In a large room, many students were chatting and gossiping with each other. The reason was that the instructor scheduled to teach today still hadn't shown up.
At that moment, Hector was slumping over a table and dozing off in the corner of the classroom that place no one ever bothered to notice.
"Urgh..." Hector groaned quietly, stretching his back as a wave of pain spread through him.
Meanwhile, the other students were chatting cheerfully, a stark contrast to Hector's exhausted state.
Yesterday, he had spent the whole night reading the decayed book that Derek had given him.
So, he had lost his sleep and energy.
However, he had also gained a great deal of knowledge from the book.
Now, he began to regret it since he had promised to return it soon.
"I didn't think pressure points could be so complicated. Thankfully, I have the lucky coin. It helped me accurately hit the pressure spots that can block the flowing mana."
He exhaled as he recalled what he had read.
"I need to finish that volume quickly."
Suddenly, a few words from the students nearby caught his attention.
"Hey! Have you heard that an instructor has gone missing?" a young girl asked a student beside her.
"Yeah… he's my friend's mentor," the student replied in boredom.
"My friend hasn't seen her mentor for three days, so she reported it to the academy."
The young girl sighed.
"I wish my mentor would disappear like that… He's been torturing me with plenty of terrible training methods."
A young man nearby snorted in disdain.
"You're probably just lazy, that's why your mentor treats you like that."
"Why do you care?" The young girl narrowed her brows, then pouted in anger while muttering in a low voice.
"Stupid musclehead!"
The young man sighed but didn't say anything.
"Huh? What's happening?" Hector blinked slightly and rubbed his chin in thought regarding the things he had just heard.
"I'll just focus on myself… If something happens in the future, the kind of people like me wouldn't be able to do anything anyway."
***
Bam.
A flurry of punches was directed at Hector by Bam, but he quickly blocked them with his hands. However, the impact sent an agonizing sensation through his arms.
Not only that, but a sweeping kick swiftly targeted Hector's leg.
This time, though, he anticipated it—he had drawn from his previous fight with Bam. So, he dodged it effortlessly.
Thud.
Again, pain suddenly erupted in his abdomen, forcing him to collapse.
"Tsk… It was just a feint."
Bam smirked slightly, adjusting his posture after delivering the dragon kick.
"So… What should I do?" Hector grimaced, clutching his throbbing abdomen.
Bam exhaled quietly, his tone tinged with exhaustion."I'm not your instructor."
He shrugged and added, "Right?"
"You're right," Hector muttered, slowly getting back on his feet — but this time, something drew his attention.
"What's going on?"
Bam didn't reply. He simply stared in one direction, and soon, everyone else followed his gaze.
"I think the second-year students have already returned from their challenge."
Bam furrowed his brows in deep thought.
Minutes passed. One by one, people left the practice yard and gathered at the designated meeting place — the spot where they always assembled after completing the first challenge.
"Why do so many of them look injured?" Hector glanced around, clearly puzzled.
Yet, he wasn't the only one asking this question.
All the first-years and mentors were equally concerned.
At this moment, numerous second-years were scattered across the broad main yard of the castle.
Some bore light or serious injuries, and more disturbingly, several had lost limbs — though still breathing, they wouldn't last long without immediate healing.
All in all, they looked like survivors of a brutal clash… and clear losers at that.
"What in the world happened?"The principal suddenly emerged from somewhere and quickly approached the battered group, an unusual urgency stretching across his clown-like face.
He turned toward a young woman who appeared the least injured, while the others were left in the care of instructors.
"Where are the rest?" the principal asked, glancing around, his expression stern.
Though clearly exhausted, the girl still retained a trace of her commanding presence.
She steadied her breath and adjusted the ragged metallic armor—armor Hector recognized from the first challenge, once worn by Violet. Then, brushing aside a few strands of blue hair that veiled her right amber eye, she couldn't hide the disappointment clouding her gaze.
After a few seconds, she finally spoke in a weak, trembling voice.
"W-We lost… completely."
"Noxoria… Those monsters were just… too strong."She forced out each word, teeth clenched, her body slightly shaking as if reliving the nightmare.
The principal let out a quiet sigh and gently patted her head, his tone soft with sympathy.
"Don't worry. As long as you're alive, there's still hope, Tenny."
But those words offered her no comfort. She merely clenched her fists tighter—so tightly that blood began to drip from her palms.
"You only say that because you're afraid of my father," she muttered bitterly, though her frustration came from somewhere deeper.
It would be two full years before she could attempt the second challenge again—an eternity for someone like her. And she couldn't accept it.
Suddenly, the principal seemed to realize something. With his usual clownish laugh, he glanced toward Violet and said,
"Look! Your little sister completed her challenge perfectly!"
"Go greet her! She obviously misses you a lot."
Tenny slowly turned her head toward Violet, her expression softening as if a burden had just been lifted.
Anyone watching might think they deeply cared for each other.
However, Something about Tenny's presence made her nervous.
On one hand, she longed to approach her sister. On the other hand, a feeling buried deep within anchored her in place.
"Well… I guess that's Tenny. Just as gentle as I remember," Hector murmured, rubbing his chin while watching the sisters.
Then, he shrugged."I don't care about that trash novel anymore… I've already gotten used to it."