Kai looked around the large hall, gaining awareness before stepping in.
The hall still retained the immaculate white that the rest of the academy had.
High, rising ceilings and a small opening at the top that served no purpose as far as Kai knew.
The air that was once filled with the scent of fresh spring now reeked of students.
The smell of different perfumes mixed with sweat, both from the overzealous students and the normal students with something in between, filled the crowded hall.
The reason Kai lingered before entering was because of one simple fact.
The amount of people was so much more than he anticipated.
Though no particular amount was given in the novel, he was sure there weren't more than one hundred and fifty since only the first year was meant to be present.
But the number he saw by using appraisal was over three times that amount.
"What is going on?" A girl with black hair and dark eyes asked in a loud tone.
"Yeah, why was every student called? I thought it was only a second-year thing?" Another said looking at her classmate.
"I thought it was a third-year thing." A boy who stood close to the door with his phone clutched in her palms spoke.
Soon the single comment produced different gossips and murmurers, further disrupting the gathering.
[So why do you think we were called?]
'This wasn't in the plot.' He paused. 'It can't be a butterfly effect, right?'
[...]
From the hole that was present in the wall, a figure emerged.
Her steps were elegant as they were commanding as if nothing in the world could touch it, following her every step a metal platform slowly slipped out of the small opening in the wall, forming a ledge on which she stood.
'Does she want to go on a dive?'
At the top of the crowd, on a metal platform, stood Lisa Arundel, the headmistress of Noctis Academy.
She cleared her voice, simultaneously activating a magic holographic microphone.
"Hello, aspiring mages of Noctis." She paused, looking down at the students. "I know it might come as a shock that you were all summoned here."
She continued; her voice exuding a calm confidence. "But there is a reason, and just note that anyone who didn't appear to this meeting has been expelled from the academy."
She clapped her hands gently. "Now without further ado, let's get into today's main task."
A large projected screen lit up in front of the students, showing the logo of Noctis, twin swords slicing into a cube.
The same image that was embroidered on the left chest of all students uniforms, though with different colours based on their status.
"After going through a lot of planning, the Parliament and the seven elders of Meltonia have made a decision regarding Noctis."
The murmurs returned, though a little subtle.
"Did she just say they made a decision?" One clear voice said.
"Are they sending us directly to combat?" Another spoke as if replying.
"No way, right?" The next chorused from an unknown direction.
Lisa looked at the young students before sighing. "That's enough," she said, her tone sharp.
"Through majority decision Noctis' curriculum will be changed commencing immediately."
'What?'
The hall was silent; no one even made a squeak.
The same Noctis academy that was rigid with their rules was changing it; no one could believe it.
Especially Kai; the scene was unfolding in his eyes, but he couldn't process it.
This didn't happen in ICUWSA, so what changed? He knew he hadn't done something big enough to change the plot.
He was even actually avoiding the plot and hadn't even laid his eyes on the main cast yet, so why was this happening?.
A simple butterfly effect? No, this was something on a grander scale.
Lisa's voice soon snapped him out of his thoughts. "Noctis Academy will enter Lock mode from now on."
She waited for the students to somewhat digest it.
"That means that the way your life has been up until now is going to go upside down."
"Your class ranking, your feeding, your dorm room – everything will be earned starting today."
A male voice asked in a probing tone.
His voice was so melodious that even Kai had to turn to face him, filled with charismatic energy.
Long red hair, yellow eyes and a mark that resembled a fox tail on his forehead.
Kai couldn't forget that face even if he tried.
The main character of ICUWSA: Matthew Von Silver.
'That's Matthew.'
Kai was in utter shock by how much Matthew resembled the fan arts.
Handsome, vibrant and filled with energy, with female students and some male students surrounding him.
"Master Lisa, how do we earn these points?"
Lisa let out a gentle smile at the sight of Matthew. Maybe it was because of his dazzling appearance or the way he addressed her.
But it was still in her eyes the faint glow of recognition.
Kai looked at Matthew and frowned.
He wasn't sure if it was because of his upgraded appraisal ability or just pure fan instinct, but he felt it.
Something wasn't right.
Not in the sense of someone else occupying Matthew's body.
No, it was still the original protagonist, but something else was wrong.
Like he was facing something else.
Something he felt over a million times in his past life.
A natural nemesis. A psycho.
Lisa cleared her voice once more before answering him.
"You're the top student, Matthew, right?"
Matthew nodded, accompanied by side chatters.
"Well, it is quite simple; you will be placed in teams, and each team will have to fight for their survival and place as a mage in the Lock League." She paused.
"Through death matches, duels, individual match-ups and even monster-hunting matches, points will be awarded."
"Those who stand at the top will have the premium treatment, and those at the bottom."
She fixed her gaze on them unyieldingly. "Elimination accompanied by expulsion and sealing of their core."
"Not only that, but everything will be live streamed on NSA so that everyone in the dome of Meltonia can see the progress of our future mages."
The crowd's voice only grew louder each passing second.
It was a lot to digest, even for Kai.
A league out of nowhere.
A school that was ruled by the strong just became more brutal.
'This isn't meant to happen.'
[Kai, are you alright?]
He lingered for a moment. 'Yeah, I was just a little taken aback.'
[I get what you mean but.... Do you know the reason for such a change]
He shook his head slightly. 'Not even a clue.'
He sighed softly. 'Any ideas on what to do next?'
[Is there anything we can do?]
[From your memories, I can say that there is no significant cause for alarm.]
'Why do you say that?'
[Because unlike the rest, you know your enemy.]
Kai smiled slightly; it seems he panicked too much from a slight divergence in plot.
'You're right about that.'
'It's the first time you're doing your job, Alpha.'
[You know I'm not your emotional pillar, right?]
He let out a soft chuckle in a way that no one will notice.
'Why can't you be one?'
[Hah…]
Lisa waved her hands in the air and with it came a grey tablet. "Now I will call the teams of the Lock league and their members."