Chapter 170 - 170

Words : 1115 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

The team had just delivered an impassioned speech explaining why they were willing to risk everything to save Grey. At last, Instructor Von gave his consent, and they prepared to move out. But just as they were about to leave, their eyes widened in alarm—the portal was shrinking rapidly. "Shit! How can this be?" Von exclaimed, his voice tense with urgency. "This can only mean that the boss of the planet has been defeated." The portal had now reduced to half its original size. "What?!" the entire team shouted in unison. "Were any of you near the portal when the fight broke out?" Von demanded, sweat beading on his brow as he saw every face shake their head in unison. "Darn it! If none of you were close, we won't be able to get back in to save him—and he won't be able to…" Before he could finish, a furious shout rang out from the shrinking portal: "Curse you, Noir!" In that split second, a human figure was propelled out of the portal, landing with a thud on the cold stone floor. Staggering to his feet with blood streaming down his face from a cut above his brow and his half-torn robe clinging to him, Grey looked around the chamber that housed the portals. His brown hair was a wild, unkempt mess, and his eyes, though tired, burned with determination. Behind him, the portal he'd just emerged from had all but disappeared, and he let out a sigh of relief. "That was a close call," he murmured. Just then, an ear-piercing noise split the silence. "Grey!!!" two voices shouted at once as Vanica and Vince dashed toward him. They enveloped him in a tight embrace—Vince with concern and Vanica with tears streaming down her face. Vanica used the last of her mana to heal his wounds, her gentle magic glowing faintly as it mended cuts and bruises. "Yoo! You really did it, man," Raze said, approaching with a gentle pat on his back. "Tch! The way you were talking, I thought you'd be done in a minute—but it actually took you five. Pathetic," Scarlet scoffed, though her eyes betrayed a deep relief. 'Thank goodness he's safe,' Scarlet thought silently. "You're still a weakling if you needed that long to defeat a common level 7 beast," Greg teased with a smirk. "Tch! I could have done it in a minute," Jay retorted sharply. "Oh yeah? How about I push you into one of these portals so you can fight the boss and finish it in a minute?" Grey shot back at Jay, causing him to take a small step back in alarm. "Thank goodness you're safe," Gordon said, wrapping Grey in a tight hug. "You know, you didn't have to send us away." "If I hadn't, you all would be dead by now," Grey replied, a wry smile dancing on his lips. "Besides, I didn't want a bunch of weaklings holding me back." "Weaklings?! Who are you calling a weakling?" Scarlet challenged, attempting to summon even the tiniest spark of flame—but nothing came forth. "See? You can't even summon a small flame when you try to fight. It's pathetic," Grey teased. "By the way, Vanica, thank you for that signal you sent—even though someone almost destroyed it." S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It's… it's nothing," Vanica stuttered, her cheeks reddening with bashful gratitude. In her mind, she couldn't help but wonder, 'Oh my goodness! He just thanked me again!' "And what about that dude who nearly killed me? I thought it was just the two of us on that planet," Arthur asked, still catching his breath. "Oh! He was an assassin sent to kill me for reasons I couldn't figure out," Grey replied with a shrug. "An assassin?" Von interjected, stepping forward to make his presence known. "Instructor Von," Grey called out respectfully. "Why would an assassin be sent after you?" Von asked, genuine concern in his tone. "No idea. He was just mumbling nonsense, and honestly, I couldn't care less," Grey shrugged off the question. "Where's he now?" Vince pressed. "He's probably off chatting with his ancestors by now," Grey smirked, a remark that made everyone's hearts pound in uneasy laughter. 'This dude is a psycho,' they all thought. "How did you handle those two threats by yourself—and still managed to kill a level 7 beast?" Von asked, the admiration clear in his voice. "I don't know—I just did it," Grey replied with a weary shrug. "Anyway, I'm exhausted. I need rest. And thanks, Vanica, for healing me up. Now I can skip a visit to the clinic." With that, he turned and left the chamber. As Grey departed, Vanica's flushed cheeks and scattered thoughts made her murmur internally, 'He thanked me again! Oh, I'm so pregnant right now. Wait, what am I saying?' Scarlet eyed her curiously, wondering what was so extraordinary about Vanica. 'What's her deal? Why is she blushing?' Scarlet thought. "Alright, everyone!" Von called out after a moment. "I know you're all exhausted from what you went through today. Head back to your rooms and get some rest. If any of you still need healing, the clinic is open. And remember—you have tomorrow off. But later, you'll be required to submit the magical cores you hunted. If you don't meet the quota I set, your day off will be canceled." With that, Von exited the room. "Are the crystals safe?" Vince asked, turning to Vanica. She quickly opened the pouch at her waist, carefully counted the crystals, and nodded. "Good! I think I'm going to spend my day off in a long, relaxing bath." Vince said as he casually stretched. "Same here—because I reek," Raze joked as he walked ahead. "You always do," Scarlet chuckled as she left the room. After a long, much-needed rest and refreshing bath, the whole team was called back to submit the crystals. Once they were finished, they were dismissed, while Grey was asked to recount what had led him to encounter and battle the assassin. Grey narrated the events in detail—carefully omitting the part where he fought the assassin. He described the assailant's eerie appearance and the strange magic he wielded. Once he was done, he was excused, and he left the room with relief. Meanwhile, the academy set about the task of uncovering the identity of the assassin and the motive behind the order to target Grey.

Chapter 170 - 170

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