A special reward?
[Special Reward 1 for Abyssal Rift Simulation Field: Spiritual Power Infusion!]
[Special Reward 2 for Abyssal Rift Simulation Field: One customizable Talent Awakening Potion! Please make your choice within 24 hours.]
Kylen didn't understand the exact meaning of "Spiritual Power Infusion."
But he knew all about Talent Awakening Potions.
Those who failed to awaken innate abilities during the Awakening Ritual could buy such potions for over 100 million Imperial Coins to acquire abilities.
While acquired talents were usually not as strong as innate ones, they still allowed ordinary people to embark on the path of Contractors.
The weight of this reward was undeniable.
As for spiritual power...
Before Kylen could react, a stream of pure, invisible energy surged into his mind.
His once chaotic spiritual sea was as if illuminated by light, opening up a spiritual domain. Thin psionic units converged into a flowing stream.
A system notification sounded in his mind:
[Spiritual Power: Astral Flow Realm]
[Congratulations, Host, on advancing your spiritual power realm! Your current spiritual power is now sufficient to accommodate a second contracted creature!]
His spiritual power had broken through?
Kylen, who hadn't systematically studied Contractor knowledge, didn't fully understand what spiritual power meant.
But he could faintly perceive the surrounding environment, a power that transcended the limits of the five senses, allowing him to sense the breeze, the earth, blood, and falling leaves.
Though the range of perception was still limited, this already proved Kylen was far from ordinary.
Another glowing screen appeared. In a blur, Kylen and Avelia were teleported back to Saint Rose Square.
On the square, a group of senior students surrounded them, all flipping him "friendly" middle fingers.
"Damn bastard, I challenge you to a duel!"
"Avelia, how can I live without you! Damned Kylen, give Avelia back to us!"
Kylen curled his lips in helplessness.
He knew this would happen!
With Avelia's popularity and beauty at Saint Laurent Contract Academy, she must have many suitors.
Kylen had already prepared himself to face all his love rivals.
But… this was way too many!
As far as the eye could see, there was a dense crowd of people.
Avelia frowned in displeasure. Several deep crimson gelatinous tentacles extended from her back instantly, wriggling like living things to shield Kylen at the center.
"Get lost, trash! What do you want to do to my Master?"
Those semi-transparent tentacles swayed slowly in the air, their surfaces glowing like gemstones, exuding an unsettling aura of threat.
"Thud!"
It was as if Kylen could hear the sound of countless hearts breaking.
"Wah, Senior, how could you say such cold words?"
"Mas… Master? Aaaaah! Why! I can't accept this!"
Seraphina rubbed her forehead in helplessness.
Did this look like the reserve force for defending the territory?
She immediately stepped forward to quell the chaos.
Riding on her Starlit Phoenix, she said sharply,
"Quiet! The new student entrance test is over. Why aren't you going back to train?
The Nine-Academy Alliance Exchange Tournament is coming soon.
Do you plan to participate in this state? Also, have you completed your mission targets and kill quotas for the Abyssal Rift? Do you want to have your Contractor qualification revoked?"
Seraphina's scolding immediately silenced everyone.
Saint Laurent Contract Academy provided students with massive resources and the most professional Contractor guidance, but the competition was equally brutal.
Contractors enjoyed extraordinary social status, but they also had to bear a high elimination rate and combat casualty quotas.
Under Seraphina's scolding, the crowd left reluctantly, their eyes still filled with unwillingness and envy.
Kylen asked helplessly, "Teacher, is the atmosphere at Saint Laurent Academy always like this?"
Seraphina froze slightly.
"You turned everyone's dream girl into your contracted creature, how could they not come after you?
Besides, many of Avelia's suitors are powerful seniors. They're all on mission at the rift front right now. Once you officially enroll, your campus life probably won't be peaceful…"
Kylen shrugged, not caring.
Seraphina sighed.
"Well, as long as you're mentally prepared! But still, congratulations on passing the entrance test, especially the hardest S-rank mission!
According to the rules, students who pass an S-rank mission will be granted S-rank student status. Come with me to the office, and I'll explain the relevant benefits and requirements in detail."
Kylen hadn't originally wanted to expose his talent.
But Avelia was like a walking spotlight, and with the Vander family's targeting, things had finally come to this.
Fortunately, the result was good; it could be considered a blessing in disguise.
In the office, Seraphina smiled and said, "Please sit."
"Let me introduce Saint Laurent Academy to you.
The academy has five departments: the Otherworldly Creatures Department, Practical Tactics Department, Plant Spirit Department, Special Abilities Department, and Support Department.
We assign students based on their talent abilities and contracted creature types."
"With your qualifications, you're a good fit for the Practical Tactics Department, Otherworldly Creatures Department, or Special Abilities Department.
However, the Special Abilities Department mainly focuses on elemental and undead types. And Baron, the dean of the Practical Tactics Department, is William's uncle, so…"
Kylen nodded.
"I understand. I'm willing to join Teacher Seraphina's Otherworldly Creatures Department."
Seraphina smiled warmly.
"Excellent. Your talent report says 'unawakened,' and I understand you may be unwilling to fully reveal your abilities. But could you tell me your talent rank?"
After thinking for a moment, Kylen decided to reveal some information appropriately to secure better benefits.
"S-rank. My blood is special, it has the ability to lure enemies and control the souls of some contracted creatures."
Seraphina nodded slightly; this matched her speculation.
"As expected. Here, this is your custom-made student ID."
"From today onwards, you are an S-rank student of Saint Laurent Academy. The academy implements a credit exchange system. 1 credit is equivalent to Contractor resources that would cost 1 million Imperial Coins to buy outside."
"As an S-rank student, you will receive a monthly allowance of 100 credits. You should know that there are fewer than 200 S-rank students in the entire Arcana Empire.
Additionally, you can prioritize selecting contracted creatures, prioritize purchasing rare Talent Awakening Potions, and have the right to form your own contract team."
"You should understand that students of the Contract Academy are nominally students, but in reality, they are also reserve soldiers of the empire. The war at the abyssal rift may call on us at any time, and forming a team will allow you to better utilize your abilities."
"Of course, your training progress will be assessed every month. Those who fail the assessment will have their status revoked. After all... this is a considerable investment in resources!"
"Then there are the obligations you need to undertake. As an S-rank student, you need to fight for the academy's honor in the Nine-Academy Alliance Exchange Tournament in half a month. This is related to resource allocation among the various academies!
The exchange tournament is held twice a year, and after that, there are the missions you need to undertake to suppress the abyssal rift. The most difficult missions will usually be assigned to you first."
"Are you willing to accept these terms?"
Kylen nodded without hesitation.
There was no reason to refuse.
Resources worth over 100 million Imperial Coins every month!
Saint Laurent Contract Academy was truly wealthy!
It made sense, though. Contractors were now the empire's true national defense force. A single mistake that allowed monsters from the abyssal rift to break through the defense line would bring devastating disaster.
To take a recent example, the neighboring country Trenia had suffered a rift outbreak not long ago. Several cities were completely destroyed, and the losses were incalculable.
For this reason, all countries were frantically increasing their investment in Contract Academies.
Seraphina smiled.
"Great, then you can prepare for enrollment. S-rank students are also assigned exclusive academy dormitories…"
Avelia, who was sitting on Kylen's lap, had reverted to a smaller form due to excessive blood loss. She cut in,
"Why not just live in my previous house?"
Seraphina's expression stiffened.
"Avelia, your house is within the girls' dormitory area!"
Avelia argued confidently,
"Huh? Old Orion promised me that before."
Seraphina finally gave up arguing.
Who knew what kind of agreement the principal had made with Avelia?
"Fine, it's a standalone residence anyway. Then you can just live in your original... house!"
"Also! Kylen, you need to be careful. Although the academy doesn't interfere with the romantic relationships between students, you'd better avoid making too much noise at night!"
Kylen: "?"
Why did she have to remind me specifically?
Clearly, I'm the one who's passive here!