With a radiant smile, Shane walked around the Academy grounds. Aimy and Olivia followed him, as they didn't know what exactly they should do for now.
Olivia was still talking non-stop, relaxing the atmosphere around them because Aimy seemed to become nervous, the further they walked.
The three of them saw many grand buildings and it seemed like Shane had underestimated the sheer number of students that had enrolled in the Shirai Academy.
There were several dozen dorms in front of him, and six to ten-floor tall buildings with all kinds of emblems on them, indicating some sort of club or name, Shane wasn't aware of.
Each dorm looked magnificent from its appearance and even the materials they were constructed of appeared different to him. But, Shane didn't really care about any of them, because they didn't release the vigorous aura like the mansion he had lived in, indicating a big contrast between his childhood and his current life.
However, if he were to further compare the dorms with the Inns inside the shelter he had lived in for the last few weeks, Shane could only chuckle lightly. The Inns within the Primordial Dimension were not some magnificent building, at least the ones he was inside.
Scanning everything with his mana gathering technique in order to find mana generators or similar devices, Shane's cheerful mood plummeted slightly. The mana generators that he perceived within the dorms, could be counted by one hand and were most likely used to supply mana to the academy.
This meant that it was not possible to cultivate inside the dorm without using cultivation resources.
It was extremely disappointing, but when Shane saw three imposing structures in the center of the Academy, surrounding a large colosseum, his mood immediately heightened.
His smile returned almost immediately and he perceived dense mana fluctuation radiating from the three humongous structures, and the colosseum. It would enable someone to cultivate there unhindered, without the mandatory utilization of cultivation resources.
'Perfect!' He shouted inwardly, and the density of mana only intensified, the closer he got to the colosseum.
When compared to the Primordial Dimension, the amount of mana was still slightly lacking, but this was only considered a small issue.
The possibility alone was already splendid and Shane was glad to have at least the opportunity to cultivate inside the Shirai Academy, even if he was unsure if he would use it.
This was however solely the case because the Shirai academy was constructed around a Dimensional Portal, which most students used in order to absorb the natural mana inside the Primordial Dimensions.
As such, the mana generators were mostly used by students, who sparred against each other inside the colosseum.
In the end, it would be a hassle to enter the Primordial Dimension every single time, because one had to replenish the used up mana. This situation was however prevented due to the academy purchasing mana generators.
Shane was not exactly sure how they worked, but he knew that one had to supply them with high-quality mana stones.
Because it was their first day, students were asked to gather inside the colosseum. Shane had failed to understand why exactly this was necessary but realized later that it was the largest building and also the only one that could inhabit soo many students.
'Wait?! There are only five big academies, right? Even if there are still smaller academies, they don't have Dimension-spheres and are only used to improve the students' knowledge and combat experience, and prowess…But even more important...has Humanity already reached the population of 30 billion?!'
Shane racked his brain, trying to estimate how many students would most likely attend the Shirai-academy...
'If our population has reached 30 billion...There are most likely around 300 to 400 million children born each year, or probably more. While nobody could be considered extremely poor; with high hygiene and medical knowledge, deaths during child-birth or at a young age were rare. Many of the diseases are almost eradicated thanks to the Primordial Dimensions potions and healing ingredients…
Even if I can already deduct most children from below-average families and the slightly richer families, the big academies will only accept hard-working youths. The number will still be in millions who most likely applied...so how many students will the Shirai academy have?! '
Shane was astonished to arrive at the astronomical number of possible students. He asked himself if it was really a wise move to attend an Academy in order to receive the opportunity to enter the Dimension-sphere instead of earning funds to purchase these techniques.
However, in the end, Shane told himself that he also had to socialize, at least a little, in order to achieve something.
Alone, he would never be able to construct a shelter for example, which was also something Shane wanted to witness...building something from scrap and seeing the whole process!
Furthermore, getting to know Aimy and Olivia also didn't feel bad, and he understood that meeting youths of the same age was important for his progress.
Even if he had spent only a few hours with the two girls, it released his tension which he had accumulated over the last month. Shane was now sure of the fact that free time could actually help him loosen up and he shouldn't pressurize himself too much!
The closer they walked towards the Academy's center, the more shocked the three of them became, because nobody would have expected the tall structures and colosseum to be so gigantic. When they finally entered the gigantic colosseum, Shane noticed a sign, with all kinds of information about it.
The sign was a holographic screen which also had a detailed floor plan which detailed resources available on each floor with the different ways to utilize them.
Based on what he saw right now, the colosseum seemed to have a few floors on the surface, while the majority of floors were underground, causing Shane to frown lightly
'Am I still underestimating the Academy's size?'
After entering the interior of the Colosseum, they were approached by a woman in her twenties, telling the three of them where to go, to which they only nodded.
Suddenly, Shane heard Olivia next to him exclaiming in hushed whispers.
"This is sooo big!!! I'll have many opponents to fight. YEAH!!"
She was obviously overjoyed and Shane was already aware that Olivia was a battle-maniac. He was conscious about their behavior because he had known two battle-maniacs and had even experienced their craziness first-hand.
Being reminded about his Aunt Lory and Uncle Cheng, Shane trembled lightly, before they went to the upper floors.
Arriving at the highest floor, the three of them noticed that it was already crammed with students sitting on chairs, as Aimy mumbled.
"Weren't the seats on the lower floors completely filled with students as well?"
And Shane could only nod, thinking the same, as he sighed.
"Let's just sit down, I think it will still take some time until everyone arrives and settles down.."
There was still more than enough time left for the first-year students to arrive. Shane couldn't help but feel weird, as he sensed everyone's mana fluctuations.
'Is there even a single student at the Mortal stage except me?' Thinking that a smile escaped Shane's lips.
Sitting down in the back rows that were still relatively free compared to the seats in the front that were completely crammed with students, the three of them waited patiently, until the seats around them were filled.
It was exactly 8:00 am, when a large holographic image emerged in the front, with a young woman seemingly in her late twenties. She had been smiling foolishly when a male voice behind her whispered quietly that the video transmission had already started.
Her eyes widened and Shane could clearly see her being overwhelmed with the situation. Seeing the familiar face of Aunt Kia caused him to smile lightly, as she gathered her senses, and turned serious.
Clearing her throat she announced.
"Hello, dear students. As you may know, my name is [Kia Mel] and I'm your cute principal!"
Chuckling lightly, she continued, while Shane could only shake his head
"I hope everyone arrived at the Shirai academy without any disturbances or any other issues.
Some may be confused to see that I appear inside a holographic transmission instead of standing in front of all of you, but this is hardly possible because we have more than 200,000 students this year!
This is a shocking number, don't you all agree? And, I can imagine why some of you may have chosen one of the big academies to enroll in.
Not only do the big academies have the best combat instructors, mana mastery classes, knowledgeable teachers, and a beautiful principal aka me, but each of the big academies has 20 grade-1 Dimension-spheres and 3 grade-2 Dimension spheres.
Everyone should be aware that purchasing skills and martial art techniques from the system are an extremely expensive procedure, which is probably why most students from average households applied to the big academies.
However, please bear in mind that everyone around you is your competitor with the same goal and we won't grant everyone enough time to enter the Dimension-spheres without any contribution!!
Competition is good and ignites one's potential, but only to a certain degree!!
Accidents inside the colosseum may happen, but whoever deliberately hurts someone causing long-term injuries or even permanent injuries, will immediately be expelled from the Academy!!
The same goes for cheaters during theoretical exams...what I hate the most are students trying to receive something that doesn't belong to them or what they don't deserve in the first place.
With enough effort, you will progress and the Shirai academy will not remain silent and only observe everyone, but we shall be your support pillar."
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