Chapter146-A Farce
Wales knew that even if the principal were present, the decision would be the same.
Despite the Alliance's pretense of fairness, that still depended on the stature of those involved.
If your status was high enough, not only could you gain entry into the academy, but even important positions within the Alliance could be yours for the taking.
Clearly, Quin Chan's status as a council member afforded him such influence.
Even the female mentor who had been reading looked up, her gaze landing on Ying Chan, indicating the extensive influence the Chan family wielded.
With the Chan family name behind her, Ying Chan's enrollment process was exceptionally smooth, leading to her direct assignment to the first class.
After sorting everything out and securing her dormitory, Howard began showing Ying Chan around the academy.
Meanwhile, countless students were still converging towards the training field, which piqued Howard's curiosity, and Ying Chan, equally intrigued, hurriedly pulled him along to check it out.
Arriving at the field, Howard and Ying Chan discovered a makeshift arena had been set up in the center.
Not only were two students engaged in battle, but mentors were present as well.
And Howard recognized the fighting students -- they were freshmen like himself, and although not in the first class, they had faced off during assessments.
Well, getting beaten up counts as fighting too!
The students they were battling were strangers to Howard, and they all boasted levels around 30 to 40, just slightly weaker than Caitlin, Glyn, and Aisha.
Clearly, they were upperclassmen, likely juniors or seniors.
Second-year students simply didn't level up that fast!
Truth be told, aside from Howard and a few others, the average level of the freshmen was around 16 or 17.
In this world, it was incredibly difficult for regular awakened to level up, even for geniuses.
Take Ying Chan, for example, the beloved jewel of the Chan family, adored and awakened early at home -- she had only just reached level 30.
Someone like Howard, who surged to level 30 within a month of awakening, was unprecedented!
That's precisely why people like Wales believed Howard had inherited the legacy of a powerful being.
But they were all under different misconceptions.
Under the vast disparity of levels and equipment, the first-year students stood no chance against their higher-level counterparts.
In just a few moves, they were sent flying out of the arena, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Tsk, tsk, all I've been hearing about is how your freshman class has seven S-level Talent Awakenings. Why isn't anyone daring to step up for a fight? You were all so brash before, not even greeting your seniors when you saw us!"
"Now nobody dares to come forward? What about those who awakened S-level talents, any of you brave enough to step up?"
Hearing this, Howard felt a sense of familiarity with the voice.
Upon closer inspection, he recognized the speaker -- wasn't this the student he and Wales had encountered on their way out of the academy?
Seemed like he was Caitlin's classmate, from the same grade.
Reflecting on the words, Howard was at a loss for words. Just because he was in a hurry and didn't greet them, they were picking on the first-year students?
Wasn't this a bit too arrogant?
A surge of anger rose within Howard.
But before Howard could step onto the stage, a furious voice erupted, "Who says our freshman class has no one left?"
With a whoosh of light and shadow, a figure dashed onto the arena in a blink, carrying a massive sword on his back.
It was Maithus, the S-level Talent Awakening who had been defeated twice by Howard before.
"Oh, you're an S-level Talent Awakening?" sneered the senior student.
Despite only having an A-level talent, he wasn't afraid of Maithus, given the level gap and equipment disparity. Instead, he was visibly excited.
What a thrill it would be to thoroughly trounce an S-level Talent Awakening before they could rise to prominence!
If this tale spread, he too would be known as a master who had crushed an S-level awakened!
In truth, normally, an S-level talent could overcome opponents across levels, but that's when facing rather ordinary awakened individuals.
Those who managed to get into Holy Abyss Academy for study, even with the least of talents, weren't that inferior, especially with the guidance of renowned mentors.
In such cases, level and equipment became very significant factors.
"Go for it!"
"Come on Maithus, take that guy down, how dare he look down on us freshmen?"
"What's with the seniors targeting us all the time? Even going as far as setting up an arena!"
A chorus of encouragement rose, prompting Howard to frown slightly.
Were the upperclassmen intentionally targeting the newcomers?
He had initially thought this might be some rotten rule or tradition.
After all, in some places, seniority is everything.
Those higher in rank or older in age felt entitled to scold or even hit those younger than them.
And with mentors in charge here, Howard considered this angle -- if it truly was as the students said, and they were being specifically targeted, it could be an act of provocation.
However, Howard, racking his brains, couldn't fathom why the older students would want to stir up trouble!
He was completely unaware that it was simply Caitlin's affectionate demeanor towards him that had sparked jealousy among those seniors, even leading them to target the new students.
To be precise, they wanted to target Howard.
But Howard had been away for the past month and a half; they couldn't find him, so in frustration, they turned their provocation towards the entire freshman class.
As Howard pondered the reason behind the seniors' behavior, the second fight finally commenced.
It must be said, Maithus, as an S-level Talent Awakening, truly had skill.
Remarkably, despite a difference of over ten levels, he withstood the assault from the senior student and even managed to make it a back-and-forth battle.
Unfortunately, due to his lower level, his MP was limited, and when it was depleted, he hadn't defeated his opponent.
Powerless to cast any more skills, he was left without the means to retaliate and was eventually kicked out of the arena by the senior student.
"Third-year student, Matthru Anthony wins!"
As the mentor announced the result, the group of senior students watching erupted in laughter.
"Hahaha, what were these lower-level students thinking? Just entered the academy and they dare accept a challenge?"
"Yeah, if I were them, I'd definitely keep a low profile!"
The older students were merely enjoying the spectacle, oblivious to the specific reasons, but they naturally supported their own age group.
This scene infuriated the first-year students.
Abby, Judy, Nick, Mike, and others also gathered together. Unaware that Howard had returned, they were angered by the arrogance of the upperclassmen.
Before Matthru could provoke them further, Nick, unable to tolerate it anymore, rushed up to the challenge.
However, his defeat was even more pitiful.
He wasn't even a match for Maithus's opponent; against Matthru, it took just half a minute before he was sent flying out of the arena.
Lanas and the others followed suit, having no choice.
Even if they didn't always get along, they were all first-year students and wouldn't stand by while their peers were being bullied.
Alas, their outcomes were all too similar.
The gap in level and equipment was an insurmountable chasm for the early-stage awakened!
"Ha, is this the arrogance your first-year freshmen have been flaunting?"
"Your strength doesn't seem to be much to speak of, does it?!"
Matthru Anthony laughed haughtily: "I've heard that your freshman class has a so-called strongest one named Howard. Why doesn't he dare to show up? Or is he just a coward?"
Hearing this, Howard immediately understood that the taunt was aimed at him. This meant Matthru likely had accomplices.
Before Howard could even get angry, Abby shouted indignantly, "Howard is out on field training with a mentor; otherwise, a rookie with your level of skill would never be a match for him."
"Such arrogance!"
At her words, Matthru Anthony's expression darkened as he retorted coldly, "Sounds nice, out on field training. How long could first-year freshmen possibly be out for field training? Everyone knows the first year is mostly theoretical courses!"
"Tsk, tsk, in my opinion, Howard is just a coward!"
Matthru Anthony sneered, "And you bunch of first-year freshmen better watch yourselves. Whenever you meet your seniors, be sure to greet them properly. And remember, the senior girls... they're not for the likes of you little guys to covet!"
Hearing this, Howard fully understood everything.
It seemed Caitlin's attitude towards him had sparked this entire farce.
"Really... the classic case of beauty causing trouble. I knew that getting involved with a woman like Caitlin, who has such a good figure, would bring issues!" Howard couldn't help but sigh inwardly, having realized the cause.
Ying Chan chuckled, "Such a sour note. It looks like your over-familiarity with the upperclasswoman is what led to this situation."
With Ying Chan's wit, she too had come to this conclusion.
"Ah well, since that coward Howard doesn't dare to show up, today I'll spare you..."
Just as Matthru Anthony began to speak, a voice like a sudden clap of thunder resounded abruptly across the field.
Howard, filled with anger, directly harnessed the power within his body.
"To provoke my freshman class and then just walk away like that, doesn't seem quite right, does it?"
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