61 Class Zero - Part 1

Asura Ryuu's group passed through the Academy's main hall while talking about some interesting events from the past.

After walking for a while, the four reached an open space where there were ten groups of students gathered, each of them having the specially designated robe corresponding to their class except the group closest to the area where teachers sat in their chairs.

Only that one group didn't have any special robes on them - in fact, it was the group that had very colorful robes. Others could only watch with confusion and envy.

The funny thing, though, was that their envy was plastered on their faces as clear as day. But considering that mainly everyone was only six years of age, it was normal.

It was the smallest group, with only 22 students whom Asura Ryuu recognized immediately. Who else could it be if not the 22 brothers and sisters of his?

Eight humans.

Six Spirit Beasts.

Eight Spirits.

Among the humans, Asura Ryuu knew two quite better than anyone else - Xun Bao and Xun Meng. However, there was also the Princess whose name he still didn't know. He recalled how flustered the Princess was when her eyes met his. Asura Ryuu suddenly decided that in the future, he'll tease that spoiled lady every chance he had.

Xiao Lan's hand landed on his head and ruffled his silver-white hair, causing Asura Ryuu's black eyes with crimson stars within to stare at her with curiosity.

Xiao Lan: "I'll come see you after classes later. Go to your friends now, you two little rascals."

Asura Tenka suddenly pouted: "Hmph… how did we suddenly become rascals now?"

Xiao Lan looked at the little girl's pouting face that made her even more charming than before and started giggling.

Xiao Lan: "Of course you two are rascals! If you're not rascals, how can you be so cute?"

Asura Ryuu shrugged his shoulders and shook his head while Asura Tenka humphed once again, grabbed his hand and led him away, pretending to be angry.

Lan Yao followed behind the two little guys as they circled around the other groups of hundred students who were staring at them with curiosity - there were some looks of awe mixed within equally among the girls and the boys.

The cause was, naturally, the pair of siblings that had striking features that could easily charm the opposite gender. Neither of the two were spared from getting looks of amazement from the crowd.

The difference between the robes of the two Asuras was the same as the difference between the color of Xiao Lan's and Lan Yao's wings.

Asura Ryuu's robes were sapphire-like with a pattern of scales that belonged to the transformed Xiao Lan - the blue Qilin, while Asura Tenka's robes were azure blue with Dragon-shaped scale pattern.

Asura Tenka's black hair that was several centimeters longer than before hung free, absorbing all light within those crystal-black strands that danced along with the wind.

Asura Ryuu's white hair with silvery gem-like splendor perfectly offsetted his black-red eyes. The two were very attention-grabbing now that they were the only ones who weren't in a group.

The same situation occurred with the older male disciples when they saw Lan Yao. This mysterious young Elder was their object of worship. Not taking a chance to engrave her beauty in their hearts would be a waste.

However, the trio didn't even blink as they reached the elevated platform where the smallest group was.

The Asura twins finally came to their own group as everyone rejoiced after seeing them. The previously quiet setting of 22 children turned into a cheerful murmur of 24 six-year-old kids. The transformation was more than obvious.

Asura Ryuu and Asura Tenka remembered the names of other children with ease. It was not a problem for them to do so considering the amount of Spirit Power they had.

The Princess's name gave Asura Ryuu a surprise.

Her name is Long Xingyue.

He felt as if that name was somehow connected to him, but he did not understand why he would get such a feeling - after all, he would certainly remember someone with such an unique name.

Dragon [Long] among the Stars [Xing] and the Moon [Yue].

Her name was as domineering and beautiful as it could be.

Xun Meng had a gentle angel-like look on her face, which was very favorable for this situation. Remembering the bloodthirsty and somewhat evil look in her eyes, Asura Ryuu suddenly grinned.

Asura Ryuu: "I wonder what will become of her in the future?"

Glancing at Xun Bao, he saw the latter very energetic and happy. The laziness from before was nowhere even close to appearing on Xun Bao's face.

Asura Ryuu: "Was it because of the Awakening? I wonder what their Spirit Avatars are…"

His eyes skimmed through the crowd and stopped upon reaching the elevated platform. There were, surprisingly, not many elders.

Of those present, he knew the Principal, the Vice-Principal as well as her grandchild that pestered Lan Yao every time he got a chance. Besides them, there was a figure that caused the corners of Asura Ryuu's mouth to slightly curl upwards - the old man Xun Feng was there with black clothes that didn't catch much attention.

Lan Yao stood behind the old man Xun Feng because he was her teacher, so it's not that surprising to see her standing behind him.

The old man felt a burning gaze on himself and immediately found out that the one wanting to pierce holes through him was none other than the scariest of the 24 monsters.

The corners of his mouth curled upwards as well when he saw Asura Ryuu's weird grin.

"Interesting... It seems I have found my successor, hahahahaha!!!", Xun Feng thought.

Lan Yao occasionally glanced at Asura Tenka because she took a liking to this girl. She was thinking of taking her in as her personal disciple, but she had to ask for her teacher's permission.

Everything went as usual for some time until the Principal rose from his chair and came to the front of the elevated platform, facing the thousand students.

Xun Zhu looked at so many youngsters and felt unspeakable pride coursing through his blood.

The amount of children enrolling into academy this year was slightly higher than previously because Asura Ryuu's group was a new addition this time. There were usually only 900 students split into nine groups of a hundred, but there's a tenth group this year - Class Zero.

The twenty four monsters belonged to Class Zero, the class made only for monsters.

They couldn't even imagine how important this group would become in the future.

Nobody could imagine the weight of the two words "Class Zero" in the future.

The two words representing the highest honor ever given to anyone on this world.

Xun Zhu felt very satisfied and elated, hence why the speech proceeded smoothly and in high spirits. The cheering of the six-year-old kids was a very interesting thing to watch for many seniors of the academy. It reminded them of the times when they first came here as well.

After the entrance speech concluded, the teachers responsible for their classes took away each group and led them into the building, opposite of the way where Asura Ryuu and other three came in from.

Only the students of Class Zero remained on the square before the elevated platform.

The principal wasn't here because he led his class away - Class One.

The ones staring down at these children from the 1.5-meter-high platform were Xun Feng and Lan Yao.

These two were the teachers of this class.

The only class that had two teachers.

Asura Ryuu was beyond happy when he saw that their teachers turned out to be people he was very satisfied and familiar with. He didn't notice that his handsome face had a wide grin while looking at old prophet Xun Feng that clearly stood out from the rest of his handsome face. Xun Feng in turn stared at Asura Ryuu's excited eyes and found out that even his old heart felt as if it could return to its peak in a second, as if infected by this kid's excitement.

Xun Feng grinned even more while Lan Yao made a confused expression when she noticed his expression.

Lan Yao thought: "What could possibly make teacher so excited?"

Seeing her teacher excited, Lan Yao couldn't help but wonder what kind of torture would these poor kids have to go through. Her own personality was partially twisted under his 'care'. She couldn't even imagine what awaits these kids he deemed as 'Children of Destiny'.

She could only pray for them...