NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Meeting the Shrek Seven Devils
The sun hung high over Shrek Academy, casting long shadows across the worn training grounds as Ayanokoji walked quietly behind Tang San and Xiao Wu.
The entrance test was over, and the handful of students who had passed were being led toward the academy's main building.
Ayanokoji's mind, as always, was calculating — mapping the layout, assessing the people around him, analyzing every potential advantage.
Shrek Academy wasn't ordinary.
And neither were its students.
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The First Encounter
The dormitories were modest — wooden buildings arranged around a central courtyard, with a large open space clearly used for training.
As they entered, Ayanokoji felt it immediately.
The tension.
The unspoken hierarchy.
The predators watching from the shadows.
They weren't alone.
"Ah, new meat."
A voice, deep and confident, echoed from the far side of the courtyard.
Ayanokoji's gaze flicked up, and he saw them — a group of older students gathered casually, but with an air of practiced strength.
The Shrek Seven Devils.
The elite team of Shrek Academy.
And now, Ayanokoji's new… classmates.
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Dai Mubai — The White Tiger
Leading the group was Dai Mubai, tall and broad-shouldered, with wild golden hair and piercing heterochromatic eyes — one blue, one evil gold.
He exuded power, aggression, and confidence.
A predator sizing up its prey.
"Well, well…" Dai Mubai smirked, his gaze sweeping over the newcomers. "Fresh blood for the academy."
Tang San, standing beside Ayanokoji, inclined his head politely. "We're honored to join Shrek Academy."
Dai Mubai's eyes lingered on Ayanokoji for a moment longer than necessary.
"You're strong."
It wasn't a question.
Ayanokoji met his gaze, calm and unreadable. "So are you."
For a moment, the air seemed to hum with unspoken challenge.
Then Dai Mubai grinned, sharp and wolfish. "I like you."
---
Zhu Zhuqing — The Cold Panther
To Dai Mubai's left stood Zhu Zhuqing, tall and lean, with long black hair and cold, piercing eyes.
She didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
The aura of danger around her was subtle but undeniable — the panther waiting in the shadows.
Her gaze flicked to Ayanokoji briefly, unreadable, before sliding away.
Another predator.
One who knew how to wait.
---
Oscar — The Food Spirit Master
"Relax, Dai, you'll scare them off before they even unpack."
The voice was light and amused, and it belonged to Oscar, a young man with a thin mustache and an easy smile.
Ayanokoji recognized him immediately — the food spirit master.
Rare. Powerful. Deceptively harmless.
"Welcome to Shrek Academy," Oscar said, offering a smile that seemed entirely genuine. "You'll find we're not all as intense as our friend here."
Ayanokoji gave a small nod. "Thanks."
A polite exchange. But behind Oscar's casual manner, Ayanokoji could sense the same thing — calculation.
Everyone here was watching. Measuring.
---
Ning Rongrong — The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda
From the back of the group, a melodic voice spoke.
"Hmm. Not bad-looking for a newbie."
Ning Rongrong, the heiress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, stepped forward, her posture graceful, her expression amused.
Ayanokoji had expected her to be arrogant — pampered.
But her eyes… they were sharp.
"Don't worry," she said, smiling sweetly, "if you survive a week here, we might even let you train with us."
Xiao Wu, ever the firebrand, crossed her arms, smirking. "We'll see who's letting who train with who."
Ning Rongrong raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
Ayanokoji, as always, remained silent, observing.
---
Ma Hongjun — The Evil Fire Phoenix
The last of the group, a short but muscular boy with wild hair and a fierce expression, was Ma Hongjun, the Evil Fire Phoenix.
His spirit power was potent — you could feel the heat radiating off him.
Ayanokoji's attention flicked to him briefly, sensing something… unbalanced.
Anger, perhaps.
Frustration.
A fire that burned too hot.
---
The Power Dynamic
"So," Dai Mubai said, stretching lazily, though his eyes remained sharp. "You've all passed the entrance test… which means you're not weak."
"But…" He grinned, all teeth. "Strength here isn't just about passing tests."
Ayanokoji understood immediately.
This wasn't hazing.
It was hierarchy.
To belong at Shrek Academy, you had to prove yourself — not to the teachers… but to the monsters who ruled the students.
"We'll see what you've got tomorrow." Dai Mubai's gaze lingered on Ayanokoji once more before he turned, the rest of the Shrek Seven Devils following him.
---
The Night Before Battle
That night, as the moon hung high over Shrek Academy, Ayanokoji stood alone outside the dormitory, gazing up at the stars.
The tension of the day still lingered, but beneath it…
Anticipation.
Shrek Academy wasn't just a school.
It was a battlefield.
And Ayanokoji had never lost on a battlefield.
---
The Morning Duel
The next morning, as the sun rose over the academy, the training grounds were alive with energy.
The Shrek Seven Devils stood in a loose semicircle, waiting.
"Hope you slept well," Dai Mubai said, stretching. "Because today… we see what you're made of."
The instructors, watching from the sidelines, didn't intervene.
This was tradition.
A test of strength and character.
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged glances, already preparing themselves.
But Ayanokoji…
He was calm.
Because this… was exactly where he thrived.
---
The First Clash
Dai Mubai stepped forward first.
"Let's make it simple," he said, his White Tiger spirit already beginning to manifest. "One-on-one duels. You win… you earn our respect."
His eyes locked onto Ayanokoji.
"And I want to see what you're hiding."
Ayanokoji stepped forward without hesitation, the golden glow of his Spirit Eyes activating smoothly.
For a long moment, the two stared at each other, the tension thick as steel.
Then… they moved.
Dai Mubai's attack was fast — a blur of white and gold, claws extended, the air around him vibrating with raw spirit power.
But Ayanokoji's movements were effortless — flowing like water, sidestepping smoothly, predicting Dai Mubai's strikes with surgical precision.
The crowd watching fell silent, mesmerized.
"His speed…" Zhu Zhuqing murmured, her cold eyes narrowing slightly.
But it wasn't just speed.
It was control.
Ayanokoji wasn't reacting.
He was leading.
---
Mind Shroud
As Dai Mubai lunged again, Ayanokoji's first spirit ring glowed softly, activating Mind Shroud.
For a split second, Dai Mubai's perception wavered — the battlefield shifting subtly, sounds and sights distorting.
A moment of confusion… and Ayanokoji struck.
A clean, precise blow to Dai Mubai's side, sending the White Tiger skidding backward, stunned.
The watching Shrek Seven Devils looked on, expressions shifting from casual amusement… to something more serious.
This wasn't normal.
This was something else.
---
The Aftermath
The sparring ended after a few minutes, with Dai Mubai rising slowly, wiping blood from his mouth… and smiling.
"I like you," he said, this time with genuine respect.
Ayanokoji, as always, said nothing.
But he knew…
He had passed the real entrance test.
And now…
The Shrek Seven Devils knew his name.
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End of Chapter 9