The murmur of voices hadn’t settled since the lecture ended. Students poured out of the lecture hall in clusters, their expressions ranging from excitement to unease. The images Vian had showed portals vomiting hordes of beasts, humanoid creatures standing amid ruined cities still lingered in their minds like an afterimage burned into the eye. It was hard to shake off the sight of cities being reduced to nothing. Lucian walked alongside a group of friends, his gaze lowered in deep thought. “So… did you see that thing?” a bronze student whispered, glancing around as if the walls might hear him. “That humanoid beast. They said it killed 5 star hunters.” “what really,” another replied nervously. “And they’re calling it a Lower Dragon? What the hell are higher ones gonna be capable of? If a 5 star hunter doesn't stand a chance what chance do we have.” The fear in the air was thick enough to taste. For the bronze students, the reality of their profession as hunters was crashing dow

The moment Lucian agreed to learn the technique the book shattered into particles of golden light that swirled up his arm and shot directly into his forehead. [ Divine Totem Meditation Technique has been acquired] A sudden, splitting headache hammered Lucian’s skull It wasn't pain, leaving him staggering back, clutching his head as information of the technique flooded his brain "Ugh... my brain..." He blinked, shaking off the sudden dizziness. The shelf in front of him was empty. The book was gone. "What the hell are you doing?" The voice came from right behind, sharp and suspicious. Lucian spun around, his heart jumping into his throat. Standing there, holding a green leather-bound grimoire, was the silver-haired girl from the assessment Graece. The Plant Mage. Her piercing green eyes darted from Lucian’s pale face to the empty spot on the shelf. "Lucian... right?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. "What was that light just now?" “Shit, she saw”. Lucian’s mind race

“Now, find for yourselves sparring partners,” Kenshi’s voice rang out across the dojo, calm but edged with authority. “To get stronger, you must immerse yourselves in the friction of combat. Each of you is to hit and block your partner’s blows by channelling mana to reinforce your fists. This will teach you, firsthand, how to control your essence when the pressure rises and how to improve the effect of your attack.” He paused, letting his sharp gaze sweep over the gathered students like a blade. “This is a sparring session, not a full-blown duel. Be mindful of your output.” A ripple of movement spread through the dojo as students paired off. Lucian’s eyes scanned the room, finally locking on a figure he hadn’t expected to step forward: Ross, one of Damien's most persistent lackeys. Ross stood broad-shouldered, his physical frame overwhelmingly intimidating for their age. A smug grin twisted his features, a look that made Lucian’s stomach churn. That brief, humiliating cafeteria e

Corbin dropped to his knees, coughing violently. He clutched his stomach as bile and vomit spilt onto the pavement, the acidic stench filling the narrow space. Whatever flickering, desperate flames he’d managed to summon had vanished completely, extinguished by the sheer force of Lucian’s strike. Seeing his friend collapse in such a pathetic state enraged Dan. His face contorted into a mask of pure fury, his veins bulging against his neck. “How dare you!” he roared. He rushed forward, launching a massive right swing. The blow was so swift and heavy that it whistled through the air like a falling log. Lucian’s instincts screamed; he leapt back instinctively, the fist missing his nose by mere centimetres. The sheer displacement of air ruffled his auburn hair. Gosh, I need to improve my agility stats after this, Lucian thought, his heart hammering against his ribs. I’m still not fast enough to read him comfortably. “You were acting like some tough guy, and now you're jumping about

“You can even play against other players online, though,” Harry added. “For real? That’s awesome!” Lucian’s eyes lit up in excitement. “Yeah, but not right now. Let’s save that for later. Who’s hungry for some mouth-watering food?” “What place do you have in mind, Harry?” Graece asked, raising an eyebrow. “There’s this spot in the food stall section that does killer African cuisine. I tried it last time I was here. Trust me—you guys are gonna love it. Come on.” Harry led the way, with Lucian and Graece following close behind. As they approached the restaurant entrance, a rich, inviting aroma—spicy, smoky, and full of promise—wafted over their nose. “Mmm, smells really incredible,” Lucian said, inhaling deeply. “This is definitely gonna be tasty. You sure don’t disappoint, Harry.” Graece smiled faintly. “He really doesn’t.” Harry grinned back. “Told you so.” They found a table with three seats near the open side and settled in. Within a minute, a dark-skinned waiter a