With that, Aithlin took his leave. Ian, Dilya, and Taegen returned as well.
But a question lingered in Ian's mind. He had been meaning to ask this for a while now.
Aithlin had said assignment, what kind of assignment?
More importantly, Ian was still trying to make sense of the Combat division as a whole. It was the largest division in the Institute, so where did these people actually go? What did their path lead to?
Sure, there were wild creatures out there, some dangerous. But Ian had seen them firsthand. They could be a threat to Awakened Ones or those still at Zeroth Order, but not beyond that.
Reaching First Order was a complete transformation. Strength, awareness, intelligence, it all changed. The primal instincts of the wild faded, and even many Zeroth Order creatures had intelligence, but those at First Order were something else entirely. They could communicate, reason, so they would generally integrate into civilization.
So that wasn't the threat.
Then what was?
War between species. Ian already knew about that. There used to be plenty of conflicts, but now? They were rare, especially for the top species like elves. Who in their right mind would start something like that? War was expensive, devastating, and ultimately pointless against a species strong enough to retaliate.
Besides, things were completely centralized now. Power was consolidated, governance structured. There were no rogue factions waging war like in the past. Any large-scale conflict would be shut down before it even began.
Yeah, there were terrorist organizations like the Quiet Testament, but in the grand scheme of things, the higher-ups didn't seem too concerned about them. Ian had confirmed this multiple times, first with Master Ordan, who was slightly critical, but especially with High Scholar Durlan.
Durlan already knew about the Quiet Testament and their attack on him and Myrra. Yet, he didn't seem to care. It wasn't that he was indifferent to his students' safety, but…
"The Quiet Testament? They're just rats, nothing more. Rulmose is safe. As long as you are inside the Academy, there's nothing to worry about."
There was a distinct sense of superiority in his words, as if the organization wasn't even worth considering a real threat.
And besides, the Quiet Testament was a hidden force. It wasn't like combat specialists could spend their careers hunting down every shadow.
So the question persisted, what did combat specialists actually do after graduation? What were they preparing to fight?
Ian asked Taegen directly.
Taegen leaned back, thinking for a moment. "Oh… I get what you mean. Well, it's not exactly public information, but it's not much of a secret either. Once you enter the First Order, you find out pretty quickly. Inside Rulmose, it's even easier to learn if you're paying attention. Your combat class, by the end, will go there too… kind of like an outing."
Ian's brows furrowed. "Go where?"
Taegen met his gaze. "The Entropic Divide."
Ian frowned. "The Entropic Divide?"
"Yeah," Taegen nodded. "You see, when the truly strong fight, the damage to the universe is immense. Sometimes, even a single drop of blood from those beings can give birth to incredibly powerful lifeforms. The rules of reality get distorted, space itself becomes unstable. To stop that chaos from spreading, those damaged regions are severed, torn out of existence and thrown into the Entropic Divide."
He gestured vaguely, as if outlining something vast. "Think of it as a graveyard of battlefields. There used to be countless such unstable regions scattered throughout existence. To prevent them from interfering with stable reality, the Apex beings folded space itself and created a separate dimension. That's the Entropic Divide, a containment zone where broken, chaotic remnants of the universe exist."
"And that's where real competition happens." Taegen smirked. "But it's also full of resources. The lifeforms there are basically walking treasures, and there are tons of exotic materials that can't form in stable space. Like Axionite, the stuff we use to make space bracelets and other high-tier constructs. Even most of the Nephorite supply comes from there. Normally, setting up the right synthetic conditions to produce Nephorite is a massive challenge, but inside the Divide, those conditions emerge naturally. The distorted rules makes it much easier to create and harvest materials that would be nearly impossible to synthesize elsewhere."
Ian knew Nephorite. It was one of the key materials that granted anti-gravity properties, essential for high-speed transport and advanced engineering.
Taegen continued "But aside from materials, there are also ruins, remnants of past battles, old civilizations, maybe even entire worlds that got swallowed up when reality collapsed. Some of them are nothing but rubble, but others...." He paused, lowering his voice. "Well, some still hold the legacies of the fallen. Inheritances left behind by those who died before their time. Relics, techniques, artifacts, things that never made it out before the Divide claimed them. If you're lucky, you might find the remnants of a forgotten empire or the stronghold of some ancient powerhouse who vanished ages ago."
Ian frowned. "Have you been there?"
Taegen let out a short breath. "Yeah… only once. At the end of the combat class, they take you there. It's part of the training." He paused for a moment before adding, "I honestly don't want to go back."
"Me too," Dilya muttered.
Ian's curiosity deepened. "Is it really that bad?"
Taegen's expression darkened as he searched for the right words. "Bad… well, how should I say it…"
Dilya exhaled sharply. "Suffocating."
Taegen nodded. "Yeah… that's the word."
Dilya sighed. "There are a few stable pockets out there, areas that have recovered enough to support temporary camps. But most of the Divide is a mess. The energy flow is all over the place: sometimes it's nearly nonexistent, other times it's so distorted or even infected that you can't regulate your own energy properly. That imbalance makes it extremely dangerous."
Ian's fingers curled slightly. So that was what the hundred laps of combat class had been preparing them for.
She continued, "And the creatures there... Most are like wild beasts, but some are on an entirely different level, monstrous and incredibly powerful, and sometimes very weird too. A few even develop intelligence, though that's rare. The universe simply doesn't recognize them as part of its natural order."
Ian frowned, trying to understand. "What do you mean by 'recognized'?"
Taegen interjected. "Yeah. Without recognition, they can't naturally evolve. They don't form proper species, can't reproduce normally and can't grow. Most of them are stuck in an unnatural state, existing but never truly belonging."
Ian's mind churned. The Entropic Divide wasn't just a battleground or a resource hub. It was something far bigger, a place where the rules of reality had fractured, where forgotten legacies and terrifying abominations coexisted. It was also the proving ground where the strongest were forged. Almost every species had a stake in it, using it to train their young, test their elites, and assert their dominance. It wasn't just about survival; it was a display of power, a place where authority was earned and maintained.
Dilya crossed her arms. "If you're interested, you should ask Urricea when she gets back. She's been in the Divide for months now… should be returning soon."
Ian had heard of Urricea before. Another of High Scholar Durlan's students, First Order, one of the top names in Arcane Engineering, and already close to earning the Master title.
Taegen added, "If you get used to the place, the commissions are insanely good. For the same work, you get paid way more if it's done inside the Divide. We don't have to engage in frontal combat or anything, just build and maintain facilities."
That made Ian pause. A fast way to make money… but also a massive risk. He'd have to check the feasibility, and more importantly, the safety, before even considering it.
With that thought lingering in his mind, he returned to his work, a newfound understanding settling in.
After spending some time at the research facility, Ian left, making his way toward the Wizard Sector. It had become part of his routine, picking up Myrra after her class.
Unlike Arcane Engineering, the Wizard Sector felt different. The density of people was noticeably higher, and the atmosphere was heavier with raw energy. Most of the students here were elves, though not the same kind. Some had faintly glowing veins, others had elongated ears sharper than the norm, and a few had intricate sigils etched into their skin. Among them were a handful of other species, but elves dominated the space.
Some carried elegantly carved wizard's staves, their surfaces etched with flowing sigils that pulsed faintly with stored energy. Others had grimoires floating beside them, their pages flipping of their own accord, as if whispering spells into their owners' minds. A few even bore weapons, ornate blades inscribed with arcane glyphs, staffs capped with gleaming crystals, or strange hybrid artifacts that only a wizard could wield.
Ian leaned against a railing, waiting. He didn't draw much attention here. Outside Rulmose, he was often noticed simply for being human, but within the Institute, he was just another student. He liked that.
Myrra stepped out of her class, chatting with three other students, two girls and a guy, all elves.
The first girl, Sylwen, had long blue hair braided over one shoulder, her purple eyes sharp with curiosity. She wore a flowing deep-blue robe lined with intricate patterns, the fabric shimmering slightly, as if infused with an enchantment.
The second girl, Eryndis, had golden-blonde hair tied in a loose ponytail, her emerald eyes bright with amusement. Unlike Sylwen's formal attire, she wore a more practical outfit, fitted leather with reinforced armguards, clearly designed for someone who blended magic with combat.
The guy, Haemir, had dark red hair that fell just past his shoulders, his golden eyes calm and observant. He wore a layered black coat with fine embroidery along the cuffs, and a short dagger rested at his hip, its hilt wrapped in delicate engravings that pulsed faintly with power.
This was not the first time Ian was seeing them. Ian had met them before.
As Myrra glanced up and saw him, a warm smile crossed her lips. Without hesitation, she walked up and took his hand, her fingers naturally lacing through his.
"You're early today," she said, her voice carrying a mix of teasing and fondness.
Ian just smiled, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he shrugged.
Sylwen grinned. "He's dedicated, I'll give him that."
And after a brief conversation. Eryndis chuckled, her eyes lighting up with interest. "There's a ranking match happening at the arena," she said. "Why don't we go watch?"
Ian knew exactly what that meant. The ranking matches weren't just duels; they were battles that decided influence, resources, and prestige. The top-ranked students had access to the best facilities and exclusive privileges. He was familiar with at least two of them, Axilya, of course, and Voron, whom he had seen at the Arcane Engineering ball. Naturally, ranking matches weren't something that could happen randomly. There were strict conditions, and a challenger had to qualify before a match could be arranged.
Ian was interested, so he nodded in agreement.
The group made their way toward the arena. The stands were packed, mostly with newcomers eager to watch.
In the center of the arena, a massive figure sat cross-legged on the ground. He was an elf, but unlike any Ian had seen before, towering, broad, and built like a walking fortress. At least four meters tall, his muscles were packed with dense power, his skin carrying a faint, earthen texture, as if shaped from rock itself.
Eryndis leaned forward slightly, her eyes sharp. "Oncith, the Ironhide. He follows the path of body forging, but on the side, he also practices bloodline refinement. He has the bloodline of the Elduran Colossi, a near-extinct giant race with an affinity for earth and immense durability. He's one of the top five in first order strength rankings."
Ian frowned. This felt off. Normally, the challenger would be the one waiting while the ranked fighter made a grand entrance. But here, it was the opposite.