Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 713: Warning [Castle Bonus - ]

People like Asher, Thalric, Teo Swig, William, and Ryaen didn’t even react to Cindralis’ words; they pushed themselves every day, determined to rise to the top for themselves, they didn’t need some sort of reward to push their limits daily, nor did they rely on external incentives to justify their burning drive for growth.

Cindralis’ existential presence vanished as the students within the hall began to breathe again, sweat drenching their clothes as they calmed themselves, as they processed the reality behind Cindralis’ words, after all, Crymora was an unforgiving world where hesitation often meant death.

"In case some of you didn’t know it, we lost last time," Cindralis continued, "but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to care for weaklings and weak-minded people just to win some competition that will still hold a thousand times in the future."

At the revelation that they had lost, none of them acted surprised, it wasn’t like the Zarethorne Empire was branded the strongest Empire or anything like that that made the loss so shocking or difficult to believe.

"Now, as I said earlier, in one month, you all will be sent to the Thalvorn Empire, meaning for the next month, Instructors selected by me personally will be training every single one of you, and within that time, everything within the Star Academy will be free, and of course, only necessary things, which the person in charge has to approve first to avoid abuse," Cindralis stated with an indifferent calmness that made it sound like a simple arrangement.

At her words, eyes immediately widened, they instantly forgot about the part where she talked about training and focused on the things being free. Who didn’t like free things? They had always been made to work for everything they had, being suddenly told things were free for the next one month immediately set them into joy, although some of the things had to be approved before being given, but still, it was more than enough to excite them.

’A one-month training period... I’m kind of looking forward to it,’ Asher thought to himself with a soft smile, he wasn’t the only one who thought like this, the stronger ones simply ignored the points and focused on the training, even without the tournament in sight, this was a chance to improve their own strength for one whole month without working or paying for it.

"Now, although I talked about rewards that will be given by the four Empires, that is theirs, and I have mine," Cindralis began, continuing without missing a beat as she introduced her own personal set of rewards, her tone steady and unchanging.

Everyone immediately listened with rapt attention, their focus sharpening as anticipation began to rise.

"The first reward will be a one-year free pass to use the Training Facilities Building at any given moment, I believe I don’t need to explain the use and why some of you need it," Cindralis stated, her eyes shifting to Teo Swig, who was seated calmly without any visible reaction.

Teo Swig caught Cindralis’ gaze and understood that she was talking to him directly. As a commoner, Teo Swig understood that once he graduated in the next two months, various nobles would pounce on him and try to get him to swear loyalty to them. Of course, he could take the easier route and swear loyalty to the noble of the territory he was from.

But Teo didn’t want to swear loyalty to anyone, he was his own man, and believed he could climb to the Crownstar Life Rank in a couple of decades. But he knew that to get there, resources were needed, which was why many commoners swore loyalty to these nobles in the first place.

Of course, there was a choice to become an adventurer or mercenary, but that path was as difficult as any other path, even though it granted him his own freedom and independence.

But with this one-year free pass, which he could cash in even after he had graduated from the Star Academy, he wouldn’t have to make any of these decisions for one year and would have time to think about another plan while also training without falling behind, making it an opportunity he could not easily ignore.

"The second reward, two million academy points, which you can spend or exchange for anything of equal value," Cindralis stated with a calm expression that contrasted the weight of her words.

A ripple of shock tore through the hall as the second reward was just as weighty as the first. It tempted everyone present, even Asher himself, be it the first reward or the second one, it was simply too dazzling to ignore.

Two million academy points was a number none of them had ever touched, but to Cindralis, it was nothing, a trivial sum that she could offer without hesitation.

"The third reward," Cindralis continued, eyes widening across the hall as they couldn’t believe that there was more, "a one-time-use space-type artefact from me that allows you to teleport anywhere in the world as long as you’ve been there before, distance is negated and it has zero cost."

Silence... pure silence filled the hall.

An artefact that could span the entire world without limit was literally insane, yet Cindralis was putting it up as a reward. Although it was a one-time use, they understood the immense value behind such an artefact, as it could save a life or secure victory in ways unimaginable.

They couldn’t help but wonder why Cindralis was putting up such a reward for a competition which she said she could witness a thousand times more. If it was because she lost last time, they didn’t know, and none of them dared to question it.

Asher himself was tempted, although the Position Marker possessed a similar function, he had only three marks, without a free mark, that ability was as good as useless in many situations.

They stared at Cindralis, wondering if she was going to list another mind-numbing reward, but Cindralis simply stopped there as she spoke, "if you think my rewards are special, then win the tournament and find out, you won’t be told the reward unless you win, but mine are nothing compared to what four Empires are fighting over," her voice low and calm.

Students swallowed, they drooled at the mention of the reward, though unknown, their imagination ran untamed, picturing treasures and opportunities beyond comprehension.

"Your training starts soon, do your best, after all, other Empires possess children as talented as all of you, and some that are even more ridiculous," she added with a calm finality, her eyes shifting towards Asher for a moment, her black eyes locking with his purple ones in silent warning.

Without a word, Cindralis opened another portal and stepped through it as she was done with the announcement. How the students fared was up to their talent and diligence, not her concern beyond providing the opportunity.

Although they had simply locked eyes for a split second, to Asher, it felt longer than that. He couldn’t help but feel like Cindralis had directed those last words at him, as though warning him that monsters on his level existed in other Empires.

But... did Cindralis truly understand what kind of monster Asher was to issue such a warning?

Besides, even if such beings existed, Asher looked forward to exchanging attacks with all of them, his anticipation rising rather than diminishing.

The moment he had that thought, his battle intent immediately rose as his Wargrave Bloodline seemed to stir, Teo Swig and Thalric’s battle intent also rose in response, as these three monsters in human skin were ready to devour anything thrown their way.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: Bonus Chapter sponsored by TeoSwig.

The Teo Swig third-year student is dedicated to the TeoSwig reader as thanks for continued support.

Also, this author just typed 11 whooping Chapters, and has fallen into a coma. But don’t worry, keep the super gifts coming, I will type the Chapters from the coma realm.

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