The Forge of Rules
A Title Douluo as their homeroom teacher? The news sent a jolt through the freshman class—a mix of exhilaration and sobering dread. Elder Cai's promise of doubled rigor was not an empty threat. Yet, in the eyes of these hundred-odd students who had conquered the ten-stage trial, there was no spark of surrender. Unease flickered, yes, but it was quickly smothered by a fiercer, hardening resolve. They were the elite. A challenge was not a barrier, but a summons to prove their mettle.
Led by the trio of instructors, they entered the main teaching building. Their classroom was a vast lecture hall on the first floor, equipped with a wide podium and soul-guided projectors.
"Students, take your seats as called," Elder Cai stated, assuming her place at the front. Shen Yi stepped forward with a roster.
"Yao Xuan. Row one, seat one."
The assignment was symbolic as much as practical. Seat number one, dead center of the front row, less than five meters from the lectern—a position of both honor and relentless scrutiny. It was the academy's silent declaration of its highest expectations.
Yao Xuan walked forward and sat, his demeanor calm. Gu Yue was placed to his left, Tang Wulin to his right. Xu Xiaoyan and Xie Xie flanked them. The core of Class Zero now formed the anchor of the entire freshman cohort. Within ten minutes, the hall was filled, a sea of young faces turned toward the front.
"Teacher Cai, all 102 students are present," Shen Yi reported.
Elder Cai gave a single, shallow nod. "You heard my words at the ceremony. I will not repeat them. Shrek's philosophy is simple: 'The master opens the door; the walking is yours.' Your future is your own to forge. That is all." With that, she turned and left, her departure as impactful as her presence. The weight of responsibility was now squarely, undeniably, theirs.
Shen Yi moved to the center of the podium. "Welcome, officially, to Shrek Academy," she began, her voice losing none of its earlier gravity. "What I say now, you must remember. It concerns your survival here, and I will say it only once."
A palpable tension tightened in the room.
"First. You now represent this academy. Misconduct will be punished by Shrek's own laws, separate from the Federation's. Remember that."
She let the warning hang before continuing. "Next. Contribution points. The handbook details them. They are your lifeblood—for resources, for training, for knowledge. Spend them wisely. Earn them diligently."
"Your schedule: Classes are held every morning except Sunday. Afternoons and evenings are yours. You may leave the academy grounds, but be warned: lateness without prior, teacher-approved excuse is counted as truancy. Three truancies mean expulsion."
The students scribbled notes furiously.
"Furthermore," Shen Yi's voice sharpened, "Elder Cai did not mention one detail. We employ a bottom-ranking elimination system. The five lowest scorers in each annual exam are ineligible for remediation. They are expelled. The annual failure rate hovers around ten percent. You are all intelligent. You understand what this means."
A cold ripple passed through the hall. Ten percent. It was a mathematical guarantee of loss.
"Time, therefore, is not a commodity for you. It is your most precious currency. Squander it, and you will be bankrupted from this institution. You will later receive lists of exchangeable resources and elective courses. Use them strategically."
For nearly half an hour, Shen Yi meticulously outlined the academy's unforgiving framework. The message was clear: Shrek offered unparalleled opportunity, but it was a crucible. Comfort led to complacency, and complacency led directly to the exit.
Yao Xuan listened, but the oppressive pressure that settled over his classmates felt distant to him. The strict schedules, the ranking system, the contribution grind—these were mere structures. His pressure came from a far more profound source: the shadow of a divine contingency and a god's scrutiny. In comparison, academic rigor was a straightforward, almost mundane challenge. With the Ancestral Dragon's legacy,
"That is all," Shen Yi finally concluded. "Resource lists will be delivered to your dorms. You may now familiarize yourselves with the academy or seek out contribution missions. A final reminder: failing a mission deducts points. Should your points fall below negative one thousand, you will be expelled. Assess your capabilities realistically."
The class was dismissed. A collective, tense energy filled the air as students began to murmur and gather their things.
The members of Class Zero naturally clustered around Yao Xuan. "Brother Xuan," Xie Xie asked, his usual bravado tempered by the morning's sobering talk, "what now?"
Yao Xuan's gaze swept over his friends—Gu Yue's calm violet eyes, Tang Wulin's determined look, Xu Xiaoyan's thoughtful expression, Xie Xie's anxious energy. "Senior Feng Wuyu of the Forging Association asked me to register," he said. "I suggest we all register with our respective professional associations first. It will streamline accessing relevant missions and resources. Let's meet at the central cafeteria at noon to compare notes."
It was a practical, unifying plan. They would navigate Shrek's daunting systems not as isolated individuals, but as a coordinated team, each shoring up the other's path. The real work—the forging of their future within these hallowed, demanding walls—had now truly begun.