The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Tour through the school
In this moment, Jack moved with a single purpose—his every muscle honed with a deadly intent to kill. Holding back wasn’t an option; there was a raw, unrestrained fury coursing through his veins. His grip tightened on his blade, and his movements were swift, unhesitating.

‘Is this the rage of the god affecting me?’ he wondered briefly, feeling a strange surge of anger that felt almost foreign, yet entirely consuming. But even that thought was a fleeting whisper; his instincts had already taken over, driving his hand forward in a merciless arc aimed at Alisha’s head.

Alisha barely had a moment to react. Jack had disappeared, vanishing from her line of sight like a phantom, only to reappear with his sword hurtling toward her from behind. But what truly shook her wasn’t his speed; it was something deeper, something in the energy he wielded. “Did he just use Karma? But… it feels different,” Alisha thought, struggling to comprehend how he’d managed to channel such raw, unfamiliar power.

Just as his blade closed in on her, Jack felt a sudden resistance, as if invisible weights had latched onto his arms, dragging him down.

“The array has activated,” Luther said with a deep sigh of relief, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the arena. “For a moment, I thought she was done for,” he added with a chuckle, though there was a hint of nervousness in his voice.

The atmosphere had grown thick with tension. No one had expected Jack to launch such a fast, deadly strike in those final seconds. Ivan, who usually remained stoic, had his hand on the hilt of his sword, his expression hardening with a hint of alarm.

‘Who is this stranger?’ Ivan wondered. ‘How is he able to summon the power of Karma? And to think he could actually threaten Lady Alisha…’

As the array took effect, Jack’s arms grew heavy, his blade slipping from his grasp. With a resigned sigh, he slid his hands into his pockets and casually stepped out of the array’s confines.

Alisha stayed rooted to the spot, processing the encounter. A slow smile curved her lips, her eyes sparking with newfound interest. ‘He would be a great asset,’ she mused, the gears in her mind already turning.

She descended from the platform just as Luther cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention once again. “I believe this concludes the tournament. Remember, there are to be no grudges. This battle was purely for assessment, so we can gauge where each of you stands and identify areas for improvement.”

He gestured to a woman standing nearby, who approached the group with a nod. “Maria will now guide you around the academy. Each discipline has its own section within the grounds. Respect your boundaries and avoid causing any disruptions,” Luther said firmly, casting a final sweeping gaze over the group before he and the other inspectors took their leave.

“I am Maria Gunham,” the woman introduced herself with a slight bow, a gesture of respect to the nobles in the group. “I’ll be leading you on a brief tour of the academy.”

Jack’s attention sharpened at her name. ‘So she’s the Maria Gunham,’ he thought, remembering her instantly. She was the renowned SS-rank flame master, the author of the book he had been studying diligently. Her reputation as a prodigy preceded her, having achieved the rank of specialist by thirty-seven.

“Miss Maria, it’s an honor to make your acquaintance,” a voice called out from the group. Jack turned to see Umbra bowing deeply, his admiration almost comical.

Maria offered a slight smile, a touch of amusement flickering across her face. “Ah, nothing special. I see you have a flame affinity; very promising,” she replied. Then, with a glance over the group, she said, “Alright, follow me. I’ll show you around—we don’t have all day.”

As she led them through the academy, Maria paused periodically, pointing out various landmarks and sections of the grounds. The students clustered together, each sticking with their own group, visibly maintaining distance from those from other kingdoms. Though packed close, the air was thick with a subtle tension, an unspoken animosity simmering between the groups.

Jack, however, walked alone, his face a mask of indifference as he trailed behind the others. He preferred the distance, observing the academy’s layout while keeping to himself. But his solitude was short-lived. He noticed two figures breaking away from their respective groups, moving directly toward him.

‘What is it with these people? Don’t they understand the concept of personal space?’ Jack thought, already annoyed as the first person reached him.

“Hey there, I’m Kurt,” the young man said, extending a hand in a friendly gesture. Jack simply stared at him, his expression blank.

‘Great. Another one trying to befriend me,’ Jack thought with a mental sigh. ‘Can’t they see I’m not interested?’ He managed a stiff smile. “Yeah, good to know…”

“Oh, I just saw your sword skills, and man, that was incredible! You’re fast!” Kurt continued, his loud voice drawing unwanted attention toward them.

Just as Jack was preparing a dismissive reply, the second person arrived. He felt a familiar frustration tighten his chest. ‘Not her again,’ he thought as Alisha approached, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

“You’re quite the intriguing type, you know? You never cease to amaze me,” Alisha remarked, her praise laced with a slight smirk.

Suddenly, all eyes were on Jack. He was now caught in an unusual moment, the first to bridge the gap between two rival kingdoms. And to make matters worse, he had somehow drawn the attention of two prominent figures: Kurt, known for his charisma, and Alisha, an ethereal beauty who seemed to captivate everyone around her.

Jack felt the weight of numerous glares, some filled with envy, others with thinly veiled hostility. Kurt’s good looks and easy charm had always made him popular, but Alisha’s presence had an even more potent effect. She was stunning, with crimson eyes that sparkled with an almost innocent allure, a beauty that seemed to transcend both humans and beastmen alike.

‘This is exactly the kind of attention I don’t need,’ Jack thought with an inward sigh. He could already feel the resentment building around him.

A few paces away, James clenched his fists, his face twisted in jealousy. ‘Why is she paying him so much attention?’ he fumed.

Others in the crowd shared his sentiments. ‘How did he get so strong in such a short time? He’s even better than some of the swordsmen here!’ Arin thought, an anxious frustration gnawing at him. The image of Jack as a nobody was crumbling before him.

‘He was just supposed to be my useless brother,’ Arin thought bitterly, his teeth clenched in rage. Ten years of feeling superior were now unraveling as he watched Jack receive the kind of attention he’d only dreamed of.

Meanwhile, Jack sensed the mounting hostility and couldn’t resist a mental scoff. ‘What’s so thrilling about this? They’re all idiots.’ His eyes shifted from Kurt to Alisha, who still wore that curious smile.

The academy tour continued, but Jack was no longer just another face in the group. He’d become the unexpected focal point, a budding rival to many, and perhaps even a potential ally—or enemy—to those who couldn’t yet determine his allegiance.