None of them wanted to be faced with such terrifying opponents again. 

Tanya did not feel as though such an incident would ever happen in academy grounds again. This is because she had found out from Rosellia that the academy finally got rid of the ancient custom of knights taking orders from n.o.bles despite lack in affiliation. Now the academy Guardian knights have become an independent force devoted to keeping the academy safe, without the interference of outside powers.

Tanya still did not feel as though she wanted to rely on the knights. One ma.s.sacre was enough for her, she would rather be in complete control. Thankfully, she finally received a visit from Alpha while she was having a morning stroll through the more dangerous parts of the forest.

RUSTLE

"Master." A blue haired figure dressed in chainmail and a breastplate came walking out from a bush towards Tanya.

"Oh? How long were you waiting in there?"

"One minute."

"Very precise." Tanya commented with a smile.

"Master, Alpha has succeeded in producing 10 dark steel models. They have all been trained to [Warrior 10]. I await your instruction." Ten other similarly looking figures came out from the bush, with black hair instead.

"Hmmm… Alpha, I have a hard task for you, would you like to take it?"

"It is my pleasure, Master." Alpha bowed, followed by the other homunculi.

"With these warriors, I task you with subjugating a monster lair of your choosing. The lair must contain at least one 3rd ascension monster and five 2nd ascensions. Remember your first kills, tell me when you return to me. Afterwards, I will give you all your next set of tasks. I need to break through to the 3rd ascension now, so please guard me for a few hours."

"Yes, Master." The homunculi answered in unison as they circled around Tanya and faced to the outside, guarding her like iron walls.

Soon the day began turning to night, slowly fading into darkness as the sun set and the moon took its place. Tanya and her loyal subordinates stayed in the same positions for perhaps 12 hours, unmoving like stone pillars, except for Tanya. Tanya practiced her sword as if she was shadow sparring, using her memories as reference for her pace and practice.

Unlike beginners that used shadow sparring because of lack of tools, Tanya used it because it was genuinely faster than fighting another child in the academy. If she used herself as a sparring partner, she could train perhaps a hundred times better and faster. That is the difference in quality.

Although she caught the intangible, her skills and muscle memory returned at much faster paces. Such is the benefit of having no watchful eyes.

KACHA

"AAARGH!" Tanya fell to her knees as she felt something within her crack open. 

'Finally… It's happening much earlier than my last life, but this pace is still too slow. I have the foundation, now break through!'

A crimson light slowly formed around Tanya, illuminating the area around her with a faint crimson glow; like the blood on her hands.

[Choose job: Sword Expert OR Ascendant Knight]

'A choice? Of course one must take the never before seen job. Who do you take me for?'

[Job selected: Ascendant Knight]

[Job ascension: Magic Knight -u003e Ascendant Knight]

[Pa.s.sive acquired: Ascendant Mana (high 3rd tier)]

A sharp pain suddenly hit Tanya right in the abdomen, much more powerful than her first time ascending. It felt as if she had been knocked to the ground by a stab in the chest, perhaps tens of stabs in the chest.

She vomited blood as she knelt down, unable to stop herself from reacting to the ascension. However, she knew that an ascension did not depend on talent, it depended on will. If one gave up because of the pain or was unable to handle it, they would die. This was nothing to her.

"Urghh…" The pain finally subsided.

Tanya got up from her knees and cleaned herself promptly. A smile was plastered all over her face as she felt the power surging within herself, it was like nothing she had ever felt before in this body.

[Status Sheet

Name: Tanya Vermillion

Status: Alive

t.i.tles: Duke Vermillion's Daughter, Villainess, Mommy

Jobs: Warrior 10, Mage 10, Heiress 10, Prince Charming 6, Magic Knight 10, Vixen 3, Baroness 1, Ascendant Knight 1

Strength: B-

Agility:

Vitality: B-

Magic: C+

Charm:

Luck: A]

This is what she wanted, growth.

"You may all leave for your task. I shall return to my abode by myself. Please show me your hard work when we meet again."