Chapter 532:Back.

Chapter 532: 532:Back.

She was almost there but didn’t rush. She remembered the consequences of unstable breakthroughs, how easily uncontrolled soul energy could damage a Contractor’s foundation, and she understood that reaching Rank Three with a stable Phoenix Heart Seed would be considerably more valuable than forcing an advancement simply because she was impatient.

So she continued carefully and patiently training with a determination that surprised even Silver.

On the twenty-sixth day, Silver and Ravenna were finally summoned to Peter’s office. The instructor sat behind his desk, examining two documents.

When they entered, he looked up and loudly sighed.

"Finally," he muttered.

Silver smiled.

"Missed us, sir?" He asked.

Peter shook his head.

"Not particularly," he dryly replied.

Ravenna laughed softly.

Silver placed a hand against his chest.

"That hurts."

Peter ignored him.

"Sit."

They obeyed.

He examined the documents.

"Your disciplinary restrictions have officially concluded."

Silver smiled.

"Wonderful."

Ravenna exhaled.

Peter continued, "Your academic standing remains intact. Your rankings have not been altered, and you’re authorized to resume normal class activities and specialization training."

Silver nodded.

"Thank you, sir."

He raised a hand.

"I’m not finished."

Silver immediately straightened.

He continued, "You have missed twenty-six days of coordinated training. Your classmates have continued progressing, and several major academy exercises are approaching."

Ravenna nodded.

"We understand."

Peter looked toward Silver.

"Do you?" He asked.

He smiled faintly.

"Yes, sir."

Peter leaned back.

"Good. Because your individual abilities won’t compensate for poor teamwork."

His expression became serious.

Peter continued, "I’ve reviewed your monitored training records. Both of you have improved considerably."

He glanced toward Ravenna.

"Arkland, your fire control has become noticeably more efficient, and your Rank Two foundation is approaching its limit."

Ravenna nodded.

"Yes, sir."

Peter turned toward Silver.

"And Ruddington..."

He paused.

Silver raised an eyebrow.

"Sir?"

Peter stared at the document.

"Your growth is becoming ridiculous."

Silver smiled, but there was a little confusion on how to take the words as a compliment or insult.

"Thank you?"

Peter sighed.

"That wasn’t entirely a compliment."

He laughed.

Peter continued, "Your spatial abilities have improved at an abnormal rate, your physical conditioning is considerably better, and your swordsmanship has increased faster than expected."

He leaned forward.

"But you’re still Rank Three."

Silver nodded.

"Yes, sir."

"And your classmates have spent nearly a month learning to coordinate without you."

His smile faded.

Peter continued, "You may be stronger individually, but that doesn’t mean you can simply walk back into Class Four and expect everyone to adjust around you."

He slowly nodded.

"Understood."

Peter looked toward Ravenna.

"The same applies to you."

She nodded.

"Yes, sir."

He sighed.

"Good." Then he smiled faintly. "Welcome back."

Their return to Class Four was considerably louder than either expected.

The moment Silver entered the classroom, Caleb stood so abruptly that his chair nearly fell backward.

"HE’S ALIVE!"

Hr froze at stared at him, momentarily speechless.

"Caleb."

Caleb spread his arms.

"THE CRIMINAL RETURNS!"

Several students burst out laughing.

He sighed.

"Wonderful."

Rowan shook his head.

"Ignore him. He’s been practicing that all morning."

Caleb looked offended.

"It was a good entrance."

Mina smiled from her seat.

"Welcome back, Silver."

He nodded.

"Thanks."

Then Ravenna entered behind him and Caleb immediately straightened.

"And the other criminal!"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Caleb."

He froze.

She smiled sweetly.

"Would you like to repeat that?"

Caleb slowly sat.

"No, ma’am."

The classroom erupted in laughter.

Silver grinned.

"Smart man."

Helena approached them from the front of the room, her expression serious, but there was a faint smile on her face.

"Welcome back."

Silver nodded.

"Helena."

Ravenna smiled.

"It’s good to be back."

Helena looked between them and sighed.

"You two have terrible timing," she quietly said.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" He curiously asked.

Helena folded her arms.

"Because we’ve spent the past three weeks preparing for the academy’s next major exercise."

He frowned.

"Major exercise?"

She nodded.

"The Seven-Class War."

The classroom became quieter.

He slowly smiled.

"Oh?"

Helena’s expression hardened.

"Don’t look excited. We’re behind several other classes."

He raised an eyebrow.

"How far behind?" He asked.

She sighed.

"Far enough that I’ve been losing sleep."

Ravenna looked toward her.

"What happened?"

Helena gestured toward the tactical display.

"Class One has been dominating the recent strategic exercises. Class Two has improved considerably under Antony’s leadership, and Class Five has developed an extremely effective defensive formation around Jude."

Silver nodded slowly.

"And us?"

Helena looked toward him.

"We’re improving. But we lost Elias, several students are still recovering from Hollow Creek, and our coordination has been inconsistent."

Silver’s expression became serious.

She continued.

"Now the academy expects us to compete against six other classes in a massive multi-day battlefield exercise."

Silver looked toward Ravenna who looked back at him.

He smiled.

"Sounds interesting."

Helena flatly stared.

"Silver."

He raised his hands.

"I’m listening," he said with a smile.

She sighed.

"Of course you are."

That afternoon, all first-year students were summoned to the academy’s central assembly hall.

The atmosphere was considerably more energetic than it had been during the specialization announcement.

Students from all seven classes filled the seats, discussing rumors about the upcoming competition.

Antony sat near the front with several members of Class Two. Dillian occupied a seat among Class One’s students. Jude and Rebecca were also present.

Silver sat beside Ravenna and Helena. Caleb leaned forward and whispered.

"I heard the battlefield is enormous."

Rowan nodded.

"Apparently, it covers several kilometers."

Mina looked toward them.

"And there are seven separate bases."

Silver smiled faintly.

"Interesting."

Helena sighed.

"Please stop saying that, it’s annoying me."

He laughed.

At that moment, the academy’s senior training coordinator stepped onto the stage and the hall gradually became quiet.

"First-year students." His voice echoed through the enormous room. "Over the past several months, you have undergone foundational combat training, practical field exercises, and the beginning stages of specialized development."

A massive display appeared behind him. It showed a sprawling battlefield; forests, rivers, abandoned industrial districts, hills, fortified structures, underground passages and seven marked locations.

The coordinator continued.

"Your next major evaluation will test everything you have learned."

The display changed.

[ALPHA THREE ACADEMY - SEVEN-CLASS WAR.]

A wave of excitement spread through the hall.

The coordinator raised a hand.

"The Seven-Class War is a multi-day strategic competition involving all seven first-year classes. Each class will be assigned a fortified base and a limited quantity of starting resources."

The display showed seven colored territories.

"Your objective is to accumulate points through the capture of strategic checkpoints, control of supply stations, completion of hidden missions, acquisition of intelligence, and recovery of class tokens."

Several students began whispering.

The coordinator continued.

"Direct combat is permitted under academy safety regulations. Elimination will be determined through monitored protective equipment and referee systems."

A second display appeared.

[Competition Duration: Five Days.]

[Participating Classes: Seven.]

[Primary Objectives: Base Defense, Checkpoint Control, Supply Management, Intelligence Acquisition, Hidden Missions, and Class Token Recovery.]

[Temporary Alliances: Permitted.]

[Betrayal of Alliances: Permitted Within Competition Rules.]

[Final Rankings Determined by Total Points and Remaining Strategic Assets.]

The hall erupted.

Silver raised an eyebrow.

"Alliances?"

Ravenna smiled faintly.

"That should be interesting."

Helena looked toward the display, her expression becoming serious.

The coordinator continued.

"Understand that this is not simply a combat tournament. A class that possesses superior individual fighters may still lose if it fails to manage supplies, protect its base, or respond to changing battlefield conditions."

Silver leaned forward.

Now that is interesting.