Blade of the Goddess-Chapter 14 - Plotting in the shadows

"Welcome to my class everyone. My name is Professor Heather and I'll be your homeroom teacher for your third year. I'm sure you all know this already since you are here in the class, but this is Class 3-S, the class for the elites, the kingdom's best of your generation."

'Hey, that's the professor from the first exam.' Zion smiled

Everyone started murmuring when they heard the professor claim that they were the best among their peers. The feeling of their ego being boosted did not slip past the young nobles who already thought the world revolved around them.

"Don't let my statement get to your head, because you can easily be kicked out of this class and end up in a lower one. You will train, study, and work like never before. You will be tested and pushed beyond your limits. If you cannot handle being worked to the brim, then leave now as I don't wanna hear you bitch about anything." With that, Heather finished her opening speech.

Zion looked around and tried to spot anyone he was familiar with. Lidia was next to him, he spotted Curtis way in the back, the princess sat in front of him, and he spotted a few other nobles he recognized but wasn't close with. The rest were nobles he didn't really know.

'Wait, where's Alice? Her skill and leaderboard placement should have guaranteed her a place in this class. I'll have to ask Auntie about this.'

For the remainder of the class, Professor Heather tested the students' combat prowess, mana control, and knowledge to see where she needed to start her lessons as a whole since everyone wasn't on the same level despite being in the same class.

A few hours later, the class came to an end and Zion went with Lidia to choose the other three classes he wanted to take and then go to the dorms that were provided to every student, which Zion and Lidia shared.

"Lidia, I'm letting you know in advance, but if you're late for class and can't walk, don't blame me, blame yourself since you wanted to share a room."

"Why wouldn't I be able to walk to class?" Lidia asked before it clicked in her head.

"You dirty bastard! Come here, let me punch your face!"

"Haha! Gotta catch me first!" They ran around the large luxurious room until they were tired and went to sleep.

---

In the depths of a shadow-cloaked room, hidden from prying eyes, two figures sat across a worn table, their hushed voices weaving a web of secrets and peril.

"Did you manage to infiltrate the school?" A hooded figure asked.

"Yes, we have twenty individuals who managed to secure a place in the Academy, some posing as students while others are either teachers or minor staff members." A masked man responded.

"Good. Proceed with the plans. Since our stronger forces cannot cross over right now, we need to act with caution. How is everything going with the corruption?"

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"We have converted about 30% of the students there into our followers. Some have already graduated and are spreading our influence as we speak. We even have members in the church and supporting the Royal family."

"Well done. Report to me if anything significant comes up." The hooded figure stood up to leave, however, he was stopped by the masked man.

"Excuse me, sir. There is one last report that I need to tell you about."

"Speak."

"The treasure hunter Carl has been captured and killed. Even our informant was killed. It appeared that someone wanted to read his soul memories."

"In the Zagan dukedom?" The hooded figure asked

"Yes sir. While our plan to attack the area using monsters and mana beasts is still going as planned, we won't be able to sneak into the forbidden forest and find the map anymore since the compass has been stolen."

"Who stole the compass?"

"Zaleena Zagan's son, Zion."

"Hmmm. Is he in the Academy?"

"Yes, sir. He arrived today."

"Take a trusted member, not too strong to blow our cover, but enough to deal with him and reclaim the compass. If he's after the relics as well, then I'll assume he has also found the map. I'll head to the Zagan dukedom and expedite our plans and see if the map is still there. If not, proceed as we have been."

"Yes sir."

The two figures vanished into the darkness.

---

"Phew, okay. Let's try this again." Zion steadied his breathing and held his hand out in the air.

"Status."

Nothing happened

"Status Window."

Silence

"System!"

"System On!"

"System Status Window!"

After saying many alternatives, nothing happened.

"Fuck!" He kicked a chair. "Where are my cheats!!!! I'm playing this fucking game on hard mode dammit! Are systems supposed to be a package deal with transmigrators?! I'd rather have a system than fucking googol in my head!"

"What are you yapping about?" Lidia asked, lying on their shared bed in their dorm.

"Just feeling incomplete. The stories I've read have all been a lie."

"Well, that sucks. Anyway, let's go to sleep, we have class in the morning."

"Nah, imma do my own thing. Strip, we're not sleeping tonight."

"What a naughty boy you are, hehe." For the next few hours, the two engaged in late-night exercises only meant for their lower bodies.

---

"Since all of you are in class S, you will not be learning the conventional way in homeroom. Each of you will be teaching yourselves, studying, and training on your own. Of course, you can still learn from all instructors, and we will guide you in your journey to become true martial artists and mages." She paused before continuing.

"To gain more knowledge, insight, and skill, you'll have to take other classes that relate to whatever path you go down. At the end of three months, I'll be testing you all to see how far you've grown. If you do not meet my standards after three attempts, you'll be put in a lower class. Any questions?"

No one raised their hands or decided to speak up.

"Good. Also, just to let you know, the S class takes requests from the adventures guild to aid in your growing experience. Next week we'll be going to a fracture plain where you all will have to handle the monsters there."

At those words, everyone became anxious. Zion could only smile at their inexperience.

'Best of the nobles my ass.' He mocked. However, he wasn't surprised that they were scared.

Fractures are tears in space that connect to a place scholars call the monster realm. This place is filled with the world's negative energy. All around the world, tears in space due to the negative energy piling up, bleed into the world and monsters come out of them.

Fracture plains are when the fracture isn't handled in time and completely merges with the regular world. This is also how monster hordes become a thing like in Zion's dukedom.

"Since we're going to one, it shouldn't be that difficult, right?" Lidia asked

"Probably relative to the class's average strength, but it's still dangerous so don't let your guard down when we go there."

"Who do you think I am, Zion?"

"A hot-headed brat who happens to be my fiance."

"I'm going to hurt you."

"How's your legs? Can you walk yet?" He smirked looking at his fiance who became flustered.

"You! I'm going to make sure you can't walk anymore, how about that?!!" She started hitting him playfully while others looked at them with jealous expressions.