Chapter 36
Blaze and the rest of the first-year students gathered in the vast courtyard, the very place where they had once stood trembling before their entrance trials. But today was different. Today, they weren't just aspiring students fighting for a place in the academy—they were stepping into something far greater.
A grand podium loomed before them, occupied by the most powerful figures of the Wizard Knight Academy. The department heads stood in their usual imposing manner, their robes signifying their respective squad and department. But what truly caught everyone's attention was the man standing at the center.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"That's the Mage Principal!" someone whispered in awe.
"The Mage Principal himself… I can't believe he's here!"
The atmosphere became charged with an electric thrill. It wasn't every day that students got to see one of the most powerful figures in the entire White Continent.
The Mage Principal was not just an esteemed leader of the academy—he was a member of the Divine Missionaries, an elite group that ruled over the continent. These powerhouses weren't just guardians of the land; they were walking legends, capable of toppling mountains and splitting the skies with a mere flick of their fingers. The fact that the Wizard Knight Academy was under the leadership of such a figure was proof of its supreme standing among magical institutions.
The Mage Principal stepped forward, his presence both regal and effortless. His robes, though made of the finest silk. His bright smile radiated confidence, easing the nerves of the first-years standing before him.
"Welcome, students," he greeted, his deep voice carrying through the courtyard. "Today, you embark on your first Portal Expedition. Inside the portal, you will face dangers unknown and opportunities unseen. Some of you will rise. Some of you… may fall." He let that linger, letting the weight of his words sink in. "But I trust in your potential. Show us your strength."
A murmur spread among the students—fear, excitement, anticipation.
Kaito leaned toward Blaze, whispering, "So basically, he's saying, 'Good luck, don't die.'"
Blaze snorted, trying to suppress his laughter. "Yeah, that's one way to put it."
The students were soon led into the Chamber of Portals, a massive hall where four glowing doorways pulsed with raw energy. At the center of the room stood four portals, each filled with a swirling liquid of a different color—green, yellow, red, and black.
A professor stepped forward, pointing at the portals.
"Each of these represents a portal tier," he explained. "The Green Portal is the safest. The strongest beast you'll encounter inside is at the Alkyl Phase—a challenging foe but manageable for beginners."
"The Yellow Portal is next, where the strongest creatures have reached the Origin Phase. A level far beyond most of you at this stage."
"The Red Portal… well, that's where things get dangerous. Inside, the strongest beasts are at the Overlord Phase. These are creatures that could wipe out entire squads in seconds."
The professor hesitated for a moment before gesturing toward the Black Portal. Its swirling energy seemed darker, more ominous, as if it was watching them back.
"As for the Black Portal… we have no idea what's inside."
A hush fell over the room. The very idea of an unknown portal was enough to send chills down their spines.
"Great, let me guess," Kaito muttered, scratching his head. "The Black Portal leads straight to the underworld, and whoever goes in gets a free funeral service?"
A few students chuckled nervously.
"For now," the professor continued, ignoring the joke, "you will all be entering the Green Portal. As first-years, you are still at the Foundation and Collection Phases, so the beasts you encounter will be a challenge—but not impossible. Proceed with caution, and work together if you want to survive."
Blaise, Kaito, and the rest of their group stood before the pulsating Green Portal. Around them were students from every department—Blue, Black, Red, White, Purple, and Green—all gathered for the expedition. It was a rare sight to see Portal in action, as only the highest-ranking factions possessed them. The fact that the Wizard Knight Academy owned four was a testament to its unparalleled status.
Kaito rolled his shoulders. "Well, no turning back now. If we get eaten, I just want you all to remember—I owe you guys nothing."
Blaze chuckled. "Noted."
The portal flared, its surface rippling like liquid energy.
"Enter!" the professor commanded.
One by one, the students stepped forward and disappeared into the swirling abyss. As Blaze crossed the threshold, a strange force pulled at his body, his vision warping as the world shifted around him.
And then—
Darkness.
Then light.
The group landed on rough terrain, the air thick with unfamiliar energy. Around them stretched a vast jungle, its trees impossibly tall, their leaves glowing faintly. The ground pulsed with veins of some unknown mineral, humming with latent power.
_ _ _ _
The moment Blaze and the rest of the Black Department students stepped through the portal, they knew they weren't on Tenebrous anymore. The air crackled with an unfamiliar energy, dense and mischievous, almost as if the very atmosphere was playing tricks on them. The sky above wasn't the deep obsidian they were used to—it was a swirling mix of violet and crimson, shifting like liquid fire.
Around them stretched a wild jungle, but it was unlike any they had ever seen. Towering trees, their trunks twisted and gnarled, reached toward the sky, their leaves glowing faintly. The ground pulsed with strange veins of energy, and somewhere in the distance, an eerie howl sent a shiver down their spines.
It didn't take long for the division between departments to show itself.
"Tch. I'm not sticking around with them," one of the students from the Blue Department sneered, flicking a glance toward the Black Department. "They'll just slow us down."
"Agreed," a Red Department student scoffed. "They barely qualify as wizard knights anyway."
The various department students began breaking off into their own groups, each faction moving in different directions. The Black Department, as expected, was left behind.
Blaze exhaled, shaking his head. Same old story.
But his classmates didn't seem too bothered. They gathered around him, expectant, waiting for guidance. After all, Blaze wasn't just another student to them—he was their hero, the one they believed in.
"Blaze," one of them spoke up. "What should we do?"
Blaze crossed his arms and shrugged. "I don't know. Do what you like."
Silence.
The students blinked at him, their expressions quickly turning into one collective "seriously?" look.
"You're supposed to be our leader!" one protested.
Blaze sighed. "Then lead yourselves. Just don't get killed."
Kaito, standing beside him, grinned. "Solid advice. Very inspirational. Truly, the words of a great leader."
The Black Department students groaned, clearly unimpressed, but they knew Blaze well enough by now—he wasn't the type to play babysitter. Since they didn't want to follow him blindly, they made their own decisions, forming groups of five.
"Remember," Blaze said as they split up, "stick together. The other departments may target you if you're alone."
"Wow," Kaito mused. "He does care. Someone write this down."
Blaze ignored him.
Not long after the groups parted ways, the eerie jungle stirred. The leaves rustled unnaturally, and then—
A monstrous three-headed beast emerged from the shadows.
It had the body of an apex predator, but what stood out were its three terrifying heads. The central head resembled a stag, its massive antlers crackling with lightning energy. The other two heads were that of a panther, its fangs dripping with venom. Its hulking frame radiated both the Earth element and lightning element, making it an unpredictable and formidable foe.
The Black Department students froze.
"…So," Kaito said, eyeing the beast. "On a scale of 'we can run' to 'we're definitely screwed', where do we think we are?"
The beast let out a guttural roar and charged.
Nephis, Blaze, and Lukas reacted instantly.
Blaze activated his Techniques. His fists ignited with Astral strike, crackling energy swirling around his knuckles as he leapt forward.
Lukas unleashed his Beast Strikes. His fists hardened as he executed a devastating Beast Punch, striking one of the panther heads straight in the jaw.
Nephis summoned her Fire Spells. Flames erupted around her as she rained fire bolts on the beast, scorching its fur.
Meanwhile, Kaito and Akira stood at a safe distance.
"Yup," Kaito nodded. "This looks bad. Super bad."
Akira, arms crossed, sighed. "We're too weak to join the fight. No point in pretending otherwise."
Kaito grinned and cupped his hands around his mouth. "GO TEAM! PUNCH ITS HEAD! YEAH, RIGHT IN THE FACE! SHOW IT WHO'S BOSS!"
Blaze, mid-air, turned his head slightly. "Kaito. Shut up."
"Alright, alright," Kaito smirked. "I'll let you focus."
The fight raged on. The beast lashed out with lightning-infused claws, sending sparks flying. Blaze barely dodged, countering with Fire Pounce, slamming his flaming fist into the beast's ribs. Lukas followed up with a devastating Beast Lunge, launching himself into the air before hammering down onto the beast's spine.
Within minutes, the beast staggered, weakened.
Nephis summoned one last inferno strike, burning the creature from within.
With a final, deafening roar, the three-headed beast collapsed.
The jungle fell silent.
As the dust settled, the group approached the fallen beast. From its corpse, a radiant core pulsed with energy, glowing with an intense mixture of Earth and lightning essence.
They could absorb it. But the group debated what to do.
"If we take it back to the academy," Nephis reasoned, "it'll be converted into points."
"But if one of us absorbs it," Blaze added, "we get stronger now."
Kaito suddenly cleared his throat. "Ahem. Now, I don't want to make this all about me," he began, dramatically placing a hand on his chest. "But considering that I am currently the weakest, and considering that if I die, the world will lose an irreplaceable comedic genius, I propose… that I take it."
Silence.
The group exchanged glances.
"…You just want to level up without working for it, don't you?" Lucas deadpanned.
"Yup," Kaito said proudly.
A long pause. Then, Blaze sighed and tossed the core to Kaito.
"Try not to die."
Kaito grinned. "You won't regret this!" He immediately absorbed the core, his body glowing with energy. His aura flared—his power surged—
And just like that, he broke into the first stage of the Collection Phase.
Kaito blinked. Then smirked. "Oh yeah. I feel unstoppable."
Lucas muttered, "That's what they all say before they get wrecked."
With the beast defeated and Kaito's power boosted, the group decided it was time to split up.
Lukas went his own way, eager to explore solo.
Blaze decided to go alone as well, confident he could handle himself.
Meanwhile, Kaito and Akira stuck with Nephis—because, in Kaito's words, "She's sensible. She won't get me killed."
Nephis rolled her eyes. "Don't slow me down."
The Portal Expedition had begun .
To be continued.