Chapter 2: Chapter 2
The next morning, Mu Lan stepped into Class A's lecture hall with a simple goal:
Survive the day without attracting attention.
Of course, that was impossible.
As he entered, the room went silent.
Students stopped chatting. Some turned their heads in his direction. Others whispered.
Mu Lan: (…What now?)
Then, a familiar voice echoed from the front.
"So you finally decided to show up, mysterious freshman."
Reinhardt von Aurelius.
The crown prince was already seated at the front row, his golden eyes locked onto Mu Lan with amusement.
Several other notable students were also present, including:
Elena De Vries – A cold, silver-haired sorceress rumored to be a genius in magic theory.
Gawain Stormborn – A giant of a man, specializing in lightning-infused combat techniques.
Iris Fontaine – A quiet girl with jet-black hair and a mysterious aura. People called her a 'seer.'
Mu Lan ignored the stares and walked toward an empty seat in the back row.
Ding!
[Fame Points +50]
Mu Lan: (For what? Sitting down?!)
Whispers filled the room.
"He's avoiding the front… does that mean he's too powerful to bother?"
"Maybe he's looking down on us?"
"Could it be… that he's testing us?"
Mu Lan: (…I'm just trying to stay low-key, dammit.)
Then—
BAM!
The classroom door slammed open, and a man strode in.
Professor Aldric.
A grizzled warrior in his late forties, with a scar running down his cheek and an aura so oppressive that the students instinctively sat up straight.
"Alright, brats. Welcome to Combat Fundamentals. I don't care about your backgrounds, your family names, or your so-called 'talent.'"
He swept his sharp gaze across the room—then stopped at Mu Lan.
A pause.
Then, a smirk.
"Especially you, 'mysterious freshman.'"
The entire class turned to Mu Lan.
Mu Lan: (Why is this happening…?)
Aldric folded his arms.
"Word around campus is that you're some kind of hidden expert. That true?"
Mu Lan: (NO.)
But he knew better than to deny it outright. That would just make things worse.
So instead, he simply stayed silent.
The room held its breath.
And then—
Aldric laughed.
"Hah! Playing mysterious, huh? Fine! Show me what you got."
He pointed to the training field outside.
"Right now. You. Me. Sparring match."
Mu Lan: "..."
The misunderstanding had escalated to dangerous levels.
Mu Lan stood frozen.
A sparring match? Against Aldric, the man known as the "Iron Fist of Lumina"?
(I came here to sit in the back and take notes… How did this happen?)
Meanwhile, the class erupted into whispers.
"This is going to be interesting…"
"Will he accept?"
"Professor Aldric is a monster! Even top-ranked students struggle against him!"
Mu Lan weighed his options.
1. Refuse.
This would make things worse. People would assume he was hiding his strength.
2. Lose on purpose.
That could work… but Aldric might see through it and push harder.
3. Try his best and hope for a miracle.
(…Yeah, no. That sounds like a death sentence.)
Before he could speak, Aldric grinned.
"What's wrong? Second thoughts?"
A new system notification appeared.
Ding!
[New Mission: Survive a Fight with Aldric]
Objective: Last at least three minutes in combat.
Reward: +200 Fame Points, Random Skill.
Bonus: If you impress Aldric, additional rewards may be granted.
Mu Lan: (…Three minutes? That's an eternity!)
But 200 Fame Points and a free skill? That was too good to pass up.
With a sigh, he nodded.
"Fine."
The classroom exploded into chaos.
"He actually agreed!"
"Wait… does this mean the rumors are true?"
"Is he a hidden monster?!"
Mu Lan followed Aldric to the training field, where students gathered to watch.
Aldric cracked his knuckles.
"Rules are simple. You can use any ability you have. I'll start at 50% strength."
Mu Lan: (…Fifty percent? That's still too much, you brute.)
The instructor entered a relaxed stance, but Mu Lan knew better. This guy was a killer.
"Ready?"
Ding!
[Countdown begins: 3… 2… 1…]
"Begin!"
BOOM!
Aldric vanished.
Mu Lan barely had time to blink before—
WHAM!
A fist came straight for his face.
Mu Lan's body moved on its own.
He ducked.
The punch grazed his hair, generating a shockwave that kicked up dust.
Students gasped.
"He dodged it?!"
"No way…"
Mu Lan: (…I DODGED?!)
Even Aldric raised an eyebrow.
"Huh. Not bad."
Mu Lan wasn't sure how he did that.
Then, another notification popped up.
Ding!
[New Skill Acquired: Combat Instinct (Lv.1)]
A passive skill that boosts reaction speed and evasion in combat.
Mu Lan: (…Did the system just bail me out?!)
Aldric grinned.
"Looks like I can go a little harder."
Mu Lan: (Wait, WAIT—!)
Before he could protest—
Aldric charged again.
The real fight had begun.
BOOM!
Mu Lan dodged—barely. Aldric's punch shattered the ground where he had just stood.
(He's insane! This is only 50%?!)
The watching students were stunned.
"He dodged again?!"
"Is he actually… a monster in disguise?"
Aldric smirked.
"Not bad. But dodging won't win you this fight."
Mu Lan knew that. But what choice did he have?
He had no combat experience. His body moved on instinct, but that wouldn't last forever.
Ding!
[Time Remaining: 2 minutes 30 seconds]
(WHAT? Only 30 seconds have passed?!)
Aldric rushed forward again.
Too fast!
Mu Lan's mind raced. (Think! How do I survive?!)
Then… inspiration struck.
He did something completely ridiculous.
He closed his eyes.
The crowd gasped.
"What is he doing?!"
"He's… meditating?!"
Aldric narrowed his eyes.
Ding!
[Fame Points +50] (For confusing everyone.)
(Okay, good start. Now for step two...)
Mu Lan slowly raised one hand in front of him. A totally random pose.
The crowd exploded.
"That stance…!"
"I-I've seen it before!"
"That's… a secret technique!"
Mu Lan: (…What?!)
Aldric actually paused.
"…Interesting."
Mu Lan: (IT'S NOT INTERESTING, I'M STALLING FOR TIME, YOU FOOL!)
But it was too late.
The legend had been born.
---
Meanwhile, in the audience…
A serious-looking upperclassman stared at Mu Lan's pose.
"…I recognize that technique."
His friend frowned. "You do?"
The upperclassman nodded gravely.
"My master once mentioned it. It's a lost style… only passed down in whispers."
"Wait… you mean…?"
"Yes. That's the Phantom Lotus Form."
---
Back in the arena, Mu Lan was sweating bullets.
Aldric studied him for a moment.
"…Very well. I'll take this seriously."
Mu Lan: (NO, DON'T DO THAT! MISUNDERSTAND SOMEWHERE ELSE!)
But Aldric had already vanished.
(OH CRAP.)
---
Ding!
[Time Remaining: 1 minute 50 seconds]
Mu Lan had to survive.
But with Aldric taking this seriously…
Could he?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone