The Extra Who Will Swallow The Plot-Chapter 130: First Day Of Class

A new day had begun and Raze was already awake, having risen before the sun with an internal clock that refused to acknowledge the concept of sleeping in regardless of how exhausted the previous day had left him.

His morning routine proceeded with the same methodical efficiency it always did. Stretching to work out the stiffness that accumulated overnight, washing with cool water that shocked away lingering grogginess, dressing in the Academy tracksuit that had become standard daily wear. His reflection showed someone who looked rested enough despite the limited sleep, the clean fatigue from productive training rather than concerning exhaustion.

Outside, the kingdom was beginning to stir. Voices drifted from the barracks where early risers were already preparing for their day, and the smell of breakfast cooking in the Mess Hall suggested someone had taken initiative to start meal preparation before the general population woke.

Bephe waited at his usual post outside the door, the prehistoric predator’s eyes tracking Raze’s emergence with intelligence that always seemed slightly unsettling for a bound beast. The creature stood and stretched, massive form rippling with barely contained power even in the reduced juvenile state.

"Have fun today," Raze said, scratching behind Bephe’s ear ridge in the spot that made the creature rumble with contentment. "Guard the fort while I’m gone. There are no companion classes scheduled today, so you’ve got free time to do whatever it is companions do when their masters aren’t around to supervise."

Bephe made a sound that might have been acknowledgement or might have just been the creature’s version of a yawn. Hard to tell with something whose communication consisted primarily of rumbles and growls that conveyed emotional content rather than specific meaning.

Raze moved toward the kingdom’s center, noting with approval that both teams were already gathering for morning conditioning. Fedora and Darius were coordinating the assembly, getting people organized for what was apparently becoming an established daily routine rather than something requiring his direct instruction.

Fedora noticed his approach and waved, her expression carrying the kind of controlled alertness that suggested she’d been awake for a while already. Several other kingdom members acknowledged him with nods or quiet greetings, respectful but not overly formal now that he’d established preference for functionality over ceremony during internal operations.

"Morning," Raze called out, his voice carrying across the gathering without needing to shout. "Classes start today, so I’ll be absent during various sessions. Fedora and Darius have the organizational structure handled, follow their instructions and everything should proceed smoothly."

He paused, scanning faces to ensure everyone was paying attention.

"Keep training, keep developing team cohesion, use the Training Ground for cultivation advancement and combat practice. I’ll be back between classes to check on progress and handle anything that requires my direct involvement."

The kingdom members acknowledged with various affirmatives, clearly comfortable with the arrangement. The organizational framework Fedora and Darius had built was solid enough that his temporary absences wouldn’t create leadership vacuum or confusion about who was responsible for what.

Raze was about to say more when his bracelet blazed with sudden golden light. Text materialized in the air before him, the interface expanding into notification that demanded immediate attention:

[MANDATORY CLASS SESSION - KING TIER]

[Course: Decision Making with Incomplete Data]

[Session begins in 15 minutes]

[Location: Central Academy Facilities - King’s Hall]

[Transportation available now]

[Attend? YES / NO]

The phrasing caught his attention immediately. Not a command or automatic process, but a question offering choice about whether to actually attend. The implication was clear: the Academy didn’t force students to go to classes, at least not through direct compulsion. Attendance was voluntary, though presumably tracked and penalized if students chose to skip without valid reason.

’Interesting approach,’ Raze thought, considering the psychology behind optional attendance. ’Tests self-discipline and intrinsic motivation rather than just requiring compliance. Students who skip classes fail through their own choices rather than because the institution didn’t provide opportunity. Puts responsibility for development squarely on our shoulders.’

He selected YES without hesitation, confirming his attendance. Whatever penalties existed for skipping classes weren’t worth discovering, and the King-specific curriculum was supposed to provide instruction available nowhere else. Missing that for no reason would be strategically foolish.

The golden glow intensified immediately, light enveloping him in warmth that carried no heat. The familiar sensation of teleportation magic activated, reality folding around him as space compressed and distance became meaningless. His kingdom’s territory vanished, replaced by the disorienting sensation of being nowhere and everywhere simultaneously.

Then he was standing somewhere else entirely, the transition so smooth he barely registered the movement.

The building before him was magnificent in ways that made his breath catch despite having walked through the Academy’s impossible architecture for days now. Where most structures prioritized function over form, this one embraced both with equal enthusiasm. The construction defied normal physics, walls that curved in directions geometry shouldn’t allow, windows that showed different scenes depending on viewing angle, doorways that seemed to exist in multiple locations simultaneously.

The scale was what shocked him most. This was supposedly a classroom for ten people, the ten provisional Kings representing their respective kingdoms. But the building could have housed hundreds comfortably, its dimensions suggesting a grand hall rather than an intimate educational space.

’Why build something this elaborate for such a small class?’ Raze wondered, studying the architecture with a mixture of awe and confusion. ’The resources invested in this single structure probably exceed what most kingdoms spend on entire palace complexes. Is this showing off, practical necessity for the kind of instruction they’re providing, or both?’

Golden light flared around him as other teleportation arrivals manifested simultaneously. The nine other provisional Kings appeared in scattered positions before the building’s entrance, each materializing from their respective kingdoms with the same smooth transition he’d experienced.

Gareth Valorian from Elmbridge stood closest to the entrance, his posture radiating the confident competence that had earned him first place in the entrance examination. Aurora Weiss materialized a few meters away, ice crystals forming briefly in the air around her before dissipating. Seraphine Lumis appeared with characteristic luminescence, light bending subtly around her form even in rest state.

The others arrived in rapid succession: Blossom Karnstein with electricity crackling faintly along her arms, Kira Steelheart whose heavily muscled frame suggested pure physical cultivation focus, Princess Lyra of Astoria carrying herself with royal bearing that came from lifelong training in court etiquette, Caleb Alvarian studying the building with tactical assessment visible in his expression, Ellen Nightingale whose presence seemed to fade slightly even while standing in plain sight.

And Alex Dawnsblade, the Chosen of the Goddess, whose divine aura made him impossible to miss despite appearing last. Holy light haloed him subtly, the blessing that marked him as different from everyone else present.

The ten provisional Kings stood before the magnificent building, and for a moment nobody moved. Awkward silence stretched as everyone processed the situation, these exceptional individuals who’d been competing indirectly through their kingdoms now gathered together without the buffer of distance or separate territories.

Eye contact happened accidentally and was broken quickly, the social dynamics complicated by the fact that they were simultaneously colleagues, competitors, and potential future allies or enemies depending on how circumstances developed. Nobody quite knew how to navigate the interaction, what level of friendliness versus formality was appropriate.

Gareth Valorian solved the problem by simply moving, striding toward the entrance with purposeful confidence that suggested he didn’t care about the social awkwardness. Several others followed his lead, filing toward the building’s doors in loose cluster that maintained personal space while acknowledging they were all heading to the same destination.

Aurora moved with her characteristic grace, ice crystals forming and melting in her wake. Seraphine smiled at something only she found amusing, her luminescent presence making people instinctively give her a slightly wider berth. Blossom crackled with barely contained energy that made her seem perpetually on the verge of explosion. The rest followed with varying degrees of comfort about the situation.

Within seconds, most of the Kings had disappeared through the entrance, leaving only Raze and Alex standing in the open area before the building.

Raze hadn’t moved because he’d been too focused on studying the architecture, his analytical mind cataloging details about construction that might reveal something about the Academy’s capabilities or priorities. Alex apparently hadn’t moved for different reasons, the Chosen’s attention having been fixed on Raze himself rather than the building.

’Of course he noticed me,’ Raze thought without particular surprise. ’Divine blessing probably highlights people who represent interesting narrative opportunities or potential complications to whatever destiny the Goddess has planned for him.’

Alex approached with easy confidence that came from knowing the universe was fundamentally on his side, divine providence ensuring things worked out favorably even when circumstances seemed adverse. His smile was genuine, carrying warmth that suggested actual friendliness rather than political calculation.

"Raze," Alex said, his voice carrying that resonant quality divine blessing seemed to grant. "I apologize that I couldn’t give you a proper greeting when I first arrived at the Academy. The circumstances of my late arrival and immediate elevation to King status didn’t leave time for social niceties."

The apology was sincere despite being unnecessary, the kind of gesture that came from someone who genuinely valued courtesy rather than just performing it for appearances. Raze found himself slightly surprised by the authentic warmth, having expected the protagonist to be more self-absorbed given his blessed status and narrative importance.

"No offense taken," Raze replied, maintaining his neutral expression while internally reassessing his assumptions about Alex’s character. "Your arrival was dramatic enough that introductions probably seemed less important than establishing your kingdom and managing the fifty-two followers which you’d charmed into serving under you."

Alex’s smile widened slightly, apparently appreciating the frank acknowledgment of his unusual circumstances. "Charm is a strong word don’t you think, but fifty-two people are a lot to organize quickly. I’m still working through how to structure everything effectively without overwhelming the Pieces I selected with impossible administrative burdens."

They started walking toward the entrance together, the movement natural rather than forced. The awkwardness that had characterized the other Kings’ interactions didn’t seem to affect Alex, his divine blessing apparently including social grace that made conversations flow smoothly even with potential rivals.

"Your kingdom performed exceptionally during the beast horde defense," Alex continued, his tone carrying genuine admiration rather than competitive assessment. "The reports I heard suggested you personally killed over two hundred beasts including a Grandmaster rank threat that should have been far beyond Master Low capabilities. That’s a remarkable achievement."

"Circumstances were favorable," Raze deflected, unwilling to discuss the specifics of his bloodline advantages or Asura’s training with someone whose goddess might take uncomfortable interest in unlikely entities. "The right techniques were applied at the right moments against opponents whose patterns I understood. Luck as much as skill."

"Humble," Alex observed, though his tone suggested he didn’t entirely believe the modest assessment. "I like that. Too many exceptional cultivators let their capabilities inflate their egos until they can’t see past their own accomplishments. Refreshing to meet someone who recognizes that power without wisdom just means dangerous fool rather than hero."

They reached the entrance, those impossible doors that seemed to exist in multiple positions simultaneously. Up close, Raze could see the craftsmanship involved in their construction, materials that shouldn’t exist in nature somehow forged into functional architecture that defied conventional understanding of how buildings worked.

"Shall we?" Alex asked, gesturing toward the entrance with theatrical flourish that suggested he was deliberately playing up the moment’s significance.

"After you," Raze replied, curious to see how the Chosen would navigate whatever waited inside.

Alex stepped through the doorway, and Raze followed a moment later. The interior space was even more impossible than the exterior had suggested, dimensions that clearly didn’t match the building’s outer appearance. Whatever instruction awaited them in the King’s Hall, it would apparently occur in an environment designed to remind them that normal rules didn’t apply to people operating at their level.

Raze’s anticipation peaked as they moved deeper into the magnificent structure, leaving behind the awkward gathering outside and entering the space where ten exceptional individuals would learn what it meant to lead.