Chapter 504: Chapter 504
Chapter 504
It had already been a full week since Grey took on his first academy mission and later met up with Duke on the rooftop. During this period, he spent his days training relentlessly, cultivating, attending classes, and pushing himself to become stronger than he currently was.
He could feel he was close to another step forward, yet there was a clear wall blocking his path. He had already cultivated his Ki to the peak of what a stage 2 warrior could achieve, and now there was nothing else he could do unless he evolved again. With no other choice, he focused on refining both his magic and Ki techniques, sharpening his control and execution, hoping that one day soon he would force his way into a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, his relationship with his roommates was slowly improving, though the progress was painfully slow. Another layer of complication was added when one more person joined their ranks.
"Yo! The training was difficult to be honest," Liam said loudly, his voice carrying across the canteen as the group sat in the middle of their meals.
"Do you always speak while you eat?" Finral asked with a low growl, glaring at the irritating one-eyed student.
"Only on rare occasions." Liam shrugged and kept eating without a care in the world.
"Remind me again where you guys met this loudmouth." Finral grumbled in annoyance, his sharp eyes darting between Grey and Ray.
"On the mission. How many times do you want us to repeat the same thing, Grandpa?" Ray scoffed with irritation.
"Hey! Who the fuck are you calling a grandpa?! Don’t let me shove a fork in your damn throat." Finral roared, his glare burning into the younger warrior beside him.
The direct descendants, along with several other red bands nearby, all turned when they heard the outburst. After identifying the source, they simply shook their heads and dismissed it.
"Barbarians," one red band muttered before returning to his food.
"So how was the mission, guys?" a female red band asked curiously as she glanced at the direct descendants eating in silence.
"Cool," Noelle replied coldly. The smile on the girl’s face instantly broke under the weight of her frosty tone.
"I still don’t understand why the academy is suddenly sending first-years on missions." Another red band frowned as he chewed slowly.
"Preparation," Rivock finally said. He set his spoon down and calmly sipped from his cup of water.
"Preparation?" Mada tilted his head, curiosity flashing in his eyes as he looked toward Rivock.
"Yes, preparation." Rivock nodded. "I feel like the academy is gearing us toward something. I don’t know what exactly, but it’s big. They’re pushing all of us harder than before, especially us—the red bands."
"I feel the same," Noelle added quietly before resuming her meal.
"Whatever it is, I’m more than ready." Another red band smirked confidently, and the group fell back into silence as they continued eating.
Back at the yellow bands’ table, Grey had nearly finished his food while half-listening to the pointless bickering beside him.
"That reminds me," Ray suddenly said, cutting through the noise. "Grey, why isn’t that your friend here?"
"Friend?" Grey raised an eyebrow, looking up from his plate.
"Yes. The one in the blue band. Uhm, Pink! Yeah, that’s his name."
"Oh." Grey spoke flatly, then finished the last bite of his food and washed it down with water. "He likes being alone," he replied before standing up.
The moment he did, he suddenly felt invisible daggers stabbing into his back. He froze for a second, his eyes lifting. Across the room, the direct descendants—everyone except Rivock were glaring at him intensely. Their piercing gazes were joined by a few red bands, all of them locking on him with hostility that made the air feel heavier.
’Huh? I didn’t even do anything this time.’ Grey thought, shaking his head. He gave them a bored flick of his middle finger and then strolled off to drop his plates at the counter, posture loud and confident.
That single move immediately poured gasoline on tension at the red-band tables. Mada gripped his spoon so hard it snapped in two, his jaw working like iron as he ground his teeth.
"I really want to put that brat in his place so bad," one red band growled, fists clenching until the knuckles went white.
"Not time for us to act yet. If we do, and we accidentally kill him, we’ll be in huge trouble. Could be stripped of our rights to inherit our clans." Rivock munched on a steak, voice calm but eyes hard.
"I don’t care." Mada spat through clenched teeth. "It’s not like I’m getting anything with Gunther breathing down my neck."
"Well I care. My position is at risk here and I care about you because you’re my friend." Rivock’s words landed heavier than his bite, and for a moment the whole canteen quieted down.
"There’s no point in just beating him to a pulp. That won’t satisfy us." Rivock’s gaze slid back toward Grey and his crew. "Better idea: make him break from the inside. Cause a betrayal that shatters him."
"Huh? Meaning?" Noelle asked, brow lifting.
"Emotional pain. Tear his team apart," Rivock said, lips curling into a grin that had cold edges. "Hit him where he thinks he’s strongest. Make him doubt everyone he trusts. When the mind breaks, the body follows."
Mada’s teeth still ground as he fought to stay controlled. "I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it better be good. I’m this close to ripping him open."
"Relax," Rivock said with a long, fake sigh. He rose slowly, finished the last of his steak, then stood up and walked out of the canteen like it was all just another meal. No one knew where he was heading next, but his stride said he already had plans.
The red bands watched him go, murmurs spreading like a ripple. Grey’s name hung in the air like a provocation, and the academy’s quiet corners suddenly felt smaller, more dangerous.
—
{A/N}
Hey Magus Legion! Sorry for the slower pace these days, I’m just trying to layer something solid in front so kindly bear with me. Thank you for your understanding 🫶
You can also check out my other work though "The Gamer’s POV: From Trash to SSS-RANK Legend" — I’m sure you all will enjoy it. Thank you ☺️