First Lesson (3): Eyes on the Prize
A bit earlier, rewinding the clock. The moment tentacles burst from the training field, the cadets were still huddled inside their barrier, trying to size up the situation.
"That gray-haired guy is handling it pretty well. What's his name?"
"Heroics Department first-year cadet Ethan Miller. He's the top of his class."
"No wonder he's responding so competently—he's the top student. Keep an eye on that one. Mark him down."
"Yes, sir."
I was perched in a shadowy corner of the field, evaluating the cadets' responses. Hiding with the help of Leina, the aide assigned to me by the academy—her Stealth ability made it easy.
Controlling the tentacles I'd shot into the ground beneath me, I was harassing—no, training them from long range.
My Demonic Body, now at level 3, had boosted not just my basic physical functions but my skills and traits too. Take these Swarm Tentacles, for example. Pairing Demonic Body with Swarm Tentacles was insanely powerful, both in raw damage and utility.
About how long are they stretched right now? Roughly over 150 meters?
Of course, even with the level-up, extending them this far should have been impossible. Tests showed 70 meters was my hard limit at full stretch.
So how was I manipulating them so freely from this distance? The trick was simpler than you'd think.
Thickness is key.
Through experiments with Swarm Tentacles, I'd learned thickness and length were closely linked. Thicker tentacles meant shorter max length. Thinner ones stretched farther.
Apply that cleverly, and I could operate them from extreme range. Keep them needle-thin underground, then swell back to full girth when they surfaced. Way longer reach than maintaining constant thickness—and the power drop from the thinner sections was negligible.
Normal operation would've capped me at 70 meters; even with stealth, I'd risk detection. This way? No problem.
"What's the name of the one who threw up that barrier? It's holding up nicely."
"Heroics Department Combat Tactics second-year cadet Ayla Siena."
"Good situational judgment, strong will. Mark her too."
"Yes, sir."
With that, Leina—the purple-haired young woman standing beside me—tapped her pen on the tablet.
She was my academy-assigned aide and teaching assistant, handling paperwork, grading, and all the miscellaneous admin.
I glanced her way, but she just worked with a blank expression, checking off names.
Wonder what her deal is.
Superhuman for sure—Stealth proved it. But that was it. No info on age, exact job, past gigs, where she lived. Total mystery. Even the other professors didn't know.
Just this quiet woman who showed up in the department office now and then, head down, grinding away.
Obviously not ordinary, though. Every move was subtle, silent. Footsteps barely audible, actions unconsciously noise-free. Her ability and background had me curious.
But that's not the priority now.
The real focus: how would these cadets navigate this crisis?
Checked my professor smartwatch: 1:16 PM. Thirty-four minutes left in class.
Plenty of time. Crank up the intensity.
That barrier looks vulnerable underneath. In that case...
I sent a few of the barrier-probing tentacles burrowing underground. One soon slipped inside through the dirt.
The cadets freaked at the unexpected intrusion, screams echoing.
"Mark that wolf beastkin too. Good instincts from the start."
"Yes, sir."
"The one in golden armor and the one freezing my tentacles too."
"Yes, sir."
I swallowed a chuckle. My watchlist of promising cadets was filling up. Like collecting rare specimens.
Not that I'd neglect the average ones, but these? Extra attention.
Destroying one of my tentacles already? Beyond expectations.
Impressive for students to sever one of mine.
Ah, Ethan was shouting something—loud enough to faintly hear from here. Sounded like a call to escape the field. He'd been the first to rally them too.
Somehow, he'd naturally taken charge.
Leadership potential. Some real combat experience there.
Rallying and leading in a sudden attack? Not anyone could pull that off.
The cadets murmured among themselves—probably plotting escape. Too quiet to catch details without yelling.
I kept observing, lightly tapping the barrier meanwhile.
Then...
Here they go.
The barrier vanished. Obviously—they couldn't move with it up, and even if they could, mana drain wouldn't be sustainable.
Instantly, cadets bolted for the field's edge.
I could've swarmed them right then, but first day? Give a little leeway.
Three seconds grace. 3, 2...
1.
-BOOM
Tentacles surged underground, pursuing. Quick ones noticed, staring at the ground in horror.
Stragglers fell behind, but others slowed to grab hands and pull them along. Noble, textbook teamwork... but
You gotta know when to cut dead weight. First day mercy.
A week in? I'd crush those fingers.
Kept watching as they ran past training tires nearby.
Now.
-KABOOM
Timed a pursuing tentacle from the right to erupt upward. Caught a male cadet, flinging him airborne amid spraying red liquid. Looked fatal.
Beet juice, actually. Dummy planted to avoid suspicion.
This was billed as realistic training with leeway for injuries, but day one decapitation? No.
So, pull punches or graze—risks suspicion. Hence the "injured" plant for authenticity.
He flew 20 meters before a female cadet caught him midair.
...Beet juice, right? That splatter looked too real.
"Pay that guard extra. Hit him harder than planned."
"Yes, sir."
"Mark the electricity girl. Oh, and the one near the guard who blacked out."
"Yes, sir."
My list included not just aces but total duds too—sometimes they needed more focus than the stars.
And she's next on the grind list.
Passing out in combat? Time to toughen up. Looked clumsy with her body—perfect for my special "guidance."
"What's the name of the girl getting carried out cold?"
"Heroics Department first-year cadet Alice Hayes."
"Alice Hayes... Alice Hayes. Got it."
Alice Hayes. Noted.
Even support majors needed basic fitness. Don't worry. Pain's temporary. By second year, she'd have a body and senses beyond imagination.
Cadets hauled the wounded onward, electricity girl blocking mid-chase attacks.
Watching their grit sparked a thought.
This is kinda fun.
Always the one getting drilled—now drilling others? Fresh thrill. Different from straight fights.
Handling it better than expected. Mix up next class...
Hard workers deserved reward. Time for the prep work.
"Activate it."
"Yes, sir."
-RUMBLE
No sooner said than a barrier erupted at the field's edge. Thick, glowing gray steel wall. Blocked their sole exit, their hope.
Leina sweated over that one. Owe her coffee.
-CLANG
Wall fully up. Cadets' despair hit like a wave—some collapsed, legs giving out.
"Move us closer. Range is stretching thin."
Thickness trick hit limits; I shifted nearer.
All tentacles, advance. Encircle and trap like bars...
Nine tentacles coiled around them like a cage.
Perfect. Pure despair. Your move?
Twenty-five years old, Han Seongjin had found a new hobby.