Chapter 136 - 136: Mission completed!

Words : 1120 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

A loud bang echoed several meters away from a misty area, followed by the sight of a forest where several trees lay destroyed. A few meters beyond, the ground was cracked, and at its center, a lone man lay unconscious. He wore an eye patch over one eye, his body covered in injuries—his face, arms, and stomach battered and bloodied. His black robe was blown apart, leaving his wounds exposed. Despite his unmoving state, he was not dead—only unconscious. A few minutes later, a dark ripple appeared on the ground beside him. Rising from it was a tall man, his entire face concealed behind a mask. The most distinctive feature about him, however, was the black robe he wore, adorned with the symbol of a black moon—identical to the insignia of the unconscious man lying at his feet. "Tsk, tsk, tsk… I can't believe you let yourself be defeated." The tall man shook his head in disappointment and took a step forward. Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence. He turned to see someone dressed entirely in black, sweat dripping down his face, his clothes slightly torn. Upon recognizing the masked figure, the running man halted abruptly and gulped hard. "S-Sir Daze?!" the man stammered, quickly bowing his head in respect. He was the same bandit Grey had nearly killed before their leader arrived. "What happened to the rest?" Daze asked, his voice calm yet firm. The bowing bandit trembled as beads of sweat rolled down his face. He swallowed hard before finally forcing out the words. "T-They… they're all dead, sir." Daze remained silent. His fingers curled into a fist as he turned his gaze back to the unconscious man lying beneath him. "Who did this?" Daze asked, his voice laced with restrained fury. "It was… some students from the Lunaria squad, sir," the bandit hesitated. "If… if I'm not wrong, only one of them was responsible." Daze's calm demeanor shattered as he took a step forward. "One student?! A single student did this to him?! He's a damn three-star mage!" he bellowed, causing the bandit to flinch. But after a deep breath, Daze steadied himself, waiting for an explanation. "S-Sir… I don't know the details, but I heard they were first-year students… But that one student—he's a devil incarnate! I… I could barely defend myself." "No surprise there—you're weak," Daze scoffed, but his mind was still in turmoil. "But him? A first-year student did this? Not a second-year, not a third-year… but a first-year?! How?!" He clenched his fists tighter, his gaze lingering on the battered body at his feet. "S-So what now, sir? I think they're still in town. Do you want to attack them?" the bandit asked hesitantly. A sudden gust of wind rushed past him. Before he could react, Daze was crouched at eye level, his piercing blue eyes visible through the mask. 'H-How did he get here so fast?! He was at least four meters away a second ago… No, I shouldn't be surprised,' the bandit thought with a fearful gulp, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. "Let them have this one," Daze said in a calm yet ominous tone. He stood up and turned away. "Let them think they've won today. Let them celebrate… but the next time we attack, they won't survive." He paused. "Remind me, what was the name of that squad again?" "T-The Lunaria squad, sir!" the bandit quickly responded. 'Lunaria squad…? Wasn't our newest addition from three years ago from there? If he has a grudge against them, he'll be perfect for this,' Daze mused. "Fine. I'll make sure to remember that name. The Eclipse Pact won't take this lying down." With those final words, the shadows beneath them rippled, and in an instant, Daze, the bandit, and the unconscious man disappeared from sight. Meanwhile, back in town, the Lunaria squad stood together. Grey, Arthur, and Jay lay on the ground, unconscious from exhaustion. Vanica moved between them, healing their wounds. But after finishing, she slumped down, completely drained of mana. "Guys…" Greg muttered, clenching his fists as he looked at Grey before turning to the others. "Are… are we really weaker than him? I mean, he fought that bandit boss for so long before we even arrived. I doubt I could've lasted that long." "Tch! Speak for yourself, weakling. I took down ten bandits on my own," Scarlet scoffed. "But… you're right. He truly is on another level. And don't you dare tell him I said that, Vanica!" "Me? I won't tell him, I promise," Vanica replied with a playful smirk. "No need for the promise. I already heard you," a familiar voice interjected. Everyone turned, shocked to see Grey slowly sitting up, his body throbbing in pain. "G-G-Grey?!" Scarlet gasped, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment. S~eaʀᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Honestly, I don't even care," Grey said nonchalantly as he stretched slightly. "I don't need your validation to know I'm stronger than you all." "Tch! Don't start acting all high and mighty, you weakling," Greg retorted. Before Grey could respond, they heard approaching footsteps. Turning, they saw the townspeople walking toward them with beaming smiles. "Thank you for saving us, Lunaria squad!" the crowd cheered in unison. A middle-aged man stepped forward. "You all were incredible!" A little girl then walked up to Vanica, holding a small yellow flower. "Thank you, miss, for helping my mom out of the rubble." Vanica bent down with a wide smile, accepting the flower and embracing the child. "Thank you for your kind gesture." The middle-aged man stepped forward again. "Please, stay the night so we can treat you all to a well-deserved meal." Grey narrowed his eyes. 'These people… they remind me of the people from Kiten and their hypocrisies. Though these ones aren't like Kiten's, I still can't stand this world.' "No need," Grey replied bluntly before anyone else could speak. "We need to get our injured back to the academy." Raising his hand, he summoned the wind. Within seconds, a massive bird formed. 'That was slower than usual… I'm still feeling weak,' Grey noted, controlling the wind to lift Jay and Arthur onto the bird's back. "You're such a party pooper," Scarlet scoffed as she climbed on, followed by Vanica and Greg. Grey was the last to board. With a powerful flap of its wings, the wind bird soared into the sky, carrying them back toward the academy.

Chapter 136 - 136: Mission completed!

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