**********
—Two days later—
Rose Hotel,
Inside one of the rooms of the Rose Hotel, Lev and Tsunade could be found lying lazily on the bed.
Despite the sun already being high in the sky, neither of them seemed particularly interested in getting up.
Tsunade, especially, looked completely exhausted from the previous night's activities.
"Master, didn't you say that you were going to Shrek Academy today?" Tsunade muttered, her voice carrying a hint of concern. "It's almost noon."
She had suddenly remembered that Lev had specifically instructed her to remind him about it.
Though she felt that it might already be too late, she couldn't really blame herself for forgetting.
After all, some things were simply easier to forget after having such an eventful night.
The moment Lev heard her words, his eyes widened.
"Shit!"
He immediately sat up.
If Tsunade hadn't reminded him, he might have completely forgotten about it.
Looking toward the bright sunlight pouring through the window, Lev realized just how late it had become.
'I'm going to miss it!'
Without wasting another second, Lev immediately opened his inventory and pulled out a set of clothes.
He quickly dressed himself before turning toward Tsunade.
"I'll be going now."
After giving her a few reminders and telling her to behave herself while he was away, Lev finally prepared to leave the hotel.
As for the Tailed Beasts, he had already recalled them into their summoning space.
Their appearances were simply too conspicuous, especially in a city filled with Spirit Masters.
There would be plenty of opportunities to summon them again once the situation was appropriate.
"Good luck, Master."
Tsunade smiled as she watched him prepare to leave.
Lev smiled back.
As much as Tsunade wanted to accompany him, she understood that his orders were absolute.
"I'll be back."
With those words, Lev turned around and left the room.
The door slowly closed behind him.
Tsunade remained on the bed, watching the direction in which he had disappeared.
"Be careful, Master."
Meanwhile, Lev had already begun making his way toward Shrek Academy.
He had waited for this moment for years.
Now that he was finally here...
There was no way he was going to miss it.
Meanwhile, after leaving the hotel, Lev only needed a few minutes before he finally spotted a small village just outside Suotuo City.
Although he was late, he felt that he hadn't missed the entrance examination by too much.
'Still, I should hurry.'
Wanting to make up for the time he had lost, Lev activated a Spirit Ability that enhanced his movement speed and immediately accelerated toward the village.
It didn't take long before he finally arrived.
The place looked more like a simple reception area than an entrance to a renowned academy.
However, there was no longer a line of applicants waiting.
Instead, an old man could be seen packing his belongings, seemingly preparing to leave now that the day's applicants had already been processed.
'So I'm really this late.'
Lev glanced deeper into the village.
From somewhere in the distance, he could faintly feel several powerful fluctuations of Spirit Power.
'Tang San and the others have probably already started fighting Zhao Wuji.'
A slight look of disappointment appeared on Lev's face.
He had originally wanted to witness their battle firsthand, but it seemed that he had arrived too late.
'Sigh. It can't be helped.'
Lev quickly abandoned the thought.
There was no point dwelling on something that had already happened.
He approached the old man.
"Old man, are you still accepting applicants?"
As he spoke, Lev removed his cloak, revealing his appearance.
He wasn't really here just to see the main characters.
His real purpose for coming to Shrek Academy was much more important.
He wanted companions.
Although the System could summon powerful beings for him, Lev believed that the more capable people he could recruit and nurture himself, the better his future plans would become.
After all, he had already made a decision long ago.
He would eventually establish his own organization in this world.
And if he wanted that organization to become powerful, he would need trustworthy and talented individuals at his side.
The old man, who had been preparing to leave, suddenly stopped.
His eyes carefully examined the young man standing before him.
The first thing he noticed was Lev's appearance.
The second was his demeanor.
Despite his young age, there was an unusual calmness and confidence about him.
'This boy...'
The old man immediately came to a conclusion.
'He must come from a prominent family.'
"The application fee is ten Gold Spirit Coins."
He pointed toward a wooden chest nearby.
"Put the money in there."
The old man didn't say anything else.
He maintained the demeanor of a Spirit Master, but his attitude toward Lev was noticeably different from how he had treated the other applicants.
He was cautious.
After all, Lev's identity remained a mystery.
Lev nodded and took out ten Gold Spirit Coins before placing them inside the chest.
The money he had spent at the hotel and the money he was using now had all been obtained by converting his True God Coins into the currency of this world.
After all, one True God Coin could be converted into one million Gold Spirit Coins.
By the standards of this world...
Lev could already be considered extraordinarily wealthy.
"Extend your right hand."
The old man spoke again.
Seeing how casually Lev had paid the ten Gold Spirit Coins, his previous assumption became even stronger.
'He's definitely from a wealthy family.'
The old man couldn't help but become curious about the young man standing before him.
Lev obediently extended his right hand.
The old man grabbed it and carefully kneaded his fingers and palm for a moment.
After confirming his age, he nodded.
"Exactly twelve years old."
He then looked at Lev seriously.
"Release your Spirit. Let me have a look."
"Hmm..."
Lev glanced at the old man.
He was reluctant to reveal his Spirit.
Not because he was ashamed of it.
Quite the opposite.
His Karyu was simply too unique.
He had no idea what kind of trouble might arise if its true nature became known.
However, since releasing one's Spirit was apparently part of the admission process, Lev could only sigh helplessly.
"What are you waiting for?"
The old man urged him after seeing that Lev had suddenly fallen silent.
His mind began to speculate.
'Why is he reluctant to reveal his Spirit?'
There were only a few possibilities.
Perhaps his Spirit was extraordinarily powerful and needed to be kept secret because of some clan-related matter.
Or perhaps...
His Spirit was simply too weak, and he was embarrassed to reveal it.
Neither possibility seemed particularly strange.
"Old man," Lev finally said with a smile, "the Spirit of our clan is somewhat different. It isn't something that can be easily displayed to outsiders."
He paused briefly.
"How about making an exception this time and allowing me to proceed to the next stage?"
As he spoke, Lev casually placed a heavy bag on the table.
Clink.
The sound of countless coins colliding echoed through the reception area.
The old man's eyebrows twitched.
He looked down at the bag before looking back at Lev.
The meaning behind the gesture was obvious.
It was a bribe.
For a moment, the old man frowned.
However, his expression quickly changed.
He knew the financial situation of Shrek Academy better than anyone.
The academy had always struggled with money.
And now, a wealthy young man had practically delivered a bag of Gold Spirit Coins directly into his hands.
The old man hesitated for only a moment.
Then—
Grab.
His hand reached out and took the bag.
He casually put it away as though nothing unusual had happened.
"Follow me."
Lev's smile widened.
'That was easier than expected.'
Without saying anything else, he followed the old man deeper into the academy.
At this moment, Lev had no idea what kind of reaction his arrival would cause once the people inside Shrek Academy discovered him.
Nor did he know that the academy's teachers were currently dealing with an entirely different problem.
A problem involving a certain little monster...
and a very angry Zhao Wuji.
Lev couldn't help but smile at the situation.
It once again proved that money had a strange ability to bend certain rules, regardless of whether one was on Earth or in another world.
Of course, Lev wasn't particularly proud of what he had done.
He simply had no choice.
If he had revealed his Spirit Rings and the others had seen that they were all white, there was a good chance that he wouldn't have even been allowed to proceed with the admission process.
'It's better to avoid unnecessary trouble.'
With that thought, Lev continued following behind the old man.
It didn't take long before they arrived at the final testing area.
The moment Lev entered the area, his eyes immediately fell upon the scene in front of him.
Tang San and Xiao Wu were already lying unconscious on the ground, while several young men and women had gathered around them.
Lev recognized them almost immediately.
'So the battle is already over.'
He hadn't been able to witness the fight between Tang San and Zhao Wuji, but seeing the aftermath was enough to tell him how intense it must have been.
Although he was still some distance away, Lev could clearly hear Zhao Wuji speaking.
"Mubai, you're in charge of getting these four new students settled. Tomorrow, the term will officially begin."
Zhao Wuji pointed toward Tang San.
"And don't touch the hidden weapons this Tang San scattered around the area. Some of them are poisoned. Wait until he wakes up and let him collect them himself."
Dai Mubai nodded.
"Understood, Teacher Zhao."
Zhao Wuji took one last look at Tang San.
There was a complicated expression on his face.
The battle had undoubtedly left a strong impression on him.
He was about to leave when he suddenly noticed someone approaching from a distance.
It was one of his colleagues.
And beside him was a young man.
Zhao Wuji stopped.
'Another student?'
The old man who had brought Lev over approached the group before pointing toward him.
"There's another late applicant beside me."
He glanced at Dai Mubai.
"Take him directly to the final test. There's no need for him to go through the previous examinations. He'll undoubtedly pass them all."
The old man didn't ask Zhao Wuji about what had happened.
He had enough experience to understand that there were times when asking unnecessary questions would only embarrass someone.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder.
'Just who managed to push Zhao Wuji to this extent?'
Meanwhile, the others finally turned their attention toward Lev.
The first thing they noticed was his appearance.
Even among the young geniuses gathered at Shrek Academy, Lev's appearance was exceptionally striking.
The two girls, in particular, immediately became interested.
One of them was Ning Rongrong.
The other was Zhu Zhuqing.
Both had already passed the previous examinations and were among the new students of Shrek Academy.
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up.
"How handsome..."
She couldn't help but mutter under her breath.
As the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Rongrong had encountered more than enough handsome young men throughout the Heaven Dou Empire.
Yet Lev's appearance gave her a completely different feeling.
There was something unusual about him.
Perhaps it was his calm expression.
Perhaps it was his mature demeanor.
Or perhaps it was simply the mysterious aura surrounding him.
Whatever the reason...
She found herself unable to look away.
Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, merely glanced at Lev.
Her expression remained calm, but a trace of curiosity could be seen in her eyes.
She wasn't interested in Lev for the same reason as Ning Rongrong.
Rather, there was something about his presence that caught her attention.
'He's unusual.'
That was the only thought that crossed her mind.
"Tsk."
A dissatisfied sound suddenly came from the side.
Oscar, the young man with the distinctive mustache, couldn't help but click his tongue.
Dai Mubai was already troublesome enough when it came to attracting the attention of the girls.
Now there was another handsome newcomer.
'Why are there so many handsome monsters coming to this academy?'
Oscar couldn't help but feel that his chances of attracting the attention of the newly admitted girls had just become even worse.
Dai Mubai's reaction wasn't much better.
His eyes remained fixed on Lev for a moment.
A subtle hint of displeasure flashed across his face.
'There really is someone more handsome than me...'
His expression darkened slightly.
Almost instinctively, his gaze shifted toward Zhu Zhuqing.
When he noticed her looking in Lev's direction, his mood became even worse.
'This is getting annoying.'
Dai Mubai quickly suppressed his emotions and turned toward the old man.
He respectfully nodded.
"Thank you, Teacher Li."
Teacher Li nodded before turning his attention toward Lev.
"Go ahead. The final test is over there."
Lev calmly walked forward.
As he approached the group, his eyes swept across the familiar faces.
Tang San.
Xiao Wu.
Dai Mubai.
Ning Rongrong.
Zhu Zhuqing.
Oscar.
And Zhao Wuji.
One by one, the characters he had once only known through a story were now standing before him in the flesh.
Lev couldn't help but smile inwardly.
'So this is Shrek Academy.'
He had finally arrived.
And from this moment onward...
He would no longer merely be an observer of this world's story.
Hearing Dai Mubai, Teacher Li lost interest in the matter and walked toward Zhao Wuji instead.
He was more curious about what had happened during the fourth test. After all, these young students were likely to become important figures in the future, so learning more about their performances would be worthwhile.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai stepped forward and looked directly at Lev.
"I'm the examiner for the fourth test. All you need to do is endure my attacks for the time it takes one stick of incense to burn. If you can accomplish that, you'll pass."
Although his words sounded official, there was a different meaning behind his gaze.
He wanted to teach this newcomer a lesson.
And, preferably, embarrass him in front of everyone.
Lev immediately noticed the subtle change in Dai Mubai's tone.
'What did I even do to him?'
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Then his eyes briefly shifted toward Zhu Zhuqing.
Seeing her looking at him with some curiosity, Lev immediately understood.
'Ah... so that's the reason.'
Apparently, Dai Mubai had mistaken Zhu Zhuqing's curiosity for something more.
Lev found the situation somewhat amusing.
He wasn't a child who could easily be provoked anymore.
But that didn't mean he was someone others could casually push around.
Dai Mubai crossed his arms before announcing,
"Dai Mubai. Spirit: White Tiger. Thirty-seventh-ranked Battle Spirit Elder."
His tone carried an obvious challenge.
He was deliberately announcing his cultivation rank to make sure Lev understood the difference between them.
"Kindly advise me."
Lev simply looked at him.
"Lev Hendrix. Spirit: Karyu."
That was it.
He didn't reveal his Spirit Rank.
He didn't explain anything else.
Since he had decided to maintain an air of mystery while staying at Shrek Academy, there was no reason for him to reveal more than necessary.
And as expected...
His answer immediately stirred everyone's curiosity.
Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and even Zhao Wuji frowned.
'Karyu?'
'What rank is he?'
'Why didn't he say it?'
To them, Lev's response sounded almost like he wasn't taking Dai Mubai seriously.
Zhao Wuji turned toward Teacher Li.
"Teacher Li, who exactly is this kid?"
Since Teacher Li had personally overseen Lev's admission, Zhao Wuji assumed he would know something about him.
Teacher Li shook his head.
"I don't know much about him."
He glanced toward Lev thoughtfully.
"But I'm certain that he comes from a prominent clan. His behavior, appearance, and the amount of money he casually spent during the admission process all suggest that."
He paused before glancing at Ning Rongrong.
"Perhaps he's similar to this girl, Ning Rongrong."
Teacher Li hadn't been able to see Lev's Spirit during the previous examination.
Now that the final test was a battle, he finally had the opportunity to discover what the mysterious young man was hiding.
Dai Mubai's expression became increasingly unpleasant.
He had been treated like the boss of Shrek Academy for quite some time.
Yet this newcomer had arrived and completely ignored his presence.
A faint seed of hostility began taking root in his heart.
'Fine.'
'Since you want to act arrogant...'
"I hope you can keep that attitude after the test."
Dai Mubai's eyes narrowed.
"Let's start!"
Boom!
His Spirit Power erupted.
The White Tiger Martial Spirit immediately possessed his body, and his physical strength surged as he activated his White Tiger Body Enhancement.
Without giving Lev any opportunity to prepare, Dai Mubai charged forward.
At the same time, his second Spirit Ring lit up.
"Second Spirit Ring Ability: White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"
A dazzling beam of intense light erupted from his hands and shot directly toward Lev.
The sudden attack startled Teacher Li and Zhao Wuji.
They had expected Dai Mubai to test the newcomer.
However.
They hadn't expected him to immediately use a Spirit Ability.
'Dai Mubai really isn't holding back.'
Yet neither of them intervened.
They wanted to see exactly what this mysterious newcomer was capable of.
Lev, however, didn't even look particularly concerned.
The incoming attack was simply too slow.
His body shifted slightly.
That was all.
The intense light beam passed harmlessly beside him.
Lev had spent nearly five years being chased through the Sunset Forest by countless Spirit Beasts.
He had experienced genuine life-and-death battles.
Compared to those experiences...
This attack was nothing.
'Too slow.'
Lev casually removed his black cloak.
Then—
Whoosh!
He threw it directly toward Dai Mubai.
The cloak flew across his field of vision, temporarily obscuring his sight.
At the same time, Lev raised his hand.
His fingers began moving through the air.
He wrote a single name.
***Nadare***
The moment the final letter was completed—
Boom!
Lev's white Spirit Ring suddenly lit up.
A massive dragon emerged from behind him.
Roar!
The dragon's thunderous roar shook the entire testing area.
Everyone froze.
Dai Mubai's eyes widened.
Oscar's mouth fell open.
Ning Rongrong stared in disbelief.
Even Zhu Zhuqing's normally calm expression changed.
But what shocked them the most wasn't merely the dragon itself.
It was how Lev had summoned it.
He hadn't shouted the name of a Spirit Ability.
He hadn't announced his Spirit Rank.
He had simply written something in the air.
And then...
A dragon appeared.
"D-Dragon?"
Teacher Li's eyes widened.
He had never expected Lev's Spirit to actually be a dragon.
Dragon-type Spirits were notoriously powerful.
Regardless of where they appeared, possessing a genuine dragon Spirit was enough to make someone stand above countless others.
Teacher Li immediately thought of one particular clan known for possessing powerful dragon Spirits.
'Could this boy be from that clan?'
Zhao Wuji's expression became equally serious.
"Did he come from that clan?"
His brows furrowed.
"But why would someone from that clan come here?"
He stared at the dragon carefully.
"Wait..."
His expression changed slightly.
"This doesn't look like any dragon Spirit I've seen before."
Zhao Wuji's eyes narrowed.
'What exactly is this Spirit?'
Suddenly, he understood why Lev had appeared so unconcerned during the test.
With such a powerful-looking Spirit, it was only natural for him to possess some degree of arrogance.
However, Zhao Wuji had no idea just how wrong that assumption was.
Lev wasn't arrogant.
He simply knew exactly how strong he was.
Meanwhile, Nadare suddenly transformed.
The dragon's body broke apart into numerous blazing fireballs that floated around Lev.
Lev raised his hand.
The fireballs immediately moved.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
One after another, they shot toward Dai Mubai from different directions.
Dai Mubai's expression changed.
He immediately raised his arms and prepared to defend himself.
But Lev wasn't trying to kill him.
He carefully controlled the strength of every fireball, deliberately suppressing their destructive power.
After all...
This was an entrance examination.
He had no intention of accidentally killing one of the future members of the Shrek Seven Devils.
'Let's see how much you've got, Dai Mubai.'
Lev smiled faintly.
The barrage of fireballs descended.
"1st Spirit Ring Ability: White Tiger Shield Body Barrier!"
Seeing the incoming fireballs, Dai Mubai immediately activated another spirit ability. Although he was still shocked by everything that had happened, he managed to remain calm and continued making sound decisions.
However, Lev merely smiled upon seeing Dai Mubai's response.
Over the past five years, he had constantly experimented with his abilities while growing stronger. Through countless battles, he had discovered many interesting ways to utilize his skills.
Looking at the shield in front of Dai Mubai, Lev simply changed the trajectory of the fireballs.
The numerous fireballs suddenly condensed and transformed into sharp, arrow-like flames before shooting toward a single point on the shield.
Boom!
The shield did not last long.
Cracks rapidly spread across its surface before it shattered completely. The remaining fire arrows continued forward, bombarding Dai Mubai's body and setting his clothes ablaze.
Had it not been for the innate defensive ability of his White Tiger Spirit, Dai Mubai believed that he would already be lying on the ground.
Caught off guard by the attack, he immediately retreated several meters, putting distance between himself and Lev.
'If I want to win this, I can't hold back anymore.'
Dai Mubai gritted his teeth. He had already realized that this opponent was far more troublesome than he had initially expected.
"Third Spirit Ring Ability: White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
Without holding anything back, Dai Mubai finally activated the ability he was most proud of.
As the third spirit ring flashed, his body underwent a dramatic transformation. His muscles expanded, his aura surged, and his entire body seemed to transform into that of a mighty beast.
"Be prepared! I'm going all out!"
Dai Mubai roared as his confidence returned.
The White Tiger Vajra Transformation increased his physical strength, attack power, and defense by 100%. With such a boost, he was confident that he could overwhelm his opponent through sheer physical strength.
He immediately strode forward, preparing to close the distance between them and fight Lev head-on.
However—
***Saiha***
Lev remained completely unfazed by Dai Mubai's transformation.
His hand finished writing a name in the air.
The next moment, another dragon emerged from the flames.
"Another dragon?!"
Teacher Li's eyes widened in disbelief.
This was completely abnormal.
The dragon that had appeared this time looked entirely different from the first one. This was completely different from the spirit he had expected Lev to possess.
An absurd thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
'Could he have... a twin spirit?'
The possibility sent a shiver through his heart.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai also stopped in his tracks after seeing the second dragon.
He had already learned his lesson from the previous exchange. Since he had no idea what kind of ability this new dragon possessed, he decided not to recklessly attack and instead observe the situation first.
Suddenly, Saiha moved toward Lev.
The dragon transformed into a blade-shaped flame that wrapped around Lev's arm.
However, Lev's use of the ability was slightly different from its original form.
Through his experiments over the years, he had already discovered that he was not limited to creating flame blades only around his arms. He could freely manifest them around different parts of his body.
"Come."
Lev looked at Dai Mubai and calmly provoked him.
He wanted to defeat Dai Mubai in the area where the latter was most confident—strength.
When it came to physical power, Lev was confident that his body and abilities were far beyond those of any opponent he had encountered so far.
Contrary to Lev's calm demeanor, Dai Mubai completely lost his composure.
He had already suffered enough humiliation since the beginning of the battle. Now, Lev was deliberately provoking him to fight in an area where he was supposed to have the advantage.
His pride could no longer tolerate it.
At this moment, Dai Mubai completely forgot about the actual purpose of the test.
The only thought occupying his mind was to defeat Lev and wash away the humiliation he had suffered.
"Dai Mubai has already lost."
Zhao Wuji shook his head while watching the battle.
However, he wasn't particularly concerned about Dai Mubai's defeat.
Instead, his eyes remained fixed on Lev.
A strange smile slowly appeared on his face.
'Another monster has come to the academy.'
"Mmm."
Teacher Li nodded in agreement, his eyes also filled with interest as he watched the two young men.
Dai Mubai, meanwhile, had already been completely provoked.
"RAAAHH!"
He roared before dashing forward.
His enormous fist shot toward Lev with tremendous force.
Dai Mubai couldn't help but smile.
He believed that Lev had made a foolish decision by choosing to face his attack head-on.
However—
The moment his fist collided with Lev's flame blade, Dai Mubai's expression immediately distorted.
CLANG!
His fist felt as though it had struck an indestructible weapon.
Pain surged through his arm, accompanied by an unbearable heat that seemed capable of burning through his flesh.
"?!"
Dai Mubai's pupils contracted.
'How is this possible?!'
He immediately withdrew his fist and swung his leg toward Lev's body.
However, Lev had already predicted his movement.
He raised his knee and blocked the kick.
At the same time, another blade-shaped flame appeared around his knee.
BOOM!
The two attacks collided.
Dai Mubai's face instantly turned pale.
A sharp pain spread through his leg, followed by a strange numbness that made it difficult for him to maintain his balance.
Although the flame blade hadn't pierced through his flesh, the sensation was terrifyingly close to it.
'How is he this strong?!'
Dai Mubai's mind descended into chaos.
Lev was clearly younger than him, yet his physical strength was completely overwhelming.
"Aarrgh!"
Dai Mubai couldn't help but groan in pain.
And that was only after two exchanges.
His nightmare had only just begun.
Before Dai Mubai could recover, Lev suddenly stepped forward.
His flame blade disappeared.
Instead, he threw a simple punch directly toward Dai Mubai's face.
BAM!
The punch connected perfectly.
Dai Mubai's head snapped backward as his body staggered from the impact.
At that moment, the situation had completely reversed.
The hunter had become the hunted.
And now—
It was Lev's turn to teach Dai Mubai a lesson.
While Dai Mubai was still reeling from the pain in his leg and the punch to his face, Lev stepped forward once again.
BAM!
Another punch struck him.
Then another.
And another.
Dai Mubai's body could no longer keep up with Lev's movements. His vision blurred as fists rained down upon him from every direction, each blow sending another wave of pain throughout his body.
He tried to defend himself.
He tried to retaliate.
But his body simply couldn't react fast enough.
BAM!
One final punch struck him squarely in the chest.
Dai Mubai's body was sent flying backward before crashing heavily onto the ground.
THUD!
His eyes rolled back, and he finally lost consciousness.
[Boxing (Tier 2: Level 20)]
Lev looked at his unconscious opponent before slowly retracting his fist.
"I think I passed the test."
He breathed out lightly before turning his attention toward Teacher Li and Zhao Wuji.
There was a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
Not only had he passed the final test, but his boxing skill had also improved after the intense battle.
'Not bad.'
Zhao Wuji stared at Lev for a moment before suddenly breaking into a wide grin.
"I think that's enough. You pass. Welcome to Shrek Academy!"
Although Zhao Wuji had already recognized that Lev's spirit was extraordinary, what surprised him even more was Lev's combat sense.
His movements were precise, efficient, and completely devoid of unnecessary actions.
More importantly, Lev fought as though he had experienced countless battles before.
For someone who appeared to be only twelve years old, such combat experience was simply abnormal.
"I never thought you'd be this powerful, boy."
Teacher Li also couldn't hide his praise.
"Thank you for the praise, Teacher Li."
Lev smiled modestly.
His gaze then shifted toward the unconscious Dai Mubai lying on the ground.
Although he was satisfied with the result of the battle, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty after seeing how badly he had beaten him.
'Well, I probably went a little too far.'
Lev raised his hand toward Dai Mubai.
"Nature's Heal."
A gentle green light immediately appeared around his palm before flowing toward Dai Mubai.
This was one of the abilities he had acquired during his five years in Sunset Forest.
Although healing Dai Mubai wasn't necessary, Lev felt that doing so would help establish a better first impression of himself.
Moreover, there was no reason for him to leave behind unnecessary hostility.
A warm light enveloped Dai Mubai's body.
Under everyone's shocked gazes, the wounds covering his body began closing at an astonishing speed. The bruises gradually faded, and even the injuries he had sustained during the battle rapidly recovered.
Teacher Li and the others were completely dumbfounded.
"Y-You can even do that?"
Zhao Wuji looked at Lev in disbelief.
He had initially assumed that Lev's strange spirit was primarily suited for combat, but he had never expected the young man to possess a powerful healing ability as well.
'This kid isn't simply a monster.'
'He's a monster among monsters.'
The more Zhao Wuji observed Lev, the more appropriate the title of Monster seemed to be.
"It's an innate skill from our clan."
Lev smiled and casually lied.
He couldn't exactly tell them the truth.
"Hahahaha!"
Zhao Wuji suddenly burst into laughter.
"We've truly received a bunch of monsters this year!"
His gaze swept across the newly admitted students before landing on Oscar.
"Oscar, you're in charge of taking them to their dormitories. Don't forget—the term officially starts tomorrow."
Zhao Wuji then turned toward Teacher Li.
"We should report to the principal that this year's admission test has finally ended."
With that, Zhao Wuji and Teacher Li left together, both of them still unable to hide the smiles on their faces.
For a moment, everyone remained where they were, seemingly unsure of what to do next.
Then—
Ning Rongrong suddenly stepped forward.
She approached Lev with an obvious blush on her face.
"T-This brother... I'm Ning Rongrong. Nice to meet you."
"Hmm. Lev Hendrix."
Lev smiled as he replied.
Ning Rongrong.
One of the main characters of this world.
Seeing her in person was certainly different from merely reading about her in a story.
But Lev wasn't particularly excited because of her appearance.
What truly interested him was her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
'If I can learn her spirit abilities, that would be quite useful.'
As Lev continued looking at her, a gentle smile appeared on his face.
Ning Rongrong, however, completely froze.
Thump.
Her heart suddenly pounded.
She stared at Lev's smile as though she had been struck by something she had never experienced before.
Her cheeks became even redder.
'Why is my heart beating so fast?'
For the first time in her life, Ning Rongrong felt something completely unfamiliar.
Without thinking, she suddenly stepped forward and threw her arms around Lev, hugging him tightly.
The sudden action left everyone around them stunned.
Ning Rongrong herself seemed equally surprised by what she had just done.
Yet she couldn't deny the feeling inside her heart.
It was the first time someone had made her heart beat so wildly.
And at that moment, Ning Rongrong became convinced of something she had never believed would happen to her.
She had fallen in love at first sight.
Contrary to Ning Rongrong's excitement, Lev couldn't help but feel somewhat uneasy yet surprised.
The appearance and personalities of the important characters in this world were quite different from how he remembered them from the original story. Seeing them in person was an entirely different experience from simply reading about or watching them.
"Zhu Zhuqing."
Zhu Zhuqing also introduced herself, simply giving her name.
However, unlike before, a faint hint of interest could be seen in her eyes as she glanced at Ning Rongrong, who was still clinging to Lev.
Although Lev's appearance was certainly striking, Zhu Zhuqing didn't pay much attention to it. She had come to Shrek Academy for one reason, and that purpose remained far more important to her than anything else.
"Mmm."
Lev merely smiled while trying to maintain his composure as Ning Rongrong continued holding onto him.
Seeing these characters in person was still somewhat surreal.
They were much more vivid and mature in personality than he had imagined from the original story. After spending so much time in this world, Lev had gradually stopped viewing them as mere characters from a story and had begun treating them as real people with their own lives and ambitions.
Meanwhile, Oscar, who had been watching Lev interact with the two girls, couldn't help but feel jealous.
Seeing that Lev had already attracted the attention of both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, he immediately stepped forward.
"I'm Oscar. As you heard from Zhao Wuji, I'll be guiding you to your dormitory. Now, can you help me carry these three?"
Lev glanced at the unconscious students before shaking his head.
"I'm sorry, but I don't plan on staying here."
He then casually adjusted his clothes.
"I'm currently staying at the Rose Hotel, so I'll just return there. I'll be here on time tomorrow. Goodbye, and it was nice meeting all of you."
Without waiting for their response, Lev turned around and left.
He quickly made his way out of the academy and began running toward Suotuo City.
If he had wanted to, he could have stayed for a while longer.
However, after everything that had happened today, he felt that returning to the Rose Hotel was the better choice.
Everyone who remained behind, except for those who were unconscious, was left speechless by Lev's departure.
Each person had a different reaction.
Oscar couldn't help but feel envious.
'Handsome, powerful, and apparently wealthy enough to stay at the Rose Hotel... What kind of monster is this guy?'
Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, was surprised for only a moment before quickly returning to her usual calm expression.
Ning Rongrong was different.
The moment she heard that Lev wasn't going to stay at the academy's dormitory, her expression immediately fell.
"But... I thought we'd be able to see each other every day..."
She stared at the direction Lev had disappeared with a disappointed expression.
For some reason, she already felt reluctant to part with him.