A force collided against her, sending her stumbling back, but she caught her footing just in time.
UURGH.
The loud sound echoed through the hall, but it hadn't come from her.
The blonde girl's eyes widened in shock, surprised that her own attack had been blocked.
Standing between Olivia and the impact was another student, his black leather boots dug into the ground, his arm raised where he had deflected the hit with ease.
His voice was low, dangerously smooth. "That's enough."
Klaus.
The crowd erupted into hushed whispers.
'Why had he stepped in?' Breathless, Olivia stared at him. His piercing blue eyes met hers for a brief moment before he turned away, completely uninterested.
The blonde girl's face twisted in confusion, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile. "Klaus, I was just…"
He didn't let her finish. "It's a waste of energy." His voice was calm, but final. Then, without another glance, he turned and walked away.
The blonde girl's hands trembled at her sides, frustration flashing across her features. She had been ignored.
Olivia, still processing what had happened, swallowed hard. 'Why had he stopped it?'
And more importantly…
What the hell had she just gotten herself into? But she was grateful her armour wasn't discovered, her chest heaved heavily.
Her eyes locked in with Lydia, and something told her this was only the beginning.
Lydia made a hand sign, I've got my eyes on you, before walking away.
The crowd gazed at her in amazement.
"She made Klaus step in for her?"
"She's definitely something."
The students whispered among themselves.
Chime. Chime.
The ringing bell drew the students' attention to the man standing on an elevated platform.
"I am here to welcome the new students to Survivor Academy. I am the headmaster, Micheal Thomson. Before you all are assigned to your various classes, we have to determine your ranking, your potential, and your strength."
Whispers echoed within the hall. The students chattered among themselves, they were thrilled to know the level they were at, and they couldn't wait to take the test.
Olivia's brow slightly furrowed at this. She couldn't show her power, not now. She looked around, her brows deepening more. "Am I not supposed to be the only new student? Why are there now so many new students?" she thought inwardly.
"But after that, your seniors have a challenge, a fight, and the prize—a level 10 monster's core. We will start with the newbies' test." He smiled before getting off the stage.
The new students all had to stand in a line, there were about 15 of them. Olivia's worried gaze widened in complete shock.
"Freya?"
She muttered under her breath when she saw Freya standing in the line. What was happening? Her twin wasn't supposed to be here. Her fingers trembled slightly as fear, anger, and concern clashed within her.
Another man walked to the stage. "I am Stefan Damonwalk. I will conduct the test." His voice was curt and powerful.
He brought a big round orb, and with a flick of his finger, the orb floated to the middle of the stage before hovering in one place.
"You can come one after the other. All you have to do is place your hand on the orb." Stefan's voice rang in the hall before he walked back to where the other teachers were, then sat elegantly on his leather chair.
The first boy in the line walked boldly toward the orb. His hand clenched as he hoped he would be someone powerful.
As he walked closer to the orb, he stretched his hand, aiming to touch it. An energy formed around the orb, sending him flying. He crashed against the wall, coughed out blood, and then passed out.
Gasps echoed in the hall.
"Oh… I forgot to mention, if you are not strong enough to overcome the orb's power, you can get injured, disfigured, or die." Stefan's cold voice rang from where he was sitting, completely nonchalant about the situation.
'You all think you can buy your way to the top.' He scoffed.
Fear etched on their faces. Olivia cautiously walked over to Freya. As much as she hated her sister, she didn't want to see her in such a pitiful state.
She pulled her by the arm. "Freya, quit."
Freya only spared her a glance with disdain.
"No, you should quit."
She answered coldly and unbothered.
Olivia was slightly taken aback by her sister's attitude. She pulled her again. "Do you have a death wish? I thought you didn't want to die. Why are you here?"
Freya flung her hand away, her voice slow and deliberate.
"I should be the one asking that question. Why are you here? You were supposed to be dead."
Olivia's fists clenched, her knuckles white. "What do you mean?"
Freya smirked. "Do you think I'm that weak? I did that to get rid of you. But it seems you're like a bug who refuses to die. So if I were you, I would only worry about myself."
Olivia stood stupefied by her words. It hurt far more than when she was cut by the Craghoul and when she was shot by an arrow. Tears welled in her eyes, burning, but she refused to let them fall. Her hands trembled at her sides before balling into fists. At that moment, something inside her hardened. She would never care for them again.
She returned to her place. It was Freya's turn.
Freya took a deep breath before walking toward the orb. Her hands were a little shaken, fear flickered across her eyes, but she quickly masked it.
Olivia's eyes lingered on her sister's body as she walked toward the orb. Her eyes were emotionless, her fists clenched, knuckles white, her fingers digging into her palm. She had an unsettling feeling of not knowing what would happen next.
Freya felt static energy surging around the orb. As her hand got closer, her hands tingled with a sharp, stinging sensation. Her eyes suddenly widened.
Then…
Boom.