The orange glow began to cover the walls of the buildings, trying to sneak in through the open window.
A gust of wind struck the curtain, making it sway.
The creaking sound of a chair was heard as it was stretched by the back of a woman.
A breath escaped from the woman's mouth.
Her eyes were closed, imagining what had happened that day.
What that child had said made her heart beat faster.
The woman unconsciously bit her nail, sinking deeper into her thoughts.
The sound of knocking was heard, making the woman open her eyes.
Tok tok tok
The woman looked at the door that was being knocked on, slowly cleaning the mess on her desk.
The woman cleared her throat.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Sreet
A black-haired boy appeared from behind the door.
"Professor Tanya, I came here because of your call."
Tanya looked at him and then nodded.
"Come here, stand in front of the desk."
The boy slowly walked toward the desk.
Tanya, who was still sitting, looked at him. A sigh escaped from her lips.
"Do you know why you were called here, student Alex?"
Alex swallowed, his index finger scratching his cheek.
"Hmm, the monster level problem?"
Tanya rested her cheek on her right hand while looking at Alex.
"Do you know what you mentioned in class earlier?"
Alex only looked around.
"No, maybe I just misspoke..."
An awkward smile appeared on Alex's face, then he slowly looked at Tanya.
"You know professor, I fell asleep earlier so maybe I was still mumbling at that time?"
Hearing that, Tanya leaned her back again, her gaze still fixed on Alex.
"You know that knowing too much can cause death, right? And if someone is not strong enough to match their knowledge, they are basically exposing themselves."
Alex swallowed again, his palms now wet.
"Of course professor, I know that very well too."
Tanya sighed, her hand scratching her temple.
"You must not mention that again in public."
Alex looked at her and answered after a slight pause.
'Damn, is that information really that important? This is your fault Krystal.'
Krystal mocked him.
'Why is it my fault? You should study theory harder so you can keep up!'
'Ck ck ck you are my guide remember.'
Alex smiled awkwardly while scratching the back of his head that did not itch.
"Of course professor, I will remember it,"
Alex said while slightly lowering his head.
"Is that all? Can I go now?" Alex continued.
Tanya shook her head, while Alex's shoulders slumped.
"Are you ready for next week's simulation?"
Alex nodded confidently.
"Of course, we will crush anyone!"
One of Tanya's eyebrows rose.
"You are very different from when we first met at the Osteria entrance exam."
Alex widened his eyes, almost choking. His awkward smile appeared again.
"Hey, people can change professor, especially after experiencing life and death situations."
Tanya's expression turned suspicious.
"I see… are you sure you can keep up with the other class representatives? Like Julian Overmas and Eve who are in the same class, and also Arthur Dowman?"
Alex shrugged.
"I met Julian briefly once, I haven't met the others, but at least we won't just go with the flow."
Tanya nodded.
Alex grinned.
"So yeah whoever it is, that guy or that guy, we will fight them and we will win."
Tanya nodded.
"That's good. You know student Alex? The ability you showed when fighting Aril and Reva felt like a professional."
Alex nodded his head with his eyes closed, looking pleased with the compliment.
The air temperature suddenly dropped, Alex opened his eyes.
Tanya stared at him intensely, her hands clasped covering her mouth.
"I hope you show something like that again."
Alex nodded.
"Because I will bet with the other professors on our class's victory against their classes."
A smile appeared on Alex's face, realizing there was no other serious situation.
"Of course prof! We will beat them all!"
Tanya relaxed her body and leaned back again.
"I bet four months of my salary so of course you must win."
Alex's eyes widened.
"Isn't that too much professor?"
Tanya's expression turned cold.
Alex swallowed.
"Alright, we will multiply it."
"Are we done prof?"
Tanya nodded her head.
"You may leave."
Alex exhaled and turned around.
When he had reached the door and held the door handle, Alex turned back to look at Professor Tanya.
Tanya made a confused expression.
"What is it?"
Alex just grinned.
"If we win you have to treat everyone to dinner professor."
Tanya sighed while making a gesture for him to leave quickly.
"Alright, alright."
Alex smiled and left Professor Tanya's office.
Alex and his classmates' preparations began.
A cool breeze touched the skin. Warm sunlight shone over Osteria Academy.
The sound of something being dragged could be heard in the quiet environment.
Srettt
A boy walked unsteadily while dragging a girl with his left hand.
His breath was ragged, sweat flowing down his forehead.
"You have to walk damn it, we only ran half of Osteria academy's territory and you are already like this? Don't you want to change your name from Mira the gambler to Mira the killing machine?"
A mumbling voice came from Mira who was being dragged.
"Damn I don't want to do this anymore! For four days you forced me to do physical training."
The boy almost stumbled.
"Damn it, we will be late meeting the others, wake up gambler."
Mira shook her head.
"No… no! Take me back to my room I don't want to go anywhere anymore!"
Shouting sounds were heard repeatedly but no one protested.
Finally the boy's staggering steps brought him to their destination.
A large building with many rooms inside could be seen.
While dragging Mira the boy entered one of the rooms.
Inside there was only one large room with a white background.
There were also several people there.
The first to greet him was a girl with long dark red hair.
"You're late again, can't you bring her faster Alex?"
Alex dropped Mira on the floor, and Alex also fell.
With heavy breathing Alex spoke.
"This gambler has no hope, Katarina this is not my fault."
Katarina sighed and massaged her forehead.
"We better start quickly, we will enter soon."
Katarina glanced slightly behind.
"So who this time? Who do you want to fight?"
Alex smiled and looked at the figures behind Katarina, they were Aril, Reva, and also Azka and Keyla.
Alex looked at Aril.
"Alright, come here big boy."
Aril looked at Alex who called him.
"Cih, only now you want to train with me?"
Alex stood up.
"Yes I will try you one by one to get used to my talent."
Alex then looked at Reva.
"Hey move this gambler away."
Reva looked at him with a pout.
"I'm not your servant," she answered flatly.
Alex grinned.
"Did you forget our bet yesterday? I defeated you and you will be my servant until the simulation."
Reva clicked her tongue and walked angrily toward Mira.
"Cheater, if you didn't use dirty tricks I would have won."
Alex ignored her, his gaze only focused on Aril who was two meters tall.
"Alright shall we start a little training?"
Aril channeled mana through his entire body, a cold sensation followed.
He dashed splitting the air, contrary to his large physique, his speed was strengthened by mana.
Alex's eyes widened, his first soul core responded. His legs pushed him backward while Aril's downward kick was slightly late which caused the ground to crack because the kick was filled with mana.
DAR!
Alex flowed mana throughout his body, the cold sensation followed him. Now that he had advanced to D- rank his mana control had improved.
Alex bent his knees to gain stronger momentum. Cracks appeared on the ground.
Krak!
Alex dashed forward, jumping, his knee now at the same height as Aril's face.
Alex grabbed Aril's head with both hands then pulled it toward his right knee.
Buk!
Aril staggered backward, his vision slightly blurred.
Alex's feet touched the ground again and he immediately lowered his body.
Aril quickly recovered and saw Alex bending down.
Aril tried to approach Alex, but Alex approached him first, hugging Aril's waist.
Aril's eyes widened, he had experienced a moment like this before.
Aril followed his experience, his legs slowly stepping back allowing Alex whose body was smaller to push him.
Aril's hands touched Alex's back pushing him downward. Alex's face was now closer to the floor.
Aril launched his right knee to smash Alex's face, Alex's first soul core reacted, his right hand held the floor as support and from his left palm a small paper with a strange symbol appeared.
When Aril's knee hit the paper a blue fire came out and exploded.
BOOM!
Smoke rose from the explosion point. Alex came out from the smoke, his face showing a smile while his left palm was slightly injured.
Aril followed Alex out of the smoke, his knee injured, his uniform also torn at his right knee, but a green light covered his right leg.
Aril stretched his right leg. Bent both legs then made a huge jump.
His jump made everyone including Alex look toward the ceiling.
Alex swallowed.
'Damn, he will release the energy absorbed from that explosion.'
His right leg shining green stretched forward while his left leg folded.
At the edge of the arena everyone prepared for the kinetic explosion that would occur.
Alex's eyes widened, focusing mana on both legs Alex dashed backward at the right time.
Aril's sky kick hit the empty floor, a kinetic wave struck everyone.
BOOM!
Alex protected his face with both hands from the kinetic wave.
Meanwhile Aril's face grimaced, his right leg stuck because of his attack.
Alex smiled.
Taking out a flat stone in his hand, the stone had a strange symbol on it, Alex channeled his mana into the stone then threw it toward Aril who was trapped.
Fooshh
The sound of the stone cutting through the air.
Alex giggled.
"Eat that rock!"
When the flat stone got close Aril's eyes widened and suddenly a giant river stone appeared from the strange symbol and slammed into Aril sending him flying far away.
Boom!!
Grimacing expressions appeared on everyone's faces.
Alex then ran toward Aril.
Katarina took out a healing potion from her smart bracelet and threw it toward Alex.
Alex immediately fed Aril the potion.
Everyone slowly approached.
Alex sat beside Aril who was still unconscious then turned to Katarina.
"How was it?"
Katarina brushed her dark red hair.
"That will not be enough to defeat the other representatives, your talent is unique and flexible but it is still not enough to win against the others."
Alex sighed then lay down.
"The point is flexibility right? Relax this is just training, I will do my best during the simulation later."
Katarina looked down at Alex.
"Yes… you must try your best, we have to win."
Alex smiled, his gaze now toward Azka and Keyla.
"Did the special preparation I asked for go well?"
Keyla nodded.
"Yes everything went well, as long as we are not caught."
Alex giggled.
Azka raised his hand.
"But is it really okay to do that?"
Alex sighed.
"It's fine, as long as we win we can apologize anytime, especially since there is a princess here," Alex said while looking at Katarina.
Katarina shook her head.
"I will not help you with that."