1377 Before The Storm

"N-No! Please!"

The Prince stumbled back, his eyes bulging and his breath ragged.

One blow.

That was all it took to crush his confidence to smithereens and destroy his pride.

Robert grew up in a pampering environment since childhood. All the 'challenging' fights he had until this point were carefully planned by the people behind him.

Other than those 'challenges', the people he fought against were always weaker than him.

It was his first time fighting against an overwhelming enemy.

Robert still had moves he didn't use, treasures he didn't activate, tactics he didn't apply.

But it didn't matter anymore.

As Varian raised his sword, the Prince felt something inside him die. It was his fire—the pride of a warrior and the confidence in one's strength.

He didn't want to experience that terrible pain again. Others thought it was just a cut of an arm but only he knew that Varian's aura was inside his body, wrecking havoc.

It's as if he had eaten scorching needles. They were destroying him from the inside. His body was spasming from the overwhelming pain.

"I-I am sorry! I am sorry for insulting your woman and your mother!" The Prince did the unthinkable and banged his head against the floor.

This time, most of the audience stood up. There was even more shock now than even when Varian crushed the Prince.

Robert was the younger brother of Rudolph, the second most likely candidate to become the Crown Prince. How could he bow down to someone like Telor?

From today, the Prince's reputation would all but sink. He would have no retainers, no support and no prospects.

On the other hand, Telor wouldn't survive once he leaves the academy. Out of respect for the Dean, the forces might not move immediately, but move they would.

For all intents and purposes, Telor was a dead man.

Varian looked at the shivering Prince in disgust. He then took out a soft cloth and began wiping the blade of his sword.

"I'm sorry, if I knew he was such a coward, I wouldn't stain you with his filthy blood." He said in a low voice but it was audible to everyone in the audience.

Prince Robert couldn't even refute such humilating words and coughed out blood before passing out.

[Winner: Telor Xon Navak]

The host announced in a quivering voice.

Varian exhaled lightly and unknown to the audience, a tightly packaged soul power was planted in Prince Robert, concealed away the power of slivers.

It's a time bomb to claim the bastard's soul.

Even though he's not a direct enemy, Varian wasn't so generous to forgive him after taking just a forerarm.

Putting away his sword, he headed back to his dorm. Miss Calamity looked at Robert with contempt before flying after the imposter.

*** *** *** ***

The laboratory was in a synthetic world far away from the Academy. The top 10 students were all taken to a space gate in the academy. Prince Robert, the number 2, wasn't there, however.

But no one gossiped about that man's condition. The so-called strongest of the academy remained silent and meek as they stood in the company of a dangerous man.

Well, except for one.

"You were sooo cool~" Miss Calamity clenched her fists in front of her chest and looked at him like a cheergirl.

Varian raised an eyebrow.

He knew she was faking it. But sometimes, her words were genuine. This was one of those rare ones.

"Do you want to see anything in the lab? I heard they have all sorts of cool stuff! Herbs that are a million years old, medicines that can double your lifespan, armors which can hold back even a rank 9's attack, heck, they even have powerful rank 9 beasts!" The more she spoke, the more excited she seemed.

Varian looked into her eyes for a moment and then turned around. He had a strong feeling that this woman must've guessed something.

The 'Imposter' was aiming for the 'Lab'. It wasn't so difficult to estimate. The timing was just too coincidental.

The only question, why didn't she stop him?

Was she waiting for him to act so she could find what exactly he was after? Or was she trying to do something else?

Varian's eyes shifted and he turned to a familiar face in the crowd.

Number 5 of the group.

Prince Samatv.

Since his 'awakening', this man acted as if they never met.

Varian thought he'd be after something but strangely, the Prince didn't do anything out of the norm.

If it was his normal self, Varian would have investigated the Prince and dug up more information. But with an annoying powerhouse stalking him 24x7, he didn't have that luxury.

'Well, once I get what I want, I don't care what happens.'

Adjusting his mind, Varian waited along with others for the teacher responsible for taking them to the lab.

They were already running a few mintutes behind the schedule. No one understood why a teacher of all people would be late.

A few more minutes passed and a silhouttee brushed past the crowd and stopped in front of the space gate.

Zara Woz.

A woman with a long tail and large wings folded on her back. She was in formal clothes of a black coat over a white inshirt and a long black skirt.

'But isn't she a professor? Where is her badge?'

Not just Varian, even the other students were confused at her attire.

And more importantly, a department head wasn't supposed to be assigned for a post like this.

Varian was just puzzled and didn't care much. But Prince Samatv felt tense.

Hoping it wasn't what he feared to be, he stepped forward with a smile. "Prof Zara, did you come all the way here to wish us good luck? As expected of a department head! If you would, please call the person assigned to lead us into the lab. We're already running late."

Veins popped up on Zara Woz's forehead and she gave one nasty glare at the Prince before walking into the space gate.

"Shut up and follow me."