With our stomachs rumbling already we made our way to the cafeteria.


    Inside the spacious building is a ce where students go to eat or hang out with their friends. Filled with long rows of tables, benches and chairs to amodate the influx of students. Theyout was organized to facilitate traffic flow, with designated areas for different food stations such as hot meals, sd bars, and beverage stations.


    My eyes also found different cuisines which originated from different Kingdoms in the empire. The serving counters are usually long and well-stocked with various food options, vegetables and fruits included. On the walls are some decorative designs that highlight the history of the academy.


    "It''s huge"


    "Wasn''t this the same ce we ended up with when we finished the entrance exam?"


    "Yeah I think it''s the same"


    "But"


    All of us looked up and saw no sky but a ceiling instead.


    "What happened?"


    "Did they renovate it?"


    "Must be"


    While Niko, ir and Jillian talk about the ceiling Alicia look at me as if I did something wrong.


    "Apollo"


    "Yes?"


    "Did you perhaps destroy something here before?"


    I jolted remembering how I broke the magic barrier covering the open ceiling of the cafeteria. It was supposed to protect the students inside from the heat and cold but because I identally melted it they had to renovate the entire ce.


    "It seems like I broke a very important barrier"


    Considering it''s the academy they should be able to rece it immediately but seeing they didn''t it only means it''s a barrier that''s very hard to redo.


    [Creator you destroy a barrier made by a retired professor of this academy]


    "How did you know that?"


    [I spread my scanner a while ago and found out about it. It turns out the barrier was the final gift Professor Oscar gave before retiring]


    "Oh" suddenly felt disappointed in myself.


    [It was very important Creator]


    "I know"


    [You broke it]


    "I know"


    While Jeremiah continued agonizing my conscience, all of us stopped when we felt a sudden hostile gaze.


    I don''t know why but all eyes suddenly went towards us, It''s as if we weren''t wee, an outcast.


    "These people aren''t even hiding their hostility"


    Casper said, feeling the ominous way people looked at us.


    "You are right we better shut those eyes"


    I said as I released a dose of my hatred and my desire to destroy everything. Soon that will turn into a ck tainted matter that slowly upied the entire area. The manifestation of my bloodlust began to suffocate the people around us.


    "Apollo"


    Alicia began to warn, holding my arms she tried to tell me to stop. However, instead of stopping, I spoke instead.


    "Alicia you know for people to stop pestering you, it is either they adore you or fear you"


    Without my knowledge, the bloodlust began to increase making some of the students run outside the cafeteria.


    "Unfortunately for them, I''d rather be feared than loved" Because when you are feared you will never worry when the affection they show you will change, you will have no expectation. And when you have no expectations, there are no feelings hurt.


    I won''t be disappointed.


    "Thud!"


    The sound of something hitting the floor echoes across the spacious area.


    Someone had copsed, well I hope he is still alive.


    "Apollo!"


    Alicia''s grip on my arm tightened I knew what she wanted, then my eyes shifted towards my friends, their eyes all telling me to stop.


    "Sigh it can''t be helped"


    I retract my bloodlust leaving a couple of unconscious students on the ground.


    "Those who fell means they aren''t strong enough to endure me" I said trying to warn them even more.


    "For those who can still barely stand" I shifted my gaze towards the stronger-willed student, they kept holding themselves firm despite being weakened by my will.


    "Keep it up I hope next time you all survive"


    Then I led my ssmate towards the counter who was unaware of what was happening. After all, I set a barrier to prevent anyone besides the students from feeling the bloodlust I was excluding.


    "You can put down the barrier now Jeremiah"


    [Affirmative]


    Many people believe that the world is led by the principles of survival of the fittest. Competition would be intense and dominant across all aspects of life. The real world would prioritize those associated with strength, intelligence, and adaptability.


    Those who demonstrate superiority in these areas would wield power and influence, while those deemed weaker or less capable may struggle to survive or thrive.


    And as soon as we entered we were deemed as prey, a lower ss.


    But now, I can''t hide my smile as I walk to an empty table with fear evident on the other student''s faces.


    The tables have been turned and the prey became the predator, and the predator became the fearful prey.


    "Next time please do nothing to gain attention"


    Alicia started to say as soon as we sat down.


    "Alicia we are from the lower ss and we are bound to catch attention" I argued.


    I could only see her sigh perhaps my actions were causing her a headache.


    "Apollo, Alicia is right we can''t cause any moremotion our priority is to be safe, it doesn''t really matter whether everyone epts or not" Agnes tried to reason however I had my own thoughts.


    "Tell me"


    As I spoke all the attention was on me so I continued.


    "What is the definition of safe?"


    "Safe doesn''t mean you all need to be physically fine and healthy but it also includes the mind. How can you say you are safe when everyone thinks of you as trash? Your mind will never be okay if that was the case"


    "For me, the word safe means feeling at home or peaceful towards a certain ce or person, however right now I can''t say if we are Safe in this situation"


    "Even when I broke that guy there is still a hint of gaze that doesn''t go well with me. We are still being cast aside, I can feel it. However, it doesn''t really matter" (Because I''ll make them kneel)


    What they think doesn''t matter to me, it is what they will do that will cause me to take action.


    I look around and notice some still brave enough to give me a look, I don''t have an intimidating appearance but my previous act of showing my bloodlust had blown any chance of me having a new friend. Everyone present here has grown to fear me.


    "Apollo I know you want the best of us but we don''t really want attention we just want peace" Casper managed to say after a long deliberation.


    "That''s the problem Cas we don''t want attention but it''s attention that''sing for us"


    "What?" he said a bit confused about what I said.


    But he will realize what I meant.


    Sounds of heavy footsteps soon entered the quiet cafeteria. The ce which only has the sounds of utensils and tableware clicking, soon filled withughter as neers entered.


    "Hey, what is this the lower ss is here?" one of them brazenly said.


    Well, I forgot to tell you, each ss as well have colour-coded uniforms. That''s the main reason this person was able to identify us. Our uniform is coloured ck well to be more specific our uniform is simr to a military coat however ours has an orange part at the shoulders, while the ck part starts from the sleeve length to the wrist.


    While golden buttons were perfectly sewn on my cuff and chest area.


    "Hey fes how''s life going need some help?" he asked sarcastically.


    Then I felt his eyes linger on Alya and Matilda a sudden lust for blood washed over me. I know that look, the way he scans my friend from head to toe before licking his lips, I know damn well what type of guy is this.


    "A pervert"


    Alicia said boldly while her calm eyes a while ago became violet and vengeful.


    "This table is exclusive for the lower ss only, so please you can leave"


    "Come on let''s just have fun the first day is free for every new student soe on"


    He then extended his arm to grab Alicia while I just stared watching the entire scenario.


    "3"


    "2"


    "1"


    "ARGH!"


    A loud scream made us wince in pain, it was my first time hearing a guy scream with such a pitch.


    "My hand!"


    The scent of something burning went straight to my face making me move a bit further.


    "My arm please!"


    I couldn''t help but shake my head "Well you mess with the wrong girl boy"


    The student that wanted to pull Alicia couldn''t get his arm back.


    Alicia had a firm grip on it however that''s not the scary part, the fact that her hand could generate this much heat without even casting meant that her affinity to fire element was high.


    "ARGH!"


    This guy shouted again with no other option I could only turn to Alicia and tell her to stop the roasting.


    "I think that''s enough, please Alicia we can''t roast a living pig here"