Chapter 171 - 171: An Urgent mission

Words : 1195 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

A month had slipped by since Grey and his friends embarked on that unforgettable practical training on a distant planet— the very place where Grey encountered an assassin, one whose sinister purpose was to end his life before ultimately meeting his own fate. During this past month, Grey had poured himself into relentless practice, honing his abilities in fusion magic. With dedication, he mastered not only the two fusion spells he already knew but also added a brand-new one to his repertoire. In addition, Grey expanded his arsenal by learning one more wind spell and an extra lightning spell, each addition reinforcing his resolve and making him stronger than ever before. His relationship with his friends had grown significantly, too; where once there was a divide at the canteen, now they all sat together at every meal, sharing laughter and stories as they forged deeper bonds. Though Grey was usually reticent, he found solace in their company, joining them for meals and classes alike—especially when Scarlet teasingly bantered with him, lightening even the tensest moments. Over the month, not only had Grey sharpened his skills, but his friends, too, had shown improvement. Their creation magic had become noticeably more potent, their physical strength had increased, and their camaraderie glowed as visibly as ever. Meanwhile, the academy's efforts to uncover the identity of the elusive assassin—and to learn who might have hired him—proved fruitless, always ending in a dead-end. With Captain Amir warning Grey that he needed to grow stronger for his own protection, the gravity of the situation was never far from his mind. Amir's words resonated deeply: if an assassin could breach the academy and slip through a portal, then someone powerful and authoritative was at play. Motivated by this warning, Grey pushed himself day in and day out, though he still fell short of the powerful four-star mages. Nonetheless, his elemental affinities were growing rapidly with every grueling training session. Amid this progress, one persistent grievance remained—Grey often cursed Noir for nearly killing him with a dangerous prank. For weeks, Grey vowed to hunt down and bury Noir the next time their paths crossed. Finally, unable to bear the relentless taunts, Noir emerged and, in an act both surprising and sincere, gifted Grey the earth magical core he had retrieved from a mighty beast. That single gesture calmed Grey's raging heart, for he knew that absorbing the core would empower his earth magic. After absorbing the magical core and using his appraisal skill, Grey carefully inspected his updated stats displayed before him: <Name: Grey Dawn> <Status: 3-Star Mage> <Mana: 65/65> <Elements: Four> • {<Wind: 40> | Colour Grade: Blue} • {<Earth: 45> | Colour Grade: Yellow} • {<Fire: 37> | Colour Grade: Purple} • {<Lightning: 15> | Colour Grade: Blue} His wind magic had soared thanks to repeated practice, while his earth magic gained a significant boost from the powerful magical core. Meanwhile, his other affinities lagged behind because their growth required far more challenging conditions. Wind magic flourished through constant use; fire magic demanded intense training in a volcanic environment like the one at Kiten; earth magic thrived through a deep connection with nature— best achieved on a mountain rather than within the academy's confines; and lightning magic needed to be honed amid roaring thunderstorms. Despite these challenges, Grey's unique talents as a multi-elementalist allowed him to absorb magical cores with remarkable ease. Today, in homeroom class, Instructor Clark briefed the students on various matters pertaining to the world and the academy. His lecture drilled home the importance of responsibility and the ever-present pursuit of improvement. "Wait, Instructor Clark," Greg interrupted, his tone laced with curiosity, "you mean you don't know what the highest level a magical beast can reach?" "If you put it that way, then yes," Clark admitted. "Beasts evolve every day, so it's hard to pin down an exact level. However, the highest level a beast ever encountered by humans was a level 12—one that the founder of Lunaria Academy single-handedly dealt with." Grey's mind raced with awe and determination. 'A level 12 beast… terrifying and amazing at the same time. But times have changed, and these beasts are more common now.' "What about our academy stars?" Grey asked, leaning forward with intensity. "How do they work, and what do they mean for our rankings?" "Good question," Clark replied. "Stars are awarded to squad members as a way to climb up the academy rankings. Every successful mission earns points from the principal. Once a squad accumulates twenty points, they are awarded a star. These stars are not just marks of honor—they reflect your overall dominion and potential. Although you are still in the testing phase and do not have official rankings yet, the real struggle begins in your second year. Every mission, every point, is recorded and matters." Arthur frowned in confusion. "I still don't understand." "Think of it like this," Clark elaborated. "When a mission is completed, points are tallied. Every twenty points equals one star, and these stars help define your place among the seven rankings in the academy. I'll explain the rest in our next class." Grey's thoughts churned with resolve. 'Interesting. So our stats are being recorded ever since we stepped foot in this academy. Which means, I need to do extraordinarily well.' Vanica then raised another question, "Instructor Clark, if we have captains for our squads, why are there no vice-captains?" Clark smiled. "There are vice-captains, too. The strongest third-year students are chosen for that role, though they rarely appear. They are usually called away to handle external threats, perhaps even a potential invasion, and work closely with the academy principals." Before Clark could continue, Grey stood up, eyes narrowed with determination. "One more thing—what star is the emperor, how strong is he, and what are his affinities?" he demanded quietly. In his heart, he knew that to surpass the emperor, he had to know everything about him—even if it meant starting with his star level. Clark sighed and replied, "That, most of you should already know, but I guess not everyone is on the same page. The emperor stands at the..." S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just then, a Bang! resounded as the classroom door swung open. A messenger strode in with urgency, interrupting Clark's words. "Instructor Clark, I have a message from the captain for all first-years," the messenger announced. The students exchanged anxious glances, their hearts skipping beats—except for Grey, whose eyes widened with anticipation. "Please, go ahead," Clark said, stepping aside to let the messenger speak. "Listen up, everyone! You have been tasked with an urgent mission. Complete it, and you'll earn a star. This mission is worth twenty points," the messenger declared. A spark ignited within Grey. 'A mission worth twenty points?! I'm in,' he thought, determination swelling in his chest as he prepared to step into yet another challenge on the path to greatness.

Chapter 171 - 171: An Urgent mission

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