"YOU, WHAT’S YOUR NA!?"
I flinched at the booming voice of General Stormrage, who was pointing his finger directly at . Every pair of eyes in the classroom turned towards .
Shit.
I swallowed, forcing a neutral expression on my face as I stood up from my seat.
"Ash."
A tense silence settled over the room.
General Stormrage narrowed his eyes, scanning from head to toe.
"Student Ash, replicat-"
BRRRRRRRR...
Suddenly, a sharp ringing sound echoed through the silent classroom. The General frowned, his eyes briefly flickering towards the source of the interruption.
It was his phone.
Clicking his tongue in irritation, he reached into his coat and pulled out the device. He checked the caller ID and let out a deep sigh.
"Tch. Class dismissed."
With a wave of his hand, he turned his back on us and answered the call, his voice already filled with restrained frustration.
I let out a silent breath of relief, keeping my face as neutral as possible.
Even as I grabbed my belongings and moved towards the exit, I could feel his lingering gaze on my back.
I did my best to avoid his eyes and slipped out of the classroom as fast as I could.
The mont I was out, I exhaled deeply and rubbed my temples.
"I ssed up."
I muttered under my breath as I walked through the hallway.
I had gotten so absorbed in the simulation that I had completely forgotten to hold back.
Who the hell even clears all 50 waves flawlessly?
"If he thinks I’m so kind of a genius war strategist..."
I grumbled with my shoulders slumping in exasperation.
I felt trouble brewing.
***
The next class was far more relaxing.
Although I could still feel lingering glances being thrown my way by other students, I did my best to ignore them. I could only hope that whatever storm was brewing after that simulation class would take its ti reaching .
For now, I focused on the present.
This lecture was actually quite engaging. Unlike the previous class, which put directly under a spotlight I never wanted, this one was more theory-focused and didn’t require to stand out.
The topic?
"Fundantals of Mana Theory and History of the World."
The instructor was an old man with a sharp gaze, wearing the robes of a senior professor.
Unlike General Stormrage, who exuded an aura of pure authority and battlefield experience, this professor seed more calm, asured and precise.
"Mana is the foundation of all supernatural abilities in our world."
He began, his voice smooth and thodical.
"Understanding how to manipulate it effectively is the key difference between an average combatant and an elite one."
I leaned back in my seat, listening intently.
Although I didn’t possess any mana to begin with, it was still important to comprehend the basics.
You never know when related knowledge might co in handy.
The professor adjusted his spectacles and paced slowly in front of the class before continuing his lecture.
"Hundreds of years ago, our world changed forever..."
He said with a steady voice.
"It all began when a teorite struck the Earth. At first, it seed like any other space rock, but over ti, sothing unseen leaked from it, a new energy we now call Mana."
The classroom was silent, every student listening intently.
"At first, nothing happened."
The professor continued.
"But gradually, all living beings on Earth began to change. Humans were born stronger, their life expectancy increased and, most notably, a strange phenonon appeared called the ’Status Screen.’ Even now, no one fully understands how or why this feature exists, but it allows us to see our own abilities, strengths, etc."
He stopped pacing and turned towards the class.
"However, humans were not the only ones affected. The continents themselves shifted. Large landmasses shattered, breaking apart into thousands of islands. Yet, one large continent remained at the center of it all. That continent was nad Eden."
A student raised a hand.
"Professor, how long did this transformation take?"
"About fifty years."
The professor replied with a nod.
"It was a slow, painful adjustnt. But just as humanity was beginning to understand its new world, dungeons and portals began opening across the land. They were like gateways to unknown dinsions."
"The first to co through these portals were the Elves. A race of long-lived beings with pointed ears and an affinity for magic. Their knowledge of Mana far surpassed our own at the ti. Luckily, instead of war, they extended a hand of peace. They taught us how to properly wield Mana, guiding us in ways we never imagined."
He gave the students a mont to process before continuing.
"Next ca the Dwarves. Stout, sturdy and brilliant craftsn, they revolutionized our technology. Their knowledge of forging weapons and machinery was unlike anything we had seen before. And then ca the rfolk, who had mastery over water and its mysteries. Each of these races found a place among us, sharing their knowledge and advancing civilization."
The professor smiled slightly.
"In fact, so of you may even be part of this long history of integration. Take our Princess, for example. Her mother was one of the first Elves to arrive, making her a half-elf."
Aveline, sitting at the front, stiffened slightly as so students glanced her way, but the professor continued before anyone could say anything.
"But peace does not last forever."
He said, his tone darkening.
"We had been warned, by the Elves, the Dwarves and even the rfolk. They spoke of an enemy that would one day arrive. And when the Demons ca, we realized just how unprepared we truly were."
A heavy silence settled over the room.
"They ca in numbers beyond counting."
The professor said grimly.
"Armies of them descended upon Eden, leaving devastation in their wake. The allied races fought back and through great sacrifice, we managed to push them out of Eden and onto the smaller islands beyond."
He sighed, his eyes sharp as he scanned the room.
"But it was not a true victory. For the past hundred years, the demons have been slowly encroaching once more, testing our defenses, looking for weaknesses. Even now, there are countless islands that have turned into battlefields where hundreds die each day. That is why the Academies were built, to train the next generation. To ensure that if another war cos, we will not be caught unprepared again."
The room remained silent, making the professor chuckle.
"And that, students, is why you are here. Learn well, because one day, your knowledge may be the only thing standing between Eden and destruction."
The professor then turned towards the board and began drawing a rough image of a demon. The figure was monstrous, with jagged horns, sharp claws and eyes that seed to glow with an eerie presence.
As he finished, he turned back to face the class, tapping the chalk against the board.
"Now, tell , how do you kill a demon?"
A student raised his hand confidently.
"You have to either cut off its head or destroy its heart."
The professor nodded slightly, a smirk forming on his lips.
"Only partially correct. If it’s a low-level demon, then yes, destroying one of its vital organs will do the job. But as soon as demons rise in ranks, it becos much more difficult."
He set the chalk down and crossed his arms.
"Demons are a race built for war. Their bodies have adapted to endure and thrive in battle. To kill a ’noble’ demon, one that has reached above level 50, you must destroy its Magi Heart, also called its Core."
A few murmurs spread through the classroom, students exchanging glances.
"The difficulty?"
The professor continued, his gaze sweeping across the room.
"There is no set location for the Core. It could be anywhere in the demon’s body. So hide it within their heads, others in their limbs and so even shift its position during battle. This makes them incredibly resilient as they can regenerate from even fatal wounds, as long as the Core remains intact."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle in.
"So, what’s the best solution when facing a noble demon? Use an area-of-effect attack to destroy its entire body. That way, no matter where the Core is hidden, it is obliterated."
The room fell into silence as the students absorbed this knowledge. Then, the professor’s expression turned serious.
"And rember this: If, by the love of god, you ever encounter a noble demon, do not fight it. Run. Hide. Do whatever it takes to survive. At your current level, facing such a creature is nothing short of a death sentence. That is a catastrophe you never want to deal with."
Ding.... Ding... Ding...
The sudden ringing of the bell signaled the end of class. I almost fell out of my seat in surprise as I was so engrossed in the lecture.
The professor sighed.
"It seems my ti is up. We didn’t even have ti to discuss mana properly. Well, that will have to wait for next ti. Class dismissed."
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