Chapter 61: Time off

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Time off

Stepping through the massive exit portal, Squad 07 was greeted by the crisp, cool air and bright sunlight of the Academy grounds. After a week submerged in the humid, sulfur-choked atmosphere of the Tower, taking in a deep breath of fresh outside air felt like a luxury.

Cadets from every squad collapsed onto the surrounding grass, unbuckling heavy armor and sighing in collective relief.

At the steps of the central amphitheater, Dean Sterling stood with his hands folded behind his back, his sharp gaze sweeping over the assembled students. Beside him, Professor Vane and the other senior instructors stood at attention.

Dean Sterling raised a hand, instantly hushing the chatter across the lawn.

"Congratulations on surviving your first major Tower Field Mission, cadets," Dean Sterling’s commanding voice echoed across the courtyard. "You have tested your limits, faced genuine mortality, and proven what it means to be an Awakener of this Academy."

He paused, looking over the weary yet transformed faces of the first-year class.

"You have fought hard, and now you must recover. By decree of the Academy Directorate, you are all granted a one-month break. Return home to your families, rest your bodies, and digest the gains you have made inside the Tower."

A wave of excited whispers and happy sighs rippled through the gathered students.

"Your individual performance marks and overall squad rankings from this mission are being thoroughly reviewed by the faculty board," Dean Sterling continued, a faint smile touching his lips. "All official results, rewards, and merit distributions will be formally announced during the assembly when you return to the academy in a month’s time. Dismissed!"

Cheers erupted across the grounds as cadets immediately began discussing their travel plans back home.

Barney stretched his arms above his head with a loud groan of satisfaction. "A whole month off? Man, I’m going straight back to my family’s forge to show off this purified Volcanic Mithril!"

"I need to restock my alchemical greenhouse," Seraphina smiled warmly, turning to Mirei and Caelen. "What about you guys?"

"Family estate," Caelen replied simply, though his eyes carried a newfound confidence. "Need to consolidate my spatial sword techniques."

"Visiting my family’s archery range," Mirei added, adjusting her bow.

Finally, they all turned to Rowan, who stood calmly with his Enchanted Straw Hat tilted back, looking up at the clear sky. His awakened Prime Human bloodline thrummed with steady, quiet power beneath his skin, eager for what lay ahead.

"And you, Rowan?" Barney asked with a grin.

Rowan smiled quietly, resting the Hoe of the World-Tiller against his shoulder. "Heading home to rest... and see how much the soil missed me."

The dusty cobblestone road leading into the quiet valley of Greenvale felt remarkably grounded beneath Rowan’s boots. After a week of navigating jagged basalt, sulfur vents, and the oppressive heat of Floor 3, the crisp, sweet scent of blooming wildflowers and turned dirt was a welcome change.

At the edge of the valley sat the Vance family homestead—a modest, white-washed farmhouse surrounded by rolling green pastures and acres of quiet farmland.

As Rowan crossed the wooden gate, the latch gave a familiar, creaky snap.

"Rowan?"

A woman’s voice called out from the side porch. His mother, Martha Vance, set down her basket of fresh herbs, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of her son. She rushed down the porch steps, wrapping him in a tight, warm embrace.

"Look at you! You’ve grown taller... and your skin..." She pulled back slightly, cupping his face and blinking in surprise. The faint, golden sheen in his eyes and the pristine vitality overflowing from his skin were unmissable, even to non-combatants. "You look... healthy, son. So healthy."

"I’m home, Mom," Rowan smiled warmly, hugging her back.

From the nearby barn, a tall, broad-shouldered man with graying hair and earth-stained trousers stepped out, wiping his hands on a rag. Rowan’s father, Arthur Vance, stopped in his tracks, looking at the heavy ironwood shaft of the Hoe of the World-Tiller resting over Rowan’s shoulder and the calm, overwhelming pressure radiating off his boy.

Arthur didn’t say a word at first. He simply walked over, placed a heavy, calloused hand on Rowan’s shoulder, and squeezed tightly, his eyes shining with quiet pride.

That evening, after a long dinner filled with laughter and stories—where Rowan shared gentle, simplified tales of Squad 07’s adventures while keeping the life-or-death details to himself—Rowan stepped out into the backyard under the cool, starlit sky.

He walked past the fence into the family’s small vegetable plot. The soil here was tired, worn down by years of poor harvests and lacking mana density.

Rowan knelt down, digging his fingers into the dry, dark dirt. He closed his eyes, letting his Prime Human bloodline sync with the surrounding earth. He pulled the Hoe of the World-Tiller from his side and lightly tapped the blade into the center of the patch.

[Skill Activated: Breath of Eden - Lv. 2]

A gentle, unseen wave of golden vitality flowed from Rowan into the ground. The dry, cracked earth softened instantly, turning into rich, nutrient-dense black loam. Small sprouts in the patch visibly perked up, their leaves darkening into a vibrant, healthy green as the soil saturated with pure, nourishing mana.

Rowan smiled quietly, standing up and adjusting his straw hat against the cool night breeze.

He had a whole month ahead of him. Time to rest, time to cultivate, and time to prepare for the grand assembly when he returned to the Academy.

Rowan stepped back into his quiet bedroom, closing the wooden door behind him to shut out the soft night sounds of Greenvale. Setting the Hoe of the World-Tiller against his desk, he took a deep breath, centered his focus, and activated his core domain ability.

[Activating Domain: The Virgin Soil]

In an instant, the rustic walls of his room dissolved into a blinding pulse of golden light. When the radiance faded, Rowan stood atop a grassy ridge overlooking his personal pocket plane—The Virgin Soil.

Because a full week had passed in the real world while he was busy conquering the lower floors of the Tower, the domain’s heightened time dilation and pristine mana density had allowed the farm plot to thrive untouched.

The sight before him was breathtaking.

The air inside The Virgin Soil was thick with pure, untamed vitality mana. The small field of Spirit Wheat Rowan had planted before leaving for the Tower had grown into a dense, waist-high sea of shimmering gold, rustling softly under an unseen breeze.

Along the perimeter fence, the Azure Dew Berries glowed with a soft, translucent blue light, practically bursting with concentrated mana nectar. Even deeper, near the edge of the domain’s small spring, the roots of the Earth-Core Roots had swelled, cracking the fertile earth open to reveal glowing amber tubers known for drastically boosting physical endurance and stamina.

Rowan rolled up his sleeves, picking up the phantom projection of his Hoe of the World-Tiller that materialized in his hands within the domain.

[Skill Activated: Earthbreaker Plough - Harvest Flow]

Moving with practiced, effortless grace, Rowan began harvesting the crops. Every strike of the hoe cleanly extracted the plants without damaging their delicate root systems or leaking their stored mana.

Thanks to his awakened Prime Human bloodline, his physical speed and efficiency were staggering. What would have taken an ordinary farmer a full day took Rowan less than twenty minutes.

With the harvest gathered, Rowan looked out over the freshly tilled, nutrient-rich soil of The Virgin Soil. He reached into his spatial pouch, pulling out a pouch of rare seeds he had acquired from the Tower, ready to sow the next generation of spirit crops before returning to the real world.