Under Lanqi's demonstration, Zestira gently reached out and touched the fox's head. A warm and soft sensation emanated, and the large fox emitted a refined yet affectionate sound, as if extending a friendly welcome to her.

A wave of indescribable joy welled up in Zestira's heart.

She had never interacted with animals before.

The old teacher stood at a distance, watching the two students with the magical beasts. The scene froze into a heartwarming picture, overflowing with love and understanding. He squinted his barely open eyes and silently offered his sincere blessings and hopes to the two children.

If only all the students in this school were good children like them.

The old man mused.

At that moment, the bell outside the classroom finally rang. Its sound was deep and lingering, carrying a hint of magic that could penetrate the walls and spread to every corner of the examination area.

When the bell ended, the exam would officially begin.

As the chief examiner, he would also inform the two students of the specific tasks they needed to complete in this exam.

Regardless of the outcome of this assessment, he was willing to give both students the highest possible score.

However.

The long ringing of the bell abruptly ceased.

Before the old teacher could even speak, a gust of cold wind suddenly swept in, like a warning of a storm. That harmonious atmosphere was instantly torn apart.

The door was violently overturned, having suffered a severe impact.

Several students with aggressive gazes barged into the classroom.

Their eyes were filled with indifference and contempt, seeing everything as worthless.

Without any warning or indication, and without even glancing at the old teacher, they stepped into the classroom, launching themselves towards Lanqi and Zestira.

Already fully armed, they entered a battle-ready state the moment the exam began. The weapons in their hands gleamed with a cold metallic luster, reflecting in their eyes and revealing their resolute killing intent!

However, the magical beasts sensed this hostility and threat even more acutely.

A blaze of fury suddenly ignited in their eyes!

Their originally calm and amiable expressions instantly transformed into vigilance and ferocity.

They pounced on the intruding students as if by instinct.

In an instant, chaos filled every corner of the classroom!

The sounds of collisions, roars, and metal clashing against claws and teeth mingled together as the magical beasts used their innate strength and magic to fight against these hostile villains.

Zestira stood aside, her eyes filled with terror.

She hadn't expected these people to be so vicious.

Based on the number of figures in the corridor when they entered the classroom, the first wave of students shouldn't have been so numerous or so decisive!

Amidst the chaos, Lanqi's expression also betrayed a hint of concern.

"Students, stop! These children are not aggressive!"

The old teacher hurried forward into the center of the chaos, wanting to use his wisdom and experience to quell this sudden storm.

Unfortunately, a student in front of him took a deep breath, vigorously positioning his right fist beside his abdomen, and then the whole person shot out like an arrow.

"Great Artery Rupture Fist!"

Boom!

His shocking first punch in the classroom resounded through the atmosphere, violently striking the magical beast's body like thunder.

However, it actually landed on the old man who came to mediate.

Instantly, the old teacher and the magical beast were sent flying, sliding several meters across the classroom floor.

The magical beast's body was very sturdy and seemed unharmed, but the old man's condition was unknown.

Zestira stared blankly, her mouth agape, at the chaotic scene.

Lanqi, with a troubled expression, crossed his arms.

He seemed worried about the decline of morality when students attacked teachers.

"Students, stop!"

The old man struggled to his feet, supporting himself on the floor, but these crazed students completely ignored him.

He had experienced being violently challenged by hot-blooded students a few times before.

However, even so, this was the first time he had received such a ferocious blow.

If he were a dozen years older, this blow might have sent him to meet the Goddess.

How tragic.

The old man sighed sadly, whether his eyes were open or closed.

What has happened to the students these past few years?

Such malicious behavior certainly existed, but in recent years, students had become increasingly violent and arrogant.

Did they have no respect for people and things, no compassionate hearts, and no reverence for their elders?

Although the living conditions in the Empire had improved, were the children's hearts truly becoming more depraved?

The past was so much better.

That era of unity and friendship shortly after the Holy War ended.

The old man's thoughts naturally drifted back to several decades ago.

At that time, the students of the Protos Royal Magic Academy were so simple and full of enthusiasm, burning with hope for the future.

They respected him not because of how strong he was on the battlefield, but simply because they shared the same ideals.

He recalled their cheerful voices.

"Major, we will definitely learn the knowledge of magical beast breeding from you."

"What's the name of this little fox? It's so cute."

"I didn't expect you, who was called the Corpse Shredding Death on the battlefield, to be such a kind person. It's definitely the fault of war."

Everyone was harmonious and friendly...

Just like this feeling.

Some students with more volatile tempers would also risk being reported to secretly rescue young magical beasts that were about to be sent to the slaughterhouse, register them with research permits, and protect them.

Whenever he recalled those years, his heart would warm up.

Why were there no such students now?

There were still some, like those two kind-hearted students.

In the short span of his thoughts, the classroom had already become a battlefield.

This was originally an elegantly decorated room filled with all kinds of props and ingredients, but now it was a complete mess.

The licorice and dust scattered on the floor were intertwined, along with feathers shed by the magical beasts.

The roars of the magical beasts and the angry shouts of the students mingled together, forming a deafening rhythm that had continued since the Holy War, gradually becoming the specter of the Protos Empire, that irreconcilable hatred.

Faced with this utter devastation, the old man shook his head, as if he had completely lost his spirit, unable even to hug the magical beasts he had cherished for many years and raised as children.

No, no.

Can't get angry.

He's already so old, how can he act impulsively?

The old man forced a smile and said to himself.

One day, the future of the Protos Empire will be handed over to the younger generation.

As a teacher, he shouldn't use violence to correct students with evil.

Just as he had realized early in his youth, he couldn't conquer magical beasts with force.

Thinking this, the old man's pale eyebrows were still filled with kindness.

Just as he was preparing to use his old bones again to try to influence these lost students.

Clang!

The door was suddenly kicked open, and a cabinet flew over, directly hitting the old man's head, causing him to fall to the ground again.

"Good thing it's a level one classroom!"

"Let the slaughter begin!"

More students rushed in, looking at the chaotic cooking classroom, their eyes gleaming with cruel and greedy light. They were eager to dismember those ingredient magical beasts so that they could get those 130,000 academic credits.

(End of Chapter)