"It’s not fair. You know I can’t get past that because of my status," Noah protested.
Mr. Warwold remained motionless, his expression hidden beneath the oversized hood. If anything, he looked even stiffer than the frightened Omega Noah had met back in the cafeteria.
The trembling Omega beside him cautiously nudged his arm before leaning close enough to whisper.
"You’re talking back," he murmured nervously. "He’s taking it as a challenge. Just accept it and go... unless you want your life in this school to become miserable forever."
Noah didn’t want to listen.
Especially not to someone who looked ready to faint at the slightest loud noise.
But... the boy wasn’t exactly wrong.
If things continued like this, surviving the academy would become impossible. And if the people who had nearly killed Ashton were truly in this classroom, then making more enemies wasn’t exactly the smartest decision.
Mr. Warwold’s voice echoed once again.
"Stand up and defend yourself... unless you believe you’re unworthy of being in my class."
Several Omegas gasped.
They all turned toward Noah, their frightened expressions carrying the same warning.
Go.
Don’t refuse him.
It’ll only get worse.
Noah had no idea what punishment awaited anyone who disobeyed Mr. Warwold, but judging by everyone’s faces...
He wasn’t eager to find out.
Taking a slow breath, Noah silently prayed to whatever creator existed out there.
Which was ironic.
He had spent his entire life being an atheist.
Yet here he was...
Praying for mercy.
As he stepped into the open space at the center of the classroom, he immediately felt countless eyes settle on him.
The Moonlight Alphas hadn’t stopped watching him.
This time it was Damian whose gaze met his.
Unlike Eugene, Damian wasn’t smiling.
Marcus wore his usual cold expression, unreadable as ever.
But the most confusing of them all was Killian.
The green-haired Alpha looked at Noah for only a second before calmly looking away, as though Noah didn’t exist.
Noah almost laughed.
Seriously?
What exactly was I expecting?
For Killian to suddenly walk over and save him?
How ridiculous.
For a moment there, he’d almost fooled himself into believing they had somehow become friends.
What nonsense.
In the novel, Noah had seen everything from the villain’s perspective.
And that villain had hated every single male lead.
Apparently...
Even after transmigrating, a part of that hatred still lingered inside him.
Too bad for them.
Before Noah could dwell on it further, Rose suddenly stood up.
"You can’t do this to him!" she protested loudly. "Let him go. I’m telling you now."
For the first time, Noah felt a strange warmth spread through his chest.
She was actually standing up for him.
Maybe...
Maybe Rose really was genuine.
Unfortunately, Mr. Warwold didn’t even spare her another glance.
"Rose."
His tone remained calm.
"You didn’t come into this world with him."
"Your placenta wasn’t tied to his."
"So mind your own business and allow me to continue teaching."
The classroom fell silent.
Rose clenched her fists.
For several long seconds she simply stared at him.
But in the end...
She couldn’t do anything.
She wasn’t powerful enough to stop him.
"Now," Mr. Warwold continued.
"Are you rooted to the floor?"
"Move your body and fight."
Noah almost shouted back that he’d heard him already.
Almost.
Thankfully, common sense won.
Across from him, Abigail was smiling.
No...
Grinning.
She already looked convinced of her victory.
In her imagination, Noah was probably already lying on the ground, coughing blood, barely able to breathe while begging for mercy.
Too bad Noah had never been a fan of fulfilling other people’s fantasies.
As he stopped a few meters away from her, Abigail lowered her voice just enough for only him to hear.
"I’m going to fuck you up."
A cold chill raced down Noah’s spine.
The aura radiating from her suddenly felt... dangerous.
Yep.
I’m officially in hot soup.
"You two."
Mr. Warwold raised his ancient staff.
"Take your positions."
He pointed toward Abigail.
"Prepare your spell."
Then toward Noah.
"You."
"Stay alive."
"And defend yourself well."
With that, he stepped away, leaving the center of the classroom entirely to them.
Immediately every student’s attention focused on the two standing opposite each other.
The whispers began almost instantly.
"Oh... he’s definitely not making it."
"Abigail’s Dragon Affinity is terrifying."
"The last person she fought couldn’t walk properly ever again."
Noah felt his heartbeat quicken.
Oh, screw my life.
It was still his first day.
His first day.
And somehow he was already being forced to fight one of the academy’s strongest elites.
How much worse could his luck possibly get?
Another voice joined the conversation.
"Should we bet how many limbs he’ll lose?"
A short pause.
"I’m guessing two."
"No... maybe all of them."
Emily.
Of course it was Emily.
Noah honestly couldn’t decide who irritated him more.
Her...
Or Abigail.
Eugene folded his arms confidently.
"I’m betting fifty thousand dollars he’ll leave here with at least two broken limbs."
He laughed.
"Look at him. He’s too fragile."
Damian didn’t join the betting.
Instead, he simply watched Noah quietly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Marcus shrugged.
"I’m with Eugene."
"No one’s escaping Abigail’s Dragon Fire."
"That girl’s a menace."
Noah couldn’t help rolling his eyes.
Seriously...
They were discussing his injuries right in front of him as if he were deaf.
"You all know I can hear you, right?"
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Silence.
The entire group stared at him.
Apparently...
Ashton had never talked back before.
Well...
Too bad for them.
Noah wasn’t Ashton.
At this point he honestly questioned whether there had ever been a difference between Ashton and a frightened chicken.
How had the novel’s villain become this pitiful?
Slyvia clicked her tongue.
"Don’t open your filthy mouth unless someone asks you to speak."
She glanced proudly toward the four Alphas.
"And don’t praise Abigail so much."
"I don’t like it."
She pouted dramatically.
Noah nearly laughed.
For some reason she genuinely believed that expression looked adorable.
To him...
She looked like a mashed potato.
Maybe the male leads found that cute.
He certainly didn’t.
The room gradually became quiet again.
Everyone assumed the battle would begin at any second.
Then...
A calm voice suddenly broke the silence.
"I’ll bet two hundred thousand dollars."
Every head turned.
"...that Ashton wins."
The classroom froze.
Absolute silence swallowed the room.
Every student looked at Killian.
Then back at Noah.
Then back at Killian again.
Even Noah stood there blinking.
What?
Was Killian sick?
Had someone replaced him overnight?
Because nothing about that statement made any sense.
Judging by everyone’s expressions, they were just as confused.
Unfortunately...
Noah already knew how this would end.
They wouldn’t question Killian.
They’d blame him instead.
Great.
Another misunderstanding.
Exactly what he needed.
He had wanted to stay under the radar.
Instead, the spotlight somehow kept finding him.
"Killian!"
Slyvia sounded genuinely shocked.
"Isn’t that too much?"
"Why would you waste your precious money on someone like him?"
Killian finally looked at her.
His expression remained unreadable.
"Since you mentioned it..."
"It’s my money."
"I’ll spend it however I want."
His silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"And choosing Ashton shouldn’t bother you."
"You just said he means nothing."
The silence afterward was so complete it felt capable of waking the dead.
Slyvia’s face stiffened.
She clearly hadn’t expected him to answer her like that.
Abigail, however, had already lost her patience.
With an angry shout, she thrust out her hand.
A blazing fireball shot toward Noah.
Students gasped.
The flames roared across the classroom—
Only to vanish.
They disappeared before even reaching him.
Not exploded.
Not blocked.
Simply...
Extinguished.
Abigail blinked.
"What..."
Her eyes widened.
"What’s happening?"
Even Mr. Warwold seemed caught off guard.
For the first time since entering the classroom, his posture shifted ever so slightly.
It was obvious.
Even he hadn’t expected that.
Killian, however...
Didn’t look surprised at all.
If anything...
He looked like he’d already known the outcome.
Refusing to believe it, Abigail cast another spell.
This one shimmered with paralyzing energy capable of killing weaker opponents instantly.
The spell flew toward Noah—
And just like before...
It crumbled into gray dust before touching him.
Complete silence.
Then—
Rose burst into laughter.
"Oops."
She covered her mouth dramatically.
"Looks like you’re the powerless, weak, empty vessel now."
The classroom erupted.
Students who had been mocking Noah only moments ago burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Even several Alphas struggled to hide their amusement.
Slyvia’s expression darkened as she watched Abigail standing there completely stunned.
Meanwhile...
Noah simply stood frozen.
His jaw hung open.
Everything he thought would happen...
Didn’t.
Instead of being humiliated...
Abigail was the one left standing there in complete embarrassment.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
His first day wasn’t turning out so badly after all.