Chapter 318: Karma (XXXVI)

“Alpha Class… mhm.”

Looking at my schedule, I apparently had combat classes from 9 AM until 12 PM, and I also belonged to the Alpha Class, the highest-ranked class.

Probably because of my age, of course.

Soon enough, I finally found it and entered it without a shred of hesitation.

Dozens of eyes turned to me at once, quiet, sharp, curious.

Some full of arrogance, others… something like interest.

I could feel their power easily.

Each one of them was strong, far stronger than anyone I had once fought.

Yet, I didn’t flinch.

If they wanted to stare, I’d stare back.

My steps echoed softly against the marble floor.

The classroom itself looked like a temple, with white pillars, floating runes on the walls, and rows of crystal desks that shimmered faintly. Every seat was already taken, except for one at the back, right near the window.

Perfect.

I walked straight there, feeling the weight of every gaze that followed me.

Some whispered under their breath, things I didn’t care to catch. Others smirked, testing me with their aura. I ignored it all.

When I sat down, I finally looked at them, one by one.

A golden-haired elf girl with sharp emerald eyes.

A demon with twin horns resting his chin on his fist. A few angels, their wings folded tightly. Even among the so-called “young gods,” the pressure here was ridiculous.

But pressure only mattered if you let it crush you.

So I didn’t.

Instead, I leaned back slightly, not giving a single fuck about their gazes.

And they actually looked away first.

But now that I noticed… how come there’s a demon here? No… not just a single one, there’s much more!

But why?

Normally, the demon should be in the Nether… how come they are here?

Just before I could think of a good reason, the door suddenly opened, and a bright blue light spilled into the room.

It seems like the professor had arrived, so I decided not to dwell on those useless thoughts.

Everyone straightened up at once, even the cocky ones.

The man who entered wasn’t just strong, as his presence bent the air itself. His white hair floated slightly, his eyes glowing faintly gold.

The runes on the walls pulsed when he walked past.

When he reached the front of the class, he turned to face us, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Welcome, first-year students,” he said, his voice calm but heavy, echoing through the room.

“My name is Altheon, the God of War. I’ll be your instructor for combat training this year.”

He looked over us slowly, as though reading every student’s soul.

“You are all here because you’ve ascended — gods, demigods, divine heirs. But up here, your titles mean nothing. The Divine Academy will strip away your arrogance, your pride, and your comfort… until all that remains is true strength.”

No one spoke.

Even the demons in the corner looked serious.

Altheon nodded in satisfaction. Then, waving his hand, a golden scroll appeared in front of him, glowing softly as names began to flicker across it.

“Before we begin, I’ll confirm attendance,” he said.

He began calling out names, one by one. Angelic names, draconic names, divine ones. Each student answered with a firm “Present,” their voices filled with nervous energy.

When he reached mine, his eyes paused briefly.

“Aestrea.”

“Here,” I replied.

He held my gaze for a moment before moving on.

Once the roll call ended, Altheon closed the scroll with a flick of his wrist.

“Good,” he said with a faint, almost playful smile.

“Now that introductions are over…”

He lifted his hand, and the air around us shimmered.

“Since this is combat class, it’s only natural that your first lesson will be… a duel.”

Before anyone could react…

Fwoop!

The room twisted. The air bent, the light stretched, and in the blink of an eye, we were no longer inside a classroom.

A vast arena spread beneath our feet, glowing runes carved into every inch of the floor and walls, divine energy humming through the air.

The stands were empty, yet the pressure alone made it feel like thousands were watching.

Altheon stood at the center, his coat fluttering lightly in the wind that came from nowhere.

“Let us begin,” he said calmly, raising his hand.

“Casten versus Nigel.”

Two names glowed in the air.

And at the call, two students stepped forward.

The first one, I assumed it was Casten, he was tall, with sharp eyes, silver hair tied back, his aura flared like liquid fire.

In front of him stood Nigel, a little bit shorter, yet more muscular, with dark skin, and crimson eyes, but unlike Casten, who used pure divinity, he had a divine mark glowing faintly under his neck.

A rune user?

I didn’t expect this…

I was indeed quite surprised.

The air between them pulsed with energy.

“Begin,” Altheon said simply.

BOOM.

They vanished.

The sound barrier cracked a heartbeat later as their fists collided mid-air, a shockwave splitting the stone floor beneath them.

Casten twisted his arm, sending a fiery spiral toward Nigel.

FWOOOSH—CRACK!

Nigel raised his forearm, a shimmering layer of dark-blue energy blocking the blast. The fire scattered like molten glass, burning through the air.

“Tsh!” Nigel grunted, kicking off the ground.

He appeared above Casten, his palm glowing with divine runes.

“Heaven Splitter!”

A blinding arc of blue energy fell like a guillotine.

FWOOM!

Casten crossed his arms, golden flames coating his body, and the blast slammed into him, shaking the arena.

For a moment, the smoke swallowed everything.

WHAM!

A fiery fist tore through the haze and hit Nigel square in the ribs. The explosion sent him flying across the arena, his body smashing into the rune barrier.

“Ghagah!” he coughed, his feet digging into the floor as cracks spread behind him.

Taking the opportunity, Casten charged again, each leaving trails of flame in the air.

Thud!

BAM!

Nigel barely blocked each blow, his divine aura rippling with every impact. Sparks burst like tiny stars between their fists.

“Not bad…” Nigel growled, his eyes narrowing sharply.

“Save your breath,” Casten smirked, twisting mid-kick, his heel slicing the air.

BAM!

Nigel blocked with his arm, slid back three steps, and then smiled faintly.

“Your fire is quite hot…” He clenched his fists, divine energy condensing into his skin.

“But mine’s even hotter!

WHUMMM!

The ground cracked, causing the arena to shake, but not damaging it a single bit.

Dark-blue light erupted beneath him, forming a sigil shaped like a hammer.

“Godform: Titan Veins.”

His body expanded slightly, muscles glowing faintly as divine lines spread through them like veins of molten metal.

Casten’s grin vanished.

Fwooosssh!

He thrust his palms forward, summoning a blazing inferno shaped like a phoenix.

Nigel stepped into it.

BOOOOOOM!

The flames swallowed him whole, then split apart.

Fsshhh!

Nigel burst through the fire, throwing a direct punch towards Casten’s gut, which unfortunately for Casten….

THUUUUD!

It connected.

“Hagh!” Casten’s breath caught; the impact sent him skidding back, coughing smoke.

Before he could recover…

CRACK!

Nigel appeared behind him, hammering a kick to his side.

THWACK!

Casten spun with the blow, flames bursting out from his skin to lessen the hit, and countered with a wild punch that struck Nigel’s jaw.

Both of them stumbled, panting, but neither fell.

Their divine auras clashed again, gold and blue twisting into a chaotic spiral.

VROOOOOM!

But just then…

CLAP.

Altheon snapped his fingers, and the entire arena froze mid-shockwave.

The flames vanished.

The blue sigil shattered into mist.

Both fighters froze, breathing hard, eyes wide.

“That’s enough,” Altheon said quietly.

He looked at them both, then smiled faintly.

“Good. That’s how gods should fight… without any sort of hesitation.”

The two bowed, still trembling with leftover energy.

The arena’s floor slowly repaired itself, runes glowing softly once more.

And then Altheon’s eyes turned toward the rest of us.

“Next match,” he said, his gaze settling directly on me.

“Aestrea versus…”

He paused, lips curling faintly.

“…Theon.”

Hearing his words, I took a small jump to the center of the arena, staring at the person who would be my opponent.

My eyes widened slighly…

He looked damned familiar, almost a future copy of Telmo. And with that in mind, my lips curled up slighly as I tried to inquire something.

“…How many times has the same woman rejected you?” I asked curiously.

Honestly, I was really curious about that just because he looked like Telmo, and Telmo was a fucking simp for Ella.

“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!”

BOOOOM!

His aura exploded as he shouted, to the point of creating a whole tornado of wind in the process.

Fwip!

I shook it off with a wave of my hand.

“…Did I hit the mark?” I tilted my head slighly.

And at my expression, his face twisted furiously as the wind around us suddenly was sucked onto his body.

A God of Wind, huh?

BAAM!

As soon as I blinked, he appeared right in front of me, and I fortunately crossed my arms in time, taking his punch.

“Phew…”

With that kind of strength, he’s at least a 2✯ true god.

Mhm…

I should be able to deal with him.

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