C8 Attack

Ivywood University was alive with activity at night. The school's policy mandated that all students must return to their dormitories by midnight, regardless of the circumstances. Consequently, the campus pathways swelled with students around eleven o'clock, as they hurried back from labs and study halls.

Odin was among those making his way back to the dorm. His spirits were high; thanks to Curott's guidance and sparring with fellow students, he had a solid grasp on how experience points were calculated. Initially, battling with ordinary students netted him 30 points for a win, but subsequent victories yielded only 20 points, and after three wins, the reward dwindled to a mere 10 points. It was clear that if this trend continued, or if Odin grew stronger, he might not even earn those 10 points.

However, sparring with Federica and Curott proved to be a rich source of experience. Despite Odin's inability to last more than two moves against them, he consistently gained 10 points from each encounter. Over the course of a few hours, Odin would step aside to rest after each defeat before re-engaging in battle. His experience points had now surged to 350.

Odin wasn't overly concerned with his choice of profession; he could easily qualify for any of the three offered by the Raven God. He saw a golden opportunity before him. Before receiving his diploma, he intended to maximize his experience at Ivywood. If the local fighting club in Ahalin didn't suffice, he could always try others. With a wealth of experience at his disposal, he had the flexibility to bypass the Raven God's professions if he chose.

Within the halls of Ivywood University, legends of meta-human professions abounded. Rumors circulated about a book in the library detailing the Mage's initiation requirements, and whispers of secrets pertaining to meta-human professions etched into the university square's statues. Odin realized he could opt for any of these paths. As long as he understood the prerequisites for these meta-human roles, he could complete the transition using his accumulated experience points, sidestepping the need for ceremonies and potions that others relied on. In this regard, Odin had a distinct advantage over his peers.

With these thoughts, Odin's spirits lifted more and more. The day's earlier events were nearly cast from his mind.

Yet, upon returning to his dormitory, that sense of ease vanished.

Odin pushed open the door and discovered that none of his roommates, who should have been back by now, were there. Not a single candle was lit.

Feeling somewhat irked by the situation, he lit a candle and grumbled to himself, "Seriously? We have electricity, yet no one bothers to invent a proper light bulb. Still using candles... I'll never understand their logic."

No sooner had he set the candle on the table, Odin felt a sudden chill behind him, as if something had just glided past.

Having practiced his combat skills at the fighting club for hours, Odin instinctively spun around and threw a punch behind him.

His fist cut through the air, only catching a fleeting glimpse of a white shadow. It was as if he had punched into icy water, a piercing coldness seeping into his bones.

Gritting his teeth, Odin spun and threw another punch.

Again, he hit nothing.

But this time, Odin saw the scene before him clearly and exclaimed, "Senior Anne!"

Before him floated a white figure, glowing faintly, revealing her face.

Odin recognized her immediately. She was Anne Louis, the renowned beauty and scholar of Ivywood University.

Her fame extended beyond her talents and beauty to her prestigious family background. Rumor had it that her father was a professor within the Higher Education Alliance and her mother, a bishop of the Goddess of Wealth.

Her status garnered her countless admirers at the university.

Yet, she showed little interest in her suitors, preferring to dedicate herself entirely to her academic pursuits.

Rumors whispered around Ivywood University suggested that Anne, lacking the innate gifts of a metahuman, had been forsaken by her family. Despite her outward focus on her studies, she was said to be tirelessly searching for alternative paths to metahuman status.

Judging by the apparition before him, Anne was far from ordinary. If someone claimed she was a ghost, it would be all too easy to believe.

Upon hearing Odin call out her name, the white figure momentarily hesitated, a glint of malice flashing in her eyes. She seemed to mouth the words, "Kill, kill you!"

Odin instinctively sidestepped as Anne, his senior, lunged at him. He had picked up this evasive maneuver from his afternoon session with Curott and the others at the fighting club. Their attacks were far more potent than those of an average student, so Curott made sure to teach them ground evasion tactics before anything else.

But Odin had overlooked the fact that he was in his dorm room at Ivywood University, which was quite cramped. His dodge sent him crashing into the bed, resulting in him hurting himself.

Seizing the moment, Anne pounced on Odin, her hands clamping around his neck as if she intended to choke the life out of him.

Odin felt an icy chill envelop his neck, as though he had been plunged into the icy depths of a frozen river.

His thoughts were nearly paralyzed by the cold when, in a desperate moment, he realized that Anne must be a Wraith.

Among the Raven God's three professions was one tailored specifically for combating Wraiths: the Ghost Rider.

If he could assume the role of a Ghost Rider, he might stand a chance at survival.

Yet, there was a catch. To qualify for the Ghost Rider profession, one needed a Spirit level of 2.0. Experience was futile without meeting this threshold.

Spirit was Odin's strongest attribute, but at 1.7, he was still shy of the required 2.0. If he attempted to force the profession change with his experience, he risked not only the system's rejection but also severe repercussions.

As Odin wavered, Anne suddenly drew her mouth close to his and inhaled forcefully.

Odin's blood felt like it was surging to his head in panic.

With no other option, he thrust his head forward in an attempt to break free from Anne's grasp.

But Anne was in her spectral form, and Odin's headbutt met nothing but air. However, this move inadvertently freed him from Anne's grip, allowing him to escape her clutches.