Rise of the Crusader

While, the new age city was an absolute beauty for Raphael, and others, the same couldn't be said for the other students.

The norms student most, especially.

"We are going to die." One of the students from the norms division exclaimed in a reassuring tone.

There was not a tinge of doubt present in his voice, even the other student who was beside him nodded their head agreeing to what he said.

Nevaeh, the strongest student in the division, clenched her hand into a tight fist.

She wanted to retort to the words that her colleague had just said, but staring at the surrounding, including the beasts that were staring at them from afar, she could tell it was only a matter of time.

"If we want to survive this, we have to stay strong and be united," Nevaeh said. "I refuse to believe that the director would send us here to die."

"There has to be a way to survive this, hell loop, or else how do you explain the numbers of seniors in the academy... Once we have it figured out, it will be very easy for us."

While Nevaeh was able to bring a bit of hope for some of the students, her words of encouragement were useless for the majority of them.

One of them sneered, "It's easy for you to say, Nevaeh. You're the strongest, so you have more chance to survive this than any of us."

"That's right,"

"And mind you, the student of the division get killed every single day, if the director didn't care about our lives then, what makes you think, they will care now."

There were several nods from the student in the norms division.

The director had watched them being tortured and ripped apart, yet no moves were made, so, thinking that they would care about them in any way was only a pipe dream.

"A majority of us are nominal students, meaning we have more quest to complete if we want to remain students of the academy."

"The same can't be said for you, who is a gold student." The man said, staring at Nevaeh.

Among the seven divisions, the norms division had the highest number of students, and among them, only one gold student was produced during the tournament.

No core student, and after Nevaeh, the others were nominal students.

"It's not like we are giving up, we will thrive through this with all our strength, but not with you leading us."

While Nevaeh wanted to respond, she didn't know exactly what she was going to say.

She got the feeling that they had already discussed this among themselves and even concluded that she wouldn't lead them here. So, regardless of what she said, it still wouldn't change their minds.

"Since that's settled, let's begin the arrangement."

Nevaeh moved a few steps backward, she then folded her hands across her chest, watching as they discussed among themselves.

Truthfully, Nevaeh didn't blame them, in here the rules were different. Provided you had the points and your contribution was great in the academy, they wouldn't mind using the lazarus pit for revival.

But, it was different here… There were no revivals here, and once he or she dies, it was over.

…

A few miles away from the norms division was the bandit's division.

Victor sat in front of a table with about twelve guns in front of them. The expression on his face wasn't stern nor was it grim, it would be said to be neutral.

But, it was all eyes on the guns in front of him.

"What the fuck are you doing, Victor, you had three months to do this, and you didn't. Now, we have to wait for your lazy ass to get ready before moving."

"Bastard!" Marcel cursed.

Watching Victor prepare his weapons was infuriating, and considering that he had three months to get all this done, yet he didn't, sent Marcel's blood boiling.

Pa!

Marcel's eyes twitched, as he felt the bullet pass through his cheeks. Terror swept through his body as he realized he could have died from that gunshot.

He turned towards Victor and was about to speak when Victor's voice sounded.

"That was an intentional miss, say anything else, and the next bullet goes to your head,"

If there was one thing certain, then it was never to doubt Victor when it came to his shots.

Marcel was well aware of this, and quickly he kept quiet. The furious expression, however, didn't leave his voice, and while he said nothing, the curses went on inwardly.

As for the other student in the bandit's division, some of them stared at Victor as he cleaned and then loaded the guns with bullets.

While the others looked elsewhere.

After a few minutes, Victor stood from his seat. He backed up his guns and was about to move when he laid eyes on Hilario.

His lips curved inwardly, then slowly he made his way to Hilario.

"You know, Hilario, we follow a strict code in the bandit's division… And you, Hilario, have broken that very code that binds us together." Victor said.

Hilario already noticed Victor since the moment he began walking towards them, and after his voice rang out, she replied.

"Which code is that, Victor?"

"The enemy of my colleague is my enemy," Victor answered.

Hilario had already expected this discussion to occur at some point, considering how she acted during the tournament finale.

And she was already prepared for the question to come.

"If that's the code, then I guess I didn't break it." Hilario said, "Raphael is still an enemy of mine, nothing has changed."

Victor nodded his head, "That's for the best."

"And I hope you're not telling lies to your colleagues because that would be a very dire thing to do," Victor added.

Responding to Victor, Hilario smirked and then moved her gaze away from him.

"He is a diamond student, Hilario, I do not need to tell you what that represents in this place as well as outside," Victor said and then walked away from Hilario.

However, he had only just moved past Enzo when Hilario's voice rang out.

"I should also say the same thing to you… He is a diamond student, I don't need to explain what would befall you if you continue to make a move on him."