Chapter 481:Plans.

Chapter 481: 481:Plans.

The academy granted the first-years three days of reduced training following the competition. It was not a complete holiday, Peter made that very clear.

But regular classes were temporarily shortened, physical training became optional for students recovering from injuries, and several recreational facilities were opened for extended hours.

Antony considered this a personal insult.

"Three days."

Silver looked toward him.

They were sitting in the cafeteria with Ravenna, Rebecca, Jude, Dillian, Helena, and several others.

He held up three fingers.

"Three entire days," he repeated.

Rebecca sighed.

"Yes,what more do you want."

"And we’re still not allowed outside."

Silver smiled.

"Here we go again," Jude quietly said.

Antony pointed toward him.

"Don’t start."

Jude continued eating without reacting to him.

Antony leaned back.

"Upperclassmen can go into the city whenever their schedules allow it. They can visit restaurants, shopping centers, entertainment districts, and actual stores. Meanwhile, we’re apparently dangerous children who can’t be trusted to cross a road."

Dillian laughed quietly.

"First-year restrictions."

"I know!" He looked toward Rebecca. "Tell me I’m wrong."

She considered.

"You’re not completely wrong."

He immediately straightened.

"Thank you!"

"But complaining won’t change it."

He sighed.

"Of course."

Helena smiled.

"Maybe they’ll allow supervised leave after the next assessment."

Antony looked toward her before shaking his head.

"Everyone keeps saying that."

Silver laughed.

"Because it’s possible."

He crossed his arms.

"I want a date."

Rebecca froze.

Silver raised an eyebrow.

Jude finally looked up.

Dillian smiled.

Antony looked at everyone as though they had grown second heads.

"What?"

Silver smiled.

"A date?"

Antony nodded.

"Yes."

Rebecca slowly turned toward him.

"With who?"

Antony stared at before his lips broke into grin.

"Wouldn’t you like to know?" He quietly said.

Her expression flattened.

Silver laughed.

Jude returned to his meal.

"Unfortunate."

Antony looked offended.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

Ravenna leaned against Silver’s shoulder, laughing softly. He smiled and intertwined their hands.

The cafeteria remained noisy around them.

For a while, the conversation drifted away from the competition.

They discussed classes, training, academy food, and the increasingly ridiculous rumors circulating about the upperclassmen.

Antony claimed he’d heard that third-years were allowed to reserve private transport vehicles.

Jude pointed out that anyone with sufficient authorization could reserve transport.

Antony accused him of ruining every interesting conversation.

Rebecca agreed with Jude.

Dillian mostly laughed without giving his opinions.

Silver found himself enjoying the moment. There was something pleasant about sitting among people who weren’t trying to kill one another.

Even if several of them had spent the previous day doing exactly that in a simulated battlefield.

That evening, he returned to his room and finally opened the Happiness System to review his competition rewards.

He sat on his bed while Antony argued with Jude about whether losing a duel automatically meant someone was weaker while Dillian was reading nearby.

Silver ignored them.

A familiar interface appeared.

[Quest Function Updated.]

[Class-Versus-Class Competition Completed.]

[Primary Objective: Participate in Territory-Control Competition - Completed.]

[Secondary Objective: Contribute to Class Victory - Completed.]

[Optional Objective: Demonstrate Tactical Adaptability - Completed.]

[Optional Objective: Maintain Critical Objective Under Pressure - Completed.]

[Performance Evaluation: Excellent.]

Silver smiled.

The rewards appeared.

[Reward: +4,000 Affection Points.]

[Reward: +3 Unassigned Attribute Points.]

[Reward: Spatial Synchronization Training Method ×1.]

[Reward: Advanced Energy Recovery Supplement ×2.]

Silver nodded.

’That’s useful’

Then another notification appeared.

[Target Development Evaluation Complete.]

[Target: Ravenna Arkland.]

[Significant Improvement Detected: Fire Control.]

[Significant Improvement Detected: Physical Integration.]

[Target Confidence Increased.]

[Additional Reward: +1,500 Affection Points.]

Silver smiled; Ravenna had earned that.

He checked his updated balance.

[Affection Points: 27,214.]

It was a considerable amount.

He opened the Spatial Synchronization Training Method and the description appeared.

[Spatial Synchronization Training Method]

[Classification: Advanced Training Technique.]

[Effect: Improves coordination between spatial perception, spatial movement, and spatial distortion abilities.]

[Primary Benefits: Reduced transition delay between spatial skills, improved energy circulation efficiency, increased stability during combined ability usage.]

His eyes brightened.

That was exactly the kind of improvement he’d been looking for.

He had already learned to combine Spatial Sense, Short-Step, Space Slash, and Spatial Distortion during combat, but doing so still required considerable concentration and energy.

If he could reduce the delay between those abilities, his overall combat efficiency would improve significantly.

He selected the training method and stream of information entered his mind.

Silver closed his eyes as he watched the several breathing patterns, energy circulation exercises, spatial perception drills and a series of techniques designed to improve synchronization between different spatial abilities.

He smiled.

"This is good."

Antony looked toward him.

"What?"

He opened his eyes.

"Nothing."

Antony narrowed his eyes.

"You’re smiling."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

Silver shrugged.

"Good mood."

He stared for a few more seconds before he sighed.

"Must be nice."

Silver laughed softly.

He returned his attention to the system.

Three attribute points.

He considered his current development; his Strength was already considerable, his Agility had improved and his Endurance was good. But Soul Synchronization remained especially important for his upcoming breakthrough.

He assigned two points to Soul Synchronization and one to Endurance.

[Attribute Allocation Confirmed.]

[Soul Synchronization: 53 → 55.]

[Endurance: 37 → 38.]

[Unassigned Attribute Points: 0.]

Silver exhaled, then opened his Rank Development interface.

[CURRENT DEVELOPMENT STATUS]

[Rank: Peak Rank 2.]

[Energy Saturation: 100%.]

[Physical Foundation: Excellent.]

[Soul Synchronization: Stable.]

[Beast Tattoo Integration: Stable.]

[Breakthrough Threshold: Reached.]

[Breakthrough Readiness: High.]

[Recommendation: Complete final stabilization before initiating Rank 3 advancement.]

Silver studied the information.

He was ready but he still wanted to prepare properly.

He opened the Advanced Shop and returned to the item he’d been considering for several days.

[Advanced Beast Synchronization Catalyst)

[Price: 6,000 AP.]

He read the description again.

The catalyst would assist with stabilizing the relationship between his physical foundation and integrated beast characteristics. It wouldn’t guarantee advancement but it could reduce complications.

He considered the purchase, then selected it.

[Purchase Confirmed.]

[Advanced Beast Synchronization Catalyst ×1 Acquired.]

[Affection Points Remaining: 21,214.]

A small sealed container appeared inside his system storage.

Silver examined it briefly.

The catalyst was a pale silver liquid contained within a reinforced glass vial with faint energy circulating through it.

He smiled.

One preparation completed.

He still had the Void Tempering Fruit in storage, but he didn’t even consider using it. That item was intended for after reaching Rank Three. Using it prematurely would defeat the entire purpose of waiting.

Silver closed the storage interface, then leaned back against his pillow.

Now he needed to decide where to advance. The academy possessed specialized breakthrough chambers.

That was one option.

But he also had access to private facilities outside the academy, including those operated by independent Contractor organizations.

There was no requirement that he perform the advancement on campus. In fact, Silver was beginning to prefer the idea of doing it somewhere quieter. Somewhere he could prepare without dozens of classmates asking questions.

He opened his communicator, then sent Ravenna a message.

Free tomorrow evening?

Her reply arrived almost immediately.

For you? Maybe.

Silver smiled.

Very generous.

What do you want?

Dinner. Just us.

There was a pause, then...

Are you asking me on a date?

He laughed softly.

Yes.

Another pause.

Finally.

Silver laughed at that.

Finally?

You’ve been busy.

So have you.

That’s not an excuse.

He smiled.

Then I’ll make it up to you.

Her response came a few seconds later.

You’d better.

Then another message.

And Silver?

Yes?

No training clothes, please.

He looked down at the shirt he was wearing and smiled.

Understood.