This villain is too popular.

Chapter 2 Main Characters and Supporting Characters

It was 8:30 a.m., half an hour before the final assessment.

The morning sunlight shone through the tempered glass into the heavily guarded training ground of the base.

In the corridor, Tiandao Siming and Caroline walked side by side into the training ground.

He licked the last bit of cream from the corner of his mouth, savoring the irresistible taste.

Beside him, Caroline watched his childish behavior with a look of slight disdain and resentment.

"Heavenly Dao, are you a hamster? You ate so much, you even ate my strawberry cake."

"What hamster? I call this a strategic reserve!"

Tiandao pushed up his sunglasses, the lenses reflecting a sly glint in his eyes: "Besides, Caroline, today is the final assessment day. Those guys already have terrible tempers, and now they're like powder kegs, ready to explode at any moment. What if they start fighting later?"

Before he finished speaking, a timid figure suddenly ran over from a corner of the training field.

"Brother Tiandao, Sister Caroline."

Chen Kong was like a startled rabbit, his voice trembling even when he greeted the two of them, showing that he was very cautious.

He was short and thin, and even his training clothes were a size too big, with the cuffs worn white.

It's clear they're not having a good time at the base.

However, Heaven did not neglect the other party because of this.

"Hey, Sora-kun~"

He put his arm around his shoulder, chuckled, and ruffled the other's messy hair, asking with concern, "How are you? Have you had breakfast?"

"I've already eaten."

"What to eat?"

"Just a regular nutritional meal."

Chen Kong's voice sounded rather weak.

Because he didn't even get to eat a regular nutritious meal; it was taken away by other trainees.

The Heavenly Dao, unaware of all this, gasped dramatically upon hearing his reply.

"What?! You actually eat that kind of pig swill on such a crucial day as the final assessment?"

Tiandao shook his head in anguish: "No wonder you haven't been able to activate your star core, Kong."

Chen Kong blinked in confusion: "Huh? What we eat for breakfast has anything to do with the star core?"

"Of course!"

With a serious expression, Tiandao pointed to himself and said, "As the number one genius of the Embers, my brain consumes the equivalent of three adults' worth of sugar every day. Don't believe me? Just look..."

Tiandao suddenly drew closer, his pale blue eyes behind his sunglasses flashing with a dangerous arc of light, as if stars were flowing within them.

Although the two only exchanged a simple glance, Chen Kong instantly felt an immense pressure emanating from the Heavenly Dao.

It was as if the person looking at him at that moment wasn't someone his age who was only half a month older than him.

Instead, it was a ferocious and powerful star beast that could easily tear him apart at any moment.

Seeing that Chen Kong, the 'protagonist,' was frightened by just one glance, he realized that he was the one who had scared him.

Tiandao immediately laughed and said, "See, Kong, this is the result of you eating nutritional meals."

"Why am I so strong? It's because I eat double the amount of sweets every day!"

"If you ate double the amount of sweets every day like me, you might awaken your star core right away!"

"Really? Really?" Chen Kong's eyes immediately lit up.

"You idiot, he's lying to you."

Before Chen Kong could consider whether these words were true or false, a clear, cold female voice came from in front of the three of them.

Suddenly, Chen Kong's older sister, Chen Xing, appeared before the three of them, carrying the blood-red longsword 'Blood Flame' on her back, which gleamed eerily in the morning light.

Upon seeing her, neither Tiandao nor Caroline reacted excessively.

Chen Kong, with Tian Dao's arm around his shoulder, looked like a mouse seeing a cat, his expression visibly timid.

"Sister, older sister."

Chen Kong huddled up, not even having the courage to look directly into the eyes of the person opposite him.

Dust Star didn't care at all.

Because she had long been used to her useless, good-for-nothing younger brother.

She didn't even glance at Chen Kong; her crimson star-like eyes were fixed on the Heavenly Dao.

"Heavenly Dao, are you trying to fool people again with your flawed sweets theory?"

"How can you call it a lie?"

Tiandao chuckled and shrugged: "Science has proven that sugar not only promotes brain function, but also..."

"Shut up!" Xing interrupted coldly. "Do you think everyone is as much of a hardcore sweets lover as you?"

Upon hearing this, the entire training ground suddenly fell silent.

The surrounding students all took a few steps back in unison, clearly knowing what was about to happen.

After all, the last person who dared to speak to the will of Heaven like this spent a whole month lying in the infirmary.

From then on, apart from Caroline, who was closest to the Heavenly Dao, there was no one else.

No one else dared to speak to the Heavenly Dao like that again.

However, the Heavenly Dao didn't pay much attention to Chen Xing's sharp tongue.

He shrugged indifferently, then feigned a wronged expression.

"Xing, it hurts me to hear you say that."

Then, as if he had just thought of something, his expression suddenly changed. He then stared at Chen Xing, who had exquisite features and a queen-like demeanor, until she looked at him with a face full of question marks.

Just as Chen Xing was feeling somewhat bewildered by the stares, Tian Dao suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Xing, is your sudden strong reaction because you don't look down on Kong, but are jealous that he received my special guidance?"

"You should have said so earlier, if only you had said so earlier..."

"what?!"

Chen Xing's expression instantly twisted: "I'm jealous of this good-for-nothing?"

She suddenly drew the long sword from her back and pointed the tip directly at Chen Kong, who was standing next to Tian Dao.

"Two years have passed, and he still can't even do the most basic star energy sensing. Does this kind of trash even deserve to be called a star energy sensor..."

"Hey, I can pretend I didn't hear anything else, but it's not right for you to talk about your own brother like that, is it?"

Tiandao suddenly dropped his nonchalant smile, and his eyes behind his sunglasses turned dangerous.

In an instant, an invisible pressure spread out from him.

The students closest to him had begun to tremble, and Xing's hand holding the knife was also shaking slightly.

However, she wasn't afraid; rather, she was stubbornly and forcefully resisting this massive, tsunami-like pressure.

"Did I said wrong thing?"

Dust Star gritted his teeth and persisted, retorting, "Out of the 36 trainees in Project Stars, he's the only one who hasn't even mastered a Star Core..."

"That's because his star core is quite special."

Heaven suddenly interrupted her.

These words exploded like a bomb in the crowd.

Everyone looked at Chen Kong with surprise and suspicion. Even Caroline, who thought she had all the information about the students, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

It seems they are judging the truth or falsehood of the statement about the Way of Heaven.

After all, if someone else had said these words, even if it were Chen Xing, Chen Kong's older sister, it would have been a huge blow.

People still don't find it very credible.

But when these words came from the mouth of Tiandao, the top student among the Star Academy, the result was completely different.

Because Heaven disdains and is too lazy to lie to them.

"Is my star core special?"

Upon hearing Tiandao's words, not only were others stunned, but even Chen Kong himself was frozen in place.

Seeing his lack of confidence, Tiandao smiled mysteriously. "Yes, it's very special, so special that no one but me can guess what your star core is."

"So, do you want to know what I've discovered?"

Chen Kong nodded excitedly, his eyes, which had been filled with self-doubt and gloom, now shone with a light of hope.

Tiandao, who is familiar with the original plot of the first season, does not mind telling Chenkong, the protagonist of the anime, some information in advance.

So he leaned close to Chen Kong's ear and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Kong, your star core isn't actually unactivated, it's just that it's too powerful, so powerful that even you can't control it."

Chen Kong's eyes widened: "Then why me?"

"Shh—" Tendou put his index finger to his lips and said with a smile, "Kong, the answer is more interesting when you discover it yourself, isn't it?"

Just then, the training ground gates suddenly opened.

A team of fully armed guards marched in with synchronized steps.

On their black tactical helmets, the Embers organization's insignia gleamed coldly under the lights, a warning to keep out unsuspecting individuals.

"Looks like the assessment is about to begin."

Upon seeing the appearance of this pack of black dogs, Tiandao released Chenkong and then patted him on the shoulder with ease.

"Go for it, Kong! I really believe in you."

He received encouragement from Tiandao, the top student among the group of stars.

Chen Kong, who was truly the worst performer among the 36 members of Project Star, seemed to be greatly encouraged, and his expression became visibly excited.

However, his excitement did not last long, as Chen Xing, who was standing nearby, coldly poured cold water on it.

"Idiot, you believe this nonsense? Heaven is obviously playing you for fools."

"If your star core is really that special, then it's understandable that we didn't discover it, but why didn't even the people in the organization discover it?"

"You don't actually think that the people in the organization are like us, only having a superficial understanding of the Star Core, do you?"

DustStar's analysis is reasonable, well-founded, and in line with reality.

This caused the initial surprise in everyone's eyes as they looked at Chen Kong to gradually fade into calm.

Even Chen Kong had to admit that what Chen Xing said made a lot of sense.

As a result, his eyes gradually dimmed again.

Seeing that Chen Kong was once again suppressed by his older sister Chen Xing, Tian Dao simply said, "Xing, how about we make a bet? Let's bet on whether Kong can awaken his own star core during the final assessment."

"What are you gambling?"

"How about we bet on desserts? If I win, your desserts for the next three months are mine; if I lose, then..."

Before Tiandao could finish speaking, Chenxing interrupted him.

"Yes, but you can't interfere and help him."

"no problem."

Tian Dao readily agreed, a sly glint flashing in his azure eyes behind his glasses.

After all, he had already read the original script through the popularity system.

Knowing that in the original work, Chen Kong will be driven to the brink of despair during the assessment and eventually awaken the 'Star Energy Nullification' ability, which can be described as a bug.

Therefore, he is guaranteed to win this bet.

However, to Heaven's surprise, the conditions that Chen Xing agreed to for the bet were not yet over.

"In addition, I also need you to revise the betting details."

"What needs to be changed?"

Looking at the puzzled Tiandao, Chenxing took a deep breath, a dangerous glint igniting in her beautiful eyes, and her long brown hair visibly began to turn crimson.

"I won. I don't want your dessert. I want you to fight me seriously and with all your might."

Upon hearing this, Tiandao dropped his nonchalant expression and silently took off his sunglasses.

In an instant, that terrifying, tsunami-like sense of oppression swept across the entire venue once again.

Although they had already experienced the pressure from the Heavenly Dao once beforehand.

But when this oppressive force reappeared, Chen Xing still found it difficult to withstand.

And this time, Heaven's will is clearly serious.

As a result, his oppressive aura this time was even more intense and more... suffocating than the last time.

Looking at Chen Xing struggling to hold on, Tian Dao calmly said, "Xing, some things I can ignore once or twice."

"But three or four times, that's a completely different story..."

Tiandao took the initiative to walk up to Chenxing, who had been forced to kneel down, and looked down at her.

"After all, a lion will not tolerate repeated provocations from a hyena."

"So, let's discuss this issue again after you've fully mastered your star core and understand its true function."

"After all, you're far from being qualified to make me take a serious action. You can't even withstand my pressure, can you?"

After saying that, Tiandao gently patted Chenxing's tense shoulder and then withdrew his oppressive aura.

In an instant, the tense atmosphere in the training field was eased.

However, the proud Chen Xing was unwilling to admit defeat so easily.

Twice now, she has been suppressed by the Heavenly Dao solely through the pressure of star energy.

Chen Xing gritted his teeth and gripped the demonic sword Bloodflame tightly in his hand.

Or rather, she couldn't accept that she didn't even have the ability to challenge the will of Heaven.

Looking at Chen Xing, who seemed to want to defy his superiors, Tian Dao narrowed his eyes slightly.

Meanwhile, Caroline, standing beside Tiandao, silently put her hand into her pocket, as if she were holding something.

For a moment, the air in the entire training ground seemed to freeze.

No one dared to speak loudly at this moment.

Just then, the metal gate of the training ground suddenly opened.

Accompanied by the crisp sound of high heels clicking, a graceful figure walked into the training field.

"Hey, bullying your classmate again, Xiaotiandao."

Instructor Yunmeng approached with elegant cat-like steps, her voluptuous figure encased in a black uniform, causing many of the adolescent trainees around her to secretly swallow their saliva.

But that's all they are capable of.

Because they knew very well that Yunmeng, who had an angelic figure, was more devilish than a devil in her heart.

Only when dealing with the Heavenly Dao does she show 'special care' like a kind older sister next door.

That's a privilege reserved for geniuses.

Faced with Yunmeng's sudden teasing, Tiandao immediately retorted, "I'm innocent, Sister Yun! I was just having a friendly and productive conversation with Xing. How could this be bullying?"

"Don't give me that." Yunmeng gently tapped Tiandao's head, then turned to Chenxing and said, "The assessment is about to begin, yet you're trying to attack your classmate without permission. Chenxing, have you forgotten the organization's rules?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xing silently sheathed his demon sword and returned to the group with his head down.

Watching the other person's retreating figure, Yunmeng said speechlessly, "Little Tiandao, why do you always have to pick on Xing? You two are clearly the organization's most promising geniuses, can't you get along well?"

Tiandao spread his hands and said, "Sister Yun, this is not my fault. It was Chenxing who deliberately provoked me. I was just acting in self-defense."

"You..."

Yunmeng shook her head helplessly, then said, "...Never mind, I'll deal with you after the assessment."

"Now, you should go back to the team too, since the assessment is about to begin."

"A lot of important people from the organization have come today, so you absolutely mustn't mess things up."

Upon hearing this, Tiandao immediately smiled and said, "Don't worry, Sister Yun, I am the strongest."

Such arrogant remarks about the Way of Heaven.

Although Yunmeng wanted him to be more humble, she didn't say anything to refute him.

As Heaven has said, among the 36 students of the Stars.

The Heavenly Dao Master of Fate is truly the strongest being.

(End of this chapter)