It was a loud yawn.
Isaac slumped towards the auditorium.
All's well that ends well… I guess, bro… Some mistakes were made.
I could have definitely benefited the situation much more if I weren't as lazy as I was… That shit took too much thinking for a person like me. But it's great that I have a truce with Caelum and Orthellius, and I gained the basis on which my Act I weapons will be made. I don't think they're gonna keep their end of the bargain for long, but at least they now know my capabilities and have to do more preparatory work for me.
What's really fucking annoying is that they both sent me on a duck, goose chase to find out what the hell is a 'Katapleric/Kataplerosis'. I know it is a classification of somebody's nature, and it relates to 'Fullness', but I don't know what it exactly means.
Perhaps this world has some form of terminology to classify transmigrators? If so, then they already figured it out. But what are the likelihoods of there being other transmigrators from Earth?
Hmmm… Come to think of it… Maybe quite high… That Harbinger knew that this world was a game and had a Canonical Ending that is unknown to players, so why would I assume that I am the only 'Descender'?
I'll call us that for now.
Why? Cuz it's fucking ridiculous!
You're telling me when a player of EAA dies, they get sent into EAA? And that they cannot hide it as well as I? So much so that it led to studies on them where terminologies emerged.
What a load of shit! How sucky were the 'Descenders'?
Isaac and Caelum enter the auditorium, where they are met with all the eyes of the waiting First-Years. They both return to the larger group, led by a Fourth-Year Kynetic with a badge reading 'Marcus', clapping his hands, and summoning everyone's attention.
He was on the relatively short side yet seemed to have quite the build,
Look at that build, as expected from a Mana Swordsman.
"Right then, juniors! I'm Marcus. Welcome to Elenos's Institute of Noësical Academics, if anyone hasn't said it yet. Before we begin the tour, let me ask you all this. How was the NCAT?"
A collective groan emits from the groups, specifically from the 6 around Alyssa. Replying with responses such as,
"Jeez, it was so nerve-racking. I thought I wouldn't get classified as high as I did."
"I felt like I was gonna faint seeing everyone's Out-Thread. Especially The Three Great Princesses. Oh, but did you see Caelum? He was 100% the star of the show."
"Omg yeah! But look! Turaiya and Caleum! Are they a couple?"
"Gurl, what are you all talking about. How are you NOT concerned that we saw Isa一."
"Hahaha, Yes, I agree the NCAT was stressful as well. Seeing a lot of my friends doing under average really threw me off. It's impressive that your cohort did so well. Do you know how shocked we seniors were when we heard about the Two Anomalies? Whatever it is, keep it up! Ignore that for now, you all made it with decent Classifications, hopefully. For this hour or so, just forget about your ranking and enjoy the campus oka一?"
His eyes snap towards Turaiya, who had returned to questioning the absent, 'timid' Caelum. He immediately kneels, bowing his head.
"Forgive me for not addressing you earlier, your highness. Pardon my ignorance."
She turns her attention to Marcus and responds precisely.
"Don't fret it. Don't kneel anymore unless we're outside of the Institute. You're my senior now, I'm your junior. Keep your head up."
So basically every student has heard of Caelum and me…
His faking is at it again… Wow~
"Hah…."
I lwk just want to progress through this arc without thinking, bro…
Why must I do all this shit…
Caelum's head turned towards Marcus, and Isaac noted that his eyes still lacked any sight of a golden glint, replaced by the empty void of black. Contrary to him, Marcus' eyes shone bright. He was a natural at befriending people, a social man whom everyone gets along with.
I hope that in the later Acts he graduates and finds a safe place, I don't remember if he dies… Though… I really don't like him for some reason.
Rising from his knee, he coughed for attention.
"Very well, your highness… Ahem. W-well then let's begin! As you know, we are in the heart of EINA. This is the main building that houses your academic lifelines. Textbook classes in the west wing—"
Jabbing his hand toward a row of windows. The students peer into the classroom, the layout in a distinct and hierarchical formation, as typical fantasy stories would have, with a unique modern university twist.
The room is tiered, with three main levels of seating that descend toward the front, where a wide central aisle divides the space. On both sides, the desks are similarly arranged in rows of long black desks.
"—Catalyxical Engineering Creation engineering chambers downstairs, don't touch anything unless you fancy losing your eyebrows hehe. And the infirmary's in the east. And, Oh, you'll probably be visiting it sooner than you think."
A collective giggle from the entire group erupts.
He speaks the truth, just wait till we go on that field expedition…
Memories of his eye-popping returned to Isaac, and the throbbing in his head grew larger.
"And finally, the library in the east. Now for cooler stuff. Facilities."
I need to go there…
They pivoted northward and followed Marcus, taking in the sheer beauty of the Institute. Rows of flora line the marble and stone paths with a multitude of separate buildings for various purposes in the 2-kilometer campus.
In the distance, a monolithic structure loomed, literally.
"House Yves. This is their dormitory, and this is their training center. Think of brute strength and scientific lifting."
He smirked as he opened the door to the gym. A loud thud echoes. Someone bench-pressing 250 l̶b̴s̴ easily, while others train in callisthenics with boulders strapped to their backs.
When the bodybuilders noticed the First-Years, they all greeted them with so much passion that they might as well have been one big family.
Girls blushed before flocking to other girls, guys blushed before flocking to guys.
All of them were equally embarrassed and flustered as those they admired were fit. Most greeted them with friendly welcoming arms, with some immediately trying to spread propaganda to them.
"A mix of primitivity and modernized equipment. As you can see, I hit it quite often."
Marcus flexed his biceps as the girls looked away in embarrassment at his cringe behaviour.
Just cuz he has a little fat on his face doesn't mean you have to treat him like that.
I could ask him for some bodybuilding tips. Look at the veins on his arms… Though how peculiar is the temporal vein on his forehead.
"I'll give you guys 10 minutes here. Go do whatever you want and get to know the people who frequent here."
Cool. Cool. I have an idea to calm myself.
Where are the boxing bags…
Immediately. Isaac was surrounded by nerd-like jacked men who all greeted him with such vigor you could have thought they weren't straight.
"Yo! Wassup, dude!"
"Wassup bro?"
"Hey! Wassup, man!"
Isaac internally groaned.
Not these gymcels again.
They once begged him to teach them how to fight in exchange for teaching him how to gain muscle on Earth, and now they have followed him here to pester him all the same.
"Isaac Mun. Great to meet you all."
"Yo! I'm Ashur!"
"I'm Elliot!"
"I'm Ben."
All of them resonate together.
Oh my God.
They sound like Caelum's Projection.
They're NOT straight.
"Nice to meet you, Isa一."
"Wait… Sorry… THE Isaac Mun?"
Shit…
"Yeah. Wassup?"
All three of the boys' expressions immediately shifted to that of panic, which was quickly hidden by curiosity.
Simultaneously, they asked, "How did you do it?"
Yo… Mf…
Leave me alone, bro.
"If I'm being deadass. No clue. "
"Huh? Seriously?" Ben blurted out.
"Dude. Please. It's been the same response for everyone I've met today, okay? I genuinely don't know. I'm sorry, but I really fucking don't know, man."
Fortunately, the three jacked jocks were understanding. Ashur apologized on behalf of the three of them.
"Ah… We didn't mean to get on your case like that. Sorry."
Hah… I forgot that this world has heightened emotional intelligence as well.
Thank God.
"It's okay. Don't get worked up on it. If you wanna help me. Could you guys direct me to the martial arts section?"
"Absolutely, bro. Come, let's go."
Inside the gym, the three led Isaac towards a room where he heard the sound of skipping ropes whip and crack as he noticed a multitude of male and female students running the basic drills of all types of martial arts.
"OSU!"
Kyokushin Karate.
"HAAAH!"
Kick Boxing… Yada, yada, yada… Interesting... They have all forms of combat sports here.
"What's your discipline, Isaac?"
"Boxing, do you know where the heavy bags are?"
"Over there, man. Hey. If you ever decide to come back, make sure you work out with us, yeah? Again. We're sorry, dude. Didn't mean it. Genuinely."
"Spar us one day too! We all do Jiu-Jitsu as a side discipline! And… sorry."
"It's okay. And yeah. I can tell you guys do BJJ."
"???"
Oh yeah ~ I can fucking tell you three rub against each other every day.
"Sure. Don't worry about it. Thank you, ga— guys!"
The trio left, leaving Isaac in front of the rows of heavy bags and B.O.B Dummies. He noted the sheer amount of training equipment and rings for every different discipline of martial arts. Even the octagons were adapted in a way were it could be altered to fit any combat sport rule at a moment's notice.
Wow… Must be heavily subsidised.
More concerning… 'Boxing' and 'BJJ' were recognized as combat sports here.
I don't know about BJJ, but since my passion was boxing, I know its etymology. So why is there a 14th-century Dutch or Germanic that was formalized in 1711 in boxing in this world?
I could 100% chalk it up to EAA being mad using modern Earth Day English, but judging based on everything I've seen so far, and knowing those damn Higher Dimensional Enttities above;
I find the proposition that EAA has its own history and language much, much~ more unique.
And that boils the question down to how?
Was there a 'Descender' before me that introduced modern Earth Day language here? Unless the development of Agerea is so similar to Earth with minor differences that set off chain reactions of historical events, i.e, Quantum Physics being discovered in 1572.
That's the only two pull-out-of-my-ass explanation I have right now.
Isaac picks a pair of 14-oz gloves from the rack of dozens. Yet, unique were the improvements made to what was already a highly optimized product.
Hm?
This foam is super malleable, the hell?
I've used my fair share of brands, but none of them come close in comparison to this…
The wrist support provided was unlike anything on Earth. The glove fit Isaac's hand like a latex one rather than one made of leather, if it was even made of leather. The material that Isaac felt was more reminiscent of full-grain leather with nanofibrillar enhancements.
I wonder…
Without anyone looking, Isaac held the other glove against the sharp edge of the rack.
And he pulled down with all his might.
Yet, the glove did not tear.
It feels like leather, but even the highest quality of leather would have been torn if not left a mark upon by that much force being pulled down on it.
So… Even the boxing gloves have been enhanced in this world, then.
Interesting… Then what makes the weapons in this world? Would the average sword be able to slice anything and everything?
Fascinating…
Isaac prepares himself in the most textbook boxing stance. The one he used against the Ritualist at the start of his journey.
Imagine that fucker in front of me with his big ahh sword again. If he throws a 22.5-degree slash as he did, I should slip left and step in. The sword will pass my right shoulder. I can briefly bump it in Philly Shell, which leaves his liver open.
Okay.
Let's try. A lead shovel hook to punch the shit out of all the thoughts in my head.