Eternal Freedom's Ascension-Chapter 74: Gate Closure (9)

A disorganized set of students appeared, looking haggard and worn out. A few were already unconscious, while others had blood dripping from their chins.

"The heck?" Apollo frowned. The group’s condition was so severe that medical personnel had to rush towards them and begin healing immediately.

"Isn’t that... Class-E?" Iruca asked, worry evident in her eyes.

The scent of blood was thick, and she felt pained looking at those students who were injured.

From within the students, a female Instructor walked out, pulling a girl in black cloak with her.

The two walked straight to Instructor Rutherford, whose expression was unreadable.

"You seem unhappy, Rina. Is there a problem?"

The man asked, aged scars on his wrinkled face.

Pushing the girl forward, Rina said coldly. "This is your Class-A student. She was present in my Class-E dungeon. Isn’t that breaching the evaluation rules?"

Rutherford glanced at Tamara, a hint of recognition in his eyes. "Ah. Looks like these students were caught by curiosity. I didn’t expect them to discover the chain between the gates and exploit it."

Rina didn’t agree. "Curiosity or not—a rule has been breached and I presume that the right punishment would be administered?"

Rutherford frowned slightly. "No direct harm was caused. Must you bite at every opportunity you get?"

Rina remained silent, only staring at him with her green eyes.

"I see. You’re really desperate because of your new set of students."

He smiled, glancing at Sebastian, Hazel, Liam, Ariel, Astron, and Kaiser. Those six were the only ones from Class-E that looked relatively fine.

"Very well, punishment would be administered. I’ll speak with the Evaluation Director myself."

Saying that, he snatched the girl from Rina’s hand, then dragged her away.

Rina lowered her head for a while, her thoughts unknown. When she raised her head again, her eyes were as cold as ever.

While the gravely injured students of Class-E were being healed, Kaiser walked up to Maya, who was sitting alone at the Class-D’s corner. Her classmates gave him various looks carrying different intentions, but he ignored it all.

"Eh? Kai..." The pink-haired girl was a little surprised by his approach.

"Hm? Since when did I become Kai? Is that a nickname?" He asked, a light smile on his face.

Maya became flustered, but nodded shyly.

"Is that right? I do not mind. You can call me that." He agreed, then looked at her bandaged arm. "You haven’t been healed?"

Maya shrunk slightly beneath his gaze. "Um... it’s not a serious injury, and there are others with more grievous wounds. So it’s better for the healers not to waste essence on me."

Hearing her reasoning, Kaiser gave a pleasant laugh. "That’s it? Ahh... your character has suddenly become more endearing."

"Article? What’re you talking about?" Maya was lost, looking confused.

Kaiser merely smiled and patted her head. "Wait for a moment."

He left immediately, then literally dragged over a healer to attend to her little injury.

Seeing the special attention given to her, a faint rosy blush appeared on her cheeks. Her head was lowered slightly, and she pressed her legs together. With all the eyes looking at them, she suddenly wished she could enter the ground.

’Although not by much... she’s growing closer to a genuine article. This...’

It really put Kaiser in a good mood. Perhaps not so soon, but he was anticipating the results of her existence. Would she gain color? Or would she remain colorless just like the others?

He really wanted to know!

"Kaiser Solace. I’ve heard of you." Someone called out to him.

He turned to look at him, realizing it was the purple-haired leader of Class-D.

Kaiser regarded the boy calmly, then gave a neutral smile. "Apollo Silverstein. Seeing you in person, you’re just as rough as your reputation."

His comment was sincere, with no hint of mockery in his eyes.

Apollo didn’t look offended by the comments. Instead, he gave a wild grin. "Heh! And you’re really as arrogant as they say."

Kaiser raised a brow. "Arrogant? Is that the term used to define ME?"

Apollo scowled at the question. "Aren’t you just showcasing your arrogance right now?"

"You’re really something else, Kaiser. But I wonder how that arrogant face of yours would look when humbled."

Kaiser gently reassured the worried Maya with a smile, then turned his full attention to Apollo.

"Humbled? Me? Personally, I haven’t encountered someone who can do such a miracle. But you’re very much welcome to try."

Apollo quietly ground his teeth, purple lightning flickering at his fingertips.

"That look of yours... it grates on me. But it won’t last. I’ve decided, Kaiser. I’ll be the one to bury you."

’Bury me?’ Kaiser smiled slightly, his eyes squinted. The last time someone tried knocking him down a peg, they had been unable to withstand his counterattack.

Now however, Kaiser was a little excited by Apollo’s declaration. Could he really bury him? Could he withstand his counterattack? He didn’t know, but he was sure that Apollo would evolve during the process.

Perhaps he might become like President Anthony and Maya, possessing the tendency to regain his own color. If that could happen, then Kaiser would willingly spare the boy some of his attention.

’After all, not all those with color are necessarily my friends.’

"Alright, Apollo Silverstein. Try your very best. I’m curious what you can achieve."

Saying that, he returned to Maya’s side. Apollo stared at his back for some seconds, then went straight to their Class Instructor.

"Your expression is a mix of worry and faith. Worry, I can understand, but faith?"

Kaiser asked as he sat beside Maya. Under the military tent, the students were protected from the scorching sun.

Maya calmly smiled. "It is because I believe you can handle things cleanly, Kaiser. I trust you."

"Oh... you believe. A very interesting concept." Kaiser chuckled, ordering a soft drink for himself and her.

She took hers from him, then asked as he drank. "Why would you let him attack you though? Apollo is someone who’d use any means to attack a person."

"In the first week, most students in the class were personally handled by him, and they dare not raise a head against him."

Kaiser understood her warnings, but wasn’t unfazed in the slightest.

"That is exactly what I’m curious about. Will he really be able to... bury me? I believe he deserves a chance."