The air grew heavier and heavier throughout the classroom, until Kai and Kira felt a faint chill prick their skin from Ares's aura — even though it wasn't directed at them.
Suddenly, the pressure vanished completely, as if it had never existed. Everyone in the class began gasping for breath, struggling to fill their lungs. Huff... huff... huff...
Their clothes clung to their bodies, soaked in cold sweat born of fear, while their eyes froze in stunned disbelief. A single thought ran through every mind:
"This isn't human pressure... this is the pressure of a beast."
All of it had happened in a mere fraction of a second. Had Ares unleashed his full killing intent and pressure, the entire academy would've been engulfed. The only ones capable of withstanding and surpassing his aura were Alan and Aila — but if Ares kept honing his killing intent and pressure, he would surely surpass them in time.
"Is this your level? We haven't even started playing seriously."
Ares's sharp voice rang in everyone's ears like a blade. Some swallowed hard, while others — the so-called geniuses — refused to accept such humiliation. Selina, Scar, the half-dragon, Zenithia, and the elves glared at Ares with barely restrained anger. Only the girl with the sky-blue hair gazed at him with a calmness that couldn't be explained.
Ares walked into the classroom under their furious stares, followed by Kai and Kira, wide grins stretching across their faces.
Ares spoke in a mocking, lazy tone:
"Don't look at me like that. It's as if I stole your candy, children. People might think I'm bullying you."
A double voice and loud laughter echoed behind him — Kai and Kira were pouring fuel on the fire.
"Ahahahaha! Boss, that's hilarious! Look at their faces — they look like they just ate crap, not like someone stole their sweets!"
Ares looked over their faces with a faint smile.
"Hmmm, you're right. Look at that pale one... what does she remind you of, Kira?" he said, pointing slowly at Selina.
Kira smirked wickedly, her voice dripping with mockery:
"I think she looks like someone constipated on the toilet."
Kai burst out laughing and pointed at Scar.
"Ahahaha! Look at this cat — she reminds me of one choking on fish bones!"
Kira added in fake cluelessness, her eyes glinting:
"Yeah, and look at that one with the two tails. They'd make a great fan for a hot day!"
Ares's violet eyes narrowed as he turned toward the elves.
"No, no — look at those two. They look like someone stuck a wooden pole up their backsides."
Kai and Kira kept escalating their mockery.
"And those two with the horns — are they cows or what?"
Their laughter echoed as everyone's faces darkened with killing intent, but no one dared move, not with Ares standing there smiling so serenely.
Selina finally spoke, glaring straight at him, her icy blue eyes narrowing in rage.
"Idiot."
Ares feigned a hint of sadness, his face blank and voice flat.
"Oh really... I'm so sad." He paused, then added coldly, "Who cares about your opinion? Not me. Not them."
He leaned in slightly, locking eyes with her. When Selina realized Ares was looking directly into her eyes, her heartbeat quickened. No man had ever gotten this close to her — except for family.
Those violet eyes gleamed like a precious gem one dared not touch.
Ares moved even closer, his breath brushing her ear as he whispered so only she could hear:
"You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen."
His warm breath touched her ear, and her heart thumped violently. Ares caught the faint scent of her refreshing perfume.
The whole class watched the interaction, noticing the faint blush coloring Selina's cheeks, making her even more stunning.
Then, a sweet and teasing voice echoed — it was the fox girl, Zenithia:
"Oh, I'll be jealous if she's the only one."
It was clearly meant as sarcasm, but Ares turned and stepped closer to her.
"How can I make you jealous of her?"
He reached out; the girl tried to pull away, but his hand was faster. He played with her fox ears like a cat's, leaning in.
"I wonder how it would feel if we were alone... Honestly, I think it would be fun, my little fox."
He whispered in her ear while still teasing her ears. Her face turned a lovely shade of red as she lowered her head shyly.
Kai's eyes sparkled with excitement as he shouted, while the other boys silently admitted Ares had effortlessly charmed the two most beautiful girls in class.
"Whoa! Boss really knows how to flirt! Look — he made the prettiest girls blush! We should take lessons from him."
Boom!
Kai was sent flying by a single punch from Kira, knocking him unconscious.
Gulp.
Every boy swallowed hard and silently added Kira to the "Do Not Mess With" list.
Ares felt Selina's murderous gaze on him and decided to tease her further.
"So, my little fox, what's your name?"
"M-my name is... Zenithia..."
Suddenly, the classroom door opened — the teacher had arrived.
She was a beautiful young woman with black hair and bangs, deep black eyes, and a graceful, mature figure.
She blinked in confusion and murmured,
"Did I walk into the wrong classroom...?"
She stepped back, checked the sign, and frowned slightly.
"No... this is the right one."
Ares turned to her, as did everyone else.
"Unfortunately, your timing is terrible, Miss Teacher," he said calmly. The teacher stared at him in stunned silence.
Ares didn't care and went to sit down, kicking Kai to wake him up.
He whispered to Kira,
"Kira, next time hit him lighter, or you'll scare all the boys and never find a boyfriend."
Kira nodded shyly, eyes downcast.
The teacher entered fully and stood behind her desk.
"All right, enough playing around," her gentle, melodic voice rang out.
"I'm your new teacher. Like you, this is my first year — my name is Terumi Mei. I'll be your main instructor for Class 9 for the next five years, so think of us as a family."
"Well, I think everyone's here, but I'll still call the roll."
"Ares."
"Here," he replied, raising his hand lazily.
Terumi nodded.
"Selina."
"Here."
"Scar."
"Here."
"Kai and Kira."
"Here."
"Zenithia."
"Here," the fox girl answered, winking at Ares with her orange eyes. Selina glared at her, feeling a strange surge of irritation.
Ares's expression shifted slightly. In front of him now stood the daughter of the Nine-Tailed Thunder Fox — a girl who would one day become the Queen of Thunder.
In this era, two female magicians were considered at the very top — Selina and Zenithia — along with three others regarded as Lords of Magic.
From the moment Ares saw this class, he knew something was wrong. They had rearranged the classes — these students were meant to be spread across different rooms, not gathered together in one.
He was certain of one thing: in the other first-year classes, there was only one non-human per class, while here they were all mixed together.
"Now, I assume you've all received information about the classes, so this will be easy to explain," Terumi continued. "In my class, you'll study history, geography, and mana theory. The rest will depend on your chosen path. You must select at least three additional subjects besides these. Is that clear?"
Everyone nodded.
"Good. Now, the most important thing before we end today's session — choosing a class representative."
Her dark eyes scanned the room. As expected, almost everyone raised their hands — except Ares.
"Ares, why didn't you raise your hand? Don't you want to be class representative?"
"No, I'm not interested."
"But the class rep will have great authority, second only to mine," she said with a teasing smile.
Ares smiled faintly, hearing the playful tone in her voice.
"No, even if there's a representative, their orders will only apply to themselves, not me," he said, resting his arm on the desk, violet eyes gleaming with wit.
"So, you think no one here is qualified?"
"Except for me — no one."
Scar finally lost his patience and shouted, supported by most of the class:
"Enough! Stop acting like you're above everyone else! I challenge you to a duel for class representative!"
"Why should I accept? I gain nothing from it," Ares replied calmly.
"Are you a coward?" sneered one of the elves.
"You're bad at provoking people... But what do you all think?" Ares smirked.
"I'll take you all down one by one for the position of class representative. Anyone who loses to me will hand over their entire point balance."
The entire class was stunned by his arrogance.
"And what will you give if you lose?" one boy asked.
"I'll become the servant of whoever defeats me."
The room fell silent. Even Terumi was shocked by Ares's boldness. But this had been his plan all along — provoking them until they lost control of their emotions and fell right into his trap.
Ares smiled faintly as he looked around.
"So... yes or no? Or should I just be the class representative?"