Chapter 67 - Problems Everywhere (1)

Donovan's sudden appearance wasn't the only problem Ashton had to think about. Unlike the rest of his genes that depended on him feeding on flesh and blood to level up, the werewolf genes levelled up by literally being in a battle.

He didn't need to kill someone to gain experience as a werewolf. He got experience by getting hit, dodging attacks and dealing damage. As a result, he was already on the verge of levelling up again. Thanks to the reckless beatings the mistress gave to him.

But that wasn't the problem. The problem came in the form of maintaining harmony between his genes. Lucifer had been quite clear in his instructions. All of the genes had to be within the 5 level range of each other. If not, then the harmony between the genes would get destroyed and as a result, one gene might overpower the others.

In case of such an event, not only his secret will be out for everyone to see, he might even lose control of himself altogether. And right now... Ashton was stuck at a dead end. He only needed 2% exp to get to level 11 as a werewolf. However, his undead genes were still stuck at level 5...

Which meant, if he levelled up before consuming the flesh of a fresh, preferably alive, target... he might lose everything he had worked for.

'I need to find a way out of this mess.' Ashton thought.

The registration was already completed. Now he only needed to wait while the exam started. Thanks to that, he had enough time to come up with a plan. Also, the fact that he had to level up as an undead before, meant that he had to be sneaky about it. He could not afford to be discovered and get attacked before having someone's flesh.

If that happened... his werewolf genes might get triggered and level up. There was a way to ensure that didn't happen though. He could simply deactivate the werewolf genes, that way he would not need to worry about levelling up as a werewolf. Easy right?

Wrong!

The watches they had been provided with had an inbuilt heart rate monitor. It was a precaution so that the medical personnel could monitor the examinees and save them if need be. But this precaution was the thing stopping Ashton from doing something reckless.

Having a heart rate monitor on him meant, the moment he deactivated the werewolf genes, the medical personnel would be informed that his heart was no longer beating. As the vampire and undead genes did not require him to have a beating heart. Then the shit show will start.

It was for the same reason he could not throw away the watch and do what he needed to before reactivating the genes. Not to mention that activating or deactivating the genes would alter his appearance as well. Which was yet another great way to give his secret away for fun.

But if he activated the undead genes while the werewolf genes were active, his heartbeat might get a bit slow but not enough to make the medics give any attention to him. So, Ashton decided to go for it and do whatever he needed to... even if it meant he would have to kill a noble. It wouldn't matter as long as he could make it seem like an accident.

"Don't worry about the nobles. They won't dare to do something odd knowing that Sir Donovan is here." Disha reassured him.

As Ashton's face was down, she assumed it was because of what happened earlier. In her eyes, even though he was strong, he was still a kid. So she thought that he was nervous because of thinking about what could happen inside the arena.

Ashton gave her a smile before turning to his thoughts again, 'Who the hell is scared of those scrawny ass bastards. I'm scared about what I might end up doing to them if I levelled up.'

"She is right. Being around me is like being around the mistress herself." Donovan confidently chimed in.

'Why because you're both pieces of shit?' Ashton had an urge to say it out loud but chose otherwise.

Ashton did not know why the hell was he being so bossy. He was strong, no doubt, but Donovan might as well be overestimating himself. Or maybe in their absence, something happened to him. The chance of the latter scenario happening was no less than Ashton becoming an S ranked student of the academy.

'Maybe I should ask him about it?'

But before Ashton could act on his thoughts, the director walked in front of the ground and immediately everyone's attention was on her.

"It's such a pleasure to see so many enthusiasts once again. This year all of you have achieved something that more than 1500 people couldn't. That is to become a part of the famed Werewolf academy of battle arts and magic."

The Director welcomed them all with open arms and the crowd started clapping and cheering. She gestured everyone to calm down and continued.

"But before you officially become a part of the academy, there's one final test you need to go through. The ranking test. Just like the previous round, this round too will be a battle royale survival round... with some changes."

A moment later the director started explaining the changes in the rules.

"You will not find any weapons or gears scattered around the map. Instead, you will have to use the weapons and gears you found in the previous round. Also... we won't be surveying anything, unlike the last round. Here at the academy, we know each individual have some talents that they won't like to be broadcasted outside."

"Thus in order to find the true strength of the students, the battle zone had been blacked out. Which means anything can go inside. However, you can still be tracked using your watches so don't do anything that would make me expel your sorry buttocks. That's all. Have fun kids!"

The director disappeared as quickly as she had appeared and as she did, a weird smile appeared on the faces of the noble kids. Thanks to the Director's blackout rule, they would be able to do as they pleased without worrying about the consequences. Their goal was to force all of those mutts and half-blood to the last places.

However, none of them had a smile as big as Lucas. He had made up his mind to make that filthy mutt pay for what he said earlier.

"This is bad... will you be okay?" Disha asked Ashton.

"Oh, I will be," Ashton said his farewells and went inside the arena with a smile.

However, as soon as he was gone, the looks long Disha's and Donovan's faces changed.

"You think he knows?" Donovan inquired.

"Haha, nope. That fool doesn't have a fcking clue. Neither does the mistress." Disha threw a fit of laughter.

"That's good then. Today, Ashton Fenrir dies... you people, make sure of it or else-"

"You don't need to warn us, Sir Donovan. We hate him just as much as you do." The Gruntas who had been standing behind them, mumbled together, "Also, the 'Conundrum' has already made us aware of their expectations. All of the nobles under our authority will make sure he dies inside."

Donovan's sudden appearance and his actions of defending Ashton were no coincidence. Nor was he there under the mistress's command. He was there to make sure... Ashton died and after that, he could take over Maddencreek and make the mistress his bitch. Which, with the help of the nobles and the 'Conundrum' had gotten a bit easier.