The Mage of Primordial Chaos

Sylvoir looked very different here than she did in the Infinite Realm, as expected. Just like Ling Xin, she'd taken on a different outfit, but not by much. The style was still a white Japanese shrine maiden kimono, but the clothes were a lot more decorative rather than plain, and she also had a fan in her hand for some reason. 

Since Sylvoir wasn't the type to hold something just for appearance's sake, it obviously served a purpose. Only… I did not know what that purpose was, and nor did I want to know. I just had a faint feeling I wouldn't like the answer, and I'm determined to trust my instincts on this one.

In any case, Sylvoir's Physical Education class began with no warning whatsoever. No self-introductions, no friendliness, and not a single sign of warmth was to be found in the large gymnasium where her class was taking place. She was extremely beautiful in her own right, so the students—both male and female—were breathtaken upon initially seeing her, but their image of her was completely shattered as the first thing she told them to do was… well, push-ups—as soon as they walked into the room.

Normally, in gym class, we would need to perform stretches or something similar to warm up our muscles first, but Sylvoir ruthlessly forced us into intense exercises right off the bat, saying that if we couldn't even handle this, we don't deserve to be part of the Counterhex Force.

"This is… hell…" Prince muttered under his breath as he finished another push-up—twenty-five out of fifty—and he was already gasping for air. "Ah… Ms. Lixia is so much better… save me…"

"Oh…?" Sylvoir, not letting even a tiny whisper slip past her ears, vanished in an instant and reappeared before Prince, short but domineering figure towering over him with her shadow. "Did you say something, child?"

"E-Eek!" Prince suddenly stopped and stood up in shock at the sudden appearance of Sylvoir before him, and quickly bowed down in apology. "I'm sorry, teacher! I was wrong!"

"Hmph." Sylvoir shot him a narrowed cold gaze, and snapped the fan in her hand shut. "Did I say you could stand up? Go back to your push-up position. Since you stood up, you're restarting from zero. And for speaking ill of me… that's another 50. Your total count is 100. Begin."

"Wha-?!" Prince was left utterly shocked at this development, but there was little he could do. Compared to Sylvoir, he was but an ant she could squash at any time, and with the domineering aura she was giving off, no one could disobey. Every other student in the room gulped at this, and Sylvoir swept across them with her gaze.

"And? What are all of you looking at? Do you all want to join him in another 50 push-ups? By all means."

"N-No, Ms. Sylvoir!" The group chanted as a whole, myself included, and returned to minding our own business. Sylvoir, however, had a bone to pick with me, so she ignored everyone else and teleported in front of me, bending down and studying my sweating face closely.

"… Fufu." She gave a cold laugh of amusement, and from that moment on, I wasn't sure what to do. Do I stop, or do I keep doing my push-ups like she's not there? I chose the latter. 

Yes—I kept on doing my push-ups despite her crouching right in front of me, dangerously close, and as nervous as I was, the push-ups themselves were of little concern. With my vampiric and angelic combined strength, I could probably do up to a thousand push-ups in a row with no problem.

"Oh? Is that so?" Sylvoir suddenly said, and I froze.

"… Y-Yes, Miss Sylvoir?"

"I read your mind just now. You said you could probably do up to a thousand push-ups in a row with no problem, yes?"

Sylvoir smiled fakely, and if someone didn't know any better, they would call her adorable. But I knew—that smile was not one of warmth. It was one of utter cruelty and sadism, one I could not escape from no matter how hard I tried.

My heart pumped faster, my sweat trembled. Sylvoir… was a true demon. And after a few seconds, she delivered the final verdict.

"Then do it."

OHHHHH GOD! MY LIFE IS RUINED! Telling me to do the push-ups is one thing, but declaring aloud that I said I could do a thousand push-ups in a row with no problem?! That's just emotional AND physical damage, combined into one! Brilliant move, senior! Truly brilliant! I have almost been defeated!

Yes—almost. I have one last trump card up my sleeve, and that's…

"M-Miss Sylvoir, while it is true, I did claim I could do a thousand push-ups in a row with no problem, I never mentioned the speed at which I can do them. I can do a thousand of them, but… only at the pace of one every 30 seconds. In other words, to complete this challenge, I would have to take over 8 hours. Regrettably, this class period only lasts for one and a half hours, meaning I am unable to demonstrate this to you…"

Haha! Get screwed, Sylvie! If I say this, you can't coerce me into doing it now, can you? I may have screwed up a bit, but you won't hit me with the same attack again! I have already raised a mental shield to prevent your mind reading techniques! The final laugh is min-

"That is quite alright, Xuan Kai. Come see me in the Administration Campus tonight at 8. Over 8 hours, correct? Perfect. By the time you are done, you will have time for a shower and breakfast before beginning another day at school."

I blinked.

"… You're kidding, right?"

"Oh? Did that sound like a joke to you? My apologies, for it is not. It is an order."

"…"

I'M SORRY, SENIOR! I WAS WRONG!

Now, I have been truly defeated. I've fought my fair share of monsters and demons before, but Sylvoir… she was on a whole other level.