Free Web NovelChapter 40: ( Edited)Chapter 40. Monster in human skin
Aiden yawned.
He leapt out of bed in shorts and t-shirts. He deemed pajamas a ladies’ thing.
He headed straight to the washroom.
After freshening up he wore a longcoat, t-shirts, jeans and some sneakers.
He left his villa.
As usual, snow drops fell. The humidity was high.
Aiden headed towards the Great Arena. The largest Arena of the university. This was where monthly combat evaluations happened.
Today was Monday. And it was the final day of the month.
The university did not care if first years had joined the university close to the end of the month.
There was no way they could skip the monthly combat evaluation.
As a matter of fact, no student, ranging from first year to fourth year could skip it.
Skipping it meant expulsion. Unless under absolutely unique circumstances connected to the well being of the university, such as undertaking an engagement the higher ups of the university, including the Vice Chancellor and the chancellor, were aware of, one could not miss the monthly combat evaluations. Missing it meant expulsion.
This was to deter students from using missions and training as excuses to miss the combat evaluation.
No one was stupid enough though to try and see if the rule worked.
Those who tried that in the end had been expelled with immediate effect.
Currently Aiden was not the only one headed into the arenas.
Students ranging from first year to fourth year were headed there.
"I really envy the top ten on the Heavenly Ascension ranking list," someone said.
"Yeah. The university personally sent them on a mission to close a rank 2 gate in Kingsport City. Because of that, they won’t be around for the combat evaluation."
"Wow. That’s quite dangerous. Why are you saying you are envious of them when they could die in there?"
"Well that’s what being a fourth year, and especially what being in the top ten of the Heavenly Ascension ranking list means. Those guys are all terrifying expert rank 2 warriors. So, most of the dangerous missions are handled by them. If they can’t handle it, then the professors step in. It’s not like the universe forces missions on them, but there are times where the university personally assigns special missions to them. They are free to accept these missions or reject them. However, because of the rewards that come with these missions, they’d hardly reject them. Also secret realms could be full of opportunities."
"The remaining on the top hundred on the Heavenly Ascension ranking list range from beginner rank 2 to advanced rank 2, right?"
"Indeed. Those guys are also terrifying. They are all fourth years. After the top 100, the remaining top/high rankers on the Heavenly Ascension ranking list are third years and second years. At the moment, they are all at between advanced rank 1 and legendary rank 1.
No first year is in the top 5000. That’s literally impossible at the moment. Not even Aiden Vhorn, the strongest first year, Asmodeus Vincent or Desmonda Creed can get on the rankings."
"I look forward to seeing some of the top rankers fight against others."
"Yeah. There are also exceptional second and third year students who are not high rankers. They are intermediate rank 1 warriors. Then we have the regulars like us, who are beginner rank 1 warriors"
" Heh, some second years are also beginner rank 1 warriors. Don’t be so down. We are not the only weaklings in the university"
"Anyway, did you check the rankings? Aiden Vhorn is now ranked 19999 on the Heavenly Ascension ranking list."
"That guy is just something else. He’s a freak. He actually broke into the intermediate rank 1 level so quickly. Are we even in the same year as him?
I heard he soloed a high difficulty mission with a risk of death!"
"Yeah. It’s true, check the mission log. It’s there. "
Several first year students discussed among themselves.
Finally, someone noticed him.
She was a first year lady in class 1E.
"It’s him," she whispered to her friend.
"Who?" the friend asked.
"Aiden Vhorn," she said.
"Oh my God. It’s him. Such a looker. Do you think he’s single? Should I make a move?"
"Dream on, girl. Look at him, we are way out of his league."
"Ah~ my legs are literally going weak from seeing him. He looks so badass in that longcoat. And it’s just as the rumors say, he seems so ordinary, except that he’s very good looking. It’s hard to imagine he’s the one behind all those dangerous feats."
"Indeed. But that’s what makes him more dangerous."
"Kyaaa... a dangerous man is my ideal man. I can even imagine us..."
"Girl, are you on steroids or something?"
Aiden naturally ignored these conversations.
But he could not help but sigh inwardly.
"I guess women can also be perverts, huh."
After that, he hastened his movements a bit, eventually leaving the area.
Very soon, he, alongside everyone, arrived at the arenas.
The arena was large enough to host all the staff and students of the university.
The fighting platforms were divided into several sections which stretched for as far as the eyes could see.
Holographic screens lined the place.
The place was eventually packed to the brim with students and instructors.
The only people who were not here were the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor.
Aside from managing the university, they were legendary rank 3 warriors with much higher responsibilities. They did not have the time to come here and spectate monthly combat evaluations.
Very soon everyone was seated.
Among the staff, Cosmo was seated next to Pamela Ashira.
They were holding hands. It was obvious that the two were in a relationship.
None of the instructors were shocked by this. It was general knowledge among the staff members.
However, many staff members, especially the men, had to admit that Cosmo Prince had a lot of guts.
To be able to win the heart of this mad woman was something worthy of their respect.
"Whose performance do you look forward to?" Cosmo asked Ashira.
"Aiden Vhorn," Pamela Ashira replied.
"The student I helped to enroll?" Cosmo said. "Interesting."
"You don’t know, right?" Pamela shook her head with a sigh.
"What?" Cosmo said, puzzled.
"Well, I don’t blame you, you were out of town," she said. "He’s now an intermediate rank 1 warrior, and is the strongest first year student now."
She went ahead to tell him all the feats Aiden Vhorn had pulled off during this period.
Cosmo chuckled. "This young man is a monster in human skin."
"Yeah. It’s refreshing to have talents like him. If nothing untoward happens to him, I’m sure he will become very powerful," Pamela said.
"Indeed," Cosmo said.
"No doubt, he does not have a competitor among the first years," another instructor chimed in. "But I doubt he can take on any one of the exceptional second years. The top 5000 on the Heavenly Ascension ranking list aside, there are other exceptional second year students who are stronger than him."
Many instructors nodded.
It was simply the logical train of thought.
Cosmo and Pamela were silent.
They could not make any judgments. And Aiden Vhorn was one to pull off surprises.
"You are up," one instructor said to another.
"Right." The female instructor on duty for managing the combat assessment/ evaluation said.
Streams of water burst forth from beneath her feet.
She used aerial maneuvering to arrive in the air, somewhere in the center of the stadium.
It was time to explain the rules for the first years who were not familiar with how the combat evaluation worked.
