Volume One: The Dragon Soul Awakens Chapter 18: Uneasy Anticipation-The Dragon and the Boy(Shwey Moonlight)

"What!" Mo Xing was utterly shocked, his voice even louder than Chen Anyi’s.

"What happened?" Chen Anyi frowned deeply.

"What’s going on?" Mo Xing asked, his tone anxious.

"I heard someone was poisoned and has already been sent to the campus hospital!" the student council member said.

"Quick, take me there!" Chen Anyi demanded.

"I want to go too," Mo Xing said urgently.

"Mo Xing, don’t make a scene. Focus on preparing for the exam!" Chen Anyi turned and shouted at him.

"..."

Mo Xing clenched his teeth and slowly turned back to rejoin the main group.

"There’s no way anything will happen!"

Mo Xing kept praying, but unease still gnawed at his heart.

Hades Training Grounds.

All training zones had temporary arenas set up, each surrounded by several instructors and referees exchanging words, lighting technicians and cameramen testing their equipment, and engineers performing final checks.

People trickled into the spectator stands, some waving banners, others holding snacks, and some carrying their children.

A less noticed area was where the freshmen ate lunch. Cafeteria workers handed out lunchboxes, student council members maintained order, and the freshmen drank steaming soup.

Everyone was merrily chatting, except for Mo Xing, who huddled in a corner, biting a piece of lean meat that he hadn’t swallowed.

"Shi Yan will definitely be fine!"

Mo Xing kept repeating the mantra, but his chopsticks trembled in his hand.

"You... are you Mo Xing?"

Mo Xing looked up to see Li Xiangcao standing before him, her face filled with surprise.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Mo Xing asked.

"Wow! It really is you!" Li Xiangcao became excited. "I... I’m your number one fan!"

"Uh... is that so," Mo Xing replied.

"Could you sign something for me?" Li Xiangcao handed him a marker.

"Uh... where should I sign?" Mo Xing took the pen.

"Just... just on my sleeve here!" Li Xiangcao stretched out her sleeve.

"My handwriting is a bit ugly..." Mo Xing signed his name on her sleeve. "Please don’t mind..."

"I... I absolutely won’t mind!" Li Xiangcao smiled. "After all, I’m your fan!"

"It’s done," Mo Xing said, putting the pen down.

"Wonderful!"

"I finally have my idol’s autograph!" Li Xiangcao jumped up in excitement.

"Li Xiangcao!"

At this moment, two student council members approached, and Li Xiangcao hurriedly apologized:

"S-sorry! I shouldn’t have disrupted the mealtime order!"

"We’ve been calling you for ages, turns out you’re here!" one of them said. "Hurry to Arena Twelve, you have half an hour before your match."

"Oh, okay!" Li Xiangcao left with them, exiting the dining area.

Mo Xing sighed, thinking this girl resembled his past self—shy, stammering at times—but people inevitably grow.

One hour later.

"Next, Mo Xing."

The referee shouted, and Mo Xing stepped onto the arena, releasing his staff from the Titan’s Ring.

"Is that Mo Xing?"

"He’s been all over the news lately."

"I think he’s from that Apocalypse class."

"Then he must be pretty good."

Several instructors discussed below. Mo Xing glanced at them. He was now on Arena Six, ready to face his first opponent in the practical course assessment’s individual round. He had to keep calm and not let public opinion sway him. Yet he couldn’t help but wonder how Shi Yan was doing.

Shi Yan will surely be fine!

Shi Yan couldn’t possibly be in trouble!

Shi Yan will definitely be fine!

"Contestants, shake hands before the match."

Mo Xing snapped back to reality, seeing his opponent waiting in front of him, hand held out. Mo Xing quickly shook it. School rules required both contestants to shake hands before and after each match, symbolizing friendship and respect.

Enough—don’t overthink it. Shi Yan will be fine; he had to focus, couldn’t let his mind wander! But why did he still worry about her so much?

"Begin!"

His opponent was a berserker, same profession as Senior Cotton Hua. Mo Xing had watched two seniors spar yesterday afternoon and trained well beforehand—he should be able to win!

"Fury Flame Trio!"

The opponent swung his massive sword and charged. Mo Xing summoned a row of water jets to block him—this move was the budget version of "Blade of Ice"—"Blade of Cold Water"!

"Fury Assault!"

The opponent’s sword ignited with wrath as he launched a fierce attack. Mo Xing hurriedly conjured the lower-tier "Pillar of Cold Water," but the water element failed to block effectively, and Mo Xing was knocked down!

No, too passive! He had to fight back, couldn’t lose like this—he’d promised Shi Yan he would pass the freshman assessment! Wait... Shi Yan, how was she now? She should be getting better...

"Isn’t Mo Xing going to counterattack?" an instructor below frowned.

"What’s he hesitating for?" another instructor asked impatiently.

Mo Xing heard their comments and snapped back, only to find his opponent charging him with the great sword surrounded by blazing fire elements.

"Dragon Slash!"

Mo Xing was sent flying out of the arena, accompanied by gasps from the crowd.

Lying on the ground, Mo Xing stared up at the gray sky, which seemed to drizzle.

Was... was the match over?

Had... had he lost?

People seemed to be talking about something.

He vaguely heard the referee blow a long whistle.

"Beeeeep—"

Yes, it was the referee’s whistle.

The match was indeed over.

He had, indeed, lost.