The Number One Male Protagonist, Eliyas

But.

Today, the spotlight on all these people—whether they were so-called Emperor-Tier powerhouses or the other male leads—would be completely overshadowed by the one who was about to appear.

He was the undisputed number one male protagonist in both the game and the original novel.

Jianye’s official main love interest, Irena’s destined one.

He could be considered the core figure of the entire world’s timeline, and also the existence Black most wanted to keep his distance from.

Eliyas!

Black calculated the time; it was about time for this number one male protagonist to make his appearance.

The new student opening ceremony officially began with the headmaster’s address.

Headmaster Troy’s speech was rather cliché, consisting of nothing more than encouraging the new students to cherish the opportunity, cultivate diligently, and serve the empire.

These platitudes made Aphra, on the stage, unable to resist complaining under her breath.

“This old geezer is starting his nagging again…”

Sitting beside her, Kristine could only offer a helpless, bitter smile in response.

She thought to herself that throughout the entire academy, probably only this First Princess would dare to comment on the headmaster like that.

After the headmaster finished speaking, it was time for the outstanding senior representative to give a speech.

When he got a clear look at the face of the outstanding senior walking up to the lectern, Black’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘The main event has arrived!’

Eliyas, the only grandson of the First Seat of the Round Table Knights.

A true “Long Aotian,” the domineering CEO type.

As the number one male protagonist of an otome game, the developers had poured countless efforts into him, not hesitating to shower him with all sorts of halos.

He was known as the most talented young man since the founding of the Dragonheart Empire. At only 18 years old, his level was already as high as 61, the peak of his tier!

Empress Elizabeth herself had once said that Eliyas had the potential to become the youngest Emperor-Tier powerhouse in the empire’s history!

He was extremely arrogant and unruly, viewing all living beings as ants, and fighting above his level was as common as eating for him.

The number of Dragon Cult members who had died at his hands was countless. Not long ago, he had single-handedly ventured deep into the territory of a Flame Dragon species and slayed a Level 70 elite dragon.

His class was Archer, and he had once sniped an enemy general from ten thousand meters away with a single arrow.

Although on the surface he was the top student of Dragonheart Academy’s second year, his actual combat power was unmatched in the entire academy.

Many senior students from higher years were no match for him.

At this moment, Eliyas stood at the center of the lectern with a look of utter boredom.

He merely swept his cold gaze over the new students below.

That invisible pressure made many of them swallow nervously, as if they were being stared at by a primordial beast.

“I say.”

His voice was deep, with a careless magnetism.

He then slowly raised his thumb to the crowd below.

Many new students showed looks of anticipation, thinking this legendary senior was about to encourage them.

To acknowledge the hard work they had put in to get into the academy!

But Black sneered inwardly; he knew that was absolutely impossible.

Sure enough.

Eliyas twisted his wrist, and the raised thumb was suddenly pointed downward!

The meaning of a downward-pointing thumb was self-evident.

The entire venue was in an uproar. The new students were first shocked, then felt a great sense of humiliation.

Faces flushed with anger.

Eliyas began to speak, his voice spreading clearly across the entire plaza, filled with undisguised contempt.

“All of you together are no match for me.”

“Those who can’t get into this academy are no different from ants in my eyes.”

“And being able to enter this academy only proves that you are slightly bigger ants.”

“Look at you, getting all smug just for being a slightly bigger ant? I truly worry for the future of this academy.”

He paused, looking at the faces reddened with anger below, and the corner of his mouth curved into a mocking arc.

“Not happy with me? It’s useless.”

“Unless you can defeat me.”

“If anyone can defeat me, I will immediately kneel and apologize, and my position as Student Council President will be yours for the taking!”

This incredibly arrogant speech ignited the fury of almost every new student.

If not for the special occasion, some of the more impulsive ones would have probably already jumped onto the stage to challenge him.

But whether they could actually win was another matter entirely.

Black was not at all surprised by Eliyas’s words and actions.

As the most popular character in the game, this person was naturally arrogant and looked down on the world.

The likes of Seth weren’t even worthy of carrying his shoes.

In Eliyas’s eyes, the entire world was boring to the extreme.

He couldn’t muster interest in any person or thing, carrying a world-weary kind of pride.

According to the original plot, Jianye was the first woman who could pique his interest and make him feel that things were fun.

This led to the classic “Woman, you’ve caught my attention” drama.

However, the current Jianye was already different from the one in the game. Whether she could still attract the interest of this “Long Aotian” remained to be seen.

Black remembered that Eliyas’s personal route had two endings.

The good ending was him ending up with Jianye.

The bad ending was him becoming so utterly world-weary that he voluntarily fused with the Demonic Dragon Níðhöggr, transforming into a Dragon-Corrupted that reigned over the world.

A Dragon-Corrupted of that level was not something a Dragon King could compare to.

“This brat! Still has that same rotten temper!”

On the stage, Headmaster Troy was so angry his beard was sticking up.

His intention was for Eliyas to give the new students some encouragement and advice.

But the guy came up and started taunting the entire crowd!

“I must deduct his academic credits!”

Noa looked at the arrogant young man before her and commented faintly.

“Worthy of being the grandson of the First Round Table Knight.”

Her tone betrayed no emotion.

“This guy is too arrogant! I really want to beat him up! I want to be the Student Council President too!”

First Princess Aphra waved her small fists angrily.

“Didn’t you challenge him again a few days ago, and then… lose again?”

Kristine reminded her softly from the side.

“Ahhhhhh! Kristine! Don’t make me recall that painful memory!”

Aphra clutched her head and shook it painfully, trying to shake the scene of her crushing defeat from her mind.

As a super genius sorcerer, she couldn’t even last ten rounds against Eliyas.

“Kristine, can you help me beat him up, please?”

Aphra turned to plead.

Kristine shook her head gently, a hint of apology on her face.

“I’m sorry, Aphra, but I can’t defeat him either.”

Her strength wasn’t even as good as Aphra’s; against Eliyas, she probably wouldn’t last five rounds.

“Ahhhhhh! I don’t want to be a princess anymore! I’m going to the countryside to herd cattle!”

Aphra let out a wail and slumped into her chair.

This tension-filled opening ceremony finally concluded in an atmosphere where the new students were about to explode with anger.

After the ceremony, without delay, came the key event that would decide the new students’ class placements: the entrance exam!

The entrance exam of Dragonheart Academy was designed to test the practical combat potential of the new students and divide them into four different class levels—S, A, B, and C—based on their performance.

The class level was directly related to the cultivation resources they would receive in the future.

The difference between the classes was significant.

S-Class graduates were, without exception, the top experts in their respective fields. For example, Pascal was a celebrated graduate of the S-Class from many years ago.