After the fight ended, Jax checked his status.
[CHAMPION STATUS: JAX RAYNE]
[LEVEL: 3.4 / 50.0]
[EXPERIENCE: 2,900 / 10,000]
’Still crawling. But progress is progress.’
The arena shifted back to its original configuration. Furniture materialized. The elevated seats returned.
Zharina sat in her chair, radiating pure hatred. Her arms were crossed. Her jaw clenched. Her golden eyes burned holes into Jax’s skull.
Lysandra stood. "The interview vote for Mr. Jax Rayne currently stands at 3-0. One more ’no’ vote, and he is eliminated."
She turned to Zharina. "Professor Zharina. Given your... wager, I assu you’re voting ’yes’?"
Zharina’s eye twitched. Her fist clenched.
Then, through gritted teeth: "...Yes."
The word sounded like it physically hurt her.
Lysandra nodded. "The vote is now 3-1. We resu voting. Professor Gareth, you’re next."
Gareth sat rigid, his expression sour.
He didn’t like Jax. The boy had mocked him during questioning. Disrespected the process. Was everything wrong with the younger generation.
But he didn’t have a choice.
He was human. A resident of Veldora. And King Aldric had personally asked—no, instructed—him to support this candidate.
Gareth exhaled slowly. "...Yes."
He imdiately bowed his head, bracing for the inevitable questions.
Lysandra nodded. "Professor Kessiri. Your turn."
The catwoman grinned, tail flicking with barely contained glee. "Oh, I’m voting yes. Absolutely yes."
"May I ask your reasoning?" Lysandra asked.
"Simple." Kessiri pointed at Rowen. "This arrogant mutt bet ten gold that the kid would lose to Zharina. I’m now ten gold richer. Anyone who helps beat this flea-bag deserves my vote."
Rowen’s grin faltered. "You’re voting based on a bet?!"
"You’re damn right I am."
Lysandra rubbed her temples. "Moving on."
She stood, her presence commanding absolute silence.
"The vote is tied. Three ’yes,’ three ’no.’ The final decision rests with ."
She turned to Jax, her violet eyes studying him with unnerving intensity.
"Mr. Rayne. I’ve observed many things about you today. Your arrogance. Your ego. The way you looked at Professor Zharina during your match."
Zharina’s face flushed.
Lysandra continued, her tone cold and clinical. "You’re aware the last sword instructor died, yes? He was just a fraction of what you are. Accepting you could bring further scandal to this academy’s reputation."
Jax could feel where this was going. Rejection wrapped in professional justification.
So he decided to go for broke.
"Professor Lysandra, I can assure you—I’m not into younger won. So it won’t be a problem."
Silence.
Lysandra’s eyebrow arched. "Younger? Mr. Rayne, the students are the sa age as you. So are even older."
Lucindra’s eyes widened. "Wait. Sa age? Don’t tell this boy is eighteen or nineteen."
Lysandra picked up the application from her desk. "This is why I constantly remind you all to be attentive during interviews. Read the docunts."
She held up the paper. "Nineteen years old."
The room erupted in whispers.
Gareth’s jaw dropped. "He’s a teenager?!"
Kessiri laughed. "This just keeps getting better!"
Lysandra raised her hand for silence. "Regardless. Mr. Rayne, if I vote ’yes,’ you will be appointed as a professor imdiately. There will be no further rounds. You’ve already defeated a senior instructor, so the physical trial is complete. Everything now depends on my decision."
She leaned forward. "One final question. Your answer will determine your fate."
Jax straightened.
"Why do you want to be a professor at such a young age? With your skills, you could enroll as a student and dominate the academy. So why choose this path?"
Jax’s mind raced.
’The real reasons? To gain combat experience and level up. To access forbidden knowledge. To win this interdinsional ga. And to bully—I an, interact with—students and teachers from different races for DP farming.’
He couldn’t say any of that.
So he took a breath and spoke.
"Because students learn by example. And the best example isn’t soone who’s already at the top looking down. It’s soone who’s still climbing but willing to pull others up with him."
He t Lysandra’s gaze. "I’m young. I’m flawed. I’m arrogant. But that ans I rember what it’s like to struggle. To fail. To get back up. The students here? They need soone who understands that. Not so untouchable master. A teacher who bleeds when he fights and still wins anyway."
Silence stretched.
Lysandra’s expression was unreadable.
Then, slowly, she smiled.
"Well said, Professor Rayne."
She stood. "I vote yes. Welco to Astryx Academy."
The room erupted.
Gareth looked like he’d swallowed a lemon.
Kessiri cheered, already counting her winnings.
Rowen groaned.
Aerisya studied Jax with renewed interest.
Lucindra smirked. "This is going to be entertaining."
Zharina sat frozen, still processing the fact that the boy who’d just beaten her was now her colleague.
After the interview concluded, Lysandra approached Jax privately.
She moved with fluid grace, her presence overwhelming. The faint scent of sothing dark and floral—like night-blooming jasmine—filled the space between them.
Jax’s body reacted instantly. Heat. Tension. His cock stirred.
’Control yourself. She’s your boss now. Professionalism, Jax. Professionalism.’
Lysandra handed him an envelope. "This will cover your expenses until your official salary is processed. We have our own currency here on the island."
Jax opened it. Paper currency. Intricate designs. And on the largest denomination—
A portrait of a beautiful woman with flowing hair and sharp features.
Jax grinned. "Who’s this hottie?"
Lysandra’s eye twitched. "That is First Headmistress Elena Windhaven. The academy’s founder. She’s been dead for three centuries."
"Damn. She aged well."
"Professor Rayne." Her voice dropped, dangerous. "You need to drop this act or whatever this mask is. You’re a professor now. Conduct yourself accordingly."
"And I’m still a child in your eyes, aren’t I? Just like the others see ."
Lysandra’s gaze softened, just slightly. "Perhaps. But you’re our child now. Don’t make regret this."
And then she was gone, her presence vanishing like smoke.
Jax stepped outside the academy building.
A sprawling city greeted him. Floating platforms connected by bridges. Buildings of stone and crystal. Mixed-race crowds bustling through streets.
’This place is insane.’
But then reality hit.
’Wait. I have no residence assigned. No staff. No servants. No drivers. No passport. What if I get stopped by guards and can’t prove I’m a citizen?’
Then a notification flashed.
[PLAYERS REMAINING: 1,000]
Jax’s grin widened. ’So below this island, the real ga has already started. I wonder how many have died already.’
He thought back. ’A thousand left. That ans there were way more at the start. Multiple worlds. Multiple champions.’
’Which ans... the heroines from Aeroria are here. Morgana. Paige. Jennifer.’
His mind flashed to Beatrix. ’Shit. I completely forgot about her. If soone eliminates her before I get to see her again, I’ll fucking hunt them down. Beat them to 1 HP. Let them heal. Then repeat. Forever.’
Another notification appeared.
[SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE]
[THE SYSTEM HAS FULLY EXAMINED THE WORLD OF VALDORIA]
[ALL PREVIOUS QUESTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED OR PLACED ON HOLD]
[NEW QUESTS ADDED BASED ON CURRENT WORLD PARATERS]
[DEVOTION POINT BANK: NOW ACTIVE]
[NEW FEATURES UNLOCKED]
[SYSTEM GUIDANCE: SKILL DESCRIPTIONS, TI LIMITS, AND USAGE TIPS NOW AVAILABLE]
[SHOP INVENTORY: COMPLETELY OVERHAULED FOR VALDORIA]
[NEW QUEST DISCOVERED]
[ULTIMATE QUEST: THE GRAND TOUR] [TI LIMIT: 1 YEAR]
[OBJECTIVE: ACHIEVE INTIMACY WITH ONE MBER OF EACH LISTED RACE]
[PROGRESS:]
Human: 3/1 ✓
Dwarf: 4/1 ✓
Elf: 0/1
Vampire: 0/1
Dragonkin: 0/1
Catfolk: 0/1
Wolfkin: 0/1
Orc: 0/1
Demon: 0/1
Celestial: 0/1
[REWARD: DINSIONAL TRAVEL UNLOCKED - ACCESS TO OTHER WORLDS IN SYSTEM DATABASE]
Jax stared at the list. ’Now that’s an update.’
Most of it looked doable. Elf? Plenty at the academy. Vampire? Lucindra was right there. Dragonkin? Zharina was going to be fun to conquer.
But two stood out.
Demon. ’The only one I know is Lysandra. And I’m not even sure if she’s full demon or half. This could be tricky.’
Celestial. ’They said it’s an extinct species. But if the system lists it, they must exist sowhere.’
He exhaled. ’One year. I can work with that.’
"System. Inspect my skills."
[S-RANK: SWORD KING]
[DESCRIPTION: A mory of a legendary king who once ruled through unmatched blade mastery. When the host wields any sword, the king’s instincts guide their movents in battle. Grants divine-tier combat intuition.]
[ADDITIONAL EFFECT: HOST HAS BEEN GRANTED A DIVINE SWORD THAT CANNOT BE DESTROYED BY ANY FORCE.]
[SKILL: ECHO MIRROR]
[DESCRIPTION: Allows the host to copy skills from other PLAYERS (not natives of this world). Cannot replicate body enhancent or mory-based abilities. Requires observation of skill usage.]
[NOTE: ONLY WORKS ON INTERDINSIONAL CHAMPIONS.]
[SKILL: SOUL THIEF]
[DESCRIPTION: Allows the host to possess any male body within line of sight. Target’s na will appear if they are a PLAYER. Native inhabitants’ nas will not display.]
[LIMITATIONS:]
Cannot possess targets with higher level (for players) or power level (for natives) Possession duration depends on target’s strength relative to host 24-hour cooldown after use
Jax grinned. "Now it all makes sense. Love you, System. Tell you’re a girl and I’ll give you the best night of your life."
No response.
"Worth a shot."
His stomach growled.
He spotted a food stall where a custor was devouring skewered atballs. The sll was intoxicating.
Jax approached and waited.
A young boy erged from behind the counter. Catfolk. Maybe twelve years old. Orange fur, bright eyes, energetic smile.
"Good afternoon, sir!"
"Good afternoon, kid."
Jax’s eyes drifted past the boy to the kitchen.
A woman worked there. Catfolk. Late twenties. Soft orange fur. Feline ears twitching as she worked. Her body moved with natural grace—curves accentuated by simple, practical clothing. Full hips. A tail that swayed rhythmically as she stirred a pot.
’Oh. Oh.’
"Who’s that?" Jax asked, nodding toward her.
The boy bead. "That’s my mother!"
Jax’s mind imdiately went to dark places. Images. Scenarios. That tail wrapped around—
"Sir? What would you like to eat?"
Jax’s focus snapped back. "Your mothe—"
He caught himself.
"—anything good. Whatever you recomnd."
The boy smiled innocently and scurried off.
But Jax’s smile was anything but innocent.
It was the smile of a man plotting sothing deeply, deliciously devilish.
’One year. Ten races.’
’This is going to be fun.’
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