With various thoughts in mind, the exchange students who arrived at the Phoenix Base on the first day could hardly sleep through the night.
Sunset, sunrise.
The second day quickly arrived.
As soon as the sky showed a hint of fish belly white, the base's bells rang, their sound spreading far and wide to every area of the island base.
Princess Anna had already finished her morning ablutions, put on some light makeup, and donned the student training attire distributed by Phoenix. She examined herself in the mirror for a while, nodding in satisfaction.
Then, she left her room and headed straight for her target area.
"Esoteric Aberration General Knowledge Class, Special Class 02."
"Located at... Hmm, Teaching Building B6, East District."
"Textbooks are all packed. Today is the first day of formal study."
"Anna, you can do it!"
Princess Anna picked up her delicate bag and hurried towards the station.
The students she encountered along the way were all in a hurry, as if wound up like clockwork. Occasionally, she met students engaged in discussion or debate, seemingly talking about training-related matters she couldn't understand.
Anna found that even if she wanted to join in, she couldn't find a common topic.
There were no cosmetics, bags, or accessories at all; only training terms she didn't understand but sounded powerful.
These students here were too diligent!
It looked like she needed to be even more serious and hardworking, otherwise, she might not be able to keep up with the Phoenix本部 (headquarters) students in conversations!
This wouldn't do!
With complex thoughts swirling, Anna arrived at Teaching Building B6 in the East District and found the classroom for her lesson.
She peeked inside.
There were three awakened ones from her home country, Sunken Kingdom, in this class, not many. Phoenix's training camp divided classes very meticulously.
But she also saw students from the Riptide Kingdom and the White Bear Kingdom!
Indeed, the Riptide Kingdom had ties with Phoenix, and earlier than their Sunken Kingdom. But she hadn't expected people from the White Bear Kingdom to be here too.
That made sense; the White Bear Kingdom was also a major country affected by the Crimson Moon disaster, and they should have also received Phoenix's warnings.
It was just unexpected that the White Bear Kingdom had also found and established cooperation with Phoenix.
More competitors!
Princess Anna's delicate face was filled with a grave expression. She discreetly inquired and quickly discovered that the students from the Riptide Kingdom and the White Bear Kingdom had both arrived at the training base yesterday.
They were on the same starting line as their Sunken Kingdom.
If that was the case, she wouldn't lose!
In the Sunken Kingdom, she was the most dazzling pearl; here, she would be too!
Soon, dozens of students filled the classroom. Most were from the Phoenix本部, also awakened ones. Although there were more from the Eastern Radiance Kingdom, there were people of all nationalities and skin colors.
These students were somewhat curious about the few exchange students, casting them glances. But it was merely mild curiosity, and not a single person came up to strike up a conversation.
How could no one approach this princess?
This was unreasonable!
Princess Anna's prepared conversation starters had no place to be used, making her extremely annoyed!
She saw many people picking up their textbooks and flipping through them. Pouting, she also opened her textbook and began to preview.
This class was a cultural lesson, aiming to recognize the characteristics and weaknesses of esoteric aberrations.
Upon opening the textbook and seeing the incredibly detailed descriptions of various esoteric aberrations, Princess Anna was astonished and then became even more serious and focused on her studies.
"So, the way large... two-star esoteric aberration, the Serpent Mother, lays its eggs, is only under these circumstances."
"There are three simple ways to interrupt a two-star esoteric aberration, the Ghost Lantern, during its spectral fire attack."
"The very common esoteric aberration, the Knocker, and the king of one of its types, the 'Knocker King', is actually a terrifying three-star esoteric aberration? And even a few individuals are four-star? This...!"
The textbook's knowledge was abundant, and the lecturer on stage was a highly experienced master. Combining combat examples and videos, he explained many esoteric aberrations in a clear and profound manner.
Princess Anna's notes were filled to the brim, regretting only that the lecturer spoke too quickly and she hadn't previewed last night.
Barely keeping up... This knowledge point must also be remembered!
And this, this, and this!
Anna was focused and engrossed, the world in her eyes consisting only of the various esoteric aberrations and the words describing their characteristics.
It wasn't until the bell rang that she jolted awake, snapping out of her immersed state.
She was still a bit dazed.
As she came back to her senses, she noticed the lecturer had already left, and many students in the classroom were packing up their notes and textbooks, leaving in a hurry.
They were discussing and exchanging ideas as they walked, disappearing in a flash.
She hadn't spoken to any Phoenix students during the entire class! She hadn't even thought about it, her entire energy dedicated to learning about esoteric aberrations!
However, learning about these esoteric aberrations was very meaningful and infinitely beneficial.
It was right to study diligently in this class.
Next class, next class she would definitely learn more about Phoenix.
The break between classes was only ten minutes, and the distance between classrooms was not short. Anna began to understand why the other students were in such a hurry.
If they didn't move fast, they would be late!
There was no punishment for being late here, but the lecturers and instructors wouldn't wait for them. If they were late and missed some crucial knowledge points, it would be a huge loss.
As a princess, she represented the Sunken Kingdom and absolutely could not be late.
But this was too rushed!
Anna shoved her textbook and notes into her bag and quickly ran towards the location of her second class, her pace increasing. She rushed into the restroom mid-way, and finally arrived at the venue thirty seconds before the second class began.
Her chest heaving, she let out a long sigh.
"Hoo~~~"
This class was on basic swordsmanship, covering swordplay drills, sparring, and exchanges.
There would be sparring, and the instructors would also pair students up for training.
Then there would be opportunities for interaction.
She would let them witness the charm of the Sunken Kingdom's pearl in this class!
Princess Anna thought this before the training began.
Ten minutes later,
Princess Anna stared at the wooden sword in front of her, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, her expression focused.
She refused to believe she couldn't even perform basic sword techniques correctly.
Twenty minutes later,
"Ha~!"
Clang, clang, clang~!
Wooden swords clashed against wooden swords, from initially somewhat stiff movements to now smooth and natural ones.
Princess Anna naturally understood swordsmanship.
She used to learn noble swordsmanship, which focused on aesthetics. Later, when the mysterious era descended and esoteric aberrations appeared, she began to learn real combat swordsmanship.
Her talent was very high; many sword masters sighed in admiration.
Her foundation in swordsmanship was also considerable.
But under the instructor's guidance, she discovered how many shortcomings she still had and how many areas there were for improvement.
"Your swordsmanship has only reached the initial stage of proficiency, and there are some gaps in the fundamentals. You focus too much on aesthetics."
"Proficiency?"
"Novice, Skilled, Proficient, Expert, Master, Peak, and Transcendence—this is how Phoenix categorizes various skills."
"Then what about you, Instructor?"
"My swordsmanship has only reached the initial stage of Master."
Master?!
The instructor gave her the feeling of unfathomable swordsmanship; he was indeed a sword master, a master beyond reproach.
Yet, the instructor's statement was "only."
Master? So, it's just an average level.
Are your Phoenix instructors all this ordinary! "Only," and the instructors at the base are indeed numerous. Instructor Li for swordsmanship class doesn't seem to be very famous.
Princess Anna fell silent.
But her silence lasted only a brief moment before she plunged back into sword training and sparring. The training intensity was too high, allowing her no room for distraction. The increasingly refined swordsmanship, controlled as if it were an extension of her arm, captivated her.
Immersed in the training, time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, the swordsmanship class ended, and the countdown for the next class appeared on her student mobile phone.
Anna chugged down water, wiped her sweat with less-than-graceful movements, and rushed to the next training location.
This class was physical conditioning.
She had originally thought it would be simple, but it wasn't. There were so many nuances to physical training. After a morning of training, she faintly felt her strength had increased.
Perhaps it was an illusion.
Princess Anna muttered.
She couldn't maintain her elegance in the midday dining hall; speed was slightly more important than appearance.
The afternoon training surprised Anna even more.
Introductory Gravity Training.
It taught how to train in a gravity environment, how to efficiently use gravity to train one's body, how to avoid injuries, and so on!
Of course, these were not the crucial points. The existence of a gravity chamber here, such a sci-fi thing!
Was this scientific?
Aren't you surprised?
Looking at the students entering and exiting the gravity chamber, Princess Anna complained internally. But when she started sweating profusely, her body drenched, she had no time to complain.
It was too tiring.
All her energy was focused on training; there was no time to pay attention to anything else.
When she saw others continuously pushing themselves, and felt her strength seemingly growing, Anna also lost herself in the moment.
The feeling of becoming stronger was intoxicating.
The diligent figures around her also instilled a sense of urgency in Anna's heart, as if stopping for even a moment to catch her breath would mean being left behind, disappearing into the distance.
Cultural classes, combat technique classes, physical training classes!
From morning till night, the classes continued until ten o'clock in the evening.
At this point,
Standing on the two-dimensional testing platform, Anna was stunned to realize that her physique and spirit had improved!
They had truly improved! And the improvement was not small; no wonder she had felt it!
This was too incredible!
My heavens, this was a miracle!
This was a miracle!
As Anna soaked in the medicinal bath in her dormitory, her entire mind was still buzzing.
Significant improvements in just one day, so...
That night, Anna slept soundly, a smile gracing her lips, though she didn't know what she dreamt.
The next day, she woke up to the insistent knocking of her alarm.
After washing up, she patted her face in the mirror. After a moment's thought, she removed her accessories one by one, tied up her golden, radiant hair, and pushed all the pretty clothes to the back of the closet.
Her attire was simple and neat.
She embarked on her training journey for the day.
...
The third, fourth, and fifth days.
As days passed, Anna gradually grew accustomed to life at the training base.
Waking up early, training, attending classes, training, attending classes.
The elegant and glamorous pearl of the Sunken Kingdom was gone; what remained was Anna, the super diligent and serious Phoenix exchange student.
In terms of training, Anna was not inferior to anyone!
If Princess Anna was like this, the other exchange students from the Sunken Kingdom were even more immersed in training and learning, unable to extricate themselves.
The noticeable improvements day by day filled them with ecstatic joy.
During the scant rest time left at ten o'clock in the evening, they, just like the Phoenix本部 students, seized every moment and opportunity for extra practice, and more practice!
If it didn't kill them, they trained to the death!
They trained until their bodies were incredibly exhausted and they could collapse into sleep.
Anna never mentioned the evening information exchange meeting she had initially planned. Others wouldn't think of it either.
They were all buried in training, and even their interactions with each other decreased.
They would rather spend that time in the gravity field again, unless it was for academic exchange.
Naturally, the reports sent to the high-level officials of the Night Watcher Organization became extremely simple.
In summary, just a few words.
Very smooth.
Very worthwhile.
Yule and other high-level officials nodded with satisfaction.