Chapter 32: A Narrow Miss
That had created a situation where some students would suddenly disappear out of existence like they never existed.
It was also one of the reasons why the cults had been created. If you're in a cult, then even if you lack potential, others wouldn't want to mess with you because of the fact that you have a cult behind you.
In other words, they wouldn't see a single person with no potential; they would see a multitude of people who are ready to fight back for you fiercely, and therefore, they would choose to ignore you.
It was one of the things that kept the peace in the academy, as those who are in different cults wouldn't want to mess with each other because they knew that it could lead to a cult war that might result not only in their death but the death of their own people.
So they tend to avoid violence, ensuring peace within the academy.
But the same couldn't be said for those who have no potential and also have no cult or backing to speak of.
These people were essentially death targets, and Nolan himself just happened to be one of those people.
If not worse, as he was also one of the most known of these people.
Since being in a cult isn't written on your face, it's a little bit difficult for others to know if you're in a cult or not, but the same couldn't be said for Nolan.
No cult would be willing to take a piece of trash in as it gives them no advantage at all.
That is why right now, Nolan's life wasn't really safe yet, even though he had grown stronger.
If he met with a person who was in a cult and beat them up, he might be in danger of the entire cult retaliating.
While Nolan was confident of beating up to five other Celestial Heirs in the same power stage as him, he wasn't sure what the outcome would be if he had to fight up to 100 or 200 cult students who wanted to kill him.
Right now, he wasn't free and was too weak to join a reputable cult.
His life was still in danger, and he was still under the control of others who were stronger and had backings behind them.
It was a nauseating feeling for Nolan, but it was also eye-opening.
Now he understood a little about how the academy world works, and that made him increase his cautiousness.
Looking at the far end of the library, there was a clock implanted on the wall, and currently, it stated:
12:25
He had been in the library for close to seven hours now, and he didn't even realize it.
"Guess I have to go…" Nolan mused as he packed his completed assignments and other books into his bag, carrying the remaining ones that he had taken from the shelves and putting them back in their respective places.
Done with that, he made his way to the exit and quickly moved out of the library, making his way towards his room.
It was less than an hour before Nolan was already back in his house. He put the bag on the ground and immediately headed towards his bed, heaving out a sigh of relief.
The day had been long, but he had been able to get all he needed to do already done.
Right now, there were only a few things he had to do, which was to quickly reach level 10, get ready for his new quest, and then he needed to—
GRUUUUUUUUUM
Suddenly, the sound of his stomach rumbling could be heard as his eyes flashed, and he looked at his stomach.
"I really need to eat something…" Nolan mused to himself as he looked at his own rumbling stomach.
It was currently one in the dark of night or something, and the class would resume very early, at 8 tomorrow morning.
He needed his sleep, but thirty minutes later, Nolan jumped to his feet and headed up.
His stomach wouldn't stop disturbing him, so he grabbed his coat, planting it over his head, and quickly moved through the moonlit sky, approaching the cafeteria while giving as little attention to himself as possible.
---
Thirty minutes later, after Nolan left his house…
RUUUUUSTTTTLLEEE
RUUUUSSTTTLEEEEE
The sound of strange air suddenly began blowing around the backyard of the Greek Descent Dorm Building as shadows all began lingering before the doorstep of Nolan's small house, yet there were no figures to be seen, responsible for pulling the shadows.
CLIIINK
CLINKCK
CLIINK
GRRRRRIIIIIN
It was the sound of chains clunking together and dragging on the ground as the figures were finally revealed.
There were up to a dozen in number, and all of them were completely covered up in pitch-dark robes that almost made them visibly disappear and reappear in the dim lights.
In the arm openings in the robes, what was supposed to be arms sticking out were instead long chains brimming with dark energy, trailing on the ground behind them and creating a ominously chilling sound.
Upon their presence, the slightest amount of breeze stopped blowing around Nolan's apartment, and the light in the area seemed to dim a little.
An incredible amount of pressure that sent some of the nearby structures creaking from being unable to handle their power occasionally rang out through the deafening silence.
Finally, the figures appeared before Nolan's door, and one of them moved forth, his chains in his sleeves slowly rising up like snakes and wrapping against the door knobs.
CRR..RIIIN...RK
The sound of the lock getting twisted resounded as the door to Nolan's apartment was opened up, and then the figure stepped in while the remaining others stayed outside.
Less than a minute later, the robed figure came back out of Nolan's house, and his chains shut the door.
Without saying a word, all dozen of their identities walked forward for a while before they suddenly melted onto the ground and faded away from Nolan's apartment, everything returning back to normal as if nothing had ever happened at all…