14 Chapter 14

After some small chat, they entered into meditation as the night quickly crawled away revealing the yellow golden glow. Rays of gentle yellow rays pieced through the thin paper curtain. Illuminating the room as of on fire, they awoke from the stiff mediative posture.

Flexing their bodies and bathing, they dashed to the classrooms. Hard concrete clicked softly as they walked. By the end of the night, they had begun a good and lasting relationship. They found they enjoyed the other's company and found some things in common which they could relate to.

Excitement lit the two pairs of eyes. As related by their springing yet calm pacing. They immediately entered the classroom sitting in their respective positions. Their sitting positions had been marked with their names and their Mana signal. Which made the duo express their awe.

Honestly, the air quickly gushed out of their lungs, drying their lips. They didn't notice their classmates looked at them in disdain and even slight contempt. What were these two busy touching their desks like they haven't seen pieces of wood before? Were they crazy?

Most of them couldn't understand their two classmate's behaviors, as they were from either the middle class or the revered tycoon financial position. They shook their heads in disgust and kept their silence. Of course, the duo ignored the hard-to-hide stares and the shaking of heads.

"Run, twenty laps the school compound. *Now!*" A female and wisened voice demanded with an air of authority.

The class was dumbfounded and without knowing stood up. However, they stood like immovable boulders and were rooted to the spot. Daniel and Charles were no exception. Jolted by the faint aura and commanding voice, they similarly stood up and quietly awaited their bossy teacher.

"What the hell, are you standing there like a bunch of statues." It wasn't a question. "Move! Why do I have to have such idiotic students? Run or it will double. Oh, you would like that? One . . . Two . . ." The voice began to count further increasing the bewilderment and repressed fear.

Before the last word was uttered, Daniel and Charles dashed off. Following, a red-haired girl left and nimbly dashed after the duo. After the three examples, the class ran with all their might. Fear and panic were apparent as the class darted after the trio.

A pair of crimson eyes peered at the two dormmates' position. With his high perception, he could sense the girl's gaze. Piercing. Curious. Deep. Like an ocean of crimson.

Refuting to turn his head, he sensed the other classmate's closing in quickly. Magic quickly enhancing their bodies they quickly obeyed the voice without any hesitation. Whilst the magic circles were being formed and the Mana circuits glowing gently, they unexpectedly shattered.

Daniel and Charles tried to use their Mana but were stopped when a stifling aura pervaded their personal space. Personal space. No that's no right. It felt like an Apex predator disposing of their prey. Yes. Prey.

But for Daniel, it was even more stifling than anyone in the class. He could sense the boundless sea of spiritual pressure. His knees almost turned to jelly and cold sweat trickled down his spine. Obediently like a colony of ants, they used their bodies instead of using Mana as an enhancer.

[ Spiritual Pressure detected. ]

[ Mental Fortitude required to resist = 56. ]

[ Required points have been fulfilled. Successful resistance has been initiated. Completed. ]

Such was the display he viewed as he ran for his dear life. Fear. Adrenaline rushed creating a slight blotch of red on his cheeks. Sh*t, why do I have to endure the most pressure. Why does it happen to me? To hell with the "why's".

Even though to the others, the pressure was only preventing them from forming magic circles, Daniel was the only one who could feel what the pressure was focusing on. *Halting the flow of Mana thus returning their bodies to ordinary mortals excluding their physiques.* Troublesome.

When the class tried to circle Mana around their Mana circuits, they felt no response. Two laps were quickly completed. Charles was also having difficulty with the pressure. Using his willpower he resisted successfully and he ran following Daniel, who looked like the reaper came round to get him. Is he so fearful of just this pressure? From the killing intent, Daniel had emitted he was at least capable. When his next train of thought rolled in, the spiritual suddenly skyrocketed.

Gritting his teeth he looked onward to see himself slowdown and Daniel was beside him. They didn't have time to look back as the others soon collapsed under the pressure. They didn't dare. They would have lost their confidence in continuing the run. The red-haired girl was also just behind them looking like life was a blissful adventure.

By the time the trio and the exhausted class had reached eighteen laps, they were dog tired as two hours' worth of sweat clung to their uniforms. A scent of fresh sweat rent the air. Daniel and Charles, together with the red-haired girl were following respectively. Daniel's feet were on verge of collapsing. They had already collapsed. Pure willpower was the only thing driving him forward.

In short, they were in a shitty situation and their feet were broken beyond repair. Not literally. "You got yourself a hassle of a teacher. That pressure should be from a hundred thousand-year magical beast. Around tier 5. Maybe peak tier 5. I'm so enjoying this." The dragon spoke in his spiritual sea.

Daniel after hearing this, confirmed his fears while imagining tables. Which he would flip. Shouldn't he be helping me? To at least ward of the pressure. "No can do. If the woman felt my aura she would send you to a laboratory. No questions asked. So you gotta do this on your own. Besides I'm only a soul of a dragon and my spiritual origin has already integrated itself into your spiritual sea. So really I can't help you."

Great more tables to flip. What made Daniel's eyes involuntarily widen was the sudden increase of pressure. Mixing with the hundred thousand-year magical beast aura was traces of blood-curling killing intent. The only thing Daniel could hear was the soft thudding of bodies as they collapsed on the concrete. Of course, this unbalanced him slightly.

A slight cold mist washed over Daniel's face as his eyes flared. "Thanks." That was the only thing he managed to say. His mind relaxed even though under the stress of exertion. He was sure those who made it would have an explosive increase in spiritual power. This was just the beginning. He already began to dread coming here.

Under the effects of Chilling aura, though not much to be noticed it helped him stay focused. Glancing back, he saw Charles's face pale and with some happiness, Charles's normally confident and arrogant face was finally broken down. The red-haired girl's gaze narrowed at the increased pressure as she panted quietly

"I can only prevent your spiritual sea from collapsing. And also keeping your mind clear so . . . Good luck!" Raising a claw in a gesture of a thumbs up.

Narrowing her eyes, the figure saw only ten students managed to withstand her pressure. Failures. They would learn why the academy was the mages' number one sanctuary and the ultimate testing grounding. Failures were not tolerable. Instant expulsion was imminent. The crimson-eyed girl was who she was interested in as she could feel a faint pressure from her. Next was the White-haired with black streaks boy who was much to look at but in who she could sense *nothing.* Absolutely nothing but her instincts lied to her. He would grow. Perhaps stronger than her. Last but not least, the tempestuous green-eyed boy who was arrogant. She could tell with such types. Just the eyes were enough.

She would temper the three brats to surpass her. A legacy? She raised her eyebrows chuckling. Wondering why she was thinking such thoughts she watched the entertaining show. To her any way it was entertaining. Smiling for once in a long time, a wash of cooling satisfaction and steely determination fell on the elder woman's face. _ Let's see what you all can do._

Internally, Daniel rolled his eyes at the dragon's comment. If he had the strength, he would probably roll them in the material world as well. Perseverance. Hope. The three were finally approaching the final lap. The other remnant had also followed keenly. As expected, almost half dead. *Just a little more.* Their hearts' bate as one in this thought. They were already imagining their glorious victory. The faces had got some color back but not much.

Enjoying the show, the elderly woman whispered," I will give them this one. Besides they all have good physiques and they haven't given up *yet*. This old woman ain't gonna dash the hopes of some poor young'uns." She sheathed her aura mercifully.

The pressure drastically reduced as they found breathe they never knew they had. Unbalanced slightly by the reduction of the aura so quickly, they almost stumbled. Dashing forward by a newfound strength, the ten students passed. Marvelously. As they all fell, their breathes extremely labored as the roaring of their blood came to a slow halt. *Yes!* They all echoed in their respective minds

Click. Click.

**Hello reader's please note I'm still new to the writing biz. In RL have some things to deal with so chapter output will be at 1-3 chapters a week. Criticism but not hate is highly encouraged.**