A huge airship floated through the sky. The evening sky was glowing with an orange shade, making it more beautiful than usual. But no one inside the airship was enjoying this scenery. There was no way they could enjoy it.

Just hours ago, they had left Lunaris Haven full of excitement. Laughing, chatting.

The students who were full of happiness while leaving Lunaris Haven today… now they were all silent.

No one looked out the windows.

No one admired the sunset.

Students sat quietly, some wrapped in bandages, some leaning weakly against the walls.

Even the professors looked exhausted, their expressions grim. The airship hummed softly, but the silence inside swallowed everything else.

There on one side,

Marcus sat beside Aisha, unusually quiet, her fluffy ears drooped. Across from them, Seraphina and Elena sat, both covered in dirt and dried blood. No one talked for a while.

Probably because the one who always spoke first. The one who always lightened the mood was missing.

Seraphina finally broke the silence. Her voice was low, trembling despite her calm expression.

"Amon should have been back by now with us… but now he's gone… no one knows where."

Elena's fingers tightened around her skirt. "He really is reckless." Her usual cheerful expression was long gone.

Aisha swallowed hard. "…That idiot should not have followed that enemy." She never thought… that she would actually feel sad for Amon not being beside them.

The one who always joked and acted like an idiot. He was weak… someone not likable for a beastwoman like her. Yet he got close to her without knowing.

Marcus let out a shaky breath through his nose. "Yeah. That idiot always jumps into weird things without thinking much…" He forced a weak smirk, but it fell apart almost immediately. His usual arrogant tone was absent.

Seraphina lowered her gaze. "Professor Adelia said that Headmistress Isabel will look after this. If she is involved… then I can say they can find Amon faster."

Elena nodded slowly. "But there was no trace of him at all. But if it's Headmistress Isabel… then it's different."

Aisha bit her lip, ears trembling. "W-What if… something happened to him? He's too weak compared to any of us."

Marcus clenched his fists. Despite trying to act like it didn't bother him… he was not feeling well.

The crack in his expression betrayed him.

A heavy silence filled the cabin again.

Even the sound of the airship engines seemed to fade.

Seraphina looked at her hands. Hands that still shook from the earlier fight. "Hah… everything is already done… we can't change it. All we can do is hope that wherever he is, he will be fine."

Elena nodded. She exhaled.

Seraphina's eyes softened, but her chest tightened painfully.

"…Amon," she whispered to the fading sky outside the window,

"Where are you…?" Seraphina questioned, with an emotion she didn't feel before.

All she can do was pray for his safety.

---

On another corner,

Near a window sat a boy with dark blue hair. His eyes of similar color stared outside the window.

He was not sad like the others. Not missing Amon.

Though there was a little guilt still residing in him.

After all, he was the one who threw Amon inside the portal.

He turned his face forward.

'System.'

A faint ding echoed in his mind.

---

[SYSTEM]

[Welcome back, Host: Arnold Bigod]

A translucent blue window appeared before his eyes. Visible only to him.

Arnold's eyes sharpened.

[New Mission Available]

[New Mission: Increase your power level to peak of Mana Initiate]

[Time Limit: 30 days]

[Reward: ???]

[Host, you must grow stronger to survive future threats. So don't feel guilty about anything.]

[Mission Completed: During the airship assault above Greenveil Forest, take the opportunity to push Amon Vale into the enemy's unknown spatial portal.]

[Reward: +10,000 EXP, Skill Enhancement Stone (Rare)]

[Total EXP: 50,590]

---

Arnold clicked his tongue lightly.

"Tch… as annoying as ever," he muttered.

The System didn't care about his emotions. It never had.

It only pushed him forward. Relentlessly.

Arnold's jaw tightened.

He didn't feel fear.

Nor sorrow.

But the reminder made his pulse quicken.

Amon Vale… wasn't simple.

This was not the first time he got a mission related to him. He had also gotten the mission to send Amon to Mistvale Town in his stead.

'Well, it doesn't matter… I should check my status. I need to reach the peak of Mana Initiate in thirty days,' he thought.

He opened his Status window.

---

[Status Window]

Name: Arnold Bigod

Class: Astral Knight

Special Class (Locked): Hidden Hero

Rank: Mana Initiate

Element: Starlight

Mana: 2345

Strength: 214

Agility: 178

Speed: 180

Endurance: 170

Skills: [Astral Gleam Sword Art], [Starlight Sword Art], [Basic Swordsmanship], [Basic Spearmanship]

Spells: [Starlight Defence], [Starflare Spark], [Twilight Blink], [Star Orb], [Basic Healing], [Astral Pulse]

Abilities: [Starfall]

---

His lips curved slightly.

'I'll reach the peak easily. With all the EXP I got.'

Then he remained silent.

'System… what are you actually planning? Why are you targeting Amon Vale? I don't find any reason why you are doing this. If that was not enough… I did as you said… yelled at him to chase the masked man… then held his hand and threw him. It was as if you manipulated everything at that time.' He asked to System.

The mechanical voice responded immediately.

[Host. I cannot tell you the reason. You are not strong enough to access that information. But be reassured. I always ask you to do what is beneficial for you. This is all for you. You will understand it when the time comes.]

Hearing that, Arnold went silent.

He really didn't believe in this System… but at the same time… this thing had always given him benefits.

Always on his side.

"Hah…" He exhaled. He decided to stop asking it questions. Since it will be useless anyways he won't get any answers.

He shut down the System.

He glanced out the window again. The orange sky reflected in his calm, calculating eyes.

'It doesn't matter… no matter what I need to do. I will become the strongest… no matter what it takes. Sorry Amon… but I don't regret what I did today.'

While everyone drowned in worry and fear…

Arnold was only thinking of one thing.

Growing stronger.

Stronger than the monsters.

Stronger than the professors.

Stronger than the enemy.

Stronger than Seraphina Lumious.

Stronger than anyone.

No matter the cost.

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