Chapter 298: The Academy First Selection
*Whoosh!* The sound of a swift movement cut through the air, adding an element of urgency to the scene. Unlike the vibrant energy exuding from the white-robed man, the ethereal white energy emitted from him appeared dense and almost liquid-like, cascading down like droplets of water onto the flames.
In a fraction of a second, the intense heat of Gibson's fire was smothered, creating a wispy mist that veiled the surroundings, unveiling Gibson's shadow as he instinctively shielded his head with both hands.
"Brat, are you alright?" inquired the white-robed individual, his hand waving gracefully, dispersing the mist with a burst of energy. The mist, which had threatened to engulf the onlookers, vanished into thin air, never touching a single soul.
Gibson, his body charred black and his garments in tatters, grimaced in pain. Only his midsection remained unscathed, protected by a sturdy layer of hardened earth. "Of course not!" Gibson snapped involuntarily, his crimson eyes fiercely scanning the surroundings. However, as he caught a glimpse of the cold gleam emanating from the white-robed figure's hood, his expression paled.
"I-I'm sorry, respected wizard," he hastily apologized, repeatedly bowing his head in contrition.
The white-robed individual merely snorted at Gibson's actions, briefly casting a glance at Desmond before returning to his original position. With the girls brought along by Gibson rushing to assess their young master's condition, the white-robed figure seemed unperturbed.
Desmond observed the scene attentively, making mental comparisons between his own spellcasting prowess and that of the white-robed wizard. The disparity in their abilities was not vast, Desmond thought, taking into account his substantial reservoir of energy.
Although his magical aptitude far surpassed that of an average person, their spells would pale in comparison to those of an expert wizard or witch, both in terms of power and consumption. As he keenly watched the events unfold, he discreetly commanded the system to record the encounter.
Without wasting a moment, Desmond approached the portal, leaving Gibson preoccupied with his entourage of girls. As his body crossed the threshold of the portal, his vision trembled slightly, and the once-familiar surroundings transformed into a vast expanse of floating land, enveloped by an ethereal sea of clouds.
He had teleported to the same location as the previous day, but now the area was teeming with students scattered about. However, none of them dared to venture too close to the wooden tablet or the gateway, impeded by an invisible barrier.
The atmosphere buzzed with an energy akin to a bustling marketplace, with students either awestruck by the breathtaking vista or attempting to take a step forward, only to be thwarted by the imperceptible force field.
As Desmond arrived, his appearance immediately drew the attention of many female students, some of whom exchanged covert winks. Yet, at the same time, envious glares from male students were directed his way.
Deciding to dismiss the prying gazes, Desmond focused on surveying the crowd and observing any changes in the surroundings. His eyes scanned the area, eventually spotting Elizabeth, Diana, and the city lord's daughter engaged in animated conversation, their laughter filling the air. Standing behind them, Clark assumed the role of a protective bodyguard.
Not far away, Matson observed the girls' interaction with an air of calmness, occasionally stretching his body. Suddenly, as Desmond covertly observed Matson, their gazes met, locking for a fleeting moment.
"System, commence scan," Desmond commanded silently.
[Scanning the target...]
[Scan Complete!]
[-Status-
Name: Matson
Gender: Male
Age: 10 years
Race: Human
Class: 1st class Swordsman
Occupation: None
Unique Energy: 14.49
Strength: 38.99
Agility: 37.88
Stamina: 2.35]
"Hooh," Desmond remarked, his surprise evident as he perused Matson's statistics. It was uncommon to come across a young man who had pushed his physical capabilities to such extremes, although not entirely impossible. Recalling that Matson's stats had been even lower than his own a few years ago, Desmond couldn't help but find his rapid progression suspicious.
"This is too suspicious," he silently muttered, his suspicions growing.
The two of them continued their silent exchange, their gaze locked for an extended moment. Abruptly, Matson averted his eyes, replacing his prior gaze with an expression of disdain and arrogance. He curled his lip, a smug smirk playing on his face as he mockingly gave Desmond a thumbs-down gesture.
Desmond felt a peculiar sense of unease at Matson's reaction. His actions seemed childlike to Desmond, who had already faced and vanquished an entire evil organization. Another kid challenging me again, he mused, finding it difficult to reconcile Matson's behavior with the dangerous circumstances he had overcome.
Driven by curiosity, Desmond shifted his attention to Elizabeth's group. "Scan all of them," he commanded the system.
[Scanning the target...]
[Scan Complete!]
[-Status-
Name: Elizabeth
Gender: Female
Age: 10 years
Race: Human
Class: 0th Witch
Occupation: Princess of the North Kingdom
Unique Energy: 14.76
Strength: 7.15
Agility: 8.00
Stamina: 2.00]
[-Status-
Name: Diana
Gender: Female
Age: 10 years
Race: Human
Class: 0th Witch
Occupation: None
Unique Energy: 11.25
Strength: 12.35
Agility: 8.35
Stamina: 2.35]
[-Status-
Name: ????
Gender: Female
Age: 10 years
Race: Human
Class: 0th Witch
Occupation: None
Unique Energy: 10.95
Strength: 10.35
Agility: 12.35
Stamina: 2.35]
Desmond noted the results, finding it somewhat amusing that the princess turned out to be the weakest among them. As for Diana, although she appeared eager to challenge him with her constant gazes, her strength was underwhelming, he concluded.
For a considerable time, Desmond had believed Diana possessed physical abilities surpassing those of average children, which had fueled her confidence. However, upon examining her current stats, he realized her actions had been nothing more than youthful bravado.
Regarding the princess, Desmond's expectations had already been set. After all, princesses typically resided within castle walls, dedicating most of their time to learning about city management and other aspects related to the growth of their kingdom. Nevertheless, the fact that she had become a Witch was remarkable, as it indicated she possessed a rare, almost divine trait among her peers.
Desmond inwardly spoke, his eyes narrowing slightly as he fixed his gaze upon Elizabeth's face.
Yet, just as his attention lingered on her, Clark, who stood behind Elizabeth, abruptly glared at Desmond. "It's been one month, and he hasn't done anything to me?" Desmond found the situation rather amusing, observing Clark's restrained demeanor. He was unsure whether Clark had already reported him or not, but one thing was certain: Desmond had been free to move about during the past month.
Shaking his head, Desmond surveyed the other students surrounding him. While he had the ability to scan them all, he found the text obstructing his view to be bothersome. Instead, he relied on judging the students based on their temperament and appearance.
At that moment, a particular student caught his attention. She stood at the corner of the island, distanced from the others, her gaze filled with cold intensity as she scrutinized anyone who approached her. With her long black hair tied in a single braid, she exuded an air of confidence, though her chest appeared slightly less prominent compared to the other girls.
Perhaps it was due to her black hair, reminiscent of Lydia's?
However, as Desmond prepared to scan her, a commotion erupted, accompanied by a rumble and loud noises, signifying the arrival of a new group of students. He turned his gaze towards them and immediately spotted Gibson among their ranks, accompanied by the purple-haired individual he had encountered during his travels.
*rumble* *rumble*
The ground continued to tremble even after the arrival of the new students, the vibrations growing stronger with each passing moment. Then, after a few more rumbles, a remarkable change unfolded not far from the gate. The earth itself began to rise, forming an impressive tower made of compacted soil.
Its majestic structure twisted and contorted, its surface transforming into clay with a blinding radiance, obscuring the view of the fascinated onlookers.
*shrink*
Simultaneously, an eerie sound reverberated from the newly formed tower, a peculiar blend of wolf growls and lion roars. The sound echoed through the air, sending shivers down the spines of those who heard it.
As the sound subsided and the luminous cover dissipated, the transformed tower was revealed in all its glory—a magnificent black crystal tower that shimmered under the sunlight. The astonished students could only gape, their expressions reflecting a mix of awe and bewilderment. Beside the tower stood a group of white-robed individuals, their presence adding to the surreal spectacle.
To the surprise of those closest to the tower, they suddenly found themselves standing at a considerable distance from it, while the students who had initially positioned themselves on the outskirts of the area now found themselves drawn towards the tower, as if compelled by an unseen force.
As soon as the tower assumed its new form, leaving the students dumbfounded by the unprecedented turn of events, the white-robed figures began to chant in unison. Their voices harmonized, resonating with an ancient power that gathered energy from the very essence of the island. A palpable surge of energy coursed through the air, converging towards a focal point above the tower's grand arch.
*boom*
At that precise moment, the accumulated energy reached its zenith, resulting in a cataclysmic explosion that erupted in all directions. A dazzling burst of light illuminated the surroundings, filling the air with a cloud of sparkling white dust. As the attention of the crowd shifted towards the tower, the true focal point of this spectacle was finally revealed.
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