Blissfully sleeping, Fang Zhou naturally had no idea about the promise Instructor Lu Hu had secured for him.
The next morning, he arrived at the Alpha classroom brimming with energy.
Today was their first day of the new term, with politics and culture classes in the morning, and meditation and physical training in the afternoon.
By the time Fang Zhou got to the classroom, the seating arrangements were already made.
On his left was an ordinary-looking, plain-demeanored, ordinarily-dressed guy who introduced himself as Ye Fan, whose awakened profession was a "Demon Hunter."
Hearing the name, Fang Zhou immediately regarded him with respect.
If it weren't for his own golden finger, he might have mistaken him for the protagonist.
On his right sat a girl with fair skin and striking features named Bai Xiaochan, who had awakened into the profession "Chanting String."
Though her name had the word "little," she seemed unfathomably deep.
"Sigh, I actually wanted to be an Assassin," Bai Xiaochan said softly as she leaned lazily over her desk.
"Hmph, only the weak are shackled by their professions. I forge my own destiny!" Ye Fan crossed his arms and huffed coldly.
"..." Bai Xiaochan and Fang Zhou exchanged glances, somewhat at a loss for words.
After a few moments of chatting, Fang Zhou found that Bai Xiaochan, despite her aloof appearance, was quite the chatterbox.
Ye Fan, however, spoke rarely, though he occasionally dropped words so profound one couldn't help but react.
Soon, Instructor Lu Hu walked into the classroom, prompting the students to quiet down immediately.
He glanced at Fang Zhou sitting between Ye Fan and Bai Xiaochan, thinking silently, "I've done all I can."
Principal Su had already warned him yesterday, so he dared not disclose any more information to Fang Zhou, instead devising a seating plan.
By placing Fang Zhou with two possessing rare professions, he hoped they would inspire him.
Lu Hu turned his attention back to the podium and began passionately, "Students, today our first lesson is — Loyalty!
As you sit comfortably here in class, your comrades are fighting bloody battles across various battlefields!
From the distant Twilight Canyon and Sigh Fortress of the Mythical World to the nearby Calamity Sun Demon Country and Fierce Beast Battlefield of Blue Star.
Just yesterday, a spatial fragment appeared in Sea City, resulting in the casualties of dozens of warriors.
Remember always, every resource you consume is stained with the blood and sweat of your compatriots."
...
The first political class was incredibly uplifting and positive.
From Lu Hu's sparse words, Fang Zhou gained further insight into this world.
Decades ago, a massive spatial rift appeared over the Pacific Ocean.
After initial exploration, it was discovered that the rift led to an infinite, boundless Mythical World.
Simultaneously, human bodies began to evolve, awakening various powerful professions.
Some awakened as "Warriors," whose bodies became immensely strong, capable of directly withstanding artillery.
Others awakened as "Mages," able to conjure fireballs with power rivaling cruise missiles.
Some became "Priests," able to bathe others in Holy Light, curing all ailments.
Just as humanity was brimming with hope to develop this new world, formidable enemies emerged!
Endless creatures from the Otherworld descended through the rift, calling themselves "Abyssal Demons," unleashing a massacre on Blue Star.
In just ten years, the global human population plummeted from nearly ten billion to three billion.
Facing the threat of annihilation, the remaining major human nations formed the "Human United Government."
Within the crucible of blood and fire, more humans mastered the power of awakening, with innumerable strong rising from battle.
Finally, after decades of relentless warfare, the Human Alliance expelled most Abyssal Demons from Blue Star and established a solid defense line in the Mythical World.
Nowadays, the human population has rebounded to around five billion, with a relatively complete system of awakened professionals established.
Through continual exploration, the average awakening success rate has reached a considerable one-tenth.
In efforts to survive and thrive, the Human Alliance both heavily encourages births and implements militarized governance, doing everything to augment combat power.
The Longxia Federation established ten top military academies, investing massive resources to nurture awakened warriors, with Sea City Military Academy being one of them.
Sea City Military Academy has a four-year program, though outstanding students may apply for early graduation, generally first serving inside Blue Star, only being deployed to the Mythical World battlefield when sufficiently strong.
Fang Zhou listened to the lecture while simultaneously controlling his Skeleton Clone to clear the newborn skeletons in the Burial Wilderness.
By the end of the morning classes, the attributes of his Skeleton Clone had grown somewhat.
Strength +0.2, Constitution +0.1, Soul Power +3.
...
At noon, Fang Zhou joined his new desk mates in the cafeteria for lunch.
The Longxia Federation never skimps on its soldiers, especially with regard to food.
The cafeteria mainly offers meat, including common Blue Star types and some exotic beast ingredients from the Mythical World.
Bai Xiaochan carried a plate piled high with roast meat, exclaiming as she ate, "The academy is truly loaded!
Exotic beast meat, which costs a fortune, is supplied endlessly, though we can't eat much as we've just awakened and our physical condition isn't up to par."
Fang Zhou chewed a piece of purple meat, relishing its sweet taste and lingering flavor, feeling a slight warmth spread through his body post-consumption.
He then ate a piece of pink mushroom, which immediately invigorated his previously weary soul.
A thought crossed his mind — his current biggest issue was the soul fatigue from multitasking and continuous combat.
If there's medicine to alleviate this fatigue, it would greatly enhance the time and efficiency of his Skeleton Clone's training.
Thus, Fang Zhou asked, "Xiaochan, what kind of mushroom is this? Where can I exchange it?"
Bai Xiaochan glanced over and said, "This is a Soothing Mushroom, effective in alleviating soul fatigue, but eating too much might cause hallucinations.
For professions like ours that require meditation, consuming Soothing Mushrooms can slightly extend mediation time.
If you could exchange for Soul Calming Potion made from it, the effect would be even better.
But unfortunately, we freshmen don't have the clearance."
Ye Fan, who was silent till now, suddenly spoke with confidence, "As long as you become a 'Seed' of the academy, such a potion is easy to obtain."
"Seed?" Fang Zhou looked at Bai Xiaochan with curiosity in his eyes.
Bai Xiaochan hesitated — a profession like an Undead Mage was quite a challenge to make it onto the "Seed" development list.
Seeing his handsome and eager face, she couldn't bear to dampen his enthusiasm, so she gently said, "I heard the academy conducts a series of tests to determine a priority cultivation list.
I think the 'Simulation Battlefield' might be a key assessment component."
Understood, special tutoring for the good students.
Fang Zhou didn't pursue the matter further but made a mental note of the 'Simulation Battlefield.'
The academy has so many good resources, how can one make do without the clearance?