Chapter 82: A New Battlefield
Kael stood in the Grand Assembly Hall, his arms crossed as he scanned the room.
The Top 10 students were all present, some leaning against the stone walls, others seated in silence.
It had been a month since their return from the Forbidden Zone.
A month since they had faced a Calamity-Class Beast—and nearly died.
But now?
Now, they had been summoned by the Headmaster himself.
The air was tense.
Lucian stood calm as ever, his golden gaze unreadable.
Mira's fists were clenched, her expression hard.
Selene leaned back against a pillar, already calculating possibilities.
Cassian, for once, wasn't making jokes.
Even Leonel Faelwyn, who had struggled in the past, had a fire in his eyes.
They all knew.
This wasn't just another lecture.
Something was changing.
Then, the doors opened.
And Varian Drakos Eldoria stepped inside.
The Headmaster's Declaration
The moment the Headmaster entered, the entire hall shifted.
The weight of his presence settled over them like a storm.
Kael had seen him fight before—had felt his power.
But even now, just standing before him, it was clear.
Varian wasn't just a Headmaster.
He was a force.
His golden eyes scanned the room before he spoke.
"You are no longer just students," he said, his voice calm but absolute.
"You are the future of Eldoria. And because of that—you will no longer be sheltered."
A few of them stiffened.
Kael's grip on his sword tightened.
"From this moment forward," Varian continued, "your training will no longer be confined to controlled environments. Your missions will be real. The enemies you face will not hold back. And the consequences—"
His golden eyes gleamed.
"—will be permanent."
Silence.
Lucian was the first to respond.
"So we're being prepared for war."
It wasn't a question.
Varian nodded.
"Xelthar has crossed into our lands," he confirmed. "They have been experimenting on mana beasts, testing their weapons, and preparing for something much larger."
Kael exhaled slowly.
Selene narrowed her eyes. "And you intend to use us as test subjects in return."
Varian smirked. "Not test subjects. Weapons."
Varian raised a hand, and a projection of the Empire appeared in the air—a vast map, glowing with lines of mana.
Red markings spread across the northern borders.
"This is where Xelthar's influence has been detected," he explained. "We've intercepted spies, eliminated rogue mages, but—"
He pointed to a specific area.
The Ruined City of Nyx.
"This city was destroyed over a century ago in the last war with Xelthar. It was abandoned. A dead zone."
His gaze darkened.
"But recently, mana fluctuations have been detected. Beasts that should not exist have been spotted. And Xelthar operatives have been moving through the ruins."
Mira's jaw clenched. "They're setting up a new stronghold."
Varian nodded.
"And you," he said, "are going to investigate it."
A Mission with No Guarantees
Kael knew it was coming.
He had felt it, even before the words left the Headmaster's mouth.
But hearing it confirmed?
That was different.
The Top 10 were silent.
Then—
Darius exhaled sharply. "This isn't a normal mission, is it?"
"No," Varian admitted. "It's a war zone. Survival rate?"
His gaze was deadly serious.
"Ten percent."
Leonel visibly tensed.
Even Cassian's smirk faded.
Kael held his breath.
This wasn't just another fight.
This was a mission where they might not return.
Lucian finally spoke. "Then why send us?"
Varian's eyes hardened.
"Because you are the best we have."
The room felt smaller.
More suffocating.
"You are not children anymore," the Headmaster said. "And it's time the world sees that."
A Lifeline—The Signal Stones
Varian lifted a hand.
Ten crystals appeared, floating toward each of them.
"These are Signaling Stones," he explained. "If the mission becomes impossible, if you are on the verge of death—activate it. A high-ranking operative will be sent to retrieve you."
His golden gaze swept the room.
"But know this. If you call for rescue, you will be removed from the top 10."
Kael clenched his jaw.
So this wasn't just a test of survival.
It was a test of worth.
Kael's Next System Mission
As the Signaling Stone landed in Kael's hand, something shifted.
A cold pulse ran through his body.
And then—
A notification appeared before his eyes.
[SYSTEM ALERT: ARCANE SIGIL MISSION UNLOCKED]
Mission: Survive the Ruined City of Nyx
→ Difficulty: S-Rank
→ Survival Bonus: +20 to All Stats
→ Skill Reward:???
→ Failure Penalty:Death
Kael exhaled.
His fate was sealed
The Top 10 didn't need to be asked if they accepted.
They already knew the answer.
Selene gripped her spear.
Evelyne cracked her knuckles.
Mira's eyes burned with resolve.
Cassian sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if I die, I'm haunting you."
Kael's fingers tightened around his blade.
They were no longer students.
They were Eldoria's next warriors.
And this was only the beginning.