365 The strongest Mythical Item
Originally, when Raze had gotten the statue, it had become a sealed item. It was cursed, but once the seal was broken, the item would no longer be cursed.
Similar to Simyon’s earring, the curse was more of a simple one. Raze just needed to get the blood of five different people.
Due to the word curse, he thought that something might happen to the five who placed their blood in the statue to unseal it.
It turned out that there was no problem at all, just the fact that it needed blood. So, when he found out the statue’s effects, he was a bit disappointed.
At the time, nearly all of the students were second-stage warriors, so the strength of the statue was just a little under what Dame’s strength was.
It was a good tool to have, but in the future, it would just get weaker and weaker, which was why Raze was a bit disappointed by his actions, that was until now.
‘I should have known, an item that has the status of Mythical level, wouldn’t just be used like that, there would be other ways to use it as well. Not that I could test the statue.’
Since the only known way of getting rid of blood markings was to kill those that had been marked.
It was quite an interesting statue the more Raze thought about it. He wouldn’t want to use the blood of his strong enemies, since most of the enemies he would use, he would kill.
The dead’s blood couldn’t be used to power the statue then. Similarly, if he used his allies’ blood, if they died in battle, then the statue would start to grow weaker as well.
Now knowing the full extent and power of the statue, it was best to use it on allies that were strong, and would continue to grow stronger and not perish any time soon.
For him, Dame fit this bill, but there was one more person’s blood they could use, and that was himself.
‘If I add my own blood to this, I doubt it will be able to use my magical powers. The statue looks like a warrior fighting statue in the first place.
‘There also has to be a limit to how strong the statue can grow. After all, it’s not an item at the legendary or god level.’
Still, even with his and Dame’s added strength, Raze imagined if Ricktor managed to reach the Middle stages, wouldn’t the statue be close to the peak of the Middle stages as well. It might very well be a tool that could help them in the fight above.
“I can make the statue stronger, but I just need some of your blood,” Raze requested.
Dame thought about it for a while, but then a smile appeared on his face.
“You’re linking my blood to the statue, right? Just how strong is this thing going to be then?” Dame asked.
He had already figured out the statue was linked to the main disciples, so it didn’t take much for him to figure out what Raze was going to do.
“Not just your blood, but mine as well.”
Both of them had a devilish smile as they heard those words, and they wasted next to no time doing what needed to be done. Raze placed a drop of his blood on the statue and soon after Dame did the same.
Each time the blood was dropped on the statue there was a slight glow on top of it; it didn’t take much, but it was done.
On top of that, there was still one more slot for another person, but for now, Raze decided to keep it empty.
‘Maybe I can get one of the Crimson Crane members to add their blood to it as well. I can already imagine what a monster will be created out of this.’
“So, who goes first?” Dame asked; he took a small gulp because he was actually a little worried. He knew this had his, Raze’s, and Ricktor’s power; it certainly would be stronger than him.
It had been a while since he had taken a beating or did any serious training like so.
“You go ahead, I’ll activate it for you, and give it orders, for now, I’ll ask it to only defend itself and not attack. Slowly, I’ll allow it to do more.”
Raze did as he said as he placed his magic into the statue and it grew in size. It looked the same as it did before, just like a warrior made out of stone, ready to go off into battle.
However, the Qi surrounding it, Dame could feel it instantly, that it had the Qi of a Middle stage warrior.
“Head into the Dark Space for now, where no one can see you, for now, I’m going to check on the others and see how they are doing,” Raze replied.
With that, Raze and Dame went off into two entirely different directions.
When Raze reached the open lit-up area, everyone stopped what they were doing. Ricktor and Mada seemed to be training against each other.
They were exchanging movements at a slow pace, trying to get each other’s timing. Now that they had energy.
Tinson and his group had carefully divided up the food, sorting it out so it would last them a long time. They were making rations.
No one wanted to be in the same situation as they were before.
And finally, Raze could see, Safa and the others sat in a circle talking to each other, or at least they were until Raze had entered.
Not knowing what to do as the room was filled in silence, Tinson gave a bow, and his two friends followed.
“We greet you, sir!” Tinson shouted, like they were welcoming a clan head.
“Hey, do we have to do that now?” Mada whispered, covering his mouth.
“Don’t be absurd, he’s no clan head, we are just mutual benefactors for now,” Ricktor replied.
Mada didn’t like having to do courtesy to his older siblings and those higher in his own clan. The last thing he wanted to do it was against someone who he saw as the enemy.
Ignoring everything, Raze had decided to head over to the three that were sitting down. Liam was looking into his eyes, trying to gauge whether Raze in a good mood right now, or was he in a bad one? He had seen both sides and it was hard for him to tell.
“You three have gotten a lot stronger. You managed to survive in here without me, I imagine you went through a lot,” Raze commented.
“We did, but your items helped us out as well, and besides, we said we would help you, right? I said I would stick with you and be whatever you need me to be, so we can’t just stay weak for long,” Simyon stated as he punched himself on his own chest.
“Safa, I actually have something to give you and help you,” Raze stated. “We might need to spend some more ti-“
Raze had suddenly stopped mid-sentence. The three looked at him, wondering if something had happened, if something went wrong.
Immediately, Raze turned his head, looking down the hallway.
“The Dark Space, the doors from above, they’re opening again,” Raze said.
Soon the others could hear the full sound of the mechanisms opening up. The last time it had opened up, a rush full of rabid students had come, the time before that it was one of the Clan’s Heads, so why was it opening this time?
Ricktor, looking ahead, had a feeling he knew.
“It looks like they found out a lot sooner than I thought. We might get the answer to your question, Mada, whether Raze can deal with the Clan Heads or not.”
Chapter 366 I would do it Again!
Dame, immersed in the dimly lit confines of the Dark Space, felt a rush of adrenaline as he stood opposite the special statue. The training with this unique construct was crucial, given his precarious position within the academy. Being someone who shouldn’t have been in the academy in the first place, the stakes were high. Discovery of his true identity would land him in dire straits, far worse than any regular student or faculty member could imagine. His existence in this clandestine environment was a delicate dance on the edge of a razor-sharp blade.
The necessity of secrecy meant that Dame couldn’t practice or hone his skills in the open, where prying eyes could easily unravel his carefully constructed façade. The Dark Space, with its oppressive shadows and muffling silence, offered a sanctuary where he could unleash his full potential without fear.
In this secluded space, the statue stood stoically, an enigmatic figure carved from unknown materials, emanating a quiet sense of power. Dame’s gaze, sharpened by the focused Qi in his eyes, pierced through the dimness, although the entirety of the room remained shrouded in darkness. Memories of Raze’s instructions played in his mind – the statue was set to defend, not attack. This assurance was the only thread of safety in what was otherwise a leap into the unknown.
Dame stretched his arms wide, feeling the familiar rush of energy coursing through his veins. He deliberately refrained from activating his special gauntlets. This was a test of his raw, unaided strength – a trial by fire to gauge his innate capabilities. With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, targeting the statue with a series of meticulously trained fist techniques.
His first strike, aimed with precision at the statue’s chest, was effortlessly parried. The statue, animated by an unknown source of Qi, remained unscathed, its form unyielding and impervious to Dame’s assault. A spark of respect and challenge ignited in Dame’s eyes.
“Okay, pretty good, pretty good,” he muttered to himself, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space. “Let’s see you try and stop this!”
The following moments were a blur of motion and energy. Dame’s fists flew with increased ferocity, each strike a testament to his skill and training. However, the statue was an unmovable force, countering every attack with fluid motions that belied its inanimate nature. Its arms and legs moved with a grace and precision that seemed almost lifelike.
Dame’s surprise escalated when he executed a special fist technique from the Neverfall Clan, only to have the statue mirror his move perfectly. Their fists collided with a resounding thud, and for the first time, Dame felt himself being overpowered, pushed back by the sheer force of the statue’s counterattack.
“This is tough, alright,” Dame admitted, panting slightly from the exertion. “The statue is definitely stronger than before, and definitely stronger than me now. I can’t get a single clean hit on it. If this thing was in its normal mode, then I’m sure I would be the one beaten. But until I find a way, attacking it faster, or hitting harder than it can, I can’t fight it at its full strength.”
This experience was a stark reminder of his past challenges, a throwback to the days when he faced formidable foes like Beatrix. The memory of that fight lingered in his mind – not just the role of his gauntlets, but the fiery determination that had blazed within him. The Dark Magus pills, the exhilarating prospect of altering his doomed future, had ignited a passion in him that he had rarely felt since.
‘If I can channel that fervor, that unyielding will into my training,’ Dame thought, clenching his fists with renewed determination, ‘I can transcend my limits.’
The statue, an enigma in itself, stood as a testament to their growing strength. As they progressed, it would evolve alongside them, becoming an ever-stronger ally in their arduous journey. Dame could not help but affectionately think of it as ‘Stoney’, a stalwart companion in their fight.
With a deep breath, Dame prepared himself for another round. This time, he was ready to surpass the teachings of the Neverfall Clan, to forge his path with his techniques. As he took a step forward, his senses sharply tuned to his surroundings, a sudden loud noise from above caught his attention. A sliver of light pierced through the darkness as a hatch opened.
‘Wait, that’s where the teachers enter through,’ Dame realized with a jolt of panic. ‘Are they coming here now? Right now? If they do, they’re going to see the statue!’
In a frantic rush, Dame darted towards the statue, intent on moving it out of sight. However, the statue, still in its defensive mode, misinterpreted his actions as an attack. It deftly parried his attempts to push it, its movements fluid and precise.
“I’m not trying to attack you right now, Stoney!” Dame hissed in desperation. “We need to get out of here before they kill you!”
Adjusting his strategy, Dame formed his hands into claws, feigning an attack. The statue responded by gripping his hands, allowing Dame to use this connection to push with all his might. His feet dug into the ground as he exerted his full strength, his Qi surging forward in a visible wave.
The statue’s legs buckled under the force, slowly moving backward. In a sudden twist to avoid crashing into the wall, the statue released its grip, sending Dame stumbling forward with such force that his head collided with the wall.
The impact wasn’t severe, but it left Dame with a throbbing pain in his nose. He turned around, dazed, to see the hatch closing, having opened only slightly. For a fleeting moment, he had seen a solitary figure descending before it snapped shut again.
‘Only a single person dropped down, and why would it only be her?’ Dame’s mind raced with possibilities, none of which boded well. ‘I don’t have a good feeling about this.’
His foreboding grew as he observed the person not even bothering to check the Dark Space, but instead, rushing down the hallway. Dame had a sinking feeling about where they were headed.
—
Meanwhile, in the brightly lit open training area, a sense of heightened alertness pervaded the atmosphere. The students, including Raze and his companions, had heard the same ominous sound of someone entering. Their eyes were fixed on the hallway entrance, anticipating the worst.
The last time they had heard such a sound, a horde of rabid students had flooded in. This time, however, there was an eerie silence. The footsteps that eventually echoed through the space were almost imperceptible, belonging to a lone figure who entered with a silent, graceful presence.
“That’s the head of the Lethal Bite Clan!” Violet exclaimed in a hushed tone, her eyes widening in recognition.
“Yeah, it’s Feebie,” Joe added, his voice laced with uncertainty. “She was here last time, but she had others with her. This time, she’s alone. Do you think the assessment is over?”
Tinson, quick to think on his feet, hastily gathered the bagged food and concealed it against the wall. The students scrambled to hide any evidence of their forbidden supplies, unsure of the consequences they might face if discovered.
Feebie’s gaze swept across the room, not lingering on the students but searching for something – or someone. Her eyes were sharp, her movements purposeful.
“Where is she, where is she!” Feebie’s voice echoed with urgency and frustration.
Her eyes eventually settled on a corner of the room where several lifeless bodies lay. Among them, two females drew her attention. Feebie rushed over, her expression shifting from determination to horror as she knelt beside one of them.
“Lisa… why do you look like this, your whole body, it’s shriveled up,” Feebie murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief as she inspected the body.
The sight of a clean cut on the arm made Feebie’s body tense, her emotions shifting rapidly from confusion to anger. A palpable energy began to emanate from her, filling the room with a dense, oppressive atmosphere. The students felt their hearts sink, the air growing heavy, suffocating them with an unseen force.
“Who did this! Which one of you did this!” Feebie’s shout reverberated through the room, her Qi swirling beneath her, causing a gust that ruffled the students’ hair.
As she stood up, her entire body rigid with tension, the room fell into a heavy silence. The students were paralyzed, overwhelmed by the pressure and fear emanating from Feebie.
Then, amidst the suffocating atmosphere, a single voice rose, calm and unwavering.
“I did it. I was the one that killed her,” Raze declared, his voice resonating with a cold certainty. “And I would do it again if I had to.”
Chapter 367 A Clan’s Head Anger!
Being so concerned about hiding the statue, Dame was a little behind in deciding to act, but he was sure of it, the person who had just entered was Feebie Dines, the head of the Lethal Bite Clan.
‘All of the heads of the five Major clans are middle-stage warriors, and they aren’t weak ones by any means. Although, I would like to take pride and say that the Demonic Faction is the strongest out of all factions, that just simply isn’t the case.
‘If any of the Factions were considered weaker than the other, then there would have been a war by now with one faction completely dominating the other. It’s a reason why they see the martial arts tournament as so special.’
‘It’s a place where each group can prove their future generation of strength. What I don’t understand is why she came alone though, and not with any others, unless it’s a personal vendetta.’
Having figured it out, Dame was on the move, he had run through the hallway and looked behind him. The statue was staying where it was, which was a good thing.
When reaching the end of the hallway, Dame could look into the lit-up training area, and he could see it, just then Feebie had discovered the body of the main disciple, the body of Lisa.
Her reaction, her taunting words exploded.
“Someone tell me, who did this, or every single one of you, won’t make it out of here alive!” Feebie shouted.
Dame was evaluating the situation, trying to figure out what was going on, and the best course of action for them all.
‘Right now, a Clan Head has come in on their own. The last time, Feebie acted a little brazen as well. She must have known something was up and came here on her own.’
‘It’s a chance for us to attack her right now, but if we do this, it will be the light that ignites that we are trying to go against the five major clans and the Pagna academy.’
‘We’re not ready yet, so it’s best to just let things play out, and besides, if Feebie starts to attack the students, this will just solidify their hatred toward them. She can’t just go killing everyone, maybe one or two will die, but this is a good thing to get them solidified on our side!’
After thinking of all of this, that’s when Raze had stepped forward and spoke his mind.
“I did it, I was the one that killed her,” Raze said. “And I would do it again, if I had to.”
Dame wanted to slap his head, after thinking of the perfect plan, he thought the two of them would be on the same wavelength.
‘The Dark Magus is a clever person, he knows what he’s doing, so why would he act like this, at a time like this!’ Dame thought. What was even worse, his words, the way they were spoken, it was as if to make her even angrier.
“You killed her, I knew it, I knew you were trouble since you got in here!” Feebie screamed and immediately exploded forward.
She readied her fist and threw it out, and just in time, Raze had managed to raise his own sword. It was the enchanted wind magic sword.
He lifted it up, and flowed it with his own Qi, but Feebie was fast, too fast to the point where Raze was only able to do that, brace himself with his own Qi.
As the attack smashed against the sword, Raze poured all of his Qi strength behind it, but the sword cracked, and the flow of the attack from Feebie continued and pushed him back.
The students were pushed to the edge of the wall by the powerful Qi, and Raze was chucked back until his back had hit the wall.
‘This is hard, my Qi is still that at a 6th stage warrior, it’s not at the same level as a middle stage warrior. I can’t win this fight, just using my Pagna techniques, I’ll have to use magic as well.’
He could see Feebie coming close to him, and instinctively, Raze went ahead, and swung his sword using the Devil’s Formation.
‘I don’t have time to use the Noctis Clan skills, they take a while to build up, and I haven’t learned them to the point where I can just quickly use them.
‘Besides, if I do, and I lose this fight, they will know I have techniques from the Noctis Clan, and I still don’t know what can of worms that will open up!’
When swinging down though, something didn’t quite feel right, and his sword struck nothing.
“You fool,” Feebie said as she grabbed Raze by the neck and pushed him against the wall, lifting him up. She summoned Qi covering his entire body.
It felt horrible, as if all of his muscles were being suppressed. He was trying to move, and inch his fingers forward, but all he could do was twitch them slightly.
‘Crap, I messed up, she got too close, I was hesitant about using my magic, and now, I won’t even be able to cast a basic spell in this situation!’ Raze thought.
“You’re an idiot who didn’t even know his sword was broken! And how did you even get a real sword in here in the first place!” Feebie shouted.
From the initial attack, Raze hadn’t noticed his sword had been shattered, so when he swung it, it did next to nothing.
The Qi was placed in the shortest form of the sword, unable to even reach its target, and now he was in this situation.
Feebie continued to hold him up. “Did you think I was going to give you a quick death? No, you will have a painful death, you will suffer. I don’t care if you’re the White Dragon, I will do everything I can to make you pay, ever since you entered this academy, things have been going wrong, one after the other!”
She could see it though, Raze was slowly raising his hand, he was moving somehow.
‘He can still move even in this situation. My Qi hasn’t completely suppressed him. This means… is he at the peak of the initial stage! This fool, this no-name from no clan, has already reached the peak!’
Dame continued to stand by the doorway, he looked at the others. Safa and Simyon, they looked as if they were trying to get up but were finding it impossible to do so.
The Qi just coming off from Feebie’s body was suppressing them. Only he could move now.
‘If I was to attack, in the fight, the Qi will be dispersed. She will have to hone her powers in allowing everyone to move. If all of us were to fight, including the statue, and Raze at full strength, we might be able to take her out.
‘We might be able to do this!’
Dame stepped out from the hallway, and he looked Raze deep in the eyes. He could see him struggling, but he hadn’t given up fighting just yet, his hands were moving.
‘It’s now or never, we have to fight, if we kill the leader, this will be the start of it all though!’
Chapter 368 End of the Trial
Feebie was consumed by her anger. Slowly she was creeping in more and more of her Qi. When one was angry, the Qi that expanded out of one’s body was wild.
It was filling the air, and making it hard for anyone else to approach her, but as she wanted to harm the person she was holding up more and more, the Qi was starting to be condensed.
Slowly, she was upping the pressure of her Qi, as she wished for Raze to suffer more and more.
She could see the veins on his neck as he struggled to breathe.
‘The blazer, it doesn’t activate for things like this, but if I can just, if I can just move my hand ever so slightly.’
Using his strength, using his own Qi, Raze was trying to focus it out of his dantian, to his hand, his fingers, they were moving, inching forward.
‘He’s still able to move even now! How strong can one have gotten in this place! No, this just proves it, it proves that he killed Lisa!’
Dame watching it all was wondering where the heck was the statue in this situation. If the statue was here, then they could all attack her at once.
Turning around, he was ready to bolt back into the Dark Space to see what was going on, and carry it here if he had to.
When turning around though, he had quickly stopped as several people walked straight past him. They practically pushed past him and had entered the lit room.
“Let go of him now!”
Feebie turned her head, and she saw exactly who it was.
“Vice Principal Amir, you got here quicker than I thought,” Feebie replied.
Vice Principal Amir wasn’t alone. By his side were the two Red Headband teachers, the two Blue Headband teachers, and two Yellow Headband teachers.
The teachers when entering, they looked at the students that were still alive. All they could see were Red Headbands.
Almost immediately, there was a change to the look on their faces. They looked as if they were about to throw up.
‘The look of guilt… the teachers didn’t want to do this, either.’ Ricktor noticed, but he was far more interested in what was going to happen next, with Raze.
“Did you hear what I said? Put the child down!” Amir stated once again, and he had his hand held on his sword ready to strike.
“He killed Lisa!” Feebie shouted.
“And, many students of other clans have died down here. When Ossep from the Moon Shield Clan had fallen, did Gavin retaliate against you, by saying that you should have saved him?”
“No, he mourned and accepted the fact, and pledged to train the next generation from his clan even better so he never had to suffer a feeling like this again.”
“But there’s a big difference between Ossep and this person right?” Feebie said. “This person is a no name, they’re from no clan!”
“If I was to get rid of him, no one would bat an eyelid, not a single person would complain about his death. The importance of a Clan Head’s satisfaction is far more significant than this no name!”
Her fist tightened once more, but immediately Amir moved and grabbed Feebie’s hand, he then used his Qi, to shift and pull it away, while hitting her wrist forcing her to open it up.
Raze quickly fell to the floor, and for a moment, Feebie had glared towards Amir, ready to attack him, but before she did, she stopped.
“What are you doing, I am from the five major clans that make up the Dark Faction, we support the academy more so than most of the other Dark Faction Clans!
“Are you trying to go to war with the Lethal Bite Clan over just one child?”
Behind Amir, Raze touched his neck for a few seconds, he felt his throat, there was something wrong with it. He could finally breathe, but the muscles around it, on the inside, appeared to be damaged in a particular way.
“War?” Amir replied. “Did you forget that right now all of these students are part of the Pagna academy. In here, I am the vice principal.”
“A Clan’s Head is not in a position that is higher than mine, only the principal is higher than me! So if you have a problem then take it up with the principal, otherwise, I am within my full right to do as I please!”
Listening to this, Feebie didn’t place her Qi away just yet. It felt like she was debating whether she should still try and attack or not, but in the end, she placed her strong killing intent away.
“You’re right, inside the academy, I can’t touch him, but know this Raze, every person you care about, everything you have touched outside of this academy, I will destroy of yours.
“Students and the Dark Faction will learn once again why the Lethal Bite Clan rose to the top of the clans!”
Just then, it looked as if Feebie was ready to turn away, to head back out of the cave where everyone currently was, but she turned around with a smile looking directly at Raze.
“I guess I will have to just be satisfied with the punishment you have received right now. How does it feel, do you want to say something?”
have received right now. How does it feel, do you want to say something?”
Raze knew it, there was something wrong. He could feel it, there was something seriously damaged. Even breathing felt difficult.
‘She managed to damage my larynx. I can’t speak… and even my breathing is disrupted, with it I can feel the Qi all over my body not working well.’
“A lot of people don’t know this, but breathing is a big part of Cultivating. It’s not just your voice that’s messed up, but the use of your techniques, your stamina. Everything that you have built up and learned will become just a former version of yourself. The Legendary White Dragon that was meant to save the Dark Faction, will become nothing.”
Feebie quickly went down the hallway after that and left. Meanwhile, Amir looked at Raze who was behind him, more so he glanced.
‘Great damage like that, I’m not even sure a physician will be able to heal such a wound. Feebie has basically crippled the boy to the point where he can barely use martial arts! He might not be devastated right now, but he is sure to be later.’
Instead, though, Raze had clenched both of his fists, he had grabbed the hard rock from the ground and crushed it in his hand.
He then looked ahead.
‘She thinks something like this will stop me! She thinks that I’ll just give up.’
‘You have no idea what I can do! You have no idea, and you have just been added onto my list, and will be the first one to be crossed off it.’
With Feebie gone, Safa had run straight over to Raze. She could tell that he was having difficulty breathing even now.
She then held out her hand and was about to use the restore spell, just before Raze grabbed onto it. For the first time, he had touched her.
He shook his head since he was unable to speak.
‘Not here, not right now.’
The tense moment had passed, and with it, Amir had an announcement to make.
“We are putting an end to the assessment, all of you, we are leaving this place,” Amir announced.
Hearing the news, Dame didn’t know what to think of this, whether it was good or bad for them. With the assessment ending early, they would be back above, right in front of their targets, and those that were targeting them as well.
Chapter 369 The Reason for My Name
A strange feeling was felt with Raze as he stood on his feet. His body, the Qi inside of him, it was still that of the 6th stage. His body had gotten rid of many impurities and should have been beyond that of normal human capabilities.
However, due to the injury he had received around his throat, he now had trouble with his breathing, and trouble speaking. Every breath he took, there was major pain, and the amount of oxygen that would get into his body was limited.
It was causing strange actions to occur in his body. Due to him struggling to breathe, it was hard for him to even focus on his Qi around his body. He had yet to even try using one of his skills, which he imagined would be extremely difficult.
Right now, they were all following the teachers along with the Vice Principal out of the underground facilities. They had expected the students to be relatively weak so the teachers were going to take it in turns bringing the students up.
With them having eaten already, they had enough energy to rise up by themselves, everyone had gone to the top, apart from Raze and Dame.
Amir looked at the two for the moment.
“If you need a hand, I can help.” Amir asked.
“Ah, do you feel a bit guilty now, the fact that you weren’t able to stop a clan head from doing this to a fellow student.” Dame retorted. He was beyond annoyed at what happened before. With everything happening, things weren’t quite going to plan.
While the two were talking to each other, Raze decided to go ahead, and rather than jump on the side of the rocks all the way to the top, instead he reached out, and started to pull himself up, one rock at a time.
It was a strange site, because it didn’t look like that of a Pagna warrior. It was as if a regular person was scaling the wall. Still, even for a regular person to scale such a wall would take a large amount of skill and strength, and he was heading up there himself.
While Amir was looking at Raze, ready to catch him if he fell at a moment’s notice. Dame quickly looked around and found the statue. He was a bit worried that the others would have seen it when they had come in, but thankfully the magic had stopped being used in the statue.
It had returned to its smaller form, and now Dame could just pick it up and take it along with him.
‘Who knows what’s going to happen next, because I can’t predict it at all.’ Dame said, scratching his head.
Eventually everyone had gotten out of the assessment area and they were back in the open forest where they were led outside of the academy area. Amir and the teachers were leading the way and the rest of them began to walk.
“Don’t worry, your fellow classmates will get the respect that they deserve.” Amir commented. “We will have our staff come back and retrieve their bodies, and then they will be sent to their respective families and Clans to do as they wish.”
“You mean what is left of the bodies.” Dame commented, knowing full well what happened down there.
There was tension in the air as the students walked. They were heading back to the academy, the ones that had made them go through that type of assessment in the first place. to them right now, it felt like they were prisoners, or slaves heading back to their owners to do their bidding again.
They wanted to ask, but after what they had seen Feebie do, they were too scared. If they acted out, would their life end? Raze who wanted to go against them, they understood his feelings, but he was unable to do anything.
“Are you going to tell us what the deal was with that assessment?” Dame eventually asked. Unlike the other students, he wasn’t afraid to ask.
“The assessment is just that, it was another stage for you pupils to go through, in order for you to become the strongest Pagna warriors you can be.” Amir commented. “Permission was granted from the majority of clans. For the sake of the Dark Faction, it was something we had to do.
“And now, you are the strongest generation the Dark Faction has ever had, and we will treat you that way from now on. You will be respected greatly for what you have been through and had to do for the sake of the Faction, we won’t forget it, the clans won’t forget it.”
Dame huffed and puffed, he felt like it was an actual good answer from the Vice principal, he thought that maybe he would have panicked and given an answer that would make the students worry even more, but instead, they were now looking slightly forward to returning to the academy.
During the walk, students couldn’t help but discuss what had happened, including the main disciples.
“Hey, you know what’s up with Raze right, he doesn’t seem himself?” Mada asked.
Ricktor glanced behind him, Raze was at the back of the group, and even now as he was breathing in a strange odd way.
“I believe his larynx, something is wrong with it, it had to be Feebie’s doing. She didn’t outright break his cultivation so he could never use it again, but instead decided to do something more painful.” Ricktor explained.
“Do you think he’ll be okay then? Will he still be able to do what he wanted or thought to do?” Mada replied.
“Who knows, I’m pretty sure the Clan Head knew what she was doing, but I also think they have no idea what type of person Raze is. Let me ask you a question, how the heck did he get so much food down in that place?” Ricktor asked.
Now that they were out of the place, and Mada thought about it, wouldn’t it have been impossible. There was no way out, and no one would help a no name like him by sneaking the food in.
“Your line of thinking is right, somehow, Raze managed to do the impossible. So when it comes to him, I don’t want to say that it’s impossible.” Ricktor answered.
Just then, the long bridge that headed to the academy was in sight. They were returning after a long time, and what was in store for them, they had no idea.
“Hey, Safa, you healed your voice with your light magic right?” Liam whispered. “Then, can’t you heal your brother’s throat as well.”
Safa remembered the look in his eyes back then. That was the first thing that was on her mind.
“He… didn’t want me to.”
Both Simyon and Liam were shocked by this. Why wouldn’t Raze want his throat healed?
Raze, walking at the back, was carefully breathing, he was straining to put his Qi into his legs with each step.
‘Using my Qi is more difficult, the breaths I take are harder. Everything that I learned as a Pagna warrior is around ten times harder with the way I am now! But, I’m going to use this, I’m going to learn how to fight like this.’
‘Learn to train, and push myself to the limit, with the way my body is! You might have thought you crippled me, but I’m going to use this damned curse you think you’ve placed on me, and turn it back on you. The people of Pagna will learn why the name Dark Magus was feared in all of Alterian.’
Chapter 370 How much blood on our hands?
Walking through the Pagna academy, it felt different for the students compared to the first time. There were still the shops, the local families that lived in the area just outside the main academy.
When looking at them continuing their lives, it was the first time where the students felt so apart from the rest of the world.
They had just been through torture, they had been through large amounts of loss, forced to fight against their own teammates, kids that were the same age as them, and everyone else was just living a normal life.
The life of a Pagna warrior was meant to be one of prestige, one of great honor. They could hold their head up high as they were the ones that had chosen it. Chosen this cruel path.
So why didn’t they feel that way, rather than a part of the clans or a part of the upper world of the warriors, instead they felt like they were just tools that could be chucked to the side at any moment, it was just that they were useful ones right now.
As they entered the main academy, the students were now walking on the large courtyard that split the three headband group areas. It felt extremely empty compared to before, quiet.
Dame could feel the tense feeling in the air.
‘The academy had to know the risks, and usually since there are so few that survive, they can treat them as the chosen ones, as the Heroes.’
‘At the same time, they would feel as if they had been taken out of that hell by the academy and they were their saviors.’
‘However, more had survived than they had expected for one. Those that knew they were weaker than others like Tinson and his group had managed to survive and they knew they weren’t the strongest.’
‘They didn’t feel like the chosen ones, and the one that had saved them all in the end, was none other than Raze. For nearly all of those that had survived this assessment, their loyalty is more with Raze than the Academy. They had made a bad move, and they haven’t even realized it yet.’
The ten students, still not having changed out of their clothes, most of them covered in blood, had finally reached the main building of the academy. They stood there looking straight ahead at the balcony, the same balcony when they had first arrived at the academy.
The sight was completely different compared to how it was before. For one, it felt like there were more teachers than students that were present.
For a second, Mada glanced at Raze.
‘This is what you want to go up against Raze, I understand how you feel. I’m angry too, but it’s impossible. Look at the academy, look at everything around us, we ten students can’t do anything.’
Standing on the balcony, was the principal Murkel with his long black ponytail and silk-like clothing. By his side was Gunther and Pincer, the two of them who were there before.
Although not the head of their clans, both of them were considered the stars of their clans, and might even be stronger than the heads themselves. They were certainly more active.
“You ten here, are the chosen ones!” Murkel shouted. “You have managed to survive an assessment where there was a chance that there would be no survivors.”
“You managed to reach the very top, which means that you are the leaders of the next generation. You are the ones that will shape the Dark Faction in the future, and we will treat you like so.”
“You are not just the stars of those in your clan but the whole of the faction. There will be now a lot of weight on your shoulders, as we look forward to your future growth.”
Everything so far was as expected by Dame, and the students stood there with the same expression as before. They were listening to his words, but they just felt a little empty.
“After the tough trial, all of you are permitted a week’s break before the next test will begin.”
The words that there would be a next test, it made everyone skip a beat for a moment. They were still in the academy, it wasn’t over.
There was a new test every month, and this would go on for an entire year. Was this something they really wanted?
“Unfortunately, you will not be permitted to return to your clans, you must rest up here in the academy. Do as you wish, train, relax, or just close your eyes, knowing that you are the future, and the stars of the Dark Faction.”
After the speech was completed, the teachers went on to lead the students back to the Red Headband base, all of them heading back to their rooms.
As for Amir, he walked ahead and was no longer with the students, when he reached the main building he jumped up from where he was and had landed on the balcony.
“It looks like there were some unexpected results,” Murkel said.
“The assessment needed to end early,” Amir answered. “Feebie from the Lethal Bite Clan got too involved. Rather than lose them all, I thought it was best that we keep them where we can see them.”
Murkel nodded.
“It’s expected, since she lost one of her own. About Ricktor and the White Dragon, their stages; do you have an idea what they managed to reach?”
“Yes, I got close enough to assess their power,” Amir replied. “Ricktor seems to have reached the fifth stage, while many of the other students have reached the fourth stage.”
“The result of the assessment has been better than we expected.”
“And what about the White Dragon, it appears that you have avoided his name for a particular reason?”
Amir didn’t answer immediately, instead he paused and waited and then asked a question of his own.
“You asked me to gather more students to have another entry for the academy. This has never been done before, are you planning to do the same again?”
Murkel didn’t answer but his lack of an answer was an answer in Amir’s eyes.
“How many sir, how many dead children’s blood will be spilt on our hands?” Amir asked.
“As many as it takes,” Murkel replied. “As many lives as it takes so we can protect everything we have, now my question.”
There was a small flicker of intensity, of energy, that Amir felt for a second.
“The White Dragon, I believe he has managed to reach the 6th stage, but there was a problem. Feebie was unable to contain her anger and has damaged his throat. The Qi inside him ruptured more than that I think.”
“He seems to have a problem with his breathing.”
Immediately Murkel shook his head.
“Send the best physicians to see that he gets better. Feebie also needs to be punished for what she has done. We might have now just lost our golden star in all of this.”
“I will sir,” Amir said bowing down, but when he raised his head he had one more question to ask. “And if the physicians are unable to heal him, then what will you do with him?”
“We have no use for a cripple,” Murkel answered. “We will just get rid of him.”
Chapter 371 Unifying our strength
The ten students had returned to the Red Headband group’s building. It wasn’t exactly the biggest building before, since there were the fewest students.
However, it was slightly more luxurious compared to the other buildings. What they did notice, though, was they had more space compared to before.
The teacher had arrived, and then shortly after, didn’t say anything; they both just left, standing outside or heading back to the main academy, leaving all of them in the same room.
“So, what do we do now?” Tinson asked.
“What, you want us to all hold hands and play a game together?” Mada asked. “Just because we went through that together doesn’t mean we’re friends now, alright?”
“What do you mean?” Joe replied back. “Do you want to just sit here, wait, and count down the days until the next assessment? We don’t even know what it’s going to be, I’m not sure my heart can take it.”
Dame then stood in the center of the room and looked at Joe; he placed his finger toward his lips, and then placed another one towards his ears.
Everyone got the gesture; it was the fact that there could be those around them watching or listening at any time, so they needed to be careful.
“If we talk, we talk in our rooms, and only when we can be sure that no one is around. Whatever you do, don’t go mentioning any of this on the outside; if any of you do, I will come and find you.” Dame raised his fist, and for a moment, he let out a bit of his Qi.
It was the first time they had felt his power. Before this, they just knew him as someone who was part of Raze’s group with the others.
Sure he was skillful, but they didn’t know how so, that was until then. It was clear Dame’s Qi was stronger than them all.
Well, maybe not all, as it was now on par with one person’s, but that person was now sitting down. Raze was in the open area, watching everything; he was breathing carefully.
When the room went silent, they could all hear a slight wheezing sound. They all knew who it was coming from, but they were afraid to even look.
They didn’t quite understand what was going on, just that ever since Raze’s altercation with the Clan Head, he looked a bit weak in their eyes.
After his strong conversation he had before, it wasn’t something they expected.
When Raze stood up and headed for his room, the rest of them thought they would do the same. They decided to rest for the night as each of them was exhausted, but they were left with strong thoughts in their mind.
Dame still had the statue with him, but it needed magic to activate. He was sure it was his tool for reaching the middle stage, but even if he could get Safa or Raze to activate it, where could he practice with it in the academy?
For Simyon, Liam, and Safa, they knew even though they had grown far stronger than before, but for what Raze wanted them to do, it wasn’t enough, and now with the state that Raze was in, they needed to do more, to protect him, just like he had done for them.
Then there was finally Raze himself, while all of them were busy thinking and sleeping, he was drawing a magic circle on the ground.
He had the level 3 power stone on the floor.
‘Although my Qi is greatly disrupted from me being unable to breathe, I can still use my magic just fine. And it’s not like it’s impossible for me to use my Qi.
‘I’m getting used to controlling it a bit better. If I’m able to use it while my body is strained, maybe I’ll even be able to learn the complete Descending Steps.’
That night, Raze had gotten to work, in a number of ways, doing whatever it was he could.
The next day when the sun shined bright, the 10 students were a little dumbfounded about what to do. They were no longer fighting for their life, but when they went to the back of their courtyard full of the training equipment.
They didn’t quite feel like continuing their fight. The goal in their heads had disappeared, that was for all of them apart from Ricktor and Mada, who continued to train diligently.
“I wonder where Raze is, and what he’s doing?” Tinson asked.
“Oh, I think I saw them enter one of the rooms, but I have no idea what is happening,” Joe replied.
Tinson let out a sigh. He didn’t know what was happening or what they should do. After agreeing to help, he was just a little tense, feeling as if anything could happen at any moment.
The rooms they had were far bigger than the seclusion rooms and were about the same size as the inns that they would rent.
There was enough space for them to move around, and certainly enough space for all of them to gather and talk.
“Alright, I checked the area,” Dame said. “There is no one close, so do what you want to do, Raze.”
Raze nodded, and then went ahead to the three of them. He gave a small pouch that was a handful to both Simyon and Liam.
Immediately Liam wasted no time as he opened up the pouch, and he could see that they were filled with small balls.
“Are these, Qi pills!” Liam asked.
Dame took a peek but just standing from where he was alone he could tell what they were.
“Level 3 Qi pills, and a whole bunch of them as well. I have no idea where he managed to get his hands on those, but it looks like Raze wants the two of you to get stronger,” Dame explained.
Originally, Raze was thinking about using the stage three crystals he obtained to create stronger pills, but he realized that being a stronger Pagna warrior was more important first, and then the pills could just be a simple buff after.
A permanent increase in strength was more important than a temporary one.
“I’ll help you guys in absorbing the Qi pills properly, and training as well. Just absorbing them all like so, it isn’t going to do much,” Dame explained.
Raze nodded, hearing this. Then out from his hand, he pulled out a book and handed it over to Safa.
When she looked at the front, she was slightly confused because it had markings that she didn’t understand, but when she opened it up, she could see several magic circles.
“Is this a magic book?” Safa asked.
To which Raze nodded again. It was the Light magic book he had obtained from his vault, full of spells she could use.
She could use magic, and having a Light mage on their team would be a big support, but not the way she was now.
That was when Raze had the Raw Level 3 crystals with him, and pointed to a magic circle on the ground.
‘I’m going to increase Safa’s star level as well. With these crystals, she could reach and become a 3-star Light mage.
‘The risks are there, though, with each star breakthrough, a massive amount of Mana is released, which means there’s a chance of a portal breaking out.
‘But if a portal break happens, well, fuck them, let the monsters come and kill them all.’
