"Finally, let us bring our focus back to the present."
Kaiya’s sudden shout startled everyone out of their thoughts.
"As you should all know, freshmen of Yiertaya Academy must participate in the Wuxin Island trial on their first day of enrollment."
'No, I didn't know that,' Grinya complained internally, her mind quickly wandering off again.
'Is there anything to eat on Wuxin Island? I'm so hungry.'
"This is not only a form of training for everyone from the academy, but it's also a benefit for you all."
Kaiya smiled and continued, "Wuxin Island is a special space outside of reality, created by our first principal, Ledavich Atuoya, using his own power. You don't need to worry about any danger inside. In this special space, if anyone suffers a fatal injury, they will be immediately teleported back to the real world. This is a blessing left to us by the founding ancestor."
"Inside Wuxin Island, many magical beasts are hidden. Some of them are monsters corrupted by the gods. Find a way to defeat them, earn points, and finally reach the core of the island to pass this trial."
"Are there any other questions?" Kaiya asked.
Someone raised their hand.
Kaiya gestured for the student to speak.
"Teacher, we are only level 1 apprentice mages. Do we also have to participate in hunting magical beasts?"
Kaiya nodded and said, "That's a very good question. However, you don't need to worry. Within the secret realm, there are many items that can temporarily increase your level. The magical beasts on Wuxin Island are all relatively low-level, so they aren't difficult to deal with. But if you truly encounter an enemy you cannot defeat no matter what, then you can only blame your own bad luck."
Kaiya chuckled.
Another person raised their hand. "Teacher, what are the points for?"
"They aren't for much; they just make it easier for the academy to rank you," Kaiya replied.
The crowd: "..."
"However, I suggest you try to kill as many magical beasts as possible because..." The corners of Kaiya's mouth curled up slightly. "You might just awaken a Life Star skill."
This single sentence from Kaiya instantly sent the freshmen into a frenzy.
"What? It's actually possible to awaken a Life Star?"
"Didn't they say awakening a Life Star requires a blessing from the gods?"
"Haha, then I'm going to awaken five Life Stars at once and crush all of you!"
"Then I'll awaken six."
"Seven for me."
"..."
Kaiya didn't pay any attention to the bickering below, which sounded like elementary schoolers. If awakening a Life Star were that simple, would these resources ever be left for these students?
Life Stars, Life Crowns...
They were all inextricably linked to the gods, but the power of the gods was not so easily obtained.
The closer you got to a god, the easier it was to become a deranged monster.
Generally speaking, being able to absorb one Life Star on Wuxin Island was already a very difficult feat.
"Grinya Loran!"
Taking advantage of the commotion in the crowd, Buze walked up to Grinya.
The people around them tactfully made way, staring at them like they were watching a show.
'Is someone calling me?'
Grinya, who was already dizzy from hunger, looked toward Buze in a daze.
Meeting those vacant eyes, Buze froze for a moment, followed by incomparable anger.
"Do you even dare to look me in the eye?"
Some freshmen who clearly didn't know about the grudge between Buze and Grinya were asking around, "Who is this woman? Why is Buze so angry?"
"Haven't you heard? This girl defeated Buze in the practical test on the first day. Buze has been holding a grudge and has been looking for a chance to win back his pride."
"What a pair of star-crossed lovers."
"??? Is that how you use that phrase?"
Faced with Buze's angry interrogation, a normal Grinya might have been scared out of her wits, but currently, her brain wasn't even functioning clearly due to hunger.
"Do you have anything to eat?"
Facing Grinya's hopeful gaze, it was Buze's turn to freeze on the spot.
He reached into his school uniform pocket, pulled out half a leftover pancake, and said blankly, "I still have half a pancake here..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Grinya snatched the half-pancake like a starving tiger and began to wolf it down.
Buze: "..."
"Is this person a follower of the God of Gluttony? It's like she hasn't eaten in hundreds of years." Someone looked at Grinya with great disdain.
"Shut up!" Buze immediately snapped at the person. "She is my, Buze's, enemy. By belittling her, are you implying that I am also a fool in your eyes?"
"...That's not what I meant." The person cowered.
After all, the other party was the second son of the Kritov family. It was said that even the principal of Yiertaya Academy was his relative. Aside from the royal family, no one dared to provoke Buze.
Except for Grinya, of course.
In the eyes of many who knew the history between Grinya and Buze, Grinya was an anomaly.
She possessed incomparable talent, a highly artistic combat style, and a powerful, cold aura that didn't care for human sentiment. Even being near her made one feel a bone-deep chill.
So even though she insulted Buze time and time again, everyone had become accustomed to it.
A true genius looked down on everyone equally, even the second son of the Kritov family.
"Finally revived."
Grinya finished eating, feeling satisfied.
Huh?
Why were there so many people gathered around?
Oh crap, why was Buze from the Kritov family here?
It was over. Buze looked so angry; she must have offended this young master again somehow.
Grinya's heart trembled with fear as she called out in her mind:
'Evil God, save me!'
"How dare you disturb me! Do you want to die?"
In the next second, Grinya felt her body stiffen, and she spoke those words involuntarily.
Her heart nearly stopped. She could clearly feel the resentment within those words from the Evil God.
She had never seen the Evil God this angry. Fear made her consciousness go blank, and she instinctively wanted to prostrate herself on the ground to beg for the deity's forgiveness.
Everyone heard the words Grinya spoke and was stunned.
"What?"
Before they could even process it, the atmosphere suddenly turned much colder. Grinya's eyes were extremely indifferent, looking down upon every one of them from a height.
Everyone swallowed nervously and began to retreat instinctively.
"Damn, how did this woman's aura become so terrifying all of a sudden?"
"She's practically a witch!"
They discussed in hushed tones, terrified that Grinya might hear them.
Even the corners of Buze's mouth were trembling with fear.
It was only his noble pride that kept him standing.
Grinya's "threatening" words just now had instantly drenched him in cold sweat. He felt as if he were being stared down by a terrifying existence!
He felt as if he could truly see death beckoning to him!
Grinya was actually this terrifying!
...
Beep, beep, beep!
The phone ringtone echoed inside the blankets.
Lu Xun covered his head with the quilt, but the ringing continued incessantly.
He reached his limit and answered the phone.
"Lu Xun, are you awake yet?" It was Lin Huai's voice.
"What is it? Just say it if you have something to say!" Lu Xun said impatiently.
"Oh, I don't have anything important. I just wanted to ask if you were awake."
"Screw you!"
Lu Xun hung up the phone and ducked back under the covers.
Seconds later, the phone rang again.
Lu Xun clenched his fists, suppressed his killing intent, and blacklisted Lin Huai's number before switching his phone to airplane mode.
However, after Lin Huai's repeated interruptions, Lu Xun suddenly realized he couldn't fall back asleep.
"Idiot Lin Huai, what is wrong with him!"
He cursed under his breath, habitually walked to his computer desk, and logged into the game.
"How dare you disturb me! Do you want to die?"
He continued to grumble, but when he came to his senses, he suddenly realized he had accidentally held down the voice chat key.
"Crap, I hit the wrong button."
Lu Xun, who had accidentally pressed the voice key while trying to move, didn't think much of it. He assumed such a small mistake wouldn't affect the development of the plot.
...
In a dormitory room at Donghai University.
Lin Huai tried to call the number again, but it kept showing a busy signal.
He turned back somewhat awkwardly to look at his other two roommates. "It seems... he blacklisted me..."
"I told you not to be such a jerk. Fine, let me try."
Zhou Xiang took out his own phone.
Half a minute later.
"It's no use. I can't get through either. Did he turn on 'Do Not Disturb'?"
"Then what about his exam today? Is he still going to take it?"
The three of them looked at each other, speechless.
Rate on N.U.
