I AM THE SON OF THE ALMIGHTY FORGOTTEN GOD

The first class after three days pass

Eugene let out a heavy sigh, taking a seat in a quiet corner of the sprawling corridor leading to the classrooms. Olympiades looked like a massive palace; Eugene hadn't even dared to wander far from his dorm room out of fear of getting lost. But in a place so vast and crowded, his only lingering companion was loneliness.

After his summons to the Olympiades Council room, rumors had somehow sprouted wildly about Eugene's ability to reject cosmic energy. It felt as though someone had intentionally waited for the meeting to end just to sow anxiety about a demihuman who could nullify any cosmic attack.

Eugene himself didn't fully understand how he managed to prevent energy from touching his body. But he could easily deduce that it was a grave matter, considering even the Olympiades Council had been visibly bewildered regarding the origin of such an ability.

Consequently, Eugene had been placed under strict observation for three days—a status that successfully ensured he made zero friends.

"Hello."

Eugene flinched as Edward’s face suddenly appeared right in his line of sight. Stiffening slightly, Eugene asked, "What's your deal?"

"Merely greeting you. You looked quite alone and rather pathetic."

Eugene swallowed hard, a bitter taste lingering from the last word Edward delivered with that sickening smile. He really needed to remember that Edward was an arrogant prick who had literally just tried to kill him.

"Are you feeling any better?" Edward asked, taking a seat beside Eugene. His faux-friendly demeanor was painfully easy to read. "Considering you were quite beaten up after our last encounter. My apologies..."

*Ah,* Eugene understood now. Edward probably just wanted to reassure his own bruised ego that he had won. And he *had* won—absolutely. A demihuman spawned from a supposedly lesser god like Eugene stood no chance of defeating him in their very first match.

But perhaps Edward had conveniently forgotten one little detail.

"Yeah, it's whatever. But what about you, Ed? You holding up okay?" Edward didn't answer, his eyes staring at Eugene with genuine confusion. "Cause, you know, I slapped you right across the face."

Edward kept his smile plastered on, but Eugene could tell he was fighting tooth and nail not to look furious. Eugene turned his face away with a faint smirk, generously giving Edward a moment to make peace with his own humiliation.

"You know, you have been the hottest topic in the academy these past few days," Edward spoke again, pivoting the subject. "Have you confirmed that your innate ability is an Anti-Bind? That you can actively refuse to be influenced by cosmic energy?"

"Yeah, that's what they said. You saw it yourself anyway, right? How I completely rejected your domain and wiped it out."

Once again, whatever malicious intent hid behind Edward’s polite smile instantly backfired into another metaphorical slap to his face. A light slap might not hurt much initially, but if it kept happening—it would eventually leave a lasting mark, wouldn't it?

"Besides, I don't really get how this whole Anti-Bind thing works anyway. I figured my natural power would be something a bit cooler, but I guess that's all it is."

"Are you attempting to employ false modesty?"

"Huh?"

"It is a profoundly serious ability, Eugene. It is certainly bizarre, considering every demigod’s power stems from a core fragment of their parent deity, and there has never been anyone possessing such a trait here. But it is entirely serious."

Edward stood up. Around them, other demigods were abandoning their leisure activities and making their way toward their respective classrooms.

Before leaving, Edward paused to add, "I suppose I am beginning to feel rather intimidated by your power, Eugene. You could easily threaten the stability of my energy."

Edward didn’t look the slightest bit scared when he said that, let alone actually intimidated. It only proved that he still believed he sat miles above Eugene, and that Eugene wasn't even in his league.

"Every class will be divided into several squads, and I strongly advise you to quickly comprehend the nature of your Anti-Bind—otherwise, you will only become a burden to your team. You cannot simply shirk responsibility for your own power just because you were raised as an ordinary mortal child, can you?"

Eugene offered a dry, humorless smirk. Having Edward say that to his face felt like getting hit with chewed-up gum. "I'm not trying to dodge any responsibilities."

"Excellent. You truly must become the primary contributor to your future squad, seeing as you possess such an *exceptional* gift. I do hope they won't find you too troublesome." Edward gave a thin smile, though his cynical eyes looked down on Eugene with absolute disdain. "Do not take offense. I am merely telling you this to impart a little knowledge about how things work here before your first class begins. After all, you have been rather busy spending your first three days under strict observation, haven't you? You truly are special, unlike anyone else."

It wasn't a compliment; it was pure, unadulterated satire wrapped in an arrogant smile right before Edward finally walked away.

"Is he just jealous or what?" Eugene grumbled under his breath, before finally stepping into his very first class since arriving in Horochora.

Inside a massive, circular lecture hall featuring stadium-style tiered seating, Sovaccio stood dead center, sporting his usual eccentric tailored suit.

Eugene didn't recognize many faces in the crowd, save for Edward and Leonidas. He felt a wave of relief knowing he shared a class with Leonidas, but sharing one with Edward... he was going to have to build up a seriously thick skin and a lot more patience. Because honestly, dealing with veiled insults wrapped in polite smiles was infinitely more irritating than having the same guy just scream insults at him every day.

"Welcome to the Phase 1 class, Eugene Sidernum. How does it feel to finally join us after receiving such *focused* attention from the council these past three days?"

Eugene offered an awkward smile, entirely unsure of how to respond. "It was definitely an experience, Mr. Soso."

Without taking off his tinted glasses, Sovaccio kicked off the lecture with his signature warm, upbeat persona—effortlessly shifting the room's tense, obedient silence into a much more relaxed atmosphere. It felt almost like a normal high school class back in the mortal world—one that Eugene had never actually gotten to experience.

"And regarding the squads... you haven't been assigned to one yet, have you, Eugene?" Sovaccio asked a moment later.

Eugene, who had been slightly zoning out, snapped his attention back. "Yeah, I haven't."

"Ah, I see." Sovaccio leaned casually against his podium. "Phase 1 does not heavily rely on squad formations, as we will be focusing on extensive literacy and theory to bridge your understanding of the Olympus Realm. However, I will still provide certainty regarding which squad you will be placed in."

Sovaccio paused, sweeping his gaze over his students' faces before declaring,

"You will be placed in Edward's squad."

The announcement left both Edward and Eugene staring in absolute, jaw-dropping disbelief.