God's Chosen?

Passing through the ancient academy gates and feeling the weight of history, Caroso stopped and respectfully bowed to the massive statue before him.

It was a statue of a woman.

She held an extravagantly shaped greatsword and wore a set of archaic armor. Her gaze rested on the distant horizon, as though she had countless words she wished to tell the world.

This was one of the academy's founders, the God of War Surtur.

In a turbulent age, when the gods enslaved humanity, she used a Flame Magic Sword to carry away the evil of the world and bring twilight upon the gods. It seemed as though she had destroyed the entire world, yet it was more like rebuilding after destruction, allowing the world to be reborn.

As countless gods fell, the remaining gods and newly born gods no longer dared to openly enslave humanity. Instead, they developed their churches normally, using exchanges of power to make humans serve the gods.

After exhausting her divine power, Surtur helped rebuild humanity's homeland and constructed this academy alongside the Archmage Mal.

Upon entering the campus, the first person everyone saw was this female war goddess.

Just as Caroso bowed, the magic sword in the statue's hand suddenly bloomed with a wisp of red light. The sword cracked open, as though something was trying to break free from the stone statue!

The staff member who had brought Caroso stared in stunned disbelief. "Th-this is impossible. It's only a statue..."

Caroso straightened up and frowned at the scene before him.

[Damn, the Flaming Magic Sword Laevateinn, Boss Caro's Legendary card!]

[Come to think of it, did Boss Caro get his Golden Legendary card at this time?]

[No idea. Boss Caro definitely can't use it now, right? There are restrictions on card usage. Ranks one through three can only use cards below three stars, while rank four can use four-, five-, and six-star cards. That equipment card is a ten-star card. Boss Caro needs to be at least rank nine to use it.]

[Was Boss Caro targeted because a man's possessions invite trouble?]

Mal Magic Academy, the principal's office.

The principal smiled as he looked over the list of new students. There were countless nobles among them, and these people had brought the academy endless funding.

Grand Duke Kolia of Azure Wolf Province, in particular, was truly generous.

His children had to receive the best resources.

And if Caroso and Nimel were bullied by other students, the academy would not need to intervene. As long as they were left with a breath, that was enough.

Grand Duke Kolia's educational methods were cruel, but they suited the principal's tastes perfectly.

After all, it meant he would not have to favor Caroso too much.

"Principal, the little prince is enrolling this year. Don't let anything happen to him again. If something happens to him again, this academy need not continue to exist." A cold middle-aged man silently watched the old man before him.

"Oh, don't worry, don't worry. The God of War will protect the little prince." The principal forced a smile.

A prince had died, and he bore undeniable responsibility for it.

But anything could happen in a dungeon. That prince had insisted on challenging it himself, so legally, the principal could not be blamed.

More importantly, the kingdom's situation was rather unstable now. The King did not dare move against this ancient Magic Academy so easily.

The royal authority was weak and could no longer govern the nation. That was the kingdom's current state.

At that moment, the magic stone on the principal's desk suddenly lit up.

The principal looked puzzled. With a sweep of his hand, the magic stone dimmed, and a rectangular image floated above it.

Judging by the image, it appeared to show the area outside the academy gates.

"Principal, something's wrong! There's a problem with the God of War statue!" the gatekeeper said anxiously.

"Oh? What problem?" The principal raised a brow.

"The sword of the God of War statue cracked!"

"What?" The principal looked astonished. "That shouldn't have happened. We just finished maintenance two years ago!"

"It was Caroso. Caroso Kolia. He bowed to the God of War statue, and then the sword started acting up! The statue's magic array was not activated, and there are no signs that it was attacked."

"This... Has the God of War acknowledged Caroso?" The principal's expression became strange.

He glanced at the prince before him, only to see that the prince's face had turned livid.

Acknowledged by the God of War?

How long had it been since the gods' voices vanished? How could one suddenly appear now?

And even if one did appear, how could God's Chosen be the son of some country bumpkin?

There had to be a conspiracy behind this. Perhaps Grand Duke Kolia had arranged it!

His ambitions definitely did not end with Azure Wolf Province.

Sending Caroso to study in the capital was obviously meant to make his son a hostage, so he could develop his power without worry.

Damn it...

The prince imagined a whole mountain of possibilities.

No, this had to be discussed after he returned. They needed to come up with a countermeasure.

"Ahem, it's just that the statue has fallen into disrepair over the years. It's nothing serious." The principal waved a hand. "Since he's here, hurry and get him enrolled. The ceremony is about to begin. Honestly, does he have no sense of time at all?"

"Yes..."

Seeing that no one was demanding compensation from him, Caroso continued forward with the faculty member, his mind heavy with worries.

When they came across the Archmage Mal this time, he did not bow so casually. Instead, Nimel obediently bowed.

At a level almost impossible to detect with the naked eye, the corner of Archmage Mal's lips curled slightly, as though he were smiling.

[Holy shit, how could Boss Caro possibly have the template of a villain? This is the standard protagonist template!]

[High status, overwhelming strength, astonishing talent, and he triggered the God of War's blessing as soon as he arrived at school.]

[The smoother things go, the harder the fall will hurt, right? Not to mention anything else, if I'd had Naruto's childhood, I would've turned evil long ago.]

[Honestly, where is there any absolute good or evil? Are our characters necessarily righteous? It just feels like they stand on different sides.]

[Yeah, Boss Caro's storyline hasn't fully opened up yet.]

[The current Boss Caro is highly malleable.]

After passing the two statues, they arrived at the academy's beautiful scenery.

There was an enormous pond, beautiful fountain statues, carefully maintained flowerbeds, and rows of ancient, elegant buildings.

The faculty member carried their luggage and brought them to the enormous training ground.

Caroso did not stand on ceremony. Taking Nimel with him, he passed through countless people and headed for the front row.

Those standing in that row were all descendants of the King and descendants of dukes.

"Well, if it isn't Caroso?"

Seeing Caroso arrive with a little girl, a young boy sneered, "A barbarian who doesn't even know the rules."

"The rules?" Caroso turned his gaze toward him. "Want a duel? I know that rule very well."

"Hmph, just as expected of a barbarian. Every other word out of your mouth is 'duel.' I'd say you understand nothing but fighting." The boy rolled his eyes at Caroso.

"Yes, our Kolia family only knows how to fight." Caroso replied calmly. "One day, we'll let your Horn Peak Province experience it."