Victor frowned as he stepped closer and picked it up before u scrolling it.
'To the Guest of Elder Mo,
You are hereby summoned to the Violet Spring Sect's Disciplinary Hall three days from today at the Hour of the Fire Serpent. A verdict regarding your actions against Inner Court disciples Huo Lian and Zhan Kui will be issued. Presence is mandatory.'
Victor stared at the letter for several seconds, then let out a long breath. "That's quite sothing..."
The door creaked again, and he turned.
Elder Mo stood at the entrance in his long silver-trimd robe with his hands behind his back.
"So you've seen it."
Victor nodded slowly. "I didn't go looking for trouble. They ca after . Twice. The mission was mine, and they tried to steal it. Then they attacked . I had no choice."
"I know," Elder Mo replied while walking into the room with calm steps. "But you must understand, Fang Chen... their status within the sect is higher due to the fact that you're a guest. Not many are happy about your presence in this sect and the perks you have been receiving. They are unaware of your importance... to them you have made the sect lose face."
Victor folded his arms with a slight look of irritation. "So what—they can try to kill , and I'm supposed to just lie down?"
"No," Elder Mo placed a hand on his shoulder. "You defended yourself. As you should have. And you perford admirably. But this isn't a matter of right or wrong. It's about consequence."
"So what happens now?" Victor questioned.
"They'll deliberate. Ask questions. Try to find fault in your story. I've already spoken to the elders on your behalf, but you should prepare yourself. Whether it ends in warning, restriction, or trial, you must be ready."
Victor nodded with a slightly tired look. Would these NPCs just let him enjoy the ga without causing problems? Was this going to spiral into sothing worse?
"Don't worry," Elder Mo added softly. "Gor now, rest. You've done more than enough."
Victor gave a slow nod. "Thank you, Elder."
Mo gave a rare smile before turning to leave. As the door shut behind him, Victor looked around his quiet room again.
~"Hey man, it's ti to wake up."~
A voice from the outside world drifted into his ears.
There was no ti left. He had to log out.
He walked over to the bed, sat cross-legged on the mat, and accessed his nu. A blue interface materialised into existence.
[Log Out?] [Yes]
The familiar swirl of energy enveloped him, and the ga world began to dissolve around him.
---
In the real world, his eyes opened beneath the thick blanket.
His body had been stiff from staying still for hours, and his limbs were sore. But before he could move, he felt a hand shaking his shoulder gently.
"Hey man, it's ti to wake up."
Victor barely had ti to react. He instantly triggered the Void Emperor Bloodline's and gently cloaked the gaming helt and device beneath his blanket and folded them into a faint spatial distortion.
He kicked off the blanket just as his roommate, Kairo, stepped back.
Victor sat up and gave a lazy yawn while rubbing his eyes. "Morning already?"
Kairo grinned. "Yup. Morning routine starts in a bit."
Victor blinked. 'Right. Awakened Academy.'
His eyes adjusted to the bright white lights of their shared dorm room.
"I thought you were asleep early," Kairo added before walking toward his closet. "Guess I was wrong."
Victor laughed awkwardly. "You know . Restless nights."
He quietly dismissed the spatial cloak once Kairo wasn't looking and folded the VR helt into a compartnt at the bottom of his wardrobe.
"You in camp 11 too?"
"Yeah. Give a minute. I need to splash so water on my face."
Kairo nodded and left the room while humming so pop tune Victor didn't recognize.
Minutes later, the chi rang through the dormitory corridors like a lody of dread.
5:00 a.m.
The artificial sky above the underwater do had already begun to brighten with hues of digital gold and soft blue.
Morning at the Awakened Academy wasn't a suggestion—it was an obligation.
At this point, Kairo was already lacing his boots with speed.
"Hope you stretched," Kairo said. "Monday's weight run."
"What now?"
"You'll see," Kairo chuckled darkly before slinging a small pack over his shoulder and heading out the door.
Victor followed while adjusting his academy-issued uniform. Today, instead of the pristine white uniform worn during orientation, he wore the dark-blue training suit with silver seams.
It hugged the body well and was flexible enough for movent.
The Awakened Academy didn't play around.
All first-year students were grouped into camps—Camp 1 to Camp 20. Each camp had roughly 350 to 400 students and its own designated training sector, built to simulate realistic battlefield terrain and challenges.
Victor had been assigned to Camp 11.
After scanning his ID chip and passing through one of the mobile gates, he found himself in the Camp 11 training grounds.
It was massive. More of a valley than a training field.
The ground was uneven and filled with rough rocks, trenches, simulated sinkholes, and sloped inclines.
In the distance, digital skyboards displayed trics, objectives, and energy readings. This entire area had been partially terraford using mana tech to give future Mana Defense Officers a taste of what real combat zones looked like.
The students were gathered in lines—rows of various classes. Warriors. Berserkers. Mages. Assassins. Healers. Summoners. Necromancers.
The diversity of awakeners was staggering.
And at the center of it all stood a 6'7 tall broad-shouldered man with arms like tree trunks and a chest that looked like it had been carved from stone.
He wore a sleeveless crimson and black combat suit that left his muscled arms exposed. His voice bood like a warhorn, and his hair was a tight military buzzcut.
His na tag read: Instructor Vex Rhane.
His eyes scanned the crowd with stern look as his voice bood like thunder.
"Strap on your weight sets."
Assistants moved between the rows, handing each student a series of weighted bands to fasten around their legs, arms, and torsos.
Victor struggled slightly with the belt—it wasn't just heavy, it clung to him like a second skin and imdiately started sapping energy from his limbs.
The instructor paced slowly before the gathered students.
"Welco to the start of your life as real Awakened. Every day from Monday through Friday, you'll begin at 0500 hours. Not because we enjoy tornting you—"
"—Lies," soone muttered from the crowd with a low tone.
"—but because this world does not wait for the unprepared. You'll either adapt... or die."
A low murmur rippled through the crowd.
A petite with green tinted hair and a healer's insignia on her training suit—raised her hand which was slightly trembling from the weights bound to it.
"Instructor, I an no disrespect... but this level of intensity favors physical classes. We healers specialize in support and regeneration. Shouldn't our physical routines be adjusted to our roles?"
The instructor didn't even blink.
He stepped forward slowly and stared her down.
"When an Umbryx shadowfiend pierces through your front line and tears through your team, your regenerative spell won't an a damn thing if you're too slow to dodge the blow..."
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