The Nihility Chef

"No chance." Samael's voice rang out, cold and unwavering.

The instructor met his gaze, her expression unreadable. Without another word, she flicked her wrist, sending a concentrated ray of water aura streaking through the air. It struck the mask with pinpoint accuracy, shattering it into a fine crimson dust.

The room fell into silence. Samael felt the weight of countless eyes upon him. Though no words were spoken, he could almost hear the mocking laughter of his classmates. A wave of humiliation and fury surged through him. His fists clenched, his face twitched, and his aura flared with barely contained rage.

"YOU BITCH!"

Gasps rippled through the classroom. Samael's presence was overwhelming, his aura expanding like a dam on the verge of bursting. The air grew dense with raw, seething energy.

"Samael, wait. The ink is gone." Alice's voice echoed in his mind through their spiritual link.

Her words sliced through his blind fury, grounding him. With a quick spiritual scan of his own face, realization struck—there was no ink. The aether element he released last night must have burned it away. He glanced around, expecting ridicule, but saw no laughter, only stunned faces. His stomach twisted. He had made a fool of himself.

But the storm was far from over.

"What did you just call me?" The instructor's voice was glacial, sharp as ice shards piercing the air.

Samael's temper flared again. The humiliation still burned. If the ink hadn't vanished, he would have been ridiculed. His anger overruled his better judgment.

"A bitch."

A crackling silence followed. The instructor's navy-blue hair began to rise, charged with energy, glowing with suppressed fury. The temperature in the room dropped as she raised her hand, summoning an even thicker ray of water aura. It surged forward, faster and stronger than before.

Samael reacted on instinct, leaping into the air as Gluttony materialized in his grip. Lightning crackled along its edge as he swung the weapon toward his opponent. The room exploded with energy as their powers clashed.

The students recoiled. Even among Tianjiao elites, the idea of fighting a teacher was absurd. The academy's instructors were formidable—anyone qualified to teach here was not to be trifled with.

But Samael was different.

With a flick of her wrist, the instructor effortlessly deflected his strike, sending a barrage of water beams at him. The entire room seemed to shimmer with the sheer force of the attack. The beams closed in, leaving him no space to dodge.

Boom!

The dust settled, revealing Samael standing unharmed, the attacks having miraculously missed him. He exhaled sharply.

"Look, you madwoman, can we sort this out? My mask is already off!" he snapped. "I'm from the Forte Family. You really don't want to do this. No matter how strong you or your family might be, you can't compete with mine."

The instructor's face twisted in pure disdain. It was as if she had heard those words a thousand times before, and each time they only fueled her disgust.

Samael noticed her expression shift. His instincts screamed at him—she wasn't backing down. Gritting his teeth, he made a decision. With a swift movement, he teleported every other student out of the classroom.

A talisman appeared in his hand, its ancient symbols glowing ominously. "If she wants a fight, let's fight."

The talisman erupted.

A deafening explosion consumed the classroom, engulfing the surrounding space in a shockwave of power. Though no one was harmed, the force of the blast sent ripples across the academy. A mushroom cloud of energy billowed above the ruins.

The entire school felt it.

Teachers turned their heads, scanning the disturbance with their spiritual senses. Some sighed. Others shook their heads. None were surprised.

Twenty Minutes Later

A strange sound filled the air. Licking.

Inside a vast office, Samael sat on a chair, an adolescent white tiger eagerly licking his face as if he were the most delicious thing in the world. The beast purred, completely unfazed by the earlier destruction.

The tiger was suddenly lifted off him, floating through the air toward a scholarly-looking woman.

Aurora, the dean of Tianjiao Academy.

She pinched the bridge of her nose as she surveyed the scene. Samael sat unscathed. The instructor, however, was bruised and battered. Aurora exhaled deeply and rested her forehead in her palm.

"Idalia, how many times have I told you not to attack students?"

"Why can't I? That arrogant noble brat refused to follow instructions!" Idalia snapped.

"There's no rule saying students can't wear masks," Samael countered smoothly.

"I am not a child."

Samael gave her a long look and said nothing. His silence spoke louder than any words.

Idalia glared at him, eyes burning with unspoken fury. If looks could kill, Samael would have been buried a thousand times over.

Aurora sighed. "Idalia, this entire mess is technically your fault. Even after Mr. Forte tried to reconcile, you escalated. You'll be covering 75% of the damages."

"What?!" Idalia's expression darkened.

"Samael," Aurora continued, "you also bear responsibility. Calling your teacher a 'bitch' was unacceptable. You'll cover the remaining 25%. The total damage is 5,000 high-tier stones. You have a month to pay."

Samael shrugged, pulling out a pouch. "Here. 1,250 high-tier stones."

He tossed them onto the desk without hesitation. Wealth was never his concern.

Idalia's lip curled in revulsion. "That's why I hate nobles. None of your wealth is earned. You leech off your families and strut around like you're untouchable."

Samael's expression darkened. His tone, when he spoke, was measured but cutting.

"You're ignorant. From the age of seven, I worked in my family's business. I created new dishes, drinks, and strategies that expanded our global revenue by 20%. I earned my place. You, on the other hand, are blinded by your own biases. This isn't righteous defiance. It's just delusion. You think you're right, but you never were—and never will be."

He stood, his chair scraping against the floor. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

The white tiger meowed plaintively, reaching for him, but Aurora held it firm. She watched Samael exit, a flicker of thought passing through her gaze.

Idalia sat still, anger simmering beneath her composed exterior. His words hadn't touched her. Her beliefs remained unshaken.

"You can leave, Idalia," Aurora said at last. "But if you attack another student irresponsibly, I will have to fire you."

The instructor's response was silence. A moment later, she tore a hole through space itself, vanishing from the office.

Info of the Day – Ocean Dwellers

Mermaids and Mermen

Elegant and ethereal, merfolk possess human upper bodies and fish-like lower halves. They are the elves of the sea, known for their beauty and grace. Capable of temporary land transformation, they live for up to 500 years. Their common elements include water, healing, ice, lava (due to underwater volcanoes), and life magic.

Their true specialty lies in music. The melodies of merfolk are unrivaled, drawing visitors from across the world to hear them perform. They primarily reside in the Moramini Empire, which rules over 50% of the ocean's vast expanse.

Murlocs

The most populous oceanic race, murlocs are akin to goblins—short, ugly, and fiercely numerous. Though they typically serve as common citizens or soldiers, recent unrest has seen some factions pushing for rebellion. Their common elements include dark, water, lava, ice, and poison.

Aquatic Beasts

These creatures of the deep cultivate their power to eventually achieve human transformation. Many sea-dwelling counterparts exist for land-based beasts—such as the formidable Tidal Wave Eagle.