A wave of tension seemed to linger in the atmosphere. The air crackled with hostility, and Atticus instinctively placed himself a half-step in front of Rin, his own posture straightening in response to the young man's arrogant demeanor. He didn't recognize the insignia of House Serpentis but now he remembered where he had seen the carriage.Rin, however, seemed to regain her composure quickly. She met the young man's gaze head-on, her eyes hardening with defiance. "Serpentis," she spat out the name like a bad taste in her mouth "What brings you to this fine part of town?""Don't play coy, Rin," the young man sneered. "We know you were here. And we know what you've been up to." His eyes flickered to the groaning figures scattered on the ground, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Looks like you've been causing trouble again for people under the protection of our clan, are you tired of life!""Just defending myself from some lowlifes who were picking on a couple of kids, didn't realize th
The next morning, anticipation buzzed through Atticus as he made his way towards the combat faculty. Unlike the serene atmosphere of the library, a vibrant energy thrummed in the air here. The building itself was imposing, constructed from dark gray stone with towering pillars that seemed to pierce the sky. Students milled about, clad in their designated combat gear – leather armor worn over loose-fitting pants and shirts, all reinforced with defensive enchantments. Atticus navigated the bustling corridors, his steps echoing on the polished stone floors. He exchanged brief greetings with passing students, some familiar faces from his classes, others unknown but radiating an air of focused intensity. Finally, following the directions Professor Ragnar had provided, he arrived at a large training hall.The scene within was a testament to the magnitude of the upcoming mission. Students, roughly thirty in number, were already gathered, their voices raised in animated conversation. In the
The students were back and Master Wei led them to a hall for further briefings and lessons on the spectral demons.The tension in the training hall crackled with anticipation. The thirty-two students chosen for the special task force, including Atticus, Xu Hua, Fen Yifan, and the Zu twins, sat poised with eager eyes fixed on Master Wei. Today marked the commencement of their intensive training – a crash course in the nature and combat of Spectra Demons."Alright, everyone," Master Wei boomed, his voice echoing through the room. "I trust you've all heard whispers about the Spectral threat plaguing our borders?" A chorus of murmurs filled the room, confirming his assumption."Knowing you've heard the term," Master Wei continued, his tone turning serious, "doesn't equate to truly understanding these creatures. Today, we delve into the theoretical aspects of Spectra Demons – their origins, their powers, and the weaknesses we can exploit."He paused, letting the weight of his words settle
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the enchanting process was complete. Master Wei led them to a large, circular training hall. The walls were constructed from polished obsidian, reflecting the flickering light emanating from magical orbs suspended from the high ceiling. In the center of the chamber, a shimmering portal pulsated with an ethereal light, its energy twisting and distorting the air around it.Master Wei stood before them, a solemn expression etched on his face. "Today's final training session will take place within an illusionary world," he explained. "This world has been specifically designed to mimic the environments where Spectral Demons are most likely to manifest."He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of his students. "Within this illusion, you will encounter a variety of spectral entities. Your objective is to defeat them as efficiently as possible."A low murmur rippled through the crowd. The prospect of facing Spectra Demons, albeit in a simulat
The familiar clang of practice swords echoed through the training hall where other combat faculty students were practicing. Atticus and his teammates then started to reassemble. The experience in the illusionary world had left them drained but exhilarated. A sense of newfound respect hung in the air between them, forged in the crucible of their simulated battle. As they dispersed to catch their breath and share their experiences with other teams, a tremor of realization rippled through Atticus. He'd been so focused on the training that he'd almost forgotten. The time for the fight was already here, The day he settled his grudge with his stubborn grandson- Bai Feng in the Grand Melee.A surge of adrenaline coursed through him, chasing away the lingering fatigue. He excused himself from his teammates and made his way towards the dedicated training court for the melee. Stepping out of the familiar confines of the training hall, he was met by a vibrant spectacle.The training court, usua
Atticus looked at Bai Feng who was being dragged away and he could feel his demonic qi stir as his bloodlust threatened to consume him."Atticus!" A familiar voice called to him as he felt a soft hand hold his. Xu Hua's face then came to his view. "Atticus, your eyes!" She called out once again.At this point Atticus felt his rising blood lust decrease as he brought it under control.'What did she mean by my eyes?' Atticus thought.[When your bloodlust rises, your eyes start to turn red.] Rhea explained to Atticus, answering his thoughts.Alarm filled Atticus as he realized how dangerous this was. Red eyes that came with his bloodlust looked too similar to spectral demons.Even though the academy may be suspecting him to have ties to the scarlet soul faction, there was no need to give them actual evidence and then also a reason for them to get him pruned.Atticus just stared at Xu Hua putting up a confused expression as if he didn't realize what just occurred. Maybe she would chalk i
Atticus stared at the outstretched hand, a million questions swirling in his mind. The encounter with Ling Yue had left him annoyed, the woman's confidence bordering on arrogance. He couldn't help but wonder if there was any truth to some of the students actually taking some drug that made them illogical and a little stupid, if there was a drug like that then Bai Feng probably had overdosed on it. Right now though, a more immediate mystery stood before him - this girl, Mei.He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flitting between her hand and her face. There was a playful glint in her eyes, a hint of mischief that both intrigued and unsettled him. He couldn't quite place her. Was she simply an admirer emboldened by the day's events? Or was there something more to her sudden appearance?It certainly felt like she knew Ling Yue on a personal level and this entire shitshow definitely involved her.Finally, with a deep breath, Atticus extended his own hand and met hers in a firm handshake
Xu Hua was feeling very confused as her emotions were a mess.Seeing Xiao Mei declare her interest in Atticus and Ling Yue coming along to the same but with more intensity shouldn't be something that Xu Hua should even care about.After all it was Atticus' problem to deal with and she was sure that he could easily handle it.But why did she feel so annoyed seeing all these girls around him...'Could I be jealous?' She thought."No, definitely not." She shook her head vigorously in denial.They may be roommates but their paths in the rooms don't cross that much because of how vast and segregated their apartment was.So there hasn't really been any awkward conversations between the two of them.Besides most times Atticus just teases her she bashes him back with insults...she wouldn't ever admit this to him but she liked to be around him as everything felt much more interesting.She had left the combat faculty to go to their dorm. She had a scheduled stroll with her spoiled raven and 'lo