The Vanguard Hall pulsed with a different kind of energy when Adrian stepped inside. His sharp eyes noted it instantly, the others had changed. The brushes with death during the first mission had carved something into them.
Their stances were firmer, their gazes sharper, their mana steadier. Near-death had tempered them, pushing each to train harder, refusing to remain the same as before.
Kai stood with his arms crossed, the casual arrogance replaced by focused intensity. Seraphina's radiant composure carried new steel beneath its surface.
Marcus flexed his fingers unconsciously, metal fragments dancing between them in nervous patterns. Elena's breath misted slightly in the warm air, her ice affinity responding to her heightened awareness.
Damon leaned against the wall, but his relaxed pose couldn't hide the predatory alertness in his dark eyes. Lyra hummed softly under her breath, the sound vibrating with controlled power.
Instructor Thorne's imposing figure stood at the center, his presence cutting through the room's quiet intensity.
"Your next mission has arrived."
His words drew every eye forward.
Thorne's expression remained granite-hard as he continued. "City Aranthor's outpost has requested reinforcements. The commander stationed there is a B-Rank."
Ripples of surprise coursed through the cadets. Adrian watched Marcus straighten, his face paling slightly at the implications.
"Sir," Marcus spoke up, his voice steady despite the concern flickering in his eyes. "If the commander is B-Rank... does that mean the surrounding monsters reach C-Rank?"
Thorne's gaze was unflinching as he shook his head. "The strongest monsters in the region are D-Rank. But the sheer density of monsters pressing against the outpost's borders demands the strength of a B-Rank to command."
"A C-Rank officer would be overwhelmed by numbers alone," he added, his spatial aura rippling with emphasis.
Relief washed through the cadets.
"Thank the stars," Seraphina murmured.
Even a single D-Rank monster had nearly cost them their lives. The thought of being surrounded by C-Ranks was unthinkable.
The instructor's tone sharpened as he continued, "This mission is simple. Aranthor prepares for a raid."
"The defenders intend to strike into the Wastelands, thinning monster numbers before they gather into waves. The request for reinforcements came suddenly, and fifty experienced students have already been selected."
Adrian felt his pulse quicken. Fifty experienced students meant this operation's scale was much bigger than their previous hunt.
"You will accompany them, not as the core, but as additional support. This time, you will gain exposure to a large-scale battle."
Kai shifted forward, "How large are we talking, sir?"
Thorne's smile held no warmth. "Four simultaneous raids will launch in each direction of the outpost, each led by a C-Rank Defender."
"Every squad will consist of nearly a hundred fighters. defenders from that outpost, experienced students from the academy, and reinforcements pulled from nearby outposts. The outpost itself has only three hundred defenders, this is why aid has been requested."
The numbers struck Adrian. A hundred fighters per squad, four squads total, they were talking about coordinated warfare on a massive scale.
Damon whistled low, "Four hundred fighters moving at once. That's... substantial."
"This is not like your first hunt," Thorne reminded them.
"You will not be the vanguard. You will be part of a larger formation. Your survival is not guaranteed, but the risk will be far lower."
"Watch closely, learn what true combat between hundreds looks like. This is the battlefield you are meant to stand upon."
The cadets absorbed his words in silence. Adrian felt the shift in atmosphere as understanding settled over.
The difference was clear: their first mission had been a small-scale hunt. This would be their first glimpse of the larger war humanity waged, waves of monsters against formations of trained defenders, order against chaos.
Thorne dismissed them, "Prepare your gear. Departure is in one hour."
The cadets filed out of Vanguard Hall. Adrian walked alongside his teammates, noting how each carried themselves differently now.
The Academy's boarding platform stretched before them. Massive transport vessels lined the docking bays, their hulls gleaming under artificial lights.
Helena's familiar figure stood at the platform's center, her commander's insignia catching the overhead illumination. Fifty students clustered around her in loose formations, their voices creating a low murmur of anticipation.
"Listen up," Helena's voice carried across the platform without strain. Her words silenced the gathered crowd instantly.
"This raid operates under Organization authority. I command this reinforcement group." Her gaze swept over the assembled students, pausing briefly on Adrian's team.
"Your role is support, observation, and survival. Follow orders without question."
Helena continued, "We join four other groups at Aranthor. Each squad targets different sectors of the Wastelands. Our objective is population control before the monsters organize."
"What's the expected resistance?" called out a senior student from the back.
"Dense packs of E-Rank creatures, possibly a few D-Ranks deeper in the territory." Helena's expression remained stone-cold professional.
Kai muttered under his breath, "Sounds dangerous."
The other students began checking their equipment with renewed intensity.
Adrian watched the organized chaos around him. Weapons gleamed as students performed final inspections. Armor straps tightened.
The transport behind Helena hummed to life. The massive vessel stretched nearly two hundred meters, its hull scarred from countless missions.
"Board now," Helena commanded, her tone brooking no delay.
The students moved in waves toward the transport's open cargo bay. Adrian's team found themselves swept along with the tide of bodies.
Inside the vessel, rows of reinforced seating lined the walls. Emergency equipment hung from overhead compartments.
Helena took her position near the cockpit as the last students secured themselves. The transport's engines reached full power, their vibration rattling through every surface.
"Departure authorized," came the pilot's announcement over the intercom.
The platform fell away beneath them as the transport lifted into the sky. Through reinforced windows, the Academy shrank to toy-like proportions.
Their second mission had begun.