Chapter 9
Mathew woke up early. He saw Azek already ready to go outside.
"Wait—"
He jolted awake and immediately shouted,
"Azek, wait for me!" Then he rushed into the bathroom.
Azek halted his steps at the doorstep.
After Mathew came out of the room, they headed toward the open training area. Someone was already there.
Edrin looked up and saw Mathew and Azek coming toward him.
"What are you doing?" Mathew asked.
"I woke up early, so I came out for a light jog," Edrin said lightheartedly.
Mathew looked at him suspiciously but didn't comment further.
"So why did you come?" Azek asked, turning to Mathew.
"Ohhh, I came out for a jog as well."
Azek squinted his eyes. "You expect me to believe that?"
"Hahaha, sorry." After a pause, Mathew continued, "You told me before that you passed out due to low stamina and started working out. I need to improve my stamina as well."
Azek looked toward Edrin.
Edrin sighed in resignation. "Same here."
You can't simply ignore something when you have a practical example in front of you with visible results. Grade C—that was Edrin's evaluation.
He had Grade 2 aptitude, superior to both Azek and Mathew, yet his results were far from satisfactory.
He had seen Azek's hard work firsthand, and he had seen the results as well. Now he couldn't just sit back and be left behind.
Azek didn't comment further and simply went for a light jog. Edrin and Mathew followed.
After that came a full 10 km sprint, followed by various body exercises in intervals and breathing exercises.
When he was done, Azek looked toward Edrin and Mathew. "I'll be going ahead first."
No one answered. Both of them were lying on the ground, gasping for breath. They had nearly collapsed midway but still didn't give up. In that sense, they were admirable. However, the expressions they wore were far from pleasant.
After all, they were pampered young masters who had never had to lift a finger in their lives. Now they were gasping like dogs in summer, covered in dirt. The culprit didn't even offer a word of comfort and simply went ahead.
They shot resentful glances at Azek's retreating figure, who was smiling brightly.
Azek's steps were light when he entered the class.
The results of yesterday's evaluation were already displayed on the notice board that morning.
There had been a drastic change in the class hierarchy.
Daniel Rotherham — Rank 4.
Daniel looked toward Azek thoughtfully. It was a huge wake-up slap to reality. He had Grade 1 aptitude and wind element affinity, which was very efficient in offensive combat, yet it still wasn't enough when it came to actual results.
There were also two other people paying attention to Azek— Callisto Reinheart and Marian Ironhood.
Marian had gotten Rank 2, Callisto Rank 3, and Rank 1 went to the person who was now the center of attention of the whole class—Azek Willowheart.
There seems to be even more intensity in their gazes than usual today, Azek thought helplessly.
But it didn't matter. This was only the first step. He would have to climb even harder walls from now on.
Brian Melamont stepped into Azek's path.
The murmurs in the classroom softened, but they didn't disappear.
Azek stopped.
Brian's chin lifted slightly. "Azek Willowheart. May I ask you something?"
Azek looked at him. His gaze was calm. Unhurried. "Go ahead."
"How did you obtain Rank 1?" Brian asked. "Even those with Grade 1 aptitude couldn't achieve it. And yet you were able to do it. care to explain?"
A faint smile curved Azek's lips.
"Didn't you watch?"
Brian's brows twitched. "What?"
"You were there," Azek said lightly. "You saw everything."
A few students exchanged glances.
Brian's jaw tightened. "Don't play games. Everyone knows aptitude determines—"
"Does it?"
The interruption was soft.
Brian felt heat rising in his face. "Are you implying the rest of us are blind?"
"No." Azek tilted his head slightly. "I'm implying you lack perception."
A ripple of tension passed through the room.
Brian's mana stirred instinctively. " you Willowheart "
Tuck.
It was a tiny sound. Almost insignificant.
Brian's vision suddenly blurred.
His heel slipped.
The ground tilted—
He stumbled backward.
A hand brushed lightly against his back, steadying him before he could fall flat on his back.
When his vision cleared, Azek was already walking past him.
Brian froze.
Between his feet lay a small pebble. No larger than a fingernail.
His heartbeat quickened.
There had been no chant.
No visible mana circle.
Just a flicker.
Azek stopped beside his desk but didn't turn around.
"If you cannot sense a basic mana manifestation happening in front of you," he said calmly, "you are not qualified to question my rank."
The words were not loud.
But they carried a weight heavy enough to silence out any doubts anyone had.
Someone swallowed.
Brian stared at the pebble.
To shift something that small wasn't impressive.
To do it that fast—
Without him sensing the mana fluctuation—
That was different...
Azek took his seat.
From beginning to end, he had never raised his voice.
And yet—
The challenge had ended before it even began.
Across the room, Daniel's eyes narrowed slightly.
a strange glow could be seen
A predator
that was his evaluation of azek willowheart.