Chapter 260 - 260: Two Months later!

Words : 1152 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Two months later... The scars of the Goltas battle had slowly begun to fade—both on the ravaged land and within the hearts of the students who had survived the onslaught. Reconstruction efforts were underway, with new buildings rising from the ruins like phoenixes from ashes. But even as the village was rebuilt, the memory of that brutal clash had already transcended into legend. Whispers turned into tales. Tales turned into fire-forged myths. The news spread like wildfire—how two squads of six students, alongside their formidable captains, had faced down an army of over five hundred soldiers and two generals whose strength rivaled that of the Emperor's personal subordinates. It wasn't just Velzoria that buzzed with awe and disbelief; the neighboring kingdoms, including the infamously proud Drakesville, had caught wind of the miracle. What began as a village defense had become a defining historical event, spoken of in guild taverns, noble courts, and academy halls alike. Though no villagers had survived Goltas's annihilation, the kingdom began the rebuilding process with determination. Structures rose anew on scorched ground, with hopes that, someday, families would once again call the place home. As a reward for their bravery, the Emperor himself summoned the squad captains to the royal court. In a rare display of personal gratitude, he bestowed upon them not just bags of gold, but stars to their rankings—honors rarely given. Even the students who had participated were honored with ranks, their reputations elevated throughout Velzoria. And so, in just two months, buildings, shops, and homes had begun to spring up once more, while displaced civilians slowly trickled into the newly revived village. What had once been a battleground was now a symbol of resilience. Those who had no home before now found refuge in a place born of loss and hope. Meanwhile, within Lunaria Academy's buzzing corridors, a new rumor had taken root—one that sparked more curiosity than any war tale. The infamous duel between Grey and the "Demonic Student" Kael had become the academy's hottest gossip. Students recounted the clash with breathless awe, some convinced it was overblown. But those who had witnessed it firsthand spoke with reverence. Grey, once merely talented, was now seen in a different light—a rival to Kael, a name that once stood unchallenged. Following the battle, Captain Amir had recovered in less than a week. Though his wounds were healed within a day thanks to top-tier healers, he opted to rest longer, claiming even paperwork could wait. The stacks on his desk may have grown, but he didn't mind. Captain Ryan, on the other hand, vanished from the academy grounds for two full weeks, his vice captain taking over administrative duties as Ryan sought solace in solitude, far from the shadows of battle. But while captains recovered, one student chose a different path—relentless, unyielding progress. Grey became a ghost to his friends. If he was a training enthusiast before, he was now possessed by obsession. Any window of free time was consumed by magic, movement, and meditation. Sleep became optional. Rest, a luxury. Driven by the sting of being outclassed, Grey trained with a singular purpose: to surpass Kael. His efforts bore fruit. He mastered a new fusion spell from the ancient book he had discovered on a trip and he developed fresh techniques for both his Earth and Lightning affinities. His arsenal expanded—but not enough, not yet. He remembered how Kael had dispatched a general singlehandedly, a feat Grey couldn't manage without help. That memory haunted him, pushing him deeper into his training, even as the academy's auto-repair enchantments struggled to patch the destruction he left in his wake. Gaping holes in the training chamber's walls became a common sight, only disappearing long after Grey exited, soaked in sweat. There were moments when the walls could barely keep up with his relentless barrage. Cracks spiderwebbed faster than the embedded repair runes could seal them. Only after Grey stumbled out, breathless and drenched, could the room finally begin its healing. But while Grey honed himself in solitude, the rest of the academy buzzed with anticipation over something monumental. The tournament. Not just any tournament—but the tournament. Two types existed. The Intra-Academy Tournament, where second and third years clashed to determine internal rankings. seaʀᴄh thё ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And the Inter-Academy Tournament, where elite students from all four academies faced off before the Emperor himself. A showcase of the best—where reputations were forged or broken. Years ago, Lunaria academy took the title of the strongest academy mainly because of Kael who initially didn't want to participate but he was compelled to after he got promised he would get to fight strong opponents. But boy were the academy wrong. Kael made quick work of his opponents, won the tournament therefore securing Lunaria the title of the strongest which Wysteria always held in the previous years. After Kael's set, Lunaria lost the title to Wysteria again but Lunaria always came second in everything but this time, the academy meant business as the Emperor decided to do something fun. Now, with the Inter-Academy Tournament on the horizon, tension and excitement hung thick in the air. Every student, squad, and captain had one thing on their mind—prove their worth… or be left behind. And now, with two weeks until the Intra-Academy Tournament, the air was thick with tension and ambition. Every student sharpened their skills, driven by dreams of glory… or fear of being forgotten. As for Grey? He didn't care. Not about tournaments. Not about applause. Not even about fighting powerful foes. In his mind, no opponent could surpass Kael. No battle could match the fire he felt that day. Yet participation was mandatory. Regardless of desire, every student was expected to undergo the academy's strength evaluations—an unskippable rite of passage. But this time, the Emperor decided to twist things as he mixed the superiors who will be testing the students… for example, taking Amir to Wysteria to test the students while sending Ryan to Lunaria or another academy to test the students. Since the intra-tournament was in two weeks, they needed to test their strengths and in this way, each academy would be able to gauge each other's strength not like they know who would win the intra-tournament though. Today was the day. An instructor from Everwood Academy had arrived at Lunaria to oversee the second-year students' assessments. The massive hall where breakthrough training normally occurred was filled with students buzzing with anticipation—or dread. Grey stood among them, arms crossed, expression unreadable. He didn't care for tournaments… but fate had a different plan in store. ____ {A/N} Yeah, just like every other academy arc, it won't be complete without some good old tournament. So let the assessments for the tournament, begin!

Chapter 260 - 260: Two Months later!

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