Chapter 84: Gajia Academy 14 - Real Experiences

The first month passed, and the freshmen embarked on their first expedition outside the academy. They were sent to the Decaying Forest for an entire month of training, although they were only allowed to enter the lower regions, as the upper parts were inhabited by Tier 2 beasts.

Their training was closely overseen by their instructors, including Raquan Paw, a Tier 3 practitioner of the Way of the Body, as well as Willow Daye a Tier 2 magicians. Under their guidance, the students fought beasts, practiced their magic, and learned how to survive in an environment far more dangerous than the academy grounds.

Another month passed after their return, and their batch quickly became the talk of not only Gajia Academy, but the entirety of Etia. People began calling them the "Diverging Talents," a name that spread throughout the city because of their extraordinary rate of growth.

Almost all of the students in the batch had reached Tier 3 in magic after only a few months of training. Although several students still remained at Tier 4, their progress was still considered exceptional compared to previous batches.

However, five individuals stood out above the rest. These five were Rize Drough, Akuma Dine, Akira Prosei, Kida Tundral, and Ragnir Rootil, whose abilities had already earned them the title of the academy’s five prodigies.

Three more months passed, and another suspicious incident was reported. This time, the target appeared to be one of Mouna’s major ports, where information had arrived about a demonic fleet approaching the Eastern Continent.

The initial report stated that only three ships had been spotted sailing toward the port. Based on their size and the number of warriors aboard, the fleet appeared to be a battalion whose objective was to destroy the port and disrupt the region’s trade.

Gajia Academy quickly assembled its students and sent them toward the port. The mission was not only to defend the city, but also to give the students valuable battlefield experience before the larger conflict predicted to occur in the future.

Raquan divided the students into five groups, with each group being placed under the command of one of the five individuals who had stood out among their batch. Akuma was assigned one of the groups, despite being considered the weakest among the five prodigies.

The students traveled toward Mubin Port inside several Gajian carriages. Akuma stood toward the back of one carriage, looking at the students under his command before finally raising his voice.

"Everyone, listen up! We’ll arrive at Mubin Port within the hour, and our mission is to defend the city and everyone living inside it."

Akuma clenched his fist and looked toward the road ahead with determination.

"Don’t think of this as another training session. There are real people waiting for us to protect them, so stay together, follow my commands, and watch each other’s backs."

He took a deep breath before raising his voice further.

"We may be students, but today we have the chance to prove that we can stand alongside the warriors of this continent. So let’s give everything we have and show those demons the strength of Gajia Academy!"

A student sitting nearby quietly scoffed at his words.

"They’re just demons. There’s no need to get so fired up."

Another student leaned against the carriage and laughed.

"I bet they’re weaker than the beasts on decaying forest that we’ve fought."

A lizardman sitting among the students crossed his arms and looked toward Akuma with a mocking expression.

"Besides, don’t get the wrong idea, Akuma. Even if we’re weaker than you right now, you’re still the least capable among the five prodigies."

He leaned forward slightly, a smirk appearing on his face. "I bet if we train for a little longer, we’ll catch up to you in no time. Then one of us can take your place."

Another student joined in with a laugh.

"Isn’t his family poor? The only advantage he has is that he’s slightly stronger than us."

Akuma lowered his head as his hands slowly tightened into fists. Their words struck at his insecurities, especially because he knew there was a massive gap between himself and the other four prodigies.

"Maybe you’re right. The gap between me and them is huge."

He raised his head and looked directly at the students around him.

"But right now, you’re still under me. So until this mission is over, you will follow my commands."

The lizardman shrugged with a mocking smile. "Sure, sure."

The students continued talking among themselves as the carriage traveled toward Mubin Port. Akuma remained silent for the rest of the journey, his eyes fixed ahead as he tried to push their words out of his mind.

An hour later, the academy’s forces finally arrived at Mubin Port. Hundreds of students stood in organized rows along the coastline, while the port’s adventurers and Mounoan warriors formed another defensive line behind them.

Everyone waited in silence as they watched the distant sea. Several minutes passed before a ship finally appeared on the horizon, slowly moving toward the port.

Then a second ship appeared beside it, followed by a third.

The soldiers initially remained calm, believing the intelligence report had been accurate.

However, more ships soon emerged from behind the first three. One became five, five became seven, and before long, ten ships were visible across the horizon, carrying at least fifty demonic warriors.

"Why are there so many of them? Didn’t the intelligence report say that only three ships were spotted?"

A human warrior’s voice trembled as he stared at the approaching fleet. The soldiers around him began exchanging uneasy looks as they realized that the situation was far different from what they had expected.

Before fear could spread through the formation, a powerful voice suddenly echoed across the port. Rexevus, the strongest senior student in Gajia Academy, stepped forward and faced the hundreds of students standing behind him.

"Fear no one!"

Rexevus looked toward the approaching fleet with a calm expression. His voice carried across the entire formation, immediately drawing the attention of the students.

"They are demons, and they are no different from any other enemy we have faced. Even if we fall today, we will have forced them to reveal their strength, their numbers, and their abilities."

He raised his fist toward the approaching fleet.

"Every piece of information we gain today will help prepare the Eastern Continent for the war that is coming. So stand your ground, fight with everything you have, and do not allow fear to control you!"

Rexevus turned toward the students and raised his voice one final time. "Show them the power of Gajia Academy!"

Hundreds of students immediately roared in response, their voices echoing throughout the port. The atmosphere that had been filled with uncertainty moments ago was replaced by determination as the students prepared themselves for the approaching demonic fleet.