Chapter 16: Chapter 16 : Practical Evaluation

"Urgh, Fuck" Zeres groaned, his arms leaning on the wall as he walked awkwardly, his eyes were blazing red, blood spilled on his mouth as he bit onto his lips hardly. He felt his stomach churned, his own blood burned—his body demanded him to drink a fresh blood.

Arriving in front of the his dorm, he breathed heavily—then he twisted the door knob as he entered. "This is a mess" he mumbled, leaning beside the wooden window, he stared outside, the red moon illuminated the entirety of Lunaire Academy, the tranquility should have bought him peace—but no, not when this thing was in front of him.

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[Assimilation : 2.3%]

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"Haha, I wonder what will happen when it hit ten percent, maybe the pain and craving for blood would be worse" He smiled bitterly as he stared at the crimson moon.

"I still have to survive through this shit so I can go back"

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In a quiet room filled with white ornates, the scent of Jalvez flowers drifted across the room. Beside the window, an old man stood there motionlessly, his white beard, a testimony to the passage of time—he wore a plain white fabric, a golden colored stole rest on his shoulders, it bore the emblem of a cross and a book. A mitre atop his head, he then spoke, his hands clasped behind him.

"I’ll give you an order, it’s from the above—you will enter Lunaire Academy to spy on one student, the details are there on the table"

"Understood" a man with black hair bowed his head, his green eyes shone viciously as he took the yellow parchments resting on the old wooden table.

_________

=Zeres=

Date of Appearance : Leo 1 2685

•Suspected to be the perpetrator behind the Incident on Gladia Town.

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His hands tightened while staring at the contents, his gaze then shifted on the drawing, a sketch on a vampire was there, but he couldn’t point whether it was a man or woman.

"Calm your self Julian, I know how your family was slaughtered by a vampire, but this is a mission—you are not allowed to let your emotions get the better of you" the Bishop, still standing motionlessly before the window said in a calm tone.

Julian straightened, then he put his arms on his chest as he bowed "For the greater good"

The Bishop nodded, his white beard moved as he smiled, then he replied gently "For the Greater Good"

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The place was already filled with murmurs as Zeres arrived. All freshmens were there, seated on the circular seat of the arena, though they were separated— the side of nobility, they flaunted their jewelries and anything they have to honor their own bloodline, while the commoners sat their quietly, with unnerving silence and tense shoulders.

Zeres could hear their heartbeat so clearly, the scent of blood assaulted his nostrils, he glanced at the circle of Nobles, Feilres sat their at the center, his blonde locks and deep blue eyes gave him an air of dignity and majesty.

Zeres then went to the spot where the students of Class-A sat. Feilres bonding with the nobles was to be expected, he was a prince, not a crowned prince—so he needed a faction to support him so he can contend with the first prince.

"What took you so long?" Aeliz asked, her long white hair tied on a ponytail, she wore the academy’s uniform carelessly, the shoulder part loosed as she glanced at Zeres.

"Fighting my urge" Zeres replied, his voice utterly dry, he didn’t want to remember how he endured that pain yesterday night, but it was crystal clear; he even use a clothe he could bit on so his groans won’t be heard.

Aeliz laughed softly after hearing his dry voice "Well, good luck on your match, though I know it’s impossible for you to lose" she winked as she went past him.

Well, she wasn’t wrong though,, Vairel was just at Arcanist Rank, he was hardly a threat for him. Still, he wanted to thank him during their duel, because of him, he wasn’t targeted by another childish nobles that will just bring him headaches.

"The match will start with randomly"

"The practical Evaluation will last for two whole days"

Zeres raised his head slightly, staring at the man who made the announcement, he had a gentle appearance, Long blue hair and an appeasing smile. Zeres snickered, that man, he’s one of the Apostles.

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Several hours passed

Zeres yawned on his seat, the match had already started, but aside from the Class A, nothing really caught his interest.

He tilted his head slightly, then his senses caught something, his brow furrowed—it was divine aura. Who could it be? The only one he knows who enrolled from the church was the saintess based on the book he’d read.

’Have words already spread that the academy let a vampire in? ’ his fist clenched, though he was quite strong—as he’s a vampire, he was still weak against light and divine magic.

"Zeres and Vairel"

The sound from the professors voice enhanced by mana pulled Zeres away from his thoughts. ’Whatever, I’ll just have to lay low’ he shook his head as he went down the arena.

Vairel stood there, long sword in hand as he stared seriously at Zeres. The arena was silent, everyone was anticipating the match between two students of Class A

"Begin the match! "

Hearing the professor’s voice, Vairel immediately kicked the ground hard, brandishing his sword, he let out his mana, turning it into his Fire affinity.

As he swung his sword diagonally, his sword met nothing but wind. Zeres moved, too fast, his movements made several silhouettes, they formed a circles to confuse him.

’Just as I predicted’ Vairel smiled, his finger gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, he breathed heavily—it made a steam as he whispered.

=Sword of Blaze=

=Third Form : Phoenix Roar=

The air twisted as his sword shone red, a violent mana was coatubf his sword.

He twisted his torso as he swung his sword, the flame on his sword made the shape of a small Phoenix, then it made several rings of fire that sent the ground trembling. Zeres swifty evaded all of the attacks, but a steam had appeared, making Vairel unaware of what had happened.

Then he heard a sound, the sound of something crashing down. The scent of sweat and burnt woods drifted around them.

’Did that get him? ’ Vairel readied himself, his gaze drifted every where around the steam that appeared all over the arena.

"Is that a sword art? It’s pretty" then he heard a voice behind his ears, his instictts flared as he backed away immediately ’He’s seriously fast! ’ he panted, he can only use their family’s sword art up to the Third form, and it was limited—he couldn’t bring out the full potential of it.

’If I can’t do it, I’ll just force myself to’ he raised his head, Zeres was there, walking leisurely—there was an unusual tugged at his mouth, which unsettled him.

’He’s playing with me’ Vairel grimaced, it was his first time being treated like that, even at their own castle, he was deemed strong ’Just how strong is this monster? ’ 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Breathing heavily, he lunged straight forward, he swung his sword diagonally, followed by his legs slamming on Zeres’ face. But, it was all deflected, not even a single wound on his arm, he smiled as he gripped Vairel’s calves tightly—the sound of bones near cracking echoed between them.

"Don’t you dare! " Vairel erupted, his whole body engulfed in a steaming heat, his sword coated with a red mana. Zeres immediately stepped back, he flicked his slightly injured hand, then he mouthed.

"Let’s finish this" he moved, his long white hair fluttered, his figure became a mirage, Vairel raised his guard, he made a mana shield around him—then it was shattered unto pieces, Zeres claws was before his throat!

"Match ended, Zeres of the Class A is the victor! " the professor shouted, though he still sneaked glances at Vairel who stared at the ground mindlessly.

’I couldn’t do anything’ he clenched his fist hard, a blood seeped out from his palms as he walked away from the arena ’He wasn’t able to use all of his skills, not because he didn’t, but because the enemy was too strong he was defeated with just a few exchange.

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Haslien sat quietly, watching the match between Zeres and Vairel.

"Saelyz, who do you think will win? " she asked, though she knew it already.

"It’s obvious, Vairel would need more years to reach Zeres’ level" Saelyz muttered, her eyes glued at the fight below.

"Well, Zeres looks like he’s stronger than me, so the result’s already decided" Aeliz butt in, her sapphire eyes gleamed as she focused on the ground.

"Indeed, I would love yo have him in my faction" Feilres smiled, also looking on the arena.

"Don’t know about that, let’s see who’ll be first, your family or our Tower" Aeliz turned her head at Feilres, her smile hinting for a challenge.

"Well, that would be quite fun"