The afternoon sun blazed fiercely, the air seeming to burn, especially at this hour—two o'clock.

And this was exactly when classes began...

Sky Qi lazily sprawled on his bed, the ice-powered AC pumping cool air that banished every trace of outdoor heat.

Forget it. He couldn’t break his word. After an inner struggle, Sky Qi finally decided to attend class. He nonchalantly climbed out of bed.

He slipped on his uniform, tidied himself in the mirror, and nodded in satisfaction. Calmly, he clasped his hands behind his neck and hummed a tune.

Next, he did something that would leave most people dumbfounded—he yanked open the window and jumped out!

Water Curtain!

A gentle stream enveloped his body, transparent and cool, shielding his face so no one could see his features or even guess his gender.

He landed like a water balloon, not too hard. The sphere bounced once on impact, then shattered instantly.

WindStride!

The moment the Water Curtain vanished, Sky Qi activated WindStride. Fierce gusts swirled around his legs, making each step swift as a gale.

He avoided the corridor—too crowded during class. Jumping was simpler. The Water Curtain wasn’t just protection; it was cover. No one could recognize him, not even his gender.

With his current B Rank strength, he was nowhere near his former S Rank physique. His body was hundreds of times weaker now. Falling unprotected from this height would at least cause minor injuries.

He hadn’t worn a scarf—a black figure with a fiery red one would stand out too much. In this heat, people wanted to strip down, not bundle up.

Magic Class 3? Sky Qi sneered, muttering, "So boring. After a few days, I can skip class daily, right?"

Ha. He’d be freeloading. When Cassius Academy faced challenges, he’d just show up and crush opponents. Nothing else mattered. He and Adolf each had their goals.

Sky Qi wanted his power back. Adolf craved the "Strongest Academy" title for endless Alliance funding.

This academy spent lavishly. The girls’ dorm alone resembled a six-star magic hotel. Expenses were colossal—daily gourmet cafeteria meals, thousands of AC units.

It survived such reckless spending thanks to the Alliance and great nobles. Some, like the Nangong family, were both nobles and Alliance reps. Defenses were near-impenetrable; even continent-famous figures might fail to enter.

Magical barrier walls sealed the perimeter—only the main gate allowed entry. How did Jaina slip in so easily?

Unknown. She rivaled Sky Qi at his peak. To her, those defenses were like thin paper, pierced with a finger...

Thus, Adolf had to uphold the academy’s image and justify the nobles’ and Alliance’s investments. In tournaments, they needed not just victory, but total domination.

All this tied to Magic Class 3. Its students were notorious figures, each backed by massive power. The weakest was still from a great family’s cadet branch.

Truly a noble class. Their influence fueled both their recklessness and the academy. As long as they didn’t cross lines, Adolf shielded them for the nobles’ sake.

Sky Qi searched awhile, then spotted the sign above. His mouth twitched. Why was this class sign so bizarre?

Three large skulls were drawn on it—no words. They must represent "3".

What the hell? What sketchy class did that old man Adolf dump me into? Sky Qi stared, dumbfounded.

He hesitated, then pushed open the classroom door.

Whoosh!

Sky Qi’s gaze sharpened. The Sea of Magic instantly answered his call, churning at full speed.

Ice Shield!

A circular ice shield materialized in his palm. A scorching Wind-Fire Blade sliced into it, exploding into fragments—but Sky Qi didn’t budge an inch.

Hiss... Struck by the Wind-Fire Slash, the shield melted rapidly, cool water dripping to the floor.

The magic ceased. The shield collapsed, flowing like a living thing into Sky Qi’s hand.

Sky Qi gaped. This classroom was enormous—half a playground. Clearly built with Spatial Magic.

Dozens of students hurled spells wildly. That Wind-Fire Blade? Just a stray shot that found him. With his shitty luck, it was a straight-up doorway ambush.

The Wind-Fire Blade combined wind blades and fire magic—a high-output move deceptively hard to master. Child’s play next to Sky Qi’s Ice-Fire Fusion explosions, yet proof the caster was no amateur.

Sky Qi rubbed his eyes hard, opened them again. To check for illusions, he cast a Purification Spell.

The scene remained unchanged.

Stunned, Sky Qi thought: What class is this? Adolf’s old man really had ill intentions. Who are these people? Is this an arena?

He felt like he’d stepped back into a chaotic brawl. Standing alone at the door, he looked painfully awkward.

Honestly, this class wasn’t necessary, right? Sky Qi forced a dry laugh, retreating to the doorway while using the Sea of Magic to deflect spell backlash.

This was so awkward! Later, he’d definitely chew out that old fart Adolf.

But as a newcomer, he should greet them first.

"Hello everyone. Nice to meet you. I’m the new guy."

His voice echoed like a loudspeaker, ethereal and clear across the room. Students engrossed in duels slowly lowered their hands.