Chapter 16 – Hellish Training

The first light of dawn slipped through the window as William opened his eyes. His body still pulsed with the residual energy of last night's transformation. He felt every fiber tense, vibrant, like a freshly tuned instrument. He slowly sat up, immediately noticing the difference: his arms were thicker, his chest broader, and his abdomen… defined, firm, like that of a peak-condition athlete.

"Angel, current status," he muttered while stretching.

"Strength increased by 0.1. Dexterity up by 0.1. Vitality increased by 0.5. All values stabilized properly. The body is in optimal condition for a new training phase."

William nodded and got up, walking steadily toward the showers. As he walked through the still sleepy corridors, a strange feeling accompanied him. His body was young, sure… but his mind was not. He was a man trapped in the flesh of a teenager, and although that renewed vitality had its charm, it also made him uneasy.

"I'm not some fucking pervert…," he thought, recalling the timid —and not so timid— glances from some of the plebeian girls. One even bit her lip as he passed by. Another winked at him, blatantly.

And yet, his body reacted. Instinct didn't care about age or morals. It was hard to stay indifferent. If William weren't holding a towel in his hands, the tent in his pants would've made it painfully obvious that the dragon was awake and ready to roar.

"Fuck… This is going to be a problem," he thought, half disappointed, half resigned.

Upon reaching the bathing area, the other trainees fell silent as he entered. Without a single word, several stepped aside and gestured toward his private shower area. The water was already warm. Just the way he liked it. This was entirely because the other students felt indebted and wanted to show support, even if just through small gestures like this, so they had gotten up early and gathered firewood to prepare everything.

Even some who used to mock him now subtly bowed their heads, as if unable to meet his gaze. William stepped into his private stall and poured hot water over his body. He closed his eyes, feeling the steam wrap around him, stripping away every burden and worry, leaving only calm and fleeting peace.

One by one, his companions began to arrive. Dixon came first, humming something while undressing. Theo arrived next, accompanied by Cedric and Thom, all with the same look of fatigue and anticipation. They greeted each other with knowing nods, and after washing up, dressed in silence.

As they stepped out, the sun's first rays painted the sky. The training field awaited them… empty.

"Where are the instructors?" Thom asked, scratching his head.

"No idea. I thought even if classes were suspended, they'd at least be here to give some guidance, but… nothing," Dixon muttered, scanning the field.

William didn't reply. He closed his eyes for a moment, and Angel responded instantly:

"I've designed an intensive routine for today. Initiating protocol: Hell on Earth."

Without wasting a second, William took his position and began. Pushups, sit-ups, squats, explosive jumps… all at brutal intensity. His body was a machine, and his mind, an unstoppable force. An hour later, he could barely move. His muscles trembled on the verge of collapse, his clothes drenched in sweat, vision blurred. He dragged himself to a shaded spot, panting like a dying animal.

"You okay?" Cedric asked, offering a hand.

"Never better," William replied with a grin full of grit.

Laughing, his companions helped him up. Together, they headed to the cafeteria, where food awaited them. Without a word, they dove in. William devoured his tray… then another… and another.

"Angel, is this really necessary?"

"To assimilate the changes, your body requires three times the usual caloric intake. Do not skip this step if you want continued results."

As he chewed, William noticed the stares from the nobles. Some murmured among themselves. Others simply stared with disdain or resentment.

"Look at those pigs," one muttered under his breath.

"They think they can mock us…" said another.

William said nothing. He finished his food in silence, but just as they were about to get up, the doors opened. The other plebeians entered, just coming out of class.

A new tension filled the air. The nobles straightened up, their eyes gleaming with malice. Some opened their mouths, ready to spit out insults—

And then, the crash.

William lifted his tray and slammed it onto a table with such force that it bent in half. A deathly silence fell over the room. All eyes turned to him. But he said nothing. He simply tossed the tray into the bin and began walking away, calm, as if nothing had happened.

Just before reaching the door, he turned slightly. No words were needed. His stare said it all: "If you lay a finger on any of them… it's war."

The other knight trainees —all plebeians— stood one by one. They mimicked his gesture, placing their trays down firmly. Stares clashed like sharpened blades. For a moment, it seemed hell would break loose again.

But it didn't.

Several nobles lowered their heads in frustration. Others stood and muttered curses. They no longer had the strength nor authority to impose their will, so they simply left, spitting bitter words.

Outside, Cassian Draymor and Vayne Redvale clenched their fists, furious. Their faces, twisted with humiliation, burned with rage.

"Are you just going to let them insult us like that!? Where's your pride?!" Cassian shouted at the others.

"We need to kill him now, before it's too late!" Vayne snarled.

But instead of support, they got shoves and harsh replies.

"Then go do it yourselves, you dumb fucks!"

"You think you're better than us!?"

"They beat the shit out of all of us in there while you two didn't even dare face him yesterday!"

Cassian and Vayne were speechless. In their homes, they were treated like princes. But here, they were little more than trash. Even the sons of the King of Virelia and Drakenwald had gotten their asses handed to them by that crazy bastard.

It was obvious: here, their status wasn't worth a damn.

Not against someone like William.