"Remind me what I sent you to the east gate for?" The Guildmaster growled, eyes locked on the four sitting before him—each one suddenly very interested in the floor, walls, or their own feet.
"We-well... I thought, rather than defending and waiting for an assault, why not blow up their entire hideouts?" Nyx tried to explain, avoiding Renald's eyes like they were laser sights. "Y'know, if they don't have anywhere to ambush us from, they can't get close."
Renald stared at him, face stone-cold. His silence screamed: 'Say one more dumb thing, and I'll blow your ass up instead.'
"You four aren't getting shit for that stunt. You're suspended as mercenaries. Get your asses out of here!" Renald barked, slamming his fist down on the desk with a boom that nearly cracked the wood.
"O-oii, old man! At least give us our share of kills! We dropped at least a hundred beasts out there!" Nyx snapped back, refusing to back down.
"Show me the proof." Renald's stare was sharp, like he'd seen this play a thousand times. The look said: Kid, I was shutting down excuses like that before you were even born.
"We—fine. But why are we getting kicked out, exactly?" Nyx grunted.
Samantha jumped in, her voice calmer. "It's not like we committed some grand crime. Why's the guild tossing us aside? Can we at least know the reason, Guildmaster?"
Renald let out a heavy breath, the kind that said I didn't want to do this either. "Don't worry, I'm not revoking your licenses. But you're all being sent to the academy."
The room went dead silent.
"The academy?" Nyx echoed, confused.
Renald nodded. "Where the elites of the younger generation gather—from every faction. This year, I've decided to pick you four to represent the mercenaries."
'What kind of cliché-ass plotline is this? Academy? What's next, a demon king invading the world with a tournament arc attached? ' Nyx stared at Renald, dumbfounded.
[Even I'm baffled now.] The System chimed in.
Renald continued, laying out the plan. "You'll leave for Aister City next week. Get settled before the entrance exams begin. It's a major border hub—war, politics, powerhouses... and now the academy. It's a place known for turning geniuses into monsters."
"Oiii, hold the hell up. Academy? Do we look like illiterate thugs that need homework and uniforms?!" Nyx exploded, practically jumping from his seat.
"This academy isn't about textbooks," Renald said calmly. "Well, technically it is—but you'll be learning real combat. Survival. Strategy. The kingdom's greatest young talents gather there to fight for the top. Even if you don't win, you'll still leave with power, recognition, influence. This is where the next generation carves their future."
He paused, then added, "And... this order came from the king himself. If you don't comply, I can't protect you from what comes next."
Nyx narrowed his eyes. "So basically, 'put this leash on or get hunted down like a rogue dog,' huh?"
Renald didn't answer. Instead, he glanced at Valon and Ruby. They understood immediately and left the room without a word.
That left Renald, Samantha, and Nyx alone.
"You two especially need to be careful," Renald said, his voice lowering. "The academy's not all it seems. Samantha, you know why. They've stopped forcing... but it doesn't mean they've stopped watching. And you—" he turned to Nyx— "just don't blow up any classrooms."
Nyx raised an eyebrow. 'Huh... Seems, preety interesting.'
He leaned back and let out a long breath. "Great. Now we're going to 'Battle School Royale' with people who'd probably sell their mothers for a promotion."
---
"So, what do you guys say?" Nyx asked, leaning back as they returned to their favorite hangout—the inn.
"I guess we're joining," Valon shrugged, glancing at Ruby, who gave a small nod while holding his hand.
"Show your love somewhere else. This ain't the place," Nyx said, pointing at them like he'd just caught them making out in public.
Valon returned the stare without a word, while Ruby hid her face behind her sleeve, cheeks redder than fire magic.
"Knew something was up the moment I saw you two. Don't you get tired of these lovebirds?" Nyx glanced at Samantha, as if silently saying, They're burning holes in your single-ass soul too, right?
"I'll be going too," Samantha replied flatly, ignoring him entirely.
Suddenly—
"OWWWW!"
Nyx twisted sideways, yelping in pain as Samantha pinched and twisted the skin on his side, glaring at him like she was seconds away from committing murder.
"I guess I'll go too. Can't stay bored around here without you idiots," she muttered.
"Well, we've still got a week left. Wanna blow—I mean, hunt some monsters?" Nyx suggested, quickly correcting himself.
"I'm in," Valon nodded, "but just don't drop us in the crossfire of your giant-ass magic nukes. That last stunt of yours nearly drained my soul out."
Nyx gave him a shit-eating grin and said nothing.
"Well then," Ruby perked up, "let's meet tomorrow for another hunt—and learn a lot."
"Woah, that's the longest sentence I've ever heard from your mouth, Ruby," Nyx said, raising his brows in amusement.
Samantha's response was to punch him in the arm.
---
Back at the manor, Nyx entered through the door—but strangely, neither Rhea nor Karl were around. He found it odd, but didn't dwell on it, heading to his room.
"Haaah... Seems like life's getting more absurd by the day," he muttered, staring out the window.
[What's the fun in a boring life? You get your ass beat, then beat the shit outta someone else later. That's how the cycle works. Don't you think?]
"Y-yeah, minus the ass-beating part—then everything makes sense," Nyx replied, reluctantly agreeing with System's twisted logic.
"Someone's pulling strings from the shadows... don't you think?" he continued. "Right after I handled that pig Vincent, now I'm being dragged to a place filled with spies and betrayal. It's too damn convenient."
[Guess you'll find out soon enough.]
"Yeah... soon enough. But before that, I need to get stronger. Way stronger than I am now."
He clenched his fists, his eyes firm with resolve.
"I still can't unlock Phase 2?" Nyx asked, annoyed. He'd tried every trick he could think of—and failed miserably each time.
[…]
"Bitch... got anything useful for swordsmanship?"
He knew magic was flashy and effective, but when it came to extended battles, he needed something more reliable. His basics were solid—but only basic. In a drawn-out fight, he'd fall behind. He needed something instinctive, something he could rely on even when the odds went to hell.
[Two options available: Advanced Swordsmanship Technique and LightSlash.]
"What's the difference between them?" Nyx squinted. To him, they both sounded like sword techniques.
[Illiterate bastard. The first one's an ability—it builds your foundation and feels like your muscles are getting a damn massage from an old war god. The second one's a skill, powered by mana, flashy but situational.]
[The first builds your base. The second gives you a killer move.]
"I'll go with the—wait, give me the first one," Nyx corrected himself mid-sentence.
Abilities gave him the experience of a seasoned warrior—decades worth of honed instincts crammed into his body, letting him adapt to any style or situation. Skills? Those needed practice and mana to execute, and right now he wanted instinct over flash.
[You sure?]
"What is this? Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Just give it already!" Nyx snapped, diving into his bed, biting down on a rolled-up shirt to brace himself.
Then it hit.
A light sting on his hands at first—then agony exploded through every nerve in his body like a lightning storm inside his veins.
---
"That... was hell," Nyx groaned, dragging himself up from the bed.
His muscles screamed, but his spirit felt sharp—like his whole body had been forged and tempered.
He stood up, flexed his grip, and smirked.
"Now that's what I call an upgrade."