"...The minimum bet in a duel is 10 AP, and a student who lost the match has a week of peace before another challenge could be issued to him or her. So most of the students used their 1-week peace to find a clan before another challenge will come knocking on their door.

Don't you think it's dangerous to be a lone wolf, Deputy sir?"

Eman glanced at him and nodded. He could understand what Faye meant. "You mean… the student who lost once will be an easy target for the next challenge since his or her weakness would be known to others. So the next challenge will be a huge disadvantage for him or her…"

"Yep! You're quite quick on the uptake, Deputy Sir."

Said Faye with a laugh.

Eman narrowed his eyes and thought to himself. If a student lost consecutively ten times, it was a game over for him or her. It's really bad huh.

"Regardless, what do you mean about the Clan Protection System that you mentioned a while ago?"

Eman asked upon remembering it.

"Right, right!" Said Faye as he lifted his finger in the air. Then he continued. "Each clan can pay AP to the Clan Hall to be excluded from any challenge."

"Hm, so there's a pay…"

"Exactly, but… each member just cost 10 AP for a total of 1-month peace. Don't you think it's better than being challenged and losing 10 AP each week?"

Eman did not think long and agreed with him. "True, it's much better than being challenged each week. So, it's the advantage of having a clan huh."

"But… What if a student issued a challenge to someone before a challenge invitation came over him?" Eman immediately asked upon noticing something that seemed like a loophole. With this, a student could avoid getting challenged by the same person who was stronger than him. 

There was also a chance that the student could find a weaker opponent. 

"You can do it but… most of the students will already have a clan the next day. So it's hard to find a regular opponent for you to be your scapegoat."

"....."

"I see. You have a point…"

Since he surmised that Faye knows a lot regarding the academy rules, Eman asked him more.

Faye told him that it wasn't only with dueling others that a student could gain AP. They could also do some side jobs like what the Merciless clan did. There were also jobs known as Clan Mission. And every clan could apply a Clan Mission in the Clan Hall.

Regarding Clan Hall. It was the headquarters for all clans. Every clan was registered in this place. Missions and rewards could be taken from here as well.

After hearing it from Faye, his understanding of the place was the same as Guild Hall from games and anime he had watched.

Right, it certainly is an adventurers guild hall but in a different name only. It also functioned the same.

While Eman was mulling over it, at the corner of his eyes, he noticed some banners around the oval-shaped training plain.

He asked Faye about it.

"Ah, those? Those are the insignia of the top clans."

Faye said to him.

He nodded in reply.

"Regardless, Deputy sir, our class is over there!" Faye pointed ahead of them.

On their left side, their classmates were sitting on the benches, while Instructor Stuwart was standing and seemingly giving lectures to the students.

They were watching something.

When the two of them arrived at the benches, their classmates glanced at them. Everyone was wearing different expressions on their faces. After all, the thing he did the other day was truly hard to believe. Some of them felt new about him while some still could not accept what he did in the training area.

Well, hitting the target continuously without missing a single one was truly unbelievable. Especially the one who did it was the person who was supposed to be the weakest and most untalented student in the academy.

They chose to disregard it.

Even Faye still could not fully believe it. But since he saw it with his own eyes, he had to accept that it was real.

Wait, thinking about what their deputy did in the training and the rumble yesterday, Faye started to believe that their deputy had awakened as an irregular awakener. Though it was only his assumption. 

He glanced at Eman and saw him staring at the battlefield.

Eman, on the other hand, was quite surprised by this arena. At the moment, there was a pair who were currently battling in the middle of the arena.

The weird thing he noticed while staring at the unfolding battle, was that it seemed like he was staring at a large monitor. It seemed like the things happening in front of him weren't real. Like he was staring at a movie and not the actual scene.

While he was wondering about it, suddenly, he heard the instructor say that the arena in front of them was powered by an artefact. This artefact had a large-scale monitoring ability. Not only that, but it also could toggle the whole arena's scenery.

Never did he imagine that this place was so advanced in magic-based equipment that could even rival or defeat the modern technology of earth.

Regardless, since the oval-shaped arena was quite spacious, there were some trees and even rivers that could be seen around. 

The fighter could hide and sneak attack their enemies.

Currently displayed on the monitor was a person who was using two daggers. He was slowly approaching the person who was wielding a bow. The bow-user was spying on the tree branch. He was looking everywhere, seemingly trying to spot his opponent.

However, he didn't notice that the enemy was already behind him.

About 10 steps away from him, the feet of the user of daggers burst out bluish magical energy. Then his figure suddenly vanished but in a split second, he reappeared behind the bow-user.

Without knowing what happened, the bow-user was stabbed behind him.

"He nailed it!"

"He did it!"

"Woah!"

Some people in the benches exclaimed excitedly while throwing their hands in the air, some even clapped their hands.

"Finally defeated the Ace member of Lucid Blue Clan!"

Another person shouted.

"Arrgghh! Nooooo!!!"

And one person cried out.

However, they froze when the bow user's body suddenly glowed blindingly. Then the next second, it erupted.

A loud explosion happened in the forest and smoke arose towards the sky.

Everyone gawked. The dagger-user's body had only half remained. The other half was disintegrated by the explosion.

"F##k! He's truly a beast!"

"Haaaah! So it's another loss huh!"

"That's regretful."

Eman blinked his eyes and wondered. Except for the regretful remarks, everyone seemed to be calm. In front of them, Instructor Stuwart continued his discussion without minding the person whose body disintegrated.

A moment later, the whole arena glowed blindingly. Out of reflex, he used his hand to cover his face. Eman widened his eyes when the glowed dissipated.

"Surprise?"

Faye asked him with a smirk.

The grassy arena in front of him recently was now turned into a big auditorium.

"How…?"

"....."

Eman asked then fell silent. It was truly a magical place. Also, two people materialized in the middle. They were the bow-user and the person who uses daggers.

What made him more stupefied was the dagger-user whose body was disintegrated a while ago. Now, his body is back to normal.

"Did you see that fight?" 

"Yes, Instructor!"

"That's what you called advance manipulation of magical energy."

Woah!

"Teacher! Can we do it as well?"

"Uhm, honestly, it isn't as simple as what you think. Those two are from the advanced class. But don't worry, if you train harder, even if you have a petty magical aura, you can succeed in that kind of manipulation someday. So for now, focus on your training! Don't miss a single day…!"

While the instructor was saying it, he sneaked a glance at Eman. Although Eman noticed it, he decided to act as though he didn't notice his gaze.

Looks like the Instructor decided to bring his students here to lit the fire within them. It could motivate them, but could also demotivate them. It was like a double-edged sword. But Eman believed that it had a good effect on most as he noticed the fire in their eyes. But for some reason, most of them were staring at him like he was their enemy. Uh no. Most likely, they were staring at him like he was another mountain they needed to cross.

A bead of sweat materialized at the back of his head. It was his fault for showing his skill in the training. Well, he didn't do it on purpose. He was just too engrossed that time. Never he imagined that it would be fun.

Eman sighed.

"Wooohhh!!! Young Master Yun Hei!"

The girls excitedly called out the name. The bow-user smiled towards the audience then left the arena after saying something to the defeated enemy. He walked out proudly from the arena.

Before leaving the arena, Eman asked an important question to Faye.