Infinity in the Void – Freedom in the Abyss

I chose a spot somewhere in the middle of the auditorium, placing my portfolio bag under my seat and hugging the briefcase around my right arm.

I have my reasons for choosing this spot, mainly because people wouldn't notice me too much. I am not the oddest person around here. But it kinda backfired a bit, since nobody wants to approach me with my Imperial Aura active, save for a few people.

First all is the Gemini duo, Alpharion, and Omegius. And I recently learned their real names, since those fake names are quite ridiculous. Evangel Lovecraft and Mordred Lovecraft, seems like Philip adopted them. They are behind me, flirting like usual.

Next is Hoa, sitting close to me with her phone out. She is still a cult leader, and she has to manage her cult even from here. Being near me is the best way to do it without arousing suspicion. Though I don't like that she put herself three seats away from me.

And finally, Asteral, silently listens to music while playing around with steel balls, floating in the air. So gravity manipulation, huh. I need to figure out a way to get past that. He has been chilling next to me.

He is pretty... but I cannot call him a friend yet. We only met just a few minutes ago.

While waiting for the show to start, I opened up my laptop to check for some stuff— oh, Seria. An E-mail from my adopted mother.

[Charlotte, someone tried to assassinate me. Was it you?]

[Yes.]

And send. Oh, she sent back another mail.

[Good attempt, but you have to try harder next time.]

Not that I was seriously trying to kill Seria, if my evil(?) Future Self has to lock her up in an inescapable prison instead of killing her, then I have no chance. She is just that powerful.

I went ahead and boot up Minekraft, then I join PvP Legends. I am practicing pvp since I want to join a SMP... someone had already invited me to one.

Why am I practicing pvp? Because among many content creators, I don't have anything to ground myself in this game. I want to be the very best like no one ever was...

In other words, I want to be a menace to the whole server!

Oh... I was defeated. This block game is quite simple, with no difficult mechanics, and no different classes to give me extra perks.

This is the weakness of Survive, it has a bottom limit. Humanity thrives on complications, so if there are no complications... then there is nothing I can do. This game is just click and click... but the main problem is my inputs are faster than what the client can handle.

I am still pretty good, but my ranking stops somewhere in the top 100. I would need actual training if I want to reach higher...

There are many players who are known as the strongest, some of them are players in PvP Legends, even in the top 10. I can get in contact with a few... and there is one I must get to know...

Anyhow, I kept playing for an hour to kill time. I need to get better, to dominate others.

=0=0=

The light of the auditorium turned off, silencing everyone. I sighed and let myself be killed, Jesterpenetrate... I will remember you.

I closed my laptop and look up to the stage, where the Principal stood on the podium with the teachers sitting on both sides behind him, close to a hundred from the looks of things.

"New students who have come far and wide, across the whole world who had chosen this place to not only control but hone your powers. As the Principal, I am happy you all choose this Academy..."

Well, I didn't have a choice. Also, it would be natural to choose this place. Everybody like free stuff, and when compared to paying tuition, military boot camp, and America, this place is like a paradise.

"Here, you will get the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, some may come from the rich, the poor, some may have mysterious circumstances. I will say this only one time, you are all equals here. No one is of higher status than you, no one is lower than you."

His eyes scan around the auditorium, setting his clockwork eyes upon a few, one of them being me. I smirked.

"Even if you have gained a title for yourself, do not be prideful, for someone better than you might rise from the ranks. Even if you are powerful, there will be someone stronger here."

I want to burst out laughing. Does he really think those empty words apply to me? DOES HE?!

I am Charlotte Silvi, I am the Akasha. Who I am and what I am... I am the entirety of humanity! As long as you are humans, you will always lose against me.

Because that is the Authority given to me.

"...Welcome one and all, to Ataraxia Academy.", he finished his speech. I can feel his gaze landing on me.

...Should I pull out Fallen Starlight and kill him now? I don't like the knowing gaze he points toward me...

No, I shouldn't... not yet.

Sensing my hostility, he stepped down from the podium with a smile. Then the giant screen in the back turns on, showing the pictures of the teachers.

The first picture is of Orin, in a traditional Japanese wedding dress. Wait, she's married?

"Hey! Why did you use that picture of all things?!", I can hear her shout from all the way here.

The Principal promptly ignored her, "First of all is Professor Tachibana Orin, who will be teaching the Otherworldy Suppression Course. She is feisty and has a bad temper, so don't get on her bad side."

Then the screen switched to Abert, standing heroically on top of a giant beast.

"Why did he get such a cool picture!!", Orin complained again.

Again, she was ignored, prompting a round of laughter from the audience, "This is Professor Albert Gerandel, who teaches the Monster Hunting and Tame Course. He's pretty chill, rated the best teacher of the who Academy."

Next up is Joowun, wearing a black trench coat and crossing her arms, while surrounded by her Shadow Legion.

"Li Joowun, do I need to explain myself? She is the one-woman army of Korea! Who will be the Combat Instructor in the Combat Course!!"

Why is he so excited about her? Anyway, it roused the students' enthusiasm towards the Academy, I can see many of them opening up and talking to each other.

My group? Well... Hoa doesn't care, Asteral already fell asleep, and Evangel with Mordred are just being themselves. And, I just passively give everyone a hostile look, not even with my powers. I am just naturally unapproachable.

Anyway, the Principal had already introduced a few more teachers. Next up is a cloaked man wearing a bird mask, standing on top of a high-rise tower at night.

"Professor Wayne Granthef, who will also be teaching the Otherworldly Suppression Course. He is very mysterious, and I have a bounty for anyone who can unmask him."

I should try that, just to show off.

Then it's a man wearing a red trench coat and a red wide-brim hat, standing on top of a tree with a red moon behind him.

"The one and only Alucard Strigoi, the current name of the famous Vlad the Impaler! He will be teaching the Magic Course, specializing in Earthly Edict."

I grin, directing my attention at the First Vampire Lord. Since I am unable to use the Heavenly Edict, I can only use the Earthly Edict.

The reason why I cannot use the Heavenly Edict, and why the Earthly Edict is difficult for me, is quite dumb. Because I am the Records of Humanity, and my entire existence rejects Magic.

Magic is the Language of the World, with the Heavenly Edict being the sound and the Earthly Edict being the letters, they cannot change. Humanity exists due to Changes, change brings innovation, and without Innovations... humanity ceases to be humans.

And one more thing... the Heavenly Edict is the ability to communicate with the World. Humanity is the most disconnected to the World, out of all species on Earth, as the Akasha... I am completely cut off from the World itself.

The Principal kept on introducing the teachers. I paid no mind to them. Until he reached one person in particular... a woman with a stern look and cold air just from the picture alone, blonde hair with a shade of red, and brown eyes. She wore a lab coat, fluttering in a ruined hallway.

No way...

"And finally, our newest teacher, Amelia Wosteria, who hails from Britain as the former instructor of the late Prince Liam Pendragon. She will be teaching the Human Study Course. Please welcome her to Ataraxia Academy."

All of the teachers clapped their hands, then the students in front of me. The loud clapping noises also woke Asteral up.

Amelia Wosteria... I turn to look at her... she doesn't look my way, she just... spaced out. I remember her, she was the first woman I met when I woke up...

Who are you?

This familiar yet distant feeling... I don't like it.

"Roy... what's wrong?", Asteral asked, noticing my confusion.

"Nothing, I am perfectly fine.", I shook my head.

"If you say so.", he looks at me with worry. Those starry eyes are truly beautiful... I still want to pluck them out.

"The teachers here are weird.", I commented, looking particularly at Amelia.

"Roy—", he stopped as I glare at him.

"My name is Charlotte Silvi, call me by my name. You are not talking to Silver Royal, but Charlotte Silvi.", I remind him.

"I apologize..."

Seeing him looking down, I comforted him, "I accept your apology."

...okay, that wasn't comforting someone. But that's alright, he smile at me and nodded.

Oh, the teacher's introduction had ended. Ending with a man named Michael Jazzon. Strangely, there was no mention of Christ...

Now the Principal stepped onto the Podium again.

"Now with the introduction finished, I shall move on to the next part. The lottery event, where three random students will have a chance to win—", the screen behind him flickered to a roulette wheel, "A new phone, a top-of-the-line laptop, and... a brand new PC!"

The wheel began to spin, sparking digital flames. Wow, they went extra hard for this event. I don't need any of this so I should leave—

"The first winner is Charlotte Silvi!", the Principal announced.

Fuck...

I sighed and get out of my seat. Now... I activate my Imperial Aura to the maximum, filling the entire place with an aura of dread. Because he is ruining my mood, I am ruining everyone's.

I look into the students' eyes... most aren't worth my attention. Most of them are lucky to be granted blessings from what my previous incarnation did, they are full of themselves without knowing what that power entails. Some though, look at me in fascination, wondering who I am... or what I am.

Heha... when compared to me, what can they even do? I have achieved much more than they could've hoped for, I fought against the Mother of Demons, I killed the King of Cetaceans, I defeated the Eldritch God of a Nebula...

Compare to me, they are nothing.

Seeing the fear growing on their face, I smile maliciously... going up the steps leading to the stage.

"I am getting the phone, right?", my sharp azure gaze stabbed deep into him, setting off the self-preservation responses in his body. I can feel fear coming off from his body movements... he wants to run away.

I turned my gaze over to the box containing the phone on the podium. I reached out and grabbed it, without anyone to stop me.

"This is now mine, correct?", I look at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Correct.", he maintains a neutral expression, smiling in an attempt to save the mood.

"Thanks.", I said in a sarcastic tone, grinning sadistically.

And I walked down, letting my overbearing aura crush them... Ah, I am a villainess. Heha~ that is fine with me. Because just like Sinclair said, villainy makes me cooler.

I sat back down on my seat, retracting my Imperial Aura. I look over to Asteral, who just shrugged. He was not affected by my Imperial Aura... rather, he admires me.

"Here, this is a gift for you, Evangel.", I threw the phone box behind me.

Mordred caught it, and I can sense his glare directed at me.

"Charlotte...", Evangel spoke first, frowning.

Next up was Mordred, "Couldn't you pass it like normal?"

"No, you guys know I am not normal. Plus, I have to break you guys out of your love talk— since you are up next, Mordred.", I smile knowingly.

And just as I foresaw, the name landed on Omegius Carter.

"The winner for the second place prize is Omegius Carter!", the Principal called him out.

With a sigh, he got up and move as fast as light onto the stage. He took the laptop and instantly return to his spot. Not even five seconds had passed.

"Here, this is for you.", he smile and gave the laptop to Evangel.

"Thank you, my love...", she handed him the phone, "And this is for you."

They both giggles and return to their usual flirts. I gave Evangel the phone because I don't have a need for it. My current phone is better anyway.

"And for our final winner, who will be receiving the PC. Please step up, Clementine Valentino!", he announced.

Stepping up from the crowd in front was... the definition of a noble girl. Wearing a very fancy blue dress that does not fit an educational atmosphere. And of course, her blond hair was styled like drills.

She grabbed the hems of her dress and bowed respectfully. She then grabbed the microphone from the Principal's hand and turn to the crowd.

Her brilliant blue eyes glaze across the auditorium, and they landed on... me.

"My name is Clementine Valentino, and I am here to declare my love for Charlotte Silvi!!"

What the fuck?