The Weakest Student

CHAPTER 2

THE WEAKEST STUDENT

The first day at Aetheria Grand Magic Academy had officially begun.

Students filled the corridors.

Some were excited.

Some were nervous.

Others were already comparing their Inner Cores with one another.

For the students of Course 1, the atmosphere was completely different.

They were treated as the future of the magical world.

But for Course 2…

Things were not so glamorous.

Yuuto stood in front of his new classroom.

He looked at the sign above the door.

COURSE 2 — CLASS A

Yuuto sighed.

“So this is where the weak people go.”

A voice came from behind him.

“Did you just call us weak?”

Yuuto turned around.

A tall boy with brown hair was staring at him.

His expression was serious.

Yuuto looked at him for a moment.

“Did I say that?”

“Yes.”

“Then I probably did.”

The boy frowned.

“You’re annoying.”

Yuuto smiled.

“I’ve been told that before.”

The boy sighed.

“My name is Leon Hartwell.”

“Yuuto Vance.”

“I know.”

Leon looked at him carefully.

“You’re Elena Vance’s brother, right?”

“Unfortunately.”

Leon laughed.

“You really like saying that.”

“It’s my favorite joke.”

Leon smiled.

For some reason, Yuuto immediately felt that this guy wasn’t bad.

They entered the classroom together.

⸻

The teacher arrived a few minutes later.

A woman in her early thirties stood at the front.

She had long black hair and wore a dark blue instructor’s uniform.

“My name is Professor Selene Ardent.”

The classroom became quiet.

“I will be your homeroom teacher for the first year.”

She looked at the students.

“You are all Course 2 students.”

Some students lowered their heads.

Others looked frustrated.

Selene continued.

“But don’t misunderstand what that means.”

Her eyes became sharp.

“Course 2 does not mean you are useless.”

She paused.

“It means you have more to prove.”

Several students looked up.

Yuuto smiled slightly.

Interesting teacher.

Selene began explaining the academy system.

“Every student will be evaluated in three major areas.”

She wrote on the board.

CORE CAPACITY

CORE PURITY

CORE CONTROL

“These three factors determine how effectively you can use your Inner Core.”

She turned toward the class.

“However, raw power is not everything.”

Her eyes briefly landed on Yuuto.

“Control is equally important.”

Yuuto raised an eyebrow.

Did she notice something?

Probably not.

⸻

After the lecture, the students were taken to the training grounds.

A massive circular arena stood behind the academy.

Magical barriers surrounded the area.

Professor Selene stood in the center.

“Today, we will conduct a basic practical examination.”

A student raised his hand.

“What kind of examination?”

“A simple one.”

Selene pointed toward a large stone pillar.

“You will destroy that.”

The students stared.

The pillar was almost three meters tall.

“Your objective is to damage it using your Inner Core.”

One student stepped forward.

He took a deep breath.

His Inner Core activated.

BOOM!

A ball of fire shot from his palm.

It struck the pillar.

CRACK!

A small piece broke off.

The students applauded.

Selene nodded.

“Acceptable.”

Another student stepped forward.

Then another.

Some performed well.

Some failed.

Finally—

“Yuuto Vance.”

Everyone looked at him.

Yuuto walked toward the arena.

Selene handed him a measuring crystal.

“Activate your Inner Core.”

Yuuto looked at the crystal.

Then at the pillar.

He sighed.

Here we go again.

He placed his hand against the crystal.

Inside his body, the Abyssal Core remained completely silent.

Yuuto allowed only the smallest amount of mana to escape.

BEEP.

The crystal displayed:

OUTPUT: 4%

Selene frowned.

“That’s very low.”

Yuuto nodded.

“I’m aware.”

“Attack the pillar.”

Yuuto raised his hand.

He pointed one finger at the stone.

“Bullet.”

A tiny sphere of compressed mana appeared.

BOOM!

The sphere struck the pillar.

A small crack appeared.

Everyone became silent.

One student laughed.

“That’s it?”

Another laughed.

“Even my little sister can do better!”

Yuuto lowered his hand.

Professor Selene looked at the pillar.

Then at Yuuto.

She didn’t say anything.

But something about the attack bothered her.

The amount of mana used was ridiculously small.

Yet the crack was unusually deep.

She walked toward the pillar.

Her expression changed.

The mana hadn’t simply hit the surface.

It had travelled through the stone before exploding inside it.

She looked back at Yuuto.

“Who taught you that technique?”

Yuuto shrugged.

“I don’t remember.”

“You don’t remember?”

“No.”

Selene narrowed her eyes.

“You’re lying.”

Yuuto smiled.

“Maybe.”

⸻

After the examination, the students were given a short break.

Yuuto sat beneath a tree.

Leon sat beside him.

“You know you’re strange, right?”

Yuuto looked at him.

“Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I accepted it anyway.”

Leon laughed.

“You really don’t care what people think.”

Yuuto looked toward the academy.

“Most people only see what they want to see.”

Leon became quiet.

Before he could respond—

A loud voice came from behind them.

“Vance.”

Yuuto turned around.

Kaelen Thorne stood there.

Several students from Course 1 were behind him.

Leon immediately stood up.

“Why are you here?”

Kaelen ignored him.

His eyes remained on Yuuto.

“I heard the Course 2 students were having practical training.”

Yuuto looked at him.

“And?”

Kaelen smiled.

“I wanted to see how weak you really are.”

Leon frowned.

“This is a Course 2 training area. Go back to your own class.”

Kaelen’s eyes moved toward Leon.

“Did I ask you?”

Leon stepped forward.

“I’m telling you.”

The atmosphere changed.

Yuuto sighed.

“Leon.”

“What?”

“Don’t.”

Kaelen smiled.

“Good advice.”

Then he looked at Yuuto.

“I want a duel.”

Yuuto shook his head.

“No.”

Kaelen’s smile disappeared.

“What?”

“I said no.”

“You’re afraid?”

“No.”

“Then why refuse?”

“Because I’m lazy.”

Leon covered his face.

Kaelen’s expression darkened.

“You’re insulting me.”

Yuuto stood.

“No. I’m being honest.”

Kaelen activated his Inner Core.

THOOM!

Lightning exploded around his body.

Several students stepped back.

“Thunder Core!”

“That’s the Thorne family’s signature!”

“His Core pressure is incredible!”

Kaelen stared at Yuuto.

“Fight me.”

Yuuto looked at the lightning surrounding Kaelen.

Then he sighed.

“Fine.”

Kaelen smiled.

Finally.

Yuuto stepped into the arena.

The students gathered around them.

Professor Selene watched from a distance.

She did not stop them.

Perhaps she wanted to see what Yuuto would do.

Kaelen raised his hand.

Lightning gathered around his fingers.

“I’ll give you one chance.”

Yuuto put his hands into his pockets.

“One chance for what?”

“To surrender.”

Yuuto smiled.

“That’s generous.”

Kaelen disappeared.

BOOM!

His body moved like lightning.

He appeared directly in front of Yuuto.

His fist was already heading toward Yuuto’s face.

Leon shouted.

“YUUTO!”

But—

Yuuto tilted his head.

The fist passed beside his cheek.

Kaelen’s eyes widened.

Yuuto stepped forward.

One step.

Only one.

His shoulder lightly touched Kaelen’s chest.

THUM.

Kaelen’s Inner Core suddenly shook.

His entire body froze.

His lightning disappeared.

His knees almost gave out.

“What…?”

Yuuto whispered.

“Your Core is too loud.”

Kaelen’s eyes widened.

Yuuto raised one finger.

He gently touched Kaelen’s chest.

THUM.

Kaelen’s Inner Core stopped.

For exactly 0.8 seconds.

His body became completely powerless.

Yuuto stepped back.

Kaelen fell to one knee.

Silence.

Nobody understood what had happened.

Yuuto looked at him.

“You’re strong.”

Kaelen stared at him.

“Then why…”

Yuuto turned around.

“Because being strong isn’t the same as being in control.”

He walked away.

Nobody spoke.

Leon stared at Yuuto.

Professor Selene stared at Yuuto.

And Kaelen…

For the first time in his life…

felt fear.

Not because Yuuto had overwhelming power.

But because he had felt something much worse.

For a brief moment—

Kaelen had felt his own Inner Core being completely dominated.

Without a spell.

Without an incantation.

Without even seeing Yuuto activate his Core.

Kaelen clenched his fist.

“Who… are you?”

Yuuto stopped walking.

He looked over his shoulder.

A faint smile appeared.

“Just a weak student.”

Then he walked away.

But high above the training grounds—

someone was watching.

A woman dressed in black stood on the roof of the academy.

Her eyes were fixed on Yuuto.

She whispered:

“Absolute Zero Presence.”

Her expression became serious.

“So the Vance family really did find him.”

She turned away.

“I need to inform the others.”

Behind her—

a dark symbol appeared in the air.

The symbol of an organization that had been forgotten by history.

THE ABYSS ORDER.

And their target was not Elena.

It was Yuuto.

The boy everyone believed was the weakest student in Aetheria.

The boy who was secretly—

the strongest sorcerer alive.

To be continued…

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***