282 Deadpan
Atticus's form cut through the forest at a fast speed while utilizing the air element to wrap around his form.
Before heading back to camp, Atticus decided to use this chance to kill as many beasts as he could and gather some academy points, and that was exactly what he did.
He unleashed a massacre in the forest.
Even until now, the highest ranked beast Atticus had seen in the forest was an intermediate+ rank, which made it extremely easy to paint the forest floor crimson with the number of beasts he killed.
Atticus chose an area far away from the camp to hunt for beasts. If he were to kill the beasts around the expanse perimeter forest, his division members would have to hunt deeper inside the forest, and that was simply a recipe for trouble.
The higher ranked intermediate+ beasts gave about 75 academy points, with the rest being obviously lower.
And by the end of his killing spree, Atticus had been able to kill close to 700 beasts.
Unfortunately, unlike the wolf sized beasts who had been clustered together and easy to hunt, each of these beasts was separated, with some even hiding in different locations.
Unless he wanted to decimate the entirety of the forest, which he obviously didn't, Atticus would have to locate each and every one of the beasts before swiftly dispatching them.
After the killing spree, Atticus was able to gather a substantial amount of points: 51,000 Academy points.
It was incomparable to what he had before, but at the very least, it was something.
Seeing the number of points he had gotten, Atticus decided to call it a day and head back to the camp, reaching the expanse in just under a few minutes.
It was already dark. He had gotten back from the academy campus past 4, and after spending a few hours training, it was past 8 PM already.
The expanse hadn't really changed; it was still its large grassland that they had met when they were first transported here.
Although there were some damaged parts due to the fight that had happened not too long ago.
Running towards the camp in the middle of the expanse, Atticus noted that scouts for watchtowers were already at their posts, which meant that the other division members must have gotten back from their classes.
Regardless of the fact that they had supposedly defeated all the beasts threatening the camp, they were all still actively keeping watch over the surrounding forest at all times.
If not because the Oracle had reassured him that their camp was fully protected during their lecture times, Atticus would have taken countermeasures to ensure that the camp was secured during their leave.
Without meeting any obstructions on the way, Atticus got to the camp after a few seconds.
Despite the late time, he saw the campgrounds bustling with students who had returned from their lectures.
In most groups that had formed, Atticus noted that what most of them were talking about were the lectures and the academy main campus they had been to.
But Atticus ignored all of them and kept moving through the camp. The youths of groups who saw him all paid their respects as he passed, waiting for him to move a considerable distance before continuing their talks.
After a few seconds of walking, Atticus's steps carried him to the forge. The clanging of metals on metals met his ears as he approached the entrance to the forge.
Although the work of the blacksmith group had decreased significantly since the other students bought their new equipment, they were still the ones who performed maintenance on the weapons and armors.
Upon entering, Atticus experienced the familiar heat wave hit his body, but after one thin layer of air wrapped around him, his temperature was back to normal.
The clanging of metal upon metal abruptly stopped as soon as Atticus entered the forge.
The non combatants who noticed him immediately stood up from their workstations and bowed, paying their respects.
Zara, who was completely sweaty and wearing a sleeveless top that showed her toned arms, walked towards Atticus and bowed.
While Hen, who had been beside her, bowed without coming forward. Unlike Zara, who seemed to be comfortable with speaking to Atticus, the rest tried to avoid it like a plague.
No one enjoyed speaking to a person who could obliterate their entire existence with a flick of a finger.
"Young master! We had no idea you were coming by. What can we do for you?" Zara asked as she got to Atticus, while bowing.
"I'd like to talk to you outside," saying this, Atticus turned and started heading outside the forge with Zara in tow.
The rest of the group wondered why Atticus would want to speak with Zara, but none dared to ask or follow them.
Hen stared at their departing figures, slightly worried.
Although he had seen different signs that Atticus was clearly different from other young masters from the tiered families, it was simply impossible to judge a person by what the person displayed outward for all to see.
'The real demons are within.'
As soon as they got outside, Atticus turned towards Zara, who bowed as soon as she saw him turn.
"You're a smart girl, Zara. I know you're well aware I don't like people treating me this way. Stop pretending; it's annoying," Atticus suddenly spoke while looking at Zara's bowing form with a deadpan gaze.
Zara froze. 'How did he know?' Her thoughts raced.
Atticus had been right on the mark. Zara had known that he completely hated being basically worshiped.
Although he hadn't said anything about it, the signs were obvious, especially to someone sharp and observant.
This was especially so because many of the other division members hardly had any contact with him.
With how overwhelmingly powerful he was, many assumed it to be natural to be treated in that manner, and while this was true, Zara knew Atticus was different.
