Standing on a skyscraper's roof, I looked down with TuTu and Jiao Jiao at the sea of tiny figures gathered not far below. Ten thousand mages, Azure Campus Mingzhu students. All here with hope, but only a few would get lucky and move to the Main Campus.
Though, luck? Talent and resources—that's what mattered in this race for a top university diploma. Anyone reaching Intermediate Tier within five years in Azure automatically advanced to Main. No exceptions. Betting solely on luck was dumb.
The usually student-friendly Director Xiao swapped his kind grandpa act for harsh realist, scolding those not yet Intermediate, warning their clocks were ticking. Not much time left before they'd be booted from the university they'd pinned hopes on. Hopes for a happy, secure future, whatever high ideals the director spouted at admission.
"So unusual to see this side of Director Xiao. He was always so kind to Azure students, but this contrast... I'm kinda glad I'm not down there with them." TuTu shivered, sharing her impressions.
"He gave freshmen a comfy adaptation year. Time to dunk them in harsh reality, where cultivation resources don't fall free. Want to stay and graduate honorably? Grind and cultivate nonstop! No talent? Find other paths to strength. He always encourages Hunter students. Greenhouse flowers aren't his taste." I explained the real deal.
"Then it's no surprise he favors us so openly. We're the epitome of mages he loves! Noble but humble. Resourced but still Hunters for experience. Plus, the most talented of our generation. We're perfect!" TuTu narcissistically patted her ample chest. I didn't contradict— it was true. Know your worth.
"You're only talking freshmen, but seniors have it worst. Especially last-year ones... who failed." Jiao Jiao eyed the head-drooping, fist-clenching students.
Some even cried. No shock—their dreams of being badass mages shattered on reality. Geniuses in their hometowns, but rejects here in Mingzhu, culled and dumped like trash. With that mindset, no surprise if the Black Church recruited them, promising to erase their reject brand.
Toss resources there, give a Black Beast here to turn beloved girl, mom, or grandma. Boom—loyal operative ready. He'd tie his "success" over the masses to the org and kill on command without hesitation. First kill's the hardest. If you tortured and turned your own mom into a Black Beast... no mercy for strangers.
Then people wonder how folks join terrorists voluntarily. Simple: honed mechanism exploiting the desire to "ascend." Cut low ranks all you want—new ones swarm next year, lured by what uni or clan denied.
Upper echelons stay hidden, using such "tools." Salan stands out with personal appearances in ops. White Pope, Black Church head, holes up in his country playing saint. Why go anywhere? He's good.
"Don't worry about them, Jiao Jiao. Many will switch to civilian jobs. Some become Hunters to prove their worth and break through. The rest... Athena's their judge; we can't own every life. Especially when most just slacked, partying instead of grinding." I tried cheering her, watching failed students trudge off in funeral mood.
"Still pity them. Such wasted military potential. Most world monsters are Servant Tier—they could handle them. As a Hunter this year, hearing your lessons, I know mankind's at a disadvantage. And we waste educated potentials yearly. Gather them in formation, they'd defend a city solo." Jiao Jiao pouted slightly. Guess I misread—I thought pity; it was greed for wasted human resources.
"That's the world now. These mages won't risk lives for low pay, and countries can't afford high without bankrupting resources. Resources go to fighters only." I soothed her, pondering myself. I basically had infinite resources. Was I wasting potential like these rejects?
Shaking my head, I ditched the philosophy. Wrong time, too early. Too weak now for that "infinite" source to benefit mankind, not just some clan turning me and my girls into anal slaves. And hopefully just anal...
On the square, Director Xiao softened, congratulating selected students—mostly clueless freshmen—who hit Intermediate and met requirements, auto-enrolled in Main. Their squeals probably reached five blocks.
Once they calmed, he announced a competition—not for Main Campus entry, but ranking for rewards. Top prize: a week in the Three-Step Tower...
Was I such a slick trader, swapping bulk normal resources for years of what thousands fight for weekly? Or did Director Xiao, stifling laughs and eye-rolls, shove cultivation time at me? Hoping the first—suits me better.
The event for new Main Campus members was canon-identical. Form teams, hunt military-lost Shadow Beast across Shanghai. Drag it live to the cage here. Stealing from the hauler at the cage? Allowed... Damn, at least fun to watch.
A heavy sigh escaped. Who was I kidding? Too much on my plate to babysit student puppy hunts. Like covering their asses from Black Church attacks, scanning with every sense to not miss a hypothetical hit on me.