Chapter 73 Chapter73-First Entry into Adia City, The Upcoming Assessment!
Unbeknownst to Howard that Cameron had set his sights on him, he felt utterly rejuvenated at this moment.
Soon to be entering the most renowned academy within the Province was one thing, but having Abby by his side, attending to him as if he were royalty, was another level of bliss.
Had it not been for the rough jostling of the carriage, making the ride uncomfortable, Howard might not have been able to resist the urge to become more intimate with Abby right then and there!
What perplexed Howard was Abby's unwavering dedication to him.
It's worth noting that before he displayed his prowess, everyone deemed him as a mere waste, someone who had only awakened an F-level talent.
Yet, Abby never once abandoned him.
Precisely because of this, Howard had come to accept Abby, always keeping her best interests in mind.
Otherwise, their intimacy in the carriage might not have been so restrained.
...
After a night of jostling,
The following morning, as the sun ascended the horizon, Howard, Abby, Aisha, Glyn, and the unconscious Caitlin finally arrived within the walls of Adia City.
Before even setting foot in Adia City, the towering walls, gleaming golden in the sunlight, had already captured the gazes of Howard and Abby.
"Wow! Is this Adia City? Are the walls really that tall?" Both Howard and Abby, seeing such a sight for the first time, were immediately awestruck.
Hearing their reactions, Glyn chuckled, "Adia is the most crucial stronghold within the Province. It is even surrounded by a monster legion that has been coveting the city for ages. Without these defenses, Adia City would have fallen long ago!"
"Not just the walls. Inside Adia City, there are sixty-eight magical cannons. Should any monster dare to attack, they would surely be decimated," he continued.
Aisha also chimed in, saying, "There are also seven legions stationed nearby. Should anything happen here, they can arrive within ten minutes... Apart from internal issues, I cannot imagine any way Adia City could be breached."
Upon hearing Aisha and Glyn, Howard couldn't hide his surprise, while Abby's eyes shone with admiration.
Saint City lacked such defensive might.
In history, it had been occupied by sudden invasions of monster legions or Extraplanar Creatures, leading to countless casualties.
Abby's parents had even experienced such calamities.
This history was precisely why she aspired to join the Holy Abyss Academy.
If she could secure a position within Adia City, she could bring her parents over.
From then on, they wouldn't have to live each day in trepidation, fearing the onset of another catastrophe.
Urging their carriage forward, Howard and his party followed the crowd, slowly blending into the steady stream of people entering Adia City.
Drawing closer, Howard observed the meticulous nature of the city guards. They rigorously inspected everyone entering the city, even going so far as to rummage through their luggage.
However, some individuals merely flashed a token and were immediately allowed passage.
It seemed that no matter where one went, the privileges of class and rank were inescapable.
"We're not going to be subjected to such scrutiny, are we?" Howard, seated at the front of the carriage, asked abruptly.
Shaking his head with a smile, Glyn responded, "As students of the Holy Abyss Academy, we too have our privileges. Confirming our identity will suffice."
Upon hearing this, both Howard and Abby visibly relaxed. No one relished the idea of being inspected so intrusively.
Soon enough, the people ahead in the line had all entered the city, and it was now the turn of Howard and Glyn.
There were two lanes in the queue, and given the ample width of the city gates, they easily accommodated two carriages side by side.
Before the guards could even speak, Glyn greeted them warmly, "Gentlemen, we are students from the Holy Abyss Academy. Here's my student ID."
While the revered status of the Holy Abyss Academy meant that even if Glyn had been less congenial, the guards would've let them through, his amiable demeanor and radiant smile momentarily surprised them.
Typically, the students they encountered from elite academies weren't as courteous as Glyn.
"Ah, esteemed scholars from the Holy Abyss Academy! In that case, we won't bother with an inspection," said the lead guard, grinning.
After merely glancing at Glyn's ID, he waved them through, not even bothering to check Howard or Aisha.
This left Howard quite astonished, but also relieved.
After all, both he and Abby had yet to receive their student IDs; they'd only signed the academy's contract.
A proper inspection would have been tedious.
It goes without saying, Glyn's approach saved them a great deal of hassle.
Upon entering Adia City, Glyn naturally assumed the role of the leader, steering the carriage directly towards Holy Abyss Academy. Howard, while following Glyn, let his gaze wander along the streets on either side.
A craftsman must first sharpen his tools!
Suddenly finding himself in an unfamiliar place, he knew he had to familiarize himself with the surroundings quickly. Otherwise, any endeavor would be hindered.
On the streets, besides various Magic Stores, there were also plenty of General Stores. The main road was impressively wide, and even with carriages passing by, thousands of pedestrians bustled on either side, creating a constant stream of movement.
The cacophony of vendors shouting their wares and lively conversations incessantly reached his ears. Even Abby was captivated by the sounds, leaning out from where she sat next to Howard to take in the street views.
Before long, Abby suddenly remarked, "Howard, will you join me for a walk tonight? I've heard that after enrollment, there will be an assessment. Our class placements and future resource allocations will be based on our performance in this exam. We should buy some equipment to prepare."
"Of course," Howard replied promptly. Even if Abby hadn't mentioned it, he had planned to sell the materials and equipment he obtained from the Castle of Vampires Ruins and purchase new equipment and skills to further enhance himself.
As for the upcoming assessment?
Howard wasn't particularly concerned. With his current capabilities, comparing himself with the newcomers felt almost like bullying.
If he managed to obtain one or two more pieces of Legendary-grade equipment and a few basic skills, he was confident he could even defeat Glyn without using his SS-level skill.
As for Caitlin, she wasn't an adversary to be worried about for now.
Unfortunately for Howard, class counter was glaringly evident.
Being a magus, if Caitlin closed in on him, he'd have no chance, especially given the speed of Caitlin's attacks—swift as lightning, too fast to perceive.
Only by deploying his SS-level skill could he restrain Caitlin and potentially overpower her.
Just this alone showcased the stark gap between Howard and the new students.
While they were prepping for the freshman assessment, Howard was already capable of sparring with the elites from the senior regions!
"Heh, if you're planning to shop, make sure to first collect your student ID from the academic office. The Alliance provides subsidies to elite institutions, and with the ID, you can enjoy an 80% discount on purchases," Glyn remarked with a smile. "Once we reach the academy, I'll guide you there to collect your things, while Aisha accompanies Caitlin for her healing."
"As long as we don't run into that old witch," Howard chuckled in response.
He didn't pay much heed to Glyn's musings, simply nodding in agreement while continuing to observe the shops lining the streets.
Time passed gently.
After what felt like an eternity, the number of pedestrians began to wane, and the buildings around them grew more majestic in stature.
Now, nearly everyone on the road bore weapons, and their clothing was adorned with a variety of distinctive emblems, suggesting allegiance to different powers.
Glyn offered no commentary on this. Those who recognized the emblem on his attire gave him a wide berth, avoiding any interaction.
Though the buildings bore no names, each exhibited unique architectural traits.
Even without Glyn's narration, both Howard and Abby could discern the nature of each institution.
The street boasted the presence of the Mercenary Guild, the Alchemist Guild, the Blacksmith Guild, and various Class Guilds.
Each guild was lavishly constructed, drawing the eyes of passersby.
Yet, what truly piqued one's curiosity was the structure at the very end. This particular building was shrouded in a dense white mist, obscuring its details.
Through the haze, one could vaguely make out an immense edifice, with the fog stretching hundreds of yards, rendering its end indiscernible.
As Howard and Abby pondered the nature of the mist-shrouded building, Glyn chuckled, "Heh, we've arrived. Prepare to disembark!"
"Arrived?" Howard responded in surprise. "Could the structure within the fog be the Holy Abyss Academy?"
Perceiving the astonishment in Howard and Abby's eyes, Glyn elucidated with a grin, "Indeed, the Holy Abyss Academy lies nestled within that mist."
Pausing for emphasis, Glyn continued, "As the headmaster once conveyed, the vision of the academy's founder was for it to stand as a sacred bastion against the abyss."
The Abyss, in their realm, represented one of the adversaries.
Like those from the Extraplanar, beings from the Abyss possessed the capability to traverse freely into the human realm.
Fortunately, centuries prior, the entirety of the Abyss realm had been suppressed by formidable beings.
The very entrance to it lay beneath the Holy Abyss Academy.
In the present day, the academy unquestionably fulfilled the founder's aspiration, not only acting as the guardian against the Abyss but also evolving into a revered institution for the newly awakened within the Alliance.
Countless A-level talents, eager and enthusiastic, yearned to be part of it.
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