章 20: Chapter - 20

There are still 20 minutes until the class begins. I entered the classroom and sat in the seat closest to the door. I chose this location specifically for a reason. I want to use my soul sense to thoughtfully observe every single person. I can't merely approach everyone one by one to get them inside the range of my soul sense, which is only about half a metre. It'll be awkward.

But the good thing is soul Sense is an ability that functions both as a passive detection mechanism and an enhancer of individual senses.

In its default state, Soul Sense functions as a subtle radar that allows the user to detect any existence within its range. This passive form of Soul Sense is deeply connected to the user's soul essence, with the range and effectiveness of detection fluctuating based on the user's current soul essence.

Alternatively, Soul Sense can be directed to enchant or enhance one's senses. When applied to another selected sense, the user's Soul Sense undergoes a transformative shift, temporarily reshaping itself to amplify the selected sense.

For example, if applied to the sense of sight, the user might be able to see the true essence of living beings, the soul , revealing hidden intentions or emotions.

If applied to the sense of smell, the user gains the ability to track or trace soul-related entities and phenomena through scents.

But my ability is not to that level yet. The best I can do now is applying it into my sense of sight. I can see someone's soul in blurry image as long as they are not too far away for me.

Many people entered the room as I sat near the door of class B-1. My eyes were closed from the outside, yet I looked at every soul that passed by.

A person's soul will usually have an impact on their lives in a variety of ways. A kindhearted individual and a tyrant will never have the same type of soul. So someone with a unique soul has a unique personality and a unique set of characteristics.

A person with a strong soul will always stand out among his peers. And a person with an ordinary soul will always look mediocre. Even if he becomes king, a person with an ordinary soul will never be notable among many kings. So when compared with ordinary people they might look special but when compared with other kings they will look ordinary.

Suddenly, my soul sense tingled with an intensity akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Amidst the crowd, one soul stood out like a lighthouse in a stormy sea – vibrant, luminous, and utterly unique. This soul emitted a dazzling blue light, akin to finding a hidden treasure in the depths of the ocean.

Hmm? Why is this soul still here? My soul sense now has about a few metres of range after applying it into my sense of sight. But this soul is still within my range. I opened my eyes and saw a girl with ashen hair standing in front of me. Her cold blue eyes were locked on mine, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Whoa! You startled me," I blurted out, caught off guard by her unexpected presence.

Her eyes were giving a cold impression, as if I was doing something disgusting and got caught red-handed by her. I mean... I was indeed peeking at her , but I was only looking at her soul.

'But why is she staring at me like that?'

After a few seconds, the girl turned away from me and walked to an empty seat in the middle row. Many boys and girls were staring at her, and I noticed that some tried to strike up a conversation with her, so she must be well-known.

I immediately detected another unique soul. A 6-foot-tall boy with brown hair and bulky muscles walked into the room. If I didn't knew that Phoenix Academy only take humans as students I would have thought he is a baby giant.

'Is this truly someone who is only 15?'

His soul was also one-of-a-kind, and it shone brightly. I spotted nine more people who were not ordinary in the last 10 minutes. Some people had a little glow in their souls, while others shone brightly. I couldn't check on everyone because some were already in class and some used the other door or didn't come within my range to see into their soul.

The teacher entered the classroom shortly before 10 a.m. He then began doing something on his tab.

I paid close attention to the people with special souls .

Apparently, the girl with blue eyes and ashen hair is ranked third. Her name is Zara Scarlett.

The giant boy is ranked seventh. Elias Alcaeus is his full name.

Ranked eighth is Matthew Joseph. He's a young man with dirty blonde hair. From the looks of it, he is pretty close to rank 7 Elias. Either they were already friends or became friends recently.

I'm particularly interested in soul of a female ranked at 259. Eleanor Macbeth, her rank is lower than the other three, but she is definitely a gem as well. Her soul gave me the expression that If I get too close it will devour me . But her soul is most unique out of everyone here.

Even though there are more people with uncommon souls, only these four drew my attention.

"Rank 2897. Kardama Drogo."

"...."

"Rank 2897. Kardama Drogo?"

[Host!]

"Ah, right. Yes, I am present."

The teacher gave me a strange look, before continuing to call out names again. In class B-1, there were a whopping 350 students, so it took a while. Finally, he introduced himself.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Luke Raymond, your homeroom teacher. I'm also an S-Rank hero. I'll be teaching you subjects like physical training, weapon skills, monster habits, and dungeon knowledge. These are crucial subjects, so make sure to pay attention."

Mr. Luke also explained some basic stuff. He said we can join clubs, but here's the deal: we can only pick one, and we're stuck with it for the whole year. So, we've gotta choose wisely.

Depending on the club, we'll do different activities run by older students. It's smart to be on good terms with these seniors because they're important in the clubs.He also talked about the rules.

If there's a problem between fellow classmates, instead of fighting right away, we settle it with a duel challenge using our watches. The winner moves up in rank based on how much their rank difference is. He said to follow the rules and ask questions if we're unsure about anything.

"Sir, How many times can we duel?"

"Each person can only challenge someone once a week. If the other person declines the duel, you may challenge someone else. Next"

"Sir, if someone doesn't want to fight, can he reject me forever?"

"No, if challenged, one must accept one duel per week. If not, he will be forced to accept the first challenge he receives next week."

"Sir, I heard we can place bets on our duels like traditional duels. Is that true."

"Yes, you can bet something or make conditions that your opponent has to fulfil if you win the duel. However, the conditions must be submitted via the watch. The mother AI will be the judge. If the other party fails to keep the promise, you can use the watch to report it. So you don't have to be concerned about someone breaking their word. You may even use your watch to bet points on other people's duel . Although I don't want to encourage you into gambling, that's how the rules are ."

"Sir, can we duel someone from a higher class?"

"Yes, indeed. A battle between a senior and a junior also occurs. Although the senior usually wins, there have been some exceptions. However, these sorts of duel have no effect on your rank. And there will be no consequences if you reject it. Still, refusing a challenge from a junior is a question of pride. But as a junior, you can refuse any challenge from a senior. You know what? Listen to my advice and don't even mess with your senior. I have seen many cases where a junior is beaten to near death after being forced to accept the duel. Never conflict with a senior, and maintain positive connections with seniors in your club. They will protect you."

Everyone fell silent at this point.

"I suppose there aren't any more questions."

Then I raised my hand. Mr. Luke gave me the signal to inquire by looking at me.

"Is killing allowed?"

Nearly 700 eyes were on me at this moment. The entire room fell silent. I shrugged.

'What? None of you asked, so I had to.'