcome-to-MVLeMpYr


    His mention about ranks being everything here were said with a tone of finality as if it were the same as their entire lives.


    With that he left the stage, much like the Principal, leaving behind the students to the other professors.


    However, one doubt was something that plagued every student, "Why did our first test proctor mention only a thousand will get into the Academy?"


    The professor hearing the question smiled as any and all conversations came to a close.


    "Naive," he said, "Do you even recall what they had said?"


    "Out of the 17,680 candidates across the three races, only a thousand would truly enter the Solarnelle Academy."


    Some students were sharp enough to remember it, making the professor''s smile widen.


    "That''s exactly it," he explained, "Only a thousand will truly enter the Solarnelle Academy, didn''t you see just 5 Classes with 200 each?"


    Finally, it dawned on the majority what it meant as they suddenly felt nervous, not wanting to be someone who got left out.


    ''What a nasty trick,'' Jash sighed, looking at the nervous students as it was never revealed who would be in the 5 classes and who wouldn''t.


    "Don''t let it stress you right now as you will have the chance to rank among the top thousand and become a student of the 5 Classes."

 Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Class Division

    ''At least this isn''t false hope,'' Jash thought inwardly, getting bored of the theatrics and all the acts being put up. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "As everyone is seated already," the professor paused mid-sentence, snapping his fingers.


    ¡ªTak!


    With a loud unanimous sound, the armrests of all the chairs opened at once, revealing a bracelet.


    "You can pick it up and wear it," the professor ended, waiting for the students to follow along.


    The bracelet was like a smartwatch in this world, but much more advanced and could perform complex functions like a computer.


    The best part? It had no screen, and everything worked with the help of holograms that conveniently were only visible to the wearer.


    How it was achieved, no one knew except the manufacturers, but they never revealed it, having a monopoly over it.


    ''Yet they don''t overprice it, just enough for even normal folk to buy if they live frugally for a few months,'' Jash mused.


    He was indeed curious about the owners of the technology and why they sold it openly besides sending different ones to the Academy.


    Of course, the Solarnelle Academy had two versions ahead of the public one while the other academies and powerful hunters had one version advanced to the public version.


    Drooling at the sight, the students from humble origins excitedly wore it while the nobles and affluent ones had masked their eagerness.


    Touching its smooth surface, Jash felt it was cool to the touch and smooth as if it were made of butter.


    "This is the identification card that would be used for daily life inside the Solarnelle Academy," the professor explained.


    Though Jash didn''t pay attention to it, aware of it being convenient as even Year Points were received on it and every transaction would go through it.


    Simply because it was a waste of resources to print some paper money or make some coins, that all had long since ended.


    ''I wish this would be more comfortable though,'' Jash sighed, feeling the binding process.


    The bracelet''s bonding process was quick; a few drops of blood and wisps of mana secured it, making it accessible only to Jash.


    That''s why It was a must-do process, locking the bracelet so that no one except its owner could access it or even see the holographic screen.


    Finally, after a few seconds, a blinking red light appeared on a small spot on the bracelet before turning green and white before turning off.


    ''It''s ready for use,'' Jash turned it upwards and willed it to activate.


    A holographic interface flickered into view in the next second, working on his mind''s wishes and not any kind of physical touch, displaying complex data with a mere thought.


    ''This sure is interesting,'' he thought with a small smile, intrigued at the complex technology being available at his fingertips.


    Of course, he could use his fingertips if he wanted, but being the lazy guy he was, he just used his mind to access it.


    Although not many employed this method, distrusting the device and doubting the seller''s ability to mind control them.


    Still, most used its other mode as it was an all-purpose device used not only inside the Solarnelle Academy, but everywhere else in the world as well.


    However, it was customized for the students, allowing them to even see the progress and rank.


    Its primary function was to naturally inform the students of their class schedule and any other announcement pertaining to tests or excursions.


    ''Let''s see what class I''m in,'' Jash thought, interested in knowing if it was the same as the protagonist''s or not.


    He willed for it and his profile page appeared, showing basic details about him and his Class division.


    ++++++++++++++++++++


    Student - Jash Ramille


    Class 1


    First Year Representative


    Current Hunter Rank - E+ (Not confirmed) story-source-MvLeMpYr


    Current Mana Core Rank- Early E-Rank, Light Yellow


    YP : 1000


    ++++++++++++++++++++


    ''Class 1?'' Jash doubted his eyes for a second as it was the same class with Amael but not the protagonist.


    It was strange how two monsters were put together but a strange thought came to him, ''Wait, what if Amael is in another class?''


    To confirm his guess about the classes being changed because of the mess he caused, he asked the person next to him.


    "Ziva, what class?"


    His question was too succinct, almost as if he needed an answer within a second, and Ziva gave him a strange look for his sudden sense of urgency.


    Noting his look, she whispered, "Class 1."


    "As expected," Jash muttered, confusing Ziva when he abruptly said, "Same Class, it''ll be fun."


    Despite the smile on his face showcasing he was innocently happy, Ziva doubted it, ''What''s going on in his head today?''


    She shook it off, putting it at the back of mind, knowing she would get the answers later today.


    If only Jash knew her thoughts, he''d be stunned speechless at how accurate her random guesses were.


    He was indeed planning to make up a mess of things as he was sure that there was no way for Amael to be in the same class as him.


    ''They placed both the Year Representatives in the class and seeing her performance, I doubt we will get any other potential top 10.''


    Jash could roughly figure out that he would only have Ziva to talk to in his new class, leaving the others in other classes.


    Though he didn''t doubt that many top-ranking girls would be in the same class as the protagonist with the guys being thrown into Amael''s class.


    ''But what about the last 2? Aren''t they supposed to balance it out?'' he thought for a second but gave up, knowing there was no answer.


    If anything, he doubted it was arranged by that Goddess of Light, or some heavenly luck...


    ''In the novel, I was in Class 4 without any major characters, for the most part,'' he recalled the class divisions.


    The protagonist was in Class 3 with Caera, Avon, Ava, Sylvie, Lyra and some more while Amael was in Class 1 with Ziva, Freirae, Elara, Vivia, Zaos, the lightning guy and more.


    Despite the changes being sudden and too hard for Jash to calculate, it wasn''t like he was someone wanting to play the babysitter for the plot.


    In fact, he considered it a welcome change.


    ''Trying to save your little hero,'' Jash smirked, thinking it was someone from the Church that messed this shit up.


    Or it could also be the Principal who noticed something about the guy and wanted to give the little one some face.


    Nevertheless, the situation remained the same, the protagonist would not be in the same class with either Amael or himself.


    Bringing him out of his reverie was the same professor who asked them to check it as he said, "It seems you all have checked your Class division."


    "For those with Class 6 to 10, you all will receive the information for your classes soon, but don''t worry it will be the same for those with Classes 1 to 5."


    His words only served to increase the confusion as there were only supposed to be five classes but the professor didn''t choose to explain anything more.


    Rather, he gave vague information, "Each Class will have one Professor as its proctor, and they will explain everything in more detail."


    "Ah, right! Don''t make the mistake of befriending your seniors in the first month, better to avoid them before you learn the ropes of the Academy."


    While it indeed sounded like a joke, the senior students could only cough awkwardly, being put on the spot all of a sudden.


    Not mulling over his words, the professor finally came to an important part, "Next, I would like to invite the Year Representatives for the first years!"

 Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Reckless Words

    The professor''s words elicited a round of applause from the crowd, but it was visibly obvious that not all of them were excited about it.


    Well, they were mentally comparing themselves, thinking that it was supposed to be them, not Jash and Ziva.


    Naturally, the two had not even bothered to stand up and exchanged a look as if prompting the other to go first.


    Neither seemed to be interested in delivering a speech or anything, with one having all her focus on growing stronger and training herself.


    While the other was bored and didn''t want to do it.


    ''If only I could put this on someone else while enjoying the benefits,'' Jash sighed, thinking of that wonderful possibility.


    Alas, it was impossible, but he could at least delay it. "You go first," he whispered, leaning closer to Ziva.


    "No," she simply denied, not even wanting to give an excuse for it.


    Her straight-up, blunt denial stunned Jash, but he cheekily mentioned, "Ladies first, or in your case, girls first."


    Had he stopped at ''ladies first,'' she might''ve gotten angry for being compared to old women, but he pretty much knew what to say.


    It even came naturally to him as if the event had already happened in the past, but he didn''t realize it due to the lack of the feeling of deja vu.


    On the other hand, Ziva only gave him a strange look, feeling compelled to go on the stage or it got too late.


    After all, it wouldn''t really be nice if they got scolded on their first day now, would it?


    ''Seriously, what goes on in this guy''s head?'' she wondered, standing up and heading to the stage.


    The moment she stood up, the auditorium fell silent, with only the sound of her heels clacking on the wooden floor.


    Her primly styled hair stayed in place, moving only slightly, yet her elegant gait attracted quite a few unsavory eyes.


    Sadly, she was used to it, but someone wasn''t.


    ''These imbeciles,'' Jash thought, stopping himself from cursing and taking note of who looked on with what kind of gaze.


    Honestly, the boys had no idea how petty a person they had been marked by...


    "I am Ziva... your Year Representative," Ziva began, her voice melodious and sweet to the ear, yet it carried a strange danger to it.


    Only a few caught the hint of it, shivering in their seats, feeling the chill go down their spine.


    "I got this through my own strength, and I will continue to do so," she said confidently, unafraid of anyone disliking her.


    "If you think you can take it from me, then please be strong enough before challenging me, or be ready to get hurt," she ended her speech.


    Yet the entire auditorium fell silent, feeling the coldness of her concluding words, it was difficult to miss, with how obvious she made it.


    However, a loud round of applause and cheers erupted as she stepped down and returned to her seat.


    "Nice declaration," Jash praised, teasingly while Caera challenged, "Good one, but I will take it from you."


    Ignoring Jash as if it were her second nature, Ziva smiled at Caera and said, "Good luck."


    Her smile made the boys cheer even louder, some even clamored something about a dual personality yandere waifu¨C


    Unlike Ziva who ignored it all, Jash had a cold air around him, not liking the words and unsavory stares coming her way.


    Even his usually lively and tired gray eyes had a hint of irritation within them as he walked slowly, causing the cheering to pause.


    Similar to Ziva, he was the son of a ducal family, not someone many could afford to offend and thus, the cheering resumed for him.


    Who in their right mind would even openly confront the children of ducal families?


    However, their loud cheering was nothing but noise for Jash who''s expression soured. ''Annoying,'' he thought.


    Still, he didn''t forget his task, reached the podium and looked forward, similar to Ziva.


    His tired, bored face with a hint of irritation in his eyes unnerved the students as the cheers quietened down, making his expression relax.


    "I am Jash Ramille, the other Year Representative. I''ll keep it short," he began, scanning the students with a nonchalant gaze.


    His gaze was as if looking at those beneath him, or even beneath humans, making quite a few dislike it, even ignoring them.


    "I hate annoying¡ªpeople or things, so don''t bother me. I don''t care about it all, just do it yourself," he said and began to leave.


    But he suddenly stopped, as if recalling something. "Ah, right! If you want the position, you''re free to take it. I will give it myself; just do all the chores that come with it."


    Walking down casually as if he hadn''t just undermined the value of Year Representative, something even the seniors respected, he sat down with a small smile on his face.


    Meanwhile, his actions enraged many¡ªstudents, professors, seniors alike¡ªbut what could they even do about it?


    He was a carefree soul and had no interest in taking the position if not for the benefits it gave.


    Thus, many students cursed him, feeling helpless.


    After all, even the others who reached the top 10, even if there were no rankings, didn''t want to mess with him.


    In the audience, one particular student was on the verge of having a breakdown.


    "I was the one who should have been there," he muttered.


    His disheveled blue hair and lifeless pale-green eyes were a stark contrast to their vibrant hues when he fought using the Lightning Element against Jash and Grunghin.


    "Why," he mumbled in confusion, still not able to understand how he was defeated seemingly effortlessly, his every attack easily countered by Jash.


    The boy had thought that the Entrance Test would be the place where he would show the world that his talent alone was enough to overcome any obstacle.


    He would prove that the noble scions were nothing without the tremendous amount of resources they spent on their children.


    Alas, Jash was not someone he could even fathom competing with.


    Jash was a monster in human skin, the sole reason he seemed to have a power that was achievable was because he was holding back.


    Not holding back on using his strength, but holding back on using everything to maximize his strength. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And hearing the various murmurs, grumbles, curses, clattering teeth, the smile on his face turned into a smirk.


    Unlike the time with Ziva, there were no claps or cheers as his words were quite insulting. MvLeMpYr-exclusive


    "Ahem, the opening ceremony is finished. Please go to your dorm rooms. The staff outside will help you all," The professor took over, seeing the state of the students and decided to end the ceremony.


    Despite this, few were in the mood to leave; half of the ones present were not even truly admitted into the Academy.


    And the rest had to face the humiliation of not being the Year Representative and seeing its authority being undermined.


    It was their dream yet the person who got it had no respect for it.


    ''I wonder what she thinks,'' Jash mused about Ziva, unbothered by the angry stares directed at him.


    He really didn''t think any of them could be a threat beside the protagonist and his plot-armor...


    Why he was not wary of Amael despite the guy being able to rival a protagonist was a matter for another time, though.

 Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Rankers Dorms

    As the students began dispersing, the professors ensured that nothing out of place occurred in the meantime.


    Watching them go, Ziva sat quietly beside Jash before breaking the silence. "What happened to you?"


    "Hm?" Jash looked at her questioningly, unable to understand what she was implying.


    "Rank 1, the speech, the banquet in retrospect¡ªeverything, you don''t like those stuff, yes?" she said rhetorically, nodding afterward.


    "Only your last words about wanting to give it away were true in that speech as well, and before that¡ªthe class division¨C"


    "Alright, alright, I got it," Jash cut her off, not wanting to hear her list everything that was different about him.


    Because it wouldn''t change a thing, he hadn''t even told his family yet, so why would he tell her?


    Well, if he knew the future, he would''ve told her as soon as possible, but that wasn''t in his capabilities, so he chose to lie.


    "Nothing much, you know, just the same, wanted to become Year Representative due to perks and a good sleep," he shrugged.


    "I mean, wouldn''t I be able to keep up with others with the extra resources?" he asked truthfully.


    Looking at her still doubtful expression, Jash cursed inwardly, ''Damn her element!''


    After all, her element helped her intuitively to understand if things were true or false, and it was telling her this was the truth.


    Yet her instincts informed her that it was only a half-truth, something he said to cover up the real reason.


    ''I''ll investigate later,'' she thought, noticing a professor coming their way with a bright smile on his face.


    Though even a toddler could tell it was a fake smile from how excessive it seemed.


    "I will take you to your dorms," he said, prompting the two to stand up and follow him with an, "Okay." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Right outside the auditorium were a few students queuing up to get their dorm keys from the staff members.


    However, Jash and Ziva only cast a glance once before following the professor away while others were being led in groups by the staff.


    Following the professor, it still took them nearly half an hour to reach a five-floor building that seemed to be equally divided into two sides.


    This type of architecture was fairly common in their world, a marvel of highly advanced magic engineering.


    "This building was made for the top ten, that is, the Rankers among the freshmen," the professor explained.


    "Right now, it''s empty, but the top ten students will stay here after the assessment test," he said before gesturing.


    The silver-blue door opened and he explained, "This is a co-ed dorm. Each floor has only two rooms, but there''s no separation based on genders, only ranks."


    Though it might seem like keeping teens with raging hormones together would be a bad idea, it worked fairly well.


    At least it motivated the teens to outperform the other gender, or impress a girl/boy, and in various other ways.


    "Isn''t that unsafe?" Ziva asked with a disgusted expression on her face, startling the professor for once.


    "Ahem, no. Ever since this dorm method was applied, no such incident has ever occurred as no one can enter this building except the rankers,"


    "And the bracelets on your wrist will help you if it actually happens, just one thought and the person nearby will face severe punishment,"


    "Of course, some couples might want to joke around with this, but that''s just going to end up badly for them," the professor clarified,


    The sneaky smile on his face as if signaling something irked Jash but he could only keep it to himself.


    ''He''s a professor, Jash, let''s just remember him and make sure he becomes a casualty,'' he told himself to calm down.


    Unaware of the crazy idiot he annoyed, the professor felt a sudden chill go down his back, feeling the urge to leave suddenly.


    "Anyways, the rooms are based on ranks: Rank 1 in room 1 on the 5th floor, Rank 2 in room 2 on the 5th floor, Rank 3 in room 3 on the 4th floor, and so on and so forth."


    Jash wasn''t paying attention, already aware of it from the novel after the protagonist became a Ranker from the Assessment Test.


    Oblivious to it, the professor continued, "But fret not, the privacy is well-respected with the rooms being soundproofed,"


    "Also, as the floor goes up, the facilities in them also increase, but all the floors are way better than what other students will live in."


    Not stopping, he added hastily, "Naturally, the higher the Rank, the higher the perks and facilities, even on the same floor."


    There was no real need to speak about this because anyone could see that this sort of building was a rarity, a luxury that only a select few could get.


    "After the assessment test, depending on your rank in the top 10, you can go higher or lower from floor 1," the professor said, entering the lift as soon as it arrived.


    They were currently present in the ground floor lobby room, which was a common area for the top 10 rankers to interact with each other.


    ''The cafeteria seems like a better place,'' Jash thought, reluctantly entering the lift, while Ziva looked at the training grounds with a similar expression.


    "Your ID bracelets will become your dorm keys after being linked, so there''s no need to worry about misplacing them,"


    "And there''s some stuff already present in your rooms, so you can check that out or may rest for the day," he said before turning around and entering the lift.


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    He was really in a hurry and had opened the room number 9 and 10, binding them to their ID bracelets.


    "Hmm, so is my room better than yours?" Jash asked with a smirk, finally feeling free from restrictions as he noted his room number to be 9.


    "Childish," Ziva muttered under her breath, and entered her room, locking it using her bracelet.


    Jash saw it, but didn''t have a change in expression as if used to it and entered his own room.


    "Wow, how extravagant," he whistled, seeing the huge room that screamed luxury, but it wasn''t enough to faze him in the slightest.


    He was the son of a duke, there were very few things that he would covet and a simple room wasn''t one of them.


    "Damn this color coding," he grumbled, trying to find the bedroom to get a good rest in.


    The huge living room with some white doors having golden design on them didn''t sit well with his eyes.


    Entering one of them, Jash smiled more naturally than ever. "A kitchen, huh? How nostalgic," he muttered with a longing gaze.


    Despite knowing that there was a cafeteria and most of the food would be served free of charge, he still wanted to try it out.


    "Well, not now," he sighed, closing the door and getting out, before entering another room.


    It was the Mana Training room and he immediately closed it, not wanting to train in the least.


    Contrarily, Ziva had entered that same room in her dorms and had already begun training.


    But it wasn''t like she really needed to, she was just a training maniac, if Jash were to describe it.

 Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Beneath the Surface

    At the moment, Jash could feel that he only needed a few days before breaking through the Mid E-Rank.


    His speed was faster than anyone had ever known, but that was considering his one-year delay in awakening.


    But it was a well-hidden fact, so few knew, making his progress seem less impressive.


    Alas, his performance in the Entrance Test revealed his mana core rank, and he still got the E+ Hunter Rank, which was surprising.


    Even the protagonist only achieved a rank matching his mana core, which was known to be the bare minimum for that Hunter Rank.


    Naturally, Jash became the sole exception to that rule, defying common sense.


    As he had experienced it in his previous life, he knew how to grow stronger at the same rank itself, something others couldn''t possibly do.


    However, he wasn''t one to care about such matters, calling them trivial even.


    "Finally," he breathed out a sigh of relief at finding the bedroom on his third try but he saw a box on the side table.


    But he didn''t even spare the box a single glance, directly jumping on the bed to get a good rest.


    "Just why was this opening ceremony so early in the morning," he grumbled as he closed his eyes to get a good rest.


    Unlike Ziva who was busy training or other nobles cursing their lack of luxury in the dorms, Jash preferred to rest.


    Similar yet not similar to Jash, Amael was peacefully sitting on his bed with a smirk as he muttered, "I wonder how those retards would react."


    He was referring to the student council, professors, and other freshmen since Jash had undermined the Year Representative position.


    Despite losing the position, Amael was happy, feeling free from the obligations and burdens he would have taken on if he had won.


    That''s why he happily lost to Jash, earning more Villain Points than expected, making it a fruitful experience.


    However, the student council and the professors were a problem that he needed to deal with carefully.


    It wasn''t that he had any issues with them, but they certainly had issues with him.


    After all, helping the protagonist was equal to opposing him and yet he didn''t even consider any freshmen a threat.


    They simply couldn''t outgrow him, and that was it.


    But it was different for the seniors; they were more powerful and experienced than the younger students.


    "Not like it''s too difficult for me," Amael mumbled to himself and the system chimed in.


    {Yes, Host. Your plan is going well for now.}


    Amael just smiled at the interface, saying, "Let it begin." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Different from Amael, the protagonist was under a huge mental pressure.


    Helios felt the familiar confines of the dorm room close in on him, a reminder of his pre-regression life, despite his best efforts to change it.


    To add insult to injury, the one who got it wasn''t his archnemesis but a guy who didn''t even care about the position at all.


    "He has the nerve to demean something so respectable! Unforgivable!" Helios exclaimed, his fists clenched, infuriated at Jash''s casual speech.


    "How dare he?" Helios yelled, feeling uncomfortable to have lost something he believed was his own.


    (Host, it is advisable to calm down as you will have your chance at the Assessment Test)


    Despite hearing the system''s words, Helios couldn''t calm down, knowing it wasn''t as simple as that.


    After all, he was the one who had gone through all these events in his past life, not the system, so how could it even know?


    In the first place, it wasn''t even something alive, so how could it understand Helios''s emotions?


    Unaware of one vowing to throw him off the pedestal and the other with his own schemes, Jash slept like a baby.


    But the professor who had escorted him was busy grumbling under his breath, "Why couldn''t I tell them to not provoke others like this?


    He was tasked with informing the Year Representative of the consequences if they continued to disparage others, but somehow, he hadn''t managed to say it.


    Thus, he had returned from the faculty building to say it, nearing the Ranker''s Dorm when an icy voice startled him.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Turning to the source of the voice, he bowed, "Ah, Professor Aileen, it''s you. I was just here to inform the Year Representatives."


    "Hm? You could just send them a notification, then," Professor Aileen said, pointing to the bracelet on his wrist.


    "Uhm, that," the professor hesitated before saying it under her frosty glare, "It''s about warning them not to provoke others unnecessarily."


    "Let it be," Professor Aileen said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, but the other professor failed to understand, letting out a bewildered sound, "huh?"


    "What can they even do? The two are in a league of their own," Professor Aileen explained with a souring expression, making the other professor gulp in nervousness.


    "A-as you say, Professor Aileen," he said before bowing and hurriedly leaving, grumbling under his breath, "Just my day, tsk."


    Professor Aileen heard it but let it be because today was a happy day, muttering, "He knows his strength well, not his limits."


    She knew that Jash had a lot of potential but he was limiting himself, being unaware of all that monstrous potential hidden within.


    Leaving the area after making sure nothing was wrong, and no one was nearby, she went to the faculty council room.


    And the topic of discussion just so happened to be the one she had taken an interest in.


    "This will create trouble with the Student Council and the Seniors," one professor mentioned with a sigh.


    "Haha, so what? This boy is quite gutsy!" a man with a thick stubble and scars on his skin said with a laugh.


    novel-hosted-MvLeMpYr


    "That is just stupid," a well-dressed and elegantly dressed woman said, frowning at the unkempt appearance of the man.


    "Professor Chloe, you need to handle this matter carefully," a bespectacled man, giving a scholarly vibe said.


    "I agree with Professor Ethan. Tell the Student Council President to manage them properly," another professor added.


    "Thinking you can control those little monsters? Ha! What a joke," the unkempt man scoffed with a mocking grin.


    Of course, he was unkempt in comparison to the others here, not in its truest sense.


    "Professor Conroy, I think you are forgetting that the faculty council is still above the students," replied Professor Chloe with disdain in her eyes.


    "Hoh, well, then why don''t ya try?" Conroy challenged them, mocking them for their stupid ideas.


    He had already noticed that the boy cared naught for anyone and only had himself in his world, doing whatever he liked.


    And from the Entrance Test, his lazy and uncaring personality was obvious.


    "You guys are discussing some useless things, I see," Aileen said while entering the room, drawing all eyes on her.


    Yet she wasn''t fazed in the slightest, but her voice indeed cut off a few voices of opposition, making the professor shift uncomfortably in their seats.


    "Shouldn''t you all be discussing the changes in this year''s course or the First Day of classes tomorrow?" she asked in a chiding manner.


    Despite everyone in the room being a SS-Rank like her, no one had the words to counter her and the ones who could had long left the meeting room.


    That''s why Aileen was so bold, to begin with.

 Chapter 187: Chapter 187: The Chance Thief

    It was the day after the opening ceremony, and the students were donning the uniforms given to them.


    Since it was the first day and everyone had class, every student present was wearing their uniform.


    It was compulsory to be in uniform during theory classes, but students were allowed to wear anything they liked outside those classes.


    The Class Schedule had already been sent to all 1,000 selected students this year and the other 1,000.


    Some students were unhappy when they found out that they were not in the same class as their friends.


    As mentioned, each class was made with the idea of balance in mind, based on the student''s performance in the Entrance Test.


    That way, no class would have too many or too few talented individuals.


    It was an obvious outcome as separating them based on their rankings and giving them different professors would be nothing short of discrimination.


    The Academy actively encouraged its students to compete with each other and instilled the idea of trying to become better than others.


    Although there would be many unfortunate students would eventually reach the limit of their potential at the Academy, and come to accept that they could not progress any further.


    Simply put, if two individuals worked hard, the more talented one would always have better results.


    It was the harsh truth: If one''s potential was low, no amount of hard work could make you an equal to a genius who similarly worked hard.


    Well, there were always exceptions, but they were few and far between, never becoming a standard to judge others by.


    And the Academy was a place for elites to grow and understand the nature of society, not a daycare to babysit them.


    In essence, the world was mostly peaceful at a public level and only people with enough power and authority had the right to know the truth.


    But just as there was light, darkness existed; there were people who would misuse their powers for the worse.


    It was a world where your strength determined your social standing, after all.


    Not that people in power didn''t misuse it, it was just that they were tame and knew their targets well.


    However, to all of this, Jash was a firm exception, having already seen the true nature of the human heart, free from harboring delusions of changing it.


    He had already matured from such a mindset, and his talent allowed him to laze around while surpassing others casually.


    If the others knew how much he was training and working to improve himself, they''d go crazy thinking he''s the Heavenly Chosen or something.


    Alas, that fate eluded him.


    "Urgh, just whose idea is it to have classes in the early morning," he grumbled while on his way to class.


    ''I am not in school, aren''t I? Damn it,'' he cursed inwardly, not having a pleasant expression.


    It wasn''t that he was late or anything, but his sweet sweet sweet sleep had to be disturbed because of the early Classes.


    "Just why am I not in Class 3?" a girl nearby squealed, wanting to be in the same class as that golden-haired handsome boy.


    ''Wow, he already got admirers so early on?'' Jash clicked his tongue and sped up, not wanting to hear anymore of such talks.


    Thankfully, the Classes 1 to 5 each had a separate block, belonging solely to the 200 students of the Class.


    The rest 1000 had to suffice with sharing it all with each other, eyeing this area covetously.


    "What''s the fun in being with the same class?" Jash grumbled, seemingly as if he was mocking them, but he was jealous.


    If only he were in the same class as someone who wouldn''t bother him and would remind him of anything important...


    Then, he''d sleep through class, breezing through all of them easily as the tests didn''t hold much importance to him.


    ''Urgh, if only I didn''t become the Year Representative, I would have no need to study any theory,'' he cringed at his own decision.


    But what was done was already done and nothing could change that.


    And as Jash was about to enter the Block 1 of Class 1, he saw a group of students standing in a corner, blocking the path forward.


    ''What''s going on in the morning?'' he thought, not really in the mood for some shitty drama first thing in the morning.


    "Move," he said irritatedly, pushing away the student by his shoulder.


    "Who dar¨C" the student was about to shout but shut his mouth and obediently moved aside after feeling the strong grip and recognizing Jash.


    "What''s happening?" he asked, making his way through the students, annoyed by them not moving out of the way already.


    ''Can''t they freaking see me?'' he thought for a second before remembering it was nothing but his vain pride giving him such thoughts.


    But at last, someone finally recognized him, "Oh, it''s the Year Representative."


    It caught the attention of other students as they stepped aside, letting Jash through.


    "So, what''s happening?" Jash asked rhetorically, looking at the figure of two guys holding each other''s collars and having bruised faces.


    Unlike a peaceful solution that one would expect, Jash went ahead and smacked both of them in the head.


    ""Ow""


    "Go to your class and hope that you never annoy me," he declared before glancing at them coldly, making them tremble slightly.


    In the next second, the two ran in one go and the rest of the students also left quickly, not wanting to get smacked. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ugh, just my day," Jash complained, not being aware of the change he brought in the plot once again.


    It was easy to guess that if not for him being annoyed, he would''ve left after a simple glance, uninterested in the event.


    And Amael wouldn''t be much different in that regard, not having any reason to interfere.


    MVLeMpYr.com-read-first


    Thus, it became the perfect opportunity for the protagonist to stand out for being different and giving a damn.


    However, Jash accidentally destroyed an opportunity, but the one who actually reaped its rewards was casually sitting by the window in Class 2.


    {...Villain Points.}


    ''Hm? System, what happened?'' Amael asked, not having the slightest change in his facial expression.


    {...I don''t know, but the protagonist lost something.}


    The system answered vaguely, making Amael frown but there wasn''t more time for him to ask it as he recognized someone from the door.


    ''Zaos? That martial artist? Vivia? Sam?''


    Recognizing them, Amael was in deep thought as not only his class changed but so did theirs and his eyes narrowed in suspicion at the final sight of Avon.


    ''Just what the hell is happening here?'' he doubted his eyes for a second as a lot was changing, but he soon smiled.


    The system chimes about his ever-increasing Villain Points were a delight to his ears.


    Similar to Amael, Jash had taken a window seat, but in the front row, not for studying but being able to leave just a few seconds faster.


    ''Why''s she in my class?'' he asked himself, unable to believe it was that girl, someone he planned on helping.


    Sadly, it sent the wrong message to Ziva, who entered the classroom and found him staring at another girl, frowning,


    ''Who is she? I remember her, but her name... yeah, Elara, wasn''t it?''

 Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Twist on the First Day

    ''Wait, why am I even affected? Why do I even care?'' Ziva suddenly found her own thoughts confusing as she made her way to the opposite side.


    Unconsciously, she had already arrived at the seat next to Jash, her eyes widening at the realization but before she could walk away,


    "Why don''t you just sit here?" Jash interrupted her, making her unable to reject it.


    It wasn''t that she couldn''t refuse, but it would end up being troublesome as it was common knowledge that the two were friends.


    ''Plus, the engagement rumors,'' Ziva thought, sitting next to him with a silent curt nod.


    It wasn''t a friendly exchange by any manner yet no one in the Classroom had the guts to say otherwise.


    In fact, it was utterly silent at Jash''s entry, his stark reminder of hating annoying stuff clear in their minds.


    Any small mumbling and whispering ended the moment Ziva entered, both Year Representatives being in the same class made the rest of the class nervous.


    Poor folks couldn''t even unravel and vent their emotions in the Classroom.


    But Jash was actually quite at peace, hearing no noise at all, or so he appeared on the surface.


    ''That girl... isn''t supposed to be here, she was in Amael''s class, no?'' Jash thought in confusion.


    ''Did I end up overcharging the events??'' He asked himself, unable to know the truth but it was indeed true.


    Though the protagonist was still in Class 3 with Caera, Ava, Sylvie, Lyra, Levi, and a few others, primarily more females.


    But Amael had shifted to be in Class 2 with Freirae, Vivia, Zaos, the lightning guy, Sam, and even Avon.


    There were many changes, but it mattered little, as everyone else seemed to have been thrown into Class 4 with Grungin being the strongest in it.


    And Class 5... poor students were a total bunch of average students with no one over the top in it.


    However, due to this disparity caused by ''random'' selection of classes, the rest of the students were utterly weak.


    Not that it mattered in the Classes 1,2 and 3, but it sure was strange, making Jash wonder if someone had purposefully messed the class division up.


    ''Also, where is that pink-haired girl? In the protagonist''s class?'' Jash suddenly recalled the man he employed and her daughter.


    An unintentional scoff left his lips, though low sounding, it resounded in the silent classroom.


    ''What''s wrong with me?'' Ziva thought, finding herself frowning at his every action and constantly being conscious of him.


    If only Jash knew her signs, he''d know that she was merely jealous and her pride had taken a hit due to his performance.


    After seeing it, it was obvious that Jash could defeat her if she didn''t go all out, but what if she went all out?


    In truth, the outcome wouldn''t change, Jash was nearly immune to any mental attacks as long as it could harm him or manipulate him.


    If it were just a simple illusion or something he didn''t even try to resist, it might work on him.


    However, Ziva didn''t know of it or her own feelings and Jash was busy considering the information pertaining to Elara.


    That girl was important to him, not in a romantic sense but another and he had plans to help her.


    ''But do I befriend her or not? It would look too weird and out of character if I suddenly became friendly... ugh, annoying, annoying, so annoying!''


    At the moment, he couldn''t think of anything but his facial expressions gave him away.


    Already, every student was actively avoiding sitting anywhere near the duo, not wanting to get into their eyes.


    After all, what would they do if they somehow ended up offending them?


    Most of them were commoners so who would even help them?


    Around 60 percent of the students at the academy came from a common background, while others were either from a rich family or were part of nobility.


    But their class had two duke''s children, so no one in their right mind wanted to annoy Jash in the slightest.


    Nevertheless, studying at the Academy helped not only to improve one''s strengths but also in making connections with rich and influential people.


    So, it came to no surprise that there were various many small factions among students inside the Academy.


    Not that anyone could have joined one by now as the Seniors were the ones recruiting freshmen, and they were yet to meet, officially.


    Only those who got scammed at the opening ceremony would suffer from that fate.


    As the seconds ticked by, the time approached for the classes to start.


    And right when only a few seconds were left, a female professor entered through the door.


    It was obvious because her clothing was different and had three stars on her sleeves and shoulders.


    Seeing her, all the students straightened their backs and looked in front, curious about her.


    However, she didn''t care one bit about the curious glances cast her way, walking up to the table in the middle and pressing her hands on it.


    She raised her head to look at the students and broke the silence, "First of all, congratulations on making it here.


    NovelFire-only


    Her voice was soft yet lacking warmth and seemed to lack any touch of emotion, making a not-so-good impression on the students.


    Only, Jash was frowning, recognizing her already. ''Damn! Even the teacher changed?!'' he thought, surprised by it.


    "My name is Aileen Frostvale, and I am in charge of Class 1," Aileen introduced herself, glancing at Jash for a second before withdrawing her gaze.


    Hearing her name, many students had their mouths wide open. She was one of the SS-Rank Hunters, after all.


    She had blue-white hair with light purple eyes, and she seemed to have a serious no-nonsense type of personality.


    Alas, her true playful nature was well-hidden and only her cold exterior was visible.


    "You might have heard of me, but in case you haven''t, were you living under a rock? I am one of those SS-Rank hunters you admire,"


    She said that with slight chagrin as she snapped her fingers, and a sword made of pure ice formed above her fingertips.


    "And I specialize in the sword and Ice Element," she said, and the ice-sword in her hand kept changing shapes and sizes at first.


    Then, it began changing from blue to purple to transparent to white to translucent blue-white...


    It was as if she could control the ice itself but she instantly cut it off, ignoring the intrigued and awed faces of the students.


    Alas, the Ice element was rare for someone to awaken and she didn''t have much hope about it from her students.


    Even if someone did, it needed talent to be master as controlling it gets harder and harder as the complexity of it increased.


    That''s why her control over it was so shocking for the students.


    Thankfully, the sword was the most preferred weapon and she just so happened to be a master of that, allowing her to guide them.


    And with how perfectly she mimicked different swords from the ice gave them a hint of her capabilities. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s enough, focus back to the class," she said coldly, disrupting the student''s focus from above her fingertips.


    "As today is your first day, I will go easy on you, only explaining some rules and other stuff that you must be aware of about the Academy," she declared with a simple smile.

 Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Academy Induction

    "As today is your first day, I will go easy on you, only explaining some rules and other stuff that you must be aware of about the Academy," she declared with a simple smile.


    In her thoughts, she was simply smiling at the students, but it only appeared to be demonic in the students'' eyes as they immediately shivered at her seemingly disdainful words.


    But she didn''t seem to notice anything odd about the class and began, "As you know, there are five main classes for the first years, and right now, all of you are unranked."


    As she said so, the plain wall behind her turned to display the picture of a circle divided into six sections.


    "This area belongs to the freshmen, and each of these smaller blocks for each class while the bigger block is for the other students," she said, pointing towards the screen.


    "Just like the freshmen or the first-year, we have six similar blocks for each year except the final year as not even a thousand meet the graduating criteria by that time."


    She paused at the pale faces and gave a cold stare, mentioning, "By the way, just because you all are here doesn''t mean you will still be here after the assessment test."


    ''Damn! Is she a teacher or what? Why does it feel like she''s demotivating them more than anyone else?'' Jash thought in disbelief.


    He knew about Aileen Frostvale and her plot of helping Amael as she had Ice element, and a sword, similar to Amael, though their element differed.


    "Anyways, we are in Block 1 right now and everyone''s here, so it''s fine," she said, but it only served to make the students curious.


    After all, they had not seen her take any attendance or anything yet she was sure that everyone was present.


    The students turned their heads, trying to get a rough estimate of the students on all their sides when her voice sounded.


    "Enough!" Aileen used mana to amplify her voice, a basic technique anyone with good control over mana could perform.


    "Firstly, the bracelets you received are active, look at the green light on it, indicating your attendance then click on the white light next to it."


    Listening to her, the students obediently clicked the white light, and information about them and their class schedule was presented in front of them.


    "This bracelet is your ID card, which will be used in almost everything inside the Academy," Aileen explained.


    However, what she skipped was that she had already scanned the 200 students and matched their faces from the records.


    ¡ªClap!


    Clapping to bring the students'' focus back to her, Aileen paced across the classroom as if about to say something important.


    "Now the main part; At the Academy, aside from some compulsory subjects, each student must choose at least three subjects from the list in front of you."


    Saying so, she snapped her fingers as the wall behind her turned to display a list of subjects, but there were just too many.


    "Each year, all the freshmen have 4 common subjects: Mana Manipulation, Beast Theory, the Duel class and Dungeon Theory," she said.


    Dungeon Theory was a subject that was made compulsory after some batch of the academy students had ended up making stupid mistakes, costing them serious injuries, during their dungeon raid.


    Not everyone came from nobility or rich families with dungeon-raiding experience, making it all the more necessary.


    The Academy had made this class compulsory only for students without prior dungeon experience, but they had to change it.


    Simply because, the nobility and rich families preferred to send guards for their children, hindering them from truly learning.


    As a result, the academy had to work extra hard to make up for the loss and teach them the basics.


    Contrary to this subject, the other three subjects were never hated by the students,... maybe beast theory?


    "Aside from them, you need to choose other subjects on your own depending on the path you want to take," she further explained.


    "The Academy doesn''t enforce any path to the students. Each student must decide their path as it ought to be something you will want to walk on."


    "That''s why, be careful while choosing your subjects¡ªand your path," she concluded before noticing the confusion on some faces.


    Her face turned icy, annoyed from the students'' inability to understand but she explained nonetheless.


    "Once you choose a subject, you have to attend that class for at least a month and you can only change the chosen subject at most 2¡ª3 if there is a reason¡ªtimes."


    "You will have to study a total of 7 subjects, and if you wish to take more, you can," she added.


    "But remember that your performance in all the subjects will count towards the written exam results and hence, your rank at the end of the year," she finished.


    ''Is this what she meant by not going overboard and only explaining some things...?'' Jash doubted her words, feeling dizzy from the overlord of information.


    Well, not really.


    He wasn''t even surprised, he already knew all this and even more, alway running his mind through one scenario or another.


    In fact, all the information was something even an awakened person of 1 year would be able to take in, they were different, after all.


    However, Aileen seemed to have no regard for anyone''s thoughts, only wanting to complete what she was tasked with.


    "Before talking about ranks or more complex stuff, I am assuming you read the information and set of rules sent to you yesterday," Aileen said, scrutinizing the students.


    Her expression distorted as she scowled, "It''s better if you learn it as soon as possible, or else..."


    The students trembled at her words, glancing at each other in fear yet the Year Representatives seemed to have not heard any of it nor did they react.


    And Aileen seemed to have noticed it too, but didn''t care.


    "Tell me if any of you want to ask something before I explain more rules?" Aileen asked, not wanting any interruptions later on.


    Immediately, a few hands were raised and Aileen selected someone at random.


    "Uhm, uhm, p-professor, w-hat are Y-year Points?"


    Despite her stammering, no one laughed, feeling nervous just like the girl who got singled out.


    Aileen''s expression darkened as it was something that was sent to the students, marked as: [MUST READ BEFORE CLASS]


    "Anyone wants to help her and her fellow students?" Aileen asked and instantly picked the first student who raised his hand.


    The boy stood up and began nervously, "Year Points are the currency inside the Academy, it means we use it for various facilities inside the Academy instead of the Solaris Marks."


    "Correct, Year Points, or YP, are the currency you earn and spend within the Academy," Aileen nodded at the boy, who sat produly.


    But just one glare from her made him scrunch on his seat and hear her next words.


    "There are many ways to earn YP¡ªclass test, during a duel, or by trading with others¡ªbut the most effective way is to have a good rank."


    Saying so, she looked at Ziva and Jash, adding, "I am sure you all heard of the different dormitories for the Rankers, and currently, the Year Representatives are residing there."


    Following her sight, the students also turned to them, feeling jealous and envious of the difference but some had already given up before starting.


    "Rankers¡ªonly the top 10 among the 2,000 first years get the privilege of living there," she said, motioning to the wall behind her.


    Just as the students looked at it, it showed them luxurious facilities, the cooks, the food, the rooms, the personal training grounds and even a shared one.


    But one thing remained common, it was far better than what any of them got, despite some staying in the VIP dormitories.


    They were better than the regular dormitories, and anyone willing to pay could reside there, but it wasn''t cheap.


    Then again, the ranking came into play as converting real money to YP was a hassle if one didn''t have a good rank themselves or someone who could do it for them.


    read-this-on-NovelFire


    In the end, most of the students in Class 1 were from humble backgrounds, not able to pay the exorbitant fee or not having enough YP despite having the money to exchange it for. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet the Rankers dormitories were different, it was a matter of skill, talent and strength instead of anything else.


    That''s why the students exclaimed their admiration despite fearing Aileen since she entered.


    "Wow!"


    "So cool!!"


    "I want to be here!!"


    "This is better than even my home!"


    Even Aileen let the students let out their feelings for a few moments at the sight of the building before bringing their attention back, breaking any and all delusions.


    "Only the top 10 can live here, but don''t aim for the top ranks solely for the dormitories," Aileen mentioned, confusing the students.


    They had already begun to imagine what it would be like to live in that beautiful building in front of them, and how comfortable even their growth would become.


    After all, dedicated trainers were better than just the classes of 200 with only one professor.


    However, Aileen had to complete her goal, explaining the privileges of the ranking, which even Ziva and Jash weren''t supposed to know the specifics of.


    Despite that, it wasn''t that Jash wasn''t aware of it, but he too had to act the part, acting similarly oblivious as Ziva.


    "In the Academy, your Rank determines your everything," Aileen dropped a bomb which was somewhat expected by the students.

 Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Ranks and YP: Everything?

    "In the Academy, your Rank determines your everything; from how much YP you get each month to how much of it you can buy for Solaris Marks,"


    "For instance, the Rankers get 1000 YP monthly; Rank 11-50 will get 500 YP, 51-100 will get 400 YP, 101-500 will get 300 YP, and the rest will only get 100 YP each month."


    only-found-at-NovelFire


    Before the students could fully digest the words with heavy hearts, Aileen added more to their misery,


    "You use these Year Points to not only buy food but also for everything¡ªa certain amount of YP is needed to be paid."


    Hearing this, more than 90% of the class grew nervous, exchanging anxious glances, because it meant that if they didn''t secure a good rank, their lives would be even more difficult.


    ''Well, they can''t be exchanging YP for Solaris Marks, so I guess she didn''t even bother explaining?'' Jash mused, looking at the silent Aileen.


    It seemed that she had nothing more to say, just waiting for the students to digest the weight of her words.


    Of course, it was overly unfair to most students, but they couldn''t protest even if they wanted to.


    The Academy already made it very clear that it was training the children to get ready to face the reality of the world.


    And no doubt the world was one heck of an unfair place where the vilest person might thrive and the kindest person might become a criminal.


    ''Just like reality, there is a hope to survive in the Academy, isn''t there?'' Jash mused with a bitter smile.


    Similar to the hope which pushed people past their limits and live everyday in the world, the Academy''s hope might not come to fruition.


    It was just as flawed as reality itself, another reason the Academy was even called inhumane for children and some cults were formed around that.


    Poor folks just wanted a safer environment for children, holding the hunters and people of power responsible.


    After all, it was unremarkable their fault for not being able to give a world where no children had to fight for his life.


    Unfortunately, it was a far-fetched dream in this twisted world where life and death were a moment''s notice away.


    ''Not like they have any other choice, though¡ªexcluding the suspicious people,'' Jash thought, clenching his fist under the table.


    ''No one wants children to participate in life-and-death battles, especially their own, or so it should be,'' he told himself to calm down.


    At that time, Aileen was explaining the hope of the student inside the Academy after someone asked about having 0 YP.


    "...If any of you ever hit 0 YP, you can ask your friends for a loan, you can easily trade YP at the trading center," she explained.


    "There might even be some quests by the seniors for their juniors or peers, rewarding a certain amount of YP," she added.


    Hearing these two undeniable simple options made the students'' nervous expressions relax a bit.


    ''The second one is better,'' Jash thought, believing only idiots would go for the first option.


    Alas, he failed to consider the weaklings who couldn''t even complete simple tasks or were too afraid to face their seniors.


    Though there were no risks of losing promised YP after completing a quest or mission, some students feared the seniors would forcefully get it traded back.


    Being weak did come with their own set of insecurities and fears, something only someone at their level could understand.


    If it weren''t for the luxurious treatment from his family and his past life memories being melded in, Jash would''ve understood their plight.


    He was the weakest person, once.


    Somewhat similar to him, ZIva kept listening carefully, but she was now glad to have given her all to get a good rank.


    She was quite sure that earning YP would be extremely tough in the beginning and losing the headstart was a bad choice.


    Even if she could buy YP every month, it couldn''t compare to the feeling of getting it as a reward for her own hard work.


    However, the next method to earn YP that Aileen mentioned piqued her attention. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "One easier way to earn YP is the Duel Arena, where you can challenge others for a stake of a certain amount of YP and similarly betting on its outcome."


    As soon as Aileen''s words dropped, the students grew excited at the prospect before realizing that the ones they could defeat were probably not even there.


    But betting could work all the way.


    And Jash was the one to like the latter part about betting only while Ziva seemed to like the first part, wanting to gain experience and grow.


    Oblivious to Jash, Helios had long vowed to duel him in front of everyone and show himself as the strongest!


    "Now," Aileen said, pacing around the front area of the class, "You all may be wondering why I went into so much detail about YP, right?"


    ""It''s simple really, even reading books at the Library requires YP, let alone taking a mana circulation art or weapon technique,"


    "Then, there are restricted sections, depending on the year, but again, if you are a Ranker... you get a free pass to them,"


    "Of course, some specific training areas cost a significant sum of YP just for a few hours, but those few yours matter a lot."


    As soon as her voice faded, she stopped as well for a few moments, allowing the students to digest all the information.


    She was also observing the students, noticing how some of them were using the bracelet to make notes in holograms or record them directly..


    But it was something allowed so she didn''t care, she seemed to be glaring at the ones staring at nothing but air instead.


    There was truly a lot of information to remember in one go, and she had indeed mentioned more information than just the guides sent to them.


    However, it wasn''t her responsibility to ensure if the students were listening in class or wasting their time.


    Simply put, there were many new things being implemented and the students would only get to know of it later, when it was time to regret their past actions.


    Even Jash couldn''t predict all the darned changes happening so quickly around him, but he would surely catch it if he got the slightest whiff.


    "Any other questions?" Aileen asked, thinking that it was enough time for the students to absorb all the information.


    "Will we attend lectures with other classes or just our class?" a boy nervously asked, wanting to be his friend sooner.


    Aileen''s eye''s sharpened at the question as she replied, "Yeah, you may attend classes together depending on the subject."


    "Then, what is the reason for having different classes?" a girl grumbled under her breath.


    But Aileen obviously heard her; she was an SS-Ranker, she could notice the subtlest of cues like Jash clenching his fist under his desk.


    "If anyone''s wondering what''s the point of having five different classes," Aileen began, giving the grumbling girl a glare.


    "Then, let me tell you that each class will have a different ranking despite being formed in such a manner that all five classes have similar strengths, being balanced,"


    "After the assessment test, it will become more prominent what these benefits are depending on your class ranking," she concluded.


    ''Wait, what the heck? Why is it being applied this year??'' Jash barely masked his inner surprise at Aileen''s words.


    Unlike others who were excited at the prospect, he was more worried than excited as it was deeply related to him.


    The rules that were supposed to be applied post his death were being pulled back, being applied way earlier.


    It was strange, way too strange in fact.


    Alas, Jash also knew that it would help him change destiny and fate as they were being altered yet fixed in different manners.


    ''So I can make some things happen earlier based on my decisions?'' He theorized, but wasn''t too sure about it.


    Unlike the contemplative him, Ziva was looking forward to when she heard a whisper of someone in the class.


    "Wait, there''s no way we will lose if both monsters are in our class," a boy whispered to his deskmate, secretly pointing towards Jash and Ziva.


    "Shh... what if they hear you!" his deskmate, a girl hurriedly clasped his mouth, making the two feel embarrassed in the next second.


    Only, the two would probably get teased about it forever by their other friends sitting nearby.


    Thankfully, Aileen didn''t seem to care about such events, happily concluding the class, "That will be all for today, you guys should explore and look around the Academy for today."


    Saying so, she had just turned to leave the classroom when she abruptly stopped.


    "Remember to read about the available subjects and make a choice, you need to tell me your choice of elected subjects by tomorrow."


    However, she didn''t leave and instead added, "Jash Ramille and Ziva Arne, both of you follow me to my office."


    ''It''s probably that, right?" Jash thought, remembering the conversation with Zander as he looked at the departing Aileen.


    Unlike him, Ziva didn''t waste time mulling over hundreds of things and directly got up, following behind Aileen.


    ''Urgh, these two''s glare sure is dangerous,'' Jash groaned, feeling like prey to predators, and quickly followed them.


    The two had to wait for him because of lazy pace, but the two cared naught after he reached them outside the classroom.


    With no other choice, Jash had to match their pace as they passed through the Block 1 exit and walked toward the next block.


    ''Ugh, I definitely don''t want to partake in this dreadful walk until the faculty block,'' he groaned inwardly, smart enough to not let his displeasure show.


    But it did leak and Aileen noticed it from the corner of her eye...

 Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Cautious Guidance

    "This is the exchange sector," Aileen said, leading the two to a different building instead of walking through many blocks.


    The exchange sector didn''t refer to a single building but to all of them cumulatively, as it was accessible to students from every year.


    It was the place where small distance teleportation gates were placed to go to various facilities spread on the vast expanse inside the Solarnelle Academy.


    "From here, you can access many facilities, and as you are the Year Representatives, you can access almost all the portals present here," Aileen explained.


    Just as she finished, a staff member greeted her, "Good morning, Professor Aileen."


    She nodded at the greeting and said to the two, "Well, follow me inside."


    ''Thankfully, something like this exists,'' Jash thought, happy about portals for the first time as the two followed Aileen closely.


    She only stopped at a portal above which the words ''Faculty Block'' were written before nodding at the two of them.


    She entered the portal wordlessly and disappeared a second later.


    Ziva followed first before Jash made his way through, stumbling as he missed a step, engrossed in his thoughts.


    "Ugh," he groaned, but had already entered the portal by then.


    After the familiar sensation of a slight dizziness, Ziva found herself in front of a massive building, which was the Faculty Block.


    Just as Aileen was about to open her mouth, a loud sound interrupted her, prompting both of them to look at the source.


    ¡ªThwack! Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was none other than Jash falling on the ground due to the imbalanced state he entered the portal with.


    "Argh," he let out a voice of pain, but Aileen was completely dumbfounded, thinking something along the lines of her future prot¨¦g¨¦ turning stupid.


    While Ziva stifled a laugh, barely controlling her urge to snicker at Jash for his sheer idiocy.


    "Ahem," Aileen coughed to get their attention back and ignore Jash''s blunder, feeling strange inside.


    ''Shit! Just my luck to miss something so obvious,'' Jash cursed inwardly, frustration bubbling beneath the surface, but he could only swallow it alongside the embarrassment.


    "This building," Aileen said, pointing at the huge building in front of them, "is the Faculty Block." always-on-NovelFire


    "It consists of the offices of all the professors inside the Academy, and depending on their status, some professors, like me, have their own floors as well."


    Her tone remained flat, but a slight smile tugged at her lips when she mentioned her floor, making it impossible to miss her unmistakable pride.


    ''She is just as narcissistic as any other professor, just doesn''t show it,'' Jash thought, trying to keep his footing stable to prevent another accident.


    Meanwhile, Ziva asked in confusion, "Status? What do you mean, professor?"


    Aileen smiled for the first time. "Just like the students, even the professors are not equal inside the Academy."


    Saying so, she began walking towards the Faculty Building which easily had over a total of 30 floors.


    While walking, she motioned towards her shoulder and sleeve. "Notice the stars near the Solarnelle Academy insignia?"


    Unlike Jash who just gave a curt glance, Ziva leaned closer, noticing that there were indeed three stars along the insignia.


    As if pleased by Ziva, or to impress Jash, Aileen explained, "Depending on one''s importance, the Academy gives stars to the professors, ranging 1 to 3."


    "Well, the Head of Departments or Deans and Vice-Principal have 4 stars, and the Principal has 5," she added as they reached the building.


    "Most professors have 1 or 2 stars, but I earned 3 due to me achieving SS-Rank at a young age and my specialization in swords and Ice Element."


    Naturally, even the hierarchy between two professors with the same stars differed, but she didn''t mention that.


    After all, there was next to no chance for the two of them to join the Academy as professors, so she saw no need to explain it.


    And anymore self-praising would seem like an overconfident idiot bragging about themselves.


    ''She really knows the perfect moment to stop,'' Jash noticed, looking at her from the corner of his eye as they approached the lift area.


    Aileen was in the lead and some strange lights appeared and disappeared, scanning her retina, heartbeat, brain waves and the bracelet on her wrist.


    Strangely enough, the entire process was completed within three seconds as if it was made to cut down on the time for identity verification.


    "Welcome, Professor Aileen Frostvale," a sudden robotic voice echoed from inside the lift as the lift opened.


    She prompted the two of them to enter and only entered after the two had already entered.


    she said as all three of them entered the lift.


    ''Hm? Weren''t there only 30 or so floors outside?'' Jash narrowed his eyes in doubt at the number of buttons and floors mentioned.


    "The floors... there are too many?" Jash blurted out, turning to Aileen, demanding an answer.


    This was one thing he didn''t know anything about and wanted answers about.


    "Oh, that? It was made on purpose to have an appearance that there are lesser floors. Don''t ask me why though," Aileen shrugged, not knowing it herself.


    At that moment, the lift stopped at Floor 30.


    "This is the floor that was given to me," Aileen mentioned, getting out of the lift to check on the various staff members carrying stuff all around the floor.


    "Good morning, Professor," anyone who looked her way greeted her before returning to whatever they were doing.


    Obviously, they were curious about the ones with Aileen but they quickly recognized them and didn''t bother anymore.


    They had work to do and it was far more important.


    Glancing around, Aileen said, "Let''s head to my office."


    The two simply nodded and continued to follow her up to a room which had her nameplate above the door frame.


    The door opened automatically, and three of them entered the room which had a table in the center with some documents on it.


    It was similar to any noble''s study, so it seemed normal to the two who directly sat on the sofas at the side after Aileen gestured for them to do so.


    She did the same as them, sitting on a sofa opposite them and didn''t waste any more time, directly getting to the point.


    "Continuing where I left off, every professor has a different status, but so do the student council and its members,"


    "And because you both are the Year Representatives, and are now part of the student council, your authority is somewhere between that of a 1-star professor and a 2-star professor."


    Looking at the confusion on their faces, she added, "Of course, similar to the YP, your authority can increase or decrease depending on your position in the Student Council,"


    "But before you get any wild thoughts, only the Student Council President and Vice-President have authority similar to that of a 2-star professor,"


    "And even when considering the Student Council as a whole, it only has authority similar to a 3-star professor,"


    "Naturally, with that authority, they can challenge a 3-star professor over some issue, if needed," Aileen finished.


    She had been trying to highlight that becoming a 3-star professor was no joke and she was a teacher with quite some authority.


    Alas, Jash seemed to have no interest in it and Ziva didn''t have that kind of mindset, wondering about the implications.


    "What happens if that situation occurs?" she asked, not purely out of curiosity, but to be aware of it just in case.


    "Well, voting," Aileen shrugged, "Four votes: one each from the Principal, Vice-Principal, the Head of the Department, and finally, the Student Council itself."


    She replied matter-of-factly, disinterested in it as it was a rare situation, to begin with.


    Yet ZIva seemed to not care and inquired further, "What if there''s a draw?"


    Despite getting displeased at the incessant questions, Aileen answered truthfully, "The tiebreaker vote comes from the students itself in that case."


    "Or the numerous factions inside the Academy can sway the vote and bring about the result, but it depends on the issue that was raised and various other factors."


    "Anyways, that''s not what matters for now. What I wanted to discuss was regarding your position in the Student Council,"


    "You both have the right to be in the Student Council, but it''s not going to be easy, especially after your older brothers made a mess there."


    Her voice trailed off at the end, recalling what kind of problems the two caused and then the Princess...


    "Well, I, in particular, do not care about it, but it''s not the same for your seniors, who had to take care of everything," Aileen said flatly.


    "In simple terms, both of them were the Vice-Presidents with the Princess being the president, but two Vice-Presidents was unheard of,"


    "So, do you get what I am talking about?" Aileen mentioned in a roundabout manner, wanting to help them.


    "Professor, you just mean for us to be wary of our Seniors, right? And just more so beware of the Student Council seniors," Jash shrugged as he said so.


    It was as if it had nothing to do with him which was untrue but when was he the kind to care about such things?


    In fact, he didn''t even care about the consequences of his stupid opening speech, but Aileen had yet to mention it, or would she even.


    After all, she wanted to create a good image on Jash and that wasn''t something she would get by chiding and scolding him.


    But she was smart enough to know that flattery wouldn''t work either, it might work on other kids, but on him?


    It might as well be counterproductive.


    "That''s all I wanted to say. You can go back and be ready, maybe you''ll meet the Student Council after this," Aileen concluded, gesturing to the opening door.


    Nodding at her, the two exited the room silently, having their own set of thoughts.

 Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Delaying Wrath

    While Jash and Ziva were being escorted by a staff member to return to Block 1, an unexpected person entered Class 1.


    His presence raised quite a few hushed whispers due to the slight difference in uniform, making it easy to recognize him.


    "He''s a senior, right?"


    "He has to be, our year only has two members on the Student Council..."


    "Yeah... and they''re with the professor..."


    The voices trailed off and became a mess as everyone started gossiping, but they paused as the male student was about to speak.


    "Hello, juniors. Do you know where your Year Representatives are?"


    He appeared to be just a kind neighborhood guy with glasses, wearing a uniform similar to Jash and Ziva.


    Although it was different due to the Year he was in, it was easy to connect him to the Student Council.


    "Oh, Professor Aileen took them to her office," a boy sitting in the front row replied, not waiting for someone else.


    He was a bit nervous, fidgeting his fingers, and wanted the senior to go away as he had heard a lot of senior-bully-junior stories and didn''t want to be another victim.


    However, the Student Council guy frowned before instantly regaining his composure, not letting his aura leak so as to not scare the nervous kid.


    "Oh, bad timing, I guess? Thanks, by the way," he said, placing his hand on the boy''s shoulder to calm him down.


    Sadly, it only had an adverse effect as the boy froze in his position, but the Student Council guy thought he calmed down the boy.


    But at least he was aware of his juniors'' nervousness and directly walked out of the classroom, letting the classroom regain their cheerfulness.


    Despite his kind elder brother looks and gentle face, his strength was no joke, his presence being quite oppressive.


    "H-he f-froze!" the boy''s deskmate shouted after seeing the boy''s expressions and instantly a sense of fear enveloped everyone in the class.


    Those outside remained unaware of the negative image their actions caused.


    "What happened, Ivan?" another member of the Student Council asked after seeing Ivan walk out.


    "They are in the faculty block," Ivan replied, adjusting his glasses, making the other guy roll his eyes at Ivan''s strange habits.


    No one understood or knew why he would do that, it made no sense to them. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But if anyone from Jash''s old world were here, they''d recognize it as the universal gesture that anime info-characters do.


    The ones that always wear glasses and keep adjusting them before any explanation and probably had answers to every question one could imagine.


    "Let''s wait at the Exchange sector," Ivan said and walked ahead, making the other guy have no choice but to follow Ivan.


    Unaware of the two people waiting for them, Jash and Ziva had already arrived at the exchange sector, ready to go back.


    Both of them remained quiet, absorbed in their own thoughts, with one thinking about rising in the Student Council and more.


    On the other hand, Jash was thinking of how to deal with the Student Council after his dear brother made a mess and graduated.


    He knew his brother well enough to know what kind of crazy personality he had and how much the juniors would have to handle.


    ''Add her brother and the Princess to the mix, and boom, you get the craziest combination,'' Jash clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    Heavy discrimination and some mild revenge awaited them if they met the Student Council President and everyone immediately.


    ''It would be better if the shadow of that crazy trio goes away after a few days,'' Jash mused as their identification process was being done.


    Without needing to wait for long, the two returned to a different portal from which they arrived, stopping at it.


    ''Don''t want to misstep again,'' Jash thought, narrowing his eyes to fix the image of the step in his mind.


    Ziva seemed to have noticed his thoughts and leaked a subtle laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief, which irked Jash but he chose to ignore it.


    As soon as they stepped in, the familiar sensations overcame them.


    As they were exiting the exchange sector, they saw two people in similar uniforms waiting outside the entry of the exchange sector.


    ''What''s he doing?''


    That was Jash''s first thought as he looked at the bespectacled guy who adjusted his glasses and passed a smile at them.


    Naturally, the two walked closer and so did Jash and Ziva as they stopped without any plans to meet.


    It was easy to figure out that the two seniors were here for them and Ziva wanted to create a positive image.


    ''Just where does she get this confidence from? Did she forget that only her brother could match Brandon''s craziness?''


    Jash was the only one left in confusion, trying to come up with some excuse as the conversation began.


    "Hello, I am Ivan Hale, and I am a part of the Student Council," Ivan properly introduced himself.


    "I am here to invite you to the Student Council as the president wants to meet you guys," he smiled, shifting glances between the two of them.


    ''Ugh, what kind of bad luck is this?'' Jash cursed, feeling as if just when he thought of the problem, it happened!


    ''Is Murphy''s Law coming into life?'' he thought, still having the gall to joke despite the situation.


    However, his silence was interpreted a bit differently by the three of them as Ivan and the guy behind him, who got confused.


    Just as Ziva was about to agree, Jash immediately interrupted.


    "Alrigh¨C"


    "We can''t, right now. Do postpone it," Jash said instead of requesting or imploring.


    Ivan and the other guy froze at the response, not expecting such a strong rejection at their first meeting.


    But the two knew that the President wasn''t in a very pleasant mood and they would bear the brunt of it if the two didn''t head there.


    Alas, they also couldn''t force them due to the difference in standing and the two being Duke''s children.


    Even though the Student Council was a symbol of authority, and being a member of the Student Council was a matter of pride, it seemed Jash truly meant his words at the opening ceremony.


    Of course, many students respected and feared the Student Council and the person who called Jash and Ziva wasn''t nobody; it was the Student Council President.


    It was no joke as getting that position from the crazy trio would be like putting your head into the mouth of a hungry lion.


    ''This might just be more annoying,'' Jash thought as he noticed Ziva''s surprised expression and the other two''s expression of shock.


    After all, the most authority lay in the hands of the Student Council president after the professors and rarely did someone reject them outright.


    Not just reject, but Jash actually asked to straight away postpone it for no reason!


    "Uhm, do you know who the Student Council President is?" Ivan asked politely, hoping for his conjecture to be true.


    "Yes. Isn''t she one of the most talented individuals inside the Academy, in her batch?" Jash mentioned casually, adding the last part to hint at something.


    ''Well, a female and with some authority and talent¡ªperfect harem material for the protagonist,'' he inwardly rolled his eyes.


    Naturally, she was a beauty, a sight for sore eyes, so everyone admired and respected her.


    But Jash had no reason to care about her, he just dismissed her as another brainless woman ready to enter the protagonist''s harem.


    If it were someone he could use, he would do it, but she was of no use and mostly, she wanted to vent on the younger siblings of the two who annoyed her.


    Yet all of these thoughts eluded Ivan and the guy behind him while Ziva was curious to see where the situation would land.


    She knew that Jash would be in trouble and she would be dragged into it, but she didn''t care.


    In the worst case scenario, she could just go and meet the President herself, leaving Jash to his own strange whims.


    "You know and yet..." Ivan said aloud, letting his sentence trail off, unable to make sense of it.


    If it were some Senior from some faction, it would make sense, but it was just a freshman who outright refused the invitation.


    At least the guy behind him seemed to have lost his ability to speak, unable to react at the surprising turn of events.


    So nothing wrong or rude was spoken.


    Either way, he was just another second-year student who entered the Student Council, nothing special.


    And he was just a D Rank hunter to boot, which could only be considered moderately good for a second-year student.


    He was no genius, and it was very clear from how lost he appeared, but then again, not all members of the Student Council were geniuses.


    The Student Council was a combination of various types of students with their own worth.


    Obviously, anyone could tell that both Ivan and this guy didn''t have strength as their main quality.


    "Does it matter?" Jash said before closing in on Ivan whispering, "Don''t you know why I am delaying it?"


    Ivan flinched for a second and was about to dodge on reflex when the demonic whisper entered his ears.


    "I know you can manage it somehow," Jash said, patting Ivan''s shoulder before adding, "Senior Ivan, you can, right?"


    It wasn''t any animosity or hostility shared between them but both understood what the other party wanted.


    Despite that, Ivan had no wish to force Jash and Ziva to come with him, or else the President got angry with him.


    Either way, this was better as her anger would definitely go down as time passed and she wouldn''t put them through any misery.


    Or at least that was what Jash and Ivan hoped, with the latter praying to get by today safely.


    Though Ivan felt annoyed with the current situation, he had no other choice but to comply and inform the Student Council President about Jash''s response.


    If he could have it his way, he would just ignore Jash and listen to Ziva who had agreed to meet the Student Council President and he would be saved.


    Sadly, who told him to have a kindred soul and let his juniors be saved from the President who was no less than a demoness right now.


    "Won''t our reputation go down in the Student Council like this?" the guy behind him muttered, and Ivan agreed wholeheartedly. experience mv,le,mp,yr content


    "What other choice do we have? Not like we can force them..." Ivan sighed, feeling helpless.


    Meanwhile, the two responsible for Ivan''s sad state were walking away.


    Jash was whistling freely, representing his free, relaxed state of mind when Ziva asked, "So, why did you do that?"


    ''I mean, I expected this, but damn! She really asked!'' he thought in exasperation, unable to understand what she couldn''t understand.

 Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Mischief in Motion

    "So, why did you do that?"


    Hearing her question, Jash barely resisted rolling his eyes and yelling to his heart''s content.


    "Are you seriously asking because you don''t know?" He blurted out, being unable to hold his boiling frustration any longer.


    "Hm? What do you mean?" Ziva responded with another question, confused at his words.


    "Seriously," Jash muttered as he facepalmed himself, the exasperation of the moment catching up to him.


    Despite Jash''s rudeness and ungentlemanly tone, Ziva wasn''t offended.


    Instead, she was really interested in knowing what got him so worked up as he always preferred to not get angry.


    In her eyes, Jash was the type of guy to even swallow insults if he thought getting angry over it wasn''t worth it, and only a waste of energy.


    Yet, here he was, increasingly irritated by her repetitive questions and apparent cluelessness.


    "Ziva, do you not remember the mayhem our elder brothers caused whenever they met?" Jash finally asked, choosing to be straightforward with it.


    "Hmm," Ziva nodded before confusion appeared on her face, "But what does that have to do with anything?"


    Exasperated, Jash rolled his eyes and increased his pace, torn between two thoughts.


    Sneaking a glance to get some clue, Jash wondered, ''Does she really not know, or is she doing this on purpose to tease me?''


    Yet she had already caught up to him, matching his pace easily, causing his attempt to discover her intentions to be futile.


    "It has everything to do with it! Imagine them causing a mess inside the Student Council, don''t you know what they can do?"


    "I know, I know, but wasn''t the Princess there as well? She was the President, so I am sure she took care of things."


    Hearing her logical and sensible response, Jash wished he could explain how he was so sure of it.


    ''She just made things far worse, or so I wish I could say,'' he thought, realizing he didn''t have any proper plausible explanation.


    "Well, given how we were called on the first day, it''s obvious things wouldn''t be that way, right?"


    "For a second, let''s assume what you are saying is true, but again, what does it have anything to do with us going or not?"


    "Just why are you not getting the point!?" he exclaimed in a louder voice, frustrated as his eyebrows furrowed and hands clenched.


    That was his last attempt to make her understand, but it seemed that it wouldn''t change anything.


    "Listen," he said, breathing deeply to calm his nerves. "You could''ve just gone, but you followed me. Why?"


    Experience tales on mvl _emp _y,r.


    "Just because," Ziva replied with a shrug, not fazed by his emotional changes in the least.


    However, her eyes were sparkling with a hint of curiosity at what got him worked up while her lips almost curled into a small imperceptible smile.


    Unable to notice it, Jash''s lips twitched at her answer and he just shook his head dismissively.


    "Then I also don''t want to explain further, just because," he cried out before hastening his pace once again.


    Yet Ziva didn''t follow him this time.


    "Kuah-hahahaha"


    The sound of her failing to stifle her laughter rang in his ear as he stiffened and turned around to find her clutching her stomach.


    The corner of her eyes were moist and she seemed to be wiping a tear from laughing.


    Her sharp laughter cut off all thoughts in his mind as he gazed at her absentmindedly.


    ''Knew it!'' he called to himself inwardly after returning to himself from the daze.


    For some reason, a smile tugged at the corner of her lips at her smile as she approached him.


    Maybe he was a masoch¨C?


    Yeah, nope. Definitely nope.


    "Haha haa... at least tell me what got you so worked up," Ziva asked, controlling her laughter as she approached him.


    "Haha, very funny," Jash replied, making a face at her as if the two were kids.


    However, the two were in their own world, not caring about their surroundings at all, which were empty.


    It made sense that the Block 1 was empty as there were no other classes except the Induction one, so the students were busy exploring the Academy.


    "Well, it got you worked up, which is a rare sight, so I enjoyed it," Ziva shrugged, patting his shoulder, looking on with a straight face.


    "Until later," she muttered, looking at the sky and began walking away.


    "Oi, oi, where are you going?" Jash asked, pulling her back from her wrist, dumbfounded by her act.


    In fact, he seriously wanted to know what was wrong with her for acting up all of a sudden.


    "Don''t pull me so suddenly, it hurts," Ziva said, making a pitiful expression, ignoring his question.


    "Yeah, yeah, as if! Even if I yanked you with all my strength, it''d be nothing but a mere muscle cramp!" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash truly felt wronged, but he could only roll his eyes at her act, not buying it in the slightest.


    "Tsk," Ziva clicked her tongue as her act got caught, making Jash''s lips twitch in disbelief.


    ''I am just here you know?'' he wanted to say it, but kept it inside.


    Not everything needed to be said, and he wanted to know what was on her mind.


    "So?" he tried to insinuate a response from her, but all he got was an arrogant, "So what?"


    Sighing strongly, he said, "You knew about it, so tell me why were you about to go to the President?"


    "Hm? I don''t remember saying anything like that," she replied casually, shaking off his words.


    "You had already said ''Alrigh'' by the time I interrupted," Jash said through gritted teeth.


    "Huh? Oh, that? I was about to say ''Alright, let''s meet tomorrow, we have to choose our subjects today.'', but you butted in."


    This time, it was Jash''s turn to be fully surprised and he finally understood why she didn''t seem to care when he refused to meet the President.


    Thankfully, no one was around by the time Jash and Ziva exited Block 1, heading to the Ranker''s dormitories.


    Though their walk was silent as Jash was embarrassed to the point of wanting to dig a hole in the ground and bury himself.


    ''Damn it! Just how did I not catch her mischief?'' he thought in apprehension, his fists randomly clenching and unclenching.


    His knuckles had long turned white while his palms had turned red from his exaggerated actions.


    If not for Ziva stoically walking next to him in a manner of mocking him, releasing a few chuckles and whistling, he would be fine.


    It was eating away at his conscience until it didn''t.


    He took a deep breath, telling himself to calm down. ''Jash, it doesn''t matter. Understanding girls is impossible.''


    ''Let''s just give up and get going. That''s the best solution, buddy,'' he told himself.


    If an overly brainy fellow knew his thoughts, they would think Jash got schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder.


    Maybe even bipolar disorder, but it was no big deal.


    Every person had their moments, and this was Jash''s... to be let down and dying of embarrassment.


    "Okay, bye," he suddenly said, running off to the lift, entering it and immediately closing it.


    He wanted to give Ziva the least amount of time to enter it, but she strolled leisurely, making no effort to catch up.


    "Cute," she muttered, shaking her head with a smile as she leaned against the wall, waiting for the lift to return.

 Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Choosing Subjects

    Jash had just exited the lift when he felt a vibration on his ID bracelet, but he ignored it and headed directly inside his room.


    "Now, I can check it," he murmured after ensuring the door was locked properly.


    He didn''t want Ziva knocking or barging through the door to tease him any further.


    "That was enough embarrassment for one day," he sighed, his red cheeks returning to their original pale skin tone.


    It was as if he wasn''t embarrassed in the first place, but that was totally untrue.


    ¡ªSlap!


    He slapped his cheek to get hold of himself before checking the reminder on his ID Bracelet.


    "This, huh? It''s sent to all freshmen, I guess," he shrugged after reading through it.


    It was a reminder for the students about the selection of three or more subjects they wanted to study, deciding the path they want to walk on.


    Aside from the 4 common subjects¡ªMana Manipulation, Beast Theory, the Duel class and Dungeon Theory¡ªit was necessary to choose the other three.


    "Hmm," he hummed, looking through the myriad of subjects being taught at the Academy, confused by the possibilities.


    ''I am not into alchemy at all, I failed miserably at that, but blacksmithing, huh? I do know bits and pieces about it...''


    It wasn''t Jash who knew about his likes and dislikes, or rather his talents and more, but his past life in which he dabbled in all the trades.


    Though the world was different and things varied greatly, he was sure the fundamentals remained the same.


    Just as Mages needed to cast spells irrespective of their element or specialization or the world.


    "Spellcasting and Sword Arts is no-go as I won''t learn anything there," Jash sighed as his confusion rapidly increased.


    He wanted to choose the three subjects he actually wanted to learn as it would make no sense to choose randomly. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alas, classes for mages and weapons were of no use to him, he was no mage and already had more than enough knowledge about weapons.


    ''Not like the practical application classes would begin straight away,'' he shrugged, stretching his arms and moving to the bed.


    Getting comfortable, he at least felt some comfort over going through the subject choices while standing uncomfortably behind the door.


    While looking through them, Jash entered a daze, thinking, ''The class arrangements, the rules, the changes, the differences¡ª''


    "Could it be...?"


    Suddenly, he blurted out in absolute surprise, feeling like he discovered something major.


    ''¡ªit all points out that the new rules and changes would soon be made, right?'' he asked himself.


    Although he didn''t know the answer, the thought refused to leave him once it settled in his mind.


    And he was sure that the practical application classes, or even the other classes, would get revamped after the Assessment Test.


    ''The students'' performance must be off the charts this year, so it makes sense if new rules are applied a few months earlier...''


    Thinking so, Jash remembered about the Assessment Test and how it was a group test.


    In it, groups of 2-5 students would compete in specific tests that the Academy would present for them.


    Alas, if he wanted to do anything, be it not attending the classes or leaving the Academy, he still needed to wait for the Assessment Test.


    Before that anything was impossible, and even the subjects might change, so it was fine to choose the ones to get stronger. This is a m-vlempyr special


    "[Elemental Theory] for sure, it''ll help me gauge my element, then [Aura Creation], because obviously..."


    His voice trailed off as he scrolled the different classes, trying to find another that would help him grow.


    "Blacksmithing is fine, but so is magic engineering, but what about something related to those runes?"


    His eyes scanned the hologram for interesting classes, but he wasn''t too sure about which one to choose.


    After all, in his eyes, it mattered little what he chose now as it would change in the future.


    But there was nothing that would help him immediately except [Aura Creation].


    Even if he got to know his element, it wasn''t like he could use it immediately, and even the specific element classes wouldn''t start before the Assessment Test.


    Unable to make a decision, Jash took out the one thing that had always been on his mind.


    It was the hilt of his sword from his previous life, or what remained of it.


    Due to it having nothing remaining, the Academy didn''t ask him to throw it away, considering it a memento of some sorts.


    Even the security had eyed Jash strangely for bringing such "trash" alongside him.


    "Seriously, why can no one notice its brilliance or artistry or these diagrams¨C"


    Jash asked nobody in particular with a strange expression on his face which soon froze as his eyes caught sight of the tiniest marks on the hilt.


    ''I don''t know where I got this sword from, but not even the greatest blacksmiths of my previous life could do anything to it.''


    The memories seemed to pour into his mind as he saw the sight of the anvils melting yet the sword being only warm.


    No amount of hammering left a mark on its blade, but the hammers... they weakened and shattered not long after.


    If someone used a whetstone to sharpen the sword, the whetstone would get slashed.


    The sword was freaking too overpowered to the point it could literally cut through the thoughts metals like it was tofu.


    "Not like anyone other than me could use it," Jash sighed, recalling the sight of others only being able to use it as a dull blade.


    No sharpness, no strength, only an unbreakable dull blade in the hands of anyone but him.


    "If only I knew your secrets or knew more about you," he lamented, but he had already decided the final subject he would choose.


    [Runes] and [Blacksmithing].


    Jash was sure that only he would be able to do anything about this sword and it might just help him in solving its puzzle.


    Thus, he chose the final subjects for it, and blacksmithing was something he did try his hand on, so he wasn''t a complete novice.


    Of course, that was only his belief and only a master of the craft could tell if that was truly the case or not.


    Thankfully, he came to a decision quickly and directly sent his selection of subjects.


    But the other freshmen were suffering from what to choose, the four compulsory classes seemed a bit too much already.


    Some chose what their friends did, wanting to meet in those subject classes even if their assigned classes were different, to begin with.


    Unlike Jash, every mage chose the spellcasting and elemental class for sure while the warriors chose aura creation and one class for their choice of weapons.


    Not everyone came with myriads of sword arts and their experience from their past life.


    Unsurprisingly, Amael had also chosen the sword class, having gotten used to guns and bombs in his previous life.


    But the most surprising was Helios who also chose the sword classes despite being a regressor and having the memories.


    Sadly, he had to keep his past life hidden as he was under scrutiny by the Church and the Goddess herself after he lost.


    The system wasn''t omnipotent and could only help him deceive the Goddess, not totally fool her.


    Or would she even be a God?


    Thus, he had to make the same choices as his first life to avoid being targeted.


    Poor guy had no idea that the one who defeated him and Amael didn''t even bother to train today and wouldn''t bother joining any Weapon Art subjects.

 Chapter 195: Chapter 195: First Day, Old Tensions

    After selecting his classes, Jash chose to rest his body as the aftereffects from pushing his limits hadn''t completely waned yet.


    He could only use his mind to emulate and simulate the scenarios and fights¡ªboth from his past life and this¡ªas he remained motionless on the bed.


    Although its comfort was nothing compared to his bed back in the Ramille Estate, he had already practiced sleeping anywhere during the Entrance Test.


    Unlike other noble scions, he had spent days inside dungeons, while most of the rich scions preferred staying only a few hours.


    After all, the dungeon belonged to them and only completing E-Rank dungeons would require days while F-Rank dungeons at most would need 2-3 days.


    While this estimate was conservative in and of itself, it excluded the maniacs who wanted to explore the entire dungeon or eliminate every single monster.


    Though rare, such crazy people indeed exist.


    Yet no one in their entire batch was like that, and most were busy complaining about one thing or another.


    Despite all the complaints, there were people training with their weapons or practicing their mana circulation to increase their mana.


    Unlike Jash, who didn''t need to attend any of the Weapon Arts subjects, most students did.


    The students similarly were quite elated at the prospect of growing stronger and matching those monsters who took their spotlight.


    Sadly, the students were set to be disappointed as the basics of mana eluded some and that was needed even before anything else.


    Mana was the foundation of everything in this world, after all.


    It didn''t matter if one was a mage, warrior, blacksmith, alchemist or any other path, they must learn about mana.


    ¡ªRing! Ring! Ring!


    Already knowing it, Jash was resting peacefully before his bracelet rang an alarm.


    "Ugh, what now?" he grunted as he woke up, quickly dispelling the alarm as it sensed his state of being awake and desire to silence it.


    "Damn this forced alarm!" Jash cursed as he remembered that the ID Bracelet rang for everyone and there was no muting it.


    As unfortunate as it was, it served as a wake-up call, ensuring no student missed attendance.


    Of course, it only took into account an average of thirty minutes to get ready in the morning.


    So anyone who wanted more than that ought to wake up on their own or set another alarm manually, and if they woke up, the forced one wouldn''t buzz.


    ¡ªSigh


    Jash let out a weary sigh as he rubbed his eyes, before noticing the light on his ID Bracelet blinking, signifying a new notification.


    "So it is inevitable, huh?" he sighed again, looking at the notification of a Student Council meeting which was personally called by the Student Council President.


    Accepting his fate, he went to take a quick shower before dressing himself and leaving the room, bumping into Ziva on the ground floor.


    "Huh?" He was surprised to see her focusing on something that he let out a sound, attracting her attention.


    Jash blinked, slightly dazed as her brows furrowed, then softened into a hint of recognition, and finally, a beautiful smile played on her lips.


    He gulped nervously, having hoped to not meet her, but he ended up bringing her attention to himself.


    ''By the looks of it, she was probably choosing breakfast,'' he noted, observing her position and how she said something before gesturing two at the person behind the counter.


    "Good morning," Ziva greeted him with a smile, surprised to see him be on time.


    "Mornin''," Jash replied succinctly, averting his gaze and trying to minimize his presence.


    Yet his fidgeting around seemed to only make her smile widen as she teased, "So what got you ready on time?"


    ''She''s sure I woke up to that alarm instead of by myself,'' Jash guessed, displeased by it despite knowing it was the truth.


    Unlike him, Ziva had been awake for more than 1 hour, and so, the ID Bracelet muted her forced alarm, telling her about it when she went through it. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was how many students got to know about it, so Jash was sure she knew of it, the phrasing of her question confirmed his doubts.


    "Breakfast, I need energy after sleeping," Jash shrugged casually, acting as if he didn''t hear her teasing tone.


    "Oh? I thought you''d be running late, so I already ordered two of them," Ziva replied, acting oblivious to his intentions.


    An awkward silence followed before Jash muttered, "Thank you, I guess?"


    "Hmm." Ziva nodded and the two who didn''t talk much just stared at each other, or more like Jash tried to avoid her gaze.


    The two waited in silence before the food was given and then more awkward silence followed as the two had breakfast.


    It was nothing special; just some veggies, a smoothie and a chocolate cookie to go by.


    It was too light to be even considered breakfast, but it did complete their nutrient requirement despite being a custom meal that Ziva asked for.


    She knew that Jash didn''t eat any meat, so she simply ordered it in that manner, and ate the same thing.


    On the other hand, Jash was eating with a suspicious eye, wondering what got over Ziva to eat the same food as him.


    ''She sure used to eat dishes I couldn''t stand to irk me,'' Jash recalled his distant childhood memories, but could only recall unpleasant ones.


    ''Is she content with the embarrassment I felt yesterday?'' Jash doubted that was the case, though.


    ''No way, she isn''t like that... wait, could it be...? Yeah, it has to be that!'' He finally felt like he was closer to figuring out her intentions.


    "You got the notification of the Student Council meeting as well, right?" he asked as the two put away their plates.


    As they exited the lobby, Ziva replied, "Yeah, I am also a member of the Student Council, aren''t I?"


    "What do you want?" Jash asked directly as they walked to the nearby exchange sector to reach Block 1.


    Naturally, it was near the Ranker''s Dorms¡ªanother perk of being a ranker, though indirect.


    "Hm? What would I want?" Ziva retorted as the two arrived at the exchange sector.


    "I don''t know? Not like I can help you with anything," Jash replied starkly, entering the portal to Block 1 where their class was located.


    It was early morning, and the Block was sparsely populated with many students yet to arrive.


    "Hm? Then why ask?" Ziva asked after arriving, and catching up to him.


    Jash just glanced at her but didn''t say anything despite wanting to state it clearly.


    There was no way he could say "you were being polite and ate the same meal as me, so what''s up with that?"


    Thankfully, he wasn''t stupid and didn''t say something that would come to bite him back later on.


    "Just... nevermind," he said, shaking his head and hastening his pace.


    "What?" she asked, confusion apparent from her expression as he easily matched his pace. m-vl _e mpY _r exclusive content


    In the end, she got no answer as Jash quietly made his way to his seat from the previous day after reaching the classroom.


    The classroom had been abuzz with chatter, as the students got to know each other and excitedly discussed exploring the Academy.


    However, Ziva and Jash''s entrance caused the conversations to go silent, to the point that the silence was almost deafening.


    ''Might as well arrive late to not meet anyone,'' Jash mused, looking outside the classroom, annoying Ziva in his own way as she struggled to maintain her quiet facade.

 Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Mana Theory 101

    The classrooNovelFire gradually filled up, and Elara nervously took the seat closest to Jash and Ziva, her heart racing.


    Despite the glaring students, there was a sense of respect for her daring to sit near those two monsters.


    However, the two weren''t even concerned that everyone sat away from them and the closest was Elara.


    Ziva had given up on teasing or buttering up Jash any further and he was lost in his own world.


    If he had noticed Elara, he would surely have struck up a conversation, alas, he didn''t due to the lack of verbal reaction at her seating.


    In essence, the silence caused by his warning about annoying things led to a situation where no one even chatted.


    But it was not like anyone would have caused a ruckus as they couldn''t be too sure about Elara and her prospective rank.


    After all, the Assessment Test hadn''t happened yet and her performance in the Entrance Test was no joke.


    But did that mean she had given her all?


    No one knew as every year, there were students who hid their best from others, saving it for the Assessment Tests.


    It was common knowledge as the Academy curriculum didn''t change too much regardless of who entered each year, which was a good thing.


    Though it allowed students to act the pig to kill the tiger, it was very effective in graduating the best Hunters.


    Hence, no one wanted to pick a fight with someone who might turn out to be a Ranker.


    As a Ranker was not only a person with the most YP but also the person with the most facilities and resources.


    The students from humbled backgrounds understood this way better than those from wealthy backgrounds to not do something stupid.


    While the students with such backgrounds might have sought out trouble, no one wanted to disturb the Year Representatives who seemed to have a penchant for silence.


    ¡ªTak! Tak!


    Finally, the sound of shoes clacking against the smooth marble floor echoed as everyone''s attention turned to the door.


    Professor Aileen entered without so much as a smile and only stopped to look at the students after arriving at the center.


    She surveyed the class, her gaze stopping briefly on Jash, which went unnoticed by the other students.


    She calmly set down her stuff and addressed the class. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Today will be your first class about mana and other related topics. It will only cover basic theory, but if you still have doubts, feel free to ask."


    Her firm voice cut through the silence as she had not even bothered with any greetings after confirming the class attendance with her eyes as well as her own bracelet.


    Despite her lack of enthusiasm, the students paid attention as the wall before her had a holographic image of a mana core.


    It wasn''t a real image but an imaginary one as no real image could actually be taken.


    "The mana core is where you store and channel your mana from," Aileen began explaining without any reservations.


    "Every person''s core is different, depending on talent and hard work," she mentioned, changing the image.


    Different colored mana cores appeared, ranging from violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red.


    "To rank from one major rank to another, you need to refine your mana core until the color of your mana changes."


    Her words were simple and easy to understand for everyone and it only served as a revision for those who already learned all of it.


    "That''s what everyone knows, but do you know why it is so?" Aileen asked, leaving the students a bit confused.


    They only knew what they knew and had not really bothered going into too many details about the process of it.


    "It''s simple. Despite the vast difference in our mana cores, their composition is the same¡ªmana."


    Her simple words only served to increase the students'' puzzlement as they eyed her confusedly.


    "As mana gets refined, its color changes but so does it happen with it becoming denser and the ultimate goal is to have a white mana core."


    Suddenly, Aileen''s words changed as she realized she had said something far out of the limits of basic theory of mana.


    "That''s why we absorb mana from the surroundings and use the mana in our core to suck it in, increasing its density and also refining it."


    ''Is she explaining the method or something?'' Jash thought, finding her words simple yet complex.


    In essence, she was explaining why ranking up becomes tougher as one grows stronger.


    Simply put, one drop of mana from the mana core could be 3X, 5X, 10X, or even more times denser than the atmospheric mana.


    Imagine having to refine not one but thousands or even millions of such drops just for a sub-rank.


    Extending it to major ranks, and it made sense why the number of Hunters decreased as one went up the ranks.


    ''Not like our absorption speed stays stuck, though,'' Jash mused, entering his own thoughts.


    Meanwhile, Aileen continued her explanation, and a few confused students nervously asked for clarification hesitantly.


    At first, they were too afraid to ask due to Aileen''s stern and cold look, but as they listened to her speak, they realized she was quite calm. Experience adventures on m _v _lempy _r.


    Though no one could call her friendly, she did answer all the questions even if they were repetitive.


    Somehow, she knew who had an actual question and who was just asking her to repeat for the sake of it.


    All it took was just one glare for her to shut up such students, though.


    The class lasted for an hour, during which Aileen also explained what to look for while condensing the core during the rank up procedure and other basic things.


    Naturally, Jash and Ziva already knew all that, and it was the same for all the privileged students as well.


    "Well, that''s all for today. Since there''s no other classes, I suggest you go to the library and read more about mana theory,"


    "Also, take this time to learn about other subjects and report your subject choices," Aileen added, wanting to put it in their head.


    Done with everything for the day, she took her stuff and turned to leave the class before stopping.


    "Starting tomorrow, your joint classes will begin, so try to expand your knowledge before then," she advised before leaving.


    As soon as Aileen left, the students relaxed, thinking back to her lecture and about choosing their subjects.


    Yet nothing more than whispers remained in the classroom until Ziva and Jash stood up and left.


    After which, the students excitedly talked about the various subjects and what they would be choosing.


    Some tried to convince others that their choice was better and whatnot while others looked for students with similar choices to group up.


    It was always better to know others than to be alone when there were too many geniuses in their batch.


    No one liked getting bullied, and if being friends was all it took to prevent that fate, who would deny such an easy method?


    Meanwhile, the two most feared in their class for no absolute reason were busy making their way to the exchange sector.


    ''I could only delay this meeting by one day, huh?'' Jash sighed and sneaked a glance at Ziva, only to be left speechless.


    She appeared to be unaffected by the upcoming meeting as if it had nothing to do with her, which made no sense to Jash!


    Just how could she appear so carefree when even Jash wasn''t?

 Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Meeting the Student Council President

    In a completely different building, a girl with soft brown hair and maroon eyes was looking at the documents in front of her.


    "Did Ivan complete the assignment?" she asked, not raising her head from the bunch of documents on her table.


    The boy who had just entered suddenly stiffened at the question directed at him.


    "Umm, President," he replied nervously, "Actually, uh, I-Ivan said they must be busy with choosing their subjects, so he delayed it."


    "Hoh?" The girl looked up, a bit surprised before her lips curled upwards.


    "To think Ivan would do that... For what? To protect those...!" The girl''s hands trembled slightly, but she took a deep breath to steady herself.


    "No, Ivan can''t do that. He hates being bothered during his study," she mumbled, appearing to be in thought.


    "They probably rejected it and Ivan covered up, yes?" The girl wondered out loud before murmuring, "Yes, that has to be the case!"


    "Let''s do the meeting tomorrow then," she ordered, a not-so-bright smile tugging at the corner of her lips.


    "It''s unwise to get in conflicts with them from our side," another figure spoke, one which had remained quiet until now.


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    "You''re right," the girl nodded, "This much was expected, given who''s younger siblings they are..."


    Her voice trailed off as everyone suddenly felt a bit heavy and cold presence in the room.


    "Well, who''s to say we can''t teach our juniors how to respect their seniors," she muttered, her brows relaxing as a small smile graced her lips.


    This all had happened one day prior to the current events where Jash and Ziva were heading to the exchange center.


    Jash tried his best to ignore Ziva and her carefree demeanor, focusing on anything else.


    Opening the notification once again, he checked the time and location of the meeting.


    ¡¸Student Council Meeting || Time : 11:45 AM || Portal: Block 1 - Utility Sector¡¹


    The Utility Sector was where the Library and all other facilities used by both the professors and students were located.


    It also contained the various clubs formed by the students.


    ''What''s with them being so sneaky and only mentioning which portal to take from the Exchange Sector?''


    Jash grumbled inwardly, not wanting to go to the meeting, but he had no other choice and they were about to enter the portal.


    After exiting the Exchange Sector, they were greeted by an open area lively with the hustle and bustle of students. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking around, Jash noticed them leaving and entering the myriad of buildings in sight with some having bright expressions.


    ''What''s so good about talking to friends?'' Jash complained, but only observed the stark differences.


    He soon noticed some seniors were carrying multiple books in their hands, appearing tired.


    On the other hand, Ziva just let him do all the work, following along with a light mood.


    Naturally, one''s grumbling face and another''s carefree quickly attracted a lot of attention.


    "Is she that girl?"


    "Yeah, his younger sister is so pretty," a girl commented with a crooked look but her friend''s sudden squeal surprised her.


    "Kyaa~ That guy''s younger brother sure is handsome~"


    However, just as the nearby students noticed the two of them and whispers about them began being shared, other Student Council students came through.


    Their uniforms were similarly different from others like Jash and Ziva''s, making them easy to distinguish.


    They immediately recognized the two of them and approached.


    "The Student Council building is the far one on the left," the Senior said, pointing towards a building which looked more of a mansion than a regular building.


    Not just this building, but many of the buildings in this sector resembled luxurious castles, but it didn''t really matter much.


    Only the Library, which was a huge castle-like building with multiple pillars and engravings on it stood out.


    ''The rest are quite pale in comparison,'' Jash wanted to say that out loud, but he knew better than to get some enemies.


    Not that he feared them, it was just annoying, especially the typical young master type idiots.


    ''They''re better off left to the protagonist,'' Jash shrugged, walking to the building that was pointed out.


    Naturally, no Senior came close to them as no one really bothered anyone from the Student Council.


    It would only be a stupid decision as they had the highest authority, even more than some professors.


    "So no one''s here?" Jash said aloud, noticing the empty lobby after entering the building.


    Right then, a Senior appeared out of nowhere and greeted them before guiding them towards the Meeting Hall.


    The Meeting Hall was filled with various seats, with most seats on the sides and only a few in the center.


    "Please be seated," the senior said respectfully, knowing their status and the two acquiesced.


    But Jash''s eyes darted around the hall, noticing multiple photos of past Student Council presidents hanging on the walls.


    "So extravagant," he commented in a low voice, noticing the chandelier hanging above the center table.


    The room was brightly lit, so there was no real need for a chandelier like that.


    While waiting for others to show up as the two had arrived nearly fifteen minutes early, Jash couldn''t help but close his eyes.


    He decided to get some shut-eye instead of looking around this mostly empty Meeting Hall.


    And his decision proved to be the correct one as no one showed up in the next ten minutes.


    "What a douche," someone muttered upon entering the hall before going silent.


    Being from a normal family, the newcomer knew better than to offend anyone from nobility, and Jash and Ziva were fairly noticeable.


    But Jash didn''t seem to have heard as the boy let out a sigh of relief and sat on his fixed seat.


    As time ticked by, the seats were slowly filled in, with only the major personnel being absent.


    However, it seemed that not much was left before they arrived as well.


    In the common area outside the exchange sector, a group of students clad in student council uniforms walked with a sense of purpose.


    Their attire exuded an air of authority and status that couldn''t be ignored, commanding the attention of their peers.


    Amidst the group, one particular student stood out from the rest.


    It was a tall girl with long, flowing brown hair that cascaded down her back in waves, revealing her long ears and identity as an elf.


    Her maroon eyes were framed by long brown eyelashes, complementing her looks.


    It was none other than Aeris Leaf, the Student Council President.


    As Aeris made her way through the common area, students couldn''t help but stare in awe of her commanding presence.


    Her confident gait and warm smile were enough to put anyone at ease, and she made sure to greet each student she passed with a friendly wave.


    Just like her, the other members of the Student Council were attracting attention, especially the Vice President.


    Caleb Maxiumus, heir to Marquis Maximus, his presence commanded respect and admiration.


    His sharp black eyes coupled with his short ginger hair, and his handsome face accentuated by a strong jawline and chiseled features turned heads his way.


    The group finally arrived in the Meeting Hall, where they noticed two first-year students sitting quietly in their seats with many other members of the Student Council.


    Aeris only smiled warmly at everyone in reception, confusing the ones who heard her mentioning some sort of punishment to the juniors.


    ''So we meet, Aeris Leaf,'' Jash thought, being face-to-face with the Student Council President.

 Chapter 198: Chapter 198: An Irksome Meeting

    Perhaps the person most confused by the warm reception was Jash himself as he was expecting some kind of payback for his elder brother.


    ''Did Caleb help somehow?'' Jash furrowed his brow, unaware of the true situation behind the scenes.


    In all honesty, he expected something like an early meeting time to make them sit there for a needlessly long period.


    Maybe even scolding them outright for disrespecting their seniors but nothing of the sort happened, making him feel strange about it.


    One thing was for sure though, Jash didn''t trust Ivan to have done any good job as the guy was seated at one corner with a frightful expression.


    But Jash knew that Caleb was someone who always looked at the long-term results rather than short-term gains.


    ''Someone like him would surely consider things outside the Academy and that crazy trio having just graduated.''


    Nevertheless, it was all Jash''s guesses in his heart and nothing more than that.


    ''Let''s hope things stay like this,'' Jash prayed inwardly, looking at the new arrivals as they settled into their seats.


    It went without saying that Aeris and Caleb took the central seats while the rest of the group sat around them, awaiting the start of the meeting.


    "Good morning, everyone," Aeris greeted, her smile warm as she took her role as President to start the meeting.


    Even though some seats near her and around the corners were empty, she started anyway.


    "As this is our first meeting with new first-year students who have joined us, could you both introduce yourselves?"


    Her tone was polite and warm as she looked at them, surprising Jash who kept it within himself.


    "Jash Ramille," he answered, too lazy to give proper introductions and half-expecting everyone to already know him.


    Yet no one called him out on being rude or anything, knowing that he was still a Duke''s child.


    ''No matter how many times one says that status inside the Academy is equal, it is not,'' he mused, taking in their reaction.


    "Ziva Arne," Ziva followed with a curt bow of her head, and nothing more than that.


    Unlike Jash, she had no excessive movements and didn''t appear nervous in the slightest.


    However, Aeris nodded warmly to their succinct introductions, even congratulating them.


    "Congratulations on being elected as the Year Representative," she said, her authoritative tone commanding everyone''s attention.


    Although Aeris appeared gentle and kind with her welcoming smile, she was one of the most powerful students in the academy.


    "This year''s freshmen are quite talented, I must say," Aeris commented, glancing at Ziva.


    While Jash''s performance was indeed better than her, Ziva''s element alone made up for most of it, being praised to be stronger than Jash.


    Ziva met Aeris''s gaze with complete confidence in her abilities, disregarding her current strength and standing.


    "Well, it sure was fun," Jash shrugged, breaking the silence and staredown as Ziva agreed to his words, knowing why he said them.


    "True, it was more difficult than previous years, but it wouldn''t have been challenging otherwise."


    Their words shocked many people as it was somewhat similar to saying that their seniors were pathetically weak.


    Despite that, the situation didn''t escalate as Aeris diffused it. "Doesn''t that mean that you will have a harder time, though?"


    ''Ugh, damn you, Brandon!'' Jash cursed his brother inwardly, scowling as he knew those words were directed at him.


    He was sure that Brandon blabbered about him being lazy and whatnot.


    "Anyways, the point of the meeting isn''t this," Aeris added, not wanting to get into a round of bickering with her juniors.


    She herself knew how it felt to be on the receiving end as she always lost in logic against that crazy trio.


    Just remembering those days made her want nothing except making things difficult for Jash and Ziva.


    However, she was sure that Jash just wanted to maintain his Year Representative position, and burdening him with work would yield no result.


    And she definitely didn''t want to remove both of them from the Student Council, planning to make things hard for them inside the Student Council.


    How else would she get her payback if the two ended up leaving the Student Council?


    "What I wanted to explain to you was that your spot in the Student Council is not permanent until you secure your position as one of the Rankers,"


    "And it would be better for both of you to not take things lightly, given the abundance of talented students in your year," Aeris advised with a pleasant smile.


    Though it didn''t seem pleasant in the least to Jash, who could somewhat guess her thoughts, but couldn''t be sure of them.


    Turning to Ziva, all he saw was a determined expression.


    ''Seems like she wants to get further inside the Student Council,'' Jash noted, matching it from the novel information.


    ''Even after so many changes, some things are the same, huh?'' he mused, finding it quite interesting.


    Suddenly, the door opened as the remaining Student Council Members with distinct features walked in and settled into their seats. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well, it seems everyone has arrived," Aeris mentioned as the door closed with a loud,


    ¡ªThud!


    That signaled the closure of the Meeting Hall, implying that whoever was still yet to arrive would be better off if they didn''t try entering.


    "The atmosphere is no joke," a boy muttered with a grin, sitting on the center seats while a girl poked him.


    The ones who arrived were the Committee Heads who were a part of the Student Council as just one group couldn''t take care of everything.


    Committees units that operated independently of the Student Council despite being a part of it.


    Each head had similar authority to the Vice-President of the Student Council, and this was why the real meeting had yet to begin in its truest sense.


    Sadly, the committees could align with other factions, weakening the authority of the Student Council.


    ''Tsk, tsk, nothing is as good as it seems on the surface,'' Jash sighed, knowing that certain Committee Heads were already in cahoots with factions.


    "Firstly, the discipline committee..."


    Finally, the meeting had begun with Aeris giving points for the day and some agreeing or disagreeing with her.


    New roles were given out and things about duels or other scuffles were talked about before the topic about freshmen began.


    "You''re free to explore the different committees or if you wish to join the core of the Student Council as well."


    This was what Caleb said to Jash and ZIva who sat quietly throughout the meeting despite Jash not wanting to.


    If he could, he would''ve left early, but there was no such way out.


    ''Just when will their recruitment begin?'' Jash wondered, trying to recall the exact mention of it in the novel, but couldn''t remember it.


    Originally, he wanted Ziva to take care of his workload as well, but it seemed unlikely and he didn''t want to end up being the one taking care of all of it by himself.


    That''s why he needed some new blood in the Council who he could force to also do his part.


    Jash didn''t want to do anything to an extreme, not even the regular patrols around the Academy to prevent bullying.


    Thankfully, he was lost in his thoughts when the meeting ended and directly headed towards the Ranker''s Dorms, not noticing that Ziva had stayed behind.


    She was getting explanations about the different committees to decide which ones to actually go and explore before considering joining one.

 Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Striving for More

    It was evening, and Jash was lying on his bed, gazing at the ceiling with a thoughtful look.


    He seemed deep in thought as his expressions changed from a smile to a frown, then to a scowl, and back to a smile in the blink of an eye.


    It was as if he were grappling with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.


    Feeling restless, he shook his legs and changed positions randomly, unable to calm down.


    Finally, he heaved out a long sigh before getting up, stretching a bit and entering the training room he had long ignored.


    Without hesitation, he took off his clothes, exposing his bare body without fear of any hidden cameras or the sort.


    Well, there was no way the Academy would have them as any technology outside of the host system would be discovered within moments.


    And if some pervert did sneak them inside, one could only shiver at what would happen whence they were found.


    Either way, no such events occurred, and even if they did, Jash was sure no one would dare trade his photos.


    Being a noble did come with many hidden perks that only jealous idiots would disparage to feel better, as they couldn''t rise to the pedestal with their limited capabilities.


    "Seriously, am I going to do this?" Jash asked himself, now clad in the gym attire his mother bought for him.


    The room was made up of solid ground with no tiling or designs for it to be a uniform room.


    Jash stood at the center of it, taking in deep breaths as he closed his eyes, his hands by his sides, completely unarmed.


    "Phew..."


    Standing like that for a whole minute, he suddenly put his right leg forward and placed his hands as if ready to unsheathe a sword.


    His movements were quite natural yet had a hint of unnaturalness that he frowned before returning to his initial position.


    What he did next was simple, performing the same movement with more natural fluidity in his movements, as if in one flow.


    Yet it was not that easy as he was doing it without a sword, and doing it with a sword would just become a bit easier and harder at the same time.


    Although its weight might help him feel its presence, it would delay his movements, if only a little, making his current body movements a waste of time.


    At least that was what anyone other than him would define it as.


    But it was Jash who was doing something idiotic before giving, beads of sweat forming on his face from concentration.


    "One step closer, one step farther," he muttered strange words as he opened his eyes and went further into the training room.


    A brief nostalgic smile played on his lips as the words resonated with him, evoking a memory buried deep within.


    "Not now," he shook his head and entered the next room from inside the training room, known as the mana room or breakthrough room.


    More accurate terms surely existed but it wasn''t like Jash had an inkling for names.


    He couldn''t care less about such useless details, despite being a sucker for details¡ªmostly...


    Entering the room, the stark difference was clear as the ground was fully covered in gray tiles with a white one in the center of the room.


    "My body has recovered," he muttered, clenching his fists and sitting at the center of the room.


    He wanted to break through to Mid E-Rank long ago, but he held back due to the instability from breaking through quite fast.


    Yet that wasn''t his real reason, it was because he didn''t want to hold back anymore.


    E-Rank was more or less the first stage of the proper foundation and if he didn''t use the best mana circulation methods, then what use was knowing them.


    It didn''t matter at the F-Rank because it wasn''t that major of a roadblock, just the initiator and the gaps could be filled at E-Rank.


    But if he continued to reach Late E-Rank, just for the sake of it with inferior techniques, his heart wouldn''t be able to take it.


    Originally, he would''ve done that yesterday, but he gave his body the day as a buffer just to be on the safer side of things.


    He waited to break through inside the Academy because he could use anything and it would be related to his family.


    ''I won''t be questioned by my family as they will think I found it in the Academy,'' Jash mused with a smile.


    It was a really strange situation as both sides would end up misunderstanding the origin of the technique but that was for the best.


    "I''ve wasted enough time at Early E-Rank," Jash muttered, aware that he needed to become stronger faster to actually change his destiny.


    He went and sat around the center and crossed his legs, sitting in a meditation pose.


    After a while, the mana around the room started to gather around Jash as he circulated the mana inside him.


    His core was being overworked as it had to spin at high speeds, ejecting mana and also absorbing it back.


    Yet the mana core also had to refine the mana, making it purer and denser.


    But Jash wasn''t satisfied with just this much, he used the meridians to make tiny "nodes" to hold more mana in certain places.


    First was near the mana core, the heart itself as it was the major organ and also to decrease the burden on his core.


    Next was the spleen, located left to his stomach in his abdomen region and then it was lungs, followed by kidneys and the liver.


    By this time, he was covered in sweat and the pain from forcefully pushing excess mana in those five regions was immense.


    If he didn''t have crazy levels of mana control and widened meridians, he would''ve long damaged his mana veins or the meridians.


    Of course, the most important fact was knowing the body''s anatomy, the knowledge from his past life.


    If not for knowing how to execute its even more advanced version, Jash would''ve long failed at the first stage, bursting his heart and dying.


    ''Can''t no more,'' he thought with gritted teeth, biting his lip to keep himself from giving up due to the intense pain.


    That''s why it was next to impossible to replicate it as even he had to give up at just five nodes or areas with higher mana control.


    "Haa... Haa..."


    Jash panted a bit as he clenched his fist and scrunched his eyes, sweat dripped down his face, with his eyes moist.


    It seemed just creating 5 of those nodes took a great toll on him and he also noticed that he was barely teetering on the brink of E-Rank.


    "Shit!"


    He cursed as he punched the ground in exasperation and drank a mana recovery potion that he prepared in advance.


    ''I can''t make 7 of them like this,'' he thought, a frown marring his face as he recalled the mana circulation technique. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was the final version that needed two more nodes, but he wanted to create them at the moment to get better results.


    Even in his past life, he had only sprung up the idea of 7 of them randomly and tried it, but it resulted in good results.


    "7 and 9 both are auspicious numbers in many cultures, so there''s no way I shouldn''t go for them."


    That was his line of thought which led him to improve the technique... or was that all?


    He couldn''t quite recall it exactly.

 Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Unbelievable

    Jash didn''t know that the technique came from the system, and though he did shoot an arrow in the darkness which hit the target, it wasn''t entirely his own creation.


    The system was surely something from out of his world yet the mana circulation technique closely resembled things from his own previous world.


    Although it was a bit strange, Jash wasn''t aware of anything related to the system or his own feelings about it.


    But one thing was for sure: he sometimes thought that his past life was not real, and something of a prophetic vision from deep within his soul.


    Or maybe it was given to him by some God or something, but he couldn''t be sure, so he put the matter at the back of his mind.


    In the end, what made him stronger and saved his life was enough for him.


    Yet the piece of scrap, or the hilt, he randomly found inside a dungeon was truly something else, proving the reality of his first life.


    Not that Jash had the mental capacity to go into that debate at the moment.


    He was struggling to recover and not let anything happen to his mana veins as well as the mana core, or else it would spell disaster for him.


    His mana core lacked mana at the moment as it was being spread through five focal points, while the rest thinned in the veins.


    Instead of flowing inside his whole body, the mana was trying to spread while at the same time, it was being refined by the mana core.


    He still had to rank up and only because of the denser mana concentration around him was he safe.


    Thus, he actively began absorbing mana the moment he realized that drinking the mana recovery potion didn''t help much.


    This was a delicate step that needed to be performed carefully, as its implications would greatly affect the rank up.


    Due to this, Jash had to somewhat give up on forming 7 nodes for the time being, and instead break through to Mid E-Rank.


    Slowly, the mana from the surroundings entered through his skin, mouth, nose, ears and every part of his body.


    It rushed in as if a dam bursting through and his mana core greedily accepted all the mana coming from outside.


    Of course, refining it to a Light Yellow color wasn''t easy, given it also then had to be re-refined to Yellow color.


    Not like the color really mattered, but its density and purity were the major factors.


    Thus, the ambient mana guzzled crazily into his body to the point of running amok as Jash forced it to stay near the core.


    His half empty core happily took everything in, putting great strain on his physical body as it wasn''t ready for the sudden change. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just earlier, Jash had created some mana dense areas in his mana veins at five different organs, making the current situation worse.


    If it was a simple breakthrough, things wouldn''t have gone wrong, to begin with.


    ''I can''t give up,'' Jash reaffirmed his decision in his mind, forcing himself to not lose his focus.


    In the event that he relaxed for even a second, he might be crippling himself...


    During the rank-up process, it was necessary to increase the density inside the core, but in Jash''s case there was now an added layer of difficulty.


    Not just the core, he also had to supply the refined and denser mana into the five areas or nodes.


    Though this step would naturally elevate his mana levels to an extreme, even more than some of the talented mages.


    After all, these steps were crucial factors in deciding the increase in strength a person would get due to their breakthrough.


    It was obvious that people in the same rank did not have the same strength as many factors were linked to the substantial increase in the overall strength of the person.


    And knowing all of it, Jash was pushing himself not just to his limits, but even beyond to increase his chances of living.


    He wasn''t sure if his presence would worsen the situation or hasten the other party''s plans, but it sure as hell didn''t feel great to be unprepared.


    Thus, he maintained his semblance of sanity and calmness despite the pain and mental strain of it all.


    Jash''s body was drenched in sweat as he had to suffer needlessly from pain.


    Typically, the rank-up process was not a painful one, only requiring immense concentration.


    ''So much,'' Jash gritted his teeth as the mana concentration around him rose to another level.


    He felt a sensation similar to being submerged deep inside a water body as the pressure from the mana was immense.


    With his core at its limit and the nodes not ready to refine mana, he couldn''t absorb the ambient mana anymore.


    So the excess mana had formed somewhat of a thin shell all around Jash''s body.


    And a part of it seemed to be pulled in, getting absorbed by his body every few seconds as the core finished refining.


    It was a never ending process, but it was a necessary step to become stronger and Jash was willing to handle the pain that came along with it.


    The refined mana traveled through his mana veins, getting stuck at the five nodes in the order that they were created.


    Starting from the heart to the spleen, then the lungs, kidneys and liver.


    Only after complete yellow mana had passed through them, replacing the light yellow mana did Jash heave a breath of relief.


    He was close to finishing his breakthrough despite the problems he faced yet it went even better than his expectations.


    Suddenly, a wave of mana erupted from within him, dispelling the thin layer of mana cloaking him.


    Jash had successfully advanced to Mid E-Rank with his new mana circulation technique, which was actually an old one.


    But it was the same thing.


    He had successfully completed his first step, and all he needed to do now was to focus on stabilizing himself for the next month or so.


    ''Maybe a few months,'' he thought, unsure of the time it would take to stabilize himself.


    Shaking his head to get rid of such thoughts, his mind lingered to his mana.


    His mana core had naturally increased in size with denser mana, but the five nodes did boost his mana capacity by 20%.


    It was a little below his expectations, but it was better than nothing.


    "If only I could try that," Jash sighed, regretting not being able to complete his initial plans.


    In fact, he wanted to test the limit of his mana core, to see how much mana he could force into it.


    If only he could do that, his mana core would have a bigger size, and his mana pool would increase by leaps and bounds.


    "No matter, the next time I do it, I will also have 5 auxiliary nodes to help me propel the mana pool to another level."


    Telling himself that, he finally began to let the mana flow inside his mana veins, using the new mana circulation technique.


    And the change was obvious, Jash had a broad smile on his face as he exclaimed, "Unbelievable!"

 Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Mana Circulation Pathway

    The mana inside his body followed a strange pathway after exiting the mana core.


    First, it passed through the mana veins around the heart, then to the spleen, and cycled back to the lungs.


    The next instant, the mana went to the kidneys filled by the liver and returned to the mana core, forming a complete cycle.


    Of course, not every drop of mana followed the pathway; only more than half did, while the rest spread throughout the body.


    It enriched the body and increased its strength and resistance due to the mana going back and forth continuously.


    This entire process was referred to as mana circulation, and every hunter did it without fail.


    Even if they were mages, they did have mana veins to let the mana spread to their skin and interact with the atmospheric mana to cast spells.


    However, Jash had created a different kind of mana circulation than any known.


    ''Should I reverse the flow?'' he wondered if his body would be able to handle it but sighed, giving up on it in the end.


    Unlike his casual words, if any other hunter dared to run their mouth, they would be afraid to jinx themselves and actually reverse their mana flow.


    Simply put, reversing the mana flow would be nothing but a path to suicide and one could only serve as a time bomb at that point.


    Yet Jash knew that his mana circulation was different and he really wanted to try it.


    If his current mana circulation pathway was gentle and seemed to represent a flow that of nature, then should he reverse it, it would become its polar opposite.


    It would become the embodiment of chaos to some degree, but it would boost him to unparalleled levels.


    However, the price would be internal mana injuries if he exceeded the safe limit and prolonged its use.


    Still, it was far better than dying just to reverse the mana flow in the human body.


    Not that he had the guts to do it if not for wide mana channels, or the mana would end up disrupting itself.


    As it would clash in two opposite cycles, one couldn''t be too sure what would be the result of it.


    "Haa... I am still lacking compared to my past self," Jash sighed, getting up and shaking the sweat off his arms.


    He directly walked out of the two rooms and went to take a shower to cleanse himself as well as cool down.


    Although the water had long begun to prick him like dozens of needles, he still continued to take cold showers.


    "So refreshing," he muttered after exiting the shower, mist emanating from his mouth, while wiping his face with a soft towel.


    Rather than doing anything more, he just dressed himself into a soft and comfy pajamas.


    A heavy weariness washed over him, urging him to sleep and recover his body from the mental fatigue.


    If not for having gone through one life already, he would indeed be grunting and on the verge of fainting from the pain.


    Yet he seemed completely fine; alas, he knew better than to overwork and overestimate himself.


    Anyways, the next day the joint classes would begin and his life at the Academy would only get tougher.


    So, it was fine to indulge in sleep for more than 10 hours for the last time, right?


    With that thought on his mind, he slept with a clean conscience, uncaring about anything else.


    ¡ªRing!


    Naturally, the forced alarm buzzed, waking him up as he was incapable of waking up before being forced to.


    He somehow didn''t complain and actually got ready on time, exiting his room with slightly droopy eyes.


    ''Is she not here today?'' he thought half-heartedly, not seeing Ziva on the ground floor and directly ordered the same breakfast as yesterday.


    "Make that two sets," he said before backing away coolly, finding Ziva just exiting the lift.


    One could only imagine her shock at seeing the late guy here early, even having ordered breakfast.


    However, his lips could only twitch at her expressions, making him wonder, ''Just what does she think of me?''


    Nevertheless, he chose to let go of it, feeling slightly under the weather due to having pushed himself just the day prior.


    "Hm," Ziva narrowed her eyes, studying him with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, feeling something different about him.


    "What are you doing?" Jash asked after seeing her strange actions.


    "Nothing, nothing, it''s just that you seemed... different today," she replied while continuing her scrutiny, ignoring his speechless look.


    "Maybe you fell for me?" Jash wanted to joke at first but cringed inwardly at his own words, swallowing them whole.


    "Ahem," he coughed to put away his feelings of embarrassment. "It''s no big deal, I broke through," he shrugged.


    "Oh, so you broke through," Ziva nodded as if it made complete sense but it didn''t!


    "Wait, what? Didn''t you only breakthrough recently??" she blurted out in surprise. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah? What''s wrong with that? I just reached Mid-E Rank," he said it casually.


    His tone of voice could really anger others to death if they heard the insignificance and disregard with which he considered the matter.


    Well, who else other than him could consider it no big deal?


    In the end, Ziva just gave up having a civil talk with him, choosing to ignore him and directly left after breakfast.


    ''Not like we have the same class right now,'' Jash shrugged, unbothered by her leaving.


    Today was Jash''s class for [Elemental Theory] and Jash was going to the class through the exchange sector.


    ''It''s a joint class, only with students who opted for it,'' he recalled, knowing that not many chose it.


    In fact, only a little over 100 students had enrolled in it.


    Only mages studied this subject, and the number of mages among the Hunters was lower than other paths.


    But Jash did find a few familiar faces.


    The first one was Caera herself who had chosen it despite knowing her element and being a Battlemage.


    Aside from her, there was Rura, Lyra, Vivia, and Caeron already seated but he was sure that he would see more familiar faces soon.


    It mattered little if they knew him or not as he could still recognize them, thanks to the novel''s descriptions being quite accurate.


    That was one thing he was surely grateful for.


    The Elemental Theory was conducted in the Mage Art Block and seeing Jash here made the students whisper skeptically.


    They refused to believe it was him, but his different uniform was hard to miss for anyone.


    Still, it was not like too many students had seen him as there were five such blocks in the Academy:


    Mage Art Sector, Weapon Art Sector, Research Sector, Artisan Sector, and Arena Sector.


    Utility Sector and Exchange Sector were different from these five as these were where classes were conducted.


    Each of these sectors was five times the size of all Blocks 1 to 5 combined as these sectors were common places where students from different years could be seen.


    ''Really now?'' Jash sighed, aware that this was a surefire way to end up meeting Seniors who would obviously not avoid their juniors.


    Even some of the Year Representative of the freshmen had been bullied right here yet Jash seemed to have none of it on his mind as he had already settled onto a seat at the back.

 Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Provoking Intentions

    ''There are only two classes today,'' Jash recalled, putting his hand on the table in front of him.


    His first class was naturally Elemental Theory and the second one was the common subject: Beast Theory.


    Naturally, people were paying attention to him, glancing from the corners of their eyes and the most obvious one was Caera.


    If not for being caught in a conversation, she wanted to go and ask him why he was here in the first place.


    But Jash didn''t seem to care for the obvious glances, some even unfriendly, as he observed the classroom.


    Just like any other place in the academy, the classroom was located inside one of the many huge buildings in the Mage Art Sector.


    ''The class sure is spacious,'' he commented inwardly, noting that the room seemed more than enough for 200 students.


    Not like it mattered as all the classrooms were built with spatial runes to increase the size to accommodate extra students. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What is he doing here?" a boy whispered, trying to not let him hear it, but his tone of hostility was too obvious.


    Jash smiled at the boy, who immediately averted his face as if he had been caught red-handed.


    ''Looks like someone I eliminated,'' Jash mused, unfeeling of the gazes he was being showered with.


    It was quite obvious that Jash was a swordsman, so there was no need to attend this particular subject or so everyone thought.


    They truly didn''t want to imagine him being a mage as well as that would be a fatal hit to the vain pride of these mages.


    Thankfully, Jash was really not a mage or who knew how many would want to quit this path and spend the rest of their lives complaining that life wasn''t fair.


    ''What an interesting thing,'' Jash commented, observing the transparent orb placed in front of him.


    He seemed oblivious to the gazes but had already noticed every single one directed at him.


    It was just that no one had done or said anything that needed him to take action as the students were well-behaved.


    ''Mages are really better than those barbaric weapon wielders,'' Jash thought with a smile, increasing his view on mages.


    In his eyes, they appeared more eager to study and explore the mysteries of magic than using bruteforce for everything.


    It was already a pleasant sight to him as he enjoyed the peace and quiet despite the eager students.


    "Ah, why are you here?" Caera asked after finally being able to stand up and come to him.


    "For the Elemental Theory class, of course," Jash answered with an expression as if he was looking at an idiot.


    His expression naturally infuriated Caera as she returned to her seat, grumbling under her breath, "Do what you want..."


    ''So childish,'' Jash thought, choosing to ignore her for the time being as that was for the better.


    He definitely didn''t want to spar and end up accidentally injuring her, so angering her was a better option.


    As time ticked by, the class started to fill with the eager students arriving and seating freely due to abundant free seats.


    Some students'' entries had turned head his or her way to catch a glimpse of their beauty.


    Of course, the beauties made the hearts of many boys present in the class flutter, just like girls squealed at the handsome guys.


    Whispers of students could be heard in the whole classroom, and slowly they seemed to have forgotten about the anomaly.


    But the person in question was rather relieved to have lost that attention as he arrived earlier.


    ''If I arrived late, all the shitty attention would be on me,'' he reaffirmed his decision to arrive early during his classes.


    It was better than being the topic of the class by arriving a minute or two before the Professor arrived.


    Unlike the typical protagonists who always arrived late to catch attention, he hated that the most.


    ''Being punctual sure is great,'' he nodded, smiling to himself, appreciating the peace that came with it.


    If only Caera or Ziva had heard his thoughts, they would team up to beat the shit out of him for saying that.


    He was the one who used to arrive at the last minute and he had the gall to preach about being punctual or whatnot!


    ''Seems like someone''s here,'' Jash noted as the voices in the classroom died down.


    The one who entered was a female Professor who walked without care into the classroom.


    "Hello, my name is Sharon Maythwright, and I am the professor¨C"


    She suddenly stopped talking as words froze in her throat as soon as she gazed around the students present.


    "Jash Ramille," she called out, asking, "Why are you here?"


    "To study the subject of [Elemental Theory], but of course," Jash answered with an innocent expression on his face.


    It was as if he failed to understand the true meaning of the professor''s question, but it was not like anyone could outright accuse him.


    "Didn''t you hear that this is the class for mages?" Sharon asked, implying that why was he here when he should be in the sword art class.


    "Uhm, yes? It didn''t mention that as an prerequisite, meaning I could attend it," Jash replied with a casual shrug.


    It was as if he was not aware of the consequences of his actions, but that was all an act, a face he put upon.


    Sadly, calling him out wasn''t that easy as it would be the same as accusing him of conspiring against the Professor...


    "Shouldn''t you be in the Sword Art class?" Sharon could only proceed to ask this question so as to not agitate Jash in manner.


    "Not like the Academy has any professors to teach me about swords," Jash retorted casually, his expression earnest.


    If Caera didn''t know any better, she would truly think Jash believed in his words from the bottom of his heart.


    ''Damn it! He''s so good at this,'' she cursed inwardly, not having the slightest intention to rebuke him.


    In fact, he agreed with his words as she too had not chosen any subjects for bows or archery, trusting her prior lessons to be enough.


    And if not, learning from someone just because she had to wasn''t in her nature, especially when Cornelius had taught her himself.


    Unlike her, Jash''s words totally stunned the other students who widened their eyes in disbelief.


    It was their first time seeing someone be truthful yet insulting at the same time, especially about the Academy.


    And it was on the face of a Professor to boot!


    They didn''t know much about Sharon, but surely, she wouldn''t like his behavior and kick him out for his arrogance, right?


    However, their expectations failed as nothing of the sort happened.


    Sharon only rubbed her temples and gave up, saying, "Do as you wish."


    ''Predictable,'' Jash thought, already aware of such an outcome, knowing that his words were indeed the truth.


    Of course, it was his acting that did wonders, making Sharon find some truth in his words.


    Though she could surely see a headache approaching in the form of the Professor in charge of the Sword Art class.


    It was easy to imagine how he would feel if he listened to Jash''s "honest" thoughts about his class.


    But Jash didn''t seem to care about the future troubles coming his way.


    Instead he smiled, ''Got saved from that protagonist and his endless PDA...''

 Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Elemental Insights [Extra]

    "Well, I will start today''s class," Sharon began. "As you know, each spell is categorized into an element:


    Fire, Water, Lightning, Wind, Earth, Light, Healing, Sound, Mental Element, Space Element and more."


    Taking a timely pause, she continued, "Any spell a mage uses can be categorized under these elements. Apart from these, there are also advanced elements,


    Advanced elements are a higher form of the basic ones, but lightning, mental, and space can still be considered advanced."


    Taking a look around, she asked, "Does anyone know why that is the case?"


    Lyra raised her hand instantaneously, so Sharon gestured for her to stand up, "Yes, Lyra Thalorien."


    The whole class turned to look at her, much to Lyra''s satisfaction as she nodded and began.


    "Out of all the elements, those three can only be learned by people who are born with the affinity to use them," Lyra answered precisely, making Sharon smile.


    "Exactly," Sharon said, gesturing for Lyra to sit down. "But there is a problem with these elements. Has anyone heard of it?"


    Sharon had asked the question on a whim, not expecting anyone to know of it as the three elements were really rare, to begin with.


    But to her surprise, someone raised their hand!


    "Yes, Jash Ramille," Sharon gestured, not breaking her professionalism in the least.


    ''Ugh, I thought someone would know,'' Jash lamented inwardly, having only raised his hand lazily.


    He was sure that all those privileged students had a vague idea as that was why those elemental affinities weren''t very much favored in noble families.


    Still, he had been called and had to answer.


    While all this might have seemed to take forever, all it took was the time that Jash took to lazily stand up.


    "Using these elements is somewhat like killing oneself," Jash replied briefly, not interested in going over the details.


    But the way Professor Sharon glared at him prompted him into doing just that.


    "For lightning, controlling it is the same as trying to contain waves of water in a jar as the element itself is highly destructive and can destroy oneself if one isn''t careful,"


    "Then, Space and mental elements are similar, as in the amount of strain their spells put on the mind, which is considerably higher than with other elements,"


    "But space element is strictly tougher than mental elements as the sub-types of mental elements are easier to master, though it''s hard if one isn''t talented enough,"


    "Though both elements don''t have many Hunters at higher ranks, even finding one at S-Rank is a miracle, let alone at higher ranks."


    Jash elaborated in one single breath in a calm demeanor despite his answer not being thorough, it was enough to work with.


    Yet the students around were dumbfounded as he had just called the mental element easy while the consensus was on it being difficult. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not like it was his fault, he was supposed to have only seen Ziva use it, who did it quite effortlessly, so his words made sense.


    Only he knew how much of a lie he muttered, space or mental elements weren''t all that difficult in his eyes.


    ''The problem is someone being able to master both of them at the same time,'' he mused, knowing someone like that.


    They were a true monster and just so happened to be one of the late stage Villains that the protagonist only defeated due to his plot armor.


    ''Even then, it was at the expense of one of his harem women,'' Jash scoffed inwardly as he recalled the text from the novel.


    "Silence!" Sharon exclaimed to quieten the whispers that erupted because of Jash''s bold words.


    "You can sit down," Sharon gestured to Jash who sat comfortably, regardless of how others viewed him.


    "Although he didn''t explain in detail, what he said is true. Especially the space element and why spatial magic is only used with runes inside magic engineering and artifacts,"


    "There are still spatial mages, but none lived a long life, reaching at most the age of their thirties," Sharon explained, looking around the class before she explained about the lightning and mental element, though briefly.


    Well, she only expanded on Jash''s words to give a clarification to the students before they started to look down on those elements.


    "Coming back to Advance elements, there are several such elements like Ice, Mist, Magma, Plant, Sound, etc,"


    "Normally, a B-Rank Hunter who is a mage can also cast Ice magic, but that doesn''t mean the mage was born with an innate talent to cast said element,"


    "Advance elements are all about Innate Talent. For example, I was born with Innate Talent for the Magma Element."


    Saying so, Sharon raised her hand, and a ball of fire that turned into molten magma shortly after appeared in her hand.


    The small ball of magma was hot enough to melt aluminum easily, increasing the temperature of the whole room instantly.


    Students in the front rows felt the heat waves directly on their skin, while those in the back only experienced a slight sting.


    Due to the concentration being too small and Sharon''s control over it, the heat didn''t radiate too fast, allowing the students to not get burnt.


    And Sharon removed her spell shortly after, aware of its scalding temperature.


    However, she had only demonstrated a small part of her abilities yet she could make the students gulp in nervousness.


    ''That was quite a show,'' Jash noted, guessing the temperature to be around 700 Celsius as the melting point of Aluminium was approximately 660 Celisus.


    "Apart from these elements, there is a subcategory called Miscellaneous Magic," Sharon continued her lecture regardless of the students'' reactions.


    "This type of magic does not fit any elemental category and is the rarest, most versatile form of magic you can have,"


    "Sadly, unlike most elements, only people who are born with them can use such magic."


    She seemed to have some sort of regret in her voice as she said those words before turning to look at Caera and Vivia.


    "The best example is two of your classmates present here, Caera Ramille and Vivia," Sharon pointed them out.


    It immediately brought all the attention to them, but the two girls didn''t shy away from it.


    Caera was a Battlemage and Vivia had her healing element which was considered an auxiliary element as well as part of Miscellaneous Magic.


    While other elements like water, plant, wood, light and more did have healing properties, they couldn''t hope to match the healing element itself.


    Of course, only at the same rank, but if it was a talented person with the Healing Element, they could be comparable to one or two sub-ranks higher Healer with a different element.


    Alas, the element was too rare, similar to Caera''s situation of being a Battelmage.


    ''It''s not just the two of them,'' Jash mused, knowing that elves could use something like a Summoning Magic to summon magical spirits based on their mana and borrow their help.


    It was different from the legend of spirits in the Elven Land as the Summoning Magic wasn''t a lie, but it was just that rare to be counted as Miscellaneous Magic.


    "The one who coined the term ''Miscellaneous Magic'' was Archmage Christopher," Sharon said, making the students exclaim.

 Chapter 204: Chapter 204: His Element

    Archmage Christopher was a legendary mage from 200 years ago and not many had reached the same level as him in the entire history of the Solarnelle Empire.


    In fact, those who achieved similar feats to him could be counted on one hand.


    However, Jash had a different reaction after hearing that name, his eyes inadvertently glancing at Caeron, who instantly felt uncomfortable.


    ''What''s going on?'' Caeron wondered, unaware that the ghost of Archmage Christopher was laughing hysterically, like an idiot.


    "Kuahahahahaha, see, see, this great me has become a legend," Archmage Christopher laughed out loud in his illusory form.


    "And yet you died old man," the only woman among them commented.


    "Heh! O'' Great Swordmaster Alour, just admit that you''re jealous because your name has been forgotten," Christopher smirked at the petite woman''s ghost.


    "Hoho, there''s no need to be hostile now is there," an old man said while stroking his beard with a warm smile.


    ""SHUT UP! YOU SENILE OLD MAN!!""


    Both Alour and Christopher shouted at him, getting on each other''s nerves like always.


    "You should give up on them, Mikhail," a dainty figure commented with his eyes closed, appearing young.


    Yet he was in fact the oldest among them, being trapped for centuries before any of them.


    "Yeah, we can finally see the changed world, so it''s stupid to talk to them," the last among them commented.


    He was different from the dainty man, Alkeus, who was an ancient scholar and only coveted texts and history.


    Unlike Alkeus, this man, Jack, was a merchant who had the moniker


    ''The Golden Merchant: the one who never makes losses''.


    So, his goal was clear to everyone, to go out and see if his merchant organization was still alive or if it was scourged by the hyenas.


    However, all of it eluded the person in question, Caeron, who was oblivious to everything.


    The Five Ghosts couldn''t actively interact with Caeron, nor could they grant him any of their powers at once as Caeron''s mind and body were just too weak.


    Of course, it wasn''t that their standards were absurd, but if anyone knew about the things they did... they would only blame Caeron for being useless.


    Though jealousy would rise in one''s heart if one knew of it, there were already two people aware of it: Amael and Jash. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sadly, neither could do anything about it.


    ''The five Legends of the past took a liking to Caeron, therefore they all decided to possess him,'' Jash sighed secretly, being in deep thought.


    He could see how Caeron was feeling uncomfortable during the class, but it was only because the magic being taught in the class got on Christopher''s nerves.


    The man was an Archmage and knew that all of this was nothing but lies!


    True Magic wasn''t like that, but could he blame anyone?


    No one born after him had discovered it, let alone no one being his equal in his generation or even one generation before him.


    ''Just what kind of luck he has? He''s more of a main character than me!'' Jash lamented inside.


    Truly, Jash had met Amael who was stronger than the norm and the same went for the protagonist.


    Then, there was Ziva, Caera, Vivia, Elara, Lyra, and the list goes on and on...


    ''Also, the one with a longer Awakening time than me!'' he cursed inwardly.


    At this moment, Jash truly felt to be nothing more than an extra, but did he hate the feeling?


    Not really.


    ''But why the heck are all of them so freaking useless!!''


    He felt enraged at their inability to save this darned world on their own, or even prevent his death.


    Like hell he would work hard if he could trust in their abilities.


    If it were the old him before getting the memories of his past life, he was sure that he would just leave such troubles to others.


    Even currently, Christopher was helping Caeron to get a better understanding of things and increase his proficiency in magic.


    The 5 Legends of the Past didn''t mean any harm to him, instead granting him any help he needed without him realizing.


    ''If only I also had some cheat other than these half-baked memories that elude me at the important moment!''


    Jash just cursed inwardly, not even paying attention to Sharon anymore, which she obviously noticed, but didn''t care about.


    It wasn''t like the Professors were tasked to teach everyone, their task was to teach the class and answer doubts.


    If a student wasn''t paying attention, then... it''s on them for being negligent.


    That''s why many nobles were going to fall in their rankings, becoming easier targets for the noble factions.


    What better than giving their vain pride a soft stoke and telling them they were special and didn''t deserve to be treated similar to commoners??


    ''I really derailed there, didn''t I?'' Jash sighed, realizing that he got lost in his thoughts during a class and finally regained his focus.


    At that moment, Sharon asked, "Any other questions?"


    But no one said anything or raised their hands, prompting her to nod and move on, "Okay, then, to the main point of today''s lecture."


    "As you see, there are some transparent orbs in front of you, these are affinity orbs which display all your major elemental affinity," Sharon introduced the orbs.


    "Each of you will now put your hand on these orbs, and it will show which element suits you best," Sharon ordered the students who followed her words.


    A few were already aware of their major affinity element but most were unaware of it.


    The results were easily expected, with the most common element of affinity being fire, and then water and so on.


    There were no students with the lightning element, but some had rare elements as well.


    Caera had affinity with fire, then magma while Rura had affinity with earth and fire while Lyra had affinity with water, wind, and ice.


    Vivia only had an affinity with the healing and light element, not surprising given she was from the Church.


    The oddball was Caeron who seemed to have affinity with all elements except the mental and space element.


    This surprised Sharon quite a bit, but she quickly masked her reaction.


    Jash put his hand on the orb, after observing a few of the results, wanting to know if his guess was correct or not.


    And the orb instantly showed a golden color representing the light element before changing to red for fire, green for wind, brown for earth, blue for water, light blue for ice, orange for magma, deep green for plant element...


    The list went on and on until it turned slightly black in the center, unnoticeable to anyone but Jash before turning purple.


    ''I have an affinity for both light and darkness?'' Jash mused, surprised by it, but it just made him happier.


    In the end the orb had almost all the colors from the spectrum, but it was the golden color that shone seemed to be dominating every other.


    His results were even more monstrous than Caeron''s, astonishing everyone in the classroom, as he even had the Space element, its color being purple.


    Thankfully, his orb wasn''t the brightest on any of them, being equal for all but the light element.


    It truly came as a surprise since he wasn''t from the church, but he knew why it was there...

 Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Beyond the Norm

    Unlike others being surprised by him having so many affinities, there was also a hidden feeling of gloating in their eyes.After all, Jash was a swordsman and he would be busy honing his swordsmanship, so the plethora of elements would only become a hindrance to him.


    Alas, those were pure delusions as they had no idea who Jash was.


    ''This makes things easier,'' Jash thought, knowing that getting an elemental awakening wasn''t the same as knowing one''s elements.


    But didn''t the Academy have something to help the students attain their elemental awakening?


    Surely, it did!


    And that''s why Jash''s face broke into a thin, imperceptible smile as he knew that going to each element once was the best way to go about it.


    If it was his first life, he might have to actually be burnt or frozen to get an awakening of sorts or wait for a life-and-death situation.


    ''If only things were this easy back then,'' he lamented, but if others knew of his plans, they would spurt blood out of anger.


    Simply put, knowing the elements was just the first step and most would spend days, weeks, or even months to go through an elemental awakening.


    Most would stop at their major affinity, devoting themselves to one element for life and become proficient at it.


    Not only would it save time, but also make their affinity increase with their own effort, which was already difficult for their main element.


    Only those rich people with elemental rooms had the guts to dabble in auxiliary elements, or those that actually needed it.


    Why would someone like a blacksmith not want fire or metal affinity even if it was their secondary or tertiary one?


    Similarly, a potion maker would want fire affinity or water affinity as both could be used in making potions.


    Such people would even ignore their main element, putting all their effort into the element they actually needed.


    However, the progress for one''s main affinity could be said to be at a snail''s pace, let alone the ones going after secondary affinity and so on.


    But did that mean that Jash was also the same as them?


    No!


    He already had enough experience of one life and it wasn''t like he didn''t have these many elements back then.


    In fact, the only surprising elements for him were space and darkness, which he didn''t have in his first life.


    ''And I still didn''t get any advanced elements or mental elements or those ones,'' Jash''s eyes twitched as he recalled that.


    It was really insane how he was asking for more when he was crying about others being useless just a bit earlier in class.


    ''At least I can use my mana circulation fully after awakening to the elements,'' he mused happily.


    Meanwhile, besides the students, Caera and Sharon had a frown painting their faces as they saw Jash''s results.


    It was one thing to have other affinities, but space? That wasn''t good.


    However the two remained quiet, with Caera keeping it in her heart to talk to him about it later.


    It would have been a different case if Jash had gotten an affinity like gravity, a sub-type of space, but he had pure space element affinity.


    This downplayed his light element affinity along with his other elements.


    ''Good thing those two didn''t attend this class,'' Jash thought, wondering what would''ve happened if they were here.


    Surely, one light as bright as the sun and another as dark as the abyss would show up. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, Amael and Helios seemed to be aware of such a result, instead opting to take the Sword Art Class.


    And currently in the Sword Art Class that was happening parallelly, both Amael and Helios were together.


    Though Amael had an amiable and affable persona while talking to everyone, Helios was kind of left alone as only those from the Church were near him.


    Alas, even they didn''t like him much, preferring the soft-spoken Vivia over him as she was the Saintess in their heart.


    Caeron and Helios had come out of nowhere, disrupting their peace, quiet, and reverence for the Saintess, garnering many haters¡ªboth young and old alike.


    In that class, the professor in charge was a man with curly brown hair who had begun instructing the students long ago.


    Suddenly, a frown appeared on his face as he asked abruptly, "Where is Jash Ramille?"


    His tall stature and broad shoulders gave him quite an intimidating look, startling the students following his guidance.


    Only after his voice echoed did the others notice that their Year Representative was indeed absent from the Sword Art Class.


    Meanwhile Amael only snickered in his heart, ''There''s no way he would join this class, given his personality.''


    Though he was curious why the professor cared about it, he didn''t care enough, being wary of Jash despite the uncomfortable feeling of closeness with him.


    ''His death is inevitable, I will only be delaying and worsening it if I get swayed by these emotions,'' Amael told himself for the umpteenth time.


    {...}


    His system could only remain quiet at the moment, unsure whether to warn its Host about the change was the right decision or not.


    Similar to Amael''s system, Helios''s system was also in a dilemma, unable to get any read on the person named Jash Ramille.


    (...)


    It wasn''t sure what to think of its Host''s decision to ignore Jash Ramille and focus on Amael Blake only, which was strange.


    (Host, the current Amael Blake hasn''t done anything to you.)


    The system tried to persuade Helios to give up on his meaningless revenge as his destiny was one of being a Hero, not of getting revenge.


    ''That''s why he''s alive, but I will be sure to eliminate him at the first sign of him turning evil,'' Helios told the system of his resolve.


    At this moment, a student barely stuttered, "P-Professor R-Ronan, I-I think he''s a-b-absent."


    Professor Ronan was confused and didn''t care about the student''s words as he continued to check the list of students while also checking on the students present.


    After all, Jash, the best swordsman among the freshmen, was not present in his lecture.


    In fact, he softly considered Jash to even be able to rival the Rank 1 of Second Year in pure swordsmanship alone.


    But talking about talent, it was obvious Jash was better.


    ''Is he sick?'' That was the only reason Ronan could think about before the worst possible scenarios came to his mind.


    He paid great attention to the list of students in the Sword Art Class and couldn''t find the name ''Jash Ramille'' in it at all.


    "This can''t be..." he muttered to himself, fearing the consequences of such an event.


    The right to choose subjects was purely given to the students, and even the most influential professors could do nothing about it.


    Heck, they didn''t even know about their future students until the first day of class, only receiving the list on their bracelet a few minutes prior.


    While Ronan was in panic, others around were looking for Jash, wanting to see him and his strange swordsmanship once again.


    Some wanted to challenge him and learn from the duel while some wanted to prove themselves by defeating him.


    Sadly for them, the boy they wanted to see was not going to appear magically out of nowhere.


    As Jash was the center of attention in a mage class and he seemed oblivious to it, lost in his own thoughts.


    He was truly an anomaly, someone beyond the norm...

 Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Inner Conundrum

    ''I can''t really use the space element though,'' Jash sighed inwardly, lamenting the loss of an overpowered ability.It was common knowledge that those with a pure space element affinity have a hard time controlling their emotions.


    Moreover, it was said that their mental defenses were weak and they could easily be manipulated.


    However, everything about himself had been quite the opposite, contrary to the public information about him.


    That''s why Sharon was having a headache, trying to make sense of the situation, but couldn''t think of any possible answer.


    "Wait, that''s it, is there something wrong with the orb?"


    Such whispers in a low voice were heard loud and clear by Sharon, but she dispelled them instantly.


    "Alright, as everyone is done testing their elemental affinities, keep them in mind and try to awaken your element," She advised.


    "Now, I will teach you about the mana flow pathway of a mage, which is similar but also different from other hunters."


    Following her words, a diagram of a human inner mana circulation appeared behind her on the wall.


    "A person usually emits mana through these channels to amplify and densify their aura," she began, pointing at the outermost part of the mana veins.


    After that, she continued her explanation of how a mage used a similar mana circuit, though its application varied.


    The main emphasis was on spells, or simply the structure of the magic needed to perform.


    ''Boring,'' Jash thought, skipping past the boring stuff as he already knew about it and stopped paying attention.


    Of course, he still listened half-heartedly so as to have a rough idea of what she was teaching.


    ''Can''t have Rank 1 failing the written exams now, can we?'' he asked himself sarcastically.


    Listening to the explanations on different spells and how the higher rank spell was more complex to cast and what not, Jash frowned.


    ''These explanations... are they for real?'' he thought in disbelief, his eyes darting around to check for anyone similar to him.


    Sadly, all he saw were the students'' focused gaze as they wrote down notes and listened attentively.


    Well, it was not like Sharon was wrong or anything, but the person Jash compared it all to was simply a genius. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In fact, the term ''genius'' didn''t fully capture his skill leve.


    That was a mage who could perform complex and higher tier spells with ease, shortening the amount of calculations and complexity to a minimum.


    ''That''s the true power that a mage can emit,'' he mused, comparing the current childish display to that monstrous one.


    Still, Jash was no stranger to novels about magic and even RPG and MMO games, so he had seen all kinds of crazy stuff.


    ''If only I could replicate this reality,'' he lamented inwardly.


    If only he could replicate that certain girl who could only cast a single spell and go around saying


    "Explosion is ART!"


    A shadow of a smile appeared on his face as he remembered watching that anime and several others flashed in his head.


    It was truly surprising how he had the mental capacity to be distracted while also listening to Sharon.


    But only he seemed to know of this, considering it normal...


    He had no idea how wrong he was; this abnormal mental capacity and strength, along with that strange energy protecting his soul, could easily help him reach SSS-Rank despite using the Space Element.


    However, one thing that he had long noticed was that his mana veins were somewhat stranger than an average hunter''s.


    It was different from when his grandfather Inigo was surprised after the event, but Jash had noticed an abnormality.


    After he had formed those pseudo-cores, nodes, or junctions of mana inside his mana circuit, the mana was always passively flowing.


    Due to the movements of his internal organs, the mana could obviously not stay in one place, being forced to move to the next, cycling at a slow pace.


    ''Will I also become a Magic Swordsman? Wielding a sword in one hand and casting formidable spells from another?''


    Jash thought about it, but didn''t seem to have any happy thoughts about it.


    While a normal person might indeed call it fortune and walk both paths, trying to become invincible, Jash had no such lofty goals.


    All he wanted was to get strong enough so that others didn''t mess with them at all.


    But he often thought how it would be far better to have the strongest strongest family in the world, allowing him to laze around without worrying about the future.


    ''If not for the threat being out of their capabilities, I would''ve not even bothered awakening,'' he sighed with a hint of melancholy in his eyes.


    Unlike some oblivious idiot, he knew that his so-called paradies¡ªhis family¡ªhe loved so much could also vanish in this heartless world.


    ''Even the protagonist barely won with his life clinging by a thread,'' he recalled, not knowing it wasn''t the end.


    After that event, there was more, but he had no idea, a cloud hovering in his consciousness, preventing his mind from penetrating the hidden memories.


    If only he knew that the plot armor protagonist was nothing more than doomed in the end, he would''ve tried even harder, maybe.


    However, there was no reality based on what-ifs.


    Reality was based on solid facts, and fact was Jash was lost in reminiscing when he heard something interesting, bringing him back to the class.


    "...but there is one other way to cast a high-tier spell without doing it yourself," Sharon paused, making some students quite surprised.


    Well, the privileged class didn''t even care, but Jash found it interesting for a different reason altogether.


    "One can use an artifact, although the amount of mana required is lower than doing it yourself, you cannot control the output of the spell."


    Her words calmed down the agitated students as she was quite good at explaining but it had dragged too long, making some students a bit sleepy.


    Sensing the class coming to and end, Jash began musing the possibility of spellcasting but gave up for now.


    ''Maybe I can give it a try after preventing my impending doom,'' he concluded, knowing that at most he would be better than most mages.


    After all, he knew the way to shorten the complexity of the steps required in each spell, having heard of it from the genius himself.


    Well, not really heard, but read it in the novel, but same thing, same thing.


    Still, it was important to mention that he could only produce similar results, not exactly like that, but inferior.


    However, all that was talk for future as the goals in his mind were increasing his master of his sword and awakening his latent elements.


    His instincts told him to focus on growing stronger in the shortest time possible, but it was not like he could neglect the foundation.


    At that time, Sharon ended the class.


    "That''s all, see you again," she said and began walking away, before stopping mid-way.


    "I would suggest going read things from the library to get a better understanding of things before coming to me with questions."


    Her tone was quite firm unlike her earlier soft-spoken voice, startling the students, but they understood her intent, nodding instantly.


    ''She''s probably been through a bombardment of meaningless questions, so she hates it.''


    That was the thought on the minds of the students from humble origins, but the privileged ones knew the real reason.

 Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Is this really Beast Theory Class?

    Meanwhile, the Sword Art Class was also over with a lot of confused faces, wondering where Jash Ramille was.The only one unbothered by his absence was Ziva, who could vaguely guess in her heart that he wouldn''t be taking this daunting class at any costs.


    Exiting the class, she returned to Block 1, where the next class [Beast Theory] was going to be taught.


    As it was one of the four common subjects¡ªMana Manipulation, Beast Theory, the Duel Class and Dungeon Theory¡ªit wasn''t a joint class.


    The Duel Class was the sole exception, where the entire batch joined to learn battle arts and other essential skills.


    Of course, there were more advanced subjects, but again, they could only be opted for after the assessment test was done.


    That''s why all the students were returning to their designated classes, not wanting to be late.


    Surprisingly, the classes didn''t have much break between them, just enough time for the students to move from one classroom to another.


    Having already noticed this, almost everyone was seated, eagerly waiting for the professor.


    ''I don''t see anyone eager about this class,'' Jash mused, looking at the disinterested and disgusted faces of the students.


    It wasn''t that the subject was bad, but there were rumors about studying beast anatomy and even having to dissect monsters.


    For the wealthy privileged young masters, how could they willingly accept such arrangements?


    Though none voiced the dissatisfaction, even the students from humble origins didn''t want to get involved in all this.


    ''Idiots.''


    That''s the only word Jash could label them as, for they were truly idiots: unaware of the truth and blaming the subject already.


    And as if to prove them incorrect, a man dressed neatly in formal clothes with the Academy insignia emblazoned on the breast pocket and shoulder cuff entered the class.


    He wore black-rimmed glasses and appeared somewhat young, giving Jash the impression of a con artist.


    ''Looks more like the gigolo who cons young rich wealthy ladies into going to bed them, tsk'' he secretly clicked his tongue.


    Unable to know that his image had been degraded to a lowly gigolo, the professor introduced himself confidently.


    "I am Professor Galen, and I will teach Beast Theory for this year."


    His words though low sounding and lacking the authoritative tone of other professors nevertheless drew attention from the whole class.


    Galen looked over the whole class adjusting his glasses, smiled, satisfied at the sight of everyone paying attention


    Of course, he noticed that some had droopy eyes or disgusted expressions, but he wouldn''t comment on it.


    The only one he really wanted to chide was Jash who supported his head with the palm of his hand and had half-open eyes.


    It was as if he had no intention to listen to the class and was only putting on an act.


    Alas, one shouldn''t judge based on appearances, as Jash was probably the only one who actually had an interest in the subject.


    "Looking at your faces, I am sure you have only heard unpleasant things about Beast Theory," Galen began, choosing to ignore any objections.


    The students, startled, exchanged glances, their eyes widening in surprise, as if he had read their mind.


    "So, to rouse you up, let''s talk about our world a bit," Galen said, juggling a few stones in his hands as he approached the wall behind him.


    "Consider this our world," he said, pointing at the empty wall before using the stones and fixing them on some spots.


    "Here, we have the vast oceans, the rocky mounts, the lost lands, the underground cities, the dungeon-rich areas, the monster-infested areas and more."


    "Now, look at this land where the Solarnelle Empire exists, can you see how some regions aren''t connected fully?"


    Without waiting for the student''s response, he continued his lecture.


    "If you look at this place, surrounded by water bodies on all sides except a fifth of its one side, you will see the territory of Archduke Thalorien."


    As soon as Jash heard it, his mind recoiled, remembering information of the kingdom and why it wasn''t annexed prior by the Solarnelle Empire.


    ''So that''s how it is, huh?'' he mused, thinking about the strategic disadvantage as using ships in this word was the same as wasting resources.


    The absurd amount of monsters in the seas and skies made it impossible to traverse by them, but the teleportation portals and circles came as timely help.


    Moving on, Gelan explained about the three dukedoms, their territory, the Adonia City and many more.


    Yet he spoke no word of the elves'' or dwarves'' home, as if he didn''t know or wanted to keep it a secret because it wasn''t public information.


    ''Why is he talking about this stuff as if geography is even interesting?'' Jash mused, feeling sleepy listening to the monster anatomy turned geography lesson.


    Both weren''t related in the slightest!


    Did it make sense to say "it''s to rouse your spirits" and then teach students stuff they would find even more boring!?


    It wasn''t just Jash who felt this way, but many students did; fidgeting in their seats, stifling yawns as boredom set in, but at least they felt relief to not have to dirty their delicate hands.


    It was truly a surprise how these noble scions could succeed as hunters if they were so repulsive to just dirtying their hands.


    After all, one needed to put in the effort; grit their teeth, bleed sweat and blood, lose their sleep, and work their ass off to actually be successful.


    One can''t just be an upstart and expect everything to be given to them...


    Even the most delusional people wouldn''t be this delusional, right?


    Jash thought all of it while on the verge of sleeping, wanting nothing more than the interesting class to begin or this boring one to end.


    Though he, himself, loved a lazy life, he didn''t expect to become the strongest by doing nothing or have everything given to him.


    He knew better than anyone how much effort and sweat was needed to reach the pinnacle.


    That''s why he didn''t even want to reach the peak, alas he had somewhat accepted his fate.


    ''Ugh, I''ve read those shitty novels with


    ?Congratulations Host for slacking off, you''ve become a God by idling?


    If only those darned systems were real!''


    For the first time, Jash complained about systems, unaware that there existed real systems, and even he


    had


    one in his past life.


    But he was the one who got rid of it.


    Whenever he figured that out, who knows what kind of absurd reaction he would have?


    Anyways, that was in a distant future, and Galen came upon an interesting topic for once.


    "...and they comprise the Council of Races."


    ''Yeah, the old fogies who have heavy asses and can''t be moved at any cost,'' Jash thought, dramatically rolling his eyes.


    "Well," Gallant continued, adjusting his glasses, "As its name infers, the Council refers to the strongest hunters across the three races, namely the SSS-Rank Hunters."


    ''Yeah, yeah whatever, but what the heck does it have to do with beast theory class!?'' Jash wanted to shout that out loud. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sadly, even he wouldn''t do that to get innumerable people to hate him if he did that.


    The Council of Races was the dream of many and he was sure to offend every single one of them.


    While taking a glance behind, Jash was suddenly surprised as he noticed Elara with clenched fists.

 Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Underlying Deceptions

    ''Damn is she determined to become a member of the Council of Races or resolved herself to paint them as an enemy?''Jash was curious about her interest in the Council, knowing that it would be better if her thoughts matched his latter guess.


    ''Joining them? Laughable,'' he smiled wryly at the sheer stupidity and na?vet¨¦ of such a thought.


    But he wasn''t too sure about her line of thought, not knowing much about her except one thing that mattered to him.


    If only he could directly approach her and be blunt, but that was not a possibility as she would probably lunge at him, going for the kill.


    ''In some sense, I am her mortal enemy, after all,'' Jash thought, unaware that Ziva had seen his


    small


    movements.


    ''He''s looking at a girl?'' she thought, half surprised, half disbelieving. She knew him all too well to know he hated


    annoying


    stuff.


    It mattered not if it was a person or something, but getting involved with a girl, someone like him?


    She almost laughed at the thought, thankful for her improved self-control in preventing a laugh from escaping.


    Unlike Jash, she was indeed listening to the class despite how boring it was, also wanting to ask why Galen derailed so much from the topic.


    But then again, she remembered a certain someone who could probably derail for hours if someone didn''t tell him.


    And that certain someone had just turned his face to the front, not really interested in the Council of Races.


    The Council of Races was superior to the Hunter Association, even outranked the Solarnelle Imperial Family, which was quite contradictory.


    However, it did include important figures from the races as well as the church so it made sense and the special exception: the saintess.


    The Saintess was one such member that would get a seat in the Council even if he or she were F-Rank.


    Not like their words or opinions mattered, but it was to say that the position of Saintess or Saint carried that much allure.


    They could literally twist the narrative and have the world in their hands, but could a Saint or Saintess chosen by the Goddess of Light be wicked?


    Not a chance.


    Of course, that was how it was perceived by others but only those old fogies knew how much of a problem the current Saintess was whenever she showed up.


    After all, the Council of Races decided most rules and was the ruling authority of the world.


    And even the voting power isn''t a 1-1 situation, it can change depending on the matter and sometimes be a pure unanimous only decision.


    They called it


    ''doing it to maintain the system of our current society'',


    but was it truly?


    ''For the people, my ass!'' Jash cursed inwardly, aware of all the sinister intentions they held beyond those smiling, kind facades


    ''I''ve already been betrayed enough to know that they all just want the power to make the world bend to their whims...''


    Jash''s thoughts were outrageous, but held the cold harsh truth of any world.


    It mattered little what sleazy excuses were being thrown around as that mattered not.


    Feeling the weight increasing on his shoulders, Jash let go of his thoughts and he heard some more words from Galen.


    "Now, you must be confused about me mentioning so many things unrelated to Beast Theory, but this is the basis for the subject," he exclaimed, proud of his words.


    "Let''s begin with the first Dungeon appearance, around the time when humans didn''t use mana like we do now,"


    "Mana Core Formation was discovered and stabilized too slowly, and the first dungeon breakout exterminated majority of humanity at that time,"


    "Of course, all this is assuming that all those old records mentioned are the truth," he smiled meaningfully.


    His words were quite intriguing for students from a common background who didn''t know much about the old records.


    But the privileged students could only see them as bold words, as those records were cherished and believed by most nobility.


    Unfettered by the students'' gaze, he added, "But then, Hunters were born, and we, humans, awakened to the dormant power of mana,"


    "Though we are still improving," he smiled at his letter words, easing the atmosphere as it seemed to have taken a heavier tone.


    ''Ugh, not this anymore,'' Jash hated it inwardly as Galen continued, his hands gesturing animatedly, discussing dungeons¡ªsomething Jash knew thoroughly.


    Each Dungeon had its own unique environment and they mostly appeared in highly dense mana regions.


    Of course, not in mana rooms as they were artificially created using runed, mana stones and whatnot, but the natural regions.


    ''Not like it''s true for every dungeon out there,'' Jash mused, shuddering all over as his traumatic experience came to his mind.


    As time passed by with nothing interesting being taught, Jash had a hard time coming back to the present from his traumatic memories, suffering from PTSD.


    No matter how he survived, it was a fact that he could have very well died, his entire existence wiped out yet something strange saved him.


    And any sane person would fear the unknown, regardless of how good it seemed, as the ancient saying goes;


    "Sweet words, honeyed speech and the sweetest things may be the most poisonous."


    While Jash was busy with his own internal musings, Galen wrapped up his class and went out.


    ''What the hell?! What was even related to Beast Theory in it?!'' Jash couldn''t help but want to curse out loud, cry his indignation to the Heavens. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alas he wasn''t the wronged protagonist of a xianxia novel who would get a golden finger


    (system)


    or some passing old man would leave their inheritance to him.


    Ahem, nor would he get a ring in which some old master''s dissipating spirit existed, wanting to teach him to resurrect themselves.


    Unlike him, many students had dropped their heads down on their desks, wanting to get a good sleep after all that boring nonsense...


    Though some were eagerly conversing, stretching and making more plans to explore the Academy, or even go to the Great Library.


    However, all of it was in low voices so as to not get on the bad side of the Year Representatives as their crazy videos of the Entrance Test were still being spread.


    If not for them, some young master or young miss with an ego would throw a fit, claiming they were wronged by these classes or whatnot.


    But nobody here had the audacity to offend the scary Year Representatives who didn''t even care about the Student Council, or so the rumors were going on.


    Speaking of which, in the hallway outside other classes, students could be seen walking in groups or alone, or some forming their own cliques.


    There were even cases of


    ''protection fees''


    but as mentioned it was a loophole, not something anyone would want to involve themselves with.


    Only that the ones taking the fees were smart enough to not offend someone with a background or someone who was friends with them.


    Of course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    "Nothing much, Professor Ronan was stupefied when Jash Ramille didn''t show up to class. Apparently, he has chosen elemental theory," the first person said with a half-smiling, half-disbelieving expression.


    His friend shrugged, "Why do you even care? Not like it affects the likes of us; let''s just focus on enjoying the drama tomorrow."


    "Haha, you''re right," the first friend chuckled in agreement.

 Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Unexpected Change

    After returning to his room for the day, Jash relaxed for a bit before moving to the training room and began to warm up.A while later, as he was swinging his sword, a thought formed in his mind, ''It would be better if there were real targets.''


    He had been trying to improve his sword mastery and synchronize his new mana circulation pathway with his combat style.


    After all, it would be stupid to leave a gap behind which might get exploited by others in the future, causing him to lose or even die.


    There was no way he would be negligent and leave loopholes behind, knowing the stakes and the geniuses around him.


    But he really needed that slight push of real targets to polish his combat style as well as stabilize his breakthrough.


    "Haa..."


    In the end, he just sighed and gave up, putting his sword in place while also arranging his clothes.


    Apparently, he really disliked disorderly things and could be said to have mild OCD.


    But it was nothing serious as he did get used to all kinds of messy and chaotic scenes in his past life.


    It was ingrained in his body, so he subconsciously followed that desire before collapsing onto the bed and falling asleep helplessly.


    It was not like he could do anything more by staying awake so he felt that it mattered little whether he stayed awake or woke up.


    The next morning, he woke up on his own before the alarm even rang, finally getting a good night''s sleep after who knows how long.


    After waking up the first thing he noticed was the notification on his ID bracelet, and he willed for the notification to show up.


    ¡¸Change in class schedule: Duel Class will happen together with Aura Creation class.¡¹


    ''Chance,'' Jash immediately thought before his expression twisted. ''Did I know of it or not?''


    He couldn''t confirm it as there wasn''t much of a mention about the classes in the novel, but more about the protagonist training to defeat Amael.


    However, he suspected that he knew it already as the timing was just too perfect and helpful for him, solving yesterday''s problem of lack of targets.


    "Anyways, Aura Creation is going to make me stronger," he shrugged before finally going to dress up for the day.


    [Aura Creation] was a class where only the privileged students and some other rare geniuses that had reached E-Rank could attend.


    Obviously, one could attend it later on after reaching E-Rank, but there was no guarantee as it wasn''t easy.


    The arrangements for Aura materialization were not something to be taken lightly.


    And as the name [Aura Creation] suggests, it was a class that taught Aura materialization to the students.


    Alas, only a little over 50 students could be a part of this class as most of the other students had not reached E-Rank yet.


    Of course, Mages were directly disqualified from this class as they couldn''t form Aura.


    ***


    "Yawn~, why did they arrange classes three days in a row? I wanna sleep," a student grumbled while walking into the Weapon Arts Block. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But they immediately went quiet after entering and seeing the faces of the prominent E-Rank students.


    "This class smells of trouble," the student mumbled and smartly reduced their presence to not get caught in the crossfire of their clashing egos.


    Well, the class didn''t look like a similar classroom but a Dojo which made sense, considering the subject and its goals.


    After all, just creating Aura wasn''t enough, one must also be able to cultivate it and grow stronger but it wasn''t all that easy.


    Immense dedication and concentration was needed to be able to improve one''s aura except by ranking up and increasing weapon mastery.


    That''s why everyone wore solemn expressions on their faces, waiting for the class to begin, wanting to manifest Aura and increasing their combat power.


    Jash arrived just a minute before class began yet all the eyes stared at him like a hawk, wanting to tear him to shreds.


    Ah, it was not purely based on hatred or jealousy, but wanting to prove oneself superior and stronger than the others.


    ''I''m glad I didn''t arrive any earlier,'' he smiled to himself, feeling the uncomfortable eyes on him.


    The moment Jash stepped in, consciously or unconsciously, everyone briefly considered him to be the strongest in the room.


    It wasn''t acknowledgement of him being the strongest, but the moment others felt it, their heart raced, their cheeks almost flushing in shame.


    After all, how could these proud sons and daughters accept someone better than them?


    But of course, where there were rotten apples, there were also good apples and some really only gave him a look of envy before focusing back to awaiting the class to begin.


    Some were curious, wanting to ask why he wasn''t in the Sword Art Class, but noticing the time left for idle chattering being only seconds, they gave up the idea.


    Maybe the teacher will ask, or so they thought.


    Unfazed by everyone''s looks, Jash took one of the many empty seats, sitting alone but near Amael, and even nodded to him perfunctorily.


    Not like there weren''t others he knew, but there was no such time anymore as the graceful figure of a female entered the class.


    Contrary to everyone''s expectation of seeing a veteran teacher, they were met with the beautiful, cold-faced Aileen.


    Naturally, her expression wasn''t all that cold as she was gloating inwardly instead after finding Jash in the crowd.


    She had initially wanted to take the Sword Art Class but Ronan stubbornly resisted, becoming the Swords Art Class professor in charge.


    Poor guy got cheated out of his luck as Jash signed up for Elemental Theory and it made him so furious after he found out that his expression was really a feast for the eyes.


    It was the first time for Aileen to see a change in someone''s expression that fast, wanting to record it but gave up due to seniority.


    Yet here she was, about to teach Jash and getting another chance to guide him and then poach her as her apprentice.


    "Be seated, everyone," Aileen said after recalling everything within a flash, quieting the whole class with her authoritative presence.


    It was really surprising how a "feeble, frail, female" could manage to do it, but it wasn''t a world where your gender defined anything.


    So eveyong sat with their back straight except Jash whose eyes trembled at her sight, unable to believe it.


    ''What the hell!? Since when did she teach Aura Creation??'' Jash asked himself, but he had no answer, leaving him only the ability to speculate.


    ''Could it be because of me?'' he thought incredulously.


    Similar to him were the stiff expressions of Amael and Helios who were too dumbfounded at the change, but Amael''s expression softened at the sound of Villain Points.


    But Helios had an expression as if he had eaten shit as one of his helpers was the Professor in charge of Aura Creation who helped him greatly during this time.


    Though all three believed it was due to the butterfly effect from their presence, it was, in fact, solely Jash''s fault.


    Aileen had never wanted to help either Helios or Amael as they both were devoted, but Jash... he was the kind of talent she liked nurturing as he seemed to have no idea how to use his talents to their utmost, effectively.

 Chapter 210: Chapter 210: First Steps in Aura

    Surprisingly, Aileen''s presence at the moment was quite heavy and Jash was confused further.''Is it due to the lack of many others sharing the burden or is she doing this purposefully?'' Jash considered the only two options and leaned towards the latter.


    He had never heard of anything related to his former guess, but he didn''t disregard any possibilities, having a desire for that kind of overbearing presence.


    "I am Aileen Frostvale, and I am your teacher for Aura Creation," Aileen introduced herself briefly before her eyes through the class.


    "I don''t usually teach this subject but due to some reasons, I was requested for it as your batch is a little special," she added, her eyes darting to the figure of Jash, Amael and Helios.


    Although she wanted to take Jash under her wing, she didn''t disregard others'' efforts or talents.


    At the moment, Aileen looked a bit intimidating, but Jash knew there was no reason for her to be like this, she was trying to achieve something, but he didn''t know what.


    In fact, he guessed right, she was trying to play the good cop and bad cop, both by herself.


    She would be cold in classes but teach gently and kindly, making him gradually trust her so that he became her apprentice.


    But that was all, she had no other motive than nurturing a genius, as if she was a farmer looking at her farm animals.


    "I dislike wasting time, and your Duel Class will start soon, so let''s begin," Aileen announced as she raised her finger, and an ethereal blue light started covering her finger.


    "Aura is the external manifestation of your mana. Try to draw out your mana to the tip of your fingers," Aileen instructed.


    Everyone, including Jash, followed the instructions, but their result was different as only a blob of mana formed on the tip of their fingers.


    It was pitiful to even compare it to Aileen''s Aura, which covered her whole finger.


    "What you all are doing is manifesting mana... it''s not Aura," Aileen explained but didn''t go further into the details.


    "Some of you can already strengthen your body by coating it with mana," Aileen mentioned matter-of-factly as if she could see through it.


    But she didn''t give any names nor any clues to who it was, but speculation ran wild and the first suspect was Jash, who was considering her words.


    ''I sure can use mana to strengthen myself, but coat it outside my body? I can''t do that,'' Jash commented inwardly after the piercing glares shot his way.


    At that exact moment as if Aileen had predicted it, a couple of staff members came into the classroom, drawing attention.


    After all, no one had heard of classes ever being interrupted and then, the staff members seemed to be placing some huge containers in the empty area in the front.


    Then, they opened it all of a sudden, revealing a crystal blue liquid, which seemed to sparkle and was so fragrant that a few students even drooled at its scent.


    "Don''t even think of tasting it, unless you wish to die," Aileen''s words blocked any and all thoughts of tasting the lucrative liquid.


    "In front of you is highly diluted liquid mana, and Solarnelle Academy is the only Academy or place in the world where it can be found."


    Aileen''s words echoed in everyone''s head as they realized that Solarnelle Academy indeed offered unique advantages, being the top Academy.


    Seeing the curious onlookers, Aileen still explained, "The method to create this liquid mana was discovered and put into place by one by one of the previous Principals."


    Of course, many had threatened the person before they eventually gave in, but restricted its knowledge to only the Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Even if the Principal died out of the blue, there were arrangements to pass the method of its creation to the next Principal.


    ''Yeah, right, talking as if it was all for righteousness or whatnot, they were just scared what would happen if others discovered it and they lost their importance.''


    Jash rolled his eyes while thinking so, easily guessing it and it wasn''t like only he could speculate, everyone was free to do so.


    It was just that everyone was interested in the liquid mana itself and waiting for further instructions.


    Thankfully, Aileen didn''t disappoint, mindful of the time.


    "You all," she addressed the students, "Dip your palm and use your mana circulation technique to absorb the mana, but don''t do it hurriedly."


    Aileen''s tone was filled with such seriousness that everyone sobered up, realizing the seriousness of the situation.


    "Cling to the feeling of mana sticking to your palm, that''s the only tip I can give you," she advised kindly, different from her cold exterior, but no one noticed it, even she herself didn''t.


    Then, she sternly added, "You have one hour before you will run out of your liquid mana." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Remember to be careful as this is your only chance before the Assessment Test to form your Aura," Aileen emphasized her point.


    Seeing the students begin to follow her instructions, Aileen gently advised,"Try to focus mana in the middle of your palm before spreading it gradually till your fingertips."


    Nodding to herself, she continued instructing, "Focus on that sensation of your mana interacting with the liquid mana,"


    "Then, slowly use the mana to create a thin coating from your whole palm extending it over your entire arm before running out of the liquid mana," Aileen finished sternly.


    She knew it was better for the students to try it as manifesting Aura wasn''t all that easy and really required a lot of focus, concentration and of course, talent.


    In essence, coating one''s weapon and whole body with aura and enforcing oneself with mana before beginning to spread aura outside one''s body was the first step for beginners.


    However, forming Aura was particularly challenging for E-Rank students, as it was a different skill altogether.


    One could even say that Aura was the first step every E-Rank Hunter would learn and improve gradually as they ranked up.


    However, there was someone who didn''t think so and went to take the Elemental Theory class, wanting to explore their elements and giving it a higher priority.


    And that someone also dipped his hand into the liquid mana before feeling a chill travel throughout his body.


    ''So cold,'' Jash pressed his lips together, biting back a reflexive protest against the cold sensation of mana on his hand.


    ''Yuck,'' Jash wanted to curse at the icky feeling of liquid mana around his palm and the back of his hand.


    Unlike others who hid their disgust due to the privilege of being able to form Aura at such a young age, Jash didn''t hide it at all.


    His face twisted with disgust as he really wanted to pull his hand out, but his rationality held on.


    Not like he really needed the liquid mana to form Aura, he could do it after reaching Late D-Rank, about to break into C-Rank.


    Same was the case for Amael and Helios. Though they weren''t completely sure about it like Jash.


    Aside from our dear three anomalies, everyone else would need to at least reach C-Rank before even thinking of forming their Aura.


    And it would not even be half as good as even the worst result in the Aura Creation Class.


    However, students of the Solarnelle Academy had the privilege to form their Aura at E-Rank, making them a lot stronger than average hunters in the world.

 Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Aura Manifestation

    Jash started to absorb the mana from the liquid mana, the temperature of the blood in his right hand slightly rose.He willed the mana around his fingertips, connecting the flow inside each finger to the thin coating on his hand.


    The mana extracted from the liquid mana and the mana inside Jash''s body reacted before they connected to each other.


    It was similar to how Mages connect to the atmospheric mana to cast spells, but entirely different in some sense.


    Yet Jash just felt the electrocuting jolt of the mana connecting and disconnecting, forming clusters and bubbles of the two different types of mana.


    Slowly, more and more mana was extracted from the liquid mana, while his mana core churned out his mana in response.


    The clusters and the thin layers started to multiply, gradually becoming bigger, but they were still too small to be seen with the naked eye. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, the mana inside his body had projected outside, coating his hand completely but that was entirely different from before.


    ''External Mana Manifestation, huh?'' Jash mused, knowing what stage of Aura manifestation he was at.


    His focus sharpened and narrowed in on the process with even more concentration to the point he felt nothing around him.


    Just the mana inside his body reacting with the liquid mana and the atmospheric mana.


    In essence, the mana that was coated outside the body would react with elements present in the surroundings to form a shell.


    While mana inside the mana core was the purest form of mana, making it impossible to directly interact with the natural mana.


    Natural mana consisted of all the elements, which was why it took time to increase one''s rank naturally, as one had to filter and refine the mana.


    In Jash''s case, he was interacting with three different types of mana at the same time, trying to bend them to his will and form Aura.


    Only, he didn''t know exactly what he was doing, as his Aura would form regardless of his current efforts; he was just a step away from it.


    And as if to prove it, a soft, ethereal crystalline-blue film of mana started to form around his palm.


    ''So this is Aura?''


    The sharp sensation of Aura was intrinsically different from the cold and peaceful sensation of mana yet it seemed to be docile at the same time.


    After two more minutes, he was sure that he couldn''t achieve anything more than that, so the thought of leaving came.


    But leaving behind the liquid mana that was clearly


    his


    didn''t feel right and he also did need to absorb mana.


    So, he thought, ''Why not?''


    With that one thought, he planned to use the remaining liquid mana to absorb it and strengthen himself as well.


    Well, it was more to fill the gap of mana that arose due to the


    nodes


    he made, so he decided to nourish them.


    Slowly but surely pure mana was extracted from the liquid mana before entering his body and his mana core before going through the mana circulation pathway.


    Everyone around him was busy trying to form their aura, be it Amael, Helios, Ava, Ziva, Avon, Grunghin, Sylvie or anyone else.


    Only Aileen squinted her eyes at the scene as the liquid mana had suddenly begun depleting quite quickly.


    Normally, nobody would be able to absorb liquid mana this quickly, so Aileen was surprised, but not for long.


    She understood that his body might have a high affinity for mana and his mana veins were wider.


    However, Amael, the one somewhat blessed with mana, also didn''t disappoint; he, too, could achieve this feat but focused on refining his Aura to be the best.


    Comparing Jash with Amael and Helios, Aileen felt a little disappointed in her heart, lamenting Jash''s lack of knowledge on using his talents.


    "He should have created his Aura instead of absorbing mana," Aileen sighed but didn''t interfere.


    "I''ll help him later," she muttered under breath and just then she saw that Jash''s liquid mana was almost depleted.


    At that moment Jash opened his eyes contentedly. ''It''s good that I stopped,'' he nodded to himself, feeling the overwhelming mana.


    He needed an outlet to settle it, so he turned to face Aileen, nodding at her before walking to the door to exit.


    "Where are you going, Jash Ramille?" Aileen asked with a commanding tone, disappointment flashing in her eyes.


    Thankfully, the two were away from the other students, not disturbing them but the staff members wore stiff expressions.


    Although they weren''t afraid of Aileen, her commanding tone was a bit too overwhelming for them, given her dislike for interruptions.


    "To practice my Aura," Jash replied in a taciturn manner, pursing his lips in the face of her commanding presence, intriguing her.


    "Aura?" Aileen reiterated, feeling that she heard wrong as she frowned.


    "Mhm." Jash raised his palm and enveloped his fingers in a very thin bluish film, which was his Aura.


    Seeing which, Aileen''s eyes widened, unable to believe it for a second. "How?" she ended up blurting out, but got no response.


    10 minutes.


    That was the time Jash took to form his aura while others were struggling to even hold the mana in the center of their palm, let alone forming an Aura.


    Aileen was dumbfounded at this time as it made no sense to her.


    After all, even geniuses took nearly 30 minutes to form their Aura, and even then, their Aura would be unstable in its initial stage.


    In one sense, Aura was similar to Mana Manipulation, that is, it gets better the more control one has over it.


    This was why Jash had focused on controlling his limited mana pool instead of bursting through the ranks with a shaky foundation.


    "Can I?" Jash asked succinctly after studying Aileen''s expression, which appeared calm at the moment.


    "Yes, you may go to the Duel class," Aileen nodded, agreeing, as Jash had already formed his Aura, completing the class''s first goal.


    "Spare a moment, though," Aileen said, not requesting not ordering, but somewhat in the middle.


    Jash just nodded and followed her out of the class, thinking, ''It must be about the Sword Art Class...''


    "You have not chosen Sword Art as a subject, right?" Aileen went straight to the point the moment they appeared in the empty corridor.


    Seeing Jash nod, Aileen inquired further, "Any chance you will change your mind?"


    "No," Jash replied resolutely and Aileen just nodded, but Jash swore he saw her lips curl upwards.


    ''Does she want me to choose it or not?'' Jash was growing impatient inwardly despite the two walking towards the Duel Class.


    "But you are not a Mage," Aileen said, prompting him to give some reason.


    "I know, I am a swordsman. You don''t have to worry about me stopping on the path of swordsmanship," Jash replied with a calm look.


    Aileen nodded at those words. "Alright, that''s all for now," she said before returning to the class.


    There were still nearly 50 minutes remaining from the one hour time limit she gave them to form their Aura.


    "It''s good," Aileen murmured to herself while walking back, recalling how smug and proud Ronan looked at that time and how he was on the verge of bursting now.


    A low chuckle escaped her lips as she said, "I wonder what more delights I will get to witness..."

 Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Getting Used to Aura

    Jash arrived in the Duel class, which, unlike its name, was a hall with multiple training equipment in it.


    This time, only the students who had gone through Aura creation were allowed to enter the Duel class, and it was quite big.


    "Definitely enough to accommodate 1000 students at once easily, maybe all 2000," Jash commented, taking a look around.


    But his steps didn''t stop until he walked to one of the training rooms meant to be used by rankers only.


    For others, it would cost them a fair share of their YP, but Jash was not worried at all, having 1928 YP in balance.


    Either way, he didn''t have to pay any YP to enter it, and he put his ID Bracelet onto the door''s sensor before it beeped.


    ¡ªID CONFIRMED: Jash Ramille


    ¡ªTRAINING ACCESS GRANTED ¨C Cost:-


    NONE


    Jash chose one of the best training rooms in the Duel Facility for a quick training with his newly gained Aura and increased mana capacity.


    As the Year Representative, he could use it for free. Others, however, had to fork out a hefty price of 100 YP for each use.


    Don''t look down on 100 YP as many would do any kind of unsavory task for that amount as earning YP was extremely challenging for freshmen.


    For seniors, it wasn''t difficult to have 100s of YP or even thousands as they would end up using most of it excluding the Rankers.


    As they have many freebies and benefits, they always end up saving YP, but even they willingly spend it on weapons or artifacts.


    Of course, only Jash and Ziva had the privilege of being Rankers¡ªYear Representatives¡ªbefore the assessment test.


    And the Duel Class just so happened to be the class where such authority was used the most.


    "Duels, huh? It should be fun if there''s someone strong," Jash mumbled aloud, recalling the information about the importance of duels.


    In Solarnelle Academy, one could challenge others for a duel¡ªif one wanted something or simply due to disagreements.


    Of course, challenging others also had its limit.


    Rankers could only challenge other Rankers, prohibiting others from challenging the Rankers as well.


    Then, there was the fact that students needed to wait for the End Term Evaluation to change the rankings after the assessment test.


    While musing so, Jash went into the training room and could immediately feel it was brimming with mana, and multiple facilities were also accommodated in this room.


    It was even better than Jash''s current dorm room, but it still paled in comparison to the dorm room of Rank 1.


    Though he didn''t have access to it, he knew it from the novel memories as it was simply the best facility throughout the Solarnelle Academy.


    One''s Year didn''t matter, their rank did as getting Rank 1 across one''s Year was the goal and dream of almost everyone.


    Alas, it was impossible for normal people to reach it, one really needed to be somewhat insane and crazy to reach it.


    Shaking his head to get rid of all distracting thoughts, Jash finally took a stance after choosing a sword.


    But he refrained from swinging the sword for now, closing his eyes to recall the sensations of the previous two days.


    ''It won''t be that easy,'' he sighed, accepting that his attempt to find his lacking point and instantly cover up for it was a stupid plan and would never work.


    ¡ªSwish!


    In the end, he swung his sword after fixing his grip on its hilt and ensuring his footing was right.


    He didn''t just stand in one place, his foot moved in a rhythm different from his hands and sword as if they were two different entities.


    Surprisingly, Jash could roughly feel his strikes becoming sharper, and even the power behind his strikes seemed to have increased significantly.


    ''Aura,'' he thought, planning to directly put it into use to get a real feel for it.


    His mana ran rampant, rushing through the mana circulation pathways before covering his body in a thin film of Aura.


    It was not the same color as his mana but pale-bluish, which was no surprise as Aura was indeed different from mana.


    Due to him using Aura actively, his strength got another boost, leaving indentations as he stepped forward, and the pressure on his surroundings even increased.


    A surge of satisfaction coursed through him as he felt the improvement; Jash began moving and using his sword while maintaining the very thin Aura around his body.


    He wasn''t performing any Sword Art, just using whatever came by instinct and in the face of the imaginary opponent opposite him.


    Aura was not a simple defense mechanism; it was crucial for weapon users, integral to progressing through A-Rank.


    On the other hand, Mages directly used mana to sense their surroundings, while weapon users used aura, which was much better.


    In simple terms, Aura consumed less mana and could perform similar tasks and would even become an integral part of one''s attack power as well.


    And most importantly, every Sword Art in this world had techniques which only flourished once the user had unlocked their aura.


    Not only that, some techniques were just made with Aura in mind, not focusing on mana at all.


    Some people even speculated that in the olden times, weapon users used solely Aura while Mages were the ones who used solely Mana.


    But Jash was simply different from them, forcing his Aura and mana to react, interact, connect and forcefully integrate to strengthen him further.


    That''s why Jash could vividly feel that his aura was nourishing his body to unprecedented levels, giving him the confidence to even fight without pause.


    This was the headstart that every student of Solarnelle Academy had over other hunters¡ªAura.


    The earlier one manifested Aura, the higher their stats in the early stage, allowing one to be stronger than others among the same rank.


    And Jash was someone who could precisely gauge his current strength easily.


    Feeling his upper body and lower body both feeling a pleasant sensation of growing stronger, he employed a more complex footwork.


    And as if he was challenging himself, he began increasing his speed at a crazy rate.


    But it wasn''t just his dexterity and agility that improved, his sword swings had also become swifter, sharper and stronger.


    In his mind, he was attacking and evading from a horde of enemies who were averagely skilled with more skilled and less skilled attackers mixed in.


    If only one could glance at his crazy training style and improvement speed, they''d be astonished to the point of speechlessness.


    Of course, it wasn''t just aimless swinging, Jash did have experience of fighting tens of demons at once from his past life, so he imagined just that.


    As the situation had happened in the past and he was the one facing it, he improved even more, analyzing his mistakes from that time and how some had even carried over.


    Though there was no such thing as Aura in his past life, the fighting situation was still somewhat the same, allowing him to get used to the unfamiliar Aura.


    Due to this very pleasure of growing stronger coursing through his veins, he didn''t know when 30 minutes elapsed.


    In the 40 minutes since the beginning of Aura Creation class, most of the privileged students had formed their Aura and the rest were also about to complete it.


    After all, privileged or not, if someone was this talented they would be able to keep up with their rivals. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Where is Jash Ramille?"

 Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Rising Rivalries

    "Woah, I feel like my punch will do more damage now," the lightning martial artist blurted out while trying some random moves.


    It wasn''t just him; everyone was feeling a little excited after sensing the power of Aura course through their body and its nourishing effects.


    Of course, most had calmed down and put an arrogant expression to hide their embarrassment at the childish excitement.


    Only Ziva seemed to be stifling her laughter, keeping a nonchalant expression on her face after forming her Aura even before Amael or Helios.


    If looks could kill, she would have died ten times over from the glares of hatred, jealousy and envy surrounding her.


    But still, one person was missing after they looked around.


    Turning their heads and scanning the group to ensure no one was absent, a student whispered, "Where is Jash Ramille?"


    Even though it was just a whisper, how could it have escaped Aileen''s senses?


    "He has long formed his Aura and has already gone to the duel class," Aileen explained, keen on seeing their surprised looks.


    She deliberately didn''t mention any time, and let them speculate, preventing him from being targeted.


    Of course, she had other reasons and her words made the students realize that they were standing here like idiots after forming their Aura.


    All they did were some light stretches and had no clue they could use this time to train in the duel hall.


    But... it appeared as if some were aware of it, but purposefully didn''t go.


    Though, every single one of them was currently regretting their decision.


    After all, which genius hadn''t been hailed as the prodigy of the generation? And some even mentioned them to have the potential to become a SSS-Rank Hunter.


    However, geniuses could be arrogant but not idiotic; they didn''t whine or make excuses to display their patheticness.


    Excluding a few dimwits, most realized what they wanted to ignore this whole time: ''Maybe I... was not the best, perhaps... I am not the prodigy everyone claims...''


    At this moment, everyone collectively accepted the fact that Jash was stronger than them, but did that mean they gave up?


    No.


    They were meant to soar and they will soar the skies irrespective of anyone else.


    Focusing on Amael and Helios, one could see that Amael was smiling acceptingly with nonchalance while Helios seemed to display reluctant acceptance on his face.


    ''Maybe I should save him, with this talent he would be useful,'' Amael thought for a second before giving up.


    In fact, he knew nothing about the ones planning this attack, and he doubted if it was ever revealed...


    In that manner, Helios was the same and that''s how he consoled himself, ''He''ll die soon anyway, the brighter he shines, the more eyes will be attracted to him.''


    In the end, one calmly accepted the situation while the other only consoled himself with his delusions of everything going as it did in his past life.


    Yet, the person observing them carefully was doubtful as she noted their expressions.


    Aileen thought of comforting them but there were no words that came to her mind.


    If Jash was a rank or sub-rank ahead of them, it would be fine, but the highest ranked were Amael and Helios. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What else could she do except hiding Jash''s Aura manifestation time and being vague about it?


    If she told them directly, it would affect them mentally. It was better to let them accept the reality¡ªthe wall¡ªin front of them.


    Even geniuses had levels and he was ahead of them, so they shouldn''t hold on to him, or else they would just be implicating themselves.


    And wasn''t it better than finding excuses as to why Jash was stronger?


    Yet that didn''t mean they gave up, instead the fire in their hearts burned even brighter.


    ''I will defeat him!''


    Some made Jash their end goal, their target that needed to be defeated in order to prove themselves and heal their pride.


    While a few didn''t even have such extravagant dreams, accepting the cold harsh reality of being inferior and only hoping for Jash to not be a bully.


    If only they knew that the person in their thoughts was busy considering how to grow stronger and limit what he showed outside, they would want to beat themselves.


    However, one thing was for sure, Jash was quite calm and didn''t have to forcefully control his mana and Aura from going berserk.


    ''This feels relaxing,'' he mused as the burden on his mind seemed to have decreased a lot, and a cool sensation lingered around his head.


    After the last few minutes of practice, Jash stopped as the Duel Class was about to start.


    "Haa..." He sighed before setting aside his sword and relaxing a bit to not overstrain his muscles and exited the training room.


    Only a minute or so remained before the class began, so the vast room of the Duel Class was filled with all the students and Aileen.


    ''Hm? Who''s she talking to?'' Jash was confused after only seeing the person''s back.


    The man had a tall stature and broad shoulders with curly brown hair, but it didn''t ring any bells in Jash''s mind.


    ''Is he someone important?'' Jash wondered, unable to hold his curiosity over what made Aileen have a cold expression.


    While she usually remained cold and aloof, Jash knew of her personality to be sure that she wouldn''t give anyone the cold shoulder... unless the other party deserved it.


    And as if sensing Jash, both the parties turned to look at him with no change in their expression as if they couldn''t see him.


    ''Quite a good mask,'' Jash praised the curly-haired instructor for being able to keep his stoic expression, but his eyes gave him away.


    They seemed to be focused on him, and Jash was aware that nothing good would come out of it... until he got something out of it.


    The conversation had actually been going on for quite some minutes, but the students around weren''t aware of it.


    Even Jash was surprised by their lack of interest in the professor''s conversation, or maybe the students were afraid to be labeled as eavesdroppers?


    Jash didn''t know but he too followed the student''s glances.


    The huge hall had multiple machines and weapons and it consisted of everything that people could utilize in duels.


    But the most important thing was the training rooms.


    The entire facility was somewhat similar to gyms back in his previous life in a certain sense.


    Just that they were made for awakeners and were specifically designed for the freshmen only.


    Each year had its own duel hall, consisting of better facilities in order to accommodate their greater strength than the first years.


    ''It sure looks grand,'' Jash commented inwardly while walking near the professors and finally heard a snippet of their conversation.


    ''I knew it... it just had to be this guy,'' he cursed inwardly and scowled as if his mood had been soured.


    "...to convince him to drop out of Elemental Theory," Ronan, the curly-haired professor of Sword Arts Class, said without a care.


    If one didn''t know the ins and outs, it was too difficult to even consider it a lie.


    However, Aileen had lived one of the harshest lives out there when compared to the other professors, how could she fall for simple statements?


    Truthfully, she wanted to scoff at his face and dismiss him, but she did see his throbbing veins as if he really wanted Jash to be a part of the Sword Art Class.


    ''Didn''t I already say no? Why is she not saying...'' Jash thought, remembering his recent chat with Aileen.

 Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Calculated Greed

    While Jash was wondering why she wasn''t responding to Ronan, he heard her words in a very convinced tone.


    "He will not be joining Sword Arts."


    "Eh?"


    However, Aileen''s words only confused Ronan as Aileen, of all people, would never allow such a thing to happen.


    The most hard-headed individual he had met in his whole life was allowing someone to play around and not focus on the things they were talented in.


    Wasn''t it that Aileen wished to groom such people, focusing on them and changing their decision to focus on the thing they are talented in.


    Opposite him, Aileen had only delayed her response because she was scrutinizing Ronan.


    She instinctively knew he was making up a lie, but his expression was too real, but she couldn''t just accuse him like that. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For one, she had heard some unsavory news about Ronan, and second, they were in a conflict for being the teacher of Sword Arts Class.


    In the end, she could only tell him the harsh truth. It wasn''t her concern if he could accept it or not, though.


    ''She did take my side, huh?'' Jash mused, a little surprised from her tone of finality.


    He knew that a professor could show favoritism as it was allowed in the Solarnelle Academy, but professors seldom took the initiative to do it.


    After all, factors like class performance affected their authority, and would be taken into account before the professors were given more stars.


    "But don''t you think it''s a waste of talent?" Ronan rebutted, refusing to accept it.


    "There is no need to say anymore. Students can choose whatever path they want to choose," Aileen interrupted Ronan before he could come up with anything.


    While Jash''s lips curled up unconsciously, Ronan shifted nervously, feeling restless at the turn of events.


    He just recalled that Jash had already arrived, thinking of it as a chance, he just decided to act on it.


    "Professor Aillen, why don''t we ask the person in question himself?" the curly-haired instructor Ronan asked respectfully with a smile.


    Hearing those words, Jash''s face hardened, and his smile faltered, emotions swirling like his unstable mana.


    "What do you want?" Jash spat those words with a cold voice with no respect.


    Ronan was an S-Rank Hunter, so he naturally had a reputation, but Jash''s words made him frown further, although he kept it in.


    He remembered he couldn''t make any mistakes lest he implicated someone he shouldn''t, so he carried on with his acting.


    "Jash Ramille, if you don''t want to participate in the sword art class, why don''t you prove that you are better than all the first years?"


    Still, Ronan was a bit dissatisfied and challenged Jash, trying to hurt his pride and make him accept it in haste.


    Unfortunately for him, he hit an iron wall today.


    "Why should I?" Jash directly asked, cocking his eyebrow with intrigue.


    At the moment, he really wanted to ask if Ronan was stupid or was acting that way.


    Even the expression on Ronan''s face made Jash almost lose his sense of cool and laugh it off.


    Contrary to him, the students nearby had mild confusion at Ronan''s actions to rope Jash into the Swords Art Class.


    Each student could decide the subject they wanted to study, and nobody could deny them until they failed that class.


    That''s why Ronan would not be able to do anything after Jash refused, and that''s exactly what happened.


    Some even felt a bit of pity for Ronan to meet someone like Jash who was so damn stubborn.


    Unlike Ronan''s expectation, Jash walked by and nodded at Aileen, silently expressing his gratitude for refusing Ronan.


    "You really know how to annoy others," Ziva commented, shaking her head as Jash approached her.


    "Not like he can force me," Jash shrugged, ignoring the looks of mockery and scorn directed at him.


    Naturally, the prideful students gloated at seeing Jash being a coward and felt they could mock him until they heard Ziva''s casual words.


    "Yeah, you would only do it if there''s some reward, no?" Ziva smiled mischievously, as if she hadn''t said it on purpose.


    But Jash didn''t seem to mind, as if he had expected such an outcome. "You got me," he chuckled lightly.


    ''This time is different, everyone already knows about my capabilities and won''t let their guard down,'' Jash thought.


    He was sure that some would have been planning countermeasures for him after seeing his entire performance in the Entrance Test, or at least what was publicized.


    However, Ronan''s simmering anger immediately calmed down after those words.


    It was always easy to take care of greedy people and lure them in with lucrative stuff.


    In fact, Ronan relaxed completely after knowing that Jash was greedy, though he wouldn''t believe it until seeing it himself.


    "Then, will you prove it if there''s some reward?" Ronan asked in a hurry, intent on getting Jash to agree by offering something he could.


    "Sure, why not?" Jash replied with a smile, surprising even Aileen, making her raise her eyebrows for a bit.


    But Jash wasn''t done. "It depends on what you can offer, though," he said with a smile.


    "...Alright," Ronan spat through gritted teeth, trying to control his temper which almost flared up.


    "How about 1000 YP?" Ronan asked, surprising the students around as their eyes turned into crescents.


    "Too little," Jash commented indifferently before the students could chime in and ask for a prize if they won too.


    ''Tsk, so stingy. I can barely exchange a low quality E-Rank Mana Gem for that much,'' Jash cursed inwardly.


    If not for knowing that the Mana Gems being sold in the store had standard quality and shady deals with lower prices were scams, he really would be greedy like the others.


    From the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Helios and Amael seemed to have no interest in this conversation, surprising him a bit.


    Opposite him, Ronan was on the verge of exploding, barely holding on as it wasn''t like he could give anything on his own discretion.


    "2000," he spat through gritted teeth, almost grinding them.


    "Hm, manageable," Jash said with a contemplative expression as if he wasn''t sure when he heard the final offer.


    "2500."


    "Deal!"


    Before Ronan could retract the offer, Jash hurriedly agreed and just as everything seemed to be going good, he heard a sudden voice.


    "Count me out," Ziva declared, bringing attention to her and even some scorn-filled eyes.


    Unfortunately for them, she had long sensed that Jash was sure of his victory or he would never agree to anything.


    There wasn''t any need to do anything as he could just keep refusing and Ronan would be disliked for forcing a student to change classes.


    And the only backlash for Jash would be getting ridiculed, but that was even easier to solve: just defeat the idiots.


    Of course, only ZIva thought so and if Caera was here, she would surely agree with her.


    But those were true thoughts and she didn''t want to play along either way, so she just distanced herself.


    Nearby, Ronan got annoyed as Ziva was one of the students who had the most complex weapon and skill to handle it in close combat.


    And not only did Ziva get out of it, her exit started a chain reaction, allowing as many as nearly thirty students to drop out.


    In the end, only 20 students remained standing and the majority of these students were those that disliked Jash, wanting to crush him for once.

 Chapter 215: Chapter 215: An (Un)Worthy Battle

    Meanwhile, Aileen just stood aside, deciding to watch the spectacle. She was not one to interfere as long as the person involved didn''t mind it.


    "What format do you want?" Ronan asked Jash, not wanting to appear as someone who tricked him.


    "1v5, then 1v5, then 1v10?" Jash proposed, not caring much about it, but his words did stoke their pride and ego correctly.


    "Hah! As if I need any help to deal with you," an arrogant elf scoffed, mocking the audacity of this human to propose such fights.


    "For once, I agree with this long-eared bas¨C" a dwarf chimed in, but his words were cut off as someone shut his mouth.


    "True, who needs anyone to take care of you?" a noble''s son said, but all he got were looks of disdain.


    It was clear that the three hadn''t fought Jash personally as those who had clashed with him knew he might win despite the outrageous claims.


    "You see, these guys don''t like to team up like smart people, so why don''t we join forces?" A staff-user said to the lightning martial artist.


    "Hoh? An esteemed young master wants a commoner''s help?" The lightning martial artist smiled, half-mockingly, half self-deprecating.


    "Why not? You formed Aura at the same speed as us, no?" The staff user merely shrugged his shoulders.


    It seemed as if he was the sneaky kind, the type to use every resource at his disposal to reach his goals.


    "Let''s cooperate," Grunghin, the dwarven prince, said reluctantly. His words surprised many, but the most affected were the dwarves and elves.


    Though elves and dwarves didn''t have an over-the-top chummy relationship, the two races were on relatively good terms and kept each other''s interest in mind.


    Thus, the elves knew Grunghin and had an idea about his personality, which didn''t match his current appearance at all.


    ''Defeat is the biggest growth,'' Jash mused, observing the show as if he were a third person in the scene himself.


    Only after the students agreed among themselves to let the dissatisfied ones fight 1v1 first did Professor Ronan move.


    "Any objections?" He asked, not wanting any problems during the results, and after confirming that both sides agreed, he began.


    "There are three rules that you must keep in mind:


    Number one, all of you will use practice weapons and must not target vital spots, nor inflict any lethal injury.


    Number two, no use of mana.


    Number three, you cannot attack an opponent who is on the ground."


    After stating the rules clearly and ensuring everyone heard it loud and clear, he nodded to himself, "Ah, remember, this is purely a physical spar!"


    He directly addressed them while taking out some strange yet sleek bracelets from his spatial ring as the students started to form a circle around Jash.


    They weren''t going to attack him at once, but they sure were limiting the sparring area. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''If he leaves this area, we will attack,'' they thought collectively, wanting to give a good beating to Jash.


    Jash, who was standing alone in the center of that circle, only smiled at their childish tactic.


    But one thing that surprised him was Amael took a step back and said he''d only watch.


    ''Really now? What''s he aiming for?'' Jash wondered, lamenting his decision to mess up the plot.


    If only he had been conservative and didn''t completely overturn the plot, he would be able to make some guesses, but he couldn''t do that now.


    Little did he know that it wouldn''t matter as both Amael and Helios were anomalies in their own right, at least in this life.


    While he was thinking about all these things, Ronan carefully made everyone wear a mana-restricting bracelet, making it impossible to use mana.


    Of course, it was only limited to the time they had these so-called mana-restricting bracelets on their wrists.


    Once they felt their mana stop responding, each student chose a weapon of their choice, if they hadn''t already.


    Seeing their eager expression, Jash really wanted to roll his eyes as there was no need to worry with the presence of Aileen and Ronan.


    Both were hunters that could stop the duel any second they wanted and Aileen didn''t even need to move to stop the duel.


    Just her SS-Rank pressure might suffocate them to death if she didn''t control it well.


    (Mana Restricting Bracelets)


    (


    Rank D


    - Restricts mana usage for Mana Core below Early D-Rank)


    Helios''s system told him about the bracelets, but he couldn''t care less, he was eager to fight Jash and get a grasp of his strength.


    It was important to be aware of his strength and even be wary of his circumstances for the upcoming storm including Jash and his impending doom.


    On the surface, this challenge was purely of physical strength, but putting more thought into it, one''s experience and familiarity with their weapon was also a major factor.


    However, the 20 students believed that they could tire out Jash, if not outright defeat him, though none would admit to having such a line of thought.


    Only Amael seemed to sense their thoughts and murmured under his breath, "Preposterous."


    No one could hear his low voice, so he didn''t really care, wanting to get a good grasp of their forthcoming situation.


    Although it wasn''t immediately upon them, there was always the chance of the events being pulled to the front due to the changes.


    Similar to them, Jash had long known about it yet held back from ranking up.


    And he currently felt the adrenaline rushing through his veins at the thought of the living targets being delivered to him alongside 2500 YP.


    It was as if someone had given charcoal just in time during winter, or he would freeze to death.


    Looking around, he casually swung the training sword to get adjusted to the weight of the weapon and only stopped after feeling the weight settle comfortably in his grip.


    "Three...


    Two...


    One...


    START!!"


    Ronan shouted and the proud elf was the first one to dash towards Jash, the order of 1v1 fights being already decided.


    Just as everyone was expecting a good fight or Jash struggling to tank a few hits, all they saw was the elf being pushed back.


    Despite being the one who attacked, he got pushed back while Jash just stood in place, only using one hand to use his sword.


    Naturally, Jash''s casual stance as if he didn''t even take note of the elf infuriated the latter.


    ¡ªCLANG!


    And then again, the elf dashed at Jash, this time using the blade to attack with full force... or at least it appeared so.


    Just as Jash moved his sword to block the attack, the elf lowered his center of gravity and swung the blade sharply at Jash''s legs.


    ¡ªCLINK!


    Yet all it met was the flat of Jash''s sword as if it was too predictable, starling him for a second which Jash used to kick him away.


    Due to the extreme force he used, and Jash holding firm while blocking instead of deflecting or retaliating, the elf lost his balance.


    In just that moment, a forceful kick landed on his stomach, making him shriek before a drop of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.


    Not only was he surprised but everyone watching the fight was dumbfounded as it didn''t make sense at all.


    ''Did I go a bit too far?'' Jash thought, a bit embarrassed at failing to control his strength properly.


    Jash originally intended to hone his battle instinct using the fights but... this fight was just too plain for him, prompting him to end it early.


    If only he knew the kind of psychological shadow he gave the guy... Jash would just lament the loss of a potential whetstone.


    ''But he was too weak, so it''s not like he will be able to help me all,'' Jash could only console himself this way.


    "Next!" Jash shouted, wanting to find another scapegoat and controlling his strength better this time.


    Only then will others think they can defeat him and keep coming like this.


    ''Fooling one''s opponent is the most important,'' he mused, unabashed in front of everyone''s looks and speculating whispers.


    "Maybe he used all his strength and took the guy by surprise," someone whispered and the person next to them couldn''t help but agree.


    "Maybe that guy was just weak?" another student commented doubtfully.


    It was not like they were friends or knew each and everyone so they could only guess, and if someone knew him, that person ought to have spoken.


    Yet no one did, so the next contestant went forward, a little shaky but determined to win.


    Holding a spear in his hand, the boy lunged at Jash, striking his spear towards Jash''s torso.


    Even with his mana restricted, Jash was no pushover, having trained his body more than his mana and his past life battle experience aiding him.


    It made things a lot easier for him as fighting came naturally to him and he didn''t have to learn some kind of combat art or form.


    And to prove his instincts, he had already ducked and spun on his spot, delivering a roundhouse kick to the spearmen at his thigh.


    "Arghhh," cried the spearmen as his hands holding the spear shaft loosened uncontrollably.


    In that short window, Jash used his sword to strike the back of the spear to uplift the spear and break the spearman''s balance.


    But he had already seen his predecessor loose so easily, there was no way he was going down disgracefully like that guy.


    With a proud smile on his face, he twirled the rotating spear, forcing its body to invert, pointing its tip at Jash''s sword.


    A flicker of surprise and contentment flashed in Jash''s eyes as his lips curled upward unconsciously.


    ''Interesting,'' he thought before his eyes calmed down, ''But not much.''

 Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Sharpening Instincts

    In the next second, Jash swung his sword in a downward arc, only giving a minor skin wound to the noble''s scion.


    Yet...


    "AAAARRRGGGHHHHH"


    A loud shriek escaped his lips, souring Jash''s mood, and he used the hilt of the sword to knock him unconscious.


    "Next!"


    This time, Jash had a cold expression as he called the next duelist, not wanting another shrieking pig about to be butchered.


    ''It was just a minor scratch...'' he cursed at the feebleness of his opponent, on the verge of beating some sense into him.


    Thankfully, the next opponent didn''t seem the least bit affected by the previous two duels.


    While everyone was hesitating, she took the stage and held two daggers close to her body.


    ''Hm? Do I know her?'' Jash wondered, unable to place the look of hostility in her eyes.


    It was his first time seeing her, but he praised her courage, unlike the others who gave up just after two minor scuffles.


    ¡ªSchick


    She didn''t hesitate in her attacks at all once the duel started, using her feet to move in a rather peculiar manner.


    It was dizzying to look at, but Jash had no choice as he still had to parry her attacks.


    ¡ªClang!


    Just as he stopped one dagger next to his face, another targeted his abdomen, making it impossible to dodge.


    But it wasn''t all that big of a deal, Jash raised his knee with such accuracy that it reached her elbow right when the dagger tip was an inch away from piercing his clothes.


    The sudden knee dislodged her attack, directing it away, giving Jash the opportunity to take a step back and distance himself from her.


    ''Something''s not quite right,'' he frowned at missing such an obvious attack.


    If it were any other time, he was sure he would not use the sword tip to block the dagger aiming for his face.


    He''d rather use the hilt and let the tip aim towards his abdomen to protect it just in case.


    And even in the scenario if the dagger aimed for the other side of the head, he could just move his head slightly and bring the sword to block it.


    Yet he had foolishly almost let himself get attacked and almost injured himself.


    ''This is all valuable experience,'' he mused, despite not gaining a complete upper hand.


    Even though he did have battle instincts and memories of fights from his past life, it wasn''t like they were completely useful and reliable.


    There were sure to be differences in the power system itself, let alone how people wielded mana in this word seemed to differ greatly.


    And the worst, he had only fought demons or humans struggling for survival, not well-trained enemies as no one had the time for it.


    Rather than training others, people preferred to throw money and resources on the ones already performing regardless of their shady background or rumors.


    ''It really is different,'' Jash thought, realizing the difference.


    Systematically trained and taught students varied greatly from a bunch of ragtags only aiming for survival.


    Their fights relied more on instincts and nature than the sophistication of techniques.


    What Jash grasped from fighting was always the


    essence


    of fighting instead of trying to learn proper forms and postures of different weapon styles.


    ''Anyone can do that with a bit of practice,'' he believed, but sparring with the twin dagger wielding girl, doubts arose in his heart.


    He had seen many techniques, be they movement techniques, sword arts, or weapon arts, so he wasn''t lacking in that regard either.


    ''I just found the postures and forms to be too stiff and not good for the body,'' he recalled trying them and compared them with the girl opposite him.


    "I see..." he suddenly muttered under his breath, realizing that it was not a good idea to ignore the efforts of the ancestors in this world to accumulate many techniques.


    In that moment, his movements shifted as his sword danced gracefully, parrying the daggers easily as if he wasn''t even exerting any effort.


    But the girl didn''t seem to care about any of it, unlike her two predecessors.


    Her full focus remained on defeating Jash that she forgot to take note of the subtle changes in his sword style and movement pattern.


    ''This... this is good,'' Jash mused, half-smiling before directly deflecting her twin daggers.


    At that moment, Jash didn''t care about anything else as he could feel Aura nourishing his body even with the restrained mana.


    His mana veins with five nodes were resonating with him for the first time, although it was just a brief moment that even he missed it.


    On the outside, the students watched in awe as the girl actually forced Jash back quite a bit or so it appeared.


    ''Too good,'' Aileen complimented after watching Jash''s movements and his quick judgment.


    He wasn''t without flaws, though.


    It would be too absurd for him to suddenly become a master swordsman after a simple spar, but there was surely progress.


    And Jash could feel it too, but it stagnated, prompting him to end the battle preemptively.


    Although he had the heart to play more, he was sure that it wouldn''t yield any results.


    Plus, he needed time to sort out the plethora of techniques in his mind and adapt them for use.


    In a flurry of motion, he swung his sword downward and hung it there, surprising his opponent.


    She wanted to not waste the chance and immediately swung her twin daggers at him but...


    ¡ªSchaaa


    In the blink of an eye, the twin daggers flew from her hands, which were now bloody.


    And all she saw was Jash''s sword above her head, ready to end her... if it were a real battle.


    Thankfully, it was more of a spar, but she lost nonetheless. It also seemed to only increase her hostility towards Jash.


    ''Why is she so damn hostile?'' Jash pondered, but really couldn''t come up with any reason.


    Just as he was thinking about the improvement he made with her help and wanted to say a few words of praise, he found out that she had fainted.


    ''Shit! Do I look like a nightmarish monster up close that she fainted!'' Jash cursed inwardly, unable to calm his agitated heart for a moment.


    Barring his agitated heart, he would''ve already called for the next duelist, but it seemed unlikely that anyone would move anytime soon.


    If his previous display wasn''t enough, his current display of overpowering three opponents back to back made others hesitate.


    It was impossible for them to 1v1 him, and no one tried it despite the stupid thought of


    "what if"


    in their minds.


    However, they had made some crazy claims and would definitely not want to embarrass themselves any longer. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without waiting for Jash to call them, the seventeen students closed in on him at the same time.


    Even AIleen had a rare look of concern on her face while Ronan was trying his best to keep his lips from curling upwards.


    ''This is better,'' Jash thought, looking at the scene, not wanting to waste anymore time.


    His eyes sharply passed by everyone, trying to recognize their features and weapons in one go.


    He didn''t care about their strength, the only one he was wary of somewhat was Helios in this group, thanks to Amael and Ziva opting out.


    "Beat ''em up!!" Ziva cheered loudly as if she was watching a gladiator arena and totally ignored the weird or hostile glances thrown her way.


    Her mentality had long been tempered, so she didn''t even feel the slightest tug of any emotions despite the numerous eyes locked on her.


    However, her loud cheer only had the opposite effect as Grunghin gritted his teeth and yelled, "Go attack him! Don''t just stand there like idiots!!"


    Knowing Grunghin''s temper, a dwarf took the first step, but by the time he reached Jash, three more students were about to attack,


    As the four nodded to each other and tried to trap Jash on all sides, he deftly sidestepped the first three strikes, their blades whistling past him.


    While Jash deflected the dwarf''s attack with a swift flick of his wrist, letting his sword redirect it.


    The attacks weren''t much compared to the twin dagger girl as most students could only perform basic attacks that Ronan had taught them yesterday.


    Weapon Arts were not something one could master in a day or so, even if it was Jash.


    And compared to everyone else, he was on an entirely different level altogether.


    But that didn''t guarantee his victory, Jash was wary of Amael and their numbers advantage.


    ''Easy,'' he mused playfully, finding the solution in a few breaths.


    He directly swung his sword in a strange arc, attacking their ribs, flanks, abdomen, arms, legs, and even the face.


    ''I will only lose it if I target their vital organs,'' he smiled to himself and looked at their special training clothes, which reduced the chances of getting cut, by a huge margin.


    ¡ªBam!


    The sheer force of his attacks was enough to knock the students away from him, and the unfortunate one with his ribs being targeted was directly knocked out.


    ¡ªClang


    But it was not like Jash had time to idle around and eliminate them one by one as another two came to attack him in the meanwhile.


    After parrying their attacks and pushing back, Jash jumped to their side, dodging an attack from behind by a student who took advantage.


    Though it wasn''t fair, no one complained.


    It was a many-on-one match, to begin with, and the side with many was actually not winning.


    ''Where''s that guy?'' Jash felt uneasy for a moment, not seeing Helios in his line of sight.


    In the past two days, he had inquired around and found that guy''s name, but that wasn''t on his mind at the moment.


    His heart raced with uncalled anxiety as he had a bad premonition about Helios.

 Chapter 217: Chapter 217: False Bravado

    ''He''s a hero, surely he won''t be unscrupulous, right?'' Jash tried to think like that but found it incredibly hard to maintain that thought.


    He didn''t know if he was thinking that way to fool himself or if he really believed those thoughts.


    He quickly assessed his surroundings, calculating his next moves as two more attackers closed in.


    But before he could counter-attack, he saw Grunghin, who had closed the distance between them, ready to attack him as he dealt with the other two.


    It was a good move, if not for being against Jash, who couldn''t help but deem it pathetic.


    ''At least they know the word teamwork,'' Jash thought in an attempt to lighten his previous doubts, but it did nothing to dampen the bad feeling.


    Unnecessarily growing wary was also a disadvantage and Jash understood it well enough.


    His movements were slightly sluggish compared to before, but it wasn''t very conspicuous, given how tired and haphazard the group was.


    Instead, his composure shone, standing out amongst them, as he decisively countered the two with the flat of his blade, using the force to offset Grunghin.


    Due to his miscalculation, he missed hitting Grunghin, being a beat slower, and couldn''t help but pull back his sword.


    In return, the two who had been blocking and pressuring Jash felt inexplicably confident before reality hit, like a slap in the face.


    Ahem, it was Grunghin''s blunt hammer.


    The one on the farther side was barely fine but the one who took the full brunt of it fainted with internal injuries.


    However, it could''ve been worse had Grunghin not tried to stop his momentum at the last second.


    Jash didn''t even care though. He insisted on taking out the stunned Grunghin as well but his sword met resistance in the face of a staff.


    Surprised for a second, Jash regained his calm and remembered he was the one talking with the lightning martial artist.


    ''I don''t know what they talked about, but this guy seems... tacky?'' Jash didn''t know what else to call his flamboyant style of waving the staff.


    Still, Jash chose to be careful and scanned the remaining group to keep their positions in his mind at all times, not daring to risk being ambushed.


    However, his mind could only do so much without the eyes being able to focus on each of them all the time as that was impossible.


    It would be rather absurd for someone at his level to be able to do that kind of thing.


    But he really did push his limits, allowing his body to adapt fairly quickly in the face of extreme pressure at every moment.


    It wasn''t that fighting them was difficult or anything, but the more there were, the more physically and mentally drained he became.


    All he could rely on was his body being able to hold up as he had really focused somewhat more on it than his mana or elements.


    And thanks to his past life memories, his swordsmanship was a cut above the rest, so he didn''t have to care too much on that part.


    Using just that, he subverted the staff for a second before blocking a spear blade with his sword.


    ''Avon!'' Jash was only slightly surprised to see him come play his part too as he didn''t seem like the type to get goaded into doing acts that could blemish the Imperial name.


    ''Thinking of being the heir, he really restrained his temperament,'' Jash mused with schadenfreude, knowing it was all useless in the end.


    After all, when had responsible and strong men not defected in the face of women.


    They must not have been strong and responsible, to begin with. That was the only explanation.


    Unless... they were secret masochists...


    Not daring to think further and distract his thoughts, Jash warily took a few steps back, casting a sidelong glance to check if there was someone behind him too.


    ''At least no one can use proper stealth without mana,'' Jash heaved a brief sigh of relief before trying to come up with ways to deal with the staff and spear.


    ''The two don''t have good coordination, but it''s only a matter of time,'' he mused, aware of the monstrous advantages that came with being a genius.


    He himself could be called one, so he surely knew it, whether it was from his past life or this one.


    Not daring to let him get a rest and retaliate stronger, both the spear and staff reached for him from opposite sides.


    But it wasn''t in a way where he could jump or move back and the two would clash.


    ''This is...''


    His eyes narrowed with sharpness hidden underneath scanned the two of them and he understood deep in his heart.


    This situation seemed hopeless to not just the onlookers, but even him, just at the first glance, though.


    Jash spun his sword into a large slash before the two of them even reached him, confusing everyone except Aileen as her eyes bulged.


    "Could it be...?" She blurted out in ecstasy yet her voice went unheard by anyone else.


    And as if to echo her expectations, Jash kicked his sword, using it as a platform, to alight himself off the ground.


    While it gave strong force to the sword, and by extension, to his wrist and arm.


    To the untrained, it might seem clever, but the trained recognized it as making himself an easier target.


    However, what if the two couldn''t change their weapons'' trajectories in time?


    Jash was not stupid enough to leave things to luck, when it really mattered the most.


    Instead, he used the pain and momentum of his sword and arm to turn around mid-air and reign in his legs to not get cut open.


    The sword and spear hurling towards him also had great momentum and could barely be turned to pincer him.


    But Jash was already half his body above their heads and directly kicked them in their faces before somersaulting back to the ground.


    All of it looked quite graceful and a few maidens'' hearts almost stirred, but the horrifying sight was enough to calm them down.


    Avon, who was about to connect his spear towards Jash''s back, now front, saw Jash turning mid-air before he was knocked out all of a sudden.


    The staff-wielding guy had long noticed something off, but still couldn''t change the result.


    "What the hell is this monster?!"


    Someone couldn''t help but comment seeing Jash making impossible maneuvers as if they were second nature to him.


    Even those poised to attack halted as they saw two of their own knocked out in a single move.


    All of them were fighting without mana, so their numbers should''ve given them an advantage.


    Yet it turned out to be entirely opposite of what they expected to happen, making them greatly hesitate in going further.


    ''Good! This should be enough to curb their enthusiasm, right?'' Jash mused, still appearing calm on the outside, as if he had not done something outrageous.


    His calm face as he scanned the ones hesitating in their actions chilled their hearts for no reason.


    The image of losing and getting knocked out in one blow appeared in their minds, making them shudder.


    They believed Jash had a clear advantage as long as they could not protect themselves using mana to strengthen themselves internally.


    However, that was entirely false.


    Only Jash, himself, knew he couldn''t go on without something unseemly happening, so he put on a facade to curb their lively spirits and dampen their adrenaline rush. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Unseen Threat

    ''The only problem is him,'' Jash cursed inwardly, stealing a glance at Helios who stood with a poised expression nearby as if nothing could affect him.


    But only oneself can know their inner thoughts, and at the moment, Helios had a serious expression as he tried to make sense of the situation at hand.


    He had no clue where to begin to figure out why Jash had changed and was opposing his rise.


    Indeed, it was his self-important side taking charge, but he also considered the possibility of Jash being an ally in the future.


    Contrasting Helios''s complex thoughts, Amael had a smile playing on his lips as if saying out loud, "As expected."


    His eyes crinkled with amusement, wondering if Jash had gone through some supernatural phenomenon like him.


    Although his knowledge on such topics was lacking compared to Jash, he could make vague guesses about the situation.


    All of it because he wasn''t from this world, or even the notion of such an event would seem impossible.


    After all, wasn''t it enough that one person, himself, had gone through such events, where did another person with similar experiences rise from?


    Amael thought of this notion as sheer absurdity, but only something like that could explain all the changes surrounding Jash.


    Unlike Jash whose first thoughts were like that, Amael was a bit reserved due to the system vehemently rejecting such an absurd idea.


    Yet it seemed to be the most likely possibility, given Jash''s absurd skills and different style.


    One can change habits, personality, looks, and everything, but could they let go of their own uniqueness, something that made them


    them?


    That just wasn''t possible unless one went through a harrowing experience like


    death


    or something far


    worse


    .


    However, all such ideas eluded Jash as he pushed his mind and body to its limits in order to show off and really forced everyone back.


    But that didn''t mean he could lower his guard; the attackers were only hesitating and hadn''t given up completely.


    Their feelings of wanting to surpass and push down Jash were real and not easily forgotten, leading the situation to an impasse.


    Though it was a good outcome for Jash, as he could recover somewhat, even standing was draining his stamina.


    ''Damn, just give up,'' he cursed inwardly, wanting them to give up and prevent the bad feeling in his heart from becoming reality.


    Jash wasn''t sure why he felt this way, or why it seemed to be coming from Helios, he just wanted this farce to end, so that he could get going with his Aura training.


    This duel only served to increase his body''s coordination and allowed him to improve, but it was like a drop in the ocean compared to the possibility of Aura.


    Just like his swordsmanship and mana pool, Aura could grow in both quality and quantity, becoming a potent weapon under his command.


    In his eyes, the fight was majorly a letdown, and it irked him, seemingly a waste of time.


    ''I could''ve merged my Aura into my battle style,'' he lamented, looking slightly disappointed.


    His look of disappointment didn''t escape the eyes of the ones closest to him as their blood turned cold, and they bit their lips and gritted their teeth.


    With newfound determination, they were just about to continue their steps when...


    "Just sit aside if you can''t do anything! Why are you just standing there, you idiots?!"


    The words caused an uproar until someone traced them back to the foul-mouthed dwarf who hadn''t participated in the battle.


    In the end, the words served as the final trigger, though not a good one.


    The ones surrounding Jash literally ran idiotically straight at him, hoping to surround him and defeat him with their numbers, and not their skill.


    ''Truly now... what''s with this mob?'' Jash commented inwardly, almost shaking his head at the comparison of a herd of ants on their way to take down an elephant.


    Of course, if the numbers were sufficient, they would be able to take down the elephant, and same was the case with Jash.


    Alas, the number wasn''t enough to overwhelm him despite being tired after a momentary respite. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though, most of it could be attributed to their reckless lunging and swinging weapons without plans.


    It was like watching a bunch of children playing with sticks in the garden.


    ''Just what''s wrong with their brains?'' Jash wondered before smiling as he caught sight of Helios''s darkening expressions.


    Surely, he had wanted to use them as a distraction and then attack Jash from his blindspot after tiring him a bit more.


    Yet his plan got messed up by a random dwarf, and he really didn''t know what to say.


    He wasn''t some petty second-generation scumbag who would harbor hatred or anything, it was just a bit of frustration that he evidently let go.


    In the end, his plan to ambush Jash''s blind spot could still work, just not as optimal.


    And thus, he set in motion, right after Jash stopped looking his way and focused on the numerous attacks heading his way.


    Even Helios found Jash''s movements fluid and smooth as the latter easily parried and deflected attacks, redirecting them to clash with each other.


    ¡ªClang! Clang! Clang!


    The repeated metallic sound of weapons clashing and colliding was the only symphony as even the professor looked baffled.


    Only Aileen''s eyes shone with stars at finding a new to¨Cerr, student to pla¨Cerr, teach!


    ''This is easy,'' Jash mused, finding everything going too smoothly for a moment, and almost faltered as the premonition suddenly sank in.


    ''Where''s he?''


    He couldn''t help but let his eyes dart around, in hopes of catching Helios''s figure, but all he caught was nothing but air.


    ''I can''t... see him, then?''


    The thought immediately struck him!


    Only one answer was possible: either Helio wasn''t in his field of vision or at his blindspot.


    While there seemed to be two answers, there was only one answer as Jash had looked all around him to catch a glimpse of Helios.


    But he couldn''t even catch his shadow, let alone spot him.


    Warning signals rang in his head and his heart beat faster, but he couldn''t focus on the ominous feelings gradually overwhelming him.


    Jash forcefully focused back to the current situation of being surrounded by unfamiliar faces, each eager to plunge a weapon deep in his bones.


    ''Can''t focus on the lion to be caught by a rabbit,'' he cursed inwardly, finding his comparison absurd himself.


    ''Just what''s with all these animals popping in my mind in the midst of this darned fight!?''


    He wanted to exclaim it out loud, to cry out his frustrations, but he barely had the time to catch his breath while moving swiftly.


    His feet seemed to have a mind of their own as they moved on their own, just like his sword, deflecting and parrying all kinds of attacks.


    The attacks changed trajectories carried forwards to attack each other, giving rise to a chaotic situation yet Jash didn''t seem the least bit content.


    His eyes were furiously darting around, letting his body rely on instincts to fight completely.


    If only someone noticed this abnormality, they''d know that something was off about Jash as he was too young to have enough experience to achieve such a feat.


    And just as it seemed to be going exceptionally well, he caught the sight of a sword enlarging in his vision!

 Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Unwilling Benefits

    Seeing the sword approaching so swiftly, even Jash was startled at first, and his brain couldn''t react in time.


    Thankfully, his body was fully active after fighting for so long and reacted on its own before he could think of anything.


    It all happened in the blink of an eye as Jash leaned back and let himself fall to the ground but he reacted at the correct time.


    ¡ªTrrng!


    His sword clashed with Helios''s and he used the moment of contact to kick Helios in the shin in order to not fall to the ground completely.


    After all, even he would need more than a second to get up and that would be detrimental when he was completely surrounded.


    There was no way he could escape unscathed and did get some minor flesh wounds, but they weren''t even noticed.


    All the attention was on his sudden and instinctive movements as if he had decades of battlefield experience and nothing could stop him.


    Alas, it was true, but how could anyone else know it?


    ''Just what happened?'' Jash couldn''t help but think this way as he was just as surprised as others, unable to understand how his past life experience could resonate with this new body.


    ''According to all theories, the body is just a vessel for the soul,'' he recalled, shifting abruptly and finally managing to stand.


    His thought process was simple: the experiences were engraved in his body and had nothing to do with his soul,


    And even if they indeed had something to do with his soul, how could it reflect on his new body?


    It just didn''t make sense to him and his head buzzed at the contradiction, not realizing it was his own fault for such a result.


    Unlike him, Helios stood frozen, completely dumbfounded, his thoughts slipping away for a moment.


    In his mind, he had already envisioned Aileen or Ronan moving out to end the Duel yet the most absurd outcome occurred.


    Just at that moment, he seemed to have felt a sticky sensation on his leg and realized he was bleeding as a result of Jash''s kick.


    Though the force wasn''t enough to even make him stagger due to his momentum, he got injured due to the skin sliding off.


    But no one had the time to care for Helios, their focus fixed on Jash, who was also bleeding.


    While the attack from Helios seemed to have missed, the sword wind caused by his forceful swing left a cut on Jash''s nose.


    It was just a few drops of blood and nothing much to worry about, but the most conspicuous part was Jash was bleeding from his nose.


    The blood trickled down his nose to his lips, leaving a disgusting metallic taste in his mouth as Jash frowned in displeasure.


    He roughly wiped it off with his left hand and took another stance, but no one attacked him.


    Although they knew it would be easy to overwhelm him after his injury, it would have been a huge blow to their already shattering prides.


    They just wanted to save the last bit of their vain prides and


    valiantly


    gave up the duel.


    Originally, Helios still wanted to fight, but after seeing everyone''s downcast faces, he knew it was useless to try to convince them anymore.


    They had given up.


    And Jash also seemed to have noticed this, feeling smug inside as he wouldn''t have to deal with Ronan anymore.


    ''But isn''t Ziva still there?'' Jash finally realized this and couldn''t help but grunt in annoyance, frustration bubbling within him, "Urgh!"


    Others thought he would finally collapse but all he did was stabilize himself with his sword before straightening his back and walking away.


    He only stopped in front of Ronan and spoke with a tone of finality despite his voice coming out hoarse, "So... are we done now?"


    While it seemed like a question, the sheer calmness and frigid air surrounding Jash made Ronan almost want to act on his impulse.


    Only, Aileen was standing next to him, watching his every movement, and the instant he moved, he might very well have lost his life.


    His inner thoughts and flaring anger didn''t matter, he could only acquiesce. "...Yes. Here is your YP," he said after a bit of hesitation.


    Jash didn''t care, though, and just nodded perfunctorily after confirming his YP had increased by 2500.


    ''I can probably buy a D-Rank Mana Gem that will be usable in the future with this,'' Jash mused before briskly walking away.


    He knew his condition better than anyone and couldn''t remain for long and Aileen didn''t make things difficult for him.


    "Since you''ve gone through much, you''re excused from the class today," she announced before looking coldly at others, startling them.


    "As for you all..."


    Jash had already left by the time she went hell mode on the others and wouldn''t let them leave unless they were probably battered.


    ''I need to recover fast,'' Jash thought to himself, ignoring Ziva and Amael glancing at him and even their messages.


    He really didn''t have it in him to put up any more of his calm facade as his body grew weary after all the ups and downs he suffered back then.


    It was really a wonder how he was yet to collapse despite his internals being almost in a mess.


    Thanks to him reigning himself in and altering his Mana Circulation Pathway to the five nodes from his past life, he could delay the effects of his internal injuries.


    It wasn''t difficult to understand; he just had to let the mana suppress his internal organs, which were a mess and about to suffer deep cuts. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    One could easily recover from any sort of flesh wounds, but even a small internal injury could be detrimental to life if ignored.


    Yet Jash had played with fire, shocking his entire internals from multiple clashes and even forcing his stamina to keep up.


    "I''m spent..." His voice sounded low, almost as if he was sighing.


    Thankfully, his mana and Aura could still help him keep going and his battered state somewhat helped them from overflowing and not being able to reside in his body.


    In a twist of fate, he went through another round of excruciating pain as sweat covered his face and he felt like crying tears of blood.


    His injured internal organs, arteries, veins, muscles, nerves and every cell was being mended with Aura, somewhat mutating its genetic code itself.


    It was simple in words, but extremely complex in procedure to the point Jash really wanted to stop it and let himself rest for a few days due to internal injuries.


    At least that was his plan until the process began after removing the handcuffs stopping his mana flow.


    ''Just... why did I not faint right then and there!?''


    He cursed in indignation, but no voice escaped his lips except a few wails of pain but the soundproofing of his room was really effective.


    Not to mention only Ziva resided in this building and she was still in class, so it wouldn''t have changed a thing even if he cried hysterically.


    Alas, all good things came with pain, be it the pain of being persistent and working hard relentlessly, or the pain of one''s body on the verge of a breakdown.


    ''Ugh, I would''ve ranked up again if not for doing it recently,'' Jash thought, as that was a legit possibility in this situation.


    However, he seemed to be a little unlucky, or maybe lucky, as he didn''t rank up and his body finally fixed itself after a daunting process of one entire hour.

 Chapter 220: Chapter 220: A Quiet Beginning

    After going through the excruciating process forced upon him, Jash didn''t know how to react for a while.


    "Haa... Haa..."


    He could only pant for breath, calming his breathing, letting his lungs fill with fresh air, nurturing his insides.


    ''Breathing... is one of the basic... method... of...''


    Myriad thoughts of breathing techniques and their pivotal uses in various meditation methods flooded into his mind.


    Even his thought process lagged behind, overwhelmed by the flux of new information flooding his mind and his deliberate, slow yet deep breathing.


    Only after spending quite some time did he calm down and the first thing he did was check his schedule for the next day.


    "Thank heavens, it''s an off!" He exclaimed with a little smile on his face.


    Usually, there weren''t many days off in the Academy, but it just so turned out to be an off, something he was quite grateful for.


    ''It''s for Aura stabilization, right?'' Jash wondered, trying to guess why everyone had it as a day off, which didn''t make much sense.


    But then again, it wasn''t his job to worry about the Academy curriculum or anything related, as it didn''t impact the Protagonist at all.


    So, surely it shouldn''t affect him too, right?


    At least he believed this way in his heart and could be completely at ease for the moment.


    He dragged his tired body to take a quick shower to cool down his body just in case before going to sleep.


    Of course, he didn''t forget to reply to every message before going to shower or who knew what kind of fuss Ziva might kick up?


    He was really helpless in this matter, he couldn''t guess what was on her mind at all as if she wasn''t human, but a monster in human clothing.


    Well, it wasn''t that exaggerated, but Jash could only go along with her whims to protect her.


    Although the unconscious thought of wanting to protect her eluded him as he attributed it to his own feelings before his past life''s memories came to him.


    Or maybe it was because of knowing Ziva''s sad, pitiful end which he wanted to prevent because he was touched by her?


    In the end, only time would tell the answer to this question and currently it only passed a few hours before the sun rose, giving rise to another morning, and another day to look forward to.


    ***


    It was early morning, the sun still tucked behind the horizon, casting a gentle golden hue across the academy grounds.


    The cool breeze played with the strands of a beautiful girl''s hair as she strolled along, a handful of snacks clutched in her hand.


    With each step, she swiftly gobbled up the food contentedly, a carefree smile lighting up her smooth face.


    "Mhm... Mhm..."


    Her humming sounds mingled with the sound of her snack, creating a strangely harmonious melody that only the morning birds and the occasional early riser could hear.


    Her enjoyment was evident as if she had found the secret to perfect mornings: snacks and solitude.


    Yet she nibbled and gobbled the snacks, watching her surroundings warily as if afraid that someone would steal her snacks or maybe forbid her from eating it.


    Naturally, it wasn''t that she feared anyone, but if someone really caught sight of her bad habit in the early morning...


    Just the thought sent a shiver down her back, disrupting her earlier happy expression.


    As she walked, she glanced around, her sharp eyes absorbing the tranquil scene.


    Although the campus was quiet with most students still wrapped in slumber, she couldn''t help but feel uneasy as if she were a thief and would soon get caught.


    Yet her pace remained leisurely until a thought crossed her mind, and her lips couldn''t help but curl upwards subconsciously.


    "As expected, waking up early is the best... especially... with snacks¡­"


    She muttered her musings out aloud, nodding to herself, convinced of this newfound wisdom.


    Of course, she didn''t forget to grab a few more bites of the snacks in her hands, which resembled crispy chips but had a flaky texture.


    But she wasn''t limited to just one kind of snack, all kinds of tasty ones were in her space ring or in her hands.


    She even wore two rings, one for snacks and the other for daily use.


    It was nearly impossible for such a thing to happen in the Academy, but she wasn''t stripped of her student status.


    And it could only mean one thing, she had the right to it, whether it was approved after her talent and potential or she won it fair and square.


    Eitherway, she wasn''t one to care about such things and enjoyed the peace and quiet.


    After all, she had the world to herself at this hour, and her snacks just so happened to be an unexpected yet delightful companion.


    With her munching sounds, and snacks in tow, the girl wandered the academy grounds, her steps carrying her toward the common training area.


    The empty paths welcomed her, and she reveled in the peacefulness.


    Her chewing sounds slowly turned muffled, blending with the rustling leaves, becoming just another note in the morning symphon.


    "Maybe I should train today...?"


    She murmured with a hint of hesitation, not sure about her decision as her words were punctuated by the sound of her eating.


    Just like most Senior students, she was a girl with a weird sleeping schedule.


    Sometimes, she didn''t sleep a wink for multiple days and sometimes she would just sleep for the whole day or even more.


    Suddenly, she bobbed her head up and down, mumbling to herself, "Okay! It is the Elemental Manifestations today, then."


    The training grounds loomed before her, and her eyes brightened with determination. Stay connected with m|vl|e|mp|y|r


    The Elemental Manifestations awaited her, a place where her skills would be put to the test.


    However, the results would be equally rewarding, something almost everyone wanted to get a good shot at and improve themselves.


    Alas, most could only dream of it as its price was literally exorbitant.


    Only if one ranked the First in their entire year could they get to use it more freely, but it was still limited and even other Rankers had many restrictions.


    Of course, if one was FIrst among either males or females or the Year Representative, they could use it for longer and cheaper.


    While the ones being left behind would complain of unfairness and whatnot, it was the harsh truth and nobody could deny it. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, only the ones who experienced it understood how difficult it actually was.


    It wasn''t something everyone could get in touch with lest they cause trouble for themselves and the Academy yet the girl actually treated it as no big deal.


    The hint of reluctance between eating one more snack or going to train inside flashed on her face, but she ended up sighing.


    ¡ªMhm~


    With a final crunch, she finished the last of her crispy snack and discarded the empty packets into a nearby bin.


    As she finally stepped onto the training grounds, she noticed a few academy personnel already bustling about, setting up for the day''s activities.


    It wasn''t anything new to her since few students woke up early to practice, most preferring to rest before classes.


    Walking by a passing instructor, she flashed a grin in recognition and they nodded in acknowledgment.


    The girl''s liveliness, bubbliness, and reputation as the top-ranked student in her third year preceded her.

 Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Impending Meeting

    After exchanging a nod of recognition, she didn''t forget to offer the instructor some snacks she took out randomly from her space ring.


    It wasn''t her intention as she was going to go for training, but she really couldn''t help it.


    The instructor also paused in her preparations, and looked thoughtfully at the girl before accepting the offered snack.


    "Thank you," she replied appreciatively in a polite tone, rare from an instructor.


    Hearing it, the girl''s cute, cheeky grin widened, pleased by the instructor''s response.


    "You''re welcome!" She exclaimed happily, "I find that starting the day with a bit of energy from tasty snacks is quite refreshing."


    The instructor chuckled lightly, avoiding the snack with a smile.. "I can see the appeal," the instructor agreed, playing along.


    This girl was just so cute and lively that she had won everyone''s heart amongst the instructors and no one ever found trouble with her.


    "So, Jyra, where are you planning to head this morning?" the instructor asked with some curiosity in her eyes, knowing the hard-working girl quite well.


    Jyra just tilted her head, though as her expression remained playful. "I''ll be heading to the Elemental Manifestations... it''s where I feel most at home."


    Hearing Jyra''s last words in a lowered voice, the instructor''s expression softened as she smiled in understanding and sympathy.


    "You certainly have a strong connection with that place," the instructor said, changing the flow of the conversation.


    "You''re always busy striving to master your elements when others are sleeping or lazing around," the instructor sighed, a little troubled.


    Although Jyra had long sensed the instructor''s concern and noticed her attempt to steer the conversation away to avoid hurting her, she didn''t expose it.


    She felt that it would be betraying her good intentions, and it was better to be carefree and aloof than scheme all day for a bunch of benefits.


    Thinking so, her eyes sparkled with determination as she proclaimed, "Absolutely! It''s the perfect environment!and maintain her rank to show the world that even someone like her could stand"


    "Not only can I constantly challenge myself there, I make progress each time too. After all, I am the world''s best..."


    Her words paused as a memory buried within her mind was about to rise up and she quickly suppressed it, not wanting her emotions to get agitated all of a sudden.


    The instructor didn''t seem to notice the oddity and merely nodded in agreement.


    "You sure are always up for a challenge," the instructor praised her before adding, "The Elemental Manifestations are all yours!"


    It didn''t really need to be said, given her ranking as the top student, but the instructor still said it, hoping to motivate the young girl and unravel the knots in her fragile heart.


    Jyra''s expression turned thoughtful and she replied sweetly. "''Thank you! I want to set a good example for the juniors!"


    The instructor''s fond smile returned to her face. "You truly are a dedicated student. Your dedication, enthusiasm and commitment are truly inspiring."


    A faint blush colored Jyra''s cheeks at the compliment, but she maintained her cheerful demeanor.


    "I appreciate that!" She nodded in gratitude in a slightly high-pitched voice before realizing her mishap.


    "I genuinely enjoy the process of learning and growing," Jyra quickly added to avoid letting it get caught.


    As they conversed, Jyra''s attention was drawn to a series of fwoosh sounds coming from a distance as if someone was swinging weapons at empty air.


    She turned her head, her curiosity evident on her face.


    "Do you hear that?" She wondered aloud, her gaze directed toward the source of the noise.


    She felt like she knew where the sound was coming from, but she couldn''t put her mind to it.


    "Ah... it is a freshman trying to hone his sword or so he said," the instructor replied, looking at the source of the sound.


    A look of recognition dawned on Jyra''s face, and she nodded in understanding, "Of course, as freshmen, they ought to hone their skills."


    "Someone must be engaging in rigorous training this early in the morning," Jyra said, a trace of rare nostalgia and a smile appeared on her face.


    The instructor''s eyes twinkled with a touch of admiration as she agreed, "Indeed! It''s rather impressive to witness such dedication from a freshman!"


    Jyra''s lips curved into a pleased smile. "Early mornings often reveal true enthusiasts of self-improvement."


    While it might seem like praising someone else on one end, it could also be misunderstood as her praising herself.


    Though she was not that kind of person and would never be narcissistic about her hardwork.


    It was something she did to get stronger and hold her rank to show the world that even someone like her could stand on the same level as those privileged children.


    Deep in her thoughts, she followed the instructor to take a look, drawing closer to the source of the loud sounds of sword winds.


    As they drew closer to the source of the sounds, the instructor''s gaze remained focused on the training area.


    "It appears the freshman is taking on quite the challenge to improve himself," she mused aloud, observing the sword winds and sounds.


    From her years of experience, it was easy to guess that the student must be blessed and immensely hardworking to have such a result.


    Yet she didn''t think of the student being a genius or monstrous genius; her thoughts differed from others as she had observed Jyra too well.


    The girl seemed to lack any talent and still stood above everyone under the guidance of a teacher everyone despised and liked at the same time.


    And thus, hearing the instructor''s praise, Jyra''s curiosity deepened with a hint of intrigue lacing her words.


    "I wonder who this freshman might be and how they''re faring in their pursuit of the sword." Stay immersed with m-vl-em-py-r


    The instructor''s expression turned thoughtful as she pondered aloud, "While I appreciate their enthusiasm, it''s important for individuals to recognize their limits and not end up overexerting themselves for little result."


    Her words were based on her experience and knowing the student''s hardwork, she hadn''t gone to say anything, but it seemed inevitable at this moment.


    Jyra''s brows furrowed slightly, a touch of dissent in her voice, disagreeing with the instructor, "But isn''t the Academy about pushing limits and striving for growth?"


    The instructor nodded, acknowledging Jyra''s perspective, but explained her point,"Indeed, it is."


    "However," she continued,"There''s a fine line between growth and setting oneself up for a life of misery. Not every battle is worth pursuing."


    Jyra''s gaze held a glimmer of determination, saying, "I believe that perseverance and determination can overcome even the most daunting odds."


    The instructor''s lips curved into a gentle smile yet it held an odd sense of bitterness that Jyra missed.


    "While that''s true, sometimes knowing when to step back is a valuable skill as well. Wisdom lies in recognizing one''s limits." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The instructor''s words seemed to be laced with her own experience and wisdom instead of something she read and preached about, showcasing her abilities very well.


    Jyra''s stance stiffened momentarily, a flash of disagreement crossing her face.


    "one always shies away from challenges, how can they achieve greatness?"


    The instructor''s gaze held a mix of understanding and wisdom, containing the vicissitudes of life and reality, which was cold and harsh to everyone.


    "It''s not about shying away, Jyra," she explained softly, "It''s about choosing goals that align with your strengths and have a realistic chance of success."


    "Taking on impossible challenges which are overwhelmingly stacked against you might lead to unnecessary setbacks."


    However, this was not something that Jyra liked to talk about because it reminded her of unpleasant times in the pasof the unpleasant past...

 Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Edge of the Unknown

    ''A true warrior is the one who never steps back, even in the face of a battle they can''t win.''


    As the words she read long ago echoed in her mind, Jyra felt reluctant to continue talking with the instructor any longer.


    Waving her hands in a parting motion, she headed toward the Elemental Manifestations.


    However, the closer she got, the louder and stronger was the sound of the sword wind.


    ¡ªFwoosh! FWOOSH! FWOOSH~


    If it was during the normal daytime, Jyra would have simply stepped back and ignored the sound since many noises would occupy the training grounds.


    But that was not the case right now.


    The only sound she was hearing was the sound of sword wind that was coming from the empty area of the training ground instead of the Training Dummies.


    Usually, one would use the different training dummies and set different levels to train and improve themselves.


    Yet she could distinctly make out that such was not the case this time.


    And this made her curious.


    Adding the fact that the one lingering around was just a freshman, she couldn''t help but get more and more curious.


    "Just who''s this freshman," she wondered aloud, her eyes shining with mischief.


    She planned to scare the freshmen or prank him to get some funny reaction as soon as she caught sight of him, or that was the plan.


    Until her stomach grumbled and growled as if wanting to be filled with her dear snacks, and she really couldn''t keep it in for long.


    The sound of chips, wontons, cheese balls, etc., crunching in her mouth mixed with the sound of the wind clashing all the while she slowly made her way to the area.


    There, amidst the flurry of movements and the sound of metal cutting air, she saw him¡ªthe freshman who had caught her attention during the Entrance Test.


    His name was Helios.


    She recalled his origins from the church and his sad past which was enough to shroud anyone in a casual, gloomy aura around them.


    Yet he maintained a bright, cheerful demeanor, making her heart ache at the thought of his hurt.


    To be honest, he was a freshman, which intrigued her since it was the first time she felt as if she were looking into a misty mirror and could see her reflection.


    Truly, it was not a bad feeling. She was a girl with a good nature, so she was always welcomed by other students.


    In any case, before her, Helios was swinging his sword with full determination trying to master his Aura and mana and increase his sword mastery.


    But she was a Mage, so she didn''t really know how good he was putting up with it.


    All she knew was he was better than even some second-year juniors of hers...


    Looking at his swift and precise movements, she wanted to help him, but didn''t know how and could only reluctantly look at it from afar.


    Despite the intense challenge posed by his circumstances, he didn''t seem deterred. Every dodge, every strike, reflected his earnest effort to become the best and protect others.


    At least, that was how she saw it, dazzling her eyes all at once.


    Nearby, Jash passed by, and ended up witnessing this crazy scene unfold, instantly stunned by the insane luck of the protagonist. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Tsk, tsk, just been two days and he''s already enchanting beauties?''


    Jash cursed inwardly, scoffing at the sloppy writing of the author and how the event actually took place right in front of his eyes.


    Rather than feeling he had eaten dog food(fed PDA), Jash only felt disgusted and wanted to really cleanse his eyes of this sight.


    He couldn''t care less about their development despite knowing Jyra could be of better help to him for learning elements than she could be to Helios.


    And she was the reason Helios could wield almost all the Yang elements with such proficiency.


    "Alas, she sacrificed herself..." Jash muttered, choking on his voice before he ended up sighing, "What a pity, every heroine has a similar ending, no?"


    A mocking smile graced his lips as couldn''t care less about the ends of those that chose to be with him, or were forced by the hands of fate.


    What could he do?


    He wasn''t some good samaritan or some saint who would go out of his way to help others, and especially one of the heroines.


    According to his past experience, even if a man sacrificed themself to save the Heroine, she would idiotically go and die to save the Hero who didn''t need no saving...


    "Tsk," Jash clicked his tongue outward, recalling one such novel and increased his pace to not get any complicated feelings later.


    ''Just saving my family is enough,'' he mused, determined to not care about anyone of not much importance to him.


    Surprisingly, he didn''t consider the world to be a novel, and did notice the difference in the scene between Jyra and Helios.


    But Jash was sure that the general direction of things would remain the same, that is, Jyra would still fall for Helios.


    In his opinion, it was better to focus himself and visit the Elemental Manifestations to get his elemental awakening.


    ''I don''t really need any tutoring to re-learn my elements,'' he pursed his lips at the thought, shrugging his shoulders helplessly.


    Even if the world was different alongside the mana circulation methods, Jash was sure that at least the elements would remain the same.


    He had created the five nodes with hopes of the elements only, just that he couldn''t ignite one without the other or his body might as well implode.


    Shivering from such a danger associated with his mana circulation technique, he still didn''t give up and moved ahead without as much as a glance behind.


    There was a reason why Helios had actually come today, though Jash didn''t know of it.


    Helios actually wanted to get help and also help Jyra get stronger so that she could teach him farther ahead in his bath to strength.


    After all, her elemental talent was unmatched and only she could breach past the point where he reached his limits. Experience the best on m_v_l_e_m_p_y_r


    Due to this, he didn''t even notice Jash giving him a look of disdain and Helios was truly delved into swinging his sword, so he really missed Jyra''s reluctant look as well.


    ...And she actually left!!


    Something completely unexpected by the two of them happened as they were too immersed in their own thoughts.


    In the first place, Helios had been taking on the hardest level of Elemental Manifestations when Jyra saw him and couldn''t help but admire him, evoking a sense of love and willingness to help.


    But now? She couldn''t help him with the sword, could she?


    So, she really left for the Elemental Manifestations where Jash stood at the entrance with solemn expressions before entering directly.


    Jyra just so happened to see this scene and found the boy familiar, but couldn''t remember where she had seen him.


    In her curiosity, she went to see what he was doing, until her eyes almost bulged from her sockets and she yelled, "NO WAY!!"


    She gasped, unable to believe someone could be so crazy and really dared to take on the mode that even


    she


    dared not try in the Elemental Manifestations.


    "Is he planning to injure himself to escape the assessment test?" Jyra murmured in a tone of disbelief, her expression of the unseen boy dropping to the ground.


    And it only highlighted Helios''s brilliance... but who knew what made her stand guard, wanting to know who was inside to the point she even convinced herself it was only concern for her junior and nothing more.

 Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Elemental Manifestations

    The Elemental Manifestations entrance lay coldly, marked by an intricately carved archway that seemed to pulse with a faint glow.


    It was like neon lights illuminating the surroundings, but in fact, they were all mana particles that had taken the attribute of the special element.


    It was a place reserved only for high-ranking students of the academy, a privilege earned through hard work and dedication.


    Knowing theoretically about it, Jash stepped into the Elemental Manifestations with pursed lips.


    His gray eyes wearily glanced around. A mixture of wariness, anticipation, and unfamiliarity washed over him.


    And after taking a good look around, only one thought pulsed through his mind:


    ''This is one of the gems of the academy. Not many students will ever get the chance to access this place.''


    Unknowingly, he recalled that this place was somewhat of a second home to Jyra and instantly put aside all his thoughts.


    He felt it better to experience things himself than rely on someone''s words or any other thoughts and quickly walked further in.


    As his steps laced on the soft, mushy ground, he felt an uncanny sense of familiarity, as if the myriad elemental mana particles were calling out to him.


    It was a sense of yearning he couldn''t ever misplace, knowing what it was to yearn for someone from the deepest pits of hell...


    Not wanting to delve into those memories, he could only shake his head and sigh.


    This place was like entering a Mage''s home since they would love to spend time here, improving their mana and practicing magic.


    ''Beautiful,'' Jash wondered, taking in the ethereal atmosphere of the area around him.


    The walls seemed to pulse with a soft, ever-changing light, and the air felt charged with energy.


    It truly intrigued him, and he didn''t care about maintaining a stern expression or his usual calm exterior.


    In the end, for whom did he ever put on that facade? It surely wasn''t for himself.


    ''Worlds apart from its description,'' Jash thought, wanting to curse the author for his lackluster words and descriptive skills. Discover more at m-vl-em|p-yr


    He had only read some words about the Elemental Manifestations as Helios had already awakened the light element.


    So, most of the time, the process of training was skipped with a few words or the scene changed to some other Heroine trying to help Helios in some way.


    That''s why he hadn''t paid much attention to it, but now that he was here, his senses picked up the clear and pure mana all around him.


    "Exactly," he muttered, recalling some of the words the author used to talk about this place.


    This place is special because of the mana particles filling the air¡ªthese are no ordinary mana particles¡ªthey''re infused with the essence of different elements: fire, water, earth, wind, and more.


    "It''s like being surrounded by a symphony of mana," Jash couldn''t help but let out a low murmur in slight amazement as he felt the different elements interacting with each other.


    It was as if they resonated deeply with his own mana circulation technique and could even inspire him to improve not only his level but also the technique itself.


    The Elemental Manifestations or the chamber that was called so wasn''t just because it helped one awaken their elements.


    It served another purpose: helping students refine their advanced mana control skills.


    The dense and diverse mana here challenged the students to adapt and enhance their control.


    That was another reason Jash arrived here on his day-off as it was killing two birds with one stone.


    Though, it changed to three after he familiarized himself a little with the new environment.


    When one practiced techniques in an environment with higher mana density, it was similar to trying to walk against a strong current.


    It forced the person to adjust and refine their control, making their mana manipulation even more precise.


    Yet what Jash felt after coming here was the subtle sense of familiarity and fully unleashed his mana circulation technique, allowing it to interact freely with the new environment.


    Also, considering the latter parts of the novel, he knew mana was bound to get denser and denser on the planet.


    ''In most books, it was for Demon King''s ascension or something along the likes, but here...''


    Jash had a mocking smile on his face as he mused on the lack of information about the reason for increased mana concentration.


    The way the author glossed over it, it was something like all the mana from different worlds would flow through there just like the time of Mana''s first appearance or the other Races'' first appearance; thus, resulting in a higher mana density.


    "But that''s all in the future," Jash sighed in schadenfreude, unsure if he would even survive until then.


    However, his smile full of self-mockery soon gave way to a frown.


    "Why is this place called Elemental Manifestations when all I feel in this place is it being filled with a dense amount of mana?"


    "Isn''t this simply a Mana Chamber?" he asked no one in particular before busying himself to scour his mind for an answer.


    Since his question made sense, he grew ever-so curious in trying to find the reason for it.


    After all, not all types of mana were elemental.


    There were unique types that could be called elements, but weren''t elements in their truest sense¡ªlight, darkness, void, space, time, telekinesis, mental...and many others.


    Not only that, even executing a weapon technique or spell required mana, but it didn''t really have to be elemental mana at all!


    As if finally realizing what he was missing, Jash had an enlightened expression and remembered the reason he was here.


    "Shit! This place is really creepy!"


    He even forgot that he came here to awaken elements and if dense mana was all it had, then how would that even be possible?


    Wouldn''t it be utterly stupid to be here if just dense mana could help in awakening one''s element?! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was an environment any rich family could afford, why would the Academy boast about the Elemental Manifestations then?


    ''This place isn''t just about general mana density; it''s called the Elemental Manifestations for a reason...'' Jash mused with a taciturn face.


    It was really difficult for him to believe that he got deceived and let himself get carried away; he chose to stop for a while.


    Looking around with all his concentration, there were specific rooms, seemingly dedicated to the different elements.


    And as if to supplement his knowledge, his brain also stopped scouring, pouring in all kinds of information about the Elemental Manifestations, which made him lightheaded.


    Each room was infused with a much higher concentration of specific elemental mana, making it suitable to awaken to that element, but also rendering the person susceptible to that element.


    In simpler words, what Jash experienced previously, the feeling of being deceived and misled, but on a grander scale and feeling as if one would become the element themselves.


    Of course, what Jash conveniently ignored was the fact that he had set up the highest difficulty for himself to awaken at least one element by the end of the day.


    "If possible, I wish to awaken them all at once," he murmured with a self-deprecating smile.


    That was surely delusional on his part, but he didn''t seem to care about it in the least.


    After all, the rooms were sure to have an even higher density of mana, specifically of certain elements, unlike the place Jash was currently in.


    There was no way he wouldn''t be affected by it...

 Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Water’s Embrace

    If one wanted to focus on enhancing their control over fire mana, they''d have to step into the Fire Elemental Manifestations Chamber.


    Even the air at its entrance was practically crackling with intense fire mana, making one''s imagination of the true situation inside run wild.


    Naturally, being close to the element allows one to immerse oneself in the nuances of that element, adjusting their control and techniques accordingly.


    But everything has its disadvantages; those without the slightest affinity would probably be burned to a crisp within seconds.


    And even those with a mediocre affinity for the element would suffer deeply!


    ''Even Caera seemed to have suffered in the inner region, not to mention the unattainable depths,'' Jash sighed in deep thought.


    He knew in his heart that Caera''s elemental affinity was second to almost none, or so it was mentioned in the novel.


    "But mom''s affinity is truly unmatched, even better than Caera, and even she could barely reach the Inner regions after suffering a great deal."


    The words unconsciously left his lips as he felt a strange sensation of some heavy weight on his chest, feeling a strange agony.


    On second thought, he figured it out with a clear mind... it was the dense mana trying to overburden his greedy mana core. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although he knew the source and process, he really couldn''t fight back the overwhelming mana, left with no choice but to choose a chamber and enter quickly.


    His expression darkened; he couldn''t afford to waste time thinking.


    Either way, each of the Elemental Manifestations chambers were used for targeted training for specific elemental skills or awakening one''s element.


    Of course, only those who knew their affinity dared to come here and would still hesitate as there was no guarantee that they would awaken their element.


    Plus, there was also some risk of potential injury, hindering quite a few from entering before the high YP cost slumped the willing few.


    Of course, the proud rankers couldn''t be compared to the riff-raff at all, they were ready to stake it in and prove themselves worthy!


    Just thinking of all this made Jash dizzy as he directly entered the Water Elemental Manifestation chambers and almost choked.


    The first feeling that enveloped him was the crushing weight of water pinning him as if he was drowning under a heavy load of lead.


    He couldn''t even move his body at all, and before he could calm down, his chest grew stuffy, as if begging for a breath of fresh air.


    Even if Jash expected a lot of things, how could he know that his crazy idea of selecting the highest difficulty level would be so crazy!


    Thank heavens he didn''t choose Fire, or who knew if only ashes remained of him as of now.


    Of course, that wouldn''t happen or the Academy would really be put in a tight spot, so there were several tight-lipped guards observing here all day and night.


    If Jash''s ID Bracelet sent signals for rescue, they would immediately close the Elemental Manifestations chamber irrespective of the loss of resources.


    However, if Jash survived and awakened his element, they wouldn''t even move as their task was simply to observe and help in case some idiot causes trouble.


    Their tight-lipped nature wasn''t inherent, but forced upon them due to their own circumstances.


    Suddenly, their eyes narrowed as the water currents rose near Jash, threatening to shed him into pieces and push him ashore.


    Both of their gazes grew solemn as they understood the situation better than anyone else, having been here for who knows how long.


    Yet they retracted their eyes the next second calmly after feeling that it was time to rescue the ignorant boy who dared to challenge the Elemental Manifestations.


    Only... they didn''t get a chance at all!


    Although Jash had made a mistake he was no novice when it came to handling unsettling situations.


    It was a habit that unnaturally drifted past his two lives and he instantly calmed himself, forcefully using his mana to suppress his instincts.


    His eyes couldn''t even open against the pressure, let alone open, but he remained steadfast and let mana do the task of his five senses.


    Protecting his ears from all the pressure added another layer of taxing task unto him, but could only grind his teeth and do it.


    ''If this injures my ears, I''ll lose a substantial part of my balancing ability,'' he lamented his rashness, but what was done was done.


    Jash''s demeanor shifted noticeably as he let his body flow with the water, not going against it.


    His previous mild panicked and aghast face had only left an aura of focused determination.


    It was as if a different person had emerged, determined not to lose or get injured in such a pathetic way when he ought to be focusing on strengthening himself.


    Just then, the mana flow around him changed subtly, allowing him to subconsciously relax despite the degrading situation.


    The water currents had just begun to take form, and would soon come for him.


    Yet as the water swirled, Jash''s mind raced with different thoughts¡ªmemories and strategies.


    Mana is the essence of all things supernatural. It is the energy that flows through our world, and as Hunters, we harness it to perform incredible feats.


    Just that one line was enough to rouse him from his drowsy state as he knew that there were mana particles and even some mana essence scattered everywhere.


    Even without full control over his mana, he felt faint, shimmering particles dancing in the air.


    ''In normal circumstances, a mix of various mana types is present in the environment,'' he mused for a second.


    But in his current condition, only water-element mana particles remained, or rather, they made up the vast majority.


    Continue reading at m|v-l''e-NovelFire


    These mana particles responded to his own mana, and as a Hunter, he could manipulate them using specialized techniques or through direct comprehension.


    Currently, he didn''t have anything regarding the former except his own mana circulation technique, so he could only bet on the latter.


    He tried under extreme pressure with great peril upon him... and the mana particles seemed to gravitate towards him, forming a swirling cluster around his body.


    Although faint and minimalistic, it was far better than helplessly lying in the water in pain, unable to do anything except suffer.


    At the moment, Jash''s analytical mind was fixed on the mana particles around him, feeling the weak and feebleness of its connection to him, as if it would break at the slightest distractions.


    Yet he could still observe how the mana responded to his fading and growing control, forming some sort of shield to decrease the pressure around himself.


    At the moment, what he was doing could be termed as crazy as even Mages struggled to accurately control mana, especially elemental mana.


    It was far more elusive than the mixed form of mana, which was usually used after refining.


    And that''s where the term "true mana control" came into play.


    Not being a Mage, Jash needed to learn how to manipulate mana directly, but who knew he would actually grasp it on his first try?


    Though it wasn''t complete and there was a high chance he would soon let the mana dissipate, it was a big achievement nonetheless.


    It relieved the pressure of the surrounding water on his body, only to make Jash realize the imminent threat that hid behind...


    The water currents were swirling, ready to strike the intruder who disrupted the balance of the water elemental mana herein.


    Yet Jash''s mind buzzed with focus, trying to understand the nuances of water elemental mana, its flow and how it interacted with the sparse mana particles of other elements.


    Jash''s focus sharpened further as he focused deep inside him, trying to imitate what he saw and understood.


    He had long figured out that this was the only way to not get kicked out from here for fear of his safety being implicated.

 Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Undesired

    Jash''s expression darkened once more; the mental agony weighing heavily on him.


    ''No! It can''t be this easy! I am missing something!''


    He wanted to scream the words at the top of his lungs but his mouth stayed clamped shut.


    Jash knew it required a deep connection to the element, an innate sense of the mana''s rhythm, and the ability to guide and shape it with precision.


    However, he lacked that ability and just by some random guesses under pressure, he was on the verge of comprehending it?


    That sounded too unbelievable, even to him!


    It was simply absurd for even someone with crazy good affinity with an element to be able to do that, let alone him, who merely wanted to use it as an auxiliary element.


    At the impossible notion, Jash''s mind whirred to possibilities, but his survival instincts reacted before he could settle down on one possibility.


    The mana essence responded to his almost dying control, swirling around his body in strange yet intricate patterns.


    Though he couldn''t feel it or didn''t have the leisure to notice it, his control over the element had unexpectedly surged, reaching an unprecedented level.


    It was as if he was wielding the mana running through his veins instead of water elemental mana in a hard-to-please environment.


    Within moments, his expression shifted into a mixture of understanding, shock, realization, and grim acceptance as he survived the storm.


    The mana around him coiled in a protective manner, acting as if he was just any other water elemental mana instead of an intruder.


    The water currents didn''t have a mind of their own and could only go their way, trying to kick the


    intruder


    away, but they didn''t find any intruder anymore...


    Ultimately, it only shifted Jash''s body''s flowing direction which went along with the current as it was indeed too strong to fight against.


    Not to mention Jash''s spur of the moment control of the water elemental mana, it was a death wish to fight against the water current that could probably level mountains.


    ''Do I have a trait for Water?''


    That was the first thought rising in his mind as he struggled to accept it, not wanting to be left with only the water element for the rest of his life.


    For his mana circulation technique to work, he needed balanced control and understanding of the five elements as a prerequisite before they could be used within his nodes.


    But, if his water elemental talent was leaps and bounds ahead of others, he could only abandon everything and only focus on one element. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, he wasn''t one to lose hope, given the grim situation.


    Even if the possibility of a multi-affinity trait or talent being next to none. But didn''t he have multiple affinities already?


    Compared to his first life where he had no choice but to forcefully use the elements to get stronger despite having no affinity, his current situation was still better.


    Getting back to traits or talents, one could call them inherent talents that bloomed after some unsaid conditions were fulfilled.


    Yet it was common knowledge that one couldn''t even guess one''s own traits, let alone others''.


    Some people only awakened their traits at their dying breath, and some could never do it.


    Despite it being a good thing for others, Jash had another reason except the imbalance in his elements to worry about at the moment.


    Traits like space-control or specific elemental affinities gave Hunters a natural edge in controlling mana, but it had its downsides.


    If one learned from scratch, it would be a very challenging but rewarding journey.


    And no one knew better than Jash why it was better to have no elemental traits as it could be detrimental to all his plans for the near future.


    Experience tales at m v|l e-NovelFire


    He didn''t even want it for some rare element excluding the five he absolutely needed.


    ''I need to re-learn mana control in this world, and get even better at it,'' he thought regretfully.


    He already had a solid command over his mana, except situations similar to his current one.


    It was somewhat of a hindrance to him as he was forced to learn mana control crudely in his past life and he couldn''t fix it, even until his demise.


    Not wanting to delve into those colde memories, he quickly shook his head, focusing on absorbing the knowledge to control the water elemental mana.


    According to his requirement, he did gain something, but he was yet to have his elemental awakening and he really wanted to curse himself.


    At least he felt the relief of fresh air as he manipulated the water elemental mana to allow some air to flow around his nostrils.


    His mind grew complex over the seconds as he felt more and more that he had gained some sort of trait, and his expressions darkened, a frown creasing his brow.


    "Not every trait is a blessing."


    That was a famous saying in this world, and Jash also believed it somewhat.


    There were certain times when developing a trait was a lot harder than simply controlling mana, but that wasn''t something he was bothered with.


    It was the other possibility, something worse than he could imagine until now.


    There were certain traits that made people unable to comprehend and use other types of mana at all!


    ''Surely, I wouldn''t hit the roadblock so early on, right?''


    Jash could only try to cheer himself up in this hopeless situation, knowing it wasn''t the time to lose his focus on the water elemental mana.


    What use would it be if he failed in one task and got pulled out for safety concerns?


    So, in order to awaken his element, he could only try the crudest method.


    A faint, aura-like bluish projection appeared on his palm¡ªa beginner''s manifestation, lacking the refined control he usually displayed.


    What he was trying to do with the water elemental mana was how others learned to use mana when they first awakened to it.


    He had seen and heard about it a lot, and finally had the chance to do it himself, so he confidently seized the chance.


    All his earlier helplessness, grief, regret, lamentations were wiped away as he felt the exhilarating feeling of being able to control the mana freshly, from a new perspective.


    Usually, only newly awakened hunters tried this with unattributed pure mana, the foundation of all magical energy, the canvas before the painting.


    And there was a very good reason why no one tried it for elemental mana.


    Elemental mana was usually more volatile and denser than pure mana, making it extremely hard to be able to fully control it.


    Slowly, the shimmering-faint blue mana around his body began to gather and concentrate, condensing to form a denser, more tangible form.


    ''With practice, I can probably shape and direct this mana just like any other,'' he mused with slightly upturned lips.


    After being successful in his little rendezvous, he was unable to hide the joy in his eyes.


    And the only observing duo at the moment were stunned speechless for the first time in countless years at this unbelievable sight.


    However, their tempers were very well restrained, and they didn''t even let out the smallest of voice from their mouths as they continued observing Jash.


    As no one else had entered the Elemental Manifestations, it was easier for them to observe Jash freely.


    Unaware of the observers, his own mind remained focused on the shifting energy in his palm.


    As he could see the faint contours of his palm, he had an easier time trying to manipulate the water elemental mana.

 Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Ephemeral Insight

    Jash''s move demonstrated his intense control over the mana, but that wasn''t something he actually liked; it was a testament to his own hardship.


    Yet he remained without choice. He was forced to manipulate the water elemental mana and form an innate connection to it, in order to awaken the element and exit this dreaded place.


    A thin thread-like structure extended from his palm as he deliberately waited for it to take shape.


    It was too thin, too fragile, as if it would break with the slightest tug of even wind.


    The shimmering hues of different shades of blue covered it whole, as the hues wavered between dark and light blues, indicating its own duality.


    It could become the strongest connection or the weakest¡ªit all depended upon Jash, who chose to wield it and attempted connecting to it.


    His feat of controlling elemental mana as pure mana was unmatched and rarely achievable, yet he wasn''t satisfied.


    ''Manipulating mana is about finesse,'' he mused, unable to calm his racing mind that struggled desperately to hold on against his explosive thoughts.


    Usually, pure mana, being a mixture of elements, could also function in a similar manner to telekinesis or psychokinesis.


    It could be used to remove objects, grab things, or even affect the environment around oneself, if one had enough mana pool and control.


    Similar to an invisible extension of oneself, one could use mana.


    However, all of it held untrue in the face of elemental mana as it really couldn''t do any of that.


    Though it had its own distinct advantages, they could only align with the nature of the element and the wielder''s understanding of the element itself.


    Weapon wielders used this as an extension of their Weapon Aura to form ranged attacks, or they simply condensed the energy on themselves.


    That was something Jash could already do and even some rare geniuses in the Entrance Test had showcased their elements.


    ''But, the way they did it was immature,'' he thought on reflection, imagining himself in their place and being pushed to use their half-assed elemental powers.


    He would surely not be able to do it, in fear of embarrassing himself.


    While in his previous life, Jash had a clear goal which pushed him to do anything for his objective, he lacked such a strong sense of conviction and belonging to this life to achieve a similar feat, given the same situation.


    ''I didn''t know the necessary procedures back then, but now...''


    Obviously, being the second son from an esteemed Ducal family, he was well-versed with all kinds of knowledge despite him remaining unwilling to it.


    That''s why he realized that while he had been able to manipulate mana in certain ways in his past life, there was a lack of refinement in his control.


    It was one thing to not know it, but now that he did, how could he let it go and make the same mistake twice?


    That was just impossible!


    Only some idiot would be willing to make the same mistake more than once.


    Hence, he focused all his time on his body, sword, and his mana control, but not everything could be changed about his past life habits.


    And it was especially difficult without clear guidance.


    ''I could''ve asked for guidance, but how to explain my situation...?''


    The question had plagued him all the way until now, so he had no answer and could only focus back to the present situation as the elemental mana had entered his body and was about to possibly form a connection with his mana core.


    While he intended to use the nodes for the five core elements, he couldn''t awaken them if his mana core didn''t react or allow for it.


    Imagine being unable to use the element wholeheartedly but being able to control its elemental mana...


    Yeah, that sounded absurd and pure nonsense.


    And he really didn''t want to have to do anything with such a notion, so he quickly closed his eyes, focusing on his internal mana.


    He tried to shape it, force it to bend to its will and create a clear path to the water elemental mana without any other specific goal in mind.


    It was somewhat similar to his past life, but not completely as it didn''t have such grand ceremonies for elemental awakenings or such a tedious process.


    One could randomly awaken their element or never do it throughout their lives.


    ''There were relics and tools that let one awaken to their element if it were of the same element,'' Jash recalled, and let the information sweep by.


    He didn''t dwell on it for even a second, letting all his focus be on the wavering bluish thread that seemed to be on the verge of reaching his mana core.


    Yet it remained elusive, as if it were never there, slipping through his attempts to control it.


    However, this time, Jash clenched his fists until the palms of his hands turned white, a surge of frustration bubbling within him. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''This is a lot harder than I thought.''


    He suddenly understood the reason why people were this jealous of geniuses when it came to mana sense.


    After all, the former Jash was someone who didn''t have access to any proper control techniques, relying on pure instincts.


    And the current one didn''t have the natural sense of mana, or so he stubbornly believed.


    If only he could open his dog eyes and look at the crazy shit he pulled!


    Therefore, it was natural for him to underestimate himself and be unable to understand and grasp it as easily as breathing.


    But it wasn''t as though he had failed; it would just take longer, maybe a few minutes or hours.


    However, it was not like he had infinite time, if his bodily status shared by his ID Bracelet reached the


    Safety Hazard


    level, he would be pulled out.


    But what worried him about that situation was being unable to enter the Elemental Manifestations in the near future.


    As if that kind of grim result was painted in his mind, Jash''s deliberate, slow breathing got hitched, caught in his throat.


    In the next second, it was akin to water bursting through floodgates after a heavy rain.


    Experience more on m v|l -NovelFire.net


    With a fluid motion, the thread-like mana wave directly broke through the different layers of mana veins, internal organs, and whatnot to directly strike for his mana core.


    His mana surged, condensing around the thread-like intruder bursting through the layers of his body as if they didn''t exist.


    Yet he didn''t feel anything except perhaps slight discomfort, but it was too meager in the grand scheme of things, as if negligible.


    Defying expectations, his mana, which seemed to be on an immune path, ready to destroy the intruder, changed its course.


    Suddenly, it reached out, gently enveloping the thread, tenderly catching it and leading it to his mana core as if it were the most precious, fragile treasure.


    Feeling this sudden change, Jash almost opened his mouth unconsciously. ''Ah, I understand...''


    He didn''t force the mana, but understood it not as an external energy he was manipulating but as a part of himself.


    It was more about understanding its flow, nature, interactions, and gently persuading it to follow one''s will as if one was also mana itself.


    On one side, Jash thought everything was contradictory as he just bruteforced things, but on the opposite side, he felt like a deeper understanding of mana itself.


    ''It''s surely not something I can explain to anyone or help them achieve...''


    Those were his true thoughts, only able to understand them himself inexplicably as if his understanding was unique to him, and everyone must cultivate their own unique understanding.

 Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Elemental Gamble

    Drowned in his own thoughts, Jash was so busy admiring the elusive nature of his enlightenment that he missed the great phenomena all around him.


    At the moment, he continued to feel the mana''s turbulent flow inside his body, trying to grasp it.


    Yet it remained just short of being reached, causing his brows to furrow in concentration.


    The only thing he knew of it was to let it become an extension of his intent, but that was not something easily achieved.


    Despite his body''s discomfort, he spared no effort on it, focusing entirely on understanding the mana flowing within and how it reacted to the water elemental mana.


    It had long formed a connection, causing Jash to feel a faint, tingling sensation inside his mana core, allowing him to awaken to the water element first.


    And it was a good decision, as it was one of the softest and most neutral elements, though it could be one of the most destructive ones as well.


    Unbeknownst to him, the dense and heavy pressure had been alleviated, allowing him to relax significantly, though some of it still pressed down on his body.


    As he frowned in displeasure, his focus, stolen from its initial position, shifted slightly to the spots he felt were being battered by water currents.


    ''This... isn''t this too much?!''


    Jash was stunned speechless, his thoughts whirring endlessly at such a ''coincidence''.


    The silently stolen attention actually guided his focus, helping him attune to the mana''s energy.


    In that instant, Jash truly lost himself in that feeling, getting into a state of complete focus as if the mana running through his veins and the water element was all that existed in the world.


    Suddenly, some words from a long-lost memory echoed into his mind.


    "Feel the mana responding to your will... Guide it like an artist crafting a masterpiece."


    The words once obscure and deemed irrelevant were spot-on at the moment, almost helping him achieve the state of enlightenment.


    Though he didn''t quite reach that specific stage¡ªjust short of it¡ªand could understand things on a grander level than before.


    Jash could even feel the faint pull of mana, like a gentle current tugging at his senses.


    His focus narrowed intently on this feeling, imagining the mana flowing around him in a coordinated manner and following his will.


    And then... it finally happened.


    An unconscious obscure smile graced Jash''s lips as the thread of mana connecting him to the water element became more and more concrete.


    ''I''ve awakened one element,'' he concluded with an air of coolness, instantly cooling the water around him a little to mist.


    This would be one of the grandest achievements for someone else, however, to Jash, all of it was just the first step.


    And there was one thing which pleased him after awakening the water element.


    ''Thankfully, I don''t have some stupid trait or physique limiting my elements,'' he heaved a huge sigh of relief.


    While traits or physiques granted individuals enhanced physical attributes¡ªstrength, speed, durability¡ªthey also came with limitations.


    Some limited the type of mana one could interact with, some came at the cost of being unable to manipulate external mana effectively.


    And that was a big no-no for Jash, he''d rather be average at using elements than being forced to give up on being able to use mana freely.


    His body was already a conduit for raw power, what he lacked was the finesse for complex mana manipulation.


    That''s what he wanted!


    ''Indeed, this was the case,'' he mused, recalling a certain musclehead who went around the world to constantly challenge other people to ensure he was the strongest.


    Of course, there were many other reasons as well, but that''s for a later time as Jash had limited time in the Elemental Manifestations chambers.


    He couldn''t afford to waste time mulling over irrelevant things for now, and took the decisive step to leave the Water Elemental Manifestation chamber.


    Now that Jash had awakened the water element, there was no need to waste anymore time being immersed inside.


    It was better to utilize it and aim for another element, even if it was highly unlikely to work.


    But Jash was also conflicted deep in his mind, he had to choose between wood and air.


    ''Calling it air or wind doesn''t matter, but I don''t know which one would suit me better?'' he thought indecisively, letting the familiar pressure of dense mana overcome him again.


    In the end, he didn''t have long to choose and could only grit his teeth and mutter, "Whatever happens, happens!"


    In a bout of indecisiveness or maybe idiocy, he chose to mix the two elements and try to awaken a mutated element, something not very fawned upon.


    It was already difficult to master the well-known and developed elements, let alone elements without history or different from their natural forms.


    Sometimes, one could be lucky and end up with a previously known element, or just a mild combination of both the elements.


    But... there was the extreme case of lack of knowledge and access to the element itself.


    Yet, Jash had already entered the Wind Elemental Manifestations chamber, intent on learning a mutated wind element with wood.


    Naturally, he had already made preparations in advance and was hesitating at the moment of truth.


    ''I''ve never had to deal with such tricky and unknown elements, but I think I can make do with it,'' he told himself before begrudgingly letting the nano-armor off.


    Instead, he wore a deeply ingrained wood-elemental clothing, everything on him was deeply constrained from the element.


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    Not only that, he had even brought some wood elemental awakening spirits and pills to pass by.


    Spirits weren''t really spirits as in some other race, they were similar to pills but couldn''t be consumed, and could only be kept around during the elemental awakening.


    The more apt description of it would be wood-elemental mana stones or mana gems.


    Though it didn''t have anything to do with the other, that was how it was used and explained in this world, and even Jash''s understanding was shallow on this aspect.


    ''The darned author could waste an entire chapter on how the protagonist''s swaying hair made the female with swaying hips swoon, but couldn''t be bothered with actually important stuff!!''


    If Jash could meet such a person, he wouldn''t hesitate to spit on their face and shout: "DERANGED! SCUM! GO! DIE!"


    Alas, such fortune eluded him, and he could only focus on the moving air currents and how it would soon cut through his skin and armor.


    Indeed, it protected him, but for how long?


    Air wasn''t a weak aspect of nature and was just as fatal as any other aspect, so it would be unbecoming of Jash to take it lightly.


    Especially because he had witnessed cities and even entire nations getting destroyed by forces of nature, so he wouldn''t take any element lightly. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While others debated whether their element was superior, Jash feared not having learned it!


    In his eyes, all of it was nothing short of nonsense as only his strength mattered and he had to suffer to grow.


    It was different from his previous time with the water element, he really couldn''t repeat the same method because his goal was different.


    Earlier, he only focused on awakening the element, which was primary level and something almost everyone hoped to achieve.


    But as mentioned before, mutated elements were a headache on one end and a true boon on another, it just depended on the person involved and the element.


    However, the entire process varied if one aimed to achieve that from the start.

 Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Unheard of Element

    Feeling the wind cut sharply at his skin and the wood-elemental clothes drawing blood, Jash gritted his teeth to the point of smashing them.


    ''Damn it! I must''ve gone crazy to try this brutal method!'' He cursed himself inwardly for being impatient.


    It was not like he only had one day to achieve everything, and the same were the thoughts of the observing few, having been already shocked by his craziness with the water element.


    Though they were used to all kinds of sights and easily dismissed Jash''s actions as his talent, they really had a hard time accepting the current situation.


    Should we pull him out?" asked a taciturn voice, though a hint of surprise lingered.


    Before the person next to him could even respond, a cold, almost chilling, voice entered their ears, "Not allowed."


    The two didn''t dare respond, shuddering under the voice of their enigmatic supervisor.


    They might have harbored thoughts of pulling Jash out forcefully before he triggered the safety mechanism, but after being stopped, they wouldn''t dare even if they were dead!


    Unaware of being noticed by another strong person behind-the-scenes, Jash tasted the metallic blood in his mouth from his bleeding lips.


    ''This is my own decision! I must persevere!'' He recited inside his mind, trying to stay calm.


    However, his situation truly wasn''t all that good.


    His body was covered in wounds from the wind current, with the wood-elemental clothing sliced in different places.


    Yet it was trying to shield him and at the same time heal his injuries, letting the wood element sink inside his body alongside the infested wind-element.


    Although risky, this was the only method Jash could come up with to awaken their mutated element with wind as the base element.


    Not much reason behind his choice, just that he felt it was better to awaken wind for its versatility and wood for its healing factor.


    That''s why he even chose such a set of wood-elemental clothing that really focused on healing and nourishing vitality only.


    ''Ugh! The pain is really repulsive!'' Jash thought with a self-mocking smile despite his bleeding lips and fresh cut on his face.


    At this point, he didn''t have any extensive reaction to pain as if it were second nature to him and it was his old companion, like his little lover.


    Yet his concentration had never left the elemental mana that pervaded his body, trying to grasp just a tiny bit of its strand and connect it to his mana core. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With his multi-elemental affinity, it wouldn''t be hard to awaken any element, so he was pretty sure it would work.


    Truly, he didn''t have to wait long as a strand of the lightest green mixed with denser shades of green came into his senses.


    For one, he could feel it inside his body rather than it directly acting upon the intended parts.


    And as he could faintly manipulate and ascertain his will, his lips unconsciously curled upwards despite the increasing red.


    ''Soon!'' He exclaimed inwardly, sensing the increase in the number of strands he found inside his body resembling the first one.


    However, each strand was unique, with its own sense of presence, as if they were all different mutated elements resulting from Jash''s crazy attempt.


    No one would usually make such a gamble, but then again, Jash was a bit crazy, even in his previous life, so it matched well with him.


    ''Now, which one do I connect?'' Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelFire.net


    The question bothered him to no extent as it would directly impact what kind of element he would gain.


    Although he was sure to be able to use any mutated element to a good extent and easily be able to control it, a sense of nervousness still washed over him.


    In the end, he didn''t have to wait for long before the first strand completely submitted to him, directly shooting towards the mana core.


    Cold sweat covered his bloody face as something beyond his expectations happened at the critical juncture, taking him by surprise.


    ''Thankfully, I am not looking for more mutate elements,'' he smiled bitterly, fully aware of his barbaric and spartan methods, which wouldn''t bode him well.


    In the next second, a flash of information entered his mind as the complex elemental mana entered his mana core and resonated with it.


    It halted the dreadful phenomena around him, giving him time to breathe before the environment around him subtly changed.


    It was filled with trees, shrubs, greens¡ªmade of wind¡ªthat swayed alongside the moving wind.


    With closed eyes in full concentration, there was zero chance for Jash to see it, being busy sorting around the flash of inspiration and information in his mind.


    Not even aware of himself, the new element surrounded his body.


    A light, flowing current resembling the essence of trees and the winds, flowing like a gentle breeze yet symbolizing strength and durability like that of wood.


    The element seemed to represent the harmony between the grounded strength of trees and the fluid, dynamic nature of air.


    It was a true embodiment of both stability and freedom.


    However, that wasn''t all it could do!


    Jash had to himself explore the element and discover the manifold uses it could have.


    But his body was currently floating a little with the help of the wind element that was the base of his new element which he used relatively well.


    Simple shapes of birds with varying green colors appeared floating around him, taking on the shapes of giant monsters to the smallest of insects.


    In the next second, a light-green hue covered his body, slowly healing his wounds and similarly generating the lost blood deep inside his body.


    It was a double-healing, more akin to regeneration than the usual method of using one''s own lifespan to accelerate the healing of wounds employed by most healers and doctors.


    Unlike wood-elementals or water-elementals, who were limited to their elemental mana, his healing power originated from the air around him as well as the wood-element.


    It was a two-in-one comprehensive healing that would make one envy such a skill.


    Alas, the pain and reward were really in ratio as if saying high-risk high-reward came true.


    At that final moment, Jash came to himself and only a raspy cough echoed from within.


    "What... the?"


    He couldn''t help but break his speech, his slightly dry chapped lips cracking at his own voice.


    He had just felt the information of his new element and its basic understanding flash by his mind and by the time he could grasp it, he felt he lost a huge opportunity.


    ''If only I knew!''


    Jash lamented his lack of knowledge or he would''ve held true to his genius aspect and learned as much as he could infer from the scrambled knowledge.


    It didn''t come from his past life or present life, but directly bestowed for unlocking this element for the first time in the whole world.


    Centuries back, such occurrences were common but even millennials had passed, so it was too hard for one to awaken new elements.


    "Ziva also had this when she awakened," he sighed, not anticipating he would have such a bout of new elements.


    He knew about her case solely because it was mentioned in passing in the novel, not because she told him or he heard of it from anyone.


    As it was a rare occurrence, it naturally invited unwanted problems, so anyone would want to hide it, masking the knowledge of Ziva''s element back then.


    ''Her family really put in some effort,'' he smiled bitterly, knowing his own situation was somewhat better.


    ''But what do I call it?'' he wondered in intrigue.

 Chapter 229: DO NOT BUY

    DO NOT BUYS UNTIL TITLE IS CHAPTER NUMBER WITH A PROPER TITLE AND THIS PART HAS BEEN REMOVED


    Surprisingly, Aileen''s presence at the moment was quite heavy and Jash was confused further.


    ''Is it due to the lack of many others sharing the burden or is she doing this purposefully?'' Jash considered the only two options and leaned towards the latter.


    He had never heard of anything related to his former guess, but he didn''t disregard any possibilities, having a desire for that kind of overbearing presence.


    "I am Aileen Frostvale, and I am your teacher for Aura Creation," Aileen introduced herself briefly before her eyes through the class.


    "I don''t usually teach this subject but due to some reasons, I was requested for it as your batch is a little special," she added, her eyes darting to the figure of Jash, Amael and Helios.


    Although she wanted to take Jash under her wing, she didn''t disregard others'' efforts or talents.


    At the moment, Aileen looked a bit intimidating, but Jash knew there was no reason for her to be like this, she was trying to achieve something, but he didn''t know what.


    In fact, he guessed right, she was trying to play the good cop and bad cop, both by herself.


    She would be cold in classes but teach gently and kindly, making him gradually trust her so that he became her apprentice.


    But that was all, she had no other motive than nurturing a genius, as if she was a farmer looking at her farm animals.


    "I dislike wasting time, and your Duel Class will start soon, so let''s begin," Aileen announced as she raised her finger, and an ethereal blue light started covering her finger.


    "Aura is the external manifestation of your mana. Try to draw out your mana to the tip of your fingers," Aileen instructed.


    Everyone, including Jash, followed the instructions, but their result was different as only a blob of mana formed on the tip of their fingers.


    It was pitiful to even compare it to Aileen''s Aura, which covered her whole finger.


    "What you all are doing is manifesting mana... it''s not Aura," Aileen explained but didn''t go further into the details.


    "Some of you can already strengthen your body by coating it with mana," Aileen mentioned matter-of-factly as if she could see through it.


    But she didn''t give any names nor any clues to who it was, but speculation ran wild and the first suspect was Jash, who was considering her words.


    ''I sure can use mana to strengthen myself, but coat it outside my body? I can''t do that,'' Jash commented inwardly after the piercing glares shot his way.


    At that exact moment as if Aileen had predicted it, a couple of staff members came into the classroom, drawing attention.


    After all, no one had heard of classes ever being interrupted and then, the staff members seemed to be placing some huge containers in the empty area in the front.


    Then, they opened it all of a sudden, revealing a crystal blue liquid, which seemed to sparkle and was so fragrant that a few students even drooled at its scent.


    "Don''t even think of tasting it, unless you wish to die," Aileen''s words blocked any and all thoughts of tasting the lucrative liquid.


    "In front of you is highly diluted liquid mana, and Solarnelle Academy is the only Academy or place in the world where it can be found."


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    Aileen''s words echoed in everyone''s head as they realized that Solarnelle Academy indeed offered unique advantages, being the top Academy.


    Seeing the curious onlookers, Aileen still explained, "The method to create this liquid mana was discovered and put into place by one by one of the previous Principals."


    Of course, many had threatened the person before they eventually gave in, but restricted its knowledge to only the Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Even if the Principal died out of the blue, there were arrangements to pass the method of its creation to the next Principal.


    ''Yeah, right, talking as if it was all for righteousness or whatnot, they were just scared what would happen if others discovered it and they lost their importance.''


    Jash rolled his eyes while thinking so, easily guessing it and it wasn''t like only he could speculate, everyone was free to do so.


    It was just that everyone was interested in the liquid mana itself and waiting for further instructions.


    Thankfully, Aileen didn''t disappoint, mindful of the time.


    "You all," she addressed the students, "Dip your palm and use your mana circulation technique to absorb the mana, but don''t do it hurriedly."


    Aileen''s tone was filled with such seriousness that everyone sobered up, realizing the seriousness of the situation.


    "Cling to the feeling of mana sticking to your palm, that''s the only tip I can give you," she advised kindly, different from her cold exterior, but no one noticed it, even she herself didn''t.


    Then, she sternly added, "You have one hour before you will run out of your liquid mana."


    "Remember to be careful as this is your only chance before the Assessment Test to form your Aura," Aileen emphasized her point.


    Seeing the students begin to follow her instructions, Aileen gently advised,"Try to focus mana in the middle of your palm before spreading it gradually till your fingertips."


    Nodding to herself, she continued instructing, "Focus on that sensation of your mana interacting with the liquid mana,"


    "Then, slowly use the mana to create a thin coating from your whole palm extending it over your entire arm before running out of the liquid mana," Aileen finished sternly.


    She knew it was better for the students to try it as manifesting Aura wasn''t all that easy and really required a lot of focus, concentration and of course, talent.


    In essence, coating one''s weapon and whole body with aura and enforcing oneself with mana before beginning to spread aura outside one''s body was the first step for beginners.


    However, forming Aura was particularly challenging for E-Rank students, as it was a different skill altogether.


    One could even say that Aura was the first step every E-Rank Hunter would learn and improve gradually as they ranked up.


    However, there was someone who didn''t think so and went to take the Elemental Theory class, wanting to explore their elements and giving it a higher priority. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And that someone also dipped his hand into the liquid mana before feeling a chill travel throughout his body.


    ''So cold,'' Jash pressed his lips together, biting back a reflexive protest against the cold sensation of mana on his hand.


    ''Yuck,'' Jash wanted to curse at the icky feeling of liquid mana around his palm and the back of his hand.


    Unlike others who hid their disgust due to the privilege of being able to form Aura at such a young age, Jash didn''t hide it at all.


    His face twisted with disgust as he really wanted to pull his hand out, but his rationality held on.


    Not like he really needed the liquid mana to form Aura, he could do it after reaching Late D-Rank, about to break into C-Rank.


    Same was the case for Amael and Helios. Though they weren''t completely sure about it like Jash.


    Aside from our dear tslightly surprised to see him come play his part too as he didn''t seem like the type to get goaded into doing acts that could blemish the Imperial name.


    ''Thinking of being the heir, he really restrained his temperament,'' Jash mused with schadenfreude, knowing it was all useless in the end.


    After all, when had responsible and strong men not defected in the face of women.


    They must not have been strong and responsible, to begin with. That was the only explanation.


    Unless... they were secret masochists...


    Not daring to think further and distract his thoughts, Jash warily took a few steps back, casting a sidelong glance to check if there was someone behind him too.


    All he could rely on was his body being able to hold up as he had really focused somewhat more on it than his mana or elements.


    And thanks to his past life mories, his swordsmanship was a cut above the rest, so he didn''t have to care too much on that par


    Using just that, he he staff for a second before blocking a spear blade with his sword.


    ''At least no r stealth without mana,'' Jash heaved a brief sigh of relief before trying to come up with ways to deal with the staff and spear.


    ''The two don''t have good coordination, but it''s only a matter of time,'' he mused, aware of the monstrous advantages that came with being a genius.


    He himself could be called one, so he surely knew it, whether it was from his past life or this one.


    Not daring to let him get a rest and retaliate stronger, both the spear and staff reached for him from opposite sides.


    But it wasn''t in a way where he could jump or move back and the two would clash.


    All he could rely on was his body being able to hold up as he had really focused somewhat more on it than his mana or elements.


    And thanks to his past life memories, his swordsmanship was a cut above the rest, so he didn''t have to care too much on that part.


    Using just that, he subverted the staff for a second before blocking a spear blade with his sword.


    ''This is...''


    His eyes narrowed with sharpness underneath


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    ihjds vseyhdgi vjcihes dgjviujdsk viuewjs gdviuj dafhijd fhkj sdfhkjsd fzhdkj zxcij c

 Chapter 230: DO NOT BUY

    DO NOT BUYS UNTIL TITLE IS CHAPTER NUMBER WITH A PROPER TITLE AND THIS PART HAS BEEN REMOVED


    Surprisingly, Aileen''s presence at the moment was quite heavy and Jash was confused further.


    ''Is it due to the lack of many others sharing the burden or is she doing this purposefully?'' Jash considered the only two options and leaned towards the latter.


    He had never heard of anything related to his former guess, but he didn''t disregard any possibilities, having a desire for that kind of overbearing presence.


    "I am Aileen Frostvale, and I am your teacher for Aura Creation," Aileen introduced herself briefly before her eyes through the class.


    Discover stories at m,v l''-NovelFire.net


    "I don''t usually teach this subject but due to some reasons, I was requested for it as your batch is a little special," she added, her eyes darting to the figure of Jash, Amael and Helios.


    Although she wanted to take Jash under her wing, she didn''t disregard others'' efforts or talents.


    At the moment, Aileen looked a bit intimidating, but Jash knew there was no reason for her to be like this, she was trying to achieve something, but he didn''t know what.


    In fact, he guessed right, she was trying to play the good cop and bad cop, both by herself.


    She would be cold in classes but teach gently and kindly, making him gradually trust her so that he became her apprentice.


    But that was all, she had no other motive than nurturing a genius, as if she was a farmer looking at her farm animals.


    "I dislike wasting time, and your Duel Class will start soon, so let''s begin," Aileen announced as she raised her finger, and an ethereal blue light started covering her finger.


    "Aura is the external manifestation of your mana. Try to draw out your mana to the tip of your fingers," Aileen instructed.


    Everyone, including Jash, followed the instructions, but their result was different as only a blob of mana formed on the tip of their fingers.


    It was pitiful to even compare it to Aileen''s Aura, which covered her whole finger.


    "What you all are doing is manifesting mana... it''s not Aura," Aileen explained but didn''t go further into the details.


    "Some of you can already strengthen your body by coating it with mana," Aileen mentioned matter-of-factly as if she could see through it.


    But she didn''t give any names nor any clues to who it was, but speculation ran wild and the first suspect was Jash, who was considering her words.


    ''I sure can use mana to strengthen myself, but coat it outside my body? I can''t do that,'' Jash commented inwardly after the piercing glares shot his way.


    At that exact moment as if Aileen had predicted it, a couple of staff members came into the classroom, drawing attention.


    After all, no one had heard of classes ever being interrupted and then, the staff members seemed to be placing some huge containers in the empty area in the front.


    Then, they opened it all of a sudden, revealing a crystal blue liquid, which seemed to sparkle and was so fragrant that a few students even drooled at its scent. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t even think of tasting it, unless you wish to die," Aileen''s words blocked any and all thoughts of tasting the lucrative liquid.


    "In front of you is highly diluted liquid mana, and Solarnelle Academy is the only Academy or place in the world where it can be found."


    Aileen''s words echoed in everyone''s head as they realized that Solarnelle Academy indeed offered unique advantages, being the top Academy.


    Seeing the curious onlookers, Aileen still explained, "The method to create this liquid mana was discovered and put into place by one by one of the previous Principals."


    Of course, many had threatened the person before they eventually gave in, but restricted its knowledge to only the Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Even if the Principal died out of the blue, there were arrangements to pass the method of its creation to the next Principal.


    ''Yeah, right, talking as if it was all for righteousness or whatnot, they were just scared what would happen if others discovered it and they lost their importance.''


    Jash rolled his eyes while thinking so, easily guessing it and it wasn''t like only he could speculate, everyone was free to do so.


    It was just that everyone was interested in the liquid mana itself and waiting for further instructions.


    Thankfully, Aileen didn''t disappoint, mindful of the time.


    "You all," she addressed the students, "Dip your palm and use your mana circulation technique to absorb the mana, but don''t do it hurriedly."


    Aileen''s tone was filled with such seriousness that everyone sobered up, realizing the seriousness of the situation.


    "Cling to the feeling of mana sticking to your palm, that''s the only tip I can give you," she advised kindly, different from her cold exterior, but no one noticed it, even she herself didn''t.


    Then, she sternly added, "You have one hour before you will run out of your liquid mana."


    "Remember to be careful as this is your only chance before the Assessment Test to form your Aura," Aileen emphasized her point.


    Seeing the students begin to follow her instructions, Aileen gently advised,"Try to focus mana in the middle of your palm before spreading it gradually till your fingertips."


    Nodding to herself, she continued instructing, "Focus on that sensation of your mana interacting with the liquid mana,"


    "Then, slowly use the mana to create a thin coating from your whole palm extending it over your entire arm before running out of the liquid mana," Aileen finished sternly.


    She knew it was better for the students to try it as manifesting Aura wasn''t all that easy and really required a lot of focus, concentration and of course, talent.


    In essence, coating one''s weapon and whole body with aura and enforcing oneself with mana before beginning to spread aura outside one''s body was the first step for beginners.


    However, forming Aura was particularly challenging for E-Rank students, as it was a different skill altogether.


    One could even say that Aura was the first step every E-Rank Hunter would learn and improve gradually as they ranked up.


    However, there was someone who didn''t think so and went to take the Elemental Theory class, wanting to explore their elements and giving it a higher priority.


    And that someone also dipped his hand into the liquid mana before feeling a chill travel throughout his body.


    ''So cold,'' Jash pressed his lips together, biting back a reflexive protest against the cold sensation of mana on his hand.


    ''Yuck,'' Jash wanted to curse at the icky feeling of liquid mana around his palm and the back of his hand.


    Unlike others who hid their disgust due to the privilege of being able to form Aura at such a young age, Jash didn''t hide it at all.


    His face twisted with disgust as he really wanted to pull his hand out, but his rationality held on.


    Not like he really needed the liquid mana to form Aura, he could do it after reaching Late D-Rank, about to break into C-Rank.


    Same was the case for Amael and Helios. Though they weren''t completely sure about it like Jash.


    Aside from our dear three anomalies, everyone else would need to at least reach C-Rank before even thinking of forming their Aura.


    Gu


    ''He''s a hero, surely he won''t be unscrupulous, right?'' Jash tried to think like that but found it difficult to continue the thought.


    He didn''t know if he was thinking like that to fool himself or if he really believed those thoughts.


    He quickly assessed his surroundings, calculating his next moves as another two came to attack him in the meanwhile.


    But before he could counter-attack, he saw Grunghin, who had closed the distance between them, ready to attack him as he countered the other two.


    It was really a good move if not for being against Jash who couldn''t help but deem it pathetic.


    ''At least they know the word teamwork,'' Jash thought in an attempt to lighten his previous doubts, but it did nothing to dampen the bad feeling.


    Unnecessarily growing wary was also a disadvantage and Jash understood it well enough.


    His movements were slightly sluggish as compared to before but it was not very conspicuous with how tired and haphazard placed in the middle of the group.


    Instead his composure stood out amongst them as he decisively countered the two with the flat of his blade and used the force to offset Grunghin.


    Due to his miscalculation, he missed hitting Grunghin, being a beat slower, and couldn''t help but pull back his sword.


    In return, the two who were blocked and trying to pressure Jash to the ground were inexplicably happy before being hit with reality.


    Ahem, it was Grunghin''s blunt hammer.


    The one on the farther side was barely fine but the one who took the full brunt of it fainted with internal injuries.


    However, it could''ve been worse had Grunghin not tried to stop his momentum at the last second.


    Jash didn''t even care though. He insisted on taking out the stunned Grunghin as well but his sword met resistance in the face of a staff.


    Surprised for a second, Jash regained his calm and remembered he was the one talking with the lightning martial artist.


    ''I don''t know what they talked about, but this guy seems... tacky?'' Jash didn''t know what else to call his flamboyant style of waving the staff.


    Still, Jash chose to be careful and scanned the remaining group to keep their positions in his mind

 Chapter 231: DO NOT BUY

    Meanwhile, Aileen just stood aside, deciding to watch the spectacle. She was not one to interfere as long as the person involved didn''t mind it.


    "What format do you want?" Ronan asked Jash, not wanting to appear as someone who tricked him.


    "1v5, then 1v5, then 1v10?" Jash proposed, not caring much about it, but his words did stoke their pride and ego correctly.


    "Hah! As if I need any help to deal with you," an arrogant elf scoffed, mocking the audacity of this human to propose such fights.


    "For once, I agree with this long-eared bas¨C" a dwarf chimed in, but his words were cut off as someone shut his mouth.


    "True, who needs anyone to take care of you?" a noble''s son said, but all he got were looks of disdain.


    It was clear that the three hadn''t fought Jash personally as those who had clashed with him knew he might win despite the outrageous claims.


    "You see, these guys don''t like to team up like smart people, so why don''t we join forces?" A staff-user said to the lightning martial artist.


    "Hoh? An esteemed young master wants a commoner''s help?" The lightning martial artist smiled, half-mockingly, half self-deprecating.


    "Why not? You formed Aura at the same speed as us, no?" The staff user merely shrugged his shoulders.


    It seemed as if he was the sneaky kind, the type to use every resource at his disposal to reach his goals.


    "Let''s cooperate," Grunghin, the dwarven prince, said reluctantly. His words surprised many, but the most affected were the dwarves and elves.


    Though elves and dwarves didn''t have an over-the-top chummy relationship, the two races were on relatively good terms and kept each other''s interest in mind.


    Thus, the elves knew Grunghin and had an idea about his personality, which didn''t match his current appearance at all.


    ''Defeat is the biggest growth,'' Jash mused, observing the show as if he were a third person in the scene himself.


    Only after the students agreed among themselves to let the dissatisfied ones fight 1v1 first did Professor Ronan move.


    "Any objections?" He asked, not wanting any problems during the results, and after confirming that both sides agreed, he began.


    "There are three rules that you must keep in mind:


    Number one, all of you will use practice weapons and must not target vital spots, nor inflict any lethal injury.


    Number two, no use of mana.


    Number three, you cannot attack an opponent who is on the ground."


    After stating the rules clearly and ensuring everyone heard it loud and clear, he nodded to himself, "Ah, remember, this is purely a physical spar!"


    He directly addressed them while taking out some strange yet sleek bracelets from his spatial ring as the students started to form a circle around Jash.


    They weren''t going to attack him at once, but they sure were limiting the sparring area.


    ''If he leaves this area, we will attack,'' they thought collectively, wanting to give a good beating to Jash.


    Jash, who was standing alone in the center of that circle, only smiled at their childish tactic.


    But one thing that surprised him was Amael took a step back and said he''d only watch.


    ''Really now? What''s he aiming for?'' Jash wondered, lamenting his decision to mess up the plot.


    If only he had been conservative and didn''t completely overturn the plot, he would be able to make some guesses, but he couldn''t do that now.


    Little did he know that it wouldn''t matter as both Amael and Helios were anomalies in their own right, at least in this life.


    While he was thinking about all these things, Ronan carefully made everyone wear a mana-restricting bracelet, making it impossible to use mana.


    Of course, it was only limited to the time they had these so-called mana-restricting bracelets on their wrists.


    Once they felt their mana stop responding, each student chose a weapon of their choice, if they hadn''t already.


    Seeing their eager expression, Jash really wanted to roll his eyes as there was no need to worry with the presence of Aileen and Ronan.


    Both were hunters that could stop the duel any second they wanted and Aileen didn''t even need to move to stop the duel.


    Just her SS-Rank pressure might suffocate them to death if she didn''t control it well.


    (Mana Restricting Bracelets)


    (Rank D - Restricts mana usage for Mana Core below Early D-Rank)


    Helios''s system told him about the bracelets, but he couldn''t care less, he was eager to fight Jash and get a grasp of his strength.


    It was important to be aware of his strength and even be wary of his circumstances for the upcoming storm including Jash and his impending doom.


    On the surface, this challenge was purely of physical strength, but putting more thought into it, one''s experience and familiarity with their weapon was also a major factor.


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    However, the 20 students believed that they could tire out Jash, if not outright defeat him, though none would admit to having such a line of thought.


    Only Amael seemed to sense their thoughts and murmured under his breath, "Preposterous."


    No one could hear his low voice, so he didn''t really care, wanting to get a good grasp of their forthcoming situation.


    Although it wasn''t immediately upon them, there was always the chance of the events being pulled to the front due to the changes.


    Similar to them, Jash had long known about it yet held back from ranking up.


    And he currently felt the adrenaline rushing through his veins at the thought of the living targets being delivered to him alongside 2500 YP.


    It was as if someone had given charcoal just in time during winter, or he would freeze to death.


    Looking around, he casually swung the training sword to get adjusted to the weight of the weapon and only stopped after feeling the weight settle comfortably in his grip.


    "Three...


    Two...


    One...


    START!!"


    Ronan shouted and the proud elf was the first one to dash towards Jash, the order of 1v1 fights being already decided.


    Just as everyone was expecting a good fight or Jash struggling to tank a few hits, all they saw was the elf being pushed back.


    Despite being the one who attacked, he got pushed back while Jash just stood in place, only using one hand to use his sword.


    Naturally, Jash''s casual stance as if he didn''t even take note of the elf infuriated the latter.


    ¡ªCLANG!


    And then again, the elf dashed at Jash, this time using the blade to attack with full force... or at least it appeared so.


    Just as Jash moved his sword to block the attack, the elf lowered his center of gravity and swung the blade sharply at Jash''s legs.


    ¡ªCLINK!


    Yet all it met was the flat of Jash''s sword as if it was too predictable, starling him for a second which Jash used to kick him away.


    Due to the extreme force he used, and Jash holding firm while blocking instead of deflecting or retaliating, the elf lost his balance.


    In just that moment, a forceful kick landed on his stomach, making him shriek before a drop of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.


    Not only was he surprised but everyone watching the fight was dumbfounded as it didn''t make sense at all.


    ''Did I go a bit too far?'' Jash thought, a bit embarrassed at failing to control his strength properly.


    Jash originally intended to hone his battle instinct using the fights but... this fight was just too plain for him, prompting him to end it early.


    If only he knew the kind of psychological shadow he gave the guy... Jash would just lament the loss of a potential whetstone.


    ''But he was too weak, so it''s not like he will be able to help me all,'' Jash could only console himself this way.


    "Next!" Jash shouted, wanting to find another scapegoat and controlling his strength better this time.


    Only then will others think they can defeat him and keep coming like this.


    ''Fooling one''s opponent is the most important,'' he mused, unabashed in front of everyone''s looks and speculating whispers.


    "Maybe he used all his strength and took the guy by surprise," someone whispered and the person next to them couldn''t help but agree.


    "Maybe that guy was just weak?" another student commented doubtfully.


    It was not like they were friends or knew each and everyone so they could only guess, and if someone knew him, that person ought to have spoken.


    Yet no one did, so the next contestant went forward, a little shaky but determined to win.


    Holding a spear in his hand, the boy lunged at Jash, striking his spear towards Jash''s torso.


    Even with his mana restricted, Jash was no pushover, having trained his body more than his mana and his past life battle experience aiding him.


    It made things a lot easier for him as fighting came naturally to him and he didn''t have to learn some kind of combat art or form.


    And to prove his instincts, he had already ducked and spun on his spot, delivering a roundhouse kick to the spearmen at his thigh.


    "Arghhh," cried the spearmen as his hands holding the spear shaft loosened uncontrollably.


    In that short window, Jash used his sword to strike the back of the spear to uplift the spear and break the spearman''s balance.


    But he had already seen his predecessor loose so easily, there was no way he was going down disgracefully like that guy.


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    Hdidn dj djis cava pyptl urie pla kxnx


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 Chapter 232: DO NOT BUY

    ''Damn is she determined to become a member of the Council of Races or resolved herself to paint them as an enemy?''


    Jash was curious about her interest in the Council, knowing that it would be better if her thoughts matched his latter guess.


    ''Joining them? Laughable,'' he smiled wryly at the sheer stupidity and na?vet¨¦ of such a thought.


    But he wasn''t too sure about her line of thought, not knowing much about her except one thing that mattered to him.


    If only he could directly approach her and be blunt, but that was not a possibility as she would probably lunge at him, going for the kill.


    ''In some sense, I am her mortal enemy, after all,'' Jash thought, unaware that Ziva had seen his small movements.


    ''He''s looking at a girl?'' she thought, half surprised, half disbelieving. She knew him all too well to know he hated annoying stuff.


    It mattered not if it was a person or something, but getting involved with a girl, someone like him?


    She almost laughed at the thought, thankful for her improved self-control in preventing a laugh from escaping.


    Unlike Jash, she was indeed listening to the class despite how boring it was, also wanting to ask why Galen derailed so much from the topic.


    But then again, she remembered a certain someone who could probably derail for hours if someone didn''t tell him.


    And that certain someone had just turned his face to the front, not really interested in the Council of Races.


    The Council of Races was superior to the Hunter Association, even outranked the Solarnelle Imperial Family, which was quite contradictory.


    However, it did include important figures from the races as well as the church so it made sense and the special exception: the saintess.


    The Saintess was one such member that would get a seat in the Council even if he or she were F-Rank.


    Not like their words or opinions mattered, but it was to say that the position of Saintess or Saint carried that much allure.


    They could literally twist the narrative and have the world in their hands, but could a Saint or Saintess chosen by the Goddess of Light be wicked?


    Not a chance.


    Of course, that was how it was perceived by others but only those old fogies knew how much of a problem the current Saintess was whenever she showed up.


    After all, the Council of Races decided most rules and was the ruling authority of the world.


    And even the voting power isn''t a 1-1 situation, it can change depending on the matter and sometimes be a pure unanimous only decision.


    They called it ''doing it to maintain the system of our current society'', but was it truly?


    ''For the people, my ass!'' Jash cursed inwardly, aware of all the sinister intentions they held beyond those smiling, kind facades


    ''I''ve already been betrayed enough to know that they all just want the power to make the world bend to their whims...''


    Jash''s thoughts were outrageous, but held the cold harsh truth of any world.


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    It mattered little what sleazy excuses were being thrown around as that mattered not.


    Feeling the weight increasing on his shoulders, Jash let go of his thoughts and he heard some more words from Galen.


    "Now, you must be confused about me mentioning so many things unrelated to Beast Theory, but this is the basis for the subject," he exclaimed, proud of his words.


    "Let''s begin with the first Dungeon appearance, around the time when humans didn''t use mana like we do now,"


    "Mana Core Formation was discovered and stabilized too slowly, and the first dungeon breakout exterminated majority of humanity at that time,"


    "Of course, all this is assuming that all those old records mentioned are the truth," he smiled meaningfully.


    His words were quite intriguing for students from a common background who didn''t know much about the old records.


    But the privileged students could only see them as bold words, as those records were cherished and believed by most nobility.


    Unfettered by the students'' gaze, he added, "But then, Hunters were born, and we, humans, awakened to the dormant power of mana,"


    "Though we are still improving," he smiled at his letter words, easing the atmosphere as it seemed to have taken a heavier tone.


    ''Ugh, not this anymore,'' Jash hated it inwardly as Galen continued, his hands gesturing animatedly, discussing dungeons¡ªsomething Jash knew thoroughly.


    Each Dungeon had its own unique environment and they mostly appeared in highly dense mana regions.


    Of course, not in mana rooms as they were artificially created using runed, mana stones and whatnot, but the natural regions.


    ''Not like it''s true for every dungeon out there,'' Jash mused, shuddering all over as his traumatic experience came to his mind.


    As time passed by with nothing interesting being taught, Jash had a hard time coming back to the present from his traumatic memories, suffering from PTSD.


    No matter how he survived, it was a fact that he could have very well died, his entire existence wiped out yet something strange saved him.


    And any sane person would fear the unknown, regardless of how good it seemed, as the ancient saying goes;


    "Sweet words, honeyed speech and the sweetest things may be the most poisonous."


    While Jash was busy with his own internal musings, Gal en wrapped up his class and went out.


    ''What t he hell?! What was even related to Beast Theory in it?!'' Jash couldn''t help but want to curse out loud, cry his indignation to the Heavens.


    Alas he wasn''t the wronged protagonist of a xianxia novel who would get a golden finger(system) or some passing old man would leave their inheritance to him.


    Ahem, nor would he get a ring in which some old master''s dissi pating spirit existed, wanting to teac h him to resurrect themselves.


    Unlike him, many students had dropped their heads down on their desks, wan ting to get a good sleep after all that boring nonsense...


    Though some were eagerly conversing, stretching and making more plans to explore the Academy, or even go to the Great Library.


    However, all of it was in low voices so as to not get on the bad side of the Year Representatives as their crazy videos of the Entrance Test were still being spread.


    If not for them, some young master or young miss wi th an ego would throw a fit, claiming they were wronge d by these classes or whatnot.


    But nobody here had the audacity to offend the scary Year Repre sentatives who didn''t even care abo ut the Student Council, or so the rumors were going on.


    Speaking of which, in the hallway outside other classes, students could be seen walking in groups or alone, or some forming their own cliques.


    There w ere even cases of ''protec tion fees'' but as mentioned it was a loophol e, not somOf course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acte dOf course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just n earby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the A ura Cr eation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did som ething happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    ething anyone wo uld want to involve themselves with.


    Only that the ones taki ng the fees were smart enough to not offend someone with a background or someone who was friends with them.


    O f course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did s omething happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    Of course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullyin g but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah.Of course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their bacOf course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noOf course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    ticed something off and immediately asked.


    kground.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noticed som ething off and immediately asked.


    .. did somet hing happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.

 Chapter 1 - 1: Prologue: Good Riddance

    Ashen grey clouds covered the sky as a seemingly gloomy atmosphere enveloped the world.


    ¡ªSwoosh


    Suddenly, a massive black light pillar shot out, spreading from the empty air.


    Following the light, if it could be even called that, a terrifying pressure appeared, splitting apart the clouds as if to clear up the sky.


    Yet the atmosphere of dread only becomes more intense with the passing of time.


    Within the light, stood a dark figure, whose features indiscernible. But the mere pressure the figure gave out caused the air itself to tense up.


    Whoever the figure was, they were absurdly strong, unparalleled even.


    The feeling of loss and utter defeat loomed among the scarce survivors. Their insignificant presence, luckily or unluckily, remained unknown.


    Slowly, the dazzling dark light dimmed down, clearing the silhouette of the dark figure.


    However, that wasn''t the end. The figure seemed to converge all the light in its surrounding as if absorbing it, causing itself to appear pitch black.


    Its size wasn''t gigantic; rather, it was similar to a human, maybe around 1.9 meters tall, donning pitch-black armor, or was it his skin?


    No one really knew.


    Well, even if someone did, they most likely lay dead by now.


    Different from the hopeless survivors, one person remained, their hope.


    Unfortunately, he too wasn''t in his top shape, after the incessant battles.


    "Huff... huff..."


    Yet his condition too wasn''t the best. Despite the pressure and fatigue drowning him after countless battles, he still stood his ground.


    ''For her sacrifice...''


    He told himself for the umpteenth time before gazing around to take note of the destruction, his breathing erratic.


    It appeared he too was on the verge of losing it all and tried to find something. Anything to ignite some hope, some will to fight...


    His feet felt sticky from the small pool of pitch-black blood beneath him. The blood, however, wasn''t his.


    The scene around him was wrought with destruction¡ªrubble, corpses, and blood of both allies and enemies alike.


    ''I am merely fatigued with minor flesh wounds,'' he noted his condition before turning to gaze at the demonic figure still hovering in the sky, appearing superior to his race¡ªhumans.


    Their eyes locked mid-air; everything around them seemingly froze from this minor event.


    It was then, he saw its lips curl up ever so slightly.


    ''H-he smiled!?'' He thought, shocked by the revelation. As a result, his barely restrained mana ran amok, just like his emotions.


    His body turned paler with each passing second, blood flowing from his orifices.


    ¡ªRiiip!


    It was right at this moment that the figure moved and seemingly tried to grasp the sky itself as if it was tangible.


    Suddenly, red floating windows appeared in front of the man, filling his vision, filled with the same message along with a neon sign of danger.


    [Warning!]


    [Warning!]


    [Warning!]


    Ignoring their blaring sound, as if they weren''t the most absurd thing, he moved at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, reaching the floating figure in a second.


    In a flurry of motion, he swung his sword, a golden brilliance swirling on top of the blade.


    All in an attempt to halt the figure''s moves.


    However, it seemed to just be delaying the inevitable.


    "You are strong..." The demon spoke all of a sudden, his voice hoarse and raspy before he struck. "...for a human."


    ¡ªThud!


    All it did was wave his free hand and the man fell to the ground filled with destroyed buildings as the fear-inducing words echoed in his mind, for a second.


    Shaking his head to regain clarity, he kicked the ground to get out of the dust and destruction before pouring a fifth of his current mana reserves into the sword.


    The metallic sword glimmered in the twilight along with its own golden brilliance as several intricately carved runes of various colors came alive.


    The mana became explosive before they clashed once again.


    ¡ªBoom!


    ¡ªSlash!


    After an unknown period of time spent clashing weapons and fighting a life-and-death battle against the figure, the Demon King.


    He stood before the human.


    Or rather, he knelt before the human.


    "That was a tough fight," commented the human, locking eyes with the Demon King.


    His chest had two glaring holes, one on the left side where the human heart ought to be and another on the right, just in case.


    It was courtesy of the human''s full-on blows during the time the Demon King had formed illusions, clones, and doppelgangers to surround the human.


    If not for using his senses to predict the attacks, the man would have suffered far more grievous injuries.


    "What''d you expect, human?" The Demon King sneered, despite his current situation, as if he wasn''t on death''s door.


    Still, the man chose not to retort. After all, he too incurred a massive number of injuries in the trade-offs with the Demon King.


    ''It really wasn''t an easy fight. It was the toughest one ever since I got the system, at least,'' mused the man, looking at his sword which was stabbed through right above the Demon King''s sternum, jutting out of his neck.


    ''Turns out, the Demon King has a unique physiology and anatomy. Maybe just his own bloodline?''


    The man pondered in melancholy as the fights with so-called Noble demons who also had a heart, mostly on their left side, akin to humans, flashed through his mind.


    He didn''t believe for one second that humans and demons could co-exist.


    It was a naive thought.


    Well, even if they could...


    Not like, he wouldn''t kill them all.


    "Phew~"


    Taking a deep breath to bury the resurfacing painful memories before they could impact his psyche once again.


    Interrupting his thoughts, the Demon King whispered, "Human. Do you want to know?"


    The alluring voice gave rise to his inner turmoil.


    It was a true devilish whisper.


    "What?" I hissed at his dying form.


    "My story.... My tale...." He rasped through the black blood leaking from his mouth.


    It was a miracle how he was still alive, let alone have the capability to talk.


    But then again, he had already noticed the signs of something similar to mana heart in Noble Demons.


    Surely, their King would have the complete one, right?


    "Why bother? Just die... like the invader... you are..." The man spat through gritted teeth, trying to prevent his emotions from bursting.


    "Ha-ha... I will... die... Don''t worry..." He responded calmly. Yet the hint of mockery in his voice couldn''t be hidden.


    It obviously irked the man, but he decided to entertain the dying Demon King for a while longer.


    ...


    After hearing his story, it could be easily summarized:


    A lowly demon, born to the whim of another, who abused him as his mother died at birth. All other demons ostracized and bullied him.


    Then one fortunate day, he awakened his bloodline on the verge of death, alerting the previous King, who wiped out an entire Province after finding out about it. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was done just for a simple reason: Just to keep it a secret.


    After all, as the King, he had too many enemies.


    Yer he taught everything before vanishing without a trace, leaving behind the next King and the strongest demon.


    As he rose to power, he squashed any rebellious demon cruelly and lived like that for a long time, thwarting assassination attempts daily.


    Finally, he felt a woman''s pleasure and the emotions made him calm.


    Yet history repeated itself. Born a boy, killing his mother just like his father.


    Probably, a trait of their bloodline.


    Anyhow, he ruled and taught his son while enjoying himself, knowing he couldn''t impregnate any woman as such was the cursed bloodline...


    The man seemed to have had enough of the story and exclaimed, "Skip all that nonsense, cliche stuff. I want to know who injured you and why the hell you appeared here. I am not interested in knowing about your life or your son''s potential revenge."


    The Demon King''s story was... just too boring.


    Yes, boring.


    That was the only way to express it accurately.


    "A being... He... shattered... space..."


    At this point, the man doubted if the Demon King went senile with his approaching death and uttered random nonsense.


    However, lowering his guard... it was a mistake...


    ¡ªRiiip!


    His sharp claws pierced the human''s chest and held his heart, clenching it in an attempt to destroy it.


    Feeling the hand through his chest, the man thought, ''I was already aware of his attempts to shatter my mana heart to kill me, but this...


    How do I say it?


    It was expected yet unexpected.


    Whatever, it is something I welcome.''


    Death.


    The concept seemed elusive yet it was closer than one could imagine.


    "Good... Riddance..."


    The man murmured with a crazed smile as if he liked what the Demon King did.


    Even the Demon King''s facial expression showed a hint of shock and surprise, albeit for a second as he turned lifeless in the next.


    Gazing around, the man''s eyes darted to look at the signs of collapse around, showcasing the current state of Humans and the reminder of their civilization, if any.


    Yet a content smile graced his face, as if it had nothing to do with him.


    And truly, it didn''t.


    Slowly, the man felt his control over his body and senses fade before his consciousness waned. Despite the situation, the man chuckled as the realization sank in.


    ''Death is approaching...''


    Ignoring the continuous blaring of the system like an everyday routine, his eyes closed with a small smile gracing his lips before he died.... or at least he hoped he died.


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo!~


    Welcome to my new novel!!


    This novel will be slow and a slice of life one, better than the previous one.


    But, no, I am not dropping my other novel, I will continue it after a one-month hiatus necessary for fixing the mistakes in it and sorting out a better schedule than now.


    Tell me in the comments how you feel about it and share it with your friends!!


    This novel is participating in June WPC, so give me your power stones, golden tickets, gifts and whatever you can! At least comment!!

 Chapter 2 - 2: Prologue: Three Wishes

    A dark nothingness surrounded and enveloped me for a seemingly long time before I felt the pitch-black darkness tremble but I didn''t respond.


    Rather, I couldn''t.


    After all, I was supposed to be dead and maybe go through the cycle of rebirth.


    Or maybe some god would weigh my actions and deeds, Karma, was it? Then, they would decide what shall I be reborn as.


    Or maybe go to Heaven or Hell?


    I don''t know.


    It was just a concept of different religions yet no one knew what was true and what wasn''t as no believer would ever believe their religion to lie and be inferior.


    Setting those complicated thoughts aside, I wondered in bewilderment.


    ''Wait a minute? How am I thinking? Ain''t I dead?''


    Confused by my current state, I couldn''t help but panic slightly, thinking the worst.


    ''What if someone trapped my soul or something? Is it even real? Am I not dead? Maybe, I am in a coma...''


    ...


    However, as if to put every single one of my theories and crazy thoughts to waste, a sudden white expanse greeted me.


    It was akin to a small room yet I didn''t know its size as I was locked in place, like usual.


    "The System Space," I said as recognition dawned on me.


    Seeing the familiar scene, my thoughts calmed down too.


    Unaware of the being keeping an eye on me, I continued to wait for the system to show up.


    ***


    [??? POV]


    Looking at the silhouette in white, resembling a man, in the center of System Space, was a man with regality and dignity oozing out of his stout form.


    "The System Space," muttered the silhouette.


    To the man, however, the voice couldn''t be any more clear.


    After all, he could even read the silhouette''s thoughts. This much was nothing.


    But it begged the question how could a blurry silhouette speak?


    "Let''s see what you choose..." The man mumbled to nobody in particular as he waved his hand and the system blared in front of the silhouette once again.


    ***


    If I had my body, I was sure I would be furrowing my brows as the system was taking longer than usual.


    ''Whatever. Not like I can do anything.''


    The System Space was an isolated space, or maybe dimension, of sorts. It was the place where the System usually gave me quests and rewards.


    Waking up here instead of meeting some mythical being, I knew for sure, it was for my feat of killing the Demon King despite my death.


    That was the end goal, anyways.


    Or so I believed at the time.


    ¡ªRing!


    [Calculating Rewards...]


    Suddenly, the system blared into existence out of nowhere but I was used to it.


    Not like I could react even if I wasn''t.


    It had a simple light blue background with words popping up with white like the typical system in most games, novels, animes, manhwas etcetera.


    Though its buzzing sound was surely annoying...


    ¡ªRing!


    [Rewards Calculated!]


    [Dear Host,


    Thanks for killing the Demon King and saving your world!]


    With that message, confetti popped up and music started ringing all around me as if celebrating the death of the Demon King.


    [Reward:...]


    ¡ªRing!


    [Reward has been upgraded]


    [With the system creator''s permission, 3 wishes are granted to the system bearer!]


    Unknown to me, my form of a hazy silhouette wavered for a second, indicating my inner happiness yet also my turmoil.


    "How ironic."


    I couldn''t help but say, knowing full well that it was either me or the Demon King.


    Yet knowing and accepting it were different things.


    The feeling of disgust flowed through me for being stripped of the chance to go to the afterlife, or whatever else it may be.


    In the end, what other choice did I have than to accept my ridiculous situation?


    So, I thought carefully and asked for one of the most common cliche beginning in webnovels.


    ''System, Regression?''


    ¡ªRing!


    [Denied.]


    As if to pour cold water over my expectations, it boldly denied my question much faster than other times.


    Well, what did I even expect?


    If that was possible, what was the meaning of going through everything?


    One can just keep exploiting the loophole and might even regress 1683 times and fail to keep their memories, believing it to be their 3rd round, like that one famous novel.


    Stopping myself from going into bragging about that novel, I decided to make the best decision with the limited information.


    ''I need to narrow down what I can and can''t do...''


    In an attempt to draw more information from the system regarding the capabilities of the wishes, I asked it several questions and it fired rapid replies.


    The conclusion I reached after the short question and answer session was simple:


    ''It is pretty useless.''


    Not that it ever helped me to increase my stats by drinking water or basic tasks or something.


    It has always been an equivalent exchange except for probably protection from soul and mental attacks, maybe.


    ''I guess, this is the best bet...''


    It just had way too many limitations. For example: no regression, no resurrection,no afterlife, no power ups, no information about the creator, and no revival.


    Oh yeah? Did I forget to mention that I am deader than dead and it won''t change.


    At least in this world.


    ''System, you said only Reincarnation is allowed, right?''


    ¡ªRing!


    [Yes, Host! If you wish to use your other wishes then you must reincarnate and use one of the wishes for it!]


    "What a scam!"


    I couldn''t help but curse at the absurdity of the situation.


    I was stuck here, in the system space.


    Dead.


    What''s worse?


    1 out of 3 wishes will definitely be used and from what I know of this shitty system, it will definitely play some tricks.


    Driving my mind to overload, I decided to come up with the best decision possible.


    ''Orphan or family? Obviously, a family! A loving one at that! But I don''t want to change my gender or become a first son...''


    ''Who wants to become the heir and deal with clutter all day long? Definitely not me!''


    ''She is dead and nothing''s gonna change that. It''s already been a decade since then...''


    ''Two decades for my parents...''


    ...


    "Curse you system! I am too old for this shit! I just want to live a lazy life."


    "It would be a blessing if I could live a normal life with my parents before getting married and dying of old age!"


    "Who wants to be the strongest or the ruler of the world? Be that if you want! I will just be stronger and live like I want!"


    Finally, I decided to lay down my wishes not knowing it wasn''t easy to fulfill them, given my life was filled with fighting and blood all throughout.


    Not that I had any other option to waste time.


    Something told me in my guts that I didn''t have the luxury to stay here in the system space indefinitely.


    If that wasn''t enough, the System''s rapid replies raised some concern within my being.


    ''I should just go with it¡­''


    I looked, if that was even possible in my current form, at the fluttering blue system window in the System Space and directly stated my wish.


    "Firstly, reincarnation without you, the system, and soul protection to never get enslaved, controlled, manipulated or connected to any other system. I am tired of this¡­"


    Before I could complete my entire wish, the system windows shifted and many appeared and disappeared instantaneously.


    ¡ªRing!


    [Worlds host can be reincarnated into: 178956¡­


    Removing System or potential system worlds¡­


    Adding Soul Protection¡­]


    "Oi!" I interrupted the system and cursed it, "You shitty system, at least listen to my complete wish!"


    Yet it didn''t stop calculating so I just continued with my wish.


    "Fine! Do it your way, then!"


    "Listen here, I don''t wish to save the world again, just a peaceful slow life with a loving family and then marry a loyal wife to spend my life with. Ah! Of course, I don''t want to destroy any worlds either."


    "Secondly, make sure I am born as a second son to a monogamous couple. Seal my memories till I am 10 or 15 unless it endangers my life or of those close to me."


    "And third¡­"


    ¡ªRing!


    [Request Denied!]


    [Administrator Overwrites!]


    [Overwrite Failed!]


    [Error!]


    [Error¡­Error¡­Error¡­!]


    [Creator¡­!]


    [Request Acquiesced]


    [Good luck, hero]


    "Wait¨C"


    I tried to stop the system but it didn''t respond and suddenly I lost all sensation and my thought processes but not before cursing this system one last time before going into reincarnation.


    ''You shitty system! I only got granted two wishes, not three! I will definitely not miss you, regardless!''


    ***


    [??? POV] S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing the ridiculous thoughts of the system''s host, or better known as the Humanity''s last hope, the man''s lips couldn''t help but curl up despite the precarious situation around him.


    "That is going to take some time¡­" muttered the man as his expression transformed to a cold one and he immediately cut off the system and sent the still speaking man to his next life.


    "I do hope you achieve what you must.


    For it affects not just you but a lot."


    "What should I call you?"


    "The Undeserved Hero or the Accidental Hero?"


    "Haha"


    "Who am I kidding, there are no accidents or coincidences. Only Actions."


    "Should I bid you goodbye and luck for your next life with the titles you gained or the name your mother gave you?"


    Despite the man''s ramblings, his hands never stopped as he destroyed the system, once and for all. However, that wasn''t the end of it and he knew it all too well.


    "If fate wills it, we shall meet again, Bhairav."

 Chapter 3 - 3: Prologue: Hard Choice

    After sending the Hero, Bhairav, who defeated the Demon King to reincarnate into a specific world, the man finally had a change of expression.


    Just because he crashed the system and destroyed it, he knew it wasn''t enough to change the outcome.


    Yet he also knew better than anyone else, he would do the same all over again, if given the chance.


    Unlike the system who couldn''t meddle with the power of ''Time'', he was different.


    However, he was already treading a thin line with his life when he made the decision to give the system to someone unworthy of it.


    Yes, the system was never meant for him.


    Recalling those memories while collapsing the remaining System Space, the man suddenly took out a spherical crystal orb.


    "I wonder what path you will choose..."


    The man mumbled out of nowhere before looking at the orb with a radius of merely 7 centimeters with curiosity flickering in his white eyes.


    "Hmm... It will be soon..."


    The man clad in pristine ivory clothing didn''t stop as he finally left the space and directly appeared in the area where the showdown between the Hero and the Demon King took place.


    Undeterred by the corruption of mana and chaotic flow of it, he directly vanished once again, not even gazing at anyone or anything.


    Appearing at the core of the planet which should have extremely hot temperatures, he gawked around with a hint of urgency in his movements.


    The temperature hot enough to melt human and metal alike in mere seconds failed to even lick at his clothes or hair.


    A thin glow of ivory covered his entire frame as he tried to find the core of the planet, condensed after countless years.


    "It should be right here..."


    "The energy reserves couldn''t have diminished so fast, right?"


    The man said to himself as he covered vast distances with every step, trying to find the source of the planet''s mana in the atmosphere.


    ¡ªFssh!


    Suddenly, a sound as if glass shattering alerted him as he appeared at another location.


    "Phew"


    The man released his held breath as he noticed the amount of energy remaining and confirmed if it was sufficient for his goal.


    "Seems more than enough." The man nodded his head before placing the crystal orb next to the core.


    The orb looked miniscule in front of the core which was at least a kilometer in diameter alone with imperfect spherical shape.


    However, the man''s focus was on the small orb which reflected all the colors in the visible spectrum of light.


    A few tendrils of pure ivory color left the man''s hands as it enveloped the orb completely before coming in contact with the core.


    The moment the ivory energy came in contact with the core, the dense energy filled in the core flowed out like water and converged at the small orb which greedily sucked it in.


    If anyone else were to witness this scene, they''d probably go crazy wondering how such a small orb could absorb such a massive amount of energy, let alone glancing at the man who stood calm as if it weren''t anything abnormal.


    ¡ªFssh!


    The seconds ticked by before the core started to crack even more yet at the precipice of its eminent shattering, the small orb vanished from place.


    A small distortion seemed to have occurred in that moment as only the core vanished, its destination unknown.


    The ivory energy, however, still lingered around as the man controlled it and directly manipulated the energy in the core to explode and form a chain reaction.


    "It''s about damn time," stated the man in an eerie voice as he left the place after starting the chaotic activity in the core. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If not stopped in time, it would definitely lead to more explosions and even the planet might face implosion.


    The man, however, didn''t seem bothered as if he had decided this was the best plan of action, irrespective of the countless deaths.


    The man floated in space using his ivory energy as his gaze filled with unknown intent and meaning locked at the planet hung in the void.


    "Right about now."


    The man broke the silence and as if his words were law, a shocking scene occurred.


    The planet burst apart with countless landmasses flying in different directions to float freely in the void, called the space.


    With the omnipresent vacuum in space, the process remained soundless throughout.


    The human race, who had been celebrating "The valiant Hero who sacrificed himself to slay the Demon King" got the shock of their lives as the earth below them burst apart.


    Their festive and joyous mood turned sour as the sudden impact struck, making them realize the seriousness of the situation.


    Several crevices formed due to the sudden movement of landmass, or rather the tectonic plates.


    While some crevices were empty, some filled with water, and some with even lava.


    That wasn''t the end of it, however. As the abrupt movement of the tectonic plates gave rise to several diverse phenomena.


    In some places, sudden mountains arose, while there could be Tsunamis or abyssal holes in some places.


    The strange phenomenon naturally gave rise to mass hysteria and panic.


    Fortunately or unfortunately, the phenomena didn''t last long as it didn''t take much time for the humans to realize the earth they stood upon had started bursting outward with even more fervor.


    It felt as if the earth which seemed to shield them from the massive energy at the core forcefully broke down, under the increased activity of the planet''s core.


    Slowly but surely, all the living beings who once called the planet hom, passed away.


    Some were lucky enough to not even know how while the stronger ones who tried to resist, only got painful deaths because of their own stubbornness.


    Seeing such a scene as a result of his actions, the man''s fists clenched in helplessness for the first time after he reached his current strength.


    "Calm down... It was a hard choice.... but it was the only one..."


    The man repeated those words to calm his agitated heart and console him as he couldn''t afford to brood over such a thing as more pressing matters awaited him.


    His gaze locked on to the remnants of life and the lively planet changed as he snapped his fingers.


    Despite seeming like a mundane act, a vortex of energy spread out from within his being as numerous mystical projections got sucked in the vortex.


    The vortex of energy only increased in intensity as it covered everything within a certain range from the previous location of the planet''s core.


    A large barrier appeared to stop the energy vortex from exiting the region before it suddenly vanished from existence and so did the energy vortex.


    "At least I sent their souls¨C"


    The man couldn''t complete his words as he felt a vast pressure collide against the barrier, seemingly trying to breach it from outside.


    Not wanting to stay here for a second longer, he swiftly manipulated the remaining energy and vanished from that location but not before giving it one final last glance.


    ''I hope no one has to make the same hard choice another time.''


    He prayed in his heart before vanishing once and for all, never to be seen again.


    Unbeknownst to him, he had still been a step too late.


    ***


    Inside a room filled with holographic screens, a man sat at the top, gazing down at his people working and calculating the needed time and energy to breach the invisible barrier.


    It would take too long for the man to breach the barrier by himself, especially when they already had the most efficient weapon for it.


    They had developed a weapon which could continuously target a miniscule singular point in any barrier with pinpoint accuracy to shatter any barrier.


    However, the man''s mere presence seemed to weigh down heavily on the workers below.


    "You needn''t show off."


    A brisk voice, soothing to the ear, seductive almost, echoed next to the man yet he didn''t even respond.


    Used to his antics, she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.


    "Did you get any information?"


    Her voice was too cold this time, freezing even.


    Yet no one wasted time as they responded immediately.


    "-Negative"


    "-Negative"


    "-Negative"


    ...


    After hearing almost everyone''s refusal, one voice managed to garner everyone''s attention.


    "-Nega¨CPositive!"


    Feeling the intense stares at him, the researcher didn''t wait for permission and directly showed them the information he managed to hack.


    Except for the man sitting there languidly, everyone had an expression of shock on their face.


    "Interesting..."


    "He sent a soul to another world."


    The man muttered in a low voice yet his heavy and booming voice was heard by all, shocking them even more.


    Yet like the disciplined researchers they were, they didn''t dare to interrupt him.


    "Stop wasting energy. He fled. The barrier will collapse."


    The woman beside the man said in a stern tone, bringing the researchers out of their reverie as they continued with their work.


    They had just seen the man sent off a soul using the planet''s core to another place, astonishing them.


    However, that wasn''t worth exchanging their lives for.


    "He seems wary of you."


    The man just nodded to the slender woman who returned after giving an order in his stead and nestled into his arms.


    He didn''t mind her presence at all as he just patted her hands and held onto her waist. She was his wife, after all.


    His thoughts, however, were a complete mess.


    ''He already destroyed the system before it could get hacked... Yet I obtained this information... Is it a trap? No, he knows he can''t face me... None of them can...''

 Chapter 4 - 4: Prologue: Surprises

    Seeing her husband lost in thought, she didn''t disturb him and only became more comfortable in his arms.


    Of course, they were at the end of the room and at the top, a one-way mirror stopped any prying eyes yet allowed them to observe everything carefully.


    The woman casually put her face on her husband''s chest after she affectionately pecked his cheek.


    His tender lips seemed to have woken the man from his deep pondering as he felt his wife''s body on his and asked her in a sultry manner.


    "Want 106th child already?"


    His wife pouted at him and harrumphed, "Hmph! Why another child? Can''t a woman enjoy her husband..."


    Her voice turned low at the end as if embarrassed about her demand yet her husband didn''t seem to care as he pulled her closer and planted a firm kiss on her lips.


    "Yes, yes. You can want anything except another man and this husband of yours will give it to you."


    Hearing his mocking tone, she didn''t respond for a second before her expression turned serious, changing the mood around them.


    "Anything, yes?" Seeing him nod, she added, "Levoria wants to help in this one."


    Noticing his wife''s serious words, he didn''t want to ask but he had no choice. "Who?"


    Unfazed by her husband not knowing their daughter''s names, she answered, "The one who recently became an adult." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Isn''t she too young then? Don''t you hate it if I send the children to fight with their lives on the line?"


    Yes, the man had 105 children from the same woman and he didn''t care about them simply because he felt they were weak.


    Also, his wife was just too overprotective, not allowing him to send them to fight, making them useless.


    Of course, they were his children and he wouldn''t throw them out or anything. But that didn''t mean he would love and pamper them.


    "She wants to do it. I stopped her but..."


    Despite her serious expression and voice, he could detect subtle cracks in her facade. ''She doesn''t want to, alas, I can''t miss this.''


    "Enter."


    Ignoring his wife''s stern gaze directed at him, he turned to face the door.


    Behind the door stood a girl with similar features to the couple yet her height was a few inches short of her mother.


    Her short form flinched upon hearing the voice of her father.


    She had only heard it on the day she became an adult. This was her second time.


    Still, Levoria knew better than to disobey her father and entered the room, only to see a scene that she wished she had never seen.


    Her powerful and strong mother sat atop her father in a vulnerable position yet her gaze held the ferocity of a hunter sizing its prey.


    Unaware of the dynamic between her parents, she couldn''t help but almost stumble before she felt a faint power help her balance and stand in front of her father.


    Before she could say any greeting or anything else as it was too late to hide her blunder, her father asked her a question, "Why?"


    "I-I want to prove¨C"


    "No. Why?"


    Her father denied her the right to complete her sentence and immediately shut her up with his monotone voice.


    Levoria already knew from her mother''s explanation that lies or tricks didn''t work on her father.


    Levorie bit her lip slightly before she answered, "I-I want to get your approval."


    That was all she managed to say.


    However, her father had a more intense reaction than she expected.


    "Half. Why else?"


    While some might consider him to be probing too deeply, he wasn''t.


    If he wanted, he could directly read her thoughts yet he wasn''t because he wanted to see what she would say.


    And to say he was surprised would be an understatement.


    He hadn''t expected this child to speak the truth just like that, albeit incomplete. His succinct way of talking was also a method to intimidate others.


    He wanted to see what else she has to say.


    Little did he know, he would get the most surprises of his life today.


    "I apologize, father. I am unable to say that."


    Levoria bowed her head and replied politely. Her every action this time carried a sense of elegance yet her words carried far more weight.


    Her heart was beating wildly as she was extremely anxious about the response and her parents obviously noticed that.


    Despite being overprotective of her children, she wasn''t going to intervene and allowed her husband to take the decision.


    "...You can go."


    After a few moments of dreadful silence with Levoria still bowing her head, her father agreed and gave the approval.


    Levoria immediately raised her head but her father wasn''t looking at her any longer.


    He was looking at his wife affectionately and she didn''t seem to notice it as her mind was focused on Levoria and her well-being.


    After all, she was a mother.


    Irrespective of age, race, human or beast, they couldn''t help but worry about their children.


    However, Levoria had already left the moment she saw her father getting chummy with her mother.


    Even if a child knew how children were conceived, they truly felt disgust seeing their parents act lovey-dovey.


    It was simply unbearable.


    ¡ªBeep!


    Suddenly, an alarm sound rang, bringing the couple''s attention away from each other.


    Unfortunately, it seemed the two were destined to not make love today, or maybe just for now.


    Hearing the alarm buzzing, the two weren''t the least bit worried as they waited for the report.


    "Sir! The barrier is shattering and a large wave of energy is expected to clash against the ship. It is advisable to deploy the Complete Protective Shield."


    The voice had a hint of urgency yet it didn''t forgo the training and etiquette they learnt in their younger days.


    "Deploy it."


    The man calmly calculated the amount of resources needed to deploy the shield and the repair cost if he didn''t.


    In the end, he knew both outcomes weren''t worth it but it was the second best choice after knowing that person had already escaped.


    Taking responsibility, he channeled his own energy into the shield.


    ''I can recover the energy by siphoning it from the surroundings but resources are limited.''


    Just like that the energy wave assaulted the Complete Protective Shield and it defended successfully, not leaving the slightest scratch behind.


    Of course, his energy reserves were at an all time low as the ship made its way through the wreckage to the source of the energy.


    Seeing the scene from the inside of the control room, the man''s expression darkened as he realized the sinister plan of the escaped man.


    "Good. Very good!"


    A small subtle smile crept onto his face as he vanished from inside the ship and directly appeared next to the cracked planetary core.


    He absorbed all the leftover energy and continued to purify it inside his body even after the entire area turned colorless.


    He returned to his room and locked it as he needed some time to complete the purification of the energy and left his wife in-charge of everything.


    It wasn''t the first time he would be doing this so he didn''t really care.


    Unfortunately, he would soon come to regret his decision.


    ...


    A few days passed as the man continued to purify the energy inside his body.


    With his accurate grasp of energy, he easily found that he wouldn''t be able to stop purifying or he might suffer some injuries.


    He merely scoffed at the notion.


    ''As if I wouldn''t be able to. My capable wife can take care of everything.''


    Known to him, Levoria had left the next day that he gave permission and his wife took charge of everything.


    What he didn''t know was that enemies were approaching from the shadows.


    After all, what was the use of giving your enemy a single problem they could deal with?


    The escapee had already informed the others about what he did and how their enemy would be at their mercy.


    It wasn''t just them as several different factions and races which had severe enmity with this man, who casually continued the purification process.


    However, not only the enemies but even he, himself, were in for a surprise during the attack.


    ...


    The attack happened sooner than anyone could have predicted.


    With spaceships launching plasma beams and concentrated beams of mana, several shields activated to defend against the assault.


    Of course, counterattacks worked like a charm and many ships fell.


    The man already noticed it and was rather worried about the status quo as he couldn''t fight for at least 30 more days.


    The battle waged on continuously for many days yet it was just a waste of resources and the enemies were worried if he would come out and fight so they went all out to at least give him a big loss before leaving.


    They were self-aware regarding the fact that they couldn''t defeat him.


    Just as they lined up together to launch attacks alongside their spaceships, a sole woman exited the biggest spaceship.


    She stood at odds against all these strong men and women. She was completely surrounded.


    Her husband inside the ship had his heart clenched with worry as he got ready to suffer the backlash to protect his wife.


    ''No, no, no, no, no! What are you doing! If I lose resources, so be it. If I lose people, so be it. But I can''t lose you!''


    Before he could make a move or the surrounding enemies could offer a truce or something to the woman, she moved.


    With every single move of hers, a spaceship fell.


    Seeing the dreadful scene, they didn''t dare linger and immediately fled as they sensed that man about to come too.


    ''Fuck! Only 1 monster was already a headache, where did this woman come from?''


    They wondered in unison while fleeing.


    The monster in their thoughts himself was baffled by his wife''s strength yet he sported a proud smile.

 Chapter 5 - 5: Sleepy Young Master

    ***


    13 January, Year 2448 of the Holy Calendar.


    On a detached faraway planet in the vast universe.


    Inside the Empire of Solarnelle, a sun-bathed realm, sparkling in gold, warmed by daylight and cooled by moonlight.


    There stood a mansion, decorated to the brim glowing radiantly in a jubilant mood, with twirling towers bustling with activity.


    Several intricately designed beautiful carriages seemingly screaming luxury lined one by one to enter the mansion, for today was a cause for celebration. Each one more opulent than the last as if to show their wealth, or to compete with one another.


    However, one of the twain said cause was actually absent while the guests arrived with gusto, hoping to make connections, vent at their rivals or for their own twisted reasons.


    Inside one of the rooms on the first floor of the vast mansion, a young boy lay on the bed. The light, breathable silk pajamas seemed useless in making the boy uncomfortable despite the cold of the winter evening.


    Undisturbed, he continued to sleep with fervor, seemingly enjoying his nap.


    ¡ªClick


    Suddenly, the door to the room opened and a female entered the room.


    Her attire typical of maids yet the elegance with which she carried herself along with her impeccable beauty would undoubtedly enchant the onlookers.


    "Sigh. The Lady will be mad," muttered the maid in a low voice before she waved her hand.


    The chilly air inside the room turned to a chilly draft as it landed on the smooth skin of the young man, trying to awaken him gently.


    Seeing the cold daft have no effect on the sleeping boy, the maid changed the wind direction as it pushed him outside the huge bed.


    ¡ªThud


    Startled awake from suddenly falling off the bed, the boy looked around with wide open eyes before his eyes landed on the form of the maid.


    Blinking his eyes a few times as if he understood what just happened, he held onto his blanket and directly nestled into it on the floor itself.


    Apparently, he wanted to sleep more.


    "Young Master, you''ve been sleeping since last night!"


    Exasperated, the maid said in a louder voice than usual before she added in a threatening, low tone.


    "My Lady has ordered me to get you ready within the next 30 minutes, Young Master."


    Ignoring the maid''s ramblings, he waved her off, "Just let me sleep, Emma!"


    A vein throbbed on Emma''s forehead as she spat venomously, "You have 5 minutes to take a shower before I make you."


    Surprisingly, the threat seemed to work as the boy groaned and immediately rushed to the bathroom, dropping off his pajamas even before entering.


    Emma didn''t mind his rush as all she needed to pick them up was a twirl of her finger. ''He is so embarrassed of being naked in front of me.''


    An evil chuckle escaped her lips as she remembered how bashful he always got despite her being the one who used to bathe and clothe him till he was 8.


    ...


    Unaware of the thoughts of his maid, the boy hurriedly took off his underwear and directly shifted the shower knob to spew cold water on his face.


    "Ahhh~"


    "Cold showers are the best showers!"


    He couldn''t help but speak out his thoughts as he enjoyed the feeling of the cold water on his skin despite the chilly weather.


    "Hmph! If anyone dares to say they like hot showers, then I would fight them to the death."


    He vowed to himself randomly before he started grumbling, "Ugh! If only I could just take 1-2 hour cold water showers daily and spend the rest sleeping and eating!"


    "What a blissful life it would be!"


    Dreaming of such a life, he didn''t know how long passed before he remembered Emma''s threat and rushed out after turning the shower off.


    Drying his body using a dry towel, he wore his fresh pair of underwear before hanging the towel on his shoulders and exiting.


    ''It seems I got out just in time,'' he thought in utter glee, seeing his maid next to his dressing mirror.


    "Young Master, you are getting late for your own birthday banquet. Allow me to dress you."


    Emma said in a neutral tone. She noticed his wet hair and half-dry body and prepared to dry them using magic instead of waiting.


    By the time he walked to her, his entire body was dried from any signs of water and his hair was even styled already.


    ''Magic sure is convenient,'' thought the boy smiling.


    Seeing the happy expression on his face, Emma remembered something and smiled along with him as she started to dress him up.


    Using magic, of course.


    She didn''t touch him or even a strand of his hair. All of it easily done with magic.


    And her Young Master seemed to enjoy such moments. Alas, he just hated banquets.


    "Hmm, it''s done, Young Master," Emma nodded in acknowledgement as she took a scrutinizing glance at him with narrowed eyes to root out all blemishes from his clothes, if any at all.


    A resplendent white shirt made of luxurious silk paired with gem-like black buttons underneath his deep-blue suit jacket.


    The suit jacket had its own charm, adorned with gold chains on his chest with red rubies as buttons pairing well with his ankle length pants of the same color as his suit jacket.


    The pants had intricate golden designs on its sides starting from the waist to the knee with real gold threads.


    His blue-black shoes shone with a bright light, pairing up with his overcoat.


    It hung lightly on his shoulders with its sleeves freely yet it only increased the boy''s charm instead.


    His cufflinks were pure black with his family insignia drawn on them using white gold. The same insignia was present on the left breast of his suit jacket and along the golden design on his pants with white gold.


    The symbol represented a pure white arrow accentuated by the supporting daggers and swords.


    A total of five weapons yet the arrow stood at the forefront, ready to pierce the ones who underestimated the might of his Noble Family because their primary weapon was the bow.


    "You look good, Young Master," complimented Emma as she noticed the proud look on his face.


    "Of course! I am the most handsome!" The boy iterated while puffing out his chest.


    If he had just taken a look at Emma''s twitching lips, he would''ve found something wrong with him.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t have the time to anymore, as the door to his room directly opened with a click sound.


    Drawing both of their attention, a girl not older than the boy entered yet the moment she entered, the boy froze while Emma smiled.


    "Ziva? Why¨C"


    Before he could complete his words, the frozen form of the girl, Ziva, changed as she tried her best to stop her twitching lips.


    Yet the moment he spoke, she couldn''t hold it in any longer and she burst out into peals of laughter.


    "Ahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhah"


    Not understanding the situation, he tried to look for Emma but found that she was already by the door, about to leave.


    "I bid you a great time, Young Lady Ziva."


    Emma bowed before exiting. Not before her laughter echoed, however. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hahahahaha"

 Chapter 6 - 6: Playful Banter

    Ziva''s lips couldn''t help but twitch continuously as she looked at the expression of Jash.


    Currently, it wouldn''t be wrong to say he felt baffled and dumbfounded at the sudden entry of Ziva and then her laughter.


    As if that wasn''t enough, there was also the fact of Emma''s mischievous laughter before leaving.


    Not understanding their reason for their excessive laugh, he wanted to ask but he stopped right in his tracks.


    ''She just wiped a tear from the corner of her, didn''t she? And her eyes... they are anywhere but me...''


    It didn''t take a second longer for him to deduce the cause of it all: ''ME!?''


    Jash directly turned to face the mirror and finally noticed the abnormality.


    Ignoring his still perfectly dressed and styled attire, the abnormality lay on his face.


    Some black marker was used to draw circles around his eye and random scribbles on his cheeks and forehead.


    His expression darkened at his unsightly appearance as he shouted with frustration. "Damn that Emma! Just you wait!"


    However, his entire countenance froze as he remembered Ziva was also in the same room.


    His lazy brain seemed to work as he easily connected Emma''s last greeting, his current face, and Ziva''s entrance.


    Too coincidental.


    ''Did she...?''


    As if to prove his doubts true, Ziva looked away from him and tried to stifle her laughter yet her eyes couldn''t get enough of this sight.


    He also noticed a small black device in her head and suddenly felt dizzy.


    "You...! You are saving it!" Jash barely accused her, feeling indignation at her act.


    ''Not only did you ask Emma to do it. You even save it to tease me later!? I''ll definitely tell...''


    His thoughts broke as Ziva tried to speak amidst her stifling laughter.


    "Puaha... Haha... Hold your... haha... horses... Aunt...


    haha... already... haha... knows..."


    Hearing her barely audible words, he understood that anything he does regarding this won''t benefit him in the least.


    ''A wise man knows when to retreat and when to strike.''


    Iterating the quote inside his mind, he walked to the washroom with a livid expression.


    ...


    "Damn it! This just doesn''t get off!" Jash mumbled in frustration before giving the chuckling girl a death glare.


    It was all her fault, after all.


    Jash thought the worst she could''ve done was colluding with his mom and made him go through such an embarrassment.


    Yet the moment he tried to wash it off in the washroom, he immediately realized that either Emma or Ziva had decided to worsen it.


    The ink just didn''t wash off from his face.


    He was currently using a wet towel to try and scrub it off slowly, even if his skin was already slightly red.


    If not for the chuckling girl and the ink on his face that he desperately tried to get rid off, this scene could pass off as a boy blushing in front of his crush.


    Despite not knowing such things, given they were just 12, especially the boy whose birthday banquet was about to start alongside his younger twin sister.


    He knew for a fact that she was weak to compliments, so he decided to hit one casually. "You look pretty."


    His words immediately brought the response he thought it would as she stopped laughing and stared straight into his eyes.


    A small smirk played on his lips but it crumpled not soon after as Ziva didn''t take more than a second to start her second round of laughter, albeit with a hint of red on the tips of her ears.


    Not noticing how his words affected her due to the lack of focus on her, he continued to ignore her as they sat together on the balcony of his room.


    It didn''t have much. Just a few potted plants and a dark brown polished wooden circular table, paired with four chairs.


    Of course, the two just sat together at the end of the balcony, gazing down at the preparations and arriving guests every now and then.


    Those below were far too focused with the hustle and bustle of their friends, partners, rivals, or families that they didn''t even bother looking up.


    Well, the fact that the banquet was held in the main building which was easily a few hundred meters apart helped a lot.


    "Anyways, why are you here?"


    After having his fill of the scene, Jash seized the perfect moment to ask the question that''s been on his mind since he saw her.


    "Can''t I come and celebrate my future fianc¨¦''s 12th birthday?" She said cheekily with a smile tugging at her lips as her head tilted cutely.


    Her black night-like hair seemingly blended in the night with her movements yet they shone as bright as the night sky.


    Her purple amethyst eyes stared into his gray eyes while the wind blew her hair ever so slightly.


    Tranced for a second, Jash couldn''t reply before he eventually did, "Hm? Didn''t our parents already agree to it? They might even announce it now that you are here."


    Jash felt intrigued by the sudden trance he felt for her but his attention was more on their engagement announcement. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Who knows? We both already agreed. So, if you want to, you know, *ahem* scurry away... just find me."


    She ended her statement with a wink before standing up, allowing her gown to unravel its vastness and grace.


    The amount of jewels and gold used just on the outer layer was probably more than enough for a large family of 10 or 15 to live out their entire lives easily.


    Not bothered by the extravagance of her dress, Jash''s eyes followed her movements as she closed the distance between them and swiped her finger on his cheek before flicking his forehead, eliciting a painful grunt from him.


    "Ouch!"


    His hands covered his forehead as a reflex and by the time he removed them, her figure had already moved away with a hint of red creeping up on her neck.


    Jash didn''t yet come to his senses from the scene of her approaching figure to notice it and Ziva had already turned around to leave.


    "You still bully me..."


    He muttered in a small voice before looking at her parting back with a hanged breath.


    Her dress didn''t seem suitable for a 12-year-old as it was just too big for her size. Excluding that, only one could describe it: Perfect.


    ''Isn''t she only a teeny bit taller than me? 154 cm, if I remember correctly.''


    Jash mused as he appreciated the color of dark blue which matched his own suit jacket.


    ''Mom definitely had a part in this.'' He didn''t even need to think to know that.


    He admired the tresses of her dress matching well with her falling night-like hair.


    At the moment, Ziva was too self-absorbed to even notice his stare. Even if she did notice, she wouldn''t really mind.


    "Congratulations on your successful awakening!"


    Hearing his loud voice filled with sincerity, a smile inadvertently came to her lips as she continued her brisk pace before replying.


    "Thanks! All the best for yours, Jash!"


    She didn''t stop or turn around to say it as her feelings would be conveyed regardless.


    ''How do I tell you?'' Jash thought with furrowed brows as Ziva approached the door.

 Chapter 7 - 7: Not Awakening

    Not knowing the complicated thoughts running through Jash''s mind, Ziva turned the door knob to leave in a rush.


    For one, it was about time they needed to go to the banquet. More importantly, she wanted to hide that she felt shy because of her own actions.


    However, the words that entered her ears just as she was about to put her foot out of the room, caused her to stiffen and turn around.


    "I ain''t awakening, for now."


    Jash had mustered all the courage he could to barely confess those words and the reaction he got made him flinch in his seat.


    "What, why?" Ziva blurted out the question as if by reflex.


    Ziva and Jash stared into each other''s eyes as Ziva frowned, noticing his hesitation and his fidgeting fingers.


    ''Is he thinking I''ll hate him or something?''


    Ziva naturally didn''t know his thoughts and seeing him not answer, only increased her heart rate as nervousness gripped her.


    "Out with it, already!" She shouted at him yet stood at her spot, not nearing him just in case he reacted negatively.


    Noticing Ziva''s current state of urgency and worry, Jash couldn''t help but feel a little guilty. ''Maybe I should tell her?''


    "Uhm... You know me. I don''t want to awaken... Just because."


    He answered her but indirectly chose to dodge her question which didn''t seem to sit well with her.


    "Just because?" Ziva furrowed her brows at his nonchalance. "You, Caera, Amael, along with countless others in our generation will awaken before turning 15."


    Her voice rose as she continued in an admonishing tone,


    "Every one of us will have to¨C"


    "I know. I know, alright?" Jash interjected her speech, or rather a lecture.


    "Just listen from my side too, okay?" Ziva nodded her head as if allowing him to continue despite getting interrupted rudely.


    "Look, you, Caera and I are different. Neither of us is the first born or the heir apparent that we actually need to bother with an amazing awakening or anything."


    "You and I are already half-fianc¨¦s, so another reason to not bother with it. Plus, our parents, despite being nobles, don''t have that tendency to use their children for political gain."


    "I don''t see any point in awakening earlier and having to go through compulsory training. I''d much rather sleep peacefully."


    "I don''t like the idea of swinging a sword, dagger, spear, or any other weapon repeatedly to learn it. I don''t even train unless forced to."


    "If it were up to me, I would spend the rest of my life nestled in my bed, not bothering to wake up from my loving sleep."


    "Just tell me one reason I should awaken."


    Jash finally fell silent after letting out all his thoughts to someone for the first time. Even his parents didn''t know about his decision.


    But he was sure that he would make them agree one way or another. If not, then at least delay his awakening for a year or two.


    Meanwhile, Ziva who heard his words stood dumbfounded at his approach towards all such things.


    Her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts as she couldn''t help but wonder, ''I mean, I knew you were lazy... but what the hell?''


    In the end, she took a deep breath to curb her anger before she lashed out at him and decided to counter him.


    "Phew"


    "I get what you said. But why?"


    "I mean, it''s somewhat right. However, don''t you know there are various rumors going around regarding some great peril awaits."


    "Don''t you think you should train a day quicker, let alone 3 years!? What will you do if you come to regret your decision?"


    "Even leaving that aside since they''re just rumors and nothing''s confirmed. What of the fact that you will be far weaker compared to others who have trained rigorously for years."


    "Not only would they have a stronger, sturdier foundation. Even their mana usage would be much much better than yours."


    "Won''t the feeling of inferiority gnaw at you?"


    Ziva stopped for a second to take a breath. But unlike her who didn''t interrupt Jash, he did exactly that.


    "Nope. I wouldn''t care. I mean, why should I?"


    "Think of it like this, no matter what someone says, if you are talented, you will easily beat and pass the ones who only have hard work going for them."


    "Plus, irrespective of talent, there are those more of a genius than you. It won''t ever end unless you become the strongest in the world."


    Jash didn''t speak after that as she stormed her foot and directly rushed out of the door.


    "Well, that went worse than I imagined," muttered Jash helplessly.


    In the end, the matter of awakening was just too much of a deal for her to accept his decision despite knowing him well enough.


    In fact, the world Jash lived in had only two classes, those who awakened and those who did not. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Any other categorisation became meaningless in the face of the overwhelming might of those who could wield the mystical power of mana.


    Not only were there magicians who could directly cast area-wide spells, there were weapon wielders who could cut through mountains, and even assassins who could vanish without a trace.


    There were countless other methods to use mana, some were discovered while some were yet to be discovered.


    It all began even before the Holy Calendar started.


    Mana poured into the world and took everyone by surprise. The only sentient race of the time, humans, didn''t know much about it.


    It was only after the pets, wildlife, forests, wild animals and many more mutated to attack humans did they understand the severity of the situation.


    However, it was too late by then.


    Human society had almost collapsed due to the sudden chance to overthrow the royalty and nobility of their respective kingdoms or empires.


    Many craving revenge, blood, chaos did as they wished.


    It wasn''t until some strong mana-wielders, now collectively known as "Hunters", took charge and created an order.


    Yet it was all temporary as people weren''t going to forget everything that happened to them so fast.


    However, when all hope seemed lost, the Saintess of the Holy Church of the Light took the charge as she followed the Hero, Adonis Solarnelle, blessed by Goddess.


    The two were then joined by other strong Hunters who stood side-by-side to defeat the monsters to finally create a human Empire to live in.


    Sadly, all good things come to an end as the Hero party broke apart, giving rise to the Solarnelle Royal Family and the Solarnelle Empire with 3 ducal families.


    Lastly, the Church of the Holy Goddess of Light went somewhat dormant leaving behind some prophecy, only known to the higher-ups, that is the high nobility.


    In the current date and time, however, such a history was circulated among the masses.


    Recalling the history lesson, Jash''s mood soured further as he spat, "So much for history lessons. That''s definitely fake!!"


    "But Awakening, huh? It''s just forming a core and wielding mana... Nothing special. Though it can definitely be useful to take cold showers or dry up myself and even an area to immediately doze off..."


    Dreaming of entirely different dreams from typical Hunters, Jash finally left his room to go to the banquet.

 Chapter 8 - 8: Tricked!

    Jash left his room unimpeded by anyone as everyone was already at the banquet hall, his family greeting the guests and playing host.


    While the servants worked as waiters or guides to guests gathered together.


    Walking down the empty corridors he arrived at the staircase and sighed as he stopped.


    "Was it the correct decision?" He couldn''t help but let his inner thoughts out.


    He was just far too absentminded at the moment after his little quarrel with Ziva.


    ''Is that not her fault for using his mana dissolving ink?''


    Jash tried to shift the blame unto her yet he found it futile. He just sighed once again before descending the stairs.


    His mind, however, swirled with different thoughts.


    One such thought were his forced lessons, be they history, etiquette, mannerism, geography, mana theory, politics, or physical training.


    Despite being lazy and not wanting to do the lessons, he never refused hard work. He just whined and grumbled a lot.


    ''I don''t even understand why Caera and Ziva try so hard?''


    Recalling the figure of his twin younger sister focusing on the lessons and being excited about her awakening, he couldn''t help but scowl.


    ''Maybe, I don''t understand them because they are females?''


    As if struck by a sudden spark of enlightenment, he bumped his fist into his palm with an expression of realization.


    Well, his perception was skewed because he had often heard it from servants and even his own father,


    "Women are unpredictable. One second they can be happy, the next they can be sad, crazy, guilty, or even murderous!"


    He didn''t know how much truth it held but it was definitely the only reason he could find for their "meaningless" actions.


    Of course, they were meaningless in his eyes only.


    "Young Master Jash!"


    Startled awake from his stupor, Jash turned to look at who called him only to find Emma a few meters behind him, approaching him at a quick pace.


    "Where are you going, Young Master?" Emma questioned yet she reached him before he could answer and guided him into another direction.


    "That is the guest''s entry. You ought to be with Young Miss Caera or My Lady would be furious..."


    Not minding the talkative side of Emma as he recognised why she was more quiet when dressing him.


    ''She stayed quiet to not let anything slip out by mistake... Act your age, damn it! You''re... what? 30 or something?''


    Jash scolded her childish nature inside yet continued to nod to her incessant ramblings.


    He already had the experience of making a woman realize her age and called her old...


    ''Definitely never again!''


    Jash swore that day, he would never ever in his life anger a woman regarding her age and to add salt to injury, he already suffered from calling his own mom fat as a joke.


    ''A woman''s age and weight are to never be trifled with...''


    Not knowing that he actually escaped a harsh future if he had actually spoken those words, they were already inside the main manor.


    "My Lady, I''ve brought Young Master Jash!" Emma''s polite tone as she bowed and stopped walking caused Jash to stop his mind from wandering off too.


    His mother was definitely not someone to be trifled with. If she found out he was dazing off again...


    Even the thought sent chills down his spine.


    No matter how much his mother loved and pampered him, he knew there were some unspoken rules he mustn''t breach.


    As if answering his thoughts, he felt his ear getting pulled again, "Ouuu! Aaaaah!"


    Twisting his ear until it was red was his mother as she looked at his teary eyed appearance and just snorted.


    "Hmph! Why are you so late!" She asked in mock anger.


    Making an expression as if he was wronged, Jash answered, "As if you don''t know! You already helped Ziva bully me and now this!" He pointed at his ear at the end.


    "Whatever do you mean." His mother smiled as she replied to him.


    "Ugh! Where is dad? Only he can do me justice!" Jash shouted incredulously, knowing the playful nature of his mother all too well.


    "Brother, leave it be. Dad is busy greeting guests." A sweet voice chirped in, as the figure of a girl no taller than Jash with red hair and blue eyes appeared.


    She looked like the perfect younger version of Jash''s mother if not for her blue eyes.


    Her small cherrylips had the faintest of smiles that could even charm the coldest of hearts.


    Jash felt like his world collapsed as realization dawned on him. ''These... They are in this together!''


    ''I got tricked!''


    Despite feeling tricked, he didn''t pout or complain any longer, at least on the outside as he seemingly understood his current situation.


    ''I should just compliment them so we can go to the banquet and quickly get this over with.''


    He knew his mom-sister pair all too well and understood why they were still waiting for him.


    Though he didn''t forget to glance at Emma from the corner of his eyes who stood next to the wall, at a little distance away, stifling her smile.


    "You''re looking good Caera. The color crimson totally suits your hair color and even personality."


    In response to his "kind" compliment, he just got elbowed in his stomach by Caera as she bobbed her head sideways and pouted.


    "Hmph! As if! I wanted to wear a rose colored dress!"


    ''Caera, you might mean those words. But you can''t hide that you like the current ones too very well.''


    His thoughts and smile were interrupted as his mother interjected, "What about your ol'' pitiful mother? How do I look?"


    Rolling his eyes at his mother''s behavior. He didn''t skimp on praises, noticing her shining eyes as if her world might collapse if he doesn''t praise her enough.


    "Mom. Do I even need to say anything? You''re literally going to steal the show from us! We just turned 12 and it''s our last birthday banquet before we graduate!"


    While his words sounded like a complaint, they were more of a compliment as he continued his praises for a full five minutes before his mother felt satisfied.


    ''Damn it! My throat is so dry!''


    Unfortunately, Jash wasn''t even awake for 1 hour and hadn''t had the leisure to drink water.


    Ignoring his silent protest, his mother brought the two of them to another room, surprising Jash.


    In this room, sat a woman not much different in grace, elegance and beauty to Jash and Caera''s mother.


    She poised a charm different from most women as she had beautiful black hair that cascaded down to her waist with dazzling black eyes.


    To her right sat the form of a younger figure with similar black hair yet amethyst eyes.


    Who else could it be other than Ziva and her mother?


    Yet before Jash could react to salvage the situation, the figure of Caera immediately dashed forth with a burst of excitement.


    "Ziva! Why did you go meet my brother before me!?"


    "I missed you so much!"


    "How are you?"


    "Did you awaken successfully?"


    A barrage of questions assaulted Ziva from Caera who became ever the chatterbox that she used to be.


    Seeing such a scene, Jash couldn''t help but sneak a glance at the two women, only to find the pair oddly smiling at the scene!


    S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 9 - 9: Confused Ziva

    ***


    A few hours prior.


    Ziva sat comfortably, despite her voluminous dress, as if it didn''t affect her and calmly gazed outside.


    She was no stranger to Kenton; she used to frequent the city with her mom for as long as she could remember.


    "How do you feel?" A soft voice entered her ears, drawing her attention to the form of her mother opposite her.


    Looking at her mom''s youthful face, a smile graced her lips inadvertently as she replied, "Different. Everything feels different yet the same..."


    For the first time in her life, Ziva felt tongue-tied, unable to find the right words to express her feelings.


    It just felt... magical.


    Not realizing her mom''s joy at her childish excitement, Ziva turned to admire the modern yet natural architecture outside.


    ''What an amazing sight,'' Ziva couldn''t help but be awed by it, irrespective of how many times she had seen the same architecture.


    However, today everything felt different as she could sense and feel the flow of mana in the environment, even if only slightly.


    Meanwhile, a nostalgic smile crossed her mother''s face as she watched Ziva''s cute expression. ''Fufu~ Mana sure is amazing,'' she mused mysteriously, surrounded by dancing mana particles, as if sharing her happiness.


    The duo inside the carriage didn''t know how fast time passed before they heard a voice from Evelia''s personal guard.


    ...


    "Lady Evelia, Young Miss Ziva, we have arrived!" announced the guard, breaking the silence.


    The voice wasn''t loud enough to garner attention but the elegant carriage driven by strong horses spoke volumes about the person inside.


    Especially in an era where one could efficiently use cars or even hover cars without any care of its effects in this world.


    Ignoring the reverence and fearful looks of the onlookers, the one who announced their arrival descended her horse before opening the door.


    She sported long caramel-brown hair yet her sharp eyes belied her strength and awareness.


    ...


    Inside, Ziva and Evelia didn''t exchange words as they stepped off the carriage, feeling a breeze adjust their dresses.


    Ziva, intrigued by the spell, or rather the direct manipulation of the air element as she gazed at her mom''s personal guard with interest flashing her eyes.


    ''This isn''t the time to be distracted! I have to surprise him and... have my revenge! Definitely!'' Ziva vowed her revenge on Jash as she followed behind her mom to reach their destination.


    ...


    Arriving at the Ramille Estate, the mother-daughter duo remained unfazed by the grand mansion. Well, they had seen it one too many times.


    On the way to the mansion, they passed through the lands of the Ramille family and saw multiple gardens and other attractions, creating a feeling of calm and serene environment.


    ''As usual, despite the estate being large and spacious, the security is tight and doesn''t allow any kind of trespassing.'' Evelia observed, sensing the mana signatures.


    Naturally, such an action would be considered extremely rude but who was she?


    Except for someone at her level, no one could even sense her probing and it was her best friend''s family.


    Even if there were few guards even stronger than her, they were busy guarding the main manor and patrolling the town.


    ''It''s not like that oddball doesn''t literally tour around my home every time she drops by,'' mused Evelia as she continued her walk with a slight smile.


    ¡­


    Bored and eager to meet the birthday twins, Ziva couldn''t help but want to curse herself for accepting her mother''s arrangements, just to get permission to come here.


    ''Damn! That wasn''t easy at all!'' Ziva shuddered at the thought of disobeying her mother right now.


    She was the most loving person Ziva knew, but it didn''t change the fact that she might as well become the devil during training or whenever Ziva disobeyed.


    ''That''s enough of a nightmare to recall!'' She wished herself the best and tried to boost her mood by looking around the mansion gardens.


    A small smile played on her lips as she recalled her first time here when she was super shy and appeared to hate the idea of coming here.


    ''I can clearly remember the sheer embarrassment I felt for getting teased over it by Jash!'' Her smile widened at the memory as she recalled another.


    ''That prick! He lied to me that everyone thought of me as an unruly girl...'' her thoughts were racing, not even realizing that she was almost by the main entrance.


    "Evelia! It''s been so long!" The cheerful and loud greeting of a red-haired woman echoed, trying to hug Ziva''s mom.


    It brought Ziva back to the present, only to see the form of a red-haired and red-eyed beauty trying to hug her mother.


    Haaa!


    She just sighed seeing the scene,just waiting for her aunt to take notice of her to greet her and rush inside.


    If not for her mother''s presence, she most likely would''ve sneaked past the two women, one who acted pitifully after her hug was rejected.


    "I greet the Lady of the Ramille Family," courtesied Ziva before she was forced to stop as she felt her cheeks getting rubbed by the excited woman.


    "Ah! Ziva! You only grow cuter by the day!"


    Not being able to save herself from the embarrassment, she turned to her mother, only to see her ignore the duo and directly enter inside.


    ¡­


    After who knows how long she got smothered and showered by the red-eyed woman''s love, she finally got the chance to enter.


    At this point, her cheeks were red. If not by the lipstick of the woman who showered her with kisses, then with her own embarrassment.


    ''I can''t ever let him see me like this! NEVER!''


    Luckily, everything worked out and she devised a plan to annoy Jash after hearing that he was still sleeping, just 4 hours before his birthday banquet. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Even mom agreed! And there was just no way Aunty Sera would reject the idea!'' She smiled evilly before asking Emma to do her part.


    Everything went well and as she predicted before she heard his firm voice about not wanting to awaken.


    ''Not want to awaken? What nonsense!'' It just didn''t make sense to her and she got so angry, they had an argument.


    After a round of argument with Jash, Ziva felt her emotions go into turmoil as she stormed out of his room, clearly irritated.


    Her mind focused on how her playful joke led to such an outcome.


    Despite not focusing on her surroundings, she reached the backside of the main manor and directly rushed inside.


    Finding solace at the back of the manor, Ziva contemplated her actions. She didn''t want her mom or aunt to sense her irritation.


    After all, she didn''t want to break the news to her aunt as she concluded, ''He should tell aunt himself¡­''


    If someone were to compare her to Jash, then she would seem better than Jash at moving around the mansion with familiarity, as if it were her own home.


    Many servants were surprised to see her moving about with such an expression. Random thoughts crossed their minds, but nobody voiced them.


    They were experienced workers and knew that careless words could cost them their lives. So, they continued to do their assigned work.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, Ziva entered an empty room, which was large and stylish, with every ornament coated in gold, silver, or diamonds.


    Yet no one stopped her or advised her not to.


    They were already aware of her identity and the prospect of her marriage with their Second Young Master, seemed to only deter them from getting on her wrong side.


    However, peace didn''t last for the young girl.


    As her mother entered the room after noticing the emotional fluctuations of her daughter.


    As her mother entered, Ziva felt comforted. Evelia silently supported her daughter, respecting her privacy, much to the latter''s surprise.


    ''It''s a matter of heart. Not something I should meddle with,'' nodded Evelia mentally. She knew better than to question her daughter when she wasn''t in the best of moods.


    At the moment, all she needed to do was just be there for daughter and allow her to have someone she could confide in.


    What surprised her, however, was Ziva''s unending silence and yet, her lips curled upwards as she sensed the presence of her approaching friend, Sera.


    Evelia smiled knowingly at Sera who stopped herself from speaking just in time to see the lost and bewildered expression on Ziva.


    ''Just what did my son do to make this cutie feel this way? Just let him come¡­'' Sera didn''t know the specifics and just blamed her son for it, as Ziva was supposed to accompany him.


    ''I even arranged their matching clothes.'' Sera mused sadly before leaving abrupt as she sensed Caera and Jash nearby.


    Seeing her friend leave, Evelia sat beside her daughter on the comfy sofas as she patted her back slightly.


    Her black dress left no room for anyone else to sit on the large sofa as she awaited the newcomers.


    ¡­


    Ziva didn''t even notice her mother''s hand on her back for the time being as she was lost in her memories of childhood she had spent with Jash.


    Suddenly, she was startled awake by the shaking of her form by another girl around her age, and then a barrage of questions assaulted her senses, making her dizzy.


    "Ziva! Why did you go meet my brother before me!?"


    "I missed you so much!"


    "How are you?"


    "Did you awaken successfully?"


    Ziva even failed to notice Jash, her mom or aunt as all her attention was focused on the form of the blue-eyed red-haired girl who kept questioning her in an excited tone.


    ***

 Chapter 10 - 10: Dreaded Banquet

    Jash noted the odd behavior of the two women but chose to focus on the form of Caera. ''She is too excited to meet Ziva...''


    ''Maybe she''ll answer,'' thought Jash, hoping to get some answers from Ziva in response to Caera''s questions, as he was curious too.


    It was definitely not because she teased him instead of answering when he asked her a couple of minutes back.


    ''As if that ain''t enough! This troublesome girl used mana ink to get my face scribbled!''


    Mana ink, as its name implies, can only be used and removed by someone who can harness mana. Thus, the removal of the ink from his face by Ziva led Jash to realize that she had awakened.


    "Caera, my dear, give the girl some time to answer, alright?"


    Jash stiffened slightly at his mother''s smile, even though it was directed at his sister, not him.


    "...Yes, mom!" Caera nodded with a serious expression, not wanting to get her mother''s ire.


    Now that the room turned quiet, Jash and Caera''s curiosity piqued as they stared into Ziva''s eyes to get her to answer.


    On the other side, Ziva gulped, seeing the twin''s stares. She didn''t know how much time was left before they had to enter the banquet.


    Of course, her presence wouldn''t be known to others as only her mother would be attending the banquet.


    "Ahem" Ziva cleared her throat before answering the questions one by one,


    "First, I went to him because I heard he was sleeping. So, don''t you think he deserved a lil'' punishment?"


    Jash''s lips twitched in response to seeing his sister nod to Ziva''s mischievous words.


    ''How cruel!'' If not for his curiosity, he might have clutched his chest, pretending her actions hurt him deeply.


    "And yes!! I missed you too! A lot! I couldn''t wait to come here..." Caera pounced on her, hugging her tightly, cutting her off, just like a certain someone tried to hug Evelia when she arrived.


    Reciprocating the warm hug, Ziva continued, "I awakened successfully! So mom was super strict and didn''t even allow me to come here!"


    "I barely convinced her! Just to surprise you two!"


    Finally, Ziva''s eyes darted to Jash, who merely smiled at her.


    "Ah, right! Before I forget..."


    "Happy birthday to you two!! It''s your 12th birthday today!! Soon, you can awaken!!"


    Ziva congratulated them excitedly. Caera almost bombarded her with questions again, but Jash cut her off, saving Ziva.


    "Thank you," Jash said, bowing in a gentlemanly manner, surprising everyone.


    ''Do you guys really consider me a deadbeat?'' He couldn''t help but wonder at the apparent disbelief painted on their faces.


    Yes, he was lazy.


    Yes, he slept during classes.


    Yes, he hated studying.


    But none of it meant that he didn''t do it! He just didn''t want to be tied to do all of that and that''s why skipped it mostly.


    ''Maybe I should rethink life,'' he thought, wiping a fake tear from his eye. He pretended to be hurt, but they just rolled their eyes at him.


    "Yep, that''s the you I know!" Ziva gave a thumbs-up at his exaggerated acting, eliciting a chuckle from Jash and Caera.


    After the short interlude, the trio chatted a bit.


    Well, more like just the two girls chatted as Jash soon felt left out with the girls'' unending chatter almost giving him a headache.


    ¡ªClap


    However, he was saved as Sera clapped her hands to get their attention.


    "Alright, alright. That''s enough for now!"


    "Both of the stars of the night are busy here while the banquet is already starting!"


    "Let''s go, shall we?"


    While her actions and words sounded polite, the twins knew better than to refuse her when she was serious about something and so they decisively left.


    Ziva waved at them until they left, then turned to her mom with a glint in her eyes.


    "Mom. This dress..."


    "Ahem" Evelia coughed, interjecting her daughter, "Oh dear! Look at the time! I should be at the banquet too."


    With that, she left the room swiftly.


    Ziva sighed in resignation, knowing her mother would most likely not answer her yet she wanted to ask.


    After all, she had already noticed the similarity in their dress and didn''t really mind it. ''I already agreed to the engagement...''


    Unaware that it was Sera forcing Evelia into making Ziva wear this dress, she continued to wonder what it meant.


    ''For one, it could be a statement... But I am not even going to attend the banquet...''


    She didn''t know what to make of it, her mind already a mess from the previous quarrel with Jash.


    "Ugh! I even teased him!"


    She covered her face with her palms as she felt embarrassed, just remembering how she had asked him to look for her if he wanted to sneak out of the banquet.


    "I am so stupid..."


    Ziva mumbled to herself as she had a nagging feeling about him seeking her out.


    "There''s just no way he would stay in a place he deems boring for long..."


    "Maybe, I shouldn''t have come..."


    The moment such a notion came to her mind, she immediately rejected it vehemently.


    "That''s the best spot to be!" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Deciding her next plan of action, she immediately stood up and left the room, heading towards a specific garden.


    ***


    Sera dragged Jash by the wrist after catching him when he tried to scurry away even before entering the banquet.


    Usually, he wouldn''t do that.


    ''At least not so early. Only after mom gets busy,'' he completed the thought in his mind.


    He didn''t dare to say it out loud, given Caera was super excited to be at the banquet and be everyone''s center of attraction.


    Unfortunately, he hated that.


    Even though he didn''t know the reason, he just felt uncomfortable being stared at and it was actually pretty common in this time and day.


    ''There are just too many damned Hunters and they like the fame and respect they gain. Though I''d rather not have that.''


    Recalling his forced classes and summarizing them as he saw fit, he was almost near the dreaded banquet hall.


    The hustle bustle, the silent chatters, the show-offs, the highs and the lows...


    He could see and hear them vividly despite all of it being enclosed in a noise cancellation barrier, preventing any noise from leaving the banquet hall.


    The cost to maintain just this barrier alone would bleed the lower ranked nobles dry, let alone the several protection barriers in place.


    Admiring the luxurious door and the reflection of his sister and mother on its shiny surface, Jash couldn''t help but comment,


    "Damn! We are filthy rich!"


    Hearing his comment, Sera stopped in her tracks and stared straight at him.


    Unaware of the looming danger because of his words, Jash continued admiring his reflection in the door as if it were a mirror.


    Suddenly, he felt a chill go down his spine and turned around to locate the potential source, only to see his mother''s death stare, making him gulp in nervousness.


    "Behave inside." That was all she said and he involuntarily nodded.


    The air around him changed from that of a slouch, deadbeat noble to an elegant and graceful one, just like he ought to be.

 Chapter 11 - 11: The Banquet Begins

    ***


    Inside the luxuriously decorated hall, waiters and servants entertained the guests'' requests. Lavish tables filled to the brim with sumptuous food, juices, and desserts occupied one corner, while the other side pertained to adults.


    The waiters politely served any kind of wine asked by the esteemed guests who arrived to attend the birthday banquet of Jash Ramille and Caera Ramille.


    "Ugh! Why is there only wine!? Damn it!" complained a ginger-haired man in a low voice.


    "Shut up! You drunkard!" An orange-haired woman shut his mouth by shoving food down his throat.


    Despite their distinct appearance, they didn''t stand out in the crowded banquet hall.


    After all, humans had lived harmoniously with Elves and Dwarves for more than a millennium.


    It had been a long time for people to get used to their differences; however, that didn''t mean it was all roses and sunshine.


    Their short forms might have drawn funny looks if they weren''t already renowned as some of the finest artificers and blacksmiths in the Ramille Dukedom.


    Surely, no one would want to offend them, right?


    Unlike dwarves who like to be boisterous and didn''t like the pretense humans pushed forth, the elves were entirely different.


    They remained reclusive and rarely attended such events, so no elves were present in this event.


    Except for a certain half-elf who was busy drinking wine and seemed drunk even when he had arrived.


    "Hiccup... Bring me... Hiccup... the 25 one..."


    Not refusing the confusing request, the female waiter served him a 25-year-old wine with great familiarity.


    However, before she could leave, he immediately held onto her wrist, panic rising within her.


    She was but a lowly servant. She didn''t think anyone would go against this eccentric half-elf for her.


    Even though he was handsome with his red hair and longer ears, she didn''t want anything to do with him.


    Luckily for her, it seemed she had just overthought.


    "Hicc... Bring... Hicc.... Bottle..."


    ''Phew. It seems he only wanted the bottle...'' the female waiter thought before acquiescing to his wish and directly left him there, informing the Head Maid and Butler to send a male waiter to the half-elf.


    No way would she stay any longer near this half-elf. Yet she remained professional, doing her job well and even requesting to appoint a new server.


    Just as she left his side, a human with sharp features, wearing a butler''s attire popped up from nowhere, sternly looking at the drunkard.


    "Master, please refrain from causing any misunderstandings," he advised like the butler that he was.


    His words, however, just fell on deaf ears, making him sigh before he vanished once again.


    Seeing the scene, some "nobles" clicked their tongue in distaste.


    "Tsk, why did they even have to invite such a person?" A tall man with extravagant clothing that screamed luxury spoke out.


    "You''re correct, Lord Keger!" A short man with a port-belly hurriedly agreed, buttering up Lord Keger.


    "How could they put the esteemed Lord Keger and that foul person in the same place!" The short man said with a scowl.


    Those near him quickly agreed with whatever nonsense these two spouted.


    Such scenes were commonplace throughout the banquet hall.


    Everyone was trying to talk down their rivals or those who had rejected their advances and ploys.


    Many young men and women snickered amongst themselves, seeing such scenes, considering others inferior to them.


    It was all but the same for one table.


    On that table were the forms of 2 children, different from the other nobles. They looked amazingly beautiful from such a distance.


    Yet none dared to approach due to the identity of these guests.


    They were none other than Amael Blake and Amelia Blake, the only children of Duke Arthur Blake.


    They were a ducal family alongside the Ramilles and Arnes.


    In the Solarnelle Empire, after the Imperial Family, the three Dukes held the highest power and if they joined hands, even the Imperial Family would feel threatened.


    Ignoring everyone''s gaze falling on him, Amael spoke to his sister, "Do you want something?"


    Amelia had a sad expression on her face after so long had passed and her friends were nowhere to be seen.


    She pouted at her brother and replied, "I want to meet them!"


    Her cute tantrum seemed to only melt the other youngsters in the banquet and even brought a small smile to Amael''s face.


    Some girls even blushed, just from seeing him smile.


    "Ames, just wait a little more, okay?" The sincere tone of her brother made Amelia stop, but not before crossing her arms across her chest and a "Hmph!"


    ''Don''t blame this one me. You brought this on yourself, Jash,'' Amael smirked in his mind, guessing Jash''s expression when he found out about it.


    ***


    Unaware of the little devil waiting for him inside, Jash waited for his mother to open the door, allowing him to make a stunning entrance.


    And she did just that.


    Noticing the change in her son''s demeanor as if he was looking down at anyone deemed inferior, she unconsciously smiled and finally pushed open the door.


    Seeing the door pushed open from the outside and the figures of the three people entering, everyone inside the banquet hall turned quiet.


    They didn''t want to be marked as someone who was rude or disrespected the Ramilles.


    No one who got marked had a nice ending, and no one present here wanted that.


    Even if they were being basked by the numerous intense gazes, Sera remained indifferent in the face of it all.


    Unlike Sera, Caera couldn''t remain completely calm, but she did her best since it wasn''t her first time at such an event.


    ''My 5th birthday was even grander than this! Even big brother was here! I mustn''t embarrass myself!'' Caera firmed her mental state before she regained her bearing.


    On the other hand, most gazes drew to Jash who seemed different from all of his previous appearances.


    There were even rumors of him being a lazy guy, unwilling to put in the hard work required from a noble''s child.


    Many even wanted to curse him but they were scared of the Ramille''s wrath.


    However, today was an eye-opener for many such people.


    Jash had a calm and noble demeanor around him. His arrogance and pride shone in his eyes despite his young stature, surprising many.


    Most guests didn''t expect to see such a look in the eyes of a youngster, much less someone like Jash.


    ''Damn! I definitely don''t want to be here!''


    Contrary to what they believed and Jash displayed, he just didn''t want to be here.


    He really wanted to make a run for it but his mother''s sneaky glances at him sent chills down his spine.


    ''Hm?'' Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, Jash felt weird and turned to check the cause of it, only to see the pouting face of a white-haired little girl wearing a red gown with red earrings.


    ''Amelia? Why does she look angry?'' Jash wondered before his eyes darted to the person sitting next to her.


    ''Deal with it,'' mouthed the white-haired boy to Jash upon noticing his gaze. He too was dressed nobly, donning a black shirt, trousers, blazer, and shoes.


    ''Curse you, Amael! You''re useless!'' Jash thought, trying his best to keep his facade despite feeling helpless at his friend''s betrayal.


    ''He ought to at least give me a hint, right?'' Jash couldn''t help but want to beat Amael for always making trouble between him and Amelia.

 Chapter 12 - 12: Annoyed Jash

    ***


    While the banquet seemed to have just begun, a strange man with graying hair, dressed rather plainly compared to others, stood poised next to an elegantly designed car.


    The car boasted a vintage aesthetic yet the absence of wheels and hovering a meter above the ground hinted at its impressive technology.


    Suddenly, a sleek man with deep black hair and a graying hairline appeared. His exquisite clothing made his bearing to be of someone from nobility.


    Yet his presence seemed to have stirred no phenomenon in the area around him and the other man immediately bowed before opening the door for the newcomer.


    As the seemingly older man drove the car to the main manor in the estate where the banquet was being held, the younger man nonchalantly surveyed the Ramille Estate.


    With ease, the car crossed over 500 meters as the Ramille Estate boasted more than a kilometer radius, allowing them to drive a car there.


    Usually, Ramille had a separate villa for occasions and for their family use. These villas would naturally be more beautiful and bigger than the manor they actually resided in


    Yet, contrary to expectations, the banquet was being held in the main manor instead of the newly built villas.


    These new villas were constructed to accommodate numerous guests, with some rooms even equipped with Sound Proofing Runes, which was the norm.


    Also, one such room would''ve been used by Ziva had she not gone to the forest.


    Currently, some strange guests resided in those rooms, looking over the banquet hall as mere observers, having no intention to reveal their presence.


    "Don''t you think they should''ve just celebrated it in one of those newer ones?" The younger man asked.


    His question wasn''t thoughtless as the main manor was old and built a few centuries ago unlike the new villas built with runes and didn''t require the barriers to be used for the banquet.


    "Master, I think the lady just wanted to celebrate it on a wider scale since it is their 12th birthday."


    Not surprised by the driver''s answer, he just nonchalantly nodded.


    In a sudden shift of expression, he remarked, "Oho? Something interesting¡­"


    As if used to his whims, the elegant driver kept quiet before reaching the same entrance used by Sera and the twins.


    ***


    A few minutes prior to the strange man''s arrival.


    The grand entrance of the twins alongside Sera, considered one of the most beautiful women naturally attracted everyone''s attention.


    Not minding the obvious looks of everyone, she continued to move to the center of the hall where her husband, Carcel Ramille, stood.


    Usually, Carcel would have to greet the guests and Sera would talk with a group of ladies.


    However, everything was different today because of the unexpected presence of the spectating guests.


    Evelia also heard about it from Sera before Ziva returned from Jash''s rooms, leaving their conversation incomplete.


    However, she understood the crux of the situation and decisively chose to not allow Ziva inside the banquet.


    It was one thing to do it and send a statement of their potential engagement, but to do it in front of those "special" guests?


    That would be sheer stupidity.


    By the time Sera reached Carcel, Evelia''s gaze flickered with countless emotions as she too sat alone due to the disparity in status of other guests.


    Meanwhile, despite their desire to approach her or her family, many guests found themselves unable to even engage in conversation


    It was already a miracle or a fortune for many attending guests to get a glimpse of three Duchesses in a single event.


    ... S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While being the center of attention might be enjoyable to some, Jash wasn''t one of them.


    And he totally didn''t like what was going on at the moment.


    In addition to keeping his facade, he also had to act like he cared and greet all the people his parents introduced him to while continuing to extend their wishes to him and Caera.


    "...here, meet..." Carcel and Sera introduced every person of importance in their city.


    Jash did not like to mingle with others, so he kept his greetings short, and Caera followed suit.


    Given his reputation, nobody was particularly surprised by his behavior. However, Caera following him along was a surprise for all the attending guests.


    Suddenly, Jash felt the annoying gaze of a certain group of old men gathered at the banquet.


    ''Damn! Why the hell are they here?'' Jash cursed inside his mind, identifying them.


    They were partially the reason behind his avid escapades from parties and banquets.


    ''These damn geezers! They want to use me like a pawn, just to fight against my brother for their heir position!''


    Just remembering his meeting with them soured his mood at a time like this.


    He truly hoped his mother would notice his discomfort and speed things up.


    ''Who the hell wants to be the heir? He is the first son! He doesn''t have a choice and he likes to do it! So, let Brandon deal with it!''


    Jolting him awake from his thoughts was the entrance of a man who appeared to be in his fifties. His arrival didn''t go unnoticed, as his imposing presence seemed to fill the room.


    ''Grandpa?'' Jash couldn''t help but doubt as the last time his grandfather showed up was years ago, forcing him to train once or twice.


    "It''s almost time for the gift ceremony," Carcel commented as he noticed his father enter, even surprising him.


    ''He wasn''t supposed to be here right now...'' Carcel wondered what happened but chose to ignore it.


    As the cake cutting ceremony approached and most of the important guests were already present, the joint event for adults and young people began as they gathered in the beautiful garden area of the manor.


    Many youngsters were awestruck by Caera and Jash''s elegant attire, lacking the same luxury as them.


    However, Carcel interrupted their envious thoughts as he stood with Sera, breaking the silence.


    "As you all know, today my son, Jash Ramille and my daughter, Caera Ramille, turn 12, and this party is to celebrate their 12th birthday."


    As his words ended, guests witnessed various magical celebrations. Many guests were surprised by the delicate preparation of this event.


    "Happy birthday, Jash. Happy birthday Caera," Carcel and Sera wished the twins, to which the twins thanked them with a smiling face.


    Although Jash was internally bored of this pretense, his body language didn''t show his inner thoughts.


    The guests started clapping and closed the gap to give them gifts according to their status.


    Amael and Amelia were the first ones to arrive to wish them and give gifts.


    "Happy birthday, Jash. This is your gift from me," Amael gave him the key to a supercar, which had limited models.


    The few who could recognize the key were surprised by it. Especially considering how Jash hated going out and the car might just rot in their family''s garage.


    Amael smiled slightly, noting Jash''s almost crumbling expression.


    ''This guy...! He definitely gave me a car on purpose!'' Badmouthing Amael internally, Jash turned to look at Amelia, hoping for a better gift.


    Yet she totally ignored him and just handed a red gem to Caera with a reluctant look.


    ''It seems she likes it. How cute!'' Jash and Caera thought in unison, a smile forming on Caera''s face as she smugly showed it off to Jash.


    "This is a Fire-type mana gem of Rank A from the Blake Family," Amael introduced the gem.


    ''So freaking annoying,'' Jash thought, his lips twitching as he felt the three singling him out.

 Chapter 13 - 13: Gift Ceremony

    Many guests were surprised to see the Fire-type Rank A Mana gem, an item too expensive for even some attendees.


    Sensing the reactions around him, Amael maintained his signature smile, radiating kindness without the slightest ripple in his mind.


    ''Such an outcome was expected the moment I arrived to represent my family,'' Amael mused.


    Following the Blake''s children, the other guests arrived and gave various artifacts, gems, and other expensive things.


    Jash thanked them briefly, recognizing the gifts as attempts to forge a healthy relationship with the Ramille Family, a mere pretense.


    The Head Butler, Edward, immediately took the gifts and moved them, allowing the twins to accept gifts from others as well.


    Out of nowhere, the red-haired half-elf broke the line, garnering hatred but he didn''t seem the least bit bothered about it.


    "Lazy boy, this... hicc... is one... hicc... the Elixir... hicc...


    Rank A... hicc... I made... hicc... help you... hicc...


    forced to train... hicc..." His tipsy voice was barely audible to Jash.


    Even his parents and Caera wanted to know what the half-elf said or gave, but Jash''s reaction stunned them.


    "Ahem. Thanks, Uncle Serron!" Jash thanked him with a smile wider than any other.


    ''As expected! Uncle really is the best! To think he made something to help me during forced training!'' Jash thought to himself, holding back tears of gratitude, deciding inwardly that this was the best gift for him.


    Caera ignored Jash''s response and bluntly asked, "Where''s my gift, Uncle Serron?"


    The half-elf, Serron, chuckled and shifted, nearly stumbling before steadying himself and handing a glass vial to Caera.


    "My dear niece, hicc... I brewed... hicc... Rank A Elixir... hicc... to help awakening..." Hearing his words, Caera''s eyes sparkled, feeling this was just what she needed!


    "Thank you, Uncle Serron! You''re the best!" She didn''t hide her feelings and her reaction made the hearts of a few boys melt.


    Those who cursed that half-elf earlier were green with envy seeing those gifts.


    Serron ranked among the top ten potion makers in the Solarnelle Empire! His skills were widely acknowledged.


    Still, he lived in the Ramille Dukedom as he was, in fact, Sera''s brother¡ªhalf-brother, to be precise. Not many knew the inside information as such knowledge was closely guarded and no one would want to reveal it.


    Moving past the complex politics, the ceremony continued, making Jash feel bored to death.


    ''Not only do I have to stand here like a spectacle, I also have to show this darned basic courtesy and accept these useless gifts!''


    Useless, only for him.


    If others could get their hands on even 10% of what he got, they''d be satisfied with it, not to mention Caera''s gifts.


    Naturally, others were surprised to see such gifts, which made theirs pale in comparison.


    Many girls tried to talk to him while giving gifts, but his proud demeanor deterred them. However, it was worse for boys trying to talk to Caera; they had to pass Jash first, feeling inferior and merely hoping not to make a fool out of themselves.


    As the ceremony reached its pinnacle, the most important dignitaries presented their gifts, heightening tension and underscoring social hierarchies.


    Well, some people just didn''t work by the norm. Be it Serron or Amael. But Amael could be excused since everyone knew they were close friends.


    The first notable figures to present gifts were the dwarven couple, following the tradition. It was the tradition for all the guests who attended the event to come bearing gifts, irrespective of their personal feelings. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''He must''ve really wanted mead or ale,'' Jash thought, noting the annoyed look on the orange-haired dwarf.


    "Carcel''s boy, this is a rare piece of Rank A defense artifact, I worked on it myself when..."


    ''Damn, this old man! Who wants to hear your story!'' Jash cursed his luck, feeling deep inside he always had terrible luck when it came to people.


    However, the guests reacted differently, stunned due to the price of such an expensive gift.


    Yet the dwarf continued, recounting how he had been stuck in his artificing path when he created this piece, and how he always held it dear..


    Jash offered a word of thanks after that long-ass narrative, itching to run away.


    Amidst the ongoing ceremony, a notable figure strode forward with an air of arrogance, his steps muffled by the soft grass.


    ''Ahhh! It is the representative of those oldies!'' Jash felt their stares intensify, scrutinizing his reaction.


    "Although it might not be much, this is a rare Ice Crystal from..." one of Lord Keger''s servants, allowed only for special guests, passed the gift to Edward, who held it.


    This Ice Crystal would help the user wield Ice attribute magic more freely and was greatly beneficial for smithing as well.


    This rare item was something only a few could afford to gift, and those oldies were at least capable of doing this much.


    Noting Keger''s reluctance, Jash smiled kindly, "Thank you for this gift. I will use it well to craft a portable cold shower!"


    Let alone Keger, even the onlookers, wanted to beat Jash for ridiculing the gift, but he barely contained himself due to pressure from his backers.


    Finally, the last influential figure, the cold beauty, the Duchess of Arne, Evelia Raven Arne, came forward to give her gift.


    Suddenly, a beautiful bow materialized in her hand, sending a ripple of mana through the surroundings and crushing the air with its sheer weight.


    The onlookers gawked, wide-eyed. None expected such an aloof figure to gift one such prized bow.


    The Ramilles were widely known for their skilled usage of the bows and Caera trained with it too, making rapid progress unlike her lazy brother.


    Evelia didn''t waste much time on pleasantries, handing over the bow to Edward, who respectfully accepted it.


    "This one-of-a-kind bow recognizes its master, and only they can wield it properly. For anyone unworthy, it is but a piece of junk."


    Her succinct explanation dumbfounded everyone, greed flashing their eyes. Yet Sera rolled her eyes at her friend''s actions and scoffed inwardly, ''Show-off.''


    Ignoring her childish friend, Evelia left without giving Jash a gift, leaving him confused.


    ''Am I not her future son-in-law? How come she didn''t give me something? No way she expects me to train and earn that bow''s acknowledgement...''


    Lost in thought, Jash was abruptly pulled back by a mellifluous voice, ''Your gift is with Ziva.'' His mind momentarily drifted, captivated by Evelia''s enchanting tone, before his brain grasped the implied meaning.


    However, he didn''t get the chance to think more as a question broke his reverie, drawing everyone''s attention to him.


    "So what was the best gift according to Young Master Jash?" one of the people spoke up.


    After the gift ceremony of a big family, it was a tradition to select the best gift. Everyone looked forward to Jash''s choice.


    ''Damn! I have to do this now!?'' Jash disliked the attention and couldn''t help but wonder how different his life would be if he were born after Caera.


    ''Wouldn''t they have asked her first then?'' He mused, intrigued by the notion.


    If Caera were older, she would''ve received gifts before Jash, standing in his current position.


    Despite the favoritism, Jash knew it had nothing to do with his gender. His gaze remained impassive in the face of reality, a silent acknowledgment of his prior acceptance.

 Chapter 14 - 14: Best Gift

    The question shattered the silence, prompting the attendees to speculate amongst themselves.


    "I think he would choose Serron''s gift," one woman said to her group of ladies.


    "Lord Keger''s gift is also worthy of being the best gift," the woman beside her remarked.


    "The dwarven couple are not far behind either, and don''t forget the Blakes are there as well," added another.


    "So which influential family would have the honor of the best gift?"


    As all the gifts were presented, people chatted freely, deeply intrigued by his choice. However, the majority were more interested in Caera''s choice.


    After all, rumors about Jash''s lazy personality, which was unlike a noble''s, were widespread and even surpassed the rumors of Caera''s talent.


    Amidst the chatter, Keger overheard praise for his gift. Although he disliked Jash so far, he needed to fulfill his uncle''s wishes. This gift was meant to win Jash''s favor and possibly sway him to their side.


    ''Why are they so fixated on this incompetent fool? He has no chance against Brandon!'' Keger thought, recalling the argument with his uncle.


    Many had approved his notion of selecting Caera over Jash as a potential heir as she had much more of a chance in the succession battle.


    Yet the elders of his faction were adamant about choosing Jash over Caera, confusing the members.


    ''All they want is control of the Ramille Dukedom, but they fail to see that they will never achieve it with Jash...''


    Keger secretly gritted his teeth in annoyance from the memory before his attention snapped back to Jash.


    "I appreciate all the gifts so far, but tonight, I have chosen the most pleasing gift I have ever received as the best gift," Jash said as he took out the glass vial Serron had given him and showed it to everyone.


    He thought, ''Good thing I didn''t hand it over to Edward,'' as he pocketed the vial and glanced at Caera.


    The attendees didn''t appear surprised in the slightest by Jash''s predictable choice, especially since he received no gift from Duchess Evelia Arne.


    Still, the captivating sight of the small vial, containing a transparent viscous liquid with twinkling golden particles, left the attendees yearning.


    Oblivious to their desire, Caera spoke immediately, "I am grateful for all the gifts presented to me, but if I have to choose one of them..."


    She held her breath, pausing for effect, drawing people in with her eloquent speech and melodious voice before biting her lip gently.


    ''What should I choose? If I choose the bow, Amelia would surely be upset, but I really like the bow...''


    The dilemma gripped her heart, hesitation flashing her expression as she realized the weight of her choice and the silence hanging in the air.


    "I... I¨CI think the b¡ªfire type mana gem is the best gift!"


    Her tone rose as she stumbled over her words, noticing Amelia''s expression crumple at just hearing the letter ''b''.


    Ignoring the gasping attendees, Caera focused on the shocked Amelia and her lips curled upwards inadvertently.


    On her side, Jash obviously noticed the interaction, lamenting at her correct choice, ''Tsk. Would''ve loved to see Amelia angry at her too...''


    He clicked his tongue inwardly and felt a wave of relief. ''Finally! It ended!''


    Well, the banquet hadn''t really ended but just began as the hosts were finally free to talk with the guests instead of only courtesies.


    Jash didn''t care about any of it, quite the contrary. Inside, he was actually smiling as the guests busied themselves, for their own reasons.


    ''This is the best chance!'' He thought.


    Recognizing the opportunity to scurry away, he seized it, and mingled into the crowd once the obligatory part of the event was over.


    ...


    "Damn! Just my luck!"


    Jash cursed his luck, glanced over his shoulder, and hurried his pace. He really didn''t want to get entangled with another guest.


    After several failed attempts to leave the main manor without alerting his parents, he finally escaped.


    Yet every time someone or the other would coincidentally meet him and strike up a conversation, forcing him to return inside.


    ''But now I am free!''


    Right when thought arose inside his mind, his body shuddered for an unknown reason.


    ''Just who did I offend in my past life to never be able to get rid of these coincidental meetings!?''


    Without needing to be told, he turned around to see who ''coincidentally'' met him, but his gaze shook when he saw who it was.


    ''H-how...?'' His mind nearly shut down at the sight of the one person he didn''t expect to see.


    "Big brawthar Jash! Whare are you going?"


    The mischievous, little devil with white hair and red eyes spoke in a cute, half-nonsense voice. Who else could it be but Amelia?


    "I... Uhm, ahem," Jash coughed before coming up with an excuse, "Ahaha-ha, Ames, you see, big brother Jash has to go..."


    "Yes, he has to go and check on his room! He forgot to close his lights!" he added, biting his lip, hoping she''d believe his lousy excuse.


    "Oh? Is that sho?" Amelia tilted her head cutely before adding with a giggle, "Big brawthar is sho sthupid!"


    Jash''s lips twitched at her teasing, thinking, ''Yea, no way, she bought that.''


    "Sigh, your big brother is really stupid. But that aside, how are you here? Does Amael know?" he asked.


    When she flinched at the mention of Amael, Jash knew he was right and smiled. ''Gotcha! So easy!''


    "He must be worried about you, I should send a message or maybe take you to him?" Jash asked, appearing thoughtful, placing his finger on his chin.


    Seeing panic fill Amelia''s watery eyes, he stifled a laugh as her little hand clung to his jacket''s hem.


    Since Amelia had just turned 7, she was quite small, just a little over a meter in height and barely reached his chest.


    "I want tho be with brawthar. Pleassse!"


    Her teary eyes and cute expression melted Jash''s heart, and he sighed, taking her with him. But he didn''t forget to signal a maid to inform Amael that Amelia was with him.


    Looking at her walking happily beside him as if she had just avoided her worst fear, Jash wanted to tease her.


    "By the way, where is my gift?" Jash asked suddenly, looking slightly down. Seeing him like that, Amelia panicked slightly, ''Oh no!''


    Noticing her state, he clutched his chest and acted hurt, "Sniffle¡­ Sniffle¡­ It was okay if Aunty Evelia didn''t bring me a gift¡­ but to think even Ames didn''t bring me a gift¡­"


    ''Hehe. Let''s see what you do now!'' thought Jash, smirking inwardly at his successful plan.


    "Ah no! I-I¡­ don''t cry¡­" Amelia choked on her words as tears formed in her eyes before she suddenly recalled something. ''Wait, why am I in the wrong? Isn''t he the one who made me wait for so long! Yess! It''s his fault!''


    Concluding everything to be Jash''s fault, Amelia didn''t mull over it and stopped in her tracks, confusing Jash. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Big brawthar Jash! Hmph! It is obviously your fault for making me wait! I won''t talk to you," she said, placing her hands on her hips.


    Seeing the sudden change in her tone and the way she stuck her tongue out before harrumphing made Jash tense up as he realized his mistake. ''Damn! She forgot about it and I made her remember¡­''

 Chapter 15 - 15: Embarassed

    ***


    After departing from the room, Ziva paced through the garden with great familiarity as if it were normal routine to her.


    Yet her mind focused on nostalgic memories.


    A wry smile erupted from her rosy lips as she recalled arriving for the first time, finding Jash lying on the grass with closed eyes while Caera chased a white-haired girl nearby.


    *Image*(Check paragraph comment)


    "Haha,"


    A dry chuckle escaped her lips, remembering her initial jealousy until she recognized the guest.


    ''They are cousins, for god''s sake,'' she reminded herself, trying to not dwell deeper into her emotions regarding Jash.


    ''I always considered him a close friend because unlike other nobles, he felt like a genuine person, not some man putting on pretenses. He even lived as he wished¡­''


    To her, she could vividly feel the memories as if reliving the past as her cloudy eyes gawked around the garden filled with flowers, the chatter, the laughter, the whining, the teasing, the fun and games, she could vividly feel them all.


    Ziva truly felt like she had time-traveled to the past, just to relive those happy memories before an inevitable short parting with him. After which, everything would have changed in irreversible ways, for the better or worse.


    ''Sigh. I hope he actually awakens before turning 15¡­''


    ¡­


    Lost in the nostalgic ride of her memories and her own misguided thoughts, she finally reached a large tree.


    "It is still the same," muttered Ziva with recognition, looking at the 10 meter tall tree with a 3 meter wide trunk.


    The top of the tree didn''t have lush green leaves or some fantastical purple leaves, it just had a simple base with some railing, imitating a roof.


    Ziva didn''t linger on the ground anymore, climbing the stairs carved out of the brown trunk to reach the roof without hesitation.


    ''He really asked for this to sleep in the open under the stars on his 5th birthday¡­'' Ziva couldn''t help but smile in amusement, recalling Jash''s weird antics.


    Her chest warmed, knowing he trusted her enough to share his decision with her before even his own mother.


    ¨CWhoosh


    A cold daft hit her in the face as she stood in the staircase, gazing at the open roof, appearing strangely clean.


    Walking around the bulkhead on the roof, she climbed it using the jugged trunk easily and sat there, gazing at the night sky.


    ''Hmm. He really made this place free of the fast-blowing winds,'' Ziva mused as she felt the temperature around her stabilize.


    The wind which assaulted her face and ruffled her hair seemed absent now, yet she felt uneasy despite the comfort and warmth the place brought her, being close to her heart.


    In the end, she couldn''t help curling her feet and holding them to minimize her presence, her eyes filled with sadness, of the temporary parting approaching soon, gazing at the endless night sky.


    Looking at the almost full moon, she slowly relaxed as her senses opened up to the outside world, allowing her to sense the ambient mana in the atmosphere.


    Feeling the prominent presence of wood and air elemental mana in her surroundings brought her a strange sense of calmness, prompting Ziva to close her eyes.


    ***


    Unknown to Ziva, Jash approached her, or rather the strange tree slowly.


    Holding the sleeping form of Amelia in his arms, he grimaced, ''Damn! She has grown so heavy!''


    Despite his inner complaints, he held her firmly as he didn''t dare to wake her up after he somehow managed to coax her.


    ''Ugh! Why are girls so difficult to talk to¡­'' he thought, recalling his encounters with Ziva and Amelia today. A strange twisted stereotype sprouted from its seed state.


    ''Maybe I shouldn''t have told anyone about my 5th birthday gift¡­'' he thought, recalling revealing it to Amelia on his 10th birthday.


    ''Even Ziva came here and changed it for her own comfort,'' complained Jash yet he didn''t seem angry at the turn of events. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rather he remembered his 10th birthday fondly,


    ''Luckily, such large banquets are generally reserved at 5th and 12th birthdays, or at the coming-of-age ceremony.''


    Jash suddenly smiled, realizing he would be free from attending his brother''s coming-of-age ceremony as he would be in the academy by then, which rarely allowed students to leave.


    ''Ahhh¡­ So satisfying! I will meet all these people one less time¡­''


    Just like Ziva, Jash also remained lost in thoughts before he arrived below that huge tree molded to his taste for his 5th birthday.


    ''Uncle Serron''s gifts are always the best,'' chortled Jash inwardly before ascending the stairs.


    Being a half-elf, Serron naturally had more affinity for mana and even a better bloodline alongside his wood auxiliary affinity, allowing him to make this place for Jash.


    ''Being an elf surely is insane,'' gulped Jash as he recalled the stories about the elven race.


    Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he reached the roof, enjoying the cold draft. Unlike Ziva, he found the wind comfortable but, feeling Amelia tremble in his arms, he walked around the bulkhead, hoping to climb it.


    Yet his arms were already trembling, his muscles aching from lifting Amelia for so long, his untrained arms were too wobbly as his muscles tensed.


    Amelia had felt drowsy halfway through and he picked her up, but he didn''t know when she slept along the way.


    Cradling in his arms like a toddler, he didn''t have it in his heart to wake her up from her cute and peaceful slumber.


    "How am I going to climb it¡­"


    He wondered aloud in a low voice, his words directed at no one but him in particular as he really felt lost at the moment.


    A soothing feeling enveloped him as if to provide him salvation, and suddenly he stood atop the platform, gazing around dumbfounded.


    ''I don''t remember having such a mechanism here¡­''


    Gawking at the bluish colored hue leaving him, which enveloped his form and made him ascend, his gaze finally landed on the girl in front.


    His mouth flew open as he felt enchanted by the sight of Ziva holding her knees, he couldn''t draw his eyes away as the sight of her figure with the moon in the night sky as her backdrop dazzled him completely.


    Feeling an intense gaze, Ziva''s lashes fluttered to reveal her amethyst irises, locking onto Jash. However, her sight fell to the little girl, a pang of unknown jealousy rising within.


    Unconsciously, the desire to be held by him crossed her mind and her face turned beet red with embarrassment.


    The two were too locked in their thoughts to notice each other''s emotions at the moment and broke out of their reverie with the sounds of insects waking them up.


    Embarrassed, they couldn''t look at each other, and Jash forgot how he had risen to the height.


    He stepped closer with slow steps and said, "I met her by chance and she fell asleep."


    Ziva stood up by the time he reached her side, nodding wordlessly, trying to hide her blush. ''He won''t notice in the darkness, right?''


    Unable to stop her rising anxiety, Ziva focused on his actions to find out if he noticed or was still oblivious to it.


    Feeling her burning gaze, Jash wondered, ''Hmm? Why is she staring so intently?''

 Chapter 16 - 16: Temporary Parting

    Though confused, Jash ignored her inquisitive gaze and inched closer, pointing his index finger at her.


    Looking at the golden ring on his finger, he said, "Pour mana into the storage ring, there are some mattresses inside."


    Ziva touched the ring and circulated the mana from her glass-like transparent mana core to her finger.


    The storage ring directly absorbed a small amount of mana as she willed to take out two mattresses, a pillow, and a comforter.


    The items tumbled out a meter in front of them, Ziva''s eyes widening in astonishment. ''Just how many sets does he have?''


    Glimpsing into his storage ring, all she saw were mattresses, pillows, comforters, silk and linen pajamas along with some food.


    ''Most of it was even brand-new!''


    ''Others splurge on clothes, weapons, and jewelry, but you on pillows and mattresses!'' Ziva screamed inwardly, glaring at Jash as he tucked Amelia into a makeshift bed.


    "Ziva, can you put the second mattress perpendicular to this one," requested Jash before pointing toward his left hand held by Amelia using his free hand.


    ...


    After a few moments of setting up, Ziva sat on Jash''s right some distance away.


    Jash''s shoes and her matching dark blue heels, similar to their matching attire, lay behind them as they sat barefoot on the mattress.


    Turning to face Ziva after a few moments of silence, he asked, "Where is my gift?"


    A vein throbbed on Ziva''s forehead. ''Of all the things he could ask, he chose this!''


    ''What''s up with her today?'' Jash wondered, unable to understand her at all today.


    Despite his confusion, he didn''t ask, just wanting his gift instead of stepping on a landmine. ''It''s not like I am greedy or anything...''


    Ziva took a deep breath, steadying herself before replying, "...You already get your gift."


    "Huh? When? Where? What?"


    "ME!" Ziva proclaimed proudly, her thumb pointing at her chest, her voice ringing with a hint of defiance.


    ''Eh?''


    The only response he could form after her haughty "ME!" was confusion. ''How are you my gift?''


    It seemed she read his mind as she puffed out her chest in pride before stating, "You get to meet me when I wasn''t allowed to leave my house. Isn''t that the best gift?"


    Jash deadpanned in respone to her haughty tone, making her avert her gaze and cough awkwardly.


    "Ahem. You aren''t awakening, so it''s not..."


    Jash caught her sneaking glances at him and smiled wryly, understanding the unspoken words.


    ''I should at least tease her, no?'' It felt only fair to him after he didn''t get any presents from her.


    Deciding to lighten the mood and tease her simultaneously, Jash smirked, "What? Enamored by my handsomeness? Can''t help but want to steal glances?"


    "Oh, come on," Jash waved his hand before adding, "I am your future fianc¨¦! No need to steal glances! You gonna get the whole deal, girl!"


    Hearing his taunting words and noticing the cheeky smile on his face, Ziva''s lips twitched, "Just how narcissistic have you become?"


    She unconsciously voiced it out, stiffening the moment she realized her actions.


    However, Jash, on the receiving side, didn''t seem to mind and even acted more prideful.


    "If a man can satisfy his woman with his figure... That''s also a source of honor." Jash nodded to himself at his words.


    Hearing his righteous tone, Ziva couldn''t help but cringe and directly smacked his head.


    "Ouch. What was that for?" Jash spat, filled with indignation.


    Ziva shivered from the cringe, "Just why the hell do you see movies with such cheesy dialogues..."


    "...And don''t you dare use them on me ever again," she added with dangerously narrowed eyes.


    Jash gulped in slight fear as he felt a chill run down his spine. ''Damn! She really means it!''


    Shirking off the awkwardness, he said seriously, "Wasn''t it you who said my gift was you? How come I am wrong when we change perspectives?"


    Ziva tried to answer but couldn''t find the correct words to retort, causing her to shut up in the end.


    However, she couldn''t stand his smug smile, "Hmph! You made me want to puke at your words! That''s your fault!"


    ''What the hell?'' Jash was dumbfounded by how confidently she spouted nonsense.


    ''Nevermind, it''s better to not talk anymore.''


    ...


    Silence, broken only by the occasional chirp of insects and the twinkling of stars overhead, enveloped them.


    Jash had his eyes closed. Her presence was like a serene lake, making him not want to escape.


    Unknown to him, Ziva crept closer to his side ever so slowly before she slowly placed her head on his shoulder with her neck reddening, jolting him out of his peaceful state.


    ''What?'' Jash barely turned his neck to see her face but a pang of pain made him wince as he turned to look ahead.


    ''She is so damn close!''


    Jash felt his heart pound faster and faster as her body heat transferred to him due to their intimate contact yet he resisted the urge to meet her gaze.


    ''My sides ache and I can''t even rub them!'' Jash thought, distraught, realizing his right hand was behind her back.


    "...D-do you really not want to awaken¡­?" Ziva muttered in a low voice, distracting him from the close distance.


    Her feelings weren''t different from Jash, her heart thumping loudly against her ribcage, her face heated up with a visible blush and her legs felt momentarily weak.


    Jash gulped his saliva before answering, "...y-yes."


    Ziva remained silent for a few moments, only humming once, which spiked Jash''s anxiety uncontrollably.


    "I can''t force you," Ziva broke the silence softly, yet her voice tinged with reluctance. "But you know it''s gonna happen... right?"


    Instead of replying, Jash muttered, "I-I¡­ I am sorry," in a low voice before he put his hand on her waist, making her flinch, feeling the cold of his fingers through her dress.


    Her abdomen was the thinnest part of her dress, allowing her to feel his trembling fingers.


    "I don''t know why you even stay friends with me¡­" Jash continued in an almost inaudible tone.


    Even Ziva missed his words as her focus was on his hand, making her brows furrowed as she felt she missed something important.


    Yet she didn''t ask and clasped his hand between her hands, moving it to her stomach and firming her grip. She guessed ''He needs to be comforted,'' before continuing the conversation.


    "...W-we won''t be seeing each other till the academy¡­"


    Taking note of her cracked voice and her attempt to change the topic, alongside her firm grip, Jash didn''t mind and just put his head on top of hers.


    His thumb rubbed against her palm, giving a sense of comfort as he fell quiet, their small actions providing each other the sense of security much needed by the young couple.


    At their age, it was much too hard to figure out their feelings between friendship and more, especially with their backgrounds when others only befriended them for benefits or on their parent''s orders.


    Unbeknownst to them, there was another lingering presence sitting in the staircase, the red-haired girl didn''t linger for long though, leaving after all she could hear was silence for five long minutes.


    Back to the heartwarming sight of Amelia, Jash and Ziva.


    "She fell asleep, huh?" Jash let out inadvertently as he could feel the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest on his side.


    Not minding it one bit, he heaved a deep breath of relief, ''It feels good to have someone you can trust fully¡­''


    Jash had no idea that this would be the last time he could be so free with Ziva¡­


    *** sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    {A/N}


    I know the story is going super slow, but that ends now! The next chapter will start the main plot, and I will also try to upload more chapters from tomorrow!


    Don''t forget to give power stones and comment! Comment a lot, please!

 Chapter 17 - 17: Midnight Irregularity

    Jash sat in his favorite spot with Ziva lying on him, clasping his right hand, while Amelia held his left for an unknown period of time.


    ''At least it is January, or I would be compelled to move away,'' Jash mused as the gentle cold breeze caressed a few strands of his hair.


    If not for the cooling sensation of the cold wind, he would''ve sweated buckets with Ziva lying so close to him.


    ''Sigh. What am I even thinking¡­'' Jash cut off his strange thoughts, closed his eyes, and tried to relax, despite the slight discomfort.


    ''I wish I could record her vulnerable side to tease her later.'' Jash smiled slyly, recalling how she recorded him after using mana ink sneakily. Alas, he didn''t have a recording device.


    Lost in his thoughts, he didn''t know how much time had passed before he drifted off to sleep.


    ¡­


    Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours. Slowly but surely, time passed. In the blink of an eye, an entire year had gone by.


    12 January, Year 2449 of the Holy Calendar.


    A few minutes before midnight.


    Despite his approaching birthday, Jash was exercising out of his bed.


    "97¡­!"


    ¡ªDrip


    "98¡­!"


    ¡ªDrip


    "99¡­!"


    ¡ªDrip


    "100!"


    ¡ªDrip


    Sweat glistened and fell to the floor from his chiseled physique as he finished his push-ups for the day.


    Without taking a break, he switched to a forearm plank, counting inwardly, ''180.. 179¡­ 178¡­''


    He didn''t mind his sweat-drenched figure. Even in breathable dark gray shorts made of rare fibers, he still looked handsome.


    Alone in his room, he continued his intense workouts, unknown to most of the mansion''s inhabitants.


    Usually, he slept most of the day because of his nighttime training, preferring to keep it a secret to avoid interference.


    Of course, both Sera and Carcel knew about his routine. Hence, they didn''t force him to wake up early and train.


    But they didn''t confront Jash about it, glad he put in some effort without even being forced to train.


    Jash, however, was mostly unaware of their charade, believing they were oblivious as he wasn''t invested in the prowess of strong hunters or his forced lessons.


    He aced all the tests, outscoring even Caera, who studied regularly like the ideal child, thanks to his analytical brain that helped him read and understand most books quickly.


    Reading books the day before the test hadn''t been tough, even if they had questions requiring high analytical skills.


    ''What use is getting praised as a genius if they just want me to put in more effort?'' Jash scoffed at his hypocritical teachers, who complained about him but did a 180 after seeing his results.


    Not wanting to remember those times, he stood up after completing his 3-minute plank, sweat dripping from every inch of his 1.6-meter-tall body. (5¡ä4¡å)


    Feeling the sticky sensation of sweat, Jash used a clean towel to wipe it off.


    ''I will shower after a 5-minute rest.''


    Glancing at the clock to note the time, he realized it had crossed midnight.


    "Happy 13th birthday, I guess?" Jash muttered in amusement.


    He had already talked with his parents about not awakening until he was 15 or had to do it before entering the academy.


    "The academy, huh¡­"


    Jash muttered with no expression on his face, but his clenched fists spoke volumes about his hatred rather than a drive to become stronger, unlike others his age.


    ''Maybe I should aim for rank 1 and get the perks to sleep or something¡­''


    Lost in his delusions, he didn''t know how much time had passed before snapping out of it and recalling the changes in Caera.


    A wry smile hung on his face as he shivered at even the thought of daily training for 6 hours, followed by mana cultivation alongside their common lessons¡­


    "Just how does she do that? Does awakening drive one crazy or something?"


    Unbeknownst to Caera, her efforts to make Jash understand the significance of awakening and choose to awaken even one day earlier backfired.


    His hatred for awakening grew ever more prominent, and his determination to delay it increased.


    ''I''d much rather stick to my current routine instead of following some insane training schedule¡­''


    "But it does change everything," Jash said, his expression morphing to a contemplative frown.


    After all, a lot of things had changed. The time he spent with his parents wasn''t much different, however, the conversations seemed a bit different and irrelevant to Jash.


    It more or less revolved around Caera or other nobles'' children who had undergone awakening and their potential classmates at the academy.


    "Even Ziva is not allowed to talk on calls anymore," Jash mumbled, a hint of sadness in his tone.


    ''She must be training!'' Jash concluded, recalling his last conversation,where he fell asleep only to wake up in his room with his grandfather. It was still fresh in his mind.


    "He definitely heard it but didn''t force me or anything. Rather he just left after I woke up and I haven''t seen him since," Jash said rather helplessly.


    His grandfather was known as the best long-ranged combatant and held titles such as ''One Hit, One Kill!'', ''The Silent Shot!'', ''Trueshot!'', and many more.


    Yet everyone called him by his moniker, ''The Keen!''


    It wasn''t even connected to him being an archer; it was more about his scouting ability, patience, observation skills, and never missing even the subtlest of details and whatnot.


    However, to Jash, none of it held any meaning as he knew better than anyone that his grandfather wasn''t the calm, old, wise, all-knowing sage!


    "That old man is just as boisterous as any other knight in the family, if not for mom¡­" Jash unconsciously clasped his mouth shut, remembering how scary his mother could be.


    Cornelius Ramille was the strongest man around until his daughter-in-law narrowed her eyes at him. It was a given, considering her fierce protectiveness of her children.


    Not wanting to dwell on it on his birthday, Jash glanced at the clock, his eyes widening in shock as he stared at it speechlessly.


    ''Damn! I have been rambling for over 15 minutes¡­?''


    Flexing his arms, he noticed the remaining sweat had mostly dried up. He finally moved to take his well-needed shower.


    However, just as he reached for the bathroom door, a sudden headache made him flinch.


    His hands instinctively clutched his forehead as he tried to ease the pain, but it felt like his head was being struck by a hammer.


    ''It hurts¡­! Ugh¡­''


    The pain was too much for Jash, who wasn''t used to such sensations. It soon overwhelmed his senses, causing him to lose his balance and tumble.


    Unfortunately, things didn''t improve as a mind-numbing pain soon took over his remaining consciousness.


    It felt as if countless needles were piercing his brain, forcefully altering its structure. His memories, both new and old, got jumbled up, becoming unrecognizable. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unable to even make sense of his situation, his body fainted reflexively to save his life.


    Several artifacts on his body lit up with glows of varying colors to protect him, but from what?


    Not sensing any external threat to him, they deactivated. But not before some artifacts notified the other holder, his parents.

 Chapter 18 - 18: Awakening Within

    ***


    After losing consciousness and all senses due to the system forcing him into the path of reincarnation, Bhairav naturally couldn''t feel or see anything,


    Despite his pseudo-death state, he felt like he was traveling the void instead.


    In his current state, he was incapable of forming thoughts, but if he could, he would surely not give a damn to the system''s enduring mystery.


    What would change if he knew or not?


    It just had to fulfill his wishes.


    Although it only listened to two of them and he cursed at it a lot, he didn''t mind it as long as he wouldn''t have the system in his next life, just as he wanted.


    Still, traversing the void, seeing nothing but sporadic stars along the long-winded path, would drive anyone crazy.


    Fortunately, he didn''t actually see it or perceive it with any of his senses, sparing him from perceiving time and space.


    He just ''felt'' it.


    Unaware of anything except the void that he somehow ''felt,'' attributing everything mysterious to the system or its creator, he endured what seemed an eternal emptiness.


    ¡­


    Suddenly, he seemed to have collided with something before going dormant for at least a decade, or so he thought.


    ''At least it saves me from being a baby with memories¡­''


    ''Wait! I can think again?''


    Finally, regaining his sense of self, he could think again but not for long as he didn''t really have a brain, or even a body, to think.


    His consciousness once again faded to the unknown, not knowing when he would wake up and have to live again.


    ¡­


    While being in the void, surrounded by nothing but darkness, Bhairav hibernated with his memories replaying again and again as if a broken record was being played.


    Yet they didn''t seem to budge his spirit in the slightest as if nothing could bother him in his current state.


    It would be torture for some to relive their life or just having to go through and contemplate about it.


    Self-reflection was scary for most.


    However, to him, it didn''t have the slightest impact or appeal. He had already overcome such minor attempts to break his mental fortitude.


    If Bhairav could, he would''ve sneered at such attempts since he had to deal with demons, humans and monsters with different abilities from unknown places.


    He had no choice but to harden his resolve and accept his past as it was the best he could do.


    Naturally, he had regrets but he came to terms with it and overcame all such walls to ascend as humanity''s strongest force.


    Not that it was glorious or anything, only the man himself knew the number of assassinations, conspiracies, honey traps, seductions, backstabbing by those once called friends, ploys in the guise of celebrations¡­


    The list of what he suffered was endless yet the figure of his lover sacrificing herself to save his life was even clearer to his parents'' figure.


    It wasn''t an excuse but he was just 10 around his parent''s accident.


    He was 30 when he died¡­


    With the countless battles he fought, being covered in blood and more, his outlook on life itself changed, let alone the faces of his parents.


    If not for having their pictures, he might''ve even forgotten their appearance.


    ¡­


    Just like that, life continued for him in isolation and hibernation.


    There were times when he felt a familiar energy around him but he didn''t have a proper consciousness to dwell over it or find out the root cause.


    In the end, he truly rested for a long time.


    Today, he jolted awake, or rather his sealed memories were unsealed alongside his personality or individuality.


    "Hmm¡­?"


    Bhairav let out a sound as he was groggy right after waking up from his peaceful slumber.


    Looking around, he found himself in a first person perspective, although he couldn''t move or control anything.


    As if he was watching a movie from someone''s eyes, the life and memories of someone named Jash Ramille played out in front of him.


    "What¡­ is¡­ this¡­?"


    He wondered in intrigue, disinterested in the lackluster life of the young man. It held no appeal to him.


    Nothing more than a mundane life of a boy getting pampered and loved by his family, happy times with friends, groaning, whining, tantrums etc etc.


    The only remarkable thing was the memories didn''t start from 3 years or so of his age but from the moment he was born, giving him access to even baby memories.


    "This¡­ feels¡­ too¡­ real¡­"


    Given he could feel the sensory and even environmental cues alongside the emotions of Jash, Bhairav was quite confused.


    Unfortunately, he lived through those 13 years of life, with the memories getting connected to his, without break.


    ''I see¡­''


    That was all he needed to understand the current events.


    He was reborn as Jash Ramille and lived a life he desired, but failed to achieve in his past life.


    Ironically, he couldn''t help but be pessimistic. After all, everything was fine for him too, till he was 10.


    ''Also, Solarnelle Empire, Arne, Ramille, Blake¡­ it strangely feels familiar¡­''


    ''Awakeneing¡­ Mana¡­ This is going to be complicated¡­''


    Bhairav didn''t have to think about it for too long before realizing that mana and awakening were words only used in novels, alongside the familiar names.


    ''I am in some novel¡­''


    However, he didn''t know which one.


    But did he need to?


    ''Don''t most novels have the same trends¡­?''


    He couldn''t help but curse at the authors who kept repeating the same things, circling around the cliches and calling it unique.


    He failed to notice when his thoughts grew clearer and more coherent, flowing without pause.


    His attention once again got taken over by one of the memories that played in front of him.


    It was the memory of a beautiful girl in Jash''s room, where they conversed happily before they argued.


    ''So he is unawakened, huh? Good, good. That''s good!''


    If Bhairav could, he would definitely lighten his heart by cursing, given the insane difficulty he was forced to live with.


    Yet he tried to find a silver lining within it. ''At least, it will allow me to do things my way!''


    The rest of the memories weren''t important enough for him to pay close attention, allowing him to connect the dots.


    ''The talent and age of the ones in my generation are monstrous. The protagonist and villain are definitely from this¡­''


    ''Hmm¡­ given this layout¡­ maybe an academy attack¡­? Assassinations¡­? Kidnapping¡­? Torture by demons¡­? Bad aptitude¡­? Cursed by some higher entity¡­?''


    ¡­


    Without even realizing, Bhairav started to refer to Jash as ''me''. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alongside his string of thoughts, he came up with some crazy theories regarding the new world he found himself in.


    Yet he remained without control, acutely aware of the contrasting personalities within.


    ''Well, I wonder what he thinks¡­''


    As Bhairav delved into his, or rather Jash''s memories; Jash explored his new reality.


    Ultimately, the decision to merge their personalities or vie for dominance, or choosing to harmoniously surrender, rested solely with the duo.


    Essentially, they were born of the same soul but inhabited different worlds with unique circumstances.


    But they remained distinct ''individuals'', and no one would want to lose themself to the other.


    ***


    {A/N}


    So, I am having problems with posting 2 chapters because I keep feeling they are inadequate or not edited enough. Can you tell if this chapter is good enough or needs improvement? I need that feedback to increase my chapter posting speed.

 Chapter 19 - 19: The Veil Within

    ***


    After enduring agonizing pain for a long time, Jash, who had lived a peaceful life, lost consciousness.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t just lose consciousness¡ªhave a memory gap and regain it.


    As soon as Jash lost consciousness, he felt his senses abruptly return.


    Afraid of the mind-boggling pain yet again, he tried to resist regaining his senses.


    However, his efforts proved futile. His senses re-emerged, but they brought unexpected sensations.


    Similar to Bhairav, Jash found himself submerged in unending darkness.


    Being the naive 13-year-old, he couldn''t help but fear the darkness as it slowly gnawed at him, chipping away his sanity slowly but surely.


    Unlike his counterpart, his mental fortitude crumpled after spending some time in the nothingness.


    Even if there was no concept of space and time in this strange place, it felt like a second and an eternity at the same time. It was enough to make anyone go insane.


    Luckily, Jash got saved from eternal damnation.


    Just when he was at his utter limits, about to shatter, the scenery in front of him abruptly shifted to a more vibrant one.


    In his desperation to find anything to prove he was still alive, the strangeness of the situation eluded him.


    His situation, in one word, was bad.


    He didn''t even have time to realize he couldn''t think, feel, or see in actuality.


    That was the striking difference between the two individuals, despite sharing one soul.


    ...


    Looking through the scenery frantically, Jash tried to find some semblance of life and figure out his situation instinctively, even without actively thinking.


    Fate, however, was a cruel mistress, indifferent to one''s misery, constantly sending challenges.


    Just like that, a vivid tapestry of a young boy''s life played out before Jash.


    The first memory Jash witnessed was being pampered by a strange, unfamiliar couple. Yet warmth and happiness surged through him.


    He lived these memories as a spectator, unable to comprehend the sudden change.


    He was merely a spectator who vividly experienced every emotion and environmental cue, be it smell, taste, pain, or any other sensation.


    Going through something like this would break anyone''s mind, but Jash didn''t suffer such consequences.


    A golden, shimmering light enveloped his consciousness, preventing it from collapsing before the inevitable clash between the two personalities.


    Unaware, he continued to live through the memories, going through a rollercoaster of emotions before utter despair clouded his senses.


    Feeling the gaping loss of one''s own parents at the tender age of 10 broke him down, yet the indifference and greed of Bhairav''s relatives was the final straw.


    However, as one can expect, when darkness overcomes one''s life, a shimmering ray of light¡ªhope¡ªexists.


    That hope was his uncle, who helped him circumvent everything, shielding him from the harsh reality of society, and fighting for his wealth and his parents'' murderer.


    Jash became so immersed that he couldn''t distinguish himself from the boy, experiencing everything from a first-person perspective, unaware of the change within his own being.


    Alas, all good things must come to an end.


    Faced with the gripping reality of getting kicked out and taken advantage of by the same uncle at the age of 18, the boy broke.


    Fortunately or unfortunately, the life Jash witnessed to the point of having trouble differentiating himself from the boy, Bhairav, didn''t end there.


    Bhairav was sensible, doing part-time jobs to earn his own expenses ever since he entered high school as he didn''t want to be a burden to his guardian, his uncle.


    Steering clear of girls despite being proposed by his crush. It was anything but easy, given teenage hormones.


    At this point, Jash felt his own emotions burgeon with pity for the boy, or perhaps for himself. He didn''t know.


    Yet the life he witnessed didn''t get better.


    Bhairav lived on the streets, barely scraping by, just another high school graduate without a college degree.


    However, things took an unlikely turn when the boy went back to his uncl¡ªno, his parents'' house.


    Jash could feel the boy''s emotions vividly, his rising heartbeat, adrenaline coursing his veins, nervousness, rage, doubt, hatred, anger, grief, regret, helplessness...


    The number of emotions he felt the boy go through was staggering in and of itself.


    But Jash couldn''t comprehend how the boy could have taken such drastic actions.


    ...


    Looking at the boy for another year, living as a fugitive and a wanted criminal, always on the run.


    Despite his pressing situation, he didn''t even steal a penny.


    Yet Jash couldn''t help but doubt, remembering the brutality with which Bhairav killed his traitorous uncle. His father''s best friend.


    It was inevitable.


    His actions allowed Jash to differentiate and extricate himself from confusing Bhairav as himself.


    But he couldn''t stop the memories.


    Finally, going through life here and there, the boy found a job¡ªa questionable job of being a male escort.


    Turns out some women, married or unmarried, find themselves attracted to criminals.


    Never having even held a girl''s hand, the job was tough, but all he needed to do was be an eye candy.


    Not difficult, considering he looked handsome already. With a little bit of work being put in, he looked hella fine.


    It didn''t take long for him to get famous among a certain clique of ladies. But it didn''t last long, just like everything in his life.


    On one particular night bustling with guests, he served a young woman. He wasn''t tempted by her allure or anything but just serving her once brought trouble to him.


    The woman drank quite a bit of strong liquor, nearly half a liter of wine with 39.8% alcohol by volume, becoming heavily intoxicated.


    ...


    Living through the memories, the naive Jash had already matured after experiencing such a hard life, feeling all the hardships too vividly.


    Unfortunately, as the world around him distorted and broke down, he couldn''t see anything more.


    The last thing he sensed was actually words that didn''t belong to the tapestry of memories he had lived through.


    "Any more and he will break." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***


    ''Hmm... Forcing him out won''t bode me well...''


    Despite knowing the repercussions he would face for his actions, Bhairav didn''t mind it one bit.


    After all, what use would it be if Jash gets tainted and breaks even before their clash?


    That too, in a clash, where everything will change.


    He didn''t want Jash''s decision to be influenced any more than what was already beyond his control.


    ''Plus, there is just no way that darned system will show itself... My memories would be more or less just a hazy blur for him.''


    Bhairav seemed to be in his own world, while his control over the soul waned due to his direct interference.


    He wasn''t even keen on taking over their soul.


    If he had wanted to, he could''ve just asked the system to reincarnate him.


    Why bother to seal his memories?


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t that easy, given his knowledge about unknown enemies and his decision was slightly influenced from the Demon King''s final words.


    He didn''t take them to heart or believe them to be true, but the unbridled fear and rage in the Demon King''s eyes at the mere mention of their existence were eerie enough.


    ''If there are beings strong enough to shatter space and exile the demon race, then...''


    ***

 Chapter 20 - 20: Soul Duality

    ***


    In the nothingness that seemed to have become Bhairav''s home.


    His spirit or his body materialized, but with its radiance dimming as seconds ticked by.


    Suddenly, he sensed a disturbance in the space around him, and quickly looked in that direction.


    Looking at the familiar face of Jash Ramille in front of him, his focus narrowed in on the new spirit, but he didn''t do much.


    It was difficult to articulate his actions with mere words as he didn''t really have a body, nor was it his soul.


    After all, the soul was a singular existence with two personalities or individuals formed from it.


    ...


    Time passed uneventfully until Jash finally woke up in a daze, only to find himself surrounded by the bizarre nothingness.


    Just as he was about to panic, he heard a firm and mature voice clearly.


    "Relax."


    It was just one word yet his mind immediately calmed down, as if a spell had been cast on him.


    Trying to locate the source, Jash flailed around, but it didn''t amount to any change despite his relentless attempts.


    Before he could exhaust himself fully, a spirit appeared in front of him in the form of Bhairav.


    The difference in their radiance was stark, easily noticeable by Bhairav, but Jash failed to notice, as he was too shell-shocked after recognizing Bhairav.


    He didn''t know anything about their current situation, yet the life he had just lived through forced him to calm down in the face of an inexplicable situation.


    "Hmm." Bhairav hummed with little amusement before they both stared each other dead in the eye, or what they presumed to be their eyes.


    "You must be confused. Unlike me, you can''t speak, move, or do anything except think. That too, only because of the memories increasing your mental strength."


    Bhairav said in a matter-of-fact tone as if he weren''t ridiculing Jash, but just stating the truth.


    He didn''t wait for any response, however, and continued explaining.


    "I believe you have some hypotheses regarding the current situation."


    "Let me confirm your conjecture:You and I are of the same soul."


    Silence engulfed them as Jash''s spirit wavered at the astounding revelation. He didn''t know much about souls; his knowledge was not even at a superficial level.


    Yet one fact remained: one soul could only allow one life to exist.


    Duality of souls was a curse.


    As if reading his thoughts, Bhairav confirmed, "You are correct in thinking that only one of us can exist."


    The bombshell remark threatened to exhaust Jash''s spirit and his barely reliant mental fortitude.


    "Before you think of it as me possessing you, just know that I am the reason you were formed, but I have no interest in taking over."


    The words stunned Jash to the point of cursing. ''Then why the hell are we here? Just go away!''


    "It''s not that easy, youngling," Bhairav commented, as if predicting his thoughts.


    "There are only 3 ways to end it... without dying, that is."


    Jash had an ominous feeling about the last words spoken, as they seemed to hold a hidden meaning he couldn''t make sense of.


    "First, we both clash, and the victor absorbs the other, or whatever remains of the loser, to heal themselves."


    "Second, we both agree to merge our personalities, giving birth to a new distinct one with both our memories."


    "Third, one of us surrenders and ceases to exist, leaving behind his memories and heritage to the other."


    Listing the options, Bhairav turned quiet, giving Jash time to contemplate which option to choose.


    But inwardly, he thought bitterly, ''He won''t choose any of them...''


    ...


    On the other hand, Jash thought about everything he could, given his limited knowledge, but he didn''t know what the correct option would be.


    ''I don''t know what he will choose...''


    ''He did say he doesn''t want to take over me... but why would he list these options instead of just surrendering?''


    ''There has to be some catch...''


    Unable to come up with a solid reason, he moved on to mull over the three options instead, considering the pros and cons.


    ''The first option is a no-go. There is just no way I can win.''


    ''The second option is too dubious... Merging? Who knows what the result will be?''


    ''Surrender? He didn''t do it... And there''s just no way Imma do it!''


    ''...''


    After a string of thoughts, Jash didn''t decide on any option.


    Even if he did, how would he tell the other party, when all he could do was think and analyze?


    Bringing him out of his stupor was the surprisingly calm voice of Bhairav.


    "You can''t decide, right?" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It sounded as if he expected this situation.


    Unlike Jash, Bhairav had lived through Jash''s entire life, making Jash predictable in his eyes.


    "Well, I can''t cease to exist but you can''t leave if both of us exist."


    "The only option we have is, Merging."


    "Don''t mistake it for forming a different personality, or us ceasing to exist."


    "You have seen my partial memories, so you should know, my world had mana too. I can help you become the strongest, but that''s not your goal."


    "We can compromise."


    "I will give you memories of mana and training, including my sensation and emotions of that time, helping you become accustomed to mana itself."


    "After all, you''re naive in thinking, everything will not go just as you wish."


    "Didn''t you already see it?"


    Jash could only agree in his thoughts, but Bhairav didn''t mind as he waited for him to come to terms with it.


    "I guess, you''d be confused."


    "Let''s just say I will live through you and slowly merge into you, changing everything about you, but it won''t affect me much."


    "Unless I exhaust myself completely, I can live here. Inside our soul."


    "I have no motivation to live."


    Stopping after saying what he wanted to, Bhairav waited for Jash''s decision.


    Naturally, Jash wouldn''t agree so easily. If he were just the young naive Jash Ramille, he might''ve agreed.


    But he had already witnessed 19 years of treachery-filled life of Bhairav.


    No way he would take the words at face value.


    There had to be a hidden meaning.


    ''Does he want to influence me into accepting the tempting offer before he slowly takes over my body?''


    Jash didn''t know why, but the thought of losing himself to even his own counterpart, didn''t sound good.


    And the idea didn''t seem to budge, no matter how he tried to counter it.


    Again, his deep thoughts paused because Bhairav spoke, drawing his attention for an unknown reason.


    "You have already changed with just the easy part of my life... If I wanted to take over you, I wouldn''t have interfered, weakening myself."


    "Just one look at those memories will crumple your spirit, enough to be stomped in less than a moment."


    "If you''re so wary, how about an alternative?"


    "I will become your master!"


    Jash wanted to hear more about this proposal but Bhairav refused to budge in the slightest.


    Unknown to Jash, Bhairav had already overstepped his bounds multiple times, and he would cease to exist soon without any benefit to Jash.


    That was something he didn''t want to see. What use was reincarnating, if his new life also suffered?


    In the end, it all depended on Jash''s decision.


    Not only had Bhairav interfered with the memories, but he even allowed Jash to think in this space, further crippling himself. And he even gave that information to Jash! Albeit indirectly.


    ***

 Chapter 21 - 21: Outside

    ***


    Back to the time before Jash fainted.


    Inside the master bedroom of the Ramille Family Mansion.


    A man with jet-black hair with a few strands falling on his temples sat on a comfortable chair, his green eyes looking at the neatly arranged documents on the table.


    His hands moved at the speed of a blur as his eyes scanned the documents before signing them or putting them onto a different stack.


    He continued to go through the documents submitted by the nobles under him, merchants in trade, new guilds, approval of budget and various other aspects concerning his territory.


    ¡ªCreak


    The door creaked open loudly, yet the man remained undisturbed.


    The sound of heels clacking against the marble floor echoed amid the rustling papers.


    However, the man''s attention didn''t waver in the slightest as if the newcomer hadn''t even entered the room.


    ¡ªClack Clack!


    The sound of footsteps became louder before stopping. A slender hand snaked its way onto the man''s neck before a sweet voice entered his ears.


    "Edward did a good job, right?"


    Despite the sweetness of her voice, the man just nodded instead of voicing his opinion, knowing fully well she just wanted to start a conversation.


    Not minding his response, the woman remarked, "It''s close to midnight. It''s their 13th birthday."


    Suddenly, the man stopped going through the documents before he turned to address the woman.


    "Sera, my dear, we''ve been over this already."


    Hearing her husband''s gentle tone, Sera couldn''t help but bite her lips lightly.


    She wanted to yell at him that it wasn''t over, yet she didn''t have it in her to fight with her husband.


    While she was absorbed in her thoughts, her husband stood up and hugged her from behind in silence.


    Taking her to the bed in his arms, she sat in his lap as he held onto her hand and caressed it.


    Recalling the time his son refused to awaken, he thought, ''She is too worried about Jash.''


    ''Haa... She almost went crazy back then...''


    Looking at the frown on his wife''s face, his heart pained, but he didn''t want to force his son into awakening.


    ''Failing it is not worth it and she knows it too.''


    Absorbed in his thought, he jolted when he heard his wife speak in a rather low tone.


    "Say, Carcel, what if something happens to Jash because he doesn''t awaken? He only trains a little at night. He''s too weak."


    Carcel chose his words carefully before speaking gently, "I know you are worried, and I am too. But forcing him is not the way here. We can only hope he chooses to awaken before it is too late."


    Hearing her husband''s reassurance and feeling his warmth on her body, she didn''t feel the need to say more.


    The two knew each other like the back of their hands. It was easy for them to figure out each other''s thoughts too.


    "Darling, you''re focusing too much on Caera, it might backfire in the long run," Carcel said in a reprimanding tone.


    "So what? Brandon is in the academy and won''t leave till he is 18. But when he graduates, Jash and Caera would already be in the academy!"


    "Haa... You''re being overprotective."


    Sera didn''t reply to Carcel''s last comment. It was the truth, after all.


    The two cuddled for the next few minutes in silence, enjoying the rare moment of reprieve from their day-to-day lives.


    They didn''t need to sleep for extended periods of time; they had a high degree of control over their bodies and emotions.


    Thus, they didn''t crave carnal activities much. But that didn''t mean they never did it.


    Well, they did have 3 children, so it was a no-brainer.


    ...


    Out of nowhere, the couple felt tigs at their mind and immediately poured their mana into their storage rings.


    Several items of different shapes¡ªcuboids, cubes, spheres, keys, bracelets, tabloids, and many others¡ªshot out.


    Seeing so many of their artifacts ringing simultaneously, the couple immediately became alert, their eyes widening as they shot forward at incredible speeds.


    The bed behind them cracked with the sheer strength they had used to kickstart their momentum.


    The door was spared, as they left through the open balcony.


    Nothing but a blur remained of their presence as the air whirred and split apart from their sheer strength.


    It took them less than ten seconds to reach their destination: Jash''s room. They entered directly through the balcony.


    Their speed didn''t give enough time for the runes to react to their mana signature and open, causing the balcony gates to shatter into pieces.


    Sera dashed forward, leaving Carcel behind, who masterfully prevented any stray splinter from entering the room.


    Arriving inside the room, Sera''s blood froze as she saw Jash sprawled on the ground, unconscious.


    Before she could rush forward and force-feed him healing potions and elixirs, Carcel held her wrist, stopping her.


    "What?" She shouted in anger, her mana flaring up, ready to attack if he didn''t let her go. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But when she turned to look at Carcel, she found his gaze fixed on Jash. The look on his face made her shut her complaints.


    She could feel his trembling fingers and seething rage barely reeled in. ''He is the same as me...''


    Sera had forgotten for a second that Carcel loved their children just as much as her, if not more.


    Still, his stance of not inspecting Jash bugged her.


    "There are no signs of attack. No mana signature except the artifacts."


    With just these words, Sera momentarily calmed down, trying to find out what happened to her son, even if his condition took precedence.


    Suddenly, a figure flashed by them and they both turned to look at the lean man, neatly dressed despite the time.


    His deep black hair bore a striking resemblance to that of Carcel and Jash. The only difference being his graying hairline.


    "Father..." Sera muttered in a low tone, her eyes slightly teary.


    Cornelius focused solely on sensing the room with his mana sense, sending pulses into the surroundings.


    "Strange..." mumbled Cornelius, a glint flashing in his eyes, as he couldn''t quite put his finger on what transpired here.


    The couple, who heard his mumble as if it were the loudest sound, were shocked, to say the least.


    Unlike the general consensus, the duo knew much better about the extent of Cornelius''s adventures during his youth and old age.


    They had a hard time accepting the fact that he was unable to figure out what happened here.


    "This isn''t the time for this!" Sera shouted, realizing the father-son duo forgot about Jash lying there.


    She barely restrained herself from rushing to check on him, unwilling to waste any more time.


    Who knew what would happen if they kept delaying it?


    Cornelius awkwardly averted his gaze, then stepped forward and appeared beside Jash. His mana enveloped the fainted boy, lifting him gently to the bed.


    The white mana enveloping Jash appeared tainted with black, a sight that didn''t surprise the couple¡ªit seemed natural.


    The mana cleared Jash''s remaining sweat before Cornelius used his exceptional mana control to send tendrils of mana into his body.


    ''Hmm? He seems totally fine, internally and externally...''


    A strange look appeared on Cornelius''s face, as he couldn''t find any irregularities or the cause of Jash''s fainting.


    By the time Cornelius checked Jash, just over a minute had passed since he fainted.

 Chapter 22 - 22: Flutter

    Unable to decode Jash''s ailment, Cornelius didn''t waste time and immediately brought out a vial containing a colorless liquid.


    He forced liquids from various vials down Jash''s throat, using his mana as if it were an extension of his body.


    ''No change, huh?''


    Cornelius wasn''t just feeding the potions to heal Jash; he was taking note of how they acted inside Jash''s body.


    Unfortunately, he found no difference, despite the numerous potions.


    ''He is unawakened, I can''t just feed him everything...''


    Naturally, Cornelius knew better than anyone what potions he could feed Jash, so he tried all that he had on him.


    He didn''t hold many potions to begin with, as most didn''t aid him due to his strength.


    Unable to think of any other solution at the moment, he reconsidered. ''Should I try an elixir...?''


    He wasn''t sure about trying an elixir on Jash. After all, elixirs were made for severe illnesses and mostly for the awakened hunters, so finding a suitable one that wouldn''t harm Jash would be difficult..


    Although expensive, elixirs did the job almost perfectly, making their demand skyrocket, yet they remained scarce.


    But that was about it.


    "Why aren''t you feeding him an elixir already?" Sera''s frustrated shout brought Cornelius out of his stupor.


    However, just as he was about to take out an elixir, he saw Jash''s unconscious body flinch, confusing him.


    His eyes focused on Jash to try and find anything. ''Hmm? What''s this all of a sudden?''


    On the opposite side, Carcel noticed his father''s focused state and forcefully yanked Sera from her position.


    She was relieved at the sight of Cornelius taking out an elixir, but seeing him halt, she almost rushed at him to take the vial and feed it to Jash by herself.


    Offended by Carcel''s rude behavior, she was about to shift her frustration onto him when he suddenly clasped her mouth.


    Shocked by her husband''s odd behavior, she was dumbfounded and couldn''t react for a second.


    She wasn''t weaker than him; she simply didn''t expect him to treat her like this..


    However, what made her frown was Carcel''s gaze. He didn''t even spare her a glance!


    Despite the situation, which might compel anyone to fight, she refrained from reacting impulsively.


    Instead, she followed his sight and narrowed her eyes, looking at Jash flinching uncontrollably.


    He didn''t have any expression on his face yet the sheer intensity with which his body twitched and trembled pained her heart as a mother.


    In that moment, she even forgot her husband''s audacity, her motherly distress overcoming all other emotions.


    As the hands around her mouth and waist tightened in tension, she didn''t need to look at Carcel to know his feelings.


    ***


    Outside the room, the entire mansion was in utter chaos. Hearing the sound barrier shatter twice in quick succession alerted the guards.


    Even the servants and maids residing in the mansion were terrified of what was to come.


    "Just who dares to attack the Ramille Estate! The family mansion at that!"


    Many such shouts echoed across the halls as the guards became alert and looked for any sign of infiltration.


    One of them in particular had a horrified expression.


    Emma, still clad in maid attire, rushed out of her room upon hearing the sounds.


    ''That...! Isn''t that from the first floor?''


    Recognizing the source, she immediately panicked, realizing her oversight.


    ''Even if Young Master sent me away, I should have stayed guard!''


    Unlike others in the hallway, she dashed forward, using the air to boost her as she nimbly moved across the hall, reaching the staircase.


    Determination marred her face as her heart pounded nervously before she darted up the stairs, reaching the first floor.


    ''Young Master... I hope nothing goes wrong...''


    With a single thought in her mind, she zoomed past everyone to reach Jash''s room.


    The others weren''t surprised seeing her speed, rather they also started to use mana to their full strength.


    Despite the movement of various hunters inside the hall, not a speck of dust rose in the corridors, let alone the walls or floor cracking. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***


    Looking at Jash''s twitching body for more than five minutes, the trio remained silent as they didn''t know what to say.


    Cornelius was their best bet to find out anything, and his furrowed brows alone were enough to make the husband-wife duo anxious.


    Even with their emotions in turmoil and their focus on Jash, they could sense the movements on the lower floors.


    Sensing the guards getting closer to the barriers and about to activate them, Carcel commanded in a stern voice.


    "Stop. Go back to your positions and stay alert."


    Despite the distance, everyone downstairs heard his voice loud and clear, halting them in their tracks. They followed the order without question.


    Though Carcel''s voice echoed through the hall, it didn''t even reach inside Jash''s room..


    He didn''t want to take any chances with the strange state of Jash, leading him to exert such deliberate control over his power, making him sweat.


    Unfortunately, a frown broke across his handsome visage as he sensed three distinct mana signatures approaching.


    ''Emma, Caera, and Kesha.''


    He naturally identified them as they closed the distance, but he didn''t make any effort to stop them.


    His gaze shifted to Sera, who held her gaze at Jash, undisturbed by the surrounding disturbances.


    Jerking her slightly, he wanted her to deal with the three newcomers, but she ignored him completely.


    ''Damn! She has become a statue or what?''


    In the end, he couldn''t help but pinch her arms to get her attention using a bit of force, something he didn''t wish to do.


    Finally, Sera turned to face him. Yet her face had an expression that screamed, ''If it ain''t worth it, you''re done for.''


    Not intimidated in the least, Carcel nudged her in the direction of the door.


    Understanding the cue, she immediately spread her senses outside and froze upon noticing the three presences mere five meters away from the door.


    Carcel left the predicament to her, turning back to gaze at Jash, his tense expression relaxing at the sight of Jash on the bed.


    It was much better than seeing his body twitching in unimaginable pain.


    Even seeing him awake and well, as usual, would be a much better sight for Carcel.


    Meanwhile, Sera released a bit of her mana, pulsing softly towards the door before pushing back the three.


    Before it could strike them, however, she reeled it in.


    No matter how urgent the situation, Sera wouldn''t hurt her daughter.


    Even if it were only Emma and Kesha, she couldn''t do it. She just couldn''t bring herself to be cruel to people she had known since they were children.


    That''s why she assigned Kesha as Caera''s personal maid and Emma as Jash''s. Both were trustworthy and so were they strong.


    Of course, they were bound by multiple mana contracts, oaths, vows, and many other restrictions were placed on them to serve the direct family of Ramille duchy.


    Back in Jash''s room.


    Sera had just turned back from the door to Jash when she noticed his eyes fluttering open and immediately dashed to hug him.


    Now that he was awake, nothing else mattered to her. Carcel and Cornelius made no attempt to stop her, knowing it would be futile.

 Chapter 23 - 23: Comfort

    Carcel and Cornelius watched silently as Sera enveloped Jash in a protective embrace. Her relief was palpable, almost tangible¡ªa stark contrast to the tension that gripped the room just moments before. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though Cornelius observed carefully, his eyes still narrowed in thought. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.


    It was a brief moment of respite amidst the chaos and uncertainty.


    Jash''s eyes blinked continuously, revealing a confused but gradually focusing gaze with each flutter.


    He looked up at his mother, then at his father, and finally at Cornelius. His body, still weak from everything it had gone through, eased slightly in Sera''s warmth-filled arms.


    "Mom... Dad... what happened?" Jash''s voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper.


    Sera tightened her embrace, tears of relief about to stream down her cheeks. "Y-you scared us, Jash. But it''s fine now."


    Interrupting the emotional scene, Cornelius stepped closer, his expression grave. "Jash, do you remember anything? Anything that might help us understand what happened?"


    Jash furrowed his brow, trying to recall the events that had led to his current state. "I...I remember feeling a sharp pain, like something was tearing me apart from the inside."


    His body trembled in Sera''s embrace, worrying her, but he continued with a shaky voice.


    "I-it felt like it changed m-me, but then everything went b-blank."


    Carcel exchanged a worried glance with Cornelius. "That doesn''t tell us much," he muttered, his icy expression relaxing as he added, "But at least you''re awake."


    Despite the warm family reunion, guilt overwhelmed Jash''s very being. Only he knew that whatever he said was a half-lie. Yet lying was much better in this situation, in his opinion.


    ''There''s no way anyone would believe in reincarnation and everything and then... the novel thing...''


    Jash couldn''t bring himself to utter the truth, as he himself had a hard time believing it, let alone accepting himself as a mere extra in some novel.


    Bringing him out of his inner guilt, Sera gently stroked his hair; her gaze never leaving his face. "We''ll figure it out, Jash. We have to."


    Warmth coursed within Jash as he put the complex matter to the back of his mind and let himself enjoy the comfort of his mother''s embrace.


    At the same time, outside the room, the mansion''s staff remained on high alert. The guards had returned to their posts, but the tension in the air remained palpable.


    Emma, Caera, and Kesha stood just outside the door, concern etched on their faces.


    Emma barely maintained her composure as regret consumed her fully, while Caera wondered what went wrong.


    Kesha, ever observant, stayed alert to any unforeseen situation, her priority on guarding her master, Caera.


    Taking note of their interactions, Carcel ordered them, "Leave for now. Just keep an eye out for anything unusual and report it immediately."


    As the three nodded despite their hesitation and retreated a little, Caera stood rooted on the spot.


    She didn''t say anything but her stand was obvious, causing Carcel to rub his forehead slightly, knowing how stubborn his daughter could be.


    Looking at Sera to get some help, he noticed her focus on Jash, and sighed a little.


    "...Whatever. Just come in, Caera."


    Without another choice, he acquiesced to her adamant request, allowing only her to step in.


    Ignoring the slightly astounded Caera, Carcel turned his attention back to Cornelius, who broke the silence. "We''ll need to run some tests to make sure you''re truly out of danger."


    Jash nodded weakly, still in Sera''s embrace; his trust in his family evident. "Whatever is needed."


    Sera helped Jash sit up, her movements careful and gentle, "You''re fine, Jash. We''ll get through this."


    His mother''s words comforted the unease he felt in his current situation as he resolutely waited for whatever tests he needed to go through.


    His mind, still a complete mess, considerably calmed down due to his enhanced mental fortitude and his family''s presence.


    ''I hope nothing goes wrong...'' Jash prayed inwardly as he looked at his grandfather.


    Cornelius prepared a series of diagnostic spells, his hands moving with practiced precision. As the magic enveloped Jash, a faint glow emanated from his body, revealing the extent of the internal damage.


    The result was the same, however. It showed no damage, whether internal or external, except for his raised heart rate and large amounts of sweating.


    "This... this isn''t just a simple ailment," Cornelius murmured, his eyes widening in shock. "There''s something... something sinister at work here."


    Carcel''s expression hardened. "Sinister? Dark magic or... Curse magic? Here, in our home?"


    Cornelius nodded grimly. "It seems so. But who targeted Jash, why, and how..."


    Sera''s grip on Jash tightened protectively. "We''ll find out who did this. And they''ll pay."


    Her eyes burned with the ferocity of a lioness as they seemed to blaze anyone who dared to look into her eyes.


    Jash, despite his weakened state, murmured, confusion etching his tone, "Dark magic...? Curse magic...?"


    Even though he knew the reason for their intense reaction, he couldn''t show that.


    After all, this topic was taught in the academy, or only those who experienced it knew.


    Looking at the confused Caera, Jash mentally noted, ''As expected!''


    ''Acting a bit differently might not be much, but if I change all of a sudden, like a know-it-all... Now, that will cause a problem.''


    Luckily, Jash was smart enough to understand his own situation and acted accordingly, or things might not turn out so well.


    Why?


    "Ahem." Carcel coughed before explaining, sensing the confusion of his kids.


    "Curse and Dark Magic can be treated as forbidden, but they aren''t completely. They are similar to the sinister sacrificial magic."


    Noting the apparent shock, he gave the final verdict, "It also leads to possession by some evil spirit or other evil entities..."


    Before he finished, Sera smacked him, making him hurriedly add, "Jash is fine, though!"


    One look at Cornelius, who nodded, conveyed the seriousness of the situation to Caera.


    Meanwhile, Jash felt cold sweat flow down his neck. ''Damn! Could it be an evil spirit? I don''t know anymore...''


    He had not even considered the possibility of it actually being something like that!


    In that moment, the family''s resolve solidified.


    With grim determination, each wished to uncover the mystery behind Jash''s ailment, no matter the cost.


    And whoever was responsible for this dark or curse magic would face the full wrath of the Ramille family.


    Jash didn''t know yet that this small event would lead to the decimation of numerous dark mages and curse mages.


    Not that they didn''t deserve it.


    However, at the moment, Jash was too absorbed in being comforted by Sera, putting everything to the back of his mind.


    Finally, relaxing in her embrace, he fell asleep as the tension left him, allowing his family to go and quench their anger.


    Excluding Caera, of course.


    Unfortunately, Cornelius wasn''t fully of the same mind and wouldn''t let his son and daughter-in-law take any rash steps.


    ''Something is weird about everything...''


    Little did they know, Cornelius himself was confused by the situation, sensing only a fleeting sinister presence.


    Unable to grasp the root cause or find the perpetrator, he had his suspicions¡ªdifferent from Carcel and Sera.


    Only Jash could confirm it, but would he now?

 Chapter 24 - 24: Cease

    ***


    After everything Bhairav had shown and done, Jash didn''t know what to believe anymore.


    As both their forms were blurring and wavering, the short time remaining became apparent.


    Despite the situation, Bhairav remained unnerved as if it had nothing to do with him.


    After all, he had already done his best. The decision was not his from the start.


    ''I won''t force him to choose a specific path. I don''t want him to end up like me...''


    Bhairav didn''t linger on his reminiscing thoughts, as his focus shifted to something else before turning to face Jash.


    "We don''t have much time."


    Despite the unease coursing through Jash opposite him, Bhairav didn''t have all the time in the world for Jash to accept the situation.


    He needed to be fast, or he might regret it.


    "You have already changed. Your memories¡ªthey are just continued¡ªfrom my memories. They are entwined."


    Bhairav explained cryptically, not wanting to waste time on another explanation.


    ''He will know when it is the right time...'' Bhairav analyzed and went quiet.


    On the other side, Jash had trouble forming coherent thoughts yet he yearned for more.


    He wanted to hear more about those cryptic and mysterious circumstances Bhairav kept playing around.


    ''There is definitely something at play...'' concluded Jash.


    ''Yet do I agree or do I not?''


    His dilemma didn''t end there, however.


    ''Will I truly be Jash Ramille? Or will I be him? Or just an amalgamation of us both?''


    Realizing the urgency of the situation, he didn''t waste time on analyzing anymore and directly chose what felt instinctively right.


    ''Master! I accept!'' he thought with the idea of conveying it to Bhairav.


    Noting the small smile on Bhairav''s face and hearing his last words, Jash disappeared from the space.


    "Good luck."


    ...


    Bhairav wasn''t surprised by Jash''s decision and bid him farewell before focusing on something else entirely.


    Throughout the time Jash remained unresponsive, he felt a familiar eerie energy around him.


    Naturally, it had been receding ever since he had woken up, trying to hide from him.


    His mere presence mortified the eerie energy as if it stood in front of its mortal predator.


    Yet all its efforts proved futile.


    "Now, now, I wonder what you are?"


    "Hiding far and low, creeping under the scars,"


    "Where are ya hiding, oh lil'' one?"


    "Don''t want to meet this nice ol'' man, naughty one?"


    "Hehe"


    "Ready or not,"


    "Here I come!"


    Jash moved with impossible precision in the nothingness, his expression serene as if he hadn''t just muttered some nonsensical, cringe gibberish.


    Not even feeling ashamed, but rather proud of his words, he landed on the barrier of the soul.


    His form was also sizzling in and out of existence like Jash, but he knew how to utilize it, so it wasn''t much of a problem... for now.


    Looking around the soul barrier, or what he assumed to be the soul barrier, Bhairav finally found the source of the familiar eerie energy.


    Multiple red vines snaked around the barrier, trying to shatter it and ensnare the soul with their deadly thorns of crimson color.


    Yet the pulsating moment of some dark-green viscous material visible through the thin red vine walls looked disgusting.


    Not minding the weird appearance of the vibes, he inched closer to the barrier, and the vines retreated in response.


    Minimizing their presence instinctively from his mere presence left him intrigued about their origin.


    However, what intrigued him was something else.


    ''There is no way these vines couldn''t break the soul barrier, given they envelop it entirely...''


    ''The System definitely listened to no damage, controlling, enslaving and whatnot request...''


    ''Still, they are disgusting and I don''t want to leave behind any lingering problems.''


    Without even leaving the barrier, Bhairav masterfully manipulated the weird golden power coursing within the barrier.


    Despite the power being untameable by anyone, he did so with ease.


    The encroaching vines sizzled with the slightest contact with the golden power, let alone now.


    Bhairav released the golden strings of unknown energy outside the barrier, allowing the vines to almost shatter the soul barrier in an instant.


    Fortunately, the golden strings shot out of the barrier, cutting down the number of vines and healing the barrier at the same time.


    Unbothered by his actions of eliminating an unknown source of threat, maybe even alerting the perpetrator, Bhairav remained unperturbed.


    Even his dimming spirit didn''t scare him, let alone something like this.


    Using the power definitely took a toll on his consciousness, or his spirit, yet he just looked at the remaining vines with wonder.


    They had coalesced into one sphere, and tried piercing the barrier to enter from one place, leaving behind the others to fend off the golden energy.


    But how could it fool Bhairav?


    Less than a moment later, all the vines were done for, an abyssal black smoke sizzling out of the sphere.


    Rest of the vines were sundered by the golden energy, leaving behind no evidence of their previous presence.


    ''Darkness?'' Bhairav mused, looking at the blob of darkness right outside his barrier.


    He could feel his soul pulse with liveliness, wishing to absorb the darkness.


    However, he could also feel the golden energy keeping it at bay.


    ''Golden¨CProtective, can be attributed to the system.''


    ''Darkness¨CDestructive. Yet the soul craves it.''


    In the end, he too made a decision based on his intuition alone, just like Jash.


    Unfortunately or fortunately, both decisions would have a lingering impact throughout his second life.


    Or if he hadn''t ceased to exist by then...


    Yet Bhairav appeared undeterred in the face of the implications his actions might cause.


    He directly manipulated the golden energy to envelope and seal the darkness inside his soul barrier.


    Not inside the soul.


    It would linger close by, forever kept bay by the golden strings of energy, never to meet the ever-yearning soul.


    He wasn''t stupid enough to risk something the golden energy, he thought of as the system''s protective mechanism, rejected and repelled.


    However, his actions caused his spirit to almost wane and blink out of existence.


    Or rather cease from all phases of life itself.


    ''I have already given Jash what he needs and the rest would be known at the appropriate time...''


    In his potential last moments, he didn''t have any evil thoughts but just considered if what he had done for Jash was enough or not.


    He also had thoughts about his life, but not of regret or grievances.


    Rather he thought back to what his mother or girlfriend told him in his hard times.


    There are no strong men or women. You can be strong and weak to the same person at the same time.


    I love you the most in this world. However, if you find someone surpassing my love, be with her.


    A dry chuckle escaped his lips as he remembered the happy times and how the situation changed. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shirking away the loving memories which did nothing but hurt him, he changed his line of thoughts back to Jash.


    ''It truly puzzles me how someone, who is supposed to die in the first academy arc, going to live? And why was he even cursed, in the first place?''


    ''Well, whatever. Nothing to do with me...''


    ''At least, not anymore.''


    With that, Bhairav bid farewell to the world, ceasing to exist as he coalesced back into his soul, leaving everything behind to Jash, only to be unlocked after meeting the preset requirements.


    ***


    {A/N}


    Thanks to the support of everyone, this book finally got contracted!!


    Yay~


    Also, with this chapter, the prologue has ended, what does that mean?


    The real thing starts now!!


    I will release lots of chapters from tomorrow!!


    I truly wish to win June WPC, so if you like the novel, at least leave a comment, it helps!!


    Thank you, once again!

 Chapter 25 - 25: Nightmare

    Unaware of Bhairav''s actions after he had left and come to his senses, Jash lied through his teeth to his family. Despite guilt gnawing at his heart, he maintained a calm facade.


    Fortunately, he at least got to sleep comfortably and peacefully after they supported him¡ªor at least that was how it was supposed to have gone.


    Apparently, Jash had a nightmare.


    Not really a nightmare. More like snippets of memories associated with his previous¡ªBhairav''s life.


    It was difficult to distinguish the two, however, it wouldn''t be right to call them the same either.


    But if Bhairav were here, he wouldn''t hesitate to call them one and the same.


    After all, Jash''s personality was in one way or another influenced by his wishes for a stable, peaceful, and easy life from the system.


    That was exactly what Jash got.


    However, he would remain unaware of it for the longest time, as he was the one in the dark about most things.


    Bhairav''s presence lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder of his past.


    Back to his fleeting dream as he slept in his room, his mother worriedly looking over him.


    ...


    Looking at the countless scenes of wielding all kinds of weapons¡ªsword, knife, dagger, bow, spear, claws, knuckles, fist, legs, bones...


    Each weapon felt like an extension of his will, wielded solely as a tool for the purpose of survival.


    Naturally, such a weird sight would scare many, but they were just snippets of different scenes to Jash.


    He didn''t even have any background information, only looking at the hideous demons and vile humans being butchered from first person perspective.


    Yet, there was a haunting familiarity to each image.


    Without any pause, he continued to see the instances spanning ten years until the final one, where he fought the demon king and even his death in battle.


    The final battle was a blur of violence, despair, pain, relief, grief, acceptance, and practiced techniques.


    Luckily, he didn''t feel any of those memories as vividly as his first experience, or he might have felt like dying from all the pain.


    However, the death remained the last memory after most were skipped, waking him up with a shocker. His heart raced as he struggled to separate dream from reality.


    ...


    "Haa... Haaa...."


    "I... I-I am a...alive..."


    Jash barely muttered, while gasping for breath, as the scene of his heart being pierced was too much for his fragile mentality.


    However, a pair of hands embraced him from behind, bringing him to the present.


    "It''s fine, Jash, it''s fine," muttered Sera to placate his uneasy heart.


    Hearing his mother''s gentle tone alongside her warm embrace, he felt his heart rate lower after the cold sweat drenching his clothes evaporated because of Sera.


    "T-thanks mom," mumbled Jash as he closed his eyes for a few seconds, wishing to spend more time like this.


    It truly kept him away from all the burdens, bearing heavily on his mind.


    Yet confusion clouded his mind as he thought, ''But... why did I wake up like that? Why does my chest hurt...?''


    Surprisingly, he couldn''t even remember what he dreamt or what went wrong.


    Jash decided not to linger on it as he already had a plethora of information he needed to sort out.


    And the first on his list was accepting his past life and sorting out his complicated emotions.


    Awakening, planning for his future, and everything else could be left for later.


    However, he needed his mother to give him some space to do anything of the sort, making him wonder, ''Just what do I ask mom to leave?''


    Unable to come up with a plausible reason to be left alone, another dilemma overwhelmed him.


    Hopefully, he wouldn''t have to make up blatant lies or useless excuses, as she would most likely sense his intent and lie.


    She was his mother, for god''s sake!


    No way she couldn''t see through his amateurish attempts.


    He didn''t know much about such things, but Bhairav''s experience with lying to his mother frightened him.


    ''Truly, if not for all this stupid reincarnation thingy, I wouldn''t mind continuing to live the way I used to...'' S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Recalling his absurd ending in the novel, a cold shiver ran down his spine.


    ''I die, only for that trashy protagonist to get my sister as a heroine! What kind of author comes up with such a wretched plot?''


    ''That protagonist be damned! Who the hell does he think he is to get Caera!?''


    Jash couldn''t bring himself to believe about reincarnating in a novel, but did it matter?


    Wasn''t there a saying along the lines of


    Precaution is better than cure.


    ''And what were you on? To read a harem novel!?''


    Still, that didn''t mean he wouldn''t berate his past self, or Bhairav, for reading a harem novel.


    It just didn''t sit well with Bhairav''s personality he grasped.


    Waking him up from his loathing thoughts were a few muffled syllables.


    "...h..."


    "...Ash..."


    "...Jash..."


    Bringing him out of his reverie was Sera, making him realize his mistake.


    ''Damn! This isn''t the time for this! I can''t afford to get sidetrac¨C''


    "JASH!"


    Sera finally had enough and shouted his name. It was enough for him to go into a daze once, but to awaken from it momentarily before returning again?


    Her worries overtook her emotional side, causing her to shout a little too loudly for convenience, resulting in Jash looking at her with a dumbfounded expression.


    Too worried about Jash and any potential remnants of the curse or dark magic, she didn''t seem to notice as she bombarded him with questions.


    "Jash, are you fine?"


    "What happened?"


    "Why do you keep going in a daze?"


    "Tell me, if you feel the slightest discomfort!"


    "You need to..."


    Unable to even comprehend his mother''s rapid questions along with how she shook him, he gave up trying to do anything.


    ''Ugh. Stop! Please, mom! Stop! I am really fine!'' Jash thought inwardly, unable to open his mouth as he feared instead of words, something else might flow out.


    ...


    Only after making Jash answer every single question of hers and checking him multiple times did Sera relax, allowing Jash to breathe freely.


    Unfortunately, he had too much to think about at the moment.


    His kid brain had already changed and molted due to its neuroplasticity.


    It was something Jash had never even heard about!


    If not for learning about it through Bhairav''s memories, he doubted he''d ever find out about the human body with such precision.


    ''Ugh.... That''s not important right now...''


    Shaking off the useless thoughts, he finally spoke, "Mom, can you leave me alone for some time? I feel like I need some alone time to think things over..."


    Jash''s gray eyes averted meeting Sera''s narrowed red ones, but she reluctantly nodded and left wordlessly.


    "Well, that was anticlimactic," mumbled Jash, watching his mother leave without any drama.


    "Haa... Whatever... I don''t know anymore..."


    In the end, Jash finally had time to accept his situation, only if he could.


    As battling through the various thoughts and memories lingering in his mind wouldn''t be easy.


    However, everything came to a screeching halt as a sudden pain assaulted his brain, altering its connections once again.


    Thankfully, he was alone when it started or...

 Chapter 26 - 26: Distracted

    Unable to even scream in pain as his nerve endings and connections mysteriously changed, Jash suffered for what felt neither long nor short.


    New information seamlessly blended within his overly convoluted memories, making his brain mushy.


    Still, he didn''t release a single yelp despite the agonizing pain overwhelming his senses.


    This was a stark contrast to when he fainted just a few hours earlier due to pain far less shocking than the current mind-numbing one.


    While being alone in this situation came with the advantage of no one excessively worrying over him, it also had its disadvantages.


    He was left alone to suffer for who knew how long, with no relief in sight at the end, and no one to comfort him after his relentless suffering.


    Fortunately, Jash couldn''t formulate any thoughts at the moment; his body instinctively continued to endure the nerve-wracking pain.


    ...


    "Haa..."


    "Haa..."


    Panting for deep breaths, a layer of sweat enveloped his form as Jash finally regained his sense of self.


    The forcefully imprinted information immediately overtook his mind, causing him to try and digest it.


    It was about one of the novels Bhairav read and to which the world seemed to correspond.


    If that were all, Jash would have ignored it.


    But the information regarding mana and how to wield it with great expertise alongside the thorough experience were ingrained into his being.


    Luckily, these memories were slow and took a few minutes to showcase their presence, allowing Jash the respite to form coherent thoughts.


    ''He fulfilled his words... in a rather peculiar manner,'' mused Jash, recalling his conversation with Bhairav.


    Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. ''So that''s why all this combat-related knowledge found its way here.''


    All of those experiences felt like his own, making him think he could definitely fight much better than anyone he had observed.


    If he couldn''t even have such confidence, then the memories he gained were truly wasted upon him. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet a sigh escaped his lips as he mumbled to no one in particular, "I should awaken soon..."


    Sadly, most of the fighting techniques utilized mana as their foundation, something he didn''t have access to, unless he awakened to become a hunter.


    The most he could do was replicate their forms, but it also led him to wonder about his choice last year.


    "Maybe my decision to not awaken last year was a blessing in disguise?"


    Recalling the feeling of awakening mana from his new memories, he recognised it to be completely different from how he had seen Caera use it.


    Even the awakening was worlds apart.


    He wasn''t sure which was better. But having a solid foundation felt ninety-nine, if not one hundred, times better for sure.


    At least, he knew what mana felt like and how to manipulate it with great mastery.


    Despite his reluctance to accept the situation and everything as the absolute truth, a curiosity plagued his mind.


    ''Just how strong was the demon king? Maybe like mom or dad? Maybe grandpa...?''


    He didn''t know.


    As thoughts of his family lingered, Jash''s mind drifted to the mysteries of mana and its familiar yet unfamiliar touch.


    "Damn! I should''ve focused on the difference in power levels!"


    Jash knew that he barely scratched the surface regarding information on hunters, but it didn''t really bother him in the slightest, as he would learn it soon enough.


    "Phew..."


    Heaving a resigned breath brought him back to the important part. Instead of wondering about the new memories or other complicated things, he started to wonder how to go about it.


    ''First and foremost, I have to awaken. I don''t care about all the crap in place for the protagonist or villain, I''d rather leave it to them. I mean, it doesn''t have anything to do with me, right?''


    Not bothered by his self-centered line of thought, he continued thinking.


    After all, he had already seen what happened with Bhairav, who literally sacrificed himself in order to save the world and help others.


    ''What use is being a hero? Also, if my world is actually that novel... Then, all I have to do is get stronger to finally live comfortably with my family as I wish.''


    ''Meanwhile the protagonist would save the world and the villain will impede it, only to give XP packets to the protagonist.''


    Shrugging aside the long-term goals, Jash returned to relevant ones.


    ''Anyways, I have to awaken, train, get stronger before the academy arc... It''s where I''m supposed to die...''


    His contemplative expression changed to a wry smile as he mumbled, "Ziva stayed single till her death. I don''t know how to feel about that..."


    On one hand, he felt happy that she didn''t go and be with someone else.


    Yet he felt she had robbed herself of happiness because of his stupid decisions leading to his untimely demise.


    Suddenly, the text from the novel resurfaced when he died, eliciting a dry chuckle from him, "Haha."


    "To think Ziva''s random words from that day would come true..."


    "I would really regret not heeding her advice and awakening earlier when death approaches...?"


    "Nope. Not really."


    "If my guess is correct, I awakened around this time..."


    "And even the curse or dark magic thing happened in the original one, pushing me to awaken in a moment of weakness..."


    Trying his best to make sense of his guesses, yet it turned out futile as they were just guesses.


    "Tsk. If only the author focused on male side characters instead of defining even the movement of an extra female''s curves!"


    "Why couldn''t you see the shitty harem-centric writing of the author earlier!?"


    Jash found himself on the verge of cursing as every single darned event in that novel led to the protagonist bagging a girl!


    ''Seriously now!? What the hell was wrong with you to even read it?''


    Just having to recall the novel he couldn''t even use except for finding females, which he felt was useless, the book had minimalistic useful information!


    ''The book should''ve been called something along the lines of Harem Collection in a Fantasy World instead of the original title Hero''s Journey: Blessed by the Goddess.''


    ''Ugh... Even the original name is cringeworthy...''


    Huffing and puffing in frustration at the book''s idiocy, Jash felt the urge to punch someone, barely resisting the urge as he clenched his fists and teeth in anger.


    ''Why am I torturing myself with such thoughts?'' he questioned his sanity, shaking his head in frustration.


    Unable to figure out the answer, Jash gave up and focused on what was in front of him, literally.


    "Damn! When did I enter the bathroom?" Jash shrieked, noticing his changed surroundings.


    He hadn''t even realized his actions while he busily mulled over the new pang of memories imprinted into his being.


    ''I really might have fallen, if not for regaining my bearings at the correct time!'' Jash noticed before he distracts himself again.


    He recoiled at the feeling of cold tiles underfoot. His clothes clung uncomfortably to his damp skin.


    The slight height difference to the shower area nearly caused him to trip.


    Still, that wasn''t important; he had far more pressing matters to ponder.


    Taking off his clothes to finally relax under a cold shower and maybe try to come up with a way to confirm if his world was actually inside the novel or just similar to it.

 Chapter 27 - 27: Unexpected Warmth

    Jash turned the shower knob with great familiarity as it started spraying cold water directly on his pale skin.


    Glancing at the shower head, he couldn''t help but get sidetracked. He compared its functioning with typical showers back in his first life.


    Showers generally released water pumped from underground to a height using an ''electrical pump.''


    But right in front of him was a simple shower mechanism with a single knob to flick it off or on. The temperature selection remained affixed on the side wall.


    All he needed to do was move the knob and water would flow, following the temperature he set up.


    It all worked using complicated lines carved with special tools, called runes, connecting the mana stones to the showerhead, forming a complete circuit.


    It worked by siphoning the ambient mana and recharging itself.


    Naturally, it was much more efficient than some prototypes. It had been refined over time, supplemented by the accumulated knowledge and experience from other races.


    Unaware, Jash couldn''t help but muse, ''The difference in technology in these complicated mana circuits is insane compared to my first life! Maybe due to different races pres¨C''


    ''Wait! What the?''


    Jash''s countenance stiffened as he realized he had just thought of those memories as his first life.


    The cold water continued pouring over his body as he shivered, not from the low temperature, but from how his thoughts had changed.


    ''Was it manipulation? Tweaking my brain? Altering memories? Or something else?''


    Jash tried to discern when his line of thoughts shifted but remained clueless about his current situation.


    Unknowingly, he had mulled over the memories so much that his brain just accepted them as a part of him.


    They were already in continuation, so it didn''t really matter much in the first place.


    The only one refusing to accept them was Jash.


    Yet he continued to be absent minded as he finished his shower before drying and dressing himself.


    Without putting in active effort, he still managed to do his chores, unlike the previous him.


    While his lazy personality certainly changed, it didn''t deviate much, as he was still hell-bent on living an easy life without having great goals or burdens.


    Unfortunately, the weight of knowledge bore heavily on him, allowing him to regain his bearings as he sat on the edge of his bed.


    His brain moved rapidly through many ideas and situations, ignoring his unkempt appearance.


    ''I feel like my thought process has quickened,'' noted Jash as he tried to take note of the subtlest changes within himself.


    However, it wasn''t easy.


    His mind kept wandering off, thinking about the knowledge of skillfully wielding the elusive and ethereal power, mana.


    Despite being present in both his lives, it seemed to have different natures and followed a different set of rules.


    Yet the fact remained: mana was mana.


    This allowed him to feel a false sense of familiarity with his body when all of it was just inside his brain.


    The feeling became a constant reminder to awaken.


    However, he believed something else took priority.


    ''I have to confirm if this is the world of the novel... But how?''


    Raising the question, his thoughts swirled for a few minutes, recalling some event that would help him confirm his suspicion.


    ''If I visit the church, it will be clear as day...''


    ''But... I don''t really believe in the Goddess worshiped in the Church...''


    Jash was never a believer, as most nobles didn''t really believe the fabled tale spread throughout the Solarnelle Empire.


    He too was raised by his parents and the servants in the mansion differently from how a commoner would be, instilling a belief in nothing but himself and his family.


    His feelings of atheism and narcissism, to a certain degree, only skyrocketed with Bhairav''s memories.


    Recalling the fabled tales of God, or rather Gods, in those memories from his mother, he couldn''t help but doubt their authenticity.


    Yet they belonged to an era long past, before mana even came into that world.


    The fables he heard from Sera were far different and downright exaggerated.


    "In the end, it all boils down to a show," mumbled Jash helplessly, recognizing the crux of the situation.


    "Nobles just like to put up a pretense of being kind and benevolent by donating to the Church, but are depraved deep down..."


    However, in his case, he held zero or maybe even negative belief in the ''Goddess''.


    ''No way the believers won''t sense the difference with me... And if she takes note of me, then...''


    Jash trembled as his teeth clattered from the mere thought of being caught by a God for who knows what reason.


    Going into a God''s domain was the riskiest plan he might have to go with if he couldn''t find a safer solution.


    Sadly, it was extremely hard.


    Since the novel more or less focused only on the protagonist and his harem, he couldn''t recall any noticeable events before the academy began.


    ''Either I wait till the academy or check it now, but there''s no way my presence won''t have butterfly effects. That''s just impossible!!''


    Not knowing where to start, given his absurd situation, Jash quietly contemplated the best time to confirm.


    "WAIT!" Jash suddenly shouted as he stood up, hitting the bed so hard it seemed he had jumped.


    "How did I forget something so important!?"


    "There''s the last birthday banquet of the Royal Family before the Academy Arc begins!!"


    "Excluding the protagonist, who basically lives inside the church, most major characters from nobility would be present!"


    "Even if I don''t know every one of them, it would be the best bet to confirm the reality of this¡ªmy world!"


    Calming himself down after reaching the conclusion, he didn''t waste time mulling over things he couldn''t change or affect, for now.


    ''I need to awaken as a hunter first...''


    However, awakening wasn''t going to be the same for him, given he was a victim of pseudo-forbidden magic.


    Sera and Carcel would be fools to allow him to wander around before confirming if he was well and fine.


    ¡ªCreak!


    Catching him off guard, the door creaked open, and a girl who looked like him entered.


    ''What is she doing here?'' Jash froze upon identifying the guest.


    "Ja¨C... Jash... h-how a-are... y-you?"


    Hearing her shaky and trembling voice laced with concern for him, Jash''s heart warmed as he got up to hug her.


    "I am fine now. Everything''s fine, Caera," he muttered into her ear as he enveloped her in a warm embrace.


    He could feel her flinch before holding him back with her trembling arms as she buried her head in his chest.


    Jash''s eyebrows rose up involuntarily as he felt her light grip. ''It seems she is afraid of losing control of her strength and hurting me.''


    A warm smile graced his lips as he patted her back gently, afraid to frighten her.


    Time passed slowly before Caera broke the hug reluctantly and muttered in a small voice, "Mum and dad are waiting for you. Just tell me whenever you feel ready, and I will bring you to them." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Okay," Jash nodded in response as he patted her head, causing her to stiffen before running away, feeling embarrassed at his gentle touch.

 Chapter 28 - 28: Siblings Bond

    ***


    Back to last night.


    After Jash fell asleep, everyone inside his room left, save for Sera.


    Caera walked out of the room in an absentminded manner, her steps unconsciously leading her.


    "...ra..."


    "Yo...n...g Mi...s Ca...ra..."


    "Young Miss Caera!"


    An urging for her brought her back to the present as she looked around, confused at finding herself in the training ground.


    "What am I doing here?" she mumbled subconsciously.


    "You were walking without a care in the world, Young Miss," answered Kesha, her personal maid.


    Kesha stood guard nearby to make sure she was there to escort her master, Caera, at all times.


    Unlike Emma, who left Jash upon his orders, Kesha remained faithfully by Caera''s side.


    She ensured all of her master''s needs were met, ready to be served at any time.


    "Kesha? Why are you here? Didn''t Emma leave?" Caera asked, in an attempt to change the topic.


    Kesha recognized Caera''s attempt but refrained from pointing it out, sensing her distraction.


    "It is my job to be by your side at all times. Emma is... just different," Kesha answered but hesitated at Emma''s topic before going silent.


    Noting Kesha''s stern expression, Caera pursed her lips. ''That''s your elder sister!''


    Apparently, Emma was Kesha''s older sister but it didn''t seem Kesha cared about it much.


    To be fair, they were only a year apart in age and were raised without much difference yet they had contrasting personalities.


    Or maybe it was because Emma served Jash, who was laid-back and Kesha served Caera, who was serious and hard-working.


    In hopes of leaving the previous topic altogether, Caera implored Kesha, "Can you make sure no one disturbs me for a while?"


    Just as Kesha nodded and bowed professionally, Caera hurriedly added, "Ah... Uhm... If he wakes up, TELL ME!"


    She didn''t wait for a reply and ran straight to change her clothes for a training session.


    Despite it being midnight and her birthday, thoughts of Jash and her concerned parents overwhelmed her mind.


    Bothered by everything replaying in her mind like a loop, she didn''t know what to do other than distract herself by training.


    ''Training improves strength. Strength thwarts problems,'' Caera recited her mantra mentally which gave her the courage to train everyday.


    She exited the changing rooms clad in a gray combat suit, made with flexible materials to ease the fluidity of movements.


    Reaching the training area for mages, she looked on with a determined look in her eyes.


    In front of her, training dummies made from wood, straw, metal, leather, clothes, and other materials were affixed at different distances.


    All the training dummies had blue lines running through them, connecting to form a full circuit.


    Narrowing her eyes in focus, Caera clenched her practice staff before chanting spells and moving her mana in a set pattern inside her body, materializing a small fire in front of her red staff.


    Locking her eyes on the closest wooden training dummy, the fire grew into a ball before shooting towards it.


    ''F-Rank Spell: Fireball!''


    It was the weakest spell of the fire series and she had learned to control it at will. The time it took from start to finish was merely 1.2 seconds.


    ''Too slow!'' Caera furrowed her brows, her eyes tracing the path of the spell as it landed.


    ¡ªBoom


    A small explosion sound followed by a small burn mark on the wooden dummy echoed as Caera clicked her tongue in displeasure.


    The blue runes on the wooden dummy lit up as the damage got healed in less than a second. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''I can''t give up!'' Caera hardened her resolve, clenching her teeth.


    She continued chanting spells, rooted in place as she struggled to master basic chanting, let alone moving chants.


    Luckily, she didn''t have to speak some gibberish but only mumble words in a specific order and tone.


    The mana in her surroundings resonated with her chants, moving and forming the spell after she materialized the fire using her light red mana.


    Even her range of spell was limited to just 10 meters, for now.


    If only some other novice mage looked at her casting spell after spell gracefully without as much as a drop of sweat on her face, and the cast time reducing with every cast.


    Only Caera had the nerve to consider herself weak when she could cast the same rank spells as herself in about 1 second!


    That too, when she had just awakened less than a year ago and was just 13!


    Alas, she really was weak, according to her.


    Well, she just had to stop comparing herself to the adults, who had awakened for at least a decade.


    ...


    Caera didn''t realize how long had passed before her mana reserves felt empty, causing her to stop casting spells.


    Despite her sweat-drenched face, she didn''t stop and shifted her grip on the staff from one hand to two.


    ¡ªClick


    With a sudden sound, the shaft dismantled into two, revealing a pair of blades hidden within.


    Dual wielding the swords, Caera started to move and attacked the training dummies with all her strength, trying her best to maintain form and speed.


    ...


    After a long time, Caera fell to the ground as she laid on her back, drenched in sweat.


    She was fatigued after her intense round of training, unsupervised by anyone, or at least she thought so.


    On the verge of sleeping, she heard a sudden sound, startling her.


    "Caera, I will overlook your late night training today, but never do such intense training unsupervised."


    ''Grandpa...'' Recognizing the familiar voice, Caera relaxed for a moment before she heard another pair of footsteps.


    "Young Miss, Young Master Jash has woken up," Kesha informed the moment she spotted Caera, ignoring her current state.


    Upon hearing about Jash, Caera''s eyes widened as she sat up straight.


    Her face scrunched up at the sharp pain in her tired muscles caused by her sudden movement.


    Yet it wasn''t enough to stop her from meeting Jash as she rushed out to shower before donning a black dress.


    ...


    Standing in front of his room''s door, she hesitated to enter, recalling her mother''s words, "He asked for some time alone, Caera."


    Yet what truly made her nervous was her mother''s stern expression.


    ''Haa... What am I supposed to do?''


    In the end, she barged into the room and gathered her courage to ask him, but her voice cracked in between.


    "Ja¨C... Jash... h-how a-are... y-you?"


    The momentary silence afterwards made her heart pound in anxiety which calmed down immediately at Jash''s next action.


    "I am fine now. Everything''s fine, Caera."


    His words calmed her heart but the sudden hug surprised her, making her flinch in response. It made her conscious about accidentally hurting him due to her tense muscles.


    Despite her hesitation, she gave in and hugged him lightly, finally burying her head in his chest before she felt his hands patting her back gently.


    Time seemed to pass slowly as Caera felt the warmth and comfort after a long time. However, recalling Sera''s words, Caera broke the hug reluctantly and muttered in a small voice, "Mum and dad are waiting for you. Just tell me whenever you feel ready, and I will bring you to them."


    "Okay."


    Everything went well before her stern expression and calm facade crumpled at the head pat, causing her dash out of the room from sheer embarrassment.


    Unaware of Jash ordering Kesha, Caera continued to dash with a red tint on her face, feeling embarrassed at how she enjoyed the head pat.


    Involuntarily, her hand reached for the same spot on her head, her heart warming at the affection and care her brother displayed for her.


    Deep down, she had a soft spot for her family. Especially Jash, whom she felt responsible for.


    But she had a hard time showing her soft side, unlike her mother.


    "Stupid lazy panda..."


    She mumbled inaudibly as if annoyed, yet a small smile graced her lips.


    *check paragraph comment for image*


    ***

 Chapter 29 - 29: Without Plan

    After Caera dashed outside, Kesha was just about to chase behind her, but Jash interrupted her, ordering in a stern tone, "Let her be for 5 minutes."


    Five exact minutes later, Kesha disappeared, heading towards Caera.


    Taking note of the interactions, Jash smiled wryly.


    ''Looks like the memories changed me in unexpected ways,'' thought Jash, sensing the difference in his speech and actions.


    Not minding the small interlude in his unique life, he went back to sit in front of his mirror.


    ''Haa... I can confirm my hypothesis later on, but what about awakening?''


    In the end, the matter of awakening depended on his parents as it was a complex process and would need their supervision as well as resources.


    "Normally, there would be no problems with anything..."


    "... but I am the one who rejected his awakening and now, after everything happened..." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "... It wouldn''t be tough to convince them for awakening. The only problem is when will they allow it?"


    Jash thought to himself loudly, hoping to come up with a solution.


    He knew better than anyone the protective nature of his mother and he couldn''t see any future where she allowed him to awaken right after the curse or dark magic.


    Unfortunately, no matter how much Jash tried to come up with a solution, they seemed to have a very high likelihood of failure.


    "Whatever. Let it just go with the flow..." muttered Jash helplessly as he stood up to leave his room.


    Eventually, he abandoned his search for a solution and made his way to the dining hall, where breakfast time was nearing.


    Just as he exited his room, however, his eyes met with a distressed Emma.


    "Oh? Emma, what are you doing here?" Jash asked her out of sheer curiosity yet it turned out to be a bad idea.


    "I apologize for my oversight, Young Master. It was my fault everything happened. I should''ve stayed by your side, irrespective of your orders as your safety is my top priority!"


    Jash''s eyes widened at her speech, yet he almost felt lightheaded as Emma fell to her knees and bowed even more.


    "Please punish me for my mistake, Young Master!"


    Feeling dizzy at seeing Emma''s overreaction, Jash didn''t know what to tell her anymore.


    ''It''s not like it is her fault or anything!''


    ''Bhairav didn''t tell me, but I am sure it could''ve happened sooner or later...''


    ''There was also a possibility of the memories existing since I was born.''


    ''Anyways, what do I tell her?''


    Unable to come up with a response, Jash stayed quiet, formulating a proper response to give her.


    Yet Jash didn''t notice how Emma''s expression paled with every second of tense silence.


    "Emma, get up," said Jash in an authoritative manner, startling Emma, who complied.


    "Firstly, it wasn''t your fault. Even if you were nearby, it wouldn''t have made a difference."


    "Even mom or dad would have been helpless in the face of it, let alone you."


    "Plus, it''s better not to blame yourself since whatever happened didn''t happen at the exact time."


    Jash said each sentence in a deliberate, slow voice, making sure Emma understood it all.


    As he noticed the complicated expression on Emma''s face, he added with a tone of finality.


    "Emma. Do not brood yourself over it. Just move on. Or you want to keep such an attitude and be negligent in your duties."


    Jash turned and walked away, unfazed by the mix of emotions flashing across Emma''s face behind him.


    ...


    Finally, Jash arrived at the dining hall, filled with servants roaming around, placing delicious food dishes on the long table.


    It had a seating capacity of nine, four on each side and one for the head of the family.


    ''Damn Nobles! They really remove one seat to show off their authority,'' Jash wondered in disbelief.


    The memories of a world without nobles or social classes intrigued him to no end.


    It even felt better than his own world, but was it really?


    Jash didn''t know which was better, at least, for now.


    ''Maybe after I get all the memories...'' hoped Jash inwardly as he walked and sat at the table.


    He sat nonchalantly in the second seat to the left of the head, ignoring the surprised onlookers.


    Jash ignored them as he watched the servants arrange the dishes on the table expertly as if practiced a million times.


    ''No meat, huh?'' Jash noted that despite the number of dishes, not a single one had any kind of meat, be it from livestock rearing or monster meat.


    It wasn''t much of a surprise to him as he had seen the same thing every single time for as long as he could recall.


    ''Haa... I really couldn''t stand meat... '' A wry smile crossed Jash''s lips, recalling when just the sight of it made him sick.


    ''If I wasn''t born in this family, I highly doubt I could even survive...''


    Naturally, the food costs were enormous, given the absence of cheaper food¡ªmeat¡ªon the table.


    Hunters mostly killed and sold off the carcasses of monsters as food, so it was quite readily available over grown food.


    ''It really would be too scarce, if not for elves and their food choices,'' Jash mused inwardly before he senses his surroundings turning eerily silent.


    ''Hmm?''


    Looking around with slightly raised brows, he found the source: his parents and their wide-jawed expression.


    They probably didn''t expect me,'' Jash mused, as he had watched the servants change the dishes here just a few minutes earlier.


    For obvious reasons, Jash didn''t dine with his family many times.


    Still, his parents immediately recovered as they both reached the table, all the while scrutinizing Jash.


    ''They are probably looking at me to find any aftereffects.'' Jash guessed, based on their piercing gaze.


    Yet he met their eyes as Sera sat next to him with Carcel opposite to her.


    ''She is skipping it again?'' Jash wondered, noting Caera''s absence and his parent''s silence over it as the food was served to them.


    Unbothered by their strange looks, he dropped a bombshell remark, staring straight into Carcel''s eyes.


    "Dad, I want to try awakening."

 Chapter 30 - 30: Conditon

    Jash had thought long and hard about how to tell his parents about awakening, but he decided to be just direct with it.


    But he found it a bit odd that his parents had already started breakfast without waiting for Caera or asking about his well-being.


    ''Whatever. That''s not relevant for now,'' decided Jash before dropping a bombshell remark.


    "Dad, I want to try awakening."


    Jash barely stifled his laughter at his parents'' reaction to his words.


    Carcel almost choked on his food while Sera spat her food directly onto his face, stunning him further.


    Without skipping a beat, Jash felt Sera touch his forehead before asking, "What got into you, Jash?"


    "Did something happen again?"


    "Tell me what happened?" Sera said in a cold voice. She never thought her son, who disliked training and always denied Carcel''s bow training, would ask for something like this.


    ''She won''t stop if I don''t respond...'' Jash thought, knowing his mother and chose to interrupt her before she could question him further.


    "Mom, it''s not like that. I just found the motivation to awaken myself, but if you don''t want me to do it, then never mind..."


    ?"NOOO! WAIT!" Carcel shouted, midway through cleaning himself with a napkin. He got the chance he always wished for, and would he waste it now? Hell no!


    He was a smart man, so he knew if he questioned Jash anymore, he would most likely lose his motivation he just found towards awakening.


    Despite being an extremely loving father towards his children, Carcel did not want his son to lag behind others his age and would always try to persuade him to just watch him train, if not train with him.


    But Jash just liked to lay around, always declining as if he had some stringent hatred for fighting. Carcel would love to be harsh on his son, but his wife''s death glares would always strike whenever he tried to do so.


    "I will tell Edward to arrange everything by tomorrow. Don''t word¨C"


    Jash felt like jumping up and down in joy after hearing those words, but his happiness deflated as his mother immediately interrupted.


    ¡ªBam!


    "NO WAY! How can you even allow it? After everything that happened!"


    Sera slammed her palm on the table in anger at her husband, who had acquiesced so readily!


    She had just been stumped for a second, processing the conversation and he already agreed. It didn''t sit well with her at all!


    "You can''t just¨C"


    Interrupting his mother''s speech, Jash asked, "Mom, didn''t you want me to awaken last year only?"


    He knew what was going on in his mother''s head and wanted to find a compromise to awaken before something untimely happened.


    ''It was one thing for me to be lazy and not awaken, but if I know a potential future, I would be the most idiotic person alive if I don''t try to change it!''


    Thinking so, he added, "And what''s the guarantee that whatever happened to me will not happen if I don''t awaken?"


    "Don''t you both still go out and fight monsters at the same level as you, if not stronger. Even grandpa has to do it!"


    Jash shifted his gaze to his father right after he finished his sentence, hoping for timely help, and he wasn''t disappointed.


    "He''s right, Sera. Even we don''t know what unknown danger lurks behind, let alone him. Awakening and growing stronger will at least provide him with a chance to fight back. It''s all for the best."


    Carcel explained in his usual stoic voice, yet the excitement on his face couldn''t be hidden from his wife.


    "Battle Freak," Sera mumbled in a low voice, only audible to her and Carcel, who chose to ignore his wife''s whining.


    Sera''s heart pained, learning of her son''s ailment. She was just too soft and caring, only to her family though.


    If she could have her way, she wouldn''t allow any of her children to become Hunters and fight for their lives. Her heart always wanted her son to smile and be like other children but she didn''t know what could make him give up being lazy.


    Unfortunately, the world they lived in wasn''t so kind to anyone, forcing her to steel her heart and approve her son''s awakening, in hopes of it changing his disposition.


    "Alright, I will allow you to awaken, but on one condition," she sighed, addressing Jash. Yet she was firm on her condition.


    Naturally, Jash couldn''t be happier as this outcome was more than welcome from his side. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You will have to get checked by a priest from the church, who will arrive in a few hours."


    Hearing Sera''s stern voice, Jash was momentarily stunned before he nodded readily.


    ''Great! I can ask about the protagonist or the other guy!''


    Unknown to his parents, Jash found this to be a great opportunity and refrained from speaking anymore.


    ''If only I could go to the church myself...''


    While Jash hoped so inwardly, he knew it was a far fetched dream.


    Firstly, he was a duke''s son, so his parents wouldn''t allow him to go on a normal day, let alone right after he was targeted.


    Bringing him out his reverie was his mother''s gentle tone, "Since you wish to awaken, you should know one thing: As you are awakening a bit later than others, you might find yourself a bit behind but don''t let it get to you, okay?"


    Jash could sense Sera''s worry from her words alone. ''She probably thinks I might compare myself to others and get depressed.''


    "Whatever results you get from awakening, don''t forget you are the son of Ramille and nobody can look down on you," Carcel added while clearing his mouth as he finished his food, easing Sera''s tension at the same time.


    "You guys..." Jash felt a little emotional as a warm smile crossed his lips. "Mom, Dad, you need not worry. I know what I am doing."


    Taking a deep breath, he finished resolutely, "Knowing me, do you think I will care enough to get depressed?"


    After finishing speaking, Jash got up to leave the room as he too had finished his dinner while subconsciously a determined smile emerged on his face.


    ***


    {A/N}


    I have guests at home so only one chapter today. I will try to make it up to you guys tomorrow.

 Chapter 31 - 31: Priest Andrew

    The Ramille couple was still at home as the day began, having spent a sleepless night due to worry and tension surrounding Jash.


    They found Jash''s presence at the table surprising, but the events of last night were too fresh in their minds to bother him with their curiosity.


    Naturally, the couple knew the odd feeling of eating at such a table, which was quite large for a family of four, but this was a common thing for nobility as they would usually greet their guests at the table.


    As the breakfast continued silently, Jash broke the silence by asking to awaken all of a sudden.


    As the conversation deepened, Carcel was ecstatic from the sudden motivation of Jash, but Sera was too worried despite hoping for Jash to awaken as soon as possible last night.


    If not for the recent incident, she would have been thrilled to hear the same thing.


    In the end, she agreed on the condition of getting a proper checkup by a priest from the Holy Church of Light as they were the ones with the most expertise in such matters.


    However, her mind felt numb for a few seconds after Jash left the room and a palpable silence enveloped the room.


    She broke the silence in an exasperated manner, "Honey, he smiled! He smiled after talking about awakening with a resolve!"


    "I thought I hallucinated for a second, but did we see the same sight?" Carcel responded, jumping out of his chair.


    To say the couple were surprised would be an understatement.


    It was one thing for him to smile and laugh after sneaking away from training or to accept awakening reluctantly.


    Yet not only did he ask to awaken himself, he even smiled right after!


    "Carcel!! Make sure his awakening goes unhindered and get him the best resources! I don''t care about the cost, just make sure he gets the best!" Sera requested Carcel with a hint of excitement in her voice.


    Well, more like she was ordering her husband, but she didn''t seem to care.


    Sera did everything to see her children smile, she never denied their request, causing many people to believe she was spoiling her children too much. But for a mother whose only wish was to see her children happy, she didn''t care how the world saw her.


    Bringing her back from her happy state was Carcel as he agreed readily to her request.


    "Did you think I would be petty after knowing his wish? I will make sure he gets the best of the best!" Carcel gushed while calling Edward.


    As if suddenly recalling an important detail, Sera instructed, "That and everything is fine but don''t forget the checkup!"


    Carcel paused and nodded seriously before his previous excitement returned to his features.


    Edward was a man in his fifties and had seen Carcel''s childhood but even he was surprised to see Carcel so excited to do something in the recent years. The only times he remembered the similar state of Carcel was when he married Sera and when his kids were born.


    ***


    On the other side, Jash returned to his room, thinking to himself, ''That went easier than expected.''


    Whistling happily, he reached for one of the empty notebooks on his bookshelf.


    ''It would be a good idea to write everything down,'' wondered Jash, recalling the numerous plots where people suddenly get amnesia or eidetic memory upon reincarnation.


    He definitely didn''t want to become either of those extremes and so, he jotted down all the details in a language not from this world.


    ''Unless there is another transmigrator, reincarnator, or possessor in this world, this is safe.'' Jash nodded to himself in approval before a thought creeped into his mind, ''Oh shit! What if there exists some artifact or ancient tome that can read and translate every language?''


    ''Nah, nevermind. Such things need to be hella rare. Prolly only the heaven''s chosen ones can find such things.''


    Jash didn''t linger on the thought for long as he finished writing within 2 hours.


    "Ah~ I am finally done. So tiring~"


    Jash yawned and stretched to reduce the chances of a sudden muscle cramp.


    "Now, I can finally rest~"


    Just as Jash blurted out his thoughts, a sudden knock took away his dreams.


    ¡ªKnock! Knock!


    The sudden disturbance made Jash grumble, "Just who is it?"


    "Young Master, the priest has arrived from the church."


    "Ah, it''s you, Emma," recognizing the voice, Jash exited his room.


    "Alright. Let''s go, shall we?"


    His sudden agreement stunned Emma, who obviously heard his disgruntled mumbles and was shocked to see the stark contrast from a second earlier.


    "Emma?" Jash called her out again, confused by her unresponsiveness.


    "Yes, Young Master," bowed Emma as she led the way.


    It seemed Jash was quite eager to go and meet the priest to the other servants along the way, but they smartly went about their work.


    It didn''t take long for them to arrive at the guest room on the ground floor of the family mansion.


    As if unbothered by any etiquettes Jash directly barged into the room, leaving behind the frozen Emma, who was just about to knock and seek permission.


    The inside of the room wasn''t excessively luxurious, just enough to showcase their might as a ducal family.


    With gold coated window panes to chandeliers made up of pure silver and even plush sofas with jutted jewels.


    Inside the room stood only three people. Sera, Carcel and a stranger.


    The three had already stopped talking the moment they took notice of Jash outside the room.


    Naturally, Jash''s eyes quickly locked on to the figure of the stranger, trying to ascertain any clue he could.


    The moment he looked at the figure of the gray-haired man, he smiled at Jash gently, showing no sign of offense at Jash''s rude behavior.


    Yet Jash didn''t want to get chided by his parents later and greeted the man with proper etiquette, "I, Jash Ramille, greet the Priest of the Light."


    Despite the succinct greetings, the man didn''t take offense and reciprocated in the same polite manner, "Greetings, son of the Ramilles. May the blessing of Light befall you."


    Carcel and Sera didn''t mind the formality much, but they felt relieved deep down at Jash''s behavior.


    It was an unspoken rule to not offend the priests, irrespective of one''s belief in the Goddess of Light or not.


    So, they were kind of nervous, considering how much Jash disliked following proper etiquette and acting noble-like. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was a different matter for Jash to be that way when it was just family, but it could lead to potential negative results if he stayed the same towards outsiders, especially a priest.


    That didn''t mean to say they wouldn''t stand with Jash if things took a turn for the worse.


    Meanwhile, the concerned parties seemed to hold no regard for their expressions or presence as they observed each other.


    "Jash, this here is Priest Andrew from the Church of Light. He is one of the higher-ranked members of the Church. It wouldn''t be a stretch to call him the Head Priest if..." Sera introduced Andrew to Jash but stopped midway.


    ''I wonder what secret does this old coot hide,'' mused Jash with intrigue.

 Chapter 32 - 32: A Priests Woes

    "I apologize for my discourteous behavior. I was a bit too anxious," Jash bowed his head slightly in a polite manner.


    "Haha. That is understandable," Andrew waved his hand as if implying to let the matter rest.


    Despite his curiosity, Jash chose a more courteous manner to deal with Andrew.


    "If you don''t mind, can you please?" Sera gestured towards Jash in a hurried tone.


    Andrew smiled despite the urgency and nodded, "Of course. If I may?"


    ''Nice save, mom,'' Jash gave a thumbs-up to his mother internally for the timely assist.


    He really wasn''t one for all the pleasantries before getting to the crux of the matter and it seemed Andrew didn''t mind too.


    Feeling the looming shadow over him, Jash looked up at Andrew easily towering over him, but he wasn''t the least bit afraid.


    ''I am sure grandpa is nearby.''


    Jash was no fool and wouldn''t trust anyone, but the sense of security his family gave him was more than enough.


    "Do not tense up and relax yourself fully," advised Andrew as his expression turned serious.


    Noting the change in mood, Jash ignored the sudden change in Andrew''s attitude.


    Meanwhile, Sera and Carcel also distanced themselves from the duo, choosing to observe from the side.


    Jash glanced at his parents and what he saw made him inadvertently relax.


    Sera was still on the edge and seemed ready to interfere at a moment''s notice while Carcel''s entire gaze focused on Andrew with a serious atmosphere around him.


    Noticing the change in Jash''s natural defense, Andrew turned to the Ramille couple and only smiled wryly.


    Unlike them, he could clearly sense the presence of Cornelius weighing down on him, from a hidden place.


    He just shook his head before focusing back on Jash opposite him as he weaved spell patterns, chanting mentally and sending a burst of mana from his core to the outside.


    In response, Jash''s eyes widened in astonishment as he watched multi-colored mana shooting out from Andrew''s body


    He couldn''t comprehend what was happening.


    The mana flowed through the unknown spell patterns before it seamlessly blended with it.


    Yet that wasn''t much surprising since Andrew was definitely strong enough to do that.


    ''Beautiful...''


    That was the only thought remaining in his head as the spell was completed before he could marvel at the sight anymore.


    It didn''t take even a second for Jash to be surprised again as the spell enveloped his entire form.


    ''White mana... Black mana... blue...''


    Unable to comprehend the multitude of colors in the mana enveloping him, Jash found himself in a trance.


    Suddenly, the knowledge of a phenomenon known as ''dispersion'' from his previous life came to him.


    Dispersion of light is the splitting of white light into its constituent colors due to the refractive index of the surface and the wavelength of the light.


    Slowly, the information regarding the seven prominent colors appearing during dispersion appeared in his mind.


    Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, Jash was able to see the mana itself diverge from black to white before splitting to the seven colors like rainbows before forming black yet again.


    It seemed complicated and simple at the same time.


    However, only one thought came to him. ''So this is the difference between mana in our worlds?''


    Before he could continue on that line of thought, he felt a prickling sensation as the mana circling around him tried to enter inside his body.


    Naturally, since Jash was unawakened, he couldn''t interact with mana.


    It directly pervaded his system, but not before putting him to a temporary comfortable sleep.


    Unable to resist, he felt drowsy and slept.


    ***


    Since the time he came here, Andrew was curious about the incident since the one to invite him was the famous Cornelius Ramille.


    ''His title is not for show, so just what could it be for him to invite me?''


    Andrew knew better than other stubborn priests how nobles functioned and accepted the situation, unlike them.


    He wasn''t delusional enough to believe a ducal family became believers.


    ''Not like I will be able to tell anyone about it. Whatever it is.'' Andrew thought to himself before exiting his carriage and entering the Ramille Estate.


    Looking at the cars arranged to lead him inside the estate, a dangerous thought echoed to him.


    ''Just why do carriages not go obsolete? These cars are so much more efficient.''


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t voice it out and chose to conceal it.


    Looking at the expansive estate of the ducal family from the comfy inside of the car, he shut off his thoughts.


    Only when he was already inside the guest room, waiting for someone to attend to him did he notice the abnormality.


    ''The servants are too quiet. That''s weird.''


    ''This old geezer has also locked onto me since the moment I arrived...''


    However, to say he was surprised at the sight of the Ramille couple when he was lost in thought would be a major understatement.


    Yet he maintained his gentle and calm demeanor till the point he cast the inspection spell.


    Throughout the duration, he scrutinized Jash for any abnormalities after hearing about everything from the Ramille couple.


    ''He seems normal though,'' concluded Andrew as the spell took effect and finally started to enter Jash''s internal system.


    After a full three minutes passed by, he still found nothing related to either dark magic or curse magic, astounding him.


    ''This is... weird.''


    Well, it would be a surprise if he could find something which was removed by Bhairav using an otherworldly energy and sealed within it.


    "Nothing," mumbled Andrew to himself before removing the spell, allowing Jash''s hovering body to fall slowly.


    Yet before his body could touch the ground, it was transferred to the soft sofa.


    Sera didn''t seem to notice Andrew as her gaze focused on Jash before she questioned, "How is he? Is he fine? Any remnants?"


    "He is mostly fine. And no, there are no remnants of any sinister magic," Andrew responded calmly despite his internal confusion.


    "Nothing? Are you sure?" Carcel inquired, confusion gnawed at his senses.


    Contrary to Sera, his gaze was focused on Andrew and he found his vague answer strange.


    "Yes. As I said, there really are no such signs. Regarding his awakening, however, I''d suggest waiting at least a week," answered Andrew in quick succession.


    Carcel didn''t question him further, knowing his father would want to have a talk with Andrew as well and it seemed he understood it as well.


    Without exchanging any more greetings except a nod with Carcel, Andrew exited the room, only to vanish as he found himself in an unknown location.


    Despite his situation, not a single hint of panic displayed on his face. ''I guess, it is inevitable.''


    "Before you ask, I already said what I knew and that was all I could glean using my spell."


    He appeared to speak to no one but he knew he was being heard.


    As if to prove it correct, a firm voice entered his ears, "You mean, you failed to notice how he tried to comprehend your mana technique?"


    "WHAT?" Andrew couldn''t believe what he heard for a second as it seemed impossible for an unawakened to even react to mana, let alone achieve such a monstrous feat.


    Yet his surprise fizzled out, remembering the person he was talking to.


    ''It seems another contract will be needed. Sigh.''


    ***

 Chapter 33 - 33: Endless Possibilities

    Jash woke up in confusion an hour after Andrew left and was told by his mother to wait a week before awakening.


    "Is that so?"


    A rhetorical response was all he could mutter as he buried the truth within.


    He didn''t mind waiting a week, but what bothered him was that Andrew had already left.


    ''At least he will come next week to check on me again,'' Jash consoled himself.


    However, he didn''t plan to train or do anything different this week.


    After a brief chat with his mother to reassure her that awakening was his own wish, Jash returned to his room, changed to get comfortable to laze around.


    Before the memories, he considered increasing his power and training a tiring task; he rather liked just using his brain to ace tests and play around.


    Naturally, he was smart enough to know that being weak was not a great thing in a world where the strong ruled. So he decided he would start his awakening and training when he turned 15 before joining the World Academy.


    A mocking smile crept his lips as he recalled his previous thoughts and he couldn''t help but mutter, "How naive..."


    As if to prove his thoughts incorrect, a rather dark past of his resurfaced.


    ''But Awakening, huh? It''s just forming a core and wielding mana... Nothing special. Though it can definitely be useful to take cold showers or dry up myself and even an area to immediately doze off¡­''


    Just recalling his own words darkened his face as he vowed to never let anyone know of it, no matter the cost!


    "Ahem," Jash coughed to get rid of those memories before thinking to himself, ''Anyways, what am I to do now?''


    "Nothing, of course!"


    Jash answered to himself with a wide smile as he rolled around his huge bed, enjoying the soft mattress beneath him.


    Unlike typical extras, authors, haters, transmigrators, regressors, possessors, reincarnation and the like, he wasn''t the least bit interested in the plot.


    He even cursed his past life self for reaching such a trashy book.


    "Whatever. A man gotta do something to survive, nah?"


    Talking and nodding to himself as if finding his own words convincing, he finally stopped moving.


    ''My supposed death is in the academy arc, so training, awakening... blah blah blah... It doesn''t matter to me now.''


    With all the memories from basic forms to advanced forms of techniques, he truly didn''t need to care about getting stronger.


    Still, he doubted the memories ever since he got them.


    Yet he wasn''t an idiot to ignore something like his own death. He loved his life a little too much to ignore that.


    The strange thing was his nonchalance and indifference towards changing the entire plot of the novel which begins with his death.


    As he would be the only casualty during the beginning itself, it would lead to a larger impact on all characters in the novel, given his background.


    And he was going to change that.


    It was truly a wonder how he didn''t care of the consequences it would have for other characters, his family and even the world at large.


    Jash was not someone who would change the future only a little bit so that future will remain predictable.


    That would just not be him, he loved his life and peace a little too much that he wouldn''t mind changing everything to enjoy his peace and quiet, even if it led to the world''s destruction.


    ''Just be the strongest. Simple, right?'' mused Jash.


    Only he could be that free about something.


    Was it his fault though? What is he supposed to do then? Just lie down and take it for the plot to progress?


    Never!


    However, he wasn''t some psychopath, wanting everything under his control or something.


    "That shit is better left to those chuunis," jeered Jash, recalling memories of Eighth-Grader Syndrome.


    "Anyways, if anything goes wrong... Then, don''t we have the protagonist? When else will his plot armor ever come in clutch?"


    Of course, Jash knew that protagonists, heroes, heroines, villains, and villainesses came with not only plot armor but also were calamity magnets in themselves.


    Anyways, it wasn''t any of his concern. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Whether the villain handles it or the protagonist has nothing to do with¨C''


    Jash stiffened in the midst of his thoughts and immediately sat up straight.


    "Wait, wait, wait! I keep thinking and calling them villain and protagonist, but who are they? How come I never cared about their identities?"


    After coming up with this thought, the idea just didn''t leave his mind.


    The only clues he had was the protagonist and another important character came from the church. The protagonist naturally defeats the other guy and gets hailed as the saint and hero.


    Of course, Jash ignored the females as he believed they were just there for the sake of the hero''s harem.


    Immediately he felt the chills imagining the scene of fifties or even hundreds of women asking for a man to satisfy them.


    "Your sacrifice will be remembered, O'' Protagonist."


    Jash mock saluted the protagonist for taking care of so many brainless women, even if some died for emotional development, or for the protagonist to get one or two more women.


    "Whatever. Let''s just ignore him since it is confirmed I haven''t met him. The problem is the villain..."


    Jash''d mind shifted to the possibilities as he kept thinking of the possible main villain or the antagonist.


    ''It has to be someone who can rival the illogical plot armor...''


    ''Most likely someone from nobility...?''


    ''Some human prince? Or from another race? Or someone from a ducal family?''


    ''Also, he needs to be smart...''


    ''What else...? Handsome! Of course!''


    ''Wealthy? Nobility, duh.''


    ''Maybe have no sister?''


    ''Since the plot didn''t have ntr elements, it does tone down a lot of options...''


    ''But what if it is some commoner plebian the protagonist treated like shit or had his crush or sister enamored by the protagonist?''


    ¡­


    The possibilities were endless and Jash truly couldn''t go through them within a few hours.


    He didn''t even realize and the week elapsed as he continued to add, remove, diversify, and group the various possibilities.


    In the end, he still couldn''t confirm who could be the main villain.


    No matter how much he thought about it, there could be way too many.


    Even shortlisting them didn''t have much of an effect as he didn''t even know much about the other races.


    And who''s to say the main villains couldn''t be from other races or even from some race yet to appear before humankind.


    That wasn''t to say he didn''t have a guess.


    "The most likely one should be him... But I truly hope I am wrong..." Jash mumbled to himself, knowing fully well unless something unexpected happened, his guess would end up correct.


    Even his excitement for the awakening had waned due to the strenuous week he spent.


    Being overfed and overcared for definitely didn''t feel nice when done for a week continuously.


    He really couldn''t get used to the feeling.


    At least, he would get a few answers from Andrew tomorrow.


    That was the only respite in his mind as he fell asleep, a serene expression appearing on his face.

 Chapter 34 - 34: Morning Discovery

    Morning arrived, and Jash got ready for his secondary check up by Priest Andrew before he would awaken in the evening today, or at most tomorrow morning.


    Jash along with his parents and Caera had breakfast before they settled in the guest room, waiting for the priest to show up.


    ''So boring,'' thought Jash as the silence with the worrying glances cast over him from time to time felt never-ending.


    ''I thought I got used to the feeling, alas...''


    Finally, the door opened to reveal a man with slightly gray hair, wearing a pristine white robe adorned with golden engravings representing the Church''s dual colors. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t wear fancy priest costumes; the clergy in this world didn''t seem much focused on showmanship, or at least he wasn''t.


    ''Really, now? Is that the symbol of the Goddess of Light?'' Jash wondered, observing the golden engraving in the center of the robe with the other patterns only serving to accentuate it further.


    It was a major symbol with the face of a female and her hair but no specific features were carved on her face as it seemed to radiate light in all directions.


    If Jash didn''t know about the Sun actually not being the sole source of light, he''d definitely compare the symbol to the Sun''s radiance.


    Taking equal strides, Andrew arrived in front of the couple and the twins as he greeted them.


    After the formalities, Andrew sought permission, "May I?"


    With the underlying understanding of him referring to Jash, he stepped forward and allowed Andrew to probe him once again.


    ''I hope I don''t faint again,'' Jash secretly prayed in his heart as he saw the sight of Andrew effortlessly weaving and casting spells.


    However, the one to find the sight more awe-inspiring and dazzling turned out to be Caera as she too awakened as a magician, like Sera.


    It would be a lie to say Sera wasn''t intrigued by the spells, but her focus remained on Jash for the first signs of discomfort to act without a second''s rest.


    In the midst of it all, Jash relaxed as the soothing aura of the spell overcame him, causing him to get examined easily.


    Luckily, his prayer seemed to have been heard as Andrew didn''t cast any higher-ranked spells to check Jash''s condition, unlike the first time.


    However, that wasn''t the only difference this time as his eyes narrowed into pinpricks, following every subtle cue of Jash.


    He really had a hard time accepting an unawakened boy could try and comprehend his mana technique.


    Yet seeing was believing.


    Looking at Jash''s eyes locked in on the revolving mana of his spells, Andrew couldn''t help but sweat slightly, realizing the implication of the minor actions.


    ''What monstrous talent, even before awakening,'' he clicked his tongue inwardly.


    If not for the contract he was forced to sign yesterday, he''d definitely want to tell the world about it.


    ''And to think there is nothing wrong with him in the slightest,'' noted Andrew as his spell slowly finished.


    The results weren''t surprising in the least.


    "You are absolutely fine and go for your awakening at any moment," declared Andrew with a calm voice despite his inner turmoil.


    Oblivious to the changes brought about due to his eagerness, Jash beamed with delight at the verdict.


    Yet he still had some questions regarding the Church he had to ask.


    "Priest Andrew, if you don''t mind me asking..." Jash trailed off in the end, seeking permission to have a conversation before his parents swooped in and he got no time for it.


    "Go ahead," Andrew gave the green signal, curious about what this child would ask.


    "As you are well aware of, most nobles learn of the children their age who might be their classmates in the World Academy. So, I am curious about the Church. Do they have someone impressive in our generation?"


    While Jash''s question might be off-putting or ill-timed, it wasn''t really so.


    Everyone knew that the current generation was known by various nicknames:


    The Second Golden Generation, Generation of Monsters, Generation of Heroes, Second Coming of the Hero, to name a few.


    His curiosity also made sense to Andrew who didn''t really mind telling it as it would be known in two years time, regardless.


    Still, he chose to be cryptic instead of straightaway revealing the information since he had to withhold Jash''s information from others too.


    "Hmm. Every year, the church sends quite a few talented aspiring priests, so their presence should be no surprise."


    "Regardless, if you ask me, I can think of at least three who have talents rivaling other noble scions."


    Andrew smiled mysteriously as he finished his sentence and turned to face the Ramille Couple.


    Meanwhile, Jash lightly clenched his fists realizing, ''Maybe it is really that darned novel.''


    Before he could lose himself in his thoughts, a chirpy and melodious voice interrupted him, "Good luck for your awakening."


    "Thanks," answered Jash with a smile.


    Glancing at Caera who turned her head to a side after hearing his word of thanks, he couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Let''s go," Jash said pointing at their parents and Andrew before holding her wrist and leading her out of the room.


    Without being able to say anything, Caera was led away by Jash to the training ground.


    Though confused, she didn''t try to release his grip or push him away, afraid to hurt him. She patiently waited for him to explain.


    Finally, Jash left her wrist and turned to face her before saying his request. "Can you show me how you circulate mana, use it to cast spells and everything?"


    Caera nodded without any hints of hesitation, knowing Jash was set to awaken and glancing at mana might help him.


    ''Even if I witnessed her awakening, it is different from seeing her manipulate mana,'' thought Jash as his eyes focused on the figure of Caera.


    Looking at her trying hard to cast a spell without any equipment aiding her, his lips curled upward.


    ''She really is trying to give her all,'' mused Jash as he observed her from 15 meters away.


    Slowly, her mana manifested into a small fire which formed different varieties of spells and she explained it after casting her spell.


    "After I move the mana from my core through my body and have the intent to manifest a fire, alongside the correct chants, it manifests..."


    "...Next, I have to say the correct chants to make sure the manifested element is molded into a desired spell..."


    As Jash continued to listen to her explanations, the memories from his past life regarding magical spells clashed slightly with the new knowledge.


    Fortunately, he could manage it since they were only the basics of the basics.


    ''It seems I need to sublimate the knowledge from my two lives before I can do anything regarding this...'' concluded Jash.


    "Thanks, Caera. I think that''s enough for now." He stopped her from going into the theory of the spells or more detailed explanations.


    "...Okay. As you wish," grumbled Caera as she saw Jash leave the room.


    "Woah. Could it be, you enjoyed showing off?" teased Jash as he turned around before running away with a peal of laughter.


    "LIKE HELL I DID!" Caera shouted at his vanishing back in a hurry as she didn''t expect him to hear her disgruntlement.

 Chapter 35 - 35: Awaiting Awakening

    Time passed slowly as Jash traced the same path in his room, awaiting the call for his awakening.


    ''Ugh. Damn these overprotective plots,'' Jash cursed for the umpteenth time as he raced around his room.


    Every few seconds he would glance at the wall clock to check the time.


    "What''s taking them so long?" Jash grumbled in dissatisfaction.


    If not for his parents'' fiery protectiveness, they wouldn''t have spent an hour or so talking with Andrew before setting him free.


    Jash didn''t know the content of their conversation, even though it was about him.


    After teasing Caera, he''d arrived in his room and slept with peace of mind, thinking, ''By the time I wake up, the awakening apparatus would be ready.''


    Unfortunately, it''d been three hours since he woke up and had lunch yet there were no signs of such a call.


    ''The past me lost everything but gained the freedom to do anything, anytime,'' Jash thought, comparing that life to his current one.


    Although there was freedom in that sort of life, he didn''t wish to experience it.


    Jash shivered as he realized his train of thought, and couldn''t help but mutter, "Comparison is indeed the enemy of fun..."


    Not wanting to linger on such negative thoughts, he exited his room to find his parents and directly ask them the reason for the delay.


    "Ah. Jash, there you are!"


    Hearing the familiar voice, Jash turned around with a smile to face his mother.


    ''She probably came to take me for the awakening herself, right?'' Jash hoped for it to be true.


    "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow¡­"


    Before Jash could respond or ask her anything, the pain from his ear being pulled overwhelmed his senses.


    "Shtop! Ow! Mom! Ow! It¡­ow¡­hurts!" Jash barely begged his mother.


    "Hmph! Someone''s being cheeky recently~" Sera smiled before turning to face the empty corridor.


    "Don''t you agree, my dear daughter?" Sera questioned rhetorically.


    Hiding in the next corridor, Caera flinched before appearing, knowing it was futile to hide anymore.


    "M-mom I-I¡­ I was j-just¡­" Caera stammered as she couldn''t reply.


    Sera naturally knew her daughter well enough and didn''t pressure her, for today.


    "Yeah, yeah, save your excuses. I am taking this brat for his awakening. You wanna come?"


    Hearing her mother''s question, Caera nodded immediately before freezing as she heard her mother''s laughter, making her embarrassed.


    Meanwhile, Jash was still in pain, but he gritted his teeth and just endured it.


    ''Saying anything won''t help me at all in my current situation,'' thought Jash as he realized his mother''s motive.


    ''So, she really came here to bring me for the awakening process? Couldn''t she just send Emma?''


    Jash lamented inwardly yet a smile graced his lips, only to be turned into a frown as the pain increased.


    In all honesty, he had no idea what Sera was trying to do by hurting him before the awakening.


    That just didn''t go well with her personality.


    ''Wait! Could it be that she is trying to delay my awakening until tomorrow?'' Jash felt as if he had been struck by lightning.


    Maybe he had really caught the crux of the matter, or maybe he hadn''t.


    ''It''ll all be clear in a few moments,'' Jash believed as he was finally allowed to walk freely behind the mother-daughter duo.


    Caressing his ear, Jash accidentally blurted out, "Damn, that hurt." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Did you say something, my dear?" Sera questioned him less than a second after his blunder.


    Noticing the warm smile on her face, Jash wasn''t fooled and immediately denied. "No, no. I said nothing. Maybe it was the wind."


    "Ho? Maybe." Sera''s smile widened in response as she turned to Caera, who secretly snickered at Jash.


    Of course, Sera could sense each and every moment of theirs, but she chose to forgive Jash today. Just for today, though.


    In a few moments, Jash, Sera, and Caera arrived outside a room where several guards were securing a perimeter.


    The guards immediately saluted Sera and stood at attention as Edward stopped his conversation with a guard and approached them.


    Bowing slightly, he said, "The teleportation gate is active, my Lady, Young Master, Young Miss."


    Sera nodded and took the lead with Caera while Jash started walking behind them to enter the room.


    When the doors opened, he could see a teleportation circle etched on the ground.


    It was made with runic carvings along with some light blue symbols and hieroglyphs lighting up the round corners.


    As its name suggested, it was used to teleport people.


    In this case, from the Ramille Estate to the location of the awakening chambers, as they were in a hidden place, away from the mansion to prevent unforeseen accidents.


    Jash reached the center of the circle and tried to understand the carvings, but all he saw were weird lines which made him dizzy and forgo any attempts at understanding them.


    Sera and Caera supported him as they noticed his lightheaded state while the guards activated the circle.


    In the blink of an eye, they were already on the other side.


    As Jash was busy wondering how quickly that circle worked and gawking at the new surroundings, he felt Sera suddenly hug him, she whispered, "Everything will go well, so don''t worry about anything, okay?"


    Jash nodded and hugged her back to ease her worries. ''She really can''t stop worrying, even though she was playful just earlier.''


    Unlike Caera, he never felt embarrassed with such matters as it always felt loving.


    Remembering Caera, she too came and patted his arm before teasing him, "Be strong, Lazy Panda! Or you''ll be left in the dust."


    Jash smiled and flicked her forehead as he chortled, "You''re getting even more stupid, Caera, if you think I care about all that."


    Looking at Caera pouting at her brother but not responding brought a smile to Sera''s face before her lips parted.


    "Alright, alright. That''s enough, you two."


    The twins immediately straightened up, hearing Sera''s stern voice as she led them forward.


    Naturally, the two had already arrived here last year for Caera''s awakening.


    Arriving at the room where the ceremony would take place, Jash saw Carcel waiting outside.


    The two exchanged a look and just nodded seriously, without exchanging a word, causing Sera to shake her head.


    "It''s his awakening, can''t you say something positive to him," she mock complained, predicting the results already.


    Hearing his wife, Carcel smiled, "He''s our son, I believe in his talent. Plus, he is in the know."


    "Hmph" Sera just decided to ignore the obvious as she had lost count of how many times she explained everything to Jash this week.


    Since everything else was prepared and they were just waiting for Jash, they decided to move in and start.


    ''My awakening took quite a long time to prepare,'' Jash thought as he realized it had been a week since he asked for it.


    ''Also, didn''t they prepare everything last year already?''


    While his request was sudden, it shouldn''t have been that difficult for his parents to fulfill it, given their resources and power.


    If he were to guess, he''d hold the events of last week accountable for the delay along with the check ups by the priest.


    Yet it didn''t matter now.


    ''Finally, I can awaken!'' Jash couldn''t mask the excitement in his eyes as the mere thought of wielding mana thrilled him to no end.

 Chapter 36 - 36: Awakening Begins

    As Jash saw everyone distancing themselves from him, he took giddy steps to enter the mana room, where he would awaken.


    It was a white-marble room with runes all over the borders of the walls.


    Even though he wasn''t sure of their exact usage, it was easy to guess they were Mana Gathering runes and were probably some of the best ones since he was here.


    ''Maybe the Mana Rooms of Mage Tower are even better,'' Jash wondered, but didn''t dislike the outcome.


    Relaxing and staying low-key was more his style.


    Going to the Mage Tower to awaken and spread the news wasn''t something on his list, even if it made the awakening much smoother.


    Not wanting to distract his mind with knowledge of the Mage Tower, he shook his head.


    ''No matter the world, it depends on the mana quality and its concentration.'' In the end that was all that mattered.


    While Jash took unhurried steps, Sera couldn''t hide her pang of worry as she was really feeling a little scared.


    By her side, Carcel wrapped his hand around her waist, knowing fully well about her worries.


    After all, no matter how prepared they were, the chance of a failed awakening was always present.


    Everyone can try awakening at any time after they turn 12, but if they fail once, then their internals would be damaged, and going through an awakening again would be even more dangerous.


    Comparing Sera''s worry to Caera''s awakening was futile, given the difference of Jash being the victim of curse or dark magic.


    That''s why the security of the Ramille Estate was on high alert today. No one except the Ramille couple and Caera was allowed anywhere near the awakening chambers.


    That was the only respite to Sera''s worry-filled heart.


    If not for needing some people to activate the runes in the mana room, Sera would have liked to allow no one else except the three.


    Unaware of everything going around him, Jash walked towards the middle of the room, where a large circle was drawn.


    He couldn''t help reminiscing, ''It''s just like last year, except for our positions.''


    Even the barrier to protect Caera was the same one casted by Sera to protect him during her awakening.


    Meeting their gazes, he could see the love and care they had for him.


    The nervousness felt palpable to him, causing him to feel goosebumps on his skin.


    Well, the stern and calm expression on his father''s timed visage helped Jash calm his excited heart.


    ''He has too much trust in his blood, or what?'' Jash wondered, locking eyes with Carcel.


    Carcel could sense his son''s feelings and even his heartbeat as he nodded, before instructing the guards to activate the rune formation.


    In response, Jash took a deep breath and closed his eyes to calm his state of mind before the process began.


    Just as he opened his eyes, they widened in astonishment at the dazzling sight awaiting him.


    There stood Carcel, holding a distinct Mana Gem.


    Despite never having witnessed all Mana Gems, Jash instinctively knew this one was better than the one used during Caera''s awakening.


    ''Hers was already an A-rank Mana Gem! Could this be...?''


    Jash''s barely calmed heartbeat quickened again at the thought of using such a rare Mana Gem to awaken, which was almost impossible to buy with any amount of money.


    It was so rare that it could only be used during item exchanges of equivalent worth.


    After all, a Mana Gem was a highly rare stone found inside monsters in dungeons. Even C-ranked beasts had barely formed Mana Gems, let alone the weaker one.


    That is why the appearance of a Mana Gem above A-rank stunned Jash completely.


    Of course, he knew Mana Gems were used during awakening despite their rarity, due to it being a pure form of mana, thus increasing the chances of success.


    ''If I remember correctly, it also has way less impurities than a Mana Stone, posing no injuries while forming the mana core,'' Jash recalled the information instilled by Sera.


    Even Caera used a rare A-rank Mana Gem, which was so costly it alone could buy a couple of lands in Kenton.


    Generally, the number of monsters decreased with the increase in rank, increasing the rarity of mana gems with each rank.


    Even then, only a marginal number of those monsters formed a Mana Gem, resulting in a negligible supply.


    Yet despite being only one rank above, an Integration-rank Mana Gem was incredibly rarer than an A-rank Mana Gem due to it being a major bottleneck.


    Even some S-rank hunters had difficulty getting an Integration-rank Mana Gem, let alone S-rank Mana Gems.


    That was just a pipe dream for most.


    That is why Jash felt emotional and choked out his words, "Dad... I can use A-rank... just fine. There''s no need..."


    It didn''t matter to him what rank gem was used in his awakening because the memories would somehow balance it out.


    "Don''t even try to convince me. Your mother would kill me if I cheap out here," Carcel said, giving him a look that said it can''t be helped.


    "Cough, cough."


    Before Jash could rebuke his father, Carcel coughed awkwardly as he was elbowed by Sera.


    Helpless, he could only smile at his parents'' antics while glancing at Caera.


    No hint of jealousy or envy showed on her face despite the difference in treatment. She only gave him a look that said: FIGHTO!


    Though grateful, Jash didn''t know how to react.


    On one hand, Caera was encouraging him and on the other hand, Carcel just gave his own Mana Gem.


    It wasn''t a guess but a facet, stemming from the knowledge that one could increase their strength in two ways:


    First, gradually absorbing Mana from your surroundings and consolidating it in your Mana Core, increasing its power over a long period.


    Second, using Mana Gems to move the mana inside the body and gently nourishing the Mana Core with it.


    However, absorbing mana through a Mana Gem wasn''t advisable as it hindered the natural growth of the Mana Capacity.


    Since it would fill before it could grow bigger. Thus, Mana Gems were suggested to be used as assistance to cross a bottleneck and rank up from the peak of the previous rank.


    Carcel was already at the peak of S-rank, and this Mana Gem, along with a few more Integration-rank or, if he was lucky, S-rank Mana Gems, would have helped him become SS-rank like in the original plot.


    Realizing another change in the plot, Jash smiled wryly, ''Not like I care about the darned plot!''


    Finally, Jash took off his shirt and sat in the meditation position.


    Carcel held the Integration-Rank Mana Gem and placed it in Jash''s hands before returning to his position.


    ''Beautiful.'' That was all Jash could think of as he found unable to shift his focus from the sight of the gem.


    It was radiant and similar in appearance to crystals. However, the similarities ended there as it emanated a soothing energy.


    It felt both familiar and unfamiliar to Jash as he clasped the Mana Gem in his hand.


    ''It''s just two-three fingers thick and only a little longer than my palm,'' observed Jash with intrigue.


    Yet what truly dazzled him was the intermixing of seven different colors as they formed black and white in different proportions while some colors didn''t mix at all, giving it an ever-changing hue and charm.


    Suddenly, a stern voice from Carcel brought him out of his reverie. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Jash, you may begin awakening now."


    ***


    *Check paragraph comment for reference image of the Mana Gem*

 Chapter 37 - 37: His Awakening

    After Jash sat in the meditation position on the ground, the lines about awakening from the novel assaulted his brain.


    ''Ugh. Damn! What''s this?'' Jash cursed at the sudden pain, as if it warned him of what was to come.


    ||During the awakening ceremony, mana continues to flow and surge, transforming the individual''s body. Bones might shift and elongate, muscles may grow and change, and the senses could become heightened or altered. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These changes cause pain and discomfort but are necessary to fully harness the power of mana.


    Mana can feel like a burning sensation or intense pressure.


    The duration of the awakening process varies from person to person. It depends on the individual''s ability to endure pain and how adaptable their body is to the flow of mana.


    The process can also be dangerous.


    If the body cannot handle the overwhelming power of mana, it may lead to a failed awakening, leaving the person with internal injuries or as a cripple for life.||


    Despite the memories of the novel, he focused more on the memories of mana from his previous life:


    [A normal awakening was not difficult. The person usually absorbed ample amounts of mana from their surroundings or mana gems.


    The Mana Gem usually helped complete the formation of a Mana Core in the lower dantian or near the heart.


    Civilians generally awakened at the age of 16, as declared by the Council for common people to follow.


    For common people, the awakening process involved forming their Mana Core in the initial stages and gradually growing it over time.


    Irrespective of their talent, a person''s Mana Core could only be formed after they turned 18, allowing the body to finish growing up first.


    Despite all this, most civilians chose not to awaken and risk their lives or had pitiful talent to not even have a use as cannon fodder.


    ¡­


    "That''s all a facade. The ones at the top didn''t have much power difference and wanted to control the world. Hence, the shitty outcome where the world has to suffer."


    "Also, ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C ¨C ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C ... ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C and #@$@#@$#..."]


    The memories of his previous life abruptly stopped as Jash tried to gauge the identity of the speaker.


    ''What do I do then? Go with the novel information?'' Jash doubted which method to choose.


    Although familiar with all the senses of his last life''s awakening, he could feel his body itself was different in this world.


    "You only have the middle dantian in your body. It is located right above the sternum in the center of the chest below the heart."


    A sudden voice entered his ears as if guiding him, allowing him to make a decision before something unwanted occurred.


    Ultimately, the time for such thoughts wasn''t long as mana surrounding his body wouldn''t wait for him to decide.


    Despite knowing which path to take, he gritted his teeth as he could feel the mana in the air increasing at a constant speed.


    The heaviness in the air, the pressure of mana, the familiar yet unfamiliar energy and soon enough it entered his body.


    Jash could feel every single sensation vividly as the mana flowed around him before spreading all over his body.


    He winced a little due to the sudden prickling sensation of mana poking the insides of his body.


    ''I need to focus on the mana movement inside my body and guide the mana from the gem to my heart...''


    Jash recalled the instructions.


    It was unknown whether they came from the strange voice, Sera''s repeated teaching, past life memories, or the novel''s knowledge.


    But at the moment, he couldn''t afford to lose focus, or it might damage him severely.


    Heck, he could even fail his awakening.


    Trusting his instincts, Jash tried to follow the flow of the intrusive mana within his body before attempting to control it.


    Although he knew how to form a Mana Core, he didn''t want to take any chances and proceeded cautiously.


    ''It is flowing aimlessly,'' Jash observed the flow of mana inside him before infusing his will and controlling it.


    Sweat drops appeared on his entire body as he struggled to succeed.


    After several attempts, he finally altered the flow of mana as a whole, instead of controlling different strands, to converge at his middle dantian.


    Under his masterful guidance, mana flowed easily, without causing pain in this step of the process.


    In the end, Jash had an easier time forming his Mana Core than others who suffered a lot.


    After feeling the mana converging in his upper chest area and stirring in the direction of his heart, he forcefully changed its course.


    ''Just why the hell is it going to my heart?'' Jash thought in frustration as it was a critical moment.


    With no other choice, he guided the mana from the Integration-rank Mana Gem to his potential Mana Core''s location.


    A milky white energy slowly gathered near the center of Jash''s chest, forming a grain-sized crystal.


    ''The first step was successful,'' Jash mused yet his focus only intensified as he prepared for the next step.


    The awakening process had two parts:


    First was known as the Mana Core Formation. One needed to form a primary Mana Core in their body, middle dantian, to be more precise.


    Second was to guide the rest of the mana throughout the body and cleanse it of impurities. This process also transformed the body to become a better vessel for mana.


    As mana was the fuel and the body was the vessel that contained it, it was very important to make your foundation as strong as possible during the awakening.


    ''I need to have a solid foundation,'' reiterated Jash to himself, having experienced the difference in foundation himself.


    This caused Jash to focus more mana from the gem into his Core and complete its formation and at the same time, direct the mana through his body


    As time passed, black gooey substances began to come out of every pore in Jash''s body.


    Fortunately, they vaporized and disappeared due to the special room as soon as they touched the floor, saving the trouble of cleaning or smelling it.


    While the process might have seemed easy, only Jash knew the mind boggling pain he felt.


    It wasn''t something a sane person could handle.


    His muscles clenched, each movement sending waves of agony through his body, pain rippled through him like a tidal wave, each crest crashing against his nerves and leaving a wake of throbbing ache.


    It felt almost unbearable, but Jash gritted his teeth and refused to give in. He knew that this was just the beginning as endless challenges to his peaceful life awaited him.


    ''I can''t give up! Not after knowing everything! I refuse to let my family suffer!'' Jash thought, a wave of determination coursing his body as he continued to endure the pain.


    Despite the mind-numbing pain, Jash had yet to let out a shout of agony as he endured it all.


    His body trembled all over as it changed internally: his bones cracking, his muscles breaking and healing as his skin reddened.


    After a while, his body had mostly transformed except for his brain and heart.


    A few drops of blood leaked from his mouth as he clenched his teeth too tightly to endure the pain.


    Yet he didn''t even get a moment of respite to take a deep breath as another wave of pain assaulted him.

 Chapter 38 - 38: Record Breaking

    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"


    Jash screamed in pain for the first time since the process began, unable to hold it in any longer. It was one thing to have memories of pain, but another to endure it.


    It was already a miracle he hadn''t screamed or rolled on the floor earlier.


    His heart ached not just from the physical strain but from the weight of his determination.


    ''NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO''


    Shouting inwardly at himself to close his mouth and endure it again, Jash couldn''t help but want to curse the author.


    ''Damn that author! What the hell is mindbreaking pain!? This is impossible!''


    ''If I ever find you, I will definitely strangle you, no, I will make you go through this pain!''


    Even if it felt like Jash was venting his frustration at the author, it was done more so in a desperate attempt to distract himself from this new pain.


    Though it wasn''t to say he didn''t mean his words.


    Desperation clawed at his resolve, but he clung to his purpose as a surge of mana coursed through his brain and heart, transforming them just like the rest of his organs.


    A pain that would break anyone''s mind apart¡ªthat''s what the author called it in the novel. Almost 60% of people who failed their awakening would fail at this point.


    ''Shit! Just 60%!? That has to be a lie!'' Jash shouted inwardly as he gritted his teeth, recalling the description from the novel.


    Despite the mind-shattering pain, he knew that the process of laying the foundation was more painful the longer it took.


    However, at the same time, it was more beneficial to last longer as it would result in a better foundation for mana.


    ''The longer I persevere, the better it is for me,'' Jash reiterated, though his condition suggested otherwise.


    Tears streamed down his face, his breath hitched with each attempt to inhale against the stabbing pain in his chest and head.


    ''Endure... Endure... Endure... Endure... Endure... Endure...


    Endure...'' Jash recited the word inwardly.


    Digging his nails onto his knees to focus on the movement of mana, Jash grew resolute to last as long as possible.


    His suffering wasn''t just physical; it was a testament to his unwavering will.


    The pain reached astonishing degrees as his thought process crumpled with the only thought to continue.


    If it were a normal person awakening, they would only endure it for 10 minutes before ending the ceremony, a genius might endure it for nearly an hour.


    Yet Jash could be called a monster as over 3 hours had passed since he started awakening.


    Unbeknownst to him, he was already close to the time of Caera''s awakening. She had lasted for 3 hours 31 minutes before ending the process.


    By no means that was bad¡ªeven a genius among geniuses would last around two hours¡ªand that was enough for her to be in the spotlight.


    However, there were already quite a few highly talented youths who had lasted around or even longer than Caera.


    This just went on to say the number of geniuses that existed in their generation.


    Naturally, Jash remained unaware of such things as he continued to hold one with all his being.


    His mentality holding on to his vestiges of consciousness, preventing him from fainting.


    Jash only had a single thought in his mind as his teeth clattered, and his eyes scrunched up due to the insufferable pain.


    His body felt like it was on fire, his mind overwhelmed with the searing agony that threatened to consume him.


    His heart beat wildly against his ribcage, increasing his blood flow.


    At the same time, he felt like he was being electrocuted from his insides as his nerve endings sent shocks of pain, causing his body to twitch.


    For Jash, time seemed to stand still as his misery felt eternal.


    Finally, it crossed the four hour mark of his awakening as he unconsciously sat there, absorbing the mana and cleansing his body.


    Thankfully, the pain had reduced after his brain and heart transformed safely.


    Naturally, they didn''t morph into something different entirely, but just a bit more enhanced and stronger compared to those with lesser time of awakening.


    Of course, it wouldn''t show much of an effect until a few rank ups way later.


    Not that it mattered to Jash at the moment.


    He even remained unaware as blood started exiting his pores to give room to his newly formed blood from the transformed bone marrows.


    Even his veins were bursting and repairing at the same time, allowing for the fresh blood to flow smoothly.


    All the fat on his body was now gone, replaced by tight muscles.


    However, Jash had already become numb to the sensation of pain itself by now. He had no clue about his remarkable achievements.


    It was just his subconscious desire to last longer, holding onto his consciousness albeit not realizing his precarious state.


    Eventually, he even reached near the last record for the longest foundation process.


    It was held by none other than Jash''s grandfather, who was one of the 13 SSS-Rank hunters in the world and endured for 4 hours and 37 minutes.


    During the entire process, Jash experienced pain he couldn''t even understand or explain. It even made the pain from his last life pale in comparison.


    He could only think so because he hadn''t felt the excruciating pain of having your bones being taken out after his skin was ripped apart.


    Alas, he only got the memories of it with altered emotions and feelings.


    If his past self had allowed him to experience everything with complete realism, he would have most likely broken, becoming nothing but an empty shell.


    After all, his previous life self didn''t really care about the methods to become strong to achieve his goal except for sacrificial or sinister methods.


    Pain used to be an everyday thing for him, though.


    He had long lost his sanity at that time and didn''t care about such a meager inconvenience.


    Self-harming would be a depreciating word for the things he did. If not for the system, it''d be a surprise if he didn''t die right after one fight.


    Well, Jash had no clue about it and couldn''t be bothered with unknowns, allowing him to focus on his goal of a slow and comfy life. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet it didn''t really matter at the moment as Jash reached the 4 hour 30 minute mark, just eight minutes shy of breaking the world record.


    Every second felt like an eternity, but each one was a step closer to his goal


    His whole body was now burning red, steam coming out of it. Blood poured out of his body, staining his pants crimson, a small pool forming underneath him.


    Even though the Mana Room removed any residue from his body, the stench of iron was heavy in the air.


    Without any surprise, he crossed the eight minutes safely.


    He had beaten his grandfather''s record and was on his way to set a new record.


    Even if it was a moment to celebrate, Jash''s subconscious continued the process.


    It only stopped at a total time of 4 hours and 59 minutes.


    Ultimately, he could open his eyes to feel his newly set foundation.


    He tried moving his body but his eyes turned droopy and he found his body too stiff to move.


    That was when he knew he f¡ª


    Eh? What?


    That was when he knew he had outdone himself.


    ''Shit! I messed up!'' Jash screamed inwardly as he took notice of the color crimson through his blurry vision.


    He had no idea how much time elapsed but by noticing his current state it wasn''t hard to guess he did extraordinarily good.

 Chapter 39 - 39: Observer

    ***


    Since the moment Jash fainted on his birthday, Cornelius had kept a close eye on him as he failed to detect any abnormality after the fleeting sinister presence.


    However, doubts lingered in his mind throughout the week.


    To solve them, he checked on Jash both when he was sleeping and during the day.


    Of course, Jash remained unaware of everything transpiring around him, reassuring Cornelius about his grandson''s health.


    Though the only anomaly he found was Jash walking in a daze every now and then or him mumbling to himself.


    It was pretty strange, but not to a degree that would worry him, as he really couldn''t find any irregularity in Jash''s body.


    ''It might be some aftereffects like PTSD,'' concluded Cornelius. But he still checked up on Jash without anyone knowing for the entire week.


    Currently, he remained afloat in the sky, observing Jash''s awakening while being on the lookout for dangers.


    After all, one can never be too safe.


    As the awakening process began, a small smile couldn''t help but grace his lips.


    ''He really is a genius,'' Cornelius mused, sensing the mana in the awakening chambers excitedly creeping closer to Jash''s form.


    It made him recall how Jash had tried to figure out Andrew''s mana technique while being examined.


    Albeit, he remained unaware that Jash was momentarily tranced by his past life''s knowledge about the law of light instead of comprehending the mana technique.


    Yet his smile grew wider as he thought to himself, ''It was a good decision to make him sign the secrecy contract.''


    When Andrew had visited, Cornelius made sure to keep a close eye on the process and ended up forcing the priest into a secrecy contract.


    The contract wasn''t just a piece of paper, though. It was a Mana Contract.


    It could have severe penalties for the one breaking the contract, from dropping in ranks or even crippling one''s usage of mana itself.


    Naturally, it had its limitation of not being able to add a death clause.


    The worst it could do was make the individual suffer unbearable pain and turn them into an idiot unable to do anything.


    However, that was enough for most people.


    After all, who would want to lose their strength after experiencing such a life?


    No one.


    That''s why Cornelius felt his heart at ease at the moment.


    If word about Jash''s crazy talent leaked, it wouldn''t be good as many leeches and pests would appear.


    Something he didn''t wish to see anytime soon.


    ''Even if the other races are living harmoniously within the Solarnelle Empire, who knows how long that will remain the case?''


    ''The other nobles and even the imperial family are also not something to be taken lightly...''


    Worries couldn''t help but flash his mind as the talent of his 3 grandchildren was too monstrous, and that wasn''t good for a single generation.


    The only relief being the abnormal talents in the newer generation weren''t few and far between.


    However, all of his worries turned into astonishment and excitement as time continued to pass and Jash continued to persist. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In place of worry, a thrill took root in his mind as a wide grin erupted on his face.


    ''Close to mine? Surpass it!'' Cornelius couldn''t help but hope for his grandson to surpass him.


    As if his earlier worries had never existed, he continued to cheer for his grandson as his record broke.


    Yet his smile only widened, if that was even possible.


    To his astounding excitement, his body leaked out a wave of mana which was reeled in by him in less than half a second.


    The sudden wave of mana alarmed the guards as they immediately started looking for the source.


    Uncaring of the dutiful guards, Cornelius had a single thought in his mind: ''Break that 5-hour mark, son!''


    His excitement was palpable at the moment yet it all came to an end at 4 hour 59 minutes.


    ''One minute! Just one more minute and...!'' thought Cornelius, lamenting the missed opportunity.


    ''Even if you broke my record, it isn''t really the world record...''


    The moment the thought popped up in his mind, a sad smile erupted on his lips before a flash of complicated emotions appeared in his eyes.


    Luckily, no one was there as he immediately concealed them and vanished from place.


    A weird mix of grief, reluctance, regret and acceptance laced his tone as he mumbled to himself, "I wonder how different everything would be if only..."


    ***


    Unaware of his father overseeing Jash''s awakening, Carcel couldn''t help but keep a strong front for Jash and Sera.


    He had already noticed Caera''s supportive front and smiled at her actions. ''Good girl! She really cares for Jash.''


    After ensuring everything in the room was in place, he nodded and announced, "Jash, you may begin awakening now."


    A resolute look appeared on Jash, surprising his parents and Caera for the second time yet he began the process before they could express their surprise.


    Carcel''s grip on Sera''s waist tightened involuntarily, causing her to look at him with a helpless smile.


    ''He really can act, huh?'' Sera thought as she shifted closer to him, allowing him to feel her body next to his.


    If not for Caera''s presence, Sera would have no doubt snuggled next to him with no gap between their bodies.


    Fortunately, such a scene remained for their private time as she sought comfort in her husband while he sought comfort in her.


    Their relationship was truly harmonious, but it was relatively strange for nobles to show such passion towards their partners.


    However, the two of them didn''t really care and their children were already used to it.


    It would have been a different matter entirely if they knew about Cornelius perceiving everything.


    Meanwhile, Caera looked as fired up as she was on her own awakening.


    ''Lazy Panda, you better do good or...'' Caera threatened Jash inwardly but didn''t complete the thought, afraid she might jinx it.


    Luckily, nothing went wrong with Jash''s awakening as he successfully established his Mana Core.


    Despite his Mana Core Formation process being different, they didn''t really care as it was a personal process and differed slightly for every person, no matter how much they knew the theory.


    So, it didn''t raise any flags for Jash, saving him from the hassle to explain. Well, he didn''t even know such an event would happen.


    ''You hoped for a normal awakening and look at you!! You already surpassed me, lazy brother!'' Caera thought with mild amusement as a smile crossed her cherry lips and her blue eyes twinkled in excitement.


    She really didn''t have any negative feelings for Jash, only feeling interested and happy about the result.


    Seeing this, her parents couldn''t help but think, ''Our daughter is truly an angel!''


    And they weren''t wrong in thinking so.


    Alas, that was the only respite for the couple amidst their worry over Jash''s condition and the pain he must be suffering.


    Yet they stood stupefied with their eyes and mouth wide open as Jash broke the record of awakening with his grave determination.


    The moment stood still for the trio despite their concern regarding Jash''s worsening condition, as time closed to 5 hours, yet it stopped exactly one minute before.


    However, looking at the stumbling Jash, they immediately darted to hold him.


    ***

 Chapter 40 - 40: Silent Struggles

    "Jash!"


    "Jash!"


    Several shouts echoed in the chamber as Jash stumbled in his steps, yet the voices remained distant echoes to his blurry consciousness.


    Before he could collapse, however, a pair of slender hands firmly took hold of him.


    "Ca... era...?"


    Jash barely mumbled with hints of resignation as blurry strands of red hair appeared in his vision alongside the small hands.


    Despite Sera and Carcel having the strength to reach his side and hold him within a second, their attention was diverted at the last moment.


    Caera had utilized mana inside her body to reach Jash faster, but she failed to realize the state of the environmental mana in their current location.


    Thus, Sera and Carcel had to make sure no harm befell her or Jash, resulting in the couple trying to fight off the rampant mana targeting Caera.


    "CAERA!" Sera shouted in an unsettled tone, her worry and anger palpable for the young girl supporting Jash.


    ''Wha...t''s going... on...?'' Jash barely formulated a coherent thought as his consciousness seemed to return to him.


    He couldn''t really differentiate the hazy scenery around him or the low voices entering his ears.


    His parents, however, didn''t seem to care and immediately dragged their children, ignoring Caera as she tried explaining her emotional outburst.


    Her eyes had water droplets forming at the corners as she realized the risk of her actions, observing the mana flow around them.


    Still, she coped with her feelings as they left the awakening chambers cautiously, only to be stunned by the sight of the guards frantically looking around.


    ¡­


    After everything settled down one way or another, Sera and Carcel stood near as Jash lay on his bed.


    Unsurprisingly, he remained spotless, as if he hadn''t just gone through a horrendous experience.


    It wasn''t really tough to clean him; a single wave-like gesture of Sera''s hands was all it took.


    In less than a second, all the blood-stained clothes were cleaned, and Jash''s sweat was gone.


    Not surprised in the least, Carcel stared at Jash with a mix of emotions¡ªpride, worry, anxiety, and determination.


    "It seems like I need to tell Father about this before we announce it publicly," Carcel said, contemplating various things.


    "Do that," Sera agreed succinctly, her eyes affixed on Jash''s face as she caressed his sharp cheeks. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haa." Carcel sighed but chose to remain silent wisely.


    At that time, Jash''s eyes fluttered open yet his vision remained hazy and cloudy, prompting him to blink multiple times to correct it.


    Even though there was no movement except his eyes, his parents noticed it as they had been keeping a close eye on him..


    "Urgh," Jash grunted as he felt a slight headache incoming after waking up.


    "Jash, calm down. Your body needs some time to adjust to the changes," Sera advised in a gentle manner as she massaged his forehead.


    Jash''s body relaxed subconsciously at the familiar touch.


    It took him a couple of minutes to come to reality and he immediately fired his questions, "What happened? Why am I here? Why did I faint? Where''s Caera? I remember seeing her..."


    Before he could continue his thoughts, he was swiftly interrupted by Carcel.


    "Well, for starters, you awakened. That''s what happened," Carcel said with a simple tone and continued upon seeing only more confusion appear on Jash''s face.


    "Your awakening time was 4 hours and 59 minutes. A new world record. You fell unconscious probably because you have never gone through such pain, or maybe it was a side-effect of such a long awakening time? Who knows?"


    Carcel shrugged his shoulders, indicating he was as clueless as Jash here.


    "Don''t worry, though. You are absolutely fine, or Father would have come here himself by now. Regarding Caera..."


    "Caera is in her room as punishment." Sera continued where Carcel trailed off, startling Jash at his mother''s actions.


    ''How can she bear to punish Caera? That doesn''t make sense at all!'' Jash thought, finding it hard to believe, yet the fact lay bare in front of him.


    Then it finally hit him. Something he ignored from Carcel''s explanation.


    ''Wait a minute! 4 hours 59 minutes? World Record? New Record? ME!?'' Jash thought in indignation.


    ''Now, it makes sense why I suffered so much! Damn it all!'' He cursed inwardly as realization dawned on him.


    Of course, he was aware of the importance of setting one''s foundation after the formation of the Mana Core.


    That''s why he aimed to be somewhere around Caera''s awakening time, hopefully less than her.


    ''At least that wouldn''t make me an outstanding genius like now!'' Jash thought, incredulity enveloping his mind.


    Since even one hour of awakening time could be called a genius, let alone Caera who tripled that and Jash who broke the world record.


    Or at least everyone believed that was the world record.


    Everyone except Cornelius.


    Even Jash wasn''t privy to such a detail as it wasn''t mentioned in the novel. It focused too much on making the protagonist appear the best.


    ''That stupid protagonist had an awakening time of 4 hours and 15 or so minutes...'' Jash recalled the important detail from the novel.


    As it changed his point of view at the current time.


    The longer one''s awakening time, the higher their potential, or at least chances of reaching the Integration-rank or higher.


    This world had a different ranking system than most worlds but that''s something even Jash doesn''t exactly know about since he couldn''t be bothered about it in the past.


    "Uhm, by the way, you guys aren''t planning to make it public or something, right?" Jash suddenly asked as it would be too troublesome for his liking.


    "Hmm. It depends on Father," Carcel answered with a thoughtful expression, allowing Jash to breathe freely.


    "Dad, there''s no need to announce it. Just tell Grandfather. I don''t want any more attention than I already have. It will be too troublesome," Jash pleaded with a soft tone and a helpless look on his face.


    The expression showed his mindset, as if saying: What''s the meaning of life? It''s all tiresome.


    "And I am quite tired from all this. Let me rest for now, please," Jash quickly added before Carcel could say anything, causing him to close his mouth.


    "Sigh Okay," Carcel said with a sad voice as his lips twitched at Jash''s expressions.


    He was very excited to announce his son''s heaven-breaking talent to the whole world, but he couldn''t do it if Jash requested in such a manner.


    Sera''s already sharp gaze bore into him, sending chills down his spine. He knew better than to anger his wife.


    "Thank you, mom," Jash said, turning to his mom, conveying his gratitude with a tired smile.


    Sera''s expression morphed in less than a second from a death glare to Carcel to a soft and lovely smile to Jash.


    Carcel really felt like cursing his luck for getting such talented children. All of them knew how to win his wife''s favor easily.


    Meanwhile, Jash remained unaware of his father''s ''evil'' thoughts as he thought to himself, ''Finally, I will be able to check the differences in my body!''


    No matter how tired he looked, he couldn''t mask his excitement from Sera, who pinched his cheek slightly before kissing it as if he were a kid, then left with a teasing smile on her face.


    Rubbing his cheek, Jash saw Carcel being dragged along and couldn''t help but smile at his father''s pitiful state.

 Chapter 41 - 41: Changes

    ''I can freely check the changes now,'' mused Jash as he got up from his bed and stood in his usual exercising area.


    After the refreshing sleep, his pain was almost gone. He had only suffered the aftereffects of such an excruciating process.


    ''Don''t want to suffer DOMS now,'' thought Jash as he started doing a series of calisthenics, then jogged and jumped in place.


    "Delayed-onset muscle soreness, commonly referred to as DOMS, is muscle pain that begins after you''ve finished working out. Hmm. It normally starts a day or two after, though. You won''t feel it during or immediately after your workout. That''s a different kind."


    Recalling that the muscle soreness he had already experienced had a name felt refreshing to Jash, but he didn''t want to suffer again.


    He carefully felt the changes in his body, both internal and external.


    Besides the familiar feeling of mana coursing within him, he had to get accustomed to the changes in his body.


    Jash could feel the exaggerated change in his body strength as he needed much less effort to reach the same height or extent.


    The next thing he felt was his heart rate not increasing in response to his physical training as it seemed to have improved its blood pumping capacity.


    ''Even my thought process feels smoother along with my senses,'' Jash mused as a small smile graced his lips.


    The refreshing feeling of fatigue alleviated as he continued to adjust to the changes the awakening brought him.


    It took him a few minutes to get used to his transformed body.


    Although he couldn''t really use mana for now to avoid raising suspicions from his family, it didn''t stop him from sensing it and trying to manipulate it.


    A wide grin appeared on his face as he felt the mana move according to his will.


    Even if his efforts resulted in negligible results, it was just his first try.


    Many would do anything to achieve such success, yet he didn''t realize the absurdity of his feat; he just attributed it to his past life.


    Finally, he gazed at his toned physique in the mirror, scrutinized his shirtless body, and noted, ''I didn''t sweat a single drop.''


    Out of curiosity, he touched his muscles, only to find they were tighter than before, yet his skin remained the same.


    It couldn''t help but make him wonder, ''Why is my skin the same when everything else changed?''


    Yet his mind was much more focused on appreciating his looks than his skin. ''Meh. Skin is too microscopic to even be noticed. But damn, do I look handsome?''


    For the next two minutes, Jash went into a narcissistic ride to compliment himself.


    At least he was happy even if he didn''t really get that main character lean muscular 8-pack physique.


    Still, his looks were something many men would envy and, at the same time, many women would want to have him.


    Too sad for them, he was already booked long in advance by a certain someone, who was busy with her own family.


    "Ahem, ahem," Jash coughed to get rid of his awkwardness after realizing his line of thoughts were too dangerous.


    "...Anyways, what about elements? I have seen Caera use fire and she has red hair, so it makes sense. Then, do I have darkness because of my dark hair?"


    Jash questioned himself as he took hold of a few strands of his glistening hair. Though intrigued by the sight, his mind quickly cycled back to the elements..


    "Isn''t there some sort of elemental awakening after one awakens, as the final part or something?" Jash mumbled to himself.


    He found it too weird that he didn''t find any elements or anything related to them in his memory.


    Still, he had memories of those fantasy novels from his past life, and one of them went into great detail regarding the elements.


    [The elemental awakening occurs after one survives the merging, allowing you to feel your element and turn the mana in your body into that element.


    Naturally, most newbies hurt themselves and everyone around them in this step, as no one who felt mana for the first time could just transform the excess mana and turn it into any element.


    There''s even a risk of losing control, and all the ambient mana could go berserk. Well, that''s an extreme case.


    However, if it happens, then you''re lucky if you get off easy by not learning any element but if not, then your newly built mana channels get injured, ruining your future development.


    Of course, if you successfully awaken your element then you would have an easier time learning that element.


    In the case you give up, it just means you will have to try and learn every element available just to see which one suits you the most.


    Not only would it waste lots of time, and even your proficiency won''t be as good as people who learned it in their awakening.]


    ''Hmm. That''s a bit complex and is not even gonna happen...'' concluded Jash as he could clearly remember many such novels.


    Most just chose to glance over the element thing and mentioned some elemental orb with which one can check their affinity.


    Nevertheless, just the thought of finding his element excited Jash as he couldn''t help but jump around to curb it. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To distract himself from thinking about unknown matters, he decided to take a shower.


    As the cold water poured on his skin, he felt a sharp coldness from it unlike prior times.


    "Hiss. What just happened? Why did I feel cold?" Jash muttered in indignation.


    "This... Did my skin become sensitive or something?" He quickly thought of a possibility, yet his face darkened.


    In a fit of anger from the indignation, Jash voiced his frustrations.


    "There''s just no way!"


    "How will I enjoy my cold showers now?"


    "This is so unfair!"


    "Damn it! If only I had not awakened!"


    "Why did no one tell me!?"


    "If only..."


    Amidst his grumblings, he even cursed the awakening process and imagined a life without it, forgetting the fact that he would have to face it one day, which might lead to his death and his family''s end if he didn''t work to change such a negative future.


    After accepting his bleak reality with a lost look on his face, he increased the water temperature and took a shower with not-so-cold water.


    He maintained his lifeless look till he laid back on the bed, about to sleep. Yet his expression morphed into a sneer as he suddenly remembered something.


    "The protagonist''s element was light, wasn''t it? Truly befitting of a hero, I guess?"


    Jash mocked the author, but he knew it wasn''t even a surprise as the so-called hero literally lived in the church and got blessed by the goddess in the latter stages.


    "What then? Does the main villain have an element of darkness? Maybe even some God or Goddess of Darkness in conflict with the Goddess of Light?"


    Jash really felt the author was an idiot for using such a stupid cliched concept, completely forgetting his problem with awakening as he jeered at the novel before falling asleep once again.


    It was truly a wonder how he could sleep so carelessly after being awake for less than an hour.

 Chapter 42 - 42: Hunter Ranks

    "That''s not how you do it!" Caera shouted in exasperation before glaring at Jash and taking the bow from his hands.


    Holding the bow with its grip in her right hand, she slanted it a few degrees before drawing the bowstring and nocking the arrow.


    As the arrowhead rested on the grip of the bow, she fixed it using her left thumb before closing her left eye and aiming for the target.


    ¡ªWhoosh!


    The arrow pierced through the air as it made Caera''s hair flutter in the wind even though she had already tied it primly. It truly made for a picturesque scene.


    ¡ªBam!


    A small sound echoed as the arrowhead struck true to the wooden target''s head.


    The arrow fell to the ground before the training dummy recovered its previous state, but it took a few seconds, unlike when Caera used a fireball spell against it.


    "Hmph! That''s how you do it!" Caera said with a proud smile as she crossed her arms and held her head high.


    Alas, her pose broke as veins popped on her forehead when she turned to look at Jash, only to notice him in a daze.


    Unaware of the danger he was in, Jash wondered just what went wrong yesterday.


    ''Why am I here? Why did she drag me? I could''ve slept instead of being here...''


    Many such thoughts swirled in his mind as he got lost within them from the moment he misfired an arrow.


    ''Even missing a shot on purpose didn''t get me any rest,'' lamented Jash inwardly, noticing Caera''s unique form.


    Although he used swords and various melee weapons in his past life, it didn''t mean he had never met archers or fought them.


    He knew a thing or two about the importance of posture and movement in weapon wielding, so he didn''t really need to be taught.


    It''s just that he couldn''t just magically know it.


    ''That''d be way too suspicious and no way my genius can explain it! Maybe seeing things and learning at once, but that''s the extent of it. Improving something would be stretching it already, let alone having prior knowledge.''


    Jash had come to that conclusion already, but he really disliked the idea of training.


    In the end, his mind replayed the scene of his morning.


    ¡­


    Jash lay sleeping peacefully in his bed in light, breathable pajamas yet it seemed someone didn''t really like that.


    Before he could wake up by himself, he was jolted awake by a sudden splash of water hitting his face.


    Jash''s eyes shot open and he sat up with a start, looking around for the perpetrator in confusion, only to find Caera standing next to his bed with her usual stoic expression.


    Yet her twitching lips made it obvious she was having a hard time holding in her laughter.


    Although she might look cute to an onlooker, Jash could only see the face of an evil girl enjoying irritating him. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re so lazy, brother. You''re always sleeping," she said in a sweet and playful way.


    Despite her nice behavior, Jash chose to stay quiet and ignore her provocative look.


    Getting out of bed, he ruffled her hair before dashing towards his bathroom.


    As he turned around to see her surprise and shock, he couldn''t hold his laughter at her messed-up hair.


    He didn''t wait for her to regain her bearings and entered his bathroom, but not before cheekily saying, ''Way to go, lil sis, way to go. At least fix your hair before waking someone up."


    While Jash enjoyed the shower, he ignored the banging on his bathroom door and Caera''s shouts which got muffled by the sound of water hitting the hard tiles.


    However, his plight didn''t end with waking up early as he was thrust into forced training by Caera at 5 AM.


    "It''s just five in the morning, who even wakes up so early?" Jash grumbled all the way to the training ground.


    ¡­


    By the time he remembered how he found himself here, he felt a sharp pain in his forehead, jolting him awake from his reverie.


    "Owww"


    Another sharp pain rose from his chest before he could even make sense of the forehead one.


    "That''s what you deserve for ignoring my kind teachings," Caera said with a smile that wasn''t really a smile as she removed her fist from his chest.


    "Urgh," Jash grunted, not because of the pain, it was not even painful. It was more so from the suddenness of the pain.


    "Why!?" He asked in indignation.


    "Hmm? What do you mean why? You haven''t trained at all for as long as I remember! Even your bookish knowledge is limited and won''t be of any help!"


    After Caera vented her frustration at him not understanding something so simple, she looked to find his expression, saying he didn''t agree with her.


    "You don''t agree, right?" Caera asked rhetorically, yet her smile grew dangerous after seeing him nod.


    "Just answer this question and I will stop. It''s basic, nothing no one our age doesn''t know."


    Despite the smile on her face, Jash felt uneasy at her truthful words, but chose to shrug it away, thinking, ''Nah. I''d know.''


    The nonchalant smile on his face crumpled the moment he heard her question.


    "What are all the hunter ranks and their difference?" Caera asked with a smug smile.


    ''Uh, no, what? I have no idea!'' Jash thought in panic as he truly didn''t know much about the topic.


    "What happened, genius? Don''t know?" Caera mocked him with a grin upon noticing his panicked expression.


    Before he could retort or say anything, she continued proudly, "Hmph! It seems this great little sister of your has to teach you everything!"


    "Ahem," Clearing her throat dramatically she started with a warning. "Listen carefully, or else..."


    "Starting from the basics, the ranks go from G to A, then the Integration Rank before the S, SS, and SSS ranks."


    "Besides Integration Rank, each rank has the same three sub-ranks; Early, Mid, Late."


    "Also, the color of one''s mana defines the ranks and subranks, the denser the color, the higher the subrank."


    "While the ranks from E to A correspond to a major color change:


    A-rank is violet


    B-rank is indigo


    C-rank is blue


    D-rank is green


    E-rank is yellow."


    Caera paused her explanation to confirm if he was paying attention, and only continued after confirming it.


    "Well, the G-rank is nothing more than what you are at now. G refers to the glass mana core as it remains transparent and glass-like instead of a mana core with some color. Only after you change your entire mana pool to a light-red color, can you then breakthrough to F-Rank."


    "It doesn''t follow the same rule for sub-ranks, as it has six of them: Light Red, Red, Dark Red, Light Yellow, Yellow, Dark Yellow."


    "That''s all. As it will take a long time to even reach A-rank, let alone Integration-rank or above, it makes no difference to know about it."


    Caera stopped her explanation and smiled as she looked at the contemplative expression on Jash.


    Yet she found herself dumbfounded the next minute at Jash''s questions.


    "Why is it so complex? Instead of letter coding, can''t we just use the color of the mana to define the ranks? Won''t that save a lot of time and effort?"

 Chapter 43 - 43: Shocking Revelations

    Jash paid close attention to everything Caera said, believing it to be important yet he had a hard time grappling with everything at once.


    ''Why is it so... complex?'' Jash thought in utter confusion as Caera finished.


    After an entire minute of mulling over it, he broke the silence and asked the question plaguing his mind. "Why so complex? Instead of letter coding, can''t we just use the color of the mana to define the ranks? Wouldn''t that save a lot of time and effort?"


    To him, the entire ranking system felt unnecessary, prompting him to question the one who ''taught'' him.


    Opposite him, Caera''s expression turned dark at his question, but she took a minute to calm herself before responding.


    "Fuu..." She inhaled sharply before turning to face Jash with a bright smile.


    "It''s not like I created the ranks and it''s not even that complex for you to complain. What happened to your genius, eh?"


    Just as Jash opened his mouth to talk back, she gave him another strike.


    "It''s simple enough that even those who don''t have access to mana understand it, yet the one who broke the record can''t?"


    Finally, her bright smile turned into a mocking smirk, causing Jash to pause in his tracks.


    ''Damn it! So unfair!'' lamented Jash with an indignant expression as he chose to ignore her taunts. ''I might as well read about it from the library later...''


    In the end, he went through an unwanted training session which ended with him having a dead look on his face as he exited the training ground. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s fine, really. You don''t need to be so down," Caera consoled him, patting his shoulder as they walked side-by-side.


    "Haa... That''s not-... Haa," Jash tried explaining himself but ended up only sighing ruefully.


    "Learning how to handle the bow and achieving an accuracy rating of 78 isn''t all that bad for your first day. Also, don''t forget your body is still untrained and this was the first time you wielded a bow!"


    Even though Caera tried to cheer him up, Jash didn''t feel all that happy about his talent with the bow.


    ''Though incomplete, I have past life memories and knowledge about combat and mana. Yet all I got were these ridiculous results... Maybe I should just stick to the sword and other melee weapons...''


    Jash found his future direction lacking as he truly thought of wielding a bow to be easier and better than fighting with a sword.


    ''I would just have to move like a monkey in the front, taking damage and getting smeared in blood. Urgh... Why could I not have talent in the bow?''


    Just as he regretted his lack of talent, Caera nudged him, jolting him awake from his reverie.


    "You weren''t listening, were you? Haa. Seriously, that''s your problem. You never listen!" Caera shouted exasperatedly before walking away.


    Dumbfounded by her sudden change in behavior, Jash dashed to her and asked straight away, "What happened? What''s gotten in your head?"


    Listening to his rude tone, Caera didn''t want to answer and freed her wrist before walking away at a pace faster than he could muster.


    "Caera!" Jash shouted her name and took a step forward, only to find himself encapsulated by a white-black mana shell.


    ''Grandpa?'' thought Jash in recognition, relaxing his guard fully.


    Yet it only served to perplex him as he hadn''t seen Cornelius since the day he got his past life memories.


    ''Just what could he want to talk to me about?'' mused Jash, forgetting about his recent altercation with Caera.


    Meanwhile, Kesha, who witnessed the morning training to the twins'' quarrel, left after feeling the distance from Caera increase, but not before glancing at the place where Jash stood a second ago.


    ''I must inform Young Miss before she hurts herself further by blaming herself for Young Master not coming to placate her.''


    The single thought caused Kesha to increase her pace, unaware of the eyes observing her every action.


    Not only her, Cornelius remained aware of every action within the family estate as long as he wished for it.


    Usually, he didn''t stay at the Estate and remained outside to explore some ruins or unknown lands as it served to fuel his curiosity.


    However, it was different these days as he was taking note of Jash''s behavior to resolve his dilemma when the chance presented itself.


    Looking at the downcast Jash, who was lamenting about his talents after doing better than most in his first attempt, made Cornelius''s lip twitch.


    "This child is so troublesome," mumbled Cornelius to himself. "Still, I should tell him about it before he becomes even more prideful."


    To alleviate his worry and prevent Jash from going down the wrong path, Cornelius decided to have a small chat with him.


    Well, more like forcefully brought him in, but that''s not what matters, right? It''s the thought that counts.


    Seizing the appropriate moment, Cornelius took on a serious expression as he stared straight into the calm eyes of Jash.


    However, it was his turn to be surprised to see Jash remain calm under his gaze.


    Even the strongest hunters wouldn''t dare look him in the eye, yet here stood Jash, meeting his gaze.


    His grandson''s achievements caused his lips to curl upwards, but he concealed it instantly and broke the silence. "Jash, I heard about your talent from Carcel, but there''s something he doesn''t know. Under no circumstances are you supposed to tell him about it, do you understand?"


    Hearing Cornelius''s grave tone, Jash nodded with a stern expression on his face yet he was also curious about it.


    ''What is it that caused Grandpa to be super serious?'' wondered Jash, hoping for a quick answer and he truly didn''t have to wait.


    "Congratulations on your awakening and surpassing my time, alas, you failed to break the world record," Cornelius paused immediately as he noted Jash''s shock.


    To Jash, he really didn''t know how to react. It was like a thunder struck his happy life, sundering it into dust.


    Despite his internal turmoil, he tried his best to calm himself as he squeezed out his question, "Who?"


    However, Cornelius didn''t respond and changed the topic, leaving Jash puzzled.


    "There''s another thing to note. The awakening ceremony¡ªyours or anyone else''s¡ªis all artificially created by the ambient mana. It isn''t natural. You''re aware of this, yes?"


    "Also, you know who awakened naturally after countless years of waiting. Your life is far from easy. You may consider yourself the most talented in your generation or even the world, but that''s not true at all."


    "Keep this in mind."


    Before Jash could respond or question further, Cornelius waved his hand, and Jash vanished from the space.


    He was stunned at finding himself in his room.


    He couldn''t help but mutter incredulously, "Just... what?"


    His face scrunched up as he tried to grapple with the intent behind his grandfather''s sudden actions.


    "Something even dad doesn''t know? Just what is he hiding? Better yet, who?"


    "Natural awakening... there is just you, no? Even the protagonist couldn''t do it, but you did it, my friend."


    A smile blossomed on his face as the figure of a white-haired boy his age came to Jash''s mind.


    However, his smile morphed into a serious expression as he prayed, "I just hope my hunch doesn''t come true."

 Chapter 44 - 44: Bitter Pill

    Shaking his head to get rid of the distracting thoughts, Jash focused on what his grandfather said.


    ''Hmm. He''s indeed right. It would do me no good if I can''t see reality and become delusional.''


    Thinking so, Jash seemed to remember the mention of someone having a higher awakening time than him.


    "Just who is it for Grandpa to ask me not to tell even Dad about this?" mumbled Jash with furrowed brows.


    His mind worked at breakneck speeds, recalling all kinds of talented people, mainly females, who helped the protagonist or stood as roadblocks, mainly males.


    As if he were used to the incongruity, he didn''t dwell on the details much and focused more on the individuals and their plots.


    Yet all he got as a result was frustration as he couldn''t help but curse lightly, "Just who is this darned mystery person?"


    "Are they some freaking recluse or what?"


    "Maybe some world guardian protecting the world from otherworldly threats?"


    "No way! That''s impossible! If they existed, where were they when the world was on the verge of destruction?"


    "So annoying!"


    In the end, Jash gritted his teeth and wisely put the matter at the back of his mind instead of wasting his time.


    "Whatever. Not my problem, for now. Maybe they were assassinated due to their overwhelming talent or something. Even if they are alive, what are the odds of us meeting?" He shrugged off his curiosity and returned to the day''s events.


    ''What prompted Grandpa, though? Maybe my talent in archery? No, that sucked. Then, my behavior afterwards?'' Jash contemplated the reason for the sudden chat.


    As he recalled his mannerism and downcast expression, he felt as if he was inevitably closer to the truth, his eyes narrowing in focus not on his line of sight but his internal musings.


    "Yeah, that has to be it!" Jash shouted in slight exhilaration, planting his right fist into his left palm.


    "It was because I behaved as if expecting to have talent in everything just because of my unbeatable awakening time! Maybe that''s the reason the academy death even happens!"


    Jash muttered to himself in a moment of contemplation before regaining his bearing and looking around with a serious expression.


    ''I hope no one heard that.'' Well, he was more worried about the embarrassment it would bring instead of any other consequences.


    Though a bitter pill to swallow, he felt at least partially correct in his assessment.


    After ensuring no one was eavesdropping, he returned to his musings.


    ''The last thing is this natural vs artificial awakening. Damn! So complex!'' Jash lamented the complexity of almost everything mana-related.


    In truth, he didn''t have any problems understanding or remembering them, it was just a slight inconvenience for him.


    "Just why can''t things be streamlined for easier understanding?" Jash complained, despite knowing it was useless.


    Feeling helpless, he pursed his lips and focused on the knowledge regarding awakening he had learnt when he was an 8-year-old.


    [


    Awakening wasn''t all that complicated but required significant funds for a private awakening or one could visit the Hunter Association to awaken.


    Naturally, it won''t be for free. In return, they require the person to sign a contract to work for different tenures and departments based on awakening results.


    Obviously, one needed to reach at least the age of 18 to work for them after graduating from the academy they attended.


    Of course, this all had nothing to do with Jash, as he didn''t have to become a corporate slave for the Association when he was the second son of the Ramille Family.


    Being one of the three founding ducal families in the empire, their wealth surpassed many as they worked in various industries throughout the years.


    Back to private awakenings.


    A Mana Room with a constant and pure flow of mana was essential, being the bare minimum to awaken while a Mana Gem increased the chances of success, became an additional requirement.


    Of course, no one rich enough to afford a private awakening would care about a meager mana gem.


    Hence, rich people, mostly nobles, do not have to wait for their children to form Mana Cores gradually.


    Since they can simply afford to use Mana Gems solely for their children to awaken immediately. This also became a way for people in power to control newly awakened hunters.


    In contrast to private awakenings, the Association usually shares a single Mana Gem among a thousand civilians to awaken them due to the low drop rate of Mana Gems.


    Thus, the Mana Gem which helped complete the formation of a Mana Core remained lacking for a thousand civilians.


    Although they too awakened at the age of 12, as stipulated by the Hunter Association for everyone, their awakening remained incomplete.


    Their awakening process involved forming their Mana Core in the initial stages and gradually growing it over time, typically between ages 13 and 18, depending on talent.


    The Hunter Association would then pick the talented individuals under 15 to recruit directly instead of the contract and sponsor them to the Solarnelle Academy.


    Still, they wouldn''t recruit everyone into the ranks without evaluating their results upon graduation and throughout the Academy years.


    Heck, even passing the entrance test wasn''t a cakewalk.


    That''s why no academy cared about age; they only focused on the awakening. Therefore, no admission are allowed in most academics after 18 years of age. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    18 years is the limit until someone can awaken their powers. If they don''t, they just have to live their life like that¡ªunable to use mana.


    The only way forward for such people without mana''s support would be to get stronger by training their body, the crude way.


    Even with all that and the Association''s support, there are many unawakened people in the world and they might just be the ones who have bodies unsuitable for mana itself.


    Not all fall under the same category as some can''t afford the cost for a safe awakening ceremony, but at the same time don''t want to accept the Association''s contract.


    "Ah, If you''re wondering if awakening is so good and necessary, why isn''t the Imperial Family making it free for the public. Then, Young Master, you are too naive.


    Just like everything else in the world¡ªmana is a resource¡ªlimited and expensive. So why would anyone risk spending something like that without a guarantee if their investment will be successful or not.


    Also, people can never be trusted; the one you help today might stab you in the back tomorrow. Why increase potential competition?"


    "Of course, some noble families and even the Church of Light have some planned ways, making it cheaper or easier for the general public to awaken.


    Naturally, they expect the return over it, just like the Association does. The Church one, though, is done in an attempt to gain believers and increase faith in the Goddess, while nobles do it to increase their army power to fight against monsters & dungeons."


    ]


    Recalling all the complex information regarding awakening, Jash was in an unpleasant mood. "Urgh, so useless."


    "Damn! I am already awakened! What''s the use now? Can''t I just recall the relevant information?"


    Even though he said that, Jash did focus on the subtle details from his lessons and the practicality of it instead of just rote-learning the books on awakening.

 Chapter 45 - 45: Vague Insight

    Despite finding the additional information slightly useful, it didn''t matter to him at the moment.


    Not wanting to go through the wrong memories once again, as he didn''t know what might get triggered, Jash made a crucial decision.


    ''Maybe I should head to the library?''


    Thinking so, he left his room directly but stopped in his tracks as he soon heard a voice calling for him.


    "Young Master Jash." Emma bowed as she moved from her position outside the door and stood in front of Jash.


    He flinched momentarily at her unexpected presence before questioning her, "Emma? What are you doing here?"


    "Young Master, it is my duty to assist you," Emma answered in a matter-of-fact tone.


    Nodding to himself, Jash didn''t waste time evaluating the change in her actions and instead got to the point. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I am heading to the librar¨C No, wait. Emma, do you know the difference between the types of awakening?"


    Instead of delving into books, Jash thought of asking her as a shortcut, saving him time and effort to search the books.


    "Uhm, you mean the private awakening and the ones sponsored by others? But why would you¨C?"


    "No! Not that! Natural vs Artificial Awakening!" Jash interrupted her midway through her question, but she didn''t seem to care.


    "Ah, that! Young Master, I''d suggest heading to the library instead of asking me or anyone else," Emma said sternly before adding, "Also, don''t go searching for it online."


    Jash''s expression soured as a frown marred his face, only to be quickly replaced by a look of bewilderment.


    ''Online? Online as in Internet? INTERNET!? This world has internet!?'' Jash chided himself as he really didn''t know about it.


    ''Damn! I really should search about my world instead of thinking I know everything about this world!''


    He took a few seconds to remind himself to look out for unexplored elements since he hadn''t confirmed if this world was the novel itself.


    Even if all the signs pointed to it, he wouldn''t believe it unless he had some solid proof regarding his theory.


    Not that it mattered, though. He was already hell-bent on not dying, thereby changing the starting plot itself.


    ''The cliche of the Hero facing enemies and someone sacrificing to save his and his friends life so that the Hero gets an awakening or some shit. Why should I care? I plan on changing everything to suit myself, not someone else.''


    With that thought, Jash ascended the stairs with Emma in tow and started walking down a certain hallway on the second floor of the mansion.


    Unknowingly, he remained lost in his own world to the point of not even realizing where he was headed.


    If not for the timely call from Emma, he really might just die of second-hand embarrassment.


    "Young Master!" Emma shouted before hurriedly pulling him back, preventing Jash from hitting his face on a wall.


    Stunned by the sudden shout and pull, he stumbled before balancing himself with Emma''s support and looked at the wall in confusion.


    "Where?" He mumbled in confusion, prompting Emma to clear it.


    "Young Master, you were walking in random directions without a care in the world and ended up almost..."


    ''Damn it! Just how stupid can you be, Jash?'' He scolded himself inwardly as he got the gist of what she said, even if she didn''t complete her sentence.


    "Let''s just head to the library," Jash implored, not wanting to linger on his mistake.


    "As you wish," Emma was happy to oblige and led the way with a smile.


    However, the reason for her smile remained elusive to Jash as he couldn''t help but wonder if it was because of his stupidity or his request for her to lead the way.


    ''Whatever. Not like it matters,'' concluded Jash as he followed behind her.


    Without any surprises or accidents, they reached the small library in the mansion.


    "Emma, isn''t this where our classes and tests take place?" Jash asked, his eyes fixed on the door.


    "Yes, Young Master. It contains all the knowledge you or the Young Lady might seek before going into the Solarnelle Academy," Emma responded curtly.


    Hearing her response, Jash turned to face her and asked as he pointed his thumb at his chest, "You mean to say it was here all the time and it was me who ignored it..."


    Seeing Emma not answer, he absentmindedly entered the miniature library.


    It wasn''t extravagant with special designs or anything.


    After all, it was a place to study. Also because Ramilles believed education should be provided to all, so it came as no surprise how plain the room was.


    With lightly painted yellow walls, the room had more wooden stuff than even the mana lamps, lit up using a mana stone.


    Jash walked with great familiarity before arriving in front of a bookshelf and reading the titles of the books.


    "Introduction to Awakening"


    "What is mana?"


    "Monster Encyclopedia Vol-I"


    "Hunter Ranks"


    "Advanced Knowledge on Awakening"


    "Beginner''s Guide on how to use mana"


    ¡­


    After glancing past all the books, he only picked out a selected few.


    "Awakening Vol-I to Vol-V and this Advanced Knowledge on Awakening should do the job," mumbled Jash as he placed them on the table and started to read them after making himself comfortable.


    He wanted to pick up all the books, but he didn''t really have the time to finish them today.


    Despite his dislike for studying, Jash focused on each word in the book and even wrote down the things he found interesting.


    Three hours flew by.


    ¡ªRustle rustle


    Rustling of pages sounded as Jash closed the final book and leaned back on his wooden chair as he closed his eyes.


    ''There wasn''t anything I didn''t know or hadn''t experienced in the five volumes. The jogged memories of this morning already filled the few gaps I had.''


    ''But this last book... It did the job,'' mused Jash as he sat back straight and turned to see his notes where he had noted the points.


    {The first one, a normal¡ªartificial¡ªawakening: All the person has to do is absorb ample amounts of mana from the gem and the room they were in to awaken with all the knowledge they would have. It has a high rate of success.


    However, even the most talented one with an awakening time of 3 hours and 56 minutes can''t beat a naturally awakened person. Maybe one needs to cross the threshold of 4 or 5 hours for it. But is that even possible?


    After all, the naturally awakened person is literally blessed by mana in the sense that they don''t even have to do anything. The mana awakens them directly.


    The biggest difference would be that natural awakenings only happen until the age of 13. After that, only artificial awakenings can be done.}


    "Haa..." Jash sighed as he re-read his note for the 4th time.


    "Even if useful, the information seems based on myths and whatnot. It doesn''t give me anything to work with."


    Frustration etched his features as all his intense 3-hour session netted was some mix-matched information.


    Even if he could make sense of it somehow, he still frowned as the comparisons were vague, and the only useful point could be the difference in interaction with mana itself.


    "I guess I will work with what I have until I can ask Grandpa or someone else," concluded Jash before leaving.

 Chapter 46 - 46: Mana Core

    Exiting the library, Jash encountered the firm figure of Emma, who steadfastly followed behind him as he headed to his room.


    ''I think I might get some time to study this book after lunch,'' mused Jash as he turned to face Emma.


    "Bring my lunch to the room."


    "Yes, Young Master." Emma bowed politely before vanishing.


    Despite their strained relationship since his past life memories returned, Jash made no visible effort to mend it.


    After all, he knew her all too well. ''It will only have the opposite effect if I do anything at this time.''


    Although her overly polite behavior was starting to get on his nerves, it was still bearable for now.


    "I guess I should read to distract myself." Mumbling to himself, he picked up the book with the title ''Hunter Ranks.''


    Sitting comfortably on his bed, awaiting his lunch, he read the book.


    ¡ªRustle


    Calling it reading would be a stretch since all Jash did was turn the pages every few seconds, barely staying on each for more than 5 seconds.


    ¡ªCreak


    Luckily, his lunch arrived before he could flip through the book in its entirety.


    Looking at the numerous dishes lined up neatly, he too stood up from the bed, only to sit at his balcony table.


    Enjoying the light winter breeze and hot food rejuvenated his mood. Naturally, no one stayed in his room after delivering his meal, giving him complete freedom to reflect.


    Yet he didn''t seem to utilize the opportunity.


    He picked up the book again after eating and continued to flip through. In less than 20 minutes, he reached the last pages, and only then did his pace decrease.


    ''This... Caera didn''t mention it,'' noted Jash as he found much more detailed explanations about the ranking system.


    ''I wonder who made such a complex system?'' Jash mused, curious about the creator yet found no such records.


    ''Maybe, I''d find something about them if I enter the main library or inside the Solarnelle Academy?''


    Jash believed his guesses made sense and continued to focus on the end pages of the book.


    Finally, after another 10 minutes of careful reading, he closed the book and placed it aside.


    ''Even though I have the knowledge of the novel and countless others, this system is new.''


    He recalled the differences in the protagonist''s ranking system due to the Blessing of the Goddess but shrugged them off, knowing he couldn''t follow that path without the Blessing.


    ''And no way would I risk getting caught and interrogated regarding my past life by a Goddess!'' Jash firmly resolved to not get entangled with the Church.


    Cycling back to his current need for the ranking system, he compared his mental image with Caera''s explanation.


    ''If I had to point out the differences, then it''s not that difficult. Instead of the three sub-ranks, I''d say using the color of mana would be a better indicator, but it''s not really accurate.''


    Recalling the description of the three sub-ranks, he couldn''t help but want to beat himself up over his stupidity.


    ''Damn! I really am living without knowing anything significant!''


    Shaking his head to move on from his inner-scoldings, he went through the information pertaining to the mana core itself.


    Mana cores are small, spherical, glass-like structures located at the middle dantian in the body, right above the sternum, below the heart.


    ''That''s what I know,'' Jash briefly reflected on the information before turning his attention back to fill the gaps.


    The same ranking system was followed by the three races: humans, elves, and dwarves. For some reason, these races which appeared around 1200 years ago also adapted and accepted this model.


    ''Unknowns again. Not like history has ever been accurate or something, so I guess that''s that?'' Jash shifted his stance, opting to lean thoughtfully against the wooden railing.


    The next thing he recalled were related to the color of the mana core itself and how it affects the mana inside one''s body.


    Of course, it played an important role throughout one''s life as it not only makes it quite easy to assess one''s level, whether they be an ally or enemy.


    The different races could modify and evolve the method with their prior knowledge at different thresholds, which helped improve it significantly.


    ''Is improve even the right term?'' Jash wondered if that was truly the case.


    After all, it was entirely possible, they just merged their own racial system into it and it somehow worked for all three races.


    Well, some did go to the extent of calling it a miracle from the Goddess as the one who spread the mana method was the fabled hero.


    ''But who gave the darned ranking system? Back then, it was just colors!'' Jash felt curious rather than angry as he had already realized his mistake.


    He had ignored the existence of colorblind people, which struggled differentiating the ranking but the new ranking system made it more streamlined.


    Although they still couldn''t judge based on color, unlike others.


    Moving on from the mana core to the mana itself, Jash recalled the seven colors listed by Caera, and the image of the dispersion phenomenon appeared in his head.


    ''Light... The seven-colored power system... It certainly isn''t just a coincidence...'' pondered Jash, his mind spinning with the implications


    However, he didn''t linger on it for too long.


    ''The Color of Mana is dependent on the Mana Core''s color, but not directly.'' Jash recalled what was mentioned in the book.


    As one progresses their rank, the color of their mana changes. The denser and darker the color, the more one has advanced in rank.


    Of course, at the start of each rank, mana is a bit murky and turbid.


    Slowly, purification occurs and it becomes more condensed and darker before advancing to the next color and becoming more deadly.


    ''The difference between the sub-ranks and even ranks increased from E to A rank. If late E-rank had roughly 2~3 times the strength of an early E-rank, then late D-rank would be at least 4 times stronger than early D-rank.''


    The striking difference between them was obvious, as the light-colored mana could be said to be a refined form.


    In comparison, the mana at the next sub-rank was more concentrated and potent, with a stronger essence.


    It wasn''t just a difference in color; instead, the essence had changed, and its power had increased manifold.


    That meant the same amount of mana would be more destructive if used by someone of a sub-rank, let alone an entire rank, higher.


    In the end, Jash couldn''t help but sigh and blabber, "What''s the use of books? It doesn''t matter until I can''t feel it myself to quantify it."


    As if the world listened to his pleas, he felt a chill go down his spine, causing him to look around in panic before he heard the most dreadful thing ever. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "JASH!"


    "I know you can hear me loud and clear, so don''t even think of sneaking away. Your training begins today!"


    His expression fell as his lips twitched from the loud calls from his father. ''He could''ve just asked Emma to bring me. What a weird habit.''


    Feeling helpless, he shrugged his shoulders and mumbled, "Well, whatever can I do? Not like I have an option."

 Chapter 47 - 47: Basic Training

    As night approached, Jash arrived at the training ground, finding it deserted.


    "Where did he go after calling me?" he muttered, glancing around the training ground.


    It was a vast room with white tiles and a transparent rooftop. It was different from the one where he trained with Caera in the morning.


    ''This is so empty,'' noted Jash as he quickly got bored of it.


    Fortunately, he didn''t have to wait long, as Carcel arrived shortly after.


    He was wearing a white shirt and pants which did not hide his large muscles. His sharp eyes and well-built body made him very imposing to anyone who saw him.


    Yet Jash remained unfazed in the presence of his father, instead wondering about Caera. ''She prolly doesn''t need it?''


    He wasn''t sure, as Caera had been training for a year longer and usually with Sera.


    His internal pondering was interrupted by Carcel''s serene voice. "So you came here yourself?"


    Noticing the smirk on his father''s face, Jash''s lips twitched. ''He really wanted me to not come!''


    Though it might seem contradictory to Carcel''s calls, Jash knew his father would only be so sure about it after getting his mother''s permission.


    Since she approved his training, it gave Carcel the right to drag Jash into it if he had to.


    ''Damn it!'' Jash lamented inwardly before responding, "I am here, so tell me what''s the training today?"


    Carcel''s eyebrows rose as he smiled. "Given your lazy attitude over the years, it really is a wonder how you got such talent. Hence, first and foremost, body strengthening exercises."


    Jash''s barely stable facial expression crumpled upon hearing about the training he would undergo.


    ''Can''t I just learn basic martial arts and then learn some mana technique?'' Jash mused, suppressing the urge to voice his complaint.


    After all, Jash wouldn''t be learning for just a few days. He easily had 2 years before the academy began.


    So, he really didn''t wish to make his life any tougher than it already was.


    "Jash, get ready for training. It won''t be easy at all," Carcel grinned as he channeled his mana to activate the rune formations throughout the room.


    Not only did it prevent anyone from noticing what was happening inside it, it also functioned as self-repairing and sound-proofing.


    This was his extra measure for safety because he was going to make sure Jash didn''t lag behind the others in the academy.


    Naturally, it wasn''t anything fancy but cold hard exercises.


    Out of nowhere, Carcel stated, "Remember, the most important thing for a Hunter is not their mana, but their body!"


    Jash felt puzzled at the sudden declaration and voiced out his doubt, "Dad, isn''t mana more important? One can cast spells or coat their weapons with it. Besides, mana is the cornerstone for one to even awaken, let alone advance their ranks, as a Hunter."


    Carcel grinned, "That''s what most people think. But if your body isn''t sturdy enough to hold the overwhelming mana, what good is it? It might as well be your bane at that point. Although most Hunters deny it, it''s the truth."


    ''Did it seem like I didn''t know?'' Jash worried if his lie would get caught or not.


    After all, he already knew about it and was planning to start today even if his father hadn''t called him for the training.


    ''This just makes things easier, though.'' He nodded to himself as it wouldn''t matter if he showed better-than-expected results.


    However, what if he showed results without undergoing any training?


    Now, that would indeed be problematic.


    Unaware of his internal agreement, Carcel said sternly, "You might not like the method, but it is what it is."


    With that being said, Carcel didn''t hesitate and produced a set of training equipment from his storage ring.


    Before Jash could make sense of the situation, he felt his wrists and ankles becoming heavy. The feeling only lasted for a second as he directly fell to the ground.


    "What...?" he blurted out in surprise before taking note of the weights tied to his ankles and wrists. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He couldn''t even move and could only look helplessly at his father, in hopes of getting them removed.


    Yet his pleading went unanswered as Carcel didn''t even look at him, instead arranging the other equipment as he went on to say, "This will be your personal training room until the Academy Entrance Tests."


    Not getting the expected reply, he turned around, only to find Jash sprawled on the ground with a hopeless expression.


    "Stop acting. It''s not even that heavy! Just some 5 kg per weight," Carcel scolded Jash all the while his eyes twitched at the sight.


    ''Not heavy, my ass! 5 kg per weight, that''s 20 damn kg!!'' Jash swallowed his complaints upon seeing his father smile and could only think about them to himself.


    With no other option in sight, Jash tried to get up.


    However, he kept failing and stumbling until a few dozen tries before barely stabilizing himself.


    His arms and feet felt like heavy lead as he couldn''t even move them with all of his strength.


    As he struggled, the thought of using mana crossed his mind repeatedly, but he restrained himself each time.


    If he used mana in a so-called body training, his training might not end until he lost sensation in his entire body.


    "Alright, alright. Stop being a crybaby. You have to wear them 24/7 until you get used to them."


    Hearing the hope of their removal, Jash felt slightly motivated and better, only for his hope to be drowsed by Carcel''s next words.


    "After that, I will increase the weight."


    ''How cruel,'' commented Jash inwardly as he went through the torture disguised as training.


    It seemed his father decided to go easy on him today and only asked him to get used to weights and run in them.


    Believing his training would end soon, Jash pulled through it with his sheer will.


    ¡­


    After about 15 minutes, Jash could run freely in the weights, as if his body adapted to them.


    Carcel grinned at the sight and couldn''t help but excitedly say, "Stop!"


    Before he could continue, however, he was dumbfounded as Jash literally stopped and laid down on the ground.


    He even went to the extent of closing his eyes.


    "Who said your training ended?" Carcel said, with a few veins visible on his forehead.


    If he planned to end Jash''s training before, he really wouldn''t end it any time soon after witnessing Jash''s pathetic condition.


    Unable to refuse, Jash followed along the training session as he continued to jog, run, sprint, and some weight-lifting.


    Only after Carcel was satisfied did he nod. "Okay, the basic training is done. Go rest for tomorrow. We will do more advanced training."


    Stunned speechless, Jash barely nodded and returned to his room.


    Without even having the courage or strength to shower and have dinner, he directly fell on his bed and fell asleep pretty fast.


    Although all he did were light exercises, the added 20kg were nothing to scoff at.


    Also, since he had never trained even that much, his body wasn''t used to it. The result was obvious.


    Yet his father thought otherwise.


    "His talent is really out of the norm," Carcel muttered to himself in the training ground.


    "According to my estimates, he should''ve collapsed in the first hour only. Yet he completed the entire 3-hour session..."


    "Looks like I need to increase the pace."


    Jash who was sleeping peacefully suddenly felt a chill go down his spine and felt really uncomfortable for a moment.

 Chapter 48 - 48: Resolve

    "Urgh," grunted Jash as he woke up and blinked his eyes multiple times, yet the absence of sun made him doubtful.


    ''Did I sleep for an entire day?'' he wondered, but the thought quickly got buried due to the revolting pain from every muscle in his body.


    As if that wasn''t bad enough, his grumbling empty stomach added to the muscle contractions, spiking the pain.


    "Arghhhhhh"


    "Damn it!"


    ''He should''ve gone easy on me!'' Jash complained inwardly, but it was useless as just moving his arms to hold his stomach caused an immense amount of pain.


    However, his tense body and tightened facial expression were relaxing, as if he were getting used to the pain.


    ''No, this... this is different,'' mused Jash as he could feel his twitching muscles decrease in frequency.


    Eventually, the pain faded away, leaving behind the bewildered Jash. ''Just what in the magical world happened?''


    Confused yet intrigued by his body''s condition, he decided to probe it using the little amount of mana he could muster.


    Despite the familiar feeling of it, he just couldn''t get the hang of it. Something felt lacking.


    "It''s enough," mumbled Jash involuntarily, his mind focused on harnessing mana inside his body.


    Luckily, the limited knowledge from his previous life was enough to notice the changes inside his body. They were surprising, to say the least. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How?"


    That was all Jash could formulate as he was too stunned by the feeling of his strengthened muscles. They were undamaged to the point it made him doubt if they were even hurting in the first place.


    Unable to come up with a reason to explain it, Jash backtracked a little before arriving at the only plausible explanation.


    ''It has to be the awakening! Nothing else can make sense of this strangeness.''


    Jash suddenly shivered as a dangerous thought took root in his mind.


    The vivid image of his father forcing him to go through that brutal torture in the name of training if he ever discovered it. "He must never know!"


    "I can easily make an excuse of muscle pain due to his excessive training and mom would take care of everything after that," Jash smiled evilly as he cooked his revenge.


    Of course, that didn''t mean he would actually laze around.


    He was lazy, yes. But did that mean he wished to die?


    The answer would be a clear-cut no.


    Few people truly wished to die, even if they claimed to be suicidal. After all, the final step required a tad bit too much courage.


    In that regard, Jash truly had ways to minimize his efforts to achieve optimum results, possibly preventing his potential death.


    Given his strange physique, it wouldn''t be hard for him to double the gains with half the effort.


    "Gotta get out of bed before any of that happens, though," chuckled Jash as he looked at the clock.


    ''It''s not even 5 AM.''


    Shaking his head, he went to freshen up as the sweat from last night really started to irk him after waking up.


    ¡­


    Around 7 AM, Jash stood in his training clothes.


    It had already been roughly an hour since he had his early breakfast, making it the perfect time to train.


    Naturally, the moment he finished breakfast, Carcel really wanted to come and train him, but Jash somehow escaped it.


    He sighed, recalling Carcel''s stubborn words. "You will still be training in the evening. No excuses."


    "Fuu¡­"


    "Haa¡­"


    Taking deep breaths to get rid of bothersome thoughts, Jash returned to himself.


    Focusing on his breathing rhythm, he began doing various moves, starting with the basic postures before slowly moving his legs and hands.


    If someone observed him performing the basic martial art technique, they would truly be enchanted by the beautiful demonstration of coordination and form.


    It was the most basic method that had been passed down through most of the noble families, with each one improving it to fit their kin over the generations.


    Though the method helped everyone, it helped weapon-users the most. In short, the warriors.


    As if a dam broke loose, copious amounts of information flowed inside Jash''s mind as he continued to practice the martial art.


    ¡­


    The broad categorization of a Hunter post successful awakening could be said to be Mage and Warrior.


    Only after their awakening would their path be decided. If a person had a larger mana pool and fewer mana veins, they would choose the path of a mage.


    If a person had more mana veins and less mana pool, they would train their body more to increase their weapon mastery.


    Although several other paths existed and people chose to tread them for a variety of reasons, these two were the most common.


    Naturally, the reason the two paths became mainstream lay in the fact that fewer mana veins resulted in slower mana flow and less quantity inside the body, making it impossible to be a warrior.


    As a weapon-wielder, warriors had to coat their bodies, weapons and even their internal organs with mana with large amounts to defend against others on the front line. They could also choose to specialize in speed and burst attacks instead if they wished to.


    However, in the case of mages, all they had to do was speak words in a specific order and tone. The ambient mana would then resonate with the chants, moving and forming the spell after the mage used their own mana to cast and define its shape.


    ¡­


    Breaking his form and the flow of memories, Jash mumbled in curiosity. "Just how did grandpa cast spells, then? Isn''t he a warrior too?"


    Such a thought roused his curiosity as he hoped for an answer from the mess of his memories.


    Luckily, he got his answers in the next second, as the final memory regarding the breakdown ended.


    "I see, I see. So, that''s how it is!" muttered Jash in understanding as his eyes lost focus.


    "So, this categorisation is only valid till early A-rank? After that, things aren''t so simple?"


    Nodding in agreement, he felt it was right until something struck a chord within him.


    "Wait a minute! So simple? Who the hell calls this so simple? If this is simple, just what the heck is complex?"


    Jash had a hard time accepting his own thoughts, unaware that they truly weren''t his.


    Despite his almost perfect memory before, he now had a hard time even recalling specific things, with random information coming to him.


    ''Just what is happening with me? Did Bhair¨Cmy past life mess up with the current me?'' Jash wondered in fright.


    With a grave expression on his face, he compared what he learnt versus what he recalled currently.


    ''Hmm. This is far too refined,'' observed Jash, feeling goosebumps at the scary thought.


    As if to pour cold water on his rising anxiety, the memory of him accepting Bhairav''s offer assaulted him, leaving him speechless..


    "Haah." Letting out a breath of relief, he gritted his teeth and turned to stare at his own eyes in the mirror.


    "I will focus on what I can control and understand instead of wasting time on things too complex or involving unknown variables. Also, explore the internet, if that''s what it''s even called. Learn a bit about the world and its name, if it has any."


    Jash spoke to himself with great resolve as he really disliked the feeling of not knowing something obvious.


    Instead of wasting his time on the unknowns, it was better to focus on something productive.

 Chapter 49 - 49: Surprise Visit

    Though Jash''s determination to fulfill his resolve reached an all-time peak, it was easier said than done.


    Carcel''s daily training wasn''t going to stop since he somehow managed to get Sera''s permission, making every attempt of Jash fail.


    As a few days passed, Jash walked around his room, anxiously biting his nails.


    "Just why is every attempt to stop dad''s training met with failure?" he questioned himself in a frustrated tone, his expression sunken..


    Stomping the ground to stop his mindless walking, he punched the wall in front of him.


    It didn''t even budge. Surprisingly, Jash felt only an itch in his knuckles, that didn''t even turn red.


    Looking at his unharmed knuckles, he blurted out, "The training is working. Darn it!"


    Although it was a bit tedious to wake up with DOMS(Delayed-onset muscle soreness) pain every day, it felt quite good to notice the changes in his body.


    Not only did it ease out his personal training, but also increased his access to mana itself.


    ''If not for the increasing intensity everyday, I wouldn''t want to skip it!''


    After all, the effects of the training were obvious.


    Still, it was a problem for Jash as he couldn''t just start practicing the techniques he got the knowledge of.


    ''How would I explain their source?'' The question stopped him from delving into them every single day.


    Unfortunately, it was becoming increasingly harder for him to control himself as he felt he was somewhat wasting time.


    ''Maybe I should just come clean about everything?'' The thought never left his mind since he got the memories.


    Yet he somehow curbed his urge to just say everything as it would seem like a madman talking.


    It was truly vexing that he couldn''t do anything his way.


    ''They are my family, and I believe they will trust me, but I don''t know what will happen if I do. What if something worse happens? What if I am incorrect and everything falls apart?''


    The endless possibilities haunted his mind every time he tried to come clean regarding his reincarnation and memories.


    It was to the point, he couldn''t help but doubt, ''Maybe someone or something is stopping me from speaking?''


    In the end, he had no solution for it.


    At least for now.


    However, it was far from being enough to make him stop achieving his goal.


    ''I need to be strong. Stronger than anyone my generation, or it will be annoying. But it will garner attention and that''s annoying too!''


    Despite his inner dilemma, he was determined to survive and was already training to his most optimum limits.


    Having the memories of an expert who would even cut off their blood and bones for their enemy''s death helped him gauge out his limits extremely well.


    It was more so because the memories originally belonged to him and were just returning to the rightful owner.


    Each time he improved and needed the next step, it would appear in his mind in the most perfect form.


    "Yet it becomes obsolete when the next step comes," mumbled Jash in awe.


    Even his self-learned knowledge had morphed and evolved to be more perfect over the time, if he wasn''t effectively learning something new.


    After everything was said and done, he was still clueless on how to start his mana cultivation or even trying to rank up.


    "What do I do about this?" he muttered helplessly, unaware of the keen eyes watching him everyday.


    "Interesting..."


    Startled by the sudden voice, Jash became alert and looked around everywhere. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Who''s there?" he shouted, his eyes darting around the walls, roof, floor and the balcony of the room.


    "Hmm. It''s me, you brat," a firm voice echoed before Jash felt a sudden tick on the back of his forehead as he stumbled forward.


    "Grandpa Inigo?" blurted Jash in surprise. ''How come he''s here? Wasn''t he chasing after-''


    "Owww"


    Another smack landed on the back of his head before a reprimanding tone followed, "Didn''t I tell you not to call me Grandpa? Don''t compare me to that all-serious grumpy guy!"


    Jash''s lips twitched hearing this and he couldn''t help but retort, "I''ll tell grandma that you hit me!"


    Although childish, it was Inigo''s bane and worked like a breeze every single time.


    "Tsk, tsk. You have grown but still want to snitch? What a rude brat," snorted Inigo, but changed the topic immediately.


    "Anyways, Samantha mentioned you finally awakened. So, she asked me to do the same I did for Caera."


    ''Finally!'' Jash felt elated, forgetting his dilemmas momentarily.


    "Grandma said? She didn''t come?" Jash asked innocently, not hiding his excitement and eagerness at all.


    "Huh! Who will manage the territory then? Those midgets still want a piece of the volcanic region!" Inigo used derogatory speech for dwarves and their entire race might chase after him, if they weren''t doing it already.


    "Well, not like they would trespass or anything. Grandma made a treaty with them, you know?" Looking at Inigo''s questioning expression, Jash facepalmed.


    ''This old man, he is really not good at anything!'' Jash lamented Inigo''s ignorance towards his own territory.


    "That''s your region, your territory. You know that, right?" Jash teased his grandpa, only to hear a childish answer.


    "Of course I do! I protect that piece of land forced onto me!"


    ''Haa. One can''t really get through his thick skull,'' Jash recalled his mother''s advice and just gave up trying to talk some sense to this old man.


    Sometimes, he even wondered how his grandfather even seduced women. He didn''t seem to have the brains for it, or maybe that was all a hoax?


    Jash had no clue and didn''t even want to find out about it. ''Grandma has already made him stop, though. Also, he fears her despite her being only at the late SS-rank while he is an early SSS-Rank Hunter.''


    Ignoring the matters regarding his grandfather, he returned to his main point. "Ugh. Whatever. When are you gonna do it?"


    Inigo smirked at Jash''s words, "Heh! What''s the hurry? First, your body has to be in the most optimum state. Also, the process will be painful."


    Jash''s expression turned serious as he recalled the time Caera went through the process last year and how she was howling in pain.


    The cries of pain from her brought about an uneasy feeling into his heart, so he chose to console himself, ''Painful? Isn''t that an everyday thing now? Even that darned awakening was so painful! It shouldn''t be that much, right?''


    However, it seemed Inigo could read his thoughts and sneered at him, "Brat, if you are thinking it will be the same as everyday muscle soreness or your awakening pain, then... Good luck to you, I guess."


    Hearing his words, Jash couldn''t help but grit his teeth in frustration not at Inigo for teasing him, but at himself as he knew it to be the truth and tried to deny it inwardly.


    "Just when? When will you do it?" Jash questioned impatiently.


    Although extremely rude, Inigo didn''t seem to mind and answered in a relaxed manner, "Let''s see... I just came here, so I need to observe you. A week, at the minimum? Maybe a month. Depends on you."


    "Ah! Before you bring it up, I already heard about you breaking that geezer''s record. It doesn''t matter, though."


    As if caught red-handed, Jash could only open and close his mouth like a fish, cursing his rotten luck inside. ''Damn it all!''

 Chapter 50 - 50: Mana Veins

    "Mana veins are basically channels for mana inside the human body, present even in the unawakened population. Though their exact location is known, they remain unusable until one awakens."


    "The channels simply allow the flow of mana inside the body to be smooth and streamlined. Also, as you already know, they are the indicators for one of the paths the awakened Hunter has to take."


    "At awakening, after the formation of the mana core, the mana floods these channels, unblocking them and allowing for the transformation of one''s internal physiology, albeit slightly. Naturally, they are only in their rudimentary phase."


    "Irrespective of the path one walks, the mana veins and innards evolve and strengthen with advancements in Hunter Ranks, or through certain treasures if one is lucky."


    "Well, there are also some mysterious ways to improve them one way or another using extreme mana control. However, they are quite limited and rarely does anyone use it outside their own family."


    Reiterating the main points regarding Mana Veins to his grandfather, Jash couldn''t help but question, "What''s the best time for these secret methods?"


    Nodding at Jash to indicate his knowledge was accurate, Inigo answered, "At your current rank, that is, G-Rank."


    As if already aware of the next question, he added, "The reason for it is simple enough. Think of it like this, consider a drop of water and you let it slowly fall on a hard surface, maybe a rock? Nothing will happen in the short term, but over the course of days, months, years, it''ll bore a hole through it."


    "Just like that, your mana will unclog the veins itself as you advance each time, but if you already have them cleansed, it will help you widen them, allowing for a higher amount of mana flow."


    "Also, the mana at every advancement can be used to better enhance your body, so it''s a win-win situation."


    Jash slightly nodded with a contemplative expression on his face. It would be a lie to say he wasn''t surprised by Inigo''s serious answer.


    ''He really answered it seriously,'' Jash thought before asking impatiently, "Okay, I understand now, so can we start?"


    He sported an eager expression on his face as it had already been 11 days since he last met Inigo, and now he could finally go through the process of strengthening himself.


    ''After this, I can at least try advancing to F-Rank as it can be attributed to the passive effect of training.''


    Or at least, that was the plan.


    Suddenly, Jash was pulled out of his inner ramblings by the forceful voice of Inigo, "Where''d you go, you brat?"


    "I-I am here!"


    "That you are. Anyways, you know the protocol, so we can start any second."


    Hearing the confirmation, Jash immediately sat down and closed his eyes, removing his shirt.


    On the other hand, Inigo looked around before sending a wave of his mana to create an isolation barrier.


    He didn''t want any interruptions during the process as it could lead to permanent negative effects.


    The moment he spread his mana to envelope the training ground, the heads of Sera and Carcel turned in its directions, but they ignored it.


    Despite their anxiety worry, they could only believe in Jash.


    "Mom, is it time?" Caera asked seriously, bringing Sera''s attention back to her.


    "Yeah," she answered succinctly.


    Caera clenched her fists and focused on her training. ''I can''t let that lazy panda become stronger than me! What does it matter if he has more talent? I will work extra hard to make up for it!''


    Aware of her daughter''s feelings, Sera just smiled. ''Usually, any talented youngster would also work hard, making it impossible to bridge the gap with hard work alone, but Jash...''


    Jash truly didn''t work like the typical child praised for his talent. He despised training every single moment of the day.


    In his words, it was entirely useless.


    However, that wasn''t meant to say he didn''t work hard, he just did it smartly and at his convenience.


    ''Isn''t life all about enjoying? Why go through such lengths every darned day?'' That''s what he believed in.


    Of course, he wouldn''t miss an opportunity to get stronger without any effort and he was in the middle of one right about now.


    "Close your eyes and don''t lose focus of where my mana is going or all this will be useless," Inigo instructed strictly, a stark contrast to his usual self.


    Without any moment of respite, Jash felt Inigo''s boiling mana flood into his body. The moment Inigo channeled his mana into Jash''s mana veins, Jash felt a huge amount of pain..


    ''This...! I have to bear with it!'' Jash gritted his teeth and focused on the flow of mana, trying to not feel the pain.


    Although bearable, it was a different kind from any pain he had gone through.


    He remained unaware of the shock and surprise in Inigo''s tone after looking at his body. "This!? His mana veins are already widened!!"


    He didn''t know that Jash''s awakening method had already widened a few of his mana veins to support his new abilities.


    It wouldn''t be a stretch to say that Jash was capable of being both a mage and warrior. To add to this, his huge mana pool and dense mana veins would not hinder his progress in either path.


    Unfortunately, Jash didn''t know of it. Even if he did know, he wouldn''t care. Just one path was already tiring enough for him, let alone both.


    The sole reason he chose the warrior path was because it felt natural and instinctual. It felt... just right.


    Despite the shocking discovery, Inigo didn''t stop and his mana kept flowing through Jash''s body, unlocking his blocked veins.


    The mana forcibly opened the blockages¡ªa dangerous process only Inigo could perform using a secret art to control mana. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was to the point that thin threads of mana were visible throughout Jash''s body if someone looked at his skin.


    Jash''s body started to leak, releasing blood from his pores. This was different from awakening, as Inigo was disrupting the natural path of Jash''s mana circulation and creating new paths by forcibly opening the blocked veins.


    Naturally, Jash felt a mind-shattering pain, eliciting all kinds of wails and screams as he struggled to focus on the mana flowing within him.


    This was mainly because his path of mana circulation was a bit too natural and it clashed strongly against Inigo''s mana.


    Thankfully, Inigo had made him exhaust his mana reserves or his insides would be a wreck by now.


    Despite being unsure of it, Jash felt inwardly betrayed. ''Damn it! Caera went through it with just a little trouble, so why is it so painful for me?''


    And he was right¡ªthis was only the foundation that Inigo laid and it would be worked upon by the battle junkie Carcel.


    For the young Jash, it wouldn''t be anything short of torture.


    Alas, he remained unaware of it as he believed only pain would be the cost for such a power-up.


    ''Damn free stuff! There''s nothing free in free stuff!'' Jash cursed inwardly with what little focus he could muster as his entire focus remained on the flow of mana.


    Suddenly, he felt a stinging pain and heard Inigo''s voice, but he couldn''t make sense of it.

 Chapter 51 - 51: F-Rank

    "You''re doing great, boy. Keep it up! Just a little more!" Inigo mentioned, for the first time since the process began.


    As it neared its crescendo, Jash seemed to have lost all sensations, solely focused on the mana flow as instructed.


    It eased Inigo''s expression; not having to worry about any negative aftereffects, he wiped a drop of cold sweat from his forehead.


    Removing his hands from Jash''s back, he muttered, "Thank god he got through it, just Sera is crazy enough, let alone Samantha!"


    Fortunately, Jash didn''t hear this or he would probably want to beat the old man for not caring about him at all!


    It was just him worrying over how his wife and daughter would react over anything else, he didn''t even seem to care about Cornelius, who was supposedly stronger than him.


    "Aren''t you going to come out?" Inigo asked seemingly no one in particular as he fixed his red hair akin to cascades of fire.


    "..."


    "Tsk, tsk, you are always like this."


    After getting no response, he grumbled a little, yet his attention remained on Jash''s changing form.


    His eyes appeared lost as his expression stiffened due to pain, and his skin marred with crimson blood.


    "I wonder what surprise he''ll have in store this time?" Inigo asked aloud, bemused by the strange phenomenon.


    Meanwhile, all Jash felt was the collision of mana inside his body, rupturing his mana veins, healing them and making new connections at the same time.


    His sanity was fading with each passing minute as the warning about the possibility of being crippled during the process proved true.


    His mind went blank and he couldn''t even hear his own screams anymore. But just before he lost consciousness, he felt a soothing sensation.


    Jash started to cough blood as his senses returned to him and he sprawled on the cold tiles of the training ground, his breathing ragged.


    His mind was numb from what had just happened, unable to make sense of anything for a few seconds as he tried to compose himself.


    Before he could regain his bearings completely, however, he heard a strict voice, confusing him.


    "Good lad! You actually went and did the most crazy stuff? Who thought you''d break through F-Rank in a single go?"


    ''Breakthrough? F-Rank? What does grandpa mean?'' That was all Jash could think before things clicked. ''F-Rank!? I advanced!!''


    Elated at the words of his grandfather, he couldn''t help but want to test it and feel his mana core, but he got interrupted.


    "Alright, alright, you shouldn''t use mana temporarily. Let your agitated body calm down first," advised Inigo, out of concern.


    Jash nodded in response and postponed his inspection as he took deep controlled breaths to pace his breathing rhythm.


    Only after he was satisfied with his condition did he move, even though he was being observed by Inigo, he didn''t pay any mind to his presence.


    Moving up and trying to stand, Jash noticed that the wounds around his head and face were healing.


    It seemed the pain he endured was well worth it, especially considering his new regeneration rate.


    Yet it only raised questions inside his head as the rate of healing felt absurd to him. This type of healing was out of the norm for an F-rank hunter, let alone a newly ascended one.


    Despite it being a boon, Jash, who had just recently awakened, was already capable of the same. Of course, it had a cost.


    "So tired," blabbered Jash as he felt insanely weak in his muscles and his movements felt wobbly.


    "Interesting," mumbled Inigo to himself, a curious glint flashing his eyes as he observed Jash''s healing speed.


    In this world, hunters were ranked from G to SSS, with Integration-rank as the chasm, their ranking, however, were based on their ability to perform in similar Rank Dungeons and their Mana Core Rank.


    After all, one may have a Mana Core of Indigo color(Rank B), but your combat ability and utility were taken into consideration by the Hunters Association when giving the ranks.


    Unaware of the complex system and the implication of his absurd healing rate, Jash called out his grandfather after gathering his nerves, "Grandpa? What just¨C"


    "Ignore it. Treat it as a blessing, or a curse if you are already tired," Inigo joked trying to lighten the atmosphere as he interrupted Jash mid-speech.


    "Anyway, you seem better now, so why don''t you try to channel your mana the way I showed you. Ah, right. Do control your breathing while doing so."


    Inigo yawned as he stepped aside, allowing Jash, who had returned to sitting shirtless, focused on channeling his mana from his mana core.


    Just one round of circulation made him feel all his previous pain and tiredness leave his body as his depleting stamina replenished rapidly.


    In return, it increased his healing speed as the last of his muscle ache or internal injuries healed at an absurd pace.


    "How?" He blurted out due to the extreme surprise. ''Just how can a normal mana circulation method achieve this?''


    As if reading his thoughts once again, Inigo smirked, "This is no normal circulation technique, brat."


    Feeling proud, Inigo puffed out his chest before adding, "This is something only I know in this whole world, and only with my blood can one learn this technique without dying."


    "Didn''t Mom and Caera achieve this much as well?" Jash questioned, without pause, knowing something was off about this entire charade.


    Inigo just smiled in response, though. "Not really. As I said, only I know it. They both did pass it and get most of the benefits out of it, but it''s nowhere near enough yours."


    "Also, I''d suggest you try to change your entire mana to light-red colored before leaving or even your F-rank mana core would be useless."


    Jash nodded seriously and continued to follow the same circulation method of mana.


    ''I really want to try a proper mana cultivation technique...'' lamented Jash inwardly, unable to utilize it in front of Inigo.


    It would raise all sorts of unwanted questions he didn''t wish to answer for the longest time possible.


    Unbeknownst to him, Inigo was concentrating the mana inside the room using the training ground''s functions.


    If not for the huge amount of ambient mana, Jash might''ve failed in the last step when his mana core''s outer layer shattered before being replaced by a sturdier layer of light-red mana, indicating his advancement.


    Even though it was faint and barely noticeable, it was a fairly distinct change in the essence of mana itself and would show its effects in combat training.


    In the end, Jash continued the same way for 1 hour straight before giving up as he felt too bored about the whole ordeal.


    His mind just shut itself down, refusing to focus any longer. ''Maybe I should have rested after all that pain.''


    Rest had already become a luxury with his daily training with Carcel as he would be in pain all the time. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, he currently felt no pain. He seemed to be in his top condition if not for his deteriorating mental strength.


    "I guess that''s your limit," Inigo commented with no change in expression and nodded to himself.


    Jash just ignored the comment and stared at him, prompting Inigo to ask, "What? What are you looking at, brat?"


    "Nothing, nothing." Shaking his head, Jash walked out of the training grounds to take a quick shower, grumbling inwardly. ''He could''ve at least cleaned me using spells!''

 Chapter 52 - 52: First Hunt Awaits

    Sitting on the cold floor of his room with closed eyes, Jash''s chest kept rising and falling with a slow rhythm.


    Seconds passed as the surrounding mana moved towards him, as if he were a vortex sucking it in.


    It was a subtle phenomenon, so minor that one might miss it if not paying close attention.


    Suddenly, Jash opened his eyes and the movement of mana stopped momentarily before gushing towards his core at crazy speeds.


    Naturally, the entire process remained imperceivable to the naked eye. He even felt a form of shackle breaking inside him.


    Dark red mana phased out of his entire body, with light orange mana replacing it and flowing through his widened mana veins.


    The process felt more natural and smoother than before, making Jash wonder, ''Is this because I am becoming accustomed to mana?''


    Even the shattering of his core before being enveloped in light orange mana compressed the core back to its original size, making it denser and sturdier..


    The entire process didn''t last long, just an hour.


    But it wasn''t over yet. Jash still had to adapt to the changes brought by the breakthrough, even though he was still at F-Rank.


    It wouldn''t be wrong to call it a difference in the rank itself. After all, the color of his mana changed, reaching the threshold of orange, having more energy than red in the spectrum of light.


    "This light thingy... the mana core color and everything revolves around it..." Jash muttered in realization as he stood up.


    Despite his thoughts, he didn''t waste time and started practicing basic martial arts before moving on to more complex forms.


    It helped him grasp the rough increase in his power as he blurted out in surprise, "Almost TWICE!?"


    It really came as a surprise to him how each step could make one feel so much stronger.


    ''Comparing it, I am only roughly 4 times stronger than a newly ascended F-Rank and 5 times stronger than a just awakened Hunter.''


    Thinking so, Jash tried to humble himself as he didn''t really want to spar with Caera to learn the difference again.


    "Shit! Never Again!" Jash vowed to never be arrogant, remembering the unpleasant memory of losing to Caera pathetically.


    "But damn, this feeling of getting stronger sure is addictive as hell," mumbled Jash with glee twinkling in his eyes.


    ''At least, it gave me a reality check and I improved,'' he nodded to himself, reminiscing the hours of sleep he couldn''t get because of feeling weak.


    "Luckily, dad had to go and clear some dungeons, or I would be forced to go through that boring training again, " sighed Jash.


    When he trained alone, he could practice without holding back, as only authorized personnel could enter the training grounds.


    The training grounds were covered with runes, glowing softly in the dim light of the evening, adding an air of mystique to Jash''s solitary practice.


    Remembering the solo training brought a smile to his face. "Those were good times."


    Finally, he stretched his arms and stopped after making sure he was somewhat used to the changes.


    He felt the strain in his muscles easing as his strength increased and a pleasant tingling sensation in his mana veins.


    ''I have really improved from the first time I did it,'' noted Jash with a serious expression.


    "Anyways, first things first, gotta shower." Mumbling to himself, he went to shower.


    As he stood under the shower, the water barely felt cold. He sighed, nostalgic for the prickling sensation a cold splash sent through him right after awakening.


    The nostalgia prompted him to comment, "Man, the sensation of cold water was so much more intense back then. Much better than this... unfeeling water."


    ¡­


    "Phew"


    Taking a deep breath, Jash slapped his cheeks, "What''s wrong with me? Why am I behaving like an old man, who''s looking back at his life on his deathbed or something? Seriously! What the heck?"


    Shaking his head to get rid of the numbing sensation on his cheeks, he exited his room to go have dinner.


    Over the course of the entire year, he had developed a habit to at least have one meal per week with his family.


    To be precise, it improved from once a month to once a day before dropping to once a week so that they could enjoy their meals too.


    ''I mean, I am no jerk, alright?''


    Just because he had a problem with meat dishes, his family would remove it from the table every time he joined them.


    There was also the option of telling them he was fine with it, but that would be too sudden unless he chose to explain about his past life. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, he had already decided against it, for now.


    If someone were to ask him, "Why not just ask your family to quit meat?"


    He would simply answer, "There''s no reason for me to impose my habits onto others'', especially my family. That''s just straight messed up."


    Smiling as he recalled certain idiots, who believe that everyone should follow their advice, he reached the dining hall.


    Taking note of Sera and Caera already seated at the table, he sat down next to Caera with a still smiling expression.


    "What happened?" she whispered, intrigued at his smiling expression.


    Jash smiled smugly, causing Caera to roll her eyes, as he answered, "Heh! Guess what? I reached light orange mana core rank!"


    "Hmph! As if that''s something great! I am already on the verge of entering E-Rank!"


    "Tsk, tsk. I have only awakened for less than a year, unlike you, missy."


    "So what? You are the one who chose to delay it!"


    As the two continued to banter, Sera smiled warmly at the sight before a teasing glint appeared in her eyes as she turned to look on her right.


    The two were so busy in their teasing, they didn''t even realize Carcel had returned home!


    He too smiled, looking at his children getting along well as a nostalgic feeling overcame him before getting drawn out by the intense gaze from his wife.


    Her loving gaze brought a small smile on his lips as he noticed her teasing smile. "Not again. And I just arrived."


    Despite his low murmur, Sera heard it loud and clear, shooting him an unfriendly look before shifting her focus on Jash and Caera.


    "You two," she called out to them. "Why are you even arguing? Just go spar with each other."


    "YES!" "NO!"


    The two replies instantaneously, making Sera pause as a confused expression appeared on her face before she smiled, as if reaching a solution.


    "Why don''t you both go for a dungeon run?" she suggested slyly, looking at the dissatisfied expressions of the twins.


    They turned to face her in unison before nodding solemnly.


    "A dungeon, huh? Doesn''t sound too bad. I just hope this poor mage can keep up with me." Jash somehow found a way to tease Caera despite the serious topic.


    "Hmph! As if! I can solo any dungeon you can barely survive in! Rather, it''s better you don''t come, or I will have to carry you."


    Naturally, she wasn''t one to be left behind and immediately came up with a retort.


    Before the two of them could begin their banter again, however, Sera interrupted them, "Looks like they will be going for their first hunt. What do you think, Carcel?"


    ''First hunt? It has a nice ring to it-'' Jash thought before his eyes widened in realization.


    "DAD!!"


    The two called out in unison as if realizing it at the same time.

 Chapter 53 - 53: Dungeon Prep

    After the surprising visit from Carcel, the family continued their dinner. They then spent some time with him as the twins eagerly inquired about the dungeon.


    Yet all they got in response was, "You will know tomorrow."


    Be that as it may, it did nothing to diminish their enthusiasm for their first hunt.


    When morning arrived, Jash got ready for his dungeon run, wearing his black combat outfit with straps to hold his sword and a pair of daggers, his storage ring, and a nano-armor bracelet.


    ''Hmm. This sure feels amazing,'' mused Jash, feeling the nano-armor bracelet on his wrist, activating it with a small amount of mana.


    The world was technologically advanced, and even though mana allowed people to create miracles, humans combined it with technology to create a better environment for the masses.


    The Nano-Armor was one such invention.


    It was made of tightly packed carbon atoms enhanced by mana. It spread throughout the body, covering the wearer and protecting them from harm.


    Although thin and light, the mana-enhanced atoms made it sturdy as well.


    While it was an expensive item, it safeguarded the wearer''s life in crucial moments and did not hinder their movements as it adjusted its size to fit the wearer.


    This was one of the rare inventions that reduced the casualty rate in dungeons. It was created by the Artisan''s Association, known for major technological advancements in weapons and hunting.


    The Artisan''s Association was a dwarven association where other races were the minority, but it changed when humans succeeded in combining mana and technology, while elves revealed their own creations.


    The best blacksmiths, forgers, artificers, technicians and almost every other profession requiring intricate work was a part of it, even architects, carpenters, designers and various similar professionals.


    Shaking his head to get rid of the specifics he read last night, Jash deactivated the nano-armor after taking a good look around in it.


    Feeling satisfied, he muttered to himself, "Let''s go."


    With a calm state of mind, he arrived at the main gate of the estate, finding Caera dressed in her combat outfit.


    The moment their eyes met, sparks seemed to fly as they were eager to prove who was better despite the obvious difference in rank.


    Just when it appeared the duo would start a round of bantering, Emma interrupted them, "Young Master, Young Miss!"


    Hearing her, the twins turned to face her with a questioning gaze, prompting her to answer, "Everything is ready. We can depart anytime now."


    "Let''s go, then."


    "Yeah, no one wants to waste time with him."


    Despite Caera''s taunt, Jash stayed calm and ignored her, further irritating her.


    Observing the scene, a warm smile appeared on Emma''s face before she cast a sidelong glance at Kesha, who remained unmoved despite everything.


    "Just what''s wrong with her?" Emma muttered before shaking her head and following behind Jash and Caera.


    As they left the estate in one of the many hovering cars, a sizable security team followed them, observing everyone along the way.


    Instead of feeling odd about it, the twins didn''t feel anything, as if it wasn''t the first time something like this had happened.


    ''This is one of the few perks of being a Duke''s child,'' Jash mused, smiling and ignoring the pouting Caera.


    "Emma, where are we going?" Jash asked, out of the blue. Even Caera perked her ears, eager to glean some information.


    As if on cue, the driver turned the car and Emma smiled. "It is one of the latest F-Rank dungeons near the outskirts of Kenton City, Young Master."


    "Is it claimed?" Caera butted in the conversation and Emma nodded looking at her. "Yes, Young Miss."


    Jash nodded and closed his eyes, falling back into his contemplative state, trying to make sense of how dungeons were managed in this world.


    In the whole world, 60% of the dungeons were owned by the Hunter Association. It was obvious that they had the most hunters in the world.


    Not to mention they easily had 3, maybe 4 SSS-Rank hunters and the main goal of the association was to make sure nobody could take advantage in this society where the strong eat the weak.


    ''Like cops or something? I mean, they are pretty much responsible for maintaining public order and implementing laws to keep the noble families in check.'' mused Jash with interest.


    Yet it brought another question to him, ''Just why would the Imperial Family allow such an organization to exist? Isn''t it kind of vying for control?''


    The answer to that lies in the fact that dungeons were quite numerous, and no one knew when another one might pop-up. Besides, even dungeons had ranks!


    Naturally, no amount of hunters could protect even a single piece of land if the entire world was filled with dungeons.


    ''It makes sense,'' accepted Jash as there could also be quite a few hidden dangers or SSS-Rank hunters in seclusion.


    ''Isn''t that why neither the association nor the Imperial Family can enforce their words on the noble families carelessly?'' wondered Jash, recalling the power dynamic in the Empire.


    ''6 of the SSS-Rank hunters are from noble families. 3 from the ducal families, then grandpa Inigo and the father of the current Empress. There''s also the Archduke, and even the Royal Family has one, no?''


    Jash felt a shiver run down his spine as he felt half the SSS-Rank hunters were from the noble families and the Hunters Association only had 3 confirmed SSS-Rank hunters?


    It just didn''t make any sense to him.


    After all, all the SSS-Rank hunters were like the pillars of this world and they maintained an equal power distribution among the authorities.


    ''Maybe it has something to do with the remaining 3 or 4 SSS-Rank Hunters. Anyways, where are they again? The total should be 13, yeah?'' Jash blinked his eyes in confusion and decided to ask Emma about it.


    However, just as he was about to open his mouth to ask about it, the car stopped and his attention was stolen by the sight of trees and a forest-looking area.


    The ride had gone quiet after Jash and Caera''s questions, and Caera didn''t bother Jash, noticing his rare contemplative expression, but it ended on a confusing note. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After taking a look outside and finding nothing magical, everyone got out of their cars, including the twins, who wore perplexed expressions.


    Yet their confusion ended as they felt the difference in environment from the insides of their car to the outside air.


    Jash took a deep breath before a surprised expression appeared on his face, "This... The air feels so fresh¨C"


    "¨Cand rich with mana." Caera completed his sentence.


    Bringing them back to reality was the smiling Emma as she informed, "We need to walk from here, inside this forest to reach the dungeon entrance."


    "Lead the way," Jash nodded at her.


    With solemn expressions, the twins approached the dungeon entrance under her guidance.


    Yet it failed to hide their excited, eager to prove themself, expressions.


    The trio walked through the forest, surrounded by the security team to prevent any danger from approaching them. After a ten-minute walk, they arrived in the middle of a patch of grassland.


    Stopping right behind Emma, Jash and Caera turned to look around as they finally spotted the dungeon gate, the mere sight of it leaving them with astonished expressions.

 Chapter 54 - 54: Dungeon Entry

    A blue gate with security devices to catch trespassers appeared in their line of sight. The entrance seemed like a closed gate, but one could pass through it like air. If there were restrictions, one would be blocked.


    Noticing the presence of Jash''s entourage, the hunters moving about stopped and greeted them while the security team bowed in greeting.


    Ignoring this, Jash and Caera''s eyes shone like jewels as they reflected the sight of the blue magical gate.


    It stood 2 meters tall with many people wearing black suits surrounding it. They were members of the security team assigned to guard the dungeon and inform their higher-ups, in case of any mishap.


    Usually, officials of the Hunter Association would be around as whenever a new dungeon was found, the Hunter Association had to be informed.


    Only established nobles could claim the dungeons for their own, and this was the case for the Ramille Duchy.


    Although Jash remained unaware who had registered it, he was sure that his family name was enough to deter the Hunter Association from claiming it.


    Naturally, he thought of all such things even though he was somewhat dazed by the sight of the blue portal swirling around, radiating a dense mana into the atmosphere.


    His reverie was broken when the hunter-in-charge of this dungeon arrived to greet them.


    "We greet the Young Master and Young Miss. We have already arranged for your entry, and everything is ready."


    The twins nodded as Caera returned to look at the dazzling sight while Jash observed the woman.


    She sported long brown hair with almond-shaped hazel eyes wearing a tight-fitted black attire as she led a team of five.


    Noticing his stare, she continued without a ripple on her face. "You may wait before entering the dungeon in the lounge if you wish to. Everything has been prepared for your convenience."


    "Let''s go then," Jash accepted the offer readily, as he felt the need to adapt to the mana-dense atmosphere.


    He wasn''t an overconfident idiot who believed everything would happen his way or something. ''It''s always better to be safe than sorry.''


    Caera awoke from her daze and was a little surprised, but she followed the brown-haired lady alongside Jash to the nearby lounge, where hunters usually rested or gathered before going into the dungeon.


    These lounges were created to encourage bonding among hunters and help them relax before entering the dungeon.


    The brown-haired lady led them straight to the premium area, which was clearly better than the other seating areas.


    Just as she was about to leave, Jash asked, "Can you tell us something about the dungeon we are about to enter?"


    The lady paused and pointed at the table, "It has everything we are allowed to inform you, Young Master."


    Dumbfounded by her answer, Jash nodded at her, allowing her to leave before picking up the document from the table to read, only for it to get snatched by Caera.


    ''Whatever Not like it will change anything if I read after her.'' Jash shrugged his shoulders and waited for her to finish reading.


    Finally getting to go through it, Jash felt amazed by the work. ''It is quite detailed.''


    It described the dungeon type, rank of monsters and even the boss monster.


    "So, it has some G-Rank wolf-type beasts, huh? And a F-Rank boss, but no information regarding it? It''s a simple blue gate, after all." mumbled Jash more to himself.


    Dungeons were generally ranked based on the rank of the boss monster and the quality of the mana present in them.


    There were no G-Rank dungeons in the world. The rank started at F and continued till SSS without any Integration-Rank between them, different from humans.


    Then, there were types of dungeons with many classifications, but only three were commonly known: blue gates, green gates, and purple gates.


    Blue gates represented dungeons without any restrictions on entering or leaving. No matter the rank, a person could enter and leave without even killing a single monster inside. Most newly awakened hunters were brought to such dungeons.


    Green gates were similar to blue gates, but they differed in enforcing a rank restriction and only allowed a certain number of people to enter. Nobody could enter until the people inside came out or were dead.


    Purple gates were entrances to the most dangerous dungeons. When a hunter entered, the portal to exit the dungeon disappeared and would not reappear until the dungeon boss was killed. There was usually no rank restriction on entering, but the number of hunters inside would be limited, prohibiting any hunter outside to enter until the number inside decreased.


    If dungeons were not cleared for a long time, the boundary separating the dungeon and the outside world would gradually weaken.


    Also, the unstable mana would increase over time and slowly corrode the dungeon. This phenomenon had many names, but outbreak and dungeon break were the most common ones.


    In such situations, the monsters inhabiting the dungeons inside would come outside.


    To prevent this from happening, dungeons were meant to be cleared on a regular basis. This was also the reason that every hunter, no matter their rank, was needed.


    If only talented individuals advanced as hunters, who would clear the rank-restricted gates?


    Since even an F-Rank dungeon break would be enough to wipe out millions of people if left unattended. This just went on to signify the importance of hunters in this world.


    Hence, several academies, in addition to Solarnelle Academy, existed and flourished, training people to become capable hunters and survive longer.


    Naturally, the Solarnelle Academy was the dream of every person who wanted to be strong in their field, but if they couldn''t enter it, they still had other academies to join and learn from.


    ''That''s a lot of information,'' Jash thought as he massaged his forehead in an attempt to alleviate the frying of his nerves.


    ''I just came to go for my first hunt, not some hard lessons in college or something!'' Jash cursed his brain for recalling all the information needlessly.


    Feeling helpless, he chose to enter the dungeon instead of waiting for another jolt of information to assault him out of nowhere. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Enough resting. Let''s enter the dungeon," Jash declared as he stood up.


    "Tsk. You are the one delaying it," chided Caera, feeling annoyed because of the delay.


    "Yeah, because unlike a certain someone, I haven''t reached the peak of F-Rank."


    After saying his piece, Jash didn''t wait for Caera to come up with something to retort and headed directly outside to where the blue gate leading to the dungeon was located.


    ''Did she arrive?'' Jash wondered, and just as he tilted his head to the side, he was surprised to find her standing next to him, in a battle-ready state.


    "Let''s enter, shall we?" Caera suggested as she activated her nano-armor.


    Jash caressed the black bracelet on his wrist and activated his nano-armor with a small amount of mana before walking closer to the gate.


    Suddenly, Jash turned around and ordered, "Only Emma and Kesha will enter, besides us. The rest of you, wait here, and don''t enter unless someone triggers the safety bracelet."


    Emma, Kesha and the security team didn''t mind and nodded, trusting the safety bracelet.


    After all, it was a defensive artifact that would signal their team outside in the event of a life-threatening situation.


    It also functioned as a barrier that would activate if a critical attack hit either of them, holding out until the security team could arrive to help.

 Chapter 55 - 55: First Battle

    ''These security devices will surely be helpful,'' mused Jash, knowing the importance they held in every hunting team''s life-and-death situation. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since dungeons were unpredictable spaces, anything could happen inside to the point that a dungeon which seemed stable today could explode tomorrow. Explode being just another term for dungeon breaks.


    Hence, being naive or careless could result in death in an instant. Sera, as their doting mother, didn''t want any such accidents to befall them.


    If preventing her children from experiencing and fighting in such environments didn''t stifle their growth, she would never risk sending them into the dungeon.


    However, the world was such where weak people couldn''t even live freely.


    Moving on, Jash had his entire focus in front of him as he stepped closer to the gate with Caera next to him and Emma and Kesha right behind them.


    As soon as they stepped into the gate, they disappeared into thin air, invisible to the outsiders, who became vigilant and surrounded the perimeter.


    Upon entering, they found themselves in a place resembling lush mountain paths, with multiple trees in sight.


    But the twins were feeling disoriented from the teleportation and took some time to recover before noticing the moist atmosphere around them.


    Emma and Kesha stayed close to them, determined to protect the twins. They had long become accustomed to the feeling of disorientation from the teleportation due to their experience with dungeons.


    "A forest?" Jash mumbled in disbelief.


    Caera clicked her tongue and scoffed, "Obviously!"


    Ignoring her, Jash turned to face the sisters guarding them, "Uhm, can you two stop being so sensitive? I think we can get by on our own."


    "Yeah, don''t intervene unless our life is in danger, which by the way won''t happen," added Caera, not bothering to even look at them, her eyes were fixed on the forest entry.


    Both Emma and Kesha were A-rank Hunters and could save the twins anytime in the F-Rank Dungeon.


    Despite this, they hesitated for a few seconds before relenting to their request and nodded. They took a few steps back and stopped emitting their A-rank pressure.


    "Alright, let''s go!" Caera announced before walking into one of the entry points.


    "Haa," Jash facepalmed as he muttered, "Just why is she so hasty?"


    Without any other choice, Jash followed behind her, only to find her hiding behind a tree, observing a gray wolf ahead of them.


    ''It should be G-rank, right?'' guessed Jash, observing the wolf, which looked different from the wolves he had memories of.


    It looked far more ferocious than one would expect of a wolf, its snout easily being 3 meters above the ground.


    ''Damn, this guy is around the same height as Caera and me combined,'' observed Jash before he turned to look at Caera.


    Although it was one of the weakest monsters, being at G-Rank, it was still dangerous for a recently awakened hunter.


    Looking at her wielding a bow and aiming at the wolf prowling in the grass, he was both dumbfounded and astonished.


    The sight was enough to make him almost curse out loud, but he somehow managed to stop himself in time.


    ''Just when did she get that bow''s acknowledgement?'' wondered Jash, recalling the bow given by Ziva''s mother, Evelia, to Caera at their birthday banquet.


    The memory inadvertently made him look at his strapped daggers, ''Well, I too received something I can use.''


    Contrary to their playful banter, Ziva did give his gift¡ªa pair of daggers, to be precise.


    It was a thoughtful gift, considering they would at least serve as emergency self-defense, irrespective of the path Jash walked upon awakening.


    ¡ªWhoosh!


    The sound of air being split brought Jash back to the present as he couldn''t help but click his tongue, looking at the arrow heading for the wolf''s head.


    "...And it''s dead."


    Unlike typical bows, Caera used a much better one, making the speed of her fired arrows faster and more precise, giving the unprepared wolf no time to even dodge.


    "Caera, don''t do that again. It won''t work with the smell of blood already in the air," he suggested in a low voice, walking closer to the dead wolf.


    Unfortunately, he failed to take into account that it was Caera''s first kill. Even though it was just a monster, it wasn''t a pleasant experience.


    Nor was that the case for Emma and Kesh, who were surprised to see the calm state of Jash as he headed towards the corpse.


    "J-just s-stop!" Caera shouted, her voice trembling like her hands.


    "Hmm?" Confused, Jash stopped and turned around to find Caera struggling since a few seconds as her breathing turned ragged, with Kesha helping her.


    "Young Master, you should leave the wolf''s body. The hunters outside will collect it," implored Emma with a strange expression on her face.


    ''Oh shit! I messed up, didn''t I?'' Jash cursed inside, the realization of his mistake dawning heavily on him.


    Acting calm in the face of a monster''s corpse was something even some veterans had a tough time with, let alone a newly awakened kid.


    With no way for him to get out of this mess, he just let it be and awkwardly said, "Uhm, I-I will be back in a while."


    Out of sheer embarrassment at his stupid mistake, Jash dashed away without waiting for any reply.


    Not like he had to care about his safety or not as Emma immediately followed him from a distance where she could intervene should anything happen.


    As he continued to run, his focus didn''t wane from his surroundings but he summoned mana inside his body, allowing the bracelet to absorb it.


    The nano-armor ended up covering his body up to his neck in small, matte black scales from inside his clothes, not interfering with any other armor a hunter might be wearing.


    Less than a minute since he activated his nano-armor, his eyes narrowed. ''On my right!''


    Suddenly, he jumped to his left, rolling on the grass and a wolf pounced at his previous location, leaving deep gashes on the grassy ground.


    It seemed the wolf had sensed him and wanted to make him its food, howling in rage.


    ¡ªAwoooo!


    "Heh! As if I care!" He mumbled to himself before unsheathing his sword and jumped to his right.


    ¡ªBam!


    The wolf once again missed Jash who easily dodged the attack.


    Naturally, the wolf became wary and growled at him, showing his killing intent. The wolf never sensed the observing Emma whose eyes turned cold as her stealth skills were too high.


    "Come again!" Jash shouted, unaware of Emma''s change.


    Seeing his provocation work with the wolf charging towards him, he moved his right foot behind his left and waited for the wolf to jump on him again.


    He easily evaded the pouncing wolf, but he used his feet to slide to the right side of the wolf and unhesitantly swung his sword in an upward thrust.


    ¡ªSwishh!


    ¡ªThud!


    The sword pierced through the wolf''s stomach as gravity did the rest of the work, passing through the spine of the wolf, killing it instantly.


    Unfortunately, its body was too heavy for Jash, and he ultimately lost his grip on the sword handle when blood sprayed out on his face from the cut.


    He moved aside as the wolf''s lifeless body slumped down and gazed at its dead body, trying to feel something.


    Yet...


    ''Why? Why don''t I feel anything? Just WHY!?''

 Chapter 56 - 56: Team Hunt

    Unable to figure out his own feelings, Jash gave up, pulled out the sword from the wolf''s body, and swung it downward to get rid of the blood smearing its surface.


    "At least the sword is good," he remarked, looking at the sharp blade before sheathing it into its black sheath.


    The sword he brought was quite powerful and a bit overkill for an F-rank dungeon, but it didn''t really matter as there were hundreds, if not thousands, of such swords in the armory.


    Still, he didn''t just choose it for its aesthetics; the weight was just right, not too light or heavy. Every swing served to increase the damage done by the wielder.


    Feeling the sensation of the gem placed on the hilt of the sword, he liked the balance between the ruggedness and the smoothness.


    ''These mana stone-imbued weapons are really one hell of an invention by the dwarven race.''


    Recalling the dwarves, Jash''s hand involuntarily touched the earring on his left ear. ''They sure are good at their inventions.''


    "What? Already!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A surprised voice brought Jash out of his reverie as he turned to look at the source.


    "So you''ve finally gathered yourself, lil'' girl," Jash mocked with a smug smile.


    "Ugh. I can''t stand you," Caera''s mouth twitched as her eyes dodged the sight of the lifeless wolf.


    She had only stabilized her emotions and followed behind Jash and was greeted by his blood-drenched form.


    However, Jash didn''t seem to mind and rolled his eyes, "Whatever. Not like we can stay near their bodies, so let''s move forward, yeah?"


    Despite her inner repulsion to the feat of killing, Caera reluctantly nodded and followed him from a distance, grumbling, "I don''t want to get my clothes dirty."


    Ignoring her lame excuse, Jash marched forward, always alert to his surroundings in case of any monsters.


    ''Since the report detailed only wolves, the boss monster would most likely be a wolf too, right?''


    Shaking his head to focus on the present and putting the thought to the back of his mind, Jash sensed a presence near him.


    He stopped in that instant and raised his hand to signal for Caera to take on her battle stance as well.


    Trusting in her capabilities, he didn''t even check on her. Instead, he unsheathed his sword silently, and inched closer to the presence he sensed earlier.


    Caera, always attentive, noticed his signal. Immediately, she gripped her bow, nocking an arrow and aiming in the direction he moved in.


    They were already quite far into the forest but encountered next to no monsters due to the prior cleaning done by the hunters.


    Only a marginal number of monsters were left for the twins to practice their moves on.


    ¡ªSwish!


    Without any hint, Jash swung his sword but all it cut was empty air, making Caera focus on the area in front.


    "3 Wolves!" she exclaimed, surprised to see one of them dodge the surprise attack and gathering together to surround Jash.


    "Not on my watch," she muttered and directly shot the nocked arrow at the wolf whose vision was being blocked by Jash.


    Without waiting for the result, she put the bow and quiver of arrows into her storage ring, bringing out her staff.


    ¡ªWhoosh!


    ¡ªPsst!


    "Nice shot!" Jash whistled as he moved out of the way after hearing the wind and the arrow pierced one of the wolf''s eyes, impairing it for a while.


    Using the gap effectively, Jash dashed towards the wolves, who also noticed him but did not charge at him immediately.


    Being animals, their senses were far better than humans'', allowing them to sense the blood of their own kind on his body.


    Naturally, it made them wary of Jash as he seemed like a hunter looking at his prey¡ªthe wolves.


    Though these G-Rank monsters do not have the mental intellect to think so far, their beastly instincts made them aware of the danger.


    Still, one of their kin had gotten injured and was howling in pain while one had died to this human, prompting them to howl and try to attack him.


    Alas, it was too late.


    Jash had already stabbed his sword in the middle of the injured wolf''s head, bringing it near death''s door.


    ¡ªAwooooooo!


    As it cried out in pain for the last time, its lifeless body slumped down, enraging the other two wolves, who howled in rage.


    ''Already!?'' thought Jash as he immediately retreated, confusing the wolves since his weapon was still stabbed in their leader''s head.


    "F-Rank Spell: Fireball!" Caera shouted in determination.


    "Damn! Why are you even shouting? Not cool at all!" Jash complained in his mouth, feeling the rising heat as it sizzled the moisture in the air.


    The spell was quite weakened due to the moist environment, but it was still far stronger and concentrated than the last time Jash saw it.


    The sight of it made him shudder as he couldn''t help but imagine if he would be able to defend against it.


    ''Damn it! These mages are really more annoying than sneaky archers! Yet here she is, the combination of both!''


    He cursed his luck for having such a talented younger sister; it made him feel like his advantage with the awakening time was really useless.


    Fortunately, he didn''t get a lot of time to lament his situation as the confused wolves also felt the rise in temperature, dumbfounding them and allowing the spell to strike true.


    ¡ªBoom!


    An explosion sounded as the small ball of fire with a diameter of 20 centimeters clashed with a 3.2 meter tall and 1.7 meter wide wolf.


    Unexpectedly, it engulfed the wolf in flames while the other one tried to escape, prompting Jash to spring into action.


    Unlike last time, Jash gripped the pair of daggers¡ªgifted by Ziva¡ªin his hands. He bent his knees a bit and channeled some of his mana around his legs.


    In the next instant, he sprung up toward the wolf at high speed, taking it by surprise as it faced the other side.


    His speed was comparable to Caera''s, despite being 2 sub-ranks weaker than her.


    Although the targeted wolf wanted to dodge, Jash had already reached its side and swung his daggers like a sword, lacerating the wolf''s flank.


    Due to the extent of the injury and sudden blood loss, the last wolf stumbled as its eyes darted to the burning wolf.


    It had long died, but the fire didn''t seem to wane as if wanting to leave only ash behind in the place of the wolf''s body.


    Not wanting to give the dying wolf a chance, Jash didn''t show any mercy and stabbed both of its eyes, reaching for the brain, immediately killing it.


    "Phew"


    "That was some work," remarked Jash as he wiped the sweat on his forehead with the only clean part of his sleeve.


    Meanwhile, Caera looked on with her jaw wide-open. The scene didn''t make any sense to her.


    Although Jash had easily soloed a lone wolf, tackling a group of them was different.


    After all, that was common knowledge and it was logical as one could be attacked from behind while attacking one enemy.


    Experience was a major prerequisite to fight a group of monsters yet Jash did it effortlessly, raising suspicions in her mind.


    While Caera''s reasoning was right, it was Jash who was the abnormal one.


    Unaware, he complimented, "Good timing there!"


    Putting aside her suspicions, she responded in kind, "Yeah, you too."


    In the end, it was their first team hunt, and it went way too well for the first time.

 Chapter 57 - 57: Wind Blade

    After taking care of their first group of wolves with immaculate coordination, the twins progressed further inside, trying to locate the boss monster.


    No matter what, the iron-rich smell of blood along with its presence on Jash''s skin made him uncomfortable as he was in the lead.


    While Caera did have an easier time than him, she too didn''t want to spend any more time fighting and killing than necessary.


    Her soft heart didn''t really sit well with all of her actions, but it was the only way to live in this world, which made her feel helpless.


    Unaware of it, Jash complimented, "That dagger had good timing."


    Caera gave an awkward smile to Jash, wondering why he didn''t feel an aversion to such sights, "Thanks..."


    "...Can we get this over with quickly, though?" she urged him, in hopes that he would stop fighting every group they encountered.


    Looking at her uncomfortable posture and her eyes dodging the sight of the lifeless bodies, Jash sighed.


    "Hmm. Our team work has improved manifold, so there''s not much of a need to fight strays anymore," he acquiesced while handing her the dagger she''d thrown.


    Unsurprisingly, her arrows had reduced in number as several of her quivers had emptied out. She had only brought 160 arrows.


    "How many arrows do you have now?" Jash inquired as he navigated his way deeper into the forest.


    "37 F-grade arrows and 3 enchanted ones for the boss," responded Caera, her eyes on the surroundings as she remained vigilant.


    Meanwhile, the two observing the twins were dumbfounded at this point.


    It started with awe, amazement, and pride at their masters'' achievements until it turned to surprise, shock, and finally, astonishment.


    "Kes, do you think it makes sense for two first-timers to navigate this well in a forest-type dungeon?" Emma blurted out her thoughts to her younger sister.


    "...Not really," Kesha replied after a moment of hesitation. "But if you observe closely, it is Young Master Jash who is navigating easily while Young Miss Caera is just following behind him."


    Emma nodded, her eyes focused on the twins as she had already been stopped by Kesha when she tried to jump in during their first fight against the three wolves.


    "Kes, do you think they can clear it?" Emma asked curiously. She really wanted to see if that were the case.


    "Can you stop calling me Kes? Also, who knows. Maybe they will," replied Kesha, even though she found her older sister to be annoying.


    Their duty wasn''t to wonder, but to protect.


    "Yeah, yeah, sure." Emma rolled her eyes and seemed to agree as she suddenly exclaimed, "Hey, Kes! Look!"


    "When will you stop..." Kesha muttered under her breath and focused on the scene and her calm expression moped into a solemn one.


    Jash had stopped walking and Caera did the same, observing him. But that wasn''t all she did.


    She immediately took cover and aimed her bow at the place Jash was staring at, nocking an arrow without pause.


    Their smooth movement and coordination implied great improvement in fighting together as if they were seasoned veterans.


    Since they had become accustomed to fighting together, Jash had decided to directly aim for the boss, but he found something else.


    Moving a bush in front of him, he eyed the small clearing where a wolf lay on the ground and 7 other wolves remained around it.


    ''F-Rank wolf!'' He noted immediately due to its bigger size and the rest of the wolves seemingly subservient to it.


    Without peeking for another second, he backed away briskly. ''I hope it didn''t sense me yet.''


    Alas, it was a pipe dream.


    ¡ªAwooo!


    The moment he backstepped, the F-Rank wolf opened its eyes and howled for its minions to go kill him.


    It had sensed the blood of its kin on the human and wanted to feast on his meat to get its dead kin''s revenge.


    The 7 wolves too seemed affected by the howl and repeated after their leader.


    ¡ªAwooooooooooooooooo!


    However, not all of them followed as two of them charged towards him from the front, but he easily retreated to a safe position, accelerating his steps.


    Just as the wolves were about to collide, an arrow whooshed past Jash and struck one wolf''s snout.


    It howled in agony from the pain as its companion looked back at it before growling in rage. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªGrrrr!


    The other wolf tried nearing Jash, but he was already one step ahead. The sound of the claw and metal colliding echoed instead of blood spattering.


    ¡ªClang!


    Even before it could claw towards him, he had aimed his sword in such a way that it halted the claw, stopping it before it could even gain any momentum.


    ¡ªPsst!


    ''Not again!'' he grumbled inwardly, hearing the arrow fly past his ear into the wolf''s head, incapacitating it right then.


    ¡ªShing!


    Despite his revulsion, Jash drew his sword at the retreating wolf, severing its head from its body and relieving it of its agony.


    However, he didn''t spare a single second to check either wolf''s body and without any hesitation, he dashed towards Caera.


    "Hurry! 6 more! 1 F-Rank!" he shouted at Caera, who had already placed her bow back into her storage ring and was gripping her staff.


    She didn''t even spare him a glance and continued to cast the spell, wind gathering around her staff as she aimed it at the clearing.


    5 wolves appeared from inside, growling and howling at the sight of their bloodied kin, one on its way to death while the other was already dead.


    Seeing their brutal way of killing, the five wolves only got more enraged yet their instincts warned them of danger as they warily pranced forward.


    Meanwhile, Jash wasn''t calm at all. Although he found the previous fights quite boring and tiresome, he really didn''t wish for a real life-and-death challenge.


    ''What''s with this shit! I don''t remember signing up for blood-pumping adventures! Where''s my simple life!?''


    Cursing inside, he still remained vigilant and used mana around his entire body to strengthen them, keeping an eye on the clearing where the lone F-Rank wolf remained, muttering to himself, "Anytime now..."


    "E-Rank Spell: Wind Blade!"


    Hearing Caera''s spell name, he instantaneously sprung into action.


    Taking the slumping form of Caera into his arms, he ran in the opposite direction, causing the wolves to rush, but that was their last mistake.


    ¡ªSwoosh!


    With the sound of wind, numerous wind blades attacked the unguarded wolves, leaving behind deep gashes on their body.


    One of the five got heavily injured as it was leading them and died on the spot while the other four only suffered flesh wounds.


    Stubbornly resisting as they followed their Alpha''s commands, they followed the trails left behind by the twins.


    Unfortunately, they failed to realize their movements became sluggish the more they ran. They remained oblivious to the numerous small cuts on their bodies, ignoring them until they succumbed to their injuries, whimpering on the ground.


    By the time the lone survivor, the F-Rank wolf arrived, the four had already died, enraging it to its core as it started hunting crazily.


    At the same time, Jash finally stopped running after his pace dropped, panting for breath. "Haa... Haa... Haa... Haa..."


    He stopped using mana to strengthen himself as he slumped to the ground, but not before raising Caera.


    It was an instinct¡ªan urge¡ªto protect her as her older brother. It wasn''t something that could be explained.

 Chapter 58 - 58: Anomaly

    While Jash and Caera were resting and trying to recover their mana, the outside was in utter chaos.


    The stable F-Rank dungeon''s blue gate pulsed out a wave of mana, alerting the security team hunters before hues of purple and green appeared.


    All the hunters in the area became wary and their vigilance was raised to another level as they waited for the strange phenomena to end.


    Unfortunately, they recognized the phenomenon as it always occurred when something inside the dungeon changed, resulting in an increase in its rank or difficulty.


    Alas, they couldn''t stop or interfere with the process.


    Let alone them, even SSS-Rank hunters were helpless in the face of such an event; the most they could do was wait and try to evaluate after it finished.


    It didn''t take too long for the event to finish, only five minutes, but to the security team, it was one of the longest five minutes of their lives.


    "Hurry up! Check if it''s restricting entry or not!" a man shouted, and others followed his commands.


    One by one, hunters ranging from A-Rank to F-Rank tried entering the dungeon, only to get repulsed by a strong wave of mana coming off the gate.


    The strongest one of them, an Integration-Rank hunter who had just shouted a command, clenched his teeth and walked to enter.


    Just like the others, he too was thrown away like a ragdoll, even though he was manifold stronger than they were.


    The scene of a blue gate that was stable for months changing all of a sudden was enough to fill the heads of inexperienced hunters with fear.


    Luckily, before any of them could succumb to it, a wave of mana assaulted them from the skies, freezing them in their spots.


    "Back off," he announced and the entire area surrounding the dungeon entrance was emptied out as he landed from the air.


    ''At least S-Rank!'' thought the hunters due to the feat of him flying and the pressure they felt emanating from him.


    No amount of magic made it possible to fly freely before achieving S-Rank and it was taught very well, so that some idiot doesn''t end up offending one of them.


    "Is it just Emma and Kesha besides the Young Master and Young Miss?" the lone man asked, prompting the leader of the security team to answer immediately.


    "Yes, sir!"


    Hearing the succinct response, the man nodded to himself before giving out the order, "With the two of them inside, it shouldn''t pose any issues. But report back to the estate."


    Without waiting for any response, he continued to evaluate the dungeon gate with even more green and purple pulses of mana dominating the original blue.


    ''I hope it doesn''t turn into a purple gate,'' prayed the man despite his strength of SS-Rank.


    Unlike most hunters, he wasn''t delusional and acknowledged the truth: in front of Cornelius or Inigo, he was but an ant.


    That''s why he didn''t wish to get their aggro onto him, despite it not being his fault. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The two should be enough to take care of it, right?" the SS-Rank hunter muttered to himself.


    ¡­


    Inside the dungeon.


    While the outside remained in chaos, nothing out of the ordinary was happening inside the dungeon.


    Jash and Caera had climbed a tree for a quick rest. They chugged down a couple of mana recovery potions that appeared to be colorless.


    Caera was on the lookout as Jash tried to circulate mana throughout his body to get rid of his bodily fatigue.


    Both of them didn''t just have physical fatigue; the mental fatigue was the one making things difficult for them.


    Caera had just used a spell above her rank, emptying her entire mana core. If not for quickly drinking a few potions, just a nosebleed wouldn''t have been the end of her misery.


    Jash, on the other hand, had to supply and control the mana inside his body from leaking out and giving his location to the crazed wolf, all the while his eyes tried to find a good footing for him to utilize.


    "Don''t you find it strange?" Caera asked, bringing Jash to the present as he opened his eyes.


    "Hm? What?" he replied, confused at her odd phrasing.


    "The F-Rank wolf, shouldn''t it ought to have found us by now?"


    "Well, can''t you hear the sounds? It might even have gone berserk by now, you know?" Jash said as he finished stretching out and disembarked the tree.


    "Come on," he requested her to stop wasting time and follow him.


    "Yeah, maybe you are right," she responded as she jumped from the tree and dashed in a direction.


    "Ugh. Just why!?" Jash shouted as he rolled his eyes before following her.


    The two were headed in the same direction they''d found the F-Rank wolf in.


    Although there was a chance of it having gone berserk, Caera didn''t seem to mind and actually went to try her luck in finishing it off.


    With no other choice, Jash caught up to her and grumbled, "What if it''s already berserk, you idiot!"


    "What do you think its rank is?" Caera asked, ignoring his complaint.


    Naturally, he figured out her intention and answered exasperatedly, "Prolly (F+)-rank? The presence it radiated makes me believe it ought to be the second strongest monster in this dungeon."


    "Precisely!" she nodded at his analysis and increased her speed with an excited grin on her face.


    Seeing her expression and action, he followed along but a strange thought came to his mind. However, he vehemently denied it, ''No way! There''s just no way, right?''


    Catching up he inquired, "It could be berserk, making its prowess just short of (E-)-rank! Why are you going towards it?"


    "That''s all the more reason to go after it!" she announced and finally decreased her pace, recognizing the clearing from before.


    "Ugh. Damn it! You mad or what!" Jash cursed at her, feeling helpless as his guess came true.


    It turns out she wanted to try fighting that berserk wolf to breakthrough E-Rank in one go.


    ''Just how did I forget she is so close to condensing the yellow mana core?'' he couldn''t help but think to himself, recalling the monster rankings.


    Usually, monsters were categorized into three sub-ranks, just like humans, but it was different.


    Where humans had early, mid and late sub-ranks, the monsters were graded using (-), () and (+).


    For example, (F-)-rank, (F)-rank, and (F+)-rank.


    Naturally, some hunters also used the same ranking system for humans as it made it more uniform and easy.


    Alas, it wasn''t all that important.


    ''The important thing is these darned monsters are without the mental capacity to converse with humans till B-Rank!'' Jash thought hatefully.


    That''s why most monsters below B-Rank tend to go berserk in dungeons because of it.


    Going berserk simply meant losing control of themselves and following only their primal instinct to kill indiscriminately.


    Yes, they were unable to differentiate between their own kin!


    However, in exchange of their reasoning and little bit of restraint, they gained a huge power-up, elevating them almost an entire sub-rank above their current strength.


    In the most extreme cases, some could even rank up if they were already close to it before.


    Alas, most monsters who went berserk died shortly after or dropped in ranks significantly so that one could just run away and wait for them to die or serve themselves on a silver platter.


    And Caera wished to face a beast on its last legs! That was nothing short of crazy!

 Chapter 59 - 59: Fateful Discovery

    "There is definitely nothing here! Let''s just go get the boss monster and leave."


    "Shhh. It should be here," Caera rebutted strongly, moving a bush to the side.


    "We''ve already been at this for 10 minutes, you know? It''s useless!" Jash countered with a frustrated expression.


    ''I don''t know why, but my gut feeling is telling me to leave quickly,'' he thought as he used the tree trunk as a foothold to jump ahead, following Caera.


    Apparently, she firmly believed she saw something in the clearing where the F-Rank wolf was resting and they were currently looking for it.


    Not exactly they, since Jash was more focused on making her agree to leave instead of hanging around.


    It was one thing to accidentally come across it, but waiting for it in its home? Now, that would be completely stupid.


    Unfortunately, nothing he said fazed her as she stubbornly persisted to find that thing.


    Having enough of this tiresome search with a lurking threat, he couldn''t hold it in any longer, "Just what did you even see!? Just say it!"


    It wasn''t the first time he asked her what they were looking for, but her replies remained the same every time.


    "Look, I really don''t know, alright? You were already running and the last scene I saw were the wolves getting hit and something shone in the clearing."


    "And I am telling you that it must''ve been the wolf!" Jash rolled his eyes before continuing, "Anyways, as I was saying, we really need to¨C"


    "Shh!" Caera threw a branch at his face to shut him up, annoying him further.


    However, just as his eyes followed the direction she pointed, he was frozen on the spot, his mind failing to comprehend what he just saw.


    ''Just how...?''


    ''Impossible!''


    ''What in the world...?''


    ''There''s just no way!''


    ''No... It can''t be...''


    He couldn''t help but deny it with every fiber of his being.


    It just didn''t make any sense.


    ''How can this be here!? There''s just no way!'' Jash refused to accept the scene before him when he felt a kick on his shin, bringing him out of his frozen state.


    "Owww"


    "What are you doing, Caera!?" he grumbled in a louder voice, prompting her to pout her lips.


    "Firstly, lower your voice. Secondly, I''ve been calling you for so long, damn it! Stop going into a daze! We''re inside a dungeon, you!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the end of her dialogue, she couldn''t think of any appropriate word to call him and chose to change the topic.


    "Anyways, look at that scrap. It must''ve belonged to one of the hunters or maybe from a dead one? I think we should return it to said hunter''s family as a memento?"


    Caera suggested with a serious tone, dumbfounding Jash further as she tried to pick it up.


    "NO!" he exclaimed out loud, a clear sense of warning within his words.


    Alas, he was a tad bit too late.


    She had already picked it up and asked, "Why?"


    Before another second passed, she immediately complained, "Damn! This is so heavy!"


    Not wanting to bother holding the heavy scrap for a second longer, she unhesitatingly put it into her storage ring.


    All of this happened within the span of three seconds, giving Jash no time to interrupt as he gazed at the entire thing from start to finish with a crestfallen expression.


    Looking at it, Caera felt amused, "Why do you have such an expression as if the entire world has ended or something?"


    Choosing not to answer, he remained silent and ignored her for the time being despite her numerous calls and led her out of the area.


    ''The when, why, how doesn''t matter anymore. What matters is what to do now?'' he mused gravely.


    ''Damn! My life really sucks! And a scrap? That''s like blasphemy! Although just a part, it is still a part of a Holy Sword! One that was literally crafted by those darned Angels!


    But... how did I even get it in my past life?''


    That was all the information he recalled after looking at the hilt, or what remained of it.


    Unfortunately, he had no memories of the system, or he wouldn''t be so clueless about its origins.


    ''Wait! Why should I even care? What if I just avoid it? Surely, it won''t come back to me forcefully, right?''


    After thinking so, Jash visibly relaxed as he increased his pace and headed further inside the dungeon.


    "Just what''s wrong with him?" Caera muttered to herself, but just shook her head and followed him.


    If not for the noises caused by the F-Rank wolf getting farther and farther away, she wouldn''t have left the clearing.


    Ironically, Jash had lost his focus on the noises as he smiled, ''Good thing she is following without complaints!''


    If only he knew that he was the one leading himself into the pit, he would''ve chosen to return instantaneously.


    Along the way, they met many groups of wolves and Jash tried his best to evade them to save time, but some just couldn''t be avoided.


    ''I should probably speed things up. Seeing anything after my nonchalance at the gory sights won''t matter,'' thought Jash.


    He knew that everything that transpired in their first dungeon raid would be reported to his parents.


    If Jash used his past life''s fighting style, he would face the same dilemma he had been avoiding from the start.


    After all, how could a person who detested training suddenly become such a veteran sword user without mistakes?


    Focusing back on the current scene, he narrowed his eyes as he noticed three wolves charging towards him from the front.


    He immediately changed his footing and channeled mana into his hands and legs, dashing forward towards one of the wolves on his right.


    With immaculate timing, he feinted a sword thrust to its head before slashing its stomach as it instinctively stiffened and tried to back away from the thrust.


    Before it could get any time to regain its footing, he let go of his sword and swung his dagger to blind the wolf.


    He didn''t even wait to confirm if his attack connected or not, and sidestepped to dodge the attack of the wolf next to him.


    ''She took care of one,'' Jash noted as he glanced at the whimpering wolf.


    He was aware that the last wolf would try to ambush him and prepared accordingly. Thankfully, Caera reduced the numbers from three to two and would also take care of the blinded wolf.


    The wolf appeared confused, seeing that its surprise attack had missed. But before it could even turn its body, Jash threw the second dagger.


    The throw was swift, not giving any time for the wolf to move as it got struck by the dagger in the middle of its head.


    "Phew"


    He released a breath of relief as he stopped the mana circulating in his right arm, looking at the limp wolf.


    He removed the blood from his sword and daggers as he picked them up and sheathed them while coming back towards Caera with arrows in hand.


    She nodded at him and placed the used arrows in a different quiver before they went into another path, leaving behind their dumbfounded maids¡ªguards.


    "Something''s wrong," Emma muttered to herself, finding the number of wolves to be quite alarming.


    Kesha, on the other hand, didn''t seem bothered. "Stop overthinking it. They''re handling it quite well. This experience will be beneficial to them."


    While her words made sense, Emma couldn''t help but feel uneasy and muttered, gazing in the direction the twins went, "I hope so too..."

 Chapter 60 - 60: Into the Wolf Den

    After walking around aimlessly, trying to find the boss monster in the challenging forest terrain, Jash and Caera finally found a cave near the only river inside the dungeon.


    It was inconspicuous at first, making the twins circle it once before they finally noticed it due to the putrid smell.


    "Why does it smell so bad?" Caera complained, covering her nose with her left hand, wielding daggers in her right.


    Although Jash appeared nonchalant without trying to shield his nose, he nodded wordlessly as he stood in front of the cave, his senses sharpened with a primal warning.


    The air hung heavy with the metallic tang of blood, mingled with the earthy scent of damp moss and fresh bark.


    He had a hard time differentiating them at first, but he managed to work with it within a span of seconds.


    ''Thank whoever gave me the past life memories, or this would be so much worse,'' he felt gratitude towards the memory giver for the first time.


    If not for having seen and felt the vivid sensations of far worse scenarios, he feared that he might''ve fainted from the strong scent of blood.


    "Just what happened here?" Caera muttered in a confused tone, barely holding herself from puking at the sight of the cave''s entrance.


    "I don''t know about that, but it sure screams that it is the location of the boss monster," Jash responded as he scrutinized the entrance.


    Just like the nearby walls, it had rocks mounting it before a wide gap appeared. Though it appeared entirely dark due to the lack of light.


    With the trees working as natural camouflage in front of it, few rays of light pierced the dense canopy, making it difficult to find the irregularity due to the decreased visiblity.


    It seemed the perfect place for a boss monster to settle, but the confusing thing was the red pool on the ground around the entry, with ominous claw marks all around.


    Rivers of crimson stained the earth, contrasting starkly against the verdant hues of the forest floor, a stark reminder of violence amidst the tranquility of nature.


    ''It seems like some infighting occurred here?'' Jash guessed in his heart as he observed the nearby areas for any clue.


    A few scars marred the tree trunks, jagged claw marks etched onto the bark with desperate effort that spoke of the helplessness against a formidable foe.


    Each mark seemed to pulse with a foreboding energy, as if the very essence of the creature that made them wasn''t spared any mercy.


    Looking at the haphazard and light marks, Jash formulated a scenario where two (F+)-rank wolves fought each other along with their followers, vying for dominance.


    ''Wait a minute! Isn''t there that wolf too? Did it really go after its own kin?''


    Jash shivered at just the thought of fighting such a crazy monster; alas, the boss monster, new or old, was supposed to be inside.


    His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, the weight of familiarity and memories of a lifetime filled with battles etched into its familiar grip.


    His heart remained as calm as a serene lake despite the frightening scene in front of him, a mixture of caution and finality driving him forward despite the ominous signs before him.


    Turning his head to face Caera, he approved of her adjustment to this nightmarish scene.


    "Adjust as much as you can, we''re going in," he whispered in a hushed tone, wary of even the whistling wind as his senses tingled.


    Every nerve in his body tingled with awareness, every sense attuned to the slightest hint of danger in this abnormal place.


    "What? Why?" Caera questioned his decision in an alarmed manner, unable to understand the change in his attitude.


    Wasn''t he the one who kept persuading me to ignore that berserk wolf? So why, of all times, is he saying something like that now!?


    "Keep it low!" Jash commanded before explaining, "The wolf you wish to fight is probably inside too, and if not, it''s still worth it if it belongs to the boss monster."


    Hearing his reasons, she stood stunned before a disgusted expression appeared on her face. She just couldn''t get used to this sight of carnage.


    In that moment, she felt a hand clasp her shoulder, surprising her as she looked at his determined expression and steeled herself.


    "I am the stronger one! I should be the one consoling him," she mumbled to herself as she clenched her fists on the dagger''s hilt.


    In that moment, as the twins stood at the threshold of the wolf den turned river house, they knew they weren''t contending against merely a beast of the wild.


    They were going to face off an embodiment of raw, untamed power that dared to challenge even one''s sanity in the deepest part of the forest.


    Meanwhile the two, Kesha and Emma, were observing them with Emma frowning as she muttered, "I hope they don''t enter."


    For some reason, she was feeling uneasy for a while and all it took was a single glance at the anomaly for her to hold it accountable for her feelings.


    Beside her, Kesha wore a serious and determined expression as she meticulously observed the twins'' movements before speaking.


    "I think they will go in."


    Hearing her, Emma immediately glared at her, "Kes, can''t you say some nice word-"


    "Look," Kesha interrupted as she pointed to the distance, "They''re going inside."


    "There''s just no way-" Emma''s words got stuck in her throat as she froze on the spot before blaming Kesha.


    "You just jinxed it Kesha!"


    Kesha just shook her head at her sister''s exaggerated worries and jumped to follow the twins from a distance where she could hop in to save them any time.


    Despite her grumbling Emma too followed, staying a bit closer to the twins, just in case, as she still blamed herself for not being able to prevent Jash from getting cursed two years ago.


    Although no one else blamed her, she herself did.


    As she followed the twins, they came across many disgusting sights, such as the entrails and viscera of wolves, and some small animals with their heads squashed on the ground..


    Caera naturally couldn''t hold it in for a long time and puked multiple times, emptying her already empty stomach, just releasing bile.


    Each time this happened, Jash stayed by her side, making sure she adjusted as quickly as possible.


    Unfortunately, his bravado only gave rise to suspicions in Emma''s mind.


    Even though she knew that Jash was a talented genius, given his unconquerable achievement during his awakening, she couldn''t help but doubt. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, raw talent and experience were two entirely different things.


    One might be talented in fighting, but if they never bothered practicing, they would find the idea of hurting and injuring someone slightly repulsive.


    This was one of the reasons Emma had been scrutinizing Jash for any discrepancy since she saw him remain calm while Caera threw up.


    Fortunately, Jash didn''t show off his sword mastery, which could be considered at the level of a veteran A-Rank hunter.


    Naturally, his body couldn''t handle it right now, but his sword mastery was truly terrifying.


    Well, just his indifference made her skeptical, let alone seeing his mastery of combat.


    Unaware of such things, Jash walked further into the cave, dimly lit with luminous moss, before he finally entered a larger cavern.

 Chapter 61 - 61: Dark Descent

    "W-what? What just happened here?" Caera blurted out in surprise at the gruesome sight in front of her eyes.


    Huge bodies of 4-5 meter-tall wolves lay scattered on the ground, shredded into multiple pieces. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The scene was spine-chilling to the point not only Caera but even Jash had a hard time controlling himself.


    The gray earth was marred crimson from fluids sprayed out of their bodies.


    Gritting his teeth and clenching the grip on the hilt of his sword, Jash took a step forward, his feet sinking into the crimson pool beneath.


    "Arghh," he grunted due to the uncomfortable sensation creeping up on his feet.


    At the moment, he didn''t even have the liberty to spare Caera a glance.


    She couldn''t bear it any longer and began to throw up uncontrollably at the macabre sight.


    Nothing inside seemed alive anymore except for the twins and their maids, who immediately supported the vulnerable Caera.


    Suddenly, Jash froze in his steps as the primal fear of death overwhelmed his senses, the surroundings seemingly playing with his mental state.


    Despite the twins freezing Emma and Kesha moved with practice ease, indicating their experience, something the twins lacked.


    However, Jash wore a determined expression as he dragged his other feet into the crimson pool and took slow deliberate steps.


    "Young Master...!" Emma called out in worry, barely stopping herself from rushing in and forcefully bringing him back.


    "It''s fine," Jash gulped nervously, "We have to get used to such sights, and worse, if we are to become hunters."


    His voice cracked with nervousness and the dimly lit, damp atmosphere of the cave didn''t help with it either.


    ''She won''t stop,'' he thought despite his tense state, his senses tingling to detect any danger before it befell him.


    Just when Emma was about to rebuke him, he signaled for her to stop.


    Unable to refuse, she could only shut her mouth and channel her mana to save him at a moment''s notice.


    Their conversation echoed off the walls of the empty cave, reaching Caera.


    She repeatedly coughed and tried to stop retching, but one glance was all it took for her mental barrier to collapse.


    "It''s fine, Young Miss. There''s no need to push yourself further," Kesha consoled her.


    Unfortunately, Caera only found them to be empty words. After all, Jash was going further and he had awakened a year later than her.


    While Kesha''s words were indeed the truth as most F-Rank hunters would''ve already fainted at the first sight, Caera couldn''t believe them.


    Gritting her teeth with great determination, she punched her thigh to distract her mind with pain, a tactic that works well to keep oneself awake.


    Slowly, she got up and could control her urge to throw up.


    Although it was a massive step forward, comparing herself to Jash, she felt no better.


    "I''m the one who''s supposed to protect and lead him, not the other way around..." she mumbled to herself, in an attempt to motivate herself.


    The sight completely stunned the two maids, who were having a really hard time digesting the fact that the twins were still at F-Rank.


    It was the rank where one could only be referred to as novices and being looked down upon by everyone.


    Unbothered by what went behind his back, Jash reached the middle of the cave, where the crimson pool reached above his knees.


    Even if he had gotten somewhat used to the uncomfortable sensation, it was difficult to move without being able to see the ground.


    ''Just why am I doing this?'' he wondered with every step, unable to come up with any conclusive answer.


    Was it to break past his limits or was it to make Caera break hers?


    Maybe it was due to finding the hilt near that F-Rank wolf and the anomaly regarding this presumed wolf den.


    In essence, he didn''t even know what was driving him forward yet he continued to move until he froze on the spot.


    ''What the...?''


    He found himself unable to even formulate proper thoughts at the moment, he was too astonished.


    Curious of the reason he stopped, Caera approached to see what was ahead and saw monsters with big toothless jaws sucking on the carcasses.


    It was too horrendous that she immediately averted her eyes.


    These monsters were called Leeches, usually E-Rank. They had brown cylindrical slimy bodies.


    They stayed hidden inside walls, caves, earth, trees, or anywhere inconspicuous, slumbering until the scent of blood attracted them.


    However, many novice hunters had lost their lives underestimating these monsters who liked to stay hidden in the dark.


    "Aren''t we supposed to be in a F-Rank dungeon!?" Jash exclaimed in a controlled manner, cautious to not attract their attention.


    His question wasn''t addressed to anyone in particular, it was more so to vent his frustration.


    "Young Master, this is an explorable type of dungeon where the dungeon boss is hidden and needs to be eliminated before reaching the reward room, if any. However, being a blue gate, one can leave it as they wish without clearing it all the way."


    Emma explained patiently yet she too was puzzled due to the anomaly and instinctively felt this was the cause of her uneasy feeling.


    "Whatever. Not like we have any other choice," Jash murmured as he unsheathed his sword, unsettling the trio.


    Holding his sword, he channeled mana into his body and noted the distance between him and the trio, nodding to himself. ''It''s enough room for me to fight.''


    Caera wanted to help, but she just couldn''t handle such sights and her fire magic might just burn the entire thing down.


    Although that wouldn''t be a bad thing, it would also prevent them from exploring the insides.


    Emma stepped closer to Jsah while Kesha took it on herself to protect Caera as they looked at Jash charging forward.


    Without alerting the carefree leeches, he immediately beheaded one, which didn''t even react to his presence.


    ''That took a lot more strength than I expected,'' noted Jash, making calculations whether to continue the fight or not.


    The leeches remained unaware of the demise of one of their own until blue blood flowed from its neck as its dead body splashed into the pool.


    The leeches had slimy brown bodies, making it harder to slash them as their secretory fluids made their skin as slippery as an eel.


    They were small in size, roughly half a meter to a meter. They used their mouths to suck on tree barks, earth and anything, which helped them survive in their environment.


    "Kiieeeeeeegggghhhhh," a creepy sound echoed through the cave as the enraged leaches slithered off their food, hiding inside the pool.


    With his senses working full throttle, he heard the water''s movement and felt the water current hitting his body, trying to gauge their position.


    Despite their gross appearance, Caera composed herself and looked at her brother, who remained calm despite the numerous invisible leeches approaching.


    Luckily, she didn''t panic and instinctively used her fire magic but was stunned when she noticed Jash move his sword in a horizontal slash.


    His mere action confuses her, leaving her wondering what he''s planning until the figure of a leech approaching Jash scares the living daylights out of her.


    ''Jash!'' she shouted internally, worried of any accidents, and chose to throw her dagger unhesitatingly, hoping it would cleave or impale the ambushing monster.

 Chapter 62 - 62: Unshackled Limits

    ¡ªSplurt!


    A sudden spurting sound echoed right behind Jash, disorienting his senses for a fraction of a second as his ears twitched in surprise.


    Still, it wasn''t enough to take away his attention from the front as he scrunched up his closed eyes further, hyper focusing on his sense of hearing.


    The viscous movement of fluid aggravated his sense of touch as he finally swung his sword in a full arc, slamming down two leeches in one swing.


    ''She can handle it,'' he thought, trusting his back to Caera as he twisted his grip on the hilt and struck another leech with the flat of his sword.


    His sword just wasn''t sharp enough to slice through them while they actively focused on him, resulting in him using it as a blunt weapon.


    However, the movements which felt familiar to him only roused the curiosity of the three onlookers.


    Only Caera didn''t focus on it, choosing to channel her dark orange mana into her iris, allowing her to see better in the dimly lit cave.


    She watched on as the three leeches increased to five, rushing towards Jash masking their presence in the guise of each other.


    Jash had a dark red mana core, thanks to his recent breakthrough, but his body was still adjusting as it continued to absorb the mana.


    His overall strength could easily be comparable to any hunter with a light yellow or even yellow mana core, easily rivaling an (F+)-rank monster.


    That''s how he managed to cleave through his first (E-)-Rank monster in one go, and he hoped to do it again.


    ''This should be doable,'' he reiterated to himself, swapping out his two-handed grip to one-hand.


    Using the sword like a baseball bat to swat away the leeches, he gripped one of the daggers in his free hand and used it to impale the leeches.


    Channeling mana into his arms to strengthen his blows, he also directed some into his legs to leap and change his position, just in case.


    As the five leeches got within his range of 2 meters, he swung his sword to push away the four through the thick crimson pool.


    Without waiting for the result, he instinctively thrust the sharp end of the dagger into the mouth of the fifth leech.


    The dagger easily entered its open mouth, coming out of its body a few centimeters down its back, spilling blueish blood from its insides.


    It hadn''t died, though.


    It twisted and turned its body in agony, trying to get Jash to drop the dagger but he remained persistent, unaware of the sixth leech approaching him.


    ¡ªWhoosh!


    Another ambush failed as it got flung away due to the momentum of Caera sharp arrow piercing through its slimy body.


    ''Nice one!'' Jash praised inwardly before he leaped a meter to the right, avoiding the first four leeches, who were hot on his tail.


    "Tsk," Jash felt annoyed at their persistent chase as he cut the body of the leech hanging on his dagger using his sword.


    ''Something''s wrong,'' he thought anxiously. His intuition warned him of some danger but he couldn''t make anything out of it.


    ''Let''s be quick,'' he told himself and let go of his reservations. ''Whatever happens thereafter is for future me to solve!''


    With that being said, he immediately switched his stance and mana channeling method. Though the latter remained invisible to the naked eye.


    Usually, mana channeling or mana circulation methods would leak out mana from the body, allowing more experienced hunters to notice the changes.


    However, as one increased in rank, their control over mana also substantially increased, allowing them to manage the leaking mana.


    Though rarely could anyone below A-Rank even go near a measly 5% mana leakage.


    Naturally, Jash went up and beyond any such claims, reaching a staggering 2.3%, that too, only because his body was too weak to sustain any higher amount of mana.


    ''I hope this works,'' he prayed in his heart for the three to not know of it as it would be too much hassle to explain.


    Just as he moved, he felt a certain sense of inefficiency and incongruity.


    ''No... this is wrong...''


    Unable to resist following his instincts, he gave in and his posture altered slightly, making him feel a rush of air as he whizzed past the water.


    Stabbing the tip of his sword into one and the dagger tip into another, he threw them towards the other end of the cave.


    He didn''t stay in one position for longer than a second and moved to and fro, eliminating more than 10 leeches in a few seconds.


    However, the aftermath was nothing to joke about.


    "Haah... Haah... Haah... Haah..."


    He panted for deep breaths, his nose oozing out blood as his veins and arteries were on the verge of bursting.


    His mana channels were much calmer, but his mana core greedily absorbed all remnants of mana in his body.


    His face paled as a sense of vertigo overcame him, almost making him stumble if not for using his sword as a stick to stand.


    ''Definitely never doing this again!'' He cursed and promised inside, unwilling to go through such pain once again.


    Fortunately, it was him who did this crazy act.


    If it were some other hunter at the same rank as him, even if they could use such methods as last resorts, they wouldn''t.


    After all, it would truly be their last resort, resulting in nothing but death due to the aftereffects.


    This was one of the times when the positive aspect of his absurd awakening time showed up, helping him stand despite his internals being a mess.


    ''Did I go overboard?'' he wondered, thinking of what answers he could provide when he would get interrogated in the near future by his parents. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luckily, he didn''t have to worry about the trio finding out about his different mana channeling technique as it remained strictly internal.


    To the other three, his performance was mind-blowing to say the least.


    It went beyond the mere concept of excellence.


    It was rare for an F-Rank human to defeat similar-rank monsters so easily, let alone massacring monsters an entire rank above them!


    Furthermore, if they didn''t know any better, they might mistake him as a veteran. His calm and composed aura gave him such a vibe.


    Barely standing, he turned to the three who were watching him.


    His pitiful look snapped the three out of their shock and reverie as Emma appeared next to him and handed him healing potions.


    Kesha led the worried Caera towards him, but forced her to calm down and not rush.


    "It seems... we need to go deeper... into those caves... to find the boss monster," Jash murmured, taking gulps of the potions in between his words.


    His words stunning the three, who expected him to give up.


    "NO!" Caera was the first to voice her rejection as Emma and Kesha nodded softly.


    "Something''s wrong... There is no reason for us to explore this dungeon any further," she declared in a stern voice.


    She took in consideration the sudden appearance of E-Rank leeches as well as the ominous crimson pool before coming to the decision.


    Although he understood her reasoning, he felt an even greater need to explore the dungeon to its depths.


    ''Just how do I convince them? It seems too arbitrary coming from me,'' he mused thoughtfully despite his weakened state.

 Chapter 63 - 63: Feral Confrontation

    Jash tried hard to come up with a reason that would sway the three to go along with his proposal to descend deeper.


    However, no matter how much his thoughts raced, nothing concrete came to him.


    ''Just what can I say?'' he wondered as he straightened his posture, ignoring their inquisitive looks.


    After seeing him change his pattern of sword wielding and the sudden shift in his forms and postures, they''d have to be idiots to not question it.


    Sadly, that was life.


    It wasn''t the same as a fantasy novel consisting of an overpowered protagonist powerleveling everything in his way and everyone around him not using their brain.


    Well, what did it have to do with Jash?


    He was too focused on coming up with an excuse to notice the blood leaking from his mouth.


    ¡ªDrip!


    Only after it detached from his chin and fell into the water with its sound echoing loudly in the tense silence did he notice it.


    "Jash!" Caera called out as anxiety overwhelmed her senses and she tried to approach him.


    Alas, she never reached him.


    Just as Jash touched his wet lips, a bad premonition arose within him. ''Shit! What now!?''


    As the danger bells increased in his mind, he instinctively tried to move out of his position, but his legs felt like lead.


    He couldn''t move, prompting him to curse inwardly, ''Move! Move! Move! Move, damn it!!''


    At the last moment, his primal instinct of survival came into play as he stopped using his sword as support and stumbled into the crimson pool.


    Although it felt extremely disgusting and repulsive, it was still much better than staying in the same position when he clearly sensed danger.


    ¡ªSplash!


    Luckily, he didn''t have to even stay inside for half a second as Emma pulled him out and carried him outside the pool.


    Kesha, who had already pulled Caera, nodded at Emma as the four now stood back to the pool''s entrance.


    Unable to comprehend the sudden shift in her position, Caera felt slightly dizzy as she looked ahead.


    Yet the sight in front of her, despite her blurry vision, made her blood freeze. It left her truly motionless, unable to even think.


    "Huah... Huah... Huaaa..." Jash opened his mouth wide, allowing the crimson pool to separate from his nose, returning his ability to breathe again.


    Feeling the strong grip of Emma, his eyes narrowed in confusion as an uncomfortable sensation washed over him.


    Raising his head, he found the three facing forward and followed their line of sight.


    ''How? No... Impossible!''


    That was the first thought after stupefied for a couple of seconds, stunned at the figure in front.


    It was the same figure he saw before.


    The F-Rank wolf the twins had escaped from.


    Strangely enough, it looked too different yet the bloodlust and anger in its eyes as it looked at him confirmed his guess.


    Its gray fur was marred with caked blood and wounds as several scars were visibly present on its body.


    Yet the most glaring one would be a deep gash on its neck, probably from a bite of another wolf.


    ''Did it fight the boss and escape?'' Jash believed it made sense as boss monsters couldn''t exit their specific areas.


    As if to prove his conjecture to be true, an enraged howl echoed soon after.


    ¡ªAWOOO! AWOOO!


    The wolf whose eyes were reddened with madness regained a little bit of clarity as its body involuntarily shuddered hearing the incessant howling.


    Noticing this, Jash immediately came to a conclusion, ''Its current fighting capability should be around the threshold of E-Rank.''


    Turning to face Caera, he asked, "Caera, you wanted to fight it, right? Go for it!"


    As he said that, he unstrapped his daggers along with their scabbards and threw them in her direction.


    Stunned by his sudden voice, she broke out of her reverie and thought what nonsense was he spouting.


    Until he threw his daggers out of the blue and she immediately caught them.


    "Are you crazy?" she called him out for his absurd behavior.


    "Huh? No! I can''t move and it wants to kill me! Aren''t you supposed to protect me? Plus, you also get to fight it, just as you wished."


    Jash shrugged his shoulders as he couldn''t comprehend her two-sided way of doing things.


    Despite knowing what he meant, she still found herself tongue-tied as she looked at the daggers in her hands.


    "Are you sure about giving these daggers? They will corrode," Caera asked, wanting to confirm it.


    "Oh yea!" Jash facepalmed before adding sternly, "I forgot, don''t get them dirty!"


    His warning left her speechless, though.


    At this time, his sword and her daggers had already melted and corroded due to attacking the slimy leeches.


    If not for this set of daggers being of a higher grade, they would have suffered the same fate.


    Shaking her head at his antics, Caera just strapped them in place of where she previously strapped her daggers.


    Before moving, she took out a bow and aimed it toward the wolf, taking out a different arrow from her usual ones.


    The wolf finally took note of her as she channeled her mana into both the arrow and the bow.


    ¡ªGrrr!


    It took one step closer but stopped due to the presence of Emma and Kesha.


    The two had remained quiet throughout the exchange between the twins as they focused on pressing down the wolf with their mana.


    If they hadn''t done it, the wolf would have already charged at Jash due to its berserk state.


    Alas, its instincts were quite heightened and warned it of not going against these two weak-looking two-legged creatures.


    The two obviously felt the mana in the atmosphere stir near Caera and didn''t engage the wolf themselves.


    It was already quite injured and the twins could''ve taken care of it if not for the sudden ambush.


    Aiming the silver-golden arrowhead with yellow designs all over it, Caera felt her mana drain at a rapid pace.


    ¡ªGrrrr!


    The wolf growled, feeling threatened at the sight of golden tendrils of lightning around the arrow.


    Jash, on the other hand, observed everything calmly as he tried to get a feel for what went wrong with his legs.


    Looking at Caera just about to shoot, he praised inwardly, ''Lighting enchanted arrow? A good choice.''


    He nodded to himself, ignoring the fact it could very well get dispersed towards other creatures due to the pool.


    ''As long as she pierces through its flesh, it''s as good as dead,'' he mused, ignoring the difficulty of the situation.


    After all, Caera wasn''t a pure mage.


    Calling her a Ranged Battlemage would be more appropriate.


    A Battlemage in general was a type of mage who would also fight in melees with great control and proficiency over such weapons. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They directly reduced the burden of protecting them from their allies and could even go for solo hunts.


    Naturally, one needed intrinsic talent for becoming one as comprehending the different fighting style wasn''t easy.


    Especially when even learning the basic mage spells required some degree of talent and mana control.


    During her learning phase of being a mage, Sera found out that Caera had a talent for being a Battlemage.


    And she couldn''t be happier as her training with the bow wouldn''t go wasted, so she decided to follow this path!


    A Battlemage was a rare talent, and such people were always in demand to the point they easily got scouted by the Hunter Association or other top employers.

 Chapter 64 - 64: Mortal Dilemma

    ¡ªBzzt!


    Lightning crackled around the arrow as Caera released it, and within a second, it was already in front of the berserk wolf.


    The wolf had kept its entire focus on the arrow; yet, all it could see was a blur approaching it.


    It instinctively dodged the arrow but the speed caught the wolf off-guard, allowing it to scrape against its furless cheek and side.


    As soon as the lightning came into contact with its skin, it penetrated deep into the wolf''s body, electrocuting its insides.


    ¡ªGrrr!


    Even though it dodged the direct hit, the lingering lightning made it whimper in pain as it moved its body around to get rid of it.


    The arrow that it dodged finally lodged in the cavern wall before it crumbled apart, leaving behind a charred area.


    All enchanted arrows crumpled to dust, becoming one-time use items and the reason they weren''t well-liked.


    But it wasn''t like there was no way around it.


    If one reached a high enough rank, they could create arrows of their own mana and elemental affinity without having to worry about their usability.


    It was just that Caera was far from that level as of now, but that didn''t mean she didn''t have good instincts.


    ''Success!'' she nodded internally at the first step of her plan working as she immediately dashed towards the wolf unimpeded.


    The wolf remained unaware of her swift movements as it focused on its agony and how to end it as fast as possible.


    Suddenly, its instincts warned of danger and it moved out of the way.


    At its previous location, a dagger slashed nothing but air.


    "It missed," Jash blurted out, observing the scene with intrigue.


    He hadn''t expected Caera''s arrow to miss due to his overestimation of her abilities, but that wasn''t without reason.


    Her performance up until now was praiseworthy, if one ignored how Jash fought after unshackling himself to finish things fast.


    "That''s a nice ability! When did she learn it?" Jash muttered in surprise, wide-eyed at the sight.


    After the wolf dodged Caera''s attacks, it tried to slash at her, but she too evaded skillfully, trying to inflict damage on it.


    Finally, after a plethora of rounds of attacks and dodges, she struck true to the wolf''s flank.


    As the dagger got impaled, she let go of it and jumped back by kicking on its hilt, pushing it deeper.


    Alas, that wasn''t the end.


    She used her mana and fire element to put the lone dagger on fire, but its blade remained unharmed due to its high quality.


    Naturally, she knew they weren''t just some random pair of daggers, given who they came from.


    As if it was something to be proud of, Jash had a smug expression on his face, oblivious to Emma''s funny face.


    ''Hmph! That''s my daggers! Mine!'' Jash praised arrogantly, letting his narcissistic side takeover for a split second.


    However, he immediately cringed inwardly at his own words. ''She was right. I really need to close down on those things.''


    If Caera knew what was on Jash''s mind, she would no doubt come at him with the dagger instead of the wolf.


    There she was, fighting the wolf with her life on the line, and he was here making stupid jokes and cringing over them!


    Luckily for him, Caera had no no free time to pay any attention to him, fully focused on the crazed wolf.


    Despite the impaled dagger and the other blazing dagger, the wolf remained steadfast, growling in rage as it swung its claw at Caera''s abdomen.


    Alarm bells rang inside her head as it was her first time fighting a monster with reckless abandon.


    "It''s dangerous!" Jash shouted, noting the recklessness of the wolf to at least injure Caera heavily, even at the cost of its own life.


    That was the toughest enemy one could ever end up fighting.


    One might remain wary of those with good or bad intentions, but what about crazy people who had nothing to lose and no care for any gains?


    The wolf was exactly that kind of enemy!


    Fortunately, Caera was no slouch and had practiced extensively, unlike a certain someone relying on their past life memories and experiences.


    She didn''t withdraw her attack entirely but used the blazing dagger to deflect it and gain some distance.


    ¡ªTnng!


    A sound of metal clanging against metal seemingly echoed, making Jash extremely uncomfortable yet it did the work.


    Some fur around the wolf''s paw got incinerated before it instantaneously quenched it in the crimson water, giving rise to steam.


    ''Impressive,'' Jash mused, observing the fight carefully while recovering his mana passively.


    His focus was diverted yet he could see the outcome as clear as day.


    The wolf was on its last legs since it had been nearly an hour from the first time they met. It was even having a hard time standing straight.


    Unfortunately, Caera wasn''t in her best state either.


    She was exhausted and the numerous small cuts and injuries only worsened the situation for her.


    ''She should win,'' Jash thought to himself, believing in her potential.


    ''There''s no way someone destined to be a Heroine would lose so easily,'' he lamented her fate as a heroine.


    Sadly, he couldn''t deny its advantages and allowed him the ability to guess much more accurately.


    And just as he predicted, the wolf fell after a few more exchanges as its skin burned, wounds cauterized and fur incinerated.


    Still, it was alive.


    It drowned in the crimson pool as it couldn''t stand on its three limbs. The fourth one was severed by Caera.


    Although the battle was brutal, Jash had a different opinion.


    "Caera, finish it! What are you waiting for?" he shouted, wanting to test her mettle.


    "But..." she hesitated to do it and bit her lip before she finally muttered, "It''s stopping too low..."


    "What kind of dumb thought is that? It was ready to fatally injure you even at the cost of its life! There is no need for any sympathy!"


    Hearing the quiver in her tone, Jash felt fully enraged. ''How can she be so soft? That would only get her killed!''


    ''No, it might be worse. On the verge of death, that darned protagonist will save her while showing her the flawed way, and she will become enamored with him?''


    Just the thought of it disgusted Jash to no end as he hardened his resolve to push her, but Emma''s voice brought him to reality.


    "Young Master..."


    "What?" Jash lashed out. "Do you think what I am saying is wrong? Aren''t you two hunters as well? Tell me if I am wrong!"


    Despite their inner wish to help Caera, they found themself in a steep hole, unable to choose as his words were indeed correct.


    However, the sudden change in his attitude and his anger shocked the trio completely.


    With hesitant, unsteady steps and slightly moist eyes, Caera reached the wolf''s body.


    She raised the dagger, but she just couldn''t thrust it inside the dying wolf. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Is this her limit?'' Jash wondered, having calmed down in the precious moments of silence that followed.


    "Forget it, Caera. Don''t do it if you can''t," he declared with a sigh of resignation, not wanting to break her vulnerable heart.


    Hearing him, Caera had mixed feelings in her heart. Both relief and disappointment washed over her.


    Unable to make a decision, she bit her lower lip until blood leaked out as she stood in the same position.


    Should she follow her mind or her heart?


    She didn''t know and would never even get the time to make a decision.

 Chapter 65 - 65: Dungeon Escape

    Just as Caera relaxed her complicated expression, a splash of red water caught her attention, causing her to miss the ominous pair of red eyes.


    The red eyes glinted with ferocity as the half-dead wolf made a last-ditch effort to take Caera down with it.


    ¡ªBam!


    Before it could even take a step forward, Emma reacted in less than a microsecond, utilizing her speed and precision to blast away the wolf.


    Her wind elemental affinity was at full display as the entire crimson pool got pulled along the wolf due to the immense air pressure.


    The wolf didn''t even know what hit it as it died, leaving Caera frozen in place.


    All of this happened so fast that Jash and Caera couldn''t even see it.


    By the time they blinked, everything was finished, with Kesha holding Caera, who clutched her stomach.


    The feral sight of the wolf along with the close sensation of death had terrified her.


    If not treated in time, it might even give rise to a long-term trauma, but that wasn''t what mattered now.


    She wasn''t in the right state of mind to understand anything or even talk as beads of tears fell from her closed eyes.


    "Y... M..."


    "Y...u...g M...t...r!"


    "Young Master!"


    "Huh? Yeah? What?" Jash blurted out as soon as he came out of his reverie.


    His eyes immediately scanned the pristine clean appearance of Emma opposite him before involuntarily shifting to Caera.


    He immediately flinched at her current state and couldn''t connect the dots as everything happened too fast for him.


    After giving up on forcing her against her wish, he had his head down. Despite this, his sharp senses gave him a rough idea of what happened.


    Alas, that wasn''t enough.


    He wondered in confusion, ''Just... what happened here?''


    "Young Master!" Emma called out to him for the nth time.


    "Uh, yeah?"


    "We should leave. Now!" Emma chided him slightly due to his absent minded state but sighed in relief as he nodded. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shaking his head to clear any lingering feelings, he walked to Caera. ''We can''t stay here anymore...''


    ''It''s better to get out before something worse happens,'' he told himself as he gently patted Caera''s trembling shoulders.


    Noting how she flinched from the slightest touch, he thought, ''She''s traumatized. This won''t be easy.''


    Jash felt guilty for her current condition because if he had stayed quiet and let the wolf bleed out to death, nothing would''ve gone wrong.


    It was his own impulsiveness and rash decisions that led to this situation, which he realized a few minutes too late.


    "Caera," he called out to her but upon hearing no response, he frowned. ''It''s useless.''


    Even though Jash had previous life''s memories, he was no insensitive jerk that would trouble a person who''s down.


    He took a different approach than shouting at her.


    "It''s fine, Caera. Nothing happened. Okay, something did happen but it''s fine," he consoled her, rubbing her slouching shoulders lightly.


    Unfortunately, he got no response.


    ''What to do now? We have to leave too.'' His face scrunched slightly as he turned to look at Emma and Kesha for help.


    The two were nearby and nodded at him.


    "I apologize in advance, Young Miss," Kesha whispered in a low voice before hitting the back of her head.


    Caera''s head jerked with confusion and fear before she lost consciousness.


    "Did you just... knock her out?" Jash blurted out, dumbfounded by the barbaric method. "I don''t know what I was expecting, but it was definitely not that."


    "That was the best method, Young Master," Emma answered in Kesha''s stead as she inched closer to Jash.


    "Oi, oi! I am perfectly fine! Don''t you knock me out!" He instantly switched his position, looking at Emma as if they were mortal enemies.


    Emma barely stifled her smile as she coughed awkwardly, "Ahem. Young Master, you misunderstand me. I was just trying to help you."


    It was, in fact, true. All she wanted to do was make sure Jash didn''t have a breakdown and start blaming himself as she herself did.


    Luckily, it seemed Jash didn''t have such a feeble mentality, which was another strange point to him.


    One way or another, he ended up exposing himself at multiple places, leaving subtle cues for anyone to piece together the incongruities in his personality.


    Unaware of the many suspicions rising within Emma''s mind, he ignored her dubious behavior, saying, "Let''s go."


    With Kesha carrying Caera and Emma being on the lookout, they easily arrived at their entry point after following Jash''s pace.


    All it took for them to return was a little over an hour.


    "Well, that was quick... and anticlimactic," Jash commented, looking at the portal they entered from.


    Emma and Kesha just nodded as they hadn''t released their A-Rank pressure at Jash''s behest.


    He wanted to try fighting if he could, but as it turns out there were no monsters left in this dungeon.


    ''I want to come here again,'' Jash thought to himself, planning a probable way to prohibit entry into this dungeon.


    "Emma, is there a way to stop other hunters from entering this dungeon? I think Caera would need to enter it again to solve her trauma."


    "Uhm, Young Master, I can pass on the order to temporarily seal it, but it won''t work until..." Emma trailed off at the end of the sentence.


    "Just do that then," he nodded, not minding her refusal,


    That was just the first step either way.


    Getting permission from his parents to enter this specific dungeon would most likely be the major task.


    He stopped right in front of the portal before giving a last longing glance, muttering to himself, "See you soon..."


    Emma and Kesha had already stepped out as Jash was the one in the front and he abruptly stopped, prompting them to re-enter.


    Fortunately, they froze in their spots due to mountainous pressure overwhelming them as an overbearing voice echoed, "What happened inside the dungeon?"


    Back inside the dungeon, Jash remained unaware of the misunderstanding he caused.


    Shaking his head to get rid of his regret, he stepped into the shimmering blue portal, making him lose his senses.


    A huge wave of mana rushed towards him and he found himself in a temporary daze before seeing the blurry figures of the security team.


    Blinking his eyes rapidly to get rid of his muddle-headed state, the first thing he notices was the temporary camp that was set up outside the dungeon gate.


    ''Hmm?'' He was confused at the sight of all the security personnel surrounding the dungeon gate.


    Instinctively, his eyes turned to look for Emma, Kesha, and Caera.


    ''At least they are fine,'' he noted and felt relieved before his eyes narrowed as he observed the maid sisters'' expressions.


    Not only them, but everyone was looking at him with strange expressions.


    ''Just what happened?'' he asked himself in confusion, but it all cleared up as he felt a mana pulse.


    "Who?" he asked, curious about the one scanning him as he couldn''t locate them.


    "It is me, Young Master. I was notified of an anomaly in the dungeon you and the Young Miss entered," the man explained as he landed on the ground near Jash.


    ''So overwhelming!''


    That was all Jash could think of as the mana pressure the man emanated was too much for him, even though the man was actually actively refraining from harming anyone.

 Chapter 66 - 66: Sealed Dungeon

    Outside the dungeon, the security team members anxiously awaited the dungeon gate''s fluctuation.


    Only the SS-Rank hunter remained in the sky, observing the proceedings with a frown.


    The sudden anomaly baffled him, causing grave concern since he was unable to figure out anything regarding it despite his extensive experience.


    Luckily, the wait didn''t last long.


    Five hours since his arrival here, the dungeon gate fluctuated, teleporting three figures outside.


    The SS-Rank hunter''s eyes narrowed as he quickly identified them, but his expression hardened in the next second.


    His emotional turmoil caused an unconscious release of his mana pressure, which barely harmed anyone and only pressurized them.


    "What happened inside the dungeon?" he asked in an overbearing tone.


    He had already accounted for Caera''s condition and the absence of Jash when he inquired, controlling his mana.


    Just before Emma or Kesha could open their mouths, another ripple appeared on the blue-green-purple gate, teleporting Jash out.


    Immediately, the tense atmosphere calmed as he appeared mostly fine with minor flesh wounds.


    Even Caera''s injuries weren''t much, allowing just a few days of rest to heal her up, if not for her unconscious state.


    That was the root cause of the SS-Rank hunter''s presumptuous behavior, which calmed down soon as he floated down to show himself.


    As soon as Jash regained his bearings after being surprised due to the thick mana pressure, he squinted his eyes.


    "Tell me about this so-called anomaly," Jash asked, intrigued about it, but turned to face Caera, "Emma, Kesh, you both make sure Caera is fine."


    Seeing them nod, he turned back to the SS-Rank hunter and calmly said, "Start."


    It was an astonishing sight to witness a F-Rank hunter remain calm in front of an SS-Rank hunter despite their obvious hierarchy.


    There were even times when sensitive lower ranked hunters fainted due to the overwhelming mana pressure high ranked hunters conveyed.


    It was something akin to a trait that couldn''t be hidden unless one actively pursued such a path, like an assassin, thief, rogue, or some other.


    "As you wish, Young Master," the SS-Rank hunter replied despite his surprise.


    "I was returning to the main estate when I felt a disturbance in the mana and got a notification of a dungeon defect, so I immediately arrived here."


    "Wait," Jash interrupted him and requested, "Do mom and dad already know? And what''s your name and position?"


    Understanding the point, the SS-Rank hunter nodded. "Yes, the Master and Lady are both aware of it."


    "To answer your second question, my name is Theodore and I am one of the three Security Heads."


    "Oh? So you are the third one I have never met!" Jash felt that it made sense and gestured for Theodore to continue.


    He began without any pause, "As soon as I arrived, I noticed the gate was a mix of three colors, but it was much more nuanced than now."


    Following his gesture, Jash finally took a good look at the blue gate he had entered the dungeon through, only to frown in confusion.


    "What is this? Since when did gates become a mixture of colors?" he asked in bewilderment.


    Unfortunately, he got no response as everyone present shared his bewilderment.


    "That I do not know, Young Master. But the gate simply prohibited any entry from F-Rank to Integration-Rank, excluding myself," Theodore concluded. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Hmm. Could this be the effect because of my past life?'' Jash thought and tried to put it into practice.


    He turned to face Theodore, "Try sending those hunters inside again. See if it''s still restricted."


    Theodore nodded, instantaneously pointing out the ones to try entering, but to his surprise, the same scenario repeated itself.


    "What?" Theodore couldn''t help but exclaim in utter confusion.


    Meanwhile, Jash secretly nodded to himself, ''As expected.''


    Without waiting, he tried to enter the dungeon... and got repelled.


    ''What...? This makes no sense!'' he was left utterly confused by the strange occurrence.


    According to him, it should have allowed him entry, but it didn''t.


    ''Wait a second,'' he thought as if a sudden idea came to him. ''Could it be because the sword hilt is not with me?''


    That was all he could come up with. Unfortunately, he couldn''t test it now as Caera remained unconscious.


    "Anyway, Theodore," Jash called him out suddenly, ordering, "Prohibit anyone from entering the premises around the dungeon. Not that anyone can enter the dungeon itself."


    Theodore nodded and left to make proper procedures to seal the area, ordering the security team to evacuate the people in close-by regions, if any.


    The hunters consisting of the security team were trained with the sole purpose to guard the Ramille Family and protect their interests.


    Thus, Theodore obeyed Jash despite being much more powerful than Jash.


    Usually, only Carcel could order them around as he was the Family Head and held the Duke title.


    Sera too could order them, but her orders would remain secondary to the Family Head''s in case of a conflicting order.


    After all, all of them were people who were bound by a mana oath contract from a young age.


    Since they were mostly orphans with no backing, they had no surname and only served the Ramille Family without the slightest thought of betrayal.


    Simply because mana oaths couldn''t be broken due to their complexity and would alert Carcel the moment one of them even had a thought of betrayal.


    That''s why only High Nobility and other people of equivalent status were even allowed to bound people with Mana Oaths in the first place.


    These were different from how Cornelius bound Andrew to keep quiet about Jash. That was a mana contract.


    Both of them functioned on mana but differed significantly in their principles. Mana Contracts did have loopholes and punishments instead of limitations.


    Mana oaths alerted the other party but didn''t force execute punishments, just limiting their ability to divulge.


    All these complex machinations were developed because slavery was not allowed in this world.


    No matter who it was or how much power they wielded, if it became known that such a person dabbled in slavery, nothing else mattered anymore.


    They would face heavy criticism from the masses as well as other major powers to the point of even destroying such despicable people.


    It all started hundreds of years ago when other races appeared in their world as slavery became the norm amongst other races and their own.


    During the initial years of distrust within races, nothing changed before the only female ruler ascended the throne of Solarnelle Empire.


    She brought about many reforms, and banning slavery was just one of them.


    But the major role was forming a Council of Races consisting of all the major power holders in the world.


    It was a requirement to enact certain rules and regulations for everyone to follow, or the world would become nothing but a thug''s world.


    Well, she was hailed as the second coming of Adonis Solarnelle, so there was no end to her achievements and glory.


    ''What was her name again?'' Jash asked himself as he recalled the information regarding the security team and got distracted.


    "Whatever, who cares. I don''t even know if that''s the truth or not," Jash mumbled to himself as he was already at his destination.


    A car.


    After all, they were heading home despite Caera''s unconscious state, as the Ramille couple had summoned them after receiving an account of everything.

 Chapter 67 - 67: Silent Reflections

    Jash sat alone inside the car awaiting the arrival of Kesha and Emma after performing emergency treatment for Caera.


    His eyes fluttered shut involuntarily as he couldn''t resist the fatigue for too long.


    ''Not now,'' he told himself and instead chose to pinch the back of his hand.


    The pain helped him remain awake as he chose to assess the damage that he had suffered from going beyond his limits.


    He channeled his mana circulation technique, and his expression scrunched up due to the stinging pain.


    "Phew." His expression eased as the pain reduced with every cycle, allowing him to feel better.


    Although he could still feel some pain around his mana core from overloading it, it wouldn''t cause him much trouble in the long run.


    ''My current condition does not require an immediate potion to heal the numerous small injuries that I sustained in the dungeon run.''


    He was well aware of his improved healing speed and calculated the time required to heal completely. ''At most a day or two.''


    "Not that bad," Jash muttered as he kept his eyes shut and relaxed on the comfy car seat.


    He was thoroughly impressed at the result of employing a technique from his past life with one he learned in this life. The way it worked was nothing short of extraordinary


    To this date, he followed the mana circulation technique that his grandfather Inigo taught him, saving him from any questioning.


    However, this time wasn''t so simple.


    Even if he did use the same technique, his method of employment changed to a far advanced stage, something unique to his constitution.


    ''If only I could use the one from my past life,'' Jash thought, feeling helpless.


    He didn''t really know where that technique came from, but it just seemed to suit him much better.


    "Only the phrase perfection itself can define it," he mumbled to himself, drowning in the memories.


    Alas, it just wasn''t possible for him to use it.


    ''At least I have this one,'' Jash sighed, thinking back to how bad the other techniques were.


    After all, his current technique was just a toned-down version of something used by one of the apex hunters in the world.


    It couldn''t be compared to any other technique available for him.


    Well, anyone who had an SSS-Rank hunter once in their family would have access to such techniques, that is, if they left their heritage behind.


    So, it wasn''t really that great of an advantage unless one accounted for his wider mana channels.


    Absurd was the right word for it.


    Suddenly, the noise of the car door opening broke him out of his reverie.


    ¡ªClick!


    Turning to face his left, Jash opened his eyes to the sight of Caera being supported by Kesha and Emma.


    ''She''s awake, at least,'' he noted, observing her slightly shivering body, trembling lips and her eyes darted around, blinking rapidly and shifting nervously from side to side.


    Her face clearly reflected her discomfort and anxiety; a reminder of the trauma that was still fresh in her mind, not something easily shaken off.


    Seeing her distress and understanding her condition, he chose to stay silent while she settled into the car with Kesha''s help.


    Jash looked at Caera, who was holding Kesha''s hand and unwilling to let go, forcing Kesha to sit next to her.


    "Let''s leave," Jash instructed the driver after Emma settled in the front passenger seat.


    His calm facade barely retained its effectiveness as Caera trembled, even at the touch of the seat belt.


    Yet he didn''t know what to say, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly, unable to formulate the correct words for this situation.


    As if catering to his dilemma, his memories came flooding at the perfect moment, guiding him with the solution he needed.


    "Caera," he called softly, respecting her need for space and waiting for her to meet his gaze.


    When she looked up, he continued, "I know that encounter was terrifying and left you shaken¡ªit probably felt like you were staring death in the face."


    Noticing her flinch at his words, his tone softened further. "It''s normal to feel this way after such a close call."


    Despite his comforting words, they seemed to bounce off Caera, who appeared to have built a shell around herself.


    All he received in response was Caera nervously biting her lips, struggling to maintain eye contact as her eyes mirrored the lingering horror.


    ''Just what do I do?'' Jash could only ask himself, hoping for another guidance, but he received none.


    The lack thereof seemed to indicate that he needed to rely on his own words¡ªwords that were his own, not from the past, but the present.


    Hesitating on whether to say what he had in mind or not, he finally broke the awkward silence.


    "It''s fine to take your time, just don''t dwell over it again and again," he advised, based on his personal understanding of her character.


    Caera finally nodded slightly in response, prompting Jash to face the window on his right.


    The car ride remained silent for a few seconds as it moved back into the city.


    "J-jash," Caera called him, stuttering slightly, but he immediately responded.


    "Yes?"


    "So-some se-security t-team hunters a-are mis-sing," Caera shifted her attention to the outside and asked with a shaky voice.


    "They are sealing the dungeon on my order," Jash coolly replied to her question.


    Taking note of her confusion, Jash nodded and explained before she troubled herself to ask.


    "There was some unseen anomaly in the dungeon and also because I think it''ll be a necessary step for you to re-enter it to conquer your fear."


    Caera visibly stiffened at the mere mention of the re-entering the dungeon, but Jash ignored it.


    ''It should be temporary,'' he believed with all his heart and hoped for that to be the case.


    Although curious, Caera refrained from asking further about the dungeon, wanting nothing more than to bury her trauma with it.


    The rest of the ride remained silent with occasional comforting by Kesha.


    Finally, the car arrived at the Ramille Estate, specifically the family mansion, and all of them got out.


    Jash desperately wanted to rest a bit because his body was tired, even though he appeared fine from outside.


    ''I also need to shower,'' he thought and faced the three, "I am going to my room. Take care of her, Kesha."


    "I will," Kesha nodded in determination, but Jash''s eyes focused on Caera''s vulnerable form before he turned and left without another word.


    He still needed a bath because he was covered in the blood of the wolves and leeches.


    ''This nano armor was designed to make sure no lingering residue was left yet it doesn''t work too well,'' he noted in displeasure.


    However, if not for its futuristic features, the ride home itself would have become impossible since the stench of monster blood was strong and unpleasant.


    As soon as he reached his room, he didn''t care and directly entered the shower.


    Every drop of water against his skin made him wince from the numerous small injuries.


    The method he used was quite extreme, so it was natural for his body to be unaccustomed to it.


    In fact, he could bear the pain, but his sensitive nerves made it hard for him to remain indifferent in their face.


    For the first time, he took a quick shower so as not to aggravate his wounds and rest as soon as possible.


    "So tiring," he muttered as he yawned, forgetting everything else as he exited the shower and instantly lay flat on his bed.


    It was still afternoon by the time they had returned, so he decided to sleep until dinner. ''It''ll be annoying to make up some excuse anyway...''


    His body needed rest, fatigued, he quickly fell asleep. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 68 - 68: Dreaded Dinner

    As Jash slept, his body twitched, causing his face to scrunch up in discomfort.


    "Hooo... haah... haaa..."


    Jash suddenly got up from his bed, waking up from his dream as he heavily panted for air.


    Reflexively, his hand reached his forehead as a slight headache assaulted him, "Arghhh!"


    To his surprise, it was gone just a few seconds later.


    ''What just happened?'' he wondered, his hazy eyes darting around the room in confusion.


    Finally, he got up from his bed and walked to the balcony, hoping to clear his mind by taking deep breaths of fresh air.


    "Fuuuu..."


    "Haaaa..."


    After many cycles of breathing, Jash felt calm and returned to his room. ''Did I have a nightmare?'' he wondered.


    He couldn''t quite recall what transpired after he slept and shook his head to get rid of his troubled thoughts.


    "How long did I sleep?" Jash muttered, his eyes instinctively turned to look at the clock, finding it was almost 7 PM in the evening.


    "It''s already dinner time!?" he exclaimed in surprise, hurriedly changing his clothes as his current ones were soaked in sweat.


    He left his room and saw Emma standing alert next to his room''s door.


    "Hmm? Did something happen?" Jash asked Emma, noting her unusual expression.


    "Ah, that," Emma felt tongue-tied for a second before continuing, "Lady Sera has arrived and wanted to meet you when you woke up."


    "Okay," he said calmly, but only he knew how nervous and anxious he felt at the moment.


    ''I don''t know what kind of nightmare I had, but I sure as hell am going to have one even when I am awake soon.''


    Jash shivered as his own thoughts turned against him, making him fear the awaited confrontation.


    "Uhm, Young Master," Emma interrupted Jash''s internal musings as he turned to face her with a questioning look.


    "Young Miss didn''t want to leave her room, so Lady Sera visited her..."


    Jash didn''t mind her trailing off at the end of the sentence, her words served more than enough as a warning. "I see."


    Unable to shake off the uneasy feeling, Jash walked downstairs and headed towards the dining room where he saw no one.


    "Huh? Where is everyone?" he asked, baffled by the food served on the empty table.


    ''Whatever. Maybe they are with Caera,'' he made a wild guess and chose to sit on his designated seat.


    His silent wait didn''t last long.


    Soon, Sera arrived wearing a black suit. She had just arrived from the office and hadn''t changed yet.


    As soon as she returned, she heard everything much more clearly and rushed to Caera''s room after she refused to leave her room.


    Unaware of the background things, Jash felt a chill run down his spine.


    ''Her mood seems off,'' he noted, seeing Sera''s frigid expression.


    "Care to explain?" She asked in a cold, detached voice.


    Jash met her gaze and nervously gulped his saliva, saying "What?"


    "I heard you both went into the boss area of the dungeon despite signs of an anomaly," Sera said.


    But her tone turned into one of scolding as she continued, "Jash, I''m proud of your talent, but there''s a fine line between being daring and foolish."


    "And such carelessness has led to the demise of countless geniuses." Carcel completed her sentence, appearing from behind her.


    For them, Jash was indeed a genius. His talent had shown his capabilities so far, but as his parents, they couldn''t help but worry.


    He was still a 14-year-old child, after all.


    He might act mature, but he was still a child who would continue to make mistakes and learn from them.


    In the end, it was their job as parents to ensure Jash understood the risk.


    "It was her who wanted-" Jash tried to argue, only to shut up as Caera arrived. ''What perfect timing!''


    He was already feeling guilty inside, so there was no way he would shift the blame on her, at least not now.


    "It wasn''t supposed to have an anomaly, and we had good team coordination. Besides, both Emma and Kesha were following us."


    Jash just spoke the truth, not wanting to argue about it meaninglessly. He couldn''t just say that he wasn''t a child and that it would''ve been safe.


    ''If only I didn''t force her,'' Jash regretted inwardly, but his determination quickly overtook his regret.


    ''No! It''s better this way. At least that scum won''t have this chance to get closer to her!'' he had long resolved to keep Caera away from that guy.


    On the other hand, Sera misunderstood the blazing determination in his eyes to be a sign of defiance.


    She sighed and took a seat along with Carcel and Caera, but refrained from saying anything further.


    "By the way, how''s she feeling?" Jash changed the topic as the silence irked him for some reason.


    "Not much better," Sera muttered, though her eyes were glued to Caera, who had her head hung low.


    "It''s no big deal. Everyone suffers from setbacks one way or another, but what matters is learning and improving from the experience," Carcel remarked firmly.


    Sera nodded at his remark, wholeheartedly agreeing with it.


    However, her eyes squinted at Jash, who had just started to place some food on his plate before it was served.


    "Ahem," he coughed awkwardly after her fierce glare. "Mom, that''s so unfair!"


    "Is that so?" she jeered, cocking an eyebrow in intrigue.


    Unfortunately, Jash swallowed his complaints and went quiet, inwardly irritated. ''Just serve the food already!''


    He was literally starving after the tiring day, given how he had basically not eaten anything since the morning.


    "Alright, alright. No need to make that face. And Sera, you should stop teasing him," Carcel intervened, trying to stop their argument.


    Luckily, it worked.


    "By the way, why did you seal the dungeon? You couldn''t even enter it, right?" Carcel tried to make small talk till the food was served.


    "Not just me, no one at the site could. It was strange. Too strange, in fact." Jash had a hard time explaining it appropriately.


    "Well, father has gone to check it out, so maybe you''ll get some results," Carcel added, trying to ease the atmosphere. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''d be great. Then we can re-enter and conquer it, right? Caera?" Jash dragged her into the conversation, startling her.


    She had been looking down at her empty plate, fiddling with the cutlery, trying to minimize her presence, she wasn''t expecting any attention.


    "No! None of you is entering any dungeon!"


    Surprisingly, it was Sera who directly prohibited their entry into any dungeon.


    Before Jash or Carcel could rebut her, the food was served and she used it as an excuse, "Just focus on eating. No chit-chat during mealtime, remember?"


    ''Tsk. What kind of rule is that? We are a ducal family!'' Jash cursed inwardly, but quietly began the meal.


    It was a tradition he didn''t want to break. He shivered at the mere thought of breaking it.


    The last time he did it was an accident, and he was just a 5-year-old kid, yet the scolding from that day was still vivid to him.


    With no other option, the family quietly finished dinner in peace with Sera feeding Caera a bit forcefully.


    ''Her mood is terrible, and it will impact her diet,'' Jash thought, but he didn''t dare voice it out.


    Finally, the meal ended and the first thing he did was say, "Mom, I personally would like nothing more than not having to go into dungeons."


    His words confused her, seeming contradictory to his previous statement, though it aligned with his personality.


    Observing her expression, he smiled. "You were the one to suggest the dungeon raid in the first place, no?"


    "So, after going through it, it isn''t enticing anymore. It was boring and brought about a risk for no reason! Hence, no more dungeon raids!"


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo!~


    It''s been a while, I guess?


    As you all know, this novel participated in June WPC, and it won!!


    Amazing, right?


    This is all thanks to all the support and love from you, dear readers!


    So, Thank you!!


    Also, the book will soon enter premium, so I hope that you can continue to support it in any way you can!

 Chapter 69 - 69: Enlightenment

    Jash had weighed his words throughout the dinner before speaking his mind, as they were his true innermost thoughts.


    ''If not for all the crap in this world, I''d much rather spend my time enjoying life lazily,'' he thought delusionally.


    In essence, he was still the same lazy guy but with knowledge he''d much rather not have.


    ''As the famous quote goes: there is nothing more accursed than knowledge in this accursed world,'' he reiterated to himself.


    "Jash, what do you mean? Not raiding dungeons will stagnate your progress!!" Carcel chided, bitter at Jash''s lack of conviction.


    "Mom said no. And honestly, I don''t like this whole concept of raiding. It feels too barbaric," Jash refuted with a distant look.


    His expression seemed to resemble that of a person looking back at their past to reflect on their actions over the course of their life.


    "Ugh. Fine! You can go into dungeons," Sera said, unable to let the father-son pair gaslight her any longer.


    Before they could rejoice, however, she quickly added, "But only after Caera reaches the Orange Mana Core. Also, you need to take more guards with you."


    Her verdict left both Carcel and Jash helpless as they really couldn''t be happy, but it was still a step forward.


    As if recalling something, Carcel said, "Honey, not many hunters can enter dungeons of low ranks, won''t it be difficult?"


    "Yes, Mom! Kesha and Emma are enough!" Jash remarked, interrupting Sera before she could even disagree.


    "...Alright." She finally relented with a hesitant expression, but not before shooting her husband a sharp glare.


    Being the recipient, he stiffened involuntarily as he had sided with Jash, misunderstanding him as a battle lover just like he was.


    In fact, he was far from that.


    ''Finally, I got what I wanted. Now time to leave,'' Jash smiled to himself, feeling glad that it all worked out in the end.


    Unfortunately, he had a bad premonition in the next instant as he felt his mother''s eyes turn to him.


    "By the way, I heard that you used some different form of movements inside the dungeon all of a sudden?"


    ''Damn! Why now!?'' Jash cursed his bad luck as his smile froze in response to her words.


    She seemed to be simply curious, while Carcel was far too intrigued by it and had been wanting to see it in training himself.


    "Uhm, it''s nothing Mom," Jash said, trying to get away with it, but how could it be so easy?


    "What do you mean nothing? You fought E-Rank leeches using it!" Carcel butted into the conversation.


    "Although they are one of the weakest and can even be defeated by many F-Rank hunters, you faced a bunch of them."


    ''Ugh. Just what do I say?'' Jash felt muddleheaded at the situation, unable to formulate a plausible excuse for his technique.


    "I don''t know, it just happened. I really don''t know, okay?" He blurted out in the heat of the moment under their stares.


    However, his random blabbering had far-reaching effects, something he didn''t think possible.


    Sera had her eyes widened for a split second but she instantly composed herself, unlike Carcel who had his eyes and jaws wide open.


    "Just... j-just what did you say!?" he stuttered and exclaimed at the same time, excited at the prospect of it.


    "Ah, w-what? I just-"


    "No, no, no, what did you say!?"


    "That I don''t know!"


    Hearing the same words again reaffirmed Carcel as he turned to face Sera and muttered, "Could it be...?"


    His excitement was palpable as he had a proud expression, and the smile on his face was almost infectious, even affecting the dumbfounded Caera.


    She had refrained from participating in any of the conversations, whether they involved her or not.


    But even she felt interested at her father''s actions, prompting her to mumble in a low tone, "Just what could it be...?"


    Sera, sitting next to Caera, naturally heard it with her extreme senses and a small smile appeared on her face as she nodded. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, it is most likely an enlightenment," she explained for the clueless twins, who only grew more puzzled at the new term.


    "Ahahahahahahah," Carcel laughed boastfully. "He sure is my son!"


    Sadly, no one gave him any attention at the moment as the twins were waiting for an explanation from Sera.


    ''Enlightenment? Isn''t that from those cultivation novels?'' Jash wondered in intrigue, the concept foreign yet familiar.


    "Well, as the word itself suggests it is the process of becoming more aware about a particular aspect of life," she began, taking note of their unawareness.


    "Specifically in Jash''s case, it refers to him gaining a sudden understanding of his weapon art or path itself and manifesting it in an unconscious state."


    Though clear, her words only complicated things and raised more questions.


    "Hmm. Let''s take an example," she suggested. "Jash was fighting using his sword and daggers initially, right?"


    Jash nodded, recalling the moment, ''I sure was using them at the time.''


    "Well, then what happened? He switched to using only a sword and decimated those leeches easily, right?" Sera asked with a smile.


    Seeing their serious expressions, she continued, "Caera, tell me, did it feel strange and unnatural to watch?"


    "What about you Jash? How did it feel to you?"


    "Hmm. It felt strange at first, but more natural and smoother the moment I changed as if that was how it was supposed to be since the beginning."


    Jash explained his feelings of that time with a contemplative expression.


    "That''s exactly it! That''s what enlightenment is!" Carcel jumped in between their conversation out of nowhere, startling the twins.


    "Eh? Just that?" Jash blurted out, disappointed after knowing about it.


    The atmosphere in the room suddenly became cold as Carcel stared at Jash, repeating his words, "Just that?"


    "You call that ''Just that?''! Do you know countless hunters spend their entire lives without ever getting one?"


    "And even the ones who get it are either on the verge of death, making it useless for them," Carcel scolded sternly.


    "Some who get it don''t even have the time to understand its essence, wasting such an important opportunity for petty gains!"


    Jash had a strange expression on his face as he listened to his father''s rambles, ''Why is he talking about it so fervently?''


    As if struck by lightning, he had a wild guess and thought, ''No way! There''s just no way!''


    To check if his guess hit the mark, he asked, "Dad, could it be that you wasted your opportunity?"


    At his words, Carcel''s expression froze and morphed into a downcast look, prompting Sera to sigh and take charge.


    "Alright, that''s enough," she said. "Jash, take Caera to her room and get back to yours, you both should rest for a day before training again."


    She didn''t wait and left with the downtrodden Carcel in the next second.


    ''So something like that indeed happened,'' Jash mused in intrigue as he looked at Caera and asked, "Let''s go?"


    She silently nodded and followed his lead until reaching her room before enveloping him in a hug and rushing into her room, closing the door.


    ¡ªBang!


    "Haa... Why even act like that?" Jash muttered with a wry smile and quickly made his way to his room.


    At the moment, only one thought coursed through his mind as he couldn''t really be sure. ''This enlightenment... Did it happen or not?''


    In a way, it could be said that Jash had such a fortuitous encounter since it wasn''t just his past life''s memories guiding him.


    It was his own technique improving and changing in fundamentals with a prior base and idea that he had.


    Also, he wasn''t entirely present in the moment of the fight; it was his body''s trained reflexes and movements doing the most part.


    Hence, his muscles and mana got strained to an extreme, tiring him out to the point of fainting.


    Carcel wasn''t wrong with his words. It was extremely difficult to make use of an enlightenment.


    Although Jash seemed oblivious to it, he just so happened to be one of the few lucky ones to get the most out of an enlightenment.

 Chapter 70 - 70: Dungeon Reentry

    Beneath the ethereal glow of a mana portal, its hues of blue-green-purple swirling like a cosmic dance, a young man stood resolute yet vulnerable.


    Winter''s chill pierced through his simple nano-armor and flexible black clothes, sending shivers down his spine.


    His clothing remained a blend of practicality and agility, providing no protection against the biting winter winds.


    "Fuuu... it''s so cold," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible to even him over the howling wind.


    With a steady hand despite frequent shivers, he retrieved a seemingly worthless piece of scrap, some remnants of a few golden carvings remained on it.


    Yet its long-lost resplendence didn''t impede him from recognizing its true worth.


    "This is it," he muttered a little dramatically as the memories of obtaining it replayed in his head.


    It was not only an important piece but also a token of hard-earned triumph over his younger sister.


    Memories of rigorous training and beatdowns amidst his relentless determination flooded his mind, contrasting sharply with the desolate landscape before him.


    As memories flooded in, he instinctively clasped the sword hilt, or what little remained of it, close to his chest.


    After a few seconds passed, he subconsciously raised his head and fixed his gaze on the peculiar portal.


    His mixed emotions burst in his heart as he unconsciously blurted out, "This is what I am here for!"


    Just as he was about to enter the portal, he looked around to make sure he remained alone in the mysterious area isolated from people.


    Even though the dungeon hoisted a unique gate as its entrance, all the interested hunters had long given up on it.


    Many came in search of the unknown and so did they leave empty handed.


    Recalling the warning about the public irregular gate, his heart pounded aggressively.


    "It doesn''t matter what others think of it, I have to solve my mystery," the man consoled himself.


    In the next moment, he stepped forward resolutely, taking the first step to cross the threshold into the unknown depths of the dungeon.


    The gate initially repelled him, but as he held the sword hilt, or the scrap retrieved from within, it reacted, momentarily blinding him with a bright light.


    The portal''s magic enveloped him, whisking him away from the wintry solitude into a realm unknown by others.


    His departure left no trace, the abandoned site offering no clue to the mysteries unfolding within.


    Silence descended over the winter breeze once more near the portal, its luminescence dimming as if to conceal the secrets it held.


    Only the echo of his whispered words and the memory of his determined silhouette lingered against the backdrop of winter''s chill.


    Suddenly, in the place the boy stood a few moments ago, a black clothed woman appeared.


    "He entered it," she said, holding her wrist.


    "Keep watch." Another voice sounded from the black band on her wrist, though nothing could be discerned about the speaker on the other end.


    "Copy that!" She replied before vanishing, or at least tried to.


    Just as she was about to find out why she failed to vanish, a grumbling voice entered her ears, startling her.


    "Tsk. Another idiot."


    Before she could even process the words or understand her situation, her entire body was disintegrated to dust.


    "Can''t they take a hint already?" the voice had a grumbling tone to it as another one responded to it.


    "Calm down, Theo. It''s no big deal to take care of these pests," the voice sounded feminine and pleasant to the ear.


    However, that was just an illusion.


    "Damn it, Lessie! Stop using your technique without reason," the man, Theo, complained as he waved his hand to nullify her technique.


    Lessie pouted at his demeanor, but chose to go silent before she noticed another intruder.


    "Let me take care of him," she suggested with a playful smirk before flying down and taking care of the intruder.


    "Just why is she here? She is just an S-Rank," Theo muttered under his breath, cursing his bad luck.


    Although he was her master in a sense, he truly didn''t like working with her, being an SS-Rank hunter himself.


    "If not for Young Master''s orders to seal the area at that time, I could be on another mission." Theo sighed, but stayed alert.


    Unlike what others assumed, this single dungeon attracted far more eyes than any A-Rank or even S-Rank dungeons due to its unique restriction.


    It was only thanks to it being located and listed under the Ramille family name that no one had yet tried to illegally get access to it.


    Fortunately, the Ramilles were always known for being wise and they opened the area for anyone to come near it.


    They could freely try to enter it upon the condition that they would need to comply once they exited it, if they exited at all.


    Even the Hunter Association and Mage Association had sent numerous hunters from all species in hopes of figuring something out.


    Alas, no one got any results.


    Only today did the silent observers get active after hearing the reports from their subordinates'' before they vanished.


    For some reason, no one deployed around this dungeon could be contacted anymore.


    Of course, the Ramilles had already given free entry for 10 months and only forced everyone to evict after that.


    Though reluctant, the ten months had been nothing but a waste of time, so most hunters and researchers did leave.


    What they left behind were spies or their own subordinates to keep a close eye on the happenings of this dungeon.


    Oblivious to the complex situation unfolding outside, where his family might be removing tons of subordinates of influential people, the man finally came to.


    "Ugh," he felt extremely disoriented due to the teleportation effect of the dungeon, but recovered within a second.


    Compared to his first time entering the same dungeon, it was a monstrous improvement, given the timeframe of nearly 11 months.


    It was the 5th of December, Year 2450 of the Holy Calendar.


    As soon as the young man recovered, the first thing he did was put the sword hilt away to safety, back into his storage ring.


    "This is different," he muttered in shock as his eyes scanned his surroundings.


    The lush forest and hills had turned rather lifeless with spots of red all around the area.


    As he stepped further, a suffocating stench of rot and mildew assaulted his nose, making him instinctively cover it.


    Though it failed to provide any reprieve, the man cursed under his breath, "What the hell? Why does it stink so much!?"


    Unfortunately, no one remained to answer him, nor was it the end of his uncomfortable situation.


    With every step he took, the ground squelched beneath his feet, and his eyes struggled against the strong irritating gasses in the air.


    "Ugh. I have to... go deeper..." he muttered to himself, his voice muffled by his arms against his face.


    Continuing further, he finally found the source of all his discomfort.


    Rotting bodies of small animals to wolves to dead and decaying trees appeared everywhere he looked.


    The condition only worsened the further he went. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If earlier the spots of red were sparse, now the earth and soil themselves seemed to have been dyed red.


    The visible insides of creatures with fungus and mold growing on them were more than enough to make the man nauseous.


    Yet he gritted his teeth and repeated in his mind, ''Hold it in... Hold it in... Hold it in... Hold it in...''


    Sadly, it didn''t last.


    As he approached his destination, following the path he remembered, he saw a harrowing sight.


    His body froze as he couldn''t help but curse his stupidity, ''Shit! Shit! Shit! Why did I even come here?''


    Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret and he would have to face whatever he saw.


    As seconds ticked by, a chilling dampness settled in his bones, amplifying the oppressive silence and unease.

 Chapter 71 - 71: Entirely Different Experience

    Arriving at his long-awaited destination, all the young man saw were remnants of crimson with the decaying stench growing stronger.


    It was to the point that the man couldn''t even breathe without agitating his nose and throat.


    Even though he was a hunter, someone far stronger with more resilient senses than common people, his sharper senses only served to worsen his situation.


    ''Way to go, Jash, way to go!'' He mocked himself for his pathetic display as he stepped towards the cave entrance.


    This was the same cave entrance he entered with his younger sister, Caera, where she got traumatized, partially because of him.


    Thankfully, it had long become something of the past and she had moved on, almost reaching mid E-Rank.


    All she needed was a strong trigger to break through and she would reach an Orange Mana Core.


    Compared to her, Jash was much more monstrous.


    Not only had he awakened a year later than her, he also skipped training many times yet he recently broke through to E-Rank.


    His mana core had morphed to a more compact and stronger light orange color.


    ''I am roughly 15 times stronger than the first time I came here,'' Jash mused as he finally entered the cave.


    Channeling a wisp of mana into his eyes, he could see much better in the dimly lit dry cave.


    ''I would''ve much rather preferred the crimson pool than this,'' he thought as every step disgusted him.


    If it were only the smell, he might''ve chosen to cut off his sense of smell by covering his nose using mana, but that wasn''t the case.


    It would be really stupid of him to lose one of his senses in a dungeon where people die despite being alert all the time.


    ''No more rookie mistakes,'' he chided himself internally every time he almost sealed his sense of smell.


    After his fair share of experience inside various dungeons, he had long come to understand that things can take a turn for the worse anytime.


    Fortunately or unfortunately, he never had to go through another anomaly during any of his hunts.


    ''It proves that the first time could''ve been a coincidence, or I just haven''t entered another dungeon like that,'' he theorized.


    Currently, he had a few theories, but the one he wanted to believe in was: ''It was just a coincidence, nothing more.''


    However, he wasn''t stupid enough to believe it.


    There were various possibilities, ranging from it only taking effect once every rank of a dungeon to it only taking effect in specific dungeons or under specific conditions.


    Technically, there were many possibilities, but Jash had already tried and tested various methods before concluding these as the most probable.


    ''It wouldn''t surprise me if it''s something totally out of comprehension, like a miracle,'' he sneered at the idea, but kept it at the back of his mind.


    "Hmm? Isn''t this where her arrow connected?" he mumbled to himself, looking at the charred cavern wall.


    Tracing the spot with his hands, he recognized his position and walked further inside the dungeon.


    Up until now, he had not found any living creatures inside the dungeon, but he wasn''t so sure about this path.


    Unlike an overconfident idiot, he prepared himself by shuffling his hands around and gripping the hilt of his weapons.


    Jash appeared ready to unsheathe and use his best attack at the slightest moment in his vision as he focused on his surroundings.


    He missed nothing, be it the slightest moss or a cracked wall or a claw mark or a red spot or be it the uncomfortable sensation due to wind or the putrid stench.


    Working his brain full-throttle, he cautiously took every single step, ready to dodge in case any trap got triggered.


    Fortunately, it seemed he was thinking too much as he walked for half a minute before encountering a diversion.


    "Both the caves are narrow and too dark to see anything past a few meters," he muttered in contemplation, looking closely at the paths.


    ''It''s obvious that the one that seems used is where the boss monster ought to be,'' he guessed in his heart.


    Unfortunately, both the paths had bloodmarks, but the disgusting scent of decaying corpses had decreased, surprising him.


    "Is it because it''s still alive?" he mumbled in confusion before taking the left path.


    It had a few claw marks on the inner walls, as if someone had tried to capture an escaping prey.


    ''If push comes to shove, I should at least be able to escape, right?'' he hoped for it to be true in his heart.


    Even if he had already reached a new major rank, it wasn''t enough to rid his anxiety about the unknown boss monster.


    Something that could remain alive despite being sealed for 11 months, possibly more, wouldn''t be an ordinary foe for sure.


    Despite the danger involved, it did nothing to shake Jash''s resolve as he continued further down the path and stopped after a few tens of minutes.


    The path seemed endless but that didn''t make any sense to him as he thought, ''Since when did wolves start building traps?''


    Although he had prepared for it, he too didn''t really believe it.


    It was just that this dungeon seemed far too much of an anomaly for him to ignore any possibility.


    As if to prove his point, he finally saw a wolf''s corpse.


    Its rotten sight did emanate an unpleasant scent, but it was far more bearable than outside.


    ''Did it die recently?'' Jash observed carefully and noted that it had a shriveled-up corpse, unlike the others.


    ''Maybe it starved to death due to a lack of prey?'' he guessed in his heart and nodded as it seemed the most logical reason.


    Its size, however, still served as a warning.


    Even its corpse easily expanded well over 6 meters, possibly 7 when it was alive.


    "(F+)-Rank at the minimum, maybe (E-)-Rank?" he mumbled to himself with a calculating expression.


    His eyes narrowed in thought before he shook his head, "Forget it. Most, if not all, of them should''ve already starved to death."


    Be that as it may, he didn''t let down his guard and continued farther down for more than an hour.


    All he saw were scarce corpses of the wolf with no visible cues of any fights around their dead bodies, indicating his guess to be correct.


    "Just when will it end?" he yelled in frustration, his voice echoing off the empty cave walls, adding to his agony.


    If he were just another hunter, he''d be delighted at the discovery of their guess being right and the prospect of free loot. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alas, he was far from ordinary.


    Nothing in this dungeon, or any F-Rank dungeon for that matter, enticed him in the least.


    His family could easily buy anything they needed up to A-Rank, setting a smooth journey for him.


    ''If not for that compulsory darned academy, which noble would even care to go and raid dungeons?''


    And Jash was absolutely right.


    That was the exact reason the Solarnelle Academy was established in the first place, before other academies followed suit due to the increase in population.


    Since the world had become a safer place to live under a single Empire with academies birthing better hunters, it formed a virtuous cycle.


    "Damn it! What does it matter to me?! It''s just annoying!" Jash cursed in frustration, his patience seemed to wear thin.


    Still, that didn''t stop him from walking further into the dungeon.


    Only the amount of mental power he was using to stay at guard at all times was wearing down.


    It seemed that the dungeon wanted the hunters to lose their sense of danger before presenting them their bane.


    Before they''d know it, they would have already become some monster''s food.


    "Ah! Finally!" Jash exclaimed as a teardrop fell from his left eye.


    For the first time, he felt happy to find the boss room inside a dungeon.


    Alas, his happiness didn''t last long as he felt an ominous feeling in the next second. ''Shit! Something''s off!''

 Chapter 72 - 72: Unescapable Path

    Unable to shake off the ominous feeling, Jash reflexively backstepped.


    As if to confirm his suspicions, he heard a raging howl, seemingly angry at him for not entering.


    ¡ªGrrr! Awoooooooo!


    His body shivered instinctively. Following his instincts, he didn''t linger, quickly backtracking to the diversion.


    Something just seemed wrong.


    "Haa... Haa... Haa... Haa..." Jash panted for breath, clutching his chest as he felt all the breath in his lungs escape.


    The feeling was dizzying and excruciating as his heart thumped loudly in his chest, serving as a backdrop to the harrowing silence.


    Glistening sweat dripped from his face as he looked at the cave he returned from with an anxious expression.


    "Strange," he muttered, feeling no fear despite the ominous situation he faced.


    Still, he shook his head and chose to take the less traveled path despite the frustration building up within him.


    ''No... I am already here... I am not leaving without finding the cause of the anomaly, and if it was merely a coincidence or not.''


    Thinking so, Jash cautiously crept deeper into the narrow cave, his face bearing a solemn expression and focused on the slightest detail.


    The towering walls seemed to close in on him, and the eerie silence was only interrupted by the soft sound of his footsteps on the dry mud floor.


    Suddenly, a low rumble filled the air, and Jash''s grip on his sword tightened as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation.


    ''What''s this?'' he wondered, focusing on the darkness, trying to pierce through its falsities and find the origin of his discomfort.


    In the distance, he saw a massive silhouette, its blue glowing eyes pierced the darkness like beacons of hope to the unwise.


    To the wise, however, they appeared beacons of doom.


    ''It doesn''t matter what it is. I can deal with it,'' Jash motivated himself as he drew closer to the unknown.


    After his fifth step, the full terror of the situation became clear¡ª


    In the center of the cavernous area¡ªdifferent from the narrow path¡ªsat an 8-foot tall monster.


    Just one glance at it and Jash froze in his spot, unable to even formulate a coherent thought, forget about his ability to move.


    Its gray fur bristling, its sharp claws hanging by its side, lying in grooves formed on the ground.


    The unknown monster peacefully devoured the sparkling mana gems, its huge mouth ravenously gulping them down.


    It licked its lips and finally turned to see Jash, as if only registering his presence after feeling satisfied.


    Without another second wasted, it swiped its claws from its still position.


    Unfortunately, all Jash saw and felt was the claws swiping him away, leaving deep gouges on his chest and throwing him away.


    Blood spurted from his mouth and nose as he remained unresponsive.


    ¡ªBoom!


    His back collided against a wall, giving rise to dust clouds around him.


    "Hmph!" The monster snorted and waved its hand. The dust cloud immediately dispersed after its paltry movement.


    Throughout the scene, it had moved not even a millimeter from its spot, but a look of surprise appeared on its huge head soon.


    Its blue eyes scanned the area it had thrown Jash in, only to find nothing there except a blood trail.


    Uninterested in the human, it continued to devour mana gems greedily.


    However, its seemingly simple action of injuring Jash wasn''t without consequences.


    Its expression scrunched up as it looked up before looking at the remaining mana gems and chose to just devour them.


    Unaware, Jash remained lying on the floor with bloody gashes on his chest, huge amounts of blood leaking out.


    "Haa... Thank god... it didn''t follow..." he stuttered his gratitude for his lucky stars and took out some healing potions from his storage ring.


    Uncorking them, he poured three vials on the gashes and drank another two.


    Even though healing potions were nothing short of miracles, they couldn''t regenerate blood out of nowhere, they just hastened the body''s natural regeneration speed.


    Of course, the mana countered the problem where a cell could only divide a number of times before reaching its limit and dying, decreasing lifespan.


    If that were the case, they would be used for torture instead of hospitals and as healing agents.


    That''s not to say no one used them for torturing, they were used for interrogation and other purposes.


    And currently what Jash felt was nothing short of torture.


    "Argh," he grunted, his face scrunching from the stinging pain.


    "Damn! Why did I go there!?" he cursed himself before shifting his focus on making a better plan.


    ''There''s an unknown tall monster that can insta-kill me and there''s something that''s giving me dangerous vibes.''


    He contemplated over the possible options he had as he fought off the excruciating pain and also got some rest to heal as well as recover his mana.


    If not for instinctively using all of his mana at once to protect himself, that casual slash would''ve finished him off way before the academy.


    ''This way, I might not even survive until my supposed death!'' he raced his thoughts, trying to come up with a solution.


    "Do I have no choice but to use them?" he mumbled with a complicated expression, but he didn''t delay it any longer.


    Despite his narrow brush with death, Jash didn''t feel the least bit fearful of it. On the contrary, he focused on his next steps instead.


    Fiddling with the storage ring on his finger, activating it and bringing out a sheenless set of gray armor.


    It was a set of full armor made for a knight, encompassing every part of the wearer.


    From head to toe, one would be covered in a seamlessly bizarre armor, giving one the highest protections among similar armors.


    Jash gritted his teeth reluctantly and willed some of his mana to interact with the armor.


    The gray armor immediately enveloped his body before shrinking to fit his size, making it an advanced type of armor.


    It was terribly hard for others to find such armor and if not for it having his family crest, he would''ve loved to wear it all the time.


    "It doesn''t impede my movements at all, rather makes them even more fluid," Jash mumbled, surprised at its capabilities once again.


    He had tried it once, but this would be the first time he would actually equip it to fight.


    "Well, an A-Rank artifact is a bit of an overkill, but who cares?"


    Jash shrugged his shoulders as he mused, ''This darned dungeon has way too many anomalies. Better be safe.''


    In the next second, he put away all his weapons except his sword and then altered his mana circulation method slightly.


    ''Hmm. This feels better,'' he noted before moving back into the first path.


    With each step, he left deep indentations on the slightly dry, dusty ground before reaching the boss room quite quickly.


    He didn''t hesitate, just pushed his focus full throttle before entering the boss room, putting the thought of that unknown monster to the back of his mind.


    ''I just hope it''s not the same one,'' Jash prayed inwardly as he entered the boss room. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His vision got blinded for a moment due to the sudden change in environment.


    The boss room was full of luminescent moss lighting up the entirety of its insides with nothing but a single wolf inside.


    Despite trying to run away from the boss room he found himself inexorably drawn back to the path he tried so hard to avoid.

 Chapter 73 - 73: Lupine Guardian

    As soon as Jash regained his vision, his head involuntarily turned to take a peek at the entrance.


    Behind him was a huge gate that was sealed shut.


    ''So I can''t leave anymore,'' he thought seriously and focused back to his front, finally taking note of the boss monster.


    The lupine boss could easily pass off as a D-Rank, much more powerful than Jash, who was currently at early E-Rank.


    Generally, someone around his rank would have a hard time even defeating (E-)-Rank monsters, but he was an anomaly, having already dealt with E-Rank monsters as an F-Rank.


    Alas, the difference between ranks wasn''t so simple.


    ''What the heck!?'' Jash cursed his bad luck for encountering such a boss monster.


    Not only were boss monsters easily 5 times more powerful than monsters of the same rank, they were incredibly hard to deal with.


    Boss monsters simply had other abilities that differed from their normal counterparts.


    Analogically speaking, they were basically the caretaker¡ªguard¡ªof the Dungeon, preventing entry to the Reward Room behind it.


    The Reward Room was where the first clear reward of the dungeon was present.


    It could be anything¡ªitems, artifacts, materials, potions, techniques, sacrificial methods.


    Of course, low rank dungeons did not usually give worthwhile items, but they remained better than crafted ones of the same rank.


    It was strange, so many tried uncovering the secrets, but none had succeeded.


    ''Well, it''s indeed enticing for commoners to try their luck,'' Jash mused, believing he didn''t need anything like that.


    Yet here he was, trying to kill the boss monster and take the reward from here.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t take it without killing the boss, or else the runes around the door or portal wouldn''t activate.


    ''At least it makes stealing the treasures impossible before someone retrieves them,'' he jeered at the fools who attempted it nonetheless.


    Naturally, the results were much worse as the runic formations simply destroyed each other, sealing it forever.


    Looking behind the monster, Jash only saw a similar gate to the one he entered from which could only be accessed if Jash could somehow manage to kill this boss.


    ''Damn! If not for the difference in ranks!'' He lamented his weakness, but didn''t have an option.


    The difference between ranks was much more steep as one reached higher and higher since the difficulty to rank up increased exponentially.


    As if to prove his point, the wolf-like monster woke up and its piercing red eyes met his gray eyes.


    In the next second, the air was filled with a deafening growl as it rose to its full height. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªRRRRAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHH


    The walls vibrated as the beast roared and the temperature in the isolated cavern increased quite a bit.


    This heat was unbearable for a normal human, but Jash remained steadfast, determined to bring an end to it one way or another.


    Although it increased his mana consumption, he didn''t care. ''It can''t be helped.''


    Silence took over the cavern as the two stared into each other''s eyes, but the standoff didn''t last long.


    As the monster moved from the center of the cavern, where its massive form dominated the space, Jash could finally see its true form.


    It was a four-legged beast two times the size of the wolves outside, but its fur had distinct red, lava-like vein patterns that radiated intense heat.


    A single jagged horn with reddish hues on it jutting out from between its ears glinted menacingly in the dim light.


    It was like nothing Jash had ever seen before.


    It looked similar to any other wolf, but they were nothing compared to this monstrosity.


    ''No... Something''s not right here!'' Jash thought as he entered into a hyper focused state.


    Despite his suspicion, he didn''t want to end up getting caught by surprise and die without knowing how.


    The lupine monster was definitely a D-Rank yet it hadn''t pounced on Jash already, confusing the latter.


    No monster carcasses could be seen around the beast, which glared menacingly at Jash with saliva dripping from its mouth.


    It growled, its muzzle twitching as it sniffed the air.


    ''Can I take it down?'' Jash wondered in self-doubt.


    Normally, large monsters like this one required long-range hunters to hunt them efficiently in a team with strong defenders.


    Sadly, he didn''t get the time to mull over it as the black-red wolf dashed at him, swiping its claws to tear him apart.


    Jash sidestepped in the blink of an eye and slashed his sword at the wolf''s paw, leaving a small abrasion.


    The boss monster seemed so crazed for hunger that it didn''t even care and swung its claws once more.


    "Argh," Jash grunted as he parried with his sword and got pushed back due to his unstable footing.


    It didn''t wait for him to recover and opened its mouth, revealing its massive jaw, and emitted a stream of fire.


    All Jash could feel was an intense heat approaching him as he kicked off the ground to dodge the attack instinctively.


    ''Dangerous,'' he judged the attack and marked it as a must-dodge.


    Even if he wore A-Rank armor, he didn''t want to test if he would end up like cooked meat inside or not.


    However, the boss was no pushover as it was a D-Rank monster.


    It had already charged at Jash the moment he dodged its attack, surprising him.


    But all it did was surprise him as he used a small burst of mana to kick off the floor and land farther via air.


    This time, Jash had prepared a surprise for the monster.


    As soon as it reached his previous position and found no one, it turned around to locate its prey, but all it received was a sudden pain in its flank.


    Due to the height difference, Jash had an easier time evading and attacking, but one attack was nowhere near enough to stagger the boss.


    ''Now!'' he shouted internally and used his sword as a foothold to climb upon the surprised wolf.


    He did not give any time to his foe and attacked again, focusing on causing as much damage as possible before jumping off.


    ¡ªRrraaagghhh!


    The wolf grunted in pain due to the numerous slashes and flesh wounds, not used to the sensation itself.


    Jash also realized that he failed to give any substantial damage as he complained, "What the heck are you made of?"


    His question was valid since his sword was a B-Rank artifact he had been using for quite some time.


    Of course, his limited rank didn''t allow him to use any effects of both his armor and sword, making them nothing more than cold weapons.


    However, he did succeed in enraging the boss monster.


    It rushed towards him, using the dungeon wall as its foothold, making a few stones fall from the ceiling.


    Jash''s eyes widened at the sight of the ominously glowing orangish-red claws as they grew bigger.


    The wolf didn''t give him a chance to retaliate as it dashed and slashed its claws angrily.


    It could sense that Jash was by far one of its weakest prey yet it could take it down, making it go crazy.


    It stopped caring for using its long-range attacks and tried tearing its prey to shreds.


    Jash didn''t mind the challenge and circulated most of his mana into his arms, shoulders, and chest to handle the attack.


    The last of his mana was channeled to his legs to dampen the impact as he lowered himself further.


    ''A chance!'' His eyes lit up as he changed tactics midway and pounced on the other limb of the wolf monster.


    ''Worse comes to worst, my armor is strong,'' he told himself and went on with his decision.


    Luckily, it didn''t come down to it as the monster was quick enough to dodge, changing its path.


    It instinctively felt the strike would''ve cost it a limb.

 Chapter 74 - 74: Veiled Threat

    ¡ªRRRRRAAAGGGHHHHH


    The boss roared in annoyance, making the cavern walls vibrate, but Jash only saw it as another chance.


    From his lowered position, he kicked off the ground to close the distance, leaving behind dust and an indentation in his wake.


    He gripped his sword tightly and swung it in a horizontal manner, aiming for the wolf''s lower jaw, just above its head.


    The monster was caught unaware as it had just lowered its head after roaring to find a sword scraping its flesh.


    ''Nice!'' Jash wanted to make the most of the strike and ducked, slipping past its head and slicing its stomach.


    Alas, the monster jumped away, escaping with just a minor scratch.


    "Huff... huff..." Jash panted for breath as he ended up overexerting himself due to his excitement, and the monster got a slight break.


    It seemed to have regained its sanity slightly as it stopped giving chase idiotically and pointed its horn at Jash.


    The mana inside the cavern suddenly started acting strangely, moving and converging at its horn.


    ''What? It can do that! That''s cheating!'' Jash complained, observing the changes.


    The large movements of mana alerted him, and he was dumbfounded as it charged an energy beam-like attack.


    ''Dangerous!'' Alarm bells seemed to ring inside his head as Jash gave up the idea of disrupting the attack, choosing to dodge it.


    Using a chunk of his mana to burst in his legs, he covered half the cavern in two seconds.


    The cavern easily spanned 80 to 100 meters, making it difficult to cover such an extensive distance.


    ''My mana is low,'' he noted, wary of the next challenges.


    However, it proved to be the correct decision.


    In the next second, the wolf released its attack, a concentrated arc of fire which traveled in a straight line.


    Yet it immediately spread in all directions up to ten meters, making Jash gulp nervously.


    ''It shouldn''t be able to launch such an attack again, right? At least not in a series, right?'' Jash nervously prayed in his heart.


    Fortunately, he was still in his right mind and took this chance to attack the wolf from behind.


    A cowardly move for sure, but did it matter?


    He wasn''t a sucker for pride and honor, he just wanted to end this fight and not die due to insufficient mana.


    Without any reservations, he thrust the tip of his sword into the wolf''s rear, aiming for the only other opening in its body.


    The wolf instinctively felt danger and tried to move its hind limbs, changing Jash''s target to its knee joint.


    Due to the sudden movement, he also couldn''t change target and his sword pierced through its skin, getting stuck in the bone.


    ¡ªVRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHH!


    An almost primal scream of pain escaped the wolf''s mouth, making Jash nauseous due to its loud intensity.


    Thankfully, his armor protected his ears or bleeding wouldn''t be where it ended.


    The wolf, enraged to its core, turned around and swiped its claws with blood-red eyes at Jash, wanting nothing more than tearing him to shreds.


    "Ugh," Jash moaned in pain as the claws landed on his chest, hurling his body to the other end of the cave, colliding against the walls.


    The attack disoriented his senses and the wolf would''ve loved to finish him off, but the sword was still struck in its knee.


    While the armor saved Jash''s life, the wolf limped towards him with blood flowing through its one leg, lower jaw, stomach and back.


    It glared murderously at Jash with seething hatred in its eyes, making his heartbeat faster


    ''Damn! That''s scary!'' Jash joked to lighten the mood and calm himself, but it proved impossible.


    Finally, the beast was upon him and just as it was about to bite into Jash''s armor, he moved.


    Jash swiftly moved around the boss with a pair of daggers and slashed continuously, using the boss as a whetstone to hone his skills.


    This served to only enrage it further as its eyes shone red with blood starting to ooze out from them.


    His attack made the boss monster slam its legs furiously, but he was already far away, using his agility to escape the claw slashes.


    The ground around the wolf was melting due to the intense heat in its mana-empowered claw slashes.


    Jash just ignored the beast as it roared again. Its whole body that was dark was becoming more orange as the heat inside its body increased.


    The blood covering its body due to multiple attacks made the beast look terrifying, but Jash stared at it calmly.


    ''It''s doable,'' he thought, clenching the daggers in his hands. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash dashed again to draw the beast''s attention, but the beast had finally used mana around its body, making its defenses sharper.


    It put a halt to Jash''s plans, but he didn''t stop. He accelerated further, trying to outrun the injured beast and swarm it with attacks with his higher agility.


    Unfortunately, that wasn''t easy as his speed was not enough to outrun the (D-)-Rank beast.


    Even if its agility was hampered due to the knee injury, it didn''t affect its dexterity as it raised its leg to strike Jash.


    He sidestepped, not wanting to get hit again.


    ''I fooled it once due to the dust cloud, but I don''t have any weapon good enough to face it after these.''


    The daggers he wielded were the same ones Caera had used to fight in this dungeon at the end; yet they appeared new.


    If he had to compare, they were better than his sword, but he couldn''t just quit wielding a sword because of weapons, right?


    In the end, he finally used a burst of mana in his legs to propel himself into the air.


    His feet kicked off the dusty cavern wall behind him, and he burst forward, appearing above the boss monster from behind it.


    It looked around in confusion as Jash hadn''t appeared in front of it after circling it, but the sound of him leaping made its ears twitch.


    Jash''s eyes shone as he landed on the head of the monster, plunging his twin daggers into its eyes, blinding it in one go.


    ¡ªVRRRRAAAAGGGHHHHH!


    The monster howled in pain and flailed around frantically, trying to get rid of the annoying human above it.


    Yet Jash held firmly to the daggers, even embedding his feet into the scabs formed from prior wounds.


    Sweat dripped from his head due to the intense heat from the monster as his armor saved him from melting.


    As the monster writhed in pain, Jash mercilessly turned its head and pushed it towards the wall.


    However, before the collision, he jumped off the monster. His feet felt like roasted meat due to standing on the monster directly.


    He couldn''t even stand due to the burn, causing him to use his hands to balance himself.


    ¡ªBam!


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t the end of the blind monster as Jash hoped for it to be so.


    It backed away from the wall with its bleeding skull yet it seemed insufficient to end it.


    "What...?" Jash screamed unconsciously at the next turn of events.


    Suddenly, the beast which was backing off had its head sliced off cleanly, startling Jash as he couldn''t even see anyone else.


    ¡ªBzzt!


    ¡ªBzzt!


    ¡ªCrack!


    ¡ªCrack!


    Soon, cracking sounds filled Jash''s hearing as he found himself unable to even utter a word.


    The pressure from this boss was nothing compared to the other entity he had encountered in the dungeon, yet the current situation was far worse.


    ''Is it that?'' Jash thought, recalling the figure of that 8-meter-tall monstrosity.


    The cave walls cracked open to reveal a black-gray space, surprising him as he had never even heard of such a phenomenon.


    In the next instant, his awe morphed into shock and fear.


    For the first time in his second life, he felt the sensation of fear and not just any other fear, an overwhelming sensation of fear.


    It was as if he were not even a speck of dust in front of whoever existed outside the confines of the dungeon.

 Chapter 75 - 75: Glimpse of the Beyond

    ''What is happening?'' Jash wondered in shock, only able to think the same question repeatedly.


    He could see nothing but inky blackness as an overwhelming pressure distorted his vision and impeded his senses.


    ¡ªRoar!


    He could hear a mix of sounds, ranging from roars to whimpers to wailing and celebrating. It was a cacophony of chaos.


    A few unknown creatures emerged from the broken dungeon walls, sending a chill down Jash''s spine.


    Although he couldn''t see them, their presence felt creepy to him.


    ''Move! Move! Move! Damn it!'' Jash anxiously tried to move and look around, but his head remained pivoted, not budging an inch.


    ''How?'' He questioned this strangeness, unable to believe what was happening after defeating the Dungeon boss.


    It wasn''t the first time he defeated a dungeon boss, so the strangeness of the phenomenon could only be attributed to his past life.


    At this time, whether he could move or not would have made no difference as he had way too low of an amount of mana.


    ''There''s no way I can deal with even one of them,'' he thought, feeling a mix of helplessness and resignation.


    Jash''s heart raced as he tried to accept the surreal situation he found himself, feeling as if he had stumbled into a realm beyond human understanding.


    Either way, he could feel the pressure easing as he could formulate thoughts as the seconds ticked by.


    It was merely a misconception, as time didn''t actually pass at that moment.


    Even if it wasn''t, Jash would''ve given up upon seeing the monster he deemed unfair shivering in fear.


    The hidden looming danger hadn''t even entered yet everything was already out of order.


    But one thing was different about the anomaly this time.


    Contrary to the first time where it only appeared outside the dungeon, there was no change there at this time.


    It was completely opposite of what happened the first time.


    Unaware of it, Jash prayed, ''I hope someone notices this and comes?''


    Truthfully, he didn''t have much hope, simply because it was impossible to enter this dungeon, as it repelled everyone.


    He also only entered because of the scrap or piece of the legendary relic he found.


    ''But why does it repel everyone?'' Jash asked himself once more as that question was on everyone''s mind since its existence became known.


    "This isn''t for you," a soft, gentle voice echoed, as if explaining why the dungeon prohibited entry.


    Hearing the voice startled Jash to no end as he couldn''t track or identify anything about the voice.


    "It''s useless," the voice continued in the same mellifluous tone.


    Inside the unknown energy was a terrifying being whose pressure alone was enough to erase Jash from existence.


    It didn''t have a form, a gender, or anything to identify it as living or nonliving.


    If it chose to not show itself, no one would know it existed except for beings already aware of its existence.


    It had been monitoring this specific dungeon and awaiting someone to enter it, but it hadn''t expected anyone so soon.


    Though nothing exceeded its expectations as Jash and Caera had to escape with their tale in between their legs.


    That''s why it sealed off the dungeon.


    Yet today, it was startled awake from its long slumber and surprised to see the same human inside the dungeon.


    While observing Jash with curiosity, it chose to switch its form, taking on a feminine shape as it tried to understand his motives.


    For some strange reason, she couldn''t read his thoughts or get a reading about him.


    She had already pried open the entire planet''s secrets yet she found his existence intriguing.


    "First a reincarnator, a regressor, then a transmigrator, and now this human. Someone has messed up the balance."


    She muttered to herself and chose to interrogate the human who dared enter the dungeon.


    Something that did not belong to this world was finally showing itself and everyone remained none the wiser.


    Until now no monster had moved an inch despite their firstmost tendency being to kill.


    A dangerous presence permeated the air, and the monsters halted in their tracks.


    From the inky blackness of the shadows, a single colossal eye emerged, the vibrant, golden-white hue of its iris piercing space-time.


    The eye''s elliptical pupil narrowed, exuding an air of mystery about it. Its beauty still made an observer lower their guard.


    Fortunately, there were none, or else anyone daring enough to admire the beauty would''ve been wiped from existence itself.


    The unblinking stare held a quality that seemed to paralyze the monsters in insignificance. They instinctively felt their insignificance in its presence.


    As the eye surveyed the dungeon, Jash remained oblivious, while every other creature recognized the entity as a force beyond comprehension.


    The once-rampant monsters now stood frozen, their instincts warning them of the futility of challenging this ancient, enigmatic being.


    Just as the eye finally moved towards Jash and narrowed him in its vision, something strange happened.


    Before it could react, strange threads of golden energy exited Jash''s body, unknown to him.


    The fine golden threads contained an untamed darkness within them as it started to spread in the surroundings.


    It started to wrap around the inky-black energy, permeating through it as it strangled every single monster.


    None of them could even move, let alone escape its clutches.


    It devoured every monster, irrespective of their rank or strangeness, not even leaving any trace of the fearful monsters behind.


    Its next target seemed to be the inky black energy and the widened eye that watched everything in shock and astonishment.


    "How? Why do you follow such a lowly being?"


    The same voice echoed, yet only silence ensued as the golden threads enveloped the dungeon, trying to consume it entirely


    However, the second eye opened as well, interrupting the process.


    Both the eyes glared at the golden threads yet they remained unabated and the golden aura took over the whole dungeon, excluding nothing.


    ''Just what is happening?'' Jash wondered to himself, unable to see or feel anything.


    Yet he felt warm and comforted for a strange reason.


    "Alright. If that''s your wish."


    ''What?'' Jash could only think in confusion as the inky black energy grew smaller before vanishing, and so did the golden threads.


    They returned to Jash, and though he didn''t feel anything, he could move now. The first thing he did was look up.


    Unsurprisingly, his eyes instinctively closed as all he could see was a bright white flame-like existence mid-air.


    "This place wasn''t meant for you," it said, confusing Jash entirely.


    ''Not meant for me? I was the wielder of the Holy Sword!'' He thought to himself yet he felt slightly dizzy in the next instant.


    The white-flame-like being''s flames wavered for a second as it tried to erase Jash''s memories, but it miserably failed.


    The golden energy deep within Jash churned as it easily resisted such a simple attempt of manipulation.


    It wasn''t simple, as the entity tried to erase the memories imprinted in the soul instead of the brain.


    Unfortunately, that triggered the golden energy as that was its goal:


    To protect its hosts from any manipulation, slavery, binding to a system or anything that would damage the host''s soul, or try to control it.


    That was what he had requested from the system, or rather the system creator.


    Although Jash had no clue about the system at all as all memories regarding it were sealed alongside many others.


    "Just what are you?" the entity said rhetorically, unwilling to let a mere human have memories of its existence.


    Alas, it couldn''t exert itself anymore than her current form if she didn''t want to suffer from punishment.


    Beings at her power level could scan entire planets within a second if they wish to, so how could they be allowed to go around freely. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Seriously? Just what is going on?'' Jash could only ask himself as he couldn''t make sense of anything.

 Chapter 76 - 76: Desperate Crawl

    In the end, she couldn''t do anything about the human retaining memories of its existence.


    Despite being overwhelmingly powerful, she had already manifested her most optimal form, which came at a significant cost.


    If she tried challenging the limitations, it would totally not be worth the expense.


    Just as she tried to call back her manifested form, the frozen time shattered.


    The peace and quiet from the temporal powers broke, and it wasn''t something just its white-flame form could take on.


    Shards of frozen time whizzed around, each one a glinting blade of light, surrounding the manifestation that dared mess it up.


    The air crackled as time accelerated around the white-flame form, distorting and blurring the space frenziedly.


    If it had been a real living being instead of a mere manifestation, it might have aged by decades in mere seconds.


    If the rate of time acceleration remained the same, it could have easily taken much more than just a few seconds¡ªmaybe minutes, hours, or even days¡ªbut it wasn''t fixed.


    "Ugh," her grunt resounded in the area as her form vanished from Jash''s sight.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t understand anything that happened after he slammed the dungeon boss against the wall.


    ''Just where did it come from? Why did the dungeon feel like it broke apart? And the boss was killed? Then, the energy¡ªwhat am I? Just what the heck happened here?''


    Jash had a plethora of questions he wanted to ask, alas, no one was there to clear his doubts.


    He stood there with a stunned look on his face, perplexed by the strange events as things got unnecessarily more complicated than he hoped for.


    To his dismay, he didn''t have time to care about anything else as the dungeon walls didn''t exist anymore.


    Finally, the frozen time seemed to have caught up to him as his body started convulsing.


    Jash writhed on the ground, muscles twitching uncontrollably as the overwhelming temporal force tore him from the inside out.


    It wasn''t a force that he, or anyone else on his planet for that matter, was supposed to be exposed to.


    ¡ªCough!


    Blood spewed from his mouth with each agonized cough, his vision blurring as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.


    Though he couldn''t see properly, he squinted through his hazy vision, barely making out that the creepy monsters were dead.


    ''I... am... alive...'' he thought to himself, unable to speak as blood kept dripping from his mouth and nose. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His throat felt raw with each breath feeling like a laborious task.


    His body was so fatigued from bearing the burden that all it wanted was to rest, and he too wholeheartedly agreed, wanting to sleep.


    ''I... can''t...'' he told himself, barely able to form thoughts in his drowsy state.


    Despite the pain, his body wanted to shut his consciousness, wanting to recover as he remained unconscious.


    No matter how hard he tried, he found it too hard to keep his eyes open, let alone move from his position.


    ''This... is not... the... time...'' he reaffirmed his will and tried to use mana to alleviate his pain, but it backfired.


    The calm mana inside his body became unrestrained, but its low quantity saved him from the problem of messed-up meridians.


    Fortunately, all hope was not lost.


    As time ticked by, it also started returning to normal around the dungeon.


    It allowed him an advantage over the collapsing dungeon before it got eroded and exploded, ending his life.


    Thankfully, his body too stopped convulsing, leaving him with muscle cramps and pains to deal with.


    ''Dealing with them is much better than dealing with all the unknowns here,'' he thought to himself as he clenched his teeth.


    He wasn''t going to lose his life over such a stupid thing, so he gritted his teeth and crawled on the ground, moving toward the reward room.


    That was the only place that remained unharmed during the entire process, as if nothing could affect it.


    Every inch of the ground Jash dragged himself across worsened his condition, but he couldn''t give up now, could he?


    A certain memory popped into his head, recalling the events that happened earlier.


    Surprisingly, his determination only flared up as he closed his eyes, focusing entirely on moving forward.


    ''I can''t die!'' He exclaimed inwardly, his reasons unknown.


    He didn''t know but his closed eyes prevented him from seeing the strange events all around him.


    The mana inside the dungeon was chaotic, trying to erode everything, and it did so at a slow pace.


    The area encompassed by the dungeon was shortening every second and Jash remained clueless about the approaching death.


    It wasn''t the same as getting killed, it was akin to having your entire self eroded by an unknown energy from beyond the dungeon.


    For the sake of it, one could refer to it as spatial powers or the void, but Jash knew better than to have such preconceived notions.


    That''s why he didn''t hesitate to move despite his condition, wanting to leave as quickly as possible.


    Of course, if he fainted or slept, he would be dead.


    ''Come on! Come on! Come on!'' He motivated himself as he felt he was close to the reward room.


    ''Damn this armor!'' Jash cursed his heavy armor, which, despite being life-saving, was a burden he couldn''t get rid of.


    Since his mana wasn''t really following his commands, he couldn''t even use his storage ring, so he couldn''t even take it off.


    His armor had chipped in quite a few areas with multiple burn marks across its surface, but that wasn''t a problem for an armor of this rank.


    With some mana, it would recover to its peak state.


    Also, it allowed him to keep the pair of daggers with him, not leaving them behind like the sword he lost.


    ¡ªClang!


    In the end, his determination paid off as his hand collided against the door of the reward room.


    "Finally...!" Jash muttered, but it felt like speaking after decades.


    It was difficult for him, but he kept crawling across the muddy floor and opened the door with his leading hand.


    The so-called rewards room''s gate was open yet it seemed way too far, but in the next instant he was suddenly teleported.


    Unable to resist, he found himself in a strange room with golden-brown tiles with strange patterns all around.


    He couldn''t make out anything about his surroundings, but instead of making him panic, it calmed him down.


    "It''s the reward room," he mumbled with a sigh of relief.


    Jash could recognize the weird room at first glance as they all looked the same, with a small area and a few steps before an Altar.


    For some reason, he could walk on the steps of the Altar and as he reached the highest step, he saw a necklace on top of a stone slab.


    Without any hesitation or worrying over traps, Jash snatched it with his trembling hands.


    Just as his fingers closed around it, the world around him twisted and blurred, randomly teleporting him out of the reward room.


    The entire experience with Reward Rooms was always strange, irrespective of the hunter''s or dungeon''s level.


    No one could emulate the reason for the strange teleportations with the reward room, even if it looks like a door instead of a portal.


    ''It has nothing to do with me,'' thought Jash as he found himself back on the ground with the necklace in hand.


    His body didn''t seem to have moved at all and the overwhelming pain and drowsiness returned to him.


    Not wanting to leave it to luck, he put the necklace over his armor, around his neck, as the dungeon would probably close soon.


    Since that was the case with Dungeon Defects that resulted in anomalies.


    With both taken care of¡ªboss defeated and reward retrieved¡ªsuch dungeons would soon disappear.


    This prompted Jash to leave as soon as possible or he would be trapped inside this dungeon forever as it would disappear from their world.


    Alas, he didn''t know that his situation would be far worse than that.


    ''So close,'' Jash thought, looking at the exit portal of blue color behind the open doors of the reward room.


    However, he failed to notice the dungeon closing in, as the air crackled with tension.


    He didn''t know yet but each inch he dragged his body across was a desperate race against the encroaching dungeon.


    It would soon close forever, sealing with it anything that remained inside until time immemorial.


    Luckily, Jash was just too close to the exit portal that it made no sense for him to miss it even if he wanted to.


    "Finally," he muttered as his hand touched the portal and he felt the disorienting effect take over his senses.


    For a second, a weird sensation enveloped him, making him feel strange all over yet it had a different effect for him.


    ''So warm,'' he thought, as that was his true experience at the moment, and it made him comfortable.


    He didn''t realize but he was on the verge of going unconscious within the span of half a second.


    That''s why he fainted right after teleporting out, unable to keep his eyes open for a second longer.

 Chapter 77 - 77: Dungeon Aftermath

    Outside the dungeon, Theodore and Lessie had been patrolling the area for the past half day.


    "There''s another one?" Lessie grumbled in dissatisfaction as she got annoyed by the increasing number.


    "Which one of these pests is this now?" Theo asked, a bit calmer, but annoyed nonetheless.


    "I don''t know?" Lessie replied, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Let me guess... I''d say about 200?"


    "Tch." Theo clicked his tongue in annoyance and casually waved his hand, willing his mana to finish off the intruder.


    They had never bothered interrogating, capturing, or even checking their bodies.


    It was a useless endeavor, after all.


    "They are just useless pawns; they don''t even have any information to extract," Lessie complained, pouting like a little girl.


    Theodore didn''t buy her act and only focused on his senses, making sure nothing went wrong.


    Well, nothing more significant than Jash being able to enter a dungeon no one else could, despite their best efforts.


    Thankfully, their job was to keep the area void of intruders and they were quite good at this job.


    The two had long informed Sera and Carcel about Jash entering the dungeon, shocking the couple.


    They had only allowed Jash to try his luck because they thought he would face the same outcome as any other hunter.


    Unfortunately, their prediction was off the mark, and he was inside the dungeon alone!


    It wouldn''t have been a problem if this were a normal dungeon, but it was just way too... unique.


    Hence, Carcel ordered Theodore to take care of all the intruders lurking in the vicinity.


    That''s how the current situation came to be.


    While some might consider Carcel''s order to be barbaric and savage, no hunter would think of it as such.


    They hadn''t shied away from letting others try their luck with this dungeon, and setting a deadline was just a precaution.


    After all, no one wants other nobles'' people in their territory as they might be working as spies or something.


    It was a common point all of them agreed upon, and if a spy was found, no one would dare own up due to the fear of becoming a scapegoat.


    Of course, Nobles weren''t eternal.


    Many had lost their nobility status, some demoted and some even promoted.


    With every new territory being developed and conquered back, a new noble would get appointed or an old noble be promoted.


    It was the Solarnelle Empire''s Imperial Family''s way of doing things.


    In the end, Carcel''s decision might get frowned upon due to the extreme methods but that was about it.


    And currently, it wasn''t what mattered as the "spies" were currently too far away to notice and felt nervous.


    Their end wouldn''t be nice if they failed in their mission since they could easily be discarded without any consequence.


    The sole person sharing their anxiety was the dungeon operator, who was appointed by Cornelius as he left for some reason.


    He was supposed to find something, but the only thing he found was Jash entering the dungeon.


    He nervously waited for the Young Master to return to get any information, so he impatiently kept staring at the dungeon portal.


    A long time had passed, but looking at the dungeon still closed meant Jash must be alive, so he kept praying for Jash''s safe return.


    Even though it had nothing to do with him, he would be the first to die if something actually happened.


    Suddenly, the man''s eyes went wide at the astonishing sight in front of him.


    "The gate is changing!" The dungeon operator shouted, equal parts excited and equal parts nervous.


    His shout was only heard by the two flying hunters, Theodore and Lessie, who narrowed their eyes at the dungeon gate.


    ''Something''s wrong!'' The two thought at the same time, alarm bells ringing in their head the instant they saw it.


    By this time, the dungeon operator also felt something amiss and was about to back away but instinctively stepped forward.


    Jash''s body was thrown out by the dungeon gate like a ragdoll and he caught it, terrified at the prospect.


    "The Young Master is alive!" He shouted gleefully as soon as he felt the body warmth and breathing.


    Unfortunately, that was the end of the good news as Jash had closed his half-open eyes the moment he came out.


    It wasn''t hard for Theodore to recognize Jash despite him wearing his armor due to the familiar mana signature.


    "Young Master is bleed¨C"


    ¡ªSwish!


    The dungeon operator was about to convey Jash''s condition, but got interrupted due to high speed wind.


    He couldn''t make out his left from his right as he was dragged by a strong force, unable to resist due to his weak physique.


    However, even he felt a huge shockwave and pulse of mana affect him and propel him farther away.


    ¡ªBoom!


    ¡ªBOOM!


    A lot of explosive sounds echoed around the location the dungeon gate used to be as the two were carried away by Lessie.


    "I hope he can contain it," she murmured to herself, dragging away the two unconscious people.


    Usually, she would have ditched the dungeon operator but Theodore had snatched the two and thrown them at her, ordering her to take them away.


    She didn''t question the orders and complied, taking them both back to the Ramille Estate at her top speed.


    Meanwhile, Theodore used a vast amount of his mana to contain the sudden explosion of mana around the existing dungeon gate.


    Luckily, his instincts had warned him in advance and he mobilized his mana earlier, or things would have been much worse.


    The entire area in a radius of nearly 200 kilometers was devastated, leaving behind a wasteland. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Phew"


    Yet Theodore sighed at the sight and said, "Thankfully, it wasn''t much."


    He had ended up using more than half of his mana reserves to contain the explosion from harming any humans belonging to the Ramille Dukedom.


    "Well, this also took care of pests," he muttered in a tired tone and flew away, back to the main estate where a lot of things were happening.


    "Take them to the Medical Facility!" Sera shouted with urgency, upon noticing Jash''s unconscious state.


    She had come outside after sensing a S-Rank hunter racing towards her estate and upon confirming it to be Lessie, she grew anxious.


    It only worsened after she witnessed Jash''s condition, drawing her attention away from the mana explosion.


    That too was strange as no monsters exited, just a large explosion occurred, but it wasn''t even on her mind to investigate it.


    "...and that''s what happened," Lessie said, finishing her account of everything as she stood respectfully in front of Carcel.


    "Okay, you can go now," Carcel dismissed her, his thoughts revolving around Jash.


    "Haaa..."


    A sigh escaped his lips as he massaged his temples, trying to make sense of the events.


    If not for having to take care of the aftermath after hunting down so many spies, he would''ve been standing next to Sera.


    In less than a minute, both of them were taken to the medical facility under Sera''s stern orders.


    Currently, the extent of Jash''s injuries was unknown, but seeing him alive was enough to calm her somewhat.


    "Wake him up and get the information," Sera said to no one in particular, referring to the dungeon operator.


    The poor guy was blissfully unaware of the difficulties awaiting him since Sera sensed that he was fine.


    Suddenly, a shadow detached from Sera''s and vanished in the sea of shadows, likely to carry out her command.

 Chapter 78 - 78: Fragments of Revelation

    While a lot was happening outside, Jash remained oblivious as he dreamt of a forgotten past from his previous life.


    Usually, the system''s leftover protocol would sweep in to stop the memories from entering his brain, halting at just a dream.


    However, the golden energy deep inside him had overworked itself, exerting a level of force it wasn''t supposed to.


    It was currently absorbing and making the inky-black energy to be a part of itself, strengthening itself in the process.


    In the end, Jash was its owner and it had to protect him, so that he could wield it one day as he ought to.


    Though, that''s far into the future.


    Currently, Jash was experiencing the core memories and emotions that were sealed by his previous self.


    It wasn''t a nightmare like the last time, but quite a neutral one.


    While his body was treated with several healing potions and pastes, his consciousness swam in the memories of mana techniques.


    "This one is good..."


    "But this is better for agility..."


    "Then the strength isn''t up to the mark..."


    "Isn''t there any mana circulation technique that encompasses all aspects?"


    His past-life self muttered after having gone through hundreds of mana circulation techniques and their contents.


    [#### #### ## ## #### ##### ## # ###### #### #########]


    "Hmm, are you sure? What if I create one?"


    His past life self seemed to be conversing with someone, but Jash couldn''t hear or see anything else.


    All he could see and hear were his past self''s words and the messy room.


    "Alright. I will make one myself!" Bhairav affirmed before muttering with a cheeky smile, "But let''s get out of the enemy''s territory first."


    It turns out he was actually stealing the mana circulation technique from someone he deemed an enemy.


    Unfortunately, Jash could only observe, and the scenes abruptly shifted from looking in a certain direction inside a room to being in a cave.


    Inside a damp cave, quite a few paper scrolls with different languages written on them were sprawled around.


    "Ugh. I am so close, just what am I lacking?" Bhairav muttered to himself as he got up to peruse through the texts once again.


    However, the texts remained a mystery to Jash, as he was unable to read or understand them, even though he had memories of the languages from his previous life.


    It was strange, but he didn''t really care, knowing he won''t have those memories after he woke up.


    Alas, the strangest thing was he could make connections between the perfected technique he received in inheritance and the one Bhairav was actively working on.


    "It''s been 4 years already and I have reached the peak of Mortal Ranks yet I can''t find the last step?"


    Unlike a typical person who would feel depressed or frustrated after not getting the results they wanted, Bhairav was calm. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Honestly, his calmness was eerie.


    It was so strange that a man who was considered a genius of mankind, the hope, the hero, the most talented to get stuck here.


    Yet he didn''t seem bothered by his failure, he instead learned from it every single time, trying to overcome the challenge.


    "No way! How could I miss something so simple!!"


    "It''s always been with me!"


    As if he had gained some sort of enlightenment, he started mumbling strange words, confusing Jash.


    "The elements... fundamental components... combine... form the physical world..."


    "Wood... Water... Fire... Earth... Metal... Air...


    Space... Light... Darkness..."


    "Harmony... Balance... Disbalance... Creation... Destruction..."


    He didn''t stop, but Jash felt dizzy from all the strange mumbles, causing him to abruptly leave the dream world at the most pivotal moment.


    [Congratulations Host! You________]


    Alas, Jash missed the system notification he could''ve heard unlike the first one as he had a greater immersion at the moment.


    ¡­


    "Haa... Haa..."


    Unconsciously, he started panting for breath the moment he woke up, sitting upright as a reflex.


    His body seemed to have adjusted to the pain as he felt nothing of his previous predicament.


    ''Just... what did I experience?'' he thought in confusion before a headache assaulted him.


    "Arghh," he grunted in the sudden pain before it eased out, leaving him with some parts of the dream he lived through.


    ''This... did I just retain the dream!?'' he wondered in disbelief, skeptical of the whole ordeal.


    Fortunately, his mind got diverted from the complex thoughts in the next second as he felt a pair of strong arms envelop him.


    "Jash!"


    Hearing his mother''s worried voice and feeling the sudden hug, he felt weak and barely uttered, "Mom..."


    His sense of weakness seemed to have vanished as he really felt comfort from the warm hug despite the plethora of thoughts running inside his head.


    ''Those aren''t important,'' he told himself and chose to focus on the current moment, knowing fully well he wouldn''t be able to experience such moments soon.


    The academy was truly cruel, as it was the precursor of the novel and the world''s destined path he sought to change.


    ''I will make sure I succeed,'' Jash reiterated to himself when Sera broke the hug.


    Her eyes were moist as she inquired worriedly, "Are you fine? What happened inside? Just what did you go through? How did you even enter it?"


    After getting bombarded by several questions from Sera, all he could do was smile wryly.


    ''At least give me some leeway to answer, no?'' he mused to himself, but wisely kept his thoughts to himself.


    While bold, he wasn''t an idiot to antagonize his mother for no reason when she was just worried about him.


    Thankfully, his chance to speak soon came as Carcel took the hit.


    "Sera, my dear," he said in an endearing tone. "Give him some space to answer, will you?"


    Naturally, he got Sera''s death glares as she went quiet, knowing her impatience got the better of her.


    But who gave the right to probe her when he knew her the best?


    Unfortunately, what''s done was done, and he too shifted the focus to Jash very smartly. "Ahem, Jash, you should answer your mother."


    Caught between his parents'' concerned gazes, Jash hesitated for a moment. ''I need to be honest,'' he thought before beginning his explanation.


    "Mom, Dad. I don''t know where to begin, but I am sure this is the right thing," he said, taking out the sword hilt that allowed him entry.


    It definitely confused his parents, though.


    "I know what you''re thinking. Why do I have it instead of Caera, right? Well, let''s just say I won it."


    At the end of his sentence, Jash shivered slightly, haunted by the memories of the spars that were nothing short of traumatic for him.


    "Anyways, what matters is this was obtained inside the dungeon and is the one thing that allowed me entry."


    Before their shock could fully set in, he quickly added, "You know what that means, right? This belongs to the dungeon and is not some hunter''s keepsake."


    The Ramille couple nodded gravely, understanding the significance of the event.


    Most dungeons had nothing good as rewards yet many hunters entered it, trying to get something out of it besides the monster carcasses.


    Some dungeons actually had random rewards placed around different monsters, but it was just way too rare.


    Calling it abysmal would not be a lie if one were to consider the odds.


    Yet what confused the Ramille couple was the specific item in Jash''s hands, as it didn''t seem anything impressive.


    It just looked like a scrap, how could it have any significance?

 Chapter 79 - 79: Unseen Mystery

    Fortunately, Jash couldn''t hear their thoughts about the scrap of a hilt he was holding; otherwise, he would really be left speechless.


    "Let me see it," Carcel implored, intrigued by the new discovery related to the dungeon.


    Jash nodded and handed it over, finally realizing that his mana flow had returned to normal without any abnormalities.


    ''I don''t think they''ll be able to find anything about it,'' he guessed in his heart as the piece wasn''t even reacting to him.


    "Hmm. It''s not reacting to mana or aura at all. This is strange, too strange," Carcel muttered in contemplation after assessing it for a few seconds.


    "Hand it over, lemme see," Sera demanded and snatched it before employing her mana and aether, but the piece remained unresponsive.


    Neither did it absorb nor did it repel any of the forces employed by the couple.


    While mana was a common source of power in this world, most hunters walking the path of a warrior awakened a force known as aura.


    At the same time, mages achieved the force known as aether/ether/prana, but its most common name was aether due to the human race.


    The elves called it prana, a higher form of mana and the force of nature. Dwarves referred to it as ether, while humans named it aether.


    On the other side of the spectrum, aura was a name used by all three races alike, so there was no disparity in its naming sense.


    Anyways, this all was something Jash was aware of, so he was unsurprised when his parents used those terms or forces itself.


    ''They look interesting,'' he thought, glancing at the forces he was seeing for the first time, impressed at the possibilities in this life.


    ''In my previous life, there were no such things. We just called it mana for easy naming and no one refuted it,'' Jash smiled wryly at the stark contrast.


    It was really amazing how two worlds that seemed similar at first glance could have so many differences.


    Of course, his wry smile made his parents assume that he was already aware of the results and let them try it for their own satisfaction.


    Their wild guess made them feel slightly embarrassed as they directly handed it back to Jash.


    ''Maybe I should give it another try?'' he wondered and circulated his mana, trying to connect with the hilt.


    Unsurprisingly, it didn''t react.


    Or so everyone believed.


    For a fleeting moment, the sword hilt emitted a barely perceptible golden glow, unnoticed even by S-Rank Carcel and Sera.


    "It responds to nothing. Now what?" Jash uttered the question subconsciously, only realizing the significance a second too late.


    ''Shit! What did I just...?!'' he scolded himself but had no time to dwell on it.


    "Now? Nothing. You will rest till the approaching banquet and then the entrance test," Sera declared in a stern tone.


    Her tone made it clear that no refusal would be heard and he had no other option except accepting the outcome.


    "Haa... Alright." Jash agreed with a heavy heart but he wasn''t done yet.


    He quickly added, "But that means no training too, right Mom?"


    Being the child that he was, he failed to hide his eagerness and enthusiasm at the prospect of no training.


    "Jash you have just entered E-Rank, so just do enough to consolidate your strength," Carcel explained before Sera could say anything.


    He was truly the bane of Jash''s laziness.


    "Ugh," Jash grunted but nodded nonetheless, well aware that his parents just wanted the best of him.


    "Anyways, back to this," Sera interrupted, pointing at Jash''s hands. "How do you have it?"


    ''No way! The question I dreaded the most had come,'' he thought, a chill running down his spine as he forced a smile.


    "Ahaha-ha...hahaha-haha," Jash chuckled awkwardly, his gaze darting away from his parents.


    He wasn''t wrong in his words, as he had to "fairly" compete with Caera in archery and melee fighting, as well as efficiency in clearing dungeons, to get it.


    Naturally, she didn''t hand it over so easily, she actually forced him to spar with her at least once a month.


    ''I am just glad that it''s over,'' he told himself to calm his nervous heart.


    It wasn''t like the twins hated each other or anything; it was just that their dynamic was a bit strange from the beginning.


    ''Others have prodigious little sisters who insult their elder brothers or get kidnapped by masters or some other stuff, and here I am¨C''


    Jash''s line of thought was broken by Carcel, who asked, "Do you know anything about it?"


    "Uh? Huh? What?" Jash stammered, clearly surprised by the unexpected question.


    "Uhm, how would I know? I do have it but all it did was allow me to get inside the dungeon and nothing else," Jash said half-truthfully.


    He just couldn''t blabber everything in one go. At least not until he confirms his conjecture at this upcoming banquet.


    So, he tried to change the topic, "By the way, what did I get as a reward? I remember it was a necklace, I think?"


    "Ah right!" Sera exclaimed as if she had forgotten about that and handed it over to him.


    "It works as protection from mental attacks, but that''s all the runemasters could figure out," Carcel explained in her stead.


    ''She must be thinking about something else,'' Jash thought as he looked at his father, taking the burden away from his mother.


    It seemed that words weren''t needed to be exchanged between the couple to understand what was on their mind.


    "Dad, is it just from mental attacks? Nothing else?" Jash wondered loudly, curious about the strange necklace.


    It had a golden chain with cyan colored crystal like a pendant more than a necklace, it was Jash who had a weird identification sense.


    Inscribed with various runes not only on the pendant but also on the chain, it seemed a very intricate accessory.


    Opposite the scrutinizing Jash, Carcel stood dumbfounded. He couldn''t understand what was wrong with his son.


    Since most hunters would pay two to three times the price for protection against mental attacks as they were the most vulnerable.


    Any awakener could grow stronger through mana techniques or make their body strong through rigorous training, but the mental aspect was different.


    It required one to go through real life-and-death situations and overcome those fears to strengthen their mental defenses.


    Such was the case for Caera after her traumatic encounter with the wolf in their first dungeon raid, but she only improved from it.


    That''s why many hunters wanted anything that would aid them in protecting their psyche as it remained vulnerable for the protected hunters.


    If one were a genius, their family, clan, guild, team, association, or any affiliation would want to protect them.


    Thus, hindering their growth opportunities as true hunters.


    Of course, it was better than losing said talents as Caera would''ve died if not for Emma''s presence.


    The same had happened to various talented hunters, forcing many to employ guards when they go into raids.


    Well, there was a roundabout way.


    Just don''t tell the newbies that they will be protected and they''ll be much more cautious.


    At the end of the day, what mattered were strong hunters, not privileged ones.


    Hence, Carcel ended up misunderstanding Jash''s words as him not wanting to rely on external items for mental protection. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unaware of his father''s thoughts, Jash''s line of thought was far different from Carcel''s guess.


    ''I don''t think I need mental protection. I was fine even after meeting that strange entity, no?''

 Chapter 80 - 80: Upcoming Banquet

    After another hour or so, the Ramille couple left Jash to take care of their own matters, giving him ample time to rest.


    ''So Caera hasn''t yet broken through to Mid E-rank?'' he mused, lying relaxed on his bed.


    He had returned to his room after the conversation, feeling mostly fine with minor scrapes that would heal on their own.


    Thanks to the high-ranking Doctors and Healers present inside the medical facility, he was back to his peak state in no time.


    All his injuries healed easily, except for his unstable mana pathways, but that was something that healed automatically.


    The things he witnessed in his dream triggered a domino effect, allowing him to restore his mana circulation.


    It also validated the technique he received, making him eager to try it once his condition improved.


    ''Caera has been training for an extra year yet she hasn''t reached Mid E-Rank, let alone me,'' he thought to himself and sighed.


    He had just entered E-rank, and his body hadn''t fully adapted to the change, so he postponed trying the new mana circulation technique.


    "I will do it when I am Mid E-Rank and inside the academy. That way, no one will even know or ask me its source," he mumbled.


    "Anyways, it''s good that Caera was still trying to break through, or else," Jash muttered, worried about her reactions.


    Caera had been training in an isolated underground area where she could try to break through until she succeeded or gave up.


    It was fairly rich with densely concentrated pure mana, easing the process of ranking up, even if it was just a subrank.


    Caera mostly went there for rank ups unlike Jash who went for his E-Rank breakthrough, doing the rest in his room.


    He really wasn''t one for all the luxuries. He only wanted to enjoy the luxury of sleep, alas, it remained a far-fetched dream.


    ''I will be able to sleep as much as I want after I escape my predetermined demise,'' he mused as a smile blossomed on his face.


    Jash believed that sacrificing some sleep now would allow him to enjoy it more in the future.


    No matter how stupid that line of thought was, he truly deluded himself with it and went to sleep once again.


    This time, however, he didn''t have any special dreams.


    ¡­


    The days passed quickly, and Jash fully recovered before getting forced into light training with his father.


    Carcel and Sera were mostly busy dealing with the aftermath of the dungeon explosion and the removal of the spies.


    While Caera had already reached Mid E-Rank and ended up sparring with Jash to consolidate her rank.


    "Damn! You''re cheating!" Jash complained after their sparring session.


    He felt bitter as she didn''t even give herself a handicap despite being a sub-rank higher than her!


    ''Just what''s wrong with her!?'' he wondered in confusion for the nth time.


    "Hmph!" Caera just snorted in response and jeered, "It''s your fault for not catching up with me!"


    Jash rolled his eyes in response, but kept silent, not even trying to argue with her.


    He had already tried and failed to reach her every time, getting frustrated over it and gave up in the end. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash still found a way to tease her, "You talk big for someone who can only defeat me because of the rank difference!"


    "Hah! And you think you stand a chance in front of Amael?" Caera sneered in response.


    "We don''t talk about him! He is in a different category, alright?" Jash exclaimed, feeling strange inside.


    Even though Caera wanted to keep arguing with him, she too knew that his words were indeed correct.


    While the two were struggling with consolidating Mid E-Rank and Early E-Rank, Amael was already at the Late E-Rank.


    "He''s a monster, no?" she muttered, feeling inappropriate to even compare with him.


    "He sure is! Did you forget he had a natural awakening unlike anyone recorded in the past few decades?"


    Jash agreed with her words but deliberately used the word recorded, knowing fully well there ought to be some unrecorded hidden monsters.


    No matter what someone said, he firmly believed in the prospect of hidden monsters waiting to become teachers to the protagonist or his harem.


    It was just such an overused cliche that there was no way to make Jash think otherwise, especially given the kind of events in this world.


    ''I''ll be sure of it at this banquet either ways,'' he thought inwardly before getting distracted by Caera.


    "...what do you think about the banquet?" Caera asked him tentatively.


    "Hmm? I don''t know, to be honest. It is compulsory for all nobles to attend, irrespective of their children''s age," Jash replied thoughtfully.


    "Well, it only takes place if the Imperial Family has children attending the academy that particular year, so it makes sense."


    "Mhm." Jash nodded at her words but didn''t quite like the arrangement.


    The Imperial Family forced all noble families to stop holding birthday banquets for their children after they turned 12.


    Only the coming of age ceremony when they turned 18 was allowed.


    Yet the Imperial Family would hold a banquet in December every time someone with their blood entered the Solarnelle Academy.


    This went on to show their confidence in their bloodline, as everyone, regardless of their status, had to take the Academy''s entrance test.


    There were no exceptions to it.


    "The annoying thing is forcing all of us to attend, including the Associations," Jash grumbled in annoyance.


    "Jash," Caera called him seriously, stopping in her tracks.


    "Hm?" Jash turned to face her, confused at her sudden solemnity.


    "Don''t ever say those words in front of anyone else," she advised with a grave expression.


    ''What does she-,'' he thought for a second before it finally struck him.


    "Yeah, don''t worry. I will be extra careful next time," he nodded with a serious expression.


    It turned out some of his previous world''s habits had indeed come through inadvertently.


    The two worlds were fundamentally different as one had an open government while this one had the Imperial Family and nobility.


    It was quite obvious what would happen if someone dared to badmouth the Imperial Family, even indirectly.


    That''s why he understood her point quite easily and made a mental note to always be careful regarding his speech.


    Although he did hate etiquette and mannerism classes, he had taken them until everything was ingrained in his body.


    He had long become accustomed to the strange traditions of the nobility and adhered to their strict standards.


    ''Damn these noble houses! Can''t a kid relax?'' he mused, though he kept such rebellious thoughts to himself.


    "By the way, what do you think? Will something interesting happen at the banquet?" Caera asked, attempting to change the serious atmosphere.


    "Who knows? But it should be quite boring like any other banquet since it''s in the heart of the Empire," Jash said his random guesses.


    "Think before speaking, will you?" Caera chided him as she massaged her temples, unable to comprehend Jash''s recent behavior.


    "Ah! What does it matter? It''s just you and me," Jash justified his slip of tongue, but Caera just shook her head and left.


    "Just be sure to get ready and keep your tongue in check, or I''ll tell Mom about you skipping training," Caera said playfully as she stopped before running away.


    "Ugh, so troublesome," Jash grumbled and decided to just stay silent.

 Chapter 81 - 81: Grand Imperial Gathering

    The city of Adonia, capital of the Solarnelle Empire, shone with unparalleled brilliance and magnificent style as it prepared for a momentous occasion.


    The atmosphere buzzed with an energy that could only come from a grand celebration, and the air was filled with excitement.


    Why would it not?


    After all, today''s Empire-wide banquet hosted by the Imperial Family was a significant event.


    Today marked the day when the Imperial Family hosted a banquet for all of the nobility before the grand opening of the Solarnelle Academy.


    All eyes were on Prince Avon and Princess Ava, the beloved jades of the Imperial Family.


    The Imperial Family spared no expense to ensure that the celebration was nothing short of spectacular.


    The streets were adorned with colorful banners and 3D holograms, casting an iridescent hue over the city.


    No corner was left desolate in the entire city, as this was a much more significant event than the last one.


    Last time, only the First Princess attended the Academy. However, this time, the Second Prince and the Second Princess were together.


    Also, the number of influential people whose children would be joining this year was at an all-time high.


    It was enough for the Imperial Family to splurge alongside a few big investors to make the event memorable for all.


    Yet no one dared to be presumptuous, ensuring that something could be done better during the Enthronement Ceremony of the Crown Prince in the future.


    In the city, intricately designed arches and magnificent floral arrangements were present everywhere along with a vibrant vibe.


    It didn''t matter if they were simple alleyways or high-rise buildings of the rich, everything looked pleasing to the eye.


    The city had essentially transformed into a majestic wonderland, captivating the hearts of its residents and visitors alike.


    "Wow!" A small girl exclaimed in shock, her eyes shining at the sight.


    "It''s really wonderful, isn''t it?" her mother said, equally excited yet cautious of the visitors.


    Such scenes were aplenty, and not just commoners but even some lower-ranked nobles had similar scenarios.


    In some places, parents chided their children to behave and not embarrass themselves at the banquet, while others asked their kids to make connections.


    Just like that, the sun dipped down the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city.


    Following the setting sun, guests began to gather in the grand courtyard of the royal palace.


    Nobles, leaders of various organizations, and esteemed envoys from far and wide came to pay their respects and participate in the special banquet.


    The air of the Royal Palace was filled with animated chatter and laughter as everyone exchanged pleasantries, marveling at the extravagant display of wealth.


    However, it was the banquet hall inside the palace that was a sight to behold.


    The tables were adorned with fine linens, sparkling silverware, and delicate crystal glasses, along with diamond-studded chandeliers.


    The aroma of delectable dishes wafted through the air, enticing the taste buds of those fortunate enough to be allowed in attendance.


    In this peaceful world, such banquets weren''t unheard of yet hidden alliances and enemies existed.


    Quite a few nobles and people in power ended up becoming wary of each other, but that didn''t stop them from forming connections.


    In any world, the connections one had were just as important as their individual strength.


    That''s why every invitee found the time to attend the event as many new partnerships and alliances would form just in this celebration alone.


    Naturally, since the most influential people were gathered today, one could say that they came to make world-changing decisions instead of enjoying the banquet.


    Since the people present could change the course of the future for the world as a whole.


    Of course, they were oblivious to how the world was supposed to have a destined path which was being forcefully bent at not one, not two, but three different ends. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alas, the first one remained unaware of their own role in this ever changing world, unaware that they were the most pivotal person in its destiny.


    Anyways, one of the people wasn''t going to attend as the Church had sent a delegation of adults.


    Rather, he was quite busy trying to change the course of upcoming events, preventing the potential destruction of the Church.


    One could say that only one of the three was truly trying to alter the course of events, regardless of the consequences.


    And currently, he was inside a carriage, riding to the Royal Palace after going through a teleportation portal.


    ''Damn! Why do I have a bad feeling about today?'' Jash thought in confusion, his facial expression tightening in anxiety.


    Jash''s frustration boiled over. "Why couldn''t we just drive? This is ridiculous!" he snapped, glaring at the carriage.


    It was nothing more than a stupid attempt to divert his attention.


    "Because that''s the tradition!" Caera said, rolling her eyes and telling him for the seventeenth time.


    "I told you to read some history and cultural books, didn''t I?" she asked rhetorically.


    "Hmm. The weather is really nice today," Jash said, trying to dodge her question.


    "You really are helpless, huh?" Caera sighed in defeat.


    "Ugh. I told you, all this history is distorted! The winner writes whatever they wish, always villainizing the loser!"


    Jash had really tried explaining this point, as he knew that it was just a matter of perspective before one calls a person a hero or a villain.


    If a person destroyed the world, they are a villain?


    But what if their whole world, their family and loved ones, were taken away from them because of the world?


    Was it wrong to seek revenge from the world itself and want to destroy it?


    ''No, it isn''t! As long as no one can stop you, it''s their fault for overestimating themselves!'' Jash mused internally.


    It wasn''t like anyone would understand his unique perspective, so he chose to stay quiet.


    "There are so many people here! Even elves, dwarves and mixed ones among humans!" Caera exclaimed, eager to meet them.


    "As if! Every single living being in our world is competing with another for resources, there''s nothing good about it!"


    Although Jash preached the truth, Caera ignored him and chose to enjoy the moment instead of brooding over it.


    "Hmph! You''re such a joykiller. You should''ve gone with Mom!" Caera complained, irked by his constant grumblings.


    She was really annoyed by his negative and hateful attitude related to everything she saw.


    ''If not for wanting to confirm this world''s state, I would''ve much rather stayed home!'' he thought to himself.


    Indeed, he really wanted to just rest till the world academy entrance test, unlike others who were eager to come here.


    Not only was he forced to wear these uncomfortable clothes and get ready after waking up early, but he had also sparred with Caera the previous night!


    ''It''s so unfair!'' he cried out inwardly, hiding his thoughts on the outside.


    ¡­


    Unlike Jash and the Church''s person, there was another guy coming here.


    With his status, he didn''t have an obligation to come early yet he had arrived right on time, roaming around the courtyard.


    He seemed to have a pleasant aura around him as women of all ages found him eye-catching.


    Yet the boy was just too focused on his own thoughts.


    ''Oi system! Are you sure about this?'' he thought, or rather communicated with his system.


    {Yes, host! I told you this is the best place to farm points before the main event, the Academy, starts!}

 Chapter 82 - 82: President Aoife: Hidden Price of Power

    A/N: The next few chapters aren''t for everyone, so read at your own risk. Or continue from Chapter 95 as we are back to the banquet in it or chapter 96 as we are back to Jash in it.


    ***


    Somewhere on an unknown planet.


    A woman with striking red hair sat in a luxurious leather chair, her sharp yellow eyes glued to the computer screen.


    ¡ªClick!


    ¡ªClack!


    The continuous sounds of mouse clicks and clacking keys echoed in the silent room as she continued to work.


    ¡ªKnock Knock!


    "Come in," she permitted entrance, but didn''t even glance at the newcomer.


    ¡ªClack!


    The newcomer was a woman in her twenties, wearing a tight-fitting black coat and skirt over a white shirt, dressed like a typical secretary.


    The secretary-like woman bowed and said, holding out a phone, "Miss President, it''s your brother."


    The woman on the chair finally had a change in her stature as she paused her actions and put her left hand in front of her secretary.


    Yet her eyes were still on the monitor, unfazed by anything.


    The secretary just nodded as if used to it and handed the phone over and stood up straight, fixing her long black hair.


    "You may leave," the red-haired woman said calmly and the secretary complied.


    ¡ªClick!


    As soon as the door closed with a sound, she raised the phone to her ear and said, "Hello?"


    "Miss President."


    Hearing a different voice than she expected surprised her, but she maintained her calm demeanor.


    It wasn''t the first time her brother got caught up in some strange problem, so she knew how to deal with it.


    "...What do you want?" she asked directly after a few moments of silence on both ends.


    "I heard that you have a husband? Do your admirers know that?"


    This time she couldn''t maintain her composure.


    No one was supposed to know about this. ''Did he blabber about it?''


    As if sensing her thoughts the caller continued, "Did you forget you kept your brother in the dark too?"


    A chill ran down her spine as the man on the other end of the phone seemed to know her deepest secrets.


    "You must be quite curious-"


    "Just state your demands," she strategically cut him off, not wanting to waste her time over such a matter.


    "Hmm. My demands, huh?"


    The voice on the other end turned contemplative before he said resolutely, "Resign."


    "Impossible!" she replied instinctively.


    "Then the deal is off," the man declared in a tone of finality.


    It seemed he had no interest in riches and just wanted her downfall.


    It was strange and rare, but that was it.


    Her position attracted enemies for various reasons, from sexism to personal grudges, making the threat all the more repetitive.


    However, she had remained steadfast and resolute in the face of all such challenges.


    "Wait. Anything else? Just name it," she counter offered, unwilling to let her family get hurt.


    That was the reason no one ought to know about her personal life.


    Even her secretary only knew about her brother, not her husband.


    "Anything, eh? Interesting," the voice turned playful as he continued, "I wonder if your husband would agree?"


    Her face turned red with rage, yet she kept her emotions in check as she said gruffly, "Don''t cross the line."


    "Ahahahahahahahah"


    The man laughed for a few seconds before his voice turned serious, "Look here, Miss President, you''re the one who has to pay, not me."


    "Don''t misunderstand¡ªI have no regard for you, your family, or the nation!"


    His voice turned rough, bestial even as he continued his threat.


    "And I repeat, do not think you''ll have your revenge because that''s impossible."


    Then his voice seemed to contain anger hot enough to burst the entire world in its blistering flames.


    "I am the one who will have his revenge."


    With that he hung up the call, not giving her the time to reply or comprehend the words.


    The next instant, she cursed loudly and crushed the phone, throwing it into the corner of the room.


    ¡ªBeep!


    A notification sound from her secured monitor caught her attention, and as she read its title, her hands clenched in anger.


    "This b*stard dares!!" she shouted and slammed her mahogany desk.


    ¡ªBam!


    However, her desk didn''t even creak under all her might; instead, it was her pale hands that reddened.


    Her face flushed red as she gritted her teeth and smashed her keyboard, unable to keep her calm after reading the entire mail.


    "Just how dare he!!" She yelled, her frustration boiling over.


    In the next second, she stood up, kicking the chair back to vent her emotions.


    She closed the monitor displaying a mail with the title "Come here if you want them to live, Miss President."


    It didn''t contain anything else except an address and time, inviting her to a possible trap that she couldn''t avoid.


    ''Just how did those idiots get caught?'' she grumbled inwardly while taking deep breaths to calm her emotions.


    No matter what, she was the president of a nation, and if photos of her emotional turmoil leaked, it would give her haters another chance to put her down.


    Finally, she barely returned to her calm facade and left the room, turning to face her secretary a few meters away.


    "Give me a spare phone," she demanded after walking elegantly to her table.


    Hearing her voice, the secretary immediately stood up in respect and followed the orders, briskly opening a drawer.


    The drawer was filled with the latest phones as if the president used to break them every now and then.


    The familiarity with which the secretary set up the new phone and handed it over spoke volumes about the President''s behavior.


    "I''ll be leaving for a while. Handle it," the president ordered and walked away, her heels striking hard against the marble floor.


    "Yes, ma''am!" was all the secretary said and kept standing until the president was out of her sight.


    "Phew..." She released her held breath and muttered inaudibly, "She seemed super pissed. Pity her brother."


    On the other hand, the president didn''t care about anyone''s view of her as she walked briskly.


    Her flawlessly draped sky-blue dress accentuated her curves, causing the men and women to turn their heads at her. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While women felt jealous of her figure, the men had a hard time controlling their thoughts.


    Fortunately, none were stupid enough to approach her.


    ''Idiots,'' she thought, used to the lascivious stares from old men and teens alike.


    That was also a reason why she never revealed her marital status, keeping a shush over it.


    After all, who would want to know that their dream woman was claimed by someone else?


    Apparently, excluding some degenerates, no man would.


    "I''ll drive myself," she declared, exiting through a back door and ignoring the security protocols completely.


    She was determined to keep the situation quiet, even driving a car with tinted windows and a unique registration number to avoid detection.


    Thanks to the unique registration number on the car, no one dared to stop her on the way.


    ¡ªScreech!


    After a tense two-hour drive, she arrived at the address.


    It was no small feat, as even the most experienced drivers might falter in the face of emotional instability.


    Yet she didn''t seem to feel anything about it.


    Unperturbed by the emotional strain, she stepped out of the car and walked into the desolate area, scanning for any signs of danger.


    ''There are no cars excluding mine and nothing else in the area,'' she observed.


    Or at least, that''s what she thought.


    "Oh my, what a coincidence!"


    A familiar voice echoed in the area, irking her to no end. ''That''s him!'' she thought in recognition before hearing the voice again.


    "Well, well, how lovely! If it isn''t the beloved President, Miss Aoife."

 Chapter 83 - 83: Anything: A Desperate Bargain

    ¡ªTap!


    ¡ªTap! S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªTap!


    The slow yet paced steps brought immense discomfort and anxiety to Aoife as she waited for her adversary to show himself.


    "It''s been a while, Miss Aoife," he said as he finally showed himself.


    "Who?" Aoife blurted out, unable to recognize the man.


    Aoife took in his dark attire and calculating hazel eyes as he approached, smiling sinisterly.


    "Oh, of course, you wouldn''t remember," the man smiled maniacally.


    Looking at him, Aoife felt uneasy as she failed to understand if he was even the same man who had threatened her openly on the phone.


    "You must be curious, no?" He asked tentatively, maintaining his smile.


    "Luc'' come out," he called out to no one in particular before a woman with golden hair appeared.


    Her beauty seemed on par with Aoife, surprising her, yet what shocked her was the man''s nonchalance towards her.


    ''Why did I not notice it? He doesn''t even seem interested in me,'' she thought, perplexed by the man''s motives.


    However, it was still a bitter pill to swallow.


    How could she accept a woman as beautiful as her appearing out of the blue with a man being entirely indifferent to not just one, but two top-tier beauties?


    It seemed impossible to her, but the truth was quite apparent right in front of her.


    "You don''t even remember her?" the man asked, bringing her out of her reverie.


    "...No." She shook her head after giving it another second of thought.


    "Hoo? It seems people in high positions really hold no regard for people like you and me, Luc''."


    "Yes, boss. It''s better to just finish her than try to reason with a self-righteous wench like her!" Luc'' spat venomously.


    Her words startled Aoife but she didn''t let it show despite the ominous premonition in her heart.


    ''Just what''s with these people?'' she thought and decided to get this charade over with.


    "You...! I don''t care what your motives are; just tell me what you want!" Aoife demanded..


    "Haa... Are you perchance stupid? Can''t you understand from our conversation?"


    The man looked at her as if he were looking at some inferior idiot, and not even someone deemed equal.


    The look infuriated her as she told herself, ''Control! Control! I have to get them out of here!''


    "Looks like she won''t understand like this, boss! Let''s bring them over," Luc'' implored the man politely.


    Despite her obvious hatred towards Aoife, she maintained a polite and respectful demeanor regarding the man.


    "You''re right," the man nodded, approving her line of thought and ordered, "No need to hide. Everyone, bring them out!"


    ¡ªRustle! Rustle!


    His loud order was followed by several men coming out of the various bushes in the distance.


    The sight of so many mercenary-like men made Aoife panic inwardly before her eyes landed on the two familiar figures.


    "Aron! Julius!" she called out subconsciously the moment her eyes landed on the figure of her brother and husband.


    While Aron didn''t really resemble her features, he was truly her brother and Julius... Well, he looked too plain to be her husband.


    Meanwhile, the man just enjoyed the sight of different emotions flashed on Aoife''s face, ignoring everything else.


    ''This is... fun? No. Satisfying?'' he thought, perplexed by his own emotions.


    He naturally felt no sympathy for the trio, ignoring her horrified look as she finally noticed that Aron and Julius were unconscious.


    "What did you do to them? How dare you touch them!" Aoife hissed through gritted teeth.


    "Whoa! Chill out, missy! It''s just some anesthesia at play," the man clarified, more so in a teasing manner than placating.


    He really seemed to be enjoying it as his subordinates grinned like hungry hyena, awaiting the orders to devour the prey.


    Unlike him, all of them were indeed interested in the red-haired woman opposite them, each wanting a piece of her.


    Yet none of them even spared a glance at Luc'', already associating her as the boss''s woman.


    Although none had ever seen the two act affectionately, none of them wanted to risk it, especially when another equally enticing beauty stood before them.


    "State. Your. Price." Aoife said each word clearly as her face turned red from anger.


    "Again? Did you get Alzheimer''s or some other memory loss?" the man sneered at her attempts to negotiate.


    It seemed he was hell-bent on wanting to destroy her instead of any peaceful and civil solution.


    "Well, if you want to hear it, then listen," he suddenly said, confusing everyone present except for Luc''.


    "You might not remember, but you advised your grandfather to ignore normal citizens'' complaints and move on with the project 14 years back."


    ''14? Who would remember something so back into the past?'' Aoife thought, frowning.


    "At that time, I used to live happily yet my life turned upside down because of your advice."


    "Do you know what they did? They brutalized and killed everyone after torturing them in multiple ways."


    "It was an ugly sight."


    The man''s voice cracked with emotion as he continued, "I...I escaped alive that day... but I had already lost everything."


    "And it was your fault."


    "However, I didn''t blame you or anyone else, ever. That''s how I was raised, after all."


    The man''s eyes turned bloodshot as if he was forcing his tears to not fall.


    "You know what''s your fault and why you are here? It''s because you didn''t change. No, you did change."


    "For the worse."


    "The number of displaced people and death tolls due to government negligence is at an all-time high, even higher than the nations without any government."


    "Unfortunately, it never ended."


    "Every single person inside your government is trash. They are scum, beyond reproach."


    While his words and emotions were raw and could be felt, Aoife felt nothing in her heart at his story.


    She appeared rather... bored.


    It was true that she never cared about the low rung of society, and why should she?


    People who accepted their destiny without even putting in any effort to change it were irredeemable trash in her eyes.


    So what if she had to sacrifice a few good humans to get rid of them?


    It was well worth the sacrifice.


    And as if he could see through her thoughts, the man''s voice returned to normal, yet it was just too eerily calm.


    "Anyways, my reasons don''t matter. Just like you, I want to end you, destroy you, and make you lose everything."


    With that being said, the man took a sharp turn and walked to the town unconscious men and held them by their necks.


    "Stop! Release them!" she shouted in anger and fear, unable to keep her facade when it came to her brother and husband.


    "Yeah, that''s the type of emotion I want to see on your face," the man grinned sadistically.


    "So, tell me, who do you want to say goodbye to first? Your husband or your brother?"


    As he said so, his hands wrapped around their necks, ready to twist them and finish them off mercilessly.


    In his eyes, it was an act of mercy, given his hatred for this woman.


    "Boss, calm yourself," Luc'' said, patting his hands, interrupting the sequence.


    The boss just glared at her, not releasing his hold as he continued to choke them


    Looking at their faces paling and their necks reddening, Aoife finally couldn''t take it anymore.


    "Wait! Just tell me what you want! I''ll do anything!" she shouted in exasperation, too worried about her brother and husband.

 Chapter 84 - 84: Unleashed Fury

    "Anything? Anything she says," the man reiterated before bursting into forced laughter.


    "Haah," he scoffed with disgust as his eyes remained focused on the still unconscious men.


    "Luc''. Wake them up. Now!" he ordered before turning to face Aoife.


    The man silently stared at her murderously, not hiding his hatred in the least.


    It was as if he couldn''t care less about the consequences of his actions, but that wasn''t the truth.


    "Nothing will work. Network and satellite jammers are activated here," he remarked, looking at the clenched phone in Aoife''s hands.


    Unlike his appearance, he had planned every single step to get the results he wanted, irrespective of the cost.


    ''Even if it costs me everything, it doesn''t matter as long as I satiate my vengeance.''


    That line of thought motivated the man to make his move today.


    "You look anxious," he began. "What? You thought you''d be able to go for your broadcast?"


    "No. I am not involved politically," he clarified before Aoife could even come to that conclusion.


    Though her thoughts were a mess after looking at her husband and brother, she was mature enough to keep it in check.


    Hence, her first guess was his political involvement which persisted despite his words.


    After all, there was no trust between them.


    He was literally blackmailing her!


    Not wanting to think about this hateful man, her eyes darted to her loved ones, only to freeze at the sight.


    Both of their cheeks were swollen and red with fingerprints with slightly bigger marks on their necks.


    ¡ªThud!


    "Boss, they aren''t waking up," Luc'' stated, dropping their bodies as if they were a bag of rice.


    "Hm?" the man made a sound of acknowledgement before advising, "Kick them. Stab them. Crush their family jewels. Just wake them up."


    A chill ran down Aoife''s spine hearing his savage and barbaric words yet the worst hadn''t even come.


    The golden-haired woman nodded without the slightest twitch on her face, raised their bodies, and took her position to drop a flurry of attacks.


    "NO! STOP!" Aoife shouted in desperation, but no one cared about her emotions at the moment.


    Truth be told, it was the first time someone refused her words since her childhood.


    Many did oppose her opinion from time to time but they always agreed in the end.


    However, the man seemed uninterested in her mental state or anything else as he ignored her desperate pleas.


    ''Not enough,'' he thought, noticing how Aoife had yet to even shed tears or break down.


    "Luc''. Take it up a notch," he commanded, his voice full of malicious intent.


    Finally, Aoife couldn''t take it anymore and closed her eyes.


    She wasn''t stupid enough to believe that any of her rash actions would get her out of here.


    Instead, she believed that the longer she stood her ground, the higher the chances of a rescue or some miracle.


    Unfortunately, she remained unaware of the crazy preparations the man made today.


    Not only were all kinds of radio waves blocked, he even had hundreds of guards in the area.


    No one could enter even an area of two kilometers radius from this place, not to mention the core area where they stood.


    However, that wasn''t all he had planned, and it was yet to be unveiled.


    ¡ªBam!


    Suddenly, the loud sound caught everyone''s attention as Aoife visibly flinched and reflexively opened her eyes.


    The sight that greeted her wasn''t a pleasant one, though.


    Blood splattered on the ground from multiple wounds caused by the sharp heels of Luc''.


    Fortunately, the awake sight of her husband made her feel a slight happiness before worry overwhelmed her mind.


    "Haa..." her husband panted for breath, unaware of everything that happened after he got abducted.


    Only when he recognized the figure of Aoife near him did he calm down and immediately called out, "Da-ugh"


    His incoherent speech was cut short as he received a sharp slap on his left cheek.


    "Why weren''t you waking up sooner? You had little Luc'' work so hard¡ªwhy?"


    His words drew puzzled looks from his men, while Luc'' appeared unfazed and seemed to be... enjoying it?


    "S-stop!" Aoife, the most affected by everything, stammered in her words.


    Yet in the next second everyone''s attention was caught by a sound as if an animal was being slaughtered.


    ¡ªSquelch


    "AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH"


    All the men instinctively covered their crotch as they sucked in a cold breath at the sight excluding the man who had ordered such a despicable thing.


    On the other hand, Aoife seemed to have witnessed the most devastating sight in her life as her face appeared to have lost all its color.


    Yet the sight of Luc'' as she looked calmly at her work with an admiring look was enough to send chills down any man''s spine.


    It turns out that she had smashed his family jewels for real!


    Without any hesitation at all!


    Even Aoife''s husband gulped in nervousness, unable to imagine the pain he must be going through.


    And truly he was as he rolled on the ground, clutching his bleeding family jewels.


    Only, the culprit seemed to not like it as she threatened, "Stop moving or I will cut it off."


    Her threat might not have worked before, but now? It worked wonders.


    Despite all his agony, Aoife''s brother stopped moving, though his body still twitched due to the unexpected sensation.


    A chilling silence fell over the area as Aoife''s husband felt relieved to have woken up after only a beating.


    The silence soon broke when the mastermind addressed Luc'', "Girl, what did I tell you about letting your personal feelings into work?"


    Luc'' immediately bowed. "I am sorry, boss. But I couldn''t help it," she justified her actions.


    "Understandable." He nodded to her and the confusing conversation ended.


    "Wait! What do you mean personal!? What did my brother ever do to her?" Aoife cried out.


    Her tone was raw with her seething rage, but it only served to amuse him.


    "What did he do, huh?" he reiterated with a creepy smile. "Why ask when you know him better?"


    "Boss, may I?" Luc'' interfered, wanting to say it herself.


    Understanding her intent, the hazel-eyed man nodded.


    "How would you feel if someone touched you against your will? I''d want to kill them. You should be glad your brother''s still alive."


    "Not for long, though," she mumbled to herself as the others registered her loud words.


    Gaining some sense of self, her brother looked at Luc'' through his blurry vision and rambled, "Yugh-yuh-yughh..."


    His words remained a mystery to them, but it was obvious he recognized her.


    "Yes, yes, she''s the assassin you sent to kill me," the man mentioned matter-of-factly as if it were no big deal.


    Everyone at the scene looked at him as if seeing a crazy person. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just who the heck employs an assassin paid to kill you as your subordinate?


    "You know, your brother thought he could have his way with her just because she also works in honey trapping," the man casually steered the conversation away.


    "Only an idiot would try to gain an assassin''s enmity."


    Hearing the man''s reproachful words, Aoife''s brother finally realized who this woman was.


    In the next second, he seemed to have lost all hope as the weight of his realization finally sat in.


    ''The man opposite isn''t someone we can hope to escape from,'' he thought, the light in his eyes dimming.

 Chapter 85 - 85: Underworld Sovereign

    Uncaring of the words spoken by the man, Aoife''s brother wore a pained expression as he recalled his identity.


    Victor Aller.


    The most wanted man in the nation of Megrale.


    No one knew where he came from or if that was even his real name, but that''s how he was known by the whole underworld.


    One day, he appeared out of nowhere and swept through the major power holders before anyone could understand what happened.


    Since that day, everyone feared him as he mercilessly removed every single person in the underworld, taking charge as its sole sovereign.


    His power contested with the president of Megrale, Aoife Dell, as he didn''t give a shit about the rules and regulations.


    Earlier, the bigwigs of the nations were involved in the underworld for various reasons, but after his appearance, they lost everything.


    That would be fine and acceptable if Victor actually talked and re-negotiated the terms, but he didn''t!


    Instead, he actually publicized their black deeds; be it forcing prostitution or slavery, he had no reservations about revealing everything.


    Worse yet, he actually uploaded the proofs and testimonials online!


    But when they tried to take it down, they realized it changed nothing as it kept reappearing.


    However, the sole reason they blamed Victor was because the underworld was the place where all the evidence existed.


    The ones in the trade were naturally no idiots and wanted to keep some fail-safes, which fell into the hands of Victor.


    In simple terms, they lost not only their underworld positions but also the one in the Megrale nation.


    Heck, they were even jailed and investigated due to the public pressure, forcing the president to even resign!


    That''s why Aoife could even become the president after the opposition lost it all.


    Her brother didn''t like her taking his position and related Victor to Aoife, wanting to get some dirt on him.


    In truth, all he wanted was to prove Aoife had connections to Victor and use it as leverage to force her into handing over her position.


    Despite considering herself the smartest and wisest, she was unaware of her own brother''s sinister intentions.


    Anyways, it was not as if any link existed between the two, except Victor''s unbridled hatred for her.


    Finally, reality also seemed to set in as Aoife''s brother realized everything.


    Even though he had truly sent quite a few people to get some information, it all failed.


    In the end, he chose to send spies for honey-trapping.


    From muscular men to effeminate men, and even all kinds of women, muscular, fit, slim, chubby, etc etc, of all ages between 18 and 40.


    Yet the end result was always disappointing.


    None of them ever returned with any useful information, if they returned at all.


    It wasn''t just him who tried such methods.


    Many had sent quite a few assassins and double agents to get something, anything about Victor, only to fail miserably.


    That was until he heard of the codename ThornRose and arranged a meeting with her.


    Unsurprisingly, he was captivated by her beauty and attempted to force himself on her, but she escaped.


    She escaped and continued with the order for the money involved, uninterested in anything else.


    She was a professional through and through, even able to keep her personal feelings aside for her work.


    Of course, he garnered a negative opinion about her, but she had already left.


    ''But just what happened that an assassin turned into his subordinate?''


    The question plagued his mind despite the perilous situation simply because he didn''t have any hope of escaping anymore.


    Meanwhile, Victor and Luc'', or ThornRose, were done saying what they wanted to.


    Neither mentioned anything about Aoife''s brother''s true motives, believing it to not be the correct time to get the most intense reaction from her.


    ''I have to break her slowly, step by step,'' Victor had informed everyone about his course of actions long ago.


    Although anyone would be intrigued about his reasons, none spoke of it. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even now, no one believed his super generic gangster backstory.


    The only one convinced was Luc'' since she had already heard about his entire life from him.


    ''There was a time when boss gave up on revenge and even lived a happy life with his girlfriend,'' she thought, reminiscing the time he narrated his life.


    It was the same day when she had successfully infiltrated the underworld and even Victor''s organization using her assassin skills.


    She did quite a few tasks before even getting to be a part of the underworld officially, not to mention how long it took to get a glimpse of Victor.


    Victor was elusive, and despite numerous attempts, no one betrayed him. The reason for his subordinates'' unwavering loyalty remained a mystery.


    ''He had already noticed I was a spy long before I had a chance to meet him,'' Luc'' thought with a wry smile.


    That day, she was called to his room and couldn''t help but feel disgust for Victor, imagining what she must go through.


    However, she was trained as an assassin since she was 10, and only later did she discover how wrong her life was.


    Unfortunately, it was too late by then to fix anything.


    Anyways, what greeted her eyes upon entering his private chambers was him fully dressed-up instead of being half-naked or something like her imagination.


    ''At least he''s hot,'' she couldn''t help but think along those lines, recalling the kind of men and women she had slept with before as part of her job.


    Yet his next words stunned her speechless, making her frozen despite her professionalism.


    "You''re here to honey trap me or kill me?"


    Luc'' felt a shiver run down her spine at the casual menace in his voice.


    "Honey trap, I guess?" he muttered after looking her up and down before saying, "It won''t work."


    "I have no interest in anyone," he stated casually as if he wasn''t standing opposite one of the most vicious assassins in Megrale.


    "Y-you...! Are you crazy?" she shouted, dumbfounded by his lack of caution.


    Despite the advantageous situation, her honed instinct warned her to not act against this weird man.


    Her instincts had saved her life at multiple instances, so she followed them, not wanting to make a mistake that would cost her life.


    "Hm?" Victor hummed questioningly before tilting his head, "You''re... different."


    Without waiting for her to understand the intent behind his words, he continued, "You know, all the others attacked directly, or at least acted seductively."


    "You, on the other hand, remained calm and professional. You truly exceed your reputation, ThornRose, BlackRose, Ambrose, or should I say Luciene?"


    Her entire thought process collapsed as she heard him mention all of her codenames and even the real name, which she had nearly forgotten.


    "H-how...?" she stammered yet he just smiled genuinely.


    Victor''s genuine smile unnerved her, and his silence functioned to unsettle her, who was unable to grasp his motives.


    "I will give you two options, die or live. Choose," he declared, his tone taking on a serious backdrop, making her involuntarily bow.


    It was instinctive.


    She felt as if she were facing a higher predator and the only option was submitting to him if she didn''t want to die.


    There was no way she''d want to die.


    After all, who would continue to live their life as an assassin and honey trapper without having a solid reason to?


    And it seemed Victor was already aware of her reason, which didn''t quite sit well with her.


    Well, that''s how she came to work under him as Luc'', short for Luciene, and continued till date.


    ''Just what are you up to, boss?'' she wondered in confusion as he derailed from the initial plan.

 Chapter 86 - 86: Breaking Point

    Unbothered by the feelings of anyone around him, Victor dropped his facade and turned to Aoife''s husband.


    He brought a knife seemingly out of nowhere, slicing Aoife''s brother''s neck with just enough strength to draw blood.


    "N-NO!" Aoife screamed desperately yet her pleas had no effect on Victor as he calmly gave an order.


    "Follow along, Luc''."


    Luc'' immediately complied, taking out a knife strapped under the hem of her skirt and slicing apart Aoife''s brother''s cheeks.


    Unlike Victor, who did it way too slowly and carefully to the point one sneeze or scream from the man below would kill him, Luc'' was brutal.


    Her personal vendetta ran deep, coming to light, as she lightly sliced apart his skin, drawing blood slowly and gruesomely.


    Now, it was Aoife''s turn to be shell shocked at the sight.


    It didn''t take her long to understand that no one would really come to save her and her family.


    "How does it feel to have your misdeed catching up to you, President Aoife?" Victor emphasized his last words, sneering at her.


    In truth, he never wanted such a day to come, but who forced him to get involved in such complex matters involving the dark side of the world?


    As he observed the crumpling of Aoife''s expression, he couldn''t help but think, ''Soon her arrogance and pride will shatter too.''


    It was to be expected since she was similar to a sheltered rose, who wouldn''t survive one day in the wild.


    All her life had been easy without any problems.


    Even after she became the president, all she faced was minor opposition as not many dared to oppose her openly.


    In the end, it got to her head, giving rise to her nonsensical pride and ego, which Victor wanted to break apart.


    His goal was to break her sanity, by slowly chipping away at it.


    Unfortunately, he had to change his plan midway and take extreme measures today due to unpredictable events.


    ''If not for fearing her involvement, I would have done it so very slowly over the next 10 years,'' he cursed his luck inwardly.


    Victor wasn''t sadistic by nature, but this woman forced him to use the worst methods for his vengeance today.


    "Why are you rambling ''no'' and ''stop''? Didn''t you mention anything? Why don''t you try begging? Maybe it''ll help."


    Although Victor himself felt cringey about his words, he had to set an ambiguous tone for his purpose.


    Excluding Aoife who had a stiff expression and the unfazed Luc'', the other listeners had a hard time controlling their laughter.


    "Pfft... Haha..."


    However, the cacophony of laughter resonated like the haunting chimes before something unpleasant, greatly unnerving her.


    Her breathing fastened as she felt a lump in her throat, unable to breathe normally; dizziness overwhelmed her senses.


    The situation overwhelmed her as the words echoed endlessly in her mind: ''Anything¡­ Anything¡­ Anything¡­


    The sheer shock was too much to handle as her mentality slowly seemed to be crumpling and her legs gave way.


    ¡ªThud!


    She fell on her knees with tears streaming down her face as her expressions remained frozen.


    The drastic shift from her prior arrogant self to someone that had seemingly given up all hope was enough to make everyone pause in their tracks.


    It not only surprised the guards, but Victor himself as he felt lightheaded, ''No... no... no... no... no... no...


    no... no...''


    He denied reality right in front of him, stood up from his position as if he couldn''t care less about his actions.


    A look of panic appeared on his face as he didn''t want such a result.


    ¡ªSpurt!


    "Urk!"


    Suddenly, everyone''s attention was drawn by Luc'' stepping on Aoife''s brother''s leg, puncturing it, resulting in him grunting in pain.


    "S-sthop..." Aoife pleaded as her red hair covered her tear-stricken face.


    Her words didn''t seem coherent as she had a hard time even opening her mouth, her face covered in tears, snot, and saliva.


    She appeared extremely pitiful with her perfectly shaped body, raising the protective nature of a few guards.


    Yet, in the next instant, their blood turned cold as they saw a scene they never wished to see.


    Victor held Aoife by her cheeks, completely disregarding Luc'', mumbling crazily with a cold look in his eyes.


    "You can''t give up. Not YET!"


    "Who gave you the right to!"


    "NO! NO! This isn''t how it''s supposed to be!"


    Even though they seemed like mumbling to Victor, the others could only point it out as him hysterically screaming.


    They even categorized him as a full-blown psychopath who''s crazy enough to not want his enemy to break.


    However, the sight of him casually holding her wet face and screaming into it with an indifferent, cold look literally sent chills down their spines.


    The guards weren''t normal mercenaries, they were veterans who had seen their comrades getting tortured or did the deed themselves.


    Yet, even they couldn''t help but gulp nervously, looking at Victor''s blood drenched face.


    "YOU. CAN''T. GIVE. UP." Victor addressed Aoife, emphasizing each word next to her ear.


    Although she had a strong mentality, it wasn''t enough to hold for so long in the face of such threats, coming from a complete stranger.


    It wouldn''t be a lie to say she wasn''t affected by her brother trying to force himself on Luc'', she knew him better than that.


    The only thing she felt was annoyance at him being stupid enough to let such a person go.


    What truly broke her wasn''t Victor''s next actions and repeating her words.


    It was the helplessness that came with realizing that there was no rescue coming, implying no escape from this place, unless...


    However, she didn''t even need to think about it for a second to understand that the man opposite her wouldn''t care about anything she does.


    Even if she offered herself to him, she couldn''t see him letting the three of them go. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The hatred in his eyes was raw.


    She couldn''t even understand where it came from, but it bit her, devouring her completely.


    Her slowly chipping sanity collapsed completely at the dawn of her realization.


    Hence, when she felt his grip on her cheeks, she didn''t even offer any response that Victor hoped for.


    Indeed, he was a smart man and he felt that he had completely destroyed her hope.


    ''Hope doesn''t reignite without reason... but how?'' he contemplated a way to give her hope before destroying it.


    ''This time, I want to make no mistakes,'' he thought to himself, realizing that she had given up hope a bit too early.


    She was the president, for god''s sake!


    How could she give up so soon? What if someone heard she was so easy to break?


    Where''s the satisfaction in that?


    It wasn''t that Victor couldn''t have ended things right here, but a sense of emptiness seemed to be gnawing at him.


    While cold and indifferent on the outside, he was secretly worried about something.


    ''I can''t waste time like this,'' he thought, the sense of urgency driving him forward.


    "You," he called out to Aoife, bringing his face closer to her before hissing, "Didn''t you say you''d do anything?"


    Aoife was startled for a fraction of a second before she nodded weakly and mumbled inaudibly, "Yeah... anything... as long as..."


    Her low muttering was audible to Victor who coldly ordered, "Strip."

 Chapter 87 - 87: No Escape

    A/N: This chapter may be disturbing for some, so read it after this warning


    ***


    Aoife froze at his words, unable to accept the severity of her situation.


    "What''s wrong?" Vector hissed, his voice remained icy. "Didn''t you say you''d do anything? Time to prove it."


    Before she could respond or anything else, Victor clenched her cheeks, a tone of finality in his warning, "Remember, your words hold weight."


    "Ah," Aoife''s voice turned incoherent as he released his tight grip and walked away.


    Her breathing turned ragged as she noticed him dragging her husband and brother by their hair.


    He seemed to have no reservations about his actions, as though he weren''t committing an immoral act.


    Yet Luc'' didn''t seem to show any change in her expression, confusing the few guards who dared to look in her direction.


    Even the guards wore surprised expressions, fully aware of Victor''s intense hatred for crimes related to sex.


    It was to the point that he literally castrated some guards who thought they could use the organization''s name to get away with their evil deeds.


    However, the one on the receiving end had no way of knowing any of this.


    Aoife''s mind turned fuzzy before determination coursed through her, looking at the state of her husband and brother.


    She clenched her teeth and started unbuttoning her shirt with shaky fingers.


    "NO! DON''T" Her husband shouted in exasperation and tried to move, only to be held down by Victor.


    Victor''s gaze shifted from Aoife to her husband and brother before finally settling on Luc'' as he addressed her.


    "Luc'', take hold of them and make them watch it," he instructed in a detached icy tone.


    Luc'' took hold of the two men, who watched with hateful eyes as tears of blood streamed down their swollen cheeks.


    Even Aoife''s pitiful appearance wasn''t enough to stir the unmoving heart of Victor, let alone these two guys.


    Meanwhile, Aoife''s trembling fingers finished their task, and she remained kneeling on the floor, with her open shirt.


    The cold air against her exposed skin was a stark contrast to the heat of her rising panic.


    She could feel the lascivious gaze of the guards focus on her, a searing reminder of her vulnerability.


    Only 4 exceptions existed, her brother and husband who looked at her with bloody eyes and Luc'', who appeared detached.


    While Victor''s gaze was unwavering as he assessed her, his face a mask of detached satisfaction.


    "Good," he said, his voice devoid of warmth. "Now that you''ve shown your willingness, let''s see how far that goes."


    Aoife bit her lip, bleeding slightly as her hands trembled when she tried to push her limits more.


    Victor then turned away, moving to a small muddy patch on the ground, his actions a chilling contrast to his previous demeanor.


    Digging at it, he retrieved various tools and implements, his plans easy to imagine.


    ¡ªClang!


    The sound of metal against metal echoed through the room as Victor revealed each intimidating tool, amplifying Aoife''s sense of dread.


    Despite the serious situation, Luc'' remained stoic as she stood, holding the two men down.


    Her eyes darted to the tools before a hint of recognition appeared in her weary eyes as if they were simply part of her routine.


    She made no move to assist or intervene, leaving Aoife to face Victor''s plans alone.


    ¡ªBam!


    Victor threw the tools nearby Aoife, examining her with a critical eye.


    "You know, when you''re in power, it''s easy to forget what it feels like to be powerless. But you''re lucky," he said matter-of-factly.


    Then his tone turned chilling, like his smile, "As you''re about to get a very real lesson soon."


    Aoife''s heart raced as Victor picked up and dropped the tools, assessing them before glancing at her and dropping them.


    Aoife''s breathing turned shallow, her eyes darting between the tools and Victor''s inscrutable expression.


    The reality of her situation sank in deeper with every second as her fingers pressed against her bare skin.


    "I want you to remember this moment," Victor continued, his voice low and menacing. "Every second of it."


    He finally closed in and hissed, "This is the price of your arrogance, the cost of believing that you''re untouchable."


    His words cut through Aoife''s haze of fear, sharpening her sense of impending horror, her resolve crumbling with each passing moment.


    Luc'' looked on with an unreadable expression, while Victor''s gaze remained cold and determined.


    Under his fierce gaze, Aoife tried to steady herself, but the fear was far too overwhelming.


    Her hands trembled uncontrollably, and she could no longer keep her composure. The reality of her situation was inescapable, and she was at the mercy of Victor''s whims.


    Victor approached her with a sharpened metal rod in hand as it wickedly gleamed ominously in the dim light.


    "Let''s begin," he said, his voice, steady and unyielding.


    As Victor made his first move, Aoife''s eyes filled with tears, her body shaking uncontrollably.


    She didn''t know yet but her dignity and strength were being systematically dismantled as Victor hoped for.


    In the end, the once-mighty president was now nothing more than a figure of despair.


    Victor''s plan wasn''t unfolding as intended, but it was the best outcome right now.


    Unfortunately, Aoife''s ordeal was far from over. Each moment dragged on, a harsh reminder of her helplessness and Victor''s unyielding resolve.


    As the night continued, the clearing became a source of unrelenting tension and fear, with each passing second amplifying the darkness of the situation.


    Victor''s resolve to break Aoife''s spirit was unshaken, underscoring his deep-seated hatred and cruelty.


    Still, he hadn''t even actually hurt her physically.


    He traced her milky smooth skin with the sharp tip of the metal rod, threatening to puncture it.


    It was far worse than getting stabbed as the tension underneath her made Aoife stiffen up, in fear of accidentally scarring herself.


    "You know," Victor began, turning to face the two men, "I don''t consider someone who''s ready to offer herself as a woman."


    ¡ªBang!


    ¡ªBang!


    Blood splattered all around as a bizarre silence enveloped the surroundings as two bullets were shot.


    "Fuu..." Victor blew air at the muzzle of his pistol.


    "I usually respect women, but not the ones who don''t respect themselves."


    Before the scene in front of her could register in her senses, Aoife heard his words, almost turning to him before another word echoed in her mind.


    "Goodbye."


    ¡ªBang!


    With that, the three lay dead on the ground, startling the guards as the decision seemed abrupt yet Luc'' showed not the slightest sign of shock.


    "It went as you planned, boss," she commented and he nodded at her before she asked, "Now...?"


    "As planned," Victor replied as he turned around to leave, glancing one last time at the three of them.


    The three had expressions of shock and disbelief painted on their faces, with Aoife''s being highlighted.


    Yet her bare upper body and the blood wound on her head didn''t even faze him in the slightest.


    As he walked away, his chest tightened. ''What''s happening?'' he wondered, bewildered.


    ''This wasn''t part of the plan!'' he complained inwardly, wondering what went wrong.


    ¡ªThud! sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the next second, he fell to the ground with a loud noise but no one seemed to notice him as the guards were busy contemplating what to do with the bodies.


    Luc'' was the only one who noticed but her expression remained indifferent.


    ''Anyways, it doesn''t matter if I got betrayed or not, I got my revenge, although unsatisfactory,'' he mused before a creepy smile appeared on his face.


    "Not like you all will¨C"

 Chapter 88 - 88: A Life of Duality

    Inside a dark room, far from Victor''s location on the same planet.


    ¡ªRing!


    ¡ªRing!


    ¡ªClick!


    "Report."


    A stern, masculine voice echoed in the empty room as the man picked up his phone and put it to his ear.


    "It''s done."


    "Alright."


    ¡ªClick!


    With just that as the conversation, the man ended the call and put aside his phone before his gaze darted to the kneeling figure.


    "...You''ve performed well," he said to the kneeling figure after a brief silence.


    "Thank you!" replied the kneeling figure with ecstasy, their voice androgynous.


    "But don''t underestimate him. This is not the end¨C"


    The man paused mid-speech, turned his head sideways, and then focused on the kneeling figure as he commanded, "Leave."


    As if used to the sudden shift in their boss''s moods, the kneeling figure nodded and was about to leave when two words entered their ears.


    "Be careful."


    Their boss wouldn''t normally say those words, making the figure immediately grasp the seriousness of the situation as they left the room.


    The man, now alone, moved and exited the room, climbing the stairs upwards.


    With each step, his expression softened before finally morphing into a genuine smile as he reached the ground.


    "Sweetie~"


    A voice echoed nearby, making the man''s eyes crinkle in amusement as an idea took shape in his mind.


    "Honey~"


    With each alluring voice, the man''s eyes formed crescents as he walked opposite the voice.


    "Anata~"


    "She''s even going across languages," the man mumbled with a helpless smile before the figure of his wife came into his eyes.


    Her eyebrows were furrowed as she looked everywhere, trying to find him, and only one word came to his mind.


    "Cute."


    How her eyes moved around, how frustration seemed to be boiling on her pretty face, how her eyes twitched, how she pouted...


    Every single detail entered his eyes as he stifled his laughter at her cute form and reached out to her, hugging her from behind.


    She couldn''t see him because he was good at escaping from people''s vision... or so he thought.


    "Aha~ Caught ya~" She muttered with a mischievous smile as she held his arms and pushed him on to the wall.


    A kabedon!


    He really felt speechless at his wife''s ability to always find him, making all of his attempts to tease her pointless.


    Despite his failure, a smile adorned his face as he teased, "What next? Will you kiss me forcefully, darling?"


    "As if!" She snorted, but a light blush crept up her cheeks as she pushed her body against his.


    Just as the two were about to finally lean in for the kiss amidst their tension, a sharp voice chirped in.


    "Mommy! Daddy!"


    Panicking, she didn''t care and pushed her husband towards the wall, causing him to collide with it, while she stood with her back straight.


    She fanned her face to get rid of the heat rising when she finally realized she went a bit too hard on him, and turned to face him.


    He did have a pained expression on his face, but he too stood with his back straight.


    Before the couple could speak, their 5-year-old daughter rushed in their direction, her smile infectious of her happiness.


    Even though their moment was disturbed, the two genuinely smiled at their daughter as she approached them and jumped.


    The couple, aware of her antics, held her together before she climbed upon her father''s shoulder.


    "Papa scooter!" she shouted excitedly, enjoying the view from the best seat in the world.


    Her mother shook her head and smiled, a bit envious of the father-daughter duo, but instinctively, her hand reached her belly.


    Feeling the slight bump, she felt happy, realizing it was a small sacrifice for the successful birth of her next child.


    Turning back to her husband and daughter, she heard their stupid conversation and a sad smile flashed on her face for a brief second.


    "Papa! Papa! Park! Park!" the five-year-old girl demanded.


    "Yeah, yeah, papa promised, na?" he said, struggling to suppress his laughter. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmph! Papa bad!" his daughter pouted, which only made him want to laugh more, finding it extremely adorable.


    "Alright, alright, papa will learn to be like mama, okie?" he asked sweetly, knowing his daughter very well.


    "Hmph! Better! Let''s Go!" she exclaimed her true thoughts in one go, unable to hide her excitement to visit the park.


    Meanwhile, the man sighed inwardly, ''This mother-daughter, just how can they be so same?!''


    He felt it was unfair to juggle a moody wife and a lively daughter, especially with his wife''s current pregnancy!


    Just remembering how much he suffered during her first pregnancy made him feel a chill run down his spine.


    Thankfully, neither of the two girls could hear his thoughts, or who knew what his outcome would be?


    "PARK! PARK! PARK!" his daughter cried out, her eagerness too apparent, bringing his attention back to the present.


    "Let''s go," he responded and walked to the main gate of his house, his wife didn''t need to be told to do anything.


    By the time he reached the door, she was already there, holding a straw basket in her right hand and using her left to hold hands with him.


    Their daughter was on his left shoulder and arm as the family of three finally exited.


    To say the neighborhood was lavish would be an overstatement.


    All the houses looked similar with slightly different designs and paints, none higher than 15 meters.


    "There!" his daughter guided him, pointing at the park in their vicinity.


    It wasn''t huge or anything, just over five thousand square feet(~461 square meters), but it was easily more than thrice their house''s area.


    By the time the three reached the entrance of the park, the little girl was too excited and was already wanting to get down.


    As soon as her feet touched the ground, she dashed away, reaching their picnic spot and called out, "Mama! Papa! Here!"


    The couple could only follow her lead, setting up their sheet and basket as they watched their daughter excitedly playing in the open area.


    The two weren''t oblivious to the curious glances directed at the woman''s slight baby bump.


    It was quite obvious she was pregnant and everyone knew she was already pregnant when they moved in, so it was a big surprise.


    Nevertheless, some men had hatred-filled and envious eyes as they glanced at the man next to her.


    The reason?


    Simply put, his wife was quite beautiful, and she didn''t even wear make-up!


    Yet she looked better than those TV models who''d look worlds apart with and without make-up.


    No one knew why such a woman chose to live with this man, and even didn''t dress up too much.


    She mostly wore casual clothes yet anyone could spot that her figure was well maintained and her skin was tight and supple.


    With brownish hair and almond shaped black eyes, her beauty only got accentuated by her rosy lips.


    On the contrary, compared to her husband, he seemed to only have a similar height to her and a good build.


    His looks...left much to be desired.


    Uncaring of the judgmental glances, he teased his wife, "Let''s continue where we left off after returning home."


    "Shut up!" she exclaimed in a low voice, too embarrassed to say it out loud.


    As the two continued their playful flirting amidst the stares, an ominous black eye appeared in the sky, invisible to everyone.


    It scanned the area before pinpointing the figure of the man''s wife, then his daughter, and finally him.

 Chapter 89 - 89: Veiled Consequences

    The ominous black eye vanished from the atmosphere before reappearing at the location of the dying Victor.


    It had spanned two entirely different areas and gleaned information worth hours in fractions of a second.


    Yet its invisibility forbade anyone from even knowing of its existence.


    The pupil crinkled in amusement as its focus turned to the sky before returning to the events on the ground.


    Luc'', who remained unmoving and indifferent, finally moved to check Victor''s condition, appearing ''worried''.


    However, she noticed his lips moving and tried to read what he was trying to say.


    "There... shall... be... no... escape..."


    It took her a few seconds until she succeeded, but her blood turned cold at his dying words.


    Still, she moved, and to ensure her goal was achieved, she stabbed his heart from behind.


    Victor barely felt the stab as blood filled his mouth, making it hard for him to breathe.


    His already tightening chest was one factor, but the blood and stabbed heart were the final straw.


    The light in his eyes started dimming as his creepy smile turned serene.


    His lips quivered for one last time, trying to convey his final thoughts, which Luc'' struggled to understand.


    It wasn''t that she was interested in a dying man''s words, but the notion of no escape unnerved her despite her professionalism.


    Her deeply honed instincts warned her of an ominous outcome should she continue to ignore the signs.


    Alas, who knew that her attempt to understand by staying longer than she should would be the cause of her demise.


    "As... planned..."


    Reading his expression, her eyes focused on his dying state, unable to understand how it went according to plan.


    Yet she didn''t wish to take any chances and chose to decisively leave the vicinity.


    Victor, on the ground, taking his last breath, thought to himself, ''Would life turn out to be better if I didn''t choose this path?''


    Sadly, there was no medicine for regret in this world.


    Suddenly, his dimming eyes lost all their light, shattering his dying thoughts as an invisible black light passed through his body.


    The pupil in the sky turned into a crescent shape as if its objective was achieved and disappeared without anyone noticing it.


    Back on the ground, the guards were busy discussing their next plans, and Luc'' was running when a chill went past their spines cumulatively.


    Everyone in the vicinity felt the ominous sensation of dread and tried to locate its source.


    "L-look," one of the guards stumbled, falling on his butt as he pointed at the sky.


    All the guards turned to look in the direction of his finger, only to find an approaching missile.


    "Oh, that''s a missile," one of them exclaimed in recognition.


    ¡ªSnap!


    The guard next to him snapped and shouted hysterically, "You stupid mongrel! That''s freaking coming toward us!!"


    Only then did the guy finally understand their reactions and panic also started to take root within him.


    Not to mention the armed guards, even Luc'' was having a hard time believing it.


    She cast a hateful glance at Victor''s corpse and cursed inwardly, ''Why the frick did I wait here!? I should''ve left immediately!''


    Unable to calm her agitated heart, she pinned all her grievances onto Victor.


    Unfortunately for her, he was dead, or at least that''s how his body appeared to be, and nothing could save her from her plight. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The missile approached at a speed far beyond human capability. Its sound lagged, trailing behind as it exceeded the speed of sound.


    With each acceleration, a sound barrier shattered as it easily crossed the speed of Mach 10.


    At that speed, the missile would obliterate everything within a 1-kilometer radius, decimated by just the sheer impact.


    That was not even considering the aftereffects and thermal impact, which could easily gross over a 5 kilometer radius.


    If it actually carried radioactive bombs, then the devastation would easily extend over tens of kilometers.


    Sadly, no one knew what it contained or where it would truly strike as they tried their best to escape, but it was approaching.


    And it was approaching fast.


    Before they could even exit their patrolling area, it was just a few kilometers in the air, accelerating further due to gravity after its midpoint.


    Then...


    There was no then.


    ¡ªBOOM!


    Only dust rose and traveled far and wide, destroying everything in the vicinity before the loud explosion sounded.


    Any living being''s body was reduced to dust as the heat rose in the area due to the extreme temperature.


    In the next instant, numerous small explosions sounded in the surrounding area of a few tens of kilometers.


    The missile landing had set up a chain reaction as all the bombs and mines underneath the ground started to explode.


    ¡ªBoom!


    ¡ªBoom!


    Though not as loud as the first strike, it was more than enough to make anyone deaf¡ªif they somehow survived the missile, that is.


    Not even the ground was spared as it got overturned due to the manifold explosions rocking the entire area around Victor''s dead body.


    Of course, his remains too were not left.


    In the end, the people of Megrale tried to find out what happened but the extreme heat prevented anyone from even getting close.


    The land had already turned into glass in some places, the rest was scorched black.


    Meanwhile, the family of three and those in their vicinity also witnessed the missile launch into the air.


    The aftershocks of the earthquake-like landing seemed to have impacted them too as they sought support from nearby trees.


    The man held his wife and daughter closely, his face serene.


    ''So that''s how you chose to off yourself, huh?'' he mused to himself, ensuring his family was secure.


    His entire life was ironic, filled with duality.


    He hid everything from his wife and daughter yet hoped to live a normal life with them.


    ''How stupid,'' he chided himself as he shook his head when a smile appeared on his face to comfort his family.


    ¡­


    A few days passed before all media outlets in the world displayed the news of the President of the Megrale nation perishing.


    However, that wasn''t the end of it.


    The elusive Victor Aller was also supposed to have died in that missile attack, which was credited to the stellar sacrificial hero, Aoife.


    "Quite ironic," the man muttered to himself as he watched the news with his wife in his arms.


    Although it seemed she heard him, she didn''t.


    Her mind was wandering in her sea of memories as a sad expression painted her face, as she reminisced, ''Victor...''


    "It''s fine," patted her husband, knowing about her past.


    "Mhm." His wife sniffled slightly.


    It was truly hard for her to know that her first love was defamed by such titles when she knew he wasn''t such a person.


    At the same time, her husband didn''t get angry over her recalling another man while in his arms, as though he didn''t care.


    In truth, he did care, but he didn''t want to hurt her and this was the first time she reminisced about Victor as he died.


    Victor truly remained an enigma to the world even after his death, with his origins and real name a mystery.


    Except for the couple who were the only two people alive who knew him.


    Or so the couple thought.


    He wasn''t dead, at least not in the truest sense.

 Chapter 90 - 90: Twilight of Deception

    The world was left in a state of shock following the devastating missile strike.


    Megrale''s national leaders and global authorities scrambled to make sense of the disaster.


    The official narrative quickly solidified: the missile attack was attributed to a rogue faction, a last-ditch attempt by Victor Aller to ensure his legacy, even in death. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, the true story was far more convoluted.


    Amid the ruins, the elusive Victor Aller was neither dead nor alive in the conventional sense.


    After the missile''s impact had created a maelstrom of destruction, his body wasn''t left there, yet he hadn''t died either.


    Unknowingly, the world became vulnerable to the remnants of Victor''s shadowy network.


    His subordinates were now more determined than ever to see their fallen leader''s vision come to fruition.


    At the global level, the mystery of Victor Aller remained unresolved yet the official story had already painted him as a terrorist.


    Naturally, his still loyal followers fueled whispers of his possible survival, resulting in widespread conspiracy theories.


    Unbeknownst to the world, the truth lay buried beneath layers of deception and intrigue, waiting for the right moment to resurface.


    The legacy of Victor Aller was far from over¡ªit was about to enter a new chapter.


    It was one fraught with danger, hope, and the relentless pursuit of a vision¡ªbeyond the reach of conventional understanding.


    And so, the shadows of his demise lingered, hinting at the beginning of a new and uncertain saga.


    ¡­


    "You haven''t really left even after your death," a man muttered with a remorseful smile as he stared at the moon.


    His eyes darted to the bottle of liquor and pack of cigarettes beside him before he shook his head.


    With a smile, he took both the items and kept them in his car as he drove into the distance.


    After a few hours of driving, he arrived at a small house.


    With great familiarity he entered it and reached for the backyard, finding a tombstone there.


    It read [Here lies, the most beloved son, Allen Vox.]


    The man''s eyes darted to the figure of a woman before a sigh inadvertently escaped his lips.


    "What''re you doing here?" he asked and then quickly added, "He''s already dead."


    He didn''t know how many times he had to tell her that for her to understand.


    "I know, I know that he''s... but I just..." she whispered in response, her voice low. "It''s just... I can''t let it go so easily."


    "Haa... Babe, you''re pregnant, think of the baby at least?" he said helplessly to his wife, who was sad for another man.


    He didn''t feel uncomfortable or hatred for the man, but it would be a lie to say he didn''t dislike Allen.


    "For you, and the whole world, he was Victor Aller, the most wanted criminal, but for me... he was the greatest friend, Allen Vox."


    "That''s true, but he''s dead," he muttered and uncorked the liquor bottle before pouring it next to the tombstone.


    Just as he was about to light up a cigarette, a slender hand stopped him. "He quit," she whispered.


    "Oh, my bad," he replied and put it away, planning to destroy it since he never even tried cigarettes.


    Plus, smoking near a pregnant woman was a terrible idea, especially since he was the father.


    As the couple went on about their ritual and sat on the ground, grieving the death of Allen Vox or Victor Aller, a pair of invisible eyes observed them.


    ***


    After his supposed death, Victor, or Allen, hadn''t planned any failsafes, he truly wished to end his life after taking care of his enemies.


    In essence, he would lose the purpose of his life.


    Yet he continued to observe the world and how it shaped after his death before observing his ex-girlfriend and her husband.


    Even watching them act mushy with each other wasn''t enough to tug at his heart strings, he felt nothing.


    His emotions ran dry as he accepted that this was the best outcome for his only surviving loved one to find happiness.


    In his life, the only decision he regretted the most is leaving her when he got her pregnant, yet he would do it again even if he could go back into the past.


    ''Sometimes, regrets are better than living a life without them,'' he mused, observing the state of his world from various perspectives.


    "Well thought, human."


    A sudden voice echoed as the vision around him turned into darkness, where nothing could be seen.


    Allen felt he couldn''t make sense of anything, but he didn''t need to.


    "Who are you?" he asked directly, instead of waiting to be told, despite his unknown situation.


    Honestly, he had nothing to fear since he had nothing except himself, which he gave up on as well, making him completely fearless.


    However, the other entity seemed to have expected such an outcome, responding, "Good! Very good! As expected!"


    As the other party was feeling good and gloated at their correct guess, Allen reiterated for clarity, "Reveal your identity."


    The other entity stopped their ramblings, saying, "Very well, then."


    "I am the God of Darkness, the anti of the Goddess of Light."


    "As she takes on a female form, to represent hope, enlightenment, new life, and positivity, I take on a male form to represent despair, failure, death, and negativity."


    Allen was stunned speechless at the bold claim of being a god as he truly found the notion absurd, but he wisely chose to not interrupt.


    "Before you ask about other Gods, they exist. But they aren''t relevant to you as you have a task to achieve."


    "Why me?" Allen asked the first chance he got, not caring about speaking to a god or whatnot.


    "Because you are the best fit," the God of Darkness replied instantaneously as if he were waiting for this question.


    "So, I have no other choice?" Allen asked, wondering if he had any say in the matter.


    "You want to deny it?" the God of Darkness asked, slightly surprised.


    To say he expected Allen to deny or even have the thought of it would be a blatant lie.


    He believed that any human would be eager to accept it¡ªto be reborn in a world with mana, magic, and all kinds of fantasy elements.


    Wasn''t that a man''s dream¨C


    Oh, right! He forgot to mention it.


    "Ahem," the God of Darkness quickly began, "You will be reborn into a fantasy-like world where you can use mana to grow stronger."


    His thought process was too fast for Allen to comprehend.


    In the time one second passed for Allen, a few minutes or even hours had passed for the God of Darkness.


    It was like the two were in disjoint dimensions of time, living in different timelines. Though, Allen remained oblivious to it.


    "Well, that sounds interesting, but what is mana and fantasy-like world?" he asked curiously.


    "What!?" the God of Darkness blurted out, unable to hide his surprise.


    Even he, a God, couldn''t believe that a human in a world of internet with millions of fantasy novels wouldn''t know of them.


    "You know magic? The one in movies, novels, animated series, comics and all?" he asked hopefully.


    Thankfully, he could sense that Allen seemed to have a slightly better idea now, but that was it.


    ''This isn''t going to be easy,'' the God of Darkness thought to himself, and chose to go the extra mile to ensure his goal would be achieved.


    He didn''t know if choosing Allen would turn out to be the right choice or not, but Allen was the best bet he got.

 Chapter 91 - 91: Shadow of Fates Eclipse

    As the God of Darkness gave a brief explanation, Allen understood some part of it, feeling conflicted about entering such a strange world.


    Allen''s confusion about mana and fantasy worlds served to further amuse the God of Darkness, who shook his head with a touch of exasperation.


    "Magic," the God of Darkness explained, "is the fundamental force that shapes and governs reality in many realms."


    "In this new world, you''ll have the ability to harness and manipulate it, to alter the very fabric of your surroundings."


    Allen''s eyes widened, a mix of curiosity and skepticism flickering across his face as he chose his words carefully, "So, you''re saying I''ll get to use... magic?"


    The God of Darkness nodded, seemingly satisfied with Allen''s growing understanding.


    "Yes, exactly. But you must grasp that this power comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities," the God of Darkness added.


    As Allen''s emotions peaked, the God of Darkness''s expression turned stern.


    "Remember, it isn''t merely about wielding strength," he warned, "But also about navigating a world rife with struggles."


    Allen mulled over the new set of information, reconciling with the similarities to his recently ended life.


    As if grasping the overall details, he finally came to a conclusion and raised his head, looking straight in the darkness.


    He didn''t know or care where he was looking and asked, "And what''s my role in all of this? What am I supposed to do in this fantasy world?"


    The God of Darkness remained silent, but his presence intensified, becoming more ominous and overwhelming.


    The very air seemed to tremble as if ready to shatter anyone who dared oppose him.


    Yet it didn''t affect Allen in the slightest, seemingly being protected by the God of Darkness himself.


    "Your task is to stand against the chosen one of the Goddess of Light. They wish to remove my influence in the world, and you must prevent that."


    "It''s a destiny intertwined with both light and darkness as your actions will influence the balance of power and the world as a whole."


    God of Darkness paused to let his words sink in before addressing the most important issue, "There''s a light bearer, a twilight bearer, and you shall be the darkness bearer."


    Allen took a deep breath, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation. "And if I refuse? What then?" he asked boldly.


    Yet the God of Darkness just chuckled, a sound that reverberated through the darkness.


    Suddenly he stopped and declared, "Refusal is not an option. It never was."


    "The wheel of fate has already begun to move. If you wish, you may consider this a chance for redemption and a new beginning¡ªshape your own legacy."


    As the God of Darkness spoke, the darkness around Allen began to shift, forming images of a vibrant and strange world.


    Allen saw glimpses of fantastical landscapes, towering spires of magic-infused crystals, and mystical creatures roaming through enchanted forests.


    Yet the darkness seemingly paused, surprising Allen.


    "Human, I can sense your emotions and thoughts. Your last regret, do you wish to see what would happen had you chosen a different path?"


    Allen''s lips opened and closed but he couldn''t say anything before he finally pursed his lips.


    "No," he rejected without any hints of hesitation on his face.


    "Oh?" The God of Darkness raised an eyebrow. "Your entire being¡ªheart, soul, brain, emotions¡ªwishes to know yet you''re denying it?"


    "You''re right," Allen began, "but it''s not worth it. She''s happy with her husband and I am satisfied with her happiness and my death."


    A serene and relaxing smile appeared on Allen''s face as he closed his eyes and gave in to his surrounding darkness.


    "As you wish, human." The God of Darkness muttered and the encompassing darkness started moving again.


    Right before Allen vanished forever, the God of Darkness gave one final piece of advice. "Prepare yourself, Allen Vox," he intoned.


    "Your journey begins now. Embrace the challenges and the mysteries of this world, and you may find a purpose that transcends your previous life."


    While grappling with confusion over the direct yet cryptic words, Allen was blinded by a flash of spectral dark light.


    A powerful pull emerged, as if he was being drawn through a vortex.


    The sensation was both exhilarating and disorienting, and before he could fully process what was happening, the darkness gave way to light.


    Yet it seemed it wasn''t time for him to wake up yet.


    The light around him shifted, contesting with the darkness overwhelming inside him, but neither backed down.


    At that moment, a new element came into play as a mysterious robotic voice echoed:


    {Villain System 2.0 welcomes the host.}


    {Scanning for connection...}


    {Initializing...}


    While a strange Villain system was being installed, Allen remained inside a mysterious, never-ending darkness.


    Meanwhile, the God of Darkness''s eyes pierced through space-time, passing through the void.


    His dark, ominous eyes flickered across different timelines before settling on one.


    "So this is what you feared to witness?" he muttered, looking at the desolate scene.


    Allen Vox of an alternate timeline was crying over the tombstone of his girlfriend and daughter, vowing to take revenge.


    "Interesting," the God of Darkness muttered, observing the flow of time in a different ratio, existing in a different dimension.


    As he continued observing, he went through multiple timelines before returning to the first one where he had taken Allen Vox or Victor Aller from.


    His dark, ominous pupils observed Allen''s girlfriend and her husband, and the invisible pupil crescented in intrigue.


    It turns out that this timeline was by far the best one across several hundred that he observed.


    Currently, he observed the couple living peacefully as their first child was born, noting that the now elder sister appeared the happiest.


    "You let him have her because he loved her, even knowing she was pregnant with another man''s child, and still took care of your daughter?"


    The God of Darkness couldn''t help but smile at the interesting development.


    However, his smile wasn''t genuine or happy, it was a menacing smile as if he had found an interesting toy.


    "No wonder you were the most suitable to help me regain my rightful¨C" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He paused mid-sentence, realizing he still had those darned limitations placed on him as his expression fell.


    He waved his majestic hand¡ªmade of darkness¡ªand the scene in front of him distorted, returning to the void of darkness all around.


    "Soon. Just you wait¨C" he said as his presence grew more menacing and fractured the void of darkness.


    He vanished in the next instance, ignoring the past life of the human he had sent into another world.


    However, he hadn''t just sent him into a world without information, he had ingrained tons of information into Allen Vox.


    Alas, even a God remained unaware of the surprising presence of the system Allen received.


    It was truly a mystery where a system came into play amidst the power struggle of Gods where they were merely messing with each other using their pawns.


    Nevertheless, the system would turn out to be the biggest blessing.


    Although whether it was a blessing to Allen Vox or the God of Darkness remained to be seen.


    No matter who benefitted or not, one thing was guaranteed.


    The journey ahead promised to be fraught with trials, revelations, tribulations, and challenges at every step.


    Whether Allen will be able to overcome whatever came next depended on his adaptability.


    The adventure had just begun.

 Chapter 92 - 92: System: An Unexpected Emergence

    On the other side, Allen found himself in a strange space, paralyzed for a few seconds.


    ''What''s going on?'' he wondered in confusion.


    One moment he had died, the next he was summoned by a God and sent into a fantasy world. But now, where was he?


    Just as he was grappling with the strange occurrences, another shock awaited him.


    {Villain System 2.0 welcomes the host.}


    {Initializing... 99.99%} Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Villain... system?'' Allen thought in utter confusion.


    He didn''t remember having any conversation regarding a system with the God of Darkness, nor did he have any such memories.


    As if sensing his confusion, the system introduced itself.


    {The system is highly autonomous, sent by a higher being to guide and assist you on your journey.}


    {The Host was selected by the God of Darkness, who used his power to send you into this world.}


    ''A system? What''s that?'' Allen asked, perplexed by the succinct explanation.


    {The system is a tool which will help you complete your goals, free from anyone else''s control, but it''s best for the Host to complete the mission of a God.}


    ''What do I call you then?''


    {Just call me ''System'' as I am not a living entity. I am a part of you from now on since the being who sent me can''t intervene directly.}


    ''Who sent you?''


    {I cannot share that information with the Host yet. Only when the Host reaches certain milestones will you be granted authority.}


    {If you wish to learn more, increase your authority and upgrade the system.}


    ''Then what are your features and how will you help me?''


    {Since you''ve not read fantasy novels, I''ll explain the basic system stuff.}


    {Any changes you make in this world will result in corresponding Villain Points depending on their effects on the destined path.}


    {These points can be used for a variety of things.}


    {Firstly, the Shop feature allows the host to buy several things using Villain Points which will help you gain power more quickly.}


    {Also, it allows the host to buy and sell whatever you want, at preset prices.}


    ''That sounds too utopian,'' Allen thought after hearing the brief description.


    {It''s still locked as the host needs to first gather enough points to unlock it.}


    The system chimed in, breaking his idea of growing stronger easily, but he didn''t find it too strange as it would make things too easy.


    ''Any other function?'' He continued the conversation.


    {Yes, Host. There is the Inventory where you can store anything inanimate up to a certain size, but it can be upgraded.}


    ''Let me guess, it''s locked as well?'' Allen mused, already expecting that to be the case.


    {Yes.}


    ''Anything else you have that I can actually use?'' He asked, tired of the useless features.


    {There is the Status Screen and then, the Quests.}


    ''Hm? Status Screen? Wait! Isn''t that like those RPG-games?'' Allen queried, finally finding something familiar.


    {Yes and no. The Status Screen lets you evaluate your own status according to the world''s power system.}


    ''Okay... what about the Quests then?'' He asked, guessing what it could be in his heart.


    {Quests are missions offered by the system and they have rewards when you complete them, but they might also have penalties upon failure.}


    ''Do I have an option to refuse them?'' he asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.


    {Yes, Host can deny quests, but it is advised against it as the quests are generated by your set of actions.}


    {Failing them with or without accepting them would still result in incurring penalties.}


    ''Understandable. So, that''s RPG-like, but are there categories in quests? Like side, additional, hidden, and Main Quest?''


    {Naturally.}


    {The Main Quest is part of your goals and won''t hinder your progress. Nor will they force the Host to change his way of doing things.}


    {You are free to decide on the methods to clear any quest, and the system will reward you based on its judgment.}


    ''So, you mean, you are the one who decided if I succeeded or failed?'' Allen asked skeptically.


    {Yes, Host. But fret not as the system is an unbiased tool made to help the Host as long as they follow the simple mechanisms.}


    {Also, there are many more features that the Host can use with the help of Villain Points, so I''d suggest the Host to work on it.}


    ''I don''t trust you, though,'' Allen remarked, already doubting whether this system would help or hinder him.


    On second thought, Allen realized that he knew nothing about the new world and his knowledge regarding fantasy was next to none.


    Without the system introducing some basics, he''d be clueless in the middle of nowhere.


    To test his theory and figure out the system''s intentions, Allen asked the question that was bugging him ever since he came to his senses.


    ''Tell me, where am I right now?''


    {We are inside your consciousness as the body you have entered isn''t yours and is currently resisting.}


    ''Wait? I am supposed to kill someone and take over their body to start my life?'' Allen asked in surprise.


    {That''s what the God of Darkness did to test your resolve, but it''s different with the system here.}


    The system actually downplayed its role, as Allen''s soul would have perished without its intervention.


    The body he would inhabit belonged to someone exceptionally talented.


    It was as if the Heavens themselves were jealous of him and fated him to a tragic life.


    Unfortunately, even the Heavens wouldn''t have expected a system to interfere and alter the course of destiny itself.


    {Host, you will learn more about the system with time, but as you are now, you can''t do anything.}


    ''I know that, but it''s not like I have any other choice,'' Allen shrugged it off.


    {Hence, the system will give you the world background till the process of acclimatization is complete.}


    ''Hm? Wha¨C'' Allen''s thoughts were cut off as he went unconscious due to the system.


    Apparently, it was forcing the basic knowledge about it as well as the world itself into Allen''s soul.


    It was far more detailed than what Jash gained from Bhairav since the system was in a different league altogether.


    Of course, it was entirely different from Bhairav''s system as he was a hero, and gained a similar system unlike the Villain system.


    Back to Allen, he finally understood why he got connected with a strange Villain System.


    It turns out the world is from a novel, forcefully imprinted into his being, making it unforgettable.


    Hero''s Journey: Blessed by the Goddess


    The novel''s name made him cringe, but he endured.


    Not like he had any other option.


    ''So I can grow stronger by killing monsters as well as completing quests,'' he noted, going through the system information.


    ''This locked option also seems interesting,'' he thought and recalled the information regarding it.


    {Host will encounter several opportunities like techniques, skill scrolls, artifacts, items and many more.}


    {Host can merge them if the items are of similar affinity and get a stronger version of that particular item.}


    ''It will be super expensive,'' he guessed in his heart, looking forward to this one feature.


    ''So, the best way to earn points for me now is to finish some quests,'' he mused, not seeing any other possibility.


    After all, refusing them would forfeit the rewards, but since he would do them anyway, why not accept them?


    In the end, he got everything he needed to work with at the moment, and he finally asked the system one final question.


    ''So whose body am I in?''

 Chapter 93 - 93: Echoes of Resistance

    Despite his question, the system remained silent for a moment before delivering an entirely different response.


    {Process finished. Host can start his second life.}


    Even before he could understand the system''s message, he lost consciousness.


    In the next moment, he was startled awake in an entirely different body.


    His movements were disoriented and sluggish due to the difference in body size.


    "Who is this?" he muttered in confusion, rubbing his droopy eyes and getting off the bed.


    ¡ªThud!


    Unfortunately, his sense of balance was completely off as he directly fell on the ground with a loud sound.


    "Urgh," he grunted from the sharp sensation of pain and complained, "Damn, this body is so soft!"


    Well, he was used to his hardened body where pain was a constant companion, so he felt awkward in this soft, unfamiliar form.


    Still, he gritted his teeth and dragged himself into the mirror, but before he could even move, a sudden screen startled him.


    {Calibration with Host''s body...}


    {Error!}


    {Error!}


    {Need manual calibration!}


    The sudden panels in front of his eyes were not something he was used to, making him wonder if he was dreaming or was his body on drugs.


    "Host? Right! I have a system, now," he mumbled in realization and understood the messages, choosing to ignore them.


    His first priority was finding the body he was thrust into.


    {It''s transmigration.}


    The system seamlessly corrected his mistake as he tried to understand the different terms and finally reached a mirror.


    However, the mirror was at a height of a meter, and he didn''t even have the confidence to stand straight to look into it.


    "I guess I need to calibrate my body?" he muttered to himself questioningly.


    The moment he thought so, a system prompt came into his vision.


    {Quest Issued!}


    {Quest: Calibrate your body and get used to it.


    Reward: Ability to use mana.


    Penalty: High chance of discovery that you''re not the person who this body belongs to.}


    "Huh?" he blurted out in surprise, not expecting a quest so early on. It felt strange.


    {Host need not think much. It''s the system making up for its mistake as it can''t calibrate your body due to external factors.}


    "Wait, what external factors and what''s with this ominous penalty?" he asked tentatively, but the system didn''t reply.


    Instead, he just gritted his teeth and got to work.


    First things first, he tried to stand up properly, taking support.


    He tried walking, but-


    ¡ªThud!


    It took him quite some attempts to be able to walk normally and during that duration, he noted one thing.


    ''I am not in the body of an adult or child, so it has to be a teen.''


    ''Maybe 14 or 15?'' He made random guesses as he changed his movements to jogging and running.


    Although he limped and struggled, he was able to get used to this new body within ten minutes.


    At least, his lower limbs were following his mental instructions properly.


    Hence, he switched to his upper body and performed some basic exercises he knew to have the ability to move in times of danger at the minimum.


    After another ten minutes, he felt he had reached an optimum stage and waited for the quest rewards.


    Alas, they never came.


    "System? What happened?" he asked while wiping off the sweat from his forehead thinking, ''Why does it feel so hot?''


    {Quest Incomplete!}


    "What? How?" He blurted out in disbelief, feeling scammed.


    Fortunately, he didn''t like to waste time and moved on, coming back to the first thing he wished to know.


    Who was he?


    With that question in his mind, he finally got a good look at himself in the mirror.


    The first thing that came into his sight were the striking silver-white hair and then his reddish-amethyst eyes hidden beneath his silver eyelashes.


    "This... Are kids even allowed to be this handsome?" he murmured in admiration.


    His height allowed him to guess his approximate age, being only around 1.6 meters (5''4'''').


    Then his eyes followed downwards, taking in the sight of his lavish pajamas which felt too expensive to even own.


    Just when he was looking at his clothes, his eyes fell on a dark object on the ground.


    ''What''s that?'' he thought curiously and picked it up.


    It turned out to be a black-colored sword sheath, intriguing him further as he unsheathed it.


    The silver blade gleamed in the moonlight as swirling patterns of dancing shadows flickered on its surface.


    "Hm?" he hummed questioningly, taking note of the strange sight and his system appeared all of a sudden.


    {Detected that the Host is in contact with a mana-infused weapon...!}


    Without any hesitation, he dropped the sword, not wanting anything weird to happen.


    For now, he wanted to discern his identity as the top priority.


    ''My features... could it be...?'' he thought skeptically.


    He swept a glance around his room to confirm his guess, and the luxurious insides with velvety beds and carpets came into sight.


    "Definitely not some random person... Probably a noble..." he muttered in contemplation and it seemed his guess was right.


    "So, I am him, right?" he mumbled before taking his name or at least he tried to.


    "RETURN MY BODY!"


    A loud voice rumbled his insides as he wondered just what went wrong.


    {Warning...!}


    {Warning...!}


    {Warning...!}


    The system blared warnings one after another, but even it couldn''t do anything.


    It wasn''t a nobody its host had transmigrated into, but Amael Blake.


    Amael Blake was too exceptionally talented for him to give up on his body just because of a setback and someone else possessing it.


    Unfortunately, he met Allen Vox, or rather, Victor Aller.


    "Shut up!" Victor shouted, uncaring of any consequences.


    "You''re dead! A dead man''s not supposed to trouble the living world!" Amael retorted sharply. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not like you''re alive!" Victor too wasn''t one to be left behind.


    However, he knew Amael''s personality and the reason he even ended up becoming a villain was because of his childhood friend Jash Ramille''s death.


    He vowed to take revenge, but the protagonist stood in his way with an annoyingly naive forgiving mindset typical of such ''Heroes''.


    As if that wasn''t enough, he even tried to swoon not only Caera but also Ziva, Jash''s proposed fiance.


    However, Amael lost it all when the protagonist tried to flirt with his own younger sister, Amelia.


    There was no forgiveness or compromise.


    He straight out declared the protagonist his mortal enemy and fought till his death.


    Though, his sister didn''t end up becoming a heroine like Caera, but a villainess who stood in the protagonist and his harem''s way.


    ''Should I just tell him?'' Victor thought in a dilemma, but chose it directly.


    He didn''t want to get lingering headaches from this strange remnant.


    {Does the Host wish to share his memories with Amael Blake?}


    {Yes/No}


    The always silent system blared into activity as if it were waiting for this timing, and Victor naturally agreed.


    "Yes."


    "Yes? What yes??" Amael asked but got stunned speechless due to the surprising amount of information he received despite his remnant state.


    It contained everything about the novel and how it was actually true, despite seeming impossible.


    Yet Amael didn''t care.


    "Just hand me over my body," he declared.


    "That''s impossible. You''re but a remnant who will dissipate with some time," Victor tried talking some sense but it didn''t work.


    {Detected the remnant will is trying to harm the Host''s soul!}


    {Does the Host wish to forcefully extinguish the remnant will?}


    {Yes/No}

 Chapter 94 - 94: Eternal Shifts

    "Yes," Victor agreed without a moment of hesitation.


    He truly wasn''t interested in wasting his time with a remnant that shouldn''t even exist anymore.


    The question hadn''t even stirred his emotions in the slightest. He had killed far too many to care.


    ''I already know his future, but acting like him would be hard,'' Victor mused, recalling the details of Amael Blake.


    First Son of Duke Blake and the heir apparent with a half-sister, Amelia Blake.


    ''His father slept with another woman and got her pregnant, giving birth to Amelia and that woman just so happens to be a sister of Sera Ramille.''


    The information flowed seamlessly into his mind as he tried to recall it while the system was busy dealing with the real Amael Blake¡ªor what remained of him.


    ''A constrained couple, yet they love their children,'' he thought before his expression soured as he muttered, "Annoying."


    He wasn''t one for acting like a family when he was in their son''s body.


    It wasn''t because of guilt but because he had lost his family too long ago, and his emotions along with them.


    Ultimately, he couldn''t compel himself to change or to feel emotions for a group of strangers.


    As if wanting to force him go the route he detested, the system chimed in at the perfect time.


    {Removal of Remnant Will failed!} sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    {Integrating...!}


    {Access Denied!}


    {Override!}


    {Forceful Integration Initiated...}


    "Wait, what!?" He voiced out in confusion before frustration overwhelmed his emotions as he read the system messages.


    "I never agreed to any integrations!" he shouted in grievance.


    Yet the system couldn''t care less.


    ¡ªThud!


    "Urgh," he grunted as the sudden nerve-wracking pain hit him. He fell to the ground, clutching his head.


    His teeth ground in agony as he took the toll of a forceful integration with the remnant will.


    However, his frustration slowly dissipated as he got the past memories of Amael and his plans for the future.


    It helped him fill up the holes inside his head as he completed the entire storyline of Amael Blake, allowing him to alter it to his whim.


    Though the pain was definitely not something that would go away anytime soon as he rolled on the ground due to the sudden bursts of pain.


    One second he''d get used to it before the pain would spike, and the next second, it would have already vanished.


    The excruciating cycles of pain continued for thirty minutes¡ªnot too long, but for him, it was worse than anything.


    "NO! JUST WHY!?" he cursed the moment he returned to his senses since the changes were too apparent to him.


    His rippleless emotions were morphed and forcibly changed due to the remnant will of Amael Blake.


    Just as he was about to complain and curse out loud at his shitty situation, the system surprised him.


    {Quest Process... 99%}


    {Error...!}


    {Quest deemed impossible!}


    {Calculating Rewards...!}


    "Oi System, what the f¨C" He began, but the system cut him off.


    {The system failed to account for the remnant will and had to forcefully integrate it.}


    {Hence, there is no longer any previous or true owner.}


    {Welcome Amael Blake to the Villain System 2.0!}


    Several confetti appeared on the panel as if congratulating him, but he didn''t feel the slightest bit happy.


    "What do you mean?" he asked with a dark face.


    {For the lack of a better term, consider Allen Vox as your past life as you''re now Amael Blake.}


    "Does that mean that I was Amael Blake and I am Amael Blake?!"


    {Yes, Host. There was a low probability of you ever regaining your memories throughout your life as Amael Blake, however.}


    "So, am I not a transmigrator? Was I reborn instead?"


    {No, Host is a transmigrator since your soul didn''t go through rebirth and the ###### ## ### ##...}


    "System, I can''t hear you!" He complained, unable to hear anything except a beeping after knowing he was still considered a transmigrator.


    {Insufficient Authority!}


    "Huh? Seriously, I need to upgrade you," he muttered in helplessness.


    He had swiftly grasped the system''s workings, despite lacking any prior knowledge.


    Thus, he didn''t act like a manchild and whine about the things he couldn''t change. Instead, he accepted them as it is.


    "What about my quest reward?" he wondered aloud, an attempt to change the topic.


    {Calculating...}


    {Congratulations! Host has completed his first quest!}


    {Quest Rewards: Already given.}


    "Given? Where? When?" he muttered in bewilderment.


    In response to his own confusion, his body instinctively tried using mana and it worked perfectly.


    But it was far worse than the memories of the past.


    "It seems Amael truly had no talent for mana," he mumbled in irony.


    Not only did Amael''s mana pool have a smaller size, he couldn''t even wield it as per his command.


    "Just how did he contest with the protagonist?" he asked in intrigue, interested to know what sort of advantage did the OG Amale have?


    {It is recommended that the Host find his own path and overcome the shortcomings to guarantee his survival.}


    The system chimed in, pouring cold water over his plans once again.


    He ignored the system and continued to feel the magical euphoria mana gave him at the moment.


    Right after he stopped, he recalled something.


    "System, Status Screen!"


    {Host has initiated the Status Screen command for the first time.}


    {Status:


    Hunter Rank: F+ Rank


    Strength: E- Rank


    Agility: E- Rank


    Endurance: E- Rank


    Stamina: E- Rank


    Mana: F Rank


    Mana Color: Dark Orange


    Villain Points: 0}


    "Hm? That''s different from this world''s power system and too strange?"


    The system hadn''t adopted the flawed complex power system of the word and instead improved it better based on its own understanding.


    {The ranks give you an estimate of a hunter at the same rank based on the data in the Hunters Association and world''s average.}


    ''It actually went one step further?'' he thought doubtfully, but the system didn''t seem to hear his thoughts.


    {Congratulations for completing the tutorial!}


    {System Update Initiated...!}


    {Welcome to the world of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia!}


    For the first time, he was entirely shocked not because of the world''s name that remained missing from the information, but the sudden system update.


    It truly came out of nowhere.


    "Who gets it this easily?" he mumbled in interest if it was that easy for all system bearers?


    Uninterested in its host''s mind, the system continued with a brief description of the world, presenting him with new information.


    {The name Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia represents the eternal potential of the world''s inhabitants that came to be accepted by the three races as they live in harmony.}


    {Though the origins of the name remains unknown, it was deciphered by the human race over the countless years they evolved.}


    {In the world, the mana color plays an important part instead of other power systems regarding mana.}


    {It follows a unique system granted by the Goddess of Light, or so everyone believes.}


    {Then,...}


    The system continued giving some basic information about the world as well as about itself as the seconds ticked by.


    The transmigrator, now Amael Blake, absorbed it entirely as if he were a sponge.


    He easily got used to this new world despite the difference being as big as a chasm.


    Within a few days, Victor, now fully immersed as Amael Blake, was accepted by the Blake Ducal Family without suspicion despite the change in his personality.


    As time passed, he easily dissolved within the Blake Ducal Family due to all the memories and emotions he gained.


    Alas, the time for the banquet came, where his perfect streak would come to an end.


    All due to the unexpected presence of yet another anomaly: Jash Ramille.


    ***

 Chapter 95 - 95: Convergence of Shadows

    ***


    ''How am I even supposed to farm any points here!?'' he asked the system.


    {This is the biggest event before the main plot starts, so the Host should find some opportunities to sow discord.}


    ''Amongst whom, you dumbass!? Kids!? What''d that get me!? There''re only those diabolical heroines and delusional Young Masters!''


    The boy was having a hard time maintaining his friendly expression as he cursed the system inwardly.


    {Don''t forget that most attendees have a child or two in the Academy already or will join in the same batch as you or as your juniors!}


    ''You mean...?'' he wondered, with the system reading his thoughts and providing the answer directly, saving him from the hassle of wording everything.


    {Yes, the Host can do that and gain Villain Points!}


    "Oh! Young Master Amael, long time no see!"


    Suddenly, a voice greeted the boy, bringing him out of his dreaming state.


    "If it isn''t Miss Levi!" Amael responded with a pleasant smile as he took the young girl''s hand and greeted her cordially.


    Of course, quite a few girls stared at Levi with hatred in their eyes while none of the boys could so much as even glare at Amael.


    The difference in their standing couldn''t be more apparent.


    "Oh my!" Levi said with a light blush on her cheeks which Amael smartly ignored.


    "Miss Levi, how''s Lord Killion?" Amael asked politely about her family lord.


    "Lord Killion is busy due to the recent dungeon outbreak as you know, so I am afraid he couldn''t make it," Levi answered.


    Though Amael didn''t miss the change in her tone¡ªit sounded flat and filled with dissatisfaction as he didn''t play along.


    "Ah, that is unfortunate! I was hoping to make acquaintance with him today. Maybe next time?" Amael responded politely.


    Yet his acting sadly worked wonders.


    "Why not? In fact, why not visit Killion County instead?" Levi tried to make the most out of the situation.


    ''As expected,'' Amael smirked inwardly as his trick worked.


    "That sounds amazing! Indeed, why didn''t I think of that?" Amael continued his act with a dazzling smile.


    "Ah, pardon me, Miss Levi, I need to go find Jash," he apologized, wanting to end this charade.


    ''Disgusting. Pathetic,'' he thought inwardly but kept his act nonetheless.


    "Yes, yes. Don''t forget the visit to Killion County, then," Levi responded, understanding her cue to let him go.


    Although she appeared pitiful and sad, Amael wasn''t one to be fooled by outer appearances.


    He was far too good at identifying people''s intentions no matter how well they tried to hide it, not to mention Levi was around his age.


    ''Amateur,'' he thought, rating her acting skills as he moved on with a gentlemanly gesture..


    He didn''t need to bow since her nobility ranking was lower, but she gave a curt bow as a part of her etiquette training.


    The noble rankings were crucial in daily life, but their importance was indeed highlighted at such official gatherings.


    Naturally, the Imperial Family of Solarnelle Empire, the host of today''s banquet, were at the top of the pyramid.


    Right below them came the three Dukes and one Archduke, followed by Marquis, Count, Viscount, and lastly Baron.


    While the Archduke ought to be somewhat higher than the Duke, like the Grand Duke, it was different in the Solarnelle Empire.


    As mentioned before, the three duchies were formed by the descendants of the friends of the first Hero, Adonis Solarnelle.


    It served to distinguish them from the Archduke.


    The Archduke was nothing more than a King who just so happened to be the last remaining Kingdom which had to surrender or face extinction.


    ''Even their plotline is quite messed up since the current Archduke has an ambitious daughter who stupidly becomes a sub-heroine.''


    Amael found the plot, or so-called destiny of the world, to be quite a breath of polluted air.


    He believed that something like that should be banned due to its low quality.


    ''Anyways, did I get any Villain Points, system?'' he wondered in intrigue.


    {Calculating...}


    {Congratulations! Host has gained 1 Villain Point!}


    The moment Amael heard it, he almost stumbled in his graceful walk.


    ''What the heck? 1 Villain Point!? Seriously!'' he thought in disbelief, complaining to the system about its tyranny.


    {Nothing changed. Just a few females who got jealous and will plot against Levi. Unless it actually takes place, nothing changes.}


    ''Tsk. Such a stingy system!'' he grumbled, long used to the feeling of getting scammed.


    The darned system was similar to the fine print in contracts like terms and conditions which most people ignore.


    It promises rewards but only half-ass them, repeating the same thing every damn time!


    ''No change happened yet, so no points for now. Not a villainous event, no point.''


    Amael reiterated the system''s messages internally as he walked around, observing the animated conversations around him.


    The scene around him was repulsive, filled with insincere smiles and shady conversations.


    Ambitious individuals whispered deceitfully, their eyes glinting with the thrill of manipulating the gullible.


    Of course, Amael wasn''t any different from such people, so he wasn''t one to judge them, but his hatred for this was real too. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''That''s why not many dare to hold large-scale events,'' he mused, recalling the past events.


    Such events were the ideal grounds for ambitious, snake-like individuals to target gullible sheep, preparing to fleece them.


    Well, there was another reason besides such a common sight.


    After all, if anything wrong happened, the host would be held responsible, throwing the false moments of peace into chaos.


    Of course, it couldn''t be denied that no one wanted to take risks themselves.


    However, since the host, none other than the Emperor, was daring enough to invite them all, it was in their best interest to come and show respect.


    Even if they didn''t gain anything, they wouldn''t lose anything either. At most, they could just enjoy the food and have a look around.


    ''I am sure some curious souls are already trying to snoop around,'' Amael thought, taking note of suspicious people long ago.


    ''At least nothing strange happened in this banquet,'' he recalled, feeling relieved.


    This banquet was one of the few rare events where nothing went wrong.


    No attacks, no fights, no terrorist, no cult, no racism.


    It was literally the embodiment of perfection.


    ''More like the calm before the storm,'' Amael commented and the system agreed.


    {Indeed, this is a precursor to the main and most awaited event, the Academy!}


    ''Hm? Most awaited? By who?'' Amael asked, but the system went silent.


    It turned out even the system was excited about the Academy and let out its own feelings by mistake.


    Shaking his head, Amael was about to find a person mentioned in the novel, when he heard a voice.


    "Young Master, the Young Master and Young Miss of the Ramille duchy have arrived."


    "Take me there," Amael ordered his maid, who he had ordered to inform about their arrival.


    It was a given for maids and butlers to be moving around since most attendees were of high status.


    One wouldn''t expect them to do their things themselves when they were raised to get their work done by others since they were kids.


    That was also one of the points that Amael had a hard time adjusting to, as he was used to doing his work himself.


    "There, Young Master. That is their carriage," his maid informed him after arriving at the entrance.


    "Finally," Amael muttered inaudibly, eager to meet the ''friend'' whose death pushed him to go down the path of death.


    ''I need to see what makes you so different,'' Amael mused, determined to meet face-to-face despite memories of meetings.

 Chapter 96 - 96: Restless Prelude

    Unaware of the anomaly in his friend, Jash grew impatient while sitting in the carriage with Caera.


    "Why is it taking so long?" he grumbled in annoyance.


    "Calm down, will you?" Caera replied with a frown. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She didn''t like his hastiness one bit, wondering what had happened to this joykill brother of hers.


    Meanwhile, Jash had actually planned his actions after arriving right on time.


    ''Ugh. If the banquet is in full swing, I can blend in with the crowd and pass the time all the while confirming the truth.''


    Unlike Amael or the other guests, who were either forced to or had purposefully arrived early, Jash had no intention of doing so.


    In fact, his parents weren''t even in the same carriage. They would arrive even later than him.


    ¡ªScrik!


    Jash pushed aside the curtains blocking the outside view, resigned to find out the cause for the delay.


    "No wonder!" he cursed under his breath, but Caera seemed to have heard it and hummed curiously, "Hm?"


    Knowing her personality, he just rolled his eyes in exasperation. ''Just my luck,'' he thought.


    "The guests are conversing at the entrance gate while some are literally blocking the path," he explained in a dissatisfied tone.


    "Well, it makes sense," Caera said, and Jash nodded, though his frustration remained.


    He was forced to attend despite his uneasy feeling, wanting to run away from discovering the world''s truth, delaying it as long as possible.


    "I get it, I get it, alright? Everyone is curious about this big of a celebration!" Jash agreed in an overly dramatic manner.


    There were many rumors in the market about why such a significant event was being held, inviting the future prospects of their world.


    Some said the Emperor wanted to flaunt his children, while others thought it was to announce the successor.


    As the First Prince had long graduated from the academy and the First Princess too would be graduating this year, the rumor had some weight.


    But people who knew the Emperor personally knew that couldn''t be the case.


    In their eyes, he might like his children, but there was no way he was a fool who''d take a risk this big without giving his younger children a chance.


    In simpler terms, he wanted to allow Prince Avon and Princess Ava to compete in the succession battle as well.


    ''It doesn''t matter who participates, the winner is already set in stone,'' Jash thought, remembering the events of the Imperial Family.


    If his prediction proved to be true, then the next successor wouldn''t be a prince, but a princess.


    ''How would the world react if the second female ruler is born soon?'' he mused with a contemplative expression.


    "Jash!"


    A hissed whisper and nudge brought him out of his reverie as he noted that their carriage was about to enter.


    ''Finally, I can get out of this damned box!'' He put away his discomfort and put on a fake smile.


    Following Caera, he disembarked from the carriage as it was led to the parking area within the Royal Palace.


    As soon as he stepped out, the Imperial Guards, in charge of the security, came into his view.


    They were maintaining discipline in the area by identifying the guests as well as putting up the selected maids or butlers as their guides.


    "Greetings, Young Master and Young Miss of the Ramille duchy," a guard greeted them with a curt bow of his head.


    Jash and Caera just nodded before looking at the maid approaching them.


    Sensing their gaze, the guard introduced, "She shall be your guide and will lead you to the venue."


    "Let''s go," Jash said, with a nod to the maid who bowed her head almost to a ninety degree.


    ''So strange,'' he thought, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the overly polite attitude of the maid.


    Although he had gotten used to such things over his life, it wasn''t supposed to be the same at the Imperial Palace.


    However, Jash''s attention was quickly stolen by the chatter in his surroundings. ''So noisy,'' he thought, his ears aching.


    As the loud animated conversations entered his ears, he didn''t forget to filter out any useful information within them.


    Despite his emotional turmoil, he wasn''t one to let go of such a golden opportunity.


    ''Hm? So some think it is because of the upcoming marriage of the First Prince? Nah, definitely not...''


    ''Engagement talks of the other three? Nope, they don''t have much of a choice there...''


    ''Maybe of Prince Avon since he ended up falling for a daughter of the Warmis Clan?''


    Jash knew from the novel that Avon ended up liking that girl, but as the rule of cliches, she too is a harem member.


    ''Just who isn''t a freaking harem member!?'' Jash cursed inwardly, remembering Princess Ava and her plot.


    Then it hit him!


    ''How come I forgot her!'' he clicked his tongue subtly, making sure no voice leaked.


    When compared to the Warmis Clan, one of the best alchemist clans in the Empire, the difference was stark.


    Princess Ava was kind-hearted and truly wished to help others, even commoners¡ªshe was truly different from her siblings.


    Not that it mattered, though.


    She also ended up as one of the many women in the protagonist''s harem, but there was still a high chance she could be the successor.


    It just depended upon if the protagonist defeated Avon after getting involved with the Warmis Clan daughter, who would then seek revenge.


    The usual story ends with the protagonist unaliving Avon, becoming the public enemy number one.


    ''And at that exact moment, Ava will support him, right!?'' Jash cursed inwardly, guessing the entire plot without even knowing if it was real.


    Still, he trusted his instincts and believed his thoughts were true, regardless.


    ''Anyways, there should be engagement talks between Ava and Amael, no?'' Jash thought as his eyes narrowed.


    ''Mom and dad talked about it once,'' he recalled with a dazed expression.


    Of course, they immediately changed the topic, so he wasn''t privy to the details.


    But according to rumors, after the natural awakening of the future heir, Duke Blake and Emperor Solarnelle wanted to betrothe their children to each other.


    However, not many even knew that Amael had awakened naturally, unlike the rest of the awakened Hunters.


    Still, some rumors went around which said the heir of Blake''s had received countless marriage proposals post his awakening.


    ''As if! That greedy Emperor just wanted to tie down the talented genius,'' Jash sneered at the foolish attempt.


    It was impossible to tie down a Heroine to someone who only had training in his mind.


    While Amael was indeed a genius born once a millennium, he focused more on training as a Hunter and the Heir.


    So, his time was already cut short for the most part of the day, it would be incredibly hard for him to stretch it any thinner to make time for a girl.


    ''Even dad wanted to...'' Jash thought but gulped as he glanced at Caera before looking away.


    ''It would indeed be a good thing, but... forget it,'' Jash sighed inwardly, as he was one of the few who were aware of Amael''s progress.


    ''Even Caera just reached Mid E-Rank, yet that guy is already about to enter Late E-Rank!''


    Just thinking about otherworldly talent irked Jash as he had his reservations about Amael after gaining many more memories.


    As if on cue, a voice interrupted their walk around the palace while the maid gave brief introductions about the areas.


    "Jash! Caera!"


    Turning to the source, both of them recognized the person, speaking in unison, "Amael!"

 Chapter 97 - 97: Caught You

    Amael''s face broke into a small smile as he approached them, his usual air of effortless confidence surrounding him.


    He had a way of making even the grandest surroundings seem casual, and today was no different.


    His easy manner seemed to cut through the formalities of the occasion, adding a touch of familiarity to the high-stakes atmosphere.


    "Finally, you two have arrived!" Amael said, stopping right in front of Jash and Caera before turning to the guide.


    "You may leave," he ordered with the proper politeness expected of him, and she hesitated for less than a second before leaving.


    Acknowledging her bow with a nod, Jash said blankly, "Thank you for being our guide until now."


    "I was starting to think you might miss all the fun," Amael chimed in, his gaze returning to the twins as the maid walked away.


    Jash, trying to hide his inner emotions, forced a smile in response and Caera interrupted before he could say anything.


    "You know how it is," she said, glaring at Jash, "He just dislikes all such things and threw a tantrum of not wanting to come."


    Amael''s lips twitched as he stifled a laugh, or so it appeared on the surface. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash''s gaze narrowed, noticing Amael''s fleeting smile and the subtle twitch in his eyes. ''Something''s off about him,'' Jash thought.


    Unaware of the seed of suspicions being planted in Jash''s head, Amael chuckled lightly, "No surprise there, I see."


    "It''s not like we''re early birds or something," Jash grumbled slightly, but quickly hid the irritation that got carried away in his voice.


    Caera just rolled her eyes at his words and instead chose to focus on Amael.


    "It''s good to see you, Amael. How''s everything going at your end? How''s Ames?" Caera asked curiously.


    "Amael''s eyes sparkled with mischief before he replied, "Oh, you know, just the usual stuff."


    "Hm? Did you engross yourself in training again?" Jash asked in genuine dissatisfaction.


    It was strange how the three were acting very un-noble-like.


    This behavior, however, was due to the area they were in.


    After the maid left, Amael continued taking them around the Imperial Palace, giving them a thorough tour as well as get some alone time.


    It seemed Amael''s plan to observe Jash would really work well as Jash''s facial expressions eased and became more natural.


    ''I really hate crowds,'' Jash noted the change in his mood and how quickly his surging emotions calmed down after getting alone.


    "Uhm, no. Not really!" Amael denied Jash''s claims, saying, "Unlike you, I am also busy with training as the next heir!"


    "Whatever. Tell about Ames," Caera cut the arguing duo off, asking in a stern tone.


    ''Thankfully, I am not the target of her stern glare and anger,'' Jash paid his gratitude inwardly, finding Amael''s situation amusing.


    But he had no plans on helping the guy.


    He might''ve helped if it weren''t for the suspicious vibes he gave off.


    It wasn''t right to call Amael different, but he wasn''t the same either.


    "Uh, right! Ames!" Amael exclaimed slightly, trying to draw their attention with his exaggerated expressions.


    "Ames is fine. Just a tad bit too excited about her awakening in a year and 3 months," Amael shrugged his shoulders as he said so.


    "Right, it''s already the Year 2450, and our academy will start in the Year 2451," Caera muttered in a low voice.


    She was one of the few who was actually eager to know about Amelia Blake the most despite being only half-cousins, if that was even a term.


    While Caera and Amael were chatting casually, Jash continued to observe the shift in Amael as the conversation steered to their ranks.


    "...and that''s how I finally reached Mid E-Rank," Caera concluded with a smug smile.


    "Oh, that''s really good," Amael responded with a subtle smile, as if he were happy for her.


    Unfortunately, the twins knew him, and easily figured he didn''t mean it in the slightest.


    "Hah! You say that but you don''t even mean it," Caera rebutted, not giving a chance for Jash to butt in.


    "No, No! I am only at Late E-Rank," Amael refuted before his smile faltered as he guiltily said, "Oops."


    ''Crazy,'' Jash thought while Caera blurted out, "Crazy, crazy, you''re a freak!"


    Amael''s smile faltered briefly, revealing a flash of irritation before he regained his composure.


    "You''ll probably be Rank 1, no?" Jash said, talking about the academy ranks, finally getting a chance to speak.


    His eyes narrowed as he observed Amael''s expression and reactions very closely, the uncanny suspicion bugging him.


    ''His eyes dilated, eyebrows moving, smile became forced for a split second before he...''


    "Yeah. I think I have no competition," Amael agreed, interrupting Jash''s observation.


    Yet it seemed he already got what he wanted.


    ''He has been acting a bit different and his words and expressions seem off, as if he doesn''t mean them.''


    Jash compiled all his observations as the three of them continued further into the palace.


    The grandeur of the Royal Palace was on full display, with golden chandeliers casting a warm, inviting glow over the marbled floors and exquisitely decorated walls.


    The hum of conversation seemed to be a backdrop to the back and forth between Amael and Caera.


    While Jash continued scrutinizing Amael, hoping to confirm his doubt, or worse, confirm that his conjecture was just a fallacy.


    ''If Amael changed and I met him before I got these memories, then what''s the guarantee nothing else will change?''


    Jash''s troublesome guess was reasonable as he would end up losing the know-how of the world if that were truly the case.


    In essence, he was going to change his death, so the chances of the world following the novel were next to none.


    If by some miracle, it got steered back into its destined path, then someone else will have to die.


    ''Anyone but me,'' he thought grimly.


    "You didn''t ask about my Rank, huh?" Jash asked playfully.


    He had thought of various ways to confirm his conjecture when he recalled that he wasn''t mentioned to have awakened earlier in the novel.


    "Forgive me, I just thought you''d be F-Rank at most since you didn''t want to awaken," Amael responded with a polite smile.


    ''Caught you!'' Jash smirked inwardly, feeling triumphant as he pieced together the clues.


    "Huh? Didn''t Aunt and Uncle tell you about him awakening a year after not wanting to?" Caera asked in confusion.


    However, it was natural for her to think so.


    The twins were already aware of Amael''s absurd talent yet for some reason, he was unaware of Jash''s?


    It didn''t make sense.


    And that worked as the final nail in the coffin, serving as enough proof for Jash to believe that the world had already started to change.


    ''Either that, or it was never the same one, to begin with. But just a world similar to the novel,'' Jash mused, leaning towards the former.


    The latter made no sense as then, the novel in his mind would lose its purpose.


    Unaware of the seed of suspicion sprouting inside Jash, Amael came with an excuse on the spot.


    "You know how it is at home. Mom and Dad don''t even sit at the dinner table together, let alone talk," Amael said with a helpless expression.


    Although it was the truth because of Amelia, who was born out of marriage, it didn''t mean they''d not share news with him.


    Of course, it could only work as a cover as Jash couldn''t help but smile to himself. ''Your disbelief-filled expression says otherwise.''


    "Anyways, he''s hovering around early E-Rank," Caera jeered, catching a stray Jash, who didn''t expect her to mention it.


    ''This girl... she''s so much trouble,'' Jash thought in annoyance yet a smile was plastered on face, observing the dumbfounded expression of Amael.

 Chapter 98 - 98: It Begins

    While Jash believed that Amael was too easy and he caught him, Amael was indeed shell-shocked, but for an entirely different reason.


    {Error...!}


    {Error...!}


    {Error...!}


    {Host is advised to keep distance from this person and not to antagonize them!}


    For the first time, the system issued a warning to Amael about not antagonizing a person.


    That was the moment when he heard Caera''s remark about Jash''s rank, stunning Amael further.


    It amplified his reaction to the system message as information regarding Jash that he was aware of differedd from the present.


    Turns out, It was the system that failed to read Jash and when Amael inquired, it sent an optimistic message.


    {Maybe in the future after the system is upgraded, but for now, he can''t be appraised.}


    Usually, the system only failed to glean information about those stronger than its host, however, the first exception came into being.


    Oblivious to all this, Jash gloated in his mind as Amael paused in his tracks, surprising them.


    "What happened? Did we reach the banquet area?" Caera asked in confusion, feeling out of place in this quiet area.


    "Uhm, not yet. Just a bit more and we''ll be there," Amael clarified right after he came to his senses.


    ''Did he get that surprised by my rank?'' Jash guessed in his heart but immediately denied it. ''That''s highly unlikely.''


    After all, it didn''t make sense for Amael to react so intensely since Jash was still weaker than Amael.


    Unfortunately, Jash couldn''t think of anything to which he could attribute Amael''s odd behavior to.


    Even if he thought he caught Amael, he didn''t really know what he was actually aiming for.


    ''I know something''s fishy, but so what?'' Jash thought, irked by the complexity of his own thinking process.


    Luckily, he didn''t have to vent inwardly as a topic he too wanted to hear about came from Amael, who was trying his best to act normal.


    "You both heard the rumors, right?" Amael asked and seeing the twins nod, he continued, "Do you have any guesses?"


    Jash smirked slightly and teased, "Oh, you know, I was thinking it might be about your engagement."


    Caera snickered, keeping a hand on her lips to hide it, and gave Amael a playful look.


    It always intrigued her to talk about others'' engagements despite knowing they won''t happen unless they turn 18.


    Of course, she didn''t like talking about her own and would immediately refuse to talk, even going as far as entering closed door training.


    Anyways, looking at Amael struggling to form a response, as if his words were caught in his throat made her praise Jash inwardly.


    ''He doesn''t want to get engaged to Ava?'' Jash wondered in intrigue, noting Amael''s reaction.


    "Ah-haha," Amael awkwardly chuckled and tried to change the topic, "I don''t think it''s that."


    Taking a pause to look around the area and nodding to himself, he added, "After all, it''s not everyday for the palace to be this charged with energy."


    "Oh, we are here," Amael mentioned, gesturing for the twins to take a good look around the banquet area.


    As they approached the grand hall where the banquet was set to begin, Jash''s mind raced with the implications of the suspicious revelation.


    The intrigue of the evening was far from over, and he was more determined than ever to uncover the truth about Amael.


    ''There''s a high chance for it to be related to the world''s truth and its connection to the novel,'' Jash mused, half-believing it already.


    His hunch usually proved to be true, so he thought all he needed to do was find some incriminating evidence.


    Bringing the twins'' attention back to him, Amael, ever the embodiment of charm and curiosity, smiled gracefully.


    "Let''s not keep the fun waiting. I''ve a feeling, tonight''s going to be quite the event," he said eloquently, stealing a glance at Jash.


    Jash nodded, his earlier frustration giving way to a cautious optimism, not missing the small movement Amael made.


    "Agreed. Let''s see what this night has in store for us," he mumbled with a serene expression.


    While the two conversed with hidden intentions, Caera remained blissfully unaware and just refocused her mind back to how she entered.


    She wanted to be perfect without letting out the slightest hint of a mistake while evaluating her potential classmates and rivals.


    Naturally, among the numerous noble attendees, some would have children with enough potential to be her rivals.


    Of course, Jash and Amael had different views on it.


    Amael had a calculating gaze, ready to gain some Villain Points in this event by acting as he wished.


    Jash, however, wore a different expression.


    His strained emotions were barely concealed behind a tight smile, his irritation with banquets and crowds resurfacing.


    ''Damn! Why do I even hate them so much?'' He rhetorically asked himself, knowing fully well the answer.


    With that, the three stepped into the bustling hall, with lavishly dressed nobles and invitees roaming around.


    Some wore expressions of false sincerity while the gullible ones found them to be real and fell for their tales.


    Many nobles with clothes adorned in gold and silver, platinum and diamonds, stood with like-minded nobles.


    Their disdain for the mundane dripped from their expressions yet none seemed to care about certain groups.


    One such noble just so happened to be someone who complained at the 12th birthday banquet of Jash and Caera.


    It was Lord Keger.


    His excessively luxurious attire, quite suited to his figure, garnered quite a few eyes of intrigue and hatred.


    He stood smugly full of himself until he caught sight of Amael Blake, Jash Ramille, and Caera Ramille entering together.


    He gestured to his confidant to make his bootlickers follow him as he went ahead to greet the trio.


    His actions drew the attention of other nobles, who noticed the three important guests he was approaching.


    One was the heir of a Duke and the other two were the children of another Duke, their hierarchy was still better than most nobles here.


    Naturally, they lamented their lack of insight as they couldn''t just go and greet the three of them before Keger.


    It would be unwise to cut him off unless...


    "Jash... hicc... Caera... hicc..."


    The drunken calling of their names brought their attention to the caller, but their eyes lit up in recognition.


    "Uncle Serron!" The twins said in unison.


    The scene baffled Lord Keger as he grumbled inaudibly, "Damn this drunkard!"


    Unfortunately, he had no other choice to lose the chance to greet them as he wasn''t anywhere near Serron''s hierarchy.


    The only difference would be Serron''s disregard for such a hierarchy since he didn''t like the human''s nobility system altogether.


    He was brought up by his elven mother, after all. The Elven customs came more naturally to him.


    However, it seemed their meeting too wasn''t going to be conducive.


    "His Imperial Highness, The Second Prince of the Solarnelle Empire, Avon von Solarnelle!"


    "Her Imperial Highness, The Second Princess of the Solarnelle Empire, Ava von Solarnelle!"


    "Have arrived!"


    As soon as the announcements were made, the banquet hall which was abuzz by the lively chatter came to a screeching halt.


    All conversations ceased as everyone''s head bobbed, their eyes focusing at the entrance. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The siblings, with distinct features, entered and many nobles'' children could only gasp in awe, jealousy and desire.


    Yet the adults'' focus shifted, behind the Prince and Princess.


    The doors closed behind them with a resonant thud, seeming to signal the beginning of a night full of revelations and surprises.


    ''So it has begun,'' Jash thought to himself, noticing the fully closed doors.

 Chapter 99 - 99: Dance of Deception

    As they moved deeper into the hall, their arrival took center stage.


    The attention quickly focused on the two gorgeous figures, ignoring the shut doors, and the atmosphere buzzed with curiosity.


    The Prince and Princess were undeniably the highlight of the evening, their presence commanding immediate respect and admiration.


    Amael''s lips curved into an imperceptible smile as he observed the crowd''s reaction while Jash''s lips almost twitched.


    Jash resisted the urge to roll his eyes, saving himself from unwanted attention and choosing to focus on observing the flow of events.


    ''I don''t need to be anywhere near the center stage,'' he mused, slowly blending in with the back of the crowd.


    Meanwhile, Amael took a contrasting approach, choosing to stand at the front of the crowd alongside Caera, who didn''t want to act impolitely.


    It was clear that the night''s excitement was only beginning and the high-profile arrival of the Imperial scions had set the tone.


    Unlike Jash, Amael was ready to seize every opportunity the evening might offer.


    At the back of the crowd, Jash sighed inwardly, liking his quick decision to be just one of the many people in the room instead of standing out.


    ''This will be interesting,'' he thought from an outsider''s perspective, as if the upcoming events had nothing to do with him.


    Deep inside him, Jash felt that the evening''s events would unfold with a sense of inevitability.


    However, he was also mentally prepared to uncover whatever secrets lay beneath the surface.


    His instincts told him that this night would reveal more than what he truly hoped to have bargained for.


    The night stretched ahead, filled with potential and promise. The banquet, with its lavish d¨¦cor and well-dressed guests, was just the backdrop.


    What truly mattered was the subtle interplay of power and influence that would reveal itself in the coming hours.


    As the trio settled into the rhythm of the evening, each with their own agendas and expectations, the stage was set for a night that promised to be anything but ordinary.


    "I greet all the respected and honored guests that have graced the Imperial Banquet with their presence," Avon began to address the attendees.


    Taking his pause as her cue, Ava continued, "You all must have questions over why the doors are closed or where are the high-ranking nobles."


    Hearing their words, the atmosphere turned slightly tense with their rousing curiosity yet the smart ones were busy making guesses.


    "No need to overwork your brains, this banquet is a place for you all to relax," Ava added with a beautiful smile before falling silent.


    Avon effortlessly took the ropes and explained, "Today''s event has been planned by His Imperial Majesty, the Proud Emperor and the Sun of the Solarnelle Empire!"


    His pride in his tone couldn''t be anymore obvious yet everyone''s expression only turned more active at the mention of the Emperor.


    "You might have several questions, but before that," Avon said, gesturing to the ceiling.


    As everyone gazed at the ceiling, Ava continued where he left off, "It is marked with the latest runes."


    ¡ªFssh!


    Followed by her words, a strange sound drew everyone''s attention, causing quite an uproar as the attendees were surprised to see their own appearance mid-air.


    The technology wasn''t new to them, but the implication of it finally being applied to such a large-scale were far-reaching.


    However, before the nobles could make calculations about it, the holographic screen vanished.


    "With this, the high-ranking nobles and Father Emperor himself will observe," Ava continued.


    She stopped to let the weight of her words set in and passed the bastion to Avon to announce the main event.


    "In this event," Avon started explaining, "only the ones eligible for the Solarnelle Academy can participate, but of course, it''s not obligatory."


    ''Heh! As if these greedy nobles would leave a chance to show off their child''s potential,'' Jash sneered inwardly with a critical eye.


    He was a sucker for details and that''s why he could confirm that everything besides Amael seemed to fall into place.


    ''Now, it''s just the main dish,'' he thought, waiting for Avon and Ava to finish their performance and actually talk about the event.


    Sadly for him, the two siblings continued to rouse the onlookers'' curiosity, fully aware that the onlookers'' inability to interrupt.


    They believed it to have gone perfectly, using the Emperor as their shield, making the nobles gulp down their impatience and annoyance.


    However, they couldn''t keep going on like that.


    Even though many young nobles were enamored and dazzled by their looks and impeccable timing, it had to end.


    "Time to announce the event!" Avon and Ava exclaimed in unison, keeping aside their personal feelings.


    Although siblings, they were of Imperial blood, a sense of rivalry and competition was the least of their concerns because of their similar age.


    ''Finally,'' Jash and Amael thought at the same time, unaware of the other''s thoughts, but for entirely different reasons.


    "Those who wish to participate, gather near us," Ava implored, and every young noble moved, willingly or forcibly.


    Surprisingly, even Jash arrived, willing to participate with a hidden smile on his face.


    Unlike him, Ava and Avon visibly smiled at the sight of every eligible noble scion participating in this little game.


    While the participating youngsters were mulling over what it could be, the other present attendees soon noticed an anomaly. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A white mist seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, slowly enveloping the center area and the participants.


    "What''s this?"


    "How can this be?"


    "Could it be that something went wrong?"


    Just as the hushed murmurs were about to grow intense and panic was about to break out, a person wearing a golden armor appeared.


    "Everything is under control," he declared, and his commanding presence shut everyone up.


    ''Imperial Guard Vice-Captain!'' The attendees recognized the man at once.


    They weren''t stupid enough to voice their complaints to a S-Rank hunter, who could contest with SS-Ranks if need be.


    The highest among the nobles present was barely at the Integration-rank, and she definitely didn''t want to have to do anything with this.


    In fact, she was just here because of her niece, the daughter of the Warmis Clan Head.


    Meanwhile, inside the mist, the youngsters weren''t aware of anything, their surroundings had suddenly changed to that of a lush forest.


    Some were composed, some were panicking, some were scared shitless, and some... just indifferent.


    "Greetings to the participating youngsters as well as the spectating guests."


    A sudden polite yet heavy voice sounded in the ears of every single person inside the hall.


    Hearing the voice, only one question hung in everyone''s mind, ''Who?''


    However, it didn''t matter as the next words of the feminine voice were all the introduction it needed.


    "As per his Imperial Majesty''s orders, you all are inside an illusion. Your task is simple, escape the illusion."


    The instructions ended, not giving any information that could be useful before it suddenly returned.


    "Oh, I forgot, but even the Imperial highnesses weren''t told about the event beforehand."


    Unfortunately, it was something that didn''t even need a mention, everyone was aware of the fairness employed by the Emperor.


    As if she couldn''t sense their obvious thoughts, she announced, "Also, the most impressive performance will have a special reward bestowed unto them from His Imperial Majesty!"


    Her final words gave the encouragement the participants needed while the spectating nobles could only hope their child or family member won.


    However, there was one exception.


    ''What a farce,'' Jash thought to himself, closing his eyes and lying down instead of rushing anywhere.


    "Let the dance of deception commence," he murmured softly, already anticipating the layers of pretense to come.

 Chapter 100 - 100: Forest of Deceit

    As the mist swirled around them and the instructing voice ended, many youngsters were filled with confidence.


    They were proud of the training and equipment their family had given them.


    However, they soon realized that they hadn''t brought anything with them.


    Obviously, the Imperial Family would truly be a bunch of fools if they allowed the guests to bring weapons with them.


    There were runes scanning everything about an attendee when they entered, including their storage rings, so there were no loopholes.


    Downcast, the youngsters began to make sense of their new surroundings.


    Some attempted to navigate the dense foliage, their wary movements betraying the sense of confusion along with their rising frustration.


    A selected few took a more measured approach, studying the illusion''s features with detached curiosity, staying alert about their surroundings.


    Amael, in particular, wasn''t fazed in the least as he moved with calculated steps, trying to locate either other participants or the exit.


    Whatever he could find first, however, his cold smile indicated that he had no plans to leave without causing a mess.


    As he navigated the illusory forest, it felt real to him¡ªthe sensation of rough bark, smell of gritty soil and dead leaves, the howling wind.


    "This is going to be fun, you were right," Amael mumbled to no one in particular as he vanished from his place.


    Meanwhile, Caera was in another area, trying to fight her way through the numerous bat-like flying monsters.


    "So annoying!" she yelled in frustration, and moved on to cast a fire spell to throw them into disarray.


    Luckily, her little gimmick worked.


    However, when the monsters regained their senses, they found their target had long escaped, causing them to screech in anger.


    ¡ªKieeeeek!


    Just then, another participant stumbled upon them and got immediately killed¡ªdisqualified, to be precise.


    Naturally, it was just an illusion, so the most it could do was fool one''s brain into believing the situation to be real. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately, there were healers present to take care of the disqualified participants, to tend to any mental damage suffered.


    "You need not worry, the illusion is aimed to not impact anyone''s mental strength, it''s made just for the purpose of the event."


    One of the healers explained to the distressed nobles'' who tried their best to hide their feelings.


    Some did outright choose not to consider the losers as their family, but they knew when to stop as the Emperor was observing.


    Unbothered by the chaos outside and inside the mist, the high-ranking nobles were giving stares to Sera and Carcel with strange expressions.


    Looking at their daughter impressed them as she decisively chose to retreat, but their son?


    He was literally resting inside the illusion!


    Oblivious to the second hand embarrassment he caused his parents, Jash had found a tree to recline his back against.


    His skepticism was unwavering as he kept his eyes closed, ignoring the situation indifferently.


    Unlike other participants, he was busy recalling the events that happened here, trying to remember the point of exit.


    Unfortunately, the protagonist wasn''t here, so the author ended this arc vaguely, prompting Jash into putting in some effort.


    ''The illusory forest was an elaborate setup, designed to test more than just physical prowess,'' he recalled the forest''s description.


    ''...meant to provoke responses, reveal hidden traits, and observe how participants handled unexpected challenges...''


    The words of the novel replayed in his mind as he continued to mull over it.


    His impassive and indifferent expression stirred the observing nobles in the halls, especially those whose kids were still in the mist.


    In the hall, whispers and speculations grew louder as the guests debated the purpose and implications of the trial.


    The unrelated nobles, though silent, were visibly intrigued. They had anticipated a spectacle, but this¡ªthis was a test of a different kind.


    The Imperial Guards'' expressions were carefully neutral, their practiced facades hiding their own evaluations of the participants.


    Excluding them, the Emperor and high-ranking nobles watched from the sidelines, their roles undefined as they stood before the holographic screen.


    The Emperor''s smile was as enigmatic as the illusion itself, masking the underlying strategy of his scheme.


    The real objective was concealed beneath layers of spectacle and deception, a game where only the perceptive would find the truth.


    As time passed, his smile grew wider and so did the more perceptive nobles start to grasp at the intent of the event.


    As the initial panic gave way to a more calculated approach among the participants.


    Inside the illusion, some participants began to work together, forming alliances as they tackled obstacles.


    Similarly, some chose to eliminate other participants, hoping they''d be the last one standing and win the Emperor''s grace.


    Unlike others, Ava and Avon treaded their paths carefully, aware of their father''s usually complex schemations.


    The siblings hadn''t doubted for a second that they must perform better than others, to prove the pride of the Imperial Family.


    In another part of the forest, Caera had met quite a few nobles, teaming with a few and taking down those with malicious intent.


    Still, the one who garnered the most attention was Amael as had found an illusory sword, usable only in the illusion.


    While Avon had a golden spear, Ava with a katana, Caera with a magic staff, Levi with a rapier, and many others who had weapons.


    The one who commanded every guest''s and disqualified youngsters'' attention was Amael as he swiftly dealt with any monsters with a few swings.


    The forest became a stage for their individual strategies, each move a reflection of their understanding of the game.


    Despite everything happening around him with every single participant trying their best to stand out, Jash, however, remained a solitary figure.


    He was busy contemplating a deeper understanding of the evening''s true nature.


    ''The real challenge is not merely escaping the illusion but navigating the layers of deception,'' he mused.


    Jash''s calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the growing determination of others, his strategic patience setting him apart from the crowd.


    Though, the unwise labeled him as stupid and losing the advantage he could''ve easily gained.


    However, the night was far from over, and the true significance of the event was still shrouded in mystery for most.


    Only twenty minutes had passed outside, but more than four hours had passed for those inside the illusion.


    Yet the illusion remained an intricate puzzle, its complexity designed to test more than just brute strength or wisdom.


    Amidst the growing tensions and anticipation at the final outcome, Jash frowned. ''So noisy,'' he complained inwardly.


    He could hear the distant rustling of the other participants as they scrambled to explore the terrain and find an exit.


    Each movement, each whispered strategy, was a part of the larger game unfolding around him.


    ''Damn! It''s that annoying thing!'' He berated his luck inwardly, trying to cover his ears.


    A sudden burst of laughter pierced through the forest, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.


    It was clear that some participants had already begun to falter, their composure cracking under the pressure of the illusion.


    Despite his dissatisfaction, Jash''s lips curved into a faint smirk; their reactions only confirmed his suspicions about the true nature...


    "The forest is meticulously crafted, every detail designed to provoke specific responses," he murmured softly, reiterating the lines from the novel.


    Jash''s calm demeanor was both an advantage and a strategy.


    While others were busy reacting to the apparent obstacles, he was observing the subtler signs of the world''s tale.


    Right then the mist began to dissipate, revealing more of the forest''s artificial terrain.


    Jash''s eyes remained closed for a moment longer, allowing him to center his thoughts accordingly.


    When he finally opened them, he rose with a deliberate slowness, his posture relaxed but alert.

 Chapter 101 - 101: Beneath the Mist

    Jash''s soft murmur was barely audible, but the Emperor''s keen ears caught it. His smile froze for a moment as he thought, ''Impossible!''


    Fortunately, no one seemed to have noticed his small movements as they were busy admiring the display of power by Amael.


    Even the Emperor was quite impressed and already guessed that Amael could easily win and defeat his children.


    Yet his attention was now being diverted by Jash.


    Not only him, but a few nobles had also kept an eye on Jash, in hopes of finding something interesting.


    His slow movements caught their interest as they nudged their friends and rivals to make some light bets.


    Oblivious to the attention he unconsciously commanded, Jash moved.


    His careful movements¡ªlike a seasoned veteran¡ªthrough the illusion appeared deliberate as if each step was calculated to avoid the obvious pitfalls and traps.


    Meanwhile, in the hall, the guests'' curiosity shifted to a blend of amusement and impatience as they watched.


    The nobles exchanged glances, their discussions ranging from speculation about the illusion''s design to the potential outcomes for their children.


    The high-ranking nobles, though outwardly composed, were increasingly intrigued by the Emperor''s unconventional test.


    Their attention shifted to another Duke''s child¡ªJash¡ªwhose actions captivated their interest.


    After all, many wanted to see what was his reason to not move for so long.


    Was it some trap of the illusion, or had he given up, or had he come up with a solution to escape the illusion?


    Meanwhile, Jash had no such grand goals, his focus was simply on escaping the annoying noise and the illusion.


    As he navigated the forest, he observed the increasing tension among the other participants.


    Their strategies were evolving, some alliances broke down while new ones emerged.


    By that time, the illusion''s purpose had become clearer to a few perceptive participants as well.


    It was a test of adaptability, a challenge to see who could maintain clarity of thought amid chaos.


    ''Idiots,'' Jash sneered inwardly at the other participants, maintaining an indifferent facade.


    He couldn''t care less about the other participants, ignoring them and moving with finesse to avoid stumbling upon any of them.


    Jash''s path through the forest was methodical; his movements were fluid and precise.


    He was not merely seeking an exit by luck, he was avoiding every trap¡ªparticipants and monsters alike¡ªtrying to get his peace.


    While unraveling the deeper layers of deception was the goal of the wise, he was one step ahead.


    ''I already know why that darned Emperor arranged this, there''s no reason to scourge the illusion,'' he reminded himself.


    Another two hours¡ªten minutes for the spectators¡ªhad passed as the night wore on, the illusion continued to test the participants, pushing them to their limits. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash, with his detached approach, remained a step ahead, his mind always working to piece together the clues to find an exit.


    Most participants were busy trying to find a weapon to navigate the forest, fight monsters, emerge victorious and succeed in exiting.


    Yet Jash hadn''t encountered any living thing despite moving through the forest for hours.


    It was to the extent that some spectating nobles began to speculate if he knew the path or something.


    Unfortunately, they knew better than anyone that it didn''t make sense, especially when Prince Avon and Princess Ava themselves were struggling.


    Also, they could see behind the mist, the true nature of the forest, unlike the participants.


    With each passing moment, the forest seemed to shift slightly, adapting to the participants'' actions.


    Hence, it made no sense for anyone to be able to move in a pre-planned manner as no one could predict the numerous combinations.


    Even if they could, keeping every single one of them in mind and being able to recognize them... the notion itself seemed ridiculous.


    Of course, they guessed that he had figured it out, indicating his excellent talent, like another key figure, Amael Blake.


    However, Amael had taken on more of an angelic approach, allowing any participant to join his group.


    They eliminated the participants who only aimed for others'' elimination instead of completing the test righteously.


    Only Amael himself knew how much of an act he was putting up to maintain his image, and not get targeted as a public enemy in the future.


    Unaware of the change brought by Amael, Jash''s awareness of the illusion''s fluid nature allowed him to remain composed and strategic.


    He was ready for whatever came next, confident that he had already begun to unravel the path to leave this deceptive dance.


    ''This mist is annoying,'' he grumbled inwardly, feeling discomfort all over.


    Though he evaded the traps, the true nature of the forest was everywhere. It wouldn''t spare him from feeling different sensations based on his location.


    The mist, once barely affecting his vision, began to intensify, affecting his senses and adding to the challenge.


    "This mist... Is it amplifying the forest''s effect?" Jash pondered aloud, considering the growing annoyance because of the mist.


    There had to be a reason for him to feel that way, so he tried his conjecture out.


    Moving without a pattern, randomly taking lefts, rights, backward, forwards appeared strange to the spectators.


    However, the ones who had already figured out the illusion''s name, they were aware that Jash was on the verge of solving it.


    It would be an understatement to call them shocked, but they masked their expressions well, being used to it.


    If one person was unhappy with the result, it would surely be the Emperor as he hoped for his children to shine in the event.


    Although he couldn''t be unfair, his children had the advantage of firsthand experience with illusions, unlike most participants.


    In essence, he was having a hard time believing Jash''s performance, which seemed to be beyond the realms of normal.


    Amael''s performance, while exemplary, could be explained on the basis of his natural awakening.


    His talent itself could be said to be at a different level altogether.


    Yet Jash?


    It was incomprehensible!


    However, it was right in front of his eyes and he couldn''t deny it.


    Oblivious to having become the source of the Emperor''s annoyance, Jash continued to sense his surroundings with his utmost concentration.


    Fortunately, he wasn''t in the spotlight as most still couldn''t make sense of his actions, choosing to focus on Amael, Avon, and Ava.


    The three had totally different approaches.


    Amael bulldozed his way through everything, gathering allies while Ava too had allies, she took a more calculated approach.


    On the other hand, Avon remained alone, trying to face everything by himself, making his decisions in the smallest of intervals.


    Though the others too had good performances, it couldn''t be compared to the three of them.


    Mostly because the total number of participants excluding the two groups led by Amael, Ava and the soloist Avon, didn''t exceed 10.


    Out of the 10, one was Jash, who was ignored by most.


    Another was Caera, whose team got eliminated after encountering two monster groups, leaving only her and the Warmis Clan Head''s daughter.


    The rest were barely scraping by, but their performance too was a source of pride for themselves and their family.


    One team consisted of three members, while another had four, creating a dynamic situation for the spectators.


    Since they were busy fighting amongst each other before being forced to join forces after initial conflicts.


    It was really an interesting sight: the glares, gritting teeth, unveiled animosity yet the situation made them group up.


    Just when the atmosphere was super tense as the event was nearing its end, the mist started to dissipate completely.


    As the mist began to clear, anticipation built among the spectators.


    Although surprised at the suddenness, everyone was interested in seeing who''d be the first one to appear beneath the mist.


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo~


    It''s been 17 days, I guess?


    Well, I just realized that this is chapter 101, that is, we crossed a 100 chapters in 70 days!!


    Although it took a bit longer than my first novel despite it having longer chapters, I would like to thank everyone for reading and supporting my novel!!


    For this, I am announcing a goal: 1 Extra chapter per 5 genuine reviews!!

 Chapter 102 - 102: Unseen Spotlight

    As the mist finally lifted, the hall fell silent with ripe anticipation.


    The relatively few nobles, who had seen their children still inside, wished to see their kin come out first.


    Alas, even they knew it was a far-fetched dream, but what was wrong in expecting such a good outcome?


    The disqualified participants were eager to see who emerged first, knowing firsthand how difficult it actually was.


    Beneath the mist, the first figure to emerge from the thinning haze was Amael, his expression calm and victorious.


    ''Easy,'' he thought, his expression portraying his feelings.


    He had navigated the illusion with apparent ease, his strategic alliances and decisive actions paying off.


    The crowd murmured in appreciation, but their focus quickly shifted back to the clearing area.


    Followed by Amael were the group he helped and allied himself with.


    Moments later, Ava appeared, her demeanor composed and slightly relieved, albeit her relief was unnoticeable.


    She had managed to leverage her alliances effectively, balancing cooperation with her own cunning.


    Her arrival was met with nods of awe and respect, earned by her magnificent performance and her unique methods.


    Despite the spectator''s excitement, none moved to greet her as they waited for everyone to appear.


    As Ava stepped aside, Avon emerged next, his solitary figure marked by a determined expression.


    His approach had been a test of endurance and individual skill, and though he appeared worn, there was noticeable respect in the spectators'' gazes.


    After all, he seemed to have given his all, and his composure didn''t betray the slightest hint of his inner anxiety.


    Unlike Ava, who could only swallow Amael''s arrival before her, he couldn''t.


    However, being one of the Princes, there was no way he would discard his calm and composed facade over losing such a minor competition.


    ''I will take first place in the Academy Entrance Test,'' he thought, with fire blazing in his eyes as he took his spot next to Ava.


    Unsurprisingly, the groups had already moved away, knowing their place without the need to be told.


    Meanwhile, Jash, still hidden in the thinning mist, observed their arrivals with keen interest.


    ''I think Caera will be the next one?'' he mused, looking at the center of the illusion where the exit was located.


    The forest had quietened, its annoying illusions slowly unraveling in the mist''s retreat.


    His own journey had been a solitary one, characterized by laziness, patience and meticulous navigation.


    The other participants had faced various challenges, but he had chosen to rely on his own instincts and observations.


    ''Is it time?'' he asked himself, wanting to exit at nary a time to gather attention.


    To confirm, he turned to look outside, finding Caera along with another girl, who shared her beauty.


    Yet Jash was unfazed, instead his eyes darted to Avon, who had a soft expression, looking at the girl next to Caera.


    ''She is that Warmis Clan girl?'' Jash wondered in intrigue, unable to believe he found one of the dumber girls so easily.


    Unfortunately, he had no plans to get involved with either the protagonist, the heroines, the villain, or the villainess.


    Of course, the thing about Amael being a villain or not, him being different that what he remembered was a different matter altogether.


    ''By the way, didn''t she come here?'' Jash thought, recalling someone he wished to see but didn''t want to meet at the same time.


    His expression fell unbeknownst to him as he realized she wasn''t here.


    "Haa... whatever," He sighed and took the initiative to exit as the next group was just about to.


    In the next second, surprising everyone in the hall, the final wisps of mist disappeared, revealing the remaining participants.


    Looking at the perplexing scene around him, Jash took a deep breath, savoring the clarity of return from the illusion.


    ''It''s over,'' he mused in relief, unaware of the attention he got from the one guy he disliked a lot.


    ¡­


    During the entire process of the mist dissolving and dissipating, the Emperor''s gaze remained fixed on Jash.


    A mix of intrigue and frustration etched itself on his face as he glanced at the arrival of Amael, followed by his children.


    He had hoped for a dramatic display from his children, but Jash''s quiet competence had defied his expectations.


    In the case of the top 3, there was a similarity that they looked for the exit, setting it as their goal.


    However, Jash had ignored everything, taking a much more reserved approach and lying flat instead of showcasing his prowess.


    But the Emperor understood.


    Jash was the son of a Duke, there was no reason for him to impress anyone or to maintain their family name.


    The Solarnelle Academy Entrance Test was a better place, and one needed to wisely keep their cards hidden.


    Yet the Emperor''s lips twitched subtly as he noticed what Jash had achieved.


    Unlike any other participant, Jash ended up deciphering the illusion itself, forcefully stopping it from sending him first.


    ''This... Is he better or Amael?'' The Emperor pondered, curious about the answer.


    After all, Amael too had unraveled the mysteries of the deceitful illusion, albeit he was fighting and focused on finding the exit as well.


    It was difficult to compare the two when their approaches towards the test were entirely different from one another.


    In the end, the Emperor clenched his fist, a small smile appearing on his face.


    Noticing the Emperor''s complex mood and strange emotions, the nobles around him exchanged glances.


    They assumed it was probably because of Amael defeating Avon and Ava, but the Imperial Pride forced the Emperor to smile, regardless of his personal feelings.


    While they all guessed wrongly and focused on Amael, Avon, and Ava, the Emperor''s gaze was focused on Jash.


    ''He looks too calm,'' noted the Emperor, observing the mask of calm satisfaction Jash wore.


    He had not only survived but had done so in a manner that spoke volumes about his adaptability and intellect.


    ''Yet he didn''t want to appear first?''


    It roused the Emperor''s curiosity, but he wasn''t one to let his emotions control him.


    "Let''s go," he ordered to the nobles around him and they nodded in kind.


    The Emperor, though perturbed, could not ignore the results.


    He had to acknowledge the prowess demonstrated by all the participants, despite his initial disappointment.


    As soon as the Emperor and the high-ranking nobles appeared, everyone in the hall bowed and said in unison.


    "Long Live His Majesty!"


    The Emperor acknowledged their greeting with a simple nod.


    The awe, respect and fear alongside every emotion present in the eyes of everyone was very apparent to him.


    He walked through the now-open doors toward the slightly elevated area and stood atop it alone.


    A few daring nobles wondered about the Empress''s absence, but none had the guts to speak of it.


    Ignoring the curious glances coming his way, the Emperor surveyed the area and a faint smile painted his face.


    All the participants and exalted nobles gathered around as he addressed the assembly. His voice, though steady, carried a hint of the weight of his expectations.


    "The illusion has tested each of you in ways beyond simple endurance. Your responses varied; from panic to calm to understanding to solving."


    The hall remained silent as the Emperor paused despite the enthusiasm coursing through the veins of the ones who succeeded. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While their chests were swelled with pride alongside their family, the failing participants had deflated looks.


    ''Hah! He sure knows how to put on a show,'' Jash scoffed internally, observing the impact of the Emperor''s words, whether they be a lie or the truth.


    However, in the next second, Jash almost cursed. ''Shit! Why did he look at me! No way, right!?'' he thought distressfully.

 Chapter 103 - 103: Fated Reward

    ''Why was he looking at me!? There''s no way I just imagined it!'' Jash thought, perturbed by the unexpected occurrence.


    He had done his level best to not get any unnecessary attention from any key figure, be it a strong hunter or a calamity magnet.


    ''As if those calamity magnets being here together isn''t irksome, even the Emperor!'' Jash yelled internally, somehow maintaining a calm exterior.


    However, his attention was caught by the Emperor who continued his speech with a very long pause. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Before I announce the most impressive performance, I would like to express gratitude for playing along with my little game."


    His words were steady, not polite in the slightest, yet the nobles clamored otherwise.


    "No, no, Your Majesty, it is our blessing to be here today..."


    "Your Majesty, we are the ones in luck to have children who could participate in a game..."


    While many nobles said one thing or the other, it was the low-ranking ones who said a lot.


    ''What nonsense!'' Jash grumbled inwardly, irritated by the noise of so many sycophantic noble.


    In his eyes, they were no different than a bunch of third-rate trash complimenting everything the average Young Master did.


    It was quite unfortunate Jash couldn''t speak out his true feelings and had to maintain his expression amidst his twitching eyes and lips.


    He was just too weak to have a say in such matters despite them being so fake that even an idiot would notice.


    ''Even if I am strong enough, there''s no way I am dissing the Emperor! Who''d want to take their responsibility then?''


    Those were Jash''s true thoughts. He couldn''t care less about strength, it was about living a life without unnecessary burdens.


    That''s why he didn''t really want to be so strong that no one could stand as an equal.


    ''The path to power is lonely, when one achieves it, they have no one around them,'' he mused, recalling the reason for his last battle.


    In truth, he could''ve skipped the battle with the Demon King and let him take over the world, yet he chose to fight.


    He just wanted to end his life, who knows why he ended up in another?


    By the time Jash came to his senses and rapidly blinked his eyes, a few minutes had already passed.


    ¡ªClap!


    The sudden applause shocked him. ''What!? So soon?'' he wondered in confusion, but followed along.


    As the Emperor concluded his address and the round of applause ended, murmurs of anticipation rippled through the hall.


    The nobles and participants alike focused their attention on the Emperor, waiting for the name of the one who would be bestowed with the special reward.


    The Emperor stepped down from the elevated platform, his gaze traveling amongst the participants for a moment.


    The hall fell into a hushed silence, each eye tracking the Emperor''s every movement.


    With deliberate steps, the Emperor approached Amael, his presence commanding and regal.


    Amael stood poised, his earlier calm now mingled with a subtle but undeniable sense of triumph.


    "Amael," the Emperor''s voice resonated through the hall, "You have demonstrated exceptional skill and resolve. Your performance surpassed all expectations."


    He extended a hand, holding a gleaming medallion embossed with the imperial crest. "For your exemplary performance, I bestow upon you this special reward."


    Amael''s eyes flickered with gratitude and finality as he accepted the medallion.


    The cool metal felt nice to the touch, as he remained unbothered about its weight symbolism.


    After all, it symbolized not just the Emperor''s favor, but the culmination of his hard work and strategy.


    He bowed deeply, acknowledging the honor with the respect it deserved.


    The crowd erupted into applause, their claps echoing through the grand hall.


    However, before anyone could say anything, the Emperor silenced them with a single raise of his hand.


    "With this, you may take any one item from the Empire''s treasury," the Emperor declared, shocking everyone in the hall.


    The Nobles exchanged impressed glances, recognizing the significance of the special reward.


    A single thought coursed their mind, ''Why would the emperor give such a reward for such a simple test?''


    Unfortunately, no one knew the answer and the one who did couldn''t be bothered with it.


    ''This stingy Emperor, he knows Amael wouldn''t know what to pick,'' Jash thought, clicking his tongue internally in displeasure.


    He knew better than anyone why the Emperor gave the reward, just like the novel entailed and how Amael wasted the chance.


    ''That''s why it was even mentioned in the first place, to make Amael seem stupider than the protagonist.''


    Remembering the details, Jash couldn''t help but think about changing the novel''s plot. ''What if I tell Amael what to pick up?''


    The image of a certain armor appeared in Jash''s mind and he pondered on what should be his next steps.


    Meanwhile, the Emperor''s stern gaze fixed on Amael as he congratulated him once again, his words heavy with expectation.


    "May this medallion serve as a reminder of your potential and a token of the high regard in which you are held."


    Amael nodded, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thank you, Your Majesty," he said, his voice steady and appreciative.


    As Amael stepped back, the Emperor turned his attention to the remaining participants and declared, "Let the achievements of all be acknowledged."


    "Each of you has faced challenges that have tested your limits. Carry forth the lessons learned here with pride and determination," he advised them.


    The hall buzzed with renewed energy as the participants absorbed the Emperor''s words.


    Following which, the atmosphere was charged with a blend of relief and anticipation for the next phase, that is, the long-awaited banquet itself.


    Amael, with his medallion now prominently displayed, stood as a beacon of success, his achievement marking a high point in the day''s events.


    Yet only he knew his internal thoughts.


    ''Everything worked out as it should have, so why did I gain these points?'' he asked the system in confusion.


    {Host, you helped others and eliminated the trash, and the special reward... If looks could kill, you''d be deader than dead.}


    Amael merely chuckled at the system''s remark, thinking of taking the one thing that would net him tons of Villain Points.


    {Hold your horses, host!}


    ''Hm? Why?''


    {That weapon originally got stolen by a different villain, but if you take it...}


    ''You mean, it won''t affect much since we both are in the villain camp?''


    {Exactly!}


    ''Then what do I take?''


    As if clearing his confusion, Jash brought Amael out of his reverie. "Congratulations, Amael," Jash whispered with a warm smile.


    "Thanks," Amael reciprocated with a satisfied smile, yet Jash could notice the nuanced difference.


    Fortunately, Jash had come to help Amael.


    ''If I can''t interfere with the protagonist yet, then why not make his enemy stronger?'' Jash thought, finally coming to a decision.


    Thankfully, the Emperor had returned to the elevated platform or Jash would''ve stayed in his position.


    "You know," Jash began, "I heard there is this very good armor inside the Imperial Treasury. I forgot its name, though."


    "Hmm." Jash pretended to contemplate as Amael felt skeptical about his sudden approach, something that didn''t happen in the novel.


    Meanwhile, the Emperor was keenly eavesdropping on their conversation, his interest in Jash rising by the second.


    Oblivious to the attention he got, Jash acted as if he suddenly remembered. "Ah, right!" he exclaimed.


    "The armor is black, made up of meteorite iron and mithril and orihalcum as its outer protective covering," he muttered in a daze.


    As if remembering it, the system sent a confused message to Amael.


    {Ah! I know what he''s talking about! But how does he know?}


    Sensing Amael''s confusion, the system shared the armor''s details with Amael and also its suspicion about how Jash knew of it.

 Chapter 104 - 104: Imperial Banquet: Uncovering Facades

    ''Isn''t that what I get in the latter parts of the novel after killing that scum? Why would it be in the Imperial Treasury?'' Amael wondered, skeptical.


    {No, that is possible. The question is, how does he know of it?}


    Amael, agreeing with the system''s words, could do nothing but become more cautious of this so-called friend of his.


    After all, Amael Blake and Jash Ramille were supposed to be friends, so it would be far easier for Jash to notice the changes in Amael.


    In fact, Jash was already contemplating multiple possibilities, hoping to figure out the cause of change in Amael''s personality.


    ''So he knows?'' Jash thought, noting the subtle shifts in Amael''s expression¡ªfrom confusion to shock to surprise.


    It was truly a wonder how Jash could read so many emotions others missed on Amael''s seemingly indifferent face.


    Fortunately, the Emperor was focused on Jash and missed the minute reactions from Amael, or both of them would have garnered his attention.


    As if on cue, Jash suddenly felt creeped out, prompting him to look around, trying to locate the source of the discomfort. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, he suddenly stopped as a dark realization settled in. ''Could it be that darned Emperor again?'' he thought grimly.


    Unable to do anything about the greedy and power-hungry Emperor, Jash pretended to have not noticed it.


    Next to him, Amael stood confused about the strange reactions from Jash, but chose to wisely stay quiet.


    He couldn''t afford to get caught, especially by the one guy who would die at the first arc itself.


    Naturally, he didn''t believe Jash could change that fate, especially since even the protagonist and Amael were helpless in that scenario.


    So, how could someone weaker and less talented than them manage to do something like that?


    ''And to boot, I even have a system,'' Amael mused to himself, wanting to steer clear of the suspicious Jash Ramille for as long as possible.


    Fortunately, Jash was of the same mind, wanting to figure out the changes in Amael, but maintaining a safe distance as well.


    Just as the two were busy in their own thoughts, the Emperor announced the beginning of the banquet and the hall became abuzz with excitement.


    Some nobles eagerly whispered about the event that just occurred, some chiding or praising their kids for their performance.


    There were also the aloof ones, who remained indifferent and chose to not comment on any happenings of today.


    As the banquet went on, a lot of complicated stuff happened.


    ''One can''t truly use their mana after the banquet begins,'' Jash noted, trying to use his mana inside the hall.


    He attempted to enhance his vision with mana to locate his parents or the one he dreaded meeting, but still wished to see.


    ''They really like to splurge,'' Jash cursed inwardly, recalling the event where one could use mana and everything freely.


    As his prediction turned out, only the ones inside the illusion could use mana, not anyone who didn''t participate or got disqualified.


    Even the size of the banquet hall expanded to almost four times after the official announcement.


    Several tables filled with tantalizing dishes came into view, begging to be devoured by the guests.


    The guests¡ªnot limited to just nobles, but also including dwarves, elves, merchants, and the associations¡ªbegan feasting.


    Yet Jash had a different expression as compared to the rest of the guests when looking at the food.


    ''The Elves don''t eat meat, while dwarves prefer meat... what a crazy coincidence that both are present here.''


    His thought really made it hard for him to ignore their presence as his observing nature came to picture, diverting his attention.


    In the end, he failed to find anyone to talk to besides Serron and Caera.


    ''At least I don''t have to act like I''ll puke at the sight of meat anymore,'' he mused, glad that the numerous dungeon runs allowed him to "adapt".


    Of course, only he knew that he didn''t need to adapt.


    His past life memories of humans eating even dead and decaying corpses made him immune to a little meat.


    Heck, even he could vividly recall the scenes of eating food while sitting at the body of a demon or human.


    Even being drenched in the blood of demons or humans couldn''t stop him, let alone well-cooked meat dishes.


    ''Though it did help me fake being sick to skip training,'' Jash reminisced, a small smile briefly flashing by his face.


    He continued to roam the banquet hall, trying to gather information or finding someone he could talk to.


    Because of his seemingly "lackluster" performance, he wasn''t surrounded by other participants like Amael and Ava.


    No one dared approach Avon as he appeared to be in a terrible mood despite him trying his best to mask it.


    ''Idiots,'' Jash labeled them, focusing on the more important part.


    The fake promises of dealings, lies about blessings, tricks of cheating, or veiled threats from some maniacs were quite noticeable.


    ''That Emperor, I am sure, knows of it but doesn''t care,'' Jash thought, his impression of the Emperor falling further.


    It wasn''t that the Emperor didn''t care. Rather, it would change nothing no matter how many times he interfered.


    Simply because the people present at the party weren''t weak-minded idiots; they had lived through such deception all their lives.


    They knew better than to act on impulse, and tarnish their relationships, who knew if the other part would even follow their words or not.


    They might just deny any such agreements and laugh out loud, looking at them making a fool of themselves.


    After all, many cunning and snarky nobles in high ranks had done these things in the past too.


    Everyone was well-versed in world history, aware of instances where some people randomly attacked or other different tensions.


    It was common knowledge that over the 2000 years of history, there were many instances where people gathered and shit went south.


    So people kept their cool despite all the enticing deals and promises, pretending to be interested while not.


    ''Still, some young and arrogant nobles fall for these tricks,'' Jash thought, finding a few of the boring conversations amusing.


    Although the conversations themselves were extremely boring and seemed repetitive, Jash found some funny ones.


    One such conversation was about letting another noble have their dungeon since they were weak and asking them to not take loot.


    ''As if! That would never work as long as the nobles are still selfish,'' Jash sneered at the idiot of a noble who genuinely praised the idea.


    Even the one proposing didn''t expect such an outcome, his sleazy smile almost faltering for a second.


    Excluding the animated chatter Jash focused on, there was another more important matter he chose to ignore.


    That was matchmaking.


    Many young and old, noblemen and noble ladies were present, adding weight to their world.


    Of course, even if someone was stupid enough to fall for the tricks, and wanted to do something, they''d rather not.


    ''The security measures placed around the palace are next level,'' Jash mused, remembering the numerous guards on duty.


    Not just the imperial guards, the shadow guards of Dukes and Marquises,.high-ranking hunters¡ªwere all present in the vicinity.


    Therefore, one wrong move from anyone suspicious would be met with the opposition of several hunters.


    Hence, the party continued peacefully and people continued to chatter around, waiting for the hosts of the event to conclude the event.


    ''When will it end?'' Jash wondered. The banquet had switched from interesting to annoying with time for him.


    As if not wanting it to end, a smooth mellifluous voice interrupted his walk.


    "Jash!"

 Chapter 105 - 105: Reluctantly Eager Reunion

    Jash froze in his tracks, hearing his name being called. ''Finally...!'' he thought, turning his face to look at the person who called him.


    "Mom¨CZiva!?" He called out to Sera, recognizing her voice, but changed midway, blurting out Ziva''s name.


    ''She came?'' he wondered in disbelief, having thoroughly searched the banquet hall, failing to find any trace of her.


    Besides, she wasn''t anywhere near that illusion, which only served to deepen his confusion.


    "Mhm." Ziva hummed, understanding his surprise. "Good evening," she muttered with a hint of mischief in her eyes.


    "Evening," Jash replied. "When did you come here?" He asked without any unnecessary pretenses.


    It wasn''t in his nature to act pompous, so he just got to the point, curious about her whereabouts.


    "She was by Evelia''s side," Sera interrupted their conversation, making sure the two were aware of her presence.


    Jash glanced at his mother and simply nodded at her words. ''If she was by her mother''s side, it makes sense.''


    Unfortunately, Jash was unaware that his decision to participate had not only attracted the Emperor''s unwanted attention, but it even gave Amael Villain Points.


    Well, he didn''t know about the system or Villain Points, to begin with, so it didn''t really matter.


    In the plot, Jash didn''t even come here, unwilling to partake in such annoying events.


    Hence, his participation altered the entire event along with the change in Amael and Ziva''s presence.


    Oblivious to the changes his presence brought along indirectly, Jash was having a hard time assessing his emotions.


    During the past years of training, his memories returned randomly and one such memory was of his girlfriend.


    Although he didn''t know her looks or name or anything else for that matter, the vivid sensation of reliving those moments was too much for him to dismiss.


    ''Just what do I think of her? Only Amelia and Ziva are the ones who didn''t enter the protagonist''s harem.''


    Thinking so, Jash struggled to place his emotions as her presence stirred them in unexpected directions.


    ''It isn''t love for sure. Maybe slight attraction? Or affection for a true friend of the opposite gender?''


    He guessed in his heart, unable to put a label on his mixed emotions.


    Unlike him, Ziva wasn''t struggling with her emotions at all. ''I don''t mind being with him,'' she thought, glancing at him once more.


    In the end, she decided to let her future self figure it out, avoiding to burden her mind with unneeded thoughts.


    Their silent stare almost grew a bit heated when Sera broke it, "Well, you two should have a proper conversation after so long."


    With that being said, she walked away after the two turned to look at her.


    ''What am I supposed to talk to her about?'' Jash wondered, exchanging a glance with Ziva.


    Still, the two didn''t linger at the same place, choosing to move along.


    "So, what rank are you at?" Jash began the conversation with a generic question in their world instead of asking her well-being.


    "Mid E-Rank," Ziva replied nonchalantly, then gave him a questioning look as if asking his rank.


    "Early E-Rank," Jash muttered, a bit embarrassed, but his disclosure surprised Ziva to the point of stopping in her tracks.


    "What? How?" Ziva''s eyes widened in disbelief as she recalled their past argument about him not wanting to awaken.


    As if sensing her confusion, Jash clarified, "I awakened at 13, just a year later than usual."


    Though his words were uttered in a low voice, only audible to Ziva, not the ones nearby interested in their conversation.


    After all, two children of Dukes being together, while their parents were friends, were bound to give rise to rumors. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The guests and everyone else were busy discussing rumors, some stealing glances at the two, curious to know their relationship.


    They didn''t know that those rumors could indeed be the truth, the engagement talk was real and neither party had rejected it.


    However, the reasons were entirely different.


    The previous Jash had believed no one would suit him better as a partner, given her familiarity with him.


    To Ziva, it was just a matter of comfort. She already knew Jash and his personality, trusting it somewhat.


    The main deciding factor could be the fact that they had already seen their parents in a friendly relation unlike other nobles they met.


    Fortunately, their parents knew what emotions kids go through and didn''t officially bind them.


    After all, how could kids know what marriage entails in its entirety?


    Hence, no official knots were to be tied until after the coming-of-age ceremony when they became adults and graduated from Solarnelle Academy.


    Naturally, they expected their children to easily make their way through the entrance test, knowing their talents.


    Reaching E-Rank even before entering the Academy was something only a few managed to do yet they had done it.


    Instead, Jash''s feat of reaching E-Rank despite awakening a year later was much more astonishing.


    That''s why Ziva was too astounded to even react for a few seconds as she walked by his side absentmindedly.


    But that wasn''t too bad, as it gave Jash the time he needed to ground his thoughts and feelings.


    ''It''s better to not talk about those things for now. Anyways, there''s 4 years till graduation,'' decided Jash inwardly.


    On his side, Ziva was slowly returning to her senses, accepting the fact that Jash was just as talented if not less than her.


    ''No. He might as well be more talented than me...'' she concluded, casting a sidelong glance at him.


    ''He''s in a similar category to Amael, isn''t he?'' she wondered, calculating the time he would take to reach the late E-Rank.


    If she compared pure numbers, it was obvious his and Amael''s time would be somewhat close.


    ''However, his growth inside the academy should increase, so faster than Amael?'' she pondered, unable to decide.


    In her heart, she never considered any other guy except Jash her friend and Amael an acquaintance.


    Plus, she had assumed that Jash was a better choice than a random noble to spend the rest of her life.


    Unfortunately, realizing his monstrous potential made her doubt her own decision.


    Unable to know her inner thoughts and how much they changed in the past few seconds, Jash slightly nudged her to draw her attention.


    "Why did you not participate?" he asked, referring to the ''Forest of Deceit''.


    "Uh, huh," Ziva let out confused sounds before comprehending his words and answered, "It would''ve been of no use."


    To anyone else, her succinct reply might seem rude, but it was enough for Jash to understand her intent.


    ''Yeah, right. How did I forget about her element?'' he chided himself internally, having a hard time believing he forgot such a major aspect.


    Unlike most awakeners who were yet to awaken elements as they had not yet reached E-Rank, Ziva had long awakened hers.


    Of course, just reaching E-Rank wasn''t enough to know one''s elements, it was just a prerequisite.


    ''Her element is unlike regular ones, akin to the light and darkness of the Hero and Villain¡ªa typical clich¨¦.''


    Just the thought was enough for Jash to roll his eyes. Luckily, Ziva was engrossed in her own thoughts, sparing him from another thing to worry about.


    ''She could''ve easily escaped the illusion using her element, and even decipher the illusion easily,'' Jash mused, recalling about her description.


    After all, she was a rare Heroine who remained unconquerable until the end yet she was too strong to be labeled an Extra.


    ''Even the role villainess doesn''t define her since she wasn''t one to begin with,'' Jash recalled the tons of discussions from fellow readers.


    ''If that darned author had confirmed anything related to any character, I would know so much more...'' Jash cursed internally.


    Right then, a soft, sweet voice broke his reverie, "How did you reach E-Rank so fast?"

 Chapter 106 - 106: Catching Up

    Hearing her question, Jash turned to look into her eyes. "Well..." he began before facing forward.


    "I trained hard, of course," he added in all seriousness, only for his expression to fall in the next second.


    "As if!" Ziva mocked, rolling her eyes in exasperation, not even half a second after his answer.


    "You and training? That''s impossible," she continued, her eyes twitching at his blatant attempt to lie.


    Of course, Jash truly believed what he said.


    In his perspective, hard was the right word for the training he did. He didn''t care about others'' thoughts on it.


    ''But thinking about it again, I can see where she''s coming from,'' he told himself, but his emotions didn''t seem to listen.


    "You shouldn''t joke about someone''s efforts," he spat through gritted teeth, somehow irritated at her disparaging demeanor.


    Even so, he inwardly chided himself. ''Damn! I am supposed to be mentally an adult, so why am I even getting annoyed by her remark?''


    He didn''t know but it was especially so because it was the truth that it irked him.


    In the eyes of others, he was a genius who worked crazy hard to reach his current rank, even if it wasn''t the truth.


    On a smaller scale, some jealous people would think it all had to do with his ducal family and his insanely good talent due to genetics.


    Though rare, such people indeed existed, always finding excuses for what others could achieve but they couldn''t.


    Fortunately, Ziva wasn''t in either category, so she felt bad for her own words, almost wanting to apologize.


    But how could she?


    Jash kept his demeanor intact, ensuring that their conversation continued to project a harmonious atmosphere for the bystander.


    If she suddenly apologized, won''t they make up some short of crazy rumors like she was pestering Jash?


    There was no way she wanted that!


    Just as she was in a dilemma on what to do, Jash helped her indirectly, saying, "Just keep it in mind. Also, even I do work hard."


    "Mhm." Ziva nodded with an audible sound before asking again, "So, how did you...?"


    As if anticipating her question, Jash replied, "It just... happened, sort of. I ran some dungeons, some alone, some with Caera..."


    "I got force¨C" Jash paused mid-sentence before changing his words seamlessly, "I trained rigorously. It wasn''t easy."


    "You just¨C Nevermind," Ziva stopped herself from pointing out his errors, knowing he was trying his best to keep his composure.


    ''He doesn''t seem the least bit embarrassed, though. How cute,'' Ziva thought, an unconscious smile tugging at her lips.


    In the next second, she slightly shook her head, wondering, ''What''s wrong with me?''


    ''I''ll think about it later,'' she told herself, choosing to ask something she was curious about.


    "Anyways, did you or Caera get to know your element?" She asked, her tone laced with interest.


    "Huh? You didn''t talk to her yet? She''ll be pretty angry," Jash remarked with a subtle smirk, thinking to himself, ''It''ll be fun to watch.''


    "I did want to find her, but she was busy with... another girl and the group of young ones surrounded them," Ziva replied with a smug smile.


    Her expression seemed to be screaming: Now what, huh? Hehe~ I knew it!


    But Jash just ignored her overdramatic expression, lamenting the interesting drama he lost, instead focusing on her words.


    ''Drama is drama, no matter where I get it from,'' he mused to himself with a teasing smile, making Ziva, who caught a glance, feel uneasy.


    "Well, I don''t know mine, but Caera did get fire element. I mean, it was obvious given Mom taught her personally post-awakening."


    Jash shrugged his shoulders as he said so, knowing fully well that fire wasn''t all she had to be one of the heroines.


    "Isn''t she good with bows and magic? Fire will help her a lot as a battlemage," Ziva remarked, remembering what her mother had told her.


    "True. In my case, I think I will have to wait till the academy, unlike geniuses like you," Jash teased, making her feel superior.


    Of course, it was just a gimmick and she knew him far too well to fall for it.


    "Says the guy who could probably fight me," Ziva refuted with a small smile, clearly meaning her words.


    Jash too smiled, not really denying her words since he was already aware of her element, making it not very effective on him.


    Elements were just like that, some wouldn''t change anything even if someone knew it, but others, not so much.


    A few rare elements were always preferred to be kept to be used as Hidden Cards.


    Obviously, it became easy to do since most awakeners did have more than one element.


    It was just that the efficiency and time invested to improve them was not well worth the effort in most cases.


    However, elements that could directly impact the opponents'' psyche¡ªtheir mind, thought process, disorient their senses and many more¡ªwere different.


    ''Ziva has one such element,'' Jash mused, feeling interested in trying it out.


    He wanted to see if his past life existence would help mitigate the impact of her element or not.


    ''Maybe in the academy,'' he guessed in his heart. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although she was playful and wouldn''t mind playing pranks on him, she would never do anything that could potentially harm him.


    ''There''s also the fact that she can''t fully control her element yet,'' he thought, remembering the problems of having a mental element.


    In the world of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia, elements were broadly classified as mental or physical.


    Physical elements like water, fire, earth, air, plant, metal, lava and many more existed in reality, but mental elements were different.


    They differed fundamentally in their functions themselves as they impacted the opponent''s psyche.


    They could create illusions or directly attack the mind, causing nightmares.


    ''The most likely one that people use it for is seduction, though,'' Jash mused, doubting if she would ever do that.


    But then again, she didn''t really need to use it for such a purpose.


    She was already gorgeous enough to get quite a few eyes of desire¡ªhidden and open¡ªin the venue while they glared hatefully at Jash.


    Naturally, he considered them as pieces of trash and moved on. He had no interest in dealing with them¡ªthere was no need to.


    ''Her mother probably already noted them down,'' he thought with his smile widening, knowing their outcome.


    However, there was no pity for them in his heart. He wasn''t a goody-two-shoes protagonist or hero.


    If there was one thing he absolutely hated to his core, it would be people who consider other humans as a means of pleasure.


    Those who do not even consider them humans.


    ''Even then, the most hateful are the doormat females who let men trample them!'' Thinking so, Jash''s mood shifted abruptly.


    Fortunately, he got out of his chaotic thoughts by a sudden pull, stopping him from thinking something crazy.


    ''Huh?'' he looked around in confusion before he felt the grip and raised his head.


    "Mom!?" he exclaimed, perplexed at her presence. ''When did I arrive next to her?'' he wondered.


    He clearly remembered being next to Ziva as the two walked in silence after agreeing that they could spar equally.


    In haste, he was already looking around and found Ziva standing next to Sera, who remained quiet despite her son''s state.


    She already got used to him going into a daze randomly, so she didn''t seem to mind.


    But Ziva sure did.


    She was almost pouting as she pretended to look away, trying to act cute partially.


    ''Damn! She''s not supposed to act like this!'' Jash cursed inwardly, knowing she hated acting like that even as a joke.

 Chapter 107 - 107: The Banquet’s End

    No matter his internal thoughts, Jash retained his sense of self and calm as his eyes narrowed in suspicion.


    Jash''s attention shifted abruptly to his mother''s face, catching the small smile and her twitching lips.


    ''So she''s the one who wrongly influenced Ziva,'' Jash concluded without second thought.


    His mother always liked to watch drama and misunderstanding was one of her favorite tropes, so there was no mistaking it.


    She was the one who prompted Ziva into acting that way.


    ''Even her neck is reddening from the sheer embarrassment,'' Jash noted and cast an angry glance at his mother.


    ''Just how do you even get the time to watch those trashy dramas!'' he thought in anger, cursing the very dramas he too enjoyed.


    Of course, he still maintained public decency and kept his mouth shut, unaware of the cause of the sudden pull.


    ''We are still in the banquet hall... Is it concluding?'' Jash guessed, feeling relieved that it finally got over.


    His gaze unconsciously drifted to the Emperor and Avon, before finally on Amael.


    ''His plans really got hitched,'' Jash mused, glad that Amael won instead of Avon, just like the novel.


    Although most events did occur according to what he knew, it also wasn''t a confirmation if the world was really the novel or just similar to it.


    ''No matter, I will figure it out soon,'' he concluded, knowing the Academy Entrance Test was the arc where everything began.


    Soon, his attention returned to the embarrassed Ziva, his lips twitching as he barely stifled his laughter at her sight.


    ''Just how did Mom even make her do something so... mortifying?'' Jash wondered, intrigued by his mother''s cunning.


    However, he didn''t get the time to mull over it anymore as the Emperor began his final speech.


    ''Damn, so boring,'' Jash thought, not wanting to listen to it. Sadly, he had no choice but to pay attention.


    "Esteemed Guests and Honored Companions," the Emperor began, glancing over all the guests present. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It didn''t matter whether they were eating, drinking, chatting, or enjoying the evening, everyone turned to look in the Emperor''s direction.


    "While the splendid banquet draws to a close, it is just another beginning for the young ones to partake in the Academy," he added, appearing regal.


    His words filled those with downcast appearances with hope as they looked on with awe, respect and hope at the Emperor.


    Some even hoped to become an enigmatic figure like the Emperor in the future, and it was as if he could read their thoughts.


    He continued with a smile, "I am filled with immense pride and gratitude. The upcoming generation of hunters truly deserves its name."


    ''How slick,'' Jash thought, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes.


    He was well aware that most of the ones who struggled against the illusion would most likely fail if they participated in the Entrance Test.


    ''No way they can pass something way more difficult,'' he mused, aware of the ramped-up difficulty of the Entrance Test.


    Just like him, Amael was of the same mind, but he didn''t let the slightest of his emotions show, maintaining a calm and kind facade.


    Oblivious to the two anomalies'' thoughts, the Emperor glanced at Jash subtly before focusing on Amael.


    ''He definitely looked my way!'' Jash thought in displeasure, compared to the ones around him who wore excited impressions.


    It seemed just one glance of the Emperor was more than enough to make them happy.


    "Tonight, we have celebrated not only the achievements of the Imperial Family, but also other talented ones."


    As if his words weren''t enough, he glanced at everyone who participated in the Forest of Deceit, call it a test or event, it didn''t matter to him.


    Although his attempt to flaunt the Imperial Family had fallen short, it successfully reinforced alliances and showcased his humility.


    As an Emperor, he was always alert, looking for the silver lining instead of finding faults in everything.


    Taking advantage of Amael being the clear winner, he could even incite great relish in other kids to work harder.


    After all, the reward he gave would make even some titled nobles drool in jealousy, wanting to take it for themselves.


    If not for Amael being the son of a Duke, they were ready to pounce on him like the greedy hyenas they were.


    Some even regretted why their child couldn''t be as exemplary as Amael, or at least have a satisfactory performance.


    Taking note of the atmosphere in the banquet hall, the Emperor continued, "Your presence here is a testament to the unity, harmony, and strength of our great Empire."


    "Each of you contributes to the prosperity and grandeur of our empire," he added, "And for that, I am profoundly grateful."


    His words stirred various emotions in the listener as their chests swelled with pride and their noses raised skyward.


    Yet Jash could only grumble inwardly about how slick the Emperor was.


    ''He can really pull that crappy speech in front of so many people as if it is true,'' he criticized, annoyed by the sweet-talk.


    As if the Emperor also knew his thoughts, he swiftly concluded his speech on a good note.


    "Let us depart with hope that our collective vision and unwavering commitment will continue to guide us toward a future of unparalleled greatness."


    Hearing his final statement, many attendees had eyes filled with blazing motivation to achieve anything and everything for the Empire.


    "May the Holy Goddess of Light bless our path forward!"


    The Emperor prayed, lowering his head slightly and the atmosphere suddenly turned fervent inside the hall.


    Everyone followed suit, lowering their heads and said together, "May the Holy Goddess of Light bless our path forward!"


    ''Seriously? How crazy,'' Amael thought, his goal to oppose the Goddess of Light being too tough to bear.


    Unlike him, Jash couldn''t care less.


    He had no concept of Gods or Goddesses, his past life made it clear that no such beings existed.


    ''Even if they do exist, they aren''t like her,'' he mused, knowing the kind of Goddess she was and the protagonist''s journey.


    In essence, his standard of Gods was far different from this world.


    Only a being detached from the mortal and immortal, mundane and special, weak and strong, physical and ethereal, corporeal and incorporeal...


    ''There''s no way such a being exists,'' he told himself, choosing to focus on the present rather than thinking about the unreachable.


    Looking at the dispersing crowd with some leaving the banquet hall at the dead of the night, he nodded gleefully.


    However, he didn''t let go of his calm expression.


    ''Phew, she''s back to normal,'' Jash secretly heaved a sigh of relief as his eyes fell on Ziva''s figure.


    She appeared the same as earlier, before his mother gave her some sort of messed up idea and got her to act like that.


    "Let''s leave as well," Sera said, her voice cutting through his thoughts.


    "Alright Mom," Jash nodded, looking at Ziva walk alongside them from the corner of his eye.


    ''Did Aunt Evelia ask Mom to take care of her?'' he wondered in curiosity, but it didn''t matter as it was a good thing for him.


    As the three reached the doors after a silent walk, they found Evelia waiting for them.


    She smiled at Sera, her intent and meaning indecipherable to Jash and Ziva, but Jash did have a wild guess though.


    ''No way...! Did she try to force us together?'' Jash thought but immediately denied it, feeling a chill go down his spine.


    While their mothers talked, the two appeared like lost ducklings awaiting their mother duck''s instructions.


    "We''ll take our leave," Evelia said, causing Jash''s eyes to twinkle with mischief.


    ''Finally...'' he thought in relief. The two mothers'' seemingly never ending gossip had finally ended, after all.

 Chapter 108 - 108: Reflective Departure

    As the final words of the Emperor''s speech seemingly lingered in the hall, Jash and Ziva followed Sera and Evelia, standing at the grand doors. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The footsteps of others echoed softly on the marble floor.


    The excitement of the evening had left a palpable energy in the air, but the night''s chill was beginning to set in.


    Jash kept his gaze steady, his thoughts still swirling around what would be the best way to irritate Ziva.


    He glanced sideways at Ziva, noting her somewhat dazed expression.


    She seemed lost in thought, likely still processing the embarrassment she had experienced earlier.


    "Are you alright?" he asked, his tone gentle but curious.


    He knew better than to press too hard, but a part of him wanted to ensure he teased her right when it was her sore spot.


    He wasn''t one for caring about others as if they were the most fragile being to exist.


    Ziva shook herself out of her reverie and offered a small, appreciative smile. "I''m fine, just a bit... overwhelmed."


    Jash nodded in understanding as he at least knew this feeling all too well.


    As the four began to walk outside the hall, their feet set in a slow rhythm as their mothers allowed them to converse some more.


    Rather, the two wore intrigued expressions, eager to eavesdrop on their own children.


    "It was quite a show tonight," Jash remarked while grumbling inwardly, ''The Emperor certainly knows how to annoy others.''


    "Yeah," Ziva agreed, her eyes reflecting the dim light of the path.


    Both wisely chose not to comment on the Emperor or his glib speech, not wanting any trouble to come their way.


    Sadly, their small talk was interrupted as they reached the outer courtyard, where a chill breeze greeted them.


    Evelia and Sera too were deep in conversation, but their voices remained low, only audible to each other.


    The four paused, Sera and Evelia looking around for their carriages while Jash and Ziva enjoyed the night sky.


    ''I can go home,'' Jash thought, grateful for the prospect of a quiet end to the evening.


    He was eager to escape the formalities of the banquet and return to the more familiar comforts of home.


    However, he stole a glance at Ziva from the corner of his eyes, planning to make her embarrassed even in the presence of both their mothers.


    Luckily, they didn''t have to wait for long, their carriages arriving within a few seconds.


    ''I can''t sit before Caera is here, no?'' Jash mused, turning his head back to the direction he walked from.


    Standing at his side, it took Ziva a second to understand his action as she too followed his line of sight.


    She knew for a fact that if she didn''t meet Caera, she''d be in deep trouble, probably never getting to hear the end of it.


    The wait gave them the much needed interlude to reflect on the night''s events.


    The Emperor''s grand finale had been a spectacle, but it was the quieter moments, the ones away from the crowd, that truly mattered to Jash.


    Even though it helped him gauge a lot of things and also note Amael as someone suspicious, he didn''t particularly like the event.


    It was taxing, not physically but mentally as his social battery drained too fast.


    If not for it being Ziva he talked to, there was a high chance he would have escaped the conversation within seconds of greeting them.


    On his side, Ziva seemed to have regained her composure by the time they caught the slightest sign of Caera.


    "She''s here," Ziva murmured, noticing the striking red hair of Caera from a distance.


    "She''s talking to someone," Jash added, scrunching his eyes to find the figure of another girl next to her.


    "It seems she made another friend," Ziva mentioned casually, not bothered in the least.


    However, Jash was the most bothered.


    ''Why is Caera talking to her? They only interacted for the first time at the Academy Entrance Test as opponents...''


    The change in plot made him feel conflicted as it could impact what would happen in the event where he''s supposed to prevent his death.


    Unlike him, Ziva had no such reservations about it, saying curiously, "She''s the same girl Caera teamed with?"


    "Yeah," Jash replied unconsciously, his mind busy evaluating the Warmis Clan Head''s daughter and her plot with Avon and the protagonist.


    ''Definitely do not want to drag it unto me,'' Jash told himself, sure of not wanting any more unnecessary trouble.


    He already had more than enough on his plate.


    As if Caera finally noticed them, she smiled and walked faster after bidding farewell to the girl next to her as their carriage seemed to be waiting just for her.


    "It''s been so long, ZIva!" Caera greeted enthusiastically, having seen Ziva come near her, only to leave.


    In one aspect, this girl was similar to Caera''s brother; she disliked socializing unless absolutely necessary.


    Caera just sighed and the two had just begun to talk when Sera and Evelia said to leave.


    Though reluctant, Caera could only nod and agree as the rest were only waiting for her.


    Ziva walked behind Evelia, and turned around to bid farewell, "See you soon, I guess?"


    "Yeah, you too!" Caera replied, eager to meet in the Academy while the hint of mischief in Jash''s eyes became more pronounced.


    Looking at her about to enter her carriage, he recalled her earlier chat with Caera.


    "Ziva," he called out, his voice carrying a hint of mischief, "the Warmis Clan Head''s daughter has a name. It''s Rura!"


    Without waiting for a response, Jash hurriedly entered his carriage, shutting the doors behind him forcefully.


    "See you at the academy!" He shouted as he completely sealed the doors, leaving behind a fuming Ziva.


    Her face was beet red from secondhand embarrassment as she was about to ask Caera about it, but hesitated.


    Yet Jash literally just shouted it out instead of a normal farewell!


    ''Hmph! I will definitely make you pay,'' she vowed inwardly, planning to embarrass him in public as well.


    She even forgot that it was Sera who had coaxed her into pouting, choosing to blame it on Jash as well.


    Oblivious to Ziva''s silent plotting for revenge, Jash heaved a sigh of relief.


    Choosing to ignore the strange look he got from Caera and Sera, Jash settled into his seat.


    A sense of calm washed over him as he could finally relax and be himself without any act.


    The night had been long¡ªtoo long, in fact¡ªbut it had brought with it a blend of challenges and revelations.


    With a final glance at the distant lights of the banquet hall, Jash leaned back and closed his eyes.


    "Mom, where''s Dad?" Caera asked as the carriage began moving.


    "Carcel''s staying back, he has some work," Sera mentioned vaguely, but neither Jash nor Caera pressed on.


    They knew their mother enough to know she wouldn''t share something she didn''t wish to, no matter the amount of pestering.


    ''Still, that''s better than her being dramatic, like in other matters,'' Jash praised one quality of his mother inside.


    He didn''t bother thinking about what his father was busy with since not knowing anything would only make it impossible to figure out.


    ''Either way, my parents were alive even after the Academy graduation,'' he recalled, eased by the knowledge.


    The rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the cobblestone lulled him into reflective silence.


    The evening had come to an end, but its echoes would linger for a while longer, shaping the days to come.


    ''I wonder what''s next?'' Jash asked himself, curious about the academy.

 Chapter 109 - 109: New Years Eve

    Snowflakes drifted silently through the crisp, cold air, settling gently on the frosted ground with moonlight casting a serene, silvery glow.


    The soft blanket of snow bore many footsteps as the city''s populace was active, awaiting this day with excitement every year.


    The soft crunch of footsteps and the muffled cheer of a distant New Year''s celebration alongside animated conversations hung in the air.


    Icicles hung from rooftops like nature''s chandeliers, and the starry sky seemed to stretch infinitely above.


    Inside cozy homes, families gathered around crackling fires, their laughter and warmth a stark contrast to the icy calm of the wintry night outside.


    Meanwhile, others enjoyed the wintry night by visiting high-rise malls, shopping districts, movie theaters, restaurants, and bustling streets.


    No matter the place or the people, similar types of excited words were being exchanged.


    On the street, two old men were sitting under a tree with smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the winter scenery.


    "Old Man, did your granddaughter also get selected for the Entrance Test?" A gray-haired man spoke to the man with a receding hairline next to him.


    "Haha, Yes. Yes, she did. I am so happy for her," the balding man replied with a gleeful, proud smile.


    "Although I am worried about her. She is very clumsy," the man added, his eyes filled with worry.


    "Yeah. With so many big names attending this year, we can only hope our children remain out of their sight," the gray-haired man spoke.


    "Exactly! I had to remind her so many times to stay away from any trouble," the balding man replied.


    "Heh! I asked my grandson to stay away from them in its entirety," the gray-haired man smirked, taking a jab at his old friend.


    "Oh, good, good. That''s a good idea!" the balding man said excitedly, ignoring the light-hearted jab by his long-time friend.


    Just like them, many others were discussing the same thing.


    Some talked about the big names while others expressed their worry and anxiety over whether their children could pass the Entrance Test.


    It was the eve of New Year, just a few hours and it''ll be 1 January, 2451.


    Although the weather was too cold and it was snowing, this was the time when most academies did their admissions.


    Of course, the first one to hold it was the world''s best academy, the Solarnelle Academy.


    No one would want to go to any other academy if they could get into it, after all.


    Unfortunately, the number of admissions were limited and the tests were quite rigorous for most young awakeners.


    Especially because normal people had to go through the Hunter Association to awaken in the first place.


    And only if they completely formed a mana core, were they trained and sent to participate in the Entrance Test.


    Yet that wasn''t all.


    They had to pass the test to get a sponsorship to study at the Solarnelle Academy.


    This rigorous process made sure no weak person attended the Solarnelle Academy.


    If they wanted to learn, they had no other option than to enroll in other academies, sometimes even without sponsorship.


    However, that wasn''t the case for nobles'' children or those from rich families, irrespective of the race.


    "Welcome to 24N News. We are filming the arrival of the Nobles and the participating awakeners," the reporter said, reporting outside the teleportation gate.


    Teleportation gates, unlike circles used for short distances, were usually used for long distances. For example, across entire territories of nobles.


    Their primary use is to facilitate trade between the three races, given the great distances separating them.


    Even if the races lived harmoniously, the elves and dwarves needed specific environments to thrive, unlike humans.


    That''s why the importance of teleportation gates came into view.


    Simply because the teleportation circles were made of runes etched on a surface and could be drawn by anyone knowledgeable enough.


    Of course, a continuous stream of mana must be supplied for them to be fully operational; otherwise, they are nothing more than drawn glyphs.


    In comparison, teleportation gates were similar to dungeon gates, allowing instantaneous travel to far away places.


    Hence, they could only be operated in the presence of space mages or with the help of very specific spatial artifacts.


    Naturally, the control of such artifacts was very limited to prevent rampant terrorist attacks at places of great importance.


    Jash and most nobles used similar teleportation gates to travel to Adonia, the capital city, for the Imperial banquet.


    Given the safety, it became the most viable method for transit if one was rich enough and below S-Rank.


    Since hunters at and above S-Rank could literally fly at crazy speeds, there was a chance they''d reach faster than the entire process of teleportation.


    As the portals are two-way, unlike teleportation circles, which only send people one-way to a set destination, provided its coordinates were preset.


    Also, the Circles could be easily ruined by tampering with them as anyone with enough knowledge about runes could do it.


    But gates were secured as long as that artifact was working fine, or that spatial mage didn''t go batshit crazy.


    Therefore, the strong hunters didn''t like even that slightest chance and the delay caused by the portal having to get activated at both sides.


    If a monster horde was rampant, who would have time to play house and activate the teleportation portal? Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It would be like setting a target on their back, even making the evacuation of people a tougher task than it needed to be.


    Yet those same strong hunters who detested using teleportation gates were using them with their family.


    Some obviously came to spectate and find someone suitable enough to recruit, betroth into their family, or pass their legacy onto.


    No one knew what objectives the person next to them had.


    "A few guests had already arrived yesterday, with the majority having arrived today, and only some of them are still not present," the reporter spoke.


    He was smiling while giving the view behind him where everyone¡ªthe affluent, the nobles, the merchants, the commoners, the Hunter Association¡ªwere arriving.


    "This is the first time when so many talented people will be enrolling in the same batch," he said excitedly, spittle flying out of his mouth.


    "And according to the Hunter Association, even the chosen candidates are no joke this year!" he stopped as the Teleportation gate started shining.


    "It seems that the next family has arrived," he reported, the camera shifting from him to focus towards the teleportation gate.


    Out of the teleportation gate, many people arrived, surrounding the young ones in the middle.


    However, their attire spoke volumes about their identity.


    The females donned pristine white gowns with a subtle golden sheen, adorned with delicate golden embroidery.


    The Intricate patterns made of a golden accent at the soft, billowing sleeves of their gowns seemingly catching the light.


    One thing in common was all females having a veil below their eyes with golden patterns similar to their earrings.


    In comparison, the men wore white robes with golden trim and flowing cloaks, complemented by golden belts and embellished clasp.


    Yet both the attires reflected purity, reverence, kindness, benevolence as if embodying the radiant essence of the Goddess of Light herself.


    "Even the delegation from the Church of Light has arrived!" the reporter excitedly clamored for the people watching him.


    In the Church of the Goddess of Light, attire is both ethereal and majestic, making it quite easy for the reporter to identify them.


    Still, many reporters like him stayed around, wanting to catch as many elusive figures as possible.


    The hype for this year was incomparable to any before, making it all the more worth it.

 Chapter 110 - 110: Shades of Ambition

    "May the blessing of Light befall you."


    The voice of so many members of the Church of Light resounded in the area as they lowered their heads fervently.


    For a moment only silence followed before the entourage from the Church moved away, leaving space for the next arrivals.


    However, a few reporters were curious about the participants from the Church this year.


    ''Surely, there''d be some talented ones rivaling the nobles of the three races.'' That''s what most believed and were quite curious about.


    Unfortunately, having curiosity didn''t mean they''d get an answer.


    A golden-white sphere appeared around the entire group, isolating them from the onlookers.


    The cameras could no longer record anything except their appearance as they walked away.


    "Looks like the Holy Church has some capable candidates this year!" The reporters tried their level best to keep up the hype.


    Despite their personal dissatisfaction, no one would dare to go against the only Church in the Solarnelle Empire.


    However, it seemed that the participating candidates did want to show themselves.


    A girl with long, radiant golden hair and green eyes asked innocently, "Why did we separate ourselves?"


    "That''s what His Holiness ordained us to do," a female with a veil on her face replied with a smile, though invisible.


    "Hmm. But why?" the golden-haired girl asked again, wanting to show off the Church''s might.


    Before anyone could reply, another young voice chimed in.


    "Vivia, we shouldn''t go against the words of His Holiness."


    The stern voice made the pouting girl, Vivia, turn as she looked at the silver-haired teen, his orange eyes shimmering with golden hues.


    He wore a calm and polite smile on his face as he addressed her, wanting to make her understand their position.


    Vivia''s expression fell at his sight, a flicker of frustration crossing her eyes, but she controlled it before anyone could notice. "Right, Caeron," she nodded.


    Of course, Caeron caught sight of her expression but didn''t address it, knowing the reason for her dislike.


    ''Phew... Now we won''t have to show ourselves before the Entrance Test,'' Caeron thought, heaving a sigh of relief secretly.


    Just then, another boy around their age appeared, "Alright! Now, you both should just focus on the Entrance Test ahead."


    ''Damn it! Where did he come from all of a sudden,'' Caeron cursed inwardly, feeling uneasy.


    "You''re right," he agreed and moved aside, feeling a sense of strangeness from the golden-haired boy and his golden eyes.


    Meanwhile, Vivia''s smile brightened at his presence and the two began to chat, leaving Caeron aside.


    However, he didn''t mind it, choosing to get along with the not-so-talented participants from the Church.


    Of course, it was just in comparison to the trio who could easily rival most children of nobles.


    Speaking of nobles, the teleportation gate flickered once more, announcing another arrival.


    The arrival of the next group was met with a mix of curiosity and anticipation


    This group wore blue suits, and was surrounded by tons of security teams belonging to them.


    After a few seconds passed, the interested reporters got a glimpse at the identity of the group.


    As the security scattered a bit, between them, a beautiful young girl next to a couple with a majestic aura could be seen.


    Both the girl and the man had striking blue hair and black eyes while the woman had black eyes and green hair.


    However, her presence was in no way any lesser than the man''s and the young girl''s facial features resembled hers.


    "As you can see, the Archduke has also arrived!" the reporter shouted as the couple along with the girl eloquently went past the reporters.


    They didn''t wait a second as they sat in their luxurious cars and left the premises, with their security team following alongside.


    "Both the Archduke and the Archduchess themselves came with their daughter! For more such news, stay tuned," many reporters announced.


    They were presenting the same news with different words, trying to appeal to more audiences than other channels.


    After all, most of the media channels across the world had their reporters set eyes on this batch of students in the Solarnelle Academy.


    Since the general populace wanted it, they displayed it.


    That''s how they earned money after all. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Naturally, the increased attention on the special candidates only heightened the nervousness of the normal participants.


    On the other side of the spectrum, some were excited at the aspect that they were going to meet people they could never meet normally.


    The nobles, however, had different moods


    ***


    Inside the Imperial Palace in Adonia,


    "Don''t let down the name of the Imperial Family," said an older man to Avon.


    Avon could only swallow his feelings and say, "Yes, I will never let someone tarnish the name of the Imperial Family."


    The man just smiled, placing his hand on Avon''s shoulder. "That you must, Avon, that you must," he said.


    Avon shifted uncomfortably, his brother''s grip tightening painfully on his shoulder, causing him to suppress a flinch.


    Just as Avon was about to yelp, he withdrew his hand, still smiling.


    Despite the discomfort and pain, Avon hung his head low, not daring to show his feelings to his older brother.


    He was the First Prince, someone who had graduated as an A-Rank from the academy, a feat considered rare.


    There might not be even one of them every graduating year yet he was the top of the year, by a huge margin at that.


    ''I wouldn''t suffer if not for that Amael,'' Avon thought, directing his hatred to Amael for stealing his spotlight.


    Unfortunately, he failed to see that it was his own shortcomings that led him to failure, not someone else.


    Despite his outward composure, a storm of frustration brewed inside him, fueled by his recent failure.


    "I wonder what would happen if Ava outranks you?" the First Prince muttered as he left.


    His mocking voice was loud enough for Avon to hear clearly, making him grit his teeth in denial.


    "I will definitely rank first," he vowed to himself, already pushing his limits since his defeat at the banquet.


    Meanwhile, Ava was catering to her sick mother in an isolated room.


    No one was anywhere near that room when suddenly the First Prince showed up with a gentle smile.


    ¡ªKnock Knock


    Perplexed by the sudden knocks, Ava stood up to open the door and exclaimed in recognition, "First Brother!"


    "Hello, how are you doing Ava?" he asked with genuinity, lacing his voice.


    "I am doing fine, First Brother. But how come...?" she asked, not completing her question to prevent it from being rude.


    "Nothing much. I just came to inform you that your mother will be well taken care of during your Academy term."


    "Really?" Ava blurted out, unable to believe the notion, but she soon calmed down as the First Prince nodded.


    Although smart, she couldn''t see through the facade of kindness displayed by the First Prince, or was that a facade to begin with?


    No one knew for sure as the First Prince was just too strange to be evaluated in a few words.


    However, it worked out well for Ava as she could fully focus on the Entrance Test and her years at the Academy with peace of mind.


    "I am sure you will rank first among the Females in the Entrance Test," the First Prince said with a proud smile.


    Ava nodded in determination, feeling the weight of the Imperial Family on her shoulders.


    "I will surely try my best to rank in the top 3 overall, First Brother," she declared, fierce resolve in her eyes.


    As it turns out, the Entrance Test has two rankings, one based on the gender, that is, male or female.


    The other one is a cumulative ranking.


    Of course, it wasn''t to discriminate against the students, but to ensure that both genders had a Representative in their year.


    ***

 Chapter 111 - 111: Silent Preparations

    Back at the Ramille Estate,


    Jash casually leaned against the balcony railing, gazing at the sky.


    "It''s finally time, huh?" he muttered to no one in particular.


    "Haa..."


    Heaving a sigh, he shook his head and walked back inside, heading to bed.


    Unfortunately, his much-loved sleep evaded him as he tossed and turned, trying to relax.


    Thankfully, he had to undergo no training today, so his day was a bit too lax.


    In the end, it seemed that was the reason for his inability to sleep.


    "Damn, my sleep schedule!" He grumbled under his breath, tossing aside a spare pillow to vent.


    "Should I try thinking of boring stuff to put myself to sleep or complex?" he mumbled in contemplation.


    Sleep, it seemed, was his primary source of concern when most awakeners around his age were getting fired up for the Entrance Test tomorrow.


    "Whatever helps me sleep, I guess," he decided on thinking about boring stuff before moving to the complex.


    ''Amael would most likely be having that conversation, no?'' Jash mused, back to lying on his bed.


    ¡­


    "Haha, I am sure you''ll get the First Rank this year," the Emperor smiled as he talked with Amael.


    "It seems so," Amael agreed politely before adding, "But what can be said about the Elves, the Dwarves, and the Church?"


    "Maybe they will have someone better than me or the style of the Entrance Test being against me, like a group test."


    "As they say, I can just try my best and hope for it to be the best among all," Amael concluded, a polite smile ever-present on his face.


    The Emperor also took on a contemplative stance and the two walked in silence before he turned to Amael.


    "I''ll advise you to not hold back in the Entrance test since you aren''t the only one who can do such a thing."


    With that as his parting words, the Emperor left, leaving Amael to think to himself what the cryptic words meant.


    ''System, do you think he means what I think he means?'' Amael asked his system rather than wasting his time.


    {There''s a high chance for that to be the case, Host.}


    It seemed the system agreed with whatever web of complex thoughts Amael went through.


    Since a lot of politics was involved, not all young awakeners had shown their strength in the Imperial Banquet.


    As a public event, it naturally stopped the schemers from showing off, preparing instead to give a sweet surprise during the Entrance Test.


    Having once been the most wanted man, Amael was naturally aware of such things. What he found strange was the Emperor''s advice.


    ''It never happened in the novel, though,'' he thought as he entered the treasury to get the promised special reward.


    In the end, Amael chose to focus on the present as the sight of the treasure was too dazzling, even for him.


    Although he was the heir to a duchy, he hadn''t gotten access to any Family Treasury ever, so this was his first time.


    {The description paled in comparison to the real thing.}


    Even the system gave a rare word of compliment to the Imperial Treasure as Amael glanced around.


    Piles of gold, silver, platinum, and mana stones were left to rot on the floor of the Treasury.


    Several pieces of equipment were scattered around, seemingly having no value yet they could be considered Family Treasure for any commoner.


    Amael, of course, spared them no more than a single glance before choosing to move ahead.


    His eyes grasped the contents around before arriving at rows of shelves and glass cabinets on all sides.


    From equipment, to books, to scrolls, to artifacts, to potions¡ªeverything one could imagine¡ªwas present here.


    Looking at the sharp weapons and sturdy armors, Amael had a rare smile as he passed by them.


    He didn''t even spare any book a glance, irrespective of what they contained¡ªbe it a spell, a mana circulation technique, a weapon technique.


    His footsteps only stopped at the sight of a pitch-black sword as he continued to stare at it for a prolonged period.


    {Host, remember what we are here for!}


    The system chimed in, reminding Amael of the specific armor that Jash informed them about.


    Although both carried suspicion about how Jash was so certain about it, they agreed that it was a better choice than taking this cursed sword.


    Of course, the system said that it could remove the curse... for a price.


    ''Damn, you system!'' Amael cursed inwardly, recalling the "reasonable price" the system demanded.


    ''Who the hell asks for 9,999 Villain Points just to remove a curse!'' he complained, all the while looking for that armor.


    The system refused to answer, even though Amael was right in his assessment.


    The sword''s curse would easily be removed after it got stolen by that villain who perished due to the curse.


    ''Oi, System, how did that sword even get stolen in the first place?'' Amael asked, wanting to know how that was even possible.


    {I don''t know, Host. I am not omnipotent or something.}


    Hearing the reply, Amael just kept quiet, thinking to himself how it happened with all the security in place.


    ''With all these runes and many hunters at S-Rank and SS-Rank, it makes no sense,'' he wondered.


    Obviously, it was the system who told Amael about all of it, he wasn''t at a level to notice the number of eyes observing him.


    That''s why he had to waste his time and stop at random things, pick them up and then move on.


    It really increased the time and difficulty to get the armor he came here to take.


    ''Do I even need it? The Academy doesn''t allow it,'' Amael asked his system once more, unwilling to waste this chance.


    After all, he was the one who got it, just a little later than now


    {Host, we both know that it''s not for the Academy.}


    ''Yeah, yeah, I know,'' he told the system, and just then the system yelled in his mind.


    {There!}


    Amael''s eyes turned in response, and his lips twitched at the sight of the black armor lying on the ground.


    ''Just what kind of idiot grades things here? No wonder it got stolen and no one even knew,'' Amael cursed the idiot appraiser.


    Just as he picked it after picking random things, he took a look around and walked out.


    "What a waste," a security guard commented as Amael picked up a seemingly subpar artifact.


    "But it''s sufficient for his rank," another chimed in.


    The others agreed as they were well aware of the side effects of using artifacts of higher ranks.


    "Still, he could''ve saved the chance and taken a better one when he grew up. Not like he needed it now. The Entrance Test is tomorrow, no?"


    Hearing the first one talk again, they couldn''t help but agree this time.


    The security personnel didn''t know, but Amael had his system, which would allow him to smuggle the armor into the Academy.


    Of course, they also didn''t know the true worth of this armor, or would it have been lying as a piece of trash?


    {Host has gained...}


    Looking at the number of Villain Points he gained, Amael smiled as he walked out, making the security personnel think of him as stupid.


    ¡­


    While all this was going on at the New Year''s Eve, Jash had finally fallen asleep as he recalled the scene of Amael and the Emperor.


    He didn''t know yet that his words had changed the entirety of the scene itself.


    Well, that and the system...


    Oblivious to the turmoil in the world, he slept blissfully, enjoying his relaxing sleep with a happy smile on his face. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 112 - 112: Countdown to the Test

    As morning arrived, the sun rose higher, casting its first golden rays over the excited crowd; the anticipation for the Entrance Test grew palpable.


    Across Adonia, countless people were eagerly moving to the areas where they could spectate the Entrance Test.


    Many loud conversations were taking place between the excited parents as some proudly boasted about their children.


    "Is your son in the Entrance Test too?" one man asked another man walking beside him.


    "Yes, but he was so nervous... Back in my day, we used to be excited about such things," the older man chuckled.


    "Haha, but this time there are many big shots here," the first man matched his tone and laughed along.


    "I''m just happy that he might study at the Solarnelle Academy. I didn''t let him know, but I was so proud of him when he told me about this," the older man smiled.


    Several people around them were also conversing and discussing the contenders who might secure a high rank.


    "With so many talented contenders this year, it should make for quite a spectacle," one man said to his companion.


    "I doubt they''ll match Prince Avon, though. He''s already a Mid E-Rank hunter," his female companion replied confidently.


    "Oh come on, even Caera Ramille is a Mid E-Rank hunter, and so is Princess Ava," a person passing by the couple butted in.


    "I am not so sure. Isn''t there Ziva Arne as well? She would be a tough candidate for sure," another passerby added.


    Surprisingly, the people nearby heard the conversation and started talking over each other, unwilling to accept their guess as wrong.


    "A bunch of idiots," a man with spectacles scoffed, adjusting his glasses.


    His comment silenced the discussion, and the crowd glared at him, ready to beat him up if unsatisfied by his words.


    "You all will lose money today," he declared. "The winner will surely be Maximus," he added proudly, leaving the listeners stunned.


    "Who''s that?" someone asked. "Is it you yourself, idiot?" another added.


    Hearing the second remark, the man''s cheeks reddened, and people clicked their tongues at his foolishness.


    "No wonder you seemed stupid," a girl began, "The entry for the participants is not from here."


    Maximus had a shocked expression on his face, as if he just had a realization, and immediately dashed away, leaving behind the snickering crowd.


    "So what if someone is bad with directions?" he yelled, trying to save face, but it was useless.


    "By the way, why did none of you mention Amael Blake and Jash Ramille?" a person asked, breaking the status quo.


    Unfortunately, it seemed no one was interested in answering him as they walked by, giving him strange glances as if he were an idiot.


    The mood got a bit tense with that mention as they all separated and walked ahead, entering a huge dome-like building.


    It was made up of frosted glass, making it seem opaque blue, yet it was just normal glass.


    Inside, there were multiple queues leading to a small portal and advanced security in front of it.


    As soon as anyone reached half a meter within the portal''s range, they were scanned completely, including their storage rings.


    Only if they didn''t carry any non-permissible items would they be allowed to use the portal.


    These portals were connected to different seating areas in the stadium where the Entrance Test would be displayed for all to see.


    Still, as additional security, each portal gate had B-Rank and entire domes had some A-Rank hunters to make sure that no one suspicious entered.


    This year, the security was even especially focused upon due to the presence of many high nobles from all three races alike.


    Of course, they didn''t need such security as they were strong enough to defend themselves, but it would ruin the reputation of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Thankfully, only a handful of selected guests and participants and their invitees could enter the main stadium where the Entrance Test could be spectated live.


    Naturally, the floating holograms were available at even this stadium as it was much better for aesthetics as well as visibility.


    Nevertheless, the high rank guests like S-Rank Hunters and above didn''t have many restrictions.


    They could literally see everything taking place, so it didn''t matter in the first place.


    While the entire Solarnelle Empire was celebrating as all the participants and famous nobles arrived, two were indifferent.


    Amael''s focus had remained fixed on the black armor for the entire night after acquiring it.


    In the solitude of his study, he meticulously examined every inch of the armor, noting the precise engravings and the subtle hum of mana it radiated.


    His thoughts drifted to the Emperor''s cryptic advice, weighing its implications.


    The more he pondered, the clearer it became that the Entrance Test was just as complex as the novel described it as.


    ''Any advantage there can tip the scales,'' he thought but scoffed at the notion.


    Excluding Jash, who was the most suspicious, there was only that blessed protagonist Amael needed to be wary of.


    "I''m stronger than I should be. Winning should be a given, right?" Amael mumbled to himself, reflecting on whether his enhanced strength would guarantee success.


    {Host, you have altered some minor plots, and the Heavens would always find ways to make their chosen one the best...}


    "Yeah, yeah, I know. Stop repeating the same thing over and over again," he ordered the System, tired of its continuous warnings.


    ''Put the armor into the inventory since using it in the Entrance Test is a no-go,'' he told the System, well-aware of the rules and regulations.


    Despite his rude speech, the System didn''t care and did as asked, deducting a fair share of his Villain Points as the cost.


    ''My precious Villain Points!'' Amael lamented, his heart bleeding at the dropping number.


    {Stop being so overdramatic, Host. It is time to earn them now!}


    ''Yeah,'' Amael mused, exiting his room and leaving for the venue of the Entrance Test.


    His mind turned to the various contenders he would face¡ªtheir stories, rumors, the alliances and rivalries that would shape their actions.


    He knew that some would approach the test with pure skill, while others would use cunning and strategy.


    His preparation was not just about his own capabilities but understanding and calculating those based on the novel context.


    "Let''s get going," he told himself.


    Amael made his way through the streets of the capital, his thoughts fixated on how to gain the maximum of Villain Points. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The city buzzed with excitement, vendors and citizens eagerly anticipating the event.


    Amael, however, kept his focus sharp, scanning his surroundings with practiced vigilance despite the bustling activity.


    Despite the security teams of his family guarding him, he didn''t let his guard down as he continued on his path.


    His family eagerly waited at the venue, trusting in his abilities to easily ace the Entrance Test.


    At the Ramille Estate, Jash slept soundly, seemingly indifferent to the upcoming major event.


    Though he too had been waiting for it¡ªfor his own reasons¡ªhe didn''t really care all that much.


    For him, following his heart and getting enough sleep was his priority.


    The stark contrast between his unpreparedness and Amael''s cold calculations to maximize profit displayed the difference in their beings.


    But, how could Jash''s family let him miss such an important day?


    ¡ªTnng Tngg


    Dozens of alarms rang in his room, disturbing his sleep as he stirred awake.


    "Ugh," he let out a strange sound, annoyed at getting his sleep disturbed before his eyes fluttered open.


    "Shit! Isn''t today the Entrance Test?" he exclaimed in shock.

 Chapter 113 - 113: Arriving at the Test Venue

    Jash awoke with a start, his mind immediately focusing on events of the day ahead.


    The bed seemed to be yearning to be slept upon, but its yearning was now overshadowed by a blend of annoyance and mild sadness.


    "Goodbye," he muttered, caressing his trusty bed. "I will be back to sleep on you after graduation," he told the bed with determination.


    A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he wiped a lone tear from his eye,


    It turned out his sadness wasn''t from being unable to meet his parents but from being separated from his comfy bed.


    Shaking his head, he remembered that he was already running late, exclaiming, "Shoot! As if I am not late enough!"


    He dressed quickly, his thoughts racing through the details of the Entrance Test he was well aware of.


    "Every detail matters, and every preparation, no matter how small, is crucial," Jash mumbled to himself, focusing back on the day ahead.


    Oblivious to each other''s polar opposite mindsets, Jash and Amael moved through their routines with a mixture of focus and trepidation.


    Both fully aware of the weight of what was to come.


    Of course, Amael had nearly arrived at the venue of the Entrance Test while Jash was still getting ready.


    After more than ten minutes, Jash finally prepared to leave, his thoughts constantly drifting back to the tasks he had yet to complete.


    ''This year''s Entrance Test is unlike any before, with intense competition across all races,'' he thought.


    The Entrance Test usually was not only a challenge of ability but a test of endurance and mental fortitude.


    However, this year, it was going to be taken to another level due to the higher average talent, making it all the more enjoyable for the spectators.


    Bets were already being placed and many had bet on themselves.


    "I will strike it rich," Jash mumbled subconsciously, dreaming of the money he would get after betting on himself.


    Though the odds weren''t as crazy as 100 to 1, they were still higher than most famous participants.


    ''Getting 37.5 million with an investment of just a million is really crazy indeed,'' he smiled to himself, remembering the odds of Amael.


    "Damn guy! His odds were only around 1.1 to 1! Just how many people bet on him to win? Even Avon''s odds are 2 to 1."


    Jash wanted nothing more than to bet on Amael and have an easy time during the Entrance Test, doing just enough to pass.


    "If only he won, I wouldn''t be bothered, urgh," Jash grumbled in annoyance.


    The plot indeed favored the protagonist such that he would defeat the seeded candidate, Amael Blake.


    ''It would really give the church some hype since they didn''t produce any good participants for quite some years,'' he recalled from his lessons.


    "Anyways, the pressure of the day can push even the most prepared to their limits," he smirked.


    That was the best way to give his final speech or so he believed.


    If only he came back to the present and realized he hadn''t even reached the Venue yet, not to mention participate in the event!


    "Just where am I getting lost today?" he yelled in disbelief, unable to stop overthinking for the day.


    Still, he regained himself and gathered his belongings before taking a moment to steady his breathing and focus his mind.


    After all, a calm and clear perspective would be essential for success.


    As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting shorter shadows across the landscape, Jash found himself on his way to the venue.


    ''Faster, faster, faster,'' he urged inwardly, knowing the sports car he sat in was going at its fastest speed.


    If not for his status, the current speed would be nothing more than a pipe dream.


    They had literally emptied the areas and posted security teams through the way from the Ramille Estate to the teleportation portals.


    Meanwhile, Amael had a rare moment of quiet contemplation, choosing to refine his strategies and prepare for any uncertainties of the test.


    ''I hope nothing goes wrong with that guy,'' he prayed, referring to Jash.


    While both were anomalies in their own right, the two were much too different to be even classified in the same category.


    Jash wanted nothing more than an easy life, unlike his past while Amale had no option other than to seek chaos.


    The God of Darkness was a literal God, not someone he or the lowly system could hope to defeat.


    Or at least the current level of his system.


    However, Jash didn''t know about Amael''s system or even his own, from his previous life.


    It was really strange for him to change the plot instead of faking his death and letting it go down the route it''s supposed to.


    For Jash, it was something that needed to be done without any reason but Amael had his reason¡ªthe Villain Points.


    Unaware of the complexity about each other, both were especially wary of not the protagonist but the other suspicious person.


    Oblivious to the strange fate ahead, Jash calmed down in his fast moving car, choosing to reflect on his journey and the opportunities that lay ahead.


    ''I hope I reach on time, though,'' he prayed and closed his eyes, leaving it all to the security team.


    Thankfully, he reached the teleportation portals on time and reached Adonia before the Entrance Test began.


    Unlike some idiots who took the wrong route, he walked with his back straight into the correct place as if he had done it many times.


    ''Finally...'' he mused to himself, heaving a sigh of relief at appearing right on time.


    Unfortunately, he had arrived a little late to miss the view of the capital city.


    As the final hours before the test ticked away, the city''s atmosphere grew ever more electric, charged with the promise of change and the thrill of competition.


    The city of Adonia began to stir as well, with families and competitors alike preparing for the day''s events.


    The air was thick with the tension of unspoken rivalries and the promise of new beginnings.


    As Jash and Amael moved towards their respective destinies, the stage was set for the Entrance Test¡ªa pivotal moment that would shape the future of many.


    Most weren''t confident in their abilities, their nervousness clearly visible on their faces as they waited for the Entrance Test to begin. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Some waved their nervousness and hesitation goodbye as they started conversing amongst themselves.


    Naturally, the cunning ones used this chance to glean information about one another.


    However, the places where the nobles or the people in power sat weren''t approached by even the daring ones.


    In the grand scheme of things, this was just the beginning and it made no sense to offend someone in power, even if accidentally.


    After all, who knew what might offend these people in power?


    Also, some rumors stated that each step taken, each decision made, would echo through the halls of the Solarnelle Academy and beyond.


    Though no one knew how much truth they carried, it was wiser to be on the cautious side.


    And with the final preparations complete, the test that would brighten or dull the futures of many was all set to begin.


    The anticipation of what was to come filled the air, as the world seemed to hold its breath for the unfolding drama of the Entrance Test.


    It was a place where skill, strategy, and resolve would all come into play.


    As the time for its beginning approached, the city settled into a tense calm, the stage was set for the Entrance Test¡ªa pivotal moment that would shape the paths of all who participated.


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo~


    So, this is where Volume 1 ends. I know it''s the major cliff, being carried upon for a long time, but Volume 2 will be where the main stuff starts, so get ready!!


    Also, as thanks for all the support and love my book''s been getting, I will set some extra chapter goals:


    Every 150 Power Stones, Every 50 Golden Tickets, Every 5 reviews, Every Gift worth 1000 coins = 1 Extra chapter(Am I being greedy?)


    5 Extra chaps for Supergifts!


    {No, you didn''t pay extra for this part}

 Chapter 114 - 114: The Test Begins

    After being teleported to the test venue, Jash adjusted his position and steadied his breathing as he waited for further instructions.


    ''So this is the test venue,'' he mused, his eyes taking in the sight of the huge waiting area enclosed within walls.


    It was adequately lit with various mana stone lamps, and it seemed he was one of the last to arrive, as everyone was looking at him.


    Ignoring their strange gazes, Jash casually made his way to the place where other nobles were seated.


    ''Thankfully, the first round is done in different places for the three races,'' Jash thought, sitting on a random empty seat.


    Of course, his neighbors could only keep their mouths sealed shut due to his status as a Duke''s child.


    Everyone had already seen or heard about his performance of the Imperial Banquet, having an unfavorable impression as a result.


    Yet it seemed Jash had no idea about their inner thoughts, focusing on the participants and the ticking time.


    ''So, the groups have only formed amongst the non-nobles and the ones from the Association?'' he mused, scanning the area.


    Nearby, a group of competitors huddled together, exchanging last-minute tips and strategies.


    Despite their low voices, they carried a sense of camaraderie born from shared preparation.


    ''Probably from the Hunter Association training camp,'' Jash guessed, his gaze shifting to other areas.


    The sense of camaraderie among the competitors was a small comfort amidst the stress for others, but that was not the case for Jash.


    He couldn''t help but feel disgusted by the fakeness in their grouping, recognizing it at first glance.


    ''They are the ones who''d betray each other, if given the chance,'' he lamented, choosing to find a better sight.


    After all, he wasn''t like the lone contenders who envied their ease, wishing to shake off their own tension.


    He didn''t have any tension about the entrance test.


    ''There''s just no way someone like me will fail it,'' he thought, retracting his gaze and turning to look at the nobles.


    The first one he actually recognized was Amael standing a short distance away, seemingly in complete control.


    Amael''s calm demeanor was a stark contrast to anyone else in the area, which made Jash smirk at the sight.


    ''Surely, I will get to see something interesting soon,'' he guessed, and recalled his own plans and strategies to win 37.5 million.


    Thinking so, Jash''s gaze fell on the sight of fellow nobles who had rotten expressions on their faces.


    ''They''re only realizing now that Amael has always been a formidable competitor,'' he scoffed at their idiocy.


    He never liked mingling with them and today was going to be no exception.


    As he noticed someone approaching to talk to him, he walked away to greet Caera.


    "Look who decided to show up," Caera teased as Jash approached, cutting off any attempt at a polite greeting.


    Jash''s lips twitched as he replied with a restrained smile, "It was you, wasn''t it?"


    "But of course!" Caera proudly admitted, making veins throb on Jash''s forehead.


    He couldn''t understand how shameless his sister could be!


    "Whatever. Tell me, did you meet brother?" He asked, in an attempt to change the topic, but Caera played along.


    "Hmph! He says he can only meet after the entrance test is over as the Vice-President of the Student Council," Caera complained.


    "Well, I guess we will meet the two of them together," Jash replied, unfazed by her hurtful expression.


    He was too used to her playful nature, albeit she restrained it because they were in a public seating.


    If not for it about their Elder Brother Brandon, who was also the heir to the duchy, she wouldn''t have let her perfect mask fall.


    While the two were busy conversing, a voice interrupted them, "You two, keep quiet."


    Turning to the speaker, they didn''t recognize him but the emblem on her chest and arm indicated that she was from the Solarnelle Academy.


    The twins quietly nodded and Jash returned to his seat.


    By that time, everyone was either seated or standing, though it made no difference anymore as they all focused in one direction.


    The grand stage at the far end of the large room.


    ''It''s no different than an auditorium,'' Jash and Amael mused, noting the similarities.


    Naturally, they didn''t know it.


    Slowly, the seconds passed by as the Solarnelle Academy officials roaming about began to gather below the stage.


    Suddenly, a few people wearing similar attires, tight and fitting blue-white clothes, appeared on the stage out of nowhere.


    The officials all stood with their backs straight below the Grand Stage, making the reality of the test begin to sink in.


    ''They''re not going to observe this phase, if I am correct?'' Jash guessed about the audience, focusing on the instructors.


    The sudden appearance of the stage caught many participants off guard. Some gaped in astonishment, while others whispered anxiously.


    The man at the leftmost corner stepped forward, his voice cutting through, "Good day, everyone."


    His expression turned cold as if he were disappointed at not getting any response, but he continued nonetheless.


    "I assume you all are well-aware of what we are here to do today, so let''s begin with that," he declared, smiling menacingly at the crowd.


    "The entrance test consists of three major stages you need to pass before you can be admitted," said a woman as she took a step from the rightmost corner.


    "As for the first stage," continued the man before turning to the women standing in the center.


    As she nodded, he turned back to the students and dropped a bomb, "It is of course the written test."


    Before the participants could even react to that the other speaker, the woman, said, "Take the passage to your right."


    Out of nowhere, a passage appeared, surprising even the nobles slightly.


    They had never seen such things happen even as nobles, not to mention the commoners who were flabbergasted.


    They could never hope to reach the same level of preparedness as the nobles in the written test.


    As if sensing their worry and anxiety boiling over, "The Solarnelle Academy only caters to the best of the best among the three races,"


    "You think this is a disadvantage?!"


    "Then, you can''t even hope to compete against those of the other races for admission. Just give up!"


    ¡ªThwack!


    The oldest man on the stage struck his cane against the Grand Stage as he ended his speech, giving the participants their much needed dose of motivation.


    Of course, he wasn''t done yet.


    "See, while you all were hesitating, someone already walked ahead of you," he said, pointing his cane at the back of the well-dressed guy.


    Who else could it be other than Jash?


    Even Amael was slightly surprised but Caera literally facepalmed after recognizing him. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This guy... he just wants to get it over with..." Ziva blurted out subconsciously, knowing him just like Caera.


    The man with a cane barely stopped his lips from twitching as embarrassment threatened to consume him.


    ''Damn you! I will definitely find out who you are!'' he cursed inwardly at Jash for embarrassing him.


    Unfortunately, Jash couldn''t be bothered with their long-ass speeches. He wasn''t here for that.


    He was here to win.


    "Go! What are you all waiting for?" the cane man shouted in exasperation, prompting everyone to dash and leave.


    When all the participants had left, he turned to face the women in the center.


    "Leonard," she said, her voice icy to the ear, making the man flinch.


    "Next time you want to do something like that, ask for permission," she said, her voice devoid of any kindness.


    The others on the stage felt a chill run down their spines as Leonard gulped and barely uttered, "Y-yes, Professor Aileen."

 Chapter 115 - 115: A Surprising Start

    "Hoh?" Jash remarked, impressed by the smoothness of the teleportation.


    At the end of the sudden passageway that appeared out of nowhere was a lone portal.


    After entering it, Jash felt an exhilarating sensation instead of the disorienting sensations he felt every darned time he used teleportation.


    It was the same for when he arrived in Adonia, making this one truly a marvel in his eyes.


    "Maybe I should learn how it''s made," he mumbled to himself, his eyes shining with interest and greed as it would sell like hot cakes.


    "Haha,"


    A sudden laugh put Jash on his guard as he didn''t expect any response, having sensed no one nearby.


    ''What am I getting tense for?'' he thought, well aware that there were thousands of people who could kill him with a mere sneeze in this world.


    The next second, he dropped his guard as the person appeared in front of him.


    ''Hoh, what an interesting kid,'' the man thought before appearing in front of Jash.


    Currently, the same person had appeared in front of everyone as soon as they teleported, scrutinizing each and every participant.


    It was difficult to say anything about this person, but Jash seemed to have a hint of recognition.


    ''Now that I think of it, isn''t he...?''


    Just as the thought struck him, Jash relaxed, knowing nothing would happen to him and it was just another minor test.


    "Oh? Why did you give up, kid?" the man asked, his brows raised in intrigue.


    "Because this is the Entrance Test, and there has been a zero death toll in it," Jash replied calmly.


    "Also," he added, "No matter what I do, it would make no difference in your presence."


    "Hmm. Aren''t you curious why you''re here instead of the written test?" the man asked after accepting Jash''s answer.


    Looking at the man nodding to himself, Jash shrugged, "I was asked to come here for the test, so who knows? Maybe it began already?"


    "Hmm?" the man hummed questioningly, wondering what nonsense Jash was spouting.


    "Well, if I get delayed because of another test proctor, that''s not my fault, right?" Jash said, a smile blossoming on his face.


    It turned out he was planning to use the guy as a scapegoat for his reason for delay and saving himself from taking any blame.


    "You''re a smart kid, I''ll give you that," the man praised, stunned by Jash''s bold response. "But... time to go and write that test," he declared.


    In the next instant, Jash opened his eyes and found himself seated in a classroom, if it could be even called that.


    ''This... This is more like a freaking lecture hall!'' he exclaimed inwardly, looking at the steps in the classroom and the huge board at the lowest level.


    The desks were wooden and seemed fixed to the ground with strange wires around them.


    ''Is this the futuristic classroom?'' Jash pondered, recalling how the author described them.


    The wires functioned to display live holograms instead of books, and even the Professors used the same holograms to teach the entire class.


    Before he could take a good look around, Jash noticed that all the seats were filled with random people.


    ''Nearly 200?'' he guessed, remembering the class strength and how these rooms actually were the same.


    In the next second a person wearing a similar uniform to the officials entered, silencing the nervous participants with their aura.


    Her fierce look stunned the children speechless as she directly began the test, skipping any formalities.


    Deep inside, she was cursing that old man for taking so long to test the students of the Golden Generation.


    "Now then, without further ado, we''ll begin the first phase of the test." She began, not even giving anyone enough time to sort through their thoughts.


    Jash didn''t care, though. His mind was in its right place.


    He didn''t recognize her, but it didn''t matter; what mattered was that the test would begin soon.


    The woman snapped her fingers, creating a loud clicking sound, catching the attention of everyone, irrespective of their inner turmoil.


    ¡ªClick!


    ''So forceful,'' Jash noted her use of mana to form a spark and burst it to start the first phase, disliking the annoyingly loud sound.


    However, his eyes suddenly caught something in front of him¡ªon his desk, to be precise. ''A piece of paper...?'' he recognized, looking at the clear white sheet.


    "You should all have received pieces of paper, one page each, correct?" The female proctor announced.


    Jash''s eyes inadvertently darted across the room as he found the same sheet present at every desk, be it at his side, the front, or the back.


    ''Everyone indeed received the same piece of floating paper,'' he observed, turning back to the female proctor.


    ''With the snap of a finger... impressive...'' he thought half-heartedly.


    After all, it was nothing more than a parlor trick in his eyes.


    ''To think the Academy resorted to such petty methods to impress students...'' he lamented their lack of originality, ignoring the impressed crowd.


    ''It is but a simple trick once figured out,'' he mused, waiting for further instructions.


    "You are to pick up the paper before you. Written on it is a simple ID," the instructor continued.


    "The paper is enchanted and responds to mana, so don''t even try being smart or you''ll end up disqualified," she said with a smile.


    However, her smile appeared more demonic than even demons themselves to the participants there.


    "Also, you don''t need a pen to write," she added, and the desks transformed to a hologram of a keyboard.


    "Answer the questions written on the screen before you, using the keyboard," she finished, turning silent.


    Everyone mechanically obeyed her instructions, already used to the keyboard-screen mechanism as it was commonplace everywhere.


    ''This... Isn''t this similar to computers? Just a tad too advanced,'' Jash mused.


    If he had noticed it, surely Amael would''ve too. Just like him, Amael had also spent some time with the old observing man.


    However, his approach was to keep his guard up until the end to impress the man and even giving vague answers of their location.


    Although both were aware of his identity, it would be foolish to reveal it as they didn''t have any bias for it. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While one might think their family could''ve told them, it was entirely false.


    The Academy isn''t so stupid, they change the entrance test every year, except one of them.


    Obviously, it was the fighting to decide who would be the year representative and other things.


    Still, it was a long time away as just the written test was about to begin.


    As the participants turned in their ID, they had to use a password.


    [Type in your name.]


    Seeing the prompt, they all followed it and easily got access to the exam screen, which showed a reducing timer.


    [00:04:59]


    All the participants focused on the screen, well-aware that it would definitely have a time limit once it began.


    "I would desist from engaging in any form of malpractice since this place is being monitored entirely," the proctor said, breaking the tense silence.


    She suggested, "Also, the questions assigned for every examinee are in random orders and the time allocated for this stage is fifty minutes!"


    The bewildered students tried to express their displeasure concerning the sudden rush of information.


    However, the moderator couldn''t care less. It wasn''t her duty to babysit the students and listen to them whine.


    "Your time starts now!" She shouted as the timer reached [00:00:00]


    [Written Test Begins! Good luck!]


    Everyone instantly buried their faces into the screens, not wanting to miss even a second and end up failing this test.


    It would be better to die of embarrassment if they actually failed in this test!

 Chapter 116 - 116: Uncovering Hidden Intent

    As everyone fully centered in their focus to answer the questions correctly, Jash was thinking about something else.


    He paused for a moment to analyze all that had transpired so far.


    ''If anything, this Academy shit is never so simple,'' he wondered, trying hard to recall the bits and pieces about the Entrance Test.


    Alas, the questions were really different and even the written test was just glossed over as the protagonist easily passed it.


    Without information, even he was feeling helpless, but it wasn''t like everything went according to the novel.


    ''No idea, let''s begin solving it,'' he told himself, cycling back to answering the questions in the way he knew best.


    Some of the questions were fairly simple while some were multiple choice, giving two plausible answers, confusing the participants.


    However, Jash didn''t linger longer than a few seconds on any question, answering them on the fly as if it didn''t matter.


    ''At least there was no negative marking for wrong answers or something,'' he reiterated, shifting in his seat as his pace increased.


    Unlike him, Amael had come prepared. He focused solely on answering as many questions accurately as he could, avoiding unnecessary distractions.


    Most were like him, trying to answer only the correct ones, unaware of the inside things like the two of them.


    Despite that Amael chose not to make random guesses so as to not spite the Academy staff into a misunderstanding.


    Either way, the written test only served to eliminate the less knowledgeable.


    Imagine someone being unable to answer the hunter ranks or monster categorization or dungeon classification or basic mana theories.


    In the end, the written test would only be eliminating fewer than 10% of the participants, based on myriad other factors.


    The test, as previously mentioned, began the moment they arrived at the venue, irrespective of their prior knowledge.


    That''s why most nobles did arrive on time, even though they didn''t know the reason for their family to force them into it.


    Meanwhile, there was another major force, distinguished from the others.


    It consisted of all three races, known as the Church of the Goddess of Light. After a very long time, they finally managed to nurture 3 seeded candidates this year.


    The first was Vivia, the sister of the current saintess and the daughter of the Pope of the Church.


    Just in case someone misunderstood, the two weren''t biologically related to each other or to the Pope.


    Chastity was a must for either position, so they were never related by blood.


    However, the bond of fervent devotion brought them together alongside their talent for the light element or healing element.


    In the case of Vivia, it was the healing element unlike the Saintess who had the light element.


    Then, there was Caeron, who was disliked by Vivia for some reason.


    The last guy was the most important and pivotal person in the whole of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia as well as the novel "Hero''s Journey: Blessed by the Goddess."


    With radiant golden hair and shimmering golden irises, he looked amicable and fiendishly handsome with a height of 1.7 meters.(5''7'''')


    Currently, he was doing the same thing as anyone else but it was easily noticeable that the speed with which he answered far surpassed his peers.


    It appeared as if he was already aware of the answers and didn''t even need to read the questions.


    Apparently, that was the truth indeed.


    ''Good, the questions are way too easy,'' he thought, his eyes moving at a fast speed across the screen as his hands tapped in the answer.


    A confidant smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he happily marked all the answers.


    Just when the timer reduced to twenty minutes, a voice echoed deep within the confine of his mind.


    (Host, you have done enough to secure the same marks.)


    As it turns out, the protagonist also had a freaking system.


    The villain had a system and so did the protagonist. It seemed Jash was the only anomaly without any system.


    Yet if one were to compare the three''s feats, Jash could easily overshadow the protagonist if he just put in the effort required.


    Unfortunately, in the case of Amael, even Jash was left feeling helpless.


    If Jash knew that both the mortal enemies had a freaking system, he''d curse the one who was freely distributing systems.


    Though, he was busy solving questions at a speed far surpassing the protagonist or Amael.


    Despite the two of them having a system to aid them or the protagonist even already knowing the questions, Jash nonetheless was ahead. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had been forced to study too much and with his brain retaining everything easily, it was hard for him to give wrong answers.


    Still, he had some lingering doubts in his mind unlike the two who accepted that there was nothing special in the written test.


    ''If my previous life memories taught me anything, it would be to never expect anything simple or straightforward from such tests.''


    Recalling the countless novels with academy arcs he had read, Jash couldn''t help but frown, trying to decipher a hidden condition.


    ''Maybe If I answer all the questions correctly?'' he guessed, but immediately denied it, knowing it was next to impossible for anyone to do that.


    Unable to think of anything, his gaze inadvertently fell on the paper that was said to have the ability to respond to mana usage.


    If one used their mana to increase their eyesight to cheat or increase their body''s movement speed, it would result in instant disqualification.


    ''But what if that isn''t the case?'' Jash pondered, wondering if the real test was using mana while not getting caught.


    ''No, that can''t be it,'' he denied it within a second as the proctor would immediately notice the attempt and disqualify the participant.


    In fact, that was what was happening in various rooms where the proctors kicked out participants as the paper reacted to the usage of mana.


    Simply, no one was good enough with mana manipulation that no amount of mana would leak from their body.


    Hence, the idea itself became impossible.


    ''The flow of mana within the body is something any hunter can sense,'' Jash recalled, focusing on the question on his screen.


    It talked about a theory stating that if one could control all the mana perfectly from their core, there would theoretically be zero leakage of mana.


    ''However, controlling that flow from one''s mana core is a different story entirely. To do that, you need to be focused and calm...''


    Jash remembered the bare minimum to even begin, not to mention the theory which seemed only possible for someone with special talent in mana manipulation.


    ''Or someone with memories of it and getting reborn into a new body,'' he thought, ironically rolling his eyes at the absurd thought.


    ''The restriction on using mana¡ªcould it be to teach them to not be overly reliant on it?''


    Jash guessed but didn''t fully believe it. It seemed too far-fetched and even if it were to be the truth, it could never be the complete truth.


    In the end, he just sighed as the test was about to end. ''The questions weren''t all that difficult for anyone who studied well,'' he noted.


    That meant the true test was the ability to keep one''s cool while focusing on using their body correctly to answer the question while being under the pressure of time.


    ''It all adds up. When you think of it that way... the first stage becomes very easy to overcome!''


    Thinking so, Jash almost facepalmed, realizing his foolishness at not trusting his own thoughts.


    Just as he was done deciphering its intent, the timer stopped.


    [00:00:00]

 Chapter 117 - 117: Trial of the Mind

    "Okay, time''s up!" The proctor announced as the timer struck zero.


    Before anyone could react, the screen blacked out, closing on itself as the hologram ceased to appear, vanishing from the desks.


    As the screen blacked out, the only thing left in their vision were the wooden desks. Their desperation and lowered face didn''t bother the female proctor at all. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So heartless," a few muttered, only to get glared at by the proctor as they gulped in nervousness.


    ''That''s the academy for you,'' Jash commented inwardly, looking down on the idiots who thought the academy would leave loopholes.


    ''Well, whatever. Just need to keep going,'' he told himself as the proctor''s voice echoed with a smile on her face.


    "That''s the end of the first phase of the exams. I hope you were all able to answer the questions properly," She said cheerfully.


    Though she seemed happy, many of the examinees weren''t. It became even more pronounced upon looking around.


    Many uneasy faces full of tension appeared in sight yet the proctor seemed more than happy to get rid of her duty.


    The smile on her face only served to tighten the nerves of the naive students.


    ''It''s none of my business, though,'' Jash sighed, observing it from his detached perspective.


    The fact that he could complete his task without any issue was his primary concern. Also, he had deciphered its true intentions.


    Hence, he wasn''t bothered in the least, knowing that it was nothing short of a lesson in the form of an Entrance Test.


    ''The only thing I have to worry about is the next phase of the exam,'' he shook his head at the thought, refocusing on the proctor.


    "I won''t be the one handling the next aspect of your exam. As such, I shall be taking my leave," she said in delight.


    Her expression seemed to be screaming that she was forced into this babysitting job, with the burden of even kicking out a few examinees who used mana.


    ''She''s crazy,'' Jash thought, noting her smiling expression as she paused at the gate.


    "By the way, turn the paper and it will have the area you need to reach for the next stage of the Entrance Test."


    As soon as her words fell, the examinees hurriedly turned their paper and saw the words appearing on it magically.


    "She left..." Jash muttered, looking at the empty spot at the gate.


    However, he didn''t linger on it for long and exited the room like the others, wanting to find this place for the second stage.


    "T97998, huh?" he mumbled, looking at the large number and a sigh escaped his lips.


    ''Looks like coming late did affect things,'' he mused with a wry smile before walking away from the room.


    Surprisingly, no buildings were present outside the room, just a bunch of students searching for their next test location.


    ''What''s with all these useless theatrics...'' Jash cursed inwardly, disliking the whole concept the Academy was going for.


    As if reciprocating his feelings, expressions of frustration, annoyance and helplessness appeared on those around him.


    ''I don''t recognize anyone,'' Jash noted, his eyes narrowing on the faces of the examinees around his age.


    It wasn''t that he hadn''t seen them during the written test, but he didn''t quite recognize anyone.


    ''So, they separated us based on our identities?'' he guessed, taking in the frantic looks of the ones that deliberately dodged him.


    "Wait a minute!" he exclaimed, a strange thought taking root in his head. "Could it be...?" he muttered as if he were on the final piece of the puzzle.


    "It can''t be that the entire test is nothing but a fake, just an illusion to trick the brain..."


    As soon as he uttered those words, the world around him seemed to dissolve, everything vanishing from his sight.


    Everything¡ªexaminees, the ground, the building¡ªmelted away as if it were never real, to begin with.


    His eyes closed reflexively, unable to take the disorienting sight in.


    Upon opening them, the sudden brightness made him blink rapidly to get used to the difference in brightness.


    As it turned out, he stood right outside the passage he entered after listening to officials on the stage about the three tests.


    "Congratulations! You have passed the first of the three stages!"


    The sudden word of commendation took Jash by surprise as he looked around to locate its source, only to find no one.


    "You may pass to the next one."


    The voice sounded once again, giving instructions as Jash''s body started to move on its own, obeying the command.


    ''Enchantment Spell of Sound Magic?'' he figured it out as it was quite obvious.


    However, he really couldn''t stop his body as it moved across random areas¡ªgardens, pavements, dry lands, river banks etc etc.


    Only after his limbs were about to give up did he stop as he raised his head to look at the number above the doors.


    "T97998...? So it wasn''t all an illusion and the test did happen inside it?" Jash mumbled in confusion, trying to think of a feasible reason.


    However, he realized that it wouldn''t matter how much he thought, the academy operated on another level entirely.


    ''It isn''t something I can just guess... This all wasn''t mentioned in the novel itself,'' he pondered, assessing the differences.


    Unlike him, Amael actually didn''t figure it out. It was his system that helped him figure out the illusion and get out of it.


    Same was the case for the protagonist who was blessed by the Goddess herself.


    Still, the two indeed figured it out later than Jash as the system had stayed silent until the last moment.


    Of course, Amael had to pay a "reasonable price" of Villain Points unlike the protagonist whose system came in clutch with plot armor.


    Unaware of the crazy feat he achieved, Jash continued inside the room.


    Though his mind was focused on what would be the next stage¡ªor Trial, to be precise.


    ''Trial of Mind, Body, and Mana?'' he guessed wildly, not caring about it in the least.


    ''So, she''s supervising the test this time,'' he mused, remembering the Enchantment magic he was forced with.


    Shaking his head, he entered inside, only to find himself in an empty room of white. "Hmm? Not again..." he sighed in irritation.


    It was the same old trend of trying to shock the examinees and impress them.


    ''For goodness gracious, everyone is well aware of the Solarnelle Academy''s prestige!'' he lamented inwardly.


    Suddenly a gust of wind began gathering in the arena, drawing his half-hearted attention as he rolled his eyes.


    "Here we go again," he muttered in disbelief.


    However, it was just him who would have such an exaggerated reaction as even the distraught students would be excited by the vast stage before them.


    "Taking charge of the second round is none other than one of the Senior Professors within Solarnelle Academy... Professor..."


    The same voice that congratulated him echoed as Jash caught the sight of the man who appeared from within the tendrils of wind on the stage.


    He was none other than¨C


    "...Leonard Tremayne!"


    Jash''s eyes bulged in surprise as he recognized the man¡ªthe one who had been embarrassed in their previous encounter.


    "Nice to meet you-" Professor Leonard Tremayne greeted, smiling at first with his usual cheerful grin.


    However, the moment they met eyes, both froze in spot. ''It''s him!'' the professor thought in hatred.


    Even his greeting stuck in his throat as he looked at the one student he didn''t wish to meet, at least not so early.


    His lips twitched as he caught Jash''s annoyed expression, the murmurs from the hall ringing in his ears.

 Chapter 118 - 118: Unprecedented Strength

    "This guy... he just wants to get it over with..."


    The resonant words only seemed to stab the Professor''s heart as if they were thorns instead.


    Still, the scene of being scolded was fresh in his mind as he regained his composure and coughed to clear the awkwardness.


    "Ahem, ahem. Now then, without wasting much of our time, it''s time to begin the second round of the test," he said without any formalities.


    Even his expression remained stern as if nothing affected him but that was his exterior facade.


    "The requirements are quite simple, really." Leonard Tremayne continued, looking at Jash who responded with a slight nod.


    Despite his reservations about the professor in front of him, Jash chose to listen and follow the instructions.


    ''There''s no way she stopped paying attention, especially after our reactions,'' he mused, waiting for the real instructions.


    It wasn''t just him who thought so, even Leonard was of the same mind as he knew that Jash was the first one to appear for the second test.


    "The purpose for this second round is to test your physical ability," the professor began, catching Jash''s attention.


    "As prospective students of Solarnelle Academy, it''s important that you''re capable of utilizing your powers to their fullest," he explained.


    Jash didn''t respond, just looking straight at Leonard, awaiting the test itself instead of meaningless conversation.


    ''He''s no doubt one of the senior professors, although weaker than even some younger ones,'' Jash reiterated, focusing on the details


    Opposite him, having confirmed that Jash was indeed paying attention, Leonard tapped his cane on the ground, producing a sharp sound.


    ¡ªThwack!


    One of the walls of the room gave away, revealing complicated machinery beyond as a platform arose from the ground.


    It wasn''t too high, just a few centimeters above the ground, more like an elevated platform. A training dummy without any features materialized on it.


    Above, a huge screen hung from the ceiling displayed real-time scores of the examinee undergoing the test.


    Although there was another miniature hologram in front of Leonard, displaying the scores and ranking of everyone.


    Currently it was empty as Jash would be the first one to take this test.


    "The first criteria," Leonard began and pointed at the training dummy. "Physical," he said as if that were enough.


    The training dummy along with the platform worked in tandem to evaluate the strength behind one''s punches.


    "Come," Leonard called out to Jash who turned to the training dummy with a disappointed expression on his face.


    ''I think he''s gonna call me...'' he thought, anticipating the call from the annoyed professor and that''s exactly what happened.


    "Where are you going? I meant, come here!" Leonard exclaimed in disbelief.


    Considering Jash''s status, Leonard believed that he would know the drill for such basic tests.


    Alas, it was Jash who didn''t do things as they were expected to be done.


    He walked towards Leonard in a leisurely manner and looked him straight in the face with an expression that said, "What?"


    Though Leonard did his best to reel in his emotions, his eyes twitched at the sight as he roughly put cuffs on Jash''s hands.


    "Mana cuffs," Leonard mentioned before Jash did something even more unsavory than last time.


    A small smile plastered on Jash''s face as he lamented inwardly, ''He is being overly cautious. I am not that scary, though.''


    Despite his contradicting thoughts, he really did plan to blame Leonard for putting on the cuffs on him.


    It didn''t matter that he recognized them or was already aware of the entire procedure of the second test. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Or at least until it also has some hidden agenda,'' he thought, recalling the complex first test which many failed.


    After all, it didn''t matter if they deciphered the hidden intent or not, the next test would continue without any problems.


    "Now, go do your best," Leonard told Jash after seeing the latter admire the mana cuffs instead of moving.


    As their name suggested, mana cuffs blocked the mana of a hunter depending on their rank and were mainly used to isolate hunter criminals.


    However, they also eased the process of testing the body and making it stronger without mana itself.


    Of course, some may consider it inhumane or brutal, but it didn''t matter to the Solarnelle Academy, or anyone for that matter.


    ''At least it''s regulated and few can get their hands on it,'' Jash sighed as he caressed the black cuffs flowing with a strange network of runes.


    ''Literally everything works with runes, maybe I should learn them,'' he thought as he reached the training dummy and felt his connection to mana being cut off.


    "Hmm," Jash hummed and closed his eyes, put his right foot forward, and turned his body a bit.


    He stretched his arms a bit, relaxing his legs to get rid of any tension built up previously as Leonard closely observed him.


    He tapped a few places on the hologram, nodding to himself at Jash''s preparations instead of randomly throwing a punch.


    The thought that Jash wasn''t just trying to get this over crossed his mind but he immediately dimmed it.


    Oblivious to the complex mood of his proctor, Jash took a deep breath and concentrated on the dummy opposite him.


    With that single deep breath, Jash opened his eyes and punched the machine,


    ¡ªBam!


    A loud noise echoed in the silent room as Jash moved away, straightening his arm by jerking it randomly in order to not feel the sting on his knuckles.


    He soon got the hang of it after five seconds and turned around to look at the dummy¡ªits chest where he had punched, to be precise.


    "So, not even the slightest mark, huh?" Jash muttered as a frown marred his face before he turned around to the proctoring professor.


    Meanwhile, Leonard doubted his eyes and the machine itself as the resultant value was not something an early E-Rank hunter could achieve.


    Of course, Jash couldn''t see it as he would only be able to see the total results from this round and he was aware of it.


    "Professor! Professor!" Jash called out repeatedly a few times but got no response and just as he was about to punch...


    "Yeah, what?" Leonard blurted out as he felt a punch closing in on his face, but it stopped as soon as his voice leaked.


    It turned out Jash felt annoyed for wasting his time and was about to punch Leonard in the face to get his attention.


    In the end, he just smiled awkwardly and put his hands behind his back, but abruptly brought them forward.


    "What now?" Leonard asked, his expression dark as he noticed Jash''s clenched hands..


    "The mana cuffs," Jash replied, pointing at them with his eyes and fingers both.


    With a not-so-good expression, Leonard took off the mana cuffs and put them away.


    "The next is testing your mana," Leonard mentioned and pointed to an empty wall adjacent to the one the first test was held on.


    Wasting no time, Jash followed Leonard''s sight while rubbing his wrists a bit as he proceeded to ready himself for the next test.


    A crystal, thrice the size of an adult''s palm appeared lodged on a strange black platform that had many runes on its surface.


    Without wasting any time, Jash walked over to the orb and put his palm on the crystal orb.


    As soon as a light yellow light glowed out of the crystal orb, Leonard stopped him, "That''s enough. You can remove your hand."


    ''I didn''t even have to channel my mana into the orb? It just checked on its own... Amazing!'' Jash thought, impressed by the testing orb.

 Chapter 119 - 119: Trial of Might

    Unlike the impressed Jash, Leonard was thinking something else entirely: ''This reading is normal, so the measuring machine should be fine.''


    He was still doubting the results of the strength test, but he didn''t have time to waste, so he moved on to the next one.


    "Next, strike that training dummy with your strongest attack aided by mana," Leonard instructed, pointing to the first training dummy.


    Although confused by the impatience in Leonard''s actions and commands, Jash nodded and returned to the first platform.


    "What weapon do you want to use?" Leonard asked, snapping his fingers once again.


    This time, the wall behind him transformed into a weapon rack, displaying all kinds of weapon prototypes ready for use.


    ''Yeah, I don''t have a weapon,'' Jash mused, remembering the ban on storage rings for the entire Entrance Test.


    "Sword," he answered, and Leonard brought tens of swords forward to pick from.


    After a brief adjustment and taking a grip on all the swords, Jash finally picked a 1-meter-long sword with a single sharp side..


    "The dummy can handle even C-Rank hunters'' attacks, so attack it with your all," advised Leonard.


    "The final score you get will appear there," he added, pointing to the empty screen hanging from the ceiling.


    Jash nodded and returned to the dummy''s side, swinging his sword to get a feel and adjust to its weight.


    ''This test is worse for those who rely on artifacts, be they mages or warriors,'' Jash smirked at the thought of the pampered nobles.


    Simply because it wasn''t easy to adjust to a new weapon one was holding for the first time.


    There was a high chance it would reduce the efficiency of the wielder, resulting in only subpar results irrespective of their real strength.


    ''It''s more so a test of talent than strength,'' Jash mused, masterfully getting used to the sword in seconds.


    His mental proficiency of using anything as a weapon and wielding it to slay foes helped him adjust easily to any melee weapon.


    Especially so for a sword, something he had been wielding and using ever since he started training.


    ''Jash''s presence seemed to reduce as he held the sword, entering a focused state effortlessly, getting ready to attack. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''He entered a focused state so easily?'' Leonard noted, surprised by Jash''s monstrous talent and anticipating another crazy reading.


    Without wasting any time, Jash looked at the dummy in front of him, his eyes taking in the subtle grooves and jugged parts on its surface.


    His eyes, moving at fast speeds, narrowed in on the upper chest region of the training dummy, his sword pointing to the ground.


    In the next second he swung¡ª


    ¡ªSlash!


    His sword was pointing at the ceiling before he retracted the blade, looking at the minor scratch at the training dummy''s chest.


    Though it didn''t even take a second to heal.


    ''Lacking,'' Jash noted, sensing the strain in his muscles as he executed that swift strike.


    Although it was too fast for anyone at his rank to perceive, Leonard had seen it wide and clear, his jaw hanging wide.


    Leonard struggled to comprehend how a kid could deliver an attack on par with top E-Rank or even some D-Rank hunters.


    Of course, he didn''t know that Jash had still managed to hold back, not using a sword that suited him and also his mana circulation.


    ''If only I could use that one,'' he sighed internally, knowing he had no option to use that until some time into the academy.


    In essence, he was using a mana circulation method that Inigo gave him instead of the one he had refined from his past life.


    ''Still, it can''t be compared to the one that I made for the battle against the demon king,'' he lamented his lack of strength to use it.


    Nevertheless, a small smile appeared on his face as he would get to use the lesser version of it after entering the academy.


    ''I just need to wait till D-rank for that one,'' he guessed in his heart, not so sure when he would be able to use it.


    "Well, whatever," he muttered, putting aside the sword as the memories of the harsh training he went through replayed in his mind.


    Not only was he forced to train with his father, he also had to spar with Caera and the hunters of their family.


    Sometimes even Emma and Kesha helped the twins to get better at fighting hunters instead of monsters.


    After all, they did get enough hands-on experience with the several dungeon expeditions they went on.


    Due to all these factors, Jash never got the time to focus solely on sword master, having no other option to polish it with every fight.


    Still, there were certain limits that would only break at crucial moments of enlightenment, however small they may be.


    In the end, Jash had been stuck in his sword master, unable to achieve anything more.


    So, he chose to focus on refining his mana control and increasing the strength behind his attacks with the least amounts of mana.


    ''If only I had achieved the intermediate level of sword mastery,'' Jash lamented the wall in his breakthrough but shook his head.


    ''This is not the time to be thinking about this,'' he reminded himself, shaking his head before turning to face Leonard.


    Thankfully, Leonard had composed himself after the shock he got from watching Jash''s performance.


    The time Jash spent in introspection was more than enough for Leonard to do so.


    "Congratulations for achieving such a high score in the test," Leonard praised the moment Jash turned around.


    "Mhm. Thank you," Jash responded politely, changing his mind about annoying the already annoyed professor.


    However, Leonard''s words made Jash curious about his score, so he turned around to check it.


    "6481?" Jash blurted out, astonished by the unexpectedly high score.


    ''What the hell!? That''s higher than the protagonist, right?'' he thought, trying to recall the scores mentioned in the novel.


    Alas, even if it was indeed higher than the mentioned score, Amael and the protagonist were neck-to-neck in the novel.


    And now, they both had a system willing to help them, there was no way they would only have the same score.


    Albeit, their test had not yet been conducted, so it was difficult to guess their new scores.


    Oblivious to it all, it didn''t stop Jash from recalling the scores mentioned in the novel.


    ''If I remember correctly, Amael was leading by less than a hundred points with his score being 5499 and the protagonists being 5436...''


    It eased Jash''s heart to know that he was performing better and could get the comprehensive Rank 1.


    ''I won''t be losing my money,'' he thought with a small smile.


    By the time he was done thinking, Jash returned the sword to Leonard, who was silently observing him.


    "Let the flow take you," Leonard said vaguely after a great deal of hesitation.


    "Hm?" Jash hummed questioningly but Leonard kept his quiet for the entire time before Jash gave up.


    "You may go and wait for the last round to start. The Trial of Might has ended," Leonard said instead, making Jash leave.


    "What did you think you did?" The same feminine voice echoed in the room, questioning Leonard.


    "I just did what I felt was right. It''s on him to comprehend it, though," Leonard answered politely, "Besides, not like you stopped me."


    The voice didn''t respond and a silence fell over the room as Leonard waited for the next candidates to show up.


    ''He''s a monster. I am sure he will figure it out,'' Leonard mused with a smile, the negative feelings for Jash submerging within.


    Of course, his dislike for him was still strong.

 Chapter 120 - 120: Thoughtful Interlude

    "What did he mean?" Jash muttered contemplatively as he exited the room where the second trial occurred.


    "Trial of Mind and Might, what''s next?" he mumbled in a slight daze, his mind focused on interpreting the vague words from Leonard.


    ''Is it related to my sword mastery?''


    Thinking so, Jash mulled over the words, repeating them again and again, "Let the flow take you... flow take you..."


    Moving absentmindedly, it finally clicked in his mind as he blurted out, "I see. So that''s what he meant..."


    ''Well, I do know the wall blocking me, but it''s not so easy to rid myself of my ingrained habits and let the sword flow.''


    Despite his thought, a sigh escaped his lips as he knew it was something that must be done for the next stage.


    In the world of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia, the mastery of weapons was divided into 7 levels: Fundamental, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster.


    Of course, those were the known and classified realms, many more might or might not exist.


    Currently, Jash was on the brink of Intermediate sword mastery, and the advice Leonard gave him was wholly applicable throughout.


    ''So troublesome,'' Jash thought, grappling with the complex details of so many power systems.


    "At least the Master and Grandmaster realms have nothing to do with me..." he sighed, feeling relieved about it.


    The Master proficiency required, at minimum, A-Rank, but only the talented ones could take that step.


    Most could only achieve it at the Integration-Rank, which naturally distanced the Grandmaster level.


    It could only be a pipe dream for most as the minimum requirement was reaching S-Rank, a major hurdle so to speak.


    Though the hurdle of crossing the levels of different proficiencies remained, he was confident in his talent, memories and abilities to achieve it.


    Even the highest realm was within reach as long as he lived to see that day and increased the amount of effort into it.


    Anyways, Jash shook those thoughts out of his head as they didn''t matter at all for now. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The last test awaited him.


    ''It will be the major deciding factor about the representative rank,'' he mused, recalling its details as he walked in random directions.


    He didn''t mind as the scenery was quite serene, something he admired along the way.


    Fresh green grass, the oxygen-rich air, and long trees provide shade with colorful flowers on both sides.


    Small paths were made through this garden-like area to move around and Jash did exactly that.


    "This is... paradise," Jash mumbled in praise, feeling relaxed at the scene.


    Unfortunately, he had to bid farewell to it as he finally found a shimmering portal in the middle of his path.


    ''I''ll be back,'' he told himself as he stepped into the portal.


    "Ah, this is the same," he unconsciously blurted out, feeling the difference in teleportation compared to the normal ones.


    Looking around, Jash found himself back in the same area where they had first arrived before the first stage.


    ''Interesting,'' he mused, intrigued by the place where the first two tests had been conducted.


    However, his inner thoughts were cut off as a shadow appeared in his peripheral vision.


    "Wait for the others before the last one begins."


    A calm, declaring tone was all he heard as he turned around to find the professor from the center of the stage behind him.


    "Yes," Jash replied, nodding respectfully as his eyes darted to the three stars on her shoulder.


    Unbothered by his gaze, she vanished in front of his eyes, reappearing on the empty stage where a single chair was placed for her.


    ''Where are the others?'' Jash wondered, curious at first but soon came up with a hypothesis himself.


    ''They''re probably conducting the Trial of Might,'' he thought to himself and nodded at his conclusion.


    Now, he had no other option than to wait for others to arrive, so he did just that.


    Meanwhile, the other participants were struggling to do their best and not fail at the first two rounds itself.


    There were obviously thousands of examinees from each race, with humans having the most participants as well as dismissals.


    Elves and dwarves had the least dismissals as they focused on the basic education quite a bit and their racial traits helped them.


    For example, elves with adequate talent easily figured out the illusion while dwarves easily understood runes and machines.


    In return, they could find the point with maximum impact and get a higher score, even if only by a small margin.


    Still, the passing score in the second test was a bare minimum of 100, so no one could theoretically fail it.


    In essence, it was conducted to distinguish the examinees before the third test.


    After all, if one couldn''t even damage the other person and could get easily knocked out, how would it even be a match?


    That''s why the Academy came up with this method this year to test the upcoming examiness.


    Naturally, the only ones aware of it were in the confines of the Academy, observing the entire process through holograms.


    The third test would still occur inside the Academy grounds, and the first two were nothing short of a prelude.


    Hence, most professors appointed were on the lower end of the spectrum.


    Only 3 SS-Rank Professors with 3 stars of authority were sent, one for each race to maintain safety in the rare event.


    Of course, the accompanying professors were all S-Rank professors, be they 1 star or 2 star.


    "He completed it faster than we anticipated," one professor with three stars on his shoulders commented with a rare hint of praise.


    Another professor chuckled, "That''s why it''s fun to teach and watch the younger generation."


    "I agree," the first one said, a small smile tugging at his lips.


    Despite the casual conversation, several professors also stood respectfully at the side.


    They were merely 1 star professors, not having the right to speak or disturb the professors so high-up in authority and strength.


    Naturally, this area was different from where the Principal or Vice-Principal would be staying in.


    If they were here, the 3-star professors would behave the same as the meek 1-star professors in front of them.


    Not that it mattered to anyone as they were just arriving to check the results and leaving, being busy with the preparations of the Graduation Ceremony.


    Obviously, if one batch of students was arriving, another batch would be leaving.


    "This batch will be wilder than the one that''s leaving," a 3 star professor said as she stood up, taking her leave.


    Her comment hung in the air but no one denied it as they looked at the results of both the trials.


    Not only the humans, even the elves and dwarves had very talented students and when such students faced each other...


    "Their egos would no doubt clash and it''ll be annoying to deal with childish tantrums," another older professor said with a frown.


    "Maybe we can apply the new rules this year?" a professor suggested, but the room fell silent.


    Even the professor about to exit stopped and turned around, her gaze locking on the one who spoke.


    Despite her strength as an SS-Rank, the ones staring at her were her equals, if not stronger. It was enough to overwhelm her.


    The professor who suggested it wasn''t as bold as the others and usually kept quiet.


    Currently, she blamed herself for being a loudmouth when she could''ve easily escaped this moment if only she kept quiet.


    "That''s a good idea, let''s refine them and propose it," the female professor about to exit said as she put her stuff on the table and sat back down.

 Chapter 121 - 121: The Final Test

    Meanwhile, in the Academy''s deepest room...


    A man casually flipped through pages and files as he sat at a large mahogany table inside a room big enough to easily fit tens of cars.


    His expression was calm and serene as if nothing could disturb him, but he raised his head from time to time to look at a screen on the wall.


    There were three screens in total, and his gaze darted to all of them in less than a second before focusing back on the huge pile of papers.


    As if used to the process, he appeared unperturbed and continued to perform his duties before a frown appeared on his face.


    His pursed lips parted as he commanded, "Enter."


    The person outside the door flinched, then entered with a deep breath, hoping it would go well.


    "Good morning, sir," the entrant greeted politely yet the man didn''t even glance at him.


    However, the new entrant seemed used to this behavior and carefully approached the desk, stopping half a meter on the side.


    "Sir, someone broke the record for the Entrance Test," the new entrant explained his reason for disturbing the man.


    Hearing this, the man''s hand paused for a fraction of a second before he replied, ''Naturally. Who was it?"


    As if the man knew such a thing would occur, he asked for the identity of the person despite the guesses in his heart.


    ''Avon, Amael, Sylvie, Zaos, Grunghin...''


    The man listed the names of the most talented examinees, expecting one of them to be the record breaker.


    That''s why when the new entrant said a different name, he didn''t believe it for a second and raised his gaze to the entrant''s face.


    "Jash," the person reported again, "Jash Ramille."


    "Hmm. He has two monsters of a grandfather and even that elder brother of his..."


    The man said so and returned to his work, though, a small smile of anticipation was plastered on his face.


    ''It would be interesting to see how you perform in the final test,'' he mused with interest. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªKnock Knock!


    Right at that time, another person came and knocked at the doors as the man regained his calm and allowed her to enter, "Come in."


    "Greetings, principal," she said, bowing slightly in respect of the man opposite her before turning to face the man beside the desk.


    As if sensing her gaze, he immediately said, "I''ll take my leave, sir."


    "So, what happened for you to show up?" the man, the principal of the Solarnelle Academy, asked.


    "These are the new rules we wish to implement this year," she said, placing a thick document on the table.


    Despite the advanced technology allowing ease of access and making it hundreds of times faster, the Academy still used papers.


    Of course, everything was available online, it was just a formal procedure.


    "So, you finally put it into action, huh?" the principal commented as he picked it up and perused the file.


    He was aware of the professors wanting new rules ever since the current graduating batch, however, it wasn''t so easy to change them.


    "I see, so you want to use the next test as justification, right?" the principal asked as she nodded before he added, "How sure are you?"


    "If things continue as they are, 100%."


    Hearing her confident tone, he smiled and focused on all the altered rules and new ones being introduced.


    As events unfolded in the Academy''s depths, the examinees began returning to the first venue they had arrived at.


    At least the ones that made it through the first two rounds, the rest were sent into spectator stands in the Academy.


    Though those examinees were unable to even qualify to take the exam, they were able to enter the Academy grounds and enjoy spectating.


    As time ticked by, almost everyone had arrived, but this time only hushed murmurs and whispers were being exchanged.


    The imposing presence of an SS-Rank professor was unsettling for many, even if all they did was a silent staredown, especially since they were hegemons.


    And the three of them stood up at the respective venue of each race.


    "Congratulations for being one of the examinees to take the last test for the academy," they began with the same line.


    "If anyone''s curious to not see some faces around you, then they were most likely disqualified."


    The words stung but the examinees strained their focus to hear them, unwilling to miss anything and end up getting disqualified.


    As long as they could enter the Academy, not only themselves, they could even live for their friends.


    ''Fools,'' Jash thought, noticing their expressions and he was sure the ones coming from power thought the same as him.


    Not just the examinees, even the professor viewed them as immature fools.


    Still, she maintained her professionalism.


    "Out of the 17,680 candidates across the three races, only a thousand would truly enter the Solarnelle Academy."


    Her words only made the students more nervous as they realized the number was at an all-time high, a strange coincidence, or was it really?


    ''It''s the world itself or some nonsense like that. It''s always that kind of thing, Jash cursed inwardly, finding it stupid.


    If the world thought more children¡ªtalented ones at that¡ªcould help the situation, it was surprisingly stupid.


    It would only aggravate human greed as they wouldn''t want anyone to oppose them. Rather, they would prefer the strong to serve them.


    However, now was not the time to think about that as even Jash found himself caught up in the participants'' heightened emotions.


    ''Damn, it''s really hard to not get caught up,'' he lamented, unable to extradite himself.


    "...your next test will be explained to every examinee at the same time. Take this portal to the academy."


    She finished saying what she wanted and stepped aside as a freaking portal materialized on the stage.


    ''It should allow many teleportations at once,'' Jash guessed, roughly calculating its size to be enough for 4 examinees to go side-by-side.


    ''Hm?'' Jash turned his head in confusion, feeling someone''s heated gaze but found no source.


    "Weird," he muttered, looking around to find anyone suspicious but he only caught the sight of the examinees going into the portal.


    Unlike the first time when they hesitated, they were rushing over.


    No matter what the results, they would still be able to claim that they had stepped into the sacred academy grounds.


    "Slow down!" the female professor shouted with a frown on her face and immediately all the rushing examinees froze in their spots.


    "One last thing, while only 1000 would become the academy''s students, there are other academies as well. Also, a few scouts."


    Her meaning was clear, some might like your performance and give you admission into an academy or sponsor your education.


    It just depended on who you could impress.


    Naturally, the ones who understood it beamed at the thought and shared it with those next to them, making them excited as well.


    However, they still carefully and in a disciplined manner entered the teleportation portal.


    "Tch. How dare these filthy things ignore me," a noble cursed as he wasn''t allowed to go first, but that was a common sight.


    No one cared about your damned identity at this moment as there was no way anyone would remember them.


    ''Such a dumbass,'' Jash scoffed at their idiocy internally.


    According to him, anyone with a functioning brain would keep their disdain hidden, alas, not everyone could use their brain.


    Rather, a smile appeared on Jash''s face as he observed the scene and waited in the back, unlike the first time.


    He had already spearheaded the way once and the order would change nothing.


    ''They aren''t going to start it without explaining the rules now, can they?''

 Chapter 122 - 122: Saint of... Fortune?

    Jash was correct in his guess.


    As soon as the examinees stepped through the portal, they found themselves in small preparation rooms with other examinees.


    Each room held up to five examinees, with no regard to the order of their arrival.


    The examinees were tagged using mana to make sure they would end up in the room with the ones they didn''t know.


    However, it was only true for the most part.


    Mostly, the nobles and the talented found themselves huddled together, overshadowing the others in the room.


    Only, this time, it wasn''t just humans but elves and dwarves as well who were huddled together.


    It ended up making the randomization far easier due to most not knowing people in the other races.


    Still, there were a few exceptions.


    "Princess Sylvie, it''s been a while," greeted a well-dressed girl, with a genuine smile plastered on her face.


    "Oh, Princess Ava," Sylvie, the princess of elves, replied. Though she was unsure of calling it a long time.


    For elves, they could easily outlive any human by three times, so what was a long time for Ava wasn''t all that long for Sylvie.


    As Sylvie and Ava caught up, another room revealed familiar faces.


    "Zaos!"


    "Grunghin..." the long green-haired, blue-eyed elf with pointed ears sighed as he took the name of the Dwarven Prince.


    Grunghin, with fiery orange hair and amber eyes, grinned at the sight of Zaos, the elven prince.


    The other three in that room were humans, who distanced themselves due to the rumors of animosity between dwarves and elves.


    Of course, it was just a long time ago and Grunghin approached Zaos with a feisty grin, wanting to go for a hug.


    However, Zaos tried to evade it, not wanting to meet Grunghin if possible.


    Meanwhile, Avon, Amael, Ziva, and Caera were all in rooms where they failed to recognize anyone else, making them sit patiently.


    The same was true for the protagonist, who greeted the ones in his room with a kind and warm smile.


    The only one who had a different attitude to all this was Jash.


    He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to get some peace and quiet in the room, which he luckily got.


    At least until the final examinee showed up.


    With silver hair shining in the light, his orange eyes shimmering with golden hues, he caught all the attention with his characteristic smile.


    Jash only looked on from a distance, his wish for quiet forgotten in the face of the newcomer.


    "You''re from the Church, right? What''s your name? Have you ever met the Saintess?"


    After the teen answered all the questions with his polite smile, his impression increased in the hearts of the three people.


    ''Caeron Agria,'' Jash called out his name inwardly, trying to remember his plot and mention within the church.


    After all, if he turned out to be someone from the protagonist camp, Jash''s behavior would be different.


    ''Saint of... Fortune?'' Jash mused, finding it ironically funny. Since the actual name contained fortune, while Caeron''s life was anything but that.


    In fact, it was better to call him the "Saint of Misfortune" or so Jash believed.


    ''This guy... just what kind of crazy plot he has!?'' Jash thought in disbelief.


    It starts from Caeron being treated as a precious treasure by the Village he had lived in due to his latent charm.


    They all believed that Caeron was a Treasure from the Heavens due to the good fortune he would bring to the Villagers that were close to him.


    Yet, at the mere age of 4, Caeron was kidnapped by a greedy man who heard of his good fortune and sold him off to make a small fortune himself.


    For the next few years, Caeron continued to live as nothing but a slave until he was found by Members of the Church.


    They were investigating illegal slave traders and human traffickers in disguise to find the root cause, but their anger boiled at the sight.


    In the end, they saved and freed the slaves, offering them a chance to also come with them and become a part of the Holy Church.


    Naturally, Caeron declined, wanting to return to his family and village but his saviors had complicated expressions after hearing his village name.


    Rekrodival village had been destroyed by monsters, taking the lives of every single individual.


    Only when the High Priest in-charge of the mission heard about it, he went to meet Caeron in person and felt something strange.


    In simple words, a lot happened and Caeron ended up going to the Headquarters of the Church of Light.


    Due to most of the slaves already around 12 years of age, they were taken to the Pope and Bishops who advised them to awaken.


    Almost everyone accepted and after awakening, Caeron''s potential became evident.


    However, it was only when the Saintess accidentally saw him and his potential did she promote him to a Saint Candidate.


    He was the third one, the first being Vivia and the second being the protagonist.


    Yet the two didn''t get along with Caeron at all, only getting along with each other, isolating him.


    Of course, the major factor was the Saintess hiding the fact that Caeron was a Descendant of the First Pope of the Holy Church.


    Not only that but she also hid the cause for Caeron''s fortune, which was a blessing from the heavens.


    Sadly, Caeron also remained unaware of it and these words were the one of the last the Saintess uttered on her deathbed.


    "If only I had revealed his origins... his powers... he would be here... The Saint of Fortune..."


    Obviously, the one who heard it kept it a secret forever and Jash only shook his head after recalling the entire plot considering Caeron.


    Although intriguing and useful, Jash couldn''t decide on what to do with the guy.


    Should he win his trust or align himself with Caeron?


    In the end, it was much too complicated as his identity as the duke''s child hindered him from forming connections with just anyone.


    Looking at Caeron comforting the three and telling them to be strong and face the challenges head on, Jash couldn''t help but scoff inwardly.


    ''You yourself are just putting up a mask to cover your real personality so as to not get judged and keep your place in everyone''s heart....''


    ''...yet you have the nerve to give them advice,'' Jash completed his mocking comment, keeping it to himself.


    After all, it was the best thing to negotiate support from Caeron.


    ''No matter what his fortune isn''t something that can be ignored, plus the sword legacy of the forgotten swordmaster he can get to...''


    In essence, Jash didn''t need that inheritance as he had more than enough sword techniques, but it never hurt to look at a prominent swordmasters legacy.


    And the best part was that Caeron didn''t just have a sword master''s legacy!


    ''Still, the problem is his False Personality...'' Jash noted the serene smile on his face while Caeron''s legs were slightly wobbly. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The False Personality Caeron showed was that of an Ideal Man who was both righteous and confident while also possessing Dignity.


    Unfortunately, that was something Caeon faked since he was sold as a slave. He had no other option, if he wished to continue living and one day return home.


    Understanding this, Jash didn''t take any hasty steps and waited for it to naturally happen.


    Just as he was thinking so, a portal appeared at one end of the room and from it came a person wearing the Solarnelle Academy''s clothing.


    ''Now what?'' Jash wondered, putting the matter of Caeron at the back of his mind.

 Chapter 123 - 123: Unexpected Twist

    "I hope you all are ready for this," the person addressed the examinees before continuing without any regard for them.


    "State your choice of weapon for this test and nothing other than what you ask for will be with you."


    ''It seems the academy only wants those who can respond to spontaneous things,'' Jash mused, noting the bewildered expressions of the two elves and one dwarf.


    Caeron maintained his facade as if nothing could faze him, so Jash just chose to ignore the guys for now and instantly said, "1 meter sword."


    The academy personnel raised an eyebrow in interest before quickly handing over the sheathed sword with a smile.


    "Hammer!" the dwarf exclaimed, seeing the sword, not wanting to be left behind.


    "Hammer? What kind?" the man asked with furrowed brows, he didn''t seem to like the ambiguity of the request.


    "Uhm, warhammer!" the dwarf said, thinking that was enough to explain his point.


    "Here," the man said with a darkened face, ignoring the dwarf''s grumblings about the hammer not to his liking.


    "A magic staff," Caeron implored, glancing away from the dwarf and after the two elves had chosen a longbow and a spear each.


    ''So not all elves use bows,'' Caeron thought in interest while the two elves were intrigued about him being a mage.


    The only one with a plain old indifferent expression was Jash, which finally changed as the man suddenly declared, "Go!"


    It was really abrupt but before the other four could react, Jash had already dashed in.


    ''I really didn''t want to spend another second there,'' he heaved a sigh of relief before appearing in the academy stadium.


    The air was rife with anticipation, and he could feel the weight of expectations pressing down on the examinees.


    ''The crowd is no joke,'' he commented inwardly, hearing the loud chanting-like cheers from the eager audience.


    Meanwhile, most examinees were having a tough time, feeling burdened by the expectations placed unto them by their beloved family members.


    Some were feeling it in the nerves, barely calming down after recalling the tough journey they had gone through to stand here.


    Their minds racing with doubts and suspicion after looking at the strangely calm and indifferent faces of the rich¡ªnobles, merchants, clans, alike.


    Still, they managed to push away the nagging doubts and focused on the immediate task, trying to find an announcer.


    Jash too inadvertently glanced at the grand stage once more, where the officials were now taking their positions.


    The reality of the test¡ªthe gatekeeping test¡ªbegan to sink in.


    While the examinees felt anxious about the test, their parents and guardians eagerly anticipated the figure of their ward.


    They had been pre-informed about all these formalities and possible mass teleportation of their wards to the arena.


    The fact that not all would be present remained a bugging thought due to the tests they were going to have beforehand.


    Hence, they could only pray that their good wishes to their sons and daughters worked and they would succeed.


    Unfortunately, life wasn''t all sunshines and rainbows.


    While many were happy to find their wards there, some weren''t lucky enough to see them.


    Still, they clung to the hope that it was merely a matter of not spotting their children in the crowd.


    Sadly, their last straw of hope was shattered by the loud noise of crackers bursting.


    ¡ªBang! Bang!


    Ignoring the loud commotion outside, the noble families discussed the outcomes and boasted about their own kin to each others.


    As many big names were participating in this year''s Entrance Test, even those who did not participate came here to see the performance of their future rivals.


    After all, Solarnelle Academy, or any academy for that matter, was not a peaceful place where they only focused on developing talents.


    Over the course of years, the academies had become the place where many talents came from and many diminished.


    Only those who had actually graduated from the harsh academies knew the ruthless truth hidden from the common populace.


    This place was meant to train the young privileged children out of their protective shells!


    This was the decision made by the only Female Empress in the history of the Solarnelle Empire, and no one could change it.


    "Welcome to the final phase of the Entrance Test!!"


    A young man''s voice diverted the audience''s attention as they looked around the stadium, amazed by the various decorations.


    "This is yet another year for the Solarnelle Academy and we are here at the opening ceremony to witness the future talents compete against each other!"


    Cheers rang out amongst the crowd as some overexcited people clammered about their children.


    "That''s my son!!"


    "That''s my daughter!!"


    "That''s my sister!!"


    "That''s my father¨C"


    "Ahem, I am Rui, your host for today," the young voice said, unable to hear the crowd after the last shout.


    Why would someone shout about their father from the crowd!?


    Eyes turned to him in the huge stadium as he donned a black suit and stood on a flying platform above the stage covered in an opaque-white barrier.


    Not only the crowd, even the examinees focused on him.


    "It can''t be..." an examinee blurted out, pointing his trembling finger at the figure of Rui.


    Confused by his gesture, someone asked, "What''s the matter, Ren? What happened?"


    Yet Ren''s expression worsened before a look of horror appeared on his face as he began to let out incomprehensible murmurs.


    "No, no... Yes! This has to be a dream!!"


    ¡ªSmack!


    "Say it clearly, idiot!" another one from the group of five said with an angry expression.


    "You-"


    Before the girl who asked politely could chide the boy who hit Ren, Ren yelled, his voice cracking in denial, "He''s Rui! That RUI!!"


    "RUI!! The one who is known for terrible pranks and randomly messing up this test!"


    Only after hearing his voice did they understand, but then it was Ren''s turn to feel confused.


    No one gave him the reaction he anticipated, they just chose to ignore him.


    "W-what? Aren''t you guys understanding!?" he screamed in frustration but this time, even the girl distanced herself from him.


    "Are you an idiot? Do you think he can mess up the Entrance Test?" the one who hit him earlier remarked, annoyed by the stupidity of Ren.


    Everyone ignored him while Rui was the only one who was smiling, stealing a glance at Ren.


    ''Interesting,'' Rui thought to himself, planning to take out these guys first.


    However, Rui failed to notice three people totally ignoring everything and only looking at him.


    One was naturally the protagonist, aiming to do his best while the next one belonged to Jash and Amael.


    The latter two were very much aware of how the test would go, knowing the rules were the only thing that mattered.


    ''Hope he didn''t change them,'' Jash mused, ready to curse the 18 generations of Rui if he did his shit with even the rules. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yes, Rui was going to mess up and Ren was absolutely correct.


    Just that no one would think the Solarnelle Academy would allow it... or so the large majority believed.


    Only those who had been played by Rui had disgusted expressions at him and pitiful at the examinees before their mood turned intrigued.


    After all, it was not every day that such a talented generation would have to go through the difficulties, right?


    As if anticipating the rising anticipation reaching its crescendo, Rui smiled cheerfully and began, "Every year, the Entrance Test is conducted separately for males and females..."

 Chapter 124 - 124: Format Unveiled: What to Expect

    ''No, no, no, this darned f¨C'' Jash almost cursed at the thought of Rui changing that, but his next words calmed Jash down.


    "...and this year, it''ll continue to be the same."


    Not just Jash, even the audience was ready to go and beat the shit out of Rui if he did something like that.


    Heck, even some professors who were older victims of Rui''s pranks wanted nothing more than to skin him for his insolence.


    Unbeknownst to them, Rui was sweating himself, feeling the presence of the Vice-Principal narrowing down on him.


    Since the spectators were eager, placing bets and speculating on outcomes, served to add to the pressure that had already mounted.


    Rui secretly took a deep breath, reminding himself, ''It''ll be fine; I have the permission.''


    Meanwhile the examinees were trying their best to keep their cool, not wanting to be swept away by the burden placed upon them.


    Yet many, like Jash, were thinking the same thing, ''If only this damned guy would announce the rules and start it!''


    With a final glance at the crowd and a brief, reassuring smile to himself, Rui felt a strange sense of satisfaction.


    The anticipation was almost unbearable, but he forced himself to remain calm, taking in every detail of the environment.


    The test would soon begin, and he had come too far to falter now. Rui''s heart raced, but he kept his focus on the task at hand.


    The stakes were high, and the pressure was immense, but he was ready to do his job in the best way possible.


    Finally, Rui began speaking once again, "It seems many interesting people are participating this year..."


    His voice carried over the murmurs of the crowd as it slowly hushed down yet they had to strain to hear.


    The examinees sharpened their focus as the reality of the situation set in.


    "Just what''s taking so long?" Jash grumbled in annoyance, hating the long wait.


    However, Rui didn''t seem to hold anyone in his eyes as he beamed at the negative reaction, seemingly enjoying their plight.


    "So... we have changed the format of this year''s tournament quite a bit!" Rui exclaimed, trying to hype it up.


    And indeed it worked as many people were surprised at the change of events as it had never happened before.


    Despite the first two tests being different each year, everyone knew that the third test would be the same, separating the participants based on their gender.


    "Oh, don''t worry! The format has only been altered slightly!" Rui''s voice was amplified across the stadium.


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t enough for quite a large number of parents and guardians of the participants.


    "What? Wait, why is there even a change?"


    "My son''s been preparing for it for the last two years! That is so not fair!!"


    Many conversations broke out among the crowd, but before the audience was confused even further, Rui coughed.


    It wasn''t that he wanted to diffuse the situation, but he was forced to do it. The pressure from an SS-Rank hunter was no joke.


    "Now, now, we all know that looking at the same thing with little to no change every year got boring, " Rui said, confusing them further.


    "So the professors thought that we needed a change and luckily, the principal approved it," Rui sneakily mentioned the principal.


    And as expected, many voices died down just from hearing his mere mention.


    "In short, this year, both our girl and boy participants will be teleported to one location chosen by us,"


    "Now, that''s the same, isn''t it?" Rui asked, tilting his head with a big smile.


    "Therefore, they will only have one weapon they chose right now for the entire duration of the test!" Rui exclaimed and got the expected reaction.


    His smile brightened as he continued, "Now, our lovely participants will fight for the supplies, survival, weapons, points and also arrive at the final location."


    "Every participant will have to fend for themselves, and this means they can also steal from others or force them into subordination to increase their numbers."


    As soon as he mentioned it, the so-called friends in the examinee group distanced themselves from each other and eyed each other warily.


    "But, but, but there is a slight twist! At the final location, a boss monster will be present!!" Rui''s excitement was evident as he reveled in the challenge.


    Though he turned quiet after mentioning the shocking detail, revealing nothing about the final hurdle.


    Of course, that was also a test of resources, knowledge, skill, leadership or own strength.


    However, he also skipped over one detail purposefully.


    ''Nothing can be done about him,'' Jash sighed, shaking his head.


    He was well aware of the gimmick of a boss monster they placed, something either Amael or the protagonist could solo.


    ''This should be an easy victory, right?'' Jash thought, wondering if that would truly be the case.


    Deep inside, he couldn''t help but find something odd about the entire situation being too easy and decided to just stay alert. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The time limit is three days, and once it''s over, the custom suits will freeze any movements, halting ongoing fights," Rui concluded with a wide smile.


    Anyone with eyes could tell that he enjoyed toying with the participants feelings and he was planning something shady.


    "Oh, right! I almost forgot... there are no rules!" Rui exclaimed at the top of his lungs, but the audience remained silent.


    "Yeah, you guessed right. Everything else is allowed¡ªwin by trickery, wisdom, or strength. It doesn''t matter... or does it?"


    Hearing Rui''s ambiguous instructions angered the examinees who were plotting to get others to work for them while they relaxed.


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t Rui who came up with the test, but the professors with the approval of the Principal.


    There was just absolutely no way they would allow an easy entry into the sacred Academy to anyone unworthy.


    ''In the end, only one''s own strength matters,'' Amael thought, isolated by the other examinees in fear of his status.


    His thoughts were absolutely correct as no amount of trickery or traps would work if the enemy was just that strong.


    Unsurprisingly, some examinees would only understand it after facing it firsthand, especially the ones targeting Amael to get Avon''s favor.


    Uncaring of the schemes, plots, tricks going on in the heads of young kids, Rui finally said something that eased the worries of many.


    "Oh! And don''t worry, our instructors will activate the barrier around the students if the attack might be fatal," Rui began with a tone of sincerity.


    However, it was just a mask. "But of course, once the barrier is activated, poof! You are out," Rui concluded, smirking at the cursing examinees.


    "That means that we don''t care if your injury is not fatal, so be careful!" Ru shrugged his shoulders casually, uncaring of the glares he received.


    At this point, even the Vice-Principal was barely resisting his urge to slap Rui to death along with the person who suggested him as the announcer.


    Zander facepalmed, frustrated by Rui''s vague explanation and odd antics as they weren''t a good show at all!


    Of course, the ones who were watching it and had no connection to the examinees enjoyed it, especially the ones who had failed the Entrance Test in the past.


    And only because the audience was entertained and excited to see the fights did Zander, the Vice-Principal, retain his sense of reasoning.


    Thankfully, even Rui also caved in under the growing pressure of Vice-Principal Zander as well as the eager audience.


    "So are you guys READY?!" Rui''s expression almost immediately turned into a bright face despite the cold sweat on his back.


    ''I am done for,'' he thought while the audience screamed loudly, cheering for it to begin.


    "YES!!!"

 Chapter 125 - 125: Startling Start

    As the excitement reached its crescendo, the examinees still grouped together received their nano-armor¡ªthe custom suit Rui had mentioned.


    Every examinee activated it immediately, as it was the one thing that would save their lives while also giving them some form of protection during the test.


    "Alright! Here we go!" Rui yelled as everyone raised their heads to see him wearing a hat that appeared seemingly out of nowhere.


    Rui beamed at the crowd below him with a delightful smile, his palms placed across the other over a cane that also appeared alongside the hat.


    As he held the cane directly to the ground in a poised manner the onlookers finally had reason to believe that Rui was totally committed to his role as an announcer.


    Alas, it was only meant to extinguish the slight hope ignited in the examinees'' heart that nothing would go wrong.


    "Now, without further ado..." Rui declared with a snap of his fingers and instantly, every candidate that was supposed to partake in the Academy''s exams vanished.


    For a second, they were surprised and watched as a white hue surrounded them until they faded away and disappeared.


    It was a surreal experience, almost as if they were being transported and moved somewhere else.


    "Let the Solarnelle Academy entrance exams'' finale begin!" Rui exclaimed , his animated voice booming through the air with a delightful glee to it...


    After the examinees were teleported, the audience¡ªincluding parents, guardians, and others from far and wide¡ªlooked up at the sky.


    A huge screen was visible mid-air, allowing view from all angles as if bending the rules of physics itself.


    But then again, this was a world where people could fly and teleport through space, so it wasn''t really out of place.


    The venue¡ªthe stadium¡ªcould be described in simple terms as a sprawling stadium, able to easily accommodate half a million people.


    However, it wasn''t the stadium that anyone was interested in looking at, everyone''s eyes were glued to the huge floating screen.


    It didn''t matter if they were in this stadium or another throughout the Empire, the scenery remained the same.


    The plain grassy fields, open grassy plains, thickets of small forest-like regions, small streams and small rocky regions, skies, the clouds...


    Everything one could dream appeared on the screen¡ªall specially designed by the academy itself to evoke the feeling of a miniature island.


    Surrounding this miniature island arena was a transparent yet crystalline-like curved dome that surrounded the arena''s wide expanse.


    Obviously, it was a structure put in place as a measure of security and safety as well as isolation to prevent anyone from finding its actual location.


    Nevertheless, it also served to provide the onlookers who sat around the stadiums on their respective seats a clearer view of all that was going on.


    Slowly, this eye-catching and stylized landscape disappeared from the humongous holographic screen.


    Only to be replaced by the screen being split into various regions of the arena to provide a panoramic view of everything.


    But even as everyone settled down in their seats, their feverish excitement and anticipation for the clashes didn''t wane.


    In fact, it only increased as time passed, hoping to find out more.


    However, the thing about the test spanning three days was a bit too troublesome.


    They all could not deny that they were immensely curious about the fights, the winners, the dark horses making it big and more!


    Yet just as someone was about to leave, a breath-taking scene appeared.


    All the split screens with different views showed similar examinees appearing randomly with huge distances between them.


    "W-what? L-look!" an onlooker shouted, pointing at one of the many screens.


    What followed from the audience''s reaction were looks of immense shock, audible gasps, confusion and undoubtedly, unparalleled excitement...


    After all, when would they get the chance to watch such talented students free-falling from the sky?


    Yes, some candidates were free-falling from the sky towards the ground at a rapid speed while some were inside deep waters or deep into monster caves.


    However, the most exciting part was their apparent lack of a safe way to land, escape, or come out of the water.


    Well, the ones who complained were in the minority, their voice getting drowned by the ones shouting excitedly.


    One second, they were lamenting the slow start, the next second, such exciting shots appeared.


    No doubt many of these examinees would have their photos go viral on the internet in the coming few days.


    "You all weren''t expecting that, were you?!" Rui''s animated voice boomed like a cascading wave through the audience stands.


    "That''s what makes this so exciting! Unexpected situations!" the young announcer continued with a contagious yet gleeful excitement.


    This time, even the audience was excited about it, save for the ones who had their friends and family participating.


    "So, how will our candidates survive this sudden curveball? Only way to find out is to keep watching!"


    Rui commented and exclaimed like a seasoned commentator trying to ramp up everyone''s excitement.


    Finally, it seemed he had decided to focus on his job as an announcer, making the audience want more of the nasty comments.


    Despite the situation going out of hand and expectations, Vice-principal Zander didn''t step up or try to stop it.


    Instead, he focused on the examinees, shaking his head in disappointment as he watched those eliminated right after teleportation.


    Of course, the Academy didn''t really play fair, sending some in random environments, even desert or volcanic ones to mountains and icy ones.


    Yet, they ensured that the difficulty remained consistent.


    What did it mean? It meant that the stronger you were, the more difficult your location would be after the teleportation.


    Sadly, Jash had shown a tad bit too much of his talent and was suffering under the same category of monstrous geniuses.


    ''Shit! Shit! Shit! SHIT!!'' he cursed inwardly, regretting his decision to go all out.


    Alas, there was no medicine for regret in any world.


    ''I was doing just fine at the side line, why did I have to show off?'' He asked himself before the thought of his bet came into mind.


    "NO!" he screamed in frustration, recalling how he excitedly bet everything from his personal expenses upon himself!


    Unlike him, the others were suffering too... just for different reasons.


    Some were eliminated due to drowning, being unable to land safely, or being targeted by an entire group of monsters.


    Still, none of that would stop the extremely talented ones from shining as they survived through all the hurdles being thrown at them.


    "Where are we?!"


    "And why is it so dark?!"


    Someone was even unlucky enough to get teleported inside the ground itself...


    "I can''t see shit! What is this place even?!"


    "Hello!? Is there anyone? Hello? HELLO...?"


    "No... where am I...? Mommy uwaaaa¡­"


    Unfortunately, not everyone could bear the pressure and even succumbed to crying on the screen. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Naturally, they were disqualified on the spot with no realistic chance of joining any academy after their pathetic display.


    They weren''t charities set up to baby sit children, but to prepare the next generation of hunters, so there was no way they''d take weak-minded students.


    All this happened while some candidates were making remarks, lamenting and voicing their opinions about the weird situation they were currently in.


    Just as the survivors thought they could relax, a gleeful, animated voice suddenly rang out across the expansive island.


    "Welcome, aspiring hunters, to Solarnelle Academy''s entrance exams!"


    "Ugh, not again..."


    All the examinees groaned, recognizing the voice and feeling frustrated as their expressions fell, wanting to curse this guy!!

 Chapter 126 - 126: Betrayal [Extra]

    "I know you guys don''t understand a thing but don''t worry. You''re safe... for now," the gleeful voice continued with an almost concealed snicker. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Did he just snicker? Well, it''s Rui... so I wouldn''t put it past him,'' Jash asked himself inwardly and answered.


    He didn''t even need to focus on it to know that, it was just easy to recognize the guy''s habit, having the knowledge about his character already.


    "Now, now, don''t panic. This was just a screening test. Well, sort of," Rui said with a shrug, visible only to the excited audience.


    "And you might wonder why?" Rui grinned. "Because we made the rules!" He laughed, holding his stomach.


    "This bas¨C" A boy nearly screamed, but another boy held him back.


    "Calm down. It''s not worth it," he shook his head while placing an arm on the first boy''s shoulder.


    "Okay, okay. Before Professor Zander actually gets angry, let me explain," Rui said hastily, sensing the growing dread.


    "After the random teleportation, you had to try your best to survive, but many failed... Haa..." Rui sighed, disappointed.


    "Anyways, best of luck to you guys. And as I always say it''s sometimes too late to qui¨Cumm umm," Rui''s mouth was frozen mid-sentence.


    He struggled intensely to speak, alas, the ice started freezing his mouth muscles, stopping him from speaking completely.


    Suddenly, a man clad in the uniform of the Solarnelle Academy with neat gray hair appeared mid-air, not even sparing Rui a glance.


    "T-that¨C Isn''t that Vice-Principal Zander!?" One audience member spoke in disbelief, and conversations broke out immediately.


    Yet Zander himself didn''t care the least bit about such chats, it was just the audience trying to have something to talk about.


    Rather than that, he focused on sending his voice across to the island where the test was actually taking place.


    "All of you can notice the subtle glow around your wrists from the suit, right? Only after it changes to white does the test truly begin,"


    "Anyone who attacked other examinees within this duration would get a penalty, depending on the extent of damage," Zander declared authoritatively.


    Even though the examinees felt it was unfair as it was Rui who selectively didn''t mention it, they still kept quiet.


    They didn''t have it in them to complain to the Vice-Principal himself, even if they weren''t aware of the hidden test.


    ''Damn! These guys are even assessing our reactions!?'' Jash thought in slight surprise despite everything going almost as he expected.


    Of course, things change and it was most likely his own show-off that altered Rui''s plans to a slight degree.


    "But that''s all... the end result is all the same," Jash mumbled to himself, shaking off the unease he was feeling in his location.


    Just then, the struggling Rui was freed after getting the scare of his life as he began speaking about the things he omitted.


    "The island you''re on is teeming with dangers and well-known monsters. Use any means at your disposal to win against them!"


    ''Wow, he still didn''t mention that the Academy mixed real monsters with simulated ones,'' Jash mused, sarcastically praising Rui.


    "Once the glow on your wrists turn white, you''d better be prepared for anything!" Rui continued explaining in a monotonous voice.


    His excitement seemed to have waned after the encounter with the Vice-Principal, but he soon returned to himself.


    "Your main goal for this exam is survival! Survive until the timer runs out while aiming for the highest scores!"


    "Ah, right! You''re also permitted to attack yourselves but trust me when I say this..."


    "You won''t even have time for that!" Rui said with a delighted clap that resounded through the minds of all the examinees.


    His irritating words only made the examinees grit their teeth and plan revenge on him when they were strong enough, though.


    Even Jash was one of them, despite knowing everything, he disliked Rui''s way of doing things as it didn''t sit right with him.


    "I should remind you once again though..." Rui said with a thoughtful tone, a stark contrast to his monotonous or playful tone.


    "Ranking or not, passing is all that matters as you''ll be accepted into the academy all the same..."


    "Why then did the Academy bother to make this exam different, you ask?" Rui questioned, seemingly with a tone that implied he knew the exact reason why.


    His next answer however, really got on almost everyone''s nerves, especially because they thought he''d be kind enough to explain.


    "Who cares as long as I''m enjoying this! Your suffer¨CAhem! I mean your battles will be fun to experience, so make sure to go all out!"


    ''He crossed the line with this one,'' Jash thought with a smile, not his normal smile, but a chilling one.


    He was human and he too had emotions, surely it would get on his nerves as well.


    Jash had almost had it at this point if not for knowing about the hidden assessment going on since before the first trial even began.


    Still, only a few could contain themselves, bursting at Rui''s continuous interventions, causing them trouble.


    Yet all their complaints were shrugged off by Rui with a, "If your concentration breaks with just this much... sucks to be you, I guess!"


    "RUI! GO TO HELL!!" Some candidates straight out cursed him while some were even using more vulgar language.


    "You cheeky bas¨C!" A few others voiced in resentment.


    "My my! Are you guys complimenting me? That''s so nice of you!" the top-hat wearing announcer responded happily to the few insults that were thrown at him.


    It seemed he didn''t mind them at all and that was just how he was as a person.


    That''s why Jash chose to be the part of the ones secretly plotting against him.


    After all, everyone ought to have a weakness and it just so happened that Jash knew Rui''s weakness.


    "I''d love to accept more compliments but I digress. Let''s get back to the main topic," Rui continued.


    As if right on cue, the glow on the examinees'' wrists turned white.


    "Woohoo~" Rui whistled at the sight of so many attacks¡ªbetrayals from the so-called allies.


    It was a sight to behold, with both the audience and Rui equally excited by the disqualification of so many candidates.


    Almost immediately though, all of the examinees'' confusion became short-lived as they soon realized the situation they found themselves in.


    "Aaaaahhhhh!!!"


    "Nooooooooooo!!!"


    "That damn retard!!!"


    "Screw you Rix-!!!"


    "WHY YOU!"


    "Muuummmyyy!!!"


    So many different forms of frightened shouts, annoyed curses and screeching cries for help filled the air.


    Although they were all awakeners and they could tank the damage if they wanted to, they all knew instinctively that it was impossible.


    After all, they wouldn''t know just who would attack them?


    An ally? A monster? A friend? A stranger from a different race?


    It also did not help that if the nano-armor considered it a fatal injury, they would immediately be teleported out.


    Obviously, the thought of getting disqualified without even getting a chance to show off their skills was far worse, even more than losing after a fight.


    Also their pride which was brimming with determination, courage and immense hopes and dreams for the future, would not allow for them to take it easy.


    Coupled with that was a thirst to prove themselves worthy of being admitted to the most prestigious academy in the world.


    They wanted to prove to everyone, more so to even themselves, that they weren''t admitted just because they were of age to attend the academy...


    But because they had the strength and willpower to see their academy life through till the end.


    "Meaningless," Jash commented, knowing what was going on in the minds of these needlessly prideful individuals.

 Chapter 127 - 127: Explosion!

    As Jash looked around at the chaos unfolding like a well-orchestrated disaster, the action continued to unfold with fancy displays of magic.


    Candidates were scrambling, some screaming, others frantically assessing their surroundings, and a few already out of the game, disqualified.


    The once confident faces now betrayed fear and desperation amid a few rare expressions of grim determination.


    ''These idiots... they really had the guts to underestimate the test,'' he mused, clicking his tongue in annoyance.


    Though he couldn''t even see one candidate, his expressions were akin to someone observing everything from a bird''s point of view.


    Well, thanks to the description from the novel, Jash didn''t need to look at it to know.


    Soon enough though, different youths began to pull out myriad spells out of their arsenal to attack their surroundings indiscriminately.


    After all, who knew where they''d get attacked from?


    Some examinees, however, had flashier spells than others and their immense skills immediately stood out, causing the crowd to go wild with excitement!


    "WOAH!!"


    Most people were now actively interested in the flashier displays, especially the ones who had been the first to pull out a beautiful spell.


    Caera created rings of fire around her, while the archduke''s daughter had water floating all around her.


    Rura Warmis had used earthen blocks as footholds, easily skipping with finesse between the dense trees.


    The sight of three beauties putting on such a show garnered much more attention than anyone from the male category.


    Of course, some females did cheer for Avon, Amael and quite a few handsome nobles when the figure of a golden-haired youth came into view.


    "Oh my! How beautiful!" Rui commented as the replay of the golden-haired youth swung his sword with extraordinary precision.


    His superhuman speed and accuracy stunned many as he easily handled a group of four wolves.


    Next to show up was Amael as he helped someone before getting betrayed yet he masterfully defeated the traitor, basking in glory.


    "YAY!!"


    The cheers grew louder as Rui''s commentary provided brief descriptions of the scenarios, skillfully avoiding names as he described the action.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to, it was just that he wasn''t permitted to take any names during the event.


    Naturally, since bets were being made, there were people with knowledge about the talented ones and they made their bets on that prior information.


    As if that wasn''t enough, the next person to appear on the large screen was Sylvie who just so happened to be one of the rare ones falling from the sky.


    Yet, to everyone''s surprise, she had a simple smile on her face.


    And the reason for her nonchalance was revealed soon before the eager eyes of the audience.


    Sylvie, the elven princess, summoned a massive green vine from the ground, adorned with red roses.


    Her long light green hair fluttered with the air as her aquamarine eyes focused on the approaching vines.


    She used her daggers and stuck it into the sides of the vine while sliding downwards to the ground.


    Unlike others, she ended up creating a pathway for a lot of people.


    However, as if to prove people''s beliefs about elves and their love for nature correct, the harmless-looking and inviting giant vine suddenly began to jut out hardened green spikes from its sides.


    It only left Sylvie''s pathway harmless while causing other candidates who tried to dirty the giant vine to either be immediately disqualified or thrown back into the air.


    Through all this, she had nary a smile on her face, it marred by displeasure at the attempt of others as she continued sliding downwards harmlessly.


    Of course, the major reason for it was the absence of elves who were trying to latch onto her pathway.


    The next to appear on the screen was an unknown youth who immediately transformed into a trail of blue lightning.


    No one recognized him despite his skills and could only think of him as a dark horse or someone who hid too well.


    The audience was dazzled as he streaked through the sky towards the rocky plains of the island.


    At this point, the crowd was getting immensely entertained by just how talented a lot of their generation''s youths were.


    Alas, the screen seemed to be hating on certain individuals quite a bit, not even showing a single glimpse of them.


    Jash just so happened to be one of them, though he didn''t know it yet and would actually celebrate not getting attention.


    He moved swiftly, staying low, his eyes scanning the area for threats.


    "Damn this shit!" he cursed under his breath, feeling the dirty water stick to his legs.


    He had actually been teleported to a marshy region, something he didn''t like one bit.


    Not only did it rouse memories of the crimson pool from his first dungeon exploration, but it was also extremely icky and disgusting.


    Though not so much as that crimson pool, it nevertheless got on his nerves due to the numerous insect-like creatures.


    Due to the academy mixing reality and fakes, there were some creatures without any benefit on the island, just to serve as an additional challenge.


    Already, the island was a maze of rocky outcrops, thick foliage, and hidden dangers.


    "I can''t see shit," he cursed once more, seeing nothing but the marshy region and forests all around.


    He too wished to see others grappling with their circumstances¡ªbattling monsters, fighting each other, fleeing, and crying...


    Now, now, he was no sadist but it wasn''t all that bad to enjoy the mayhem, after the earlier illusion of safety had evaporated.


    Raw survival instincts had taken over and that was a sight Jash definitely wanted to witness.


    He had been only waving his sword to throw away the buzzing insects, and nothing other than that.


    "Just let me get out of this place!" he exclaimed with teeth ground in frustration.


    Jash''s mind raced, strategizing a way to escape his situation.


    The academy had thrown them into this environment, testing not just their strength but their ability to adapt.


    He grumbled inwardly, ''Who the hell wants to adapt to these marshlands!''


    After a few minutes of carrying his feet heavy from the soaking water, he heaved a sigh of relief, "Finally..."


    In the distance, he spotted a group of candidates huddled together, their temporary alliance already fraying as tensions boiled over.


    Jash smirked, thinking, ''Even amidst chaos, human nature sure is predictable.''


    The true test was not just surviving but navigating the treacherous dynamics of competition and fear.


    However, why should he care? He was bent on eradicating the ones trying to find an exit.


    As he carefully approached a dense thicket, Jash noticed a shimmer¡ªa trap, likely set by the academy to ensnare the unwary. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He easily avoided it, his instincts honed by intense training and fighting experiences.


    Each step was measured, every movement calculated.


    ¡ªSplash!


    The sound would definitely alert the group and Jash too ducked behind a boulder after hearing it.


    ''What happened?'' he thought, not having noticed anything or anyone nearby.


    He had been alert all throughout¡ªevery sound, every movement in the periphery of his vision made him wary.


    As no sounds echoed, he became suspicious and recalled something from the novel, his eyes bulging at the gripping reminder.


    ''Shit! Shit!'' Jash cursed inwardly before rushing in the opposite direction without a second thought of them discovering him.


    The sound of distant shouts and calls reverberated as a few spells shot past him but he remained unperturbed, focusing on moving ahead.


    ''Damn these retards,'' he thought, pursing his lips and dodging the stray attacks.


    Now, as most candidates were now on the ground and a lot of them were rejoicing at their success...


    ¡ªBOOOOM!!!


    A big explosion shook the island, immediately disqualifying a good chunk of the unaware in an instant!

 Chapter 128 - 128: Complex Relations

    Unlike the silently cursing and escaping Jash, the stadium was alive with sounds¡ªcries of panic, roars of monsters, and the occasional explosion of magic.


    Just when the oblivious audience and examinees were rejoicing in their situation, a sudden explosion shook the island.


    ¡ªBOOOM!!!


    Dust clouds rose as a large number of examinees were disqualified within seconds, unable to showcase their skills.


    Some survived by the skin of their teeth, like Jash, who felt something was wrong and immediately moved away.


    The audience, initially cheering, fell into stunned silence as the sudden explosion unfolded, not to mention the disoriented examinees.


    However, none of the talented ones were disqualified, as if the explosion was placed in specific locations to avoid targeting them.


    Of course, no one could complain about it as even Jash, the son of a Duke, was almost disqualified.


    Meanwhile, Rui made a strange sound, disturbing the silence, "Aaaaaaaah..."


    "Explosions are truly an art!" he exclaimed with his eyes turning a shade of crazed red as he basked in the limelight.


    Despite the hatred-filled and murderous glances being cast his way, Rui shrugged them off, zooming in on Jash''s crumbling expression.


    ''Impressive,'' Rui commented, believing Jash was very good at managing his expressions.


    Little did he know that if Jash didn''t care about his money and was aware of the hidden test, he would''ve been cursing Rui at the top of his lungs.


    ''Calm down, Jash, calm down. Think of the money, damn it!'' Jash repeated it inside his head as if it were a mantra.


    Unlike others, he was well aware that this trick was pulled off by Rui as he was a member of the planning committee and no one noticed it.


    At this point, it was too late for even Vice-Principal Zander to remove Rui as it wouldn''t salvage the situation at all.


    In the end, he just let the test continue and decided to punish the troublesome guy after the test was over.


    There was another person who thought similarly to Zander, it was Jash. ''I will definitely let you feel the joy of your pranks, Rui.''


    As if the threat was something pertaining to his existence itself, Rui felt a chill go down his spine and blamed it on Zander.


    "Ahem, ahem, let''s clear out the dust," Rui commented, diverting the attention and showcasing the dilapidated state of the examinees.


    The explosions obviously disturbed not only the examinees but also the flora and fauna of the entire island.


    Avalanches, tsunamis, and floods occurred in one place whereas some places had earth cracked open with lava flowing through it.


    In the forest-like region, several trees were lit with fire while the desert turned into glass at some places. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite all the changes in geography, Jash was left stuck in the marshes.


    If he could, he would curse his luck openly, but he could only do it inwardly, ''Just how bad is my luck!? What kind of cardinal sins have I committed?''


    Not wanting to grieve over uncontrollable factors, Jash stood up as he gritted his teeth, bearing through the pain from being thrown off.


    Due to the proximity to one of the explosion''s sites, Jash was thrown back into the direction he spawned at.


    No matter how much he knew, he could also forget things at the spur of the moment, he was only human.


    "Ugh," he groaned as he turned around, having to explore another way out of the marshes as the previous one wasn''t safe anymore.


    With a sword strapped around his waist, Jash weaved through the way, relaxing as he knew the candidates he found were disqualified.


    Although unaware, the way he appeared and his struggle seemed to the audience to raise his value and even some bets were made on him.


    Sadly, most were of the type, "When will he be disqualified?"


    Too bad for the betters that they were going to lose a ton of money to the betting platforms today.


    Meanwhile, in another area of the courtyard though, the Solarnelle Royal Family was watching the Prince and Princess.


    "So those are the famed young geniuses¡­" Adrian, the first prince of Solarnelle Empire, said, his eyes seemingly locked onto each one of them.


    "Whatever you''re scheming in that mind of yours Adrian, I''d implore you to stop," the Empress said, noticing the strange light in Adrian''s eyes.


    She wanted him to not mess around with the kids due to the prophecy she feared would arrive while Adrian didn''t retract his gaze.


    Instead his gaze solidified with a glint of mischief, lingering over Ava and Avon before shifting to Amael, Caera, Ziva and Jash.


    "I make no promises mother," Adrian responded with a shrug to his mother''s words, a small smile playing on his lips.


    "Just don''t cross the limits," the Empress said with a side eye.


    "It''s already a headache with what you did with the two of them, not to mention whatever it is you''re planning to do."


    The tone of the Empress carried resignation as she knew her son too well, unlike the facades he played with Avon and Ava.


    Even the whole thing about being a successor was nothing but a sham orchestrated by this guy for "fun."


    ''If he wanted, he could already be the crown prince,'' the Empress sighed at her son''s weird antics, giving in as a mother despite her precarious position.


    The Empress, after squeezing time and clearing a bit of her schedule, stood directly beside Adrian, choosing to focus on the test.


    Although the Emperor had also wanted to show up to support his kids, he had way too many duties to attend to that could not be put off.


    As a result, he couldn''t spare the time to come along.


    Of course, it spurred the feelings of self-doubt and not being up to the mark in Avon''s heart when he found out.


    After all, the Emperor was the epitome of power in his eyes unlike Ava who only had eyes for her mother.


    In fact, the two were quite distant due to the difference in their birth mothers.


    Ava was born to a childhood friend and maid of the Emperor, while Avon was born to one of the Empress''s ladies-in-waiting.


    Of course, that''s why the Empress was always distanced from her husband, only giving birth to Adiran and the First Princess.


    Considering the complex system of the Imperial Family, many might think the Empire was in unstable hands...


    Yet only the people involved themselves knew the reason for their actions and why the Empress never fought the Emperor despite his known infidelity.


    Sadly, she was the mother to all four children in the eyes of the masses, the truth only known inside the Imperial Family.


    Or to anomalies like Jash and Amael.


    Talking about them, Jash had finally escaped the marshes after a tough journey of a couple hours.


    ''Damn! I am never talking random teleportations in my life!'' Jash vowed inwardly, taking the first step into the next terrain.


    A forest.


    "At least the creatures here are just mosquitoes," he muttered with a twisted expression, looking at the bite marks of the insects all over his limbs.


    Though it wasn''t really painful, it was very irritating and some bites were super itchy, making Jash want to slice apart his skin.


    Alas, as Rui mentioned, there was no time to even attack oneself.


    He had to keep moving if he really wanted to emerge victorious as first rank and win this whole thing.


    Taking in the new surroundings, Jash mumbled, "A few hours passed, I guess? So, how much audience is left?"


    Naturally, the audience weren''t going to sit for three entire days and watch the screens.


    And there was just no way the Academy would force the audience and extremely busy people to stay here for three whole days just to wait for the results.

 Chapter 129 - 129: Hidden Instincts

    In the audience, only a few people who were free or had their immediate wards participating stayed while the busy folks left.


    Naturally, the ruling class of all three races left, unwilling to leave their domains unprotected for three long days.


    Even if the elves could dismiss it and stay, they had no reason to, as the test was really long, and a few messengers were left in place.


    For example, if someone stumbled upon the location before the third day, the ruling class would be alerted by their remaining servants.


    Of course, the Academy wasn''t formed by a bunch of idiots who''d allow such an incident to tarnish their prestige.


    That''s why the final location was nothing short of a lie that would only show up on the third day, preventing anyone from finding it.


    Obviously, the ones who graduated from Solarnelle Academy were long aware of their methods to get their decided results.


    In the end, only the commoners and nary a rich spectator were left, watching with great gusto every single thing.


    Fortunately, the Academy would play the highlights of the three days on the last day before the boss monster appears.


    Oh well, it wasn''t known if someone would discover it or would it have to be unleashed by the Academy for some fun.


    ''I mean, where''s the fun in a plain boring test without some twists?'' Jash thought in dersion, privy to everything.


    Shaking off his thoughts, he unsheathed his sword and swung it.


    ¡ªSlice!


    The sword easily sliced off a small rabbit attacking him from his left as it stopped right after the body divided into two.


    Jash glanced casually at the falling body before moving on, shaking off the blood from his sword.


    ''I can''t let it become scrap when I don''t even have a spare weapon,'' he mused, aware of the consequences of such carelessness.


    "Hm?" Jash hummed, hearing some muffled noises around him right after taking down an unranked creature.


    Without any hesitation whatsoever in his steps, he dashed towards the direction of the noise.


    "Shh... I heard something," whispered a man in a black suit to his companion.


    He whispered but his sneaky movements revealed his inexperience in walking in such terrains as his steps made noises.


    The two looked ahead, trying to find the source of the disturbance but only saw a silver sheen of a sword stained in red.


    "Wha...t?" the first man stammered before a barrier suddenly activated, transforming him into motes of white light.


    As if enraged, the second guy didn''t think and directly raised his spear at the coming sword.


    "Don''t you think I am an easy target!" he shouted as he tried to block the coming attack with all his might.


    Jash, looking at the pitiful attempt of a block, could only maintain an indifferent expression while his gaze flickered with great disappointment.


    "Haa..." Jash sighed, noticing more than ten openings in the boy''s stance with a single glance.


    "Pathetic," he uttered under his breath before kicking the ground to increase his speed for a split second.


    ''They''ll have to do better if they want to keep up,'' he mused inwardly in disregard of the boy opposite him.


    "AAAAAHHHHHH," the boy shouted as he did a wild stab at Jash.


    ¡ªThrust!


    Unfortunately, all it met was nothing but air, exclaiming in disbelief, "What!?"


    By the time he noticed, Jash had already increased his speed, dodging the poor thrust after easily seeing its obvious trajectory.


    Looking at the wide-open right side of the boy, Jash side-stepped and directly slashed once more, but this time the barrier didn''t activate.


    ¡ªClang!


    "Hm?" Jash hummed in confusion as his sword was repelled before noticing the silver armor on the boy.


    "Ah-hah...haha" the boy chuckled nervously, feeling proud of his armor as it saved his life.


    "I see," Jash muttered before swinging his sword in a downward arc, cutting a deep gash into the boy''s leg.


    "AAAARRRGGHHH,"


    He instantly fell down while screaming in pain, but Jash ignored the wails, taking the spear and armor before pointing the spear at his neck.


    That action was enough for the barrier to activate and take the boy to the healing area prepared for the injured by the academy, free of cost.


    ''I can''t stay here any longer,'' Jash thought, immediately donning the poor quality armor and keeping the spear at his back.


    Though the increased weight slowed him down, it wasn''t sufficient to force him to face the monsters and examinees gathering at the wail.


    All they saw were a few splash marks of blood and nothing else before they left due to the numerous beasts coming by.


    Meanwhile, Jash was complaining about the entire idea of taking the stuff before eliminating the examinee from them.


    ''It was a good idea to straight away eliminate one so that it seems I guessed that the equipment will disappear as well.''


    Despite his inner thoughts, he really wanted to know what kind of idiot designed that no amounts of equipment will drop after elimination.


    The only way to get it was¡ªpure looting¡ªtaking it off the body before they get eliminated.


    Thankfully, Jash played it safe or his actions would seem too convenient for a test he ought to have no information about.


    Praising himself inwardly, he ended up glancing at his glowing wrist and a curse almost slept his lips.


    "Just why couldn''t they use the bracelet as a scorer and make a darned leaderboard!" He exclaimed while running away.


    His voice leaked and someone tried giving chase but ended up losing Jash due to his crazy speed.


    Utterly unaware, he was busy thinking of ways to get on the planning committee and make such an obvious, needed change.


    ''If only they added it in numbers instead of this freaking increasing glow!'' Jash thought inwardly, taking note to not yell again.


    Due to the increasing glow, he would become a target at night, just like those with higher scores.


    Of course, his score couldn''t possibly be even in the top 1000, let alone bright enough to be easily noticeable.


    It was just that the Academy planned to use the glow not only as a score but also as a beacon of location, enticing fights among the talented examinees.


    Currently, the most glowing one was of Avon as he was trying his best to show that he was better than Amael.


    While Amael was busy helping others and maintaining his image as a good guy despite his inner shrewdness.


    Though no one betrayed him because he warned them with a smile after taking care of the first traitor, something he allowed himself.


    Sadly, Jash didn''t have time to know all that, his focus on lasting till the last day with minimum effort and taking care of the "boss monster". S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Anyways, that guy was too weak, I really hope the last day is some fun,'' he thought with a predatory smile.


    It seemed his father''s battle freak nature had rubbed on him after training with him for so long.


    If only someone had seen him right at this moment, they''d be surprised to know that Jash was actually itching for a good fight.


    He didn''t know it himself, but it wasn''t just Carcel''s presence and nature influencing him, but Jash himself deep down... or his past life, to be precise.

 Chapter 130 - 130: Contrasting Spectacles

    Oblivious to the changes within, Jash continued moving through the forest, taking breaks and resting once in a while.


    He even took care of a few small birds, animals, and some weak participants that attacked him.


    If he could skip them, he would do so to save his time, not stopping and fighting every person or monster he encountered.


    Though he did fight each and every (F+)-Rank monster for polishing his skills as well as getting some points on the side.


    His decisiveness and finesse were displayed only a few times as others were also doing quite well.


    Amael and his group, in particular, were something the majority of the audience¡ªcommoners¡ªliked as it resonated deep within them.


    Since the nobles were obviously well aware of the harsh truth of their world, they just couldn''t understand what Amael''s goal was.


    After all, he wasn''t just any noble, but a duke''s heir and must have gotten lessons in line with it yet he was leading a group.


    "Let''s see what the audience favorite is doing," Rui said, and the audience cheered eagerly, getting mesmerized by Amael''s handsome display


    His reddish-amethyst eyes hidden beneath his silver eyelashes with striking silver-white hair added to his charm.


    It allured quite a few girls as they were one of major supporters in the loud cheers aside from the commoners.


    As the cheers quietened, the audience focused on Amael and his group moving through a grassland with grass reaching till their waists.


    But from the audience''s perspective, they could see that Amael''s group was at a junction of small mountains and the grassland.


    And they seemed to be on their way to the mountains veiled by the long grass hindering their vision.


    It needed no mention how much of an inconvenience it was to walk in it with weird monsters popping left and right.


    Though one of them had a scythe-like bone and it was being used to cut off the grass and pave a path through it.


    "Anyone else interested in finding out where they got it from? Because I sure as hell am!" Rui exclaimed and the audience played along.


    ¡ªSnap!


    Snapping his fingers to create an effect, Rui changed the screen of the replay while Amael and his group made their way through it.


    Amael stood at the forefront with his sword unsheathed and two melee weapon users standing at either side with a small group in the back.


    The group in the back was undoubtedly made up of mages, archers, crossbow users, and a hunter with two armored men taking a defensive stance around them.


    There was no lie in calling the long-range attackers as nothing but a paper that has the potential to do the highest damage.


    Unfortunately, the slightest ambush could shake them and take the six of them down in one go.


    While the mages casted their spells, Amael was the first to engage in a direct clash.


    ¡ªClang!


    The four at his side kept taking turns to damage the 7 foot tall monster which had 3 pairs of legs and 1 pair of scythe-like arms.


    Surprisingly, its scythes could effortlessly cut the grass which they were having a hard time due to the risk of dulling the blade.


    Amael''s eyes flickered at the sight as he ducked down before cutting off one of its legs and rolling on the ground to dodge its arms aiming for his head.


    "SKRIEEE," the brown-skinned monster shrieked in pain but all it got was a rain of arrows, crossbows and two wind slices.


    The mages had cast it in such a way that another pair of its legs would get cut as Amael had them target it.


    "That''s smart! If they had targeted its arms, they would only be wasting mana," Rui explained with a smile for the unaware audience.


    Due to the fake sense of peace and security, most common folks didn''t even know much about monsters, and needed someone to tell them.


    As if feeling enlightened, they nodded and looked back at the scene where the monster had already lost all its legs.


    Yet they shivered in their seats as the monster sprouted wings out of nowhere!


    As if waiting for this moment, Amael shouted loudly, "NOW!"


    In the next second, the arrows and spells alongside a bullet directly attacked its skin, not the wings.


    "Wow! He''s not the audience''s favorite for nothing!" Rui exclaimed before explaining how the wings sprouting weakened its chitinous exoskeleton.


    Though most of the audience was dumb to not understand the terms, they dumbed it down to the wings weakening its body somehow.


    Just as Amael harvested the two scythes off the monster, Rui snapped his fingers once more and the screen switched to a dashing boy.


    "Booooo!"


    Despite the audience''s less than likely reaction, Rui didn''t care. "Now, now, let''s focus on what is in the cave," he mentioned.


    The audience gasped before shifting in their seats in excitement, waiting to see something amazing like Amael''s group. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The difference being they expected the dashing boy to get hunted like the monster Amael''s group did with immaculate teamwork.


    Truthfully, even they knew they were expecting a bit too much since most examinees didn''t know anyone next to them.


    Even if someone did, they were sent to different locations, so the coordination was always a mess amongst any teams formed during the test.


    Amael''s group was too much of an exception, but they didn''t know that they''d get an amazing spectacle nonetheless, just not what they expected.


    In the arena, Jash ran towards what seemed like a cave, but he didn''t encounter anyone else on his way after his last rest.


    He easily arrived in front of the cave, not finding any traps or monsters nearby.


    To his surprise, the cave was not deep at all, and he could see a sword lying around.


    "A sword?" he muttered before a smile appeared on his lips.


    Jash went in excitedly and crouched to pick up the sword, only for a shadow with a dagger emerged beside him.


    A figure of a young boy who was blended in the shadows appeared and attacked Jash from his blind spot.


    The boy smiled, thinking about how he had fooled yet another person in his trap.


    While the dagger approached Jash''s neck at a fast speed, he turned around and slapped the dagger out of the boy''s hand.


    He didn''t even use mana, using the boy''s momentum against him, almost breaking his bone.


    Without pausing, he stepped out of the cave just as a sword slashed at his previous spot.


    Jash smiled, feeling the exhilaration from the battle he sidestepped an ice shard spell aimed at him.


    "Arghh, he''s tougher than expected," the first attacker groaned before vanishing into the shadows.


    Noticing it, Jash smirked as he threw a sword at the cave entrance, and the boy''s heart rate went up.


    Alas, that was all he could do as a barrier appeared, transforming him into motes of light.


    In that split second that his companions were stunned, Jash took out the sword strapped on his waist and unarmed another guy.


    "Urgh," he barely groaned before getting eliminated as well.


    Yet Jash did not want to waste time and turned to the third guy trying to run away, throwing a spear at his head, activating the barrier.


    "Now, the mage," Jash mumbled, moving inside the cave to find a shivering guy at the end, trying to cast a spell but messing up every second.


    Ignoring the magic staff, Jash eliminated the guy and took the spear, the sword from the cave, and his own.


    "Tsk, that idiot took that sword along with him," he clicked his tongue, lamenting the loss of a sword which took down the first guy.

 Chapter 131 - 131: Grace Under Fire

    Shaking off his disappointment, Jash went inside the empty cave to rest for some time and take down any monster or examinee straying into it.


    Due to the cave being shallow, it allowed him to see what was right outside, but a person approaching from a distance wouldn''t be able to.


    "This will work," he muttered while setting up a bow and a quiver full of arrows he found atop a tree when he climbed it to rest.


    It was most likely left by an examinee who got swept by some flying monster or got forced to fight a melee battle and lost.


    ''There''s no way it''s unused,'' Jash noted, spotting small tear marks on the string, a clear sign of usage, albeit minimal.


    ''I''d much rather camp somewhere near the final location, but it doesn''t exist yet,'' he sighed at the shrewdness of the Academy.


    Though he approved of their trickery and wits, being the recipient didn''t feel good anyway.


    Meanwhile, the audience was captivated by Jash swiftly dispatching three F-Rank examinees.


    "Woah! That''s not what I or anyone expected, right?" Rui said with a toothy grin, replaying it once again before sighing.


    "Haa... looks like it''ll be some while before anything happens in this one. On that note, let''s take a look at the other half!"


    Rui could see the location of other examinees and thus knew that it would take time and luck to have any encounters with others. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That''s why he switched to the female part of the tournament, livening up the mood due to their beauty and sophistication.


    No matter the world, certain stereotypes existed such as women being more elegant than any normal man.


    Naturally, the crowd was excited to look at the girls, some fulfilling their sadistic desire while for some, the dominating ones did the thing.


    Besides the strange people that even Rui ignored were the young girls idolizing the teens they witnessed doing impossible feats.


    ''Hmm, it''s time,'' Rui thought and singalled for the screen to switch after an overall view of the male''s test.


    The first figure to appear was Sylvie, moving effortlessly through the forest as if the leaves were her personal pathway.


    Every time a participant came in her radius of 5 meters, the buried would light up as they would be instantly disqualified by her plant magic.


    Being of royal elven blood, she was talented and even had the talent to manifest her element, a rare element at that.


    Since elves were usually close to nature, the plant element wasn''t very rare for them, but her talent made up for it.


    Her versatility and ease of using it stunned the audience as Rui commented, "Woah~ That''s the pride of elves for ya!"


    The elves in the stands cheered the loudest, followed by the girls admiring her figure and technique before the men enamored by her looks woke up by the loud ruckus.


    "Looks like she won''t be fighting any major battle for now," Rui said, "So, why not check out the pride of humans?"


    The screen shifted to the figure of Ava, wielding a katana and fighting a bear-like monster that was twice her height.


    Despite facing a towering bear, Ava stood resolute and unafraid, striking with precision.


    Of course, that was just the perception of the unaware audience; those with a critical eye could notice her amateur stance and form.


    Still, none of them frowned; in fact, they wore smiles, recognizing that this year''s newcomers were far more talented.


    Oblivious to all of it, Ava had only one focus in mind: the monster opposite her.


    It had some light gashes around its paws while a few cuts marred its yellow fur around its stomach and back.


    The audience gaped at the sight as Ava remained unharmed, using her light legs to reach speeds impossible for the monster to attack her.


    Unfortunately, she had a limited mana pool and stamina, so no matter how much she could dodge, she still needed to deal damage.


    Hence, she was lagging behind others while fighting the bear slowly but efficiently, taking almost 13 minutes to deal the final blow.


    However, the audience were composed by her calm breathing after such an exhausting battle and how she didn''t get as much a scratch on her.


    "Well, who would have guessed that someone could take an Ursidael like that?" Rui remarked, wiping an imaginary sweat from his forehead.


    Though he didn''t rest and changed to another place where a girl was wielding a rapier and fighting against a mage.


    It was Levi, daughter of Count Killion, who was wielding the rapier and using its light weight to swing it fastly to shake off the damage from the spells being fired at her.


    While her enemy seemed quite experienced, firing spells after spells, not letting Levi close in on her at any cost.


    ¡ªBoom!


    It wasn''t until an explosion shook both of them off balance that Levi got hit by a fireball, though it didn''t do any damage.


    She was wearing a special fabric useful against mages, but it still hurt her pride as her expression twisted.


    "Why''s there a freaking explosion!?" she complained before cursing, "Damn it! Where''s that wen¨C?"


    Just as she was about to curse, a stray arrow passed by her ear, startling her yet it served to only enrage her.


    Not only had she lost one of her targets, someone dared to target her!


    "You''re done for, whoever you are bit¨C!"


    Before she could say it, Rui had shifted the screen to the source of the explosion while sighing inwardly.


    ''Thankfully, the audience can''t hear their voices or else,'' he thought with a sigh of relief as cold sweat was already forming on the back of his neck.


    Still, he had to maintain his image, "I really didn''t expect an explosion to go out at such an important juncture of a fight,"


    "Let''s look at what caused it, yeah?" He seemingly asked the audience which played along.


    "YEAH!!"


    Rui smirked and replayed the scene before the blast occurred.


    It was none other than Caera who appeared, holding a magic staff in one hand and a dagger in another.


    She was standing and chanting a spell while a group of four girls were cautiously approaching her, unaware of the danger.


    "E-Rank Spell: Fire Blaze!"


    She muttered the spell name and the entire area within a two-meter radius was set ablaze at the same time.


    Yet that wasn''t the end of her spell as the fire spread and instantly reached a three-meter radius, surprising the group of girls.


    Before they could react, they were already eliminated as the burn damage was a bit too much, activating the barrier immediately.


    Meanwhile, Caera didn''t stop chanting, summoning a fireball and increasing its power by making it spin on its axis.


    Before the audience could make sense of her actions, she threw the E-Rank Fireball in a seemingly random direction.


    Yet it triggered a mine beneath the ground, causing an explosion.


    ¡ªBoom!


    Unaware of the approaching Levi, Caera left the area after canceling the spell and extinguishing the fire.


    She went in the direction the mine was located, which just so happened to be even farther from Levi, making it extremely hard to catch up.


    In fact, it would turn out to be a stupid action as the explosion attracted not just one or two examinees but even some monsters.


    "Poor girl, may she be satisfied by her result," Rui said with a praying gesture as he shifted the view to the air.

 Chapter 132 - 132: Unconventional Ones

    While many times Rui displayed the scenes for the audience, the best ones were reserved for the highlights on the third day.


    But there was a twist. If a better moment appeared, the last one on the list would be shown on the day itself or maybe the next day.


    The Academy was rating the fights and when it would be best to show them, especially right before the audience went to sleep.


    Sadly, examinees lacked such luxuries, as they could be attacked by nocturnal predators or other competitors.


    At least the academy staff also had to accompany them, making sure no one got hurt by fatal wounds, poison, or anything toxic.


    Yes, even if the examinees ended up eating something toxic, the specially made customized suits would recognize and eliminate the examinee.


    Of course, the Academy had carefully placed only mild toxins which could be treated but nevertheless be used as grounds for disqualification.


    This test, as repeatedly emphasized, was not just about strength but also about wits and knowledge.


    As if to display that, the screen shifted to the figure of Ziva who was casually eliminating an entire pack of wolves!


    "Now, that''s what I call smart," Rui complimented with a rare hint of a genuine smile before going into the details.


    "With her element, she emulated the sound that wolves make after a successful hunt, gathering the pack together,"


    "Then, she placed the body of another monster which was freshly hunted by some wolf only," Rui said, pointing at the bits and pieces of its remaining bones.


    "Lastly, she disguised her smell with that of a wolf using that wolf''s body, but didn''t touch a single drop of wolf blood."


    Finally, the pieces of a puzzle were set together and the audience understood what she had done yet her element intrigued them.


    Unfortunately, Rui just smiled, "It''s a secret~ You only know if you know, else you don''t~"


    Infuriated by his response, the audience cursed at him while admiring the planning done by the girl on the screen.


    Yet Ziva wasn''t done as she distorted the senses of the monsters that approached after smelling blood.


    No one saw how exactly but the scene was only left with the monster''s dead bodies.


    It was a clear massacre.


    The sight sent chills down the spines of men who fantasized about her and girls who idolized her for a moment.


    Surprisingly, her training had transformed her from a gentle, emotional girl into a scheming one.


    Obviously, even some professors took her actions as excessive but it didn''t matter as they weren''t the majority.


    However, even they were stunned by her choice of weapon, a retractable whip-sword.


    It looked exactly like a sword but was made up of several parts that could be separated and functioned as a serrated whip.


    And somehow Ziva could use it exceptionally well despite its well-known difficulty amongst the populace as most shifted to swords after some time.


    Little did they know that Ziva was the only one with enough talent to use this weapon and even reach the Master realm of proficiency with it.


    Sadly, she only reached it during her last fight while she was an A-rank hunter fighting an Integration-Rank.


    Something that was seemingly impossible was made possible by her and that''s why the protagonist made every attempt to thaw her icy heart.


    Not like it mattered since she wasn''t meant to be his, even his cheat¡ªplot armor¡ªdidn''t help, let alone his efforts.


    Though no one knew her future and how it would change with the presence of Jash who was hell bent on changing it at any cost.


    Or would it even go his way?


    Still, it was a distant future and neither Ziva nor the audience were aware of it as they just seemed to be focused on their own goals.


    Just like them, Rui was focused on his own goal of having fun and working as the announcer.


    "Alright, alright, enough gawking, let''s switch to the dwarves as well?" Rui commented, finally eliciting cheers from the dwarves.


    At the sight of their prince, Grunghin, with fiery orange hair and amber eyes, the dwarves cheered boastfully, louder than any prior cheers.


    Unlike humans who were corrupted with selfishness or the reserved elves, the dwarves believed in letting it be and really enjoyed letting themselves loose.


    Despite that, their nation was well-maintained with their own rules and had less criminals than humans. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only elves were the ones who had literally the least number of criminals, not even totalling a 100.


    Well, not like the Church had any criminals, so the elves having even that many would surprise anyone as they had their World Tree to pray to.


    Anyways, it''s not something that needs any mention now as currently the audience was also interested in the dwarven prince.


    "What the hell? Those geezers think this is a good location to hold an Entrance Test!?" Grunghin cursed as he was struggling to travel.


    Not only was his height short, the sledgehammer on his back didn''t help in any way.


    Though it wasn''t much for Grunghin as he was a dwarf, born with short height but extremely strong and sturdy physiques.


    Heck, he could easily wield a weapon twice or thrice the weight of this sledgehammer, the problem was its size.


    Nevertheless, he got used to it and eliminated quite a few irksome examinees who laughed at his pitiful sight.


    "Voila!" Grunghin''s smile widened as he heard the sound of spells being thrown around.


    He dashed forward and saw two mages fighting with each other.


    "Wind Bla¨C" A boy, midway through his chant, stopped at the comical sight of a flying sledgehammer before he noticed the dwarf.


    Alas, it was too late and he got eliminated without even a chance to defend himself from the menace.


    His next choice was to dodge, but he had no time because of his attention being spared thin with his already ongoing duel.


    Grunghin looked at the barrier turning into motes of white light with a grin before turning towards the other mage, who had a pale face.


    "Hehe, let''s have some fun, shall we?" Grunghin snickered before charging at the terrified mage.


    Despite his fear, he managed to switch his spells and throw them at the approaching Grunghin, who dodged most of them.


    Even if the size of the sledgehammer impeded Grunghin, he didn''t care and focused on eliminating the human mage.


    Still, the daggers made of water hit his face and arms, leaving behind small cuts.


    Luckily, none of them struck his eyes or the suit would have activated the barrier, eliminating him under the audience''s sight.


    The suit was carefully designed to activate only in fatal situations or at the discretion of test conductors monitoring every participant closely.


    If they deemed it necessary, they could activate the barrier but they only did it if it was absolutely necessary.


    They would not activate the barrier if the wound or the injury could be treated at their medical blocks, and the students would be fine after a few days.


    Not caring about any of it, Grungin swung his sledgehammer, "HAAH!"


    Somehow, the mage dodged the swing, but Grunghin continued attacking him, moving erratically to dodge all spells.


    In the end, the boy landed with his back against a tree and cursed at the sight of the approaching sledgehammer, "FU¨C"


    His curse was left half-spoken as Grunghin spared no mercy and broke his ribs, resulting in a barrier covering the boy before the full force could hit.


    "Haha, Now, this is fun!" Damian laughed before smirking, "Wait till I meet you, my best friend."


    Right at that moment, Zaos sneezed, looking left and right, trying to figure out why he would sneeze?

 Chapter 133 - 133: The Unfazed Contender

    "Wh-hat!?" a professor stuttered, checking Jash''s screen after a few hours.


    He expected him to be in the race, fighting other examinees or monsters or dismantling traps, or at least struggling.


    But...


    Jash was right there... sleeping.


    Yes, he had the gall to sleep in the cave while other examinees struggled to find food, water, and a place merely for a short respite.


    "W-what the?" another professor shouted, hearing the first''s stunned voice and turning to look at his screen.


    Almost every person in the observation room was glancing at Jash in shock and felt that he was crazy.


    If not for his high scores and achieving first place in both the earlier tests, they would have thought that he gave up.


    But how could they?


    Especially when he was nothing short of a seeded candidate and believed to get a top 10 finish in the Entrance Test.


    Despite their exaggerated reactions¡ªtwitching lips, trembling arms, gritted teeth, or veins throbbing on forehead¡ªthey restrained themselves.


    "Let''s replay it," a female professor said, unshaken by the entire spectacle as others nodded at her words.


    "Yeah, maybe he overexerted himself?" one professor said with a forced smile, trying to find logic in Jash''s actions.


    Unfortunately, all of them were set to be disappointed as nothing exemplary was shown from his side after the 3v1 to occupy the cave.


    Oblivious to being targeted and disliked by most professors, Jash slept peacefully as if the Entrance Test were just a cakewalk.


    In fact, one professor even appreciated his carefree and free-spirited approach, observing, "He''s relaxed because he feels no threat."


    Hearing her speak, the professors next to her were stunned and one braved through, "What do you mean by that, Professor Aileen?"


    However, it seemed that she had no intentions to answer and just walked out of the observation room with a subtle smile.


    A fire was burning in her eyes¡ªa fire to make Jash strong and actually utilize his talent as she had long noticed his lousy acting.


    Well, she was the only one with the right to call it lousy, fully aware that only someone at the SSS-Rank could detect it, or had to be special¡ªlike her.


    Surprisingly, Jash shivered at the exact moment she smiled as if she were going to be a great hindrance to his dream life.


    Feeling uncomfortable all over, he walked up with a start, bobbing his head to make sense of his location before it struck him.


    ''The Entrance Test... Shit!? Did I just sleep here?'' he lamented his situation inwardly, unable to blame anyone for his failure.


    It wasn''t really a failure as he did get a good rest while others were busy and the moonlight outside seemed peculiar.


    He didn''t need to think much to recall the reason. ''They really don''t know how to pull their punches,'' he mused with a nonchalant smile.


    Jash didn''t realize but his smile resembled that of a battle junkie itching for battle as he exited the cave with an eager look.


    Sometimes, people who are used to controlling their emotions fail to do so, letting them run rampant.


    However, that''s a good thing since emotions weren''t meant to be fully restrained, just enough that you maintain your humane side.


    And the professors who had lost interest in Jash were busy with looking at Avon, Amael, Ava, Caera, Ziva, Viria, Levi, Grunghin, Zaos, Sylvie, Yirox, Helios, Caeron...


    In the end, there were just one too many talented examinees for them to stay focused on any one of them.


    If not for the professor''s high ranks, they''d have a headache coming in while looking at the tens of seeded candidates alongside a few dark horses. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thankfully, none of them met each other as calculated by them, making sure the best was saved for the last day.


    Also, the fact that one of the talented ones would end up disqualified too soon would hurt their pride¡ªthier psyche.


    That was an outcome no one wanted to see as losing a prospect was far worse than losing a failed prospect.


    That''s why they ensured subtle changes were made, forcing the major candidates to not clash until the last day.


    Though their major role was in ensuring that they didn''t fight before the total surviving number dropped to a meager 2000.


    That was the total number of students to be accepted this year, and no one could change it.


    Though there have been batches with less students, the maximum has always been 2000 and it was assumed that this year would have 2000.


    While all of them were making efforts to maintain the status quo, there was Rui who wanted to disrupt it, just within the limits.


    Surely, he didn''t want to get punished... right?


    Anyways, he was currently glimpsing at Jash who navigated through the forest with ease as if it was daytime.


    His eyes shone with mischief as he deployed a trap to ensnare Jash and have some fun.


    Alas, Jash was too perceptive to the flow of mana and sensed the change in his environment no matter how muted it was.


    "This... this wasn''t here," he mumbled, frowning at the sight of a new flower on the ground.


    As he thought about it, his eyes bulged in realization and he instantly backstepped, trying to outrun the special trap designed for him.


    ¡ªSwish!


    The sharp sound of air being sliced echoed as stone spears erupted from the ground, aiming at Jash, who had already stepped out of their trajectory.


    ¡ªCrumble!


    Yet the stone spears shattered upon hitting the ground and tree trunks, becoming nothing but gravel.


    "So useless," Jash muttered, brooding over the weapons he could have used before realization dawned on him.


    ''It has to be that guy!'' he concluded, recalling the figure of Rui dressed in proper announcer''s clothing.


    Despite figuring out the cause and effect, Jash didn''t stand there like an idiot; he chose to get out of this place.


    Unfortunately, just as he took his first step, the environment around him changed.


    "An illusion?" he mubmled to himself in doubt, noticing the stark contrast between the lush forest and the sandy desert.


    Yet the feeling of the wind, the sounds of small creatures like salamanders, and the sensation of his feet sinking into the sand were too real to dismiss them as mere illusions.


    "To think something that can create things that are so real is being used here," he mumbled in astonishment.


    His bewilderment was overshadowed by the impressive illusion as he looked back from the corner of his eye.


    One look and he found out that he was being surrounded by something though he couldn''t quite point out what they were.


    ''Although they''re illusions... I can really feel their presence,'' he noted, intrigued by the level of illusions being used in the Entrance Test.


    "What a lie! It''s that guy who''d done it of his own accord," Jash clicked his tongue and spat the truth with a disdainful expression.


    However, Rui just snickered at the scene, smiling as he recalled all the examinees who got eliminated due to his tricks.


    Soon though, it was Rui''s turn to be bewildered as a wild smile appeared on Jash''s face as he unsheathed his sword.


    ''This killing intent... so nostalgic,'' Jash thought as he wielded the sword, deliberately falling for the trick played by Rui.

 Chapter 134 - 134: Sword and Skeletons

    Unlike anyone else who''d be troubled in their current situation, Jash was smiling crazily, finally feeling that his itch to battle would be scratched.


    ''This is truly... a good opportunity for me,'' he thought with a calm smile, composing himself and restraining his leaking emotions.


    As if right on cue, the ones holding animosity showed up.


    "Undead?" Jash blurted out, his smile widening, unable to reel in his excitement.


    They were a ragtag group of skeletons with some scrap-like weapons in the front before more and more of them appeared in his eyes.


    Yet Jash remained unfazed, fully aware that it was just an illusion and that he was in no real danger.


    A plethora of weapons¡ªspears, machetes, swords, daggers, khukris, sharp claws, greatswords, axes¡ªin hand they approached.


    ''They''re humanoids but since they aren''t humans, I can fight all of them without hesitation,'' Jash mused, noting the closing distance.


    As the distance neared a mere five meters, he moved from his stance, breaking all hell loose.


    He slashed, sliced, swung, cut, thrusted, and used the flat of the sword in a continuous harmony, deflecting all attacks on him.


    However, the wide smile and falling apart skeletons reflected the reality of his swift and hidden counter attacks even though he was on defense.


    ''Thanks to the illusion, I don''t have to hold back anything at all,'' he mused with a small smile gracing his lips.


    The mana inside his body boiled violently, ready to be unleashed at a moment''s notice and take down his enemies.


    Still, Jash continued to forcefully circulate it inside his body, strengthening his muscles, tendons, ligaments and reducing tension and friction.


    Using the mana as a coating and protecting the tissues from any wear and tear, he increased the time it would take for his body to fatigue.


    His already abnormally powerful body was further enhanced by the abundant mana within, boosting his efficiency.


    He didn''t stop swinging his sword, using it to parry, block, and evade, all the while slashing it to incapacitate the skeletons.


    "Huu..."


    Jash exhaled deeply, his eyes scanning the battlefield littered with fallen undead, then focusing on the remaining enemies.


    Naturally, since they were undead, they didn''t have an emotion like fear and charged at him regardless of how many he destroyed.


    Nothing mattered anymore as Jash almost got into a trance, fighting the horde of never ending skeletons.


    The mastery of his swordsmanship rose visibly as unnecessary movements started reducing with greater efficiency.


    In simpler terms, if he could only take down one skeleton with a single slash earlier, then he could take down two or three with the same slash.


    To top it off were the reduced amount of mana and physical stamina consumption as he started losing the sense of battle.


    The repetitive slashing grew monotonous and boring as he cut down skeletons with ease as if it were straight out of an action movie.


    Jash''s movements slowed down as he felt the lingering presences around him dwindle away and his unfocused eyes regained focus.


    It turned out he had half-entered a trance state and got pulled out of it due to the lack of enemies to fight against.


    "Is it over...?" he mumbled in disappointment, thinking, ''It''d be such a pity if that was all though...''


    Just as the thought rose in his mind, he felt stronger presences and malicious intent all of a sudden from all around him.


    Despite his situation, his reaction was different.


    His voice tinged with anticipation as he smiled, talking to himself, "So it really isn''t over yet."


    As the skeletons came into view, he also noticed that they were donning armor made of some metal that fully covered them.


    ''It''s broken and dilapidated but the energy they emanate is far more powerful!'' he observed with a critical eye. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, his smile only became more stuck on his lips as the distance closed and swung his sword to stretch his tense arm a bit.


    "This is just the start," he muttered before charging straight into the lines of the undead enemies.


    The size difference or the larger numbers or their armors or their better weapons¡ªnothing seemed to deter him in the least.


    He didn''t even realize himself that his itch to battle was like an itch that, no matter how much you scratched it, would only feel like it wasn''t enough.


    Holding the sword firmly, Jash swung it, taking off the helmets worn by a few skeletons as they moved their necks at the last second.


    ''Better than before... probably F-Rank?'' he guessed, not knowing their true rank since they were a horde.


    If he was just facing one of them, it would be so much easier to take it down yet a multitude of F-Rank Undead wouldn''t be easy for someone at the Early E-Rank.


    Yet Jash stood staunch, eager to fight it out, as if to defy the logical thinking the world seemed to work on.


    ¡ªSwish!


    "Ugh," Jash grunted, moving his head in the nick of time to dodge a sudden arrow being launched at his head.


    ''At least there aren''t any mages yet,'' he thought, relieved slightly due to not having to deal with those pesky mages.


    Sadly, it seemed he himself jinxed it as a fireball flew towards his face while wind blades shot at his arms, to unarm him, literally.


    Sweat dripped from his forehead as he narrowly dodged the attacks, using an undead as a meat shield while blocking an axe swing.


    ''They are slowly getting stronger,'' he observed their quicker movements and how it was becoming harder to deal with them.


    Despite his precarious situation, Jash seemed to be enjoying it.


    Little did he know that it would continue to change him fundamentally as it were the aftereffects from reincarnation.


    The memories he gained without real effort, coupled with his unique soul aspect¡ªsomething rare even in this world¡ªwere beginning to manifest their influence.


    Naturally, it was caused simply because this was the first battle that felt real and something he could actually do.


    Unlike the time in the dungeon, where he barely survived due to unknown external factors, this battle was manageable with a little overexertion.


    The feeling of fighting continuously without pause as if his life was on the line spurred his past self into his being itself.


    Despite it being an illusion and he knew it, it was undeniable that the thrill of the battle got to him, ignoring the fact.


    As if he wanted to reach unattainable heights, he had decided to get the most out of this opportunity, not wanting to regret it later.


    After all, being able to sleep with peace of mind that he was the strongest was far better than making half-assed efforts and having to stay awake for fear of the strong.


    Thankfully, the memories he only witnessed but never really got the feel of were also fusing within him.


    ''The insights from my past life, something I never understood, are now becoming one with me.''


    Rather than thinking about them actively, they were pouring within his mind, trying to get refined and polished for his current body.


    ''Come at me!'' he exclaimed, eager to try his new style eagerly.


    ''Faster and stronger!''


    His thoughts narrowed onto using the undead as test dummies to refine his swordsmanship, feeling the wall to the intermediate realm of mastery cracking open.


    ''Just a little more...''

 Chapter 135 - 135: Shattering the Illusion

    As if to fulfill his wish, a bunch of daggers came flying at Jash in the next second as his eyes tracked their trajectories.


    Falling into an unknown state of flow, he swung his sword with his wrist, moving at speeds that mimicked a shield.


    Unknowingly, the fluidity of his wrists allowed him to move the sword easily and parry the flying daggers in one go.


    Yet he didn''t stop, moving his feet to turn around, carrying forward the momentum from his sword to continue his offense.


    His sword slashed through a bunch of weapons aiming for his neck, chest, stomach, and thigh before swiftly cutting through the undead wielding them.


    He completed the set of actions in one swift motion as if nothing could impede his moments while his eyes became unfocused.


    He didn''t realize his situation resembled an enlightenment his father, Carcel, had described.


    In a twist of foot, another undead fell with a thud, colliding with other bones littering the ground.


    For the next few seconds, Jash seamlessly blended in with the fight, moving in its flow.


    His sword aimed for the openings through the rusty armor worn by the undead while deflecting their weapons.


    The angle of deflection resulted in their weapons clashing against each other, getting tangled and stalling them.


    Using that moment of opening, Jash easily took care of the undead one by one until he ended up taking down the last one.


    ¡ªSwish!


    His sword swung vertically downwards, slashing its skull through its broken helmet as its body staggered back.


    Jash didn''t follow the turn of events and ended up plunging his sword into the ground.


    Only when he failed to continue his natural set of moments did he come to his senses, feeling a sense of euphoria wash over him.


    However, the euphoric sensation of reaching the intermediate realm of sword mastery didn''t last long as his fatigue caught up.


    "Huff... huff..." he gasped deeply, panting for breath as lungs ached from the excessive movements his body had undergone in a short period.


    ''Is it over?'' he asked internally, his eyes crinkling in pain from being hyper focused while a few drops of blood leaked from his nose.


    His hand inadvertently reached above his lips at the warm sensation as he brought his fingers to see what it was.


    "Blo...od...?" he muttered in confusion before his head cleared up.


    ''Mana deviation...'' he realized, checking his mana reserves to find them utterly empty.


    It seemed his body had overexerted himself in the exchange of upgrading his sword mastery, but a smile soon blossomed on his face.


    "This is just an illus¨Cahhhh," he mumbled, before his facial muscles ached due to the smile on his face.


    It was not just his mana reserves, but also his body suffered from pushing his limits, though he wasn''t aware of it.


    Nevertheless, his internal satisfaction remained as he combated the pain, awaiting the illusion''s end as he believed its goal must have been achieved.


    Unfortunately, it was just what Jash believed...


    ¡ªNeigh!


    The sound of hooves cracking against the floor echoed all around him as the hair at his neck rose in fear.


    "IS HE FREAKING CRAZY!?" Jash screamed at his loudest despite the pain accompanying his exclamation.


    Another wave of the undead, one stronger than the previous one, was coming with higher grades of Undead this time.


    ''This illusion wasn''t created to be fought and won,'' Jash concluded without wasting his time on anger.


    He just added a few more points to Rui''s revenge and how to exaggerate it to a certain someone.


    His expression turned frosty as he continued to run his thoughts while being mentally fatigued as he still had to break the illusion.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t have a cheat-like system like Amael or the protagonist.


    But he didn''t want something like that either, it was way too binding and there was no need for it.


    ''There it is,'' he noticed at the place where he appeared after entering the illusion as he dragged his body towards it.


    ''This darned Rui! He really made the core of the illusion at the same place one appears,'' Jash cursed inwardly.


    In essence, any illusion was just a formation that worked on the brain, manipulating it into believing that something is real or unreal.


    Both types of illusions exist and various factors like the creator''s element, ability, mastery and many more affect it.


    The most important factor is who it is going to impact as two people could indeed have entirely different reactions to the same illusion.


    Either way, the core of the illusion, or the formation per se, was what brought it into effect, so it was also a weakness.


    Usually, the cores were well-hidden or the formation master would play another trick on it.


    There could also be formations with sub-cores or other substitutes, but it wasn''t something Jash had to deal with.


    The illusion he was inside was merely a simple trick, something not even comparable to what the Imperial Family played with.


    If he could crack that illusion, then how difficult would this one be?


    In fact, it was time for Rui to be surprised as Jash dealt with something he deemed to be luck-based.


    The only reason the undead hordes were so big and so many was because the core was present in plain sight.


    It was to create a sense of pseudo-balance in case he were accused of malicious intentions.


    Only Jash knew that Rui was in no way stupid and that''s why he was able to come up with the correct answer so quickly.


    Still, he had been fighting for nearly an hour with his concentration at its peak alongside the trance-like state.


    It was more than enough to drag him down as he tried to break the core, and the illusion as a result of that.


    Unfortunately, the Undead could care less.


    They were fast approaching with great momentum to eliminate the living from their Realm of Bones.


    ''Shit!'' Jash cursed inwardly at their sight, increasing his pace despite the pain coursing through him. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though it was an illusion, it was extremely real or breaking through the next realm of sword master wouldn''t be possible in the first place.


    If it were so easy, everyone would be using illusions to get past any walls in their life as a hunter and no one would be scorned.


    However, that was just an idiot''s dream.


    Whereas Jash was trying to reach the core before the Undead caught up to him and he tried his best despite the challenge ahead¡ªbehind him.


    Thankfully, the Undead failed as Jash ended up breaking the core and the illusion shattered like a glass.


    A relieved smile appeared on his face before his illusion too broke apart.


    He woke up with a start in a dark area, unable to guess his location before a grunt escaped his lips, "Arghhh..."


    In the next second, his mental fatigue caught up to him as he fell unconscious on his back.


    Oblivious to him, a small chest appeared next to him mysteriously as if to reward his efforts inside the illusion.


    Meanwhile, the initiator, Rui, was messing around with other examinees when he realized one of them completed his test.


    "Oh? Which one?" he mumbled excitedly, eager to see which examinee surpassed his expectations.


    "Huh? It''s him? How? Impossible!" he exclaimed in surprise, unable to believe the outcome.

 Chapter 136 - 136: Unseen Dynamics

    Rui''s reaction was exaggerated but it made sense since he didn''t think anyone would be able to break that illusion.


    Much less fight in it for an entire hour against the neverending hordes of undead!


    "Maybe he was lucky?" he said, trying to console himself and believe it, but the timing didn''t match.


    If he was lucky, he would''ve gotten out within the first few minutes as he tried to escape the undead and stumbled upon the core.


    But 1 hour?


    "Something doesn''t add up," Rui blurted out in confusion, utterly perplexed by what happened.


    "What doesn''t add up?"


    A cold voice entered his ears, freezing him on the spot as the colors on his face drained.


    "P-professor Aileen," Rui blurted out in surprise, recognizing her chilly voice and turning to look at her.


    Thankfully, Rui wasn''t actively commenting as most of the audience had returned and it was night, or else his image would''ve fallen.


    Currently, Rui was just wearing a set of pajamas to be in comfort and enjoy messing around with the examinees to an acceptable standard.


    Unfortunately, something like that didn''t bother Aileen.


    She was still donned in the professor''s uniform and had entered the private premises of Rui yet he himself didn''t dare to complain.


    Rather, his throat was parched at her sudden appearance and her inquisitive tone that he forgot to breathe for a second.


    "I asked you, what doesn''t add up?" She asked, her voice dropped to a chilling whisper, laced with an edge that promised consequences if unanswered.


    "T-that," Rui stammered, unable to tell her the truth and cursed his luck inwardly, ''Damn! Just why is it she who heard it!?''


    "That?" she asked again, "Don''t waste my time."


    Her second sentence seemed to press Rui into almost blurting out the reason but Zander appeared right at that moment.


    "Professor Aileen, I don''t think it''s quite right for you to press a student like that," Zander said, without asking about the situation.


    It seemed he was observing, but he wasn''t. He had just sensed a pulse of mana when he was leaving the stadium and came here.


    The trembling Rui and presence of a professor was more than enough for him to figure it out.


    "Vice-Principal!" Rui greeted in delight while Aileen greeted in mild dissatisfaction, "Vice-Principal."


    However, she maintained her respectful tone and demeanor in front of him despite the light in her eyes dimming.


    "May I inquire what was it that you wished to ask from Rui at this hour?" Zander said after nodding in acknowledgement.


    "I was observing a student and he suddenly fell unconscious where no trap or anything was placed," she began.


    "I doubted my eyes but when I began checking all the participants, a very few of them were struggling at places without any traps or monsters,"


    Her eyes then turned to Rui as she continued, "And who would I come to ask except him? That''s when I heard his mutters."


    As if she finished what she had to say and Rui''s significance had ended, she turned to face Zander, awaiting an answer.


    "Is that so?" he muttered before casting a side glance at Rui who trembled all of a sudden, feeling his miniscule presence.


    "Professor Aileen, I will check what you''ve said and take care of this matter," Zander said, leaving no room of discussion.


    "...Alright," Aileen agreed after some hesitation but she had no choice and flew away.


    "S-sir, it''s not wha¨C" Rui began explaining the moment Aileen left but Zander raised his hand to stop him.


    "The academy allowed you to interfere within an acceptable range. No need to say anything unless you broke that agreement."


    Hearing Zander''s cold words, Rui shut up and just nodded, knowing he stayed within the agreed-upon limits.


    It was just that the limits were set at different levels for different participants.


    Someone at the level of Jash, who secured first place in both earlier tests would have to suffer quite a bit more than others.


    It was not a personal vendetta or some politics to prevent him from reaching rank 1. The academy had no place for such things.


    To this day, the Solarnelle Academy was the one place with the least amount of corruption throughout the Empire. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, excluding elven and dwarven domains as information about them was hard to get even for the Imperial Family.


    They were powerhouses and were in an open alliance with each other as well as humans, so provoking either would be a bad idea.


    Not like there were many negatives about cooperating as all three races progressed a lot when working in tandem and even sharing their technology.


    Heck, even some elven and dwarven professors existed within the Solarnelle Academy to reduce race discrimination.


    The academy''s integrity got bolstered by the cooperation of elven and dwarven professors, though this diversity sometimes led to factional differences due to the difference in opinions.


    The difference in opinions was also the reason Rui found himself unable to speak the truth about Jash.


    If he actually told Zander about the extreme test he gave Jash with a pseudo-balancing luck-based exit...


    Just the thought was enough for Rui to wipe it off from his mind and act like nothing happened.


    His shock, surprise and disbelief didn''t matter as it wasn''t worth it and got replaced by amusement.


    ''It''ll be fun to watch their disappointed faces,'' he thought, bemused by the interesting situation.


    After all, he himself couldn''t know what exactly happened inside the illusion, not to mention the Academy Staff or the audience.


    All they got was just another footage of Jash sleeping.


    This time, underneath a tree''s roots with some gap for breathing though he wasn''t aware of it himself.


    Since Jash was mentally fatigued, he couldn''t wake up anytime soon and literally continued to rest until noon of the next day.


    Even Rui himself didn''t expect Jash to take so long to just wake up.


    Yet when Jash woke up, he felt slightly tense, his head was aching and it even elicited a groan, "Ugh."


    Jash squinted against the darkness, his eyes scrunching in reflex before slowly fluttering open, only to see darkness all around him.


    ''Where... am I?'' he wondered, his mind racing despite the throbbing pain as he tried to move.


    The first thing he felt on his hands was the rough texture of soil and he instantly recognized it, ''Soil? Did I get buried or something?''


    Unaware of the pit he had fallen into after entering the illusion which threw him underneath a tree, he could only speculate.


    Thankfully, the hard sensation of the root as well as wet soil and the few thin rays of sunlight helped him calculate his position.


    "I am under the wat¡ªtree!?" he exclaimed, almost saying water due to the memories of a funny video.


    However, he was the most astounded one by his own bizarreness to joke despite his potentially precarious situation.


    It truly eluded him how he could do so when he was the least like that.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t get the time to think about it as his hand came across a metallic box.


    "Hm? What''s this?" he asked himself before bringing it closer to his eyes, "A ''Reward Chest''?"


    The top lid of it was written in beautiful cursive writing that Jash barely read due to the sparse light.


    "There''s an actual reward for this!?" Jash exclaimed in doubt, opening it at once.

 Chapter 137 - 137: Lost Wanderer

    The reward chest opened to reveal two similar vials of potions, each of a different color.


    "Mana Recovery Potion and Healing Potion?" Jash exclaimed in recognition, his brows arching in doubt.


    No physical harm had befallen him, but the potions could still be useful for the rest of the exam.


    Anyhow, the reward chest and the potions perplexed him, as rewards weren''t ever mentioned in the novel or any information about the Academy.


    Unlike him, the staff were in disarray trying to figure out how he got the reward chest from another place.


    It was actually a reward from a chain-quest where different numbers of clues pertaining to the same objective were left in various places.


    Many participants were solving the puzzle, unaware that others had already moved ahead.


    Only after solving the puzzle at five different levels would two examinees come face-to-face and realize the futility of their struggle.


    Of course, the reward being two potions and the sub-rewards at each stage were meant to make up for it.


    Unfortunately, that same reward chest was with Jash, who was... just sleeping.


    If only Jash knew they considered him to be lazily sleeping around, he''d one hundred percent go and beat the shit out of them.


    Though they were at least A-Rank hunters, it wasn''t realistic, but Jash wouldn''t care at that point.


    Well, there was a much higher chance of him not giving a damn and just ignoring them, just like he did with almost everything.


    He had a simple motto that he followed: Why take unnecessary stress and tension if it can just be forgotten? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wasn''t really complex, but applying it in real life was difficult where every person was burdened by one tension or another.


    And as if to prove this point, Jash threw away the reward box and pocketed the two vials, placing them next to the sword.


    Thankfully, he had gotten a belt from an examinee, allowing him to secure the potions and give them a layer to prevent any accidental damage.


    However, he pursed his lips in the next second, pondering about his next set of actions.


    ''What even is left for me to do?'' he wondered, relaxed after his breakthrough in sword mastery.


    It took him a few seconds to come to a decision. "Maybe I should stabilize it," he mumbled to himself, still in deep thought.


    He absentmindedly tried to dig his way out of the soil and find some examinees to stabilize his impetus breakthrough.


    Just as he moved, a stinging pain erupted near his heart at the mana core.


    "W...what?" he uttered through bated breath, caressing his chest to placate the unexpected sensation of pain.


    No matter how realistic the illusion was, it was after all only an illusion, so Jash remained oblivious to his body''s condition.


    His mana was entirely exhausted to bring him back to consciousness and maintain his bodily functions.


    Though his body didn''t really exert itself, his brain sure did¡ªthe sensations and nerve signals wouldn''t stop immediately.


    And that''s exactly where mana came in.


    It served as a mediator between the lucid state of being in an illusion and the real world, working to restore the balance.


    That''s why his entire mana was almost depleted.


    It was only because he was relaxing that he didn''t realize it after waking up and it only showed effects as he moved.


    Nevertheless, Jash''s mind was sharp enough to conclude that his mana was exhausted, taking the best steps to solve it.


    In a hurry to restore his mana, he took out the vial of Mana Recovery Potion and gulped it down in one go.


    "Aargh," he groaned at its bitter taste amid the rising pain before a cool sensation spread through his stomach.


    It slowly crept to his mana core, immediately dousing the burst of pain with a fresh wave of pure mana.


    Well, it all happened within a second of taking the potion but for Jash, that might''ve been hours.


    The pain was no worse than during his awakening ceremony, and it would worsen if he emptied his mana core as a higher-ranked hunter.


    Though their higher absorption rates prevent the problem unless they are in a mana-less environment.


    Then... good luck.


    In one way or another, Jash too was in a similar situation without mana, buried under a tree.


    If not for immediately consuming the Mana Recovery Potion, he might''ve suffered more and even damaged his Mana Core in the long run.


    ''Damn you, Rui! Just you wait!'' Jash vowed, gritting his teeth while clutching his chest.


    Fortunately, the staff was busy looking out for other examinees as only a few thousand examinees were left after an entire day.


    Or they were busy trying to figure out the source of the reward chest that Jash received from nowhere.


    Sadly for them, they were destined to not find out anything about it and could only edit that part out, lest someone claims favoritism.


    Meanwhile, Jash finally dug his way out of the soil and squinted his eyes against the sharp sunlight shining on his muddy face.


    The stark difference in brightness forced him to be caught off-guard for a second, but no one was there to take advantage of it.


    After dusting himself off, Jash trudged back to the cave, in hopes of encountering someone.


    Alas, all his luck seemed to have been used or was it really bad luck?


    "Damn it! When I didn''t want to fight, I encountered so many examinees and monsters, so where are they now?"


    Jash grumbled in frustration, unable to encounter even a hair of an examinee as he traversed the forest.


    No matter how much he looked around or the amount of noise he made, he only found some weak E-Rank monsters.


    One swing was all it took to eliminate them as he didn''t even look back to check on them.


    In fact, his frustration could also be attributed to his rumbling stomach as he didn''t eat anything since the start of the Entrance Test.


    If not for hunters being stronger due to the presence of mana in their bodies, he would''ve long craved anything edible.


    He was no different than a starving teen finding his fridge empty after being given hopes of a sumptuous meal.


    Sadly, his stringent choice of food being carried from his past life was really difficult to fulfill.


    ''So annoying,'' he thought, remembering the long periods of starvation in his past life.


    Despite the situation of his previous world dropping to a level where humans would even eat rotten food, he didn''t even eat fresh meat.


    And that same habit, instinct, routine, or whatever you call it, had become a part of his soul across two lives.


    Even before regaining the memories, he puked at the sight of meat, not to mention eating it.


    That was impossible.


    The only change would be his past life experiences of chewing on fresh self-cooked food even when standing in pools of blood and flesh.


    "Ugh," he groaned with an irritated countenance as he stepped into a desert next to the forest before turning back.


    "As if a desert would have any food when even the forest didn''t..." he muttered, turning to look at the leafy treetops.


    "Just what is the use of having such lush trees when they can''t even produce the smallest of a nut," he complained, punching a tree trunk.


    ¡ªThud!


    ¡ªKieeek!!

 Chapter 138 - 138: Satisfied Monkey Chaser

    As soon as Jash punched a tree with all his might, a loud thudding sound echoed followed by a screech.


    Turning around, he stared dumbfounded at the figure of the 1-foot small monkey, scratching its red butt after falling on it.


    Soon, the monkey also noticed Jash and started shrieking and hooting at him, "Kii! Kieeek! Ki Ki Ki!"


    "I don''t know what you''re saying but..." Jash replied before a chilling smile blossomed at his lips.


    ¡ªShwaa!


    Unsheathing his sword, Jash put it in front of him and completed his sentence, "...you''ve arrived at the perfect time."


    On the other hand, the monkey trembled visibly at the crazy sight of Jash, wondering what this two-legged creature was talking about.


    Yet the fight was inevitable the moment Jash saw the skin of a banana fall alongside the monkey.


    ''If I can''t get him to take me there, I can just chase after it,'' Jash smirked, believing his plan to be foolproof.


    With full confidence in himself, he dashed at the monkey, kicking up a small dust cloud and swinging his sword.


    However, he changed its trajectory to only leave cuts on the body of the monkey.


    Only... his sword cut nothing but air as the monkey was already far away.


    Despite his hunger gnawing at his sanity, Jash knew better than to underestimate an enemy who could easily dodge his attacks.


    "Ki ki?" The monkey whined, tilting its head in confusion as its red tail formed a question mark ''?'' sign.


    In the next second, its tail formed an exclamation point ''!'' mark as it moved away yet again, using its hindlimbs to jump.


    "What?" Jash blurted, struggling to believe the monkey was dodging his attacks so easily..


    With his emotions in disarray, he missed the snorting and playful demeanor of the monkey as it toyed with him.


    Although it could slightly understand Jash''s animosity, it didn''t care and made even more fun of him, mocking him with its tongue.


    Each time Jash''s sword neared, the monkey dodged at the last second, as if mocking him to try harder.


    "Damn you," he cursed, unable to cut even a hair strand of the green-colored monkey despite so many attempts.


    Unknowingly, the incongruency within his brain and body with relation to the sword mastery was slowly getting resolved.


    With each focused swing, his sword improved and the monkey was finding it harder and harder to dodge despite Jash''s increasing anger.


    He was gritting his teeth to the point of his gums bleeding as he really couldn''t stand it, hunger really took a toll on him.


    Not only did it lower his energy and stamina, it even deeply affected his mental state, making him nothing more than a monkey chaser.


    However, only the monkey knew that it was barely dodging the attacks despite using its long tail.


    Even though it had a prehensile tail it was having a hard time to actually grasp branches and jump away.


    Jash forced the monkey to stay grounded despite his crazed state.


    It was more of a subconscious instinct to take down the monkey and achieve his goal with the highest efficiency.


    Unfortunately, Jash couldn''t see himself or how stupid his actions were getting as the monkey even got a few hits in.


    Though all it gave Jash was a few bruises and nothing more than that.


    ''Seems like it only has high agility,'' Jash noted, feeling the damage being done despite the attacks.


    While it may seem stupid to allow an unknown enemy to attack, he needed to gauge the monkey''s rank.


    No matter the number of monsters and their discerning features he knew about, there were just way too many to know them all.


    Unless he chose to go deep into research about Monster Zoology, there was no way to figure out the monkey without a few exchanges.


    Even if it could be potentially dangerous and his conclusions could even be false, he wasn''t functioning at full capacity.


    Hence, he really believed the monkey was just an agility-type annoying monster.


    "Now, you''re done for!" He yelled, using mana to boost his speed at the last second, taking the monkey by surprise.


    In the next second, Jash found himself being pushed backward while a few strands of red flow in the air.


    The monkey''s tail easily deflected Jash''s full-powered sword slash as if it was no big deal.


    "Huh?" Jash let out a confused sound at the sight, utterly perplexed before his gaze came across the monkey.


    Or its lack thereof.


    Only its enlarged tail was visible, slowly returning to normal as the monkey reappeared.


    It was even smaller than 5 inches and Jash stood there for a while, dumbfounded and astounded.


    "What the hell!?"


    Those were the first words he spoke as he realized he''d been had.


    ''This... is just a stimulated monster,'' he concluded upon seeing it disappear shortly after becoming even smaller.


    Fortunately, he stabilized his swordsmanship with its help, serving as a whetstone to increase his sharpness and agility.


    Of course, he himself didn''t know all of it yet and was busy cursing whoever arranged this damned test.


    However, his complaints turned to all smiles as a bunch of bananas appeared at the place where the monkey dematerialized from.


    "Wait!" he stopped himself at the last second, choosing to slice them apart with his sword before kicking away.


    "3... 2... 1..." Jash counted, closing his ears and hiding behind a tree, waiting for something.


    "Hm? Did I guess wrong?" he mumbled to himself before taking a peek from the tree''s side to really find the bananas.


    He was doubtful if it was another test or not, but it didn''t turn out to be so as he ran towards them, instantly swallowing a handful.


    He couldn''t care less about them being poisonous, it was a trouble for his future-self either way.


    Thankfully, they weren''t poisonous and the professor who made that test was smiling satisfactorily with the data from the fight. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Also, Jash''s cautious side won brownie points from the professor as he generously graded it.


    Yes, most trials were created by the professors and had to get approved by the Principal before making their way into the Entrance Test.


    And the decision to decide the grade, passing or failing the tests fell directly into their hands.


    Naturally, there were some professors who didn''t do it, choosing to take other roles in the Entrance Test.


    Though Jash didn''t really know about the behind the scenes of the Entrance Test, not being a professor or having talked to one.


    Even the novel only mentioned the female professors sacrificing themselves for the protagonist or their sisters entering his harem.


    They could be villains or just brothers taking revenge for their sister''s misery yet the world labeled them differently.


    Fortunately for them, Jash was going to change the entire novel or its plot by surviving and before that, securing First Place in the Entrance Test.


    At least those were his aspirations, even though he remained unaware of the weight they carried.


    As it not only changed the fates of those directly involved, but even of those unlinked to anything.


    And it would be really hard to imagine Jash being such a person with how zealously he ate a dozen bananas in one go.


    Feeling satisfied, he licked his lips, "Now, just a day remains... I should head there."

 Chapter 139 - 139: Not My Problem

    "W-what? Where''s the promised reward!?" an average teen with torn clothes and scars marring his body cried out.


    While Jash was joyously heading to his planned destination in a relaxed manner, one of the two finalists battling for the promised reward finally won. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alas, all he saw was an empty place with no rewards left there as he broke down at the sight, his face fell in despair; he had given everything for it.


    "And that''s a lesson on not trusting others easily, not to mention mere papers," Rui commented with a grin.


    He masterfully hid his inner thoughts and emotions, making sure no one figured out it was him who stole the chest.


    He even took the liberty to handle the situation and made a spectacle of the examinee who was considered a strong contender... until now, that is.


    The unfortunate examinee didn''t even realize the audience was laughing and enjoying themselves at his expense.


    To add insult to injury, his defeated foe was laughing hysterically despite almost being disqualified.


    Though nothing of it lasted long as both of them were disqualified by two sharp, green arrows.


    They couldn''t even react before their barrier activated, teleporting them out of the island.


    In essence, they suffered the most; not only did they gain nothing, but they also got disqualified when only a little over 2000 examinees remained.


    In their place, appeared a blue-eyed and green-haired elf before kicking away, not even sparing a glance around.


    "I hope I don''t meet him," he muttered under his breath, holding a longbow on his shoulder as he ran across the mountain.


    Unlike him, the one he didn''t want to meet was actively looking for him.


    The orange-haired dwarf, Grunghin, was fighting a human mage who mocked him for his height.


    The mage sneered, "Didn''t realize kids liked playing with oversized toys." His words sparked Grunghin''s fury immediately.


    "Tell me if it''s a toy or not! You stickly mage!" Grunghin yelled before slamming it at the mage''s body who dodged easily.


    Despite being a mage, his long legs helped him evade Grunghin and his stubby legs.


    Still, he couldn''t even cast a spell, so there was no way for him to win against Grunghin and he did get taken down at the end.


    ¡ªPtui!


    Grunghin spat, "Pathetic! All he knows is how to jump around like a monkey!"


    In his rage, he had forgotten Zaos, who he was trying to find and have a bout with.


    "Shit! How did I forget it?" he exclaimed before calming down, "There''s no way he got eliminated so I can still fight him!"


    Once again, Grunghin began searching for Zaos, with one praying to not meet the annoying guy while the other wanted to fight.


    It wasn''t animosity or anything, just plain old rivalry and also because Zaos and Sylvie never fought Grunghin seriously.


    It was just some light spars, something his whole dwarfish blood disliked to the last atom.


    He believed in going all out, even against friends to gauge who will be able to stay alongside you as your friend till the end.


    But the elven prince and princess saw no reason to fight him, even becoming friends with him.


    And Sylvie was better than it at Zaos, telling Grunghin that she wasn''t allowed to fight because of her weak control over her element.


    Only Zaos was left to suffer as she pinned it unto him, being her elder sister.


    However, Zaos also swiftly escaped every single time, using one excuse or another until the Academy Entrance Test itself came out.


    Truth be told, both of them actually fought in the Entrance Test, but lost to the protagonist in the end.


    What happened next was easy to guess, they initially dismissed his skill, attributing their defeat to fatigue.


    Only after losing to him miserably later on did the two accept it and make him his rival before giving up and becoming his friends.


    Alas, it was a harem-centric novel, so there was no need for a sausage fest.


    Grunghin was sent to be a blacksmith for the protagonist and his harem while Zaos became the Elven King, standing as his backer.


    Of course, Grunghin also became the ruler of the dwarven region, but their rulers and monarchy were different.


    Anyways, with two entire regions as staunch support and even both their princesses as his harem members, who could say shit to the protagonist?


    Not to mention the church and even the Solarnelle Imperial Family...


    All these details were going on inside Jash''s head as he had stumbled across sledgehammer marks on the ground.


    He wisely changed his path, not wanting to encounter the crazy guy and let him latch on to the protagonist.


    ''Even if I don''t want a harem of women, I also don''t want men!'' he justified it inwardly, trying to ignore the elephant in the room.


    No matter if he encountered them or not, if he secured the first rank, all kinds of overconfident idiots would show up.


    "No, right? I am not a poor protagonist of humble origins who seems easy to bully but a full-fledged son of a freaking Duke!"


    He blurted out his muttering while walking randomly, trying to reach his destination by luck or after only 2000 participants remained.


    ''Or on the last day, whichever happens first,'' he mused, shrugging his shoulders and putting the matter to the back of his mind.


    His current priority was to find something to eat too, he had eaten the bananas at once, not rationing it like the other examinees.


    Of course, he didn''t really mind not eating as the second day was about to end and by the next morning, the final test would begin.


    ''I don''t think I messed up much till now, so no major changes should happen for now,'' Jash mused, appearing thoughtful.


    He was remembering the things he changed from the novel and could only remember minor events or things without much consequence.


    At least, they weren''t supposed to have consequences anytime soon, but maybe soon in the future.


    ''The first biggest change with immediate results will be securing first place,'' he mused, dismissing the armor he suggested to Amael.


    It couldn''t change anything about the Entrance Test, except for the event where Jash was supposed to lose his life.


    "Hero complex much?" he said before a wry smile appeared on his face.


    It was not really him, but him at the same time who did those things, and he would do it yet again.


    Of course, saving his life was the priority but the instincts of a hero ingrained from his past life were hard to dismiss.


    No amount of betrayals ever changed his mind of saving his world, so why would he let random kids die?


    ''Not like they have long lives ahead,'' he mused with a dry chuckle, shaking his head to dispel the depressing thoughts.


    "It doesn''t have anything to do with me," Jash told himself, not wanting any part of the protagonist''s problems.


    He had the support of humans, elves, dwarves, church and everything else, so why should Jash care about it?


    "I am not a hero, I just want an easy life," he mumbled under his breath, trying to calm his thumping heart.


    Thankfully, it calmed down as he swung his sword to cut off a plant next to him.


    ¡ªScreee!

 Chapter 140 - 140: Moonlit Reflections

    Just as there were animal-like monsters, plant-like monsters also existed in the world.


    However, it was extremely difficult to differentiate normal plants from plant monsters due to their similar appearances.


    Unlike aggressive animal monsters, plant monsters couldn''t move or attack on their own.


    They could only act passively, luring their prey into range with their guard and then... taking them down all at once.


    While this wasn''t true for every plant or animal monster, the higher their rank, the more unique they were.


    Who knew what all species of monsters were left to be uncovered in the wild?


    Yet it was quite easy to guess that Jash had encountered one such plant monster on his stroll and immediately cut off its stem.


    The action made it produce a loud noise which could disorient most hunters of the E-Rank and even cause F-Rank hunters to faint.


    Unfortunately, it met Jash, who was the top of the top amongst E-Rank Hunters despite being only at the Early stage.


    Poor plant didn''t even get to sense anything after its loud screech before it died and wilted immediately.


    "I freaking hate plant monsters. They don''t even give anything," Jash grumbled in irritation at the wilting stem and flower.


    He couldn''t care less about his earlier thoughts, then switching to the annoying plant monsters as his eyes turned upwards.


    "What the heck? Why are there so many!?" Jash blurted out, noticing the dense cluster of plants in front of him.


    Just like any other small plant, they had a green, leafy stem with green branches filled with big leaves and some buds.


    Only a few had flowers at their axial ends or on some branches.


    Unlike popular belief, these plants had a growth limit because their flowers inhibited further growth, known as cymose inflorescence.


    In such plants, the main axis did not grow continuously as a flower grew terminally on the main axis.


    Thus, limiting the growth of the main axis, making them nothing more than the size of a human''s waist or shoulders at most.


    If only the scientists and researchers of Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia focused on plant and animal sciences, they might gain more insights into monsters.


    "All this knowledge really helped my previous world''s people to fight off the sudden mutations caused by mana,"


    "Not like they would care about it in this world as people only believe in their strength here," Jash commented while walking away from the flower bed.


    He had already killed one plant monster and it let out such an annoying voice, there was no way he would go over the entire flower patch.


    Thus, he had already left the area, moving to another part of the grassy plains he was walking on.


    By now, he had already crossed several regions on the island: forest, swamp, hills, and riverbank.


    Yet he would be the least watched examinee on the screen except for his 1v3 fight and sleeping footage.


    Of course, Rui used the reward chest footage with the comment, "Sometimes just relaxing can be rewarding as well."


    He didn''t tell anyone about the illusion or his theft, knowing Vice-Principal Zander way too well.


    Since he rewarded Jash for the pseudo-balancing trial, Zander kept quiet and even saved him from Aileen.


    But if he let others discover it... even Rui didn''t know what''d become of him if he was that careless.


    Though he also wasn''t aware of Jash wanting to hack him to death literally and was planning a much worse method of revenge.


    Oftentimes, humans feared separation from loved ones more than death itself.


    Ignoring the money grubbers or some exceptions, most humans followed their emotions to make decisions.


    And if one was going to get distanced from their friends and family, it''d be a far worse punishment than death.


    That''s why some people believe lifetime imprisonment and isolation was better than a death penalty.


    In reality, it could even make the person psychotic or crazy, so it wasn''t really feasible.


    However, Jash was disjointed from such realities, having lived such a life¡ªbeing alone despite being surrounded by countless humans and demons.


    That''s why the sudden familiarity and acceptance from Ramille Family would be too hard for him to accept if not for having his memories sealed.


    The fact that his previous life''s memories arrived only after he was a teen helped him adapt more quickly and in an easier manner. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unlike him, Amael was a different case, having his previous life as the dominant manner made him quite distanced from the Blake Family and forced him to put up an act.


    Unfortunately, Jash only knew that Amael was different and nothing more, or he would''ve tried to resolve it.


    Even if he would have done that for Amael, Rui was a different case and he planned to make Rui''s life a living hell.


    Rui, unaware of the danger ahead, eagerly made his final comment and said good night before leaving.


    As night fell, the moon shone beautifully, and Jash lay on the grass, enjoying the moonlight.


    "Interesting," he mumbled, thinking how moonlight was nothing but a reflection of sunlight yet it was so cold and relaxing.


    ''Is this also referring to the dual nature of light? Being able to give heat and cold as well?'' Jash mused, a relaxed smile on his lips.


    He had no worries about the test or anything, he was even counting the stars in the night sky while speculating random things.


    His mind was really something, wandering across numerous topics within the span of a few seconds.


    As if nothing could tie him to one exact point in life, Jash continued to think of various scenarios.


    The most predominant one was which would be the most effective way to capture the spotlight when taking the first rank.


    ''Defeating them at their peak? No... it would hurt their pride and I would get unnecessary enemies...''


    ''Defeating them after they tire themselves out? No... their pride would refuse to accept it and unnecessary problems would come my way...''


    ''Fighting them in a 1v1v1v1...? Nah, too eye-catchy...''


    Jash spent a good ten minutes on coming up with a solid plan, all to only end up sleeping in the cool wind.


    His sleeping frenzy was another sort of footage that would be used to plant the difference between him and other examinees should he secure Rank 1.


    Not just him, every examinee who had higher chances of becoming Rank 1 had some of their footage cut and kept for that purpose only.


    The only difference between them and Jash being, his footage would be the most sensational and offensive to his batchmates.


    Not like he cared, though.


    If he did care, why would he relax so casually while others were working hard for nearly 40 hours already.


    However, the audience was more deeply engrossed with other examinees such as their favorite, Amael.


    Avon, despite trying his best, still fell short of him while his sister was praised by all of the audience for her decisions.


    Yet the fan favorite was the elven princess, Sylvie, and Caera, who outshone all mages, being a battlemage with an awakened element.


    Barring them, the consensus among the professors was of someone else getting Rank 1 in the female category.


    Even her scores in the second test were overall just a few hundred short of Jash, almost tied with the second highest in boys.

 Chapter 141 - 141: Path to the Final Battle [Extra]

    The sun''s first light shone brightly across the lush grass as dawn approached, casting long shadows over the grassy plains.


    Jash awoke to the chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of the wind through the grass.


    He rubbed his eyes and stretched, his muscles aching slightly from the previous day''s exertions.


    Despite the chill in the air, he felt a sense of satisfaction¡ªhis plan was progressing, and he was still very much in the running for the top spot.


    ''Hopefully so,'' he mused, knowing that the key aspect to securing first place still awaited him, but so did Amael and the protagonist.


    He had subconsciously considered anyone other than the two not even worthy opponents aiming for the first place.


    ''If not for Amael being different, I could even count him out,'' Jash sighed before shaking his head and standing up.


    Glancing around, Jash took in the serene landscape, where the once-encountered flower patch had given way to rolling hills and scattered trees.


    Jash could see the distant outline of the next region he planned to explore¡ªa gorge that promised both new challenges and opportunities.


    ''It is also the location for the final battle,'' he thought while his hand inadvertently touched his stomach.


    ¡ªGrr


    "Hungry," he mumbled, feeling his rumbling stomach and its noises.


    Alas, he had no rations, so he knew he needed to find something to eat soon.


    The bananas he had devoured the day before had done little to sustain him for the long haul.


    On an empty stomach, he secured his weapons and adjusted his attire, he reminded himself to stay focused.


    ''This darned test will be over soon,'' he lied to himself despite knowing it was far from over, and securing the top rank required both strategy and endurance.


    "No need to push myself over it, let''s just go with the flow after arriving," he muttered, starting towards the gorge, his boots crunching softly on the dew-kissed grass.


    The path ahead was not clearly defined, but Jash had learned to navigate through less obvious terrain with ease.


    He was skilled at reading the subtle signs of the land¡ªbroken branches, disturbed soil, and animal tracks.


    His past life experience to track demons and traitors had taught him how to survive and thrive in such¡ªand worse¡ªconditions.


    "Hm? There''s someone here?" he wondered aloud, seeing smoke rising nearby as he approached the grassland''s edge.


    ¡ªRustle!


    He used the long grass and some bushes as cover to peek at the source, not wanting to alarm them and get in a meaningless fight.


    ''My performance doesn''t matter at the moment,'' he told himself and raised his head to finally notice a group of examinees gathered near a makeshift camp.


    They were sitting around a small fire, cooking what looked like a simple meal of dried meat and small fish.


    The group''s conversation remained a hushed whisper, with Jash only being able to hear their laughter and joy at reaching this point in the Entrance Test.


    No one would be foolish enough to discuss their plans and strategies out in the open.


    ''The distance is just fine,'' Jash thought, choosing to keep his distance, not wanting to draw any attention to himself.


    Yet the thought of fighting and eliminating them echoed in his mind once before he gave up.


    ''Nah, it''d be too bad if I make it reach 2000 all of a sudden,'' he told himself, moving on and slipping into the gorge''s shadowy depths.


    The towering rocks overhead created a cool, dim environment that was a welcome change from the harsh sunlight.


    The gorge was alive with the sounds of flowing streams of water and distant calls from insects, monsters, and birds.


    Jash kept his senses sharp, aware that the area could harbor both monsters and other examinees.


    ''I hope I meet no one though,'' he prayed inwardly and continued going deeper into the echoes of the gorge.


    After a few hours of trekking, he finally stumbled upon a small stream. The clear water was a welcome sight, and Jash decided to take a break.


    Kneeling by the stream, he cupped his hands and took large gulps of water.


    As he refreshed himself, he spotted a small fish darting about in the water, pecking at some plant.


    It gave him an idea¡ªmaybe he could eat the plant as a meal.


    Acting on it in the next second, Jash fashioned a simple dagger from his array of weapons, going into the water and harvesting the whip-like green plant.


    With careful precision, he pulled out a few more dark green, wavy leaves.


    It wasn''t much, but it would serve to tide him over until he could find something more substantial.


    Rinsing the leaves thoroughly to remove any debris, mud, or algae, Jash ensured they were clean and free from contaminants before consumption.


    Taking a small bite, he exclaimed, "Bitter."


    The fibrous texture alongside salty taste made it a chore to eat it and Jash chose to chew upon it as if he were ruminating.


    Though he ate in silence, his thoughts drifted back to the other examinees, aware that many were working hard, pushing their limits to secure a high rank.


    Some were likely struggling with the same challenges he faced, while others might be exploiting every opportunity they could find.


    "Not like it matters," he muttered while tearing apart the tight leaf, confident in his own abilities and strategy.


    The key was to stay one step ahead, to anticipate the moves of others while remaining focused on his own goals.


    Jash decided to move on, aware that staying put too long could make him an easy target, not for other examinees but also for Rui.


    ''I don''t want him messing around with me anymore. Once was already enough,'' he mused and got a move on.


    He moved on, not needing to pack anything as all he had was already on his body and continued deeper into the gorge.


    His goal was to find a suitable location to rest before the final test began, ideally one that was hidden from prying eyes but still accessible enough to be a strategic advantage.


    Also, he would stay on the lookout for anything that might help him despite him believing that he needed nothing.


    "Finally," he muttered, finding a small cave nestled into the side of a hill¡ªa perfect spot to camp as a sniper-archer.


    The cave was dry and protected from the elements, offering a good vantage point to observe any approaching figures.


    "It''s similar," Jash mumbled, remembering the first cave he settled in.


    At the same time, he used some clothing to make a makeshift pillow to rest as much as he could.


    After all, why waste time doing this or that when he could just rest?


    As he lay on the cave floor, staring at the ceiling, the peaceful sounds of the forest lulled him into a relaxed state, though his mind remained active.


    His perception was being pushed to full throttle, running through various scenarios and strategies.


    Unknowingly he yet again drifted off to sleep despite the sense of anticipation fighting against his drowsiness.


    He remained oblivious that his excessive sleep was a cause for worry despite his talent and performance, something he had no control over. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nonetheless, his mind was set on the idea of taking the first rank despite it being a wild and dangerous thought, but Jash was determined to emerge victorious.


    "I''ve come too far and interfered too much to falter now," he mumbled under his breath as his voice faded into the background.


    With a final thought of the challenges yet to come, he closed his eyes and let the forest''s serenity carry him into dreams of triumph.

 Chapter 142 - 142: About Damn Time [Extra]

    The path to survival was filled with obstacles, but Jash didn''t mind facing them head-on, though he rested soundly for now.


    Meanwhile, the audience cheered as time went on and more and more examinees encountered each other.


    Although it was initially rowdy and full of participants, the competition had thinned out significantly as not many examinees remained until now.


    Out of the few, many were nervous about not being adequately taught to compete with the specially trained ones.


    For them, fighting and losing seemed like a waste of time as they would eventually learn and be able to compete with other privileged students.


    At least that was what they hoped for as the prerequisite being their passing the Entrance Test and entering an academy, if not the Solarnelle Academy.


    The Solarnelle Academy, surpassing even the offerings of Noble and Imperial Families, was unmatched in its prestige.


    Still, The other academies weren''t looked down upon by the general masses despite the disparity.


    Simply because the Solarnelle Academy was the oldest, gathering all types of knowledge in one place.


    Those families may have one specialty where they outclass the Solarnelle Academy, such as the Church.


    And nobody could dare say they could teach healing magic better than what one could learn from them.


    Similarly, blacksmithing for the dwarven masters was their pride while it was the plant magic and archery for the elves.


    Of course, Cornelius Ramille was an exception to the archery, being able to compete with the Elven Royalty in it.


    Even with all of that being a given, the privileged participants only numbered around two hundred or so, including both males and females.


    These participants were the ones who were taught or thought they had a chance at winning.


    One couldn''t dismiss the fact that they were too proud and wanted to show off in the Entrance Test.


    But it made sense, as there was no real risk except for a few injuries which could be treated within a few days at worst.


    However, the audience couldn''t care less about all those things, they only wanted to see fights and something entertaining.


    So, most of the focus was now on Amael, Avon and an unknown boy, who were defeating all their opponents quite skillfully.


    "It seems that the new guy is giving his all, not wanting anyone to take his spotlight," Rui commented.


    The new guy was Yirox, a mage, and although he was not as excellent as other mages, it was enough for him to defeat other participants with relative ease.


    "4," Yirox muttered as he looked around, counting the examinees who ran away.


    With short chocolate-brown hair and a decently handsome face, Yirox was striking but not comparable to Amael or Jash.


    Still, he seemed to share a similar height with them despite being on the skinnier side.


    He didn''t rush after the escapees, choosing to sit down and regain his stamina since casting spells against a group took a toll on him. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It should probably be soon," he exhaled, hoping for the final boss to show itself and get the points for slaying it.


    "Looks like we need to switch again as everyone''s resting now," Rui mentioned with an exaggerated sigh for the audience.


    It was obvious with how the sun was right above their heads, telling them the final boss might show up anytime as it was the third day itself.


    "Hmm, who should I show?" Rui mumbled under his breath, contemplating which contestant to show before his eyes lit up.


    ''Yes, the girl''s side is quite active right now!'' he noticed with excitement.


    In the girls'' tournament, Caera, Ziva, Vivia, Sylvie and Ava were doing their own things as he locked onto Ziva.


    Many people had cheered and were surprised by the performance of the girls as well despite the difference in style.


    Although Ziva was actively using her mana, she was making sure she recovered enough before moving around, heading deeper.


    Currently, there were quite a few monsters that she took down as soon as the screen focused on her, giving a short replay.


    The screen didn''t focus on her for long, for her brutal methods to take down monsters without any hesitation didn''t sit well with her looks.


    Well, mostly because it wasn''t what the audience wanted to see.


    The screen shifted to Ava, who was keeping both her mana and stamina in check, taking a safer approach.


    Though her cautious approach made for less compelling viewing, leading the screen to shift to other competitors before focusing on Caera and Vivia.


    Caera had now come close to Vivia, both having a magic staff in hand, after eliminating a few examinees only.


    Yet both shared the inherent kindness and never went overboard like Ziva who went to extremes or Sylvie who eliminated them quickly.


    While Freirae, a dwarf with yellowish-orange hair was having a much easier time fighting as nobody she encountered had enough strength to defeat her.


    However, none of them would meet each other despite their closing distance on either part¡ªthe males and females.


    The time was ticking with only 10 minutes left, and more and more people were getting eliminated, the number closing in to 2000 quite fast.


    Some of the people got sad after their son or daughter got eliminated, but they were still happy for them for getting selected into some Academy.


    Naturally, surviving till this point guaranteed admission, but they didn''t know that Solarnelle Academy had planned a little surprise.


    Meanwhile, in the VIP rooms, some were happy about their children reaching or even surpassing their expectations.


    Just as there were happy ones, there were also sad ones.


    Some unlucky ones were even kicked out of their homes and families for their subpar performances.


    Jash''s parents were eagerly waiting for the result, expecting not much from their children.


    "It seems I have been holding them back," Sera sighed as she slumped on her seat.


    Being alone with her husband allowed her to relax and not put up any facades and her guilt was gnawing at her.


    "Darling," Carcel called sweetly. "It''s not your fault. You only want the best for them," he said while caressing her hand.


    Sera remained quiet for a few seconds before shaking her head, "No, it''s indeed my fault."


    "Let me," she stopped him from interrupting and continued, "I was overprotective, stopping them from achieving their full potential."


    Her eyes turned to the ever-switching screen as she added, "I don''t know what the results will be, but they will grow too much by their graduation."


    "Mhm." Carcel agreed, knowing what was going on in her mind.


    As both of them were graduates of the Solarnelle Academy, they knew better than anyone how much it would change their children.


    Their once-naive shells would be shed off, ready to face the harsh realities of the cruel world.


    "Sera, it''s fine," Carcel consoled in a soft voice, giving support to his wife.


    "It''s not a matter of your fault or not, what has happened has happened and it can''t be changed," he said in a tone of finality.


    "What mattered is how you treat them and guide them after their graduation as they will easily be at B-Rank by that time."


    Hearing her husband''s logical words, Sera couldn''t help but agree, whispering, "Okay."


    Rather than saying a word of thanks or mentioning her love, she leaned in closer, resting her head on his shoulder and chest.


    It was a sign of trust and love, more than any words could explain as actions spoke louder than words.


    Right at that moment, the screen paused and buzzed as Rui yelled at the top of his lungs, "It''s time, everyone!!"

 Chapter 143 - 143: Boss Monster

    The timer was decreasing, and the screen displayed the final location: a small stone platform marked with the Solarnelle Academy insignia.


    Yet, a groove on the platform suggested it was designed to hold something before the Entrance Test concluded.


    "That, everyone, is the final place! Only after defeating the boss monster would it appear," Rui commented with excitement.


    The audience cheered wildly at the sight of that platform sinking into the earth as if it was never there to begin with.


    "On to the boss monster," Rui gesticulated before the figure of a blue snake-like creature sleeping underwater appeared.


    "For a twist this year, the boss monster needs to be found before engaging it," Rui grinned as he announced the change.


    Loud gasps resonated from the stands as the audience gaped at the sight of the imoogi-like creature.


    Two horns jutted out from right above its eyebrows as they extended horizontally to the front in a curved manner before rising up.


    The horns were silverish in color, appearing like a check mark ''?'' as they inclined at a slight angle to its head.


    However, its blue-green scales around its neck and head were the most shocking to the audience.


    After all, it was already an (E+)-Rank monster, and being in its favored territory, it could even give trouble to a D-Rank hunter. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet the academy expected the examinees to take care of it!?


    Preposterous!


    Unfortunately, the academy predicted that only the top 5 will be able to defeat it after teaming up, but that''s no good.


    So, they hid the fact that the monster was actually injured in its core, its rank dropping to (E)-Rank or even (E-)-Rank.


    Meanwhile, the one who knew the truth was resting peacefully, waiting for the final moment.


    ¡ªRumble!


    And as if to wake him up, loud rumbling echoed across the island as the participants were forcefully pulled closer.


    It was the same for both¡ªmales and females.


    They were on the same island yet couldn''t see or meet each other and even had the same monster as their enemy.


    It was a stimulated monster, after all.


    "Now, let''s see what the participants are doing," Rui said with a wild smile, drawing the audience back in.


    At this time, everyone who had arrived on the first day when the Entrance Test started had already returned.


    This was the climax they all were waiting for, so no one wanted to miss it.


    Or maybe they wanted to see their progeny raise their name in front of the masses and secure the first rank.


    Alas, it was just a pipe dream with all the geniuses they''d heard about.


    Of course, there were no less idiots leaving it all to luck, hoping for their progeny to win it by a stroke of luck.


    While the participants got engaged into sudden fights after being yanked closer to each other, Jash was startled awake.


    "Urgh," he groaned in displeasure before he composed himself a subtle smile graced his lips.


    ''It''s already that time,'' he realized and stretched before walking to the entry of the cave.


    Feeling the cool wind blow and refresh him, he sat at the side, dangling his legs from the cave entrance.


    "So peaceful, this is what life is all about," he mumbled in relaxation, taking in the sight of the gorge and small stream of water within.


    ¡ªROAAR!


    A sudden roar stole his attention as he cursed, "Damn it! Did I just jinx it!?"


    However, he didn''t move, just turning his head to look in the direction of the voice, already knowing what it was.


    "So, that''s the place?" he wondered aloud, pinpointing the boss monster''s location by the devastation it had caused.


    Meanwhile, the group that had stumbled upon the boss monster considered themselves lucky¡ªuntil they got disqualified within seconds.


    Its sight was no less flashy and attention-grabbing, immediately telling everyone, "I am the boss monster."


    "Well, this will be interesting," Jash muttered, not moving an inch despite the obvious events occurring next.


    Lots of groups or even lone examinees rushed in at the area, hoping to win or at least show off their skills.


    Naturally, the screen for the audience showed the rushing examinees as some unleashed their hidden cards and instantly took down their opponents.


    Shifting across the fighting and dwindling participants, it stopped on Jash as the last one, showing his relaxed and observant attitude.


    Yet no one in the audience disparaged him due to the sense of confidence his smile exuded, unlike those who were merely hiding.


    Sadly, the academy didn''t favor cowards, so many hiders were pitted against other examinees after the forceful closure, eliminating most of them.


    Only a few hiders turned out to be actually strong, turning the tide on the unsuspecting opponents.


    "What a contrast," Rui muttered in the speaker, showing Jash''s confident attitude and at the same time the boss monster.


    At the exact moment, the boss monster turned its eyes, seemingly in Jash''s direction and they supposedly met gazes.


    Of course it was just a stimulated monster so it was done to make an effect and give a vivid sense of rivalry for the audience to anticipate.


    They could see Amael, Avon, Helios, Yirox, Grunghin, Zaos, Sylvie Ziva, Caera, Ava, Vivia, and many more rushing at the boss monster.


    However, the way Jash looked dismissively at the ground from high up in the cave gave a cool look to him.


    Just that he himself didn''t know he was being used as such, and he would hate to know it.


    No one knew then that this clip would actually go viral as a thumbnail due to the final fight commencing soon.


    Jash watched with mild amusement as examinees scrambled, eager to fight the boss and become the Year Representative.


    Alas, there was no cover to hide and attack the boss monster.


    So, there was no use in hiding, and Jash was aware of this, choosing not to rush blindly like an idiot.


    As it meant that the only way to attack the boss monster was to do it without any cover.


    It seemed like whoever thought of this wanted many confrontations at the same time.


    ''It might as well result in people teaming up to fight against each other instead of the boss,'' Jash mused before tilting his head.


    ¡ªBam!


    An arrow passed by his head as he straightened up, and an angry look appeared on his face.


    ''Which idiot disturbed my mood?'' he cursed inwardly, pursing his lips silently.


    "Hah! Look, you missed such an easy shot! Should''ve let me shoot a spell!"


    A barely audible mocking voice reached Jash as he saw two elves, one with a bow and one with a staff.


    But the bow elf remained quiet, his arms trembling slightly as his lips quivered, "H-he... mo-mov...ed..."


    "Huh? What nonsense?"


    However, it seemed the elven mage found it too hard to believe and thought his friend was making excuses and lectured him.


    "We are elves, what if you missed? There''s no need to lie¨C"


    ¡ªSwish!


    ¡ªSwish!


    Sadly, he never got to complete his words as two arrows arrived next to their heads, activating the barrier and teleporting them out.


    Their shocked expressions came into view before the audience as the point of view shifted to an aerial one.


    It turned out they were standing more than a hundred meters away from Jash with tons of cover in between.


    Yet the archer''s ability to target Jash and miss it slightly astounded many until they saw Jash take the two of them out in one go!

 Chapter 144 - 144: Walk Amid Clashes

    "Don''t disturb me," Jash muttered coldly before putting the bow down and smiling again as he enjoyed the cool breeze.


    The audience sucked in a cold breath at his contrasting display while even Rui felt speechless for a second.


    Jash seemed way too relaxed mostly, but this... this was crazy!!


    Nonetheless, Rui didn''t have much time to mull over it as the screen changed suddenly.


    "It seems someone has already arrived at the boss monster!" Rui exclaimed while the screen displayed a dwarf with brown hair.


    He was just a few steps away from the water body where the boss monster had just awakened from.


    "And it seems more will arrive soon," Rui spoke as the screen displayed an eagle view, showing that neither of them was too far from the water body.


    "The girls are a bit far from their final location, but isn''t that better?" Rui asked the crowd, implying they would get to focus on both in real time.


    "YEAAAHH!"


    The crowd yelled in agreement, shaking the arena due to the huge number of people shouting.


    "Right now, as you can see on the screen, the boys are not too far apart from each other," Rui added, trying to make the audience focus on the screen.


    Meanwhile, at the boss monster''s location,


    An elf was the second participant to arrive, and just after him was a human and both were stunned by the sight of the boss monster.


    The pressure it gave off was no joke!


    Not to mention it easily towered over them, with double their height and the rest of its length submerged in the water, making it an extremely dangerous foe.


    Alas, the three arrived from different directions and took a moment to notice each other. By then, one had already been eliminated.


    "W-what?" the human said, noticing the instant barrier of the elf before the same happened to him, followed by the dwarf.


    "Oof! Looks like it''ll be some time since someone who can fight the boss monster arrives," Rui commented with a sigh.


    The eager audience as well felt cheated at the performance of the examinees despite knowing the difference in strength.


    Most of them would faint or freeze at the sight of such a monster, let alone fight it.


    Yet they had the nerve to comment about the examinees, but it wasn''t strange in any manner.


    It was the nature of living beings to pass comments upon others as it was easier than having empathy and understanding the situation.


    "Huh? That''s it?"


    "Yea, so boring. Back in my days, we used to fight with our all, not allowed to even stand still..."


    "Uncle, you''re not even a hunter, so what back in my days?"


    "Hahahahaha"


    "Emotional Damage!"


    While all that was going on in the stands, the examinees were reducing in number by the second.


    No one could last a second against a boss monster.


    Several teams and solo examinees kept getting eliminated at its simple attack using the water element.


    Right at that disappointing moment, Jash stood up with a long sigh as the screen shifted on him.


    "Time to reap my rewards, I suppose," he murmured before jumping off the cave and landing steadily.


    Unlike others still rushing to their eliminations, he walked at a brisk pace humming a tune to himself.


    His disregarding attitude didn''t sit well with any examinee who happened to see him and came to attack him.


    "Let''s see what you have to show, arrogant ba¨C"


    ¡ªSlice!


    Before the approaching opponent could finish his sentence, Jash swung his sword, targeting his neck.


    In less than a fraction of a second, he eliminated the guy, leaving him with no dignity whatsoever. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite the survivors being at least F-Rank, none were his match besides Amael and the protagonist.


    At least that was Jash''s own belief and he was set on proving it to be correct.


    ¡ªBoom!


    ''It seems they met,'' he mused, noting the sound of a collision near the boss monster.


    The ones he was referring to were Grunghin and Zaos as Grunghin didn''t listen to anything and started fighting.


    "Listen, we have to fight the boss monster," Zaos tried to reason but Grunghin couldn''t care less.


    "No! I only found you and this is the best time to go all out against you!" Grunghin exclaimed with a wide grin, ecstatic at the thought of exchanging bouts with his best friend.


    The screen in the audience also shifted to them as Zaos swiftly dodged, shooting arrows while Grunghin slammed his sledgehammer.


    Both made deft maneuvers as the dwarves and elves cheered for their princes respectively.


    At random intervals, Zaos switched to using daggers and short swords, but Grunghin dodged all of the throws Zaos made.


    "Come on, friend! Give it your all!" he declared, wanting more from Zaos.


    Alas, their battle got interrupted as a stray spell came flying their way.


    "Which idiot¨C" Grunghin cursed at getting interrupted but dodged nonetheless, not wanting to get hit by a stray spell.


    It would be too humiliating to lose because of such a thing and he would even lose the chance to fight properly with his friend.


    "Come out, coward!" Grunghin shouted after the explosive spell landed but no one showed up, making him grit his teeth.


    Yet what infuriated him the most was how Zaos vanished from his sight.


    "No matter, I will meet you and him at the boss monster!" Grunghin announced in anger before moving away.


    "Ohh, seems like we won''t get a spectacle before the boss monster," Rui said with a sad expression before changing it completely.


    "Look, something interesting!" he shouted as the screen shifted to display Amael and Avon opposite each other.


    Jash, like Rui, picked up on the events from the clashing and clanking sounds near the boss area.


    ''So it seems the inevitable will happen and I can only change small things?'' he mused, wondering who encountered who.


    ''Unless I actively eliminated one of them; these encounters were bound to happen,'' he thought, wondering what would change if he had intervened.


    The ones he eliminated, he believed, had no major role in the Entrance Test or maybe the academy itself.


    Nonetheless, it was just pure speculation as the protagonist was also supposed to have encountered someone, but he had yet to find anyone.


    The ones that were actually in a heated exchange were Avon and Amael as Avon couldn''t accept his earlier loss.


    He wanted to redeem himself and held his spear in a firm grip, looking at Amael with a hint of animosity.


    Of course, Amael had no other choice but to play along, knowing he couldn''t offend the prince without good reason.


    After all, his target ought to be the protagonist not Amael, and it would soon change either way.


    "Greetings Prince Avon," Amael said with a polite smile, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.


    "This is no time for greetings," Avon said coldly, raising his spear as they were already in the range where they could attack and defend from each other.


    The audience saw it all, and the crowd cheered wildly, with both having significant support from their respective fans.


    But Amael had a lot more supporters due to his actions in the Entrance Test unlike the soloist Avon.


    "Sigh, it seems I can''t get through you," Amael responded with a sigh before taking a stance and holding his sword with his right hand.


    "This is going to be interesting," Rui shouted, wanting to hype the crowd even more as the tension crescendoed.


    "Uhm, excuse me, passing through..." A voice made both of them stop in their tracks and raise their guards.

 Chapter 145 - 145: Not Enough

    Amael was calm, and his face bore a polite smile. He was in the same state as before when he faced any other opponent.


    Despite seeing the Imperial Prince challenge him, he didn''t mind, hoping to escape his radar and let the protagonist catch his attention.


    While Avon was busy contemplating how best to defeat Amael, he was cautious, not wanting to end up losing and having to meet the First Prince.


    Yet, it seemed fate had its own plans as a gentle male voice suddenly cut through the tension, "Uhm, excuse me, passing through..."


    Both turned to look at the newcomer, who had flowing white hair, orange eyes, and a well-built body.


    Yet his confident smile as he looked at the two of them was surprising, at least for Avon.


    Avon''s face darkened as he asked, "You... who are you?"


    "Oh, me? I am Caeron, a priest devoted to the Goddess..."


    As Caeron began his introduction with a fervent expression, Amael was scrutinizing him with narrowed eyes, knowing about the ''Saint of Misfortune'' already.


    "Haha, you seem like a tough guy as you managed to arrive here," Amael said right when Caeron took a pause.


    Both Caeron and Avon turned to look at Amael who suddenly raised his hand and waved at them.


    "Anyways, see you at the boss monster," he said before leaving without a second thought.


    "You... come back here!" Avon shouted with a dark face but his anger turned to the one who distracted him.


    Being made the scapegoat and forced to stand against Avon, Caeron gulped nervously but kept up his confident expression.


    After successfully escaping, Amael took a moment to check his progress. ''Oi System, did I get anything?''


    {Yes. You''ve gained 23 Villain Points since the Entrance Exam.}


    ''Hm? That''s a lot,'' Amael mused with a smile, thinking that what the system said about the academy giving many points was true.


    The system, meanwhile, was still processing the changes but was unable to pinpoint the exact cause beyond Amael''s actions.


    Both couldn''t even reach Jash due to his passive benefits saving and protecting him from any such scans.


    If only Amael knew that Jash was helping him farm points, he wouldn''t hesitate to befriend Jash wholeheartedly.


    Alas, Jash, too, was suspicious of Amael and kept his distance, unable to shake the feeling that Amael had undergone some change he couldn''t yet grasp.


    Currently, Jash was approaching the boss monster slowly as if nothing could faze him in the least.


    "Not like anyone will defeat it so soon," he mumbled as if justifying to himself about his deliberate slow pace.


    If not for his plan to maximize points and screen time by eliminating examinees masterfully, he would''ve rushed to the boss monster.


    However, doing that would only aid him in being able to solo it when no one notable was nearby.


    It was a no-brainer to have a lower value than being able to fight other talented ones while taking on the boss monster.


    It wasn''t a team hunt but a competition at that point, something the Academy aimed for.


    Already knowing it, Jash was eager for it to happen, knowing it would help him secure First Rank and the money he bet on himself.


    ''Also, the Year Representative perks are not that bad themselves,'' he mused before side stepping and walking ahead.


    His walking pattern turned random as he would jump, slow down, and widen his stride unpredictably.


    "Good try but..." he began before he threw a dagger at the top of a tree.


    ¡ªClank!


    The dagger struck nothing but a barrier as the mage wasn''t ready for something like this. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He hadn''t anticipated someone to be able to see through him and the last words he heard terrified him.


    "...it was too obvious," Jash said as he walked beneath the tree and picked up his dagger.


    The area behind him transformed abruptly.


    As the examinee was eliminated, spikes of wood and rocks emerged in the exact spots where Jash had altered his path, surprising the audience.


    At this point, even other professors wanted to know how Jash figured it out while Rui was numb at the scene.


    Unfortunately, no one explained it to the professors or the audience as their attention was stolen the moment Jash neared the boss monster.


    "This much is enough," Jash murmured before sitting down on a rock and matching eyes with the imoogi-like monster.


    He sat at the exact precipice of the monster''s attack range, if he was a meter ahead, it would''ve already attacked him.


    Fortunately, it wasn''t alive and was forced to stay inside the water as any alive monster wouldn''t hesitate to attack at Jash.


    That was on the drawback of stimulated monsters and Jash knew it all too well as that was one tactic Zaos used in the latter parts of the novel.


    Meanwhile, all types of conversations began amongst the audience and even in the VIP rooms where the nobles from all races were present.


    "What''s he doing?"


    "Is he not going to fight? Just going to wait... so boring"


    "What do you mean? Didn''t you see what happened to everyone who tried attacking? They were eliminated..."


    "Yeah, and it only took one attack. There''s no way someone strong like him can''t gauge it out."


    The audience made wild guesses, hyping it up without intervention, while the nobles were wary and suspicious of his motive.


    "Could it be that he wants others to tire out the monster before taking out?" someone muttered before shaking their head.


    "No way, it''s a stimulated monster and it won''t tire unless set on that mode. Surely, the academy didn''t..."


    Surely, the academy chose that exact mode!


    Or it would make no sense for any examinee to be able to defeat it if it wasn''t even realistic.


    However, none of the stimulated monsters till now were on that mode, making it hard to believe.


    However, the nobles weren''t one to speculate too much, relying on evidence and information.


    Although Jash''s awakening time wasn''t known, his performance at the Imperial Banquet was subpar.


    Subpar, only when comparing to Avon, Amael and the likes of them, but not others.


    In fact, he had high bets on being in the top 50, not the top 100 or 10 because the participants from all races also had higher talent.


    Despite the scarce information, it was still available and some people liked to bet based on the odds, so some random bets were also placed.


    Not like the Academy cared about the bets as the gambling stations were all licensed and had to give a cut to the Academy.


    Still, the gambling only grew more as earning so much easily was better than toiling for your whole life and only living hand-to-mouth.


    And it became more pronounced since the licensed ones had to pay the money, regardless of their own losses as the Hunter Association licensed them.


    Even though no S-Rank or above hunter would chase them, being targeted by the Hunter Association wasn''t what anyone wanted.


    Especially since they could just earn it back in one year, at the next Entrance Test and the Ranking Matches of the First Year Students.


    Sadly, the rest of the years were always internal and not many guests were allowed.


    At least it was broadcasted and they could still function for gambling, making them agree to their demands.


    Just like them, the Academy and the betters were happy, especially the winning betters.


    Jash had also bet on himself, for this very reason, knowing he would receive the money without any problems if he won.


    Currently, he sat on the rock for a few minutes, observing the boss monster and how it attacked and eliminated the examinees with only one attack.


    ''When will they arrive?'' he wondered, getting tired of watching the same scene repeat itself again and again.


    Yet the question the professors and the audience had in mind was why he was even waiting.


    Given the strength he showed up until now, it made no sense for him to wait as he could definitely fight the boss monster.


    Though only the professors thought he could defeat it, aware of the monster''s weakened state and how they purposefully made it so.


    Thankfully, they were smart and guessed that there was no way for Jash to know it and that was the reason for him to not move.


    A plausible explanation, indeed.


    But some examinees had figured it out during the Entrance Test on the basis that it didn''t leave its territory, afraid of something or someone.


    The only explanation would be it was either injured and protecting itself or someone else.


    Unaware they had attacked it, only to lose.


    Even if it was injured, it wasn''t something F-Rank hunters could even dream of taking on.


    And to add insult to injury, not even all the 200 privileged ones with special training had achieved E-Rank.


    It was simply impossible to reach E-Rank without enough talent, hard work, fortuitous encounters and resources.


    One thing could compensate for the other, but some minimum standard was required nonetheless.


    Even if they wanted to boost themselves to higher ranks, it was essentially stupid and impossible.


    Of course, their parents, guardians and sponsors wouldn''t want that, preventing them from taking that step despite the numerous resources at their disposal.


    Jash was one such example, or so everyone thought, but it was his own decision to not speed up the ranking process.


    Why should he mess up his foundation for impressing others?


    He could do it by reaching S-Rank or even SSS-Rank in the future and the ones with weak foundations would be stuck at A-Rank.


    Integration-Rank was truly a bane for such hunters, capping their ranks for a large part of their lives.


    That''s why Jash was not satisfied with his strength at his own rank, wanting to be unmatched in the same rank, thinking, ''It''s not enough.''

 Chapter 146 - 146: Other Side

    While Jash waited for the unabated monster and continued observing the event, several encounters happened in nearby areas.


    By the time he decided to move, only a few hundred male examinees remained uneliminated.


    Even out of them, quite a few had survived by hiding and escaping, using a survivor''s mindset.


    The Academy would take them in regardless, as survivors were needed for reports in uncertain situations.


    It was also a way of life, after all.


    Excluding them, most were converging at the boss area, leading to many fights happening on the way.


    They shared a similar thought: ''One less competitor is one less competitor.''


    Alas, some were even eliminated during the fight by a third party.


    "Haha, what a bunch of idiots, wasting their time fighting¨C"


    ¡ªTsssch!


    As if he too was one of them, a fire-type spell landed on him, force-activating the barrier and eliminating him.


    Meanwhile, the audience was obviously enjoying the intense moments with vivid commentary from Rui.


    Yet they were eager to see the final battle as well.


    "Hey, hey, hey!" Rui called out to the audience, "You all didn''t forget the girls, right?!"


    "WOAH!!"


    The crowd cheered loudly, anticipating more heated battles to come while waiting for the key battle.


    The screen changed to show figures of three beauties looking at each other warily, not yet moving.


    It was none other than Sylvie, Caera and Vivia looking at each other, neither of them moving, waiting for someone to make the first move.


    Sylvie was moving around at her own pace when she felt a presence showing up nearby.


    Upon closing in, she found not one but two girls standing a bit far away from each other in a standoff.


    Of course, the two also seemed to have noticed her and were waiting for her to arrive.


    As she stepped towards them, a voice came from the girl on the left, "She''s here as well now, let''s begin."


    Seeing the golden-haired girl straight up talk about fighting made the other two frown a bit.


    Even if they didn''t recognize each other, they could notice the signs of being effectively taught in mannerism and etiquette.


    It was easy to notice, especially since they were girls, but they didn''t understand the golden-haired girl and where she got her confidence from.


    "It seems you can''t understand," Vivia said as she took a step back and planted her foot firmly on the ground with a focused expression.


    Caera and Sylvie exchanged looks, catching the sight of the golden-haired girl and each other before taking a stance themselves.


    Unlike them, Vivia had already cast light-elemental spells to boost her physical abilities.


    She was akin to a battlemage like Caera, but differed as her power came from her element rather than her mana veins and inherent body.


    No matter how similar the two seemed, they couldn''t be compared and Caera proved it by easily sidestepping despite the swift attack.


    While Vivia had been using a magic staff since the beginning, just like Caera, she had switched her weapons mid-way.


    It was mostly to save her mana as mages oftentimes expended more mana than warriors.


    However, her element allowed her to circumvent the expenditure with physical stamina, though much less than Caera''s.


    Of course, that didn''t meant Caera anticipated the sudden strike, unbalancing her as she tried to regain her footing.


    "What''s this?" Caera blurted out as a vine caught her feet and Vivia was the same.


    It seemed Vivia''s decision to attack Caera and eliminate her in one go backfired as Sylvie attacked both of them.


    Though Caera and VIvia had similar styles to the point it was uncanny, their choice of weapons differed.


    As Vivia used her rapier and shortsword to cut the vines, Caera worked to untangle her feet with the tip of her staff.


    Seeing the scene, Sylvie''s aquamarine eyes widened for a split second before scrunching due to the sudden fire lit by Caera.


    Unable to get out of the vine grabbing her foot, she lit it on fire without a single care for her or Vivia''s foot.


    As if not wanting to be left behind, Vivia used the light blessing to protect her feet as a barrier of wind appeared.


    It fluttered the light green hair of Sylvie, blocking her view while Vivia remained unaffected and Caera broke the vine, jumping away.


    Unfortunately, their fight had to temporarily stop as a loud noise attracted their attention.


    ¡ªBoom!


    The three exchanged a glance and nodded as if understanding each other within a split second and rushed to the boss area, some distance apart from each other.


    No matter their determination to eliminate either one, neither wanted to lose the boss monster while being busy with such a meaningless fight.


    The same thing was true for other talented girls, a yellowish-orange hair dwarf, for example, Freirae, also immediately eliminated her opponent before dashing at the final destination.


    Meanwhile, Ava, a katana strapped on her waist, increased her pace after hearing the disturbance.


    All of them had the same thought in their mind: ''I hope I am not too late...''


    Yet some fights didn''t stop.


    The Archduke''s daughter was one such person.


    Her striking blue hair and black eyes, paired with her elegant figure, were focused as she fired water spells at her opponent.


    ¡ªSwoosh!


    Alas, her efforts turned futile as the girl with pink hair opposite her had a shield with high magic resistance and defense.


    It saved the girl from every attack, though her own footing wasn''t very stable due to the shock from defending such spells.


    Nearby, Rura Warmis easily passed them by, having the inherent advantage of earth element in the gorge.


    "Damn it," the Archduke''s daughter gritted her teeth and went ahead, but not before giving a death glare to the pink-haired girl.


    The pink-haired girl, trembling, crumbled to the floor as soon as the blue-haired girl left. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m saved..." she muttered with a sigh, believing herself to be safe when a sword suddenly pointed at her neck.


    "E-eek!" she screamed and a barrier activated, eliminating her as an advising voice entered her ears.


    "Don''t let your guard down," Ziva said, hoping her advice would reach the terrified girl.


    "I have eliminated too many examinees and killed many monsters, but I won''t accept second place."


    Her voice was full of determination like her amethyst eyes that were blazing with fire as she carefully moved towards the boss area.


    Her pace increased with every step before stabilizing at a manageable speed which wouldn''t exhaust her excessively.


    It was not a good idea to reach the boss monster after getting tired out, so she kept her pace fixed.


    Alas, the girls who only saw a shadow of her flash by thought that she was an idiot who went full speed.


    Poor fellows didn''t realize the immensity of heaven and earth, unable to gauge the height of Mt. Tai.


    If only Ziva had cared about their existence, she would have fought them, but she actually went on energy conservation style.


    Fully devoted, she skipped fights and chose an easier path, even if it might be longer.


    "What a pity! Looks like we have reached an impasse here as well," Rui commented with a sad expression.


    Yet his expressions transformed into utter bliss as he declared, "But the final battle is about to begin on the other side!!"

 Chapter 147 - 147: Before the Final Clash

    "You''ve arrived as fast as me, but... don''t interfere," A boy glared at another as he spoke.


    The other, however, didn''t seem to care and just grinned as if challenging the first boy.


    ¡ªSwish!


    "A bunch of idiots."


    A low voice echoed, and two barriers activated, eliminating them in one go as they were within the boss monster''s range.


    Jash made the comment with a yawn as a bored look was plastered on his face. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Waiting for others sure is annoying," he muttered to himself before he frowned suddenly.


    "Why do I sound like the guy who got stood up by his date?"


    His voice turned discontent as he felt dissatisfied with the thought, even if it was his own.


    Thankfully, the sound of rushing footsteps awoke him from his internal musings.


    Though not for long...


    ''What does it even matter? They''re gonna be poofed either way,'' he mused, closing his eyes and resting his head on his palm.


    Meanwhile the ones approaching sensed his presence and could only see his back, getting alerted at the sight.


    They wondered why someone was so close to the boss monster, which looked incredibly terrifying to them.


    Only someone crazy would do that!


    Their assumption saved them from getting eliminated as they changed their direction and stayed far away.


    However, some idiots actually considered it a good chance and bypassed Jash, only to get eliminated within a second.


    At the same time, one or two attacked Jash, only to meet the same fate of quick eliminations.


    Seeing this, the few who actually took caution gulped nervously, seeing their inevitable eliminations from both parties.


    Obviously, they''d consider Jash a monster as well since he didn''t even say anything and quietly sat on a rock.


    Unfortunately, the situation would only get more tense as every examinee who wanted to prove themselves would arrive soon.


    No way they''d leave the boss monster if they were confident in their skills.


    Also, the fact that some of them would indeed be strong was a problem for the weaker examinees.


    ''They wouldn''t even serve as cannon fodders,'' Jash mused as he opened his eyes and jumped off the rock.


    Not in the direction of the monster, but backward as a spell immediately engulfed the rock he sat upon.


    ''Who else was it going to be if not you,'' Jash thought inwardly, not even glancing at the source.


    It was the Silver-haired, orange-eyed, Caeron Agria.


    The [Wind Hurricane] spell consumed the rock by leaving deep cuts and crevices on its surface.


    It was made unusable as it shattered after the spell waned off.


    However, the scene appeared different for the examinees nearby.


    They held in their breath, hoping not to get noticed by the boss monster or these two monsters.


    Sadly for them, it was just the beginning as the convergence of all the talents was about to soon happen.


    "You were here earlier," Caeron said, "So you must be waiting for others to take down the boss monster, yes?"


    Caeron''s voice echoed while he stood nearby at a safe distance from the examinees as well as the boss monster.


    "Also, you were the only one sitting around, don''t you think that''s unfair and unequal for the others?"


    Hearing the chiding tone, Jash just rolled his eyes. ''Him and his rightful facade,'' Jash scoffed internally.


    "Well, technically nope. I was just waiting to eliminate competition," Jash said truthfully with a casual shrug.


    His tone was as if he hadn''t just offended everyone who heard him yet no one actually took action.


    They were waiting for the confrontation with the new guy and him and hoped to take both of them down.


    Alas, Caeron was much too afraid inwardly and was somewhat of a coward, so there was no way he would attack first.


    The only reason he attacked earlier was to gauge the guy''s strength and since he escaped it, Caeron chose to keep his distance.


    Of course, Jash''s casual confidence was the most likely reason for Caeron''s decision, which differed from the arrogance of others.


    If it was pure arrogance, he might''ve considered it, but the way Jash put it... it seemed inevitable.


    Thankfully, the standoff didn''t last long as more examinees showed up, cautious of the duo.


    ''This is what I wanted,'' Jash mused sarcastically with a shake of his head, clearly disliking the exaggerated situation.


    However, the next second, everyone nearby was caught off-guard by a sudden presence of bloodlust, staggering a few right in their tracks.


    Some barely composed themselves and raised their weapons, alerted by the disturbance in their surroundings.


    Only Jash frowned, wondering, ''Where did that come from? I remember no such mention.''


    Unlike others, he had little reaction to the bloodlust, accustomed to such sensations from his dungeon training.


    Not like any amount of bloodlust would cause him to stagger due to his past life, but his current feat was remarkable for his fellow examinees.


    On the other hand, Caeron was cautious, but this much bloodlust was not enough to break his facade.


    In the end, anyone who had gotten specialized training would have trained in hunting dungeon monsters, so they would also be used to experiencing this much bloodlust.


    Naturally, it didn''t take long to track its source¡ªthe boss monster itself.


    It was yearning for more eliminations, or was it programmed to act that way?


    ''Or worse yet, it was changed due to the changes because of me?'' Jash pondered, not expecting it to bring changes so soon.


    Yet he shook that thought off, aware that he would end up stirring quite a hornet''s rest, so what did it matter when?


    It was inevitable, and facing one more challenge ahead of time wouldn''t matter much in the long run.


    Looking around at the stunned examinees, Jash quickly made a decision and unsheathed his sword.


    Before any of them could react, he had already dashed at them, dispatching the easy targets before anyone else could.


    In fact, he was just taking advantage of the monster''s sudden leaking of bloodlust, or he would have to waste his time and stamina even more.


    Although the bloodlust might have caused problems for others, it was nothing for him, making him treat it as a golden opportunity.


    ''Faster, faster, faster...'' he kept repeating the word in his mind as if it would make any difference.


    "Hmm," Jash hummed in satisfaction, holding in his urge for deep breaths so as to not appear weak.


    He had just eliminated nearly 10 examinees either by his sword, or pushing them into the boss monster''s range.


    At this point, the results mattered more than his method as he wanted to get rid of the unstable factors as much as he could.


    Meanwhile, the audience was going bonkers at the crazy sight, wanting nothing more than it to get even more intense.


    "Now, that''s a good sight," Rui commented with a wide grin, holding the mic at an angle, appearing extremely attention-grabbing.


    Fortunately, his words were indeed true.


    Or else he would be hearing the audience booing him just like it happened many times already.


    While they were excited, the gamblers were getting nervous as Jash seemed stronger than his earlier assessment.


    If he secured First Rank, the amount of money they''d lose... it was unimaginable.


    Some had even put all their savings and even houses in the bets... and they would be getting a harsh lesson real soon.


    Bringing them out of their self-misery was Rui''s excited shouts, "There it is, there it is everyone!!"

 Chapter 148 - 148: The Golden Arrival

    Just as Rui exclaimed for the audience, the screen shifted to the approaching examinees, specifically at some.


    Be it Avon, Amael, Zaos, Grunghin, Yirox, Helios, or other nobles from the three races, they elicited a series of cheers from the eager audience.


    They all arrived one by one with their own flair yet paused in their steps at the sudden bloodlust.


    However, how could it stop them when they were the cream of the crop, and very few could rival them.


    A solemn look appeared on their faces as they exchanged wary glances amongst each other.


    The monster wasn''t the problem; it was the examinees next to them, as putting your guard down meant losing this chance.


    ''These idiots... they are thinking about their own reputation and family name,'' Jash mused with a disdainful look.


    Of course, no one was paying him much attention, considering him one of the smart ones who chose to wait for others.


    Little did they know two geniuses among them could solo this injured beast and actually had the guts to do it!


    If not for Jash purposefully trying to achieve this situation, it would''ve never happened.


    Of course, some would arrive, fight, and attract the boss monster, spelling doom for many.


    Yet did the academy want that?


    No. They wanted excellent students, something beyond exemplary this year, given the talented generation. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite the tense standoff, Jash''s eyes scanned the area, trying to locate someone matching the protagonist''s description.


    ''Not here?'' he frowned at not finding anyone who could closely fit into that description.


    And it wasn''t just Jash looking for the guy, Amael too had kept an eye around, trying to look for the protagonist.


    He even asked his system to give the status windows of everyone nearby and was currently assessing them.


    Sadly, there was nothing about Jash... yet again.


    ''System, you''re kidding me, right?'' Amael asked, frustrated by the lack of information and unsure of the system''s intentions after studying all the statuses.


    Only a handful were in E-Rank, let alone being in the late E-Rank where he was, making them quite easy to deal with.


    Of course, being geniuses, everyone could fight across ranks, so why would Amael be left behind?


    That''s why such a thing made no difference when comparing geniuses as no one could fight across entire ranks.


    At least that was the common knowledge besides those who used forbidden methods or sacrificial ones to gain a boost of power.


    And there was no way, there''d be someone with such a method in the Academy Entrance Test.


    Every candidate was screened at multiple levels and even if someone like that sneaked in, they''d be teleported at the first sign.


    The Academy wasn''t a charity and nor was it a forgiving place, only god knows what would happen to such a person.


    Thankfully, such incidents were unheard of in not just the past years, but even a few past decades.


    {No, Host. The system cannot read him, so assessing is impossible unless you see him in action.}


    ''Can''t I just make a rough guess by then? Why would I need you?'' Amael grumbled inwardly, ignoring the glaring Avon.


    Who knows how Caeron escaped from Avon and attacked Jash after he dashed away and Amael wasn''t the least bit interested in knowing that.


    His focus was divided between the system, his surroundings, and the boss monster.


    To be exact, his focus was on finding the protagonist and taking note of any movement by Jash.


    No matter how sure he was of his victory, it was always better to account for unknown factors early on.


    That''s why the first target in Amael''s mind was the protagonist with his plot armor and then Jash.


    However, the absence of the protagonist steeled his target, but the problem was how to initiate an attack.


    As if right on that moment, a newcomer appeared on the other side of the boss monster, alone.


    The closest examinee to him was at least a few meters away, and he was yet to enter the last area of the boss monster.


    ''That''s it,'' Amael thought, but before he could say anything, a loud shout rang out from nearby.


    "Look, he is directly gunning for the boss monster!"


    Everyone got alerted, turning to look at the one who shouted and who he was talking about.


    Who else could it be except Jash?


    Unlike Amael, his entire focus was on finding the protagonist as he recalled a popular line:


    "Protagonists always arrive late, oftentimes last, to become the beacon of attention and stand out to the crowd."


    Although Jash was unaware of its credibility, the situation truly suited itself.


    The person dashing from the opposite side had golden-hair and golden-eyes, shining as if they were the sun itself.


    His hair flowed like rays of sunlight while his eyes added another layer of confidence and purity to his appearance.


    Jash didn''t even need to spare a split second to realize it was the damned protagonist.


    With a sword in hand and a determined expression, he was heading for the boss monster, unaware of the dangers lurking ahead.


    Even he looked up after the shout as he wanted to explain that he wasn''t attacking it.


    Alas, call it plot armor or his protagonist halo, he didn''t get any time to as the examinee closest to him launched an attack.


    Of course, he easily swung his sword to block the attack and even pushed the guy towards the boss monster accidentally.


    Sadly, his credibility went down with that one move as no one even needed to insinuate.


    "This guy... he thinks we are a joke, waiting before fighting the boss monster!" an examinee shouted, gritting his teeth.


    Not just one, many were angry at the golden boy for breaking the status quo, alas, the boss monster stood in between them.


    ''At least he succeeded in getting all the attention,'' Jash clicked his tongue, seeing the protagonist hog all the attention.


    Not that Jash wanted any attention, it was just that he couldn''t let the protagonist get Rank 1.


    ''No way I am losing my money because of some shit plot armor!'' he cursed inwardly as the situation worsened.


    Of course, the protagonist was the protagonist, how could he get no time to explain?


    He stopped right in his tracks, saying, "Uhm, I have no idea what''s going on here. I just defended myself and it was all an accident."


    Before anyone could think of it, Amael agreed, "Yeah, it could be an accident."


    However, it didn''t have the same effect as the golden boy hoped as Avon readily rejected the idea.


    "There''s no way," Avon said, "Even if he arrived just now, the situation is clear from how we''re all standing at a distance."


    "Yeah, that''s right..." another examinee added, followed by others.


    "Makes sense..."


    "He''s lying..."


    Hearing others agree with him, Avon gave a smug look to Amael, who appeared to have lost.


    Only, Amael was snickering inwardly at how easily Avon fell for his words and made the situation go just as he hoped.


    Unfortunately, Jash figured out Amael''s intentions and raised his eyebrows in intrigue.


    ''What''s he aiming for?'' Jash pondered, unable to think of any reason for his ''friend'' to go against the protagonist.


    It only roused Jash''s suspicions about Amael and he even wondered if that was really Amael or someone else?


    ''Could it be that he too got reincarnated or regressed or something?'' Jash made a wild guess but didn''t have time to continue the thought.


    The battle was about to begin with everyone arriving at the conclusion that the golden boy wanted to sneakily take down the boss monster.

 Chapter 149 - 149: Confronting the Beast

    "Poor him," Rui commented with a sigh, but his grin conveyed his excitement for the audience.


    The crowd was just as eager, if not more, to see the final clash. The pity they felt for the protagonist was overshadowed by excitement.


    At the final area, everyone besides Amael and Jash had actually believed the narrative, feeling angered by the protagonist.


    Though neither Amael nor Jash felt any sympathy for the guy, both liked the situation and how it occurred.


    After all, the protagonist deserved it, or so Jash believed, smiling inwardly.


    ''What''s strange is Amael''s movement,'' he mused, stealing a glance at Amael before everyone moved and the battle began.


    ''He also insinuated the narrative; so was it fate, or some hand of the Goddess herself?'' Jash doubted the convenience of the situation for a second.


    It seemed far too smooth to him to not doubt.


    After all, there was a good ol'' saying: "Just when things are smooth, life loves to throw a wrench in the work."


    Before Jash could spend another second to mull over it, a boy dashed towards the golden boy immediately and raised his sword as he swung it.


    ¡ªWoosh!


    "...And another idiot bites the dust," Jash mumbled to himself with a shake of his head.


    The overexcited boy forgot why everyone had been cautious in the first place. His lack of awareness was evident by his reckless charge.


    "Oh well, he played his part," Jash uttered after noticing everyone raise their weapons and get ready to attack the protagonist as well as the boss monster.


    What better than stealing the boss monster right under everyone''s noses?


    However, the boss monster wasn''t something to be taken lightly as it raised its head and shrieked, "GUAAAA!"


    The loud shriek rocked the eardrums of the examinees at the front as they covered them in an attempt to block the noise.


    Immediately following the shriek, a wave of water surged from the boss monster, washing six examinees away in one go.


    Not expecting the boss monster to be so strong in the least, a few halted in their tracks before gritting their teeth and moving.


    "There''s no way I am gonna lose this one!" A boy shouted as he slashed his spear vertically downward after a jump.


    His target, the monster, didn''t even react as the spear just scraped against its tough scales, leaving behind only a scratch.


    Seeing this, the rest of the examinees were stunned but the mages, archers, hunters and all long ranged warriors took the chance.


    In that gap, several arrow heads bounced off the monster and so did the daggers, only causing minor scratch marks.


    However, the magic spells gave them hope¡ªhope that was snatched away soon.


    Although it caused more damage than the physical attacks, it wasn''t anything fatal.


    Only a few ice spikes, fire balls, wind blades, rocks, water missiles landed on it, not even causing a drop of blood to leak.


    "Idiots, move out of the way!"


    A loud sneering voice made the examinees glare at the source, a dwarf.


    Of course, only the scarce dwarves recognized him alongside Zaos and Avon but only the former cheered for him.


    "Yes! Idiots like them shouldn''t be here in the first place!" a dwarf declared loudly before a human jabbed at him.


    "Your attack also failed, so you''re also the idiot he was referring to," the human commented with a mocking smirk.


    "You..." the dwarf''s face turned white with anger as he launched an attack at the human who easily countered it by jumping away.


    In no time he was at the edge of the boss monster''s range, nearby Grunghin who was readying himself for a strike.


    "What an idiot," the human sneered before stepping away, causing the dwarf to step in the monster''s range as well as Grunghin''s.


    Unfortunately, Grunghin''s attack had already begun and he couldn''t change it, and even if he could, the dwarf would be eliminated by the boss.


    Meanwhile, Jash observed everything with a particular smile. His eyes remained fixed on the boss monster, even as he fought an opponent.


    It was blatant disrespect and his opponent was fuming as he still couldn''t defeat Jash.


    Yet Jash couldn''t care less and directly aimed for a gap, plunging the sword into the boy''s abdomen.


    If not for the barrier stopping it and teleporting him out, his fear, evident in his horrified expression, would have come true.


    "The professors are still as dutiful as ever," Jash commented with a shrug, no longer paying attention to the one he defeated.


    Thankfully, the examinees nearby didn''t have any interest in him, looking at Grunghin''s attack.


    ¡ªBoom!


    Finally, it landed with a blast, making the water in the stream rise up and pushing the monster back by half a meter.


    "Didn''t seem to damage it in the least," a human commented truthfully, not realizing the sensitivity of dwarves with their power.


    Within one second, he became the dwarves'' common enemy, realizing it only after receiving their collective death glare.


    "W-what?" he panicked, not knowing anything about it. Alas, no one seemed interested to help him.


    Simply, some were in the same boat as him and the ones in the know... obviously didn''t want to get involved.


    ''So weak,'' Jash noted, comparing the attack to something he could do at the precipice of breaking through to E-Rank.


    Though it sure was impressive for the other examinees who were mentally comparing themselves or already giving up.


    After all, the unimpressed expression on the faces of at least five faces told them they weren''t even cannon fodder here.


    Sadly, that was true.


    Their only use here was their number and to serve as a distraction for the boss monster, if necessary.


    Of course, if one stepped out of their bound, they''d be eliminated.


    However, the ones who believed themselves equal or superior to Grunghin immediately waltzed forward.


    Just like him, they held their weapon and took their stances, wanting to take down the boss monster.


    Naturally, they were wary of each other and the likes of Avon, Zaos, Yirox, and the protagonist didn''t like that.


    Although the protagonist was the common enemy, he stood apart from the idiots trying to take down the boss.


    Besides them, Amael and Jash had a wait-and-see attitude, both standing in their positions and Jash raised his brows when his eyes scanned the field.


    ''Makes sense Zaos stood back, but what about Caeron? Isn''t he a mage? Why''s he taking another step back?''


    Jash found Caeron''s distancing strategy funny after calculating the rough distance between him and Amael.


    ''Anyways, it still went according to how it was in the novel, with just a bit of animosity for the protagonist,'' Jash mused with interest.


    It seemed that fate itself shaped the scenario for the protagonist to shine, alas, it failed to account for anomalies.


    With the True Anomaly, Amael Blake, and Jash Ramille in presence, how could it go according to fate''s plan?


    The two didn''t even look at each other and were readying themselves for an attack.


    Their aim: to slice off the horn of the imoogi-like monster.


    Meanwhile, the many other examinees had the same goal while the mages and everyone cast their spells.


    Blades of Wind and Water, Fire Balls, Fire Arrows, Ice Spikes, Ice Arrows, Earth Arrow, ThunderBall, physical arrows, daggers, spears, swords... Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everything came flying for the monster, impeding the examinee''s path to its head as they could only change their aim.


    ''Perfect,'' Jash noted and moved.

 Chapter 150 - 150: Felling the Boss Monster

    Jash charged through the chaos, leaping over retreating examinees whose weapons collided and were flung about.


    His eyes darted around, catching sight of the repelled weapons as well as examinees, calculating the distance between him and them.


    With one step, he was closer to the boss monster; with another, he was mid-air before stepping on a repelled dagger.


    Using its hilt as a foothold for a split second, Jash jumped up using the same method to reach the monster''s head.


    "Perfect," he muttered, noting the situation of the boss monster getting overwhelmed by the onslaught of spells and attacks.


    It caused it to be momentarily disoriented and Jash had counted on just that, choosing to believe his mental calculation.


    Seizing the chance, Jash hurtled towards the monster and brought his sword down in a precise arc, severing its horn cleanly.


    "KUAAGH!!" The boss monster roared, confused and enraged, as the horn fell away, leaving a gaping wound.


    It seemed to have come out from its primal reaction, causing many examinees to falter and stumble, even if they weren''t in its direct vicinity.


    Jash, however, was very much expecting it, taking hold of the horn as his prize and kicking off from the monster.


    Still, that didn''t mean he was entirely unaffected by the loud roar.


    However, he was among the least affected, using mana to seal his ears, minimizing the impact.


    Some examinees had tried, only to fail or were unable to do it in time, leading to the same results.


    Meanwhile, on the opposite side, the protagonist and Amael climbed the monster''s body, trying to slice off its horn.


    Yet what met their swords was the flailing monster as they both cursed instinctively, "Oh no!"


    Due to their aim being off, they ended up slicing off different parts of the horn, and their swords even collided.


    However, both knew there was no time for anything else as they used mana to cover their ears and distance themselves.


    Alas, what would a meter of distance matter when they were far closer than Jash, and weren''t ready for it.


    The worst part was the lack of cooperation.


    But no one doubted it, especially given that the golden-haired boy had been named the common enemy just minutes ago.


    Still, had they worked in tandem, their swords would have flashed from opposite angles and their combined effort would have completely removed it.


    The monster''s movements only became more erratic as it thrashed around, struggling to regain its bearings.


    If Jash''s decisive strike had already left it reeling, then the attack from Amael and the protagonist served to only further enrage it.


    Alas, its erratic movements splashed the water away, robbing itself of its inherent advantage.


    Of course, the examinees unable to overcome the shock from its roaring were swept away in the water, getting eliminated to prevent any harm.


    Though a few were dealt with by other examinees, who were jealous and eager to reduce their competition.


    ''So stupid,'' Jash commented inwardly, looking at their actions.


    Everyone knew about the Entrance Test being broadcasted, so it was quite stupid to act obnoxiously and create a negative impression.


    Not just the professors, there were several hidden scouts amongst the audience, so it only decreased their chances to get selected.


    After all, who would want a troublemaker?


    Someone so selfish as to eliminate a teammate for a reward they might never receive.


    That was utter foolishness and such examinees could only hope they changed earlier when left with no other choice other than the Hunter Association.


    ''Well, they deserve to be their dogs and slaves,'' Jash thought with disregard, already recovering from the earlier roar.


    It wasn''t just him though.


    Amael and the protagonist both were recovering at absurd paces, almost catching up to him despite the difference in effect.


    ''Something''s up,'' Jash thought with narrowed eyes, noticing the change in their expressions.


    He was sure that they wouldn''t be stronger than their novel counterparts, but this situation seemed to defy it.


    ''I better let them suffer before taking them out,'' Jash planned with a nod to himself, appreciating his decision to wait.


    If he had already fought the boss monster and defeated it, giving his all, he would be at the mercy of others.


    A scene he didn''t want to see.


    Luckily, his gamble paid off, helping him gauge them while not having to show his everything.


    ''All they can talk about is my deftness and precision, nothing more, nothing less,'' Jash smirked inwardly, praising his genius.


    Of course, it was just his narcissism blinding him from seeing that his sword could shatter at the slightest touch.


    That''s not all. He also sliced off the horn in one go, directly from its root¡ªthe hardest part of it.


    If that didn''t give a rough idea of his strength then what else could?


    Especially since both of them had the system keep a close eye on him, allowing them to get a rough idea about him.


    {Rough Estimate: Early E-Rank}


    ''Better to consider him a sub-rank higher, so Mid E-Rank?'' Amael mused, wary of the new threat while keeping an eye on the protagonist.


    (Host, he is nearly as strong as the past you)


    ''Imposs...ble,'' the protagonist''s thought broke as he found it to be unbelievable and even his focus on Amael loosened.


    At that exact moment, Amael was looking at the protagonist and saw his gaze fixed at the boss monster instead of him.


    ''Weird. I thought he glared murderously at me. Was it just my imagination?'' Amael thought in confusion and suspicion.


    Was it fate or something else that made the protagonist seem unaware of Amael, allowing him to not raise any suspicion?


    Unlike them, Jash had nothing to help him gauge them, and so he did the next best thing.


    "It''s mine!" he shouted before raising his sword,


    ¡ªCrack! Crumple!


    And it shattered due to his movement, making him feel extremely embarrassed.


    Though he masked it, and didn''t need to act, spurring the others into moving against the boss, something he wanted.


    Of course, the over smart ones considered it to be Jash''s scheme and not an honest mistake despite it being one.


    Poor them didn''t know they were being used to deplete their vitality and mana while also damaging the monster.


    ''It''s going to be crazy,'' Jash mused with a suppressed smile, aware that only a few tens of examinees would survive its onslaught.


    Just like him, a few were waiting for others to attack and reap the rewards, making some examinees target them instead.


    During the fight against the boss monster itself, several betrayals occurred, with many examinees getting teleported outside.


    When the total count dropped below 20, the area seemed almost empty besides some small pools of water and blood.


    Of course, the blood belonged to the monster as its scales were almost falling while its body was injured at various places.


    A lot of blood leaked from its body yet it stubbornly stayed in its position.


    ''It''s tired,'' Jash noted and so did the others, planning to take it down and become the champion.


    No matter, everyone had fought hard to get this victory, and they too were exhausted despite their strength. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mages like Caeron and Yirox were running low on mana while the warriors, Avon, Grunghin, Zaos, Amael, the protagonist, the lightning boy were tired physically.


    ''Not like none of them are faking it,'' Jash rolled his eyes, huffing for breath as if he was the most tired.

 Chapter 151 - 151: Brawl Before Boss

    Just as the fight was about to end, a few examinees became greedy and targeted the top competitors.


    Of course, figures like Avon, Amael, Zaos, Grunghin, Caeron, Yirox, the lightning element guy, and the protagonist were the major targets.


    Yet they excluded Jash, wary of him putting on an act and only two went to take him down at once, thinking they could pincer him.


    The others each received only one.


    However, it was enough to anger someone like Avon as he felt he was being looked down upon.


    Alas, he still had some semblance to his sanity and gritted his teeth to keep shut and maintain his dignity in front of the world.


    Unlike him, Grunghin couldn''t care less as he spat venomously, "Freaking idiot! Who do you think you are looking at!"


    "Hah! Can''t believe a midget has the gall to still yap!" the human sneered with a mocking smirk on his face.


    Before their conversation could continue or any fight could begin, a sharp sword wind cut through the air, interrupting them.


    "Damn you!" a dwarf screamed in fright after barely dodging the attack performed by the golden-haired boy opposite him.


    "Your fault for underestimating me," the golden-haired boy whispered before swinging his sword, only to abruptly change its direction.


    "Haa... Haa... Haa..."


    An elven mage was the one who stopped the attack, saying, "This... isn''t the... time to... fight amongst ourselves..."


    He was the only elf besides Zaos to have survived until now and actually took a neutral role despite the heated situation.


    The golden-haired boy had a surprised expression on his face as he looked at the elven mage.


    Jash noticed a flicker of regret in the golden-haired boy''s expression, making him doubt his eyes.


    ''Why does his expression show... regret?'' Jash wondered.


    There was no way for Jash to recall every character''s description, but someone who reached this far...


    ''Why does he seem like someone unimportant?'' he wondered, guessing that the guy had an average performance in the Entrance Test.


    ''Could it be the protagonist and he became friends later on? But he''s a guy... I don''t think the protagonist swung both ways, though.''


    If only someone could hear Jash''s wild thoughts...


    As if redemption for his thoughts, a human mage and a dwarven warrior wielding a morningstar targeted him with the dwarf even attacking him.


    Unfazed in the least, Jash casually lifted a dagger and blocked the strike easily, not even moving half an inch backward.


    Of course, it wasn''t that he was too strong, it was just that the dwarf was weak and too tired to garner enough strength.


    Before the yellow-haired dwarf could say anything, though, Jash pulled his hand a little backward and pushed forward.


    The dwarf was surprised at how easily Jash blocked the strike, but he didn''t give up and continued pushing through.


    However, feeling no change for a few seconds before it went down and got pushed back all of a sudden, his eyes widened.


    ''Why does his strength seem higher than mine? Is he already a Mid E-Rank!?'' the dwarf thought to himself.


    He really couldn''t understand how the human could force him back.


    "HAH!" The dwarf pulled his morningstar and backstepped, getting into a proper stance while creating some distance.


    He pointed the tip of his weapon at Jash, making it clear that he was now ready for his attack.


    But Jash still didn''t glance at him, instead twirling his daggers and squatting down before dashing straight left, ignoring the dwarf


    "What the¨C?" The dwarf was shocked by Jash''s move. Running away while in the middle of a fight was strange, very strange.


    "Shit! That''s where he is!" The dwarf clenched his jaw as he saw Jash swing his daggers in a similar manner before throwing one of them.


    Unlike the dwarf, the human mage hadn''t anticipated this situation and was a second late to sidestep to dodge it.


    "Urgh," he groaned as the dagger drew blood, slicing off the skin from his arm.


    Jash didn''t wait and directly dashed at him, dagger in hand, immediately swung at the mage, taking him out in one go.


    He didn''t give a damn about the neutral elf or what was happening with others.


    He was targeted, so he ought to take them out as quickly as possible.


    "What!?! YOU!" The dwarf yelled, rushing towards Jash and swinging the morningstar in a wide arc.


    Jash instantly back stepped before tilting his body to the left and throwing the dagger at the dwarf''s head.


    After swinging his morningstar in a wide arc, he didn''t have any time to react and was teleported by the barrier.


    After all, a sharp dagger hitting the head could leave some worrisome wounds and could even prove to be fatal.


    Despite the swift execution, Jash did not let his guard down.


    On the other side, Amael and the protagonist frowned, seeing Jash''s skill with the dagger when he was a swordsman.


    Both wanted to curse their system for being really useless if not for the spectacle opposite them.


    The golden-haired boy saw the neutral elf''s expression fall and he closed eyes, not wanting to see the elf''s expression when he took care of the dwarf attacking him.


    Ultimately, there was no other way after Jash swiftly dispatched his enemies and kept his guard up while heading towards the boss monster.


    The clash was inevitable and the neutral elf could only feel defeated.


    Nearby, Avon went ahead and dashed towards his opponent, spinning his spear in his right hand.


    He swung his spear, but his opponent blocked it and got pushed back before slashing with his own spear at Avon.


    Due to the shock of being unable to eliminate his opponent, the spear grazed his shoulder, drawing blood.


    Of course, the customized nano-armors given didn''t prevent damage as it worked more as a protective device than armor, and it was meant to work that way.


    Without a change in expression, Avon touched his shoulder, and looked at his hand to see a bit of blood on it.


    He glared at his opponent, unable to believe that he even got injured on top of being unable to swiftly take the guy down.


    It hurt his pride more than anything to see Jash quickly dispatch his enemies while he struggled.


    Worse yet, even Amael had already taken care of his opponent, a mage, without letting the guy cast any spells.


    "Don''t you underestimate me!" Avon yelled with gritted teeth, channeling what little mana he had, increasing his speed.


    ¡ªClang!


    Small sparks were produced as the two spears collided, with Avon pushing back his opponent.


    But he did not stop, continuing to attack his opponent, trying to take him down as soon as possible.


    Meanwhile, the others were in a similar situation excluding Caeron who just left his opponents range.


    He recognized Jash as a greater threat than the golden-haired boy and was not going to stand against the crazy guy.


    While the others were also exchanging attacks, Jash suddenly dashed at the boss monster, prompting Amael and the protagonist to do the same.


    ''Nice,'' he smirked inwardly while maintaining a confident demeanor on his face.


    He wanted the two of them to fight each other for the boss monster and also planned to draw the others in.


    While his plan was easy to get caught, he knew it was inevitable.


    The moment he dispatched his opponents and walked towards the boss monster, everyone got in a hurry.


    No matter their opponents, there were no teams, only selfish people yearning for the Rank 1.


    Hence, neither examinee would want to lose the opportunity to slay the boss monster and fulfill some condition to get Rank, if it even existed in the first place. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, Jash had a different motive, aware that just slaying the boss monster wasn''t enough to secure Rank 1.

 Chapter 152 - 152: Unexpected Play

    Jash mentally played with them, and Amael had to play along, not knowing Jash''s schemes, but he couldn''t act against the tide either.


    ''Just what''s his game?'' Amael wondered in frustration, unable to get a read on him.


    Meanwhile the golden-haired boy was in his own realm of thoughts, ''This... this never happened.''


    Unaware and unbothered about their thoughts, Jash casually glanced at them before refocusing on the boss monster.


    It seemed to be on its last legs, its horns cut off, many scales shattered and cracked, and a few dangling against its skin.


    With every second, its blood loss increased, teetering it even closer to the jaws of death.


    Yet its eyes showed a flicker of defiance and anger despite being nothing more than a simulation.


    Using the realistic approach allowed the monster to display basic emotions like anger at being attacked or having its territory invaded.


    However, its defiance wasn''t expected by the professors and they immediately cut off its emotions.


    Their decision was to prevent it from going berserk, leading it to become nothing more than a sitting duck.


    Of course, the examinees or the audience could never notice it, excluding Jash.


    ''Hm?'' his eyes narrowed in confusion, thinking that he might have hallucinated for a moment.


    But he shook his head in the next second, quickly shaking off the confusion, focusing on the protagonist and Amael closing in on the boss monster.


    Despite them holding great animosity to each other in the future, none of that was reflected at the moment.


    Even if Amael himself knew everything about the future, there was no real reason to show his hostility openly.


    Since he had not experienced those moments himself, why would he feel any emotions towards a stranger?


    Only the bias created after going through the novel information prevented him from seeing anything else.


    Meanwhile, the protagonist himself was confused at the set turn of events, going with the flow with no other option.


    As if to break the monotony of the situation the nine examinees one-by-one defeated their opponents, getting slightly injured in the process.


    The one with a fuming expression was Avon as he couldn''t believe he was the fifth to defeat his opponent.


    Not like anyone was happy to be behind anyone else as they considered themselves as the top geniuses.


    Everyone but Jash and Caeron.


    Caeron because he had no interest and felt that these ranks didn''t matter much, what mattered was staying alive.


    On the contrary, Jash knew that Amael was more talented than him, if not for his unfair advantage of a past life.


    So, he had no arrogance or pride over the fact.


    It was just that, a fact.


    Nothing more than that.


    That''s why his emotions were stable throughout, not being stoked in the least unlike them.


    "That''s mine," Jash yelled, throwing a spear at Amael and an axe at the protagonist, distracting them for a second.


    ¡ªWoosh!


    "Ugh!" both groaned as they were moving and had to transfer the momentum to their weapons to block the strike.


    Jash had thrown the weapons at the last second, making it impossible to dodge by side stepping, forcing them to deflect.


    He seized that moment to thrust his sword through the boss monster''s head... or at least he tried to do so.


    At the last moment, a stray ThunderBall spell forced him to let the sword escape his grip.


    ¡ªBzzt!


    Retracting his hand at the last second, Jash didn''t even turn around to look at who sent a spell at him.


    Instead, he ducked down, rolling ahead on the floor as an ice arrow passed by his previous position.


    Without any hesitation whatsoever, he inhumanely used the monster''s horn he had taken and drove it inside its dying body.


    ¡ªSpurt!


    Blood spurted but the sound of attacks landing echoed as it wasn''t just him being attacked.


    Since he, Amael, and the protagonist were in the lead, they were targeted by everyone, and any attacks aiming at the boss monster were neutralized by one another.


    Of course, the ones attacking wildly were getting more and more agitated by their unsuccessful attempts to breach the three''s defenses.


    Yet a stunned silence befell the area after the boss monster started dematerializing, leaving behind its horn as if it were real.


    As the others were bewildered, Jash swiftly pocketed the horn and kicked away, having already planned an escape route.


    On the other side, Avon had just reached the golden-haired boy, instantly clashing against him and was forced to step back.


    His expression distorted before he realized that the attacks had stopped, inadvertently looking at the boss monster.


    "What!?" he exclaimed in disbelief, being the first to react as others were too stunned by the sight, allowing Jash the window to escape.


    Of course, Amael had caught Jash trying to escape from the corner of his eyes, but that was all.


    The arrow was approaching his head, and even though no new spells were being cast, it was still going to reach him. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was fired by Zaos, making it all the more formidable, forcing Amael to focus on deflecting it, so as to save time and strength.


    ''The chase would be annoying,'' he thought with a frown, not ready for Jash''s action as it was out of the plot.


    For some reason, Jash was going overboard to the point of showing off.


    However, it was something else that mattered to Amael.


    ''Oi System! This! Doesn''t this change the story?'' he asked his system, wanting to get Villain Points, alas, he was asking to be disappointed.


    {Error! Host has not caused these changes! Unable to find source! Error!}


    ''Damn this system,'' Amael cursed inwardly and felt a stray spell turning to him. He turned and tilted his head to his left, dodging it by a hair''s breadth.


    Though no one was focusing on him or anyone else, they all had their eyes set on Jash, aiming to defeat him until...


    "Wait! Isn''t the Entrance Test over now that the boss is taken down?" the neutral elf exclaimed, happy for this madness to end.


    Yet his words did nothing to stop any of them from chasing Jash, all the while being wary of each other and attacking even.


    The one with the highest advantage was Zaos, he could just stay in the back and fire arrows at everyone.


    While Caeron and Yirox could indeed have done the same, it took longer to cast spells and moving and casting was too much to ask for.


    By the time they completed their spells, there was a high chance the others would have been out of their range.


    Of course, they weren''t slow, it was just that everyone was on their nerves, using everything at their disposal.


    It didn''t matter what they did, after all, there was no use hiding it if they couldn''t even tank Rank 1.


    Sadly, it was all useless as the Entrance Test had ended.


    Long ago, indeed.


    However, the audience and the examinees were the only ones unaware of it.


    As time closed in, even the sun was on its setting throes, signaling the end of the Entrance Exam.


    Yet the audience was excited to see what would happen next and so the academy forced the examinees to stay within a limited area.


    "Shit!" Jash cursed, knowing what came next.


    "Finally!"


    "Caught you!"


    It was the others who were looking for him, finally catching up to him and forcing him into a corner.

 Chapter 153 - 153: Backup Plan

    "Haha," Jash chuckled dryly as he channeled his mana, enhancing his speed and strength.


    "We can talk," he said, not believing his own words in the least.


    "Talk, my ass!" Grunghin exclaimed, sharing their sentiment, and even ended up attacking Jash in a fit of anger.


    Yet Jash sidestepped and then backstepped, only to find himself against an invisible barrier as an arrow landed near his feet.


    The examinees seemed hellbent on not giving Jash any escape as they kept attacking him, making him regret his decision.


    Had he not taken down the boss monster out of suspicion, Jash''s plan would have gone smoothly.


    He would step back, leaving the stage to Amael and the protagonist, getting the others agitated by speaking like an orator.


    ''That way, I wouldn''t be in this shit! Damn that flicker in its eyes!'' Jash cursed inwardly, not happy with his current situation in the least.


    However, it was actually a good thing as the professors didn''t miss his change in movement during that split-second of emotion in the monster.


    If it was a real monster, it would''ve gone berserk and definitely dispatched all the examinees easily.


    But, considering a real-life scenario, it would have spelled their doom.


    So, they already decided Jash as the winner as he gave up whatever plans he had, trying to kill the monster before anything could go wrong.


    Naturally, it wasn''t just this one action that earned him Rank 1; it was due to their observations since the start.


    Well, except for Jash appearing late and taking the backseat to reap the rewards at the perfect time.


    But that''s something that could be worked upon, or so the professors considered.


    And the current situation just solidified their decision as who could fight against the most talented in their generation all alone.


    Jash didn''t even have any weapon to boot!


    He used the horn he had cut to deflect and parry attacks, causing his opponents to tangle up, allowing him to escape.


    Two swords, one spear, one sledgehammer, one archer, two mages and a lightning martial artist...


    Those were the weapons or basically the opponents he had to face all at once.


    Thankfully, he was familiar with their fighting techniques from the novel and his past life had more or less synchronized its experiences within him.


    It was just his body that was lacking to be able to use everything to its fullest.


    ''Thankfully, I reached the intermediate sword mastery or else,'' Jash thought, unable to complete his dangerous thought as a kick landed on his sides.


    "Urgh," he gritted his teeth due to the lingering lighting element on the attack causing him discomfort more than pain.


    Just when Jash was about to use the horn to injure Avon''s arm, he got kicked from behind him.


    Attacking someone from behind was not considered good by nobles, but the one attacking him was no noble.


    Even the ones he was fighting against were too agitated to even care about their principles and integrity.


    That was how every life-and-death battle went, nothing mattered except for victory as anything besides that meant death.


    Still, Jash wasn''t one to lament his situation and immediately picked himself up, using his free hand to push him away from the ground.


    Although rolling on the ground was also not considered noble-like, Jash couldn''t care less.


    ''No amount of integrity, morals or principles can help one in the face of death,'' he recalled the life lesson from his previous life.


    After all, being a hero was not all rainbows and sunshine.


    While he may have been a hero to the humans of his previous world, he sure as hell was a villain to the demons.


    And that''s why he ought to be despicable, for the sake of his race.


    That''s why he had no hesitation to do anything to survive and win, unlike others who had some sort of hesitation.


    A few times, they even clashed weapons, protesting, "It''s not right to gang up on him!"


    However, it changed nothing as someone mentioned they didn''t know how much time was left and he was the key.


    Only, Amael was similar to Jash in that mindset, except, he had several bottom lines and Jash had his own.


    Though none of them stopped either from executing their plans.


    Both wanted to achieve first rank but that was impossible.


    Still, Jash had a better plan.


    ''I need to eliminate someone...'' he mused in a hurry, his eyes darting around the area, trying to find the weakest link.


    While doing so, he bent backward, but Avon was prepared for it and pushed his spear downwards.


    Jash used his free hand to push Avon''s spear further downward and used that split moment to shift himself to his right and dodging the Icicle.


    Of course, he was devious enough to pull Avon in the line of the flying arrow, using him as a meat shield.


    "Urgh," Avon grunted at the sudden pain from his left shoulder, immobilizing him for a second as blood dripped from his mouth.


    ''Forget the weak link,'' Jash decided to make Avon the weak link, alas, a sharp sword slash forced him to create distance.


    Avon used that opportunity to wipe the blood from his mouth, channeling his mana to coat his arms and stop the bleeding.


    He tightened his grip on his spear, ready for any betrayal but it never came as he saw Amael clash with Jash.


    Of course, the scene of so many fighting against Jash as he maneuvered deftly despite that made the crowd awe at his ability.


    Sadly, it also made the crowd angry at them as it was a cowardly tactic.


    More people cheered for Jash despite their dislike for him during the starting period where he just rested.


    Yet nothing changed the fact that Jash felt no sympathy for his opponents and started using them to tank his damage.


    His stomach was rumbling, his limbs were trembling, his head was aching¡ªthe three days of exhaustion caught up to him as he continued the fight.


    It forced him to use this tactic but the audience didn''t mind as Jash was indeed giving them a good show.


    Sadly, everyone was swept by his flow as he kept going with the flow.


    Only those with abundant experience in battles could tell that Jash wasn''t in the battle at all.


    Everything was just instinctively following the flow of the battle, allowing him to survive until now and even injure others.


    Jash countered Amael and the protagonist''s swords at the same time as everyone grew more and more tired.


    No matter, they were still kids and being able to fight such an intense battle, heavy on the mind and body was no joke.


    Gritting his teeth, Jash overexerted himself, kicking the protagonist in the stomach who backstepped in time, making Jash lose his balance.


    Despite his precarious situation, Jash had already thrust the horn at Amael''s thigh, scratching it as Amael retracted his leg.


    "YOU FU¨C" Grunghin cursed as Avon stopped his hammer from attacking Jash, indicating he wouldn''t allow anyone else to win. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And it was the same for everyone.


    Why would they put in so much work?


    For someone else to take the credit and win?


    However, that was all Jash needed as he had finally changed the area of the battlefield.


    ''My backup came into action, huh?'' he mused with a wry smile.

 Chapter 154 - 154: Time to End This

    Looking at the bunch of weapons within arm''s reach, Jash smiled, praising his decision to prepare this area in case things went awry.


    He would seem too out of place if he appeared near the boss area with all sorts of weapons, so he had to dump them.


    Of course, it was also due to their weight slowing him down.


    Turning his head, his eyes caught sight of the familiar cave in the gorge and the small stream near it.


    "Perfect," he murmured, barely audible to even himself, let alone anyone near him.


    Yet they too had caught on that something was wrong the moment they saw a smile appear on Jash''s face.


    ''It was the correct decision,'' Jash mused, picking up a sword.


    "Finally," he muttered with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, feeling the sword hilt fit right into his hand.


    "SHIT!" Amael cursed, taking a step back and becoming serious in the next second.


    It was instinctive as he recognized that Jash was near his level in sword mastery, just like the protagonist.


    ''How...? Didn''t he awaken one whole year after the protagonist and the other? Not to mention me!'' Amael thought in disbelief, his jaw tightening as he struggled to process the unexpected development.


    {...}


    The system was just as speechless as Amael, unable to figure out a plausible explanation.


    After all, it was with Amael when Jash''s news of awakening arrived and how the awakening time wasn''t shared.


    It was something dubious, but not unheard of if the time was too less or too high.


    ''Definitely higher in his case,'' Amael guessed in his heart, feeling annoyed that he still hadn''t accounted for this variable.


    Even if the Imperial Banquet had been held a few days back, he had enough time to think of something.


    But all he did was train and discuss plans with his system, and thinking whether to choose that armor or not.


    Currently, it was in his system inventory, which was locked due to the lack of Villain Points.


    Though it was just the requirement to unlock it and he didn''t really have to spend those hard-earned points.


    Unlike Jash who thought of weird possibilities, Amael''s lack of novel-reading prevented him from thinking of such a possibility.


    Just like Amael could adjust quickly and improve his fighting style by leaps-and-bounds without the system''s help, Jash was no different.


    In fact, he already had memories of fights at the pinnacle of his power, something that could contest against an ancient demon king.


    Who knew how old that monster was?


    Yet Jash had not only fought against him, but even defeated him.


    Though calling it that way was wrong as it wasn''t really him who did that even if he had those memories.


    ''More like nightmares,'' Jash shuddered as he used his sword to deflect an arrow and Icicle at the same time.


    The memories from his past life were guiding his movements, mana flow¡ªeverything!


    While his eyes were seeing and not seeing at the same time, unable to focus on the present, he was living the moment.


    He was blissful.


    The others, not so much.


    After all, Amael had just cursed and with the way Jash easily stopped the attacks from damaging him was enough reason.


    No one was stupid enough to think that nothing was up.


    Yet there just had to be that one idiot, the neutral elf, still lingering, trying to stop everything.


    Getting annoyed, Grunghin couldn''t care less and started attacking Avon opposite him with wild abandon.


    If not for Avon stopping him, Jash would''ve already been eliminated and the battle would have been long over.


    Gaining some distance from Avon, Grunghin saw that the elf was nearby and directly attacked the guy.


    Not expecting to get attacked in the least, he was instantly eliminated.


    However, Grunghin''s one action had far-reaching consequences as the partial trust broke apart.


    Now, everyone was an opponent with no allies.


    At their wary and angry expressions, Jash smirked inwardly, ''Hehe, took them long enough.''


    He looked at both Amael and the protagonist eyeing each other warily, and noticed the unknown emotions in the eyes of the protagonist.


    ''Hm? He''s not supposed to know anyone but Caeron here,'' Jash doubted his eyes before finding Caeron preparing a spell.


    Nearby, Yirox was doing the same while Zaos had distanced himself from everyone, with an arrow nocked on his bow.


    Taking in the sight, Jash stepped forward when he noticed some mud shackles among the thick earth.


    He dashed past them as he saw the shackles clenching and gripping the space where he was about to step.


    He knew who used this kind of trick and turned to see a boy with short chocolate-brown hair with almond eyes, Yirox.


    A look of surprise appeared on his face before turning into one of grim determination..


    However, he was attacked right at that moment by a spear from Avon, injuring his arm due to the suddenness of the attack.


    Jash noted with a smile, ''Perfect.'' He picked up his pace, increasing the damage to everyone by diverting their focus onto himself.


    Jash looked at the guy with blue hair and pale-green eyes, who stood against Grunghin, with lightning crackling all over his arms and limbs.


    He appeared to be an adept martial artist who could easily contest with anyone here besides Amael, the protagonist or Jash himself.


    It wasn''t overconfidence from Jash''s side, though.


    He lowered his sword and dashed toward the guy, who was a second too late to react to Jash''s advance, yet he dodged the side slash.


    He even countered it with a palm, trying to unarm Jash and make him weaker.


    Alas, that was a pipe dream.


    Even if Jash was not as good as the martial artist, he wouldn''t lose just because he lost a weapon.


    He had already proved it by wielding a horn from a monster and survived until now.


    Besides, the horn got chipped, something Jash didn''t like and he didn''t want its quality to decrease further.


    That''s why there was no way he would let go of the sword.


    Heck, he even turned around and swung widely at Grunghin, using the slight opening caused due to Grunghin wielding a large weapon.


    "Argh," Grunghin almost lost his grip on his sledgehammer due to putting up next to no defense.


    Meanwhile, Amael and the protagonist chose not to intervene anywhere else, focusing on each other only.


    They knew that the end result would be between them and as if agreeing silently, both darted in opposite directions to get rid of others.


    Now... the battle was only to dispatch everyone before the final duel began between the Villain and the Protagonist.


    Of course, it was different from Jash''s perspective, who only thought they were helping him.


    After all, both of them were in the Late E-Rank, the highest among everyone here.


    Excluding Jash and the neutral elf guy who got done in, everyone else was in Mid E-Rank.


    So, the difference between them was clear once Amael and the golden-haired boy got serious. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''They definitely gauged each other and wanted to exclude others from their fight,'' Jash mused while blocking Grunghin''s sledgehammer.


    Neither of the two interfered with him, considering him an anomaly and strange exception to their battle.


    No matter how they thought of it, it made no sense for someone two sub ranks lower than being able to perform equal to them.


    Was it their pride or was it their confidence to consider Jash merely an equal despite him fighting against them too?


    Who knew what was on their mind as they quickly eliminated the others despite the complaints and third-rate threats.


    Meanwhile, Jash was busy playing around with Grunghin and the martial artist whose name eluded him at the moment.


    ''Time to end this,'' he decided, taking note of the battlefield.

 Chapter 155 - 155: Lightning Duel

    Grunghin side-stepped, and now Asher was facing Jash, and the lightning-guy was in front of them.


    "Let''s team up for now," the lightning guy proposed, setting aside his pride and ego.


    Grunghin opened his mouth, wanting to deny, but his anger and frustration made him want to defeat this pesky human at all costs.


    Even Grunghin was convinced that he couldn''t defeat the sword guy anymore despite his stubborn dwarven pride.


    However, the lightning guy was different, he didn''t belong to any noble family or an elite force.


    That''s why, he always thought that the difference between him and the other kids from nobility would not be that big.


    Alas, it could never be the truth as Amael and the protagonist were a cut above the rest.


    Even if he had never encountered Jash, the situation wouldn''t change. Just that the two were stronger than anyone in the original storyline.


    "Listen, you don''t want to lose like this as well, right?" the lighting guy said, trying to reason with Grunghin.


    "...Okay," Grunghin agreed with gritted teeth, as he saw no other option.


    Unlike one would think, Jash was readying his attack, not wanting to give any time for them to coordinate.


    Mana exited his core and channeled through his meridians.


    This created a cold sensation around his chest due to the emptiness and a hot, searing sensation throughout his body¡ªthe meridians.


    ''Ah! Bear it, Jash!'' he told himself, clenching his jaw to keep the pain at bay and focus on his enemies.


    A spark appeared around the lightning guy, and after the first spark, another two appeared as lightning cackled on his forearms and lower leg.


    He muttered something, and the lightning dissipated, focusing on his hands and foot only.


    This scene, unlike any other, got even Rui reeling in surprise as he exclaimed out loud, "This boy!! He has mastered his element¡ªlightning¡ªto such a degree!!"


    Not just him, many people were surprised. It was known that lightning was a tough element to master.


    And now a somewhat unknown boy had mastered it enough to be able to use it in such a manner!?


    It was entirely different from Jash, Amael or the golden-haired boy defeating others and their awe-inspiring performance.


    They literally had SSS-Rank hunters to teach them with immense resources to support their growth.


    However, the lighting boy was a dark horse, something the audience appreciated very much.


    "Hmm, this boy is quite good, but he got played," an old woman who was watching the tournament spoke as her lips curled upwards.


    "But his potential is impressive, even his element," she mumbled, smiling as she reviewed a floating document.


    Only five documents were floating around her, signifying the number of participants still in the Entrance Test.


    She repeatedly looked at them and then got back to observing the tournament.


    Meanwhile, the girls'' part of the Entrance Test had already concluded, so the focus remained on this part of the Entrance Test.


    Back on the island, the lightning boy dashed toward Jash with incredible speed as his element boosted his agility a lot.


    His fists flew towards Jash''s face, but Jash did not stay still, anticipating the move.


    He had already been preparing an attack, so he was expecting such a situation, as he caught the sight of Grunghin from the corner of his eyes.


    His lips couldn''t help but arch upwards as he swung his sword and moved at the same time.


    ¡ªShwoosh!


    ¡ªShiing!


    His sword traveled in an arc, bypassing the lighting boy''s attack and slicing his wide open flank.


    Yet the barrier activated in time, teleporting him out and giving a sort of bounce back to Jash''s sword as he turned his wrists.


    In that split second, his grip loosened as he reversed his grip, followed by moving in a peculiar pattern towards Grunghin.


    At this moment, Grunghin had just noticed the barrier teleporting the lightning guy out as he was mid-swing of his attack.


    Alas, Jash was two steps ahead, already reaching him while ducking, sword pointed diagonally upwards.


    Not even wanting to give Grunghin any time, Jash had already set his swing in motion, reaching Grunghin''s chest before the sledgehammer could squash him.


    Due to the activation of the barrier, Jash got repelled slightly, which he used to dodge the dropping sledgehammer at his previous position.


    ¡ªBam!


    Even though most of the force was lost due to Grunghin''s connection being cut, the sledgehammer was heavy.


    It dropped with a loud sound as he had loosened his grip after catching the sight of the undodgeable sword strike.


    "Huu..."


    Jash took a deep breath as he stood up, relaxing his muscles and feeling the pain from over straining them.


    Sadly, the battle hadn''t ended yet and he had to face the most formidable ones at the same time in 1v1v1.


    However, he didn''t know that even the two of them were eyeing him warily due to his performance so far.


    ''Oi, system! Is he supposed to be that strong by any estimate?'' Amael asked his system, not even expecting a response.


    {...}


    Well, it wasn''t just one system that was speechless, even the protagonist got the same response, prompting him to tighten his grip.


    Turning to look at the duo of archenemies, Jash started walking towards them, the twitch in his lips obvious.


    He was barely keeping his emotions of pain under a tight lid as he walked right after overexerting himself.


    It was no simple feat, though.


    Imagine exercising to your limits, on an empty stomach, only to be told that you had to walk home and cook for yourself.


    The exertion would catch up, leaving you lying in fatigue as the body''s instinct to recover in sleep would try to take over.


    Jash was doing just that, though, no cooking was involved in it, but something far more excruciating.


    Outside, the audience was in a stunned silence, unable to understand what Jash did and even Rui was silent.


    Of course, he knew what Jash did, but how? He had no idea.


    Let alone him, even Sera and Carcel were looking on with confusion, seeing the apparent difference in Jash before the Entrance Test and during it.


    It wasn''t something that could be explained by talent or by just happening in the spur of the moment.


    This caused them to forget even about Caera''s performance as they wondered how Jash could perform such a sword move.


    "Honey, did you teach him that?" Sera asked him, her voice lowering at every syllable.


    Carcel gulped and immediately denied. "No! He would never learn something so bothersome!" he said.


    Yet under the icy stare of his wife, he could only confess, "He asked to read the sword moves once... Yes, he only asked to read!"


    "Don''t look at me like that! I am telling the truth," Carcel continued, averting his wife''s fierce eyes.


    Unfortunately, he was rather excited at seeing his son fight in such a way, rousing Sera''s suspicion.


    "You know..." Sera began, "I think we should have forced him to put in more effort."


    "What!?" Carcel turned his head, all his excitement washed away as he looked at his wife in utter horror.


    Who was she? Where was his wife?


    Those were the questions on his face which Sera obviously read and her lips twitched as she pinched his arm.


    "Ouch, at least this is my Sera," Carcel muttered underneath his breath, which only increased the intensity of the pinch.


    "Ow ow ow ow ow!" he squeaked before she stopped suddenly as the fight had just begun.


    sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 156 - 156: Machinations and Duels

    As Jash walked towards the two, a sudden thought came to him, ''I don''t know his name.''


    He had always referred to the golden-haired guy as the protagonist since his name seemed blurred in his memories.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t know; it was more like he wasn''t allowed to know.


    ''Might as well ask,'' he thought, approaching the two who were eyeing each other warily as well as him.


    "Hey..."


    ¡ªClang!


    Before Jash could say anything, the two clashed swords with each other, forcing him to take a step back.


    However, he almost dashed in, trying to intervene and enter the fight, but stopped at the last second.


    ''Wait, what am I doing? Isn''t this what I wanted? So why?'' Jash thought to himself, confused by his own instincts.


    It wasn''t that he actually wanted to fight and make his body cry in pain; if possible, he''d avoid fighting altogether.


    Sadly, the situation was too suspicious, as the two had just stood at a distance when Jash performed his sword move.


    At that time, the two could''ve fought each other or even eliminated Jash after he executed a sword move.


    Surely, there''d be a window to take him down right after he executed a move that was somewhat out of his league.


    ''Even if they weren''t expecting it, their sudden clashing is strange,'' Jash thought with an observing eye, rooted to the spot.


    Amael and the golden boy kept exchanging attacks at a slow pace as their speed kept rising steadily.


    Jash''s eyes followed every movement that the two were making, wary of some sort of alliance against him.


    ''Yeah, that''s highly likely. After all, they weren''t enemies at this time,'' Jash concluded, his eyes narrowing in concentration.


    Both weren''t even using anything except their bodies and sword to fight, the mana boosting not only speed but also reaction time and all senses.


    To keep up with them, Jash had to exert his core and use mana to make sure his body was ready to react at any moment of time.


    ¡ªClang!


    Accompanied by the loud metallic clangs, Jash''s ears began hurting after a few minutes of their tempo rising.


    It wasn''t just one clang every few seconds, but more than a few clashes every second.


    The ringing noises made Jash frown as his concentration was getting broken due to the unrhythmic sounds.


    On the other side, the golden-boy countered most of Amael''s attacks with a focused look, similar to that of Amael.


    Due to that, Amael attacked with even more intensity, causing the golden-boy to also put in more mana and strength, being forced to match Amael''s strength.


    To the audience, all of it was starting to get blurry as their speeds rose to the level of most E-Rank Hunters, something most of the audience wasn''t used to.


    Even though there were several E-Rank hunters in the Entrance Test, none had the leeway to exert themselves fully to reach such speeds.


    Only someone like Amael and the golden-boy could do that and still say, "This is not even our best!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, the clueless audience didn''t know and could only compare it with Jash''s sword move which was slowed and replayed for them to see.


    As if already anticipating this, the screen''s speed slowed, allowing the audience to get a better view.


    However, the VIP rooms had no need for it, the screen being at its normal speed as they could even point out gaps and faults within the moves.


    Inside one of the VIP rooms, the dignitaries from the Church knelt on the floor with their heads lowered.


    All of them had fervent expressions as the holographic image of a blindfolded woman seemed to be gazing at the screen.


    The head of the delegation was the only one who had his head raised as he gazed fervently at the Saintess.


    Her expression remained stoic as she watched the duel going on despite her blindfold.


    Though it would make no sense to anyone else, no one here had even the slightest of a question about her integrity.


    Unbeknownst to anyone, the Saintess looked more closely at Jash than the duel.


    She couldn''t tell much about him due to the distance and it being a holographic video call.


    If she was there, the screen would be enough for her to see what she wanted to, alas, it wasn''t possible.


    "Tell the Principal that the top 5 at the end of the second year of this batch..."


    The Saintess began explaining to the room about what she had decided before her hologram closed off.


    She didn''t give any time for them to question her decision or try to understand it.


    She had ordered and they had to do it.


    That was all.


    "Everyone! Did you all hear the Saintess?" the head of the delegation asked as everyone echoed unanimously, "YES!"


    "I''ll go arrange for it," a girl with a veil on her face said, still kneeling and lowering her head.


    "Very well!"


    She moved only after getting permission and left to arrange for everything, not paying attention to anything else.


    At this point, they already believed that the reason the Saintess agreed after all the badgering was that the winner was decided.


    Alas, it was the opposite.


    She expected him to lose and wanted to meet Jash, making a balanced choice to meet five instead of three or ten.


    What her motives were or what she planned to do remained a mystery to even the Church Members.


    However, it was something pleasant for them as they would be able to witness the sight of the Saintess with their very own eyes.


    While this was happening in one room, someone in another VIP room was looking on with a critical eye.


    Nothing about the person could be discerned except the real holders of the VIP room were unconscious.


    "A pity I can''t finish them."


    A hoarse voice sounded from under the cloak before it vanished and the room returned to its earlier state.


    Nothing about their gender or age could be discerned by their voice as they finished just before Amael and the golden boy were about to engage with Jash.


    In another room, Amael''s father spoke, "That sword boy is good. But when did he get this good at his basic footwork and sword mastery?"


    Despite his tone, a smile lingered at the corner of his lips as he watched Amael dodge every counterattack from the golden-haired boy.


    He even countered some of the counterattacks, as they reached near Jash, ready to pull him in their tempo.


    Unfortunately, they were in for a good surprise.


    Although it appeared that two weren''t moving a lot, if one looked closely, they had already circled around Jash multiple times.


    Each time, the radius decreased as they neared Jash at too fast a pace for him to react.


    Or so everyone thought.


    After all, Jash had not moved or even turned from his initial position, holding the sword by his side, not even in a stance.


    Only, he knew how hard it was to recover his mana with so many clashes nearby and having to keep his focus on it.


    His nose was on the verge of bleeding as he overexerted his half-recovered mental strength.


    He was almost abusing the cheats he got from his past life without a care in the world.


    Unfortunately, everything had a limit and Jash was about to push it right when he got the golden chance.


    ''I am done for after this,'' he thought before making his move, unaware of the observing and planning eyes behind the screen.

 Chapter 157 - 157: Unyielding Strikes [Extra]

    ¡ªClang!


    Right when the two clashed their swords near Jash, he used that chance to forcefully strike the point of collision of their swords.


    "Let''s end this," Jash whispered under his breath.


    The two were pushed back by the sudden force and were confused by what Jash whispered, having seen his lips move.


    But both of them felt their hands tremble due to the extreme force of the recent attack.


    And they were about to find out what Jash meant as he kicked away the ground, rushing into them.


    Just now, Jash had used his sword horizontally to attack their center of force which made them wary of his next attack.


    Within a few breaths, Jash stood opposite the golden-haired boy, slicing at his chest with his sword which got blocked.


    ¡ªClang!


    Yet Jash seemed to have wanted that only, as he kicked the boy on his shin and used the rebound force to get away.


    ¡ªWoosh!


    Due to backing away, Amael''s sword cut nothing but air as Jash had already gotten away and the golden-haired boy was pushed back.


    The sudden kick on the shin served to disbalance him as he took two steps back to regain his footing.


    Meanwhile, the audience was getting hyped and Rui announced, "Come on, everyone!! The threeway fight has just begun!!"


    At the same time, Jash had shifted his weight to his right leg, working as his backfoot, allowing him to reverse his direction.


    By the time Amael lifted his sword, Jash''s sword slipped through his sword and made a small cut on his chest.


    "Argh," Amael stepped back, straightening his arm holding the sword, which he moved at the last second to block Jash''s sword.


    A drop of blood leaked from the cut, but it wasn''t anything major or the suit would have activated the barrier.


    Still, it made Amael glare at Jash while the golden-haired boy was planning to move and eliminate Amael.


    Sadly, Jash was one step ahead, already attacking him and using the same tactic to dodge the attack.


    Though Amael didn''t get kicked due to the distance, saving him from embarrassment.


    ''Now!'' Jash thought as he twisted his wrist and the sword along with it before bringing it down on the golden-haired boy.


    Unlike Amael who felt that the events of the novel did not relate to him, Jash took them on a personal level.


    Could there be a brother who''d be happy to know that his sister was with a man with a harem of uncountable women?


    And why?


    Because he died, making her depressed!


    Of course, Jash had his own tinted lens to blame it all on the protagonist and his shit luck to attract dangers.


    Like really, why would he have to die if not for the protagonist causing that incident in the first place?


    In truth, it wasn''t even linked to the protagonist, but not like that would change Jash''s opinion on it.


    He forced mana through all his wide mana veins, heating them up due to the insane speed he was circulating mana at.


    However, as Jash was about to land the attack, Amael slashed at him, and the golden-haired boy moved out of the trajectory.


    Despite the situation seeming like Jash had wasted the attack, he twisted his foot to change direction at the last second.


    He didn''t hesitate to let some power dissipate and parried Amael''s sword before making his sword follow the flow.


    Unable to predict the sudden change in direction, the golden-haired boy got a slash at his chest.


    ¡ªClang!


    ''Just as predicted,'' Jash thought before turning and delivering a roundhouse kick to Amael''s wrist, forcing him to retract his attack.


    The force behind the kick was enough to make Amael drop his sword had he not pulled back, damaging his muscles in the process.


    Meanwhile, the golden-haired boy had a huge opening on his clothes, revealing a bronze-colored armor underneath.


    Despite this, the force pushed him back over a meter, leaving marks on the ground.


    ¡ªCough!


    The golden-haired boy ended up coughing a mouthful of blood due to the internal shock from bearing the full brunt of the attack.


    Rather than damaging Jash, Amael ended up giving him more momentum to attack the two of them.


    Alas, they were no allies either.


    Of course, Jash believed that their fragile alliance had never existed, to begin with.


    It was all just a farce to take him out all of a sudden, but it gave him the time to recover, so why would he complain?


    In fact, he was glad about the method as it allowed him to give his all at once, instead of wasting his time.


    ''I don''t know how much time remains before the third day ends,'' Jash mused, changing his target to Amael once again.


    Their fight continued for a few minutes as it only got more intense by the second.


    Not just Amael and the golden-haired boy, even Jash got quite a few minor injuries as the fight continued.


    ''Not good,'' he thought with a gasp as he realized his own condition.


    Unlike them, he didn''t have enough mana or stamina to fight for a long time due to the difference in rank.


    It was inevitable and one of the reasons fighting across ranks was so challenging.


    If someone simply had twice or thrice the amount of mana, even an idiot would be able to stall long enough to tire his opponent. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, it didn''t apply to the current situation as all three were monsters amongst geniuses.


    Well, at least not for Jash as he had minimal mana wastage as compared to them and being able to last this long was crazy enough.


    Though the audience didn''t know, the ones in the VIP rooms all knew the actual situation and how much of a crazy talent Jash had.


    "Just because he has 2 SSS-Rank hunters'' support!" someone spat venomously.


    Well, no one cared as haters were everywhere and his voice was drowned by the excited crowd.


    After all, the three had just moved after appearing fully exhausted.


    ''I can''t waste a second more,'' Jash decided to go all out on this one and hope it goes as he wished.


    Naturally, it had to be a wish as he had already reached the last part of his plan, and the rest depended on him defeating them.


    ¡ªSkree!


    The three clashed their swords at an awkward angle, creating a jarring noise that disrupted their focus.


    Sadly, all three had enhanced senses to a higher degree, so no one gained any advantage in that part.


    Yet, Jash had already moved even before the clash, his right foot aiming for the golden-haired boy and left punch heading towards Amael''s face.


    He seemed somehow out of place to be using his hands and feet amidst a sword fight, but who cared?


    They were free to do the same, if they could, that is.


    On the receiving end, they instantly pulled their sword back, turning its grip to dampen the impact of the point-blank attack.


    Unfortunately, the force from the sword clash hadn''t fully distributed, shifting as they moved their swords while Jash applied pressure.


    He wanted to pressure them on both sides at once and take both of them down at once.


    In this battle, there was no use to take one down as it would only end if all three got out or two were taken out at once.


    Alas, the two had fought each other a bit more than Jash, having planned wordlessly to eliminate him first, which failed.


    That''s why they were set to face the consequences of their actions.

 Chapter 158 - 158: Breaking Point

    Attacking them in parallel was surely a good tactic if one ignored that it left Jash vulnerable to any attacks and traps.


    Thankfully, the two were too focused on defending and didn''t have any time to attack Jash. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They didn''t believe that the simple attacks would eliminate them, but after the long battle, such wounds had accumulated.


    If not injuries, then bruises and internal injuries had already begun to form.


    ''Let''s wrap this up,'' Jash thought, looking at their response as well as the slight hint of nervousness on their faces.


    Jash swiftly turned towards the golden-haired boy, who staggered back as the kick connected to his sword grip which struck his armor.


    In the next second, Jash turned to face Amael who somehow managed to parry his punch while giving a bleeding injury at the same time.


    ''Tsk,'' Jash clicked his tongue inwardly, retracting his left hand and shaking off the blood.


    However, knowing there was no escape, he quickly regained his footing, rolled forward, and swung his sword in a wide arc.


    "Argh," the golden-haired boy hadn''t predicted the sudden counter as he had just swung his sword at Jash''s head.


    His calf had a slight deep cut, causing his lips to tremble in pain as the cut skin collapsed due to weight being put on it.


    Of course, that came from Amael who had forced down his sword in that instant.


    Unable to continue fighting, he was teleported out without a chance to show his trump card.


    {What a fool!}


    Amael''s system chimed in at the protagonist''s elimination, raining down Villain Points!


    Anyone else would''ve been gleeful and forget their current situation, but it was Amael.


    He immediately held his sword vertically, stopping an attack from Jash who didn''t waste half a second.


    Only, he wanted to eliminate Amael too before he could use his trump card.


    After all, Jash had truly given his all despite the numerous injuries on his arms and several dents on his armor as well.


    ''Can''t,'' Jash thought, changing his mana circulation to the one from his past life, enhancing his strength by 10% all of a sudden.


    The sudden increase in strength baffled Amael as Jash''s sword pushed his back, forcing him to backstep and create distance.


    ''Not enough time,'' Jash thought with clenched teeth, knowing the burden he was placing on his body to win this.


    It was something he would never do yet he was doing just that.


    Even if he did get that boost in strength, it wasn''t for a long period of time and he was basically aggravating his injuries.


    No matter, he was set to get that First Rank, secure the money and the Year Representative position.


    "Can''t believe you caught up," Amael said, initiating a conversation despite the situation.


    However, Jash didn''t reply, knowing it was a waste of time and he would get no information on why or how Amael changed.


    ''If it was the Amael I knew, he would''ve talked to me the moment we saw each other, not fight,'' Jash thought in confusion.


    However, he also knew that Amael was going easy on him in the beginning or there was no way the fight would last so long.


    In fact, Amael was still holding back, talking to the system about what would net him more Villain Points.


    If getting Rank 1 was beneficial, he would go for it, if not then so be it.


    Amael placed any bets on himself because he anticipated something would go wrong, and it did indeed.


    The protagonist was eliminated at Rank 3, a position with no credibility as no official rankings existed, based solely on the Entrance Test.


    Their ranks would be decided based on a test after the Academy began, allowing someone to even take Rank 1 and the Year Representative Spot.


    ''System, do it fast, I don''t think I can keep holding back for long,'' Amael complained to the slow system, noticing Jash''s aggressiveness.


    {Hold on, Host...}


    ''What if he can''t?'' Amael asked, cursing at the system in his mind, which the system obviously read, but chose to ignore.


    {Calculating...}


    {Finished Calculating!}


    Hearing the outcome from the system, Amael smiled and stopped holding back anything.


    At that exact moment, Jash had also decided to end it.


    ''Just a few seconds,'' he counted, checking up on his own condition and calculating the remaining time.


    Amael saw Jash slashing down with his sword, and the force behind the attack snapped Amael''s sword into two.


    A surprised look appeared on his face as he hadn''t expected it, but the sound of Jash''s sword shattering stole his focus.


    ¡ªKshh


    Before Amael could remove his hand from the hilt, he suddenly felt the hair on the back of his neck rise.


    {Danger!}


    ''Danger!'' he thought at the same time as the system before the barrier activated and teleported him out.


    Jash looked on with the horn in his hand, saying, "You really helped, huh?"


    "Haha," a dry chuckle escaped his lips as it was finally over.


    "I don''t need to hold anymore, right?" he asked rhetorically as he collapsed on the floor with a groan, "Argh!"


    Finally, as Jash stopped forcing his mana to follow the paths he wanted it to, blood started to leak from his nose.


    His head felt like it was being hammered by countless people due to overusing his mental strength.


    If one looked closely enough, they would see his hands bleeding as he forced his body to match others'' strength.


    The skin on his hands was somewhat torn while the same could be said about his arms after so many grazings.


    He closed his eyes due to fatigue as a sudden line from his past life came to him, "The best way to predict the future is to create it."


    Despite his situation the thought prompted a wry smile to appear at the corner of his lips.


    Such an image was present on the screen, causing goosebumps to rise on the onlookers'' skin.


    Even if the victory was brought at the skin of his teeth, it was a victory nonetheless.


    And it was obvious how much they cheered at the sight as the Entrance Test ran longer because of three.


    The most disarray, however, was amongst the VIP rooms as they were well-aware of the notoriety of Brandon Ramille, the heir to the duchy.


    And they had already seen that Caera Ramille was a rare Battlemage.


    Then, there was Jash...


    A man in one of the VIP rooms commented, "Another monster in the Ramille family¡ªthe future sure is ever changing."


    Many nobles and people in power grew ever so slightly more cautious about the growing power of the Ramille Family.


    Of course, it wasn''t just their family they grew wary of, but many others whose children showed promise.


    Simple, it depended on the person himself to see who would be a threat if they grew stronger.


    What did it matter if a duchy grew strong when they were already beneath Counts?


    That''s why, only those who they interacted with, partnered with or competed with mattered.


    Still, they knew better than to underestimate the ones who showed slightly worse performances.


    After all, who knew what the future held and where the winds would blow?


    ¡ªDing!


    A loud sound attracted the attention of everyone back to Rui as he announced, "The Entrance Test is finally over!!"


    "We have both our Rank 1 from the male and female category!! But before that, let''s have a better look at the female ones while the two recuperate."


    "Urgh," the audience groaned, knowing nothing could match what they saw.


    "I promise it will be worth it!" Rui yelled loudly, shocking the audience.

 Chapter 159 - 159: The Gathering Storm

    Back on the island, where only female participants were taking the Entrance Test.


    Unlike their counterparts, there weren''t many fights happening despite the number of talented girls.


    It wasn''t that they were afraid or anything; it was just that the fight with the boss monster had erupted earlier than the boys'' side.


    If not for that, the number of fights wouldn''t just be some minor skirmishes between the crowd''s favorites.


    Be it Princess Ava, wielding a katana and swinging it in precise arcs to defeat monsters and examinees alike on her way.


    Or be it the beautiful Elven Princess with her long light green flowing hair and jewel-like aquamarine eyes, using her daggers or her green vines adorned with roses.


    Or be it the yellowish-orange-haired dwarven girl, Freirae, who used a greatsword to defeat her foes.


    Not paling in comparison to the three most important females in the three races was Vivia, casting spells effortlessly and also healing her injuries, being one of the rare holders of healing element.


    Then there was Caera, the Battlemage, who used spells, dagger, bows, swords, and every weapon she could get her hands on to fight.


    Falling slightly behind her were girls like Rura Warmis and Levi Killion, who were just a tad bit weaker than them.


    Despite that, Rura using her earth element freely came as a surprise as awakening elements was nothing easy.


    Alas, fighting wasn''t what she was best at, so it mattered little for the VIP guests.


    If they were keeping an eye on anyone, it was Lyra Thalorien, the sole daughter of Archduke Thalorien.


    With her vibrant blue hair, cascading in waves and her piercing black eyes, which contained a hint of something else, she caught the attention due to her water magic.


    In the observation room, the professors looked at the screen, which was split into countless figures of the participants.


    One of the professors in the observation room couldn''t help but comment, "We have too many participants with awakened elements this year."


    The others nodded wordlessly, agreeing to his statement but not responding with words, busily switching between the various screens.


    "Not like it changes who will get First Rank among girls," Aera, the professor with straight long black hair, said, silencing others.


    "Aera, we don''t know for sure," the professor with his back straight and a stoic expression on her left retired.


    "Jin, we do know," Aera replied, twirling the tip of her hair without even sparing him a glance.


    "No, that''s not..."


    Just when the two began rebutting and retorting, the other professors rolled their eyes with the same thought: ''There they go again!''


    Choosing to ignore them, as everyone was used to it, the other professors turned to the screen, focusing on the one most likely to win.


    A girl with hair as dark as the night itself yet they seemed to have a sheen of their own, reflecting the golden hues of the bright sun.


    Her purple amethyst eyes, complemented by black eyelashes and light-pink lips, added to her charm.


    However, it was a charm so dangerous, few men would dare to go near her, let alone have the guts to talk to her.


    Her expression remained one of casual indifference and a focus on her goals as if nothing else mattered.


    What destroyed her beautiful sight was the retractable whip-sword she wielded without any hesitation.


    Her control and mastery of the whip-sword was as beautiful as it was terrifying, making her scenes brief yet impactful.


    Of course, that didn''t mean that the observing professors or the VIP guests shied away from it.


    Instead, they looked on with great fervor, wanting to know more about her strengths and limits, making plans with her.


    After all, mere rumors of engagement dissuaded many nobles as she herself was a duke''s daughter.


    Contrastingly, the professors only looked on to find pot¨¦g¨¦s and talented hunters, with her fulfilling all those conditions. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Little did they know that Ziva had talent far surpassing their imaginations, alas, she had her own limitations.


    Not like it changed anything for them as they were busy observing the fast-changing events on the island.


    The boss monster, the same one faced by the male participants, was startled awake by a fight between two girls.


    Naturally, the two got no time to react as they were immediately teleported out with the help of their barrier activating.


    ¡ªROAAR!!


    Its loud roar attracted everyone as spells landed on after a few minutes of the loud roar, eliciting more roars and eliminations.


    The situation was no different than the other side until one of the nine most talented girls arrived at the place.


    However, before them a girl with dark green hair and deep-blue eyes appeared, stopping in her tracks at the sight of the boss monster.


    Unlike the girls before her, she didn''t attack, but stayed a distance away from the boss monster, wary of it.


    She looked back and saw no one, and chose to find some cover instead of getting targeted by whoever arrives next.


    She didn''t know, but there was a girl who was hiding nearby and had observed her strange calmness and planning.


    The look on the green-haired girl was far too calm in the face of a boss monster as if she held no fear for it.


    ''Strange,'' the observing girl thought, aware that she was hiding due to her lack of strength.


    ''When I arrived, didn''t I instinctively take a step back, wanting to find a safe hiding place?'' she recalled, comparing herself to the newcomer.


    Nevertheless, she kept her composure and stayed alert for any attacks, just in case.


    Although she looked confident and was a strong contestant, she still recognized the reality that she wasn''t the pinnacle of strength.


    She shivered as the scene from a fight she just so happened to witness played in her mind.


    The sword''s transformation into a serrated whip, taking down multiple monsters with ease, reminded her of her own struggles.


    ''I had trouble with just one, and that girl took down 4-5 in one go!'' she shivered at the scene and had made her escape immediately.


    ''I hope she didn''t see me,'' the observing girl prayed, awaiting the main fight and hoping to gain something.


    Unlike all the formidable participants who were treated with respect and care by others their whole life, she was different.


    She had been raised by her father who was just an E-Rank hunter and worked as a technician to feed them.


    ''I will enter and become a successful hunter,'' she had promised her father who couldn''t believe that his daughter had grown up so wonderfully.


    While she was busy reminiscing, she failed to keep her entire body in check as strands of her stunning pink hair almost got revealed.


    Fortunately, no one except the green-haired girl was nearby, saving the pink-haired girl from being discovered.


    However, the situation didn''t remain so peaceful for long as a few girls, arrogant and full of pride, arrived and attacked the boss monster.


    "Hmph! Only someone like I¨C"


    Before a newcomer could even finish her declaration, she was eliminated mercilessly by the monster.


    ''That''s what you get for being arrogant,'' the pink-haired girl smirked, recognizing the girl from her waiting room and how she demeaned her.


    At the same time, all the girls were approaching the area, fighting amongst themselves or letting themselves be eliminated.

 Chapter 160 - 160: A Stark Contrast

    Not everyone was greedy to face the boss and allowed the one who carried them there to eliminate them.


    The same had occurred on the boys'' side, except it wasn''t shown on screen due to the heated battles there.


    Of course, there were heated battles on this side too, but it paled in comparison as most of them diffused quite easily.


    The early awakening of the boss monster had served as a beacon for everyone to gather, prompting them to swiftly end their fights.


    As seconds turned into minutes, the candidates swarmed toward the boss area.


    The two girls having green and pink hair were hiding and observing respectfully, the latter recognizing her limits.


    She was similar to those who allowed themselves to be eliminated instead of hindering their leader''s progress.


    Except she was stronger than them and reached the place by her own strength¡ªor perhaps by luck.


    As she was regulating her breathing so as to minimize her presence the figure of a beautiful elven girl came into view.


    The first to arrive was Sylvie, who casually strolled around the area, using her vine to test the boss monster''s reaction.


    After gauging its speed to exceed her current limits, she pushed herself away from its range, using her vine as a footing.


    ''Who''s she? She''s really skillful,'' thought the pink-haired, wary of another girl being stronger than her.


    She didn''t know yet, but she was in for a big surprise, about to see ten or even more girls stronger than herself.


    Slowly, her expressions fell after the appearance of Vivia, Ava, Caera, Levi, Lyra, Rura, Freira, and lastly, Ziva.


    The pink-haired girl clenched her fist reflexively at the sight of the black-haired girl walking casually with a bloodied weapon in hand.


    ''No, I can''t go down,'' she reminded herself, firming her mind and controlling her trembling arms.


    It wasn''t fear exactly, but more of a primal emotion at the sight of someone far stronger than oneself.


    While she was busy restraining herself and keeping herself in check, the green-haired girl had eyes flickering with coldness.


    She had a cold expression on her face, as if she put none of them in her eyes but even she felt uneasy at the sight of Ziva.


    Only until Ziva greeted Ava and Caera, recognizing the two and nodding at Rura, having slight remembrance of her.


    However, it was just a polite gesture, she wasn''t going to hold back as neither would want her to go easy on them, even if everyone wanted the First Rank.


    In truth, the rank didn''t really get decided based on this one fight, but encompassed everything since the beginning.


    It just so happened that no one knew about such a thing, so they could only make assumptions and give their best, based on them.


    And to prove their strength to themself as well as their families, they began channeling mana.


    No words or any war calls were needed as the fight was inevitable and the boss monster was not something one of them could take down.


    Unlike the boys with inflated egos, most girls here had gotten put down by someone or the other, having faced defeat.


    That moment of defeat redefined their pride and arrogance, allowing them to not lose their thinking ability.


    Well, mostly.


    Despite it being an unspoken agreement, there was no way anyone would comply to the end.


    After all, what if defeating the boss monster was the key to securing Rank 1?


    Due to such a deduction, it was going to happen somewhat similar to the other side.


    They had channeled their mana, Vivia, Caera, Lyra and Rura casting spells while the rest got ready to engage in a melee.


    Of course, they attacked from their own positions, as no coordinated teamwork existed due to a lack of trust.


    But there were exceptions to it, Caera helped Ziva and Ziva agreed to protect her and Rura, just in case something happened.


    Being dragged along obviously didn''t feel good, but Rura accepted the bittersweet feeling, knowing that was the best option for her.


    Just like them, Sylvie and Ava were coordinating with their eyes, leaving Freirae, Vivia and Lyra to be solo.


    Of course, Levi gritted her teeth, feeling her pride being hurt and decided to attack the boss monster at will, not caring about anyone else.


    ''She should at least keep her guard up,'' Zive lamented Levi''s stupidity before focusing on her own attack.


    Her eyes narrowed at the boss monster''s eye as she moved faster than anyone else or before any spell could be cast.


    Using a strange movement art, she dodged the water balls, and water spikes shot by the boss monster at her.


    In one go, she reached the boss monster''s body as spells landed on it, and she used that chance to climb it.


    Before the others could even reach the boss monster, she let her sword separate and puncture its eyes.


    Alas, it was not stupid.


    It flailed around, moving his head and saving one of its eyes and Ziva managed to injure the other eyes.


    "GUAAAAARRRRHHH!" The monster shrieked in pain as its body moved erratically, pushing Ziva off it, but she landed with a summersault.


    Sadly, the others had to bear the brunt of the water waves caused by the monster''s crazy movements as it attacked with reckless abandon.


    At that exact moment, Lyra took charge, controlling the situation with her water element affinity.


    Of course, she could only dampen the force and divert it, not fully conquer it and reverse the attack.


    She was strong, yes, but not at the same crazy level as the monster.


    Being slightly lacking to be a Mid E-Rank hunter surely helped her gain a footing and gave her the courage to stand alone against the monster.


    "Nice," The melee fighters either said, mumbled, or thought it before using the gaps to close in and attack the boss monster.


    Unlike them, Ziva shied away from attacking, choosing to seize a perfect chance rather than try her luck.


    Fortunately, spells like Fire Tornado, Earthen Spikes, and Light Blinding arrived, further angering the monster.


    Poor stimulated monster never thought it could be defeated so systematically!


    Of course, comparing this to the mismatch, disarray and chaos in the boys'' battle would be nothing short of crazy.


    "Look, didn''t I say it would be worth it? Just trust me," Rui shouted as the battle ended faster than the boys''.


    Those who had been teleported out and wanted to see the conclusion were now filled with embarrassment upon seeing the scene.


    As if to point it out, the screen divided into two, showing both in parallel.


    Poor boys didn''t even get any consolation prize, and only got embarrassed for trying their best to gain victory.


    Well, the ones who participated in the last battle had downtrodden expressions, unable to accept their defeat. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though, Caeron was a full exception, not feeling a single shred of sadness for losing, rather he was glad to have made it thus far.


    Similar to him, Amael had a wide smile on his face as the system had told him that getting second position would result in more Villain Points.


    That had caused him to make a mistake, not on purpose, and surprisingly, Jash exploited that and defeated him.


    "The academy, huh? It will be interesting," he muttered to himself, but the system chimed in.


    {Hadn''t I said that already, host?}


    ''Yeah, yeah, sure,'' Amael replied, rolling his eyes at the shameless system.

 Chapter 161 - 161: Limits Tested

    ¡ªThump!


    The boss monster collapsed, unable to bear the onslaught of attacks for so long, succumbing to its injuries.


    Its limp body was moving up and down slightly as if to prove that it still had some semblance of life within it.


    The nearby girls had distanced themselves at the sight of its huge body collapsing, saving themselves from any aftershocks or last-ditch attacks.


    Looking at the swift dispersal of the boss monster, the pink-haired girl''s lips trembled as she mumbled, "Mons...ters... all o...f them, monsters..."


    Due to her low voice and the loud noise of the boss monster''s collapse ringing in their heads, no one could hear her at all.


    Fortunately, she had kept herself hidden or she would''ve been in the same condition as the boss monster in even less time.


    Her eyes were full of determination to reach their level one day, locking fiercely onto the figure of Ziva.


    However, seeing nothing happen after taking down the boss monster surprised them.


    "Looks like it has come down to this," Ziva muttered, confusing the ones around her as she channeled her mana.


    Though a second late, the others also understood and started preparing to attack and defend.


    A battle was about to ensue amongst them, to find who would claim the title of the strongest.


    ¡ªRuaowh!


    A strange sound echoed suddenly, disorienting everyone to varying degrees, with Ziva being the least affected and Levi being the most.


    At that moment, the green-haired girl came out of hiding, holding a fan-like object in her hand.


    Covering her mouth with the fan and lowering it slightly, the same noise echoed again.


    This time, however, the source was clear and they immediately noted, "Sound element!"


    It was one heck of a scary element if used correctly and the most useless if given to an idiot.


    And one look at how expertly the green-haired girl used, it was clear that she belonged to the former category.


    Despite all of that, her eyes were fiercely locked on the figure of Ziva, who seemed mostly unaffected.


    In fact, Ziva wasn''t fazed in the least.


    It would be the same if someone around her rank used a mental attack on her.


    Nothing like this would work on her, her strange element protecting her passively itself, not even requiring anything from her.


    Just her body with affinity to it was enough, her being able to control it was just cherry on the top.


    Sadly, the green-haired girl hadn''t predicted the full negation of her ability, allowing the others to react as well.


    "Finally decided to show yourself, huh? What about the other one?" Ziva asked with a casual expression.


    Her words shocked the green-haired girl and made the pink-haired girl gulp and hold her breath despite being disoriented.


    Yet, Ziva remained unfazed, her expression casual as ever.


    In the next second, the green-haired girl increased the pitch of her voice, amplifying her voice up a notch.


    But it remained largely ineffective on Ziva, who was already heading towards her.


    Of course, she was also human and got fatigued after fighting for so long, so her pace was a bit slow. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If Ziva had a few minutes to catch her breath, she would return to somewhat the peak of her power.


    Despite this, the green-haired girl panicked slightly as she backtracked, still sending sound attacks, focusing them on Ziva as much as she could.


    It dampened the impact on others, allowing them to regain their senses as Caera was the first to begin casting a spell.


    Unlike others who had a wait and watch attitude, she wanted to help her friend, so she couldn''t care less about the proximity to others.


    Thankfully, Rura somewhat felt that Caera was her friend and tried to guard her despite not being able to recover properly.


    ''Weak... I am so weak!'' she thought self-deprecatingly, ''If only I was as strong as her!''


    Alas, there was no answer to hopes and prayers without the efforts and talent itself.


    But, she didn''t really have to blame herself, she had a crazy good talent, just not in fighting.


    Seeing the scene nearby her, Lyra dismissed her thoughts of befriending Rura. ''Useless,'' she labeled Rura.


    Being the third to free herself, after Sylvie, she was already planning on finding ways to become better.


    All this Entrance Test¡ªshe had dismissed as mere child''s play until faced with the harsh slap from reality.


    It forced her to realize her weakness and learn that there were people stronger than her, not just in strength but other aspects as well.


    While she was growing, there was Ava nearby, who felt nothing but helpless about the situation, like always with her mother.


    Negative thoughts took root in her mind, ''I am so... useless... helpless even... I deserve to fail...''


    Fortunately, Sylvie put a hand on her shoulder at the correct time, bringing her out of her reverie.


    Sylvie wore a serious expression on her face as she focused on creating a vine on the ground for the green-haired girl.


    ¡ªThud!


    Unable to focus on her surroundings, the green-haired girl fell down.


    Still, she didn''t give up, increasing the intensity of her attack once more, forcing others to take a step back and balance themselves.


    Yet Ziva just slowed her pace, not stopping despite Caera''s spell being disrupted, which was supposed to be her support.


    ''No...no-NO!'' The green-haired girl denied her situation, forcefully pushing her limits, wanting to win this whole thing.


    However, it had no effect on Ziva.


    But how could the green-haired girl know that her bane was participating in the Entrance Test?


    Not just her¡ªeven some professors had their suspicions about the situation.


    The sound element was rare to begin with, and it showed up in a girl they had never heard of or even seen.


    Then, there was Ziva, being totally unaffected in the face of it.


    However, that made no sense as her element wasn''t a 100% negation, it could only help one achieve that feat.


    Nonetheless, there was no way to interrogate her as she was a Duke''s daughter.


    Well, even if they somehow got the permission, it was going to be of no help as she herself had no clue.


    She just knew that it worked, and work, it did.


    Meanwhile, the girl on the ground pushed herself to the limit, her nose bleeding and her skin paling.


    But she didn''t stop; the intensity of her attack rose, causing the jarring sound to make Freirae, Rura and Levi collapse on the ground.


    Being a dwarf had its own shortcomings unlike elves, who despite their longer ear could choose to selectively hear.


    Not that it wasn''t getting harder for her, but the situation demanded it.


    The green-haired girl was just far too stubborn as she continued despite the deteriorating condition of her body.


    Even the increasing pressure on her mana core started to hurt her yet she only reminded herself, ''Levoria, you can''t lose!''


    Blue veins were starting to appear around her arms, and blood was oozing from her nose, down her cheek.


    It was clear that she was going beyond her limits for this attack.


    However, as if to prove it wrong and relieve them, a arrow fast approached,


    ¡ªClang!


    Ziva deflected two arrows as the third one aimed for the girl on the ground, eliminating her.


    Seeing the arrows, Ziva grew wary of the newcomer when she heard a carefree voice,


    "Oops! Looks like I was late to the party..."

 Chapter 162 - 162: Clash of Ambitions

    "Oops! Looks like I was late to the party..."


    The girl appeared with a bow in her left hand, arrow in right, with ashen-black hair and oceanic-blue eyes.


    Her hair was tied higher than the others and ended at her shoulders, shorter than theirs. No one there could deny she wasn''t beautiful.


    With a piece of black fabric strapped on her left hand, aiding her grip on the bow, she seemed ready to fight.


    "I just heard an annoying voice, and had the urge to get rid of it... so, what now?"


    As if her words were what they waited for, all the girls distanced themselves, in groups or alone.


    However, when the battle was about to begin, a loud rumbling sound shocked all of them.


    The ground shook as a small stone platform, marked with the Solarnelle Academy insignia, emerged.


    Everyone''s attention was turned to it except for the newcomer who had used that moment to wield her bow and at least eliminate one examinee.


    ''Not her¡ªshe already deflected it,'' she thought, shifting her aim from the girl with the strange whipsword.


    She aimed at the rapier-wielding girl, Levi, and shot her arrow despite the shaking ground.


    Even when her own balance was a mess, the arrow she shot accurately landed on Levi''s hand, making her drop her weapon.


    "Aaaaah!" she yelped in pain, attracting others'' attention before another arrow whooshed by, aiming for her unprotected abdomen.


    Sensing the approaching arrow, Levi''s eyes widened before the barrier activated, blocking the arrow and teleporting her out.


    "What!?" Caera blurted out, struggling to believe someone could have such good aim despite the unstable footing.


    ''She must be around my age, so how?''


    She couldn''t make sense of it even though her family, the Ramilles, were known for their archery skills.


    Nearby, Sylvie, from a lineage of the best elven archers and mages, watched with a similar state to Caera.


    She had seen all kinds of talents in her elven family yet they could barely compare to this newcomer.


    Meanwhile, seeing the surprising change and appearance of the newcomer, a SSS-Rank Hunter himself narrowed his eyes.


    "So you were alive all along, huh?" he mumbled under his breath, inaudible to anyone but him.


    To anyone''s surprise the man was Cornelius Ramille, intrigued by the archery style, who chose to observe more closely.


    Despite his eyes flickering with intense emotions, he chose to not act. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Instead, he restrained himself and decided to keep an eye on the girl to confirm his doubts.


    Unaware of attracting a SSS-Rank Hunter''s attention, the girl targeted Rura next, finding the weak links quite easily.


    "Argh," Rura reacted to the pain a second too late as the arrow still grazed her even after Caera pulled her over.


    "What''s your name?"


    A sudden question stalled everyone in their tracks as they turned to Ziva, the one who asked the question without a change in her expression.


    "...Elara," the girl answered after a bit of thought and felt that it wouldn''t matter if she told them her name or not.


    ''Not like anyone would know me,'' she thought while nocking two arrows at the same time and firing them.


    Just like her, no one wanted to lose, channeling mana throughout their body or casting a spell.


    Seeing the scene, the audience wanted to know why no one cared about that loud rumble and the platform?


    Sadly, their question wasn''t answered as the girls continued their fight with Freirae deflecting the arrows coming her way.


    Obviously, the fight wasn''t one vs all, but a free fight, anyone could choose to fight and eliminate they wanted to.


    Unable to bear the excessively long fight, Ziva tried closing the distance to Elara, who skillfully created space after each shot.


    She seemed more like a wild hunter than a disciplined, trained fighter like the others.


    After all, the difference between someone who trained systematically and fought methodically would show on its own.


    Just clearing a few dungeons was different from living in the wild and growing up there, it wasn''t something that could be matched just via talent.


    It was a difference of mindset itself, not something one could bridge without ample experience in dungeons and hunting.


    Still, they all had common thoughts about losing to Elara as they could not accept their loss by a girl who they didn''t know minutes before.


    The sole exception being Ziva, who didn''t waste time chasing after her but chose to protect Caera and Rura.


    ''They would be vulnerable to others,'' she noted the difference and decided on her move.


    Meanwhile, Vivia was targeted by Lyra, both being mages.


    Only Ava and Sylvie were focused on taking down Elara while Freirae was starting to struggle.


    It wasn''t a sense of camaraderie motivating anyone, though, but a shared sense of victory and defeat.


    No matter who it was, winning this was something they all held in high regards, regardless of their share of reason.


    Lyra wanted to prove to the world and herself that she was ready to bear the weight of the Archduke title.


    Sylvie, Ava and Freirae wanted to make their race proud while Vivia wanted to make the Church proud and prove that she wasn''t hopeless.


    On the other side, Rura was content with reaching this spot, but still wanted the high rank to raise the status of her clan and prevent any sorts of forced marriage.


    Caera just wanted to show to Jash that hard work was necessary and how his idiotic choice to delay awakening was entirely stupid.


    Last but not least, Elara wanted to gain a stable footing to investigate the circumstances regarding her family.


    The only one who wasn''t bothered about it was Ziva.


    She had no interest in any ranking, nor did she wish to prove to anyone her strength or her standing.


    Ever since the banquet, she was contemplating her decision regarding Jash and what to think of him.


    Now that he could best her in a spar or even defeat her, she wasn''t so sure about being with him.


    With the lack of romantic feelings, she really didn''t understand her feelings, and there was no way she would talk to her mom about it.


    She was similar to Sera, and would end up making Ziva do something embarrassing, just to tease her later.


    Not wanting such a situation, Ziva ended up putting all her focus and time into training to divert her focus.


    However, it ended up making her grow a bit isolated from others and a bit detached as she grew tremendously.


    Being on the verge of reaching Late E-Rank, she was stronger than any girl nearby, allowing her to swiftly eliminate them.


    However, during the battle, she became distracted and made mistakes that got Rura injured and ultimately eliminated.


    By that time, even Freirae was eliminated with Vivia and Lyra on their last steps and Elara huffing and puffing with her low stamina.


    Coming back to the battle, Ziva took a look around and realized, ''I can get Rank 1 while he should at least struggle, right?''


    In the end, the thought of getting Rank 1 while Jash failed to, she ended up focusing on the ongoing battle.


    ¡ªSchick!


    She twisted her sword, separating it into a bladed whip, thinking, ''Let''s end this.''

 Chapter 163 - 163: Nullis: Fortified Mind

    With a sound, Ziva''s sword turned into separated parts of the blade, serving as a serrated whip as she channeled her mana.


    Unlike before, she didn''t hold back on using her element, unleashing it at full capacity and aiming directly to defeat others.


    Of course, that didn''t mean she was soft on them, even though she held no animosity towards them.


    It was just that she had yet to gain enough mastery over her element to use it without harming the other party.


    That''s why she had restrained herself from attacking anyone with her element until now. Her element was that special, after all.


    Her element, like most mental elements, was unique and known as ''Nullis,'' and it was nearly impossible to find anything related to it.


    Having no other choice but to understand it from scratch based on the record of other mental elements, she had a hard time finding its utility.


    Only after the long hours of study and practice did she get something out of it even though she awakened it soon after reaching E-Rank.


    While it might just be a prerequisite for others, it seemed it was the only thing holding her back from unlocking her element.


    Overall, she discovered that Nullis was a versatile mental element that combines strong defensive capabilities with potent offensive potential.


    Yet all of that potential eluded her control, the defense being mostly passive and only needing her to enhance it if it wasn''t enough.


    She had tested it against various forms of attack, and it shielded her from mental, illusory, and auditory assaults.


    However, every time she tried to use it for offensive purposes, she failed to control it and ended up failing to use it.


    Of course, she didn''t give up and discovered that it could repel the attacks, turning those very threats against their source.


    It became a valuable asset in her arsenal, capable of functioning in both defensive and offensive scenarios.


    But it better remained as a hidden card, to be used only when the situation was urgent or in a life-and-death battle.


    ''If only I could control it freely,'' Ziva lamented while trying her best to keep Nullis under her control.


    Since Nullis could dispel illusions and mind-affecting enchantments, she had not participated in the Imperial Banquet.


    As it would effectively reveal the true nature of things and allow her to see through deceptions, making it useless for others.


    Before that though, it provided a robust resistance against mental attacks, such as telepathic intrusions or psychic assaults, by fortifying the user''s mind.


    In simple terms, the illusion would fail to work on her, and if it did, she would still have an easier time compared to others.


    Lastly, she discovered its connection to sound attacks, that is, as Nullis neutralized sound-based attacks, rendering them ineffective.


    It wasn''t just limited to sound mages or sound elemental warriors but also traps and advanced weapons like sonic blasts.


    ''Even Sound Manipulation spells fail against it,'' Ziva mused, recalling the green-haired girl as she focused on attacking everyone around her.


    Instead of targeting someone and risking injury, she opted for a dampened effect on everyone, believing it to be a better choice.


    No matter how brutal she had grown, she still didn''t want to injure Caera, and that''s why she did that.


    The others didn''t matter much to Ziva; she generated a mental pulse to disrupt everyone''s cognitive functions except her own.


    That was the best part about Nullis, the user won''t be affected at all, unlike some elements.


    Of course, her attack, ''Mental Disruption,'' only caused slight confusion, disorientation, or temporary loss of control over one''s actions.


    Well, as it was being shared by the girls, the effects were minimal and almost everyone could handle it.


    ''It won''t make a difference as everyone got affected,'' she had already predicted this, choosing to target Vivia and Lyra.


    Both being mages had more to do with mental strength than physical, weakening them massively. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As predicted, both failed in the middle of casting a spell, suffering a backlash from the mana.


    Their cores ached in mild pain, easily manageable, but the blood at the corner of their lips was visible.


    Unfortunately for Lyra, Vivia had the healing element, healing herself immediately.


    Not like it mattered as Ziva attacked them simultaneously, inflicting flesh wounds before swinging her whip-like sword again.


    They tried to conjure magic barriers to deflect or block the attack, but due to their mental disruptions, the spells were a second too late.


    ¡ªShatter!


    They broke like glass and the metallic whipsword passed through eliminating them at once.


    Just as Ziva turned around, a slightly surprised expression appeared on her face.


    A few moments ago when Ziva used her element, it affected Elara heavily as she hadn''t gone through training for mental attacks.


    It robbed her focus, disrupting her footing and making her stumble, resulting in her pace decreasing in that second.


    Seizing that moment, both Ava and Sylvie sped up and Sylvie blocked her paths using her vines, tapering them to prevent Elara from escaping.


    Ultimately, she got eliminated as the katana blade closed in, activating the barrier for her safety.


    However, what got Ziva surprised was the figure of pink-haired girl falling from a tree and about to get eliminated by Caera.


    ''Isn''t she the one who ran away?'' Ziva recalled the girl, even recognizing her despite the brief encounter.


    Nevertheless, she pulled back her sword, making it take the form of a simple sword as she walked towards Caera.


    Only the four of them were left and Ziva knew that her mental attack made her the enemy if not for the suddenness of the situation.


    ''Maybe I should try that?'' she thought, exchanging glances with Caera and hoping that she understood.


    Alas, Caera was one stubborn soul and started preparing a spell, forcing Ziva to focus on the other two.


    Before doing anything, Ziva willed her element to directly attack Ava and Sylvie''s mental strength and mental barrier.


    Sadly, it didn''t work as she was too weak to use the move as of now.


    ''I just wanted to weaken their mental faculties, rendering them incapable of defense or offense.''


    Unlike stubborn idiots, Ziva didn''t force it, moving on to using the last attack she discovered of her element.


    It was Cognitive Overload, which worked by focusing Nullis energy to overload someone''s senses or mental¡ªthought¡ªprocess.


    ''It should only give them intense headaches, right?'' she guessed before shrugging, ''What''s the worst? Just some temporary paralysis.''


    Not caring about the two at all, Ziva stopped using Nullis and directly focused on the Cognitive Overload.


    Of course, she wasn''t defenseless, taking the best form she could to defend against them while her mind was focused on using her element.


    She trusted her hard-earned bodily instincts to help her in this battle, or else, she may end up hurting Caera as well.


    After all, her element had adverse effects on everyone without exception.


    And using Nullis, Ziva could interfere with the enemy''s mental processes, making it difficult for opponents to execute complex strategies.


    Even maintaining coordinated efforts would be tens of times harder, like it was for Ava and Sylvie at the moment.


    Especially since it was a prolonged battle, in which Nullis specialized in eroding the focus and concentration of enemies.


    Right now, Ava and Sylvie ended up getting injured instead of damaging her as they were more susceptible to mistakes and less able to execute their plans efficiently.


    Her element was quite overpowered in a sense.


    After all, it also provided defense against mental attacks.


    Anyone attacking her would most likely find their psychic or mental assaults ineffective, in rare cases it might even backfire, causing them to suffer from their own attack''s repercussions.

 Chapter 164 - 164: Ending the Entrance Test

    Ziva used her element to overpower Ava and Sylvie, eliminating them despite their struggle against her element.


    To everyone''s utter shock and horror, she had basically decimated half the top 10 girls.


    ¡ªBoom!


    At the same time as their barrier activated, creating a gap in her sight, Caera''s condensed fireball spell struck Ziva.


    At least that was what Caera thought until finding Ziva walk out unscathed from the explosion.


    "But how?" Caera asked in shock before remembering that Jash advised her not to mess with Ziva.


    She thought he was joking or messing around with her, but her current situation seemed to reflect he was aware of Ziva''s abilities.


    And indeed he was, whether it was from the novel or by talking to her at the end of the Imperial Banquet.


    Talking about Jash, he was in the same position as earlier with intense muscle pain.


    Even the slightest movement was enough to elicit screams from deep inside him.


    ''It should be time for that now,'' he sighed, knowing he would have to grit through the pain for it.


    At the time, he was the only one on the island, similar to Ziva after she easily eliminated Caera.


    Though she gave a caring remark as they parted, "See ya soon, fiery fire firer."


    With Caera eliminated, Ziva approached the stone platform to examine the groove more closely.


    The groove appeared meticulously crafted, with a shallow indentation that deepened outward, matching the shape of the monster''s scale.


    Its edges were smooth but distinct, hinting at the precision of the original carving.


    The channel was slightly curved, accommodating the natural contours of the thing it was meant to hold.


    The groove also seemed to hold the same insignia of the Solarnelle Academy itself.


    It was as if the groove was not merely a decorative feature but also a functional one, designed with both artistry and purpose in mind.


    Looking at it, Ziva was confused for a second as the size closely resembles that of the boss monster''s scale, but...


    ''Wasn''t it just a simulated monster? Where do I find its scales?''


    Without another choice, she could only return to the place where the boss monster was defeated, looking for its scales.


    On the other side, Jash was still in the same position despite knowing what needed to be placed and where.


    He needed time to recover a bit and gain some mental resilience to bear through the pain.


    ''Damn! Why did I even bring them away in the first place!?''


    He inwardly lamented his own decisions, regardless of it being his own backup plan and the reason for him to have won the battle.


    No matter, the problem remained the same.


    However, the audience that was watching the screen being split to show Ziva and Jash were too excited at this point.


    They had seen one amazing thing after another, increasing their excitement to unprecedented levels.


    "Damn! What''s he doing!? He should be searching like the girl!"


    "Yeah! He''s just a lazy ass, sleeping everywhere!"


    "True! It''s suspicious that he won at all..."


    "You blind or something? We all saw what happened on both sides, idiot!"


    "You...! You dare!"


    Just like that, quite a few brawls were about to begin amongst the audience as they failed to capture the importance of the event right now.


    For them, the fights were the beauty of the Entrance Test and now that it was over, nothing else mattered.


    Of course, that wasn''t to say everyone in the audience was the same as some were patiently waiting for it to end.


    "It was fun while it lasted, yeah?"


    "Yeah! I wonder if these talented kids will ever face difficulties such as this in their life."


    "True, they seem too sheltered..."


    As heated discussions had begun amidst the audience, Rui wanted to do something, but he couldn''t.


    He had no authority when it came to the lovely audience.


    After all, who knew what kind of crazy shit he would try to pull?


    Thankfully, Vice-Principal Zander didn''t have to step up again as the screen focused on Ziva.


    She had found quite a few intact scales on the monster''s neck which she took and tried to fit in the groove. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ohh, this was quite close!" Rui commented as she tried the sixth scale, but it failed to fit in the groove at all.


    After countless attempts, Ziva felt like attacking the groove itself as it seemed to be useless itself.


    Just like that, she was forced to act like a clown, diminishing the reputation she had built after securing victory in the final battle.


    Alas, the audience found her futile efforts to be funny when she had finally had enough.


    "Damn it!"


    For the first time, she vented her frustration, scooping as many scales as she could before taking a step.


    "Hm?"


    Suddenly, something shined in her field of vision, attracting her attention.


    Unlike all the other scales, that scale appeared to be shiner, smoother and sturdier upon picking up.


    She could tell the difference based on the first touch and felt that it had to be the one.


    It would be utterly stupid for it to be one of the numerous similar looking scales when a different, unique one existed!


    ¡ªTak!


    Just as she placed it on the surface of the stone platform, it sank in perfectly, leaving no gap behind.


    At least that was how it was supposed to go, but the scale was scratched, attacked and damaged in many places.


    Thus, it wasn''t a hundred per cent the same as the groove, but it was surely the correct one.


    Still, it reminded her that even if the monster was simulated, its scales were real, or else Ziva wouldn''t be able to keep it by her side.


    Just like the female side had real scales of the monster, the male side had the real horns of it.


    And Jash was the one to cut off its real horn perfectly, unlike how Amael and the protagonist made a mess of the other one.


    Due to having the lore from the knowledge, Jash was already aware of the horn being an important setup.


    That''s why he chose to keep it by his side, and it even served as his emergency weapon when he became unarmed.


    It saved him from elimination despite its chipped surface. Though its chipped surface was much to Jash''s dislike.


    "I have no other choice, do I?" he asked rhetorically to no one in particular as he barely stood up.


    ¡ªClack!


    Just as he stood up abruptly to get all the pain together, his teeth clacked against each other, stopping him from thinking about body pain.


    Instead his gums hurt insanely for a second before being replaced by the rest of his body.


    The pain was no joke either.


    Even merely walking became a chore for him as groans leaked from his mouth at every step.


    "Ugh, why did I do this?"


    "Argh, so annoying!"


    "Owww, definitely not doing this again!"


    Every step of his was laced with a groan and a complaint as he reached the boss monster area after a few long minutes.


    During that time, Ziva had tried placing other scales and removing the one she had, all without success.


    In the end, she had no other option but to wait as the Entrance Test would only end after both the male and female participants had finished it.


    Yes, to place the scales and horn in the groove on the stone platform was the way to end it this year.


    It could be different, similar or even the same next year. No one knew.


    Not like it mattered to either Jash or Ziva as they were going to be inside the Solarnelle Academy by then.


    Finally reaching the stone platform, Jash couldn''t help but put his hand on it to take support and stand for a few seconds.


    "Huff... huff..."


    He breathed heavily as he had been holding it in, trying to keep the pain at bay, though it didn''t really seem to have helped.


    ''Hope I''m not the first one here,'' he prayed inwardly as his eyes eventually looked at the groove.


    This groove was distinctively shaped, reflecting the unique curvature and dimensions of the monster''s horn.


    Taking out the horn and holding it in his left hand, Jash couldn''t help but sigh at its current state.


    ''Too bad, but it gotta work,'' Jash shirked off the responsibility as he tried placing it according to its size.


    The channel began with a broad, tapered opening, designed to fit the horn horizontally..


    One end of it was deeper and larger in diameter while the other was shorter, pointed almost as if made perfectly to its dimension.


    As the groove extended outward, it maintained a consistent depth, ensuring a snug and stable placement.


    Just placing it once, Jash easily fitted it despite the cracks and signs of chipping away on its surface.


    However, it was fixed and didn''t budge, just like what happened with the scale Ziva placed on the groove at her side.


    As if the mechanism was done confirming the authenticity of the items, the stone platform sank deep.


    But not without leaving a floating holographic message in its place.


    [Congratulations for ending the Entrance Test!!]


    Alongside the message, confetti burst with vibrant colors, symbolizing celebration and joy as well as the end of the Entrance Test.


    "Finally...!" Jash mumbled, wanting his long-awaited rest.


    Looking at the scene, the audience burst into loud cheers as the Entrance Test had finally concluded and the winners would be announced shortly.


    Of course, Ziva and Jash both felt a sudden pull and were teleported out of the Island despite not knowing their current surroundings.

 Chapter 165 - 165: Crowning Champions

    "And this marks the end of the Entrance Test!!" Rui spoke as the crowd loudly cheered.


    Many people were dissatisfied with the results, but the Entrance Test was something where only one''s strength could guide their results.


    Of course, it wasn''t just the participants who failed to be the top 2000 that got upset by the result.


    Even the Elven Royalty, Solarnelle Imperial Family, Dwarven Royalty, Hunter Association, Church''s delegation, and nobility were dissatisfied.


    No matter who they were, they were disappointed, all besides Jash and Ziva''s family. Though the atmosphere was contrasting.


    Ziva''s parents expected her to get a good score, maybe the last 3, so it wasn''t all that unexpected for them.


    For Jash''s parents, the results were confusing. They hadn''t anticipated him fighting against Late E-Rank opponents, let alone winning.


    Oblivious to it all, the two were in separate rooms, unlike the earlier eliminated participants who were in the healing facility.


    They had been well-rested and were even checked by the healers for any hidden injuries.


    As a result, Jash was able to walk at his own pace without any major issues despite the sharp sensation of pain in his muscles.


    Of course, a full recovery in such a short time after overexertion wasn''t realistic.


    ''There should be no problem,'' Jash thought, confident that he would be fine by the time the Academy started.


    Suddenly, one of the gray walls of the room parted to reveal a man with the academy''s uniform.


    ''A professor,'' Jash noted with a single glance as the students and professors had entirely different uniforms.


    The man was one of the professors who was in charge of picking the scenes for the screen and just so happened to be the one who caught Jash sleeping most of the time.


    "So you won," he said to Jash with a polite smile on his face but the disbelief and mild dislike for Jash was visible.


    Though Jash had no idea why, he couldn''t care less. ''Whatever, not like he''s of any importance,'' Jash shrugged and nodded.


    "Yes, I won, and now?" Jash quickly tried to end this, being tired and bored after the fighting and island survival.


    "Well, there is the portal," the professor said, gesturing outside, where he came from.


    "It will take you to the stage outside for the winners announcement. Step in it," he spoke and turned.


    "Alright," Jash replied, following the professor and finding the blue portal right there and instantly stepped into it.


    The professor watched Jash leave and muttered, "I can''t believe someone like him won."


    Although the announcement was yet to be made, it was quite obvious who the winners for both the parts of the Entrance Test were.


    That so, the professor found it hard to believe that someone who slept half the Entrance Test actually won it.


    Sadly for him, there was no rule that refrained Jash from doing that, making the professor just swallow his dislike and distaste.


    Contrary to Jash''s situation, Ziva actually got a visit from a polite professor.


    Maybe, he was polite due to the brutality and disregard displayed by Ziva, or maybe he was like that.


    "Congratulations on being the one to conclude the Entrance Test. You may now pass through that portal."


    The professor simply informed Ziva after a polite greeting, harboring no ill-intentions towards her.


    As Ziva moved with a curt nod, the professor said, "Your performance was outstanding, particularly your choice of weapon"


    "You truly exceed any expectations..."


    "Can I go?" Ziva asked, interrupting his praises, she wasn''t the least bit interested in any of it.


    She had an impatient expression on her face, as if wanting to leave right that instant, making the professor feel embarrassed.


    "Oh, yeah," The professor smiled and gestured toward the portal, allowing her to step through.


    Meanwhile, the test conductors were making sure the injured participants would be fully healed in the medical facility soon.


    They also had to retrieve those who had hid during the boss battles, even disqualifying some to be considered for the limited 2000 admissions.


    Yes, it was mean to do so, but who could say anything?


    Not like anyone had the time for it as many girls and boys appeared on a stage prepared for them.


    Jash too appeared on the stage and saw the huge amount of people sitting in the stadium cheering loudly for them.


    Thankfully, no one nearby recognized him as he quietly moved to the back, avoiding the limelight. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Shit! Maintaining an image is not easy,'' he cursed, lamenting his situation as he had gone overboard, up and above his own expectations.


    Well, if a transmigrator villain and a darned protagonist couldn''t mess his calculations up, then what ability did they even have?


    Talking about them, the two also appeared on the stage before no more girls or boys appeared.


    "Our winners have arrived," Rui announced with great fervor.


    Just like Jash, Ziva too had arrived a few moments later than him.


    However, for the 50 students on the stage, they had absolutely no idea who would be the winner of the Entrance Test.


    After all, the appearance order was random, and even Jash praised it, ''This is better than just showing up one of us.''


    "Congratulations to the winners of this Entrance Test, you shall be named the Year Representative for boys and girls respectively, for now."


    Hearing Rui''s announcement, the examinees left behind in the gray rooms were upset and even tried to protest.


    Alas, no one cared about them as the audience was ecstatic and the 50 examinees themselves were looking at each other with great apprehension.


    At that time, a small whisper entered Jash''s ear as he turned to look at who it was questioningly.


    "Congratulations."


    "Hm?"


    Only at turning did Jash''s eyes narrowed for a split second as he recognized Amael, but the friendly smile on his face confused Jash.


    ''Why''s he friendly all of a sudden?'' Jash wondered, his eyes turning to the golden-haired boy, ''Look at him, he''s so depressed.''


    The protagonist had a sad look on his face, full of disbelief as if the world itself had ended.


    Not caring about any of their reactions or thoughts, Rui began, "The winner is..."


    "For first place among the boys'', we have Jash Ramille!!" Rui exclaimed loudly, followed by a huge round of applause, cheering and whistles.


    ''What the hell!? Why am I in the spotlight already?'' Jash complained inwardly while maintaining his expression.


    He had expected Rui to build some kind of suspense instead of revealing so blandly, but who knew what goes on in that crazy guy''s mind.


    "And for first place among the girls'', we have Ziva Arne!!" Rui announced with the same fervor that he used to shout Jash''s name.


    Thankfully, the audience fully supported him, not giving a lukewarm response and reciprocating similar to just a few seconds earlier.


    In fact, a large part of the audience hadn''t stopped from the second he took Jash''s name, not wanting to miss the opportunity to celebrate the conclusion of the Entrance Test.


    After all, they would have to wait a year or so for the next Entrance Test...


    Not wasting any more of the precious time given to him, Rui announced, "As you all know, the rules state that the winner will become the Year Representative of the first-year students."


    "So we will have Ziva Arne and Jash Ramille as the First Year Representatives."


    The cheering continued while a discontented participant grumbled, "Just announce it at once, already."


    Of course, the poor guy got marked by Rui while the others on the stage respected his sacrifice.


    ''You will forever be remembered in our hearts...''

 Chapter 166 - 166: The Principals Presence

    The crowd was cheering and growing rowdy as the Entrance Test ended and even the results were announced.


    Of course, it wasn''t without reason.


    ''It''s time for him to arrive, no?'' Jash mused, ignoring the stares and the spotlight he was in.


    ¡ªWoosh!


    The air suddenly blasted off in all directions, silencing all the noise that could be heard in the stadium.


    "Hah," Jash secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the sight, aware of who it was.


    ''So flashy,'' he clicked his tongue inwardly at the needlessly flashy entrance of the man floating in the air.


    "Finally, the principal has arrived," a murmur low enough to be easily missed was actually heard by a vast majority of people.


    Everyone looked at the moving wind, trying to find its source and also the elusive Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Finally, the figure of a slightly older man appeared, who had grayish hair and black eyes, wearing a pristine white suit.


    He had a short beard that suited his sharp face with eyes that seemed to contain an aged wisdom.


    Just by catching a glance of his eyes, one could see the wisdom underneath.


    ''He looked older than grandpa,'' Jash noted, ''Still, his presence is no joke, even when he''s not releasing it.''


    While Jash could only guess it in his heart, all professors and those ranked S or above felt the Principal''s presence was akin to that of a dragon.


    His unique appearance included features from all three races: slightly longer ears than humans but shorter than elves.


    Taller than any dwarf and most humans yet the muscular stature and strong build seemed to have come from his dwarven lineage.


    Despite his impressive presence, the Principal had no family backing and was once deemed insignificant trash because of his mixed heritage.


    Although rare in the early years, inter-race marriage and dating became quite a common thing.


    That''s why one could see half-elves or those with minute elven or dwarven bloodlines within them.


    ''Of course, those darned races banned anyone in an important position from having lovers from other races.''


    While Jash thought so, he knew that the same was the case for the humans, but he chose to conveniently ignore that.


    A confirmation bias, if you will.


    The Principal''s voice cut through Jash''s thoughts as he finally spoke, "Congratulations to the Year Representatives for getting your positions and ranks."


    His voice was serene and calm as his gaze fell over Jash and Ziva before turning to the audience.


    However, he couldn''t really focus on them, or else his passive presence of SSS-Rank would bring great oppression unto them.


    Although he appeared to be an ordinary man if he wasn''t in the air, he was the strongest hunter in the whole world.


    Turning to face the examinees back, he added calmly, "If you''re upset or disappointed by the results, then know that you will get your chance to compete again, next year."


    ''They really do make the Year Representative hold the position for a year, even if they lose their rank,'' Jash thought with curiosity.


    However, he suddenly seemed to recall something as his expression soured.


    The Principal of the Solarnelle Academy, Fendril Vale, was considered the strongest hunter in the world.


    ''He''s also a SSS-Rank, but the strongest? I doubt that,'' Jash guessed, always thinking of untouched elements or hidden monsters.


    Anyways, his guess might be wrong or might be correct, but it would change nothing of the current situation.


    Meanwhile, Fendril turned to a different spot and called out, "Professor Zander."


    Right then, Vice-Principal Zander showed up, nodding to Fendril''s words.


    "Take both of our winners to their rooms and give them their gifts," Fendril implored before turning to the audience.


    "With this, I announce the Entrance Test''s end. To the new students, we will meet again at the opening ceremony in the next three days when you will enter the Solarnelle Academy," Fendril added and disappeared just like he appeared.


    Professor Zander quickly signaled Rui, who was still in awe and was nervous about his entertainment being discovered.


    Nevertheless, he understood his role as the commentator, "I hope you enjoyed the Entrance Test!"


    "Now..."


    While Rui addressed the crowd, Zander disappeared and appeared next to the stage where the examinees were huddled together.


    "You guys follow me," Zander said, addressing Jash and Ziva and they both immediately nodded.


    "The rest of you, the staff will guide," Zander added before walking away, with Ziva and Jash in tow.


    The two nodded to each other behind Zander as Jash had a small smile gracing his face.


    It seemed to be telling Ziva, "Now what? Even I won."


    However, Ziva averted her gaze, not getting into his tirades and quietly followed behind Zander.


    Dumbfounded by her change of attitude, Jash could only wonder, ''What''s up with her?''


    He was fed up with the changes in the plotline and couldn''t understand why everything was ever-changing.


    Of course, he forgot to account for the changes brought by himself as Amael was the one who was supposed to win, and not the protagonist.


    ''Shit! Just what the hell is his name!?'' Jash cursed inwardly, getting angry due to the frustration from the pain as well as the changing state of events.


    While the two were being led away, the remaining examinees were guided away by the staff members and one of them had a particularly downtrodden face.


    "It''s fine, isn''t it? We got exposure and that''s the reason we came here," Caeron said, consoling Vivia and the protagonist.


    "Why the long face, huh? Vivia? Helios?" he asked again, unable to understand their situation.


    In fact, from their perspective, he seemed to be mocking them, but neither had anything to retort with.


    Meanwhile, the VIP rooms were also a hub of discussion,


    "He didn''t perform that well," a person said.


    "Well, what could he do in front of the two monstrous geniuses, let alone that monster of a kid," another replied.


    "Inform them about all of the events" he continued, "We can help them against each other if everything works out."


    In another VIP room, the entire area was thrashed as the noble left after his son faced an early defeat, leaving behind the words, "That can''t be no son of mine."


    Unlike this impulsive noble, a man was consoling his son who couldn''t even get into the top 2000.


    "It''s fine, son. Life is like this only. At this young age, you wanted something, but you didn''t get it so you broke down, and that''s absolutely fine,"


    Patting his son''s head, he added with a smile, "But if you had won, you might have become too proud and lost sight of its true value, since it would seem too easily gained."


    While his words might seem random or strange for the Entrance Test, they carried profound wisdom that any mature person would relate to.


    "Do you get it son? And what if the Goddess has better plans for you?" he said with a final pat before taking his son with him. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow! What an ideal father!"


    "That''s why he gets marriage proposals despite being a single father..."


    If only those who believed in ''seeing is believing'' noticed how the son''s expression had been frozen in terror all the time, they''d know how wrong they were...

 Chapter 167 - 167: Ranks and Privileges

    After Ziva ignored Jash, he too only looked ahead, the two following Zander through a long corridor wordlessly.


    Zander glanced at them a few times and caught them purposely ignoring each other, that is, when one looked on, the other would face the opposite direction.


    Thinking they were just kids in their rebellious phase, not willing to agree that someone could rival them, Zander shrugged it off.


    Thankfully, the walk wasn''t too long for it to become uncomfortable, and they arrived at a room, entering it after Zander.


    It was a small room with just enough space for a table, three chairs and a sofa set.


    "Have a seat," Zander gestured towards the sofas, prompting Jash and Ziva to sit next to each other.


    The sudden closeness surprised Zander but he couldn''t care less, knowing their background and even their parents.


    "Drink this," Zander offered, pointing to the snacks and a drink on the small snack table in front of the sofas.


    Seeing their hesitation, Zander added, "It will help you guys, especially you."


    His last words were directed at Jash, making Ziva frown slightly in confusion, though she picked up the glass.


    ''Damn! Why is he giving me that pitying look?'' Jash wondered, feeling uncomfortable from Zander''s gaze.


    ''Whatever, it''s his problem,'' he dismissed it and directly picked up the glass to take a sip without hesitation before gulping it down in one go.


    The liquid was cool and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness and a subtle tingle on the tongue.


    ''That felt good, wish there was more,'' Jash thought, his eyes drifting to Ziva''s untouched glass.


    "First of all, congratulations on your win," said Zander, ignoring Jash''s strange actions, focusing on what was assigned to him.


    "I am Vice Principal Zander as well as a professor, and I teach about the Ice element, as you might have heard."


    Giving a brief introduction, Zander moved on, "As you''re aware, this Entrance Test is to admit students but also to decide the first-year student representatives."


    As he said so, he fiddled with a strange bracelet on his palm and a hologram appeared above his palm from his bracelet.


    It was none other than the famous Solarnelle Academy''s insignia, a small shield-shaped emblem with claw marks to indicate successful defense.


    But the intricate golden designs etched on it seemed to portray the story of a divine shield, connecting with the Goddess of light.


    Its background was light blue, contrasting against the dark wooden shield with metal bars to help support it.


    Last but not the least, on the top of it, there were some thread-like luminescent extensions of white color.


    If one looked closer, they could count the white threads as each of them represented the number of people responsible for protecting the world.


    Basically, the total number of SSS-Rank hunters was what it entailed. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''All this idea about it envisioning that one of the students would become a SSS-Rank and increase the number of threads is so stupid.''


    Despite his inner thoughts, Jash kept his face neutral while sneakily glancing at Ziva''s untouched glass.


    It seemed he still wanted to take her glass and drink it as she had yet to take a single sip from it.


    ¡ªTwack!


    Disrupting his thoughts and sight, Zander took out two blue-white rings with golden designs on them.


    "Take them," he gave it to them as a wave of cool air made the rings float and land on Jash and Ziva''s palms.


    Although it would be surprising for anyone else, the two had already seen SSS-Rank Hunters, so it wasn''t anything shocking for them.


    Not caring much about their lackluster reactions, Zander explained after taking note of the curiosity etched on their faces.


    "These rings represent your status inside the Academy. And only by wearing them, you can use the privileges of being the Year Representative,"


    "It also makes you a part of the student council, but your role and position is undecided as of now,"


    "Talking about the student council, they have their own authority inside the Academy, and it can even rival that of some professors, but not all of them,"


    "You will learn more about this once you join officially as that''s something the student council will explain."


    Seeing the look of slight apprehension on ZIva''s face while Jash sat there, unbothered about the whole details, Zander looked at Ziva only.


    "There is no need for any worry, these rings don''t have any function that will jeopardize any kind of information about you to anyone."


    "Thank you, professor," Ziva nodded in response to his words and directly asked, "What are the privileges exactly?"


    ''Hm? Ah, right!'' Jash was fiddling with the ring and thought for one second that it ended before he heard her question and continued playing with the ring.


    "Well, you both already know that one can''t leave the Academy''s grounds after entering as a student, unless the Academy needs you to leave for some assessment or something else," Zander said.


    Ziva naturally nodded, having not met her elder brother, while Jash''s slight nod indicated his own long-awaited reunion with Brandon.


    ''He should be graduating now only, right?'' Jash recalled about the graduation ceremony soon and felt it to be a waste to be after the opening ceremony.


    Totally ignoring the unattentive Jash, Zander carefully explained, "With these rings, you can leave, but only for a week at most, or you will be punished to some extent."


    ''That''s the only thing that''s actually useful,'' Jash rolled his eyes inwardly, already in the know.


    This was another reason he had tried so hard to win it, of course, money came first.


    ''It would be better to skip some nonsensical plot inside the academy to explore outside,'' he concluded not long after confirming the state of the world after the Imperial Banquet.


    Of course, as mentioned, there was no way to exit the academy without proper reason, if he wasn''t the Year Representative.


    While being a member of Student Council also gave the privilege, it was far more restrictive than being the Rank 1 of the year itself.


    Without a doubt, the Rank 1 of the whole year, regardless of their gender, would get slightly more privileges than just the Rank 1 of their gender.


    Nevertheless, it was all far away and Jash chose to focus on Zander''s words to ensure nothing was different.


    "I am sure you have heard about this, but inside the Academy, most of the facilities do not use money. Instead, we use our own point system, which grants you YP," informed Zander.


    "YP stands for Year Points. Of course, you can still buy some YP monthly using real money or exchanging them from other students as well," he added.


    This was done to ensure that normal students could live comfortably and earn their facilities, ensuring that competitiveness amongst students was always high.


    But no matter how anyone tried to equalize the social status, there would always be some sort of inequality present.


    In the end, students were allowed to buy YP monthly, but the conversion rate was very high to discourage this behavior.


    One YP costed around 1000 Solaris Marks.


    ''Of course, one can still get it cheaper by exchanging it for something from other students,'' Jash scoffed inwardly.


    He was already aware of the academy''s futile efforts as even limiting the amount of YP to be purchased based on rank didn''t work all that well.

 Chapter 168 - 168: Between Loopholes and Privilege

    Strictly speaking, students would always find loopholes.For example, some rich young masters might promise benefits to their families.


    Or if those earning it and in higher ranks used their money to exchange for YP, selling it even higher than 1000 Solaris Marks.


    Solaris Marks was the currency used for all kinds of transactions between common folks and hunters alike.


    In the Solarnelle Empire, it was the currency even accepted amongst the elves and dwarves after various rounds of negotiations.


    Anyways, 1000 Solaris Marks was nothing for any rich noble.


    Heck, even Jash had a million lying around and would now get 37.5 million after winning the bet.


    ''Good reminder, I need to claim it,'' Jash suddenly recalled the bet after going through the problems with YP.


    Though it indeed helped bring a false sense of equality to some sense as even commoners could earn it based on their performance.


    Plus, it was not like Rank 1 was allowed to exchange an infinite amount of YP; even they could only exchange 1000 per month.


    ''So, the maximum the top 10 Ranks can spend for YP is one million,'' Jash mused, knowing the 1000 YP per month was for the top 10.


    At rank 101, it capped out at 500, quite a stark increase to ensure only the most worthy got it.


    After all, won''t the academy end up wasting resources if some weak-ass noble got thousands of YP and hoarded the training areas?


    Even if someone had talent, they''d be helpless against such a tactic, and it had already happened once...


    ''That''s the darned reason the Academy became super strict with some of their rules while some are full of loopholes,'' Jash sighed, getting a glare from Zander.


    Zander thought Jash wasn''t listening, to begin with. When he saw Jash sigh in the midst of his explanation, it obviously created a negative image of him in Zander''s mind.


    Glancing at Jash, Zander said in a stronger tone, "As first-year heads, we give you around 1000 YP monthly, and you can spend it however you like."


    Jash raised his head and exchanged a glance with Zander, bringing a smile on the latter''s face as if he won some battle.


    Returning to the diligent Ziva, he suggested, "If you climb to a higher position inside the student council, you would get even more."


    While this statement was completely bland to Jash who had enough funds for three years to buy YP monthly, it grabbed Ziva''s attention.


    It wasn''t that she couldn''t use Solaris Marks to purchase YP, she felt it was better to get as many as she could.


    After all, she had heard rumors that no amount of YP is ever enough inside the academy due to the various training areas.


    Contrary to her, Jash was not the least bit interested in it, already aware of the discounts one would get for being the Year Representative.


    ''Some training areas even become free for overall Rank 1, so why bother?'' sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was his thought process as he listened to the privileges mentioned by Zander, who continued listing them out.


    Finally, he came to an important point, piquing Jash''s curiosity as well.


    "Remember, while this position does give you some authority over students, it doesn''t give you any right to force or threaten others,"


    "Right now, you might feel like you are the first ranker, so you are the best and whatnot. But this could very well change at the next assessment test,"


    "And if you are not in the Top 10 by then, your title of Year Representative will become nothing but an empty title."


    Zander concluded with a grave tone, trying to instill the gravity of the situation into the two rebellious kids opposite him.


    "What assessment test?" Jash asked, causing Zander to get surprised while Ziva gave him a sidelong glance.


    "Well... all you need to know is that it will assess all your strengths and weaknesses," Zander mentioned with a small smile.


    Jash''s expression nearly turned to a scowl as he sneered inwardly, ''As if I need you to tell me about it!''


    While the information from the novel couldn''t be rock solid because of the changes Jash brought until now, it could still be referred to.


    He was only trying to see the limits of Zander, and how much he was willing to stretch it thin.


    "I saw both your performances, so I am sure you both already know that there are many geniuses in your batch," Zander began.


    "Now, they are already aware of your element and unique weapon, so they would prepare accordingly," he said to Ziva before turning to Jash.


    "The same goes for you, they would make plans to counter your sudden burst in strength and swordsmanship and martial arts,"


    "Simply speaking, they won''t make the mistake of underestimating either of you," Zander ended his part and looked at their serious expression.


    Looking at them, a small smile graced his lips for a split second before vanishing without a trace.


    Jash, who had kept a close eye on Zander while pretending to be worried, was in utter disbelief, ''Did I just imagine it?!''


    Before Ziva could delve deeper into her worries and Jash could make sense of things he just saw, Zander broke the tension with a light chuckle.


    "Now, now, no need to be so tense and worried all of a sudden, it''s not like the assessment test is tomorrow or anything,"


    "Also, it should be a team match, not a solo one, but I can''t confirm it for you or tell anymore about it," Zander said while waving his hand.


    ''Did he just go beyond his limits?'' Jash wondered inwardly, barely keeping the same expression, struggling to believe his ears.


    Zander, one of the strictest professors, actually revealed such a thing of his own volition!


    Before Jash could be any more shocked, Zander piped in, "Before I forget, let me tell you this: There will be a written test which can help or stop you from achieving your spot in the Top 10."


    More or less, written tests were permanent within the Academy, so it did make sense for it to be this way.


    Meanwhile, Jash, unable to hold his curiosity, asked, "Why tell us in advance?"


    Noting his smile, Zander reciprocated with a smile before answering, "Don''t worry; count this as one of the privileges."


    ''I am damn sure I don''t have a good impression on this guy,'' Jash thought skeptically, not believing a word of it being a privilege.


    He knew one thing for sure, though. Having a good or bad relationship with professors could impact your life inside the Academy.


    That''s why he wanted to know why Zander went the extra mile, something that never happened in the novel.


    Contrary to his overthinking self, Ziva was casually sipping from the glass while listening to it.


    No one could guess what was on her mind as she asked, "Do professors usually intervene with the students and their decisions?"


    A bit surprised at the sudden question, Zander smiled, replying, "We just make sure that nothing bad happens to the students inside the Academy,"


    "But we want to give them an experience of real life, so to answer your question; No, we do not intervene unless rules are broken," he said carefully.


    ''This guy, he is too daring,'' Jash mused, turning his head to Ziva who looked down for a few seconds before nodding.


    It seemed that she also understood the underlying meaning behind Zander''s words.

 Chapter 169 - 169: Unspoken Thoughts

    It obviously meant that students could find loopholes around the rules and were free to exploit them.


    And while being aware of it all, the professors wouldn''t do anything about it.


    ''They really want to make it as unfair as the outside world, huh?'' Jash wondered, guessing they were quite desperate to create a realistic situation.


    Breaking Ziva and Jash from their respective thoughts, Zander added proudly, "One thing we can guarantee is that no outsider will touch ''you'' while you are a student inside the Academy."


    Jash resisted the urge to roll his eyes as that was the time when he was supposed to have died due to the Academy''s mismanagement.


    However, he knew it was better to let it be for now, as he couldn''t change that event and its disastrous consequences.


    Because he was the son of a duke, grandson of two SSS-Rankers; the Academy really came under the threat of extinction.


    If not for Caera mentioning Jash''s own request to not extinguish the future of others, the academy would''ve closed down.


    Of course, its reputation was in the dirt, with not many people still having the same trust for the academy during its golden days.


    ''Not like any of it matters now,'' Jash mused, vowing to prevent any deaths to reduce the repercussions for the Academy.


    After all, he knew of the bleak future that happened in the novel and if not for the plot armor, even the protagonist would be dead meat.


    Due to his internal musings, Jash didn''t hear everything and only heard the final words from Zander,


    "Anyways, that will be all. We will talk more, but it will be after the opening ceremony in three days, and I need to leave now."


    Saying so, he disappeared from the room as if he was never there, surprising both of them, only slightly though.


    And it wasn''t because of his way of disappearance but the abruptness with which he ended the talk.


    Suddenly, his voice carried over into the room, "You guys probably know each other, so leave whenever you feel comfortable."


    Both recognized the voice belonged to Zander and looked around before turning to face each other.


    "So, how''s it feeling? Getting Rank 1 and all, huh?" Jash began the conversation way too casually, finally feeling free from all those noble lessons.


    ''Now, I won''t have to take those damned etiquette lessons ever again!'' he thought inwardly despite his pending lessons for these three days.


    That''s why he wanted to stay here longer, to not get involved in any forced training, whether it be for getting stronger or nobler.


    He had no interest in either for these three days, planning to get the most of the Academy by utilizing everything from his past life.


    He would be freed of all those restraints he placed upon himself so as not to get questioned about their sources.


    "Feels like nothing much, what about you?"


    Hearing Ziva''s answer in a similar casual tone, Jash was surprised, irrespective of how long she took to reply.


    "Hm? Did you want to fight me?" Jash asked abruptly, making Ziva flinch slightly at the sudden mention.


    She felt that her mind had been read, but it was just Jash observing her with narrowed eyes, focused on her body movements.


    It wasn''t hard for her to fathom how he could do that; he was born into a family of archers.


    If archers didn''t have a keen eye, what good were they


    Even though Ziva had seen him use the sword mostly, she wasn''t fooled into believing he couldn''t use a bow.


    The question was, how well could he use it and could he defeat her if he used a bow?


    She was sure that his swordsmanship only paled to her and he could make up for it easily.


    But the tricky part about her was her element and the whipsword, excluding them, she was only confident to be able to draw with him.


    Of course, this was based on his performance from the Imperial Banquet where he was holding back.


    Being aware of his personality, she already calculated that he was holding back and raised the bar already.


    The problem was she didn''t know that his sword mastery reached Intermediate, the same as her.


    In the end, she got caught due to her line of thoughts, making Jash smile as he got something to tease her about once again.


    Not wanting to be on the losing ground, she asked, "Don''t you dislike spotlights? Why try so hard then?"


    A bit startled inwardly, Jash maintained his smile. "Brandon always complains about not getting First Rank or being the Year Representative,"


    "So, I thought, why not try and get it? After all, I wanted to see what''s so good about it that even he wants it so bad."


    ''Did she believe it?'' The thought plagued Jash''s mind as he wasn''t sure if his excuse worked, but it was a half-truth.


    Indeed, Brandon had complained and lamented, but only after Jash asked him about the Year Representative perks. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not like Brandon said anything about the perks, but it was enough to make a child curious, and served as the perfect excuse.


    Even if Ziva cross-checked, it would make sense, alas, she just believed him.


    "Hmm. The privileges are indeed good, it makes sense," she mumbled while bobbing her head up and down.


    ''What the? It was so easy?!'' Jash thought in disbelief, his expression falling as he saw her believe his words blindly.


    He felt a bit guilty about it, but shook his head, ''No, Jash. This isn''t the time for it.''


    "By the way, you tried your best as well, huh? Won''t Caera be a bit angry with you for hurting her?" Jash asked, changing the subject.


    "Hmm? How do you know if I met her or fought with her?" Ziva asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicions, making Jash feel a drop of cold sweat.


    "Huh? When did I say that? I mean, you are First, so she will be hurt because I got it while she failed," Jash brushed it off with a smirk.


    "Mhm. I don''t think she would mind it, she''s the one who wanted you to awaken the most," Ziva mentioned, based on her old chat with Caera.


    "Well, what happened is already in the past, but what about you? She really wanted to win this, you know?" Jash shrugged and asked curiously.


    "If she wants it so bad, she should grow stronger and take it," Ziva said what was in her mind without any hesitation.


    Their conversations were always like that, talking without filters and without caring about anyone else.


    "Well... Can''t argue with that. Also, the same goes for you, if you want to get over all Rank 1," Jash smirked, teasing her.


    Ziva just gave him a blank stare before getting up and starting to walk.


    Jash, surprised by her sudden actions and finding them strange, called out, "Hey! Ziva? What''s wrong, huh? Afraid?"


    More like he wanted to provoke her to get a reaction out of her, but all he got was total silence in response.


    "..."


    It seemed she was in no mood to reply to him anymore, choosing to walk away silently.


    "Seriously, what''s up with you?" Jash asked persistently.


    "At least say something, you...!"


    "Why can''t I ever understand you..."


    Not getting any response despite pestering her, Jash sighed and gave up, just walking silently by her side to the exit.


    Meanwhile, a strange thought came to him, ''I wonder what the protagonist is doing? Will it be the same as after losing to Amael?''

 Chapter 170 - 170: Helios Auris

    ***


    As Jash had anticipated, the protagonist, or Helios Auris, was behaving differently from the novel, in fact, way too different.


    ''Just how did I lose...? I was supposed to be stronger...''


    (Host...)


    The system did not have emotions but it could sense his, and wanted to console him, feeling the profound sadness within.


    Unable to accept his loss, Helios was reluctantly consoled by Caeron, despite his frustration with the latter.


    In the end, he just asked for some alone time, "Vivia, can you do me a favor and tell them I wish to be alone?"


    He didn''t even wait for her to agree and entered his room, locking the door.


    Vivia stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds before leaving, trying to justify his actions as she had seen just how much he trained for becoming the Year Representative.


    "Just what went wrong?" Helios yelled from frustration building within him due to his failure, it was a major failure.


    "How?!"


    He kept repeating the same question in different ways, but couldn''t come up with even one plausible answer.


    It only served to fuel his frustration as his system remained silent, not helping him in this predicament, unlike always.


    The system was a part of him, something that even Jash and Amael didn''t know about.


    After all, no system was ever mentioned in the novel Jash read in his past life or from which Amael received his information.


    The two were oblivious about it all, and the protagonist was smart to keep it a secret.


    He wasn''t just a cliche goody-two-shoes protagonist that both of them considered him to be.


    He too had a life, a complex one, just like them, even if that trashy author never mentioned it.


    Although the start of his life couldn''t be more cliche.


    He was the apple of the eye of his parents, of his village, of everyone around him, being the kind and brightly shining kid.


    His golden hair and eyes were considered a good omen by the villagers as whoever was near him never went through hardships.


    Even some people with frequent illnesses started to feel better with him around.


    His body, soul, mind, presence¡ªhis existence itself¡ªwas nothing short of a blessing to the world, not just a small village.


    Bathed in the light of the Goddess at birth, he shone like the sun, tearing apart the vast darkness of the space and providing warmth and light.


    The Village Head had even called him the "Coming of the Hero".


    Alas, every good thing comes to an end, and so did his village.


    After a dungeon appeared nearby, the villagers panicked, not even knowing what to do.


    They decided to report it, but before they could, the dungeon immediately broke apart.


    Waves after waves of mana were sent across, causing shockwaves and even some weak elders to die from the sudden increase in mana.


    A few infants also got inflicted with it, facing the same end.


    However, that wasn''t the end as monsters after monsters exited the dungeon.


    No one even knew their name, just that the monsters had six eyes, four feet, two arms and were 2-3 meters tall.


    Unlike human skin, they were all deep blue-black with their arteries and veins being green and visible atop their skin.


    Sadly, that wasn''t their skin, but their armor as their skin was searing hot, even a single drop of their blood was enough to melt through a human''s skull. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite all of it sounding terrifying, the strongest among them was just at (B+)-Rank.


    Though there were no Hunters in the village; the end result was obvious.


    "Helios, RUN!"


    Hearing his parents'' desperate voices, he ran and ran and ran...


    Tears leaked from his eyes, getting mixed with the dust and dirt all around as he ran until his legs bled, but he didn''t stop running until he fainted.


    Dried tears, caked blood, dirt, mud, pale skin, wrinkled lips, sunken cheeks¡ª


    He remained like that for a prolonged time, unable to muster up the strength to even move.


    On the verge of starvation, he was found unconscious by the Church members, who were on duty to look for traces of the dungeon break.


    Luckily, he had come far away while the monsters were busy taking down the villagers and some vagrant Hunters.


    They thought they hit the jackpot, but only ended up as monster food, and the Church was chasing them after they hurt a Church member.


    That''s when an escaping Hunter yapped everything, causing them to come here.


    "He''s alive, and a kid. He''s likely from that village and a survivor," a priest said after checking him up.


    "Take him to the Church and heal him," another priest suggested, knowing it was better.


    "You mean..."


    "Yes, if he can, then he should awaken," the head of the delegation replied before anyone could refute.


    Now, it was absolute.


    However, Helios only woke up after another few days, finding himself in a simple room on a wooden bed with white sheets.


    Overwhelmed with grief, Helios wept uncontrollably, yearning for his parents or a release from his suffering.


    But he was calmed down by the Head Priestess who brought him back.


    "You can awaken, grow stronger and save others from that situation, or you can lament, cry and feel depressed, helping no one, not even yourself."


    Hearing such words, the naive Helios did his best and easily crossed 4 hours of awakening time, reaching 4 hours and 30 minutes.


    Obviously, his awakening time was a guarded secret, even within the Church as it was the first time to have someone so talented.


    He was personally visited by the Saintess who revealed that he was blessed by the Goddess.


    She only revealed it to the Pope, who chose to conceal it, and just call Helios a Saint Candidate.


    Just like Vivia, who was a saintess candidate, and Caeron who also became a Saint Candidate.


    Three saint candidates were unheard of in one generation as it mattered little.


    Only one could become the saint or saintess, after all.


    Oblivious to it all and even to being blessed, Helios put in all his effort to grow stronger.


    At the time of the Academy Entrance Test, he hoped to become the Year Representative and did his best.


    However, he ended up losing to Amael and then slowly but surely grew stronger than Amael.


    The first event of Jash''s death unsettled him, forcing him to break down his shell of naivety and grow up to see the harsh truth of the world.


    It was a trauma for not just him, but everyone around.


    Despite his intense desire to help others overcome their suffering, Helios felt increasingly powerless, realizing that all he could do was focus on his own training and growth.


    Sadly, fate had other plans as he ended up attracting girl after girl, even when he didn''t wish for it.


    Helios was different from typical harem-seeking protagonists, he was forced to be this way.


    After many brushes with death, he gave up and accepted his destiny filled with women, having a harem and using everything he could to grow stronger.


    Despite this, he had never slept with any of them, not even kissing them.


    He was far too gone on the path of revenge and vanquishing monsters from the world to care about such things.


    Alas, he was seen as a scummy man because of jealous weaklings who spread rumors about him.


    And upon seeing countless women vying for his love, the rumors were confirmed without even ever asking him or any of the girls.


    However, he never gave a damn about any of it until...

 Chapter 171 - 171: A Hero’s Unwritten End

    Being one of the most talented, Helios had garnered quite a few enemies and because of the women''s affection, the enemies only multiplied.


    By the end of the academy, he had tons of people coming for his life, but he turned them into experience packages.


    After defeating countless assassins and becoming accustomed to such threats, he found it easier to handle them than deal with the often annoying monsters.


    Time after time, month after month, year after year, he ended up reaching S-Rank before the age of 25.


    Becoming the youngest to do so, he was celebrated in the world as the Hero of the young generation.


    It all changed, however, when it was revealed that he was blessed by the Goddess herself.


    People began calling him the second coming of Adonis Solarnelle, the first hero blessed by the Goddess herself.


    Naturally, he became revered by the common populace while feared by those in power, afraid of losing their power and authority.


    Regardless, Helios cared little about it all, choosing to go clear dungeons and areas of dungeon breaks to save people.


    It only served to establish him as a hero as he broke all present records by reaching even SSS-Rank at a young age.


    All of it was going well until life threw him a cruel twist.


    The sky dungeons increased in number, ranks, strengths, and mana in the world became denser.


    Over time, the abundance of mana in the environment led to Hunters achieving random breakthroughs to higher sub-ranks.


    Naturally, monsters thrived more than humans in such environments, growing in number and taking down human settlements.


    The threats from monsters and dungeons only continued to escalate.


    However, the worst was yet to come when the elven and dwarven domain suffered massive damage due to multiple dungeons at S-Rank and over opened.


    Due to the lower number of hunters, many populaces were relocated, decreasing the total area of their domains.


    As time went on, the situation worsened despite more and more people praying to the Goddess when the Cult of Death showed up.


    No one knew it even existed when they showed up randomly, wearing skeleton masks and doing wanton slaughters all across.


    Not only humans, elves, dwarves, even monsters¡ªthey cared little about who.


    They seemed to have a craving for blood, irrespective of its source, causing chaos and mayhem everywhere.


    Yet more cults like this sprung up out of nowhere, taking down a large chunk of civilians and even unaware hunters with them.


    In the end, even Helios felt hopeless when he heard the Goddess say that the world would end soon if he didn''t surpass SSS-Rank.


    Helios finally obtained the true legacy of his predecessor, Adonis Solarnelle.


    Nevertheless, there wasn''t enough time for Helios to be able to rank up and help in fighting against the threats at the same time.


    And the situation seemed to worsen with time when finally the skies and earth itself split open, hordes of monsters attacking the planet.


    The majority were weak, and the SSS-Rank hunters easily took down half of them before meeting their match.


    Only, Helios had to fight someone above SSS-Rank, a rank that none even knew existed until then.


    With the blessing from the Goddess, the legacy from the previous hero, countless opportunities and resources being showered on him, Helios reached Peak SSS-Rank.


    But when he was on the verge of going for a breakthrough, the cunning enemy attacked, wanting to give them a taste of hope before destroying it.


    It wasn''t a demon nor was it a human, but a completely different being, who only mocked all their efforts.


    Helios even asked why in anger, and the response stunned him.


    "HAHAHAHAHAHA! You think defeating them or me would be the end? How laughable!"


    "We are but merely his pawns and when he comes, even that Goddess of yours will scurry away, isn''t she a bitc¨C"


    "DON''T YOU DARE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE GODDESS WITH THAT FILTHY MOUTH OF YOURS!!"


    Helios experienced a rage so intense it was almost alien to him, finding it strange.


    For the first time, he felt that the emotions weren''t truly his, but it mattered little as the rage served to function as the trigger.


    Like any protagonist, he ranked up in the middle of the battle.


    Unfortunately, his enemy couldn''t care less and annihilated others while Helios ranked up, being protected by the Goddess herself.


    As a result, more than 70% of the humans, elves and dwarves ended up dead by the time Helios ranked up.


    In a fit of rage he clashed against the enemy general, unaware of not having stabilized his own condition.


    Still, he was blessed by a Goddess, who loved her chosen, protecting him from the shadows and helping him in the fight discreetly.


    Nevertheless, Helios was bound to fail a world that was destined to meet its end at the hands of a higher being.


    Even after defeating the enemy general on his own last breaths, Helios saw the scene of the sky tearing apart and a weird creature stepped in.


    Just its gaze left him in fear and trembling.


    It looked around, clicked its tongue, if it had any, and turned away, not even caring about anyone.


    "This guy... he''s not the leader..." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was all Helios could mutter before someone else showed up and eliminated everything off the planet, be they Helios''s allies or enemies.


    After giving his all to save the world from its impending doom, Helios still failed at it.


    And it faced the same ending as Jash''s previous world, just at the hands of a different being with completely different goals.


    Helios was the last person alive in that world, looking at the spectacle, which chilled his soul.


    Due to his identity as a blessed, he had a strong protection on his soul and existence, something the newcomer notices, so they completely ignored Helios.


    It led to him seeing it all as his tears of sorrow, regret, grief and even anger dried out.


    He was stranded in the open world, looking at the crumbling buildings and living beings, leaving behind nothing but pools of blood.


    His emotions itself fizzled out as he witnessed the harrowing sight of the world''s end, something neither Jash nor Amael knew about.


    They only knew that the world was in danger, the why-how eluded them, and even the harrowing end Helios lived through.


    Unable to even have coherent thoughts anymore, Helios stared vacantly at the sky and earth, waiting for the final gates to open and consume him.


    It mattered little what would happen after death, but he wanted for it all to consume him and end his pain and misery.


    Finally, he saw what he had been waiting for, he moved his wrecked body, when he realized it was impossible for him to move.


    It was his soul that phased through everything, waiting for the final gates to open... to a new tomorrow.


    It moved with the goal in mind, following the light that would set Helios free from this neverending hell.


    However, his misery wasn''t going to end any time soon.


    Just as his soul neared what seemed to be the threshold of the afterlife, it unexpectedly vanished.


    "O'' tired warrior! O'' brave soul! This one implores you to conclude thy journey!"


    The sudden words rang in Helios''s consciousness, something that shouldn''t exist in his soul as he would have to be dead for it.


    "I understand thy heart, but you must not stop from righting the wrong, rewriting what''s written, altering it all,"


    "That is thy journey, young warrior. Only thy shall decide what shall be its fitting end and when."


    "Correct thy wrong, A Hero''s Failure, thy unwritten end!"

 Chapter 172 - 172: Heros Resolve

    After everything was said and done, Helios found himself in his younger body post awakening.


    "I don''t know why, what, and how, but if this is a chance¨C"


    (System Initializing...)


    "Wh-what?!"


    The sudden sound in his head interrupted his resolve to right his wrongs and save the world. It confused him greatly.


    (...99.99%)


    "Just what''s going on?! Show yourself!" Helios shouted, flailing around his young limbs and falling down.


    ¡ªThud!


    "Oww," he yelped in pain, unable to fully control his younger body due to its difference in strength and size.


    Uncaring about his conditions, the sound in his head continued,


    (System Initialization Finished!)


    (Searching database...)


    "W-what!? What system? Initialization? Database?" Helios stuttered, not able to accept reality.


    Though his denial was far greater than when he lost the First Rank in the Entrance Test to Jash, as he had gotten used to a lot of unusual things by then.


    (Data found...!)


    (Greetings, Host! Welcome to the Savior System!)


    "Savior system?! What are you and why are you in my mind?" Helios yelled, wanting clarification. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    (I am a System, granted to you by a higher being to guide and assist you on your journey to right your wrongs and save the world.)


    "You mean the one who sent me into the past??" Helios immediately asked, wanting to know more about it but the system''s response wasn''t satisfactory.


    (The Host is too weak to know about that being or anything related to it.)


    (Also, I am not in your head, I can also materialize...)


    ¡ªFwip!


    A white background screen with golden text and borders appeared in front of Helios''s eyes.


    "W-what?! Won''t others see you then?"


    (No. Only the Host can see the system.)


    The same words he heard appeared on the screen as he tried talking to it in his head and worked.


    (The Host is blessed by the Goddess of Light and is the Hero, so the system will assist you in completing your goals and saving the world, ensuring you can address your regrets.)


    "So can you help me grow stronger?" Helios asked, a fire of hope burgeoning within him.


    (Yes, that''s my goal, but it''s not that easy.)


    "That''s fine. As long as I can save the world from its destruction, I will do everything within my power to achieve the goal."


    Hearing Helios''s resolve, even the system was affected, seemed to respond with urgency. It sent all the basic information regarding itself into Helios''s mind.


    In simple terms, it was similar to Amael''s system, but without the Villain Points and being forced to change the plot.


    All Helios had to do was correct his regrets, right his wrongs and grow stronger to save the world.


    "By the way, you''re going to be with me for a long time, so what do I call you?" he asked, not feeling right about using it as a tool.


    (Just call me ''System'' as I am not really alive, and I am a part of you from now on since the being can''t intervene anymore.)


    "Alright, System? When will I be able to grow stronger using you?"


    (Only when the Host reaches a certain strength, the system will inform the host itself.)


    (The system advises to use your memories to grow stronger faster. However, it warns against using the true legacy of the first hero.)


    "Hmm? Why?" Helios frowned in confusion. That was his best bet to grow stronger than ever, after all.


    (Firstly, if the Goddess notices your actions, it may lead to significant changes. To balance these changes, the world might suffer sooner.)


    (Simply, any changes made by you will be altering the future¡ªthe balance of the world¡ªand to fix it, the world will have to pay a price.)


    "So, you''re saying that I must be extremely careful on what I change and why, or it will have negative consequences?"


    (Exactly, host!)


    In the end, Helios remained on the ground, contemplating the advantages of returning to the past.


    The present and future were ever-changing and had probably already changed, so what should he do?


    He was sure about saving the world, but was that even possible?


    If the system was correct, then every time he saves someone, someone else will have to pay the price.


    (Host, if you vanquish the enemies and transcend the worldly limits, any actions made by you will bear no consequences, but...)


    "That sounds too far-fetched, right? And there is no guarantee that I will be able to live till then."


    Nevertheless, he was the protagonist for a reason, vowing to give his all to achieve that.


    After that day, he started training like crazy, wanting to make use of the system as soon as possible.


    One day, he discovered that he could use System''s Status Screen, displaying not only his, but also other''s strength.


    ''This will help me gauge others and make it easier to know their weakness in advance,'' he mused.


    He wasn''t stupid to not use the advantage handed to him on a silver platter, planning to use it on all his future enemies to find their weakness early on.


    If he couldn''t change them and had to ultimately eliminate them, he would have an advantage over them, and not just from his past life.


    This contrasted sharply with Amael, who wouldn''t hesitate to eliminate threats before they could fully emerge.


    But then again, he was someone with a different path in his past life and didn''t hesitate to even kill himself.


    The two were different extremes¡ªpoles apart¡ªand thus, were archenemies if one considered the original novel or Helios''s past life.


    ¡ªDing!


    (Quest Failed!


    Quest: Rank First and become the Year Representative


    Reward: Inventory Upgrade


    Penalty: Inventory locked for a month.)


    "Damn it!!"


    Helios cursed, smashing the table in front of him as the quest failure notification from the system brought him back to the present.


    He had revisited his memories, searching for what led to his failure, but found nothing he could pinpoint.


    As a result, he was frustrated, denying the reality that was in front of him, just like he denied everything.


    (Host...)


    The system tried to get his attention, but only succeeded to get his ire. "What?" he asked, irritated at the pestering system.


    (The Host can merge their sword technique, bringing it closer to the true legacy, making it easier to use in the future.)


    "What''s the use of it? I already lost! Why did I not get it earlier??"


    (It was based on the performance from Ziva Arne, Jash Ramille, Amael Blake, the host, and several others.)


    (Creating techniques is impossible from memories alone, but if supplemented by real life usage, it becomes easier.)


    (As a result, the host will get a sword technique that is stronger than the current one, being a far stronger version.)


    "But will that be even suitable for me??" Helios asked, doubtful of the system for the first time.


    (Yes! It will increase your power by approximated 14%)


    Hearing the number, Helios was pleasantly surprised, his previous emotions getting replaced by his excitement at getting stronger once again.


    So what if he had to start again and work to increase his mastery over the sword art created by the system?


    It was beneficial for him in the long run as it would help him improve his mastery over the sword itself, if only very little.


    ''Just you wait, I will defeat you all...''


    Helios resolved, fire burning in his eyes as his depression washed away, realizing his mission to save the world...


    ***

 Chapter 173 - 173: High Stakes

    After getting ignored by Ziva, Jash followed her out until a staff member took them to the portal that would send them back to Adonia.


    ''So damn tiring, I can rest now, right?'' he thought as he found a car nearby, much to his relief.


    The driver opened the door for Jash, who sat inside and closed his eyes and waited for the car to start.


    ''Hm?'' he opened his eyes in confusion as he did not hear the door closing or the car starting.


    "Miss Ziva, I am ordered to bring the both of you back to the Ramille estate in the capital, Lady Evelia is there as well."


    "Alright." Ziva nodded and entered the car, turning to face the outside, not even sparing Jash a glance.


    Though confused, the driver quietly went to drive after feeling an intense glare on his back.


    ''Just what in the world is mom planning?'' Jash wondered, irked by getting ignored for no reason whatsoever.


    He thought the ride would be relaxing and relieving, but it just made him sit straight as he continued to mull over the possibilities.


    The drive towards the Ramille Estate in the city of Adonia was deathly silent with only Ziva being truly relaxed as she enjoyed the city''s vibrant atmosphere.


    Arriving, the driver stopped the car at the main gates and was about to exit and open their doors, but Jash couldn''t bear it any longer, getting off instantly.


    The driver could only politely open Ziva''s door as she walked in with a knowing glance at the surroundings, having been here in the past.


    Ahead of her, Jash had already entered the living room and saw the Ramille and Arne families sitting there.


    Brandon and her elder brother were absent, as the graduation ceremony was yet to commence.


    While their grandparents weren''t there because they got busy after making time to attend the Entrance Test in their busy schedule.


    "Oh, here he is," Caera intoned when she saw Jash coming in.


    She lifted her head, looking behind Jash for Ziva, and ignored her brother as if she hadn''t seen him.


    ''My day is just bad,'' Jash concluded after seeing Caera purposefully act distant and how her expression brightened at the sight of Ziva.


    ''She''s even waving enthusiastically to her? You lost to her, you idiot,'' Jash chided mentally, not wanting to get involved.


    He was all for teasing them, but getting involved with drama with them? That was out of the question.


    ''There''s no way I wanna get in those messes again,'' Jash quickly shook his head at those emerging memories, burying them deep within.


    He would much rather prefer going all out and get in his current state than getting in between the drama caused by two girls.


    ''The latter is far too dangerous,'' Jash almost shivered at the thought, suppressing it with a small smile instead.


    "Congratulations on winning," Caera spoke first, saying it to Ziva rather than Jash.


    "Thank you," Ziva replied politely before getting pulled across by Caera and her mother.


    "Congratulations on winning, Jash," Caera added curtly before turning her head.


    Jash forced a smile as his lips twitched, and he uttered, "Thanks."


    ''At least she''s not demotivated,'' he thought, knowing how most reacted after losing the Rank 1.


    After all, every examinee considered themselves the best and believed they were powerful enough to stand beside the powerful hunters.


    While many only hoped for it to raise the name of their families or to depict themselves as a proud member of nobility or some other shit.


    "Jash," Sera called out, her tone pleasant yet serious, "Congratulations on winning to the two of you."


    "Thanks, mom." Jash was a bit surprised by his mother''s serious tone, but replied nonetheless.


    "Thanks," Ziva replied with a small smile before turning to her mother.


    "Do you mind sitting here for a moment?" Sera implored, and Jash did not mind, sitting down on one of the empty sofas.


    "Can you tell me what happened for you to go all out? And how did you use that sword technique after only seeing it once?"


    Sera asked all at once, worried about her son, but also wanting to let him grow strong, not wanting to hold him back.


    "Oh, well, ahem, I-I b-bet on myself, ahem," Jash answered, averting his gaze before turning back with a natural smile.


    While Sera was dumbfounded to hear his bet, all conversations ceased as Jash felt the gaze of Evelia, Caera and Ziva narrow in on him.


    Still, he said proudly, "Regarding the sword technique, I practiced it and even talked about it with dad, just not letting him know until I could master it."


    Jash shrugged, "I haven''t mastered it, by the way. It was only because my sword mastery had reached Intermediate that I could imitate the sword move."


    "Oh, that''s my son¨C." Carcel boastfully declared before getting a look from Sera and immediately shutting up.


    "What bet? And how much?" Sera asked, anxious about Jash getting into wrong habits.


    "Not much," Jash said vaguely, trying to get out of it.


    "How much?"


    Hearing it the second time from his mother, Jash could only answer truthfully, "1 million, all of my Solaris Marks..."


    Silence.


    That was what followed his answer before the clacking of teeth echoed from opposite him, "Tell me you didn''t...''


    "I did, mom, see," Jash said, showing her the balance of 37.5 million from his bank account.


    "You...!" Sera barely controlled her urge to hit Jash as Carcel held her back, trying to calm her down.


    "Sera, I think we should talk about this later. He just won¨C," Carcel tried but only failed. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Quiet, Carcel," she turned to Jash, "Now, tell me why did you bet all of it?"


    ''This is different,'' Jash thought, feeling the warmth of family, he expected for his mother to get angry about injuring himself or showing off.


    But here she was, being unexpectedly strict about preventing Jash from falling into the addiction of gambling.


    In all his new life, he had never seen his mother go overboard about anything concerning him.


    "I just did it because I felt confident about winning," Jash gave the model answer that any gambler would give when asked why they did it.


    "Jash, never ever repeat that. That''s a sign of getting into a gambling addiction," Sera chided him softly.


    Even though her tone was soft, her facial expressions were serious, making Jash nod and agree with her, feeling the weight of her concern.


    Seeing the heating atmosphere, Carcel chose to intervene before the matter escalated, "Jash, go to your room and rest."


    Sera stopped speaking, understanding her husband''s underlying concern with a simple gesture and chose to quieten herself.


    "Okay," Jash replied and stood up to return to his room.


    ''Sorry, mom, but I will have to make such bets for the goal of a peaceful life,'' Jash apologized silently in his heart.


    Though it soon turned to cursing, ''If only that darned protagonist was useful or Amael got me enough money.''


    Jash knew that very well that he was one of those people who would do what felt right for their goals as long as the consequences were within reach.


    He was even planning to exploit the loopholes inside the Academy, if need be.


    So the matter of him betting everything on himself wasn''t over, and won''t be over anytime soon.

 Chapter 174 - 174: Shopping Spree

    Jash woke up the next morning, having slept right after dinner, with no energy to do anything the previous day.


    ''I should meet him today,'' he mused, walking towards the garage and choosing a car at random to sit in.


    The driver politely opened the door, and Jash told him to go for a round.


    Jash kept looking outside the car window and suddenly said, "Take me there."


    The driver nodded and turned the car to the ''Hex Auction House'' on the side of the road. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As soon as Jash stepped out of the car, many people immediately recognized him from the Entrance Test.


    Word spread quickly as the manager personally came to receive him and took him inside.


    However, no one could take his photos because the bodyguards arranged by his parents prevented it.


    Jash entered the lift and looked at the screen in front of him curiously as the manager put his face near the screen.


    "Iris scan completed. Welcome..." the robotic voice said as the panel to choose the floor appeared in front of the manager.


    Jash didn''t really hear her name, nor did he bother to ask.


    The lift she had led him to was a VIP-only lift that only a select few could use when they entered the auction house.


    The higher floors with VIP rooms were not accessible from the normal lifts, and only people who were registered in the Database of the auction house could enter them.


    Of course, any VIP would be guided by someone, so it was safer than asking the VIP to scan themselves.


    On the other side, the manager proudly explained it all, believing Jash was curious about it when he simply didn''t care.


    He glanced at the multiple numbers that were present on the screen in front of him and the one that glowed with a white hue.


    ''Floor 29, huh? Then 30 must be for the Head of the Auction House,'' Jash guessed, passing the time in the lift.


    The lift shortly arrived at the 29th floor, and he stepped out of it, following the manager.


    Jash found many rooms on the floor, with only gates visible from the outside and having numbers atop them.


    The manager walked towards a certain room, asking Jash to follow her before using a black card to scan and enter the room.


    In truth, she couldn''t believe she was going to get business with the one who won the Entrance Test.


    After all, everyone knew he was the son of a Duke and had two SSS-Rank Hunters as his backing.


    Though absurd, everything Jash faced would''ve been the same had he not won the Entrance Test.


    ''Well, I wouldn''t get all that unnecessary attention from the public,'' Jash shrugged, knowing they will forget it sooner or later.


    "What may I help you with, Sir?" the female manager asked, her face neutral despite her excitement, implying her professionalism.


    "Show me what I can buy right now," Jash demanded, and the manager happily complied.


    Well, no matter the world, as she was the one attending Jash, she would get commission out of every purchase.


    And anyone would be happy to make more money.


    Jash watched as she tapped her bracelet and phone, causing a hologram to project onto a wall.


    It displayed a list with all kinds of items; clothes, weapons, artifacts, armors, land, decorative stuff, gifts, cars, motorcycles, and more.


    Jash just skimmed past them, not feeling interested in any of it.


    "Isn''t there something like computers, CPUs, and more of that sort?" he asked, unimpressed by the stuff the manager showed.


    "Oh, yes." The manager retained her professional smile despite her inner shock.


    She had displayed the list that even some managers had never seen, being for the highest VIPs yet Jash held no interest in any of it.


    Truthfully, it wasn''t that Jash fancied none of it, but his budget didn''t allow him to buy whatever he liked.


    While Jash was shopping to get ready for the academy, Caera was planning to take Ziva with her.


    On another side in the estate, their parents were having a talk of their own.


    "Carcel, we need to make him stay away from any potential bad habits," Sera said, her face furrowing in worry for her son.


    Initially, she was expecting to only have to console Caera for her loss, but it seemed that it was never needed.


    Instead, she had to ask Jash and worry over his condition, especially because he won the bet.


    "Sera, it''s good that he won, and I know what you''re worried about, but you should let him be," Evelia interjected, trying to reason with Sera.


    She knew that Carcel would never be able to convince Sera with how stubborn she could be.


    "Evelia, I know, but even though it''s not a big deal, what if he ends up losing once? That''s all that''s required to get into a massive problem," Sera said, worry etched on her face.


    Before she could get a response, she added with a shaky voice, "You are already aware of his talent, and have already seen it firsthand."


    "Yeah, I know. He would definitely become an SSS-Rank hunter, and that''s why you should not force the topic," Evelia interrupted.


    "If you pressure him too much, it would only end up worsening things as he would feel pressed to let loose," she reasoned with Sera.


    "He will be joining the Academy soon, so let''s not dampen the mood, yeah?" Evelia ended with a smile on her face.


    She was well aware of the problems that came with winning a big gamble, as one wouldn''t be able to stay their hands.


    "I guess you''re right, but I will talk to him once again," Sera sighed, turning to Carcel, "You also talk to him once."


    Carcel nodded, having chosen to stay out of their discussion lest he become the topic of discussion and somehow end up angering Sera.


    If only the three knew that Jash was literally planning to buy some rundown area to place a bunch of computers, they''d be dumbfounded.


    After getting all the stuff he needed, Jash paid the money and got it all placed inside a space ring.


    "They even give a space ring complimentary, huh?" Jash wondered aloud, fiddling with it.


    A space ring was extremely expensive to the point the cheapest being a hundred thousand Solaris Marks and having just one cubic meter of space.


    The one in his hands had more than 100 cubic meters of space, but it wasn''t anything much to Jash.


    His space ring itself could hold more than a 1000 cubic meters of space, being extremely expensive because even money couldn''t buy it.


    It was a custom space ring, specially made on order from the Mage Association for Jash, keeping in mind the design and space.


    Even being able to detect the slightest trace of mana of the bearer and warn the recipients he was in danger.


    It was one of the finest ones and only those with enough power could order it.


    Not only was making it extremely difficult, the materials were very rare to begin with, on top of needing a space mage to make it.


    Unfortunately, it couldn''t be taken into Solarnelle Academy to maintain a sense of equality among the students.


    "That''s real annoying," Jash muttered after arriving at the rundown house he just bought in an unpopular area.

 Chapter 175 - 175: Shopping Fatigue

    Exiting the car under numerous stares at him and his car, Jash directly entered the building he had purchased.


    "It''s too cheap for the total area," he mumbled and the door creaked open.


    ¡ªThwack!


    It also lost its hold on the hinge and fell to the ground, raising a small dust cloud at the entrance.


    Jash backtracked and exited, ordering, "Get this all fixed by the end of the day."


    "Take me to the clothing stores," he ordered the driver as he sat in the car, leaving the remodeling to someone from the guards.


    It didn''t matter who did it as long as it was done.


    "Wait," he said as the driver started the car and stopped immediately after hearing his voice.


    "Place the computers, get the wiring and everything done. I want it working with enough protection to not be a problem."


    Leaving behind orders, he left to do some shopping as well for the Academy.


    Not that he wanted to or needed to; it was because his mother forced him to go with Caera and Ziva as the two were going.


    ''Why even shop when you can only wear the uniform?'' Jash thought about countering, but he knew better than to argue with girls about shopping. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''They''re crazy about shopping and no one can deny that,'' he thought, remembering the scenes of a girl shopping enthusiastically.


    As the car sped toward the clothing stores, memories of his forgotten love surfaced, as cloudy as ever.


    He couldn''t see her face as it was cloudy in his memories, but he knew that she was someone important and close to his heart in his previous life.


    Jash guessed that it was his girlfriend but then, why couldn''t he remember her face?


    That was just strange. What kind of man would ever forget the face of the only girl he fell in love with?


    Not to mention it was his first love, she was the one to bring him out of his depression and his status as a fugitive.


    ''Well, committing a murder¡ªjustified or not¡ªwas surely enough to make me a fugitive,'' he recalled with a small smile.


    "Am I turning into a psychopath?" he mumbled to himself the next instant, realizing he was smiling as he recalled murder.


    But then again, he had literally fought and killed hundreds of thousands of demons so what did it even matter?


    ''Let''s stop this foolish behavior and try to recall information about important characters or those who were overshadowed,'' he told himself during the car ride.


    While thinking so, he tapped away at his phone, as it showed pictures of multiple people and their names alongside the traits.


    It contained both information from his past life and what he gathered in this life.


    That was another reason for his money requirement as good and useful information was never free, while the free information could be anything.


    ''Truly, I never expected these two families to be in touch, makes sense to that event that happened later on,'' Jash mused with an evil smile.


    He was planning to use this information as leverage and get something out of it without revealing himself.


    Alas, that wasn''t something he could do just because he wanted to do it.


    ''Not like there exists a convenient cloak for me to use as a disguise or something,'' he joked.


    He knew that if he was the protagonist with plot armor, such a thing would appear within arms reach and would surely get it.


    ''What a drag,'' he scoffed and closed his eyes, resting on the backseat when the car stopped the next second.


    ''What the hell?! We arrived already?'' he cursed inwardly, feeling angry at himself for wasting his time about this and that.


    He was angry because he was helpless, he couldn''t make the mistake of underestimating all these old foxes, just because of his greed.


    Jash wanted results, and fast, but that was impossible due to his lack of strength.


    As the saying goes, ''Strength moves all.''


    His eyes turned into crescents as he looked at his phone and dismissed Caera''s message after reading it.


    "Perfect timing," he muttered inaudibly as a smile emerged on his face.


    He was already looking forward to what would happen today, the only day he actually had to prepare for the Solarnelle Academy.


    Even though the opening ceremony was three days later, it was three days from results and in the morning,


    Today was already the first day, and noon had long passed, making it all the more unrealistic to come out and buy stuff he needed.


    ''I don''t even need the new stuff,'' he sighed, accepting his fate about this rather than listening to his mother''s lessons on why gambling was bad.


    He knew already, but it wasn''t like he had other options to make quick money.


    Plus, he had already spent like a fifth of what he won from the bet, making him feel like he needed more.


    ''At least I won''t be wasting money to buy YP,'' he shrugged as he stopped walking.


    "Now, where are they?" he asked nobody in particular, having seen Caera''s message to meet at this place.


    Feeling clueless, Jash could only look around, trying to find the two of them as he waited there for nearly ten minutes.


    That was when the two of them showed up, dressed plainly despite the weather as if to show their status as a hunter.


    Jash rolled his eyes at their primly dressed condition, while he had only put on a hoodie and a pair of jeans to match.


    He didn''t bother dressing up or choosing according to some fashion or anything, feeling that it didn''t really matter how he dressed up.


    "Finally made it, huh?" he said to mock them, but Caera only giggled while giving him a strange look.


    "Hehe~ Ziva, let''s go somewhere else or his dressing sense rubs off on us," she said purposely in a voice that Jash would hear.


    And his lips twitched as he chose to just ignore her, not having anything to say to her about this.


    If it were any other topic, he would''ve loved to argue that it wasn''t like that, but when it came to clothes, Jash just preferred the comfortable ones.


    ''Comparing to my past life... it''s better than finding anything without holes to wear,'' Jash sighed at the thought and followed the two of them in.


    Although he wasn''t a frequent shopper, he was sure that girls loved to shop, and a lot at that.


    ''I just hope the whole day isn''t wasted like this,'' he prayed inwardly as he saw Caera pick up dresses from everywhere.


    From casual tops, jeans, hoodies, sweatshirts, coats, to long dresses, one pieces, overcoats, fur coats...


    It was as if she wanted to try everything and even buy it as she went to the trial room, leaving behind Ziva, who carefully chose her set of clothes.


    "Luckily, there''s some clothes for me too," Jash sighed after turning to the men''s section, deciding to not get involved with the two of them.


    He really didn''t want to sit in one place and watch Caera wear hundreds of clothes and then tell her how she looked.


    ''If only she accepted the words instead of forcing it until it aligned with her perception,'' Jash shook his head, quickly disappearing amidst the crowd.


    Unlike them, he was done with choosing his clothes, shoes and everything within two hours while the two had just begun.


    He had returned to see how much they progressed as he had nothing to do after being done with his shopping.


    "How the hell is she still wearing dresses and why is Ziva even trying on different shoes with each dress??"

 Chapter 176 - 176: Threats by the Roadside

    "Urgh... what an exhausting day," Jash grumbled after the two girls finally finished their shopping.


    He had to wait for them to finish, or so he was told, and with no better option, he did just that.


    "At least I got one thing done," he sighed, looking outside the car window to see the street lights being on.


    The only thing he got done today was the building that he asked for restructuring as it was cheap and not accessible by teleportation portals.


    It didn''t matter how many times Jash had gone through them; he always feared that someday, one would go wrong.


    He really didn''t want to wake up stranded in an unknown isolated place with nothing on him.


    Plus, the discomfort never disappeared despite getting used to it; in fact, he was the only one who found them uncomfortable.


    Imagine being able to reach a place within seconds, cutting off the hours of traveling and traffic, who wouldn''t be happy? S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Well, Jash.


    ¡ªScree!


    "Argh, what the hell?" Jash cursed as the car stopped suddenly, jolting him out of his reverie.


    "Young Master, there was someone on the road," the driver replied nervously, shifting his eyes between Jash and the person in front of the car.


    "So troublesome," Jash mumbled, sensing the driver''s confusion, getting out of the car instantly.


    "Young Master¨C" the driver called out, but Jash was already out, making him follow his Young Master.


    After all, if anything happened to Jash, the first person to be held responsible would be him.


    Unafraid of anything due to the security team following him, Jash turned to look at the person in front.


    It was a middle-aged-man with messy black hair that seemed to reach his chin from his scalp.


    Looking at the perfect template of a random assailant who would first seek help, Jash felt intrigued, ''Hm?''


    ''Maybe it''s the type where I help an old man by the road and get some inheritance, a mysterious master, or some helper?''


    Those were his thoughts exactly as he reached near the man and said, "Hey, uncle, what are you doing in the middle of the road?"


    However, Jash got no response as the man seemed to be mumbling something.


    "What are you saying, uncle?" Jash asked again, his brows furrowing as he inched closer.


    "this... can''t be..."


    ''What can''t be? Why is he only repeating it?'' Jash wondered and doubted his ears for a second, but the man kept repeating the same words.


    The man suddenly looked at Jash, shouting, "I''m sorry!"


    Jash was confused for a second as tears were streaking down the man''s face, but it wasn''t sympathy that he felt in that second.


    ''Danger,'' his instincts warned as he immediately backstepped.


    In that instant, the man had brought a sharp dagger, coated with some viscous liquid, stabbing at Jash.


    As Jash stepped back, he gained an extra fraction of a second, delaying the dagger''s contact.


    Though that wasn''t really needed as the man''s hand was cut even before Jash could complete his maneuver.


    ¡ªClunk!


    Blood spurted and fell on Jash as the dagger was hurtled away by another security team member.


    Unlike others'' expectations, Jash wasn''t too surprised, as he jerked the blood off his hands.


    "Don''t kill him," he ordered right as he had backstepped, everything happening within seconds.


    The middle-aged-man didn''t even get any time to express his pain as his mouth was covered while a blade was touching his neck.


    All it would take for him to die was less than the time needed to blink.


    "Honestly, I am not interested in who sent you, but why did you shout ''I''m sorry'' and why were you crying," Jash stated casually.


    He knew that his words and actions would be reported to his parents, but he wasn''t bothered.


    After all, it was just another two days before the Academy started and the world would have already gone to shit by the time he graduated.


    So, what did it matter if he remained indifferent to someone killing him and blood on him?


    Wasn''t that similar to the Entrance Test?


    What better answer than "my senses were still in high alert mode after three days of intense fights, especially the last one"?


    "Look, either you answer, or these guys will get me the answer. Choose wisely," Jash said, watching the man''s increasing tears.


    He was one insensitive prick when it came to those that aimed for his life, and he was already expecting the cliche blackmailed answer.


    "I... hicc... I," the man began, freed from the hand grasping his mouth, but Jash said coldly, "I don''t have all day, be quick."


    The frosty tone frightened the middle-aged-man as he sniffled, swallowing his tears and deciding what to speak.


    "They said, they will kill my daughter, after... uwaaa," the man cried instead of giving any good answer that Jash wanted.


    "Haa..." Jash sighed at the answer, and ordered while standing up, "Bring his daughter to where I am going, and also him."


    The man''s blood ran cold as he feared what would happen next, thinking he just sold himself and his daughter to the devil, "You...!"


    "Good job," Jash complimented as the security team knocked him out and led him away while Jash returned to the car.


    The rest of the ride was silent as they arrived at the rundown building Jash had purchased.


    "Wow, now this looks good," Jash noted, admiring the sleek glass, balanced with the marble designs and plants.


    It wasn''t too high or too low, just enough to be useful to Jash.


    But it differed greatly from the nearby buildings that looked rundown, however, they had changed owners in the past few hours.


    Because it was Jash that bought this building and re-built it, the nearby buildings were being bought and sold at astronomical prices.


    Of course, Jash had already reserved 4 buildings next to the one he bought, and he would pay for it from his parent''s pockets.


    "What about those 4?" he asked the person who came to receive him, clad in black clothes, giving out nothing about his or her identity.


    "Greetings Young Master, milady already processed the money, they are yours," the person responded in a feminine voice.


    But were they truly female? Jash had no idea, nor was he going to ask.


    "Alright, turn them into some kind of restriction for entering this building, and leave the rest of the area for gardens,"


    "I want it to be filled with herbs used in potions and some decorative plants as well. Arrange for it," he ordered without any hesitation.


    "As you wish."


    Jash nodded, walking past her and looked at the half-empty ground floor with nothing but a few sofas and a reception desk.


    Ascending the stairs instead of the lift, Jash skipped the first floor which was nothing but an area to gather and look out at the scenery.


    On the second floor, he found a few rooms, all of them having the most advanced monitors, CPUs, hologram projectors and everything that he bought.


    However, one room in particular had 5 monitors set up against 3 CPUs being freely set, that is, it could easily be set and freely explored upon.


    "Perfect," Jash said with a smile before his smile cracked at the sudden noise.


    "Ahh! Give me that! I want it!"

 Chapter 177 - 177: Sinking into the Unknown

    "Who is making so much noise in this newly set up place?" Jash grumbled, deciding to find out the cause.


    The voice was especially annoying to hear, being high-pitched, like that of a child.


    "NOOO!!"


    Hearing the sudden scream, Jash frowned and used mana to boost his speed, bursting into the room in one go.


    "What''s happening?" he yelled, ready to attack, but it all turned into a look of bewilderment as embarrassment crept in.


    ''Seriously!? That''s all,'' he felt like saying that out loud but swallowing his words.


    What greeted him upon entering the room was a girl older than him, looking like any typical adult.


    However, she was trying to snatch a strange doll as if her life depended on it, shouting at the top of her lungs with moist eyes.


    "Young Master, she is that man''s daughter, and according to reports, she is mentally ill," the one who had cut the man''s hand said flatly.


    Jash nodded at the person next to him, whispering, "I get that, but what''s with this situation?"


    "Uhm, that I don''t know," was all that Jash got as a reply, confusing him further.


    After all, a girl who was mentally ill should supposedly be extremely dependent on her loved ones, but here she was, making it hard for hunters to take away her doll.


    Though they weren''t using mana or most of their strength so as to not injure her, unaware of Jash''s intentions, it spoke volumes of her abnormal strength.


    ''I don''t remember anyone like her... I was trying to find that guy who''s good with computers,'' Jash contemplated, appearing thoughtful.


    "Hmm, what do I do now?" he wondered aloud before turning his gaze at the girl, unable to think of any use of her.


    She was mentally ill in a world where there existed a mystical energy: mana.


    It spoke volumes about her illness and how unlikely it was for her to get treated.


    And there was the hope of it being something off with her to have such an illness as 99.99% of the populace didn''t have it.


    ''Surely, something good would come out of curing her, if she''s even ill to begin with,'' Jash thought, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.


    He had indeed overlooked her after hearing of her condition, but now that he took a better look, he could see her eyes pausing on him longer than anyone else.


    Her eyes were also looking at the room, trying to find an escape route, but she hadn''t made the hasty decision to break the window and jump from it.


    ''So she can use her brain, huh?'' Jash noted, knowing that while it was glass, it wasn''t something so fragile anyone could break.


    In fact, simply brute forcing through it required the strength of a B-Rank hunter.


    And someone who could notice it at first glance was no idiot despite her records portraying her as so.


    ¡ªClap!


    "Alright, enough of your act," Jash said decisively, not wanting to waste what little time he had before returning.


    Everyone turned to him, wondering what he meant as only the person next to him didn''t seem surprised.


    Of course, the girl in question didn''t even react as if the words weren''t targeted at her.


    "Yeah, you, I am talking to you," Jash said, pointing at her, catching her sneaky glances.


    ¡ªSigh


    Finally, the girl stopped fighting over the doll, snatching it and sighing as she said, "Looks like I was correct about you."


    "Well, then what do you think I will do next?" Jash asked with a subtle smile as if responding to her challenge.


    "I don''t know? Get me subdued to know about me, maybe?" she said with a shrug, unbothered despite the security team being on guard.


    "You see the sweat drops on their foreheads? It only appeared after you stopped putting on an act, so do you think they can even subdue you?"


    Jash responded just as casually as her, unafraid of his life being in danger.


    "Well, then, how about you tell me how did you know, or was it a fluke?" she asked, curious about it.


    "The simple answer is I didn''t," Jash answered truthfully, shrugging casually while pointing at the person guiding him.


    "It was because this person was too close to me, making me suspect something was amiss," Jash added as if that were all.


    "So, you meant to say that you truly invited me without knowing?" The woman''s appearance morphed as it started to disappear.


    It was as if she were a hologram or a simulation, disappearing after completing whatever its goal was.


    "Jash Ramille, I will remember you," she said her parting words, confusing everyone in the room.


    When her presence vanished, only the doll remained. Jash picked it up and ordered, "Check on that man."


    Jash saw a security member contact others and then examined the doll, finding a zip at its back.


    "Young Master, it could be dangerous," the person next to him wanted the moment Jash was about to unzip it.


    "It doesn''t matter," Jash replied, gesturing to the ceiling, referring to the SS-Rank Hunter from his family in the sky.


    Of course, he knew that his parents'' protectiveness wouldn''t go down after his performance and would rather rise to unprecedented levels.


    He had gambled on that when he asked for that man''s daughter, already suspecting the whole situation to be dubious.


    ''Why did the SS-Rank person not move despite someone attacking me? Nor did they interfere at this moment...'' S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unlike idiots who considered themselves to be at the top of the pedestal after winning, Jash was even more cautious.


    He hadn''t expected to meet someone completely unknown and never mentioned in the novel so early on.


    Not like he didn''t meet countless people that had no mention in the novel, it was about their strength and significance in the world.


    The stronger a person, the more the power and authority they wield in the real world.


    And that''s why Jash was interested in knowing about the woman, making him unzip the doll.


    "That''s all?" Jash blurted out, finding nothing but a simple piece of paper in it.


    Taking it out, he read: "100 meters"


    ''100 meters, what does she mean¨C'' Jash thought in confusion before it clicked.


    And at the same time, word came about the man in captivity, "Young Master, he is no longer there, no traces left either."


    "Ignore that, go search in a radius of 100 meters and bring anyone or anything that seems out of place."


    Jash ordered in a louder tone, displaying the sense of urgency underneath.


    "Quick, quick, leave, hurry up!" he exclaimed after seeing that they were hesitating and didn''t move despite his order.


    In the first place, they were here for his safety, not to listen to his orders and his safety had been jeopardized more than once already.


    Unfortunately, Jash wasn''t interested in their reasoning, sending them even faster. "Hurry up and go!"


    "There may be another threat nearby, will you go look for it now?" he said coldly, showing them the paper and how it only read two words.


    They eventually left, leaving behind four with the sharpest senses to alert them in case of any danger to Jash''s life.


    However, the person involved was relaxed despite the situation being more than enough to give him turmoils had it been in the past.


    ''Just who is she? Is she someone from the Villain''s side who remained hidden until the end?'' Jash mused, lounging on the sofa.

 Chapter 178 - 178: Forced Employment

    "Young Master, we found this guy lurking around," one of the security personnel said, holding the old man''s arms.


    ''Finally, some results,'' Jash yawned, already feeling tired after sitting around for a few minutes, wanting to sleep.


    Looking at the man''s appearance, Jash doubted his eyes for a second.


    The man had black hair with a few gray strands mixed in, but they were immaculately styled while his dark eyes were looking around in nervousness.


    "Who are you? And why were you on my private property?" Jash asked, locking onto the man.


    It seemed to create a sense of oppression on the man who was already being held by strong hunters after being forcefully brought here.


    He had initially resisted by force but gave up the moment he couldn''t gauge anyone''s strength.


    "Hmph! What private property? Who dares sell my land without my permission?" the man harrumphed, emanating confidence in his tone.


    Yet all he got in response was Jash''s narrowed eyes scrutinizing him.


    ''This guy... he has got some nerve. He''s not even at B-Rank,'' Jash scoffed at his idiocy inwardly, but decided to play along.


    "Call that manager and ask her what''s this mess," he said, turning to the one who had processed the purchase and talked to Sera.


    "Yes, Young Master," the person nodded despite feeling there was no need to do so.


    The man likely saw the expensive cars and hoped to steal something or gain something out of this whole ordeal.


    Unfortunately, the security members were taught to not question orders unless it contradicted earlier orders.


    In that case, they have to heed the Family Head''s orders or their husband/wife.


    Currently, they were under direct command of Carcel, then Sera, then Brandon.


    In the whole hierarchy, there was no Jash and Caera because they weren''t the heirs.


    Surprisingly, there was no mention of Conrelius either, but it made sense as no SSS-Rank hunter could stay as a family head.


    The sole exception being the Emperor and the dwarven and elven people as they had their own rules as well.


    However, it was mandated for every SSS-Rank hunter to be a part of the Council of all Races that protected the world from major threats.


    After all, a single SSS-Rank monster was no different than an apocalyptic event if they ever reached the living areas of any species.


    Fortunately, no such incident had occurred for the longest time, the SSS-Rank hunters swiftly working to dispatch the monsters and clear any high dungeon of SS-Rank or SSS-Rank as quickly as possible.


    SSS-Rank dungeons were super rare and the last that appeared was more than a decade ago, but SS-Rank dungeons weren''t so rare.


    And thankfully, for dungeons at A-Rank and above, the person of one rank above could enter it.


    Yes, there was a possibility of it, but no guarantee, as every dungeon differs, with some not even allowing entry to more than one person at the same time.


    But that was the case for the present, and Jash knew for sure that the situation would continue to decline as time went on.


    Just like him, Amael and Helios were aware of it, both having their own set of plans for when that time arrived.


    But Jash was a step ahead, wanting to keep an eye on the new dungeons and see when they break and under which conditions they form.


    As it had remained a mystery for as long as history goes back with many theories and hypotheses being proved wrong over the centuries.


    That''s why Jash had come to this area specifically to meet someone he knew he was sure to find here.


    And even the reason he didn''t hide such big movements when he could''ve done everything while being under the radar.


    In the end, he had found the man, but he claimed that the land belonged to him.


    ''Looks like I won''t have to scam him, he came ready to be scammed himself,'' Jash smiled inwardly. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He could directly force the guy to work for him due to his lies and defamation, which was a better outcome than manipulating him.


    ''I don''t want him to try and escape my control, that''d be troublesome,'' he mused, waiting for the call with the manager to end.


    "Young Master, the manager confirmed that the land belonged to him, but he lost it to pay off his loans."


    Getting the response he expected, Jash nodded and turned to the man, "So what now? You want me to put you in jail for tarnishing my name?"


    Jash''s tone was frosty, sending chills down the man''s spine as his expression crumbled under the pressure.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t know his current situation, but he had to take the risk, for his daughter.


    She had been selected via the Entrance Test, even reaching the ranks of top 100.


    He gritted his teeth and countered, "You can''t as you basically abducted me."


    Jash''s eyebrow raised in interest as the man was indeed somewhat correct, but did it even matter to him?


    ''Did this guy forget that nothing of the sort matters to people in power?'' Jash mused with disinterest.


    "I don''t really care about your thoughts or anything. Just tell me if you''re useful," he said, waving his hand as if dismissing the matter.


    This time, the security was on high alert, doing a background check in advance and finding records of the man.


    They could sense his strength of borderline C-Rank, but were still cautious of him having some artifact to hide his rank.


    Of course, it would be revealed the moment he fought, but it was idiotic to be caught off-guard twice in a row and it''d be their heads rolling on the ground if that were to truly happen.


    "You¨C!" The man was about to curse but Jash coldly interrupted.


    "I didn''t ask you," he said, turning to the security personnel next to the man and gesturing for them to tell whatever they found.


    "Young Master, this man is a master of computers, VR, and is a good programmer or so it says," the security personnel eyed the man strangely.


    "But, it is very coincidental that he always got into the interview round of Arkwright Tech.


    Arkwright Tech. was a company under the Hunter Association that worked with everything related to technology.


    In fact, they were the biggest players and almost had a monopoly over the whole market, so him getting short-listed every time he applied was suspicious.


    Not like Jash really wanted any of that information, he came here for the man only, and that''s why his thoughts went to that strange woman he met earlier.


    ''Just how did she know? Does she have prophetic abilities or is she from the future?'' he wondered, getting lost in his musings.


    "...In short, he is a tech expert and we can make him work here?" Jash asked after returning to the present.


    He had not really heard everything, especially about the man''s daughter, disinterested in the whole thing.


    "You...! Do you think I will work for you?! Do you think you''re everything just because you secured the First Rank at the Entrance Test!!"


    Hearing the man shout uncontrollably, Jash scowled, but it turned into surprise at the next exclamation.


    "Just you wait! My daughter is in the top 50 and she will surely revenge me!!" the man yelled before huffing and puffing, trying to catch his breath.


    ''Wait! Daughter? Since when did he have a daughter?'' Jash thought, astonished at the discovery.

 Chapter 179 - 179: Last Peaceful Sleep

    Jash glanced at the security personnel beside him, silently inquiring about the so-called daughter.


    Without any regard to the man, the security personnel nodded and touched a few times on his bracelet.


    A hologram depicting the figure of a pink-haired girl with black eyes appeared, frightening the man at once.


    "Is she your daughter?" Jash asked for confirmation, his eyes still fixed on the image.


    He signaled the security personnel with a look. The hologram shifted to display her fights during the Entrance Test¡ªboth videos and photos.


    ''Hmm. Interesting,'' Jash mused with a smirk, terrifying the man opposite him as realization dawned on the latter.


    The man seemed to have forgotten that Jash was the son of a duke and even if he did something to the man, there would be next to no retaliation.


    Though the law was advanced and strict, it was still subject to manipulation by those in power.


    In essence, the man was more worried about his daughter as Jash could directly abduct her, making her never enter the Academy.


    Then, everything he sacrificed for her happiness would be for naught.


    The man gritted his teeth, fighting back his own fear and resolve, "I-I''ll do it! Just leave her out of this!"


    "Hm?" Jash got confused at the sudden words, but didn''t seem to mind it.


    The situation just became advantageous for him, after all.


    "Alright, you can rest assured that nothing will happen to her as long as you do not tell her anything about today."


    "Can you do that?" Jash asked with an eerie smile, instilling fear in the man''s heart despite being stronger than Jash.


    Alas, the man seemed to have understood his situation and just nodded quietly.


    "Good," Jash nodded, relaxing his expression as he ordered, "Get used to the computers here and tell them if you need anything."


    Jash referred to the security personnel despite knowing they would never come here after escorting him back.


    Leaving the man with them, Jash walked to another room on this floor, heading to the basement using a secret passageway.


    Naturally, he had asked for an escape route, secret passageway and everything personally, but left the design and everything to them.


    The design was intentionally conspicuous to avoid any accusations of shady dealings.


    Although it wouldn''t really matter except it being annoying, and Jash hated annoying stuff more than anything.


    "Finally," he muttered, alone in the hidden basement that was nothing more than a training area.


    It was constructed from materials so resistant that even B-Rank Hunters would struggle to even scratch them.


    "Really now, just how did they get this all done in one day?" Jash wondered aloud as he walked to one end of the area.


    Without any reservations, he pressed a button on the wall as an opening appeared.


    Passing through it, Jash finally found what he was looking for, a super comfortable chair and a simple computer.


    Although it was the best one amongst all the computers, Jash just used it to surf through the information of his future classmates.


    "At least they will be my future batchmates," he shrugged, filtering the information into nobility, orphans and commoners.


    ¡ªClick!


    In under a few minutes, he skimmed past hundreds of students belonging to nobility, not focusing on them at all.


    His core focus was examinees who he could recognize based on the novel''s memories and orphans with good performances or suspicious ones.


    With no backing, it was extremely hard to rival the noble scions, and those who could do it had some hidden backing.


    And Jash was trying to figure out such candidates and stay on guard against them.


    Even though they weren''t really threats in themselves, who knew what kind of suicidal techniques they learned.


    "Why should I risk it when there''s no need to," he mumbled before focusing on the information of the pink-haired girl.


    ''So she''s the strategist of the hero, huh?'' Jash mused, noting her feats in the Entrance Exam and how brief her role was in the novel.


    Sadly, there were no arcs dedicated to her, except for her father''s sudden abduction and her dying while trying to find him.


    "Urgh, whatever, I have no interest in her, there''s a better person suited for this," Jash grumbled and stood up.


    ¡ªTak!


    He picked up his bracelet and phone after putting all the data into them, planning to peruse it later.


    It had already crossed dinner time, and he would get an earful about getting close to strangers on the road and whatnot.


    "At least, it''s just the last two days," he sighed, returning to the second floor and exiting the building.


    Jash didn''t wait for anyone and directly sat in the car, commanding, "Back to the Estate."


    Not waiting for any response, Jash casually sat in the backseat, looking outside the car window to enjoy the sights of Adonia, for the last time.


    ''Who knows what will remain of it by the time I am out of the Academy,'' he thought, wanting to enjoy the ride home.


    It was quite obvious that he was going to be grounded for protection and the same would be the case for Caera and Ziva.


    No parent wants anything to happen to their children and the same was the case for them.


    Well, calling it "no parent" would be wrong, as some had just abandoned their children for failing the Entrance Test or for other reasons.


    Not like it mattered to Jash as he enjoyed the night scenery of Adonia as memories from his past life and world flashed. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They were vastly different, with his previous world having been destroyed by the lack of people being able to harness mana and use it for betterment.


    ''This world is at least 1000 times more advanced than my previous one,'' he mused, the images overlapping within his head.


    As time passed, they reached the Ramille Estate and Jash entered the living room, ready for his round of scoldings.


    "Hm? No one?" he blurted out, seeing the empty living room as his steps led him to the dining room.


    Again, the room was empty.


    Sighing, he gave up and returned to his room for the night..


    Before entering his room, however, he said to no one in particular, "Tell Emma everything I said and let her be in charge of that place."


    ¡ªClick!


    Opening the door, he entered it, not waiting for any response or presence to show itself.


    And he directly threw himself onto the bed, choosing to get plenty of rest for the upcoming opening ceremony and the trouble that came along with it.


    Naturally, he''d be getting targeted by all kinds of nasty rumors and demeaning comments, but that wasn''t his concern.


    ''Urgh, I would have to go to school again?'' he grumbled inwardly, comparing the school to the academy.


    But that wasn''t accurate.


    The Academy taught him to fight and survive as a Hunter, while school... Well, that''s pretty annoying, if you don''t have friends to bunk it and have fun.


    Unfortunately, Jash couldn''t do the same for the academy, but it gave crazy amounts of freedom in comparison, so what did it even matter.


    "Just a small sacrifice to reach your goal, Jash," he motivated himself one last time before falling asleep.


    For the first time, Jash knew that this was going to be his last peaceful rest for many years to come, so he enjoyed it fully, sleeping for more than 12 hours in one go.


    *Check paragraph comment for image of City of Adonia*

 Chapter 180 - 180: Solarnelle Academy

    Solarnelle Academy.


    When considering the epitome of power and ability, a person had to possess some form of education in whatever art or craft they possessed. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the institute that stood above all others in the Empire, Solarnelle Academy was the dream of anyone who aimed for the top.


    And there Jash was, standing before the gates of such a prestigious place, though he didn''t seem as excited as those around him, who avoided him.


    "It''s the Rank1..."


    "Shh... What if he hears us? I heard that..."


    Such whispers were obviously making their way to his ears, so calling them whispers would be wrong.


    Ignoring them, Jash focused on the magnificent, shiny white surface of the large gate leading to the Academy, which resembled a castle on its own.


    The towering building seemed to touch the clouds as the white gates stayed before it.


    "Have a safe and productive time, Young Master."


    Those were the parting words from the staff working in the Ramille Estate as well as Emma.


    While his parents were worried about things going wrong over the past two days, nothing of the sort happened and they were relaxed.


    After all, the academy was the safest place, or so it should have been had Jash not known about the brewing storm.


    He glanced behind, finding no one but students and couldn''t help but let out a sigh.


    ''They sure are strict with all their rules,'' he thought in amazement before scoffing, ''And yet it gets attacked, with only one casualty: me.''


    Due to the strict rules of the Solarnelle Academy, no one except the student was allowed on the premises.


    All the farewells had happened even before the teleportation point for safety precautions.


    ''The high number of students with important backgrounds was meant to cause some mess,'' Jash shrugged, resuming his movement.


    He had paused to take in the refreshing scent of the air as well as the purer form of mana while appreciating the beauty of the Academy.


    It was a stark contrast to the sprawling, ultra-modern cityscape which Jash had left behind.


    The image of Adonia at dusk, with the sky transitioning from deep blue to purple hues still lingered in Jash''s mind.


    The towering skyscrapers with sleek, curved designs dominating the skyline, their facades made of reflective glass and glowing with soft neon lights in shades of blue, pink, and green. Luxurious hover cars glide smoothly over the roads with some small areas lit up with neon accents around the buildings.


    Their speed left nothing but trails of light behind them on the wide and clean streets, populated by autonomous vehicles and hunters clad with equipment.


    Elevated walkways connected the buildings, creating separate pathways for hunters, keeping them apart from the unawakened.


    However, the only respite among this concrete jungle was greenery¡ªtrees and plants¡ªincorporated into the urban landscape with vertical gardens and trees lining the walkways.


    Amongst those tall buildings, holographic billboards displayed vibrant advertisements and information, adding to the dynamic energy of the city.


    The overall atmosphere was one of technological advancement, energy, and a harmonious blend of nature and innovation.


    Of course, this uniqueness belonged solely to the city of Adonia due to the highest population of elves and dwarves in the city.


    ''All in all, it really looked like the capital of the Empire, having its own distinct identity,'' Jash mused, reminded of the city.


    It was really strange¡ªhe felt nostalgic for a city he just glimpsed around for a few hours of ride.


    Yet what about his home city?


    He seemed to have no such feeling, but there was a reason.


    ''This Academy... feels more like home than the city of Adonia,'' Jash sighed, knowing how different the Ramille Dukedom was from other regions.


    "Just where is the Academy located?"


    "You idiot. You don''t even know something so basic?"


    "Oh, why don''t you enlighten this fool, then?"


    "Hmph! Then listen..."


    Hearing the loud talks about it, Jash couldn''t help but leak out a chuckle at the sheer idiocy.


    ''No one really knows the exact location of the Academy excluding the Principal,'' Jash mused, shaking his head as he passed by them.


    The Solarnelle Academy seemed to be located on a fairly large yet lush floating island in the sky, its surface dotted with verdant forests and sparkling lakes.


    To add to its mystique, it was encircled by mystical cascading waterfalls that never seemed to reach the ground.


    All of it being covered by a pulsing transparent dome, as if it were some kind of bubble keeping it afloat.


    The dome''s surface shimmered with an ever-changing array of colors, signaling its active defenses against intrusions.


    ''This is really interesting,'' Jash thought, looking at the sight first-hand, it was beyond any expectations.


    Even he was wide-eyed as he took in the Academy''s architecture, a perfect blend of ethereal elements and modern futuristic design.


    It exuded enchanting seamless natural beauty, evoking a fantastical sense of euphoria.


    This fantasy-like place, the Solarnelle Academy stood as the epitome of excellence, where the majority of excellent Hunters had graduated from.


    Even the widely-known SSS-Rank hunters were known to have graduated from the Academy.


    Thus, it was a dream of almost every youth present in Aeternis ¨¡j¨¡nia to be able to attend it.


    Just behind the wide-open gates were huge Teleportation, situated outside the Academy premises for an additional layer of security.


    ''As if they really need it with this pulsing dome,'' Jash rolled his eyes at the theatrics, as he passed by the gleefully chatting freshmen.


    Some had become friends during the Entrance Test while some were just exchanging information and gauging each other.


    They had no idea that the bubble-like dome had an actual purpose!


    It served as an impenetrable fortress of protection, a magical barrier designed to repel any unauthorized teleportation attempts.


    It prevented even spatial mages from jumping in by mistake or on purpose, failing their attempts at teleportation.


    After all, this seemingly small island on which the academy was situated, was literally a small nation of its own.


    However, it had one advantage: every form of status, whether nobility or commoner, was completely cast away.


    Or at least that was the motive in creating it to be so isolated from the real world.


    In fact, no one even knew if it was on an actual floating island or within some secret realm or some other ancient secret.


    Not like it mattered as the only way to infiltrate or attack it was if someone with enough authority inside the Academy betrayed.


    But that wasn''t realistic.


    The number of restrictions cast onto them with mana oaths and contracts were way too numerous.


    ''Just a single thought of betrayal would put their life in jeopardy,'' Jash mused, still unable to believe how the attack even happened.


    While being busy in his considerations for his life and wondering if he could prevent the attack itself, Jash missed an important part of the Academy.


    The Academy had too much area lying around with nothing and after the students started flooding in, there was a constant need for relaxation.


    And to curb any potential meaningless fights, the Academy had created Entertainment districts and many more!


    The newly established districts offered a variety of amenities, from serene gardens to bustling social hubs.

 Chapter 181 - 181: Opening Ceremony

    The Academy used its own currency, YP (Year Points), for all transactions, so there was no problem in continuing using it for the new areas.


    Over time, more small quarters and districts took form, with their own set of guidelines to follow.


    Of course, the situation remained the same, that is, only students, professors and staff of the Academy could visit these places.


    That meant that not even one person on the Academy premises was unaffiliated with the Academy, even if it was just a cook or waiter.


    Well, they too needed staff anyway, making it all the more self-sustainable as even some students did odd jobs due to a lack of YP.


    How they had done it, so many people still could not fathom, but one thing was completely and irrefutably certain in everyone''s mind.


    All of the Academy''s prestige and self sustainability had only been possible because of one person.


    The Past Female Empress and ruler of the Empire, who was the sole creator, owner, Principal, and Dean of the Academy during her time.


    Naturally, she was the one who gave it to autonomous people and restricted them from putting any undeserving person as their successor.


    And due to her influence, the Academy worked in a similar manner as to how she envisioned the future.


    At the academy, only strength and power would take you far, along with a good amount of reasonable intelligence and wit.


    ''She sure was different from every other imbecile to ever grace the Empire as its ruler,'' Jash disparaged in his mind.


    Had he said that out loud, the blissful and animated conversations around him would have stopped for a deathly silence.


    Even if the Academy was free from any form of discrimination, that didn''t mean one could say whatever came to their mind.


    Around him the sprawling courtyard was graced with gentle rays of sunshine, enveloping it in an inviting atmosphere that was completely packed.


    Despite it being early morning, all the students looked youthful and excited for the journey ahead excluding Jash...


    Impromptu friendships were forming between the freshmen in just over a few minutes, causing them to have discussions about the Entrance Test.


    After all, they could see its champion, so why wouldn''t they talk about it?


    Some didn''t care though, choosing to stay away from all of the machinations, focusing on their dreams and aspirations instead.


    ''Damn this noise!'' Jash cursed inwardly, his irritation growing as he moved further into the bustling crowd.


    A buzzing atmosphere of animated but almost chaotic conversations that were nothing short of nonsense if one actually tried listening.


    Finally, arriving at the auditorium mentioned for the Opening Ceremony, Jash felt like he could relax, but it was even worse.


    Some seniors and professors had set up booths and stalls which lined the periphery of the courtyard.


    ''What a scam,'' Jash ignored everything on them, knowing it was just a way to trick the naive juniors into fake promises.


    Well, at least some stalls offered festival-like dishes, being the only thing Jash approved of.


    Everything else¡ªpotions, ''enchanted'' trinkets, and unique talismans¡ªseemed dubious, being nothing but fakes.


    Many students eagerly browsed these stalls, hoping to find charms for good luck or ''enchanted trinkets'' to aid them, unaware of its true nature.


    Just like how Jash ignored it, most nobles chose to do the same, irrespective of the race.


    They would much rather take in the almost festive atmosphere at the Opening Ceremony with an open heart instead.


    ¡ªDong!


    However, it all began to disperse with just one loud sound, signaling the start of the Opening Ceremony.


    As everyone began to rush inside the large auditorium fitting in all the official thousand as well as another thousand inside it.


    Jash heard an indistinct murmur of someone nearby:


    "I just need to avoid other influential people. I will only mess with those who can''t do anything to me."


    Jash smiled at the unfamiliar voice, already knowing who the nervous whisper belonged to.


    ''This will surely be interesting,'' he thought, already inside before the loud announcing sound.


    After all, it had forced not only the freshmen inside but also the seniors and staff to scramble about.


    With just one glance around, Jash caught quite a few nervous faces with some fidgeting with their fingers, clattering their teeth, or even biting their nails.


    He casually walked past them, maintaining the same slow pace since he entered the premises of the Academy.


    Despite his slow pace, no one behind him urged him to increase his pace and anyone who wanted to was pulled back by someone else.


    After all, offending the Year Representative on Day One would be completely stupid.


    ''The first rows are so far away,'' Jash grumbled inwardly, finding the loud hub-bub and buzzing noises to be super annoying.


    They seemed to dig at his brain, causing him great discomfort.


    ''If only I left early with the two of them,'' he lamented not going with Ziva and Caera despite them going way earlier than him.


    ''And this darned attention-seeking uniform code really makes it worse,'' Jash cursed, getting to hear many unwanted whispers.


    It wasn''t that they hurt his feelings or anything; they were just annoying, and it wasn''t that hard to get on his nerves.


    Imagine getting annoyed first thing in the morning due to your sleep getting interrupted, only to be forced to go through the chores.


    Yes, Jash considered all the security checks to get past the teleportation portals to be chore.


    However, his different from others uniform allowed him to go through it faster, but it annoyed him regardless.


    If only he had a system inventory where he could place everything and wouldn''t have to worry about his belongings.


    Of course, the Academy strictly prohibited any kind of artifact, potions, treasures, or anything considered unfair inside their premises.


    ''What a drag,'' Jash grumbled, feeling uncomfortable from his uniform.


    Normally, the student uniform was blue-white with golden designs and the Academy insignia on the upper arm area.


    In contrast, the student council''s version had red and purple accents for easy distinction.


    ''If only they used black, it would look so much cooler,'' Jash mused, but knew such a thing wouldn''t happen.


    The majority of the populace either prayed to the Goddess of Light or just didn''t pray, but everyone knew that she had some hatred for the color of darkness: black.


    Thankfully, no such racism or discrimination ever followed into the populace despite her firm beliefs.


    It was just that any prayer to the Goddess of Light could not have black colored items, and she never got angry.


    It didn''t matter if someone had the element of darkness or shadows, they could still pray to the benevolent Goddess.


    ''Benevolent, my ass! She''s a straight-up racist and colorist,'' Jash cursed a Goddess, not believing in her omnipotence or omniscience.


    ''If she was, then she would''ve already discovered me and sought me out,'' he shook his head, reaching the front row.


    Looking at Ziva, he passed a polite smile, thankful for her to have kept a seat for him.


    There was no way he wanted to hover around the back, scrambling to look for a seat under the eyes of the professors on the stage.


    The professors were there even before the loud ringing sound, though many had been unaware of it.


    "Welcome to the Solarnelle Academy!" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The voice boomed unexpectedly, like thunder, signaling the start of the Opening Ceremony all of a sudden.


    ***


    {A/N}


    Yo~ It''s been a long while~


    There we go my dear readers-


    Your academy arc has officially begun!!


    That''s more work for me and my brain though, sigh~


    That''s fine ??(???????)?¤Ä


    (Insert burning house meme)

 Chapter 182 - 182: Principals Welcome Address

    "Welcome to the Solarnelle Academy!"


    The voice belonged to none other than the Principal of the Academy, Fendril Vale.


    However, his sudden appearance startled many, as his mere presence felt quite heavy, making some students feel as if they were holding weights on their shoulders.


    The stronger ones were relatively fine, only because the old man was suppressing his powers.


    Regardless, all the students were excited to see the old man as he was none other than the strongest human in the world.


    He was the most famous SSS-Rank hunter due to his position as the Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    It went without saying that his presence had soothed the populace countless times during periods of unrest.


    Thus, he was more of a public figure than any other SSS-Rank Hunter and also came to be the most admired among them.


    His sudden appearance left the students in shock, stunned for a few seconds before they came to the present.


    ¡ªClap! Clap! Clap!


    A huge round of applause started by the excited and eager students, its sound reverberating throughout the auditorium.


    The principal''s white coat was a magnificent sight to behold, embellished with intricate golden decorations on his shoulders.


    It enhanced his aura of wisdom and authority.


    Naturally, the prestigious symbol of the Solarnelle Academy was emblazoned on it, albeit on the back of his coat.


    ''Hypocrite,'' Jash thought in his mind, looking at the old man as the air around him chilled for just a fraction of a second.


    His gray lively eyes turned into the eyes of a dead man, going unnoticed by even him as his blood ran cold.


    "Hm?" Sitting next to him, Ziva was the only one that felt the atmosphere around her change, frowning at it.


    ''Does he hate the Principal for that laborious Entrance Test?'' she guessed in her heart, having noticed a similar change when the Principal first showed up.


    However, it was not like she had the time and liberty to mull over the topic, deciding to confront Jash about it later.


    No matter her questionable feelings of inferiority and unsurity, she still considered Jash to be her friend, wanting nothing more than the best for him.


    On the other side, the Principal didn''t notice anything odd, looking at the varying reactions of the students.


    He maintained a soft smile as he began, "As most of you already know, I am Fendril Vale, principal of the Solarnelle Academy."


    The students turned silent, wanting to hear every word spoken by the oldest SSS-Rank hunter as it could prove to be vital.


    "The Solarnelle Academy was founded with the dream to make a place where all talents could learn equally."


    "You might find our curriculum harsh, but it is necessary to train hard to become one of the best or you can simply choose not to."


    His words were met with a deafening silence before he released a wry chuckle.


    ''Only an idiot would squander their chance here,'' thought most of the new entrants.


    However, Jash was one of the few who actually liked that there were no forceful classes or anything of the sort.


    ''Surely, I don''t want to live like a prisoner for the next four years,'' he mused as his eyes were droopy, bored from the speech.


    "The world might seem peaceful, but you never know when another unwanted calamity might be upon us,"


    "And I doubt that anyone here would want to be unprepared for it?" he asked, falling silent and giving the students a good look.


    "This Academy is the right place for nurturing your spirits as well as your strength, if you have a similar dream as us, the professors."


    His words were true and served to ignite a fire in the hearts of the youth who had given up due to their not-so-impressive results.


    As if his goal had finished, he disappeared as abruptly as he had arrived, but not before leaving a sentence. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That will be all from me. Professor Zander will explain the rest."


    His parting words left the students yearning for more as it was not everyday they could hear or see the strongest man in the world.


    With the Principal''s departure, the atmosphere shifted soon, as the Vice-Principal took the stage.


    "I am Vice-Principal Zander, and I teach Ice Element," Zander introduced himself for formality, as everyone knew him.


    But even the Principal had followed the protocol so who was he to disregard it?


    ''Get on with it already, I am tired,'' Jash urged inwardly, having spent his social battery on the way to the auditorium itself.


    Thankfully, Zander too could see the dissipating fire in the students'' eyes, saying just the right thing to reignite it.


    "The Academy does not hinder you from fighting each other for ranks or any other disagreement, but you all must follow the rules."


    His words were followed by a hologram appearing behind him, showing simple numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.


    They weren''t divided into alpha, beta, omega, gamma or some cringey titles like Leviathan, Dragon, Legends.


    It was a simple classic numbering system which Zander explained, "As you see here, we have only five classes each year, and each class consists of 200 students."


    "Right now, you will be distributed according to your evaluation by the faculty council, but it will also be random."


    Zander didn''t explain but it was actually easy to understand, the students were divided into different power levels.


    And each class must have a similar average, so the Faculty Council would only put the students in these similar tiers of power.


    Then, a computer software would calculate the best options and one of the 10 would be applied as the Principal approves.


    ''Truly, a retarded system,'' Jash thought hatefully, disliking the last part. ''Just why not let someone choose it at random?''


    Though it was just his thought as most of the students didn''t even know about it, nor did they care.


    "Of course, there will be no individual rankings until the Assessment Test, which will happen in a few months," Zander added.


    His words were the fire the students needed to burn in determination and get a better rank to salvage their situation.


    "After the Assessment Test, you will follow the same Assessment System like your seniors here, and know one thing: your ranks are everything here."


    His mention about ranks being everything here were said with a tone of finality as if it were the same as their entire lives.


    With that he left the stage, much like the Principal, leaving behind the students to the other professors.


    However, one doubt was something that plagued every student, "Why did our first test proctor mention only a thousand will get into the Academy?"


    The professor hearing the question smiled as any and all conversations came to a close.


    "Naive," he said, "Do you even recall what they had said?"


    "Out of the 17,680 candidates across the three races, only a thousand would truly enter the Solarnelle Academy."


    Some students were sharp enough to remember it, making the professor''s smile widen.


    "That''s exactly it," he explained, "Only a thousand will truly enter the Solarnelle Academy, didn''t you see just 5 Classes with 200 each?"


    Finally, it dawned on the majority what it meant as they suddenly felt nervous, not wanting to be someone who got left out.


    ''What a nasty trick,'' Jash sighed, looking at the nervous students as it was never revealed who would be in the 5 classes and who wouldn''t.


    "Don''t let it stress you right now as you will have the chance to rank among the top thousand and become a student of the 5 Classes."

 Chapter 183 - 183: Class Division

    ''At least this isn''t false hope,'' Jash thought inwardly, getting bored of the theatrics and all the acts being put up.


    "As everyone is seated already," the professor paused mid-sentence, snapping his fingers.


    ¡ªTak!


    With a loud unanimous sound, the armrests of all the chairs opened at once, revealing a bracelet.


    "You can pick it up and wear it," the professor ended, waiting for the students to follow along.


    The bracelet was like a smartwatch in this world, but much more advanced and could perform complex functions like a computer.


    The best part? It had no screen, and everything worked with the help of holograms that conveniently were only visible to the wearer.


    How it was achieved, no one knew except the manufacturers, but they never revealed it, having a monopoly over it.


    ''Yet they don''t overprice it, just enough for even normal folk to buy if they live frugally for a few months,'' Jash mused.


    He was indeed curious about the owners of the technology and why they sold it openly besides sending different ones to the Academy.


    Of course, the Solarnelle Academy had two versions ahead of the public one while the other academies and powerful hunters had one version advanced to the public version.


    Drooling at the sight, the students from humble origins excitedly wore it while the nobles and affluent ones had masked their eagerness.


    Touching its smooth surface, Jash felt it was cool to the touch and smooth as if it were made of butter.


    "This is the identification card that would be used for daily life inside the Solarnelle Academy," the professor explained.


    Though Jash didn''t pay attention to it, aware of it being convenient as even Year Points were received on it and every transaction would go through it.


    Simply because it was a waste of resources to print some paper money or make some coins, that all had long since ended.


    ''I wish this would be more comfortable though,'' Jash sighed, feeling the binding process.


    The bracelet''s bonding process was quick; a few drops of blood and wisps of mana secured it, making it accessible only to Jash.


    That''s why It was a must-do process, locking the bracelet so that no one except its owner could access it or even see the holographic screen.


    Finally, after a few seconds, a blinking red light appeared on a small spot on the bracelet before turning green and white before turning off.


    ''It''s ready for use,'' Jash turned it upwards and willed it to activate.


    A holographic interface flickered into view in the next second, working on his mind''s wishes and not any kind of physical touch, displaying complex data with a mere thought.


    ''This sure is interesting,'' he thought with a small smile, intrigued at the complex technology being available at his fingertips.


    Of course, he could use his fingertips if he wanted, but being the lazy guy he was, he just used his mind to access it.


    Although not many employed this method, distrusting the device and doubting the seller''s ability to mind control them.


    Still, most used its other mode as it was an all-purpose device used not only inside the Solarnelle Academy, but everywhere else in the world as well.


    However, it was customized for the students, allowing them to even see the progress and rank.


    Its primary function was to naturally inform the students of their class schedule and any other announcement pertaining to tests or excursions.


    ''Let''s see what class I''m in,'' Jash thought, interested in knowing if it was the same as the protagonist''s or not.


    He willed for it and his profile page appeared, showing basic details about him and his Class division.


    ++++++++++++++++++++


    Student - Jash Ramille


    Class 1


    First Year Representative


    Current Hunter Rank - E+ (Not confirmed)


    Current Mana Core Rank- Early E-Rank, Light Yellow


    YP : 1000


    ++++++++++++++++++++


    ''Class 1?'' Jash doubted his eyes for a second as it was the same class with Amael but not the protagonist.


    It was strange how two monsters were put together but a strange thought came to him, ''Wait, what if Amael is in another class?''


    To confirm his guess about the classes being changed because of the mess he caused, he asked the person next to him.


    "Ziva, what class?"


    His question was too succinct, almost as if he needed an answer within a second, and Ziva gave him a strange look for his sudden sense of urgency.


    Noting his look, she whispered, "Class 1."


    "As expected," Jash muttered, confusing Ziva when he abruptly said, "Same Class, it''ll be fun."


    Despite the smile on his face showcasing he was innocently happy, Ziva doubted it, ''What''s going on in his head today?''


    She shook it off, putting it at the back of mind, knowing she would get the answers later today.


    If only Jash knew her thoughts, he''d be stunned speechless at how accurate her random guesses were.


    He was indeed planning to make up a mess of things as he was sure that there was no way for Amael to be in the same class as him.


    ''They placed both the Year Representatives in the class and seeing her performance, I doubt we will get any other potential top 10.''


    Jash could roughly figure out that he would only have Ziva to talk to in his new class, leaving the others in other classes.


    Though he didn''t doubt that many top-ranking girls would be in the same class as the protagonist with the guys being thrown into Amael''s class.


    ''But what about the last 2? Aren''t they supposed to balance it out?'' he thought for a second but gave up, knowing there was no answer.


    If anything, he doubted it was arranged by that Goddess of Light, or some heavenly luck...


    ''In the novel, I was in Class 4 without any major characters, for the most part,'' he recalled the class divisions.


    The protagonist was in Class 3 with Caera, Avon, Ava, Sylvie, Lyra and some more while Amael was in Class 1 with Ziva, Freirae, Elara, Vivia, Zaos, the lightning guy and more.


    Despite the changes being sudden and too hard for Jash to calculate, it wasn''t like he was someone wanting to play the babysitter for the plot.


    In fact, he considered it a welcome change.


    ''Trying to save your little hero,'' Jash smirked, thinking it was someone from the Church that messed this shit up.


    Or it could also be the Principal who noticed something about the guy and wanted to give the little one some face.


    Nevertheless, the situation remained the same, the protagonist would not be in the same class with either Amael or himself. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bringing him out of his reverie was the same professor who asked them to check it as he said, "It seems you all have checked your Class division."


    "For those with Class 6 to 10, you all will receive the information for your classes soon, but don''t worry it will be the same for those with Classes 1 to 5."


    His words only served to increase the confusion as there were only supposed to be five classes but the professor didn''t choose to explain anything more.


    Rather, he gave vague information, "Each Class will have one Professor as its proctor, and they will explain everything in more detail."


    "Ah, right! Don''t make the mistake of befriending your seniors in the first month, better to avoid them before you learn the ropes of the Academy."


    While it indeed sounded like a joke, the senior students could only cough awkwardly, being put on the spot all of a sudden.


    Not mulling over his words, the professor finally came to an important part, "Next, I would like to invite the Year Representatives for the first years!"

 Chapter 184 - 184: Reckless Words

    The professor''s words elicited a round of applause from the crowd, but it was visibly obvious that not all of them were excited about it.


    Well, they were mentally comparing themselves, thinking that it was supposed to be them, not Jash and Ziva.


    Naturally, the two had not even bothered to stand up and exchanged a look as if prompting the other to go first.


    Neither seemed to be interested in delivering a speech or anything, with one having all her focus on growing stronger and training herself.


    While the other was bored and didn''t want to do it.


    ''If only I could put this on someone else while enjoying the benefits,'' Jash sighed, thinking of that wonderful possibility.


    Alas, it was impossible, but he could at least delay it. "You go first," he whispered, leaning closer to Ziva.


    "No," she simply denied, not even wanting to give an excuse for it.


    Her straight-up, blunt denial stunned Jash, but he cheekily mentioned, "Ladies first, or in your case, girls first."


    Had he stopped at ''ladies first,'' she might''ve gotten angry for being compared to old women, but he pretty much knew what to say.


    It even came naturally to him as if the event had already happened in the past, but he didn''t realize it due to the lack of the feeling of deja vu.


    On the other hand, Ziva only gave him a strange look, feeling compelled to go on the stage or it got too late.


    After all, it wouldn''t really be nice if they got scolded on their first day now, would it?


    ''Seriously, what goes on in this guy''s head?'' she wondered, standing up and heading to the stage.


    The moment she stood up, the auditorium fell silent, with only the sound of her heels clacking on the wooden floor.


    Her primly styled hair stayed in place, moving only slightly, yet her elegant gait attracted quite a few unsavory eyes.


    Sadly, she was used to it, but someone wasn''t.


    ''These imbeciles,'' Jash thought, stopping himself from cursing and taking note of who looked on with what kind of gaze.


    Honestly, the boys had no idea how petty a person they had been marked by...


    "I am Ziva... your Year Representative," Ziva began, her voice melodious and sweet to the ear, yet it carried a strange danger to it.


    Only a few caught the hint of it, shivering in their seats, feeling the chill go down their spine.


    "I got this through my own strength, and I will continue to do so," she said confidently, unafraid of anyone disliking her.


    "If you think you can take it from me, then please be strong enough before challenging me, or be ready to get hurt," she ended her speech.


    Yet the entire auditorium fell silent, feeling the coldness of her concluding words, it was difficult to miss, with how obvious she made it.


    However, a loud round of applause and cheers erupted as she stepped down and returned to her seat.


    "Nice declaration," Jash praised, teasingly while Caera challenged, "Good one, but I will take it from you."


    Ignoring Jash as if it were her second nature, Ziva smiled at Caera and said, "Good luck."


    Her smile made the boys cheer even louder, some even clamored something about a dual personality yandere waifu¨C


    Unlike Ziva who ignored it all, Jash had a cold air around him, not liking the words and unsavory stares coming her way.


    Even his usually lively and tired gray eyes had a hint of irritation within them as he walked slowly, causing the cheering to pause.


    Similar to Ziva, he was the son of a ducal family, not someone many could afford to offend and thus, the cheering resumed for him.


    Who in their right mind would even openly confront the children of ducal families?


    However, their loud cheering was nothing but noise for Jash who''s expression soured. ''Annoying,'' he thought.


    Still, he didn''t forget his task, reached the podium and looked forward, similar to Ziva.


    His tired, bored face with a hint of irritation in his eyes unnerved the students as the cheers quietened down, making his expression relax.


    "I am Jash Ramille, the other Year Representative. I''ll keep it short," he began, scanning the students with a nonchalant gaze.


    His gaze was as if looking at those beneath him, or even beneath humans, making quite a few dislike it, even ignoring them.


    "I hate annoying¡ªpeople or things, so don''t bother me. I don''t care about it all, just do it yourself," he said and began to leave.


    But he suddenly stopped, as if recalling something. "Ah, right! If you want the position, you''re free to take it. I will give it myself; just do all the chores that come with it."


    Walking down casually as if he hadn''t just undermined the value of Year Representative, something even the seniors respected, he sat down with a small smile on his face.


    Meanwhile, his actions enraged many¡ªstudents, professors, seniors alike¡ªbut what could they even do about it?


    He was a carefree soul and had no interest in taking the position if not for the benefits it gave.


    Thus, many students cursed him, feeling helpless.


    After all, even the others who reached the top 10, even if there were no rankings, didn''t want to mess with him.


    In the audience, one particular student was on the verge of having a breakdown.


    "I was the one who should have been there," he muttered.


    His disheveled blue hair and lifeless pale-green eyes were a stark contrast to their vibrant hues when he fought using the Lightning Element against Jash and Grunghin.


    "Why," he mumbled in confusion, still not able to understand how he was defeated seemingly effortlessly, his every attack easily countered by Jash.


    The boy had thought that the Entrance Test would be the place where he would show the world that his talent alone was enough to overcome any obstacle.


    He would prove that the noble scions were nothing without the tremendous amount of resources they spent on their children.


    Alas, Jash was not someone he could even fathom competing with.


    Jash was a monster in human skin, the sole reason he seemed to have a power that was achievable was because he was holding back.


    Not holding back on using his strength, but holding back on using everything to maximize his strength.


    And hearing the various murmurs, grumbles, curses, clattering teeth, the smile on his face turned into a smirk.


    Unlike the time with Ziva, there were no claps or cheers as his words were quite insulting.


    "Ahem, the opening ceremony is finished. Please go to your dorm rooms. The staff outside will help you all," The professor took over, seeing the state of the students and decided to end the ceremony. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite this, few were in the mood to leave; half of the ones present were not even truly admitted into the Academy.


    And the rest had to face the humiliation of not being the Year Representative and seeing its authority being undermined.


    It was their dream yet the person who got it had no respect for it.


    ''I wonder what she thinks,'' Jash mused about Ziva, unbothered by the angry stares directed at him.


    He really didn''t think any of them could be a threat beside the protagonist and his plot-armor...


    Why he was not wary of Amael despite the guy being able to rival a protagonist was a matter for another time, though.

 Chapter 185 - 185: Rankers Dorms

    As the students began dispersing, the professors ensured that nothing out of place occurred in the meantime.


    Watching them go, Ziva sat quietly beside Jash before breaking the silence. "What happened to you?"


    "Hm?" Jash looked at her questioningly, unable to understand what she was implying.


    "Rank 1, the speech, the banquet in retrospect¡ªeverything, you don''t like those stuff, yes?" she said rhetorically, nodding afterward.


    "Only your last words about wanting to give it away were true in that speech as well, and before that¡ªthe class division¨C"


    "Alright, alright, I got it," Jash cut her off, not wanting to hear her list everything that was different about him.


    Because it wouldn''t change a thing, he hadn''t even told his family yet, so why would he tell her?


    Well, if he knew the future, he would''ve told her as soon as possible, but that wasn''t in his capabilities, so he chose to lie.


    "Nothing much, you know, just the same, wanted to become Year Representative due to perks and a good sleep," he shrugged.


    "I mean, wouldn''t I be able to keep up with others with the extra resources?" he asked truthfully.


    Looking at her still doubtful expression, Jash cursed inwardly, ''Damn her element!''


    After all, her element helped her intuitively to understand if things were true or false, and it was telling her this was the truth.


    Yet her instincts informed her that it was only a half-truth, something he said to cover up the real reason.


    ''I''ll investigate later,'' she thought, noticing a professor coming their way with a bright smile on his face.


    Though even a toddler could tell it was a fake smile from how excessive it seemed.


    "I will take you to your dorms," he said, prompting the two to stand up and follow him with an, "Okay."


    Right outside the auditorium were a few students queuing up to get their dorm keys from the staff members.


    However, Jash and Ziva only cast a glance once before following the professor away while others were being led in groups by the staff.


    Following the professor, it still took them nearly half an hour to reach a five-floor building that seemed to be equally divided into two sides.


    This type of architecture was fairly common in their world, a marvel of highly advanced magic engineering.


    "This building was made for the top ten, that is, the Rankers among the freshmen," the professor explained.


    "Right now, it''s empty, but the top ten students will stay here after the assessment test," he said before gesturing.


    The silver-blue door opened and he explained, "This is a co-ed dorm. Each floor has only two rooms, but there''s no separation based on genders, only ranks."


    Though it might seem like keeping teens with raging hormones together would be a bad idea, it worked fairly well.


    At least it motivated the teens to outperform the other gender, or impress a girl/boy, and in various other ways.


    "Isn''t that unsafe?" Ziva asked with a disgusted expression on her face, startling the professor for once.


    "Ahem, no. Ever since this dorm method was applied, no such incident has ever occurred as no one can enter this building except the rankers,"


    "And the bracelets on your wrist will help you if it actually happens, just one thought and the person nearby will face severe punishment,"


    "Of course, some couples might want to joke around with this, but that''s just going to end up badly for them," the professor clarified,


    The sneaky smile on his face as if signaling something irked Jash but he could only keep it to himself.


    ''He''s a professor, Jash, let''s just remember him and make sure he becomes a casualty,'' he told himself to calm down.


    Unaware of the crazy idiot he annoyed, the professor felt a sudden chill go down his back, feeling the urge to leave suddenly.


    "Anyways, the rooms are based on ranks: Rank 1 in room 1 on the 5th floor, Rank 2 in room 2 on the 5th floor, Rank 3 in room 3 on the 4th floor, and so on and so forth."


    Jash wasn''t paying attention, already aware of it from the novel after the protagonist became a Ranker from the Assessment Test.


    Oblivious to it, the professor continued, "But fret not, the privacy is well-respected with the rooms being soundproofed,"


    "Also, as the floor goes up, the facilities in them also increase, but all the floors are way better than what other students will live in."


    Not stopping, he added hastily, "Naturally, the higher the Rank, the higher the perks and facilities, even on the same floor."


    There was no real need to speak about this because anyone could see that this sort of building was a rarity, a luxury that only a select few could get.


    "After the assessment test, depending on your rank in the top 10, you can go higher or lower from floor 1," the professor said, entering the lift as soon as it arrived.


    They were currently present in the ground floor lobby room, which was a common area for the top 10 rankers to interact with each other.


    ''The cafeteria seems like a better place,'' Jash thought, reluctantly entering the lift, while Ziva looked at the training grounds with a similar expression.


    "Your ID bracelets will become your dorm keys after being linked, so there''s no need to worry about misplacing them,"


    "And there''s some stuff already present in your rooms, so you can check that out or may rest for the day," he said before turning around and entering the lift.


    He was really in a hurry and had opened the room number 9 and 10, binding them to their ID bracelets.


    "Hmm, so is my room better than yours?" Jash asked with a smirk, finally feeling free from restrictions as he noted his room number to be 9.


    "Childish," Ziva muttered under her breath, and entered her room, locking it using her bracelet.


    Jash saw it, but didn''t have a change in expression as if used to it and entered his own room.


    "Wow, how extravagant," he whistled, seeing the huge room that screamed luxury, but it wasn''t enough to faze him in the slightest.


    He was the son of a duke, there were very few things that he would covet and a simple room wasn''t one of them.


    "Damn this color coding," he grumbled, trying to find the bedroom to get a good rest in.


    The huge living room with some white doors having golden design on them didn''t sit well with his eyes.


    Entering one of them, Jash smiled more naturally than ever. "A kitchen, huh? How nostalgic," he muttered with a longing gaze.


    Despite knowing that there was a cafeteria and most of the food would be served free of charge, he still wanted to try it out.


    "Well, not now," he sighed, closing the door and getting out, before entering another room.


    It was the Mana Training room and he immediately closed it, not wanting to train in the least.


    Contrarily, Ziva had entered that same room in her dorms and had already begun training. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But it wasn''t like she really needed to, she was just a training maniac, if Jash were to describe it.

 Chapter 186 - 186: Beneath the Surface

    At the moment, Jash could feel that he only needed a few days before breaking through the Mid E-Rank.


    His speed was faster than anyone had ever known, but that was considering his one-year delay in awakening.


    But it was a well-hidden fact, so few knew, making his progress seem less impressive.


    Alas, his performance in the Entrance Test revealed his mana core rank, and he still got the E+ Hunter Rank, which was surprising.


    Even the protagonist only achieved a rank matching his mana core, which was known to be the bare minimum for that Hunter Rank.


    Naturally, Jash became the sole exception to that rule, defying common sense.


    As he had experienced it in his previous life, he knew how to grow stronger at the same rank itself, something others couldn''t possibly do.


    However, he wasn''t one to care about such matters, calling them trivial even.


    "Finally," he breathed out a sigh of relief at finding the bedroom on his third try but he saw a box on the side table.


    But he didn''t even spare the box a single glance, directly jumping on the bed to get a good rest.


    "Just why was this opening ceremony so early in the morning," he grumbled as he closed his eyes to get a good rest.


    Unlike Ziva who was busy training or other nobles cursing their lack of luxury in the dorms, Jash preferred to rest.


    Similar yet not similar to Jash, Amael was peacefully sitting on his bed with a smirk as he muttered, "I wonder how those retards would react."


    He was referring to the student council, professors, and other freshmen since Jash had undermined the Year Representative position.


    Despite losing the position, Amael was happy, feeling free from the obligations and burdens he would have taken on if he had won.


    That''s why he happily lost to Jash, earning more Villain Points than expected, making it a fruitful experience.


    However, the student council and the professors were a problem that he needed to deal with carefully.


    It wasn''t that he had any issues with them, but they certainly had issues with him.


    After all, helping the protagonist was equal to opposing him and yet he didn''t even consider any freshmen a threat.


    They simply couldn''t outgrow him, and that was it.


    But it was different for the seniors; they were more powerful and experienced than the younger students.


    "Not like it''s too difficult for me," Amael mumbled to himself and the system chimed in.


    {Yes, Host. Your plan is going well for now.}


    Amael just smiled at the interface, saying, "Let it begin."


    Different from Amael, the protagonist was under a huge mental pressure. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Helios felt the familiar confines of the dorm room close in on him, a reminder of his pre-regression life, despite his best efforts to change it.


    To add insult to injury, the one who got it wasn''t his archnemesis but a guy who didn''t even care about the position at all.


    "He has the nerve to demean something so respectable! Unforgivable!" Helios exclaimed, his fists clenched, infuriated at Jash''s casual speech.


    "How dare he?" Helios yelled, feeling uncomfortable to have lost something he believed was his own.


    (Host, it is advisable to calm down as you will have your chance at the Assessment Test)


    Despite hearing the system''s words, Helios couldn''t calm down, knowing it wasn''t as simple as that.


    After all, he was the one who had gone through all these events in his past life, not the system, so how could it even know?


    In the first place, it wasn''t even something alive, so how could it understand Helios''s emotions?


    Unaware of one vowing to throw him off the pedestal and the other with his own schemes, Jash slept like a baby.


    But the professor who had escorted him was busy grumbling under his breath, "Why couldn''t I tell them to not provoke others like this?


    He was tasked with informing the Year Representative of the consequences if they continued to disparage others, but somehow, he hadn''t managed to say it.


    Thus, he had returned from the faculty building to say it, nearing the Ranker''s Dorm when an icy voice startled him.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Turning to the source of the voice, he bowed, "Ah, Professor Aileen, it''s you. I was just here to inform the Year Representatives."


    "Hm? You could just send them a notification, then," Professor Aileen said, pointing to the bracelet on his wrist.


    "Uhm, that," the professor hesitated before saying it under her frosty glare, "It''s about warning them not to provoke others unnecessarily."


    "Let it be," Professor Aileen said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, but the other professor failed to understand, letting out a bewildered sound, "huh?"


    "What can they even do? The two are in a league of their own," Professor Aileen explained with a souring expression, making the other professor gulp in nervousness.


    "A-as you say, Professor Aileen," he said before bowing and hurriedly leaving, grumbling under his breath, "Just my day, tsk."


    Professor Aileen heard it but let it be because today was a happy day, muttering, "He knows his strength well, not his limits."


    She knew that Jash had a lot of potential but he was limiting himself, being unaware of all that monstrous potential hidden within.


    Leaving the area after making sure nothing was wrong, and no one was nearby, she went to the faculty council room.


    And the topic of discussion just so happened to be the one she had taken an interest in.


    "This will create trouble with the Student Council and the Seniors," one professor mentioned with a sigh.


    "Haha, so what? This boy is quite gutsy!" a man with a thick stubble and scars on his skin said with a laugh.


    "That is just stupid," a well-dressed and elegantly dressed woman said, frowning at the unkempt appearance of the man.


    "Professor Chloe, you need to handle this matter carefully," a bespectacled man, giving a scholarly vibe said.


    "I agree with Professor Ethan. Tell the Student Council President to manage them properly," another professor added.


    "Thinking you can control those little monsters? Ha! What a joke," the unkempt man scoffed with a mocking grin.


    Of course, he was unkempt in comparison to the others here, not in its truest sense.


    "Professor Conroy, I think you are forgetting that the faculty council is still above the students," replied Professor Chloe with disdain in her eyes.


    "Hoh, well, then why don''t ya try?" Conroy challenged them, mocking them for their stupid ideas.


    He had already noticed that the boy cared naught for anyone and only had himself in his world, doing whatever he liked.


    And from the Entrance Test, his lazy and uncaring personality was obvious.


    "You guys are discussing some useless things, I see," Aileen said while entering the room, drawing all eyes on her.


    Yet she wasn''t fazed in the slightest, but her voice indeed cut off a few voices of opposition, making the professor shift uncomfortably in their seats.


    "Shouldn''t you all be discussing the changes in this year''s course or the First Day of classes tomorrow?" she asked in a chiding manner.


    Despite everyone in the room being a SS-Rank like her, no one had the words to counter her and the ones who could had long left the meeting room.


    That''s why Aileen was so bold, to begin with.

 Chapter 187 - 187: The Chance Thief

    It was the day after the opening ceremony, and the students were donning the uniforms given to them.


    Since it was the first day and everyone had class, every student present was wearing their uniform.


    It was compulsory to be in uniform during theory classes, but students were allowed to wear anything they liked outside those classes.


    The Class Schedule had already been sent to all 1,000 selected students this year and the other 1,000.


    Some students were unhappy when they found out that they were not in the same class as their friends.


    As mentioned, each class was made with the idea of balance in mind, based on the student''s performance in the Entrance Test.


    That way, no class would have too many or too few talented individuals.


    It was an obvious outcome as separating them based on their rankings and giving them different professors would be nothing short of discrimination.


    The Academy actively encouraged its students to compete with each other and instilled the idea of trying to become better than others.


    Although there would be many unfortunate students would eventually reach the limit of their potential at the Academy, and come to accept that they could not progress any further.


    Simply put, if two individuals worked hard, the more talented one would always have better results.


    It was the harsh truth: If one''s potential was low, no amount of hard work could make you an equal to a genius who similarly worked hard.


    Well, there were always exceptions, but they were few and far between, never becoming a standard to judge others by.


    And the Academy was a place for elites to grow and understand the nature of society, not a daycare to babysit them.


    In essence, the world was mostly peaceful at a public level and only people with enough power and authority had the right to know the truth.


    But just as there was light, darkness existed; there were people who would misuse their powers for the worse.


    It was a world where your strength determined your social standing, after all.


    Not that people in power didn''t misuse it, it was just that they were tame and knew their targets well.


    However, to all of this, Jash was a firm exception, having already seen the true nature of the human heart, free from harboring delusions of changing it.


    He had already matured from such a mindset, and his talent allowed him to laze around while surpassing others casually.


    If the others knew how much he was training and working to improve himself, they''d go crazy thinking he''s the Heavenly Chosen or something.


    Alas, that fate eluded him.


    "Urgh, just whose idea is it to have classes in the early morning," he grumbled while on his way to class.


    ''I am not in school, aren''t I? Damn it,'' he cursed inwardly, not having a pleasant expression.


    It wasn''t that he was late or anything, but his sweet sweet sweet sleep had to be disturbed because of the early Classes.


    "Just why am I not in Class 3?" a girl nearby squealed, wanting to be in the same class as that golden-haired handsome boy.


    ''Wow, he already got admirers so early on?'' Jash clicked his tongue and sped up, not wanting to hear anymore of such talks.


    Thankfully, the Classes 1 to 5 each had a separate block, belonging solely to the 200 students of the Class.


    The rest 1000 had to suffice with sharing it all with each other, eyeing this area covetously.


    "What''s the fun in being with the same class?" Jash grumbled, seemingly as if he was mocking them, but he was jealous.


    If only he were in the same class as someone who wouldn''t bother him and would remind him of anything important...


    Then, he''d sleep through class, breezing through all of them easily as the tests didn''t hold much importance to him.


    ''Urgh, if only I didn''t become the Year Representative, I would have no need to study any theory,'' he cringed at his own decision.


    But what was done was already done and nothing could change that.


    And as Jash was about to enter the Block 1 of Class 1, he saw a group of students standing in a corner, blocking the path forward.


    ''What''s going on in the morning?'' he thought, not really in the mood for some shitty drama first thing in the morning.


    "Move," he said irritatedly, pushing away the student by his shoulder.


    "Who dar¨C" the student was about to shout but shut his mouth and obediently moved aside after feeling the strong grip and recognizing Jash.


    "What''s happening?" he asked, making his way through the students, annoyed by them not moving out of the way already.


    ''Can''t they freaking see me?'' he thought for a second before remembering it was nothing but his vain pride giving him such thoughts.


    But at last, someone finally recognized him, "Oh, it''s the Year Representative."


    It caught the attention of other students as they stepped aside, letting Jash through.


    "So, what''s happening?" Jash asked rhetorically, looking at the figure of two guys holding each other''s collars and having bruised faces.


    Unlike a peaceful solution that one would expect, Jash went ahead and smacked both of them in the head. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ""Ow""


    "Go to your class and hope that you never annoy me," he declared before glancing at them coldly, making them tremble slightly.


    In the next second, the two ran in one go and the rest of the students also left quickly, not wanting to get smacked.


    "Ugh, just my day," Jash complained, not being aware of the change he brought in the plot once again.


    It was easy to guess that if not for him being annoyed, he would''ve left after a simple glance, uninterested in the event.


    And Amael wouldn''t be much different in that regard, not having any reason to interfere.


    Thus, it became the perfect opportunity for the protagonist to stand out for being different and giving a damn.


    However, Jash accidentally destroyed an opportunity, but the one who actually reaped its rewards was casually sitting by the window in Class 2.


    {...Villain Points.}


    ''Hm? System, what happened?'' Amael asked, not having the slightest change in his facial expression.


    {...I don''t know, but the protagonist lost something.}


    The system answered vaguely, making Amael frown but there wasn''t more time for him to ask it as he recognized someone from the door.


    ''Zaos? That martial artist? Vivia? Sam?''


    Recognizing them, Amael was in deep thought as not only his class changed but so did theirs and his eyes narrowed in suspicion at the final sight of Avon.


    ''Just what the hell is happening here?'' he doubted his eyes for a second as a lot was changing, but he soon smiled.


    The system chimes about his ever-increasing Villain Points were a delight to his ears.


    Similar to Amael, Jash had taken a window seat, but in the front row, not for studying but being able to leave just a few seconds faster.


    ''Why''s she in my class?'' he asked himself, unable to believe it was that girl, someone he planned on helping.


    Sadly, it sent the wrong message to Ziva, who entered the classroom and found him staring at another girl, frowning,


    ''Who is she? I remember her, but her name... yeah, Elara, wasn''t it?''

 Chapter 188 - 188: Twist on the First Day

    ''Wait, why am I even affected? Why do I even care?'' Ziva suddenly found her own thoughts confusing as she made her way to the opposite side.


    Unconsciously, she had already arrived at the seat next to Jash, her eyes widening at the realization but before she could walk away,


    "Why don''t you just sit here?" Jash interrupted her, making her unable to reject it.


    It wasn''t that she couldn''t refuse, but it would end up being troublesome as it was common knowledge that the two were friends.


    ''Plus, the engagement rumors,'' Ziva thought, sitting next to him with a silent curt nod.


    It wasn''t a friendly exchange by any manner yet no one in the Classroom had the guts to say otherwise.


    In fact, it was utterly silent at Jash''s entry, his stark reminder of hating annoying stuff clear in their minds.


    Any small mumbling and whispering ended the moment Ziva entered, both Year Representatives being in the same class made the rest of the class nervous.


    Poor folks couldn''t even unravel and vent their emotions in the Classroom.


    But Jash was actually quite at peace, hearing no noise at all, or so he appeared on the surface.


    ''That girl... isn''t supposed to be here, she was in Amael''s class, no?'' Jash thought in confusion.


    ''Did I end up overcharging the events??'' He asked himself, unable to know the truth but it was indeed true.


    Though the protagonist was still in Class 3 with Caera, Ava, Sylvie, Lyra, Levi, and a few others, primarily more females.


    But Amael had shifted to be in Class 2 with Freirae, Vivia, Zaos, the lightning guy, Sam, and even Avon.


    There were many changes, but it mattered little, as everyone else seemed to have been thrown into Class 4 with Grungin being the strongest in it.


    And Class 5... poor students were a total bunch of average students with no one over the top in it.


    However, due to this disparity caused by ''random'' selection of classes, the rest of the students were utterly weak.


    Not that it mattered in the Classes 1,2 and 3, but it sure was strange, making Jash wonder if someone had purposefully messed the class division up.


    ''Also, where is that pink-haired girl? In the protagonist''s class?'' Jash suddenly recalled the man he employed and her daughter.


    An unintentional scoff left his lips, though low sounding, it resounded in the silent classroom.


    ''What''s wrong with me?'' Ziva thought, finding herself frowning at his every action and constantly being conscious of him.


    If only Jash knew her signs, he''d know that she was merely jealous and her pride had taken a hit due to his performance.


    After seeing it, it was obvious that Jash could defeat her if she didn''t go all out, but what if she went all out?


    In truth, the outcome wouldn''t change, Jash was nearly immune to any mental attacks as long as it could harm him or manipulate him.


    If it were just a simple illusion or something he didn''t even try to resist, it might work on him.


    However, Ziva didn''t know of it or her own feelings and Jash was busy considering the information pertaining to Elara.


    That girl was important to him, not in a romantic sense but another and he had plans to help her.


    ''But do I befriend her or not? It would look too weird and out of character if I suddenly became friendly... ugh, annoying, annoying, so annoying!''


    At the moment, he couldn''t think of anything but his facial expressions gave him away.


    Already, every student was actively avoiding sitting anywhere near the duo, not wanting to get into their eyes.


    After all, what would they do if they somehow ended up offending them?


    Most of them were commoners so who would even help them?


    Around 60 percent of the students at the academy came from a common background, while others were either from a rich family or were part of nobility.


    But their class had two duke''s children, so no one in their right mind wanted to annoy Jash in the slightest.


    Nevertheless, studying at the Academy helped not only to improve one''s strengths but also in making connections with rich and influential people.


    So, it came to no surprise that there were various many small factions among students inside the Academy.


    Not that anyone could have joined one by now as the Seniors were the ones recruiting freshmen, and they were yet to meet, officially.


    Only those who got scammed at the opening ceremony would suffer from that fate.


    As the seconds ticked by, the time approached for the classes to start.


    And right when only a few seconds were left, a female professor entered through the door.


    It was obvious because her clothing was different and had three stars on her sleeves and shoulders.


    Seeing her, all the students straightened their backs and looked in front, curious about her.


    However, she didn''t care one bit about the curious glances cast her way, walking up to the table in the middle and pressing her hands on it.


    She raised her head to look at the students and broke the silence, "First of all, congratulations on making it here.


    Her voice was soft yet lacking warmth and seemed to lack any touch of emotion, making a not-so-good impression on the students.


    Only, Jash was frowning, recognizing her already. ''Damn! Even the teacher changed?!'' he thought, surprised by it.


    "My name is Aileen Frostvale, and I am in charge of Class 1," Aileen introduced herself, glancing at Jash for a second before withdrawing her gaze.


    Hearing her name, many students had their mouths wide open. She was one of the SS-Rank Hunters, after all.


    She had blue-white hair with light purple eyes, and she seemed to have a serious no-nonsense type of personality.


    Alas, her true playful nature was well-hidden and only her cold exterior was visible.


    "You might have heard of me, but in case you haven''t, were you living under a rock? I am one of those SS-Rank hunters you admire,"


    She said that with slight chagrin as she snapped her fingers, and a sword made of pure ice formed above her fingertips.


    "And I specialize in the sword and Ice Element," she said, and the ice-sword in her hand kept changing shapes and sizes at first.


    Then, it began changing from blue to purple to transparent to white to translucent blue-white...


    It was as if she could control the ice itself but she instantly cut it off, ignoring the intrigued and awed faces of the students.


    Alas, the Ice element was rare for someone to awaken and she didn''t have much hope about it from her students.


    Even if someone did, it needed talent to be master as controlling it gets harder and harder as the complexity of it increased.


    That''s why her control over it was so shocking for the students.


    Thankfully, the sword was the most preferred weapon and she just so happened to be a master of that, allowing her to guide them.


    And with how perfectly she mimicked different swords from the ice gave them a hint of her capabilities.


    "That''s enough, focus back to the class," she said coldly, disrupting the student''s focus from above her fingertips.


    "As today is your first day, I will go easy on you, only explaining some rules and other stuff that you must be aware of about the Academy," she declared with a simple smile. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 189 - 189: Academy Induction

    "As today is your first day, I will go easy on you, only explaining some rules and other stuff that you must be aware of about the Academy," she declared with a simple smile.


    In her thoughts, she was simply smiling at the students, but it only appeared to be demonic in the students'' eyes as they immediately shivered at her seemingly disdainful words.


    But she didn''t seem to notice anything odd about the class and began, "As you know, there are five main classes for the first years, and right now, all of you are unranked."


    As she said so, the plain wall behind her turned to display the picture of a circle divided into six sections. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This area belongs to the freshmen, and each of these smaller blocks for each class while the bigger block is for the other students," she said, pointing towards the screen.


    "Just like the freshmen or the first-year, we have six similar blocks for each year except the final year as not even a thousand meet the graduating criteria by that time."


    She paused at the pale faces and gave a cold stare, mentioning, "By the way, just because you all are here doesn''t mean you will still be here after the assessment test."


    ''Damn! Is she a teacher or what? Why does it feel like she''s demotivating them more than anyone else?'' Jash thought in disbelief.


    He knew about Aileen Frostvale and her plot of helping Amael as she had Ice element, and a sword, similar to Amael, though their element differed.


    "Anyways, we are in Block 1 right now and everyone''s here, so it''s fine," she said, but it only served to make the students curious.


    After all, they had not seen her take any attendance or anything yet she was sure that everyone was present.


    The students turned their heads, trying to get a rough estimate of the students on all their sides when her voice sounded.


    "Enough!" Aileen used mana to amplify her voice, a basic technique anyone with good control over mana could perform.


    "Firstly, the bracelets you received are active, look at the green light on it, indicating your attendance then click on the white light next to it."


    Listening to her, the students obediently clicked the white light, and information about them and their class schedule was presented in front of them.


    "This bracelet is your ID card, which will be used in almost everything inside the Academy," Aileen explained.


    However, what she skipped was that she had already scanned the 200 students and matched their faces from the records.


    ¡ªClap!


    Clapping to bring the students'' focus back to her, Aileen paced across the classroom as if about to say something important.


    "Now the main part; At the Academy, aside from some compulsory subjects, each student must choose at least three subjects from the list in front of you."


    Saying so, she snapped her fingers as the wall behind her turned to display a list of subjects, but there were just too many.


    "Each year, all the freshmen have 4 common subjects: Mana Manipulation, Beast Theory, the Duel class and Dungeon Theory," she said.


    Dungeon Theory was a subject that was made compulsory after some batch of the academy students had ended up making stupid mistakes, costing them serious injuries, during their dungeon raid.


    Not everyone came from nobility or rich families with dungeon-raiding experience, making it all the more necessary.


    The Academy had made this class compulsory only for students without prior dungeon experience, but they had to change it.


    Simply because, the nobility and rich families preferred to send guards for their children, hindering them from truly learning.


    As a result, the academy had to work extra hard to make up for the loss and teach them the basics.


    Contrary to this subject, the other three subjects were never hated by the students,... maybe beast theory?


    "Aside from them, you need to choose other subjects on your own depending on the path you want to take," she further explained.


    "The Academy doesn''t enforce any path to the students. Each student must decide their path as it ought to be something you will want to walk on."


    "That''s why, be careful while choosing your subjects¡ªand your path," she concluded before noticing the confusion on some faces.


    Her face turned icy, annoyed from the students'' inability to understand but she explained nonetheless.


    "Once you choose a subject, you have to attend that class for at least a month and you can only change the chosen subject at most 2¡ª3 if there is a reason¡ªtimes."


    "You will have to study a total of 7 subjects, and if you wish to take more, you can," she added.


    "But remember that your performance in all the subjects will count towards the written exam results and hence, your rank at the end of the year," she finished.


    ''Is this what she meant by not going overboard and only explaining some things...?'' Jash doubted her words, feeling dizzy from the overlord of information.


    Well, not really.


    He wasn''t even surprised, he already knew all this and even more, alway running his mind through one scenario or another.


    In fact, all the information was something even an awakened person of 1 year would be able to take in, they were different, after all.


    However, Aileen seemed to have no regard for anyone''s thoughts, only wanting to complete what she was tasked with.


    "Before talking about ranks or more complex stuff, I am assuming you read the information and set of rules sent to you yesterday," Aileen said, scrutinizing the students.


    Her expression distorted as she scowled, "It''s better if you learn it as soon as possible, or else..."


    The students trembled at her words, glancing at each other in fear yet the Year Representatives seemed to have not heard any of it nor did they react.


    And Aileen seemed to have noticed it too, but didn''t care.


    "Tell me if any of you want to ask something before I explain more rules?" Aileen asked, not wanting any interruptions later on.


    Immediately, a few hands were raised and Aileen selected someone at random.


    "Uhm, uhm, p-professor, w-hat are Y-year Points?"


    Despite her stammering, no one laughed, feeling nervous just like the girl who got singled out.


    Aileen''s expression darkened as it was something that was sent to the students, marked as: [MUST READ BEFORE CLASS]


    "Anyone wants to help her and her fellow students?" Aileen asked and instantly picked the first student who raised his hand.


    The boy stood up and began nervously, "Year Points are the currency inside the Academy, it means we use it for various facilities inside the Academy instead of the Solaris Marks."


    "Correct, Year Points, or YP, are the currency you earn and spend within the Academy," Aileen nodded at the boy, who sat produly.


    But just one glare from her made him scrunch on his seat and hear her next words.


    "There are many ways to earn YP¡ªclass test, during a duel, or by trading with others¡ªbut the most effective way is to have a good rank."


    Saying so, she looked at Ziva and Jash, adding, "I am sure you all heard of the different dormitories for the Rankers, and currently, the Year Representatives are residing there."


    Following her sight, the students also turned to them, feeling jealous and envious of the difference but some had already given up before starting.


    "Rankers¡ªonly the top 10 among the 2,000 first years get the privilege of living there," she said, motioning to the wall behind her.


    Just as the students looked at it, it showed them luxurious facilities, the cooks, the food, the rooms, the personal training grounds and even a shared one.


    But one thing remained common, it was far better than what any of them got, despite some staying in the VIP dormitories.


    They were better than the regular dormitories, and anyone willing to pay could reside there, but it wasn''t cheap.


    Then again, the ranking came into play as converting real money to YP was a hassle if one didn''t have a good rank themselves or someone who could do it for them.


    In the end, most of the students in Class 1 were from humble backgrounds, not able to pay the exorbitant fee or not having enough YP despite having the money to exchange it for.


    Yet the Rankers dormitories were different, it was a matter of skill, talent and strength instead of anything else.


    That''s why the students exclaimed their admiration despite fearing Aileen since she entered.


    "Wow!"


    "So cool!!"


    "I want to be here!!"


    "This is better than even my home!"


    Even Aileen let the students let out their feelings for a few moments at the sight of the building before bringing their attention back, breaking any and all delusions.


    "Only the top 10 can live here, but don''t aim for the top ranks solely for the dormitories," Aileen mentioned, confusing the students.


    They had already begun to imagine what it would be like to live in that beautiful building in front of them, and how comfortable even their growth would become.


    After all, dedicated trainers were better than just the classes of 200 with only one professor.


    However, Aileen had to complete her goal, explaining the privileges of the ranking, which even Ziva and Jash weren''t supposed to know the specifics of.


    Despite that, it wasn''t that Jash wasn''t aware of it, but he too had to act the part, acting similarly oblivious as Ziva.


    "In the Academy, your Rank determines your everything," Aileen dropped a bomb which was somewhat expected by the students.

 Chapter 190 - 190: Ranks and YP: Everything?

    "In the Academy, your Rank determines your everything; from how much YP you get each month to how much of it you can buy for Solaris Marks,"


    "For instance, the Rankers get 1000 YP monthly; Rank 11-50 will get 500 YP, 51-100 will get 400 YP, 101-500 will get 300 YP, and the rest will only get 100 YP each month."


    Before the students could fully digest the words with heavy hearts, Aileen added more to their misery,


    "You use these Year Points to not only buy food but also for everything¡ªa certain amount of YP is needed to be paid."


    Hearing this, more than 90% of the class grew nervous, exchanging anxious glances, because it meant that if they didn''t secure a good rank, their lives would be even more difficult.


    ''Well, they can''t be exchanging YP for Solaris Marks, so I guess she didn''t even bother explaining?'' Jash mused, looking at the silent Aileen.


    It seemed that she had nothing more to say, just waiting for the students to digest the weight of her words.


    Of course, it was overly unfair to most students, but they couldn''t protest even if they wanted to.


    The Academy already made it very clear that it was training the children to get ready to face the reality of the world.


    And no doubt the world was one heck of an unfair place where the vilest person might thrive and the kindest person might become a criminal.


    ''Just like reality, there is a hope to survive in the Academy, isn''t there?'' Jash mused with a bitter smile.


    Similar to the hope which pushed people past their limits and live everyday in the world, the Academy''s hope might not come to fruition.


    It was just as flawed as reality itself, another reason the Academy was even called inhumane for children and some cults were formed around that.


    Poor folks just wanted a safer environment for children, holding the hunters and people of power responsible.


    After all, it was unremarkable their fault for not being able to give a world where no children had to fight for his life.


    Unfortunately, it was a far-fetched dream in this twisted world where life and death were a moment''s notice away.


    ''Not like they have any other choice, though¡ªexcluding the suspicious people,'' Jash thought, clenching his fist under the table.


    ''No one wants children to participate in life-and-death battles, especially their own, or so it should be,'' he told himself to calm down.


    At that time, Aileen was explaining the hope of the student inside the Academy after someone asked about having 0 YP.


    "...If any of you ever hit 0 YP, you can ask your friends for a loan, you can easily trade YP at the trading center," she explained.


    "There might even be some quests by the seniors for their juniors or peers, rewarding a certain amount of YP," she added.


    Hearing these two undeniable simple options made the students'' nervous expressions relax a bit.


    ''The second one is better,'' Jash thought, believing only idiots would go for the first option.


    Alas, he failed to consider the weaklings who couldn''t even complete simple tasks or were too afraid to face their seniors.


    Though there were no risks of losing promised YP after completing a quest or mission, some students feared the seniors would forcefully get it traded back.


    Being weak did come with their own set of insecurities and fears, something only someone at their level could understand.


    If it weren''t for the luxurious treatment from his family and his past life memories being melded in, Jash would''ve understood their plight.


    He was the weakest person, once.


    Somewhat similar to him, ZIva kept listening carefully, but she was now glad to have given her all to get a good rank.


    She was quite sure that earning YP would be extremely tough in the beginning and losing the headstart was a bad choice.


    Even if she could buy YP every month, it couldn''t compare to the feeling of getting it as a reward for her own hard work.


    However, the next method to earn YP that Aileen mentioned piqued her attention.


    "One easier way to earn YP is the Duel Arena, where you can challenge others for a stake of a certain amount of YP and similarly betting on its outcome."


    As soon as Aileen''s words dropped, the students grew excited at the prospect before realizing that the ones they could defeat were probably not even there.


    But betting could work all the way.


    And Jash was the one to like the latter part about betting only while Ziva seemed to like the first part, wanting to gain experience and grow.


    Oblivious to Jash, Helios had long vowed to duel him in front of everyone and show himself as the strongest!


    "Now," Aileen said, pacing around the front area of the class, "You all may be wondering why I went into so much detail about YP, right?"


    ""It''s simple really, even reading books at the Library requires YP, let alone taking a mana circulation art or weapon technique,"


    "Then, there are restricted sections, depending on the year, but again, if you are a Ranker... you get a free pass to them,"


    "Of course, some specific training areas cost a significant sum of YP just for a few hours, but those few yours matter a lot."


    As soon as her voice faded, she stopped as well for a few moments, allowing the students to digest all the information.


    She was also observing the students, noticing how some of them were using the bracelet to make notes in holograms or record them directly..


    But it was something allowed so she didn''t care, she seemed to be glaring at the ones staring at nothing but air instead.


    There was truly a lot of information to remember in one go, and she had indeed mentioned more information than just the guides sent to them.


    However, it wasn''t her responsibility to ensure if the students were listening in class or wasting their time.


    Simply put, there were many new things being implemented and the students would only get to know of it later, when it was time to regret their past actions.


    Even Jash couldn''t predict all the darned changes happening so quickly around him, but he would surely catch it if he got the slightest whiff.


    "Any other questions?" Aileen asked, thinking that it was enough time for the students to absorb all the information.


    "Will we attend lectures with other classes or just our class?" a boy nervously asked, wanting to be his friend sooner.


    Aileen''s eye''s sharpened at the question as she replied, "Yeah, you may attend classes together depending on the subject."


    "Then, what is the reason for having different classes?" a girl grumbled under her breath.


    But Aileen obviously heard her; she was an SS-Ranker, she could notice the subtlest of cues like Jash clenching his fist under his desk.


    "If anyone''s wondering what''s the point of having five different classes," Aileen began, giving the grumbling girl a glare.


    "Then, let me tell you that each class will have a different ranking despite being formed in such a manner that all five classes have similar strengths, being balanced,"


    "After the assessment test, it will become more prominent what these benefits are depending on your class ranking," she concluded.


    ''Wait, what the heck? Why is it being applied this year??'' Jash barely masked his inner surprise at Aileen''s words.


    Unlike others who were excited at the prospect, he was more worried than excited as it was deeply related to him.


    The rules that were supposed to be applied post his death were being pulled back, being applied way earlier.


    It was strange, way too strange in fact.


    Alas, Jash also knew that it would help him change destiny and fate as they were being altered yet fixed in different manners.


    ''So I can make some things happen earlier based on my decisions?'' He theorized, but wasn''t too sure about it.


    Unlike the contemplative him, Ziva was looking forward to when she heard a whisper of someone in the class. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wait, there''s no way we will lose if both monsters are in our class," a boy whispered to his deskmate, secretly pointing towards Jash and Ziva.


    "Shh... what if they hear you!" his deskmate, a girl hurriedly clasped his mouth, making the two feel embarrassed in the next second.


    Only, the two would probably get teased about it forever by their other friends sitting nearby.


    Thankfully, Aileen didn''t seem to care about such events, happily concluding the class, "That will be all for today, you guys should explore and look around the Academy for today."


    Saying so, she had just turned to leave the classroom when she abruptly stopped.


    "Remember to read about the available subjects and make a choice, you need to tell me your choice of elected subjects by tomorrow."


    However, she didn''t leave and instead added, "Jash Ramille and Ziva Arne, both of you follow me to my office."


    ''It''s probably that, right?" Jash thought, remembering the conversation with Zander as he looked at the departing Aileen.


    Unlike him, Ziva didn''t waste time mulling over hundreds of things and directly got up, following behind Aileen.


    ''Urgh, these two''s glare sure is dangerous,'' Jash groaned, feeling like prey to predators, and quickly followed them.


    The two had to wait for him because of lazy pace, but the two cared naught after he reached them outside the classroom.


    With no other choice, Jash had to match their pace as they passed through the Block 1 exit and walked toward the next block.


    ''Ugh, I definitely don''t want to partake in this dreadful walk until the faculty block,'' he groaned inwardly, smart enough to not let his displeasure show.


    But it did leak and Aileen noticed it from the corner of her eye...

 Chapter 191 - 191: Cautious Guidance

    "This is the exchange sector," Aileen said, leading the two to a different building instead of walking through many blocks.


    The exchange sector didn''t refer to a single building but to all of them cumulatively, as it was accessible to students from every year.


    It was the place where small distance teleportation gates were placed to go to various facilities spread on the vast expanse inside the Solarnelle Academy.


    "From here, you can access many facilities, and as you are the Year Representatives, you can access almost all the portals present here," Aileen explained.


    Just as she finished, a staff member greeted her, "Good morning, Professor Aileen."


    She nodded at the greeting and said to the two, "Well, follow me inside."


    ''Thankfully, something like this exists,'' Jash thought, happy about portals for the first time as the two followed Aileen closely.


    She only stopped at a portal above which the words ''Faculty Block'' were written before nodding at the two of them.


    She entered the portal wordlessly and disappeared a second later.


    Ziva followed first before Jash made his way through, stumbling as he missed a step, engrossed in his thoughts.


    "Ugh," he groaned, but had already entered the portal by then.


    After the familiar sensation of a slight dizziness, Ziva found herself in front of a massive building, which was the Faculty Block.


    Just as Aileen was about to open her mouth, a loud sound interrupted her, prompting both of them to look at the source.


    ¡ªThwack!


    It was none other than Jash falling on the ground due to the imbalanced state he entered the portal with.


    "Argh," he let out a voice of pain, but Aileen was completely dumbfounded, thinking something along the lines of her future prot¨¦g¨¦ turning stupid.


    While Ziva stifled a laugh, barely controlling her urge to snicker at Jash for his sheer idiocy.


    "Ahem," Aileen coughed to get their attention back and ignore Jash''s blunder, feeling strange inside.


    ''Shit! Just my luck to miss something so obvious,'' Jash cursed inwardly, frustration bubbling beneath the surface, but he could only swallow it alongside the embarrassment.


    "This building," Aileen said, pointing at the huge building in front of them, "is the Faculty Block."


    "It consists of the offices of all the professors inside the Academy, and depending on their status, some professors, like me, have their own floors as well."


    Her tone remained flat, but a slight smile tugged at her lips when she mentioned her floor, making it impossible to miss her unmistakable pride.


    ''She is just as narcissistic as any other professor, just doesn''t show it,'' Jash thought, trying to keep his footing stable to prevent another accident.


    Meanwhile, Ziva asked in confusion, "Status? What do you mean, professor?"


    Aileen smiled for the first time. "Just like the students, even the professors are not equal inside the Academy."


    Saying so, she began walking towards the Faculty Building which easily had over a total of 30 floors.


    While walking, she motioned towards her shoulder and sleeve. "Notice the stars near the Solarnelle Academy insignia?"


    Unlike Jash who just gave a curt glance, Ziva leaned closer, noticing that there were indeed three stars along the insignia.


    As if pleased by Ziva, or to impress Jash, Aileen explained, "Depending on one''s importance, the Academy gives stars to the professors, ranging 1 to 3."


    "Well, the Head of Departments or Deans and Vice-Principal have 4 stars, and the Principal has 5," she added as they reached the building.


    "Most professors have 1 or 2 stars, but I earned 3 due to me achieving SS-Rank at a young age and my specialization in swords and Ice Element."


    Naturally, even the hierarchy between two professors with the same stars differed, but she didn''t mention that.


    After all, there was next to no chance for the two of them to join the Academy as professors, so she saw no need to explain it.


    And anymore self-praising would seem like an overconfident idiot bragging about themselves.


    ''She really knows the perfect moment to stop,'' Jash noticed, looking at her from the corner of his eye as they approached the lift area.


    Aileen was in the lead and some strange lights appeared and disappeared, scanning her retina, heartbeat, brain waves and the bracelet on her wrist.


    Strangely enough, the entire process was completed within three seconds as if it was made to cut down on the time for identity verification.


    "Welcome, Professor Aileen Frostvale," a sudden robotic voice echoed from inside the lift as the lift opened.


    She prompted the two of them to enter and only entered after the two had already entered.


    she said as all three of them entered the lift.


    ''Hm? Weren''t there only 30 or so floors outside?'' Jash narrowed his eyes in doubt at the number of buttons and floors mentioned.


    "The floors... there are too many?" Jash blurted out, turning to Aileen, demanding an answer.


    This was one thing he didn''t know anything about and wanted answers about.


    "Oh, that? It was made on purpose to have an appearance that there are lesser floors. Don''t ask me why though," Aileen shrugged, not knowing it herself.


    At that moment, the lift stopped at Floor 30.


    "This is the floor that was given to me," Aileen mentioned, getting out of the lift to check on the various staff members carrying stuff all around the floor.


    "Good morning, Professor," anyone who looked her way greeted her before returning to whatever they were doing.


    Obviously, they were curious about the ones with Aileen but they quickly recognized them and didn''t bother anymore.


    They had work to do and it was far more important.


    Glancing around, Aileen said, "Let''s head to my office."


    The two simply nodded and continued to follow her up to a room which had her nameplate above the door frame.


    The door opened automatically, and three of them entered the room which had a table in the center with some documents on it.


    It was similar to any noble''s study, so it seemed normal to the two who directly sat on the sofas at the side after Aileen gestured for them to do so.


    She did the same as them, sitting on a sofa opposite them and didn''t waste any more time, directly getting to the point.


    "Continuing where I left off, every professor has a different status, but so do the student council and its members,"


    "And because you both are the Year Representatives, and are now part of the student council, your authority is somewhere between that of a 1-star professor and a 2-star professor."


    Looking at the confusion on their faces, she added, "Of course, similar to the YP, your authority can increase or decrease depending on your position in the Student Council,"


    "But before you get any wild thoughts, only the Student Council President and Vice-President have authority similar to that of a 2-star professor,"


    "And even when considering the Student Council as a whole, it only has authority similar to a 3-star professor,"


    "Naturally, with that authority, they can challenge a 3-star professor over some issue, if needed," Aileen finished.


    She had been trying to highlight that becoming a 3-star professor was no joke and she was a teacher with quite some authority.


    Alas, Jash seemed to have no interest in it and Ziva didn''t have that kind of mindset, wondering about the implications.


    "What happens if that situation occurs?" she asked, not purely out of curiosity, but to be aware of it just in case. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well, voting," Aileen shrugged, "Four votes: one each from the Principal, Vice-Principal, the Head of the Department, and finally, the Student Council itself."


    She replied matter-of-factly, disinterested in it as it was a rare situation, to begin with.


    Yet ZIva seemed to not care and inquired further, "What if there''s a draw?"


    Despite getting displeased at the incessant questions, Aileen answered truthfully, "The tiebreaker vote comes from the students itself in that case."


    "Or the numerous factions inside the Academy can sway the vote and bring about the result, but it depends on the issue that was raised and various other factors."


    "Anyways, that''s not what matters for now. What I wanted to discuss was regarding your position in the Student Council,"


    "You both have the right to be in the Student Council, but it''s not going to be easy, especially after your older brothers made a mess there."


    Her voice trailed off at the end, recalling what kind of problems the two caused and then the Princess...


    "Well, I, in particular, do not care about it, but it''s not the same for your seniors, who had to take care of everything," Aileen said flatly.


    "In simple terms, both of them were the Vice-Presidents with the Princess being the president, but two Vice-Presidents was unheard of,"


    "So, do you get what I am talking about?" Aileen mentioned in a roundabout manner, wanting to help them.


    "Professor, you just mean for us to be wary of our Seniors, right? And just more so beware of the Student Council seniors," Jash shrugged as he said so.


    It was as if it had nothing to do with him which was untrue but when was he the kind to care about such things?


    In fact, he didn''t even care about the consequences of his stupid opening speech, but Aileen had yet to mention it, or would she even.


    After all, she wanted to create a good image on Jash and that wasn''t something she would get by chiding and scolding him.


    But she was smart enough to know that flattery wouldn''t work either, it might work on other kids, but on him?


    It might as well be counterproductive.


    "That''s all I wanted to say. You can go back and be ready, maybe you''ll meet the Student Council after this," Aileen concluded, gesturing to the opening door.


    Nodding at her, the two exited the room silently, having their own set of thoughts.

 Chapter 192 - 192: Delaying Wrath

    While Jash and Ziva were being escorted by a staff member to return to Block 1, an unexpected person entered Class 1.


    His presence raised quite a few hushed whispers due to the slight difference in uniform, making it easy to recognize him.


    "He''s a senior, right?"


    "He has to be, our year only has two members on the Student Council..."


    "Yeah... and they''re with the professor..."


    The voices trailed off and became a mess as everyone started gossiping, but they paused as the male student was about to speak.


    "Hello, juniors. Do you know where your Year Representatives are?"


    He appeared to be just a kind neighborhood guy with glasses, wearing a uniform similar to Jash and Ziva.


    Although it was different due to the Year he was in, it was easy to connect him to the Student Council.


    "Oh, Professor Aileen took them to her office," a boy sitting in the front row replied, not waiting for someone else.


    He was a bit nervous, fidgeting his fingers, and wanted the senior to go away as he had heard a lot of senior-bully-junior stories and didn''t want to be another victim.


    However, the Student Council guy frowned before instantly regaining his composure, not letting his aura leak so as to not scare the nervous kid.


    "Oh, bad timing, I guess? Thanks, by the way," he said, placing his hand on the boy''s shoulder to calm him down.


    Sadly, it only had an adverse effect as the boy froze in his position, but the Student Council guy thought he calmed down the boy.


    But at least he was aware of his juniors'' nervousness and directly walked out of the classroom, letting the classroom regain their cheerfulness.


    Despite his kind elder brother looks and gentle face, his strength was no joke, his presence being quite oppressive.


    "H-he f-froze!" the boy''s deskmate shouted after seeing the boy''s expressions and instantly a sense of fear enveloped everyone in the class.


    Those outside remained unaware of the negative image their actions caused.


    "What happened, Ivan?" another member of the Student Council asked after seeing Ivan walk out.


    "They are in the faculty block," Ivan replied, adjusting his glasses, making the other guy roll his eyes at Ivan''s strange habits.


    No one understood or knew why he would do that, it made no sense to them.


    But if anyone from Jash''s old world were here, they''d recognize it as the universal gesture that anime info-characters do.


    The ones that always wear glasses and keep adjusting them before any explanation and probably had answers to every question one could imagine.


    "Let''s wait at the Exchange sector," Ivan said and walked ahead, making the other guy have no choice but to follow Ivan.


    Unaware of the two people waiting for them, Jash and Ziva had already arrived at the exchange sector, ready to go back.


    Both of them remained quiet, absorbed in their own thoughts, with one thinking about rising in the Student Council and more.


    On the other hand, Jash was thinking of how to deal with the Student Council after his dear brother made a mess and graduated.


    He knew his brother well enough to know what kind of crazy personality he had and how much the juniors would have to handle.


    ''Add her brother and the Princess to the mix, and boom, you get the craziest combination,'' Jash clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    Heavy discrimination and some mild revenge awaited them if they met the Student Council President and everyone immediately.


    ''It would be better if the shadow of that crazy trio goes away after a few days,'' Jash mused as their identification process was being done.


    Without needing to wait for long, the two returned to a different portal from which they arrived, stopping at it.


    ''Don''t want to misstep again,'' Jash thought, narrowing his eyes to fix the image of the step in his mind.


    Ziva seemed to have noticed his thoughts and leaked a subtle laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief, which irked Jash but he chose to ignore it.


    As soon as they stepped in, the familiar sensations overcame them.


    As they were exiting the exchange sector, they saw two people in similar uniforms waiting outside the entry of the exchange sector.


    ''What''s he doing?''


    That was Jash''s first thought as he looked at the bespectacled guy who adjusted his glasses and passed a smile at them.


    Naturally, the two walked closer and so did Jash and Ziva as they stopped without any plans to meet.


    It was easy to figure out that the two seniors were here for them and Ziva wanted to create a positive image.


    ''Just where does she get this confidence from? Did she forget that only her brother could match Brandon''s craziness?''


    Jash was the only one left in confusion, trying to come up with some excuse as the conversation began.


    "Hello, I am Ivan Hale, and I am a part of the Student Council," Ivan properly introduced himself.


    "I am here to invite you to the Student Council as the president wants to meet you guys," he smiled, shifting glances between the two of them.


    ''Ugh, what kind of bad luck is this?'' Jash cursed, feeling as if just when he thought of the problem, it happened!


    ''Is Murphy''s Law coming into life?'' he thought, still having the gall to joke despite the situation.


    However, his silence was interpreted a bit differently by the three of them as Ivan and the guy behind him, who got confused.


    Just as Ziva was about to agree, Jash immediately interrupted.


    "Alrigh¨C"


    "We can''t, right now. Do postpone it," Jash said instead of requesting or imploring.


    Ivan and the other guy froze at the response, not expecting such a strong rejection at their first meeting.


    But the two knew that the President wasn''t in a very pleasant mood and they would bear the brunt of it if the two didn''t head there.


    Alas, they also couldn''t force them due to the difference in standing and the two being Duke''s children.


    Even though the Student Council was a symbol of authority, and being a member of the Student Council was a matter of pride, it seemed Jash truly meant his words at the opening ceremony.


    Of course, many students respected and feared the Student Council and the person who called Jash and Ziva wasn''t nobody; it was the Student Council President.


    It was no joke as getting that position from the crazy trio would be like putting your head into the mouth of a hungry lion.


    ''This might just be more annoying,'' Jash thought as he noticed Ziva''s surprised expression and the other two''s expression of shock.


    After all, the most authority lay in the hands of the Student Council president after the professors and rarely did someone reject them outright.


    Not just reject, but Jash actually asked to straight away postpone it for no reason!


    "Uhm, do you know who the Student Council President is?" Ivan asked politely, hoping for his conjecture to be true.


    "Yes. Isn''t she one of the most talented individuals inside the Academy, in her batch?" Jash mentioned casually, adding the last part to hint at something.


    ''Well, a female and with some authority and talent¡ªperfect harem material for the protagonist,'' he inwardly rolled his eyes. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Naturally, she was a beauty, a sight for sore eyes, so everyone admired and respected her.


    But Jash had no reason to care about her, he just dismissed her as another brainless woman ready to enter the protagonist''s harem.


    If it were someone he could use, he would do it, but she was of no use and mostly, she wanted to vent on the younger siblings of the two who annoyed her.


    Yet all of these thoughts eluded Ivan and the guy behind him while Ziva was curious to see where the situation would land.


    She knew that Jash would be in trouble and she would be dragged into it, but she didn''t care.


    In the worst case scenario, she could just go and meet the President herself, leaving Jash to his own strange whims.


    "You know and yet..." Ivan said aloud, letting his sentence trail off, unable to make sense of it.


    If it were some Senior from some faction, it would make sense, but it was just a freshman who outright refused the invitation.


    At least the guy behind him seemed to have lost his ability to speak, unable to react at the surprising turn of events.


    So nothing wrong or rude was spoken.


    Either way, he was just another second-year student who entered the Student Council, nothing special.


    And he was just a D Rank hunter to boot, which could only be considered moderately good for a second-year student.


    He was no genius, and it was very clear from how lost he appeared, but then again, not all members of the Student Council were geniuses.


    The Student Council was a combination of various types of students with their own worth.


    Obviously, anyone could tell that both Ivan and this guy didn''t have strength as their main quality.


    "Does it matter?" Jash said before closing in on Ivan whispering, "Don''t you know why I am delaying it?"


    Ivan flinched for a second and was about to dodge on reflex when the demonic whisper entered his ears.


    "I know you can manage it somehow," Jash said, patting Ivan''s shoulder before adding, "Senior Ivan, you can, right?"


    It wasn''t any animosity or hostility shared between them but both understood what the other party wanted.


    Despite that, Ivan had no wish to force Jash and Ziva to come with him, or else the President got angry with him.


    Either way, this was better as her anger would definitely go down as time passed and she wouldn''t put them through any misery.


    Or at least that was what Jash and Ivan hoped, with the latter praying to get by today safely.


    Though Ivan felt annoyed with the current situation, he had no other choice but to comply and inform the Student Council President about Jash''s response.


    If he could have it his way, he would just ignore Jash and listen to Ziva who had agreed to meet the Student Council President and he would be saved.


    Sadly, who told him to have a kindred soul and let his juniors be saved from the President who was no less than a demoness right now.


    "Won''t our reputation go down in the Student Council like this?" the guy behind him muttered, and Ivan agreed wholeheartedly.


    "What other choice do we have? Not like we can force them..." Ivan sighed, feeling helpless.


    Meanwhile, the two responsible for Ivan''s sad state were walking away.


    Jash was whistling freely, representing his free, relaxed state of mind when Ziva asked, "So, why did you do that?"


    ''I mean, I expected this, but damn! She really asked!'' he thought in exasperation, unable to understand what she couldn''t understand.

 Chapter 193 - 193: Mischief in Motion

    "So, why did you do that?"


    Hearing her question, Jash barely resisted rolling his eyes and yelling to his heart''s content.


    "Are you seriously asking because you don''t know?" He blurted out, being unable to hold his boiling frustration any longer.


    "Hm? What do you mean?" Ziva responded with another question, confused at his words.


    "Seriously," Jash muttered as he facepalmed himself, the exasperation of the moment catching up to him.


    Despite Jash''s rudeness and ungentlemanly tone, Ziva wasn''t offended.


    Instead, she was really interested in knowing what got him so worked up as he always preferred to not get angry.


    In her eyes, Jash was the type of guy to even swallow insults if he thought getting angry over it wasn''t worth it, and only a waste of energy.


    Yet, here he was, increasingly irritated by her repetitive questions and apparent cluelessness.


    "Ziva, do you not remember the mayhem our elder brothers caused whenever they met?" Jash finally asked, choosing to be straightforward with it.


    "Hmm," Ziva nodded before confusion appeared on her face, "But what does that have to do with anything?"


    Exasperated, Jash rolled his eyes and increased his pace, torn between two thoughts.


    Sneaking a glance to get some clue, Jash wondered, ''Does she really not know, or is she doing this on purpose to tease me?''


    Yet she had already caught up to him, matching his pace easily, causing his attempt to discover her intentions to be futile.


    "It has everything to do with it! Imagine them causing a mess inside the Student Council, don''t you know what they can do?"


    "I know, I know, but wasn''t the Princess there as well? She was the President, so I am sure she took care of things."


    Hearing her logical and sensible response, Jash wished he could explain how he was so sure of it.


    ''She just made things far worse, or so I wish I could say,'' he thought, realizing he didn''t have any proper plausible explanation.


    "Well, given how we were called on the first day, it''s obvious things wouldn''t be that way, right?"


    "For a second, let''s assume what you are saying is true, but again, what does it have anything to do with us going or not?"


    "Just why are you not getting the point!?" he exclaimed in a louder voice, frustrated as his eyebrows furrowed and hands clenched.


    That was his last attempt to make her understand, but it seemed that it wouldn''t change anything.


    "Listen," he said, breathing deeply to calm his nerves. "You could''ve just gone, but you followed me. Why?"


    "Just because," Ziva replied with a shrug, not fazed by his emotional changes in the least.


    However, her eyes were sparkling with a hint of curiosity at what got him worked up while her lips almost curled into a small imperceptible smile.


    Unable to notice it, Jash''s lips twitched at her answer and he just shook his head dismissively.


    "Then I also don''t want to explain further, just because," he cried out before hastening his pace once again.


    Yet Ziva didn''t follow him this time.


    "Kuah-hahahaha"


    The sound of her failing to stifle her laughter rang in his ear as he stiffened and turned around to find her clutching her stomach.


    The corner of her eyes were moist and she seemed to be wiping a tear from laughing.


    Her sharp laughter cut off all thoughts in his mind as he gazed at her absentmindedly.


    ''Knew it!'' he called to himself inwardly after returning to himself from the daze.


    For some reason, a smile tugged at the corner of her lips at her smile as she approached him.


    Maybe he was a masoch¨C?


    Yeah, nope. Definitely nope.


    "Haha haa... at least tell me what got you so worked up," Ziva asked, controlling her laughter as she approached him.


    "Haha, very funny," Jash replied, making a face at her as if the two were kids.


    However, the two were in their own world, not caring about their surroundings at all, which were empty.


    It made sense that the Block 1 was empty as there were no other classes except the Induction one, so the students were busy exploring the Academy.


    "Well, it got you worked up, which is a rare sight, so I enjoyed it," Ziva shrugged, patting his shoulder, looking on with a straight face.


    "Until later," she muttered, looking at the sky and began walking away.


    "Oi, oi, where are you going?" Jash asked, pulling her back from her wrist, dumbfounded by her act.


    In fact, he seriously wanted to know what was wrong with her for acting up all of a sudden.


    "Don''t pull me so suddenly, it hurts," Ziva said, making a pitiful expression, ignoring his question.


    "Yeah, yeah, as if! Even if I yanked you with all my strength, it''d be nothing but a mere muscle cramp!"


    Jash truly felt wronged, but he could only roll his eyes at her act, not buying it in the slightest.


    "Tsk," Ziva clicked her tongue as her act got caught, making Jash''s lips twitch in disbelief.


    ''I am just here you know?'' he wanted to say it, but kept it inside.


    Not everything needed to be said, and he wanted to know what was on her mind.


    "So?" he tried to insinuate a response from her, but all he got was an arrogant, "So what?"


    Sighing strongly, he said, "You knew about it, so tell me why were you about to go to the President?"


    "Hm? I don''t remember saying anything like that," she replied casually, shaking off his words.


    "You had already said ''Alrigh'' by the time I interrupted," Jash said through gritted teeth.


    "Huh? Oh, that? I was about to say ''Alright, let''s meet tomorrow, we have to choose our subjects today.'', but you butted in."


    This time, it was Jash''s turn to be fully surprised and he finally understood why she didn''t seem to care when he refused to meet the President.


    Thankfully, no one was around by the time Jash and Ziva exited Block 1, heading to the Ranker''s dormitories.


    Though their walk was silent as Jash was embarrassed to the point of wanting to dig a hole in the ground and bury himself.


    ''Damn it! Just how did I not catch her mischief?'' he thought in apprehension, his fists randomly clenching and unclenching.


    His knuckles had long turned white while his palms had turned red from his exaggerated actions.


    If not for Ziva stoically walking next to him in a manner of mocking him, releasing a few chuckles and whistling, he would be fine.


    It was eating away at his conscience until it didn''t.


    He took a deep breath, telling himself to calm down. ''Jash, it doesn''t matter. Understanding girls is impossible.''


    ''Let''s just give up and get going. That''s the best solution, buddy,'' he told himself.


    If an overly brainy fellow knew his thoughts, they would think Jash got schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Maybe even bipolar disorder, but it was no big deal.


    Every person had their moments, and this was Jash''s... to be let down and dying of embarrassment.


    "Okay, bye," he suddenly said, running off to the lift, entering it and immediately closing it.


    He wanted to give Ziva the least amount of time to enter it, but she strolled leisurely, making no effort to catch up.


    "Cute," she muttered, shaking her head with a smile as she leaned against the wall, waiting for the lift to return.

 Chapter 194 - 194: Choosing Subjects

    Jash had just exited the lift when he felt a vibration on his ID bracelet, but he ignored it and headed directly inside his room.


    "Now, I can check it," he murmured after ensuring the door was locked properly.


    He didn''t want Ziva knocking or barging through the door to tease him any further.


    "That was enough embarrassment for one day," he sighed, his red cheeks returning to their original pale skin tone.


    It was as if he wasn''t embarrassed in the first place, but that was totally untrue.


    ¡ªSlap!


    He slapped his cheek to get hold of himself before checking the reminder on his ID Bracelet.


    "This, huh? It''s sent to all freshmen, I guess," he shrugged after reading through it.


    It was a reminder for the students about the selection of three or more subjects they wanted to study, deciding the path they want to walk on.


    Aside from the 4 common subjects¡ªMana Manipulation, Beast Theory, the Duel class and Dungeon Theory¡ªit was necessary to choose the other three.


    "Hmm," he hummed, looking through the myriad of subjects being taught at the Academy, confused by the possibilities.


    ''I am not into alchemy at all, I failed miserably at that, but blacksmithing, huh? I do know bits and pieces about it...''


    It wasn''t Jash who knew about his likes and dislikes, or rather his talents and more, but his past life in which he dabbled in all the trades.


    Though the world was different and things varied greatly, he was sure the fundamentals remained the same.


    Just as Mages needed to cast spells irrespective of their element or specialization or the world.


    "Spellcasting and Sword Arts is no-go as I won''t learn anything there," Jash sighed as his confusion rapidly increased.


    He wanted to choose the three subjects he actually wanted to learn as it would make no sense to choose randomly.


    Alas, classes for mages and weapons were of no use to him, he was no mage and already had more than enough knowledge about weapons.


    ''Not like the practical application classes would begin straight away,'' he shrugged, stretching his arms and moving to the bed.


    Getting comfortable, he at least felt some comfort over going through the subject choices while standing uncomfortably behind the door.


    While looking through them, Jash entered a daze, thinking, ''The class arrangements, the rules, the changes, the differences¡ª''


    "Could it be...?"


    Suddenly, he blurted out in absolute surprise, feeling like he discovered something major.


    ''¡ªit all points out that the new rules and changes would soon be made, right?'' he asked himself.


    Although he didn''t know the answer, the thought refused to leave him once it settled in his mind.


    And he was sure that the practical application classes, or even the other classes, would get revamped after the Assessment Test.


    ''The students'' performance must be off the charts this year, so it makes sense if new rules are applied a few months earlier...''


    Thinking so, Jash remembered about the Assessment Test and how it was a group test.


    In it, groups of 2-5 students would compete in specific tests that the Academy would present for them.


    Alas, if he wanted to do anything, be it not attending the classes or leaving the Academy, he still needed to wait for the Assessment Test.


    Before that anything was impossible, and even the subjects might change, so it was fine to choose the ones to get stronger.


    "[Elemental Theory] for sure, it''ll help me gauge my element, then [Aura Creation], because obviously..."


    His voice trailed off as he scrolled the different classes, trying to find another that would help him grow.


    "Blacksmithing is fine, but so is magic engineering, but what about something related to those runes?"


    His eyes scanned the hologram for interesting classes, but he wasn''t too sure about which one to choose.


    After all, in his eyes, it mattered little what he chose now as it would change in the future.


    But there was nothing that would help him immediately except [Aura Creation]. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even if he got to know his element, it wasn''t like he could use it immediately, and even the specific element classes wouldn''t start before the Assessment Test.


    Unable to make a decision, Jash took out the one thing that had always been on his mind.


    It was the hilt of his sword from his previous life, or what remained of it.


    Due to it having nothing remaining, the Academy didn''t ask him to throw it away, considering it a memento of some sorts.


    Even the security had eyed Jash strangely for bringing such "trash" alongside him.


    "Seriously, why can no one notice its brilliance or artistry or these diagrams¨C"


    Jash asked nobody in particular with a strange expression on his face which soon froze as his eyes caught sight of the tiniest marks on the hilt.


    ''I don''t know where I got this sword from, but not even the greatest blacksmiths of my previous life could do anything to it.''


    The memories seemed to pour into his mind as he saw the sight of the anvils melting yet the sword being only warm.


    No amount of hammering left a mark on its blade, but the hammers... they weakened and shattered not long after.


    If someone used a whetstone to sharpen the sword, the whetstone would get slashed.


    The sword was freaking too overpowered to the point it could literally cut through the thoughts metals like it was tofu.


    "Not like anyone other than me could use it," Jash sighed, recalling the sight of others only being able to use it as a dull blade.


    No sharpness, no strength, only an unbreakable dull blade in the hands of anyone but him.


    "If only I knew your secrets or knew more about you," he lamented, but he had already decided the final subject he would choose.


    [Runes] and [Blacksmithing].


    Jash was sure that only he would be able to do anything about this sword and it might just help him in solving its puzzle.


    Thus, he chose the final subjects for it, and blacksmithing was something he did try his hand on, so he wasn''t a complete novice.


    Of course, that was only his belief and only a master of the craft could tell if that was truly the case or not.


    Thankfully, he came to a decision quickly and directly sent his selection of subjects.


    But the other freshmen were suffering from what to choose, the four compulsory classes seemed a bit too much already.


    Some chose what their friends did, wanting to meet in those subject classes even if their assigned classes were different, to begin with.


    Unlike Jash, every mage chose the spellcasting and elemental class for sure while the warriors chose aura creation and one class for their choice of weapons.


    Not everyone came with myriads of sword arts and their experience from their past life.


    Unsurprisingly, Amael had also chosen the sword class, having gotten used to guns and bombs in his previous life.


    But the most surprising was Helios who also chose the sword classes despite being a regressor and having the memories.


    Sadly, he had to keep his past life hidden as he was under scrutiny by the Church and the Goddess herself after he lost.


    The system wasn''t omnipotent and could only help him deceive the Goddess, not totally fool her.


    Or would she even be a God?


    Thus, he had to make the same choices as his first life to avoid being targeted.


    Poor guy had no idea that the one who defeated him and Amael didn''t even bother to train today and wouldn''t bother joining any Weapon Art subjects.

 Chapter 195 - 195: First Day, Old Tensions

    After selecting his classes, Jash chose to rest his body as the aftereffects from pushing his limits hadn''t completely waned yet.


    He could only use his mind to emulate and simulate the scenarios and fights¡ªboth from his past life and this¡ªas he remained motionless on the bed.


    Although its comfort was nothing compared to his bed back in the Ramille Estate, he had already practiced sleeping anywhere during the Entrance Test. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unlike other noble scions, he had spent days inside dungeons, while most of the rich scions preferred staying only a few hours.


    After all, the dungeon belonged to them and only completing E-Rank dungeons would require days while F-Rank dungeons at most would need 2-3 days.


    While this estimate was conservative in and of itself, it excluded the maniacs who wanted to explore the entire dungeon or eliminate every single monster.


    Though rare, such crazy people indeed exist.


    Yet no one in their entire batch was like that, and most were busy complaining about one thing or another.


    Despite all the complaints, there were people training with their weapons or practicing their mana circulation to increase their mana.


    Unlike Jash, who didn''t need to attend any of the Weapon Arts subjects, most students did.


    The students similarly were quite elated at the prospect of growing stronger and matching those monsters who took their spotlight.


    Sadly, the students were set to be disappointed as the basics of mana eluded some and that was needed even before anything else.


    Mana was the foundation of everything in this world, after all.


    It didn''t matter if one was a mage, warrior, blacksmith, alchemist or any other path, they must learn about mana.


    ¡ªRing! Ring! Ring!


    Already knowing it, Jash was resting peacefully before his bracelet rang an alarm.


    "Ugh, what now?" he grunted as he woke up, quickly dispelling the alarm as it sensed his state of being awake and desire to silence it.


    "Damn this forced alarm!" Jash cursed as he remembered that the ID Bracelet rang for everyone and there was no muting it.


    As unfortunate as it was, it served as a wake-up call, ensuring no student missed attendance.


    Of course, it only took into account an average of thirty minutes to get ready in the morning.


    So anyone who wanted more than that ought to wake up on their own or set another alarm manually, and if they woke up, the forced one wouldn''t buzz.


    ¡ªSigh


    Jash let out a weary sigh as he rubbed his eyes, before noticing the light on his ID Bracelet blinking, signifying a new notification.


    "So it is inevitable, huh?" he sighed again, looking at the notification of a Student Council meeting which was personally called by the Student Council President.


    Accepting his fate, he went to take a quick shower before dressing himself and leaving the room, bumping into Ziva on the ground floor.


    "Huh?" He was surprised to see her focusing on something that he let out a sound, attracting her attention.


    Jash blinked, slightly dazed as her brows furrowed, then softened into a hint of recognition, and finally, a beautiful smile played on her lips.


    He gulped nervously, having hoped to not meet her, but he ended up bringing her attention to himself.


    ''By the looks of it, she was probably choosing breakfast,'' he noted, observing her position and how she said something before gesturing two at the person behind the counter.


    "Good morning," Ziva greeted him with a smile, surprised to see him be on time.


    "Mornin''," Jash replied succinctly, averting his gaze and trying to minimize his presence.


    Yet his fidgeting around seemed to only make her smile widen as she teased, "So what got you ready on time?"


    ''She''s sure I woke up to that alarm instead of by myself,'' Jash guessed, displeased by it despite knowing it was the truth.


    Unlike him, Ziva had been awake for more than 1 hour, and so, the ID Bracelet muted her forced alarm, telling her about it when she went through it.


    That was how many students got to know about it, so Jash was sure she knew of it, the phrasing of her question confirmed his doubts.


    "Breakfast, I need energy after sleeping," Jash shrugged casually, acting as if he didn''t hear her teasing tone.


    "Oh? I thought you''d be running late, so I already ordered two of them," Ziva replied, acting oblivious to his intentions.


    An awkward silence followed before Jash muttered, "Thank you, I guess?"


    "Hmm." Ziva nodded and the two who didn''t talk much just stared at each other, or more like Jash tried to avoid her gaze.


    The two waited in silence before the food was given and then more awkward silence followed as the two had breakfast.


    It was nothing special; just some veggies, a smoothie and a chocolate cookie to go by.


    It was too light to be even considered breakfast, but it did complete their nutrient requirement despite being a custom meal that Ziva asked for.


    She knew that Jash didn''t eat any meat, so she simply ordered it in that manner, and ate the same thing.


    On the other hand, Jash was eating with a suspicious eye, wondering what got over Ziva to eat the same food as him.


    ''She sure used to eat dishes I couldn''t stand to irk me,'' Jash recalled his distant childhood memories, but could only recall unpleasant ones.


    ''Is she content with the embarrassment I felt yesterday?'' Jash doubted that was the case, though.


    ''No way, she isn''t like that... wait, could it be...? Yeah, it has to be that!'' He finally felt like he was closer to figuring out her intentions.


    "You got the notification of the Student Council meeting as well, right?" he asked as the two put away their plates.


    As they exited the lobby, Ziva replied, "Yeah, I am also a member of the Student Council, aren''t I?"


    "What do you want?" Jash asked directly as they walked to the nearby exchange sector to reach Block 1.


    Naturally, it was near the Ranker''s Dorms¡ªanother perk of being a ranker, though indirect.


    "Hm? What would I want?" Ziva retorted as the two arrived at the exchange sector.


    "I don''t know? Not like I can help you with anything," Jash replied starkly, entering the portal to Block 1 where their class was located.


    It was early morning, and the Block was sparsely populated with many students yet to arrive.


    "Hm? Then why ask?" Ziva asked after arriving, and catching up to him.


    Jash just glanced at her but didn''t say anything despite wanting to state it clearly.


    There was no way he could say "you were being polite and ate the same meal as me, so what''s up with that?"


    Thankfully, he wasn''t stupid and didn''t say something that would come to bite him back later on.


    "Just... nevermind," he said, shaking his head and hastening his pace.


    "What?" she asked, confusion apparent from her expression as he easily matched his pace.


    In the end, she got no answer as Jash quietly made his way to his seat from the previous day after reaching the classroom.


    The classroom had been abuzz with chatter, as the students got to know each other and excitedly discussed exploring the Academy.


    However, Ziva and Jash''s entrance caused the conversations to go silent, to the point that the silence was almost deafening.


    ''Might as well arrive late to not meet anyone,'' Jash mused, looking outside the classroom, annoying Ziva in his own way as she struggled to maintain her quiet facade.

 Chapter 196 - 196: Mana Theory 101

    The classroom gradually filled up, and Elara nervously took the seat closest to Jash and Ziva, her heart racing.


    Despite the glaring students, there was a sense of respect for her daring to sit near those two monsters.


    However, the two weren''t even concerned that everyone sat away from them and the closest was Elara.


    Ziva had given up on teasing or buttering up Jash any further and he was lost in his own world.


    If he had noticed Elara, he would surely have struck up a conversation, alas, he didn''t due to the lack of verbal reaction at her seating.


    In essence, the silence caused by his warning about annoying things led to a situation where no one even chatted.


    But it was not like anyone would have caused a ruckus as they couldn''t be too sure about Elara and her prospective rank.


    After all, the Assessment Test hadn''t happened yet and her performance in the Entrance Test was no joke.


    But did that mean she had given her all?


    No one knew as every year, there were students who hid their best from others, saving it for the Assessment Tests.


    It was common knowledge as the Academy curriculum didn''t change too much regardless of who entered each year, which was a good thing.


    Though it allowed students to act the pig to kill the tiger, it was very effective in graduating the best Hunters.


    Hence, no one wanted to pick a fight with someone who might turn out to be a Ranker.


    As a Ranker was not only a person with the most YP but also the person with the most facilities and resources.


    The students from humbled backgrounds understood this way better than those from wealthy backgrounds to not do something stupid.


    While the students with such backgrounds might have sought out trouble, no one wanted to disturb the Year Representatives who seemed to have a penchant for silence.


    ¡ªTak! Tak!


    Finally, the sound of shoes clacking against the smooth marble floor echoed as everyone''s attention turned to the door.


    Professor Aileen entered without so much as a smile and only stopped to look at the students after arriving at the center.


    She surveyed the class, her gaze stopping briefly on Jash, which went unnoticed by the other students.


    She calmly set down her stuff and addressed the class.


    "Today will be your first class about mana and other related topics. It will only cover basic theory, but if you still have doubts, feel free to ask."


    Her firm voice cut through the silence as she had not even bothered with any greetings after confirming the class attendance with her eyes as well as her own bracelet.


    Despite her lack of enthusiasm, the students paid attention as the wall before her had a holographic image of a mana core.


    It wasn''t a real image but an imaginary one as no real image could actually be taken.


    "The mana core is where you store and channel your mana from," Aileen began explaining without any reservations.


    "Every person''s core is different, depending on talent and hard work," she mentioned, changing the image.


    Different colored mana cores appeared, ranging from violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red.


    "To rank from one major rank to another, you need to refine your mana core until the color of your mana changes."


    Her words were simple and easy to understand for everyone and it only served as a revision for those who already learned all of it.


    "That''s what everyone knows, but do you know why it is so?" Aileen asked, leaving the students a bit confused.


    They only knew what they knew and had not really bothered going into too many details about the process of it.


    "It''s simple. Despite the vast difference in our mana cores, their composition is the same¡ªmana."


    Her simple words only served to increase the students'' puzzlement as they eyed her confusedly.


    "As mana gets refined, its color changes but so does it happen with it becoming denser and the ultimate goal is to have a white mana core."


    Suddenly, Aileen''s words changed as she realized she had said something far out of the limits of basic theory of mana.


    "That''s why we absorb mana from the surroundings and use the mana in our core to suck it in, increasing its density and also refining it."


    ''Is she explaining the method or something?'' Jash thought, finding her words simple yet complex.


    In essence, she was explaining why ranking up becomes tougher as one grows stronger.


    Simply put, one drop of mana from the mana core could be 3X, 5X, 10X, or even more times denser than the atmospheric mana.


    Imagine having to refine not one but thousands or even millions of such drops just for a sub-rank.


    Extending it to major ranks, and it made sense why the number of Hunters decreased as one went up the ranks.


    ''Not like our absorption speed stays stuck, though,'' Jash mused, entering his own thoughts.


    Meanwhile, Aileen continued her explanation, and a few confused students nervously asked for clarification hesitantly.


    At first, they were too afraid to ask due to Aileen''s stern and cold look, but as they listened to her speak, they realized she was quite calm.


    Though no one could call her friendly, she did answer all the questions even if they were repetitive.


    Somehow, she knew who had an actual question and who was just asking her to repeat for the sake of it.


    All it took was just one glare for her to shut up such students, though.


    The class lasted for an hour, during which Aileen also explained what to look for while condensing the core during the rank up procedure and other basic things.


    Naturally, Jash and Ziva already knew all that, and it was the same for all the privileged students as well.


    "Well, that''s all for today. Since there''s no other classes, I suggest you go to the library and read more about mana theory,"


    "Also, take this time to learn about other subjects and report your subject choices," Aileen added, wanting to put it in their head.


    Done with everything for the day, she took her stuff and turned to leave the class before stopping.


    "Starting tomorrow, your joint classes will begin, so try to expand your knowledge before then," she advised before leaving.


    As soon as Aileen left, the students relaxed, thinking back to her lecture and about choosing their subjects. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet nothing more than whispers remained in the classroom until Ziva and Jash stood up and left.


    After which, the students excitedly talked about the various subjects and what they would be choosing.


    Some tried to convince others that their choice was better and whatnot while others looked for students with similar choices to group up.


    It was always better to know others than to be alone when there were too many geniuses in their batch.


    No one liked getting bullied, and if being friends was all it took to prevent that fate, who would deny such an easy method?


    Meanwhile, the two most feared in their class for no absolute reason were busy making their way to the exchange sector.


    ''I could only delay this meeting by one day, huh?'' Jash sighed and sneaked a glance at Ziva, only to be left speechless.


    She appeared to be unaffected by the upcoming meeting as if it had nothing to do with her, which made no sense to Jash!


    Just how could she appear so carefree when even Jash wasn''t?

 Chapter 197 - 197: Meeting the Student Council President

    In a completely different building, a girl with soft brown hair and maroon eyes was looking at the documents in front of her.


    "Did Ivan complete the assignment?" she asked, not raising her head from the bunch of documents on her table.


    The boy who had just entered suddenly stiffened at the question directed at him.


    "Umm, President," he replied nervously, "Actually, uh, I-Ivan said they must be busy with choosing their subjects, so he delayed it."


    "Hoh?" The girl looked up, a bit surprised before her lips curled upwards.


    "To think Ivan would do that... For what? To protect those...!" The girl''s hands trembled slightly, but she took a deep breath to steady herself.


    "No, Ivan can''t do that. He hates being bothered during his study," she mumbled, appearing to be in thought.


    "They probably rejected it and Ivan covered up, yes?" The girl wondered out loud before murmuring, "Yes, that has to be the case!" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let''s do the meeting tomorrow then," she ordered, a not-so-bright smile tugging at the corner of her lips.


    "It''s unwise to get in conflicts with them from our side," another figure spoke, one which had remained quiet until now.


    "You''re right," the girl nodded, "This much was expected, given who''s younger siblings they are..."


    Her voice trailed off as everyone suddenly felt a bit heavy and cold presence in the room.


    "Well, who''s to say we can''t teach our juniors how to respect their seniors," she muttered, her brows relaxing as a small smile graced her lips.


    This all had happened one day prior to the current events where Jash and Ziva were heading to the exchange center.


    Jash tried his best to ignore Ziva and her carefree demeanor, focusing on anything else.


    Opening the notification once again, he checked the time and location of the meeting.


    ¡¸Student Council Meeting || Time : 11:45 AM || Portal: Block 1 - Utility Sector¡¹


    The Utility Sector was where the Library and all other facilities used by both the professors and students were located.


    It also contained the various clubs formed by the students.


    ''What''s with them being so sneaky and only mentioning which portal to take from the Exchange Sector?''


    Jash grumbled inwardly, not wanting to go to the meeting, but he had no other choice and they were about to enter the portal.


    After exiting the Exchange Sector, they were greeted by an open area lively with the hustle and bustle of students.


    Looking around, Jash noticed them leaving and entering the myriad of buildings in sight with some having bright expressions.


    ''What''s so good about talking to friends?'' Jash complained, but only observed the stark differences.


    He soon noticed some seniors were carrying multiple books in their hands, appearing tired.


    On the other hand, Ziva just let him do all the work, following along with a light mood.


    Naturally, one''s grumbling face and another''s carefree quickly attracted a lot of attention.


    "Is she that girl?"


    "Yeah, his younger sister is so pretty," a girl commented with a crooked look but her friend''s sudden squeal surprised her.


    "Kyaa~ That guy''s younger brother sure is handsome~"


    However, just as the nearby students noticed the two of them and whispers about them began being shared, other Student Council students came through.


    Their uniforms were similarly different from others like Jash and Ziva''s, making them easy to distinguish.


    They immediately recognized the two of them and approached.


    "The Student Council building is the far one on the left," the Senior said, pointing towards a building which looked more of a mansion than a regular building.


    Not just this building, but many of the buildings in this sector resembled luxurious castles, but it didn''t really matter much.


    Only the Library, which was a huge castle-like building with multiple pillars and engravings on it stood out.


    ''The rest are quite pale in comparison,'' Jash wanted to say that out loud, but he knew better than to get some enemies.


    Not that he feared them, it was just annoying, especially the typical young master type idiots.


    ''They''re better off left to the protagonist,'' Jash shrugged, walking to the building that was pointed out.


    Naturally, no Senior came close to them as no one really bothered anyone from the Student Council.


    It would only be a stupid decision as they had the highest authority, even more than some professors.


    "So no one''s here?" Jash said aloud, noticing the empty lobby after entering the building.


    Right then, a Senior appeared out of nowhere and greeted them before guiding them towards the Meeting Hall.


    The Meeting Hall was filled with various seats, with most seats on the sides and only a few in the center.


    "Please be seated," the senior said respectfully, knowing their status and the two acquiesced.


    But Jash''s eyes darted around the hall, noticing multiple photos of past Student Council presidents hanging on the walls.


    "So extravagant," he commented in a low voice, noticing the chandelier hanging above the center table.


    The room was brightly lit, so there was no real need for a chandelier like that.


    While waiting for others to show up as the two had arrived nearly fifteen minutes early, Jash couldn''t help but close his eyes.


    He decided to get some shut-eye instead of looking around this mostly empty Meeting Hall.


    And his decision proved to be the correct one as no one showed up in the next ten minutes.


    "What a douche," someone muttered upon entering the hall before going silent.


    Being from a normal family, the newcomer knew better than to offend anyone from nobility, and Jash and Ziva were fairly noticeable.


    But Jash didn''t seem to have heard as the boy let out a sigh of relief and sat on his fixed seat.


    As time ticked by, the seats were slowly filled in, with only the major personnel being absent.


    However, it seemed that not much was left before they arrived as well.


    In the common area outside the exchange sector, a group of students clad in student council uniforms walked with a sense of purpose.


    Their attire exuded an air of authority and status that couldn''t be ignored, commanding the attention of their peers.


    Amidst the group, one particular student stood out from the rest.


    It was a tall girl with long, flowing brown hair that cascaded down her back in waves, revealing her long ears and identity as an elf.


    Her maroon eyes were framed by long brown eyelashes, complementing her looks.


    It was none other than Aeris Leaf, the Student Council President.


    As Aeris made her way through the common area, students couldn''t help but stare in awe of her commanding presence.


    Her confident gait and warm smile were enough to put anyone at ease, and she made sure to greet each student she passed with a friendly wave.


    Just like her, the other members of the Student Council were attracting attention, especially the Vice President.


    Caleb Maxiumus, heir to Marquis Maximus, his presence commanded respect and admiration.


    His sharp black eyes coupled with his short ginger hair, and his handsome face accentuated by a strong jawline and chiseled features turned heads his way.


    The group finally arrived in the Meeting Hall, where they noticed two first-year students sitting quietly in their seats with many other members of the Student Council.


    Aeris only smiled warmly at everyone in reception, confusing the ones who heard her mentioning some sort of punishment to the juniors.


    ''So we meet, Aeris Leaf,'' Jash thought, being face-to-face with the Student Council President.

 Chapter 198 - 198: An Irksome Meeting

    Perhaps the person most confused by the warm reception was Jash himself as he was expecting some kind of payback for his elder brother.


    ''Did Caleb help somehow?'' Jash furrowed his brow, unaware of the true situation behind the scenes.


    In all honesty, he expected something like an early meeting time to make them sit there for a needlessly long period.


    Maybe even scolding them outright for disrespecting their seniors but nothing of the sort happened, making him feel strange about it.


    One thing was for sure though, Jash didn''t trust Ivan to have done any good job as the guy was seated at one corner with a frightful expression.


    But Jash knew that Caleb was someone who always looked at the long-term results rather than short-term gains.


    ''Someone like him would surely consider things outside the Academy and that crazy trio having just graduated.''


    Nevertheless, it was all Jash''s guesses in his heart and nothing more than that.


    ''Let''s hope things stay like this,'' Jash prayed inwardly, looking at the new arrivals as they settled into their seats.


    It went without saying that Aeris and Caleb took the central seats while the rest of the group sat around them, awaiting the start of the meeting.


    "Good morning, everyone," Aeris greeted, her smile warm as she took her role as President to start the meeting.


    Even though some seats near her and around the corners were empty, she started anyway.


    "As this is our first meeting with new first-year students who have joined us, could you both introduce yourselves?"


    Her tone was polite and warm as she looked at them, surprising Jash who kept it within himself.


    "Jash Ramille," he answered, too lazy to give proper introductions and half-expecting everyone to already know him.


    Yet no one called him out on being rude or anything, knowing that he was still a Duke''s child.


    ''No matter how many times one says that status inside the Academy is equal, it is not,'' he mused, taking in their reaction.


    "Ziva Arne," Ziva followed with a curt bow of her head, and nothing more than that.


    Unlike Jash, she had no excessive movements and didn''t appear nervous in the slightest.


    However, Aeris nodded warmly to their succinct introductions, even congratulating them.


    "Congratulations on being elected as the Year Representative," she said, her authoritative tone commanding everyone''s attention.


    Although Aeris appeared gentle and kind with her welcoming smile, she was one of the most powerful students in the academy.


    "This year''s freshmen are quite talented, I must say," Aeris commented, glancing at Ziva.


    While Jash''s performance was indeed better than her, Ziva''s element alone made up for most of it, being praised to be stronger than Jash.


    Ziva met Aeris''s gaze with complete confidence in her abilities, disregarding her current strength and standing.


    "Well, it sure was fun," Jash shrugged, breaking the silence and staredown as Ziva agreed to his words, knowing why he said them.


    "True, it was more difficult than previous years, but it wouldn''t have been challenging otherwise."


    Their words shocked many people as it was somewhat similar to saying that their seniors were pathetically weak.


    Despite that, the situation didn''t escalate as Aeris diffused it. "Doesn''t that mean that you will have a harder time, though?"


    ''Ugh, damn you, Brandon!'' Jash cursed his brother inwardly, scowling as he knew those words were directed at him.


    He was sure that Brandon blabbered about him being lazy and whatnot.


    "Anyways, the point of the meeting isn''t this," Aeris added, not wanting to get into a round of bickering with her juniors.


    She herself knew how it felt to be on the receiving end as she always lost in logic against that crazy trio.


    Just remembering those days made her want nothing except making things difficult for Jash and Ziva.


    However, she was sure that Jash just wanted to maintain his Year Representative position, and burdening him with work would yield no result.


    And she definitely didn''t want to remove both of them from the Student Council, planning to make things hard for them inside the Student Council.


    How else would she get her payback if the two ended up leaving the Student Council?


    "What I wanted to explain to you was that your spot in the Student Council is not permanent until you secure your position as one of the Rankers,"


    "And it would be better for both of you to not take things lightly, given the abundance of talented students in your year," Aeris advised with a pleasant smile.


    Though it didn''t seem pleasant in the least to Jash, who could somewhat guess her thoughts, but couldn''t be sure of them.


    Turning to Ziva, all he saw was a determined expression.


    ''Seems like she wants to get further inside the Student Council,'' Jash noted, matching it from the novel information.


    ''Even after so many changes, some things are the same, huh?'' he mused, finding it quite interesting.


    Suddenly, the door opened as the remaining Student Council Members with distinct features walked in and settled into their seats.


    "Well, it seems everyone has arrived," Aeris mentioned as the door closed with a loud,


    ¡ªThud!


    That signaled the closure of the Meeting Hall, implying that whoever was still yet to arrive would be better off if they didn''t try entering.


    "The atmosphere is no joke," a boy muttered with a grin, sitting on the center seats while a girl poked him.


    The ones who arrived were the Committee Heads who were a part of the Student Council as just one group couldn''t take care of everything.


    Committees units that operated independently of the Student Council despite being a part of it.


    Each head had similar authority to the Vice-President of the Student Council, and this was why the real meeting had yet to begin in its truest sense.


    Sadly, the committees could align with other factions, weakening the authority of the Student Council. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Tsk, tsk, nothing is as good as it seems on the surface,'' Jash sighed, knowing that certain Committee Heads were already in cahoots with factions.


    "Firstly, the discipline committee..."


    Finally, the meeting had begun with Aeris giving points for the day and some agreeing or disagreeing with her.


    New roles were given out and things about duels or other scuffles were talked about before the topic about freshmen began.


    "You''re free to explore the different committees or if you wish to join the core of the Student Council as well."


    This was what Caleb said to Jash and ZIva who sat quietly throughout the meeting despite Jash not wanting to.


    If he could, he would''ve left early, but there was no such way out.


    ''Just when will their recruitment begin?'' Jash wondered, trying to recall the exact mention of it in the novel, but couldn''t remember it.


    Originally, he wanted Ziva to take care of his workload as well, but it seemed unlikely and he didn''t want to end up being the one taking care of all of it by himself.


    That''s why he needed some new blood in the Council who he could force to also do his part.


    Jash didn''t want to do anything to an extreme, not even the regular patrols around the Academy to prevent bullying.


    Thankfully, he was lost in his thoughts when the meeting ended and directly headed towards the Ranker''s Dorms, not noticing that Ziva had stayed behind.


    She was getting explanations about the different committees to decide which ones to actually go and explore before considering joining one.

 Chapter 199 - 199: Striving for More

    It was evening, and Jash was lying on his bed, gazing at the ceiling with a thoughtful look.


    He seemed deep in thought as his expressions changed from a smile to a frown, then to a scowl, and back to a smile in the blink of an eye.


    It was as if he were grappling with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.


    Feeling restless, he shook his legs and changed positions randomly, unable to calm down.


    Finally, he heaved out a long sigh before getting up, stretching a bit and entering the training room he had long ignored.


    Without hesitation, he took off his clothes, exposing his bare body without fear of any hidden cameras or the sort.


    Well, there was no way the Academy would have them as any technology outside of the host system would be discovered within moments.


    And if some pervert did sneak them inside, one could only shiver at what would happen whence they were found.


    Either way, no such events occurred, and even if they did, Jash was sure no one would dare trade his photos.


    Being a noble did come with many hidden perks that only jealous idiots would disparage to feel better, as they couldn''t rise to the pedestal with their limited capabilities.


    "Seriously, am I going to do this?" Jash asked himself, now clad in the gym attire his mother bought for him.


    The room was made up of solid ground with no tiling or designs for it to be a uniform room.


    Jash stood at the center of it, taking in deep breaths as he closed his eyes, his hands by his sides, completely unarmed.


    "Phew..."


    Standing like that for a whole minute, he suddenly put his right leg forward and placed his hands as if ready to unsheathe a sword.


    His movements were quite natural yet had a hint of unnaturalness that he frowned before returning to his initial position.


    What he did next was simple, performing the same movement with more natural fluidity in his movements, as if in one flow.


    Yet it was not that easy as he was doing it without a sword, and doing it with a sword would just become a bit easier and harder at the same time.


    Although its weight might help him feel its presence, it would delay his movements, if only a little, making his current body movements a waste of time.


    At least that was what anyone other than him would define it as.


    But it was Jash who was doing something idiotic before giving, beads of sweat forming on his face from concentration.


    "One step closer, one step farther," he muttered strange words as he opened his eyes and went further into the training room. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A brief nostalgic smile played on his lips as the words resonated with him, evoking a memory buried deep within.


    "Not now," he shook his head and entered the next room from inside the training room, known as the mana room or breakthrough room.


    More accurate terms surely existed but it wasn''t like Jash had an inkling for names.


    He couldn''t care less about such useless details, despite being a sucker for details¡ªmostly...


    Entering the room, the stark difference was clear as the ground was fully covered in gray tiles with a white one in the center of the room.


    "My body has recovered," he muttered, clenching his fists and sitting at the center of the room.


    He wanted to break through to Mid E-Rank long ago, but he held back due to the instability from breaking through quite fast.


    Yet that wasn''t his real reason, it was because he didn''t want to hold back anymore.


    E-Rank was more or less the first stage of the proper foundation and if he didn''t use the best mana circulation methods, then what use was knowing them.


    It didn''t matter at the F-Rank because it wasn''t that major of a roadblock, just the initiator and the gaps could be filled at E-Rank.


    But if he continued to reach Late E-Rank, just for the sake of it with inferior techniques, his heart wouldn''t be able to take it.


    Originally, he would''ve done that yesterday, but he gave his body the day as a buffer just to be on the safer side of things.


    He waited to break through inside the Academy because he could use anything and it would be related to his family.


    ''I won''t be questioned by my family as they will think I found it in the Academy,'' Jash mused with a smile.


    It was a really strange situation as both sides would end up misunderstanding the origin of the technique but that was for the best.


    "I''ve wasted enough time at Early E-Rank," Jash muttered, aware that he needed to become stronger faster to actually change his destiny.


    He went and sat around the center and crossed his legs, sitting in a meditation pose.


    After a while, the mana around the room started to gather around Jash as he circulated the mana inside him.


    His core was being overworked as it had to spin at high speeds, ejecting mana and also absorbing it back.


    Yet the mana core also had to refine the mana, making it purer and denser.


    But Jash wasn''t satisfied with just this much, he used the meridians to make tiny "nodes" to hold more mana in certain places.


    First was near the mana core, the heart itself as it was the major organ and also to decrease the burden on his core.


    Next was the spleen, located left to his stomach in his abdomen region and then it was lungs, followed by kidneys and the liver.


    By this time, he was covered in sweat and the pain from forcefully pushing excess mana in those five regions was immense.


    If he didn''t have crazy levels of mana control and widened meridians, he would''ve long damaged his mana veins or the meridians.


    Of course, the most important fact was knowing the body''s anatomy, the knowledge from his past life.


    If not for knowing how to execute its even more advanced version, Jash would''ve long failed at the first stage, bursting his heart and dying.


    ''Can''t no more,'' he thought with gritted teeth, biting his lip to keep himself from giving up due to the intense pain.


    That''s why it was next to impossible to replicate it as even he had to give up at just five nodes or areas with higher mana control.


    "Haa... Haa..."


    Jash panted a bit as he clenched his fist and scrunched his eyes, sweat dripped down his face, with his eyes moist.


    It seemed just creating 5 of those nodes took a great toll on him and he also noticed that he was barely teetering on the brink of E-Rank.


    "Shit!"


    He cursed as he punched the ground in exasperation and drank a mana recovery potion that he prepared in advance.


    ''I can''t make 7 of them like this,'' he thought, a frown marring his face as he recalled the mana circulation technique.


    It was the final version that needed two more nodes, but he wanted to create them at the moment to get better results.


    Even in his past life, he had only sprung up the idea of 7 of them randomly and tried it, but it resulted in good results.


    "7 and 9 both are auspicious numbers in many cultures, so there''s no way I shouldn''t go for them."


    That was his line of thought which led him to improve the technique... or was that all?


    He couldn''t quite recall it exactly.

 Chapter 200 - 200: Unbelievable

    Jash didn''t know that the technique came from the system, and though he did shoot an arrow in the darkness which hit the target, it wasn''t entirely his own creation.


    The system was surely something from out of his world yet the mana circulation technique closely resembled things from his own previous world.


    Although it was a bit strange, Jash wasn''t aware of anything related to the system or his own feelings about it.


    But one thing was for sure: he sometimes thought that his past life was not real, and something of a prophetic vision from deep within his soul.


    Or maybe it was given to him by some God or something, but he couldn''t be sure, so he put the matter at the back of his mind.


    In the end, what made him stronger and saved his life was enough for him.


    Yet the piece of scrap, or the hilt, he randomly found inside a dungeon was truly something else, proving the reality of his first life.


    Not that Jash had the mental capacity to go into that debate at the moment.


    He was struggling to recover and not let anything happen to his mana veins as well as the mana core, or else it would spell disaster for him.


    His mana core lacked mana at the moment as it was being spread through five focal points, while the rest thinned in the veins.


    Instead of flowing inside his whole body, the mana was trying to spread while at the same time, it was being refined by the mana core.


    He still had to rank up and only because of the denser mana concentration around him was he safe.


    Thus, he actively began absorbing mana the moment he realized that drinking the mana recovery potion didn''t help much.


    This was a delicate step that needed to be performed carefully, as its implications would greatly affect the rank up.


    Due to this, Jash had to somewhat give up on forming 7 nodes for the time being, and instead break through to Mid E-Rank.


    Slowly, the mana from the surroundings entered through his skin, mouth, nose, ears and every part of his body.


    It rushed in as if a dam bursting through and his mana core greedily accepted all the mana coming from outside.


    Of course, refining it to a Light Yellow color wasn''t easy, given it also then had to be re-refined to Yellow color.


    Not like the color really mattered, but its density and purity were the major factors.


    Thus, the ambient mana guzzled crazily into his body to the point of running amok as Jash forced it to stay near the core.


    His half empty core happily took everything in, putting great strain on his physical body as it wasn''t ready for the sudden change.


    Just earlier, Jash had created some mana dense areas in his mana veins at five different organs, making the current situation worse.


    If it was a simple breakthrough, things wouldn''t have gone wrong, to begin with.


    ''I can''t give up,'' Jash reaffirmed his decision in his mind, forcing himself to not lose his focus.


    In the event that he relaxed for even a second, he might be crippling himself...


    During the rank-up process, it was necessary to increase the density inside the core, but in Jash''s case there was now an added layer of difficulty.


    Not just the core, he also had to supply the refined and denser mana into the five areas or nodes.


    Though this step would naturally elevate his mana levels to an extreme, even more than some of the talented mages.


    After all, these steps were crucial factors in deciding the increase in strength a person would get due to their breakthrough.


    It was obvious that people in the same rank did not have the same strength as many factors were linked to the substantial increase in the overall strength of the person.


    And knowing all of it, Jash was pushing himself not just to his limits, but even beyond to increase his chances of living.


    He wasn''t sure if his presence would worsen the situation or hasten the other party''s plans, but it sure as hell didn''t feel great to be unprepared.


    Thus, he maintained his semblance of sanity and calmness despite the pain and mental strain of it all.


    Jash''s body was drenched in sweat as he had to suffer needlessly from pain.


    Typically, the rank-up process was not a painful one, only requiring immense concentration.


    ''So much,'' Jash gritted his teeth as the mana concentration around him rose to another level.


    He felt a sensation similar to being submerged deep inside a water body as the pressure from the mana was immense.


    With his core at its limit and the nodes not ready to refine mana, he couldn''t absorb the ambient mana anymore.


    So the excess mana had formed somewhat of a thin shell all around Jash''s body.


    And a part of it seemed to be pulled in, getting absorbed by his body every few seconds as the core finished refining.


    It was a never ending process, but it was a necessary step to become stronger and Jash was willing to handle the pain that came along with it.


    The refined mana traveled through his mana veins, getting stuck at the five nodes in the order that they were created.


    Starting from the heart to the spleen, then the lungs, kidneys and liver.


    Only after complete yellow mana had passed through them, replacing the light yellow mana did Jash heave a breath of relief.


    He was close to finishing his breakthrough despite the problems he faced yet it went even better than his expectations.


    Suddenly, a wave of mana erupted from within him, dispelling the thin layer of mana cloaking him.


    Jash had successfully advanced to Mid E-Rank with his new mana circulation technique, which was actually an old one.


    But it was the same thing.


    He had successfully completed his first step, and all he needed to do now was to focus on stabilizing himself for the next month or so.


    ''Maybe a few months,'' he thought, unsure of the time it would take to stabilize himself.


    Shaking his head to get rid of such thoughts, his mind lingered to his mana.


    His mana core had naturally increased in size with denser mana, but the five nodes did boost his mana capacity by 20%.


    It was a little below his expectations, but it was better than nothing.


    "If only I could try that," Jash sighed, regretting not being able to complete his initial plans.


    In fact, he wanted to test the limit of his mana core, to see how much mana he could force into it. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If only he could do that, his mana core would have a bigger size, and his mana pool would increase by leaps and bounds.


    "No matter, the next time I do it, I will also have 5 auxiliary nodes to help me propel the mana pool to another level."


    Telling himself that, he finally began to let the mana flow inside his mana veins, using the new mana circulation technique.


    And the change was obvious, Jash had a broad smile on his face as he exclaimed, "Unbelievable!"

 Chapter 201 - 201: Mana Circulation Pathway

    The mana inside his body followed a strange pathway after exiting the mana core.


    First, it passed through the mana veins around the heart, then to the spleen, and cycled back to the lungs.


    The next instant, the mana went to the kidneys filled by the liver and returned to the mana core, forming a complete cycle.


    Of course, not every drop of mana followed the pathway; only more than half did, while the rest spread throughout the body.


    It enriched the body and increased its strength and resistance due to the mana going back and forth continuously.


    This entire process was referred to as mana circulation, and every hunter did it without fail.


    Even if they were mages, they did have mana veins to let the mana spread to their skin and interact with the atmospheric mana to cast spells.


    However, Jash had created a different kind of mana circulation than any known.


    ''Should I reverse the flow?'' he wondered if his body would be able to handle it but sighed, giving up on it in the end.


    Unlike his casual words, if any other hunter dared to run their mouth, they would be afraid to jinx themselves and actually reverse their mana flow.


    Simply put, reversing the mana flow would be nothing but a path to suicide and one could only serve as a time bomb at that point.


    Yet Jash knew that his mana circulation was different and he really wanted to try it.


    If his current mana circulation pathway was gentle and seemed to represent a flow that of nature, then should he reverse it, it would become its polar opposite.


    It would become the embodiment of chaos to some degree, but it would boost him to unparalleled levels.


    However, the price would be internal mana injuries if he exceeded the safe limit and prolonged its use.


    Still, it was far better than dying just to reverse the mana flow in the human body.


    Not that he had the guts to do it if not for wide mana channels, or the mana would end up disrupting itself.


    As it would clash in two opposite cycles, one couldn''t be too sure what would be the result of it.


    "Haa... I am still lacking compared to my past self," Jash sighed, getting up and shaking the sweat off his arms.


    He directly walked out of the two rooms and went to take a shower to cleanse himself as well as cool down.


    Although the water had long begun to prick him like dozens of needles, he still continued to take cold showers.


    "So refreshing," he muttered after exiting the shower, mist emanating from his mouth, while wiping his face with a soft towel.


    Rather than doing anything more, he just dressed himself into a soft and comfy pajamas.


    A heavy weariness washed over him, urging him to sleep and recover his body from the mental fatigue. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If not for having gone through one life already, he would indeed be grunting and on the verge of fainting from the pain.


    Yet he seemed completely fine; alas, he knew better than to overwork and overestimate himself.


    Anyways, the next day the joint classes would begin and his life at the Academy would only get tougher.


    So, it was fine to indulge in sleep for more than 10 hours for the last time, right?


    With that thought on his mind, he slept with a clean conscience, uncaring about anything else.


    ¡ªRing!


    Naturally, the forced alarm buzzed, waking him up as he was incapable of waking up before being forced to.


    He somehow didn''t complain and actually got ready on time, exiting his room with slightly droopy eyes.


    ''Is she not here today?'' he thought half-heartedly, not seeing Ziva on the ground floor and directly ordered the same breakfast as yesterday.


    "Make that two sets," he said before backing away coolly, finding Ziva just exiting the lift.


    One could only imagine her shock at seeing the late guy here early, even having ordered breakfast.


    However, his lips could only twitch at her expressions, making him wonder, ''Just what does she think of me?''


    Nevertheless, he chose to let go of it, feeling slightly under the weather due to having pushed himself just the day prior.


    "Hm," Ziva narrowed her eyes, studying him with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, feeling something different about him.


    "What are you doing?" Jash asked after seeing her strange actions.


    "Nothing, nothing, it''s just that you seemed... different today," she replied while continuing her scrutiny, ignoring his speechless look.


    "Maybe you fell for me?" Jash wanted to joke at first but cringed inwardly at his own words, swallowing them whole.


    "Ahem," he coughed to put away his feelings of embarrassment. "It''s no big deal, I broke through," he shrugged.


    "Oh, so you broke through," Ziva nodded as if it made complete sense but it didn''t!


    "Wait, what? Didn''t you only breakthrough recently??" she blurted out in surprise.


    "Yeah? What''s wrong with that? I just reached Mid-E Rank," he said it casually.


    His tone of voice could really anger others to death if they heard the insignificance and disregard with which he considered the matter.


    Well, who else other than him could consider it no big deal?


    In the end, Ziva just gave up having a civil talk with him, choosing to ignore him and directly left after breakfast.


    ''Not like we have the same class right now,'' Jash shrugged, unbothered by her leaving.


    Today was Jash''s class for [Elemental Theory] and Jash was going to the class through the exchange sector.


    ''It''s a joint class, only with students who opted for it,'' he recalled, knowing that not many chose it.


    In fact, only a little over 100 students had enrolled in it.


    Only mages studied this subject, and the number of mages among the Hunters was lower than other paths.


    But Jash did find a few familiar faces.


    The first one was Caera herself who had chosen it despite knowing her element and being a Battlemage.


    Aside from her, there was Rura, Lyra, Vivia, and Caeron already seated but he was sure that he would see more familiar faces soon.


    It mattered little if they knew him or not as he could still recognize them, thanks to the novel''s descriptions being quite accurate.


    That was one thing he was surely grateful for.


    The Elemental Theory was conducted in the Mage Art Block and seeing Jash here made the students whisper skeptically.


    They refused to believe it was him, but his different uniform was hard to miss for anyone.


    Still, it was not like too many students had seen him as there were five such blocks in the Academy:


    Mage Art Sector, Weapon Art Sector, Research Sector, Artisan Sector, and Arena Sector.


    Utility Sector and Exchange Sector were different from these five as these were where classes were conducted.


    Each of these sectors was five times the size of all Blocks 1 to 5 combined as these sectors were common places where students from different years could be seen.


    ''Really now?'' Jash sighed, aware that this was a surefire way to end up meeting Seniors who would obviously not avoid their juniors.


    Even some of the Year Representative of the freshmen had been bullied right here yet Jash seemed to have none of it on his mind as he had already settled onto a seat at the back.

 Chapter 202 - 202: Provoking Intentions

    ''There are only two classes today,'' Jash recalled, putting his hand on the table in front of him.


    His first class was naturally Elemental Theory and the second one was the common subject: Beast Theory.


    Naturally, people were paying attention to him, glancing from the corners of their eyes and the most obvious one was Caera.


    If not for being caught in a conversation, she wanted to go and ask him why he was here in the first place.


    But Jash didn''t seem to care for the obvious glances, some even unfriendly, as he observed the classroom.


    Just like any other place in the academy, the classroom was located inside one of the many huge buildings in the Mage Art Sector.


    ''The class sure is spacious,'' he commented inwardly, noting that the room seemed more than enough for 200 students.


    Not like it mattered as all the classrooms were built with spatial runes to increase the size to accommodate extra students.


    "What is he doing here?" a boy whispered, trying to not let him hear it, but his tone of hostility was too obvious.


    Jash smiled at the boy, who immediately averted his face as if he had been caught red-handed.


    ''Looks like someone I eliminated,'' Jash mused, unfeeling of the gazes he was being showered with.


    It was quite obvious that Jash was a swordsman, so there was no need to attend this particular subject or so everyone thought.


    They truly didn''t want to imagine him being a mage as well as that would be a fatal hit to the vain pride of these mages.


    Thankfully, Jash was really not a mage or who knew how many would want to quit this path and spend the rest of their lives complaining that life wasn''t fair.


    ''What an interesting thing,'' Jash commented, observing the transparent orb placed in front of him.


    He seemed oblivious to the gazes but had already noticed every single one directed at him.


    It was just that no one had done or said anything that needed him to take action as the students were well-behaved.


    ''Mages are really better than those barbaric weapon wielders,'' Jash thought with a smile, increasing his view on mages.


    In his eyes, they appeared more eager to study and explore the mysteries of magic than using bruteforce for everything.


    It was already a pleasant sight to him as he enjoyed the peace and quiet despite the eager students.


    "Ah, why are you here?" Caera asked after finally being able to stand up and come to him.


    "For the Elemental Theory class, of course," Jash answered with an expression as if he was looking at an idiot.


    His expression naturally infuriated Caera as she returned to her seat, grumbling under her breath, "Do what you want..."


    ''So childish,'' Jash thought, choosing to ignore her for the time being as that was for the better.


    He definitely didn''t want to spar and end up accidentally injuring her, so angering her was a better option.


    As time ticked by, the class started to fill with the eager students arriving and seating freely due to abundant free seats.


    Some students'' entries had turned head his or her way to catch a glimpse of their beauty.


    Of course, the beauties made the hearts of many boys present in the class flutter, just like girls squealed at the handsome guys.


    Whispers of students could be heard in the whole classroom, and slowly they seemed to have forgotten about the anomaly.


    But the person in question was rather relieved to have lost that attention as he arrived earlier.


    ''If I arrived late, all the shitty attention would be on me,'' he reaffirmed his decision to arrive early during his classes.


    It was better than being the topic of the class by arriving a minute or two before the Professor arrived.


    Unlike the typical protagonists who always arrived late to catch attention, he hated that the most.


    ''Being punctual sure is great,'' he nodded, smiling to himself, appreciating the peace that came with it.


    If only Caera or Ziva had heard his thoughts, they would team up to beat the shit out of him for saying that.


    He was the one who used to arrive at the last minute and he had the gall to preach about being punctual or whatnot! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Seems like someone''s here,'' Jash noted as the voices in the classroom died down.


    The one who entered was a female Professor who walked without care into the classroom.


    "Hello, my name is Sharon Maythwright, and I am the professor¨C"


    She suddenly stopped talking as words froze in her throat as soon as she gazed around the students present.


    "Jash Ramille," she called out, asking, "Why are you here?"


    "To study the subject of [Elemental Theory], but of course," Jash answered with an innocent expression on his face.


    It was as if he failed to understand the true meaning of the professor''s question, but it was not like anyone could outright accuse him.


    "Didn''t you hear that this is the class for mages?" Sharon asked, implying that why was he here when he should be in the sword art class.


    "Uhm, yes? It didn''t mention that as an prerequisite, meaning I could attend it," Jash replied with a casual shrug.


    It was as if he was not aware of the consequences of his actions, but that was all an act, a face he put upon.


    Sadly, calling him out wasn''t that easy as it would be the same as accusing him of conspiring against the Professor...


    "Shouldn''t you be in the Sword Art class?" Sharon could only proceed to ask this question so as to not agitate Jash in manner.


    "Not like the Academy has any professors to teach me about swords," Jash retorted casually, his expression earnest.


    If Caera didn''t know any better, she would truly think Jash believed in his words from the bottom of his heart.


    ''Damn it! He''s so good at this,'' she cursed inwardly, not having the slightest intention to rebuke him.


    In fact, he agreed with his words as she too had not chosen any subjects for bows or archery, trusting her prior lessons to be enough.


    And if not, learning from someone just because she had to wasn''t in her nature, especially when Cornelius had taught her himself.


    Unlike her, Jash''s words totally stunned the other students who widened their eyes in disbelief.


    It was their first time seeing someone be truthful yet insulting at the same time, especially about the Academy.


    And it was on the face of a Professor to boot!


    They didn''t know much about Sharon, but surely, she wouldn''t like his behavior and kick him out for his arrogance, right?


    However, their expectations failed as nothing of the sort happened.


    Sharon only rubbed her temples and gave up, saying, "Do as you wish."


    ''Predictable,'' Jash thought, already aware of such an outcome, knowing that his words were indeed the truth.


    Of course, it was his acting that did wonders, making Sharon find some truth in his words.


    Though she could surely see a headache approaching in the form of the Professor in charge of the Sword Art class.


    It was easy to imagine how he would feel if he listened to Jash''s "honest" thoughts about his class.


    But Jash didn''t seem to care about the future troubles coming his way.


    Instead he smiled, ''Got saved from that protagonist and his endless PDA...''

 Chapter 203 - 203: Elemental Insights [Extra]

    "Well, I will start today''s class," Sharon began. "As you know, each spell is categorized into an element:


    Fire, Water, Lightning, Wind, Earth, Light, Healing, Sound, Mental Element, Space Element and more."


    Taking a timely pause, she continued, "Any spell a mage uses can be categorized under these elements. Apart from these, there are also advanced elements,


    Advanced elements are a higher form of the basic ones, but lightning, mental, and space can still be considered advanced."


    Taking a look around, she asked, "Does anyone know why that is the case?"


    Lyra raised her hand instantaneously, so Sharon gestured for her to stand up, "Yes, Lyra Thalorien."


    The whole class turned to look at her, much to Lyra''s satisfaction as she nodded and began.


    "Out of all the elements, those three can only be learned by people who are born with the affinity to use them," Lyra answered precisely, making Sharon smile.


    "Exactly," Sharon said, gesturing for Lyra to sit down. "But there is a problem with these elements. Has anyone heard of it?"


    Sharon had asked the question on a whim, not expecting anyone to know of it as the three elements were really rare, to begin with.


    But to her surprise, someone raised their hand!


    "Yes, Jash Ramille," Sharon gestured, not breaking her professionalism in the least.


    ''Ugh, I thought someone would know,'' Jash lamented inwardly, having only raised his hand lazily.


    He was sure that all those privileged students had a vague idea as that was why those elemental affinities weren''t very much favored in noble families.


    Still, he had been called and had to answer.


    While all this might have seemed to take forever, all it took was the time that Jash took to lazily stand up.


    "Using these elements is somewhat like killing oneself," Jash replied briefly, not interested in going over the details.


    But the way Professor Sharon glared at him prompted him into doing just that.


    "For lightning, controlling it is the same as trying to contain waves of water in a jar as the element itself is highly destructive and can destroy oneself if one isn''t careful,"


    "Then, Space and mental elements are similar, as in the amount of strain their spells put on the mind, which is considerably higher than with other elements,"


    "But space element is strictly tougher than mental elements as the sub-types of mental elements are easier to master, though it''s hard if one isn''t talented enough,"


    "Though both elements don''t have many Hunters at higher ranks, even finding one at S-Rank is a miracle, let alone at higher ranks."


    Jash elaborated in one single breath in a calm demeanor despite his answer not being thorough, it was enough to work with.


    Yet the students around were dumbfounded as he had just called the mental element easy while the consensus was on it being difficult.


    Not like it was his fault, he was supposed to have only seen Ziva use it, who did it quite effortlessly, so his words made sense.


    Only he knew how much of a lie he muttered, space or mental elements weren''t all that difficult in his eyes.


    ''The problem is someone being able to master both of them at the same time,'' he mused, knowing someone like that.


    They were a true monster and just so happened to be one of the late stage Villains that the protagonist only defeated due to his plot armor.


    ''Even then, it was at the expense of one of his harem women,'' Jash scoffed inwardly as he recalled the text from the novel.


    "Silence!" Sharon exclaimed to quieten the whispers that erupted because of Jash''s bold words.


    "You can sit down," Sharon gestured to Jash who sat comfortably, regardless of how others viewed him.


    "Although he didn''t explain in detail, what he said is true. Especially the space element and why spatial magic is only used with runes inside magic engineering and artifacts,"


    "There are still spatial mages, but none lived a long life, reaching at most the age of their thirties," Sharon explained, looking around the class before she explained about the lightning and mental element, though briefly.


    Well, she only expanded on Jash''s words to give a clarification to the students before they started to look down on those elements.


    "Coming back to Advance elements, there are several such elements like Ice, Mist, Magma, Plant, Sound, etc,"


    "Normally, a B-Rank Hunter who is a mage can also cast Ice magic, but that doesn''t mean the mage was born with an innate talent to cast said element,"


    "Advance elements are all about Innate Talent. For example, I was born with Innate Talent for the Magma Element."


    Saying so, Sharon raised her hand, and a ball of fire that turned into molten magma shortly after appeared in her hand.


    The small ball of magma was hot enough to melt aluminum easily, increasing the temperature of the whole room instantly.


    Students in the front rows felt the heat waves directly on their skin, while those in the back only experienced a slight sting.


    Due to the concentration being too small and Sharon''s control over it, the heat didn''t radiate too fast, allowing the students to not get burnt.


    And Sharon removed her spell shortly after, aware of its scalding temperature.


    However, she had only demonstrated a small part of her abilities yet she could make the students gulp in nervousness.


    ''That was quite a show,'' Jash noted, guessing the temperature to be around 700 Celsius as the melting point of Aluminium was approximately 660 Celisus.


    "Apart from these elements, there is a subcategory called Miscellaneous Magic," Sharon continued her lecture regardless of the students'' reactions.


    "This type of magic does not fit any elemental category and is the rarest, most versatile form of magic you can have,"


    "Sadly, unlike most elements, only people who are born with them can use such magic."


    She seemed to have some sort of regret in her voice as she said those words before turning to look at Caera and Vivia.


    "The best example is two of your classmates present here, Caera Ramille and Vivia," Sharon pointed them out.


    It immediately brought all the attention to them, but the two girls didn''t shy away from it.


    Caera was a Battlemage and Vivia had her healing element which was considered an auxiliary element as well as part of Miscellaneous Magic.


    While other elements like water, plant, wood, light and more did have healing properties, they couldn''t hope to match the healing element itself. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, only at the same rank, but if it was a talented person with the Healing Element, they could be comparable to one or two sub-ranks higher Healer with a different element.


    Alas, the element was too rare, similar to Caera''s situation of being a Battelmage.


    ''It''s not just the two of them,'' Jash mused, knowing that elves could use something like a Summoning Magic to summon magical spirits based on their mana and borrow their help.


    It was different from the legend of spirits in the Elven Land as the Summoning Magic wasn''t a lie, but it was just that rare to be counted as Miscellaneous Magic.


    "The one who coined the term ''Miscellaneous Magic'' was Archmage Christopher," Sharon said, making the students exclaim.

 Chapter 204 - 204: His Element

    Archmage Christopher was a legendary mage from 200 years ago and not many had reached the same level as him in the entire history of the Solarnelle Empire.


    In fact, those who achieved similar feats to him could be counted on one hand.


    However, Jash had a different reaction after hearing that name, his eyes inadvertently glancing at Caeron, who instantly felt uncomfortable.


    ''What''s going on?'' Caeron wondered, unaware that the ghost of Archmage Christopher was laughing hysterically, like an idiot.


    "Kuahahahahaha, see, see, this great me has become a legend," Archmage Christopher laughed out loud in his illusory form.


    "And yet you died old man," the only woman among them commented.


    "Heh! O'' Great Swordmaster Alour, just admit that you''re jealous because your name has been forgotten," Christopher smirked at the petite woman''s ghost.


    "Hoho, there''s no need to be hostile now is there," an old man said while stroking his beard with a warm smile.


    ""SHUT UP! YOU SENILE OLD MAN!!""


    Both Alour and Christopher shouted at him, getting on each other''s nerves like always.


    "You should give up on them, Mikhail," a dainty figure commented with his eyes closed, appearing young.


    Yet he was in fact the oldest among them, being trapped for centuries before any of them.


    "Yeah, we can finally see the changed world, so it''s stupid to talk to them," the last among them commented.


    He was different from the dainty man, Alkeus, who was an ancient scholar and only coveted texts and history.


    Unlike Alkeus, this man, Jack, was a merchant who had the moniker


    ''The Golden Merchant: the one who never makes losses''.


    So, his goal was clear to everyone, to go out and see if his merchant organization was still alive or if it was scourged by the hyenas.


    However, all of it eluded the person in question, Caeron, who was oblivious to everything. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Five Ghosts couldn''t actively interact with Caeron, nor could they grant him any of their powers at once as Caeron''s mind and body were just too weak.


    Of course, it wasn''t that their standards were absurd, but if anyone knew about the things they did... they would only blame Caeron for being useless.


    Though jealousy would rise in one''s heart if one knew of it, there were already two people aware of it: Amael and Jash.


    Sadly, neither could do anything about it.


    ''The five Legends of the past took a liking to Caeron, therefore they all decided to possess him,'' Jash sighed secretly, being in deep thought.


    He could see how Caeron was feeling uncomfortable during the class, but it was only because the magic being taught in the class got on Christopher''s nerves.


    The man was an Archmage and knew that all of this was nothing but lies!


    True Magic wasn''t like that, but could he blame anyone?


    No one born after him had discovered it, let alone no one being his equal in his generation or even one generation before him.


    ''Just what kind of luck he has? He''s more of a main character than me!'' Jash lamented inside.


    Truly, Jash had met Amael who was stronger than the norm and the same went for the protagonist.


    Then, there was Ziva, Caera, Vivia, Elara, Lyra, and the list goes on and on...


    ''Also, the one with a longer Awakening time than me!'' he cursed inwardly.


    At this moment, Jash truly felt to be nothing more than an extra, but did he hate the feeling?


    Not really.


    ''But why the heck are all of them so freaking useless!!''


    He felt enraged at their inability to save this darned world on their own, or even prevent his death.


    Like hell he would work hard if he could trust in their abilities.


    If it were the old him before getting the memories of his past life, he was sure that he would just leave such troubles to others.


    Even currently, Christopher was helping Caeron to get a better understanding of things and increase his proficiency in magic.


    The 5 Legends of the Past didn''t mean any harm to him, instead granting him any help he needed without him realizing.


    ''If only I also had some cheat other than these half-baked memories that elude me at the important moment!''


    Jash just cursed inwardly, not even paying attention to Sharon anymore, which she obviously noticed, but didn''t care about.


    It wasn''t like the Professors were tasked to teach everyone, their task was to teach the class and answer doubts.


    If a student wasn''t paying attention, then... it''s on them for being negligent.


    That''s why many nobles were going to fall in their rankings, becoming easier targets for the noble factions.


    What better than giving their vain pride a soft stoke and telling them they were special and didn''t deserve to be treated similar to commoners??


    ''I really derailed there, didn''t I?'' Jash sighed, realizing that he got lost in his thoughts during a class and finally regained his focus.


    At that moment, Sharon asked, "Any other questions?"


    But no one said anything or raised their hands, prompting her to nod and move on, "Okay, then, to the main point of today''s lecture."


    "As you see, there are some transparent orbs in front of you, these are affinity orbs which display all your major elemental affinity," Sharon introduced the orbs.


    "Each of you will now put your hand on these orbs, and it will show which element suits you best," Sharon ordered the students who followed her words.


    A few were already aware of their major affinity element but most were unaware of it.


    The results were easily expected, with the most common element of affinity being fire, and then water and so on.


    There were no students with the lightning element, but some had rare elements as well.


    Caera had affinity with fire, then magma while Rura had affinity with earth and fire while Lyra had affinity with water, wind, and ice.


    Vivia only had an affinity with the healing and light element, not surprising given she was from the Church.


    The oddball was Caeron who seemed to have affinity with all elements except the mental and space element.


    This surprised Sharon quite a bit, but she quickly masked her reaction.


    Jash put his hand on the orb, after observing a few of the results, wanting to know if his guess was correct or not.


    And the orb instantly showed a golden color representing the light element before changing to red for fire, green for wind, brown for earth, blue for water, light blue for ice, orange for magma, deep green for plant element...


    The list went on and on until it turned slightly black in the center, unnoticeable to anyone but Jash before turning purple.


    ''I have an affinity for both light and darkness?'' Jash mused, surprised by it, but it just made him happier.


    In the end the orb had almost all the colors from the spectrum, but it was the golden color that shone seemed to be dominating every other.


    His results were even more monstrous than Caeron''s, astonishing everyone in the classroom, as he even had the Space element, its color being purple.


    Thankfully, his orb wasn''t the brightest on any of them, being equal for all but the light element.


    It truly came as a surprise since he wasn''t from the church, but he knew why it was there...

 Chapter 205 - 205: Beyond the Norm

    Unlike others being surprised by him having so many affinities, there was also a hidden feeling of gloating in their eyes.


    After all, Jash was a swordsman and he would be busy honing his swordsmanship, so the plethora of elements would only become a hindrance to him.


    Alas, those were pure delusions as they had no idea who Jash was.


    ''This makes things easier,'' Jash thought, knowing that getting an elemental awakening wasn''t the same as knowing one''s elements.


    But didn''t the Academy have something to help the students attain their elemental awakening?


    Surely, it did!


    And that''s why Jash''s face broke into a thin, imperceptible smile as he knew that going to each element once was the best way to go about it.


    If it was his first life, he might have to actually be burnt or frozen to get an awakening of sorts or wait for a life-and-death situation.


    ''If only things were this easy back then,'' he lamented, but if others knew of his plans, they would spurt blood out of anger.


    Simply put, knowing the elements was just the first step and most would spend days, weeks, or even months to go through an elemental awakening.


    Most would stop at their major affinity, devoting themselves to one element for life and become proficient at it.


    Not only would it save time, but also make their affinity increase with their own effort, which was already difficult for their main element.


    Only those rich people with elemental rooms had the guts to dabble in auxiliary elements, or those that actually needed it.


    Why would someone like a blacksmith not want fire or metal affinity even if it was their secondary or tertiary one? Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Similarly, a potion maker would want fire affinity or water affinity as both could be used in making potions.


    Such people would even ignore their main element, putting all their effort into the element they actually needed.


    However, the progress for one''s main affinity could be said to be at a snail''s pace, let alone the ones going after secondary affinity and so on.


    But did that mean that Jash was also the same as them?


    No!


    He already had enough experience of one life and it wasn''t like he didn''t have these many elements back then.


    In fact, the only surprising elements for him were space and darkness, which he didn''t have in his first life.


    ''And I still didn''t get any advanced elements or mental elements or those ones,'' Jash''s eyes twitched as he recalled that.


    It was really insane how he was asking for more when he was crying about others being useless just a bit earlier in class.


    ''At least I can use my mana circulation fully after awakening to the elements,'' he mused happily.


    Meanwhile, besides the students, Caera and Sharon had a frown painting their faces as they saw Jash''s results.


    It was one thing to have other affinities, but space? That wasn''t good.


    However the two remained quiet, with Caera keeping it in her heart to talk to him about it later.


    It would have been a different case if Jash had gotten an affinity like gravity, a sub-type of space, but he had pure space element affinity.


    This downplayed his light element affinity along with his other elements.


    ''Good thing those two didn''t attend this class,'' Jash thought, wondering what would''ve happened if they were here.


    Surely, one light as bright as the sun and another as dark as the abyss would show up.


    However, Amael and Helios seemed to be aware of such a result, instead opting to take the Sword Art Class.


    And currently in the Sword Art Class that was happening parallelly, both Amael and Helios were together.


    Though Amael had an amiable and affable persona while talking to everyone, Helios was kind of left alone as only those from the Church were near him.


    Alas, even they didn''t like him much, preferring the soft-spoken Vivia over him as she was the Saintess in their heart.


    Caeron and Helios had come out of nowhere, disrupting their peace, quiet, and reverence for the Saintess, garnering many haters¡ªboth young and old alike.


    In that class, the professor in charge was a man with curly brown hair who had begun instructing the students long ago.


    Suddenly, a frown appeared on his face as he asked abruptly, "Where is Jash Ramille?"


    His tall stature and broad shoulders gave him quite an intimidating look, startling the students following his guidance.


    Only after his voice echoed did the others notice that their Year Representative was indeed absent from the Sword Art Class.


    Meanwhile Amael only snickered in his heart, ''There''s no way he would join this class, given his personality.''


    Though he was curious why the professor cared about it, he didn''t care enough, being wary of Jash despite the uncomfortable feeling of closeness with him.


    ''His death is inevitable, I will only be delaying and worsening it if I get swayed by these emotions,'' Amael told himself for the umpteenth time.


    {...}


    His system could only remain quiet at the moment, unsure whether to warn its Host about the change was the right decision or not.


    Similar to Amael''s system, Helios''s system was also in a dilemma, unable to get any read on the person named Jash Ramille.


    (...)


    It wasn''t sure what to think of its Host''s decision to ignore Jash Ramille and focus on Amael Blake only, which was strange.


    (Host, the current Amael Blake hasn''t done anything to you.)


    The system tried to persuade Helios to give up on his meaningless revenge as his destiny was one of being a Hero, not of getting revenge.


    ''That''s why he''s alive, but I will be sure to eliminate him at the first sign of him turning evil,'' Helios told the system of his resolve.


    At this moment, a student barely stuttered, "P-Professor R-Ronan, I-I think he''s a-b-absent."


    Professor Ronan was confused and didn''t care about the student''s words as he continued to check the list of students while also checking on the students present.


    After all, Jash, the best swordsman among the freshmen, was not present in his lecture.


    In fact, he softly considered Jash to even be able to rival the Rank 1 of Second Year in pure swordsmanship alone.


    But talking about talent, it was obvious Jash was better.


    ''Is he sick?'' That was the only reason Ronan could think about before the worst possible scenarios came to his mind.


    He paid great attention to the list of students in the Sword Art Class and couldn''t find the name ''Jash Ramille'' in it at all.


    "This can''t be..." he muttered to himself, fearing the consequences of such an event.


    The right to choose subjects was purely given to the students, and even the most influential professors could do nothing about it.


    Heck, they didn''t even know about their future students until the first day of class, only receiving the list on their bracelet a few minutes prior.


    While Ronan was in panic, others around were looking for Jash, wanting to see him and his strange swordsmanship once again.


    Some wanted to challenge him and learn from the duel while some wanted to prove themselves by defeating him.


    Sadly for them, the boy they wanted to see was not going to appear magically out of nowhere.


    As Jash was the center of attention in a mage class and he seemed oblivious to it, lost in his own thoughts.


    He was truly an anomaly, someone beyond the norm...

 Chapter 206 - 206: Inner Conundrum

    ''I can''t really use the space element though,'' Jash sighed inwardly, lamenting the loss of an overpowered ability.


    It was common knowledge that those with a pure space element affinity have a hard time controlling their emotions.


    Moreover, it was said that their mental defenses were weak and they could easily be manipulated.


    However, everything about himself had been quite the opposite, contrary to the public information about him.


    That''s why Sharon was having a headache, trying to make sense of the situation, but couldn''t think of any possible answer.


    "Wait, that''s it, is there something wrong with the orb?"


    Such whispers in a low voice were heard loud and clear by Sharon, but she dispelled them instantly.


    "Alright, as everyone is done testing their elemental affinities, keep them in mind and try to awaken your element," She advised.


    "Now, I will teach you about the mana flow pathway of a mage, which is similar but also different from other hunters."


    Following her words, a diagram of a human inner mana circulation appeared behind her on the wall.


    "A person usually emits mana through these channels to amplify and densify their aura," she began, pointing at the outermost part of the mana veins.


    After that, she continued her explanation of how a mage used a similar mana circuit, though its application varied.


    The main emphasis was on spells, or simply the structure of the magic needed to perform.


    ''Boring,'' Jash thought, skipping past the boring stuff as he already knew about it and stopped paying attention.


    Of course, he still listened half-heartedly so as to have a rough idea of what she was teaching.


    ''Can''t have Rank 1 failing the written exams now, can we?'' he asked himself sarcastically.


    Listening to the explanations on different spells and how the higher rank spell was more complex to cast and what not, Jash frowned.


    ''These explanations... are they for real?'' he thought in disbelief, his eyes darting around to check for anyone similar to him.


    Sadly, all he saw were the students'' focused gaze as they wrote down notes and listened attentively.


    Well, it was not like Sharon was wrong or anything, but the person Jash compared it all to was simply a genius.


    In fact, the term ''genius'' didn''t fully capture his skill leve.


    That was a mage who could perform complex and higher tier spells with ease, shortening the amount of calculations and complexity to a minimum.


    ''That''s the true power that a mage can emit,'' he mused, comparing the current childish display to that monstrous one.


    Still, Jash was no stranger to novels about magic and even RPG and MMO games, so he had seen all kinds of crazy stuff.


    ''If only I could replicate this reality,'' he lamented inwardly.


    If only he could replicate that certain girl who could only cast a single spell and go around saying


    "Explosion is ART!"


    A shadow of a smile appeared on his face as he remembered watching that anime and several others flashed in his head.


    It was truly surprising how he had the mental capacity to be distracted while also listening to Sharon.


    But only he seemed to know of this, considering it normal...


    He had no idea how wrong he was; this abnormal mental capacity and strength, along with that strange energy protecting his soul, could easily help him reach SSS-Rank despite using the Space Element.


    However, one thing that he had long noticed was that his mana veins were somewhat stranger than an average hunter''s.


    It was different from when his grandfather Inigo was surprised after the event, but Jash had noticed an abnormality. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After he had formed those pseudo-cores, nodes, or junctions of mana inside his mana circuit, the mana was always passively flowing.


    Due to the movements of his internal organs, the mana could obviously not stay in one place, being forced to move to the next, cycling at a slow pace.


    ''Will I also become a Magic Swordsman? Wielding a sword in one hand and casting formidable spells from another?''


    Jash thought about it, but didn''t seem to have any happy thoughts about it.


    While a normal person might indeed call it fortune and walk both paths, trying to become invincible, Jash had no such lofty goals.


    All he wanted was to get strong enough so that others didn''t mess with them at all.


    But he often thought how it would be far better to have the strongest strongest family in the world, allowing him to laze around without worrying about the future.


    ''If not for the threat being out of their capabilities, I would''ve not even bothered awakening,'' he sighed with a hint of melancholy in his eyes.


    Unlike some oblivious idiot, he knew that his so-called paradies¡ªhis family¡ªhe loved so much could also vanish in this heartless world.


    ''Even the protagonist barely won with his life clinging by a thread,'' he recalled, not knowing it wasn''t the end.


    After that event, there was more, but he had no idea, a cloud hovering in his consciousness, preventing his mind from penetrating the hidden memories.


    If only he knew that the plot armor protagonist was nothing more than doomed in the end, he would''ve tried even harder, maybe.


    However, there was no reality based on what-ifs.


    Reality was based on solid facts, and fact was Jash was lost in reminiscing when he heard something interesting, bringing him back to the class.


    "...but there is one other way to cast a high-tier spell without doing it yourself," Sharon paused, making some students quite surprised.


    Well, the privileged class didn''t even care, but Jash found it interesting for a different reason altogether.


    "One can use an artifact, although the amount of mana required is lower than doing it yourself, you cannot control the output of the spell."


    Her words calmed down the agitated students as she was quite good at explaining but it had dragged too long, making some students a bit sleepy.


    Sensing the class coming to and end, Jash began musing the possibility of spellcasting but gave up for now.


    ''Maybe I can give it a try after preventing my impending doom,'' he concluded, knowing that at most he would be better than most mages.


    After all, he knew the way to shorten the complexity of the steps required in each spell, having heard of it from the genius himself.


    Well, not really heard, but read it in the novel, but same thing, same thing.


    Still, it was important to mention that he could only produce similar results, not exactly like that, but inferior.


    However, all that was talk for future as the goals in his mind were increasing his master of his sword and awakening his latent elements.


    His instincts told him to focus on growing stronger in the shortest time possible, but it was not like he could neglect the foundation.


    At that time, Sharon ended the class.


    "That''s all, see you again," she said and began walking away, before stopping mid-way.


    "I would suggest going read things from the library to get a better understanding of things before coming to me with questions."


    Her tone was quite firm unlike her earlier soft-spoken voice, startling the students, but they understood her intent, nodding instantly.


    ''She''s probably been through a bombardment of meaningless questions, so she hates it.''


    That was the thought on the minds of the students from humble origins, but the privileged ones knew the real reason.

 Chapter 207 - 207: Is this really Beast Theory Class?

    Meanwhile, the Sword Art Class was also over with a lot of confused faces, wondering where Jash Ramille was.


    The only one unbothered by his absence was Ziva, who could vaguely guess in her heart that he wouldn''t be taking this daunting class at any costs.


    Exiting the class, she returned to Block 1, where the next class [Beast Theory] was going to be taught.


    As it was one of the four common subjects¡ªMana Manipulation, Beast Theory, the Duel Class and Dungeon Theory¡ªit wasn''t a joint class.


    The Duel Class was the sole exception, where the entire batch joined to learn battle arts and other essential skills.


    Of course, there were more advanced subjects, but again, they could only be opted for after the assessment test was done.


    That''s why all the students were returning to their designated classes, not wanting to be late.


    Surprisingly, the classes didn''t have much break between them, just enough time for the students to move from one classroom to another.


    Having already noticed this, almost everyone was seated, eagerly waiting for the professor.


    ''I don''t see anyone eager about this class,'' Jash mused, looking at the disinterested and disgusted faces of the students.


    It wasn''t that the subject was bad, but there were rumors about studying beast anatomy and even having to dissect monsters.


    For the wealthy privileged young masters, how could they willingly accept such arrangements?


    Though none voiced the dissatisfaction, even the students from humble origins didn''t want to get involved in all this.


    ''Idiots.''


    That''s the only word Jash could label them as, for they were truly idiots: unaware of the truth and blaming the subject already.


    And as if to prove them incorrect, a man dressed neatly in formal clothes with the Academy insignia emblazoned on the breast pocket and shoulder cuff entered the class.


    He wore black-rimmed glasses and appeared somewhat young, giving Jash the impression of a con artist.


    ''Looks more like the gigolo who cons young rich wealthy ladies into going to bed them, tsk'' he secretly clicked his tongue.


    Unable to know that his image had been degraded to a lowly gigolo, the professor introduced himself confidently.


    "I am Professor Galen, and I will teach Beast Theory for this year."


    His words though low sounding and lacking the authoritative tone of other professors nevertheless drew attention from the whole class.


    Galen looked over the whole class adjusting his glasses, smiled, satisfied at the sight of everyone paying attention


    Of course, he noticed that some had droopy eyes or disgusted expressions, but he wouldn''t comment on it.


    The only one he really wanted to chide was Jash who supported his head with the palm of his hand and had half-open eyes.


    It was as if he had no intention to listen to the class and was only putting on an act.


    Alas, one shouldn''t judge based on appearances, as Jash was probably the only one who actually had an interest in the subject.


    "Looking at your faces, I am sure you have only heard unpleasant things about Beast Theory," Galen began, choosing to ignore any objections.


    The students, startled, exchanged glances, their eyes widening in surprise, as if he had read their mind.


    "So, to rouse you up, let''s talk about our world a bit," Galen said, juggling a few stones in his hands as he approached the wall behind him.


    "Consider this our world," he said, pointing at the empty wall before using the stones and fixing them on some spots.


    "Here, we have the vast oceans, the rocky mounts, the lost lands, the underground cities, the dungeon-rich areas, the monster-infested areas and more."


    "Now, look at this land where the Solarnelle Empire exists, can you see how some regions aren''t connected fully?"


    Without waiting for the student''s response, he continued his lecture.


    "If you look at this place, surrounded by water bodies on all sides except a fifth of its one side, you will see the territory of Archduke Thalorien."


    As soon as Jash heard it, his mind recoiled, remembering information of the kingdom and why it wasn''t annexed prior by the Solarnelle Empire. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''So that''s how it is, huh?'' he mused, thinking about the strategic disadvantage as using ships in this word was the same as wasting resources.


    The absurd amount of monsters in the seas and skies made it impossible to traverse by them, but the teleportation portals and circles came as timely help.


    Moving on, Gelan explained about the three dukedoms, their territory, the Adonia City and many more.


    Yet he spoke no word of the elves'' or dwarves'' home, as if he didn''t know or wanted to keep it a secret because it wasn''t public information.


    ''Why is he talking about this stuff as if geography is even interesting?'' Jash mused, feeling sleepy listening to the monster anatomy turned geography lesson.


    Both weren''t related in the slightest!


    Did it make sense to say "it''s to rouse your spirits" and then teach students stuff they would find even more boring!?


    It wasn''t just Jash who felt this way, but many students did; fidgeting in their seats, stifling yawns as boredom set in, but at least they felt relief to not have to dirty their delicate hands.


    It was truly a surprise how these noble scions could succeed as hunters if they were so repulsive to just dirtying their hands.


    After all, one needed to put in the effort; grit their teeth, bleed sweat and blood, lose their sleep, and work their ass off to actually be successful.


    One can''t just be an upstart and expect everything to be given to them...


    Even the most delusional people wouldn''t be this delusional, right?


    Jash thought all of it while on the verge of sleeping, wanting nothing more than the interesting class to begin or this boring one to end.


    Though he, himself, loved a lazy life, he didn''t expect to become the strongest by doing nothing or have everything given to him.


    He knew better than anyone how much effort and sweat was needed to reach the pinnacle.


    That''s why he didn''t even want to reach the peak, alas he had somewhat accepted his fate.


    ''Ugh, I''ve read those shitty novels with


    ?Congratulations Host for slacking off, you''ve become a God by idling?


    If only those darned systems were real!''


    For the first time, Jash complained about systems, unaware that there existed real systems, and even he


    had


    one in his past life.


    But he was the one who got rid of it.


    Whenever he figured that out, who knows what kind of absurd reaction he would have?


    Anyways, that was in a distant future, and Galen came upon an interesting topic for once.


    "...and they comprise the Council of Races."


    ''Yeah, the old fogies who have heavy asses and can''t be moved at any cost,'' Jash thought, dramatically rolling his eyes.


    "Well," Gallant continued, adjusting his glasses, "As its name infers, the Council refers to the strongest hunters across the three races, namely the SSS-Rank Hunters."


    ''Yeah, yeah whatever, but what the heck does it have to do with beast theory class!?'' Jash wanted to shout that out loud.


    Sadly, even he wouldn''t do that to get innumerable people to hate him if he did that.


    The Council of Races was the dream of many and he was sure to offend every single one of them.


    While taking a glance behind, Jash was suddenly surprised as he noticed Elara with clenched fists.

 Chapter 208 - 208: Underlying Deceptions

    ''Damn is she determined to become a member of the Council of Races or resolved herself to paint them as an enemy?''


    Jash was curious about her interest in the Council, knowing that it would be better if her thoughts matched his latter guess.


    ''Joining them? Laughable,'' he smiled wryly at the sheer stupidity and na?vet¨¦ of such a thought.


    But he wasn''t too sure about her line of thought, not knowing much about her except one thing that mattered to him.


    If only he could directly approach her and be blunt, but that was not a possibility as she would probably lunge at him, going for the kill.


    ''In some sense, I am her mortal enemy, after all,'' Jash thought, unaware that Ziva had seen his


    small


    movements.


    ''He''s looking at a girl?'' she thought, half surprised, half disbelieving. She knew him all too well to know he hated


    annoying


    stuff.


    It mattered not if it was a person or something, but getting involved with a girl, someone like him?


    She almost laughed at the thought, thankful for her improved self-control in preventing a laugh from escaping.


    Unlike Jash, she was indeed listening to the class despite how boring it was, also wanting to ask why Galen derailed so much from the topic.


    But then again, she remembered a certain someone who could probably derail for hours if someone didn''t tell him.


    And that certain someone had just turned his face to the front, not really interested in the Council of Races.


    The Council of Races was superior to the Hunter Association, even outranked the Solarnelle Imperial Family, which was quite contradictory.


    However, it did include important figures from the races as well as the church so it made sense and the special exception: the saintess.


    The Saintess was one such member that would get a seat in the Council even if he or she were F-Rank.


    Not like their words or opinions mattered, but it was to say that the position of Saintess or Saint carried that much allure.


    They could literally twist the narrative and have the world in their hands, but could a Saint or Saintess chosen by the Goddess of Light be wicked?


    Not a chance.


    Of course, that was how it was perceived by others but only those old fogies knew how much of a problem the current Saintess was whenever she showed up.


    After all, the Council of Races decided most rules and was the ruling authority of the world.


    And even the voting power isn''t a 1-1 situation, it can change depending on the matter and sometimes be a pure unanimous only decision.


    They called it S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''doing it to maintain the system of our current society'',


    but was it truly?


    ''For the people, my ass!'' Jash cursed inwardly, aware of all the sinister intentions they held beyond those smiling, kind facades


    ''I''ve already been betrayed enough to know that they all just want the power to make the world bend to their whims...''


    Jash''s thoughts were outrageous, but held the cold harsh truth of any world.


    It mattered little what sleazy excuses were being thrown around as that mattered not.


    Feeling the weight increasing on his shoulders, Jash let go of his thoughts and he heard some more words from Galen.


    "Now, you must be confused about me mentioning so many things unrelated to Beast Theory, but this is the basis for the subject," he exclaimed, proud of his words.


    "Let''s begin with the first Dungeon appearance, around the time when humans didn''t use mana like we do now,"


    "Mana Core Formation was discovered and stabilized too slowly, and the first dungeon breakout exterminated majority of humanity at that time,"


    "Of course, all this is assuming that all those old records mentioned are the truth," he smiled meaningfully.


    His words were quite intriguing for students from a common background who didn''t know much about the old records.


    But the privileged students could only see them as bold words, as those records were cherished and believed by most nobility.


    Unfettered by the students'' gaze, he added, "But then, Hunters were born, and we, humans, awakened to the dormant power of mana,"


    "Though we are still improving," he smiled at his letter words, easing the atmosphere as it seemed to have taken a heavier tone.


    ''Ugh, not this anymore,'' Jash hated it inwardly as Galen continued, his hands gesturing animatedly, discussing dungeons¡ªsomething Jash knew thoroughly.


    Each Dungeon had its own unique environment and they mostly appeared in highly dense mana regions.


    Of course, not in mana rooms as they were artificially created using runed, mana stones and whatnot, but the natural regions.


    ''Not like it''s true for every dungeon out there,'' Jash mused, shuddering all over as his traumatic experience came to his mind.


    As time passed by with nothing interesting being taught, Jash had a hard time coming back to the present from his traumatic memories, suffering from PTSD.


    No matter how he survived, it was a fact that he could have very well died, his entire existence wiped out yet something strange saved him.


    And any sane person would fear the unknown, regardless of how good it seemed, as the ancient saying goes;


    "Sweet words, honeyed speech and the sweetest things may be the most poisonous."


    While Jash was busy with his own internal musings, Galen wrapped up his class and went out.


    ''What the hell?! What was even related to Beast Theory in it?!'' Jash couldn''t help but want to curse out loud, cry his indignation to the Heavens.


    Alas he wasn''t the wronged protagonist of a xianxia novel who would get a golden finger


    (system)


    or some passing old man would leave their inheritance to him.


    Ahem, nor would he get a ring in which some old master''s dissipating spirit existed, wanting to teach him to resurrect themselves.


    Unlike him, many students had dropped their heads down on their desks, wanting to get a good sleep after all that boring nonsense...


    Though some were eagerly conversing, stretching and making more plans to explore the Academy, or even go to the Great Library.


    However, all of it was in low voices so as to not get on the bad side of the Year Representatives as their crazy videos of the Entrance Test were still being spread.


    If not for them, some young master or young miss with an ego would throw a fit, claiming they were wronged by these classes or whatnot.


    But nobody here had the audacity to offend the scary Year Representatives who didn''t even care about the Student Council, or so the rumors were going on.


    Speaking of which, in the hallway outside other classes, students could be seen walking in groups or alone, or some forming their own cliques.


    There were even cases of


    ''protection fees''


    but as mentioned it was a loophole, not something anyone would want to involve themselves with.


    Only that the ones taking the fees were smart enough to not offend someone with a background or someone who was friends with them.


    Of course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    "Nothing much, Professor Ronan was stupefied when Jash Ramille didn''t show up to class. Apparently, he has chosen elemental theory," the first person said with a half-smiling, half-disbelieving expression.


    His friend shrugged, "Why do you even care? Not like it affects the likes of us; let''s just focus on enjoying the drama tomorrow."


    "Haha, you''re right," the first friend chuckled in agreement.

 Chapter 209 - 209: Unexpected Change

    After returning to his room for the day, Jash relaxed for a bit before moving to the training room and began to warm up.


    A while later, as he was swinging his sword, a thought formed in his mind, ''It would be better if there were real targets.''


    He had been trying to improve his sword mastery and synchronize his new mana circulation pathway with his combat style.


    After all, it would be stupid to leave a gap behind which might get exploited by others in the future, causing him to lose or even die.


    There was no way he would be negligent and leave loopholes behind, knowing the stakes and the geniuses around him.


    But he really needed that slight push of real targets to polish his combat style as well as stabilize his breakthrough.


    "Haa..."


    In the end, he just sighed and gave up, putting his sword in place while also arranging his clothes.


    Apparently, he really disliked disorderly things and could be said to have mild OCD.


    But it was nothing serious as he did get used to all kinds of messy and chaotic scenes in his past life.


    It was ingrained in his body, so he subconsciously followed that desire before collapsing onto the bed and falling asleep helplessly.


    It was not like he could do anything more by staying awake so he felt that it mattered little whether he stayed awake or woke up.


    The next morning, he woke up on his own before the alarm even rang, finally getting a good night''s sleep after who knows how long.


    After waking up the first thing he noticed was the notification on his ID bracelet, and he willed for the notification to show up.


    ¡¸Change in class schedule: Duel Class will happen together with Aura Creation class.¡¹


    ''Chance,'' Jash immediately thought before his expression twisted. ''Did I know of it or not?''


    He couldn''t confirm it as there wasn''t much of a mention about the classes in the novel, but more about the protagonist training to defeat Amael.


    However, he suspected that he knew it already as the timing was just too perfect and helpful for him, solving yesterday''s problem of lack of targets.


    "Anyways, Aura Creation is going to make me stronger," he shrugged before finally going to dress up for the day.


    [Aura Creation] was a class where only the privileged students and some other rare geniuses that had reached E-Rank could attend.


    Obviously, one could attend it later on after reaching E-Rank, but there was no guarantee as it wasn''t easy.


    The arrangements for Aura materialization were not something to be taken lightly.


    And as the name [Aura Creation] suggests, it was a class that taught Aura materialization to the students.


    Alas, only a little over 50 students could be a part of this class as most of the other students had not reached E-Rank yet.


    Of course, Mages were directly disqualified from this class as they couldn''t form Aura.


    ***


    "Yawn~, why did they arrange classes three days in a row? I wanna sleep," a student grumbled while walking into the Weapon Arts Block.


    But they immediately went quiet after entering and seeing the faces of the prominent E-Rank students.


    "This class smells of trouble," the student mumbled and smartly reduced their presence to not get caught in the crossfire of their clashing egos.


    Well, the class didn''t look like a similar classroom but a Dojo which made sense, considering the subject and its goals.


    After all, just creating Aura wasn''t enough, one must also be able to cultivate it and grow stronger but it wasn''t all that easy.


    Immense dedication and concentration was needed to be able to improve one''s aura except by ranking up and increasing weapon mastery.


    That''s why everyone wore solemn expressions on their faces, waiting for the class to begin, wanting to manifest Aura and increasing their combat power.


    Jash arrived just a minute before class began yet all the eyes stared at him like a hawk, wanting to tear him to shreds.


    Ah, it was not purely based on hatred or jealousy, but wanting to prove oneself superior and stronger than the others.


    ''I''m glad I didn''t arrive any earlier,'' he smiled to himself, feeling the uncomfortable eyes on him.


    The moment Jash stepped in, consciously or unconsciously, everyone briefly considered him to be the strongest in the room.


    It wasn''t acknowledgement of him being the strongest, but the moment others felt it, their heart raced, their cheeks almost flushing in shame.


    After all, how could these proud sons and daughters accept someone better than them?


    But of course, where there were rotten apples, there were also good apples and some really only gave him a look of envy before focusing back to awaiting the class to begin.


    Some were curious, wanting to ask why he wasn''t in the Sword Art Class, but noticing the time left for idle chattering being only seconds, they gave up the idea.


    Maybe the teacher will ask, or so they thought.


    Unfazed by everyone''s looks, Jash took one of the many empty seats, sitting alone but near Amael, and even nodded to him perfunctorily.


    Not like there weren''t others he knew, but there was no such time anymore as the graceful figure of a female entered the class.


    Contrary to everyone''s expectation of seeing a veteran teacher, they were met with the beautiful, cold-faced Aileen.


    Naturally, her expression wasn''t all that cold as she was gloating inwardly instead after finding Jash in the crowd.


    She had initially wanted to take the Sword Art Class but Ronan stubbornly resisted, becoming the Swords Art Class professor in charge.


    Poor guy got cheated out of his luck as Jash signed up for Elemental Theory and it made him so furious after he found out that his expression was really a feast for the eyes.


    It was the first time for Aileen to see a change in someone''s expression that fast, wanting to record it but gave up due to seniority.


    Yet here she was, about to teach Jash and getting another chance to guide him and then poach her as her apprentice.


    "Be seated, everyone," Aileen said after recalling everything within a flash, quieting the whole class with her authoritative presence.


    It was really surprising how a "feeble, frail, female" could manage to do it, but it wasn''t a world where your gender defined anything.


    So eveyong sat with their back straight except Jash whose eyes trembled at her sight, unable to believe it.


    ''What the hell!? Since when did she teach Aura Creation??'' Jash asked himself, but he had no answer, leaving him only the ability to speculate.


    ''Could it be because of me?'' he thought incredulously.


    Similar to him were the stiff expressions of Amael and Helios who were too dumbfounded at the change, but Amael''s expression softened at the sound of Villain Points.


    But Helios had an expression as if he had eaten shit as one of his helpers was the Professor in charge of Aura Creation who helped him greatly during this time.


    Though all three believed it was due to the butterfly effect from their presence, it was, in fact, solely Jash''s fault.


    Aileen had never wanted to help either Helios or Amael as they both were devoted, but Jash... he was the kind of talent she liked nurturing as he seemed to have no idea how to use his talents to their utmost, effectively. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 210 - 210: First Steps in Aura

    Surprisingly, Aileen''s presence at the moment was quite heavy and Jash was confused further.


    ''Is it due to the lack of many others sharing the burden or is she doing this purposefully?'' Jash considered the only two options and leaned towards the latter.


    He had never heard of anything related to his former guess, but he didn''t disregard any possibilities, having a desire for that kind of overbearing presence.


    "I am Aileen Frostvale, and I am your teacher for Aura Creation," Aileen introduced herself briefly before her eyes through the class.


    "I don''t usually teach this subject but due to some reasons, I was requested for it as your batch is a little special," she added, her eyes darting to the figure of Jash, Amael and Helios.


    Although she wanted to take Jash under her wing, she didn''t disregard others'' efforts or talents.


    At the moment, Aileen looked a bit intimidating, but Jash knew there was no reason for her to be like this, she was trying to achieve something, but he didn''t know what.


    In fact, he guessed right, she was trying to play the good cop and bad cop, both by herself.


    She would be cold in classes but teach gently and kindly, making him gradually trust her so that he became her apprentice.


    But that was all, she had no other motive than nurturing a genius, as if she was a farmer looking at her farm animals. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I dislike wasting time, and your Duel Class will start soon, so let''s begin," Aileen announced as she raised her finger, and an ethereal blue light started covering her finger.


    "Aura is the external manifestation of your mana. Try to draw out your mana to the tip of your fingers," Aileen instructed.


    Everyone, including Jash, followed the instructions, but their result was different as only a blob of mana formed on the tip of their fingers.


    It was pitiful to even compare it to Aileen''s Aura, which covered her whole finger.


    "What you all are doing is manifesting mana... it''s not Aura," Aileen explained but didn''t go further into the details.


    "Some of you can already strengthen your body by coating it with mana," Aileen mentioned matter-of-factly as if she could see through it.


    But she didn''t give any names nor any clues to who it was, but speculation ran wild and the first suspect was Jash, who was considering her words.


    ''I sure can use mana to strengthen myself, but coat it outside my body? I can''t do that,'' Jash commented inwardly after the piercing glares shot his way.


    At that exact moment as if Aileen had predicted it, a couple of staff members came into the classroom, drawing attention.


    After all, no one had heard of classes ever being interrupted and then, the staff members seemed to be placing some huge containers in the empty area in the front.


    Then, they opened it all of a sudden, revealing a crystal blue liquid, which seemed to sparkle and was so fragrant that a few students even drooled at its scent.


    "Don''t even think of tasting it, unless you wish to die," Aileen''s words blocked any and all thoughts of tasting the lucrative liquid.


    "In front of you is highly diluted liquid mana, and Solarnelle Academy is the only Academy or place in the world where it can be found."


    Aileen''s words echoed in everyone''s head as they realized that Solarnelle Academy indeed offered unique advantages, being the top Academy.


    Seeing the curious onlookers, Aileen still explained, "The method to create this liquid mana was discovered and put into place by one by one of the previous Principals."


    Of course, many had threatened the person before they eventually gave in, but restricted its knowledge to only the Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Even if the Principal died out of the blue, there were arrangements to pass the method of its creation to the next Principal.


    ''Yeah, right, talking as if it was all for righteousness or whatnot, they were just scared what would happen if others discovered it and they lost their importance.''


    Jash rolled his eyes while thinking so, easily guessing it and it wasn''t like only he could speculate, everyone was free to do so.


    It was just that everyone was interested in the liquid mana itself and waiting for further instructions.


    Thankfully, Aileen didn''t disappoint, mindful of the time.


    "You all," she addressed the students, "Dip your palm and use your mana circulation technique to absorb the mana, but don''t do it hurriedly."


    Aileen''s tone was filled with such seriousness that everyone sobered up, realizing the seriousness of the situation.


    "Cling to the feeling of mana sticking to your palm, that''s the only tip I can give you," she advised kindly, different from her cold exterior, but no one noticed it, even she herself didn''t.


    Then, she sternly added, "You have one hour before you will run out of your liquid mana."


    "Remember to be careful as this is your only chance before the Assessment Test to form your Aura," Aileen emphasized her point.


    Seeing the students begin to follow her instructions, Aileen gently advised,"Try to focus mana in the middle of your palm before spreading it gradually till your fingertips."


    Nodding to herself, she continued instructing, "Focus on that sensation of your mana interacting with the liquid mana,"


    "Then, slowly use the mana to create a thin coating from your whole palm extending it over your entire arm before running out of the liquid mana," Aileen finished sternly.


    She knew it was better for the students to try it as manifesting Aura wasn''t all that easy and really required a lot of focus, concentration and of course, talent.


    In essence, coating one''s weapon and whole body with aura and enforcing oneself with mana before beginning to spread aura outside one''s body was the first step for beginners.


    However, forming Aura was particularly challenging for E-Rank students, as it was a different skill altogether.


    One could even say that Aura was the first step every E-Rank Hunter would learn and improve gradually as they ranked up.


    However, there was someone who didn''t think so and went to take the Elemental Theory class, wanting to explore their elements and giving it a higher priority.


    And that someone also dipped his hand into the liquid mana before feeling a chill travel throughout his body.


    ''So cold,'' Jash pressed his lips together, biting back a reflexive protest against the cold sensation of mana on his hand.


    ''Yuck,'' Jash wanted to curse at the icky feeling of liquid mana around his palm and the back of his hand.


    Unlike others who hid their disgust due to the privilege of being able to form Aura at such a young age, Jash didn''t hide it at all.


    His face twisted with disgust as he really wanted to pull his hand out, but his rationality held on.


    Not like he really needed the liquid mana to form Aura, he could do it after reaching Late D-Rank, about to break into C-Rank.


    Same was the case for Amael and Helios. Though they weren''t completely sure about it like Jash.


    Aside from our dear three anomalies, everyone else would need to at least reach C-Rank before even thinking of forming their Aura.


    And it would not even be half as good as even the worst result in the Aura Creation Class.


    However, students of the Solarnelle Academy had the privilege to form their Aura at E-Rank, making them a lot stronger than average hunters in the world.

 Chapter 211 - 211: Aura Manifestation

    Jash started to absorb the mana from the liquid mana, the temperature of the blood in his right hand slightly rose.


    He willed the mana around his fingertips, connecting the flow inside each finger to the thin coating on his hand. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mana extracted from the liquid mana and the mana inside Jash''s body reacted before they connected to each other.


    It was similar to how Mages connect to the atmospheric mana to cast spells, but entirely different in some sense.


    Yet Jash just felt the electrocuting jolt of the mana connecting and disconnecting, forming clusters and bubbles of the two different types of mana.


    Slowly, more and more mana was extracted from the liquid mana, while his mana core churned out his mana in response.


    The clusters and the thin layers started to multiply, gradually becoming bigger, but they were still too small to be seen with the naked eye.


    At that moment, the mana inside his body had projected outside, coating his hand completely but that was entirely different from before.


    ''External Mana Manifestation, huh?'' Jash mused, knowing what stage of Aura manifestation he was at.


    His focus sharpened and narrowed in on the process with even more concentration to the point he felt nothing around him.


    Just the mana inside his body reacting with the liquid mana and the atmospheric mana.


    In essence, the mana that was coated outside the body would react with elements present in the surroundings to form a shell.


    While mana inside the mana core was the purest form of mana, making it impossible to directly interact with the natural mana.


    Natural mana consisted of all the elements, which was why it took time to increase one''s rank naturally, as one had to filter and refine the mana.


    In Jash''s case, he was interacting with three different types of mana at the same time, trying to bend them to his will and form Aura.


    Only, he didn''t know exactly what he was doing, as his Aura would form regardless of his current efforts; he was just a step away from it.


    And as if to prove it, a soft, ethereal crystalline-blue film of mana started to form around his palm.


    ''So this is Aura?''


    The sharp sensation of Aura was intrinsically different from the cold and peaceful sensation of mana yet it seemed to be docile at the same time.


    After two more minutes, he was sure that he couldn''t achieve anything more than that, so the thought of leaving came.


    But leaving behind the liquid mana that was clearly


    his


    didn''t feel right and he also did need to absorb mana.


    So, he thought, ''Why not?''


    With that one thought, he planned to use the remaining liquid mana to absorb it and strengthen himself as well.


    Well, it was more to fill the gap of mana that arose due to the


    nodes


    he made, so he decided to nourish them.


    Slowly but surely pure mana was extracted from the liquid mana before entering his body and his mana core before going through the mana circulation pathway.


    Everyone around him was busy trying to form their aura, be it Amael, Helios, Ava, Ziva, Avon, Grunghin, Sylvie or anyone else.


    Only Aileen squinted her eyes at the scene as the liquid mana had suddenly begun depleting quite quickly.


    Normally, nobody would be able to absorb liquid mana this quickly, so Aileen was surprised, but not for long.


    She understood that his body might have a high affinity for mana and his mana veins were wider.


    However, Amael, the one somewhat blessed with mana, also didn''t disappoint; he, too, could achieve this feat but focused on refining his Aura to be the best.


    Comparing Jash with Amael and Helios, Aileen felt a little disappointed in her heart, lamenting Jash''s lack of knowledge on using his talents.


    "He should have created his Aura instead of absorbing mana," Aileen sighed but didn''t interfere.


    "I''ll help him later," she muttered under breath and just then she saw that Jash''s liquid mana was almost depleted.


    At that moment Jash opened his eyes contentedly. ''It''s good that I stopped,'' he nodded to himself, feeling the overwhelming mana.


    He needed an outlet to settle it, so he turned to face Aileen, nodding at her before walking to the door to exit.


    "Where are you going, Jash Ramille?" Aileen asked with a commanding tone, disappointment flashing in her eyes.


    Thankfully, the two were away from the other students, not disturbing them but the staff members wore stiff expressions.


    Although they weren''t afraid of Aileen, her commanding tone was a bit too overwhelming for them, given her dislike for interruptions.


    "To practice my Aura," Jash replied in a taciturn manner, pursing his lips in the face of her commanding presence, intriguing her.


    "Aura?" Aileen reiterated, feeling that she heard wrong as she frowned.


    "Mhm." Jash raised his palm and enveloped his fingers in a very thin bluish film, which was his Aura.


    Seeing which, Aileen''s eyes widened, unable to believe it for a second. "How?" she ended up blurting out, but got no response.


    10 minutes.


    That was the time Jash took to form his aura while others were struggling to even hold the mana in the center of their palm, let alone forming an Aura.


    Aileen was dumbfounded at this time as it made no sense to her.


    After all, even geniuses took nearly 30 minutes to form their Aura, and even then, their Aura would be unstable in its initial stage.


    In one sense, Aura was similar to Mana Manipulation, that is, it gets better the more control one has over it.


    This was why Jash had focused on controlling his limited mana pool instead of bursting through the ranks with a shaky foundation.


    "Can I?" Jash asked succinctly after studying Aileen''s expression, which appeared calm at the moment.


    "Yes, you may go to the Duel class," Aileen nodded, agreeing, as Jash had already formed his Aura, completing the class''s first goal.


    "Spare a moment, though," Aileen said, not requesting not ordering, but somewhat in the middle.


    Jash just nodded and followed her out of the class, thinking, ''It must be about the Sword Art Class...''


    "You have not chosen Sword Art as a subject, right?" Aileen went straight to the point the moment they appeared in the empty corridor.


    Seeing Jash nod, Aileen inquired further, "Any chance you will change your mind?"


    "No," Jash replied resolutely and Aileen just nodded, but Jash swore he saw her lips curl upwards.


    ''Does she want me to choose it or not?'' Jash was growing impatient inwardly despite the two walking towards the Duel Class.


    "But you are not a Mage," Aileen said, prompting him to give some reason.


    "I know, I am a swordsman. You don''t have to worry about me stopping on the path of swordsmanship," Jash replied with a calm look.


    Aileen nodded at those words. "Alright, that''s all for now," she said before returning to the class.


    There were still nearly 50 minutes remaining from the one hour time limit she gave them to form their Aura.


    "It''s good," Aileen murmured to herself while walking back, recalling how smug and proud Ronan looked at that time and how he was on the verge of bursting now.


    A low chuckle escaped her lips as she said, "I wonder what more delights I will get to witness..."

 Chapter 212 - 212: Getting Used to Aura

    Jash arrived in the Duel class, which, unlike its name, was a hall with multiple training equipment in it.


    This time, only the students who had gone through Aura creation were allowed to enter the Duel class, and it was quite big.


    "Definitely enough to accommodate 1000 students at once easily, maybe all 2000," Jash commented, taking a look around.


    But his steps didn''t stop until he walked to one of the training rooms meant to be used by rankers only.


    For others, it would cost them a fair share of their YP, but Jash was not worried at all, having 1928 YP in balance.


    Either way, he didn''t have to pay any YP to enter it, and he put his ID Bracelet onto the door''s sensor before it beeped.


    ¡ªID CONFIRMED: Jash Ramille


    ¡ªTRAINING ACCESS GRANTED ¨C Cost:-


    NONE


    Jash chose one of the best training rooms in the Duel Facility for a quick training with his newly gained Aura and increased mana capacity.


    As the Year Representative, he could use it for free. Others, however, had to fork out a hefty price of 100 YP for each use.


    Don''t look down on 100 YP as many would do any kind of unsavory task for that amount as earning YP was extremely challenging for freshmen.


    For seniors, it wasn''t difficult to have 100s of YP or even thousands as they would end up using most of it excluding the Rankers.


    As they have many freebies and benefits, they always end up saving YP, but even they willingly spend it on weapons or artifacts.


    Of course, only Jash and Ziva had the privilege of being Rankers¡ªYear Representatives¡ªbefore the assessment test.


    And the Duel Class just so happened to be the class where such authority was used the most.


    "Duels, huh? It should be fun if there''s someone strong," Jash mumbled aloud, recalling the information about the importance of duels.


    In Solarnelle Academy, one could challenge others for a duel¡ªif one wanted something or simply due to disagreements.


    Of course, challenging others also had its limit.


    Rankers could only challenge other Rankers, prohibiting others from challenging the Rankers as well.


    Then, there was the fact that students needed to wait for the End Term Evaluation to change the rankings after the assessment test.


    While musing so, Jash went into the training room and could immediately feel it was brimming with mana, and multiple facilities were also accommodated in this room.


    It was even better than Jash''s current dorm room, but it still paled in comparison to the dorm room of Rank 1.


    Though he didn''t have access to it, he knew it from the novel memories as it was simply the best facility throughout the Solarnelle Academy.


    One''s Year didn''t matter, their rank did as getting Rank 1 across one''s Year was the goal and dream of almost everyone.


    Alas, it was impossible for normal people to reach it, one really needed to be somewhat insane and crazy to reach it.


    Shaking his head to get rid of all distracting thoughts, Jash finally took a stance after choosing a sword. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he refrained from swinging the sword for now, closing his eyes to recall the sensations of the previous two days.


    ''It won''t be that easy,'' he sighed, accepting that his attempt to find his lacking point and instantly cover up for it was a stupid plan and would never work.


    ¡ªSwish!


    In the end, he swung his sword after fixing his grip on its hilt and ensuring his footing was right.


    He didn''t just stand in one place, his foot moved in a rhythm different from his hands and sword as if they were two different entities.


    Surprisingly, Jash could roughly feel his strikes becoming sharper, and even the power behind his strikes seemed to have increased significantly.


    ''Aura,'' he thought, planning to directly put it into use to get a real feel for it.


    His mana ran rampant, rushing through the mana circulation pathways before covering his body in a thin film of Aura.


    It was not the same color as his mana but pale-bluish, which was no surprise as Aura was indeed different from mana.


    Due to him using Aura actively, his strength got another boost, leaving indentations as he stepped forward, and the pressure on his surroundings even increased.


    A surge of satisfaction coursed through him as he felt the improvement; Jash began moving and using his sword while maintaining the very thin Aura around his body.


    He wasn''t performing any Sword Art, just using whatever came by instinct and in the face of the imaginary opponent opposite him.


    Aura was not a simple defense mechanism; it was crucial for weapon users, integral to progressing through A-Rank.


    On the other hand, Mages directly used mana to sense their surroundings, while weapon users used aura, which was much better.


    In simple terms, Aura consumed less mana and could perform similar tasks and would even become an integral part of one''s attack power as well.


    And most importantly, every Sword Art in this world had techniques which only flourished once the user had unlocked their aura.


    Not only that, some techniques were just made with Aura in mind, not focusing on mana at all.


    Some people even speculated that in the olden times, weapon users used solely Aura while Mages were the ones who used solely Mana.


    But Jash was simply different from them, forcing his Aura and mana to react, interact, connect and forcefully integrate to strengthen him further.


    That''s why Jash could vividly feel that his aura was nourishing his body to unprecedented levels, giving him the confidence to even fight without pause.


    This was the headstart that every student of Solarnelle Academy had over other hunters¡ªAura.


    The earlier one manifested Aura, the higher their stats in the early stage, allowing one to be stronger than others among the same rank.


    And Jash was someone who could precisely gauge his current strength easily.


    Feeling his upper body and lower body both feeling a pleasant sensation of growing stronger, he employed a more complex footwork.


    And as if he was challenging himself, he began increasing his speed at a crazy rate.


    But it wasn''t just his dexterity and agility that improved, his sword swings had also become swifter, sharper and stronger.


    In his mind, he was attacking and evading from a horde of enemies who were averagely skilled with more skilled and less skilled attackers mixed in.


    If only one could glance at his crazy training style and improvement speed, they''d be astonished to the point of speechlessness.


    Of course, it wasn''t just aimless swinging, Jash did have experience of fighting tens of demons at once from his past life, so he imagined just that.


    As the situation had happened in the past and he was the one facing it, he improved even more, analyzing his mistakes from that time and how some had even carried over.


    Though there was no such thing as Aura in his past life, the fighting situation was still somewhat the same, allowing him to get used to the unfamiliar Aura.


    Due to this very pleasure of growing stronger coursing through his veins, he didn''t know when 30 minutes elapsed.


    In the 40 minutes since the beginning of Aura Creation class, most of the privileged students had formed their Aura and the rest were also about to complete it.


    After all, privileged or not, if someone was this talented they would be able to keep up with their rivals.


    "Where is Jash Ramille?"

 Chapter 213 - 213: Rising Rivalries

    "Woah, I feel like my punch will do more damage now," the lightning martial artist blurted out while trying some random moves.


    It wasn''t just him; everyone was feeling a little excited after sensing the power of Aura course through their body and its nourishing effects.


    Of course, most had calmed down and put an arrogant expression to hide their embarrassment at the childish excitement.


    Only Ziva seemed to be stifling her laughter, keeping a nonchalant expression on her face after forming her Aura even before Amael or Helios.


    If looks could kill, she would have died ten times over from the glares of hatred, jealousy and envy surrounding her.


    But still, one person was missing after they looked around.


    Turning their heads and scanning the group to ensure no one was absent, a student whispered, "Where is Jash Ramille?"


    Even though it was just a whisper, how could it have escaped Aileen''s senses?


    "He has long formed his Aura and has already gone to the duel class," Aileen explained, keen on seeing their surprised looks.


    She deliberately didn''t mention any time, and let them speculate, preventing him from being targeted.


    Of course, she had other reasons and her words made the students realize that they were standing here like idiots after forming their Aura.


    All they did were some light stretches and had no clue they could use this time to train in the duel hall.


    But... it appeared as if some were aware of it, but purposefully didn''t go.


    Though, every single one of them was currently regretting their decision.


    After all, which genius hadn''t been hailed as the prodigy of the generation? And some even mentioned them to have the potential to become a SSS-Rank Hunter.


    However, geniuses could be arrogant but not idiotic; they didn''t whine or make excuses to display their patheticness.


    Excluding a few dimwits, most realized what they wanted to ignore this whole time: ''Maybe I... was not the best, perhaps... I am not the prodigy everyone claims...''


    At this moment, everyone collectively accepted the fact that Jash was stronger than them, but did that mean they gave up?


    No.


    They were meant to soar and they will soar the skies irrespective of anyone else.


    Focusing on Amael and Helios, one could see that Amael was smiling acceptingly with nonchalance while Helios seemed to display reluctant acceptance on his face.


    ''Maybe I should save him, with this talent he would be useful,'' Amael thought for a second before giving up.


    In fact, he knew nothing about the ones planning this attack, and he doubted if it was ever revealed...


    In that manner, Helios was the same and that''s how he consoled himself, ''He''ll die soon anyway, the brighter he shines, the more eyes will be attracted to him.''


    In the end, one calmly accepted the situation while the other only consoled himself with his delusions of everything going as it did in his past life.


    Yet, the person observing them carefully was doubtful as she noted their expressions.


    Aileen thought of comforting them but there were no words that came to her mind.


    If Jash was a rank or sub-rank ahead of them, it would be fine, but the highest ranked were Amael and Helios.


    What else could she do except hiding Jash''s Aura manifestation time and being vague about it?


    If she told them directly, it would affect them mentally. It was better to let them accept the reality¡ªthe wall¡ªin front of them.


    Even geniuses had levels and he was ahead of them, so they shouldn''t hold on to him, or else they would just be implicating themselves.


    And wasn''t it better than finding excuses as to why Jash was stronger?


    Yet that didn''t mean they gave up, instead the fire in their hearts burned even brighter.


    ''I will defeat him!''


    Some made Jash their end goal, their target that needed to be defeated in order to prove themselves and heal their pride.


    While a few didn''t even have such extravagant dreams, accepting the cold harsh reality of being inferior and only hoping for Jash to not be a bully.


    If only they knew that the person in their thoughts was busy considering how to grow stronger and limit what he showed outside, they would want to beat themselves.


    However, one thing was for sure, Jash was quite calm and didn''t have to forcefully control his mana and Aura from going berserk.


    ''This feels relaxing,'' he mused as the burden on his mind seemed to have decreased a lot, and a cool sensation lingered around his head.


    After the last few minutes of practice, Jash stopped as the Duel Class was about to start.


    "Haa..." He sighed before setting aside his sword and relaxing a bit to not overstrain his muscles and exited the training room.


    Only a minute or so remained before the class began, so the vast room of the Duel Class was filled with all the students and Aileen.


    ''Hm? Who''s she talking to?'' Jash was confused after only seeing the person''s back.


    The man had a tall stature and broad shoulders with curly brown hair, but it didn''t ring any bells in Jash''s mind.


    ''Is he someone important?'' Jash wondered, unable to hold his curiosity over what made Aileen have a cold expression.


    While she usually remained cold and aloof, Jash knew of her personality to be sure that she wouldn''t give anyone the cold shoulder... unless the other party deserved it. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And as if sensing Jash, both the parties turned to look at him with no change in their expression as if they couldn''t see him.


    ''Quite a good mask,'' Jash praised the curly-haired instructor for being able to keep his stoic expression, but his eyes gave him away.


    They seemed to be focused on him, and Jash was aware that nothing good would come out of it... until he got something out of it.


    The conversation had actually been going on for quite some minutes, but the students around weren''t aware of it.


    Even Jash was surprised by their lack of interest in the professor''s conversation, or maybe the students were afraid to be labeled as eavesdroppers?


    Jash didn''t know but he too followed the student''s glances.


    The huge hall had multiple machines and weapons and it consisted of everything that people could utilize in duels.


    But the most important thing was the training rooms.


    The entire facility was somewhat similar to gyms back in his previous life in a certain sense.


    Just that they were made for awakeners and were specifically designed for the freshmen only.


    Each year had its own duel hall, consisting of better facilities in order to accommodate their greater strength than the first years.


    ''It sure looks grand,'' Jash commented inwardly while walking near the professors and finally heard a snippet of their conversation.


    ''I knew it... it just had to be this guy,'' he cursed inwardly and scowled as if his mood had been soured.


    "...to convince him to drop out of Elemental Theory," Ronan, the curly-haired professor of Sword Arts Class, said without a care.


    If one didn''t know the ins and outs, it was too difficult to even consider it a lie.


    However, Aileen had lived one of the harshest lives out there when compared to the other professors, how could she fall for simple statements?


    Truthfully, she wanted to scoff at his face and dismiss him, but she did see his throbbing veins as if he really wanted Jash to be a part of the Sword Art Class.


    ''Didn''t I already say no? Why is she not saying...'' Jash thought, remembering his recent chat with Aileen.

 Chapter 214 - 214: Calculated Greed

    While Jash was wondering why she wasn''t responding to Ronan, he heard her words in a very convinced tone.


    "He will not be joining Sword Arts."


    "Eh?"


    However, Aileen''s words only confused Ronan as Aileen, of all people, would never allow such a thing to happen.


    The most hard-headed individual he had met in his whole life was allowing someone to play around and not focus on the things they were talented in.


    Wasn''t it that Aileen wished to groom such people, focusing on them and changing their decision to focus on the thing they are talented in.


    Opposite him, Aileen had only delayed her response because she was scrutinizing Ronan. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She instinctively knew he was making up a lie, but his expression was too real, but she couldn''t just accuse him like that.


    For one, she had heard some unsavory news about Ronan, and second, they were in a conflict for being the teacher of Sword Arts Class.


    In the end, she could only tell him the harsh truth. It wasn''t her concern if he could accept it or not, though.


    ''She did take my side, huh?'' Jash mused, a little surprised from her tone of finality.


    He knew that a professor could show favoritism as it was allowed in the Solarnelle Academy, but professors seldom took the initiative to do it.


    After all, factors like class performance affected their authority, and would be taken into account before the professors were given more stars.


    "But don''t you think it''s a waste of talent?" Ronan rebutted, refusing to accept it.


    "There is no need to say anymore. Students can choose whatever path they want to choose," Aileen interrupted Ronan before he could come up with anything.


    While Jash''s lips curled up unconsciously, Ronan shifted nervously, feeling restless at the turn of events.


    He just recalled that Jash had already arrived, thinking of it as a chance, he just decided to act on it.


    "Professor Aillen, why don''t we ask the person in question himself?" the curly-haired instructor Ronan asked respectfully with a smile.


    Hearing those words, Jash''s face hardened, and his smile faltered, emotions swirling like his unstable mana.


    "What do you want?" Jash spat those words with a cold voice with no respect.


    Ronan was an S-Rank Hunter, so he naturally had a reputation, but Jash''s words made him frown further, although he kept it in.


    He remembered he couldn''t make any mistakes lest he implicated someone he shouldn''t, so he carried on with his acting.


    "Jash Ramille, if you don''t want to participate in the sword art class, why don''t you prove that you are better than all the first years?"


    Still, Ronan was a bit dissatisfied and challenged Jash, trying to hurt his pride and make him accept it in haste.


    Unfortunately for him, he hit an iron wall today.


    "Why should I?" Jash directly asked, cocking his eyebrow with intrigue.


    At the moment, he really wanted to ask if Ronan was stupid or was acting that way.


    Even the expression on Ronan''s face made Jash almost lose his sense of cool and laugh it off.


    Contrary to him, the students nearby had mild confusion at Ronan''s actions to rope Jash into the Swords Art Class.


    Each student could decide the subject they wanted to study, and nobody could deny them until they failed that class.


    That''s why Ronan would not be able to do anything after Jash refused, and that''s exactly what happened.


    Some even felt a bit of pity for Ronan to meet someone like Jash who was so damn stubborn.


    Unlike Ronan''s expectation, Jash walked by and nodded at Aileen, silently expressing his gratitude for refusing Ronan.


    "You really know how to annoy others," Ziva commented, shaking her head as Jash approached her.


    "Not like he can force me," Jash shrugged, ignoring the looks of mockery and scorn directed at him.


    Naturally, the prideful students gloated at seeing Jash being a coward and felt they could mock him until they heard Ziva''s casual words.


    "Yeah, you would only do it if there''s some reward, no?" Ziva smiled mischievously, as if she hadn''t said it on purpose.


    But Jash didn''t seem to mind, as if he had expected such an outcome. "You got me," he chuckled lightly.


    ''This time is different, everyone already knows about my capabilities and won''t let their guard down,'' Jash thought.


    He was sure that some would have been planning countermeasures for him after seeing his entire performance in the Entrance Test, or at least what was publicized.


    However, Ronan''s simmering anger immediately calmed down after those words.


    It was always easy to take care of greedy people and lure them in with lucrative stuff.


    In fact, Ronan relaxed completely after knowing that Jash was greedy, though he wouldn''t believe it until seeing it himself.


    "Then, will you prove it if there''s some reward?" Ronan asked in a hurry, intent on getting Jash to agree by offering something he could.


    "Sure, why not?" Jash replied with a smile, surprising even Aileen, making her raise her eyebrows for a bit.


    But Jash wasn''t done. "It depends on what you can offer, though," he said with a smile.


    "...Alright," Ronan spat through gritted teeth, trying to control his temper which almost flared up.


    "How about 1000 YP?" Ronan asked, surprising the students around as their eyes turned into crescents.


    "Too little," Jash commented indifferently before the students could chime in and ask for a prize if they won too.


    ''Tsk, so stingy. I can barely exchange a low quality E-Rank Mana Gem for that much,'' Jash cursed inwardly.


    If not for knowing that the Mana Gems being sold in the store had standard quality and shady deals with lower prices were scams, he really would be greedy like the others.


    From the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Helios and Amael seemed to have no interest in this conversation, surprising him a bit.


    Opposite him, Ronan was on the verge of exploding, barely holding on as it wasn''t like he could give anything on his own discretion.


    "2000," he spat through gritted teeth, almost grinding them.


    "Hm, manageable," Jash said with a contemplative expression as if he wasn''t sure when he heard the final offer.


    "2500."


    "Deal!"


    Before Ronan could retract the offer, Jash hurriedly agreed and just as everything seemed to be going good, he heard a sudden voice.


    "Count me out," Ziva declared, bringing attention to her and even some scorn-filled eyes.


    Unfortunately for them, she had long sensed that Jash was sure of his victory or he would never agree to anything.


    There wasn''t any need to do anything as he could just keep refusing and Ronan would be disliked for forcing a student to change classes.


    And the only backlash for Jash would be getting ridiculed, but that was even easier to solve: just defeat the idiots.


    Of course, only ZIva thought so and if Caera was here, she would surely agree with her.


    But those were true thoughts and she didn''t want to play along either way, so she just distanced herself.


    Nearby, Ronan got annoyed as Ziva was one of the students who had the most complex weapon and skill to handle it in close combat.


    And not only did Ziva get out of it, her exit started a chain reaction, allowing as many as nearly thirty students to drop out.


    In the end, only 20 students remained standing and the majority of these students were those that disliked Jash, wanting to crush him for once.

 Chapter 215 - 215: An (Un)Worthy Battle

    Meanwhile, Aileen just stood aside, deciding to watch the spectacle. She was not one to interfere as long as the person involved didn''t mind it.


    "What format do you want?" Ronan asked Jash, not wanting to appear as someone who tricked him.


    "1v5, then 1v5, then 1v10?" Jash proposed, not caring much about it, but his words did stoke their pride and ego correctly.


    "Hah! As if I need any help to deal with you," an arrogant elf scoffed, mocking the audacity of this human to propose such fights.


    "For once, I agree with this long-eared bas¨C" a dwarf chimed in, but his words were cut off as someone shut his mouth.


    "True, who needs anyone to take care of you?" a noble''s son said, but all he got were looks of disdain.


    It was clear that the three hadn''t fought Jash personally as those who had clashed with him knew he might win despite the outrageous claims.


    "You see, these guys don''t like to team up like smart people, so why don''t we join forces?" A staff-user said to the lightning martial artist.


    "Hoh? An esteemed young master wants a commoner''s help?" The lightning martial artist smiled, half-mockingly, half self-deprecating.


    "Why not? You formed Aura at the same speed as us, no?" The staff user merely shrugged his shoulders.


    It seemed as if he was the sneaky kind, the type to use every resource at his disposal to reach his goals.


    "Let''s cooperate," Grunghin, the dwarven prince, said reluctantly. His words surprised many, but the most affected were the dwarves and elves.


    Though elves and dwarves didn''t have an over-the-top chummy relationship, the two races were on relatively good terms and kept each other''s interest in mind.


    Thus, the elves knew Grunghin and had an idea about his personality, which didn''t match his current appearance at all.


    ''Defeat is the biggest growth,'' Jash mused, observing the show as if he were a third person in the scene himself.


    Only after the students agreed among themselves to let the dissatisfied ones fight 1v1 first did Professor Ronan move.


    "Any objections?" He asked, not wanting any problems during the results, and after confirming that both sides agreed, he began.


    "There are three rules that you must keep in mind:


    Number one, all of you will use practice weapons and must not target vital spots, nor inflict any lethal injury.


    Number two, no use of mana.


    Number three, you cannot attack an opponent who is on the ground."


    After stating the rules clearly and ensuring everyone heard it loud and clear, he nodded to himself, "Ah, remember, this is purely a physical spar!"


    He directly addressed them while taking out some strange yet sleek bracelets from his spatial ring as the students started to form a circle around Jash.


    They weren''t going to attack him at once, but they sure were limiting the sparring area.


    ''If he leaves this area, we will attack,'' they thought collectively, wanting to give a good beating to Jash.


    Jash, who was standing alone in the center of that circle, only smiled at their childish tactic.


    But one thing that surprised him was Amael took a step back and said he''d only watch.


    ''Really now? What''s he aiming for?'' Jash wondered, lamenting his decision to mess up the plot.


    If only he had been conservative and didn''t completely overturn the plot, he would be able to make some guesses, but he couldn''t do that now. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Little did he know that it wouldn''t matter as both Amael and Helios were anomalies in their own right, at least in this life.


    While he was thinking about all these things, Ronan carefully made everyone wear a mana-restricting bracelet, making it impossible to use mana.


    Of course, it was only limited to the time they had these so-called mana-restricting bracelets on their wrists.


    Once they felt their mana stop responding, each student chose a weapon of their choice, if they hadn''t already.


    Seeing their eager expression, Jash really wanted to roll his eyes as there was no need to worry with the presence of Aileen and Ronan.


    Both were hunters that could stop the duel any second they wanted and Aileen didn''t even need to move to stop the duel.


    Just her SS-Rank pressure might suffocate them to death if she didn''t control it well.


    (Mana Restricting Bracelets)


    (


    Rank D


    - Restricts mana usage for Mana Core below Early D-Rank)


    Helios''s system told him about the bracelets, but he couldn''t care less, he was eager to fight Jash and get a grasp of his strength.


    It was important to be aware of his strength and even be wary of his circumstances for the upcoming storm including Jash and his impending doom.


    On the surface, this challenge was purely of physical strength, but putting more thought into it, one''s experience and familiarity with their weapon was also a major factor.


    However, the 20 students believed that they could tire out Jash, if not outright defeat him, though none would admit to having such a line of thought.


    Only Amael seemed to sense their thoughts and murmured under his breath, "Preposterous."


    No one could hear his low voice, so he didn''t really care, wanting to get a good grasp of their forthcoming situation.


    Although it wasn''t immediately upon them, there was always the chance of the events being pulled to the front due to the changes.


    Similar to them, Jash had long known about it yet held back from ranking up.


    And he currently felt the adrenaline rushing through his veins at the thought of the living targets being delivered to him alongside 2500 YP.


    It was as if someone had given charcoal just in time during winter, or he would freeze to death.


    Looking around, he casually swung the training sword to get adjusted to the weight of the weapon and only stopped after feeling the weight settle comfortably in his grip.


    "Three...


    Two...


    One...


    START!!"


    Ronan shouted and the proud elf was the first one to dash towards Jash, the order of 1v1 fights being already decided.


    Just as everyone was expecting a good fight or Jash struggling to tank a few hits, all they saw was the elf being pushed back.


    Despite being the one who attacked, he got pushed back while Jash just stood in place, only using one hand to use his sword.


    Naturally, Jash''s casual stance as if he didn''t even take note of the elf infuriated the latter.


    ¡ªCLANG!


    And then again, the elf dashed at Jash, this time using the blade to attack with full force... or at least it appeared so.


    Just as Jash moved his sword to block the attack, the elf lowered his center of gravity and swung the blade sharply at Jash''s legs.


    ¡ªCLINK!


    Yet all it met was the flat of Jash''s sword as if it was too predictable, starling him for a second which Jash used to kick him away.


    Due to the extreme force he used, and Jash holding firm while blocking instead of deflecting or retaliating, the elf lost his balance.


    In just that moment, a forceful kick landed on his stomach, making him shriek before a drop of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.


    Not only was he surprised but everyone watching the fight was dumbfounded as it didn''t make sense at all.


    ''Did I go a bit too far?'' Jash thought, a bit embarrassed at failing to control his strength properly.


    Jash originally intended to hone his battle instinct using the fights but... this fight was just too plain for him, prompting him to end it early.


    If only he knew the kind of psychological shadow he gave the guy... Jash would just lament the loss of a potential whetstone.


    ''But he was too weak, so it''s not like he will be able to help me all,'' Jash could only console himself this way.


    "Next!" Jash shouted, wanting to find another scapegoat and controlling his strength better this time.


    Only then will others think they can defeat him and keep coming like this.


    ''Fooling one''s opponent is the most important,'' he mused, unabashed in front of everyone''s looks and speculating whispers.


    "Maybe he used all his strength and took the guy by surprise," someone whispered and the person next to them couldn''t help but agree.


    "Maybe that guy was just weak?" another student commented doubtfully.


    It was not like they were friends or knew each and everyone so they could only guess, and if someone knew him, that person ought to have spoken.


    Yet no one did, so the next contestant went forward, a little shaky but determined to win.


    Holding a spear in his hand, the boy lunged at Jash, striking his spear towards Jash''s torso.


    Even with his mana restricted, Jash was no pushover, having trained his body more than his mana and his past life battle experience aiding him.


    It made things a lot easier for him as fighting came naturally to him and he didn''t have to learn some kind of combat art or form.


    And to prove his instincts, he had already ducked and spun on his spot, delivering a roundhouse kick to the spearmen at his thigh.


    "Arghhh," cried the spearmen as his hands holding the spear shaft loosened uncontrollably.


    In that short window, Jash used his sword to strike the back of the spear to uplift the spear and break the spearman''s balance.


    But he had already seen his predecessor loose so easily, there was no way he was going down disgracefully like that guy.


    With a proud smile on his face, he twirled the rotating spear, forcing its body to invert, pointing its tip at Jash''s sword.


    A flicker of surprise and contentment flashed in Jash''s eyes as his lips curled upward unconsciously.


    ''Interesting,'' he thought before his eyes calmed down, ''But not much.''

 Chapter 216 - 216: Sharpening Instincts

    In the next second, Jash swung his sword in a downward arc, only giving a minor skin wound to the noble''s scion.


    Yet...


    "AAAARRRGGGHHHHH"


    A loud shriek escaped his lips, souring Jash''s mood, and he used the hilt of the sword to knock him unconscious.


    "Next!"


    This time, Jash had a cold expression as he called the next duelist, not wanting another shrieking pig about to be butchered.


    ''It was just a minor scratch...'' he cursed at the feebleness of his opponent, on the verge of beating some sense into him.


    Thankfully, the next opponent didn''t seem the least bit affected by the previous two duels.


    While everyone was hesitating, she took the stage and held two daggers close to her body.


    ''Hm? Do I know her?'' Jash wondered, unable to place the look of hostility in her eyes.


    It was his first time seeing her, but he praised her courage, unlike the others who gave up just after two minor scuffles.


    ¡ªSchick


    She didn''t hesitate in her attacks at all once the duel started, using her feet to move in a rather peculiar manner.


    It was dizzying to look at, but Jash had no choice as he still had to parry her attacks.


    ¡ªClang!


    Just as he stopped one dagger next to his face, another targeted his abdomen, making it impossible to dodge.


    But it wasn''t all that big of a deal, Jash raised his knee with such accuracy that it reached her elbow right when the dagger tip was an inch away from piercing his clothes.


    The sudden knee dislodged her attack, directing it away, giving Jash the opportunity to take a step back and distance himself from her.


    ''Something''s not quite right,'' he frowned at missing such an obvious attack.


    If it were any other time, he was sure he would not use the sword tip to block the dagger aiming for his face.


    He''d rather use the hilt and let the tip aim towards his abdomen to protect it just in case.


    And even in the scenario if the dagger aimed for the other side of the head, he could just move his head slightly and bring the sword to block it.


    Yet he had foolishly almost let himself get attacked and almost injured himself.


    ''This is all valuable experience,'' he mused, despite not gaining a complete upper hand.


    Even though he did have battle instincts and memories of fights from his past life, it wasn''t like they were completely useful and reliable.


    There were sure to be differences in the power system itself, let alone how people wielded mana in this word seemed to differ greatly.


    And the worst, he had only fought demons or humans struggling for survival, not well-trained enemies as no one had the time for it.


    Rather than training others, people preferred to throw money and resources on the ones already performing regardless of their shady background or rumors.


    ''It really is different,'' Jash thought, realizing the difference.


    Systematically trained and taught students varied greatly from a bunch of ragtags only aiming for survival.


    Their fights relied more on instincts and nature than the sophistication of techniques.


    What Jash grasped from fighting was always the


    essence


    of fighting instead of trying to learn proper forms and postures of different weapon styles.


    ''Anyone can do that with a bit of practice,'' he believed, but sparring with the twin dagger wielding girl, doubts arose in his heart.


    He had seen many techniques, be they movement techniques, sword arts, or weapon arts, so he wasn''t lacking in that regard either.


    ''I just found the postures and forms to be too stiff and not good for the body,'' he recalled trying them and compared them with the girl opposite him.


    "I see..." he suddenly muttered under his breath, realizing that it was not a good idea to ignore the efforts of the ancestors in this world to accumulate many techniques.


    In that moment, his movements shifted as his sword danced gracefully, parrying the daggers easily as if he wasn''t even exerting any effort.


    But the girl didn''t seem to care about any of it, unlike her two predecessors. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her full focus remained on defeating Jash that she forgot to take note of the subtle changes in his sword style and movement pattern.


    ''This... this is good,'' Jash mused, half-smiling before directly deflecting her twin daggers.


    At that moment, Jash didn''t care about anything else as he could feel Aura nourishing his body even with the restrained mana.


    His mana veins with five nodes were resonating with him for the first time, although it was just a brief moment that even he missed it.


    On the outside, the students watched in awe as the girl actually forced Jash back quite a bit or so it appeared.


    ''Too good,'' Aileen complimented after watching Jash''s movements and his quick judgment.


    He wasn''t without flaws, though.


    It would be too absurd for him to suddenly become a master swordsman after a simple spar, but there was surely progress.


    And Jash could feel it too, but it stagnated, prompting him to end the battle preemptively.


    Although he had the heart to play more, he was sure that it wouldn''t yield any results.


    Plus, he needed time to sort out the plethora of techniques in his mind and adapt them for use.


    In a flurry of motion, he swung his sword downward and hung it there, surprising his opponent.


    She wanted to not waste the chance and immediately swung her twin daggers at him but...


    ¡ªSchaaa


    In the blink of an eye, the twin daggers flew from her hands, which were now bloody.


    And all she saw was Jash''s sword above her head, ready to end her... if it were a real battle.


    Thankfully, it was more of a spar, but she lost nonetheless. It also seemed to only increase her hostility towards Jash.


    ''Why is she so damn hostile?'' Jash pondered, but really couldn''t come up with any reason.


    Just as he was thinking about the improvement he made with her help and wanted to say a few words of praise, he found out that she had fainted.


    ''Shit! Do I look like a nightmarish monster up close that she fainted!'' Jash cursed inwardly, unable to calm his agitated heart for a moment.


    Barring his agitated heart, he would''ve already called for the next duelist, but it seemed unlikely that anyone would move anytime soon.


    If his previous display wasn''t enough, his current display of overpowering three opponents back to back made others hesitate.


    It was impossible for them to 1v1 him, and no one tried it despite the stupid thought of


    "what if"


    in their minds.


    However, they had made some crazy claims and would definitely not want to embarrass themselves any longer.


    Without waiting for Jash to call them, the seventeen students closed in on him at the same time.


    Even AIleen had a rare look of concern on her face while Ronan was trying his best to keep his lips from curling upwards.


    ''This is better,'' Jash thought, looking at the scene, not wanting to waste anymore time.


    His eyes sharply passed by everyone, trying to recognize their features and weapons in one go.


    He didn''t care about their strength, the only one he was wary of somewhat was Helios in this group, thanks to Amael and Ziva opting out.


    "Beat ''em up!!" Ziva cheered loudly as if she was watching a gladiator arena and totally ignored the weird or hostile glances thrown her way.


    Her mentality had long been tempered, so she didn''t even feel the slightest tug of any emotions despite the numerous eyes locked on her.


    However, her loud cheer only had the opposite effect as Grunghin gritted his teeth and yelled, "Go attack him! Don''t just stand there like idiots!!"


    Knowing Grunghin''s temper, a dwarf took the first step, but by the time he reached Jash, three more students were about to attack,


    As the four nodded to each other and tried to trap Jash on all sides, he deftly sidestepped the first three strikes, their blades whistling past him.


    While Jash deflected the dwarf''s attack with a swift flick of his wrist, letting his sword redirect it.


    The attacks weren''t much compared to the twin dagger girl as most students could only perform basic attacks that Ronan had taught them yesterday.


    Weapon Arts were not something one could master in a day or so, even if it was Jash.


    And compared to everyone else, he was on an entirely different level altogether.


    But that didn''t guarantee his victory, Jash was wary of Amael and their numbers advantage.


    ''Easy,'' he mused playfully, finding the solution in a few breaths.


    He directly swung his sword in a strange arc, attacking their ribs, flanks, abdomen, arms, legs, and even the face.


    ''I will only lose it if I target their vital organs,'' he smiled to himself and looked at their special training clothes, which reduced the chances of getting cut, by a huge margin.


    ¡ªBam!


    The sheer force of his attacks was enough to knock the students away from him, and the unfortunate one with his ribs being targeted was directly knocked out.


    ¡ªClang


    But it was not like Jash had time to idle around and eliminate them one by one as another two came to attack him in the meanwhile.


    After parrying their attacks and pushing back, Jash jumped to their side, dodging an attack from behind by a student who took advantage.


    Though it wasn''t fair, no one complained.


    It was a many-on-one match, to begin with, and the side with many was actually not winning.


    ''Where''s that guy?'' Jash felt uneasy for a moment, not seeing Helios in his line of sight.


    In the past two days, he had inquired around and found that guy''s name, but that wasn''t on his mind at the moment.


    His heart raced with uncalled anxiety as he had a bad premonition about Helios.

 Chapter 217 - 217: False Bravado

    ''He''s a hero, surely he won''t be unscrupulous, right?'' Jash tried to think like that but found it incredibly hard to maintain that thought.


    He didn''t know if he was thinking that way to fool himself or if he really believed those thoughts.


    He quickly assessed his surroundings, calculating his next moves as two more attackers closed in.


    But before he could counter-attack, he saw Grunghin, who had closed the distance between them, ready to attack him as he dealt with the other two.


    It was a good move, if not for being against Jash, who couldn''t help but deem it pathetic.


    ''At least they know the word teamwork,'' Jash thought in an attempt to lighten his previous doubts, but it did nothing to dampen the bad feeling.


    Unnecessarily growing wary was also a disadvantage and Jash understood it well enough.


    His movements were slightly sluggish compared to before, but it wasn''t very conspicuous, given how tired and haphazard the group was.


    Instead, his composure shone, standing out amongst them, as he decisively countered the two with the flat of his blade, using the force to offset Grunghin.


    Due to his miscalculation, he missed hitting Grunghin, being a beat slower, and couldn''t help but pull back his sword.


    In return, the two who had been blocking and pressuring Jash felt inexplicably confident before reality hit, like a slap in the face.


    Ahem, it was Grunghin''s blunt hammer.


    The one on the farther side was barely fine but the one who took the full brunt of it fainted with internal injuries.


    However, it could''ve been worse had Grunghin not tried to stop his momentum at the last second.


    Jash didn''t even care though. He insisted on taking out the stunned Grunghin as well but his sword met resistance in the face of a staff.


    Surprised for a second, Jash regained his calm and remembered he was the one talking with the lightning martial artist.


    ''I don''t know what they talked about, but this guy seems... tacky?'' Jash didn''t know what else to call his flamboyant style of waving the staff.


    Still, Jash chose to be careful and scanned the remaining group to keep their positions in his mind at all times, not daring to risk being ambushed.


    However, his mind could only do so much without the eyes being able to focus on each of them all the time as that was impossible.


    It would be rather absurd for someone at his level to be able to do that kind of thing.


    But he really did push his limits, allowing his body to adapt fairly quickly in the face of extreme pressure at every moment.


    It wasn''t that fighting them was difficult or anything, but the more there were, the more physically and mentally drained he became.


    All he could rely on was his body being able to hold up as he had really focused somewhat more on it than his mana or elements.


    And thanks to his past life memories, his swordsmanship was a cut above the rest, so he didn''t have to care too much on that part.


    Using just that, he subverted the staff for a second before blocking a spear blade with his sword.


    ''Avon!'' Jash was only slightly surprised to see him come play his part too as he didn''t seem like the type to get goaded into doing acts that could blemish the Imperial name.


    ''Thinking of being the heir, he really restrained his temperament,'' Jash mused with schadenfreude, knowing it was all useless in the end.


    After all, when had responsible and strong men not defected in the face of women.


    They must not have been strong and responsible, to begin with. That was the only explanation.


    Unless... they were secret masochists...


    Not daring to think further and distract his thoughts, Jash warily took a few steps back, casting a sidelong glance to check if there was someone behind him too.


    ''At least no one can use proper stealth without mana,'' Jash heaved a brief sigh of relief before trying to come up with ways to deal with the staff and spear.


    ''The two don''t have good coordination, but it''s only a matter of time,'' he mused, aware of the monstrous advantages that came with being a genius.


    He himself could be called one, so he surely knew it, whether it was from his past life or this one.


    Not daring to let him get a rest and retaliate stronger, both the spear and staff reached for him from opposite sides.


    But it wasn''t in a way where he could jump or move back and the two would clash.


    ''This is...''


    His eyes narrowed with sharpness hidden underneath scanned the two of them and he understood deep in his heart.


    This situation seemed hopeless to not just the onlookers, but even him, just at the first glance, though.


    Jash spun his sword into a large slash before the two of them even reached him, confusing everyone except Aileen as her eyes bulged.


    "Could it be...?" She blurted out in ecstasy yet her voice went unheard by anyone else.


    And as if to echo her expectations, Jash kicked his sword, using it as a platform, to alight himself off the ground.


    While it gave strong force to the sword, and by extension, to his wrist and arm.


    To the untrained, it might seem clever, but the trained recognized it as making himself an easier target.


    However, what if the two couldn''t change their weapons'' trajectories in time?


    Jash was not stupid enough to leave things to luck, when it really mattered the most.


    Instead, he used the pain and momentum of his sword and arm to turn around mid-air and reign in his legs to not get cut open.


    The sword and spear hurling towards him also had great momentum and could barely be turned to pincer him.


    But Jash was already half his body above their heads and directly kicked them in their faces before somersaulting back to the ground.


    All of it looked quite graceful and a few maidens'' hearts almost stirred, but the horrifying sight was enough to calm them down.


    Avon, who was about to connect his spear towards Jash''s back, now front, saw Jash turning mid-air before he was knocked out all of a sudden.


    The staff-wielding guy had long noticed something off, but still couldn''t change the result.


    "What the hell is this monster?!" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Someone couldn''t help but comment seeing Jash making impossible maneuvers as if they were second nature to him.


    Even those poised to attack halted as they saw two of their own knocked out in a single move.


    All of them were fighting without mana, so their numbers should''ve given them an advantage.


    Yet it turned out to be entirely opposite of what they expected to happen, making them greatly hesitate in going further.


    ''Good! This should be enough to curb their enthusiasm, right?'' Jash mused, still appearing calm on the outside, as if he had not done something outrageous.


    His calm face as he scanned the ones hesitating in their actions chilled their hearts for no reason.


    The image of losing and getting knocked out in one blow appeared in their minds, making them shudder.


    They believed Jash had a clear advantage as long as they could not protect themselves using mana to strengthen themselves internally.


    However, that was entirely false.


    Only Jash, himself, knew he couldn''t go on without something unseemly happening, so he put on a facade to curb their lively spirits and dampen their adrenaline rush.

 Chapter 218 - 218: Unseen Threat

    ''The only problem is him,'' Jash cursed inwardly, stealing a glance at Helios who stood with a poised expression nearby as if nothing could affect him.


    But only oneself can know their inner thoughts, and at the moment, Helios had a serious expression as he tried to make sense of the situation at hand.


    He had no clue where to begin to figure out why Jash had changed and was opposing his rise.


    Indeed, it was his self-important side taking charge, but he also considered the possibility of Jash being an ally in the future.


    Contrasting Helios''s complex thoughts, Amael had a smile playing on his lips as if saying out loud, "As expected."


    His eyes crinkled with amusement, wondering if Jash had gone through some supernatural phenomenon like him.


    Although his knowledge on such topics was lacking compared to Jash, he could make vague guesses about the situation.


    All of it because he wasn''t from this world, or even the notion of such an event would seem impossible.


    After all, wasn''t it enough that one person, himself, had gone through such events, where did another person with similar experiences rise from?


    Amael thought of this notion as sheer absurdity, but only something like that could explain all the changes surrounding Jash.


    Unlike Jash whose first thoughts were like that, Amael was a bit reserved due to the system vehemently rejecting such an absurd idea.


    Yet it seemed to be the most likely possibility, given Jash''s absurd skills and different style.


    One can change habits, personality, looks, and everything, but could they let go of their own uniqueness, something that made them


    them?


    That just wasn''t possible unless one went through a harrowing experience like


    death


    or something far


    worse


    .


    However, all such ideas eluded Jash as he pushed his mind and body to its limits in order to show off and really forced everyone back.


    But that didn''t mean he could lower his guard; the attackers were only hesitating and hadn''t given up completely.


    Their feelings of wanting to surpass and push down Jash were real and not easily forgotten, leading the situation to an impasse.


    Though it was a good outcome for Jash, as he could recover somewhat, even standing was draining his stamina.


    ''Damn, just give up,'' he cursed inwardly, wanting them to give up and prevent the bad feeling in his heart from becoming reality.


    Jash wasn''t sure why he felt this way, or why it seemed to be coming from Helios, he just wanted this farce to end, so that he could get going with his Aura training.


    This duel only served to increase his body''s coordination and allowed him to improve, but it was like a drop in the ocean compared to the possibility of Aura.


    Just like his swordsmanship and mana pool, Aura could grow in both quality and quantity, becoming a potent weapon under his command.


    In his eyes, the fight was majorly a letdown, and it irked him, seemingly a waste of time.


    ''I could''ve merged my Aura into my battle style,'' he lamented, looking slightly disappointed.


    His look of disappointment didn''t escape the eyes of the ones closest to him as their blood turned cold, and they bit their lips and gritted their teeth.


    With newfound determination, they were just about to continue their steps when...


    "Just sit aside if you can''t do anything! Why are you just standing there, you idiots?!"


    The words caused an uproar until someone traced them back to the foul-mouthed dwarf who hadn''t participated in the battle.


    In the end, the words served as the final trigger, though not a good one.


    The ones surrounding Jash literally ran idiotically straight at him, hoping to surround him and defeat him with their numbers, and not their skill.


    ''Truly now... what''s with this mob?'' Jash commented inwardly, almost shaking his head at the comparison of a herd of ants on their way to take down an elephant.


    Of course, if the numbers were sufficient, they would be able to take down the elephant, and same was the case with Jash.


    Alas, the number wasn''t enough to overwhelm him despite being tired after a momentary respite.


    Though, most of it could be attributed to their reckless lunging and swinging weapons without plans.


    It was like watching a bunch of children playing with sticks in the garden.


    ''Just what''s wrong with their brains?'' Jash wondered before smiling as he caught sight of Helios''s darkening expressions.


    Surely, he had wanted to use them as a distraction and then attack Jash from his blindspot after tiring him a bit more.


    Yet his plan got messed up by a random dwarf, and he really didn''t know what to say.


    He wasn''t some petty second-generation scumbag who would harbor hatred or anything, it was just a bit of frustration that he evidently let go.


    In the end, his plan to ambush Jash''s blind spot could still work, just not as optimal.


    And thus, he set in motion, right after Jash stopped looking his way and focused on the numerous attacks heading his way.


    Even Helios found Jash''s movements fluid and smooth as the latter easily parried and deflected attacks, redirecting them to clash with each other.


    ¡ªClang! Clang! Clang!


    The repeated metallic sound of weapons clashing and colliding was the only symphony as even the professor looked baffled.


    Only Aileen''s eyes shone with stars at finding a new to¨Cerr, student to pla¨Cerr, teach!


    ''This is easy,'' Jash mused, finding everything going too smoothly for a moment, and almost faltered as the premonition suddenly sank in.


    ''Where''s he?''


    He couldn''t help but let his eyes dart around, in hopes of catching Helios''s figure, but all he caught was nothing but air.


    ''I can''t... see him, then?''


    The thought immediately struck him!


    Only one answer was possible: either Helio wasn''t in his field of vision or at his blindspot.


    While there seemed to be two answers, there was only one answer as Jash had looked all around him to catch a glimpse of Helios.


    But he couldn''t even catch his shadow, let alone spot him.


    Warning signals rang in his head and his heart beat faster, but he couldn''t focus on the ominous feelings gradually overwhelming him. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash forcefully focused back to the current situation of being surrounded by unfamiliar faces, each eager to plunge a weapon deep in his bones.


    ''Can''t focus on the lion to be caught by a rabbit,'' he cursed inwardly, finding his comparison absurd himself.


    ''Just what''s with all these animals popping in my mind in the midst of this darned fight!?''


    He wanted to exclaim it out loud, to cry out his frustrations, but he barely had the time to catch his breath while moving swiftly.


    His feet seemed to have a mind of their own as they moved on their own, just like his sword, deflecting and parrying all kinds of attacks.


    The attacks changed trajectories carried forwards to attack each other, giving rise to a chaotic situation yet Jash didn''t seem the least bit content.


    His eyes were furiously darting around, letting his body rely on instincts to fight completely.


    If only someone noticed this abnormality, they''d know that something was off about Jash as he was too young to have enough experience to achieve such a feat.


    And just as it seemed to be going exceptionally well, he caught the sight of a sword enlarging in his vision!

 Chapter 219 - 219: Unwilling Benefits

    Seeing the sword approaching so swiftly, even Jash was startled at first, and his brain couldn''t react in time.


    Thankfully, his body was fully active after fighting for so long and reacted on its own before he could think of anything. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It all happened in the blink of an eye as Jash leaned back and let himself fall to the ground but he reacted at the correct time.


    ¡ªTrrng!


    His sword clashed with Helios''s and he used the moment of contact to kick Helios in the shin in order to not fall to the ground completely.


    After all, even he would need more than a second to get up and that would be detrimental when he was completely surrounded.


    There was no way he could escape unscathed and did get some minor flesh wounds, but they weren''t even noticed.


    All the attention was on his sudden and instinctive movements as if he had decades of battlefield experience and nothing could stop him.


    Alas, it was true, but how could anyone else know it?


    ''Just what happened?'' Jash couldn''t help but think this way as he was just as surprised as others, unable to understand how his past life experience could resonate with this new body.


    ''According to all theories, the body is just a vessel for the soul,'' he recalled, shifting abruptly and finally managing to stand.


    His thought process was simple: the experiences were engraved in his body and had nothing to do with his soul,


    And even if they indeed had something to do with his soul, how could it reflect on his new body?


    It just didn''t make sense to him and his head buzzed at the contradiction, not realizing it was his own fault for such a result.


    Unlike him, Helios stood frozen, completely dumbfounded, his thoughts slipping away for a moment.


    In his mind, he had already envisioned Aileen or Ronan moving out to end the Duel yet the most absurd outcome occurred.


    Just at that moment, he seemed to have felt a sticky sensation on his leg and realized he was bleeding as a result of Jash''s kick.


    Though the force wasn''t enough to even make him stagger due to his momentum, he got injured due to the skin sliding off.


    But no one had the time to care for Helios, their focus fixed on Jash, who was also bleeding.


    While the attack from Helios seemed to have missed, the sword wind caused by his forceful swing left a cut on Jash''s nose.


    It was just a few drops of blood and nothing much to worry about, but the most conspicuous part was Jash was bleeding from his nose.


    The blood trickled down his nose to his lips, leaving a disgusting metallic taste in his mouth as Jash frowned in displeasure.


    He roughly wiped it off with his left hand and took another stance, but no one attacked him.


    Although they knew it would be easy to overwhelm him after his injury, it would have been a huge blow to their already shattering prides.


    They just wanted to save the last bit of their vain prides and


    valiantly


    gave up the duel.


    Originally, Helios still wanted to fight, but after seeing everyone''s downcast faces, he knew it was useless to try to convince them anymore.


    They had given up.


    And Jash also seemed to have noticed this, feeling smug inside as he wouldn''t have to deal with Ronan anymore.


    ''But isn''t Ziva still there?'' Jash finally realized this and couldn''t help but grunt in annoyance, frustration bubbling within him, "Urgh!"


    Others thought he would finally collapse but all he did was stabilize himself with his sword before straightening his back and walking away.


    He only stopped in front of Ronan and spoke with a tone of finality despite his voice coming out hoarse, "So... are we done now?"


    While it seemed like a question, the sheer calmness and frigid air surrounding Jash made Ronan almost want to act on his impulse.


    Only, Aileen was standing next to him, watching his every movement, and the instant he moved, he might very well have lost his life.


    His inner thoughts and flaring anger didn''t matter, he could only acquiesce. "...Yes. Here is your YP," he said after a bit of hesitation.


    Jash didn''t care, though, and just nodded perfunctorily after confirming his YP had increased by 2500.


    ''I can probably buy a D-Rank Mana Gem that will be usable in the future with this,'' Jash mused before briskly walking away.


    He knew his condition better than anyone and couldn''t remain for long and Aileen didn''t make things difficult for him.


    "Since you''ve gone through much, you''re excused from the class today," she announced before looking coldly at others, startling them.


    "As for you all..."


    Jash had already left by the time she went hell mode on the others and wouldn''t let them leave unless they were probably battered.


    ''I need to recover fast,'' Jash thought to himself, ignoring Ziva and Amael glancing at him and even their messages.


    He really didn''t have it in him to put up any more of his calm facade as his body grew weary after all the ups and downs he suffered back then.


    It was really a wonder how he was yet to collapse despite his internals being almost in a mess.


    Thanks to him reigning himself in and altering his Mana Circulation Pathway to the five nodes from his past life, he could delay the effects of his internal injuries.


    It wasn''t difficult to understand; he just had to let the mana suppress his internal organs, which were a mess and about to suffer deep cuts.


    One could easily recover from any sort of flesh wounds, but even a small internal injury could be detrimental to life if ignored.


    Yet Jash had played with fire, shocking his entire internals from multiple clashes and even forcing his stamina to keep up.


    "I''m spent..." His voice sounded low, almost as if he was sighing.


    Thankfully, his mana and Aura could still help him keep going and his battered state somewhat helped them from overflowing and not being able to reside in his body.


    In a twist of fate, he went through another round of excruciating pain as sweat covered his face and he felt like crying tears of blood.


    His injured internal organs, arteries, veins, muscles, nerves and every cell was being mended with Aura, somewhat mutating its genetic code itself.


    It was simple in words, but extremely complex in procedure to the point Jash really wanted to stop it and let himself rest for a few days due to internal injuries.


    At least that was his plan until the process began after removing the handcuffs stopping his mana flow.


    ''Just... why did I not faint right then and there!?''


    He cursed in indignation, but no voice escaped his lips except a few wails of pain but the soundproofing of his room was really effective.


    Not to mention only Ziva resided in this building and she was still in class, so it wouldn''t have changed a thing even if he cried hysterically.


    Alas, all good things came with pain, be it the pain of being persistent and working hard relentlessly, or the pain of one''s body on the verge of a breakdown.


    ''Ugh, I would''ve ranked up again if not for doing it recently,'' Jash thought, as that was a legit possibility in this situation.


    However, he seemed to be a little unlucky, or maybe lucky, as he didn''t rank up and his body finally fixed itself after a daunting process of one entire hour.

 Chapter 220 - 220: A Quiet Beginning

    After going through the excruciating process forced upon him, Jash didn''t know how to react for a while.


    "Haa... Haa..."


    He could only pant for breath, calming his breathing, letting his lungs fill with fresh air, nurturing his insides.


    ''Breathing... is one of the basic... method... of...''


    Myriad thoughts of breathing techniques and their pivotal uses in various meditation methods flooded into his mind.


    Even his thought process lagged behind, overwhelmed by the flux of new information flooding his mind and his deliberate, slow yet deep breathing.


    Only after spending quite some time did he calm down and the first thing he did was check his schedule for the next day.


    "Thank heavens, it''s an off!" He exclaimed with a little smile on his face.


    Usually, there weren''t many days off in the Academy, but it just so turned out to be an off, something he was quite grateful for.


    ''It''s for Aura stabilization, right?'' Jash wondered, trying to guess why everyone had it as a day off, which didn''t make much sense.


    But then again, it wasn''t his job to worry about the Academy curriculum or anything related, as it didn''t impact the Protagonist at all.


    So, surely it shouldn''t affect him too, right?


    At least he believed this way in his heart and could be completely at ease for the moment.


    He dragged his tired body to take a quick shower to cool down his body just in case before going to sleep.


    Of course, he didn''t forget to reply to every message before going to shower or who knew what kind of fuss Ziva might kick up?


    He was really helpless in this matter, he couldn''t guess what was on her mind at all as if she wasn''t human, but a monster in human clothing.


    Well, it wasn''t that exaggerated, but Jash could only go along with her whims to protect her.


    Although the unconscious thought of wanting to protect her eluded him as he attributed it to his own feelings before his past life''s memories came to him.


    Or maybe it was because of knowing Ziva''s sad, pitiful end which he wanted to prevent because he was touched by her?


    In the end, only time would tell the answer to this question and currently it only passed a few hours before the sun rose, giving rise to another morning, and another day to look forward to.


    ***


    It was early morning, the sun still tucked behind the horizon, casting a gentle golden hue across the academy grounds.


    The cool breeze played with the strands of a beautiful girl''s hair as she strolled along, a handful of snacks clutched in her hand.


    With each step, she swiftly gobbled up the food contentedly, a carefree smile lighting up her smooth face.


    "Mhm... Mhm..."


    Her humming sounds mingled with the sound of her snack, creating a strangely harmonious melody that only the morning birds and the occasional early riser could hear.


    Her enjoyment was evident as if she had found the secret to perfect mornings: snacks and solitude.


    Yet she nibbled and gobbled the snacks, watching her surroundings warily as if afraid that someone would steal her snacks or maybe forbid her from eating it.


    Naturally, it wasn''t that she feared anyone, but if someone really caught sight of her bad habit in the early morning...


    Just the thought sent a shiver down her back, disrupting her earlier happy expression.


    As she walked, she glanced around, her sharp eyes absorbing the tranquil scene.


    Although the campus was quiet with most students still wrapped in slumber, she couldn''t help but feel uneasy as if she were a thief and would soon get caught.


    Yet her pace remained leisurely until a thought crossed her mind, and her lips couldn''t help but curl upwards subconsciously.


    "As expected, waking up early is the best... especially... with snacks¡­"


    She muttered her musings out aloud, nodding to herself, convinced of this newfound wisdom.


    Of course, she didn''t forget to grab a few more bites of the snacks in her hands, which resembled crispy chips but had a flaky texture.


    But she wasn''t limited to just one kind of snack, all kinds of tasty ones were in her space ring or in her hands.


    She even wore two rings, one for snacks and the other for daily use.


    It was nearly impossible for such a thing to happen in the Academy, but she wasn''t stripped of her student status.


    And it could only mean one thing, she had the right to it, whether it was approved after her talent and potential or she won it fair and square.


    Eitherway, she wasn''t one to care about such things and enjoyed the peace and quiet.


    After all, she had the world to herself at this hour, and her snacks just so happened to be an unexpected yet delightful companion.


    With her munching sounds, and snacks in tow, the girl wandered the academy grounds, her steps carrying her toward the common training area.


    The empty paths welcomed her, and she reveled in the peacefulness.


    Her chewing sounds slowly turned muffled, blending with the rustling leaves, becoming just another note in the morning symphon.


    "Maybe I should train today...?"


    She murmured with a hint of hesitation, not sure about her decision as her words were punctuated by the sound of her eating.


    Just like most Senior students, she was a girl with a weird sleeping schedule.


    Sometimes, she didn''t sleep a wink for multiple days and sometimes she would just sleep for the whole day or even more.


    Suddenly, she bobbed her head up and down, mumbling to herself, "Okay! It is the Elemental Manifestations today, then."


    The training grounds loomed before her, and her eyes brightened with determination.


    The Elemental Manifestations awaited her, a place where her skills would be put to the test.


    However, the results would be equally rewarding, something almost everyone wanted to get a good shot at and improve themselves.


    Alas, most could only dream of it as its price was literally exorbitant. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only if one ranked the First in their entire year could they get to use it more freely, but it was still limited and even other Rankers had many restrictions.


    Of course, if one was FIrst among either males or females or the Year Representative, they could use it for longer and cheaper.


    While the ones being left behind would complain of unfairness and whatnot, it was the harsh truth and nobody could deny it.


    However, only the ones who experienced it understood how difficult it actually was.


    It wasn''t something everyone could get in touch with lest they cause trouble for themselves and the Academy yet the girl actually treated it as no big deal.


    The hint of reluctance between eating one more snack or going to train inside flashed on her face, but she ended up sighing.


    ¡ªMhm~


    With a final crunch, she finished the last of her crispy snack and discarded the empty packets into a nearby bin.


    As she finally stepped onto the training grounds, she noticed a few academy personnel already bustling about, setting up for the day''s activities.


    It wasn''t anything new to her since few students woke up early to practice, most preferring to rest before classes.


    Walking by a passing instructor, she flashed a grin in recognition and they nodded in acknowledgment.


    The girl''s liveliness, bubbliness, and reputation as the top-ranked student in her third year preceded her.

 Chapter 221 - 221: Impending Meeting

    After exchanging a nod of recognition, she didn''t forget to offer the instructor some snacks she took out randomly from her space ring.


    It wasn''t her intention as she was going to go for training, but she really couldn''t help it.


    The instructor also paused in her preparations, and looked thoughtfully at the girl before accepting the offered snack.


    "Thank you," she replied appreciatively in a polite tone, rare from an instructor.


    Hearing it, the girl''s cute, cheeky grin widened, pleased by the instructor''s response.


    "You''re welcome!" She exclaimed happily, "I find that starting the day with a bit of energy from tasty snacks is quite refreshing."


    The instructor chuckled lightly, avoiding the snack with a smile.. "I can see the appeal," the instructor agreed, playing along.


    This girl was just so cute and lively that she had won everyone''s heart amongst the instructors and no one ever found trouble with her.


    "So, Jyra, where are you planning to head this morning?" the instructor asked with some curiosity in her eyes, knowing the hard-working girl quite well.


    Jyra just tilted her head, though as her expression remained playful. "I''ll be heading to the Elemental Manifestations... it''s where I feel most at home."


    Hearing Jyra''s last words in a lowered voice, the instructor''s expression softened as she smiled in understanding and sympathy.


    "You certainly have a strong connection with that place," the instructor said, changing the flow of the conversation.


    "You''re always busy striving to master your elements when others are sleeping or lazing around," the instructor sighed, a little troubled.


    Although Jyra had long sensed the instructor''s concern and noticed her attempt to steer the conversation away to avoid hurting her, she didn''t expose it.


    She felt that it would be betraying her good intentions, and it was better to be carefree and aloof than scheme all day for a bunch of benefits.


    Thinking so, her eyes sparkled with determination as she proclaimed, "Absolutely! It''s the perfect environment!and maintain her rank to show the world that even someone like her could stand"


    "Not only can I constantly challenge myself there, I make progress each time too. After all, I am the world''s best..." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her words paused as a memory buried within her mind was about to rise up and she quickly suppressed it, not wanting her emotions to get agitated all of a sudden.


    The instructor didn''t seem to notice the oddity and merely nodded in agreement.


    "You sure are always up for a challenge," the instructor praised her before adding, "The Elemental Manifestations are all yours!"


    It didn''t really need to be said, given her ranking as the top student, but the instructor still said it, hoping to motivate the young girl and unravel the knots in her fragile heart.


    Jyra''s expression turned thoughtful and she replied sweetly. "''Thank you! I want to set a good example for the juniors!"


    The instructor''s fond smile returned to her face. "You truly are a dedicated student. Your dedication, enthusiasm and commitment are truly inspiring."


    A faint blush colored Jyra''s cheeks at the compliment, but she maintained her cheerful demeanor.


    "I appreciate that!" She nodded in gratitude in a slightly high-pitched voice before realizing her mishap.


    "I genuinely enjoy the process of learning and growing," Jyra quickly added to avoid letting it get caught.


    As they conversed, Jyra''s attention was drawn to a series of fwoosh sounds coming from a distance as if someone was swinging weapons at empty air.


    She turned her head, her curiosity evident on her face.


    "Do you hear that?" She wondered aloud, her gaze directed toward the source of the noise.


    She felt like she knew where the sound was coming from, but she couldn''t put her mind to it.


    "Ah... it is a freshman trying to hone his sword or so he said," the instructor replied, looking at the source of the sound.


    A look of recognition dawned on Jyra''s face, and she nodded in understanding, "Of course, as freshmen, they ought to hone their skills."


    "Someone must be engaging in rigorous training this early in the morning," Jyra said, a trace of rare nostalgia and a smile appeared on her face.


    The instructor''s eyes twinkled with a touch of admiration as she agreed, "Indeed! It''s rather impressive to witness such dedication from a freshman!"


    Jyra''s lips curved into a pleased smile. "Early mornings often reveal true enthusiasts of self-improvement."


    While it might seem like praising someone else on one end, it could also be misunderstood as her praising herself.


    Though she was not that kind of person and would never be narcissistic about her hardwork.


    It was something she did to get stronger and hold her rank to show the world that even someone like her could stand on the same level as those privileged children.


    Deep in her thoughts, she followed the instructor to take a look, drawing closer to the source of the loud sounds of sword winds.


    As they drew closer to the source of the sounds, the instructor''s gaze remained focused on the training area.


    "It appears the freshman is taking on quite the challenge to improve himself," she mused aloud, observing the sword winds and sounds.


    From her years of experience, it was easy to guess that the student must be blessed and immensely hardworking to have such a result.


    Yet she didn''t think of the student being a genius or monstrous genius; her thoughts differed from others as she had observed Jyra too well.


    The girl seemed to lack any talent and still stood above everyone under the guidance of a teacher everyone despised and liked at the same time.


    And thus, hearing the instructor''s praise, Jyra''s curiosity deepened with a hint of intrigue lacing her words.


    "I wonder who this freshman might be and how they''re faring in their pursuit of the sword."


    The instructor''s expression turned thoughtful as she pondered aloud, "While I appreciate their enthusiasm, it''s important for individuals to recognize their limits and not end up overexerting themselves for little result."


    Her words were based on her experience and knowing the student''s hardwork, she hadn''t gone to say anything, but it seemed inevitable at this moment.


    Jyra''s brows furrowed slightly, a touch of dissent in her voice, disagreeing with the instructor, "But isn''t the Academy about pushing limits and striving for growth?"


    The instructor nodded, acknowledging Jyra''s perspective, but explained her point,"Indeed, it is."


    "However," she continued,"There''s a fine line between growth and setting oneself up for a life of misery. Not every battle is worth pursuing."


    Jyra''s gaze held a glimmer of determination, saying, "I believe that perseverance and determination can overcome even the most daunting odds."


    The instructor''s lips curved into a gentle smile yet it held an odd sense of bitterness that Jyra missed.


    "While that''s true, sometimes knowing when to step back is a valuable skill as well. Wisdom lies in recognizing one''s limits."


    The instructor''s words seemed to be laced with her own experience and wisdom instead of something she read and preached about, showcasing her abilities very well.


    Jyra''s stance stiffened momentarily, a flash of disagreement crossing her face.


    "one always shies away from challenges, how can they achieve greatness?"


    The instructor''s gaze held a mix of understanding and wisdom, containing the vicissitudes of life and reality, which was cold and harsh to everyone.


    "It''s not about shying away, Jyra," she explained softly, "It''s about choosing goals that align with your strengths and have a realistic chance of success."


    "Taking on impossible challenges which are overwhelmingly stacked against you might lead to unnecessary setbacks."


    However, this was not something that Jyra liked to talk about because it reminded her of unpleasant times in the pasof the unpleasant past...

 Chapter 222 - 222: Edge of the Unknown

    ''A true warrior is the one who never steps back, even in the face of a battle they can''t win.''


    As the words she read long ago echoed in her mind, Jyra felt reluctant to continue talking with the instructor any longer.


    Waving her hands in a parting motion, she headed toward the Elemental Manifestations.


    However, the closer she got, the louder and stronger was the sound of the sword wind.


    ¡ªFwoosh! FWOOSH! FWOOSH~


    If it was during the normal daytime, Jyra would have simply stepped back and ignored the sound since many noises would occupy the training grounds.


    But that was not the case right now.


    The only sound she was hearing was the sound of sword wind that was coming from the empty area of the training ground instead of the Training Dummies.


    Usually, one would use the different training dummies and set different levels to train and improve themselves.


    Yet she could distinctly make out that such was not the case this time.


    And this made her curious.


    Adding the fact that the one lingering around was just a freshman, she couldn''t help but get more and more curious.


    "Just who''s this freshman," she wondered aloud, her eyes shining with mischief.


    She planned to scare the freshmen or prank him to get some funny reaction as soon as she caught sight of him, or that was the plan.


    Until her stomach grumbled and growled as if wanting to be filled with her dear snacks, and she really couldn''t keep it in for long.


    The sound of chips, wontons, cheese balls, etc., crunching in her mouth mixed with the sound of the wind clashing all the while she slowly made her way to the area.


    There, amidst the flurry of movements and the sound of metal cutting air, she saw him¡ªthe freshman who had caught her attention during the Entrance Test.


    His name was Helios.


    She recalled his origins from the church and his sad past which was enough to shroud anyone in a casual, gloomy aura around them.


    Yet he maintained a bright, cheerful demeanor, making her heart ache at the thought of his hurt.


    To be honest, he was a freshman, which intrigued her since it was the first time she felt as if she were looking into a misty mirror and could see her reflection.


    Truly, it was not a bad feeling. She was a girl with a good nature, so she was always welcomed by other students.


    In any case, before her, Helios was swinging his sword with full determination trying to master his Aura and mana and increase his sword mastery.


    But she was a Mage, so she didn''t really know how good he was putting up with it.


    All she knew was he was better than even some second-year juniors of hers...


    Looking at his swift and precise movements, she wanted to help him, but didn''t know how and could only reluctantly look at it from afar.


    Despite the intense challenge posed by his circumstances, he didn''t seem deterred. Every dodge, every strike, reflected his earnest effort to become the best and protect others.


    At least, that was how she saw it, dazzling her eyes all at once.


    Nearby, Jash passed by, and ended up witnessing this crazy scene unfold, instantly stunned by the insane luck of the protagonist.


    ''Tsk, tsk, just been two days and he''s already enchanting beauties?'' S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jash cursed inwardly, scoffing at the sloppy writing of the author and how the event actually took place right in front of his eyes.


    Rather than feeling he had eaten dog food(fed PDA), Jash only felt disgusted and wanted to really cleanse his eyes of this sight.


    He couldn''t care less about their development despite knowing Jyra could be of better help to him for learning elements than she could be to Helios.


    And she was the reason Helios could wield almost all the Yang elements with such proficiency.


    "Alas, she sacrificed herself..." Jash muttered, choking on his voice before he ended up sighing, "What a pity, every heroine has a similar ending, no?"


    A mocking smile graced his lips as couldn''t care less about the ends of those that chose to be with him, or were forced by the hands of fate.


    What could he do?


    He wasn''t some good samaritan or some saint who would go out of his way to help others, and especially one of the heroines.


    According to his past experience, even if a man sacrificed themself to save the Heroine, she would idiotically go and die to save the Hero who didn''t need no saving...


    "Tsk," Jash clicked his tongue outward, recalling one such novel and increased his pace to not get any complicated feelings later.


    ''Just saving my family is enough,'' he mused, determined to not care about anyone of not much importance to him.


    Surprisingly, he didn''t consider the world to be a novel, and did notice the difference in the scene between Jyra and Helios.


    But Jash was sure that the general direction of things would remain the same, that is, Jyra would still fall for Helios.


    In his opinion, it was better to focus himself and visit the Elemental Manifestations to get his elemental awakening.


    ''I don''t really need any tutoring to re-learn my elements,'' he pursed his lips at the thought, shrugging his shoulders helplessly.


    Even if the world was different alongside the mana circulation methods, Jash was sure that at least the elements would remain the same.


    He had created the five nodes with hopes of the elements only, just that he couldn''t ignite one without the other or his body might as well implode.


    Shivering from such a danger associated with his mana circulation technique, he still didn''t give up and moved ahead without as much as a glance behind.


    There was a reason why Helios had actually come today, though Jash didn''t know of it.


    Helios actually wanted to get help and also help Jyra get stronger so that she could teach him farther ahead in his bath to strength.


    After all, her elemental talent was unmatched and only she could breach past the point where he reached his limits.


    Due to this, he didn''t even notice Jash giving him a look of disdain and Helios was truly delved into swinging his sword, so he really missed Jyra''s reluctant look as well.


    ...And she actually left!!


    Something completely unexpected by the two of them happened as they were too immersed in their own thoughts.


    In the first place, Helios had been taking on the hardest level of Elemental Manifestations when Jyra saw him and couldn''t help but admire him, evoking a sense of love and willingness to help.


    But now? She couldn''t help him with the sword, could she?


    So, she really left for the Elemental Manifestations where Jash stood at the entrance with solemn expressions before entering directly.


    Jyra just so happened to see this scene and found the boy familiar, but couldn''t remember where she had seen him.


    In her curiosity, she went to see what he was doing, until her eyes almost bulged from her sockets and she yelled, "NO WAY!!"


    She gasped, unable to believe someone could be so crazy and really dared to take on the mode that even


    she


    dared not try in the Elemental Manifestations.


    "Is he planning to injure himself to escape the assessment test?" Jyra murmured in a tone of disbelief, her expression of the unseen boy dropping to the ground.


    And it only highlighted Helios''s brilliance... but who knew what made her stand guard, wanting to know who was inside to the point she even convinced herself it was only concern for her junior and nothing more.

 Chapter 223 - 223: Elemental Manifestations

    The Elemental Manifestations entrance lay coldly, marked by an intricately carved archway that seemed to pulse with a faint glow.


    It was like neon lights illuminating the surroundings, but in fact, they were all mana particles that had taken the attribute of the special element.


    It was a place reserved only for high-ranking students of the academy, a privilege earned through hard work and dedication.


    Knowing theoretically about it, Jash stepped into the Elemental Manifestations with pursed lips.


    His gray eyes wearily glanced around. A mixture of wariness, anticipation, and unfamiliarity washed over him.


    And after taking a good look around, only one thought pulsed through his mind:


    ''This is one of the gems of the academy. Not many students will ever get the chance to access this place.''


    Unknowingly, he recalled that this place was somewhat of a second home to Jyra and instantly put aside all his thoughts.


    He felt it better to experience things himself than rely on someone''s words or any other thoughts and quickly walked further in.


    As his steps laced on the soft, mushy ground, he felt an uncanny sense of familiarity, as if the myriad elemental mana particles were calling out to him.


    It was a sense of yearning he couldn''t ever misplace, knowing what it was to yearn for someone from the deepest pits of hell...


    Not wanting to delve into those memories, he could only shake his head and sigh. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This place was like entering a Mage''s home since they would love to spend time here, improving their mana and practicing magic.


    ''Beautiful,'' Jash wondered, taking in the ethereal atmosphere of the area around him.


    The walls seemed to pulse with a soft, ever-changing light, and the air felt charged with energy.


    It truly intrigued him, and he didn''t care about maintaining a stern expression or his usual calm exterior.


    In the end, for whom did he ever put on that facade? It surely wasn''t for himself.


    ''Worlds apart from its description,'' Jash thought, wanting to curse the author for his lackluster words and descriptive skills.


    He had only read some words about the Elemental Manifestations as Helios had already awakened the light element.


    So, most of the time, the process of training was skipped with a few words or the scene changed to some other Heroine trying to help Helios in some way.


    That''s why he hadn''t paid much attention to it, but now that he was here, his senses picked up the clear and pure mana all around him.


    "Exactly," he muttered, recalling some of the words the author used to talk about this place.


    This place is special because of the mana particles filling the air¡ªthese are no ordinary mana particles¡ªthey''re infused with the essence of different elements: fire, water, earth, wind, and more.


    "It''s like being surrounded by a symphony of mana," Jash couldn''t help but let out a low murmur in slight amazement as he felt the different elements interacting with each other.


    It was as if they resonated deeply with his own mana circulation technique and could even inspire him to improve not only his level but also the technique itself.


    The Elemental Manifestations or the chamber that was called so wasn''t just because it helped one awaken their elements.


    It served another purpose: helping students refine their advanced mana control skills.


    The dense and diverse mana here challenged the students to adapt and enhance their control.


    That was another reason Jash arrived here on his day-off as it was killing two birds with one stone.


    Though, it changed to three after he familiarized himself a little with the new environment.


    When one practiced techniques in an environment with higher mana density, it was similar to trying to walk against a strong current.


    It forced the person to adjust and refine their control, making their mana manipulation even more precise.


    Yet what Jash felt after coming here was the subtle sense of familiarity and fully unleashed his mana circulation technique, allowing it to interact freely with the new environment.


    Also, considering the latter parts of the novel, he knew mana was bound to get denser and denser on the planet.


    ''In most books, it was for Demon King''s ascension or something along the likes, but here...''


    Jash had a mocking smile on his face as he mused on the lack of information about the reason for increased mana concentration.


    The way the author glossed over it, it was something like all the mana from different worlds would flow through there just like the time of Mana''s first appearance or the other Races'' first appearance; thus, resulting in a higher mana density.


    "But that''s all in the future," Jash sighed in schadenfreude, unsure if he would even survive until then.


    However, his smile full of self-mockery soon gave way to a frown.


    "Why is this place called Elemental Manifestations when all I feel in this place is it being filled with a dense amount of mana?"


    "Isn''t this simply a Mana Chamber?" he asked no one in particular before busying himself to scour his mind for an answer.


    Since his question made sense, he grew ever-so curious in trying to find the reason for it.


    After all, not all types of mana were elemental.


    There were unique types that could be called elements, but weren''t elements in their truest sense¡ªlight, darkness, void, space, time, telekinesis, mental...and many others.


    Not only that, even executing a weapon technique or spell required mana, but it didn''t really have to be elemental mana at all!


    As if finally realizing what he was missing, Jash had an enlightened expression and remembered the reason he was here.


    "Shit! This place is really creepy!"


    He even forgot that he came here to awaken elements and if dense mana was all it had, then how would that even be possible?


    Wouldn''t it be utterly stupid to be here if just dense mana could help in awakening one''s element?!


    That was an environment any rich family could afford, why would the Academy boast about the Elemental Manifestations then?


    ''This place isn''t just about general mana density; it''s called the Elemental Manifestations for a reason...'' Jash mused with a taciturn face.


    It was really difficult for him to believe that he got deceived and let himself get carried away; he chose to stop for a while.


    Looking around with all his concentration, there were specific rooms, seemingly dedicated to the different elements.


    And as if to supplement his knowledge, his brain also stopped scouring, pouring in all kinds of information about the Elemental Manifestations, which made him lightheaded.


    Each room was infused with a much higher concentration of specific elemental mana, making it suitable to awaken to that element, but also rendering the person susceptible to that element.


    In simpler words, what Jash experienced previously, the feeling of being deceived and misled, but on a grander scale and feeling as if one would become the element themselves.


    Of course, what Jash conveniently ignored was the fact that he had set up the highest difficulty for himself to awaken at least one element by the end of the day.


    "If possible, I wish to awaken them all at once," he murmured with a self-deprecating smile.


    That was surely delusional on his part, but he didn''t seem to care about it in the least.


    After all, the rooms were sure to have an even higher density of mana, specifically of certain elements, unlike the place Jash was currently in.


    There was no way he wouldn''t be affected by it...

 Chapter 224 - 224: Water’s Embrace

    If one wanted to focus on enhancing their control over fire mana, they''d have to step into the Fire Elemental Manifestations Chamber.


    Even the air at its entrance was practically crackling with intense fire mana, making one''s imagination of the true situation inside run wild.


    Naturally, being close to the element allows one to immerse oneself in the nuances of that element, adjusting their control and techniques accordingly.


    But everything has its disadvantages; those without the slightest affinity would probably be burned to a crisp within seconds.


    And even those with a mediocre affinity for the element would suffer deeply!


    ''Even Caera seemed to have suffered in the inner region, not to mention the unattainable depths,'' Jash sighed in deep thought.


    He knew in his heart that Caera''s elemental affinity was second to almost none, or so it was mentioned in the novel.


    "But mom''s affinity is truly unmatched, even better than Caera, and even she could barely reach the Inner regions after suffering a great deal."


    The words unconsciously left his lips as he felt a strange sensation of some heavy weight on his chest, feeling a strange agony.


    On second thought, he figured it out with a clear mind... it was the dense mana trying to overburden his greedy mana core.


    Although he knew the source and process, he really couldn''t fight back the overwhelming mana, left with no choice but to choose a chamber and enter quickly.


    His expression darkened; he couldn''t afford to waste time thinking.


    Either way, each of the Elemental Manifestations chambers were used for targeted training for specific elemental skills or awakening one''s element.


    Of course, only those who knew their affinity dared to come here and would still hesitate as there was no guarantee that they would awaken their element.


    Plus, there was also some risk of potential injury, hindering quite a few from entering before the high YP cost slumped the willing few.


    Of course, the proud rankers couldn''t be compared to the riff-raff at all, they were ready to stake it in and prove themselves worthy!


    Just thinking of all this made Jash dizzy as he directly entered the Water Elemental Manifestation chambers and almost choked.


    The first feeling that enveloped him was the crushing weight of water pinning him as if he was drowning under a heavy load of lead.


    He couldn''t even move his body at all, and before he could calm down, his chest grew stuffy, as if begging for a breath of fresh air.


    Even if Jash expected a lot of things, how could he know that his crazy idea of selecting the highest difficulty level would be so crazy!


    Thank heavens he didn''t choose Fire, or who knew if only ashes remained of him as of now.


    Of course, that wouldn''t happen or the Academy would really be put in a tight spot, so there were several tight-lipped guards observing here all day and night.


    If Jash''s ID Bracelet sent signals for rescue, they would immediately close the Elemental Manifestations chamber irrespective of the loss of resources.


    However, if Jash survived and awakened his element, they wouldn''t even move as their task was simply to observe and help in case some idiot causes trouble.


    Their tight-lipped nature wasn''t inherent, but forced upon them due to their own circumstances.


    Suddenly, their eyes narrowed as the water currents rose near Jash, threatening to shed him into pieces and push him ashore.


    Both of their gazes grew solemn as they understood the situation better than anyone else, having been here for who knows how long.


    Yet they retracted their eyes the next second calmly after feeling that it was time to rescue the ignorant boy who dared to challenge the Elemental Manifestations.


    Only... they didn''t get a chance at all!


    Although Jash had made a mistake he was no novice when it came to handling unsettling situations.


    It was a habit that unnaturally drifted past his two lives and he instantly calmed himself, forcefully using his mana to suppress his instincts.


    His eyes couldn''t even open against the pressure, let alone open, but he remained steadfast and let mana do the task of his five senses.


    Protecting his ears from all the pressure added another layer of taxing task unto him, but could only grind his teeth and do it.


    ''If this injures my ears, I''ll lose a substantial part of my balancing ability,'' he lamented his rashness, but what was done was done.


    Jash''s demeanor shifted noticeably as he let his body flow with the water, not going against it.


    His previous mild panicked and aghast face had only left an aura of focused determination.


    It was as if a different person had emerged, determined not to lose or get injured in such a pathetic way when he ought to be focusing on strengthening himself.


    Just then, the mana flow around him changed subtly, allowing him to subconsciously relax despite the degrading situation.


    The water currents had just begun to take form, and would soon come for him.


    Yet as the water swirled, Jash''s mind raced with different thoughts¡ªmemories and strategies.


    Mana is the essence of all things supernatural. It is the energy that flows through our world, and as Hunters, we harness it to perform incredible feats.


    Just that one line was enough to rouse him from his drowsy state as he knew that there were mana particles and even some mana essence scattered everywhere.


    Even without full control over his mana, he felt faint, shimmering particles dancing in the air.


    ''In normal circumstances, a mix of various mana types is present in the environment,'' he mused for a second.


    But in his current condition, only water-element mana particles remained, or rather, they made up the vast majority. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These mana particles responded to his own mana, and as a Hunter, he could manipulate them using specialized techniques or through direct comprehension.


    Currently, he didn''t have anything regarding the former except his own mana circulation technique, so he could only bet on the latter.


    He tried under extreme pressure with great peril upon him... and the mana particles seemed to gravitate towards him, forming a swirling cluster around his body.


    Although faint and minimalistic, it was far better than helplessly lying in the water in pain, unable to do anything except suffer.


    At the moment, Jash''s analytical mind was fixed on the mana particles around him, feeling the weak and feebleness of its connection to him, as if it would break at the slightest distractions.


    Yet he could still observe how the mana responded to his fading and growing control, forming some sort of shield to decrease the pressure around himself.


    At the moment, what he was doing could be termed as crazy as even Mages struggled to accurately control mana, especially elemental mana.


    It was far more elusive than the mixed form of mana, which was usually used after refining.


    And that''s where the term "true mana control" came into play.


    Not being a Mage, Jash needed to learn how to manipulate mana directly, but who knew he would actually grasp it on his first try?


    Though it wasn''t complete and there was a high chance he would soon let the mana dissipate, it was a big achievement nonetheless.


    It relieved the pressure of the surrounding water on his body, only to make Jash realize the imminent threat that hid behind...


    The water currents were swirling, ready to strike the intruder who disrupted the balance of the water elemental mana herein.


    Yet Jash''s mind buzzed with focus, trying to understand the nuances of water elemental mana, its flow and how it interacted with the sparse mana particles of other elements.


    Jash''s focus sharpened further as he focused deep inside him, trying to imitate what he saw and understood.


    He had long figured out that this was the only way to not get kicked out from here for fear of his safety being implicated.

 Chapter 225 - 225: Undesired

    Jash''s expression darkened once more; the mental agony weighing heavily on him.


    ''No! It can''t be this easy! I am missing something!''


    He wanted to scream the words at the top of his lungs but his mouth stayed clamped shut.


    Jash knew it required a deep connection to the element, an innate sense of the mana''s rhythm, and the ability to guide and shape it with precision.


    However, he lacked that ability and just by some random guesses under pressure, he was on the verge of comprehending it?


    That sounded too unbelievable, even to him!


    It was simply absurd for even someone with crazy good affinity with an element to be able to do that, let alone him, who merely wanted to use it as an auxiliary element.


    At the impossible notion, Jash''s mind whirred to possibilities, but his survival instincts reacted before he could settle down on one possibility.


    The mana essence responded to his almost dying control, swirling around his body in strange yet intricate patterns.


    Though he couldn''t feel it or didn''t have the leisure to notice it, his control over the element had unexpectedly surged, reaching an unprecedented level.


    It was as if he was wielding the mana running through his veins instead of water elemental mana in a hard-to-please environment.


    Within moments, his expression shifted into a mixture of understanding, shock, realization, and grim acceptance as he survived the storm.


    The mana around him coiled in a protective manner, acting as if he was just any other water elemental mana instead of an intruder.


    The water currents didn''t have a mind of their own and could only go their way, trying to kick the


    intruder


    away, but they didn''t find any intruder anymore...


    Ultimately, it only shifted Jash''s body''s flowing direction which went along with the current as it was indeed too strong to fight against.


    Not to mention Jash''s spur of the moment control of the water elemental mana, it was a death wish to fight against the water current that could probably level mountains.


    ''Do I have a trait for Water?''


    That was the first thought rising in his mind as he struggled to accept it, not wanting to be left with only the water element for the rest of his life.


    For his mana circulation technique to work, he needed balanced control and understanding of the five elements as a prerequisite before they could be used within his nodes.


    But, if his water elemental talent was leaps and bounds ahead of others, he could only abandon everything and only focus on one element.


    However, he wasn''t one to lose hope, given the grim situation.


    Even if the possibility of a multi-affinity trait or talent being next to none. But didn''t he have multiple affinities already?


    Compared to his first life where he had no choice but to forcefully use the elements to get stronger despite having no affinity, his current situation was still better.


    Getting back to traits or talents, one could call them inherent talents that bloomed after some unsaid conditions were fulfilled.


    Yet it was common knowledge that one couldn''t even guess one''s own traits, let alone others''.


    Some people only awakened their traits at their dying breath, and some could never do it.


    Despite it being a good thing for others, Jash had another reason except the imbalance in his elements to worry about at the moment.


    Traits like space-control or specific elemental affinities gave Hunters a natural edge in controlling mana, but it had its downsides.


    If one learned from scratch, it would be a very challenging but rewarding journey.


    And no one knew better than Jash why it was better to have no elemental traits as it could be detrimental to all his plans for the near future.


    He didn''t even want it for some rare element excluding the five he absolutely needed.


    ''I need to re-learn mana control in this world, and get even better at it,'' he thought regretfully.


    He already had a solid command over his mana, except situations similar to his current one.


    It was somewhat of a hindrance to him as he was forced to learn mana control crudely in his past life and he couldn''t fix it, even until his demise.


    Not wanting to delve into those colde memories, he quickly shook his head, focusing on absorbing the knowledge to control the water elemental mana.


    According to his requirement, he did gain something, but he was yet to have his elemental awakening and he really wanted to curse himself.


    At least he felt the relief of fresh air as he manipulated the water elemental mana to allow some air to flow around his nostrils.


    His mind grew complex over the seconds as he felt more and more that he had gained some sort of trait, and his expressions darkened, a frown creasing his brow.


    "Not every trait is a blessing."


    That was a famous saying in this world, and Jash also believed it somewhat.


    There were certain times when developing a trait was a lot harder than simply controlling mana, but that wasn''t something he was bothered with.


    It was the other possibility, something worse than he could imagine until now.


    There were certain traits that made people unable to comprehend and use other types of mana at all!


    ''Surely, I wouldn''t hit the roadblock so early on, right?''


    Jash could only try to cheer himself up in this hopeless situation, knowing it wasn''t the time to lose his focus on the water elemental mana.


    What use would it be if he failed in one task and got pulled out for safety concerns?


    So, in order to awaken his element, he could only try the crudest method. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A faint, aura-like bluish projection appeared on his palm¡ªa beginner''s manifestation, lacking the refined control he usually displayed.


    What he was trying to do with the water elemental mana was how others learned to use mana when they first awakened to it.


    He had seen and heard about it a lot, and finally had the chance to do it himself, so he confidently seized the chance.


    All his earlier helplessness, grief, regret, lamentations were wiped away as he felt the exhilarating feeling of being able to control the mana freshly, from a new perspective.


    Usually, only newly awakened hunters tried this with unattributed pure mana, the foundation of all magical energy, the canvas before the painting.


    And there was a very good reason why no one tried it for elemental mana.


    Elemental mana was usually more volatile and denser than pure mana, making it extremely hard to be able to fully control it.


    Slowly, the shimmering-faint blue mana around his body began to gather and concentrate, condensing to form a denser, more tangible form.


    ''With practice, I can probably shape and direct this mana just like any other,'' he mused with slightly upturned lips.


    After being successful in his little rendezvous, he was unable to hide the joy in his eyes.


    And the only observing duo at the moment were stunned speechless for the first time in countless years at this unbelievable sight.


    However, their tempers were very well restrained, and they didn''t even let out the smallest of voice from their mouths as they continued observing Jash.


    As no one else had entered the Elemental Manifestations, it was easier for them to observe Jash freely.


    Unaware of the observers, his own mind remained focused on the shifting energy in his palm.


    As he could see the faint contours of his palm, he had an easier time trying to manipulate the water elemental mana.

 Chapter 226 - 226: Ephemeral Insight

    Jash''s move demonstrated his intense control over the mana, but that wasn''t something he actually liked; it was a testament to his own hardship.


    Yet he remained without choice. He was forced to manipulate the water elemental mana and form an innate connection to it, in order to awaken the element and exit this dreaded place.


    A thin thread-like structure extended from his palm as he deliberately waited for it to take shape.


    It was too thin, too fragile, as if it would break with the slightest tug of even wind.


    The shimmering hues of different shades of blue covered it whole, as the hues wavered between dark and light blues, indicating its own duality.


    It could become the strongest connection or the weakest¡ªit all depended upon Jash, who chose to wield it and attempted connecting to it.


    His feat of controlling elemental mana as pure mana was unmatched and rarely achievable, yet he wasn''t satisfied.


    ''Manipulating mana is about finesse,'' he mused, unable to calm his racing mind that struggled desperately to hold on against his explosive thoughts.


    Usually, pure mana, being a mixture of elements, could also function in a similar manner to telekinesis or psychokinesis.


    It could be used to remove objects, grab things, or even affect the environment around oneself, if one had enough mana pool and control.


    Similar to an invisible extension of oneself, one could use mana.


    However, all of it held untrue in the face of elemental mana as it really couldn''t do any of that.


    Though it had its own distinct advantages, they could only align with the nature of the element and the wielder''s understanding of the element itself.


    Weapon wielders used this as an extension of their Weapon Aura to form ranged attacks, or they simply condensed the energy on themselves.


    That was something Jash could already do and even some rare geniuses in the Entrance Test had showcased their elements.


    ''But, the way they did it was immature,'' he thought on reflection, imagining himself in their place and being pushed to use their half-assed elemental powers.


    He would surely not be able to do it, in fear of embarrassing himself.


    While in his previous life, Jash had a clear goal which pushed him to do anything for his objective, he lacked such a strong sense of conviction and belonging to this life to achieve a similar feat, given the same situation.


    ''I didn''t know the necessary procedures back then, but now...''


    Obviously, being the second son from an esteemed Ducal family, he was well-versed with all kinds of knowledge despite him remaining unwilling to it.


    That''s why he realized that while he had been able to manipulate mana in certain ways in his past life, there was a lack of refinement in his control.


    It was one thing to not know it, but now that he did, how could he let it go and make the same mistake twice?


    That was just impossible!


    Only some idiot would be willing to make the same mistake more than once.


    Hence, he focused all his time on his body, sword, and his mana control, but not everything could be changed about his past life habits.


    And it was especially difficult without clear guidance.


    ''I could''ve asked for guidance, but how to explain my situation...?''


    The question had plagued him all the way until now, so he had no answer and could only focus back to the present situation as the elemental mana had entered his body and was about to possibly form a connection with his mana core.


    While he intended to use the nodes for the five core elements, he couldn''t awaken them if his mana core didn''t react or allow for it.


    Imagine being unable to use the element wholeheartedly but being able to control its elemental mana...


    Yeah, that sounded absurd and pure nonsense.


    And he really didn''t want to have to do anything with such a notion, so he quickly closed his eyes, focusing on his internal mana.


    He tried to shape it, force it to bend to its will and create a clear path to the water elemental mana without any other specific goal in mind.


    It was somewhat similar to his past life, but not completely as it didn''t have such grand ceremonies for elemental awakenings or such a tedious process.


    One could randomly awaken their element or never do it throughout their lives.


    ''There were relics and tools that let one awaken to their element if it were of the same element,'' Jash recalled, and let the information sweep by.


    He didn''t dwell on it for even a second, letting all his focus be on the wavering bluish thread that seemed to be on the verge of reaching his mana core.


    Yet it remained elusive, as if it were never there, slipping through his attempts to control it.


    However, this time, Jash clenched his fists until the palms of his hands turned white, a surge of frustration bubbling within him.


    ''This is a lot harder than I thought.''


    He suddenly understood the reason why people were this jealous of geniuses when it came to mana sense. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, the former Jash was someone who didn''t have access to any proper control techniques, relying on pure instincts.


    And the current one didn''t have the natural sense of mana, or so he stubbornly believed.


    If only he could open his dog eyes and look at the crazy shit he pulled!


    Therefore, it was natural for him to underestimate himself and be unable to understand and grasp it as easily as breathing.


    But it wasn''t as though he had failed; it would just take longer, maybe a few minutes or hours.


    However, it was not like he had infinite time, if his bodily status shared by his ID Bracelet reached the


    Safety Hazard


    level, he would be pulled out.


    But what worried him about that situation was being unable to enter the Elemental Manifestations in the near future.


    As if that kind of grim result was painted in his mind, Jash''s deliberate, slow breathing got hitched, caught in his throat.


    In the next second, it was akin to water bursting through floodgates after a heavy rain.


    With a fluid motion, the thread-like mana wave directly broke through the different layers of mana veins, internal organs, and whatnot to directly strike for his mana core.


    His mana surged, condensing around the thread-like intruder bursting through the layers of his body as if they didn''t exist.


    Yet he didn''t feel anything except perhaps slight discomfort, but it was too meager in the grand scheme of things, as if negligible.


    Defying expectations, his mana, which seemed to be on an immune path, ready to destroy the intruder, changed its course.


    Suddenly, it reached out, gently enveloping the thread, tenderly catching it and leading it to his mana core as if it were the most precious, fragile treasure.


    Feeling this sudden change, Jash almost opened his mouth unconsciously. ''Ah, I understand...''


    He didn''t force the mana, but understood it not as an external energy he was manipulating but as a part of himself.


    It was more about understanding its flow, nature, interactions, and gently persuading it to follow one''s will as if one was also mana itself.


    On one side, Jash thought everything was contradictory as he just bruteforced things, but on the opposite side, he felt like a deeper understanding of mana itself.


    ''It''s surely not something I can explain to anyone or help them achieve...''


    Those were his true thoughts, only able to understand them himself inexplicably as if his understanding was unique to him, and everyone must cultivate their own unique understanding.

 Chapter 227 - 227: Elemental Gamble

    Drowned in his own thoughts, Jash was so busy admiring the elusive nature of his enlightenment that he missed the great phenomena all around him.


    At the moment, he continued to feel the mana''s turbulent flow inside his body, trying to grasp it.


    Yet it remained just short of being reached, causing his brows to furrow in concentration.


    The only thing he knew of it was to let it become an extension of his intent, but that was not something easily achieved.


    Despite his body''s discomfort, he spared no effort on it, focusing entirely on understanding the mana flowing within and how it reacted to the water elemental mana.


    It had long formed a connection, causing Jash to feel a faint, tingling sensation inside his mana core, allowing him to awaken to the water element first.


    And it was a good decision, as it was one of the softest and most neutral elements, though it could be one of the most destructive ones as well.


    Unbeknownst to him, the dense and heavy pressure had been alleviated, allowing him to relax significantly, though some of it still pressed down on his body.


    As he frowned in displeasure, his focus, stolen from its initial position, shifted slightly to the spots he felt were being battered by water currents.


    ''This... isn''t this too much?!''


    Jash was stunned speechless, his thoughts whirring endlessly at such a ''coincidence''.


    The silently stolen attention actually guided his focus, helping him attune to the mana''s energy.


    In that instant, Jash truly lost himself in that feeling, getting into a state of complete focus as if the mana running through his veins and the water element was all that existed in the world.


    Suddenly, some words from a long-lost memory echoed into his mind.


    "Feel the mana responding to your will... Guide it like an artist crafting a masterpiece."


    The words once obscure and deemed irrelevant were spot-on at the moment, almost helping him achieve the state of enlightenment.


    Though he didn''t quite reach that specific stage¡ªjust short of it¡ªand could understand things on a grander level than before.


    Jash could even feel the faint pull of mana, like a gentle current tugging at his senses.


    His focus narrowed intently on this feeling, imagining the mana flowing around him in a coordinated manner and following his will.


    And then... it finally happened.


    An unconscious obscure smile graced Jash''s lips as the thread of mana connecting him to the water element became more and more concrete.


    ''I''ve awakened one element,'' he concluded with an air of coolness, instantly cooling the water around him a little to mist.


    This would be one of the grandest achievements for someone else, however, to Jash, all of it was just the first step.


    And there was one thing which pleased him after awakening the water element.


    ''Thankfully, I don''t have some stupid trait or physique limiting my elements,'' he heaved a huge sigh of relief.


    While traits or physiques granted individuals enhanced physical attributes¡ªstrength, speed, durability¡ªthey also came with limitations.


    Some limited the type of mana one could interact with, some came at the cost of being unable to manipulate external mana effectively.


    And that was a big no-no for Jash, he''d rather be average at using elements than being forced to give up on being able to use mana freely.


    His body was already a conduit for raw power, what he lacked was the finesse for complex mana manipulation.


    That''s what he wanted!


    ''Indeed, this was the case,'' he mused, recalling a certain musclehead who went around the world to constantly challenge other people to ensure he was the strongest.


    Of course, there were many other reasons as well, but that''s for a later time as Jash had limited time in the Elemental Manifestations chambers.


    He couldn''t afford to waste time mulling over irrelevant things for now, and took the decisive step to leave the Water Elemental Manifestation chamber.


    Now that Jash had awakened the water element, there was no need to waste anymore time being immersed inside.


    It was better to utilize it and aim for another element, even if it was highly unlikely to work.


    But Jash was also conflicted deep in his mind, he had to choose between wood and air.


    ''Calling it air or wind doesn''t matter, but I don''t know which one would suit me better?'' he thought indecisively, letting the familiar pressure of dense mana overcome him again.


    In the end, he didn''t have long to choose and could only grit his teeth and mutter, "Whatever happens, happens!"


    In a bout of indecisiveness or maybe idiocy, he chose to mix the two elements and try to awaken a mutated element, something not very fawned upon.


    It was already difficult to master the well-known and developed elements, let alone elements without history or different from their natural forms.


    Sometimes, one could be lucky and end up with a previously known element, or just a mild combination of both the elements.


    But... there was the extreme case of lack of knowledge and access to the element itself.


    Yet, Jash had already entered the Wind Elemental Manifestations chamber, intent on learning a mutated wind element with wood.


    Naturally, he had already made preparations in advance and was hesitating at the moment of truth.


    ''I''ve never had to deal with such tricky and unknown elements, but I think I can make do with it,'' he told himself before begrudgingly letting the nano-armor off.


    Instead, he wore a deeply ingrained wood-elemental clothing, everything on him was deeply constrained from the element.


    Not only that, he had even brought some wood elemental awakening spirits and pills to pass by.


    Spirits weren''t really spirits as in some other race, they were similar to pills but couldn''t be consumed, and could only be kept around during the elemental awakening.


    The more apt description of it would be wood-elemental mana stones or mana gems.


    Though it didn''t have anything to do with the other, that was how it was used and explained in this world, and even Jash''s understanding was shallow on this aspect.


    ''The darned author could waste an entire chapter on how the protagonist''s swaying hair made the female with swaying hips swoon, but couldn''t be bothered with actually important stuff!!'' S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If Jash could meet such a person, he wouldn''t hesitate to spit on their face and shout: "DERANGED! SCUM! GO! DIE!"


    Alas, such fortune eluded him, and he could only focus on the moving air currents and how it would soon cut through his skin and armor.


    Indeed, it protected him, but for how long?


    Air wasn''t a weak aspect of nature and was just as fatal as any other aspect, so it would be unbecoming of Jash to take it lightly.


    Especially because he had witnessed cities and even entire nations getting destroyed by forces of nature, so he wouldn''t take any element lightly.


    While others debated whether their element was superior, Jash feared not having learned it!


    In his eyes, all of it was nothing short of nonsense as only his strength mattered and he had to suffer to grow.


    It was different from his previous time with the water element, he really couldn''t repeat the same method because his goal was different.


    Earlier, he only focused on awakening the element, which was primary level and something almost everyone hoped to achieve.


    But as mentioned before, mutated elements were a headache on one end and a true boon on another, it just depended on the person involved and the element.


    However, the entire process varied if one aimed to achieve that from the start.

 Chapter 228 - 228: Unheard of Element

    Feeling the wind cut sharply at his skin and the wood-elemental clothes drawing blood, Jash gritted his teeth to the point of smashing them.


    ''Damn it! I must''ve gone crazy to try this brutal method!'' He cursed himself inwardly for being impatient.


    It was not like he only had one day to achieve everything, and the same were the thoughts of the observing few, having been already shocked by his craziness with the water element.


    Though they were used to all kinds of sights and easily dismissed Jash''s actions as his talent, they really had a hard time accepting the current situation.


    Should we pull him out?" asked a taciturn voice, though a hint of surprise lingered.


    Before the person next to him could even respond, a cold, almost chilling, voice entered their ears, "Not allowed."


    The two didn''t dare respond, shuddering under the voice of their enigmatic supervisor.


    They might have harbored thoughts of pulling Jash out forcefully before he triggered the safety mechanism, but after being stopped, they wouldn''t dare even if they were dead!


    Unaware of being noticed by another strong person behind-the-scenes, Jash tasted the metallic blood in his mouth from his bleeding lips.


    ''This is my own decision! I must persevere!'' He recited inside his mind, trying to stay calm.


    However, his situation truly wasn''t all that good.


    His body was covered in wounds from the wind current, with the wood-elemental clothing sliced in different places.


    Yet it was trying to shield him and at the same time heal his injuries, letting the wood element sink inside his body alongside the infested wind-element.


    Although risky, this was the only method Jash could come up with to awaken their mutated element with wind as the base element.


    Not much reason behind his choice, just that he felt it was better to awaken wind for its versatility and wood for its healing factor.


    That''s why he even chose such a set of wood-elemental clothing that really focused on healing and nourishing vitality only.


    ''Ugh! The pain is really repulsive!'' Jash thought with a self-mocking smile despite his bleeding lips and fresh cut on his face.


    At this point, he didn''t have any extensive reaction to pain as if it were second nature to him and it was his old companion, like his little lover.


    Yet his concentration had never left the elemental mana that pervaded his body, trying to grasp just a tiny bit of its strand and connect it to his mana core.


    With his multi-elemental affinity, it wouldn''t be hard to awaken any element, so he was pretty sure it would work.


    Truly, he didn''t have to wait long as a strand of the lightest green mixed with denser shades of green came into his senses.


    For one, he could feel it inside his body rather than it directly acting upon the intended parts.


    And as he could faintly manipulate and ascertain his will, his lips unconsciously curled upwards despite the increasing red.


    ''Soon!'' He exclaimed inwardly, sensing the increase in the number of strands he found inside his body resembling the first one.


    However, each strand was unique, with its own sense of presence, as if they were all different mutated elements resulting from Jash''s crazy attempt.


    No one would usually make such a gamble, but then again, Jash was a bit crazy, even in his previous life, so it matched well with him.


    ''Now, which one do I connect?''


    The question bothered him to no extent as it would directly impact what kind of element he would gain.


    Although he was sure to be able to use any mutated element to a good extent and easily be able to control it, a sense of nervousness still washed over him.


    In the end, he didn''t have to wait for long before the first strand completely submitted to him, directly shooting towards the mana core.


    Cold sweat covered his bloody face as something beyond his expectations happened at the critical juncture, taking him by surprise.


    ''Thankfully, I am not looking for more mutate elements,'' he smiled bitterly, fully aware of his barbaric and spartan methods, which wouldn''t bode him well.


    In the next second, a flash of information entered his mind as the complex elemental mana entered his mana core and resonated with it.


    It halted the dreadful phenomena around him, giving him time to breathe before the environment around him subtly changed.


    It was filled with trees, shrubs, greens¡ªmade of wind¡ªthat swayed alongside the moving wind.


    With closed eyes in full concentration, there was zero chance for Jash to see it, being busy sorting around the flash of inspiration and information in his mind.


    Not even aware of himself, the new element surrounded his body.


    A light, flowing current resembling the essence of trees and the winds, flowing like a gentle breeze yet symbolizing strength and durability like that of wood.


    The element seemed to represent the harmony between the grounded strength of trees and the fluid, dynamic nature of air.


    It was a true embodiment of both stability and freedom.


    However, that wasn''t all it could do!


    Jash had to himself explore the element and discover the manifold uses it could have.


    But his body was currently floating a little with the help of the wind element that was the base of his new element which he used relatively well.


    Simple shapes of birds with varying green colors appeared floating around him, taking on the shapes of giant monsters to the smallest of insects.


    In the next second, a light-green hue covered his body, slowly healing his wounds and similarly generating the lost blood deep inside his body.


    It was a double-healing, more akin to regeneration than the usual method of using one''s own lifespan to accelerate the healing of wounds employed by most healers and doctors.


    Unlike wood-elementals or water-elementals, who were limited to their elemental mana, his healing power originated from the air around him as well as the wood-element.


    It was a two-in-one comprehensive healing that would make one envy such a skill.


    Alas, the pain and reward were really in ratio as if saying high-risk high-reward came true.


    At that final moment, Jash came to himself and only a raspy cough echoed from within.


    "What... the?"


    He couldn''t help but break his speech, his slightly dry chapped lips cracking at his own voice.


    He had just felt the information of his new element and its basic understanding flash by his mind and by the time he could grasp it, he felt he lost a huge opportunity.


    ''If only I knew!''


    Jash lamented his lack of knowledge or he would''ve held true to his genius aspect and learned as much as he could infer from the scrambled knowledge.


    It didn''t come from his past life or present life, but directly bestowed for unlocking this element for the first time in the whole world. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Centuries back, such occurrences were common but even millennials had passed, so it was too hard for one to awaken new elements.


    "Ziva also had this when she awakened," he sighed, not anticipating he would have such a bout of new elements.


    He knew about her case solely because it was mentioned in passing in the novel, not because she told him or he heard of it from anyone.


    As it was a rare occurrence, it naturally invited unwanted problems, so anyone would want to hide it, masking the knowledge of Ziva''s element back then.


    ''Her family really put in some effort,'' he smiled bitterly, knowing his own situation was somewhat better.


    ''But what do I call it?'' he wondered in intrigue.

 Chapter 229 - 229: DO NOT BUY

    DO NOT BUYS UNTIL TITLE IS CHAPTER NUMBER WITH A PROPER TITLE AND THIS PART HAS BEEN REMOVED


    Surprisingly, Aileen''s presence at the moment was quite heavy and Jash was confused further.


    ''Is it due to the lack of many others sharing the burden or is she doing this purposefully?'' Jash considered the only two options and leaned towards the latter.


    He had never heard of anything related to his former guess, but he didn''t disregard any possibilities, having a desire for that kind of overbearing presence.


    "I am Aileen Frostvale, and I am your teacher for Aura Creation," Aileen introduced herself briefly before her eyes through the class.


    "I don''t usually teach this subject but due to some reasons, I was requested for it as your batch is a little special," she added, her eyes darting to the figure of Jash, Amael and Helios.


    Although she wanted to take Jash under her wing, she didn''t disregard others'' efforts or talents.


    At the moment, Aileen looked a bit intimidating, but Jash knew there was no reason for her to be like this, she was trying to achieve something, but he didn''t know what.


    In fact, he guessed right, she was trying to play the good cop and bad cop, both by herself.


    She would be cold in classes but teach gently and kindly, making him gradually trust her so that he became her apprentice.


    But that was all, she had no other motive than nurturing a genius, as if she was a farmer looking at her farm animals.


    "I dislike wasting time, and your Duel Class will start soon, so let''s begin," Aileen announced as she raised her finger, and an ethereal blue light started covering her finger.


    "Aura is the external manifestation of your mana. Try to draw out your mana to the tip of your fingers," Aileen instructed.


    Everyone, including Jash, followed the instructions, but their result was different as only a blob of mana formed on the tip of their fingers.


    It was pitiful to even compare it to Aileen''s Aura, which covered her whole finger.


    "What you all are doing is manifesting mana... it''s not Aura," Aileen explained but didn''t go further into the details.


    "Some of you can already strengthen your body by coating it with mana," Aileen mentioned matter-of-factly as if she could see through it.


    But she didn''t give any names nor any clues to who it was, but speculation ran wild and the first suspect was Jash, who was considering her words.


    ''I sure can use mana to strengthen myself, but coat it outside my body? I can''t do that,'' Jash commented inwardly after the piercing glares shot his way.


    At that exact moment as if Aileen had predicted it, a couple of staff members came into the classroom, drawing attention.


    After all, no one had heard of classes ever being interrupted and then, the staff members seemed to be placing some huge containers in the empty area in the front.


    Then, they opened it all of a sudden, revealing a crystal blue liquid, which seemed to sparkle and was so fragrant that a few students even drooled at its scent.


    "Don''t even think of tasting it, unless you wish to die," Aileen''s words blocked any and all thoughts of tasting the lucrative liquid.


    "In front of you is highly diluted liquid mana, and Solarnelle Academy is the only Academy or place in the world where it can be found."


    Aileen''s words echoed in everyone''s head as they realized that Solarnelle Academy indeed offered unique advantages, being the top Academy.


    Seeing the curious onlookers, Aileen still explained, "The method to create this liquid mana was discovered and put into place by one by one of the previous Principals."


    Of course, many had threatened the person before they eventually gave in, but restricted its knowledge to only the Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Even if the Principal died out of the blue, there were arrangements to pass the method of its creation to the next Principal.


    ''Yeah, right, talking as if it was all for righteousness or whatnot, they were just scared what would happen if others discovered it and they lost their importance.''


    Jash rolled his eyes while thinking so, easily guessing it and it wasn''t like only he could speculate, everyone was free to do so.


    It was just that everyone was interested in the liquid mana itself and waiting for further instructions.


    Thankfully, Aileen didn''t disappoint, mindful of the time.


    "You all," she addressed the students, "Dip your palm and use your mana circulation technique to absorb the mana, but don''t do it hurriedly."


    Aileen''s tone was filled with such seriousness that everyone sobered up, realizing the seriousness of the situation.


    "Cling to the feeling of mana sticking to your palm, that''s the only tip I can give you," she advised kindly, different from her cold exterior, but no one noticed it, even she herself didn''t.


    Then, she sternly added, "You have one hour before you will run out of your liquid mana."


    "Remember to be careful as this is your only chance before the Assessment Test to form your Aura," Aileen emphasized her point.


    Seeing the students begin to follow her instructions, Aileen gently advised,"Try to focus mana in the middle of your palm before spreading it gradually till your fingertips."


    Nodding to herself, she continued instructing, "Focus on that sensation of your mana interacting with the liquid mana,"


    "Then, slowly use the mana to create a thin coating from your whole palm extending it over your entire arm before running out of the liquid mana," Aileen finished sternly.


    She knew it was better for the students to try it as manifesting Aura wasn''t all that easy and really required a lot of focus, concentration and of course, talent.


    In essence, coating one''s weapon and whole body with aura and enforcing oneself with mana before beginning to spread aura outside one''s body was the first step for beginners.


    However, forming Aura was particularly challenging for E-Rank students, as it was a different skill altogether. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    One could even say that Aura was the first step every E-Rank Hunter would learn and improve gradually as they ranked up.


    However, there was someone who didn''t think so and went to take the Elemental Theory class, wanting to explore their elements and giving it a higher priority.


    And that someone also dipped his hand into the liquid mana before feeling a chill travel throughout his body.


    ''So cold,'' Jash pressed his lips together, biting back a reflexive protest against the cold sensation of mana on his hand.


    ''Yuck,'' Jash wanted to curse at the icky feeling of liquid mana around his palm and the back of his hand.


    Unlike others who hid their disgust due to the privilege of being able to form Aura at such a young age, Jash didn''t hide it at all.


    His face twisted with disgust as he really wanted to pull his hand out, but his rationality held on.


    Not like he really needed the liquid mana to form Aura, he could do it after reaching Late D-Rank, about to break into C-Rank.


    Same was the case for Amael and Helios. Though they weren''t completely sure about it like Jash.


    Aside from our dear tslightly surprised to see him come play his part too as he didn''t seem like the type to get goaded into doing acts that could blemish the Imperial name.


    ''Thinking of being the heir, he really restrained his temperament,'' Jash mused with schadenfreude, knowing it was all useless in the end.


    After all, when had responsible and strong men not defected in the face of women.


    They must not have been strong and responsible, to begin with. That was the only explanation.


    Unless... they were secret masochists...


    Not daring to think further and distract his thoughts, Jash warily took a few steps back, casting a sidelong glance to check if there was someone behind him too.


    All he could rely on was his body being able to hold up as he had really focused somewhat more on it than his mana or elements.


    And thanks to his past life mories, his swordsmanship was a cut above the rest, so he didn''t have to care too much on that par


    Using just that, he he staff for a second before blocking a spear blade with his sword.


    ''At least no r stealth without mana,'' Jash heaved a brief sigh of relief before trying to come up with ways to deal with the staff and spear.


    ''The two don''t have good coordination, but it''s only a matter of time,'' he mused, aware of the monstrous advantages that came with being a genius.


    He himself could be called one, so he surely knew it, whether it was from his past life or this one.


    Not daring to let him get a rest and retaliate stronger, both the spear and staff reached for him from opposite sides.


    But it wasn''t in a way where he could jump or move back and the two would clash.


    All he could rely on was his body being able to hold up as he had really focused somewhat more on it than his mana or elements.


    And thanks to his past life memories, his swordsmanship was a cut above the rest, so he didn''t have to care too much on that part.


    Using just that, he subverted the staff for a second before blocking a spear blade with his sword.


    ''This is...''


    His eyes narrowed with sharpness underneath


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    ihjds vseyhdgi vjcihes dgjviujdsk viuewjs gdviuj dafhijd fhkj sdfhkjsd fzhdkj zxcij c

 Chapter 230 - 230: DO NOT BUY

    DO NOT BUYS UNTIL TITLE IS CHAPTER NUMBER WITH A PROPER TITLE AND THIS PART HAS BEEN REMOVED


    Surprisingly, Aileen''s presence at the moment was quite heavy and Jash was confused further.


    ''Is it due to the lack of many others sharing the burden or is she doing this purposefully?'' Jash considered the only two options and leaned towards the latter.


    He had never heard of anything related to his former guess, but he didn''t disregard any possibilities, having a desire for that kind of overbearing presence.


    "I am Aileen Frostvale, and I am your teacher for Aura Creation," Aileen introduced herself briefly before her eyes through the class.


    "I don''t usually teach this subject but due to some reasons, I was requested for it as your batch is a little special," she added, her eyes darting to the figure of Jash, Amael and Helios.


    Although she wanted to take Jash under her wing, she didn''t disregard others'' efforts or talents.


    At the moment, Aileen looked a bit intimidating, but Jash knew there was no reason for her to be like this, she was trying to achieve something, but he didn''t know what.


    Explore more stories at m,v l''e-m|p, y r


    In fact, he guessed right, she was trying to play the good cop and bad cop, both by herself.


    She would be cold in classes but teach gently and kindly, making him gradually trust her so that he became her apprentice.


    But that was all, she had no other motive than nurturing a genius, as if she was a farmer looking at her farm animals.


    "I dislike wasting time, and your Duel Class will start soon, so let''s begin," Aileen announced as she raised her finger, and an ethereal blue light started covering her finger.


    "Aura is the external manifestation of your mana. Try to draw out your mana to the tip of your fingers," Aileen instructed.


    Everyone, including Jash, followed the instructions, but their result was different as only a blob of mana formed on the tip of their fingers.


    It was pitiful to even compare it to Aileen''s Aura, which covered her whole finger.


    "What you all are doing is manifesting mana... it''s not Aura," Aileen explained but didn''t go further into the details.


    "Some of you can already strengthen your body by coating it with mana," Aileen mentioned matter-of-factly as if she could see through it.


    But she didn''t give any names nor any clues to who it was, but speculation ran wild and the first suspect was Jash, who was considering her words.


    ''I sure can use mana to strengthen myself, but coat it outside my body? I can''t do that,'' Jash commented inwardly after the piercing glares shot his way.


    At that exact moment as if Aileen had predicted it, a couple of staff members came into the classroom, drawing attention.


    After all, no one had heard of classes ever being interrupted and then, the staff members seemed to be placing some huge containers in the empty area in the front.


    Then, they opened it all of a sudden, revealing a crystal blue liquid, which seemed to sparkle and was so fragrant that a few students even drooled at its scent. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t even think of tasting it, unless you wish to die," Aileen''s words blocked any and all thoughts of tasting the lucrative liquid.


    "In front of you is highly diluted liquid mana, and Solarnelle Academy is the only Academy or place in the world where it can be found."


    Aileen''s words echoed in everyone''s head as they realized that Solarnelle Academy indeed offered unique advantages, being the top Academy.


    Seeing the curious onlookers, Aileen still explained, "The method to create this liquid mana was discovered and put into place by one by one of the previous Principals."


    Of course, many had threatened the person before they eventually gave in, but restricted its knowledge to only the Principal of the Solarnelle Academy.


    Even if the Principal died out of the blue, there were arrangements to pass the method of its creation to the next Principal.


    ''Yeah, right, talking as if it was all for righteousness or whatnot, they were just scared what would happen if others discovered it and they lost their importance.''


    Jash rolled his eyes while thinking so, easily guessing it and it wasn''t like only he could speculate, everyone was free to do so.


    It was just that everyone was interested in the liquid mana itself and waiting for further instructions.


    Thankfully, Aileen didn''t disappoint, mindful of the time.


    "You all," she addressed the students, "Dip your palm and use your mana circulation technique to absorb the mana, but don''t do it hurriedly."


    Aileen''s tone was filled with such seriousness that everyone sobered up, realizing the seriousness of the situation.


    "Cling to the feeling of mana sticking to your palm, that''s the only tip I can give you," she advised kindly, different from her cold exterior, but no one noticed it, even she herself didn''t.


    Then, she sternly added, "You have one hour before you will run out of your liquid mana."


    "Remember to be careful as this is your only chance before the Assessment Test to form your Aura," Aileen emphasized her point.


    Seeing the students begin to follow her instructions, Aileen gently advised,"Try to focus mana in the middle of your palm before spreading it gradually till your fingertips."


    Nodding to herself, she continued instructing, "Focus on that sensation of your mana interacting with the liquid mana,"


    "Then, slowly use the mana to create a thin coating from your whole palm extending it over your entire arm before running out of the liquid mana," Aileen finished sternly.


    She knew it was better for the students to try it as manifesting Aura wasn''t all that easy and really required a lot of focus, concentration and of course, talent.


    In essence, coating one''s weapon and whole body with aura and enforcing oneself with mana before beginning to spread aura outside one''s body was the first step for beginners.


    However, forming Aura was particularly challenging for E-Rank students, as it was a different skill altogether.


    One could even say that Aura was the first step every E-Rank Hunter would learn and improve gradually as they ranked up.


    However, there was someone who didn''t think so and went to take the Elemental Theory class, wanting to explore their elements and giving it a higher priority.


    And that someone also dipped his hand into the liquid mana before feeling a chill travel throughout his body.


    ''So cold,'' Jash pressed his lips together, biting back a reflexive protest against the cold sensation of mana on his hand.


    ''Yuck,'' Jash wanted to curse at the icky feeling of liquid mana around his palm and the back of his hand.


    Unlike others who hid their disgust due to the privilege of being able to form Aura at such a young age, Jash didn''t hide it at all.


    His face twisted with disgust as he really wanted to pull his hand out, but his rationality held on.


    Not like he really needed the liquid mana to form Aura, he could do it after reaching Late D-Rank, about to break into C-Rank.


    Same was the case for Amael and Helios. Though they weren''t completely sure about it like Jash.


    Aside from our dear three anomalies, everyone else would need to at least reach C-Rank before even thinking of forming their Aura.


    Gu


    ''He''s a hero, surely he won''t be unscrupulous, right?'' Jash tried to think like that but found it difficult to continue the thought.


    He didn''t know if he was thinking like that to fool himself or if he really believed those thoughts.


    He quickly assessed his surroundings, calculating his next moves as another two came to attack him in the meanwhile.


    But before he could counter-attack, he saw Grunghin, who had closed the distance between them, ready to attack him as he countered the other two.


    It was really a good move if not for being against Jash who couldn''t help but deem it pathetic.


    ''At least they know the word teamwork,'' Jash thought in an attempt to lighten his previous doubts, but it did nothing to dampen the bad feeling.


    Unnecessarily growing wary was also a disadvantage and Jash understood it well enough.


    His movements were slightly sluggish as compared to before but it was not very conspicuous with how tired and haphazard placed in the middle of the group.


    Instead his composure stood out amongst them as he decisively countered the two with the flat of his blade and used the force to offset Grunghin.


    Due to his miscalculation, he missed hitting Grunghin, being a beat slower, and couldn''t help but pull back his sword.


    In return, the two who were blocked and trying to pressure Jash to the ground were inexplicably happy before being hit with reality.


    Ahem, it was Grunghin''s blunt hammer.


    The one on the farther side was barely fine but the one who took the full brunt of it fainted with internal injuries.


    However, it could''ve been worse had Grunghin not tried to stop his momentum at the last second.


    Jash didn''t even care though. He insisted on taking out the stunned Grunghin as well but his sword met resistance in the face of a staff.


    Surprised for a second, Jash regained his calm and remembered he was the one talking with the lightning martial artist.


    ''I don''t know what they talked about, but this guy seems... tacky?'' Jash didn''t know what else to call his flamboyant style of waving the staff.


    Still, Jash chose to be careful and scanned the remaining group to keep their positions in his mind

 Chapter 231 - 231: DO NOT BUY

    Meanwhile, Aileen just stood aside, deciding to watch the spectacle. She was not one to interfere as long as the person involved didn''t mind it.


    "What format do you want?" Ronan asked Jash, not wanting to appear as someone who tricked him.


    "1v5, then 1v5, then 1v10?" Jash proposed, not caring much about it, but his words did stoke their pride and ego correctly. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hah! As if I need any help to deal with you," an arrogant elf scoffed, mocking the audacity of this human to propose such fights.


    "For once, I agree with this long-eared bas¨C" a dwarf chimed in, but his words were cut off as someone shut his mouth.


    "True, who needs anyone to take care of you?" a noble''s son said, but all he got were looks of disdain.


    It was clear that the three hadn''t fought Jash personally as those who had clashed with him knew he might win despite the outrageous claims.


    "You see, these guys don''t like to team up like smart people, so why don''t we join forces?" A staff-user said to the lightning martial artist.


    "Hoh? An esteemed young master wants a commoner''s help?" The lightning martial artist smiled, half-mockingly, half self-deprecating.


    "Why not? You formed Aura at the same speed as us, no?" The staff user merely shrugged his shoulders.


    It seemed as if he was the sneaky kind, the type to use every resource at his disposal to reach his goals.


    "Let''s cooperate," Grunghin, the dwarven prince, said reluctantly. His words surprised many, but the most affected were the dwarves and elves.


    Though elves and dwarves didn''t have an over-the-top chummy relationship, the two races were on relatively good terms and kept each other''s interest in mind.


    Thus, the elves knew Grunghin and had an idea about his personality, which didn''t match his current appearance at all.


    ''Defeat is the biggest growth,'' Jash mused, observing the show as if he were a third person in the scene himself.


    Only after the students agreed among themselves to let the dissatisfied ones fight 1v1 first did Professor Ronan move.


    "Any objections?" He asked, not wanting any problems during the results, and after confirming that both sides agreed, he began.


    "There are three rules that you must keep in mind:


    Number one, all of you will use practice weapons and must not target vital spots, nor inflict any lethal injury.


    Number two, no use of mana.


    Number three, you cannot attack an opponent who is on the ground."


    After stating the rules clearly and ensuring everyone heard it loud and clear, he nodded to himself, "Ah, remember, this is purely a physical spar!"


    He directly addressed them while taking out some strange yet sleek bracelets from his spatial ring as the students started to form a circle around Jash.


    They weren''t going to attack him at once, but they sure were limiting the sparring area.


    ''If he leaves this area, we will attack,'' they thought collectively, wanting to give a good beating to Jash.


    Jash, who was standing alone in the center of that circle, only smiled at their childish tactic.


    But one thing that surprised him was Amael took a step back and said he''d only watch.


    ''Really now? What''s he aiming for?'' Jash wondered, lamenting his decision to mess up the plot.


    If only he had been conservative and didn''t completely overturn the plot, he would be able to make some guesses, but he couldn''t do that now.


    Little did he know that it wouldn''t matter as both Amael and Helios were anomalies in their own right, at least in this life.


    While he was thinking about all these things, Ronan carefully made everyone wear a mana-restricting bracelet, making it impossible to use mana.


    Of course, it was only limited to the time they had these so-called mana-restricting bracelets on their wrists.


    Once they felt their mana stop responding, each student chose a weapon of their choice, if they hadn''t already.


    Seeing their eager expression, Jash really wanted to roll his eyes as there was no need to worry with the presence of Aileen and Ronan.


    Both were hunters that could stop the duel any second they wanted and Aileen didn''t even need to move to stop the duel.


    Just her SS-Rank pressure might suffocate them to death if she didn''t control it well.


    (Mana Restricting Bracelets)


    (Rank D - Restricts mana usage for Mana Core below Early D-Rank)


    Helios''s system told him about the bracelets, but he couldn''t care less, he was eager to fight Jash and get a grasp of his strength.


    It was important to be aware of his strength and even be wary of his circumstances for the upcoming storm including Jash and his impending doom.


    On the surface, this challenge was purely of physical strength, but putting more thought into it, one''s experience and familiarity with their weapon was also a major factor.


    However, the 20 students believed that they could tire out Jash, if not outright defeat him, though none would admit to having such a line of thought.


    Only Amael seemed to sense their thoughts and murmured under his breath, "Preposterous."


    No one could hear his low voice, so he didn''t really care, wanting to get a good grasp of their forthcoming situation.


    Although it wasn''t immediately upon them, there was always the chance of the events being pulled to the front due to the changes.


    Similar to them, Jash had long known about it yet held back from ranking up.


    And he currently felt the adrenaline rushing through his veins at the thought of the living targets being delivered to him alongside 2500 YP.


    It was as if someone had given charcoal just in time during winter, or he would freeze to death.


    Looking around, he casually swung the training sword to get adjusted to the weight of the weapon and only stopped after feeling the weight settle comfortably in his grip.


    "Three...


    Two...


    One...


    START!!"


    Ronan shouted and the proud elf was the first one to dash towards Jash, the order of 1v1 fights being already decided.


    Just as everyone was expecting a good fight or Jash struggling to tank a few hits, all they saw was the elf being pushed back.


    Despite being the one who attacked, he got pushed back while Jash just stood in place, only using one hand to use his sword.


    Naturally, Jash''s casual stance as if he didn''t even take note of the elf infuriated the latter.


    ¡ªCLANG!


    And then again, the elf dashed at Jash, this time using the blade to attack with full force... or at least it appeared so.


    Just as Jash moved his sword to block the attack, the elf lowered his center of gravity and swung the blade sharply at Jash''s legs.


    ¡ªCLINK!


    Yet all it met was the flat of Jash''s sword as if it was too predictable, starling him for a second which Jash used to kick him away.


    Due to the extreme force he used, and Jash holding firm while blocking instead of deflecting or retaliating, the elf lost his balance.


    In just that moment, a forceful kick landed on his stomach, making him shriek before a drop of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.


    Not only was he surprised but everyone watching the fight was dumbfounded as it didn''t make sense at all.


    ''Did I go a bit too far?'' Jash thought, a bit embarrassed at failing to control his strength properly.


    Jash originally intended to hone his battle instinct using the fights but... this fight was just too plain for him, prompting him to end it early.


    If only he knew the kind of psychological shadow he gave the guy... Jash would just lament the loss of a potential whetstone.


    ''But he was too weak, so it''s not like he will be able to help me all,'' Jash could only console himself this way.


    "Next!" Jash shouted, wanting to find another scapegoat and controlling his strength better this time.


    Only then will others think they can defeat him and keep coming like this.


    ''Fooling one''s opponent is the most important,'' he mused, unabashed in front of everyone''s looks and speculating whispers.


    "Maybe he used all his strength and took the guy by surprise," someone whispered and the person next to them couldn''t help but agree.


    "Maybe that guy was just weak?" another student commented doubtfully.


    It was not like they were friends or knew each and everyone so they could only guess, and if someone knew him, that person ought to have spoken.


    Yet no one did, so the next contestant went forward, a little shaky but determined to win.


    Holding a spear in his hand, the boy lunged at Jash, striking his spear towards Jash''s torso.


    Even with his mana restricted, Jash was no pushover, having trained his body more than his mana and his past life battle experience aiding him.


    It made things a lot easier for him as fighting came naturally to him and he didn''t have to learn some kind of combat art or form.


    And to prove his instincts, he had already ducked and spun on his spot, delivering a roundhouse kick to the spearmen at his thigh.


    "Arghhh," cried the spearmen as his hands holding the spear shaft loosened uncontrollably.


    In that short window, Jash used his sword to strike the back of the spear to uplift the spear and break the spearman''s balance.


    But he had already seen his predecessor loose so easily, there was no way he was going down disgracefully like that guy.


    Hi in dnd jid idid kdid uqya tye mcn


    Hdidn dj djis cava pyptl urie pla kxnx

 Chapter 232 - 232: DO NOT BUY

    ''Damn is she determined to become a member of the Council of Races or resolved herself to paint them as an enemy?''


    Jash was curious about her interest in the Council, knowing that it would be better if her thoughts matched his latter guess.


    ''Joining them? Laughable,'' he smiled wryly at the sheer stupidity and na?vet¨¦ of such a thought.


    But he wasn''t too sure about her line of thought, not knowing much about her except one thing that mattered to him.


    If only he could directly approach her and be blunt, but that was not a possibility as she would probably lunge at him, going for the kill.


    ''In some sense, I am her mortal enemy, after all,'' Jash thought, unaware that Ziva had seen his small movements.


    ''He''s looking at a girl?'' she thought, half surprised, half disbelieving. She knew him all too well to know he hated annoying stuff.


    It mattered not if it was a person or something, but getting involved with a girl, someone like him?


    She almost laughed at the thought, thankful for her improved self-control in preventing a laugh from escaping.


    Unlike Jash, she was indeed listening to the class despite how boring it was, also wanting to ask why Galen derailed so much from the topic.


    But then again, she remembered a certain someone who could probably derail for hours if someone didn''t tell him.


    And that certain someone had just turned his face to the front, not really interested in the Council of Races.


    The Council of Races was superior to the Hunter Association, even outranked the Solarnelle Imperial Family, which was quite contradictory.


    However, it did include important figures from the races as well as the church so it made sense and the special exception: the saintess.


    The Saintess was one such member that would get a seat in the Council even if he or she were F-Rank.


    Not like their words or opinions mattered, but it was to say that the position of Saintess or Saint carried that much allure.


    They could literally twist the narrative and have the world in their hands, but could a Saint or Saintess chosen by the Goddess of Light be wicked?


    Not a chance.


    Of course, that was how it was perceived by others but only those old fogies knew how much of a problem the current Saintess was whenever she showed up.


    After all, the Council of Races decided most rules and was the ruling authority of the world.


    And even the voting power isn''t a 1-1 situation, it can change depending on the matter and sometimes be a pure unanimous only decision.


    They called it ''doing it to maintain the system of our current society'', but was it truly?


    ''For the people, my ass!'' Jash cursed inwardly, aware of all the sinister intentions they held beyond those smiling, kind facades


    ''I''ve already been betrayed enough to know that they all just want the power to make the world bend to their whims...''


    Jash''s thoughts were outrageous, but held the cold harsh truth of any world.


    It mattered little what sleazy excuses were being thrown around as that mattered not.


    Feeling the weight increasing on his shoulders, Jash let go of his thoughts and he heard some more words from Galen.


    "Now, you must be confused about me mentioning so many things unrelated to Beast Theory, but this is the basis for the subject," he exclaimed, proud of his words.


    "Let''s begin with the first Dungeon appearance, around the time when humans didn''t use mana like we do now,"


    "Mana Core Formation was discovered and stabilized too slowly, and the first dungeon breakout exterminated majority of humanity at that time,"


    "Of course, all this is assuming that all those old records mentioned are the truth," he smiled meaningfully.


    His words were quite intriguing for students from a common background who didn''t know much about the old records.


    But the privileged students could only see them as bold words, as those records were cherished and believed by most nobility.


    Unfettered by the students'' gaze, he added, "But then, Hunters were born, and we, humans, awakened to the dormant power of mana,"


    "Though we are still improving," he smiled at his letter words, easing the atmosphere as it seemed to have taken a heavier tone.


    ''Ugh, not this anymore,'' Jash hated it inwardly as Galen continued, his hands gesturing animatedly, discussing dungeons¡ªsomething Jash knew thoroughly.


    Each Dungeon had its own unique environment and they mostly appeared in highly dense mana regions.


    Of course, not in mana rooms as they were artificially created using runed, mana stones and whatnot, but the natural regions.


    ''Not like it''s true for every dungeon out there,'' Jash mused, shuddering all over as his traumatic experience came to his mind.


    As time passed by with nothing interesting being taught, Jash had a hard time coming back to the present from his traumatic memories, suffering from PTSD.


    No matter how he survived, it was a fact that he could have very well died, his entire existence wiped out yet something strange saved him.


    And any sane person would fear the unknown, regardless of how good it seemed, as the ancient saying goes;


    "Sweet words, honeyed speech and the sweetest things may be the most poisonous."


    While Jash was busy with his own internal musings, Gal en wrapped up his class and went out.


    ''What t he hell?! What was even related to Beast Theory in it?!'' Jash couldn''t help but want to curse out loud, cry his indignation to the Heavens.


    Alas he wasn''t the wronged protagonist of a xianxia novel who would get a golden finger(system) or some passing old man would leave their inheritance to him.


    Ahem, nor would he get a ring in which some old master''s dissi pating spirit existed, wanting to teac h him to resurrect themselves.


    Unlike him, many students had dropped their heads down on their desks, wan ting to get a good sleep after all that boring nonsense...


    Though some were eagerly conversing, stretching and making more plans to explore the Academy, or even go to the Great Library.


    However, all of it was in low voices so as to not get on the bad side of the Year Representatives as their crazy videos of the Entrance Test were still being spread.


    If not for them, some young master or young miss wi th an ego would throw a fit, claiming they were wronge d by these classes or whatnot.


    But nobody here had the audacity to offend the scary Year Repre sentatives who didn''t even care abo ut the Student Council, or so the rumors were going on.


    Speaking of which, in the hallway outside other classes, students could be seen walking in groups or alone, or some forming their own cliques.


    There w ere even cases of ''protec tion fees'' but as mentioned it was a loophol e, not somOf course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acte dOf course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just n earby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the A ura Cr eation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did som ething happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    ething anyone wo uld want to involve themselves with.


    Only that the ones taki ng the fees were smart enough to not offend someone with a background or someone who was friends with them.


    O f course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude... Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did s omething happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    Of course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullyin g but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah.Of course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their bacOf course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noOf course, if someone was stronger than them, they would be skipped regardless of their background.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.


    ticed something off and immediately asked.


    kground.


    Typical fear the strong and dominate the weak attitude...


    Just nearby a student observed some bullying but acted blind, instead asking to their friend, "Tomorrow is the Aura Creation class, right?"


    "Yeah... did something happen?" The friend noticed som ething off and immediately asked.


    .. did somet hing happen?" The friend noticed something off and immediately asked.