Back at the control room where all the first years were monitored, the instructors couldn't help but nod in approval upon witnessing what the Pysquillian family youth was planning.
The instructors and practically everyone in the control room were able to observe everything happening in the entirety of the forest at all times.
So basically, any movement or strategy any one of the divisions took or planned on taking was all seen by them.
The academy was a cruel place. It truly was far from what people would call a school. Every single individual who had attended the academy knew how terrible and overwhelmingly difficult it could get.
But unfortunately, even with this, they all had no choice but to send their children to the academy.
The human domain was currently fighting a war, and everyone, regardless of talent, must fight.
No one had any intention of playing hero and protecting the masses. Regardless of who, everyone had to do their part.
What made people paint the academy in such a light wasn't because of the difficulty in the curriculum or the hellish training or tests given by the academy; instead, it was only one thing: indifference.
The academy has its rules. With countless generations that had passed, numerous rules had been added and changed over the decades.
The rules were precise and simple to understand by everyone.
And most importantly, the academy rules were law.
No matter what the situation was, no matter how bad it was, as long as it was within the rules, none of the academy staff would interfere in the matter under any circumstances.
This was a rule each and every staff member of the academy lived by, and all of them followed it as though it was a decree. None could go against it.
The academy had already solved the most troubling issue that could arise: none of the students could die.
And this was exactly why, even when they saw that Emeric had taken control of the leaders of the division, no one had even batted an eye.
This was the cruelty of the academy.
But despite what many would think, the academy was so extremely cruel, even they recognized the truly bad things that could happen if a bunch of teenagers were left completely without guidance.
Among the rules of the academy, from activities ranging from torture to rape, the artifact would immediately intervene and stop said activities.
But of course, bullying was completely different from torture; the artifact wouldn't intervene in any case of bullying.
And this was why back then, at the expanse when a youth had wanted to rape a girl at the camp, because Aurora had intervened right before the situation could go far, the artifact hadn't been able to react.
"Hahahaha! Let's see how he would handle th-" Jared's booming voice was abruptly caught short as multiple instructors all appeared around Jared's form, sealing his mouth and nose with their hands together in unison.
Every one of their expressions showed the same thing: annoyance, as they all tried to stop the loud ringing in their heads.
"What the hell, Jared! I said you shouldn't say anything!" Zael suddenly exclaimed while trying to use his second free hand to hit his head and stop the ringing.
Before he spoke, Jared had always tried to control the intensity of his voice and instead try to whisper, and even though it had always failed miserably, it was still a little bit tolerable.
But Jared hadn't done that this time! It was even worse; he tried to actually speak louder!
Jared quickly raised his arms up in the air and started waving them rapidly in defeat while trying to beg, but the instructors' hands were firm! None even budging an inch.
Only muffled sounds were coming out. He couldn't even breathe!
After a few moments with Jared's face already changing color, seeing that he wasn't going to speak again, they all reluctantly removed their hands from his mouth with most of them grumbling in annoyance.
Many of them still didn't want to release him; none of them trusted him to actually stay quiet.
Jared, with his mouth now free, cleared his throat with mild awkwardness. Just as he was about to apologize for talking too loud, the gazes of all the instructors all shot towards him, as each of them subtly released their auras.
Their intention was crystal clear: one word and he might just never speak again.
Jared cleared his throat awkwardly once again, raising his hands in defeat. His expression morphed into a mild pout as though he was being bullied.
Seeing someone heavily muscled and tall as Jared pouting was something many would kill to see.
And it was even more so because of how pitiful he actually looked, but the instructors were having none of it.
They were ready to pounce on him if he so much as made a sound!
Even the usual playful and flirty Xia was also looking at Jared with a cold glint in her eyes.
Seeing the situation was back to normal and Jared wasn't planning on speaking again, Zael turned his gaze back towards the screens, his eyes immediately focusing on the screen displaying Atticus's division battle.
The other instructors also mirrored Zael's action and focused on Atticus's screen. Although there were lots of battles going on in the different screens displayed on the wall, what most of the instructors were focusing on was the battle occurring on Atticus's screen.
Many of them had only one thought in their heads: How would he handle this?
Thousands of dog-sized beasts were inherently different from a thousand youths.
The former were completely mindless beasts; killing them was easy and straightforward.
But a thousand youths, each with different fighting styles, powers, and most importantly, the ability to think, was completely different.
At the forefront of all the instructors, Harrison and Isabella remained unmoved. Not even caring about the booming voice of Jared or the instructors' exaggerated reactions to it. Their gaze did not leave the screen for one second.
They were the only ones who remained unfazed by everything that was happening.
Harrison's lips curled up into a smile as he watched the unfolding battle, his anticipation bubbling.
'Was this what you were hoping for?' He pondered.
…
Back in Atticus' division control room, he stood together with the non-combatants, each of them monitoring the live map on the table.
He had just received multiple reports from each of the Ravenstein youths leading the groups, each one saying the same thing: they were being attacked by a small number of people.
Atticus had also confirmed this. Immediately when the attack had started, tiny red dots appeared all around each point where the division members were clustered together.
Apparently, they would be able to see the location of the enemy division members when they were either in close proximity or were actively engaged in battle.
Having overheard when Atticus was receiving the report, each of the non-combatants couldn't help but wonder what was going on.
Why were they only attacking each point with just a small number of members?
Zara also stood with a hand resting on her chin while looking at the map of the forest. She had always had a good head on her shoulders, and she knew that well.
'Attacking each point with little numbers when they have over a thousand. A... diversion,' as soon as she realized this, it was as though all the puzzle pieces fitted together in her head instantly.
'They're coming here,' she realized.
"Young mas-" just as she was about to inform Atticus about her deduction, multiple red marks suddenly started popping up all over the map on the table, their numbers staggering.
Each one appeared just below the hill where the camp was situated.
Each of the non-combatants immediately started panicking. They were well aware that the red dots signified the opposing division members.
And looking at the number of red dots, it was clear they numbered at least a thousand!
Why were they here? Weren't they supposed to be capturing the terminals?
Each one of them turned their gazes towards Atticus, expecting to see him shocked, but it was they who received the shock when they saw Atticus staring at the screen with his lips curled up into a huge grin.
Before they could all understand what was going on, Atticus suddenly brought up his hand and tapped on his artifact, and spoke, "Call Aurora."
[Calling Aurora Ravenstein] the AI voice instantly responded.
Click.
In just a few seconds, Aurora's excited voice instantly sounded from the other side of the call,
"Finally! Tell me something's about to happen, I'm getting bored!"
Atticus ignored her antics and simply stated, "Plan D."
The call suddenly went quiet for a few seconds before Aurora spoke, "Lucky bastard," she clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction, instantly hanging up the call before Atticus could respond.
"Pfft," Atticus burst into a chuckle, seeing her reaction.
"Young master," Atticus turned his gaze away from the map to see Zara and the other non-combatants looking at him worriedly.
"Hm?" Atticus tilted his head slightly to the side, a little confused.
They were worried?
He couldn't help but shake his head with a slight chuckle.
He thought he had shown these people just how powerful he was, but it seemed they all still harbored doubt.
"You don't have to worry. I'll handle them," Atticus stated.
His tone didn't sound confident; it didn't sound scared either.
It was the kind of tone one would use when they wanted to inform others that they were taking a walk, completely casually.
The non-combatants couldn't even say anything as Atticus walked out of the control room.
