{ Energy Control - Room 324]
" Since I didn't manage to teach you guys thoroughly during our last session, I plan to increase your workload for this day." Kon says as he walks across the room in front of a few S-class students.
" I'll make sure you guys turn into powerhouses that will help humanity rise to the top." The room was not as wide as the combat training one, but that doesn't make it small. It was almost half the size of that room, and it was also filled with extravagant tools and equipment. There's the same slab of stone as that from the combat assessment arena that helps you collect more energy than usual. There are also some magic balls that tell you your rank.
A couple of other gears that allow you to control and strengthen your energy were scattered around, making the place look incredibly magical, but at the same time physical, due to the KI-related items mixed within the mana-related ones.
Anyway, three of the main characters were among the students. Specifically, Leon, Charlotte, and the main character himself, Sol. They are currently unaware that the person in front of them is a member of the Demon forces threatening humanity's extinction.
" With that being said, get to work before I force you guys." Kon exclaimed, which made the students rise from their seats. They might be a little reluctant, due to the fact that they were getting penalized for Kon not attending the classes, but you can only complain so much in front of the teachers.
They stood up forcibly and immediately started going to work.
This seemed quite counterproductive to Kon's goal, but it was obviously just a diversion to something more sinister...
" Hello, sir Kon. I heard you called for me. " A student walks inside the room, catching the attention of the others, including Sol.
" Oh yeah, I'll let you join the others since I have a free slot for this class."
Sol recognized his face, but it took him quite a while to recognize him, as the first time he saw him, his face was bruised and swollen.
" This is Krean Joloe, the son of the Joloe guild. I found talent in him, so I decided to let him join you guys starting with today's class. "
Krean stood in the middle of the room with quite a sinister smile. He couldn't look at Sol's eyes, but anger and embarrassment filled his face whenever he did so.
" Anyways, go back to training before I beat you guys up," Kon exclaims with a stern voice.
The others weren't even paying attention in the first place, but they were grateful for that small intervention on what seemed to be quite an exhausting day.
" Alright, since your energy storage is a lot less than the others, you will be prioritizing increasing it. " Kon says sternly, which raised Krean's hope for revenge. A proper teacher teaching S-class students accepted him, causing his excitement to surge.
" Use the Slab this instant."
Krean moves, following Kon's orders instantly. He squats down on the slab as he starts to consume the massive amount of energy scattered in the area.
...
" This... " Krean exclaims only after sitting on the slab for a few minutes. He stares at his hands as his expression turns ecstatic. He might be overacting due to the immense change in the conditions that an S-class environment and instructor gave him, but what he was feeling was far from a psychological effect.
One of the real reasons Kon prioritized and strengthened the student's energy collection. The reason why Krean felt instant progress, far from his usual untalented insecurity.
Krean stood in awe as he unknonwingly consume demonic energy.
...
" This is too hard... " One of the students grunts at the amount of work they were just given.
" We've been training for hours. Surely we can get a break? " Their complaints finally broke through their fear, as even Leon, who had quite a great physical strength, struggled to breathe as he puffed from exhaustion.
...
The complaints started to increase, but Kon's face remained undisturbed even by the loud grunts of the students. This in turn caused the students to be nervous, as they couldn't read what he had in mind. He didn't seem troubled, but he clearly wasn't amused by the shouts of the others. Their perception of Kon was that of a nice teacher. He seemed nice, but after that event from yesterday, they realized how unforgiving he was to failures.
" Hmm... " He says, putting the exhausted students on high alert.
' Let's do that then... " He says, causing the others to regret their words. Was the workload going to increase, because of their complaints?
" Please, Sir K- "
" I'll let you guys rest. " He says firmly, causing the troubled faces of the students to turn bright.
" Really? " Smiles filled the students' smiles as Kon agreed to a break.
" Only if someone here beats me."
...
Silence spreads throughout the room as Kon follows up with a condition. Their expressions returned to those of a defeated and exhausted student after a long day of school work. How was a bunch of exhausted students supposed to defeat a teacher of Tree that doubled their ranks? Besides, even if they all worked together to subdue Kon with his arms tied behind his back, they would still lose miserably. That was the difference between a 6* and a bunch of 3*s and a 4*.
" Uhh... What should we do? " They were all tired and no one had the courage to win a match.
Except for one guy.
All of the attention suddenly turned to someone still working out after all this time. His expression still remained unchanged through all that training. You couldn't even see sweat, nor any signs of tension or exhaustion on his body.
" Sol... Surely he could... " The eyes of the students shifted into those of a tiger looking at its prey.
" He has the record for the youngest 4* student, doesn't he? "
" I mean, it's just a friendly match, you know? " Desperation had covered everyone's eyes, making them unaware of the nasty grin on Kon's mouth.