Meeting Principal
The next day, Marcus opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar room that looked remarkably like a hospital room from Earth. The sterile white walls, the beeping monitors, and the antiseptic smell all reminded him of his previous life. As he tried to get up from the bed, a sharp pain shot through his body, making him wince and lie back down.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the haze of pain. "So, you are up?"
Marcus turned his head to see an unfamiliar woman standing at the foot of his bed. She had an air of authority and concern as she looked at him.
"Yes," Marcus replied, his voice slightly hoarse.
"You have pushed your body beyond its limits. Now, don't push yourself and continue to lie there. I will go and contact your homeroom teacher," the woman instructed.
Marcus nodded and continued to lie there, letting the pain subside. As he remembered something, he suddenly said, "System, show me my rewards."
---
[Task Completed: Defeat the Protagonist]
[Rewarding host with:
- 1000 Demon Points
- Additional 5000 points for landing a critical hit on the protagonist
- 1x Ability and Skill Upgrade Card]
---
Seeing the additional rewards, Marcus smiled inwardly. "At least I didn't push myself for nothing," he thought. Now that he had 6000 points, Marcus decided to buy a useful ability and found one that caught his interest: Charm.
---
[Charm - 1000 Demon Points]
[This ability can help the host charm any woman if the host is stronger than her.]
[If the host wants to charm a stronger woman, make sure to increase the ability level proportionally or stronger than her.]
---
After seeing this ability, Marcus quickly bought it from the store and then checked his status.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Marcus Ravenscroft
Job: Young Master of Ravenscroft House
Strength: 45 → 50
Endurance: 43 → 54
Agility: 46 → 50
Intelligence: 60 → 70
Mana: 600 (1-Star Mage) → 700 (1-Star Mage)
---
[Magic Mastery]
•Dark: Master
•Fire: Intermediate
•Wind: Intermediate
•Water: Unawakened
•Earth: Unawakened
•Light: Cannot be Awakened
---
[Abilities]
•Charm [Lv-1]
•Dark Aura Manipulation [Lv-5]
•Sword Aura [Lv-1]
---
[Skills]
•Swordsmanship
•Ignite
•Fireball
•Whirlwind
•Air Impact
•Fire Wall
•Swift Strike
•Fire Fist
•Fire Strike
•Wind Slash
---
[Demon Points - 5000]
[1x Ability Upgrade Card]
---
After seeing his status, Marcus frowned. His new abilities showed significant improvement, with the notable addition of Dark Aura Manipulation at level 5. He asked his system how he got it.
"Host, during the duel, you used your dark element and surrounded yourself in thick darkness, coating your sword and body in dark mana. Your control over the dark element created the skill Dark Aura Manipulation, but your body is still not strong enough to use this ability for more than three minutes with your current limits," the system explained.
Satisfied with the explanation, Marcus decided to invest 5000 demon points to upgrade his Charm ability to level 2. He also used his ability upgrade card to raise Charm to level 3, thinking inwardly,'Now, with this, I can easily charm Erza.'
Afterward, he continued to lie in the infirmary bed, feeling a mix of satisfaction and anticipation.
Some time later, the door opened, and Erza entered with a woman with long black hair and striking blue eyes. Seeing her, Marcus instantly recognized who she was and greeted, "Good morning, ma'am and professor."
The woman responded with a curious smile. "Oh, you seem to know who I am?"
Unable to resist, Marcus decided to flirt. "How could I not know someone as beautiful as you?"
Erza was stunned by his boldness, while the woman chuckled and said, "So, how are you feeling now that you have defeated the disciple of this beautiful woman?"
Marcus was taken aback but quickly realized that this woman was none other than Lucian Silvermoon, the strongest mage on the continent and the academy's principal.
"I didn't think he was that strong," Marcus admitted.
Erza, who had watched Marcus's last attack, was at a loss for words. Lucian continued to evaluate Marcus and asked, "What was your last attack? It took so much time and potions to heal Leo."
Marcus hesitated but knew he couldn't keep this secret forever. "I used the power of the dark element."
"Dark element?" both Lucian and Erza exclaimed in unison.
"Yes, I named it the dark element, similar to Leo's light element but dark in nature," Marcus explained.
Both women frowned, as this was their first time hearing about such an element.
"So, what can you do with this element?" Lucian inquired.
"I don't know," Marcus admitted.
"Then how did you use it against Leo?"
"I just copied him. Just like he coated his sword and body with the light element, I did the same with the dark element."
Lucian didn't know what to say. This was her first encounter with this new element, and it intrigued her deeply.
Marcus was inwardly relieved. Living in Arcanum, where no one knew about the dark element, was a blessing. If he had been in Vyrandel, he might have been killed on the spot.
Suddenly, Lucian, who had been staring at Marcus intently, asked, "Can you use that move again?"
"I can't use it in my current condition. During the duel, I pushed my body's limits to use that move," Marcus replied honestly.
"After you recover, come and visit me," Lucian instructed.
Marcus nodded, Lucian left with erza left the room, looking forward to exploring the power of this new element.
As the door closed behind her, Marcus lay back, his mind racing. He had a lot to consider—the rewards from the system, his new abilities, and the ramifications of his duel with Leo. He needed to strategize his next moves carefully.
In the meantime, Marcus decided to focus on his recovery. He couldn't afford to stay weak, especially with the academy's rigorous training and the lurking dangers of his new reality.
The days passed slowly, but Marcus used this time wisely. He meditated, honing his mana control and studying the intricacies of his dark element. The more he understood it, the more he realized its potential. It was a double-edged sword, powerful but dangerous if not handled correctly.
One evening, as Marcus lay in bed, he decided to test his charm ability. He focused on Erza, who had been visiting him regularly to check on his progress. He activated his Charm ability, feeling a strange sensation as his mana adjusted to this new skill.
Erza entered the room with her usual stern expression, but Marcus noticed a subtle change in her demeanor. She seemed slightly more relaxed, her eyes softening when they met his.
"How are you feeling today, Marcus?" she asked, her voice gentler than usual.
"I'm feeling much better, thanks to you, Professor," Marcus replied, letting the charm ability subtly influence his tone and expressions.
Erza seemed momentarily flustered but quickly composed herself. "That's good to hear. Remember, don't overexert yourself."
"Of course, Professor. I wouldn't want to worry you," Marcus said, a hint of sincerity in his voice.
Erza's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly turned her attention to his chart. Marcus inwardly smiled, noting the effectiveness of his new ability.
As Erza left the room, Marcus deactivated the Charm ability and reflected on its potential. It was a powerful tool, one that could help him navigate the complex relationships within the academy and beyond.
The next morning, Marcus felt a significant improvement in his condition. He decided it was time to start planning his next steps. The duel with Leo had been a wake-up call. He needed to be prepared for anything and anyone.
He called upon the system to review his skills and abilities once more, making mental notes on areas that needed improvement. His dark element was his trump card, but he needed to master it fully. His other elements, fire and wind, also required more attention.
After a few days, Marcus was finally discharged from the infirmary. His body was still sore, but he felt stronger and more determined than ever. He knew that he couldn't afford to be complacent. The academy was just the beginning, and the challenges ahead would only grow more formidable.
As he walked out of the infirmary, Marcus felt a renewed sense of purpose. He had a clear goal: to become the strongest mage in the continent, surpassing even the protagonist. He would use every resource, every skill, and every bit of cunning at his disposal to achieve this.
His first stop was Lucian's office. The principal had shown a keen interest in his dark element, and Marcus knew that gaining her favor could provide invaluable advantages. As he approached her office, he steeled himself for the encounter, ready to demonstrate his potential and secure his place at the top.
---
With a knock on the door, Marcus entered the office, finding Lucian seated behind her desk, her piercing blue eyes focused on him.
"Ah, Marcus. I see you have recovered," Lucian said, her tone a mix of curiosity and authority.
"Yes, Principal Lucian. I'm ready to show you the power of the dark element "