NOVPUBThe edge of the dawn sky is still a shade of grey, with a few lonely stars hanging above, as if they were unwilling to part.
All of Ichrite Academy is still in slumber, in tranquil silence.
The fog is heavy today, the air damp and refreshing.
The three members of Civilization Example Team have gathered as planned and are taking a leisurely stroll along the wide path filled with twilight after enjoying their breakfast.
"This time, we’ll slaughter without a care."
"... You two can massacre, I’ll cheer you on."
"Hyperion, you have to protect me, Frey won’t!"
It seems they all enjoy the tranquility and fresh air of the campus at five in the morning.
In the past month, the newly joined Frey has become a close companion to Lanci Hyperion.
Although on regular days at the Sage Academy, Lanci and Hyperion spent a lot of time together, they would likely bump into Frey as soon as they visit the student council office after class.
Sometimes Frey would sit on the couch reading newspapers, sometimes he would be playing chess with the president, and sometimes he would be nowhere to be found.
Lanci always laughed that their team finally brought together a knight, a war law pastor, and a mage, forming a well-balanced triangle.
But Hyperion only felt that they were more like a thief, a hunter, and a shaman. 𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝙤𝙢
She has turned into a functional stealth thief.
Frey’s combat profession wasn’t a defensive warrior nor an assassin; amazingly, he’s a trap-oriented hunter.
And Lanci, this inhuman thing, would summon some disgusting creatures with aura and just stay put, like a shaman.
Hyperion still finds it strange that they can cooperate and fight in the Shadow World.
As for school affairs, when President Monasite entrusted them to handle it, it was always Hyperion that would speak to the other party like a bank clerk, explaining the purpose of the student council.
At this stage, most of the lower-grade students, seeing Lanci and Frey standing not far away, would mostly cooperate very friendly.
As for the students who still refused to cooperate and were somewhat individualistic.
Hyperion would keep a certain distance.
She would leave the communication to Lanci and Frey.
So far, their work hasn’t received any complaints or bad reviews.
The president also said they were very normal.
But for some reason, Hyperion didn’t know why rumors of the "Three Bullies in the Royal Capital" were spreading in the academy...
Two months after they entered the school, time quietly slipped away, and now it was November.
The chill of early autumn blares in the air, seeming to freeze all the warmth in the anticipation of winter.
Even though today is Friday, which should be a school day, the campus was scarcely lively due to the early morning.
Sometimes one could see one or two custodial staff, and some strange students were moving props for parties and camping towards the Jera Memorial Square.
This left the three of them looking at each other in bewilderment, full of confusion.
The three soon arrived at the very heart of Ichrite Academy----
Even in the early morning, the towering protection of Barrier Formula remains powerfully locked on the cube-shaped deep blue iron wall of the Void Gate, giving off a severe sense of isolation. The members of the Royal Palace Knights were still patrolling, poised and ready.
The trio came to the first security checkpoint, using student bracelets and their registered Challenger’s licenses to pass through the only main gate, followed by a series of security checks.
"In two days the academic delegation from Arolan Academy will arrive at our academy for a two-week academic exchange."
In the corridor Lanci said softly, his voice echoing in this grand and empty environment.
"I don’t know how long we will be in the Shadow World."
He continued, a guilty expression flushed across his eyes, as if ashamed he would not be able to participate in the upcoming academic visit.
Although the president had reassured them that they could concentrate on conquering the Shadow World without having to worry about the student council’s affairs, Lanci still cared about the harmony and stability of the campus.
When the three of them were away in the Shadow World, the student council would likely continue to maintain a three-person attendance, with the secretary returning to work overtime in the student council.
The president and the secretary are civil servants of the Alchemy College, they don’t need to challenge the Shadow World. Vice President Asina, on the other hand, is a very powerful Spiritual Mage, but her rank is much lower than the three newcomers and she cannot form a team with them.
However, she indicated that she couldn’t keep pace with the three of them. Even if her rank were within two steps in the future, she would still not be very suitable to team up with them. She is more accustomed to cooperating with the President.
Upon hearing Lanci’s sigh, Frey nodded in agreement.
"If it’s like the Shadow World you two ended within a day last time, we can rest for a day after we come back and then come to the student council to help the president."
He replied in a calm tone, then laughed, seeming to be quite hopeful that he could help the president as well.
The duration of the Shadow World has always been unpredictable.
Although the duration of the Shadow World is generally positively correlated with its rank, the floating range is also quite large.
"We are likely to be back sooner, you two don’t have to worry."
Listening to the banter of the two, Hyperion, who had originally planned to make no comment, still couldn’t help but sigh in resignation.
She really wished the Shadow World time would last a bit longer.
Lanci and Frey, the two hidden talents, by no means represent the average or normal level of the Hutton Kingdom and the Ichrite Academy.
If they return to the real world as student council officers dealing with some official affairs related to the academic visit team from the Arolan Kingdom Academy, Hyperion is worried that the international friends from the Arolan Kingdom may mistakenly perceive the current quality of the Hutton Kingdom’s citizens.
And it’s always the most normal Hyperion who ends up getting inexplicably implicated! Her already precarious reputation is now taking a nosedive!
The shadows of the three of them stretched straightly on the silent corridor under the light, until they finally stepped into the interior of the building.
In the distance, the gigantic door mirror leading to another Shadow World still churned with deep starlight.
"Frey, did you bring our Civilization Example Team card?"
Lanci looked at the final checkpoint and workstation ahead, then glanced at the empty hall in the early morning, asking their new team member Frey.
They just need to register their Challenge License here, let the staff check the wearing status of the [Shadow World Record Program], then they can proceed to the challenge match at the Void Gate.
If they plan to use the [Shadow World Collaboration Program] for a team challenge, they need to also register the team information.
"No problem."
Frey took out the Civilization Example Team card, his mouth curving into a confident smile.
Although this will be his first real Shadow World challenge, he didn’t seem nervous at all.
Soon after, the three of them handed their licenses and two types of Tool Magic Cards to the staff at the checkpoint workstation, waiting for the South Continent Shadow World Management Association staff to complete the registration process for them.
With a team, there is a relationship of trust and cooperation. The overall strength of the team is definitely much stronger than that of strangers who are matched separately. Therefore, as the number of team members increases, the difficulty increases compared to individual challenges.
"Alright, when you come out, just let me read the [Shadow World Record Program] once, and you can get your Challenge License back."
The young female staff member kindly returned the Tool Magic Cards to these three diligent and spirited students and then the gate in front of them opened.
The three thanked her, collected their Tool Magic Cards, and set off in the direction of the Void Gate.
About a hundred steps away, they chatted and laughed easily, until they arrived at this door leading to the void.
The Void Gate was like a bottomless pit. Just by standing in front of it, one could feel an invisible pull, as if it wanted to suck all the nearby creatures into this endless unknown world.
"Friends, are you ready?"
Lanci stretched lazily and asked Hyperion and Frey.
"As long as you’re around, I’m not afraid."
Hyperion smiled. Gone were the fears and apprehensions she had held in her heart the first time she entered the Shadow World.
"I can’t wait."
To Frey, this Void Gate seemed as exciting as the doors to the Ichrite Crown Casino.
As the conversation continued, they passed through the Void Gate that was the surface of a body of water.
Immediately afterward, they were plunged into an absolute darkness where not a thing could be seen, not even the sound of one’s heartbeat could be heard.
As if countless gears were turning at intersecting angles, the resulting roar echoed in the pitch-black space.
[Blood Moon Bad World, the historical projection of "Sacraments Beginning" at the second quarter node has been resolved.]
