"Wait, doesn't that mean even she can be part of the top 10? I mean, I'm sure she can defeat Ronan." Leo realized that Ronan was now inferior to Miho.
"No, not him. That guy is very skilled, on top of being tenacious," Kaelion said.
"Hmm, maybe we should wait until this compulsory mission is over. She could get assigned a high-level mission if she enters the top 10," Lily suggested.
The others nodded because Miho didn't have much practical experience, and if she were assigned a mission based solely on her strength, it would put her at risk.
While Lily and Kaelion suggested different possibilities, Leo was considering the potential reasons that had allowed Miho to gain so much strength in such a short time.
The first was, of course, her unwillingness to be a burden to them, which had allowed her to constantly push beyond her limits.
The second reason must be the Elasian Bloom petals, which strengthened her soul, alongside the constant consumption of high-level treasure fruits and living in a region with high mana density.
Third was her high-ranking talent.
As for the last one—which might as well be the most important—was Miho's soul bond with Lily. The same Master-Servant bond that Leo had recently formed with Naelith and Lyswenna.
The system's description clearly stated that the servant received numerous benefits from the master, most of which concerned strength and the soul.
In other words, Lily's monstrous growth was directly helping Miho.
Wait... doesn't that mean Naelith's and Lyswenna's growth will also increase tremendously?
Since Lily's growth was helping Miho so much, what would happen if Leo's growth—which was obviously higher than Lily's—started helping Naelith and Lyswenna?
Leo was very curious to find out, but he would only notice the changes after a few months. Before that, they needed to focus on the task at hand.
And so, they reached the academy via the teleportation array and located Venus Hall, where their classes would be held.
11:45, 10 March.
"Huh? Your classroom is different?" Kaelion frowned.
"Yes, it says Blizzard Hall," Miho informed them after noticing they had passed Blizzard Hall instead of entering it.
Leo, Lily, and Kaelion looked at one another.
"So, we'll really be assigned a much more dangerous mission," Leo inferred.
So they parted ways and made their way toward Venus Hall.
They had arrived only 15 minutes early, fully expecting to find empty seats only at the back of the class since many students had likely arrived before them.
But to their surprise, 6 seats in the front row were empty.
The classroom's structure resembled a lecture hall, with stadium-style seating arranged in progressively elevated rows.
There were around 200 seats, with the front row having the fewest of all—only 15.
And the hierarchy was obvious. Except for those 6 vacant seats, the rest were occupied by the top 15 individuals, with Yano—the 12th-ranked student—looking especially puffed up and proud.
As for the missing 6, three had just arrived. The remaining absentees were Tavian, Aaron, and Ronan.
Leo, Lily, and Kaelion took what were presumably their seats, even though no numbers were written on them, and waited for the clock to strike 12.
By the time only 5 minutes remained, all 200 students—or rather, the top 200 students—had arrived.
Naturally, conversations filled the room, with most discussions revolving around Leo, Tavian, and Yano, the first three students to successfully establish their territories.
1. Leo's Territory — Pseudo Purple Tier
2. Tavian's Territory — Peak Green Tier
3. Yano's Territory — Mid Green Tier
When the clock hit 12, the room automatically quieted down. Not because people had stopped talking, but because nobody could hear anyone else's voice.
They spoke, yet their voices refused to reach one another.
Even the lights dimmed, leaving only the large screen at the front of the classroom illuminated.
Click!
A picture appeared before their eyes.
A Red Goat-horned Demon.
Lily immediately became serious upon seeing the image, killing intent emanating from her. She recognized the demon at once as the one who almost killed Leo.
Click!
The picture changed, now showing the same demon slaughtering innocent humans, frozen in the middle of slicing someone's throat with a cruel smile on his face.
Click!
Another image appeared.
Many people who looked to be around their age lay dead on the ground.
They were the students who had died during the demons' ambush at the end of the trial.
Instantly, many expressions changed, and the room became saturated with dense killing intent.
Since the demons had targeted the most promising students during the trial, many of the dead were the top-200 student's friends and family.
Click!
Click!
Click!
Click!
...
The pictures continued changing from one gruesome scene to another.
But Leo noticed that none of them were as atrocious as the video he had watched back in Ember City alongside many other students—the very one that had prompted Gunther to restrict their memories.
And unlike the fear and despair that video had instilled in the students, these images evoked revenge and anger.
Boiling anger.
The room grew thick with killing intent.
In other words—
Incremental Conditioning. Leo immediately realised.
First, showing mildly disturbing images so the students' brains adapted to them, then gradually increasing the intensity until even a video like the one in Ember City would evoke anger and vengeance instead of fear.
The screen went dark, and the lights came back on.
But they still couldn't speak.
The only change in the room was the figure who had appeared behind the podium, silently sweeping his gaze across the students.
"Good afternoon, students," the man said. He wore a Yellow Badge, signifying that he was a Professor.
But he received no response.
"Heh." He chuckled.
"Did those images scare you? Or... are you so angry that saying anything right now would only result in you cursing?"
He looked toward Yano.
"You. What do you feel right now?"
Yano gritted his teeth.
"I feel rage boiling inside me!"
The professor then turned toward another student in the back, receiving the same response.
Then another.
And another.
Leo mused inwardly.
Only choosing the hyperactive people who are guaranteed to give the desired response... I guess it's a good way to hype up the students.
Leo was quite certain that picking Kaelion, Tavian, Uraan, or even himself wouldn't have given the professor the answer he wanted.
These professors seem to be well versed in our personalities. I guess living for more than 2 centuries has its advantages...
The professor continued.
"All the creatures you saw in those images—those ruthlessly enjoying the slaughter of innocent people, your friends and family—are demons. The absolute blood enemies of every living being in this world. Yes, not just of mankind, but of every race. And in many ways, they are even more dangerous than the wild beasts capable of leveling entire cities."
The professor leaned against the podium as the official lecture began.
"Wild beasts are just... wild. They cause external destruction that can be recovered from if we stand together. Hell, we can even prevent much of that destruction if we unite against them. And many of those beasts can even become our allies thanks to Beast Masters."
"But demons..."
"They rot us from the inside and leave behind wounds that can never truly heal."
The professor gave a general overview of why demons were far more dangerous than beasts in many situations before finally moving on to the details of the compulsory mission.
"And today, my students, is the day you will get the opportunity to experience how good it feels to avenge those poor, defenseless souls."
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