The bloodlust from the vampyros and Dimensari made breathing difficult for many of the human youths.
Three years had passed in the academy, and most had turned 18. But while the majority of the human youths present were leaders of the academy divisions and could be considered geniuses by all rights, their ranks ranged from Expert- to Expert+, with only two exceptions.
Zoey Starhaven.
Kael Stormrider.
They had both done what no one would have expected, and if not for a particular monster they all knew, they would have rewritten the history of the human domain.
At the young age of 18, they had broken through and entered the master ranks. It was something no one would've ever imagined possible.
While the other races' youths also had practically all of them in the expert ranks, their auras compared to the humans were like heaven and earth.
Bloodlust seeped through the spines of the youths, and space became heavier. The tension was palpable.
"What do you bloodsuckers want?"
The human youths' gazes widened in unison. That voice… it had come from their group!
Who in the living world was stupid enough to say that!?
Nate suddenly took a step towards the vampyros, his eyes gazing at them like an unspoken challenge.
"Atticus isn't the only one who can kick ass. If you want some, come!"
His Expert rank aura exploded as his body became many times heavier.
The broad boy stood facing the army of vampyros youths with a confidence that couldn't be explained.
The human youths felt as if they had heard the most absurd thing in their lives. Many cleared their ears just to make sure.
Was he insane?
"Shit. This fool," Lucas muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
The vampyros appeared like the human youths, gazing at Nate as if they were looking at a fool.
One of them stepped forward. The other vampyros that had wanted to engage all paused as they saw him, choosing not to act anymore.
'Their number one,' Lucas quickly deduced as he saw the quick interaction.
He sent a glance at Nate, expecting a hint of caution, only to see that the bonehead hadn't even changed his expression.
The vampyros boy was tall and lean, his skin pale and eyes gleaming a deep crimson, like fresh blood swirling in a glass.
His lips curled into a smile that was more fang than friendliness.
"I find you humans… fascinating. So fragile. So full of spirit. Like cattle that think they're wolves." The bloodlust thickened.
But Nate didn't miss a beat. "Funny," he shot back, his grin widening, "I was just thinking how you bloodsuckers look like overgrown leeches with bad attitudes."
A quiet, collective gasp rippled through the air, more so from the humans who couldn't believe just how stupid Nate was. The gazes of the vampyros youth became feral, their fangs sprouting as they watched with intense gazes.
But the vampyros boy only chuckled, shaking his head slowly. "Such a sharp tongue…" he murmured, taking another step forward.
"I wonder if it'll taste as sharp when I tear it from your mouth."
His hand twitched, a blur of motion, and the tension snapped like a taut string. He was about to strike, but then, suddenly, he froze.
His crimson eyes narrowed, flicking to something, or someone, behind Nate.
With brown hair and a compact, muscular frame, eight sheathed swords hung at his waist, and a massive broadsword was strapped across his back. Kael Stormrider stood like an unyielding mountain: silent, immovable, and impossible to ignore.
He didn't even bother to turn his body fully toward the vampyros boy. Only his head shifted slightly, his piercing gaze locking onto the would-be attacker.
Yet, the battle intent spilling from Kael's body enveloped the entire space.
It was a declaration that required no words: Move, and I'll cut you down.
The gaze of the vampyros boy only grew colder, crimson eyes narrowing further. But before he could make a move, an overwhelming aura crashed down upon the entire hall, suffocating and absolute.
It snapped the tension like a brittle twig, dragging the attention of every youth away from the brewing confrontation.
Heads turned sharply toward the front, where a figure stood with imposing stillness. Clad in the midnight black uniform of the military, the Nullite man radiated an icy authority that chilled the air itself.
Behind him stood the drill sergeants who had led the recruits here earlier, aligned in a perfect row, their faces hard and impassive.
His Grandmaster+ rank aura pressing down on them silenced the room completely as he finally spoke.
"My name is Staff Sergeant Voren," his voice was flat, emotionless, and cold enough to sting. Just like the Nullites.
"Welcome to the academy training camp."
His gaze remained deadened, devoid of anything resembling encouragement.
"I will not give a speech. Only facts."
"This will be the hardest thing you have ever done in your lives. We are not here to protect you. We are here to train you. And during this training—" his eyes scanned the room, "you can die. Survival rests fully on your shoulders."
The weight of his words hit harder than even the oppressive aura. The fact that they could die unsettled the youths.
"The general curriculum for every academy across the alliance is the same: one leader will lead each division. That order will be adhered to, and you will continue to lead."
A few recruits shifted uncomfortably, while others glanced at their designated leaders with unease. Now it was more than a game; their lives were at stake.
"Now, your base." Voren's tone remained unchanged, as if discussing something as mundane as the weather.
"This will be determined entirely by the leaders of each division. The floating islands in this camp are numerous and are grouped into ranks. You will be tested, and depending on your rank, you will be assigned an island."
He paused, letting that settle in before continuing with a sharper edge.
"Be aware: the lower your rank, the lower your living standards. The more hellish your environment will be. If you fail, you will suffer."
"The rules of this test are simple." His cold eyes swept over the recruits, as if daring them to object.
"Reach the top of the mountain."
Voren stepped back slightly, his presence no less suffocating.
"The test begins now."
And with that, a blinding light assaulted the room, encompassing every single division leader present.
The vampyros' boy's cold gaze remained fixed on Kael even as he was teleported away from the area along with the other division leaders.