There were five clans that made up the majority of the strength of the Dark Faction. These clans were well-known throughout the Dark Faction continent, and they all played a large part in the academy, through donations of funds as well as resources and skills.
It was the reason why they were able to supply the students with Qi pills, helping their cultivation raise further and allowing them to grow ahead of those who didn't attend the academy.
However, other than the principal, the other Clan heads usually wouldn't be too involved with matters involving the students, which was why everyone found it slightly strange that Feebie, the head of the Lethal Bite Clan, had entered this underground facility.
"Did you know anything about this?" Mada whispered.
The five main disciples stood close to the back of the students. Even though Lisa had seen someone who was related to her, she didn't rush out like the others. If anything, she was wary of seeing her in a place like this.
"The Clan head has no reason to be here," Lisa replied. "I'm a little worried that they sent a clan head here, thinking that something else might take place."
These thoughts went through many of those who were present, apart from the desperate students who had rushed forward, kneeling on the floor, thanking that they could escape this hell and pain.
"Oh, this is quite surprising; I thought more of you would be dead by now," Feebie commented.
The words spoken weren't said in a quiet tone, and the voice echoed through the entire dark space. Every single one of them could hear the words, yet they were stunned. They didn't say anything in response, and they had no clue what to say.
That was apart from one.
"What did you say?" Liam repeated. "That more of us aren't dead. So you expect us to die in a place like this? What is this? What is the Academy doing? Isn't this meant to be a place where students are nurtured for the next generation?"
Feebie let out a loud laughter after hearing these words.
"It seems that some of you haven't figured out what this assessment is about just yet, and you think your importance is more than you realize. Firstly, generation? Your views are thinking that of regular mortals and not that of Pagna warriors.
"Maybe because you haven't lived for long, you don't quite understand, but us Pagna warriors at the middle stage have a lifespan that can go up to around 300 years! For us, we will be holding our position for a long time, and there will be many descendants that will come and go during that time.
"What we need, though, are those that will be strong enough to help the clan rise to greater heights and continue to power our strength. At the same time, this is all for the sake of the Dark Faction to prosper. Besides, we clan heads all plan to head into the Divine stage. Those that have the talent to reach us are the ones that will be worthy to stand by our side."
A lot of the students were stunned to hear these words. For many of them, it was the first time they had heard anyone talk to them in this way. They had been told by their respective clans that they were the future, they were the stars they needed, and were full of talent.
In reality, they were being treated as if they were cultivating crops, discarding the weaker vegetation and leaving the stronger ones behind, continuing the process, trying to create just strong crops for the future.
The thing was, the main disciples, who were close to the top, already knew this, and it was the same with Dame as well.
"All Pagan warriors come to learn of this at some point in their life, but usually, the process isn't so cruel," Dame thought. "The less talented Pagna warriors will become guardsmen or mercenaries, maybe even escort guards.
"They don't become the legendary warriors that they envisioned when they were younger, and as time goes on, they realize that the clans have somewhat discarded them as those that can help raise the clan.
"They are forced to do those that are in higher positions' bidding. Life starts to become rougher for them, but joining the Pagna world and leaving it is hard."
One of the students that were on their knees, begging, stood up from the ground.
"Wait, you're going to give us food, though, right? I don't mind being put at the bottom of the assessment! It's fine, I just want to eat something. My body, my head, I can't think properly."
The student started to inch forward closer and closer, with his hand reached out. When he was close enough, Feebie lifted up her hand and swung it down, bashing it on top of his head.
It crashed into the floor beneath a loud crack, with small rocks exploding in the area. The student's head looked as if it had exploded on the floor. He was unmoving, and it was quite clear to them all that he was dead.
"The Clan head just killed a student!" one of the students said in a hushed whisper. They were afraid that if they said anything to upset the clan head, they would be the next one on the ground.
"It was quite clear that the student there was not up for the task," Feebie claimed. "He was weak, and in this academy, we plan to raise the strongest in this place. If you have no food, then the answer is simple, right? There are bodies right here in front of you."
The students' heads turned to each other, as they couldn't believe what the clan head was suggesting. How could they go so far as to suggest even cannibalism?
"You're a monster!" Liam shouted out. "The whole academy is full of monsters! When we get out of this place, do you think our clans will stand by and do nothing?"
A large smirk appeared on Feebie's face.
"I was waiting for one of you to say that. Do you think we did this without permission from your clans? Each one of them was willing to give you in, for the sake of the Dark Faction.
"In a month's time, the martial arts tournament will begin. Do the clans know that it is more important for us to show strength at the event rather than weakness? If we show weakness, the other factions may attack us, meaning the death of many.
"So what if a few initial stage warriors? If you want to matter in this world, then grow stronger, go up the stages, and have a real say in what happens."
The five main disciples had stayed at the back, listening carefully, and they were watching as the reactions of the remaining red headband students' faces changed. They were learning one shock after the other.
Now they had no idea who to go to. They always thought that if something happened, their clans would back them up. They remembered in the past before this, troubles they would cause and how the clans helped them.
In a lot of student cases as kids, they had gone too far at times, hurting no-names beyond healing, in spars and scuffles, maybe causing another to lose an eye. In every single one of these situations, their clans were there to bail them out because they were considered special.
Where were the clans now to help them? And to know that they were behind this.
"Screw you!" Liam screamed. His fist was shaking with extreme anger. Images were filling his head. He imagined the trenchers
heading over to his clan head and asking them to take in his student, and them accepting.
The adults that were deciding their lives and fate for them. Yet, his fist started to calm down as a realization came to him. What could he do, with his strength, how could he possibly go up against the clan head in this situation?
It was impossible, and the rest of the students realized that as well. Turning around, Liam could see that even the main disciples were doing nothing.
"Is no one feeling the same way as I am?" Liam thought. "Does no one care about what these guys are doing? It's just the same; the no-names are treated like crap by the people, the blue headband warriors by the yellow, and the yellow by the red…all of it is just a bunch of crap!"
When looking around, though, he could see one person's fist that was shaking.
'Raze?' Liam thought.
Standing by Raze's side was Dame. The two of them were standing between the main disciples at the back and the row of students at the front.
"Hey, right now, there's only one of the Clan heads in front of us," Raze stated. "If it was me and you, do you think we could take out one of the Clan heads together?"
