Chapter 42-Odorous Encounter

Chapter 42-Odorous Encounter

In the aftermath of the duel, the academy buzzed with speculation and rumors.

Some students couldn't understand how Dwight, the lazy young master, could effortlessly defeat his opponent with a simple yawn.

Skepticism lingered, with whispers suggesting Arthur was just a paid actor, staged to boost Dwight's reputation.

However, not everyone dismissed Dwight's victory so easily.

A strange rumor began to circulate from an unknown source.

It claimed that Dwight's technique was called the "Unparalleled Yawning Technique."

The rumor spread like wildfire, capturing students' imaginations across the academy.

Some speculated that by mastering yawning, one could harness extraordinary power.

Amidst the gossip, opinions varied.

Some saw the notion as pure madness, dismissing it as absurd. How could something as mundane as yawning hold any significance?

Even so, many students were seen to be yawing so much that their jaws hurt a lot and the clinic of the academy was full of students because of the incident.

Yet, others were intrigued, considering the possibility that there might be more to Dwight's power than met the eye.

Regardless of the truth behind the rumors, one thing was certain—no one dared belittle Dwight openly.

Arthur's fate, having underestimated him, served as a warning.

Students feared facing the same humiliation if they underestimated Dwight's abilities.

His victory instilled a sense of respect, tinged with awe, among his peers.

................

Before the duel.

Tessa stood outside Dwight's room, eyes on the closed door.

Inside, Dwight focused on training for the upcoming battle with Arthur.

Concern creased Tessa's brow as she worried about Dwight's danger.

She wanted to support him, but Dwight firmly told her to stay in the dorm and follow her dreams.

Just as Tessa pondered her next move, a radiant figure appeared before her.

It was Athena.

Athena informed Tessa that she would be her mentor and would be guiding her in the wilderness for combat.

She understood that she needed to have some combat experience.

Tessa's heart skipped with excitement as she agreed to it.

Without delay, Athena used her teleportation ability, and in a blink, they vanished from the dormitory.

Tessa marveled at the incredible display of power Athena showed and he never heard of anyone in this world having such means.

The feeling of being transported through space and time left her both thrilled and slightly disoriented.

Athena reassured her, explaining that without her protection, the strain of space warping would have crushed Tessa's fragile body.

As they reappeared, they found themselves in a vast snowy landscape.

The biting cold penetrated their bones, emphasizing the harshness of their surroundings.

Tessa, shivering slightly, looked around in awe and curiosity.

"Where are we?" she asked, her voice barely audible against the howling wind.

Athena surveyed the surroundings, her eyes scanning the area.

"Based on human knowledge in this world, this place is called the Glaziar Forest," she explained.

"It is one of the most dangerous locations, filled with many threats."

Tessa's eyes widened as she grasped the gravity of their situation.

'Glaziar Forest? It belongs to the forbidden place.'

She was shocked because she knew that this place was very dangerous and even 9-star individuals would not escape from death if they were not careful.

She knew Athena had extraordinary power, and now understood why they were in such a perilous place.

Athena continued, revealing her scans of the area.

"I have detected the presence of ten 9-star beasts in this forest," Athena divulged. "And the strongest one is on the verge of a breakthrough."

Tessa's initial surprise at the revelation quickly subsided.

She had witnessed Athena's formidable strength and understood that the danger they faced was no ordinary threat.

Her perception of Athena shifted, realizing that this figure was not a simple one to detect such beings easily.

Throughout their training, Tessa had often heard Athena refer to herself as a god.

But until now, she had dismissed it as mere grandiosity.

However, Athena took this opportunity to enlighten Tessa about the hierarchy of beings.

"There are mortal life forms, ranging from 1 star to 9 stars, in the higher plane,"

Athena explained. "Beyond them lies the realm of master life forms, with nine stages mirroring the mortal hierarchy."

The revelation left Tessa in awe.

She began to grasp the complexity of the power structures that governed their world.

Yet, Athena did not delve further into the intricacies, for Tessa's level is low right now.

Dwight had entrusted Athena with Tessa's training, instructing her to build a solid foundation and battle experience.

As Tessa delved deeper into her training under Athena's guidance, her powers exploded exponentially.

The mysterious nature of her physique, coupled with Athena's teachings, allowed Tessa to tap into a wellspring of strength she never knew existed within her.

Her every movement became more fluid, her strikes more precise, and her instincts honed to a razor's edge.

...…

Within the icy depths of the Glaziar Forest, Tessa confronted one fearsome beast after another.

With each encounter, she pushed herself beyond her limits, testing the boundaries of her abilities.

As Tessa faced a towering 5-star beast, its immense power radiating from every sinew, she felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins.

She unleashed a barrage of strikes, her fists and feet moving with unparalleled speed and precision.

"ROaar"

The beast roared in anger because the small human he can easily devour were beating him.

Athena watched the battle unfold, her gaze was focused and observing her every movement.

It's normal for her to be clumsy in her first battle.

She observed Tessa's every move, her keen eyes discerning the flaws in her technique.

With an air of effortless grace, Athena stepped forward, her voice gentle yet commanding.

"Tessa, your strikes lack finesse,"

Athena said, her words cutting through the chaotic sounds of battle. "Your power and potential are top-notch, but without proper control, it becomes a double-edged sword."

Tessa paused, momentarily stunned by Athena's observation.

She had believed her attacks were flawless.

But now, she realized that raw power alone was not enough.

She needed finesse, control, and the ability to adapt to her opponents.

Athena continued, her voice resonating with wisdom.

"Focus on channeling your energy. Feel the rhythm of your opponent's movements and flow with it. In combat, it's not just about overpowering your enemy, but about understanding their weaknesses and exploiting them."

Tessa absorbed Athena's words, her mind working to integrate the new insights into her fighting style.

She resumed her battle with determination, her strikes becoming more measured, her footwork more precise.

'I must become stronger.'

She sought to dance with her opponents, predicting their actions and countering with calculated precision.

After some time, she managed to slay the beast before Athena brought her to another beast.

Time and again, Tessa faced off against powerful beasts, pushing herself to the limit under Athena's watchful gaze.

Athena's divine vision enabled her to see Tessa's flaws and guide her toward improvement.

Through countless battles, Tessa learned to temper her power, harnessing it with finesse and control.

As their training progressed, Tessa discovered that her powers were not solely physical.

Athena enlightened her on the importance of mental fortitude and inner harmony.

Tessa learned to align her mind, body, and spirit, allowing her to tap into the full extent of her capabilities.

With each passing hour, Tessa's bond with Athena deepened.

The god-like figure became not only her mentor but also a source of inspiration and guidance.

Athena's teachings transcended the realm of combat, delving into matters of philosophy, strategy, and self-discovery.

Tessa knew she still had much to learn, but with each passing day, she grew more confident in her abilities.

Athena advised Tessa against following the path of this world, where individuals were forced to choose a single path, be it that of a swordsman or a mage.

In the higher realm, those skilled in hand-to-hand combat and proficient in fighting were known as magus, the very path that the Sword God had imparted to Athena when she was weaker.

As Tessa's powers began to develop, Athena couldn't help but admire her intelligence and talent.

Tessa proved to be a fast learner, even developing her unique fighting style.

Impressed by her progress, Athena allowed Tessa to face beasts with a power level of 6 stars.

Her talent shocked her so much because she easily adapts to the surroundings and she learns so fast. 

Knowing that the beast here was not enough challenging for Tessa, she brought her to the deeper part of the forest.

...

Huff! Huff!

Five hundred meters away, a young man ran for his life, his face barely recognizable and his body riddled with injuries.

He was chased by five wolves, each two meters in size.

"Please don't eat me!" he cried, realizing he couldn't last much longer due to his injuries.

This young man was Harley.

After being attacked by a woman and sent flying, he lost consciousness.

When he woke up, he found himself in a cold forest and decided to rest briefly.

He realized that he was hungry, and he decided to find something to eat.

Harley found a peculiar plant, recognizing it as one that could heal minor injuries.

As a boy who comes from a noble family, he knew some things in books and was very knowledgeable in herbs and medicine.

He ingested five at once because he was too hungry and he wanted to heal his wounds faster.

After eating the herbs, his injuries were slightly healed but he realized something terrifying.

His little junior was now useless and he was now crippled for life because of the strong kick of that woman.

Anger welled up as he cursed the woman responsible for his plight.

'I'll kill you bitch.'

He cursed loudly but suddenly; his stomach churned.

Due to ingesting the 5 herbs simultaneously, he triggered diarrhea.

Desperate to relieve himself, Harley unknowingly ran into a pack of ravenous wolves.

Despite the pain in his stomach, he had to flee.

'What did I do to deserve this kind of bad luck?'

He wanted to curse heaven because, since birth, he never faced such difficulties and felt that heaven had abandoned him.

The wolves continued their relentless pursuit, salivating at their prey.

As Harley's stamina waned, the pack's leader lunged at him.

'No!'

Suddenly, an ice spear pierced the leader's skull, causing it to collapse.

Boom!

"What?"

Harley stood in stunned silence as the remaining wolves were impaled by ice spikes, dying instantly.

"Are you okay?" a voice asked.

Harley turned to see his savior and was breathless.

He saw a woman with a flawlessly beautiful face and shining brown hair.

'Is she a goddess.'

At that moment, he felt he had found someone even more enchanting than Odette.

Clearing his mind, Harley realized he had found a savior.

"Yes, I am okay," he managed to say, eager to talk.

He wanted to thank her and maybe she could save him from his current situation.

But before he could speak further, an urgent need overcame him.

Proook!

Harley released a powerful fart, the sound resonating through the forest.

To his horror, a tumor materialized in his pants, causing Athena's expression beside Tessa to darken with anger.

"Imbecile!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands.

Instantly, Harley was encased in ice, abandoned in her fury.

Shocked and immobilized, he cursed his ill fortune.

He was unsure how he would face others if they discovered his embarrassing display in front of such a beautiful woman.

...

"What a mess," Athena cursed, utterly surprised by the unexpected release of such a foul smell.

Tessa was equally angered, but she restrained Athena, reminding her that despite the young man's actions, he was still human and shouldn't be killed.

'Tessa is very innocent.'

Athen murmured and she never knew the nature of a human well.

Showing mercy is like growing an enemy in the future.

It is better to kill them directly to prevent accidents.