He Became A Monstrous Genius After Obtaining A Time Dilation Artifact-Chapter 661. Professor Darkhaven

The Great Hall of the RiverBlood Empire Academy spanned the size of a star. It was luxurious, and large enough to accommodate the audience required for meetings of this scale.

The place was packed to the brim.

Staff members were seated at the VIP session of the Great Hall, according to their ranks: Mentor, Chief Mentor, Lecturer, Professor... But the Principal’s seat was unoccupied. None of the numerous staff members were surprised that the Principal’s seat was unoccupied, since she was currently floating before the podium at the center of the Great Hall.

Students and staff members alike had all their gazes fixed on her.

In the lecturer’s seat, all the lecturers, Harisa and Isaheo included, were pissed off. This event was an insult to their efforts. How could the board make this decision? They were the ones with enough efforts to qualify as professors of the academy. Regardless of who the person was, this was not fair. Someone could not just skip through the ranks without any painstaking effort to their name.

The five professors had the same thoughts at this time. They had climbed to their level through sheer efforts and groundbreaking achievements for the academy and the empire. Someone who was supposed to join their ranks through nepotism was not worthy of their respect.

The students, however, were just curious about who this mysterious professor was. Only the Principal was floating before the podium; the professor was not here. They were not staff members, so they didn’t hold the resentment the staff members held.

Principal Theodora’s gaze scanned the whole place. Realizing she had the attention of everyone, she spoke, "We are here to welcome someone of great prestige and importance into our ranks. He is—"

However, before she finished speaking, one of the professor’s voice, amplified by a voice amplifying runic artifact, cut through the hall. He could not keep silent anymore.

"Excuse me, Your Excellency Theodora, but I would like to issue a challenge to this mysterious professor!"

The place erupted into chatter. The students were amused; this would definitely be a good show to watch. The staff members nodded. The best person to put this mysterious person in their place and issue this sort of challenge was a professor. Although the principal was very powerful, professors were rare and resourceful individuals in the academy and the empire. Each one of them was irreplaceable. Thus, they had the right to speak to the Principal in such a manner, even to the point of politely cutting her off during her speech.

"Are you sure?" The principal’s voice was playful.

But the pressure she released reminded everyone that she was one of the most powerful people in the empire. Her rank 1 supreme stage universe level aura pressed across the room.

The professor gritted his teeth. As a rank 7 intermediate stage universe level powerhouse, he almost crumbled under the weight of the Principal’s pressure. Everyone understood: she didn’t like being disrespected. It was fine to challenge someone; duels were not against academy rules. But the fact that the professor thought his prestige gave him the chance to disrespect her before the whole academy was not something she would take lightly.

Also, what did she mean by asking if he was sure? Was she that confident in this mysterious professor? 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The interest of everyone, staff and students alike, piqued. Professor Kyrion, however, gritted his teeth.

"I’m very sorry for disrespecting the esteemed Excellency. However, I am certain I would want to challenge the new professor!"

The staff members were elated. They wanted this mysterious professor they were yet to meet—who had been brought in through nepotism—to be put in his place. The Principal, however, shook her head at Kyrion’s words. This bastard was being really impulsive. He didn’t even allow her to finish speaking. He went ahead to issue a challenge against someone he had not even met?

But could he be blamed? She thought. Technically, he was furious and had acted in anger. However, considering what it took to be a professor, she knew the staff members, professors included, were not pleased with her decision and the decision of the board. It was only natural for a couple of them to express their dissatisfaction this way. However, would they still have such opinions if they met him?

"Kyrion will definitely piss his pants when he sees him," she chuckled inwardly.

"Very well," she said, gaze directed at Professor Kyrion, voice laced with pity. "You can grace the stage with your presence now, sir."

The moment she spoke, a figure materialised beside her. Several looked at him again.

Dark void-like hair and eyes. Pale fair skin. Long coat, jeans, sneakers. He stood calm. Strangely, it was as if he was one with the surrounding space, yet he was before them at the same time. A single look at him was like a bolt of lightning had struck into them, paralysing them into shock.

The Great Hall was silent. From student through mentor to professor. Isaheo and Harisa were shocked so much that they almost collapsed in fear. They dared to be dissatisfied with this... person???? Kyrion couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

"I present to you the new professor of the Academy, Professor Kailen Darkhaven." The voice of Principal Theodora cut through the hall, holographic screens zooming on the new professor’s visage—a reminder to them once again that they were not dreaming, and this was reality. "Many of you know him as Black Flask Darkhaven, Runesmith Darkhaven, the former Void Arbiter. But most call him the Mad Tactician. His feats precede him. Not a single person in the universe does not know who he is, and I’m sure that includes everyone in this hall!"

The room was still silent. It took a while before Kyrion realized what he had done.

Had he just challenged the man behind the Great Erasure to a duel? Did he just sign his death warrant?

The professor was so afraid that he soiled himself. No one blamed him. These days, The Mad Tactician was not just revered, he was feared. This was someone who could erase civilizations in a moment without batting an eye.

Where there were previously looks of discontent, realization and awe had set in among the staff members. So this was why the academy had made an exception. Someone like this didn’t need to climb the ranks. Rather, the academy was privileged to have him on their side. His status demanded this much. Even the other professors looked at him in awe.

"We were the ones who were shortsighted," one said. Everyone of the staff members nodded. This was a living myth standing before them. They were sure that even if he wanted to become the principal, the board would allow it!!!

But, of course, Darkhaven was one known to focus on cultivation and not positions. He had definitely agreed to join the academy because of cultivation benefits, not because of politics. Everyone in the Great Hall now understood why the Principal had asked if Kyrion was sure he wanted to challenge the new professor.

Professor Kyrion used universe energy to clean himself after disgracefully wetting himself in fear of offending someone who could erase him without even lifting a finger. Quickly, under several gazes, he proceeded fearfully towards the podium, where Professor Darkhaven and Principal Theodora stood.

He bowed.

"I’m sorry for being presumptuous, Sir! I wouldn’t dare duel you. I’m not worthy of such honor after all!" His words had no pride. Fuck pride. He didn’t want to die. "Shit, shit, shit. Why did I have to offend someone like this?? A living legend? A myth? What the fuck is wrong with me," he cursed inwardly, only hoping that the Mad Tactician would not take his behavior to heart.

Students and staff members observed this interaction with sighs. The other professors were relieved they were not in Kyrion’s position.

"It’s alright, professor," Kailen said. That was all he said.

Kyrion sighed in relief. It was as if a weight of death had just been lifted off his shoulders. "Thank you so much, Professor Darkhaven!" Like a child, he thanked the Mad Tactician and left. He didn’t want to say anything that would piss the man off any longer. It was obvious to him and everyone in the Great Hall at the moment that Professor Darkhaven did not even consider Kyrion worth his time.

Principal Theodora spoke, "Let’s welcome Professor Darkhaven!"

Everyone stood up, from student to Professor. This time, their voices were laced with reverence. Each person performed a slight bow. Not even the principal or the emperor would command such authority in the empire. This was just how much weight just the presence of Kailen Darkhaven held currently.

"We welcome Professor Darkhaven to the RiverBlood Empire Academy!"