A Test of Strength

Exhaling a soft breath, Endymion glanced at the time—it was already five in the afternoon, time for the cafeteria to open.

Half a month had slipped by. During these weeks, Endymion's life had fallen into a strict routine: from eight in the morning to five in the evening, he cultivated Stellar Combat Energy. After five, he dined in the cafeteria, then took a stroll to the Purple Bamboo Grove. As night fell, he practiced magic there, continuing until around six the next morning. Afterward, he returned to the cafeteria for breakfast, went back to his dormitory, and resumed combat energy training. This cycle repeated relentlessly.

Initially, he planned to devote all his time solely to combat energy cultivation. Yet he discovered that Stellar Combat Energy thrived during daylight but was almost ineffective at night, while magic flourished after dark but waned by day.

The Purple Bamboo Grove was where Endymion had last fallen unconscious after his injury. Rarely frequented, he chose it for its richer magical element concentration—far superior to his dorm room.

Though each day mirrored the last, Endymion felt unusually fulfilled. Stellar Combat Energy consisted of ten ranks; though he had yet to attain the first, his body was noticeably stronger and his wounds long healed. He firmly believed he would soon pilot a mech.

Magic cultivation came even more naturally to him. Despite the weak ambient magic, as a prodigy from the Auro Continent, his sensitivity to magical elements was exceptional. Within merely two weeks, he had mastered several low-level spells—by Auro standards, a fledgling mage.

"Hey, isn't that our mech department's genius?" A harsh voice cut through the cafeteria as Endymion entered.

He frowned. Though solitary and seldom attending classes, he recognized the speaker.

Guo Te—once his classmate, now a third-year student.

"That's right—the prodigy stuck in freshman year for four years! Never before seen at Noding Academy!" another voice chimed in. Like Guo Te, this was Duke, also a former classmate.

"Wow, so that's the infamous mech department disgrace, Endymion Lin?" exclaimed an unfamiliar female voice.

"Yeah, I can't believe he's still here after four years. If it were me, I'd have dropped out ages ago!" Guo Te shook his head loudly, his voice carrying through the hall as if demanding everyone's attention.

Indeed, all eyes turned to Endymion, eager for spectacle.

Yet Endymion disappointed them again. He grabbed a simple fast meal from the window, found a corner, and began devouring it ravenously.

Perhaps due to combat energy cultivation and eating only twice daily, his appetite had surged. Previously, a single meal was difficult to finish; now, after just a few bites, he returned for another.

Within minutes, four meals disappeared into his stomach, and only then did he pat his belly, satisfied.

"Truly a genius—eating like no normal person, almost like a pig!" Guo Te sneered mockingly.

Laughter erupted from Guo Te's companions.

"I know you're jealous," a lazy voice suddenly cut through the laughter, silencing the room, "because you're not even as good as pigs."

A stunned hush fell over the cafeteria. All eyes fixed on Endymion as if he were a monster. Over four years, he had endured endless ridicule, but he had never responded—until now. His blunt retort caught everyone off guard.

"What did you say?" Guo Te snapped out of shock, slamming his hand on the table and charging at Endymion in fury.

Endymion met his charge with a mocking gaze. This wasn't their first confrontation. He had endured before, but now he refused to hold back.

"You can't even comprehend simple words. I wasn't wrong—your intelligence is below that of a pig," Endymion sneered.

"Endymion Lin, you worthless—ah!" Guo Te's words were cut short as a fist suddenly struck his left eye, eliciting a howl. He stumbled backward, crashing heavily to the floor.

The strike was unexpected. Neither Guo Te nor onlookers anticipated such power from the once frail Endymion. His once delicate features now bore a faint aura of menace.

Shock and awe mingled within the crowd. They realized the Endymion Lin they had mocked no longer existed.

"Guo Te, a year ago your girlfriend fell into Meng He's arms. Unable to contend with Meng He, you come here seeking some pathetic pride. What right do you have to call me worthless?" Endymion's cold voice echoed through the hall. "Consider this a warning—don't provoke me again."

Silence reigned. Endymion turned and left, his footsteps light but distinctly audible—each step seeming to trample mercilessly upon the crowd's pride.

Only after he vanished beyond the cafeteria doors did murmurs begin to stir.

It took about half an hour on foot from the cafeteria to the Purple Bamboo Grove. As Endymion walked through the academy grounds, strange glances occasionally met him.

He was a celebrity at Noding Academy, known by all—from senior students to freshmen, from teachers to janitors.

Most avoided contact with him, but only a few deliberately sought to torment him. Guo Te was among these, fueled by bitterness after losing his girlfriend to Meng He. Powerless and resentful, Guo Te targeted Endymion—the once abandoned scion of a noble family—to satisfy his warped cravings.

Guo Te was no pushover. As a Level Six Mech Warrior, he far outmatched Endymion. Without a mech, hand-to-hand combat favored Guo Te.

Endymion's knockout of Guo Te was thus a surprise, a swift strike powered by his two weeks' progress in combat energy cultivation and Guo Te's underestimation.

"Beep beep beep…"

The alert from Endymion's wrist computer roused him. A palm-sized screen materialized before his eyes.

On the display appeared an extraordinarily beautiful face—delicate features perfectly framed by flowing golden hair, and a voluptuous, alluring figure that radiated sensual charm.

...