Chapter 169 - 169: Grey is our friend!

Words : 1168 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Back at Lunaria Academy, everything seemed to be running as planned. The first-year instructors lounged in the quiet corridors, Searᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. enjoying a temporary lull since all the new students had been out on a beast-hunting mission. Their idle chatter was suddenly interrupted by alarming news—the portal was active. Instructor Von wasted no time as he rushed to the portal chamber. The room pulsed with faint light and shadows as the ancient gateway flickered and hummed with energy, clearly in use. Within moments, Scarlet emerged through the portal, her presence marked by exhaustion and urgency. One by one, Arthur, Raze, Vince, Greg, Gordon, Vorden, Vanica, and Jay followed, collapsing onto the cold stone floor. Their bodies bore the marks of a brutal encounter—bruises, cuts, and signs of strenuous exertion—and while they were awake, they were far from being fully awake, their exhaustion almost palpable. Amid the chaos, Vanica hurried from student to student, her gentle yet determined magic mending wounds with swift, glowing gestures. Standing off to the side, Instructor Von began his routine headcount, his eyes narrowing as he took in the battered group. His gaze hardened. "You all!" His booming voice cut through the murmurs, causing the injured students to sit up straighter in alarm. "Instructor Von," Scarlet managed, her voice hoarse with both pain and relief. "There were ten of you that entered that portal," Von stated, his tone grave. "But I count only nine. Where is the last one?" His question was direct, laced with growing concern. Unbeknownst to them, a shadow lurked near the back of the room—a hunched figure watching silently. In the dim light, a raspy voice echoed from the darkness, "He... he is dead." Greg replied, a hint of sadness in his voice. At that, the shadowed figure allowed a twisted smile and lightly tapped his head as if confirming a secret connection. "The job is done," he whispered before vanishing without a trace. Across the room, Gordon's eyes flicked nervously around. 'Why did I feel like someone else was here, watching us?' he thought, unease building in his chest. Instructor Von's face grew pale. "Dead? What do you mean dead?" he demanded, his heart beginning to race. "He is facing off against the boss of the planet alone, and fighting an assassin at the same time!" Arthur blurted out, desperation coating his words. "Boss? Assassin? What are you all saying? Wait—he is fighting the boss by himself? That's madness!" Von shouted, tapping his head once more to reach the higher-ups with urgent thoughts. "Please, Instructor Von, hurry and save him," Vanica pleaded, her eyes shining with both fear and hope. "He risked everything so that we could escape. We can't lose him now." Von turned sharply. "Captain Amir! A student by the name of Grey Dawn is stranded on the planet where the first-years had their practical training," he reported into his magical communicator. "Well, if he's stuck, he will get out. Don't bother me—I'm busy," came Amir's curt reply. "Sir, not stuck in that sense! He's fighting against the planet's boss," Von insisted, his voice trembling as he spoke just as something heavy thudded on the other side of the chamber. "What... what level is this boss?" Amir asked, and then Von repeated the question to the students, "What level is the beast?" "We're not completely sure," explained Raze. "But this beast is a massive gorilla, wielding two affinities—Ice and Earth." "Two affinities?!" Captain Amir exclaimed. "Shit! That makes it an Ironback Gorilla, roughly level seven at least, if it can harness both powers." Von's voice turned urgent. "What should we do, sir? That student—although some see him as a peasant—is very valuable to our squad." "I know exactly what to do," Amir said. "Prepare a small squad of second-years, led by a third-year. That should be enough support." "Right on it," Von replied. Then Vince's determined voice rang out, "Instructor Von, I want to come along!" Clenching his fists, he stepped forward. "Are you crazy too?" Von snapped. "Yes, I am crazy!" Vince shouted back, emotions rising. "Twice now, Grey Dawn has saved me. First, when I was nearly killed by my own brother, and now—he's fighting the boss alone so that we might live. I need to help him." Von raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you a noble? Why would you risk your life to save a commoner?" Tears welled in Vince's eyes as he stuttered, "I... I don't see him as a commoner. He's my friend, and I will do whatever it takes to help my friend!" "Too bad that it's only you that shares that sentiment." Von said about to leave. "Wrong!" Scarlet interjected. "Yes, he is a peasant. But for him to risk his life for us, he is… is… darn I can't believe I want to say this, but he is my friend!" "Same here!" Raze added. Arthur joined in, fists clenching with emotion. "He not only let us escape, but he also taught me to stand up and prove my worth. I cannot let him face death alone on that miserable planet." Greg smirked as he took a slow step forward. "Besides, if he dies, who else will challenge me as my rival? None of these weaklings can ever do that." "And we will fight against death itself to save the one we hold dear," Vanica said softly, her eyes resolute. Instructor Von turned away from the group, a faint smile tugging at his lips. In his mind, he mused, 'The plan worked. They have learned to unite beyond class differences. Perhaps now, the end of this divide is near.' "Fine, let's go..." Von muttered just as a sudden swooshing sound caught their attention. They spun around to see the portal shrinking rapidly. Von's eyes widened in disbelief. "What... what is happening?" Vince asked as he watched the portal diminish before his eyes. "Blast it! If the portal is closing, that can only mean one thing—the boss of the planet has been defeated," Von said, his voice heavy with shock as the portal shrank to half its original size. "What?!" The entire team cried out in unison. "Were any of you near the portal when the fight began?" Von demanded, sweat beading on his forehead as he looked at the shaken students. They all shook their heads in unison. Von cursed under his breath. "Damn it! If we cannot get in, how will we save him?" Before more could be said, a furious voice shouted from within the diminishing portal. "Curse you, Noir!" The words echoed as someone was ejected from the portal just in time. There, lying on the cold floor of the chamber, was a human figure—falling and battered yet alive—whose arrival would change the course of what was to come.

Chapter 169 - 169: Grey is our friend!

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