The corner of Anos's mouth twitched when he saw the -10 scrawled on the form, his eyes widening in surprise. "Damn! Sofia Trycen doesn't play by the rules!" he thought to himself, his mind racing with the implications. His score was already in the negative before the assessment had even begun.
Sasha snickered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Serves him right!" she muttered, a hint of smugness dancing on her lips. She had been waiting for Anos to get his comeuppance, and now it seemed he had finally gotten what was coming to him.
Sofia Trycen's expression remained impassive, her eyes fixed on the form as she handed it back to Anos. "Let this serve as a reminder to behave," she said, her voice firm but hinting at a subtle smile.
Anos's expression remained nonchalant, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He coughed dryly and said, "It's just 10 points, Miss Sofia. Even 10 points can't diminish my admiration for you!" He flashed a charming smile, his voice dripping with sincerity. "If you think I'm not genuine enough, feel free to deduct more points."
Sofia Trycen raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Mmm...in that case, I'll deduct another 10 points." She scribbled on the form, her pen strokes confident.
Anos's face fell, but only for a moment. He took a deep breath and said seriously, his voice filled with conviction, "Twenty points can't erase my reverence for you, Miss Sofia! It can't diminish your status as a goddess in my heart!" His eyes locked onto hers, shining with an unwavering intensity.
Sasha and Fatty Tom exchanged stunned glances. "Does Anos not want to enter the Sky Martial Court?" they wondered. Anos's antics were baffling.
Anos smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Miss Sofia, I'll stop joking around. I'll be serious." He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a flirtatious whisper. "You smell incredible. What perfume do you use? I'm captivated by the scent. I plan to buy a bunch of it for my girlfriend."
Sofia Trycen's expression remained stoic, but a hint of surprise flickered in her eyes. "Sweet Chanel No. 5 Perfume Sweetheart N ° 5."
Anos's face lit up. "Alright, I'll buy all the perfume I can get for you tomorrow."
Sofia Trycen's eyes narrowed, her thoughts racing. "Alright, I shouldn't have engaged with Anos... But this student keeps hitting on me. What gives him the right to do that?" She found herself intrigued despite her better judgment. "This is interesting."
"Ding... You've successfully teased Sofia Trycen. Scumbag Points + 10000. Mission Progress: 20%." Anos rubbed his forehead, wincing in mock frustration. "Damn, it's so tough. I've already worn out my lips, and it's only 20%."
Sofia Trycen's voice cut through his dramatics, calm and collected. "Teasing a teacher will result in a 10-point deduction."
Anos grinned, undeterred. "Fine, fine. I won't give up, no matter how much you deduct!"
Sofia Trycen's eyes widened in surprise, her gaze locked onto Anos. "You don't mind at all?" She seemed taken aback by his brazen attitude.
The overall score was 60 points, a daunting target that required immense effort to achieve. Yet, Anos had already accumulated a staggering 30-point deduction. Undeterred, he continued to flirt shamelessly.
"Compared to you, Miss Sofia, You far surpass Sasha's charm . Capture my heart," Anos said, his voice oozing charm as he made a heart gesture with his hands. The three people behind him were left agog, their minds reeling in shock.
"What the...? Is he seriously spouting sweet nothings now?" Sasha wondered, her eyes wide with incredulity. Fatty Tom and Sasha exchanged disbelieving glances, unsure how to react to Anos's unbridled audacity.
Fatty Tom's eyes widened in a mix of awe and trepidation as he thought, "Fuck! This guy is certifiably insane!" He secretly admired Anos's unbridled audacity, which was either a testament to his courage or a sign of his reckless abandon. Flirting with the school belle was one thing, but now Anos was brazenly charming Sofia, the formidable teacher notorious for her strictness and intimidating demeanor. Fatty Tom genuinely worried that Anos's life expectancy would plummet once John returned, bringing with him a maelstrom of trouble.
"Then I'll deduct another ten points. You're just one deduction away from leaving. Ahem, make a heart sign." To everyone's surprise, Sofia mirrored Anos's gesture, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she appeared to revel in his predicament and teasingly return his flirtation.
"Oh my god! I can't believe I got to see such a playful side of Miss Sofia! Fuck! She's so adorable!" Anos exclaimed, his eyes shining with delight.
"She's really cute!" Fatty Tom and Sasha chimed in, their voices laced with astonishment and their faces reflecting their shock.
Sofia's eyes widened slightly, and she realized that she had momentarily lost her composure in front of the students. She coughed dryly, attempting to regain her dignified demeanor. "Ahem," she cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing slightly with a hint of embarrassment.
Anos found himself intrigued by Sofia's unexpected playfulness and mischievous nature, which starkly contrasted with her icy exterior. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Don't worry, I'm not worried at all."
Sofia raised an eyebrow, perplexed by Anos's unwavering confidence. If he failed this assessment, he would have to wait another three months, allowing his peers to surge ahead. The gap between him and his batchmates would widen significantly if he entered the Sky Martial Court three months later!
"Then I'd like to see where your confidence comes from," Sofia said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she gazed at Anos.
As they conversed, they arrived at their destination - a vast field teeming with students. Orchid Flower Academy had four grades, each comprising 20 classes, with two to four students from each class participating in the assessment. The field was abuzz with approximately 200 students, all at the Qi Building five-star level! Only a handful had reached the sixth star level. Anos, Tom, and Sasha stood at the edge of the field, while Sofia walked to the side, joining two male instructors from the Sky Martial Court.
The atmosphere was electric, with an air of anticipation hanging heavy over the field. The students were all eager to showcase their skills and secure a coveted spot in the Sky Martial Court.
As soon as Sofia appeared, the two male instructors couldn't help but stare at her, their eyes fixed on her with a mixture of admiration and surprise.
"Hooligan!" Sasha spat out a mouthful of saliva in disgust. "Hey, Sasha, how can you say that about me?" Anos asked, feigning innocence.
"Am I not?" Sasha retorted, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Anos said seriously, "You don't understand. I'm not flirting with an instructor. As a student, I wouldn't dare to do that. Isn't that courting death?" His expression turned solemn, as if he was genuinely concerned about the consequences of his actions.
"Then what are you doing?!" Sasha asked, her voice laced with exasperation.
Anos smirked mischievously. "If you can understand the adoration in Miss Sofia's eyes when she looks at me, you'll get it! I'm not flirting with her, I'm giving her a chance to pursue me!" He said it with a straight face, as if he truly believed he was doing Sofia a favor.
"Shameless!" Sasha rolled her eyes at Anos, her expression a mix of disgust and amusement.
"Sasha," Mia said, her voice soft and sweet as she squeezed in from behind them, her presence sudden but welcoming.
"Hey, Little Chest Sister!" Anos said, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm, deliberately provoking Mia with the cheeky nickname.
"Ding... Successfully teased Mia. Scumbag Points + 10000. Mission Progress: 40%!" The notification sounded in Anos's mind, and he felt an intoxicating rush of triumph, his scumbag points skyrocketing with his effortless teasing.
"Ah ah ah! Sasha, why is he here!" Mia exclaimed, her face ablaze with indignation and embarrassment, her eyes flashing with anger as she glared at Anos. This shameless provocateur was pushing her buttons, and she couldn't believe his audacity!
As an unrivaled beauty, Mia's pride and dignity were at stake. She couldn't possibly stoop to Anos's level, but she couldn't deny the secret thrill she felt at his teasing. His words had struck a chord, and she was determined to maintain her composure, refusing to give him the satisfaction of getting under her skin.
"What do you think? I'm definitely here to participate in the assessment," Anos said, his voice confident and unwavering, his eyes sparkling with determination.
"Assessment? Hmph! Just you wait! See if I don't beat you to a pulp!" Mia snarled, her face twisted in a fierce scowl, her fists clenched at her sides.
Anos smiled nonchalantly and said, "Anyway, Sasha will protect me, right?" He glanced at Sasha, his eyes pleading for her support and protection.
"I don't care," Sasha snorted, her voice cold and detached, her expression unyielding. She crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on Anos with a hint of annoyance.
Fatty Tom was utterly astonished by Anos's remarkable prowess, his mind reeling with the implications of what he had just witnessed. Anos had single-handedly achieved the unthinkable, coaxing responses from the notoriously unyielding Sasha with ease. This was a feat that had eluded even the most skilled and experienced individuals in Orchid Flower Academy's history, leaving Tom to wonder what other secrets Anos might be hiding.
As he gazed at Anos with newfound admiration and curiosity, Tom couldn't help but reassess his initial impression of this enigmatic figure. Anos's unorthodox methods and playful demeanor belied a profound understanding of human nature and a talent for manipulation that was nothing short of remarkable.
.....
A male instructor standing at the front of the gathering cleared his throat, commanding attention from the crowd. "Very well, now that everyone is present, let me outline the rules for the assessment," he began, his voice authoritative and clear.
"The Sky Martial Court assessment will consist of three rounds, each designed to test a different aspect of your abilities. In each round, points will be deducted based on your performance. By the end of the three rounds, you must have accumulated a total of at least 60 points to pass the assessment. Anything less, and you will be deemed unsuitable for the Sky Martial Court."
He paused for emphasis, surveying the room with a stern gaze. "Now, let us proceed to the first round of assessment: the spiritual power evaluation. This round will test your ability to harness and control your spiritual energy. I expect to see your best efforts."
With that, the instructor nodded curtly, and the first round of the assessment began, signaling the start of a rigorous and challenging evaluation process.
As the instructor finished speaking, a sleek, silver table slid out from the shadows, coming to a stop in front of the assembled students. Atop the table, a magnificent transparent crystal orb glimmered, its facets reflecting the light with an otherworldly sheen. Anos's eyes narrowed as he recognized the orb - it was a Spiritual Resonance Crystal, used to scrutinize a warrior's attributes, including the potency of their spiritual power.
This crystal was the key to unlocking the secrets of a warrior's true potential. It could detect even the slightest variations in spiritual power, revealing hidden strengths and weaknesses. For warriors of the same level, a superior spiritual power could make all the difference in combat prowess, earning them coveted attention and recognition. Conversely, a subpar spiritual power would result in point deductions, a stark reminder of the unrelenting standards of the Sky Martial Court.
"One by one, let's begin," the instructor announced, his voice firm and commanding. the first student, stepped forward with a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the crystal orb.
With a steady hand, first student placed his palm on the crystal's surface, and a soft hum filled the air as he released a measured amount of his spiritual power. The crystal, initially colorless, burst into a radiant light blue glow, like the first gentle rays of dawn.
The instructor's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the crystal's response. "Qi Building Stage, five stars... water attribute... spiritual power strength lower than the standard by 3%." His voice was detached, yet laced with a hint of disappointment.
A pause, and then the verdict: "10 points deducted." The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the consequences of falling short of expectations.
Anos's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the scene unfold. "What the...? Points deducted just like that? Isn't the Sky Martial Court assessment a bit too ridiculous?" He felt a surge of indignation and frustration, his mind reeling with the harsh reality of the situation.
Just as he was about to erupt in protest, the instructor's voice cut through the air, firm and unyielding. "Next!" The command was repeated, a relentless drumbeat that brooked no argument.
Anos's gaze swept across the crowd, his eyes scanning the sea of faces before him. From what he could gather, nearly all of the hundred or so students were at the Qi Building Stage, five stars. Yet, a staggering 90% of them would suffer point deductions due to their spiritual power strength falling short of the standard. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, leaving him feeling like he was on the verge of kneeling in despair.
And then, he heard it. "Next, Sasha!" The instructor's voice sliced through the tension, his eyes fixed intently on the Sasha who was about to take her turn.