"He hasn't been here for at least several weeks," murmured Zhao, kneeling to examine the floor more closely. His fingers traced the dust patterns and cold ash remains. The owl feathers on his skin pulsed with mana as he enhanced his senses to detect any lingering traces of the King's presence. He rose slowly, a knot forming in his stomach. Victor had assured him that the stubborn King had only one resting place. If Dragarion wasn't here, there was only one possible explanation: he hadn't returned from the platinum ring. The implications sent a cold shiver down Zhao's spine. "Trouble in battle?" he wondered aloud, his voice echoing hollowly in the empty cave. The decision he now faced was difficult. Waiting indefinitely in territory dominated by Gold 1 creatures wasn't a comfortable situation, even with the ointment trick and his two beasts. The Golden Noses outside might be temporarily fooled, but the effect wouldn't last forever. And they were far from being the only danger lurking in these lands. The alternative was even riskier: venturing into the platinum ring to search for the King. "A Silver 3 tamer in the depths of the platinum ring," Zhao reflected, mentally assessing his chances. Even as a double tamer... "Almost suicide." The platinum ring was territory of terrible creatures. At his current level, he couldn't defend against a single hit from one of them, much less against several. If they found him, it would all be over. His mission, his life, everything he'd worked for… gone in an instant. However, the mission was too important to abandon. The fate of too many depended on it. "If the King is in trouble..." But even if he decided to risk it, the journey itself presented monumental challenges. Reaching the platinum ring would take days flying through gold rings 2 and 3, and that wasn't the most concerning part. The real problem was the three platinum rings: a vast territory, twice as extensive as the gold rings, with hundreds of kilometers of unknown terrain. The maps Victor had provided were useful but insufficiently detailed for such dangerous territory. He knew the theoretical location of the Wood Element mana point, finding it was basic geometry, and he could see the enormous crystal mountain when close, but... could he really get there? The landscape would be alien, the dangers unknown, and the margin for error nonexistent. And then there was the mana problem. In the gold ring, he already needed to consume a potion every three days to counteract the effects of the concentration. In the platinum one, he would need many more, and his supply was limited. The dense mana atmosphere would crush him if he wasn't careful. "Will my improved hiding abilities be enough?" he whispered. The Camouflage Raptor contracted its pupils, a gesture Zhao interpreted as doubt. Even with its mimicry ability and the owl's natural stealth, staying hidden in territory where beasts had supernatural senses would be extremely difficult. The slightest mistake and he would be discovered. Zhao closed his eyes, considering all variables. His self-preservation instinct advised him to return, report the situation, and let Victor, of higher rank and power, decide a new course of action. The logical, prudent choice. But something else, something deeper, urged him forward. A sense of duty that transcended mere self-interest. "If I don't deliver this message in time..." he murmured, thinking of the city's political situation. The delicate balance between factions, the growing tensions, the possibility of conflict. "And if the King is truly in danger..." His decision hung like suspended in the air, while the sun began to descend on the horizon, casting long shadows across the strange landscape. The luminescent vegetation glowed more intensely as darkness approached, creating an eerie, yet beautiful tableau. Returning meant abandoning his mission; continuing could mean never returning at all. ♢♢♢♢ Night had fallen over the academy when the Gray Wing boys gathered in their room. The first semester officially concluded, the free day used to its fullest, and now all that remained was preparing for what would come next. Min dramatically collapsed onto his bed, his Water Snake and Invisible Amphibian materializing to settle beside him. The serpent coiled lazily while the amphibian, barely visible as a transparent outline, perched next to his shoulder. "You won't believe what happened when I got home!" he exclaimed, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. His excitement was palpable, the water snake briefly pulsing in response to his emotions. "Let me guess," Taro responded, meticulously organizing his books for the new semester. "You showed off that you're a double tamer." "Exactly!" Min sat up, enthusiastic. "At first they didn't believe me, of course. My uncle Ferian, the 'high noble' who's always bothering me for being 'clumsy and unserious', looked at me as if I'd told him a Stone Lurker could fly." Liu smiled, already anticipating the outcome. "What did you do?" "A complete show!" Min jumped from the bed, gesturing widely. "First I summoned my snake, normal up to that point. Then, while everyone was nodding condescendingly, boom! I manifested my amphibian." He imitated his family's expressions of surprise, exaggeratedly opening his eyes and mouth. His water snake mimicked the movements, creating a comedic mirror of his antics. "But that wasn't all," he continued, his enthusiasm growing. "I showed them my complex water figures. For the grand finale, I became completely invisible. I silently slipped around the room and appeared behind my 'dear' uncle Ferian." Min burst out laughing at the memory, wiping away tears of mirth. "You should have seen his face when I whispered in his ear. He jumped so hard he fell backward, spilling his entire cup of wine on himself. His shiny silk robe ruined!" Everyone laughed at the mental image of the pompous uncle covered in wine. Even Ren's usually reserved demeanor cracked into genuine amusement. "What about you, Liu?" Taro asked, setting aside the last of his books. "How did your family react?" Liu smiled discreetly, his more reserved attitude contrasting with Min's exuberance. "It was quieter, but equally gratifying," he explained, a soft warmth entering his voice. "My father always had realistic expectations about my bat, so when I showed them my second contract and explained the advantages of the combination..." His expression softened as he recalled the moment, his eyes distant with the memory. "I'd never seen my father so proud, much less crying a little. My mother cried much more, and my younger brothers now look at me as if I were some kind of legendary hero." Ren observed his friends with joy and longing. "Someday I'll be able to do the same," he murmured, more to himself than to the others. His companions fell silent, understanding the weight of those words. They all knew that Ren had sent all his savings to his parents. If anyone had changed their "sad" destiny more in this room, it was him. "You will," Taro affirmed with conviction. "And when that moment comes, it will be even more impressive than all of ours combined." Ren nodded, recovering his usual pragmatism. He moved to his desk and unfolded several scrolls with detailed annotations. The mushrooms in his hair brightened as he focused, casting a soft glow over the diagrams and notes. "We have 180 days ahead," he declared, his tone shifting to that of a living library. "And each of you has clear objectives." The three approached, intrigued by the precision with which Ren had planned their evolutions. "Taro," he began, pointing to a cultivation diagram, "your Living Tunnel should reach Bronze 2 just before the third month. Your Hunter Bug will also reach Bronze 2 by the end of the semester." "Will I really achieve it that quickly?" asked Taro. "With the right resources and methods, yes," Ren confirmed, tracing the path with his finger. "But the tunnel can't reach silver... Don't you have one of those extra fast methods?" Taro asked hopefully. "Your Tunnel's evolution is already particularly efficient since we started it early... Silver needs double the energy but also materials. Be grateful it's not a year like they believe in 'traditional' methods," Ren explained, his tone matter-of-fact but not unkind. He turned to Min and Liu, their faces eager in the soft mushroom light. "You two also have enough time to bring both beasts to Bronze 2 near the end of the semester." Min whistled, happy to be able to catch up with Taro soon. "Is Silver 1 really just 200 exact days with your method?" Liu asked. "Yes... that's the limit I know for now," Ren explained. "Taro won't be able to reach Silver this year because from Bronze 2 to Silver 1 it's double the days. He'll be halfway there." "And you? Do you have some quick and tricky method with tentacles and such?" Min asked, noticing that Ren hadn't mentioned his own beasts. "I'll need to use those 'tricks' to maintain the same speed in the first place... I'll also fall short," Ren admitted. "I'll bring my fungus to Bronze 2 and my hydra as well, but I'll need a few months of the second year to reach Silver rank." Despite these limitations, the atmosphere in the room was optimistic. The projected evolutions represented extraordinary progress for first-year students. "The girls will also rise to Bronze 1 with the manuals I gave them," Ren mentioned, adjusting a diagram that showed multiple cultivation paths. "You're even preparing Luna?" Min asked with a mischievous smile. "If she decides to follow the method, yes, though I sensed she already had significant cultivation progress. She might reach Bronze 2 with us," Ren responded, oblivious to the insinuation. A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. When Taro opened it, he found Lin with an expression too cheerful to be reassuring. "Good evening, young champions!" she greeted, handing them a thick stack of papers. "I bring you the updated schedule of our exercises for the new semester!" The four approached to examine the document. As they turned the pages, their expressions shifted from curiosity to horror. The paper trembled slightly in Taro's hands. "How many repetitions?" Taro murmured, turning pale. "How many kilometers daily?" Min stammered. "Simulated combat against you with additional weights?" Liu seemed about to faint. His night bat vanished in shock. Ren simply stared at the last page, where Lin had added a personal note: "Especially for you, my favorite student: additional magical resistance routine. You'll love it!" The mushrooms in his hair dimmed noticeably. "Success brings responsibilities," Lin sang with a radiant smile. "I've already arranged things with Wei, so I expect you all at dawn tomorrow!" And with a cheerful farewell gesture, she disappeared down the hallway, leaving behind four completely demoralized young men. The sound of her retreating footsteps seemed to echo their doom. "I think I'd prefer to face the abyssal abomination again," Ren murmured, collapsing onto his bed with a groan of anticipated defeat. The mushrooms in his hair flickered weakly, as if sharing his despair. But beneath the momentary dramatics, they all knew that these sacrifices were just more steps in their ascent to levels that, months ago, they wouldn't have even dared to dream of.