Although his mind was still filled with thoughts about his master, Eve, he had to temporarily push that thought away and walked steadily toward the special class building, which was located on the other side of the academy. Nox’s mind was filled with several lingering thoughts. It was already quite late, and classes were supposed to be closed by now. So, what was this urgent gathering about? As Nox walked, he noticed that the crowd was thinning more and more, students heading back to their dorms. But Nox didn’t pay too much attention to that detail and soon arrived at the special classroom. Inside, all the special class students were present, along with Wendy, Headmistress Bridget, and… Brandon. As soon as Nox stepped in, his sharp gaze clashed mid-air with Brandon’s. Though it lasted only three seconds, it felt as if they had been staring at each other for a full minute. Tension filled the atmosphere. The air inside the special classroom was thick and heavy. No one spoke, but the tension was evident. It felt like a single wrong move could spark a dangerous conflict. ’So, it’s you… You were the one that set me up?’ Nox thought, but there was no hostility in his expression. His dark eyes remained completely unreadable. Across from him, Brandon stared back, his face twisted with clear disdain. But there was something else in his gaze—hesitation? Perhaps, even unease? For three long seconds, their eyes remained locked. Neither of them moved, neither of them spoke, yet the silent standoff was unmistakable. Then, without a word, Nox looked away, turning his attention toward Headmistress Bridget. "You called for me?" Bridget nodded and gestured toward a seat. "Take a seat, Nox. We have something important to discuss." Nox glanced around the room. All the special class students were present—Theo, Kali, Glen, Blake, Jared, Nyx, Zara. They were all here, and although the interaction had been brief, they had noticed it. Were they rivals? Words didn’t need to be spoken for everyone to realize that the Rank 1 student and one of the academy’s instructors didn’t get along. Seeing Nox enter, Blake, the enthusiastic busybody, eagerly waved for him to come and sit with him. But Nox clicked his tongue in annoyance and went to sit down near Theo and Jared—the son of the Landon Barony, whom Nox had met the other time. The two nodded at him with neutral expressions. They exchanged warm greetings, meanwhile, Blake seemed to be having an existential crisis as if he was grappling with a profound revelation. Wendy stood beside Bridget in her usual place, her arms crossed as her sharp gaze swept through the class. Nox leaned forward. He felt something was off. It was already quite late—classes had long since ended. Why was everyone still gathered? And why did it feel like something had happened before he arrived? Nevertheless, Nox waited patiently for what appeared to be an important briefing to begin. His fingers lightly tapped against the desk. "What do you think they want to talk about?" he asked Theo beside him. "No idea. I doubt any of us knows," Theo stated evenly. "Wait it is then," Jared chimed in, barely able to keep his composure in the presence of the academy’s two strongest students. Even the others shot him envious looks. At that moment, Headmistress Bridget cleared her throat. Bridget’s piercing purple gaze swept across the room, commanding absolute silence without the need for words. When she finally spoke, her tone was calm yet carried an undeniable weight. Find more to read at freewebnovel "As you all know, the academy is not just a place of learning—it is a crucial part of the kingdom’s defense. Your status as special class students means that you will not remain spectators when the kingdom is in danger." Her sharp gaze landed on each student before she continued. "A Level 6 portal break has occurred in the Tristan Kingdom, in the northern region. The kingdom has formally requested aid, and as part of the alliance, we are obligated to send reinforcements. This will be your first real mission." A heavy silence followed. Some students stiffened in their seats, while others exchanged uneasy glances. Even the most confident among them couldn’t fully conceal their apprehension. A Level 6 portal break—none of them had ever encountered one before. The very thought of it sent a shiver down their spines. It was the highest recorded dimensional rift, one capable of unleashing monstrous creatures that could decimate entire armies. Theo leaned in slightly and muttered to Nox, "That’s… not normal, right? I mean, we’re students." Nox tapped his fingers against the desk again, his expression as unreadable as ever. "No, it’s not." Bridget didn’t give them time to process it further. "You will be accompanied by Instructor Wendy and Instructor Brandon. This is not a mere training exercise. This is a real mission. Expect casualties. Expect the absolute worst." Her words sent a wave of cold dread through the students. Some of them were still processing the enormity of the situation when Ainsworth scoffed and crossed his arms. "We’re supposed to handle a Level 6 break? Us? Students? Are you sending us to our deaths?" Brandon shot him a warning look, but Ainsworth ignored it completely. Bridget, however, remained composed. "You are not being sent to fight the break alone. The kingdom’s forces are already engaged. You are to assist, eliminate threats where possible, and provide support. This will test your skills in a real battlefield environment. If you are incapable of handling this, then you have no place in the special class." The weight of her words settled over the room. Ainsworth clicked his tongue in frustration but said nothing more. Then, Bridget turned her gaze to Nox. "Nox, I called you here because you will be joining this mission as well." The room shifted slightly. Several students turned to look at him, curiosity flashing in their eyes. Nox, however, simply leaned back slightly in his seat, his expression still calm. "Was that ever a question?" He asked.