In a sudden and unexpected move, Aphrodite materialized behind Blaze and delivered a powerful punch to his back, causing a force to surge towards his heart. Blaze coughed up a mouthful of blood, and in response, his previously rigid and tense body relaxed. Allowing himself to descend freely, Blaze descended from the tree and landed on the ground with a heavy thud.
Blaze did not bother to stand up. He just gazed at the sky with an unreadable expression.
"I told you not to do it." Aphrodite appeared beside Blaze.
Blaze neither responded nor turned to her. After a moment of staring blankly at the sky, he stood up and walked into his room. His series of actions confused Aphrodite, but she didn't ask.
"I wonder why I'm the only person you could touch," Blaze said as he walked into his house.
As soon as Blaze's head hit the pillow, he slept off.
———
The following day, dressed in his uniform, Blaze walked to the position where he took the train. However, there was neither a train nor a student. Blaze looked around and saw a portal by the side. Blaze walked through the portal, understanding the situation.
When Blaze appeared on the other side, everybody turned to him. The auditorium had been transformed into a classroom setting, with desks arranged neatly, and a large board placed at the front podium. Blaze appeared at the door.
"Seems like I'm late," Blaze muttered to himself, paying little attention to the multitude of stares directed his way. He proceeded to walk towards a seat at the back of the classroom without concern.
Blaze quickly took a quick scan of the surroundings after sitting with his side eyes. Liam still had those mean eyes, staring venomously at Blaze. The other children of the nobles gazed at Blaze with curiosity gleaming in their eyes. As for the children of the civilians, they exhibited slouched shoulders and avoided making eye contact, as if they had encountered their most formidable adversary.
Blaze then relaxed nonchalantly.
Suddenly, a girl approached Blaze. When the girl reached in front of Blaze, she smiled. "Hi."
Blaze saw the fake and sly smile plastered on her face.
"If you don't get the f*ck out of my face, you will be picking your teeth. Maybe your corpse might follow," Blaze said coldly, not wanting to waste his time. Although Blaze planned to keep a low profile, he never planned to hide his character like an undercover. Anything he doesn't like, he will throw it away. Blaze had grown tired of playing hide and seek, adopting a more direct approach instead of continuing to operate like an undercover agent.
"You must be joking, right? I'm Priscilla Sygra," The girl introduced herself with a dashing smile. Blaze finally took time to look at the person talking to him.
Priscilla possessed long, brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders, complementing her enchanting round face. Her captivating brown eyes, which still possess childishness in them, added to her overall allure. As a young woman, she had a figure that was gradually developing into an hourglass shape, with curves that accentuated her femininity.
All the class had to turn to watch the drama.
"Did you see me smile? Do I look like a joker? Are you retarded?" Blaze retorted bluntly, not holding back his words.
The girl's expression finally changed.
Robin, who had been observing from the sidelines, swiftly moved to intervene. Recognizing the potential consequences if Priscilla were to make a foolish move, Robin understood that Blaze might respond with extreme violence, potentially leaving her with severe physical injuries. The situation will escalate into a bitter feud between them.
Although Robin is always talking, he knows a little calculation.
Robin quickly entered and stood in between them.
"Priscilla, please can you go to your seat?" Robin pleaded with a smile.
As the nobles in the vicinity began to rise, displaying their aggressive stance, Robin couldn't help but gulp nervously. However, to everyone's surprise, Blaze remained nonchalantly seated, his eyes fixed on the board. Princess Cherry, seated at the front, observed the unfolding drama, keen to see how Blaze would handle the situation.
"Count yourself lucky," Priscilla uttered before pivoting to depart. The unexpected turn of events left everyone in a state of surprise, as they had anticipated a more confrontational response from her.
However, nobody knew what Priscilla just went through.
Blaze had locked her with his killing intent after she introduced herself. He kept increasing the killing intent. The 16-year-old Priscilla, who hasn't killed anybody, felt like a blade was placed on her neck. The more Blaze increased the killing intent, the more the feeling of having a blade digging through her neck continued.
Priscilla understood that there was no actual blade pressed against her neck; it was merely a product of her mental turmoil or a hallucination. However, the intense fear of death overwhelmed her, prompting her to surrender and retreat before taking any further action.
The teacher had neatly groomed short brown hair, framing his face with a strong jawline and a calm expression. His eyes, a warm shade of brown, exuded a sense of wisdom and authority. Standing tall at approximately 1.83 meters, he possessed a commanding presence that demanded attention and respect. The teacher's teacher robes were black, accentuated by intricate golden embroidery along the edges. The most striking detail was the silver dragon barge emblem embroidered on the breast pocket, symbolizing his status as a teacher of the Dragon Light Academy.
All the students ran to their seats. The teacher looked around with narrow eyes as he surveyed the class. His eyes finally landed and remained on Blaze.
"You with a mean face." He pointed at Blaze.
However, Blaze just kept staring at him without replying.
"I'm talking to you!" the man roared and waved his hand, before performing a grasping action. Blaze suddenly felt an invisible hand tightening around his neck.
This made breathing difficult. Slowly, Blaze started gasping for breath as the constriction increased, however, he never touched his neck or cried out. Blaze endured in silence as his eyes began to water.
After a minute, the man suddenly released the invisible mana that constricted Blaze's neck.
"Sorry about that class. I was trying to teach him some respect. I'm Aaron Sean, and I will be taking you on General Mana Control," Aaron said with a smile, but he still used a sneaky side eye to watch Blaze.
Aaron could swear that he had never encountered a kid as ruthless as Blaze. Despite hearing about Blaze's reputation for his prideful nature from fellow students and teachers, Aaron had hoped to impart a lesson that would temper his arrogance. However, to his surprise, Blaze turned out to be ruthlessly determined and showed no signs of begging or relenting, as Aaron had calculated.
Aaron had to release the constriction because if he suddenly kills a student for no reason, a dishonorable discharge would be a light punishment. After the ordeal, he swore inwardly never to disturb Blaze as long as Blaze stayed in his lane.
Aaron started, "You must have learned to infuse mana in weapons, right? Where you just allow your mana to flow controllably into your desired weapon. However, do you know mana is more than that?
"Within each of you lies a mana core, intricately linked with your brain," Aaron began, his voice captivating the attention of the class. "When the vital energy of elemental mana courses through your mana veins, your mind becomes the conduit for molding and reshaping the very essence of the element, even when it exists outside your physical form. However, this ability is contingent upon the active connection between your mana and yourself."
At that moment, Aaron's palm opened, revealing a burst of intense light. Gradually, a colossal flame began to take shape, growing steadily within his hand. The flame towered, stretching to the height of a human being. Its radiant glow illuminated the room, casting dancing shadows across the walls. The sheer magnitude and power of the fiery manifestation left the students in awe, their eyes fixed upon the breathtaking display of elemental control.
With a swift twist of his palm, Aaron exerted his will over the flames. The fiery manifestation obeyed, compressing and condensing until it took the form of a solid rod. The rod glowed with an intense heat, emanating a fierce energy.
Aaron then executed a series of intricate hand signs, his movements precise and fluid. In response, the fiery rod underwent a stunning transformation, reshaping itself into a blazing sword. The sword blazed with ethereal fire, its edges dancing with searing heat.
But as quickly as it appeared, the sword dissipated in a puff of smoke, leaving no trace of its existence. It was a demonstration of Aaron's mastery over elemental manipulation and his ability to shape and control the very fabric of the element itself. The class watched in awe, captivated by the display of magic and the intricate dance between mana and the physical world.
"Remember," Aaron emphasized, his voice filled with encouragement, "the key is to envision your desired creation while releasing your mana in a controlled manner. Be mindful, for exerting too much power can destroy your creation. Now, it's time for practical application. Step forward to the podium and demonstrate your abilities."
As Aaron finished speaking, he clapped his hands, signaling the beginning of the class assessment. The room filled with a sense of anticipation as the students prepared to showcase their talents and harness their mana in the pursuit of magical creation.
Blaze, on the other hand, had his face scrunched up as he thought of something nobody saw.
Blaze had a bad feeling about what was to come, but he still stood up. When he needs something, he tries his best to get it.