Severin and the House of Chains were busy for the following two weeks. They were busy training.
They only went to classes, ate, and then to the training center for training.
It wasn’t as if they told each other that they needed to train. They all witnessed the power of the White Fire. They all heard how easily even the year two died.
They saw their death facing them.
The final straw was that Severin taunt that day. The blunt way he spoke about weakness they couldn’t deny, straight to the point.
And then he pointed their anger somewhere. He gave them something they needed to train about—how to improve their technique.
And so they threw themselves into training, learning what Severin provided for them.
Severin himself trained. He trained his new Stigma and adjusted his body to its new rank. Ability rank is a high advancement difference between Etherion users of the same stages.
So it was quite a boost for his body to go from F to an E.
He became stronger and faster, and he made his body used to that. Even though he’d spent the equivalent of months in the Timeless Domain, he still trained his body.
But his problem was that there was little he could actually do in terms of actual firepower.
Etherion users are Etherion users because they could do magic-like abilities, and people mostly put that to their offensive powers. They were mostly right, unless the support power is actually very effective.
Severin’s Talent Ability of Command would have been really effective if not for the fact that it was heavily tied to Loyalty.
It’s hard to make people who can tear you into two loyal to you. Dangerous as well.
And even though his rank increased by a rank, Severin’s power compared to other Etherion users is still weak.
"...I’m glad for this Stigma..."
It’s been almost two months since he came into the world of the novel, and it’s been from one trouble to the other. The two weeks were relatively calm, except that one more student went missing.
And this one couldn’t be explained by going into the Field Zone.
The student is a goody two-shoes type and was last seen at her dorm.
Severin had shaken his head when he heard that. "Maybe they have a serial killer at hand."
But no bodies were found.
Severin became suspicious.
But before he could begin looking into it,
The school announced a class mock battle for all levels.
It’s an event where students of the same classes would form into teams and fight each other.
It’s not really a big event, unlike the House War—the Ascension Trials—that’s open to the public.
The mock battle, on the other hand, is just something that could be taken note of in the same level.
Severin didn’t care about it. At first.
But then,
"You have been picked as team leader for the mock battle," Julius said with a smile.
"Oh, I’m surprised," Severin said flatly.
But he wasn’t that surprised. In fact, he was waiting for something like that to happen.
"...So you finally made your move, eh... Head Instructor Darius Faulkner..."
He knew the man must be planning something in wait for him, but the problem was, by making him into a team leader for the class mock battle, Severin couldn’t really figure out what his plan was.
"...To make me reveal something?... To humiliate me?... What could he be after?..."
"This time there’s only two team leaders chosen. You, Severin, and Serena Ashford—the strongest student in class four."
"Serena Ashford, eh?" Severin muttered. He remembered a character like that. Didn’t she end up as a guard for the Academy? Claiming her passion for the school was that big?
She’s a D-ranked Etherion user with the Talent Ability of Ancestor’s Ashes, a type of power that’s common in her family. Sadly, they were never a powerful family due to their inability to produce powerful users. She was even the only one that would be entering the Zenith Hero Academy.
She wanted to raise her family with her hands, but unfortunately, she was never powerful enough to do that.
But in class four, she is the most powerful student.
"So the strongest against the weakest?" Ethan snorted.
It was during their weekly meeting that was mandated by Severin. He really didn’t need the meeting, but he made it so anyway because he needed them to be more familiar with him.
How else would he best make use of them if they weren’t totally familiar? He needed to create a bond he could exploit.
"I wonder how you will do this time, Severin? Or did she have something in her wardrobe as well?" Ethan bit.
Severin ignored him.
Julius looked at Ethan, curious, and then focused on Severin. "It won’t be easy. Team leaders are required to go around the class and pick team members that are willing to join. That’s part of the exercise. You’re to pick out your members."
"But the problem is, who will go against Serena to back you, Severin?"
"I will," Celia said.
"Of course, only you and Derrick would likely do so. Don’t forget that the winning team will be given credits. House leader Severin, I propose you withdraw immediately."
Julius could only calculate based on the information he had. How could he know what Severin was thinking?
Severin was frowning softly. "...Head Instructor... Is this your plan? To know what I’ll do? To prove myself?... Then I’ll just have to show how strong I am..."
"Well. Celia and Derrick can go around and look for who wants to join. If you find any of them, that’s good. Tell them we are going to win, so they should choose wisely."
Celia nodded. "Alright, boss."
But Derrick was skeptical. "That’s what you said about the dungeon, and look how that turned out. To be honest, there’s no one that’ll want to join a weak team."
Severin shrugged. "Just do as you’re told."
They did, although Derrick didn’t seem to like it.
Julius asked him before he left, "Do you really think you’d win, House leader?"
To him, based on his calculations, there was no way Severin could win. Maybe if Ethan was in their class, but against the bulk of the class? No way.
"We’ll see."
That was all Severin said.
But much later he smiled to himself. "Serena Ashford, eh? Her Talent is quite powerful if boosted to a reasonable rank. Maybe it’s time to add a new one. Besides, it’s time I’m known as the strongest of class four anyway."