After a day of brutal torment, Wu Yan was finally returned to Lilina.

The moment he saw her, he lunged forward, wrapping his two tentacles tightly around her body. Lilina quickly hugged him back.

*Sobbing inside*, "Young lady, I've finally seen you! Get me away from that madwoman!"

Lilina asked, puzzled, "Teacher Stephanie, what's wrong with him?"

"Ah, student Lilina, let's start class first!" Stephanie forced a smile and changed the subject.

"Oh, okay!" Lilina was still confused but didn't press further.

"Class, today's lesson is about..."

After class, Stephanie closed her book and announced, "Next week, our class has a practice session. Your Contract Beasts will fight alongside you. In a month, the whole grade competes—the top hundred win rewards!"

The classroom erupted in chatter the moment she finished.

"So, everyone, prepare well. Build rapport with your Contract Beasts quickly. I look forward to your performance!" Stephanie walked out after speaking.

Lilina felt excited. Before the teacher mentioned Dark Beasts, she'd had no hope. Now she said to Wu Yan, "Little Dark, you must do your best in this competition! If you make the top hundred, I'll buy you delicious treats!"

She gently stroked Wu Yan. He had strong objections but was helpless and speechless—he could only silently endure it.

"Oh dear, Lilina, do you really think you can compete?" Labi overheard and mocked her. "With that Dark Beast of yours—not even a low-level Monster Beast? Haha, don't make me laugh!"

"If I were you, I'd stay a spectator. You'll have no hope and embarrass our class!"

"Labi, do you even have hope of making the top hundred? For something hopeless, you should be the spectator!"

"You..."

Labi always picked on Lilina because she never backed down, always countering with sharper words.

"Hmph, still talking tough!" Labi suddenly calmed down—she had a direct way to make Lilina surrender. "Since you're so confident in your Contract Beast, fine. Next week's practice, let's have a match."

"A match..." Lilina hesitated. She could only communicate simply with Wu Yan now. In one week, she wasn't confident he could fight.

"What, scared? Go back to your small town then. Stop embarrassing the academy."

"Fine, let's compete. But if you lose, apologize to me in front of the whole class."

"—Deal. If you lose, leave the academy." Labi agreed after a pause. *What use is a mere Dark Beast? My Contract Beast will harass while I prepare magic. How can Lilina win?*

Lilina trusted the teacher hadn't lied and agreed.

Wu Yan knew nothing of this impending battle. He was pondering something strange. *Is my memory really this good?*

Bored in class—he couldn't understand anyone—he glanced at the textbook. The lines that once seemed chaotic now looked crystal clear. He realized he'd memorized the entire Magic Array, every detail sharp in his mind.

*Could I have a cheat skill—absolute memory? No. Yesterday, the same book overwhelmed me. Today, my thoughts are clearer. What happened in two days? That woman who experimented on me...*

Thinking of her, Wu Yan shivered. *How did I survive that hell? It must be her. The experiments helped, but I never want that pain again. Unbearable.*

*Still, I should learn this language fast. Match words to actions, and I'll grasp meanings. Maybe even learn magic!*

*Magic!* Just the name thrilled him. So many dreamed of it—he had real hope.

Of course, he felt zero gratitude toward the Tentacle God. *If only He hadn't made me a Tentacle Monster.* Wu Yan looked at his tentacles, bitterness filling him. *Forget it. Memorize this Magic Array now. Test it alone later.*

Just then—*snap!*—the book slammed shut.

"Little Dark, let's go!"

Wu Yan wanted to cry. *Don't put it away! Wait—I've only memorized half! Can I even enjoy learning magic?*

He'd finally wanted to learn—and was dragged off. Learning really was hard.