I Can Devour Monsters' SSS Talents

However, corpses were not the only things he had brought back from the Special Area.

Several rare materials that he had found with the help of the Celestial Book of Treasure were still inside his storage space.

Among them were Emberglass Resin and Bootfire Marrow.

Both were valuable, but both also had uses for himself.

After being processed, Emberglass Resin could become a material with extremely high resistance to heat and mana flow, and it was excellent for making the inner layers of armor, joint protection, and stabilizing mana arrays.

Bootfire Marrow was also a material full of life and heat energy that could be used to make powerful regeneration potions; potions that did not only close wounds, but also accelerated the healing of tissue, muscles, bones, and damage caused by extreme pressure.

Selling either of them was not an attractive choice.

The first one might not be useful for himself, but he could definitely give it to his friend so that he could use it to make armor.

When they returned to the academy, night had completely arrived.

The two of them ate a simple dinner and then returned to the dormitory, Lian kept the World-Devourer Bastion in his storage space and checked his new messages for a short time before sleeping, but there was still no reply from Gareth.

Tomorrow, the others were supposed to return, and after that there would be no more days of rest, the final term exams were finally going to begin.

And these exams were not going to go peacefully.

The next morning, the main area of the academy was much busier than the day before.

The young Vorhelm and Kain waited near the entrance until several special student transport vehicles finally entered the academy grounds.

The first person to get out was Rindo.

Then Seraphina.

Liana.

Selina.

Cassian.

Ethan.

And Marcus.

Seeing all of them in the academy felt strange.

Only a few days ago, the last image Lian had of most of them was their bodies covered in blood among the giants’ graves.

Now they were wearing clean clothes and walking among normal students again.

After a few short greetings, the members of the group had to go directly to the academy’s administration department so their return could be registered and their first report could be submitted.

Lian did not go with them, Aldric had already taken care of his part the day before.

Almost an hour later, when the others came out of the administration building, Rindo almost immediately changed his direction.

”I have to go to the Student Council, I have nine months of reports and unfinished work.”

He said seriously before leaving.

”There is something you need to know first.” The young Vorhelm called him before he could leave.

The Student Council President stopped.

He looked at his face, and Lian’s tone was enough for him to understand that this was not something unimportant.

”Okay.” Rindo answered shortly and walked with the others.

On the way to the academy cafe, the looks from the people around them quickly caught everyone’s attention.

The students were openly turning their heads.

Some looked at them with surprise and some with curiosity, all of them were well-known faces.

And some looked at them with something that was almost pity.

Nine months ago, these people had been among the most famous and strongest students in the academy, but now people looked at them like people who had returned from the past.

”What is going on? Why is everyone looking at us like this?” Liana asked while looking confused at several nearby students.

It was not hard to see the pity in their eyes, but what the hell were they pitying them for?

Kain let out a short sigh.

”You will find out soon.” Lian answered without slowing his steps.

This answer did not make the girl’s expression any better.

A few minutes later, everyone was sitting around one of the large tables in the cafe.

And the young Vorhelm started his explanation with the simple changes, first the growth of the students and the fact that a large part of them had already completed their First Evolution.

The academy’s average level was currently above 22, and it might even reach 24-25.

And the problem was already clear from the beginning, none of them were even level 24.

But he quickly reached the main part, Roderick.

When he mentioned his name, Seraphina almost immediately frowned and Lian explained a summary of what Kain and Aldric had told him.

Roderick had completed his First Evolution very early.

His last recorded level was 37 and he had now reached 39, a large guild supported him and his family had given him huge amounts of resources.

Of course, this part was not important to him, no matter how powerful a family or guild was, all of them became less important compared to the name Vorhelm.

And they would simply never be willing to insult a Vorhelm, even if there were rumors around him, they were not willing to take that risk.

He only mentioned this so they would understand that he had probably reached the maximum potential of his class’s stats.

And most importantly, during Rindo and the others’ absence, he had built a network of students around himself that controlled a large part of hunting, resource trading, and student missions.

The young Vorhelm also told Kain’s story, with Kain’s permission of course.

From Roderick’s offer, its rejection, the conflict that followed, and the isolation that had slowly been created around him.

He said all of this to make them understand that the bastard had built a network that allowed him to suppress his opponents in the academy.

The more he talked, the colder Rindo’s face became, this was no longer just a personal conflict between a few students.

During the Student Council President’s absence, a parallel structure had formed inside the academy, a structure whose power came not from the rules, but from influence and resources.

”So that is why everyone is looking at us like that.” Liana said quietly.

”Part of it, the other part is that everyone knows you were gone for nine months.” Kain answered this time.

”So they think we became weaker?” Ethan frowned.

Kain gave him a short look.

”From the level? They do not think, you really fell behind, that is obvious.”

Ethan stayed silent for a few seconds, the answer hurt because it was true.

”We cannot let this continue like this, I already did not like Roderick and Elena before, but this is no longer just a personal matter.” Seraphina placed her hands on the table.

”Then let’s go beat them up as much as we can.” Ethan said almost immediately.

Marcus gave him a calm look.

”With what?” Marcus asked dryly.

”We are probably among the weakest main students in the academy right now, most of us are around level twenty and we have not even completed our First Evolution yet.”

This time the silence became truly heavy, no one could argue.

Roderick was level 39, Elena was level 31.

Darren and many people from Roderick’s group had also passed level twenty and evolved a long time ago.

But the people who had been among the strongest generation nine months ago had not even had the chance to complete their First Evolution.

After a few moments, Cassian turned toward Rindo.

”We are members of the Student Council, can’t we use the council to stop this monopoly?”

”In theory? Maybe, but in practice, no.” Rindo stayed silent for a few seconds and then answered calmly.

Everyone looked at him and he continued his explanation.

”If the council passes a law that half of the powerful students are not willing to follow, that law is only a piece of writing, we can stop obvious violations, but we cannot force someone to form a team with another person, give them a discount, or trade their resources with them.” His face became a little colder.

”Roderick moved exactly into a place where the rules cannot easily touch him, what he is doing is not illegal, he has only created a faction, I can see if they do anything against the rules and restrict them through that, but I doubt it.”

Lian calmly drank his drink and when silence appeared, he put the cup on the table.

”There is another problem too, the final term exams start tomorrow, with your current situation, there is a high chance you will get the last ranks.”

”Did you really have to say that part?” Ethan asked with dissatisfaction.

”Yes.” He answered without hesitation.

Marcus sighed and Kain could not hide his smile, but the joke only lasted for a few seconds because everyone knew the young Vorhelm was right.

Lian himself did not have the same concern, on paper he was only level 23 but the level number had become almost the least important part of his real strength.

Four thousand base points, the Fallen Monster body, his skills, the Ancient Rank armor, and even thirty seconds of Black Silence’s power in the worst situation.

A low rank in the final exam was the last thing on his mind.

The sound of a chair being pulled across the floor suddenly caught everyone’s attention.

Rindo was standing.

”Where are you going?” Liana asked.

”I do not have time to waste here, my Evolution Mission was already completed, I have to do my First Evolution today.”

The Student Council President could not and should not be the weakest student in the academy.

What good was this position if no one respected him at that time?