There was a difference between strength and skill. For example, if everything relied on stats, then people should just carry around their certified stats and have cards battles instead of fights.
Once, Nikolai witnessed a fight between a B-ranker and an A-ranker. Even though the A-ranker could flatten dozens of B-rankers normally, the B-ranker still won in the end.
The utilization of strength was called skill. Depending on it, the amount of strength exerted could vary. Not to mention weak points, body language, and battle sense.
As soon as Nikolai saw Julian's arm bulge, he knew that this psychopath has reached his limits. That's why he took a step back beforehand and avoided the punch.
Mana exploded from Julian's fist and it tore through the floor's tiles. The scene was chaotic and the students began running away. Nikolai had managed to avoid it by a hair's breadth and got out safely,
"You insect!" Julian roared and threw another punch that Nikolai was ready to avoid. However, someone jumped in and blocked the punch using the handle of a training sword.
The air pressure made her hair flutter but her eyes were glaring at Julian coldly. The black-haired girl that helped Nikolai before was again rising to the occasion.
"What are you doing on school grounds?" The girl gripped her sword tighter. "Do you think you own this place?"
"This has nothing to do with you." Julian spat venom. "His disrespect has been overlooked for too long."
"Who are you to teach him respect?" The girl glared at him. "Back away or this won't end lightly for you." She said while Marcus and several others surrounded the two. Julian looked as if he had swallowed a fly and retracted his fist.
"You will regret this." He said before glaring at Nikolai and walking away. As for Nikolai, he was silently measuring the whole situation.
"Who sent you?" He asked while squinting his eyes. "I think you know why Julian is targeting me. Such hate wouldn't be without reason, and you intervened because you know."
"Here isn't the best place to talk." The girl sheathed her wooden sword. "Let's go elsewhere." She said before leaving with her gang. Nikolai pondered the pros and cons before following after them.
They arrived at the clubroom of Swordless Club. The rest waited outside while Marcus, Nikolai, and the girl he didn't know sat on the couch inside.
"Marcus, tea." The girl commanded and Marcus was quick to offer pre-made tea. As she took the cup and sipped, Nikolai noticed that she had the etiquettes of a noble. "I think you have some questions."
"That means you have the answers. But first of all, who are you? Why did you help me multiple times?" Nikolai asked while burying down a question in his heart. 'Why did you only help me now?'
"My name is Sira Bolvak." Sira smiled. "I'm nothing but the daughter of a vessel house to her grace, lady Valkyrie Helnes. I was asked to make sure you don't die before you graduate."
"Before I graduate?" Nikolai frowned. "When did she ask you this and why?" This didn't come up in his past life. He never had that much interaction with Valkyrie, to begin with.
"Because your acceptance into the academy wasn't a glitch, but the design of lady Valkyrie. As for the reason for her actions, I don't know myself."
"For a whole month, I was tormented by Julian and Luke." Nikolai laughed, knowing it was far longer than just one month. "Why now?"
"Because you showed potential and courage. If you haven't shown such traits, I wouldn't have intervened. Those were my instructions. As for the rest, you'll have to ask Lady Valkyrie." Sira said before sipping more of her tea.
"I understand." Nikolai stood up. "But don't expect me to be grateful to either of you. We both know that the reason Julian is after me was because of Valkyrie's interest, to begin with."
He left the clubroom as the knot in his heart was untied. After so many years, he finally understood why Julian hated him. It was because he knew Valkyrie pulled strings to admit Nikolai into the academy.
A question was answered, but a new one emerged. Why did Valkyrie help him get admitted, to begin with? Nikolai would have to find out but things haven't changed.
He still needed to grow stronger. For that, he would need the treasure hidden in the Lost Garden.
'The midterm exams are tomorrow.' Nikolai walked toward his room. 'This is a chance to grow stronger, earn fate points, and most importantly, take revenge.'
His hate toward the world didn't decrease after knowing the answer but only increased. It was never his fault; it was always the world's fault that he suffered.
However, he shall suffer no longer.
***
The midterm exams were separated into two, a written exam and a practical one. The written exam took place in the morning. Nikolai went toward the Exam Hall where giant machines were placed.
The machine had many chairs where the students sat down and placed helmets on their heads. This way, cheating was impossible. The exam will be taken via virtual reality artifacts. As he placed the helmet on his head, a panel appeared in front of him.
[Exam will commence in 5:05...]
It was a countdown until the exam began. As he waited for it to begin, he tried to remember what he studied in his first year of the academy.
The topics were very basic. Energy channels, monsters, and herbs. They were the basic knowledge a person would need to survive in this world.
For someone who lived in the army and the wild, this exam was nothing but child play for Nikolai. After the countdown reached zero and it began, a plant appeared in front of him as he smelled the distinct smell of burning coal.
[Name this plant and list its uses.]
"Coaline Plant. Can be used for cooking, closing wounds, and repelling water-based monsters."
After he finished answering, a giant monster appeared in front of him. This way, he was asked time and time against different things and topics. After each question, another followed after.
Nikolai was merciless and didn't try to hold back. He didn't have the mindset of staying low. He was sick of staying low, he did that in his past life and it brought nothing but misery. Furthermore, his system was rewarded based on the impact he left on the world.