My lungs were still on fire when we finally reached the rendezvous point. After several minutes of sprinting across the shattered slopes, the forest opened up into a clearing where the light filtered through in golden shards, almost soothing after the hell above. Before us lay a small base camp, firmly established among the trunks: stretched tents, braziers, and nearly a hundred moving silhouettes.

The students of the Azure Pact bustled back and forth, some carrying crates, others inspecting the perimeter or busy at the writing posts. No one stood still. Each seemed to know exactly what to do, where to go, who to help. The murmur of orders, reports, and rapid exchanges formed a constant hum — a pulse of organized life at the heart of chaos.

Shaliel stopped dead beside me, her eyes wide with astonishment.

— "W-what… is this place?"

I gave her a brief smile, wiping the sweat running down my neck.

— "Our communication and medical support relay camp," I replied. "Central support for deployed units. We set all this up to ensure rapid intervention between the five camps during the exam."

She blinked, incredulous, as a group of humans passed by, arms full of orbs and magical maps.

— "So… you planned this far ahead?"

— "You know," I said, stepping forward, "a large-scale war isn't won by strength alone. It's mostly won with your mind."

I paused for a moment, glancing up at the sky still streaked with smoke. The image of the three dragons above came back to me — Sahr'Veyra, Ka'ha'Uhala, and the Ancient. Forces even the mind could not always contain. I exhaled, half to myself:

— "Well… let's just say there are exceptions."

The elves accompanying us looked around, mouths agape. In their eyes, you could read the silent shock they tried to mask behind pride. It wasn't fear. No. It was a sort of reluctant admiration. For them, a camp this orderly, clear orders, a fully functional magical communication network… it was almost unthinkable for mere "human students."

I let them take in the sight and resumed walking. The ground had flattened, beaten by repeated footsteps. Voices rang out, mages gave instructions, captains scribbled maps on crude boards. The air smelled of resin, smoke, and the crackle of mana.

We soon reached the center of the camp. There, a large table had been set under a makeshift shelter, covered with scrolls, maps, and still-glowing runes. Around it, I immediately recognized familiar silhouettes: Ayame, focused, arms crossed, a crystal hovering above the table; Hikari, bent over a report, eyes squinting from fatigue; and Kairen, rigid, expression tight, ready to spring at the slightest alert.

I slowed my pace, catching my breath.

Hikari rushed to me as soon as she saw me. Her feet pounded the dirt, her coat flapping in the hot wind. She almost dropped to her knees beside me, her hands already enveloped in a glow.

— "Are you okay?" she asked, breathless.

I felt the warmth of her spell brush my shoulder, gentle but insistent.

— "Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry," I replied with a small smile. "Just a scratch."

She frowned, unconvinced, but her fingers still touched my skin. The pain vanished instantly, replaced by a diffuse, almost reassuring warmth. I exhaled, letting my muscles finally relax.

Behind her, Ayame approached slowly. Always upright, always calm, her gaze moving from the blood on my sleeve to the dying flames further on.

— "What happened?" she asked simply.

I pointed a little further ahead, at the body lying on the ground. It had been cleaved clean in two, as if a blade of light had sliced it from top to bottom. The face frozen in disbelief.

— "One of them," I said. "He had the misfortune of crossing paths with me at the wrong time."

I stared at him for a moment, motionless. Poor guy… he probably didn't understand anything. Maybe he even thought he was doing the right thing. That's often war: people thinking they're obeying, dying without knowing why.

I raised my eyes to Ayame. Facing her in a situation like this was probably the worst thing that could happen to any opponent.

Ayame wasn't just the strongest among us. She was cold, methodical, and clear-headed. Her composure never wavered, even against the unpredictable. Her instincts now allowed her to read trajectories of the future before they happened. And in every fight, I saw her refining her art, her body, her movements — a conscious, flawless weapon forged by pure will. She was simply a combat genius.

I watched her in silence for a moment, the firelight playing across her features. Yes… if I ever had to fight her, without oblivion, I wouldn't give my skin much chance.

I approached the table, where the glow of tactical orbs cast shifting reflections on our faces. Fatigue showed in everyone's movements, but no one had faltered yet.

I took a deep breath, placing my palms flat on the wood.

— "Have you already communicated with the other units?"

A younger boy immediately straightened up. His uniform was covered in dust and dried blood, but his tone remained firm.

— "Yes, Commander. We've sent several messages. The other teams are moving toward us, gathering any students they encounter along the way."

I nodded slowly.

— "Good… good. You've done well."

My gaze swept across the camp: drawn faces, trembling hands, yet discipline intact. I felt that low hum of tension, the silence before the storm.

I straightened my shoulders.

— "But the hardest part starts now."

A breeze passed through the tents, momentarily chasing away the acrid smell of fire and earth. Ayame lifted her eyes from the map, her dark pupils catching the reddish glow of the surrounding flames.

— "You know what's happening, don't you?" she asked in a low voice.

I held her gaze.

— "You can probably guess," I said. "With all these portals appearing almost at once… Oratius is here."

She didn't flinch, but I saw her fingers tighten slightly on the edge of the table.

— "And the dragons?" she asked after a pause.

I shrugged lightly.

— "For them… I don't know. But from what I saw up there, it looks like they're not exactly against him. Maybe even working with him."

The word hung in the air. In cahoots with Oratius. Just the thought twisted my stomach.

Ayame slowly averted her gaze. Her eyes drifted toward the sky, above the treetops. Up there, the clouds had reformed, heavy and red-tinged. She said nothing. Not a word. Just that silence, which for her, spoke volumes.

I watched her for a moment. That stillness, that calm… It was her way of thinking, or perhaps of restraining herself from saying what she already knew for the proper unfolding of future events. I couldn't even imagine what her blessing might be showing her now that we had gained so many dungeon levels over the past six months.

Shaliel approached me, her face tense, features tight with worry. Her eyes scanned the forest, from which columns of smoke still rose.

— "I have to go find the other elves," she said suddenly, voice too fast, almost trembling.

I raised my hand before she could finish and placed my fingers on her shoulder.

— "Shaliel."

She froze. My tone had been firmer than intended.

— "You need to stay here," I said more calmly. "We can't be separated any more than we already are."

She wanted to protest, but I tightened my grip slightly.

— "Listen to me. My units will bring yours back. Once everyone's here, we'll organize to send aid, but for now, we need you here. Okay?"

Her gaze wavered for a second, torn between fear and hesitation. Then she nodded slowly.

— "Yes… I'll do my best."

— "Good."

I gave her a brief nod before turning back to the camp.

I took a deep breath, projecting my voice above the clamor of tents and the clinking of weapons.

— "Prepare yourselves! Everyone on alert, and follow orders as soon as they come!"

A tense silence preceded the general movement. The students of the Azure Pact straightened as one body.

— "Medical unit, get into position! Teams returning will likely bring injured!"

I turned to Hikari. She understood before I even spoke.

— "I'll let you handle that," I said.

She nodded without a word, already organizing the healing mages around the pavilions.

I scanned the rest of the camp.

— "As for the others, keep watch over the perimeter. No one crosses this area without authorization. And above all, protect our medical units, at any cost!"

A rumble rose, powerful, vibrating.

— "YES!" shouted ninety voices as one.

The sound made the clearing tremble. Even the trees seemed to straighten.

I saw the elves turn their heads, astonished. They were witnessing a cohesion they had never known — discipline born not of fear, but of faith.

Something gripped my chest, a mix of pride and gravity. Yes, I thought. The Azure Pact may just be a group of students, but at this moment, they were worth all the armies in the world.

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