The reason why Instructor Sormon was shocked when Sunless told him to look at Simon was because of how Simon was moving.
Whenever an individual attempted to climb the third section of the cliff wall, they would have to be careful and cautious because of the wind tunnels.
One could use the wind tunnels as hand holds to climb the wall, but the wind that blows out of it is usually the biggest issue one faces.
If one was not slow and careful, one would be sent flying by the wind from the wind tunnel.
It would not be surprising if some of Simon’s classmates spent over an hour climbing this section of the wall.
Even Sunless herself knew that she would spend more time on this section of the wall compared to the other sections.
This was why she was intrigued by Simon.
Simon could call the third section a literal walk in the park, and that was because it was actually not a problem for him by the time he got used to it.
His affinity for the wind element was high because of his Sky Tiger bloodline, and he could feel the minute changes in the air around him.
For the wind element, he just had to listen to know which wind tunnel was about to release a gentle breeze of wind or was about to blast out a wind that could send cars flying.
At first, it was not easy for him since he was not used to it. There was a time he made a mistake and he grabbed the edge of a wind tunnel that was about to release a powerful gust of wind.
Fortunately for him, he was as strong as a Supreme Archfiend and his claws helped him to not be sent flying.
But after getting used to it, his climbing speed became a lot faster.
He knew which wind tunnel to avoid, when to stop, when to increase his speed, when to slow down, and even when to jump.
It was like he could predict the future in the eyes of those who were watching him.
The only problem Simon faced were the arrows fired at him.
At first, they were manageable, annoying, and more of a nuisance to him.
But when Instructor Sormon ordered the hidden Shadow Blades to launch more attacks at him, it became more difficult for him.
From dodging only one arrow after two, three, or five minutes. He was now dodging between three and four arrows after every minute.
This drastically slowed him down because he had to make sure that any wind tunnel he grabbed or moved to was not about to release a powerful gust of wind.
’The Instructor is truly not hiding his intentions anymore.’
Despite his situation, Simon’s expression was calm as he seemed to have entered a state where he could feel nearly every changes in the wind.
He was not only hearing the wind, he was also feeling it through his skin.
His extremely focused mind made him to ignore nearly everything and was only focusing on the changes in the wind.
The attacks kept on continuing, and Instructor Sormon’s expression as he stood on the wall of the third section was extremely dark and ugly to look at.
The Shadow Blades had increased the rate of the arrows fired on Simon, but it was shockingly still not enough.
He could order them to focus only on Simon, but he would be jeopardizing his job and his life as a result if he did that.
And the main reason was not even because of Simon, but because of the other Initiates.
If the higher ups of the academy found out that instead of focusing, teaching, and developing the other students, his main focus was on making a student fail?
They would be furious and he would be seen as incompetent.
Even if the arrows eventually killed Simon either intentionally or unintentionally, the punishment he’d receive would be a lot less than the punishment he’d receive for neglecting his duties and for being an incompetent Instructor.
Especially for one of the most important courses of the clan.
If he refused to teach Simon or made the Vertical Mobility class more difficult for Simon, then they wouldn’t care.
But if his immense prejudice and disgust toward slaves affected the development of the other Initiates, then the academy might choose to cripple him or punish him heavily.
"Damn it."
Instructor Sormon cursed, then he inhaled and exhaled deeply.
Some seconds later, he sent another mental transmission to the hidden Shadow Blades, telling them to reduce the rate of attacks on Simon and make it the same as others.
’I refuse to believe that you’d be able to pass this class if I don’t teach you anything.’
Instructor Sormon’s eyes glowed with a vicious and cruel light as he stared in Simon’s direction.
Eventually, he scoffed and decided to focus on the other Initiates.
He had to do his job.
Meanwhile, Simon who was in this flow state was suddenly brought out of it when he realized that the attacks had drastically reduced and gone back to normal.
’Did he finally stop? Took him long enough. I was kind of hoping he was foolish enough to not stop.’
’The academy would eventually realize it, and he’d be punished heavily for it. At least, that’s what the rule book says.’
’Instructors are to teach and develop the Initiates, and any Instructor that fails to do this would be punished heavily.’
’Too bad.’
Simon shook his head slightly and glanced down.
The sight of nothing apart from the wall could terrify many, especially when one keeps on hearing screams from time to time.
But for Simon?
Fearless made him to feel no fear.
He tried to look for Instructor Sormon and some of his classmates, but he found none.
What he did not know was that while others had to take their time climbing the third section, the third section was actually the easiest part for him.
He was now ahead of everybody.
"Oh well."
He nonchalantly shrugged, then he kept on climbing.
About twelve minutes later, he reached the end of the third section and sat on his platform to rest.
’I guess it remains two hundred feet, and I should have about an hour left. Give or take.’
Simon looked up, and he could not help but shake his head.
"Now, tell me how they expect us to climb this? This is just pure madness." Simon said as he looked at the fourth section of the cliff wall that was covered in thick grey fog.