Chapter 140: Compete!

Words : 1198 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Xin Yu sat on a bench in a relatively secluded part of the academy, gazing at the manicured landscape in the distance. His eyes were unfocused, as if lost in thought. "Why did I have that strange palpitation just now?" Xin Yu didn't know, and no one could answer his question. Around him, there was only the sound of the wind rustling through the tree branches. Ultimately, Xin Yu couldn't find the source of his palpitation. No matter how he reviewed his past temporal memories, he couldn't see anything out of place. Finally, Xin Yu gave up searching for the origin of the feeling. He stood up silently and walked towards home. "Mei! Wasn't my performance just now cool?" In the simulated combat arena, Kiana had cleanly dispatched a virtual Chariot-class Honkai beast. Her expression was a little smug as she spoke to Raiden Mei. "Kiana, you've improved so quickly." Raiden Mei praised her sincerely. Comparing Kiana's previous combat records with her current performance, the latter's progress was clearly evident. "Of course! After all, I am a Kaslana." Kiana gazed into the distance, thinking of that true Kiana Kaslana, Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, her older sister, Durandal. She was far more hardworking than herself, and more talented too—a truly outstanding person. I can't fall too far behind her. Even though I have Xin Yu and could completely slack off, but... I am Kiana Kaslana, how can I always rely on others! I also want to be able to help him. Raiden Mei watched as Kiana's eyes became determined, and then she too entered the simulated combat arena. "Kiana is much more serious than before," Raiden Mei murmured to herself, then picked up a tactical knife from the side and also went in. She too would work hard! The other students watched Kiana and Raiden Mei training harder than usual, exchanging bewildered glances. "Why are they working so hard?" "Damn! Compete-dogs! Are they trying to compete us to death?!" "Kiana has started studying seriously and training desperately... Could it be that she got some inside information from the Principal?!" "...Have you heard? The results of this term's final exams will affect our future Valkyrie ratings and regional assignments." "Huh? Where did you hear that?" "The news is all over the place! Don't you know? That Kiana Kaslana who never liked studying, Principal Theresa's niece, someone saw her studying in the library! And in the afternoon, she was training like crazy in the simulated combat arena! If she didn't get a hint from the Principal, why would she be working so hard?" "That makes sense! But for such unconfirmed rumors, I'll remain skeptical." "...True, maybe she just changed her ways because she's in a relationship now." "Whatever, I'm going to my part-time job. There's a new bag I want to buy, and I'm still a bit short on cash." "Mm, I'm going back to play games." The two went their separate ways. After a short while, they met again at the main entrance of the simulated combat arena, staring at each other. "...You're actually trying to sneak ahead!" "Aren't you too!" "Damn it! You damn compete-dog!" "Aren't you one too!" "...Wanna fight?" "Bring it on!" The two good sisters entered the combat arena together and then began a friendly brawl. Similar scenes were playing out in the library. Students who usually had poor cultural studies grades were now buried in books in the library, diligently reading and taking notes, studying with unprecedented seriousness. An atmosphere of "compete-dog" mentality permeated the school. An outsider seeing this might even think they had stumbled into a high school in Shenzhou. "Theresa!" Himeko pushed open the office door and then saw her old friend hastily hide some sort of book with a speed far exceeding her usual capabilities. Although Himeko couldn't see the cover of the book, based on years of experience, she basically confirmed it was a Homu manga. But now was not the time to care about such trivial details. "Theresa! Is it true that this term's final grades will implement an elimination system? Will students with poor grades be directly advised to withdraw?!" Theresa looked at Himeko with a completely bewildered expression. What was all this?! Every student at St. Freya Academy was a talent with considerable Honkai resistance and adaptability. Unless they committed some serious mistake, what madness would possess her to advise them to withdraw? "Himeko, what are you talking about? When did I ever say I was going to implement some elimination system! That's too absurd!" "But it's all over the school now! They're saying you secretly told Kiana that the school's funding is in trouble and needs to appropriately reduce the student body, so students at the bottom of the final exam rankings will be advised to withdraw! Everyone saw Kiana studying and training with uncharacteristic effort, so they all believe this rumor, wherever it came from, is true! They're all desperately trying to improve themselves! The people at the research institute were forced to put down their experiments and go maintain the simulated combat arenas. They were just complaining to me about it, and even subtly asked if the research funding for next quarter would be cut. Some even said they could give up some high-consumption research projects for now to ensure the normal operation of the school." Theresa was thunderstruck by this barrage of words. When she finally processed it, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What on earth is all this?! Isn't Kiana studying seriously and training hard because Xin Yu came? How did it turn into me implementing an elimination system?!" Besides, even if they were truly short on funds, she could just go act cute and spoiled with Grandpa, and funding would absolutely not be an issue. "No, this rumor must be clarified! St. Freya Academy is doing perfectly fine, why are people suddenly saying the school is going under?!" Theresa rushed out in a flurry. Himeko sighed helplessly. Who would have thought that Kiana merely starting to study seriously would cause such a huge reaction? Kiana had only been here for a little over two months, right? How did her image as a poor student become so deeply ingrained in everyone's minds? "Announcement! St. Freya Academy's financial situation is perfectly stable! The so-called bottom-ranking elimination system is entirely a false rumor. All students, please do not readily believe such rumors. St. Freya Academy will not give up on any student!" "Announcement..." The students listened to the broadcast announcement, looking at each other. "Do you believe it?" "As we all know, sometimes the more an official source tries to cover something up, the more there's definitely a problem. Of course, I'm talking about the Far East." "So it was fake news... I knew Principal Theresa was too nice a person to implement something like an elimination system." "...So, are you still going to compete?" "Not competing! Whoever competes is a dog!" "Woof woof!"

Chapter 140: Compete!

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