Chapter 113: Consequences

Nila was a very dominant force in the form of a beautiful woman. That much was well known among all of the first years.

The results of her match were hardly unexpected even if the briefness of the fight exceeded expectations.

She was an anomaly in nearly every sense of the word.

Her match was not the standard for the rest of the first years. The exams were extremely trying.

The second years had all of the training of the first years, mounted on top of their own experience from this year. Out of fifty matches, thirty-nine of the second years did not even break a sweat while subduing their opponents.

It was like they were doing them a simple favor and sparring with them. On tomorrow, the day would come when they had to challenge the third years and so on and so forth.

This was Raidis’ most fervent philosophy.

Those at the top must have a sure footing in order to keep climbing. At the moment one slipped up, they were liable to be thrown down from the mountain by those from behind.

The first years who failed the exam wouldn’t necessarily fail for the year. The rest of their grades would be taken into account, but if their margins were too slim, failure would be grounds for immediate expulsion.

By midday, almost sixty matches had been completed. Among those who passed were, unsurprisingly, the golden triplets, Dakota, and even Everett.

Solomon thought that his friend would have struggled more in light of his recent injuries. But his wings, as always, gave him quite a big advantage.

As Everett returned to the rocky enclosure with the rest of the first years, Solomon was the first one to embrace him.

“You did well, my friend. Though I cannot say such a thing has surprised me.”

Everett smiled as he clasped Solomon’s forearm. “Your words honor me more than I deserve. You know I couldn’t be the only one in our group who didn’t pass.”

“I would not have let you hear the end of it if that were the case!” Nila pointed at him with mocking laughter.

Ordinarily, Everett would have bit back, and the two of them would have started up another one of their arguments, but for some reason, he gave her a simple eye roll without another word of bickering.

Solomon’s brow furrowed.

“What is wrong? Are you injured?”

Everett shook his head as his eyes darted around. “No, I’m fine, it’s just… When I was out there, after the match was over, I saw some weird person with horns and-”

“Cadet Solomon. You’re up.”

Abel’s monotonous tone brought the boys’ conversation to a screeching halt.

Solomon, more than a little intrigued to hear the rest, cursed his luck.

“Break a leg, my friend.” Everett clasped him on the shoulder. “Make sure to make us look even better by association!”

Dakota and Nila held up both thumbs with fat grins plastered across their faces. Solomon could only shake his head wryly when it was his turn to finally step outside onto the stage.

As time had gone on, the stone floor had only become more and more bloody. Now, it was almost dangerously slick.

Solomon stood on the platform, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he waited. He tried to keep his mind focused. Unperturbed by distractions.

He tuned out the murmurs of the crowd that naturally came when people saw his eyes. The sudden attention was honestly a bit burdensome.

However, there was something he couldn’t really resist checking.

Carefully, he glanced up into the crowd, searching for a particular green insignia.

It didn’t take him very long to pick out the banner he was searching for and find the representatives sitting underneath.

He knew who they were here for. Likely to get an account of Declan’s progress.

How disappointed they would be…

Solomon couldn’t resist the urge to wink at the pair of nobles sitting underneath that bright green banner. His momentary slip of childishness did not go unnoticed.

“Are we cleared to begin?”

Solomon returned his gaze to the stage. Standing across from him on the bloodied platform was a man in dark clothing with some golden insignia.

His boots hovered about two inches off the ground. As if he were a god who could not bear the thought of touching mortal soil.

Solomon narrowed his eyes.

“…What the fuck is this..?”

Instructor Wilkins shrugs. “Oh? I’d heard you were a good student who was quick on the uptick, but it seems you may be dragging behind a bit more than your Instructor let on.”

Solomon grits his teeth.

“Ladies and gentlemen.” Raidis’ voice ripples through the crowd. “This cadet is our most exceptional among all of our first years. As a result, we have had to… adjust the examination for him.”

Solomon alone hears the voice of the dean in his head.

’You did say that you were prepared for the consequences, right…? Fret not. Based on your grades, I calculate that you will still manage to pass for the year, if you can last for longer than five minutes. Think of this as… taking a peak at the mountaintop.’

The veins in Solomon’s neck bulged and turned bright orange. His eyes were like hot coals, emitting billowing smoke and fire.

In the stands, Jiaoying’s eyes flickered gold and her tattoo lit up dangerously.

“That motherfucker…!”

Yari grabbed her by the hand.

She tried to keep her face neutral despite the clear rage that was running through her as well.

“We… can’t react… we can’t let him know that anything is amiss, or-”

“Fuck this. You should let me kill him right here! This is no different from a public lashing! He thinks he can get away with pulling this shit!?”

Beside them, Raizel watched as the teeth on Jiaoying’s lower jaw started to grow… bigger.

Yari fished inside her pocket and pulled out a small medicinal can of green herbs.

Just the scent alone was enough to help Jiaoying regain control and return to normal. But it didn’t mean her anger subsided.

However, in a contest of anger, no one in the world could ever beat Solomon.

“YOU WANT YOUR REVENGE!?!”

Solomon’s skin darkened and cracked open, revealing his magma-like blood underneath. His hair spontaneously caught fire.

“You seem to have some spine… Allow me to pull it out for all to see!!!”

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