Chapter 178 - 178: Take your position!

Words : 1108 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

The squad assigned to quell the beastly portal break strode back into the academy's grand entrance, faces bruised but bright with triumph. Their robes were singed in places and smeared with ash, yet the minor wounds barely registered—after all, claiming victory and earning the star they'd fought so hard for was reward enough. Massive double doors of oak and iron creaked open before them. Beyond lay the marble‑floored foyer, banners bearing Lunaria's crest fluttering overhead. At the far end, Captain Amir and Instructor Von stood side by side, their smiles warm lanterns in the cool hallway. "Welcome, brave mages!" Amir's voice rang out, echoing off the vaulted ceiling. His eyes shone with pride as the squad filed forward. "We watched every moment of your battle—the way you cut through those beasts was nothing short of phenomenal." "Wait—watching us? How?" Greg blurted, pausing mid‑step to scan the ornate stained‑glass windows and polished armor‑plated guards. "That remains classified," Amir replied with a conspiratorial wink. "But we needed to see how you'd tackle your second grueling mission. I confess, I wasn't worried—not once—because I knew he was there." His gaze drifted briefly to Grey, earning startled looks from the others. 'Special treatment again!' Greg fumed inwardly, fists tightening at his sides. Vanica stepped forward, "Captain, we've successfully extracted the magical cores," she announced, bowing respectfully while presenting a satchel overflowing with glowing, pulsing crystals. Amir raised a hand, palms outward. "No need to hand them over. The cores are yours—share them, sell them, or harness them however you wish." His tone was generous, almost fatherly. "Seriously? You're letting us keep over a hundred Level 4 magical cores?" Vince blinked, disbelief tinting his voice. "You earned them, and that's just the beginning," Amir smiled, his arms sweeping the assembled team. Grey—hands tucked into his pockets—stepped forward. "About the star… how do we claim it, and when will it be awarded?" "Keh keh keh—patience, young Dawn," Amir chided kindly, the crinkles around his eyes deepening. "But first—any questions?" Raze lifted his hand. "Captain, can you explain this ranking and star system? We touched on it briefly in homeroom, but—" "You deserve the full picture," Amir said with a nod. He turned on his heel, beckoning the squad to follow as Von glided beside him. They wound through arched corridors lit by floating motes of light—each step echoing against polished stone—until they reached Clark's familiar classroom. "Take your seats," Amir instructed, gesturing to the neatly arranged desks. The team settled in, their pouches heavy with cores, faces flush with adrenaline and curiosity. "The squad's strength is measured through two rankings: individual and squad," Amir began, voice carrying the weight of authority. "Squad rankings show collective might; individual rankings reflect personal achievement." "Squad ranking? Isn't Lunaria a single squad?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "It is," Amir explained, "but for administrative clarity, we divide it into three tiers: the Junior Squad—where you belong—the Intermediate Squad of second years, and the Advanced Squad, made up of third years." "Ohhh, that makes sense," Arthur nodded, relief softening his features. "Now, on to individual rankings," Amir continued, leaning against the teacher's desk. "There are ten levels you'll encounter throughout your time here: Iron, currently, you all belong at the iron rank. Then we have the Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Elite, Master, Grandmaster, and Supreme—Supreme being the pinnacle." A hush fell over the room. Grey's pulse hammered in his ears as he recognized their current station. "So… we're Iron rank? How… how do we climb out of that quickly?" Grey asked, voice tight with both determination and dread. "I'm glad you asked. Advancement depends on mission participation and stars earned. Remember: twenty points equal one star. To progress from Iron to Bronze, you need about twenty stars," Amir explained, arms folded with patient authority. The class collectively swallowed hard as Grey's knuckles whitened around his sleeves. 'Twenty stars…?' he thought, stomach knotting. 'I estimated one star per mission at best.' S~eaʀᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The higher the rank, the steeper the climb," Amir added, scanning their faces like a general assessing his troops. Scarlet raised a cautious hand. "And the third years—what rank are most of them?" "Diamond, typically," Amir said, eyes gleaming. "Reaching Diamond requires roughly one hundred stars. Do not expect to catch them quickly." 'One hundred stars…' Grey nearly choked on his own breath. "Hundred stars?!" he burst. "We… we just have one!" Grey cried out. "Precisely," Amir agreed. "You have a long road ahead. And know this: you cannot join the Intermediate Squad—the second years—until you reach at least Gold rank, which demands forty‑five stars." Grey's jaw clenched. 'I'm still a long way to go?! I… I thought that my magic would be enough but the academy had to introduce a shitty system to cap my progress!' "How are we even supposed to do that?" Greg stammered, voice wavering. "Missions are rare, and we barely have time!" "Your assessment told you that this is no leisurely academy," Amir reminded them. "You must volunteer for—and excel at—every available mission. More missions yield more stars, but the tougher the mission, the more stars you earn. And some—" he paused for emphasis "—don't grant any stars at all." The weight of those words fell upon Grey like a physical blow. He bowed his head, fighting the swirl of frustration in his chest, until he felt a calm resolve anchor him again. "Captain Amir," Grey said softly, eyes lifting to meet the older man's. "If you don't mind… what is your rank?" Amir's lips curved into a modest grin. "Me? I'm a Master rank. Nothing more." Grey's stomach lurched. 'Amir is Master… while we're still Iron.' "Hahaha! I thought you said one time you wanted to be the captain, well good luck with that." Noir's sardonic voice chased through his mind. Grey straightened, balled fists at his hips. "I promise, Captain. I will grow strong, complete every mission, and—one day—take your position." Amir's chuckle was soft but honest. "Oh?? A Feisty spirit. I'll be watching." He walked to the door, pausing to look back over his shoulder. "Guts alone won't bridge the gap between us. But—try to keep up, if you can." With that challenge hanging in the hallowed halls, the door swung shut, leaving the Junior Squad to stare at one another—minds racing with stars to earn and ranks to conquer.

Chapter 178 - 178: Take your position!

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