He is going to get hit!

Kieran looked at the two new trolls suspiciously.

He turned his head to look back at the unexplored tunnel that still led further down to where he had no idea.

'The sound from my fight earlier should've alerted the ones inside... At least they should be approaching me... Why are more coming from the outside instead?'

Kieran turned his haughty gaze to the two trolls, a strong feeling of unease settling.

He tightened his grasp around the rough stone he had used to kill the first two trolls.

After he had killed them, for some reason, instead of fatigue, he felt energized, like some sort of energy had been pumped into him.

'Is that the effect of the system?'

At first, he was wondering how such a strange system could reward him, but now, he could definitely feel the changes in his body.

After adding the stat points to his strength, he could tell the effects almost instantly.

He had become stronger!

Strangely, from what he had heard, the system from the factions and families never had such a reward system.

'My system... it's different.'

The system screen winked into existence in front of his eyes.

{Mission progress: ---> 1%}

{Trolls left: 28}

Kieran saw the numbers, but for some reason, he didn't feel fear.

If he didn't have the system, then he was certain he would've felt fear. However, what he felt now wasn't fear... He felt a thrill.

'Just how much stronger will I become if I kill all the trolls myself?'

The system... It was it—his answer. To prove all those who had called him useless wrong. To stand up for the weak.

This was the answer...

He could become stronger with the system!

Kieran clenched the stone tightly in his fist and rushed forward mindlessly.

He only wanted one thing... Rewards.

'Fuck, who needs validation from those idiots! I'll rub it in their faces with this!' he thought, adrenaline rushing through his veins.

His blood was pumping at a rapid rate.

He moved nimbly, covering the distance between him and the trolls in a flash.

He jumped.

Using his left leg, he kicked against the wall, casting his shadow over the troll. Without hesitation, he hit the sharpened edge of the stone right at the head of the troll closest to him.

It stumbled back, momentarily seeing stars as Kieran knocked out its vision.

Kieran didn't let it recover. He moved forward, raising the stone above his head and driving it down with brutal force.

He was midway into the strike when his senses shouted at him.

He felt all the hairs on his body stand.

For some reason, almost like a second sense, he could tell that danger was coming.

And taking a glance from the side of his eyes, it was just as he had thought.

He was so lost focusing on one troll that he had completely forgotten that there were two of them.

And now, hurling towards him was a large club.

Large enough to shatter his entire ribs from just one clash.

Kieran, unconsciously at this point, could only hold his breath.

He couldn't move... No, even if he could, he wasn't going to escape!

He was going to get hit!

---

"Tell me what the hell happened!?"

Nelyx asked, her eyes widened at the sight before her.

Never in her life had she expected this to happen.

Yes, William had retired long ago from his work as a hunter... But that didn't mean he was weak!

He was a C-ranked swordmaster! An assassin-class talent.

A single slash from him could tear a large boulder in two with no effort at all.

The story she heard didn't rhyme at all.

"Madam... We've already told you, haven't we? Miss Jane was the only one in the office with him when we left... We heard him scream, and we came here as fast as possible only to find him like that," the teacher replied, her hands shaking slightly.

The tension was high already.

The entire academy was almost about to break down from their massive failure of bringing enough talents that year... And when things were already looking bad, they lost their dean as well.

Nelyx sighed.

She pulled back the strand of her long purple hair that had come over her face.

'William was badly injured like this... That too by a healer? How's this possible?' She rubbed her temples.

The more she thought of it, the more illogical it sounded.

A support class defeating an assassin class.

If it wasn't sorcery, then what was it?

"And just when I decided to come back excited about the SSS-ranked boy... I just came back to meet trouble."

Nelyx took a deep breath.

Regardless of whatever happened, as the assistant dean, she had to carry on all the responsibilities.

'Argh... That Jane should've given me a quick notice. At least I would've resigned as assistant dean. That way, I wouldn't have to do all this work... Hell, I wouldn't have even come back.'

The more she thought of it, the more frustrated she was.

Now she had to work!

Something she wanted to avoid.

She shifted her gaze from the immobile body in the infirmary bed.

"At least he's still breathing. Have any of the factions come yet to recruit the awakened students?"

Her voice was formal, and she went straight to business.

She had initially come to recruit the SSS-ranked kid before the other supporting factions came themselves.

As assistant dean, it would've been easier for her to do so... But with the sudden twist in things, she wasn't certain she would have enough time to discuss with the boy and urge him to join their faction.

"No... None have come yet. I believe due to the recent increase in the realm gates tearing open, they've been much more busy... However, we just received a call from the Blue Fang faction that they will be arriving soon."

Nelyx clicked her tongue at the information.

Of all factions, it had to be the Blue Fangs... They were among their highest supporters, and even she would have a hard time snatching a good talent right under their noses.

But that wasn't what held the most importance at the moment.

She turned her gaze back to the figure in the bed.

"Let's find the person who did this first and know just why she did so..." she muttered to herself.

"Get an A-rank healer here now... And lock down this school... All the students should return to their classes, and none should leave... Activate the school barrier as well... Make sure no one leaves these walls."

Nelyx clicked her tongue.

She knew she had come late, and Jane would've probably gone far by the time she arrived. However, she was determined to find her.

'...Even if it means using my abilities.' Her blue eyes narrowed with resolve.

---