Chapter 233: Current Squad Rankings - Day 1
===============
[Top 10 Current Squad Rankings — Day 1]
{1} Squad 5 (Silvena D’Elvoire) - 860 Pts
{2} Squad 2 (Calyra Arcanis) - 680 Pts
{3} Squad 4 (Rosalin Varion) - 680 Pts
{4} Squad 6 (Irene) - 580 Pts
{5} Squad 1 (Julian Rozenberg) - 500 Pts
{6} Squad 34 (Ardyn Renhart) - 480 Pts
{7} Squad 3 (Loden Armand) - 480 Pts
{8} Squad 51 (Emily Greysha) - 480 Pts
{9} Squad 11 (Marionette Bon Roselle) - 440 Pts
{10} Squad 23 (Ben Donër) - 440 Pts
===============
The academy had made it clear from the very beginning that every midnight, the top 10 squads would be announced, along with their total points and the names of their leaders.
Ruvian looked over the rankings.
From a single glance, he could already tell that events had already gone on differently from the original novel.
He looked at Silvena’s name.
’Haa... that crazy woman. What the hell is that amount of points?’
He proudly smiled.
’Oh well, I guess with her blessing, I’d be more surprised if she hadn’t found one or two flags already.’
Ruvian had already gone through Silvena’s [Bookmarks] before. And as expected, she possessed the same [Flag Bearer] Nature Card as he did.
’And I bet that she bought the items for herself too and used the [Shroudcloth] to conceal the flags that she found. If so, then no wonder her points have already skyrocketed on the very first day.’
Suddenly, Arlok, who had been staring at the rankings, let out an exasperated shout.
"What the hell? Why aren’t we in the top 10!? We earned 440 points today too!"
Yerin studied the rankings for a few moments before answering.
"I think they’re ordered by which squad reached that score first. There were probably too many squads that ended the day with the same number of points."
Arlok clicked his tongue, his expression darkening with annoyance.
Yerin rose to her feet and stretched lightly.
"Anyway, let’s get some rest before tomorrow. Ruvian, give me a hand cleaning up. The three of you should get some sleep first."
She glanced toward them before adding:
"Ruvian and I will take the first watch."
*****
Several hours passed in the blink of an eye.
Throughout the entire first watch, Ruvian never stopped cultivating. Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, he continuously circulated the [Cosmic Fountain Technique], carefully refining the flow of mana through his body.
There was no reason to waste such precious time doing nothing. After all, every second spent cultivating was another step toward becoming stronger.
Not far away, Yerin quietly watched him the whole time.
Her eyes stayed fixed on Ruvian, obsessively observing every subtle fluctuation in his mana as she silently analyzed the way he controlled it.
Ruvian was well aware that Yerin had been staring at him. At first, he paid it no mind. She could watch all she wanted.
But somehow, 30 minutes had already passed, and her gaze had never once left him! (+200PP)
’Doesn’t she have anything else to do? I can’t even focus properly like this.’
Apparently, Ruvian’s focus was momentarily disrupted.
’Haa... I should say something...’
But just as Ruvian was about to speak a word, his lips froze. Beyond the earthen shelter, somewhere within the suffocating darkness, he sensed something through his [Heightened Sense].
There was something lurking outside.
Yerin reacted at nearly the same moment. A glance in her direction was enough to tell him she had detected it as well.
Ruvian stared at his [Nightward Ring] and [Nightward Necklace].
’The hell... does this thing not work?’
He inwardly cursed.
It wasn’t only Ruvian who wore one.
His teammates did as well!
With all five of them benefiting from its effect, the combined deterrence should have been more than enough to keep ordinary Voidspawns away from their shelter.
’Unless... whatever the thing out there has a far greater resistance to ignore the repellent field of these artifacts.’
If that was the case, then it was best to be prepared.
Ruvian gestured toward their sleeping companions, signaling Yerin to wake them.
Yerin immediately understood Ruvian’s intention.
Without wasting a second, she quietly moved toward the sleeping trio. One by one, she gently shook Arlok, Shima, and Horren awake while covering their mouths before they could make a sound.
The three of them tensed for an instant, but the moment they saw the serious look in Yerin’s eyes, whatever complaints they had vanished instantly.
She gave a subtle gesture toward the dark sky above the shelter before pointing to her ears.
’Something is outside.’
Understanding the situation at once, the trio silently picked up their weapons and took their positions. Yerin then snuffed out the campfire, plunging the shelter into darkness.
In an instant, not a single sound came from any of them.
Ruvian closed his eyes and devoted his full concentration to [Heightened Sense]. He carefully searched for the presence beyond the shelter once more, but this time, he found nothing.
He frowned.
That was strange.
Just moments ago, he had clearly sensed something lurking outside.
Arlok lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Hey... is there really something out there? This is not a good time for a joke."
Ruvian didn’t answer.
Neither did Yerin.
But just as Shima was about to speak, Ruvian sensed it.
A faint fluctuation of mana.
His eyes snapped open.
It was unbelievably close. So close that it felt as though the source was standing just beyond the earthen wall of their shelter!
’Shit.’
Ruvian’s expression changed instantly.
Without the slightest hesitation, he cast [Wind Barrier] and [Body Enhancement], flooding the spell with every drop of mana he could control, desperately reinforcing it to withstand whatever was about to come. (+1,000PP)
The instant [Wind Barrier] was cast, violent streams of wind converged before Ruvian with astonishing speed.
In less than a second, the swirling currents compressed into a dense, translucent wall between him and the earthen barrier, layer upon layer until it resembled an invisible cushion of immense pressure.
Then it happened.
BOOM!
Just as Ruvian had feared, something colossal crashed into the earthen wall.
The reinforced earth was obliterated in an instant!
Chunks of rock and packed soil erupted through the shelter, and before anyone could even see what had struck them, an overwhelming force crashed directly into Ruvian’s [Wind Barrier].
The barrier held for only a fraction of a second.
A deafening blast erupted as the compressed winds buckled under the unimaginable impact.
In the next instant, the entire shelter collapsed.
As for them?
Ruvian, Yerin, Arlok, Shima, and Horren—
Every one of them was blasted away in different directions, swallowed by the exploding wreckage as the monstrous force behind that single blow overwhelmed everything in its path.
──────── ✦ ────────
[Chapter 233: Current Squad Rankings - Day 1]
Plot Points= 17,920
