Chapter 45: Heavenly King Principal
Days quickly passed like flowing water. The people who were chosen to go to the Labyrinth were intensely cultivating or training just for that extra chance of making it through the dungeon.
And finally, after a few more days since the Asylum of Mysteries opening, it was time. Bright early in the morning stood numerous outstanding youths and one grand woman, all behind a bright blue-purple mix door.
They all waited in an expansive corridor, eager anticipation filling the youths' faces for the upcoming Labyrinth. And at the front of this crowd of students, standing right beside the Vice Principal was Darcel and Aniela.
Darcel was lost in thought as mused about this goldmine opportunity. As he was expecting, he and Aniela needed far more Nascent Qi than average cultivators to breakthrough.
Furthermore, their comprehension of Nascent Qi had to slow down because of achieving a stable and perfect foundation for each level.
This was the most critical lesson Teacher Zala constantly drilled into them.
Her exact words were, "Being fast to the end doesn't make everything. Only rushing with no stability can crush the most talented of geniuses even before the Innate Core realm."
Remarkably though, even as Darcel and Aniela slowed down their cultivation, they did manage to nearly achieve a second level perfect foundation in only a little less than a week!
And while they didn't breakthrough yet, Darcel was boundlessly confident that together with Aniela, they could defeat any sixth level Nascent Core cultivator.
Besides their own individual prowess, Darcel did remark the line up behind them wasn't bad as well. For each level of students, they had an astonishingly wide variety of prowess for this Labyrinth.
Most amazing here had to be Joyce's team, though.
Darcel gathered from his senses four of the youths on her team are just barely weaker than some initiate level teachers. And Joyce herself could probably even match those teachers!
Frankly, Darcel found that the only danger for this Labyrinth lies within and not other people they may encounter. Specifically, for the expedition this time, the Mages went hard at work.
Upon everyone's finger, there was a blue magical jewel ring. Apparently, this small ring ran for a high price at the Mages Association, though Darcel found out it was for good reasons.
This bright blaring ring attaches itself to any user soul, allowing it to instantly send the last sighting of what the user saw before death.
And this information goes directly to the one who wears the specially crafted holder jewel ring.
Every high-level Sect or Academy had their own set of holder jewel rings and regular jewel rings.
For their Zakira Academy, the only person powerful enough to wear the holder jewel ring was the mysterious Heavenly King of the Academy: the Principal!
To make sure other humans recognize these unique rings, the Mage Association had inscribed their own unique symbols in them.
By just letting the ring ignite a bit will tell anyone to not mess with this specific group unless they want to bring upon an Academy's wrath on themselves.
And this ring was only one part of defense Darcel and the other youths have for any unexpected troubles. But there was only one odd trip Darcel had about this expedition.
The odd trip was in the form of the steady Vice-Principal standing by him. For the life of him, Darcel couldn't understand why someone as powerful as she was coming to this expedition.
He had directly asked her before why, but all Darcel got in return was a vague response telling him, "It's for insurance." But remembering all that she taught them about the Labyrinth, this "insurance" just doesn't add up.
Before he could muse anymore, Darcel heard the ever sweet voice of Aniela speak up right beside him, saying, "Ah! It's about time we finally get to meet our elusive Principal. I didn't think it was possible, but she's even more reclusive than you, Vice-Principal!"
"Hoh? And I presume you think it's so easy to run and manage an Academy as big as ours?" Snorting slightly, the Vice Principal quipped right back to her.
Though even she couldn't deny the secretiveness of their Principal.
"Well, despite being basically the second in command, you sure do have plenty of spare time to obverse us. Does the Principal even agree with your hidden observation?" Darcel joined in and chided as well.
"Frankly, in our positions, coming across geniuses like Joyce or Xia is already rare. But you two kids specifically take the top with your freakish talent never seen before." Bluntly telling them, the Vice Principal cared little that the duo knows of her monitoring habits.
"Hehehe~, it's always nice and welcoming to hear we're always getting regarded so highly!" Cheerfully smiling at the Vice Principal, Aniela and even Darcel truly came to appreciate the blunt Vice-Principal.
Especially seeing as she made their lives become a luxurious cruise here.
From behind, all students watching the interactions admittedly couldn't take their minds off it. Even while conversing with one another, there was just something so awe about their talks.
The primary and still most shocking point being just how easily Darcel and Aniela can talk with their grand daunting Vice-Principal! Yet now all the number one ranking level students still had a hard time believing it.
Furthermore, neither Darcel nor Aniela seemed to have the slightest bit of nerves about meeting their Heavenly King Principal. A figure that demanded respect alone in her title!
Amidst all the conversation, suddenly then, a majestically sweet voice leaked out into the corridor. A voice that gotten all conversations to stop and put their full focus on her while she said,
"Vice Principal, send Darcel and Aniela in."
Already from behind, the students couldn't help but be shocked by her words. Who here hasn't dreamed of a one on one meeting with the grand Heavenly King Principal!
And now, right before their eyes, the duo were so easily invited in.
Watching this event unfold, Shai Xia only clicked her tongue. Standing right next to her, Hao Cao also had an inquisitive expression as she then heard Shai Xia say,
"Tch, just cause their freaks in cultivation; they always get the most supreme treatment! Oh, how I envy them!" Admittedly, Hao Cao found it amusing how Shai Xia just outright admitted her envy.
Though looking inside herself and the other students' faces, they all wield similar envy sentiments about the duo.
Sentiments that also pumped them up more to achieve massive gains in this Labyrinth to match their freakish talents.
All the while, up in front, the Vice Principal held no change of expression, hearing the Principal request. As if she expected this to happen, she nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders and snapped her fingers.
Under the students' eyes, the blue-purple mix door swung open. Only Darcel and Aniela could sort of see what was inside though they didn't spot any grand figure.
The Vice Principal decided to urge them by saying, "Well? Best not to keep her waiting. You did want this, didn't you?" Darcel and Aniela took a single glance over to the Vice Principal once hearing her.
They did want to go in, but….a strange yet small gut feeling made them a slight bit queer about this Labyrinth expedition.
Quickly they shook their heads, pushing this feeling down, and walked into the room under blazing curious eyes.
….
Immediately when walking into the room, Darcel and Aniela's eyes locked on to a magnificent sight. Standing just a few meters away from there was a stunningly enchanting woman that can cause kingdoms' downfall.
Her gorgeous face radiates dazzling grace, with each of her features being unforgettable to all eyes. Combined with her mesmerizing face was her neatly long purple hair that elegantly swayed down to her hips.
She was also well endowed, sporting juicy bountiful breasts that you wish you could sink your teeth into. Out of everyone in the Academy, this beautiful woman also wore the fanciest looking uniform.
It was more of an ancient luxurious royal robe design, holding the magnificent mix of a blue and purple color. And on her ring finger was a blaring large purple jewelry ring that shined with her bright beauty.
Indeed, Darcel and Aniela could say that she worthy of this Heavenly King title just by her looks. But excluding her looks….the duo couldn't sense the Principal aura at all!
It was almost as if she was entirely invisible. However, the foreboding feeling of instant death still prevailed through the duo, telling them it was impossible to ever contend against her.
Suddenly, something peculiar occurred while the duo gazed upon her beauty.
When Darcel and Aniela's eyes directly locked on to the Principal eyes, they both couldn't move their focus from her deep purple eyes. And without warning, her eyes suddenly sparkled a glowing purple brilliance!
This sparkle shined like the blaring sun, nearly forcing Darcel and Aniela to close their eyes. Already, just without even talking, the duo was a little surprised at their Principal.
"Woah….that shine! I didn't think as soon as we stepped in here, we would witness a beautiful light show of a Heavenly King!" Aniela commented enthusiastically, fully taken in by her eyes.
A beautiful small smile graced the Principal lips once hearing Aniela. And when she turned her attention to Darcel, the smile stayed on despite him having a different reaction.
Darcel didn't exactly share the same amount of enthusiasm. With a slight smirk, he said, "Certainly was an eye-opening special. Though….I couldn't help but feel like I was getting looked into?"
The Principal's face didn't change at all towards Darcel's question. Her cute little mouth only opened up to say, "You two really are rare special ones….but I can't be a noisy bee. You will take this."
Under her odd speech patterns, the Principal flicked a blue talisman to the slightly puzzled Darcel.
While doing so, she explained, "Only you two can activate this under complete dire straits." Though she did give an explanation, the duo was still puzzled in her meaning.
Obviously, Darcel and Aniela wanted to continue this concise and brief conversation. However, before either one could speak up, the Principal took her attention off from them.
Using the same magnetic voice from before, she spoke up to outside of the door, saying,
"Vice Principal, you all can come in now. I'm ready."
Hearing another snap from outside, the door promptly swung open.
Shuffling a bit forwards so the others could enter, it was then Darcel, and Aniela realized the Principal office was far more spacious than they thought.
Easily their group of twenty or so people was nowhere near enough to fill up this massive room. Although, for the students who walked in, they also couldn't focus on the room's decor.
Exactly like Darcel and Aniela, they all were taken aback at the Principal's stunning appearance. Even during the last Labyrinth expedition, none of the first ranked level students had the honor to meet the Principal.
And in a way, thanks to Darcel and Aniela. The students were granted a moment to truly appreciate the standards of beauty.
Furthermore, compared to the Vice Principal, it was like night and day in terms of charm!
The Principal, however, ignored the other students awe looks and whisked out several purple spatial rings. Swiftly she tossed the leader students each one purple spatial ring while saying to them,
"Use everything wisely. And don't resist now."
Without giving anyone a chance to respond, the Principal raised her hand while igniting it in mystical blue energy. Everyone in the Labyrinth expedition group felt strange, yet warm energy run through their bodies.
Doing as they were told, none of them resisted as the Principal hand shined an ever greater blue light!
'Chi!'
A vast blue flash permeated the whole room as the group was promptly teleported out of the Principal place. As the flash died down, the Principal was left alone to rummage on her thoughts.
All thoughts pertaining to those two extraordinary youths and her own trusted aid. Her usual smiling expression went a bit serious as she out loud to only herself,
"Zelle….that shift for our city is coming far, far quicker than anyone of us could predict. This Labyrinth….it'll be the start of it all."