Chapter 75: Crazy Rewards

"While it may be an overstatement to say the fate of Mordran depends on this, it can definitely be said that whatever secret lies behind this portal will be powerful enough to send waves rippling through Mordran and possibly usher in a new era of Arcane understanding for us."

He explained, making each of them understand the gravity of the situation.

"Your missions are simple. Step into this portal and be the eyes of the explorers outside. That is your only mission!"

He explained, and in that moment, the panel flashed before Declan.

[Epic Quest Generated: Explore The Germunda Portal!]

[Rewards: ???]

"And if you perform this mission to the best of your ability and come out alive," Sir Lycanoid said, bringing their attention back to him, "the least of the rewards you will receive from the Academy are... Perhaps a better rephrase."

"Most of you here are already close to the Peak of Integration with the Heart Core and are even capable of fusing with a Physique Core, though you have all yet to fuse."

Sir Lycanoid spoke, and Declan glanced sideways at the others.

’They’re already capable of fusing with a Pyshique Core!?’

"And it’s not news that students have to buy their Physique Core themselves, something which costs more than millions of Nollars. For the rewards of this mission, the Academy is willing to make an exception."

"All you have to do is mention the name and model of the Physique Core you wish to fuse with, and the Academy will procure it themselves while also giving you a free fusion from its best Mech Designers!"

He announced and excitement immediately gleamed in the second-year students’ eyes.

The Academy might have been generous enough to hand out Seed Cores for free to newcomers, but Heart Cores were a different story.

They were far too expensive for the Academy to provide free of charge, so students had to earn points to obtain them, mainly through missions outside the school, many of which were dangerous.

As for Physique Core, which ranked even higher, its price was outrageous, and there were even third-years who had yet to fuse with a Physique Core simply because it was far too expensive.

And now, they were going to be given one for free, and not just any Core, but any model their heart desired.

They no longer had to settle for fusing with low-grade Physique Cores because of the price.

"Not only that, but each of you will be credited with 10,000 points upon your arrival back at the Academy grounds!"

"Ten... ten thousand points!?"

"That’s insane!"

"The same applies to you, Declan," Sir Lycanoid said, turning toward him.

"You will also be allowed to choose any model of Heart Core with which you’ll fuse, no matter how expensive or rare, and you’ll receive another 10,000 points upon your return."

"And there’s one more special reward...just for you."

At those words, the rest of the second-years turned their eyes toward Declan, who raised an eyebrow before asking,

"And what is that?"

"You will be given an automatic promotion to Second Year the moment you arrive back on the school grounds, and you’ll be allowed to remain in any profession of your choosing," Sir Lycanoid replied, leaving Declan momentarily speechless.

"I will be promoted to Second Year!?"

He had only spent three months at the Academy, with another seven months still remaining before his first year was supposed to end, yet he was now being offered an automatic promotion simply for completing this mission.

"Tsk, lucky bastard," one of the second-years muttered, clicking his tongue as he glanced at Declan.

"While this should certainly excite you, I also hope it makes it sink into your heads just how much we value the success of this mission."

Sir Lycanoid continued, his expression becoming more serious.

His voice grew quieter as silence descended upon the room, because if the Academy was willing to go this far with its rewards, then it clearly showed just how much importance they placed on the team’s success.

"With that understood..."

Sir Lycanoid stretched his hands forward and brought out an object before tossing it toward the center of the room, where it landed on the floor and immediately began shimmering with nanotechnology.

The particles rapidly assembled themselves into a circular platform roughly one meter in diameter.

"A teleporter?" Declan mused.

"There’s a jet waiting. We leave now, and you’ll get your gear in there."

With that, Sir Lycanoid stepped onto the platform, and a brilliant flash of light erupted around him before he disappeared.

"I guess it’s time to leave," one of the second-years called out as he rose from his seat and stepped onto the teleporter, disappearing in another flash of light.

The others soon followed, standing one after another and stepping onto the platform until only two remained.

Declan had deliberately tried to be the last one to leave, but the tall young man with white hair had apparently figured out what he was doing and simply stared at him while silently gesturing for him to go first.

Declan could only roll his eyes at the man’s obvious attempt to ruin his plan before finally stepping onto the teleporter himself.

The white-haired man looked around the now-silent hall before turning toward the elevator, where he stood for a moment before finally stepping inside.

The instant he did, the teleporter reformed into a simple circular object, after which the ground beneath it trembled and opened up, swallowing the device before sealing itself shut once more.

_________________

[Travelling to an Alien Danger Zone.]

[How are you feeling?]

The system notification panel blinked before Declan as he sat by the window of the jet, watching the clouds stream past while being held tightly against his seat by belts that crossed diagonally over his shoulders in an X.

His clothes had been changed as well, and he was no longer wearing his usual hoodie; instead, he was now clad in a sleek white-and-blue battle suit consisting of a simple shirt and trousers that felt surprisingly light despite having the texture of liquid metal whenever he touched them, its durability so impressive that calling it merely tough would have been an understatement.

Over the suit, he wore a long coat lined with pockets containing various items considered essential for the mission, while its high collar rose far enough to cover the lower half of his face.

Five other seats surrounded him, occupied by the rest of the team, and although nobody was saying much, the atmosphere inside the jet remained tense and quiet, with a faint pressure lingering throughout the cabin.

’While I might not get the chance to go look for Sir Tonald Eldwoord.’

’If I succeed in this mission, I get to be promoted to Second Year, which will give me the ability to leave the Academy once in a while to perform missions.’

’That gives me even more options to move out, so even if things will no doubt be dangerous, perhaps even life-threatening. I have to get that promotion reward at least.’

He mused silently, his hands clenching into fists as determination settled firmly within him.

[So, you’re... expectant?]

’Yes. That’s the word.’

___________________

Three hours later...

"You’ve arrived at your destination. Direct air expulsion will now begin in 3... 2..."

The AI voice rang through the cabin as the countdown began, and Declan’s expression changed the instant he heard it.

"Wait, direct air what... holy shiii—"

Before Declan could finish, the seat beneath him suddenly sank into the floor, and in the next instant, he found himself staring eye-to-eye with the clouds as his body rapidly plummeted toward the ground.

"Holy..." he cursed aloud, soaring through the air at breakneck speed.

They had been thrown out of the jet.

Declan quickly twisted around and found the second-years falling alongside him, but the sight of them immediately made his eyebrows twitch, because while he was flailing uncontrollably through the air with his arms swinging wildly and his face growing paler the closer the ground came, they were all standing upright in the sky with their arms crossed, perfectly calm as they looked at him with expressions that seemed to silently ask, You good?

"Uh... apologies," Declan said, forcing himself to steady his stance before crossing his arms and adopting the same unimpressed expression as the others.

His quick imitation couldn’t help but make them grin, although there was little time for amusement because the ground was getting closer and closer until it was only fifteen meters away.

At that moment, they all reacted simultaneously, tapping their wrists as the soles of their shoes rippled before,

VROOOOOOOM!

Powerful energy waves burst from beneath their feet, launching each of them several meters upward and canceling their downward momentum before they landed gracefully on the ground.

Their combat suits clearly weren’t for show, because even down to the shoes, everything had been designed with practical functionality in mind.

They had received a quick briefing about the suits back in the jet, but placed in such a situation, someone who wasn’t quick-witted might never have thought to use the shoe-jets to cancel their fall, which was precisely why the second-years watched Declan with interest and silently nodded in satisfaction when they saw him land in a crouch without suffering any injuries.

He had figured out the same solution they had, proving that although he was obviously the weakest among them, he at least possessed quick thinking.

Declan switched off the nozzles and rose back to his feet, but when he turned toward the others, he noticed that they were all staring behind him, their necks tilted upward and their eyes widened in surprise.

He slowly turned around only to freeze.