'No matter which academy I go to, there will always be jealousy and angry men. Haiz, what can I do about it? I'm just too excellent,' Vaan shook his head nonchalantly.

The world wasn't filled with rainbows, and things won't always go the way one would hope. In life, there are winners and losers.

The strong and determined succeed while the weak and incapable fail. The strong and determined overcome obstacles while the weak and incapable wallow in their incompetence.

Of the two, Vaan was definitely the former.

Knowing trouble was bound to find him, Vaan strolled forward confidently, continuing to head to the library.

He was not the same person he was before.

"Oi, you. I got some questions for you!" Rehan Vexx blocked Vaan's path with an aggressive and domineering tone. "I haven't seen you around here before! Who are you? And what are you doing in this academy?"

Seeing Vaan's small build, Rehan Vexx was more confident in his strength. It was clear that the new guy had done little aura training.

Such weak men should be easily intimidated by the vigor of his aura.

However, Vaan didn't pause his steps.

"Vahn Cadieux, the new librarian assistant," Vaan nonchalantly answered as he walked right up to Rehan Vexx and patted him on the right shoulder. "Now that I've answered your questions, I'll be on my way."

Right after, Vaan walked past Rehan Vexx while the person was momentarily dazed by his indifference to the person's aura pressure.

However, Damek Howler stepped forward and blocked Vaan's path.

"The person behind you hasn't finished talking to you. It's not good for you to walk away from your seniors while they are still talking," Damek Howler stated with folded arms.

He appeared like an impregnable fortress with his burly build.

"My seniors?" Vaan glanced at the second guy with an amused smiled and asked, "Do you know who I am?"

"Vahn Cadieux, the librarian. Didn't you say so?" Damek Howler replied with a frown.

"If you are trying to threaten me with some big background, it's no use. I've never heard of any noble household named Cadieux. Furthermore, in the academy, all men are equal."

"If that's all you know, then you need to do your research. Otherwise, you will end up offending someone you can't afford to," Vaan patted Damek Howler on the cheeks disrespectfully before walking around the person.

"Furthermore, you can't compare me, a librarian assistant, to the rest of you mere servants," Vaan added before casually leaving.

Nevertheless, before Vaan could leave, Damek Howler turned around and grabbed hold of his shoulder, stopping him from taking any more steps.

Vaan's words had made Damek Howler's heart waver, but the person didn't want him to leave just like that.

At the same time, more servants came forward to block off Vaan's path, completely sealing off his path forward.

"Vahn Cadieux, was it?" Rehan Vexx sounded from behind Vaan.

"I don't know where you got the courage to behave fearlessly and disrespectfully in front of us, but such behaviors aren't usually tolerated unless you have the strength to back them up."

"I challenge you to a duel, Vahn Cadieux!" Rehan Vexx declared with red eyes, revealing his pent-up anger.

"You look like someone just fucked your wife," Vaan mentioned amusedly before noticing the stir of emotions in Rehan Vexx's eyes. "Oh, I see. Not quite a wife, but someone you like, huh? Well, shit like that happens. Suck it up, man. All is fair in love and war."

"Shut the fuck up! Do you dare accept my challenge or not?!" Rehan Vexx snapped at Vaan.

"And if I don't want to accept?" Vaan replied nonchalantly.

"You have no choice but to accept!"

Right after Rehan Vexx spoke, the other servants formed a circle with them inside. At the same time, Damek Howler released his grip on Vaan and backed off, joining the circle of servants.

"As long as you're a servant in this academy, you must accept at least one challenge issued by another servant each day!"

"Haiz, I'm clearly giving you a chance here," Vaan shook his head with a helpless sigh and said, "Just Retract your challenge and walk away. You don't want this."

"But I do want this!" Rehan Vexx argued while gritting his teeth with a venomous look and cracking his knuckles.

Vaan's eyes wandered about, looking at the gathering crowd of spectators before turning to Damek Howler.

"When does the duel start?"

"It can start now."

Right after Damek Howler replied to Vaan's question, Rehan Vexx charged Vaan with his body covered in a red aura.

Clearly, Rehan Vexx wasn't planning to go easy on Vaan. But considering the density of Rehan Vexx's aura, he was only an Early Rank 1 Aura Warrior.

Vaan's defense wouldn't break even if he took every hit thrown at him.

=====

<[155 (+34) Defense] [Mid-level Rank 2]>

<The blessing of the earth is in effect>

=====

Nevertheless, Vaan chose to evade Rehan Vexx's sneak attack, nonetheless.

Swoosh!

The person's right-hand swing struck empty air as Vaan sidestepped to his side and raised his foot to trip the assailant.

In that short instance, Rehan Vexx saw through Vaan's intention and wanted to crush his foot. Alas, he gravely underestimated the toughness of Vaan's foot.

Ding!

Rehan Vexx felt like he kicked an iron mountain as he tripped to the ground all the same.

"Haiz, I tried to choose peace for your sake… but peace was never an option, you son of bitch!" Vaan cussed.

As Rehan Vexx tried to get up quickly, his face was met with Vaan's kick. His nose broke, his face deformed, and his vision temporarily went black.

Before he could recover, Vaan gripped his head and bashed it into the ground repeatedly without mercy before ruthlessly yet skilfully stepping on his arms and legs.

Ka-cha! Ka-cha! Ka-cha!

Rehan Vexx's bones broke one by one before he was completely immobilized.

The duel came to a swift end.

A soft breeze blew past the bystanders before everyone felt a chill in their hearts.

Despite hearing so many bones breaking, Rehan Vexx did not utter a single cry of pain.

It was very eerie but even more terrifying.