Leander approached them with a smile and extended his hand toward Isolde.
"What do you think? Let us leave the past behind and work together to make Manhattan greater before graduation."
After blocking her ears with earbuds, Isolde walked away. Isaac and Lucy followed her, leaving Leander, who clenched his palm into a fist, grinding his teeth.
Isolde’s eyes glead as she walked. A eting had been held with all the top figures around the globe, from Great Nad Families to Guild Masters, but only the Pendragons seed not to be in full agreent with the sacrifice for the Perfect Life Era explained by the Seven Heads.
Naturally, Arthur and Christine’s love for their only remaining child drove them to take that bold step. During that eting, it was revealed that one of the greatest achievents the Perfect Life Era could produce was an army that couldn’t be defeated.
They could conquer dungeons in masses without registering a single loss. They would also have greater strength over the masses, reducing cri rates and bringing every summoner under control, further weakening other factions like the Vagabonds and the Fanatics.
People naturally did not want to lose a loved one. That would be a powerful key in the hands of the Seven, a key that could make them like gods.
Isolde looked at Leander, who was now crowded by the likes of Dale, Siegfried, and Cecil, whom Snow had disconnected from. The reason Leander was here in Manhattan High was because of what her parents did at that eting.
Other families and guilds had eyes on them, but they respected the Pendragon’s strength. After all, a cornered dragon was still a dragon.
She sighed as she climbed the staircase to the floor where her classroom was.
Isolde had made up her mind to stay. The system wasn’t favorable, but if she acted out, her parents would definitely co to her rescue, and all the Pendragon possessions and power would be lost.
Hundreds of lives would beco victims.
For that reason, she would remain on this side. The power and influence of her family should be able to provide aid and cover for Godfrey and also support him when he decides to co out of hiding.
Not long after everyone settled in their new class, Lucy sat on Isolde’s desk, one leg crossed over the other.
"Percival refused to be scouted to beco an officer or a guild mber. What do you think he’s going to do now?"
Isolde looked out the window.
"He could go live in a dungeon city and beco a freelancer. Suits his ideals."
"At least he texts once in a while." Lucy pouted.
Just then, a woman in a suit walked into the class.
Everyone swiftly comported themselves, as this gray-haired woman was the headmistress who had taken over from Sebastian.
"Good morning," Sylvia said with a soft smile while mounting the lectern.
She cleared her throat.
"I’m just here to announce that from next month, all seniors in the seven major schools across the globe have been given a mission.
The reward will be triple your total points so far and a signature of support from all Seven Heads."
The eyes of everyone widened at that statent. Having the signature of the Seven Heads made you as important as Isolde Pendragon or Leander Ouroboros. Your path would be forever secured, even presidents would love to put you in comfortable positions.
"You will also gain monetary rewards. As of now, Godfrey Daniel, the Shadow King, is worth three hundred million, and his mother over a billion. They are the main targets."
"He’s still alive?" soone raised an eyebrow.
"Three hundred million and signatures from the Seven Heads? Heh, I’m in," Dale said loudly, causing so of them to chuckle.
Leander looked at Isolde from the corner of his eyes before averting his gaze back to Mrs. Sylvia.
The rewards were enough to rile up the students. It could change their lives forever, and not just a small change. This could bring about a trendous shift in their lives.
"Other schools will also be in search of him, but I believe we have an advantage since so of us here were once his friends. There will be groups. The leaders will be Isolde, Leander, and Snow," Sylvia stated with a soft yet firm voice.
Leander lifted his hand.
"Do we need him alive?" He tilted his head slightly. "I’m from the deadliest family in the world, and we’re not exactly known for leaving those who offend us alive. Our venom precedes us."
Sylvia glanced at him.
"We need him alive."
"Okay." Leander chuckled, shooting a glance at Isolde. He saw her looking at him and laughed inwardly.
’Got your attention, huh. Dragons and their knights. Too bad most of the ti... the knight dies first.’
His crimson eyes glead.
"Resources have been delivered to quicken your growth through this one-month period. After all, whether you like it or not, Godfrey was an elite student and will likely have experienced so growth. You might also be facing his new Vagabond friends, so the Agents will be close by."
Sylvia glanced at Isolde.
"That will be all."
As she turned and left, Lucy approached Isolde.
"Do they think he might appear around next month?"
"No," Isolde replied. "Seniors rarely have classes. What we do is handle missions until we officially join the authorities. This mission doesn’t have a deadline, so I’m guessing we have our entire year. Most definitely, there’s a summon out there that can track Godfrey with how desperate the higher-ups are. The Fanatics will also have their eyes on him."
Lucy bit her lower lip.
"I think it’s better that he remains in hiding."
"He is in hiding..." Isolde blinked gently. "...I hope."
***
In a narrow corridor, the black beauty with large, round golden glasses stood before Godfrey’s door with Thalia, Dax, and Oliver, the one covered up in bandages.
Arden looked at the small cake in her grasp for a while before abruptly handing it over to Oliver.
"Give it to him."
Oliver quickly transferred it to Thalia, who held the tray with her ivory claws and clicked her tongue.
"You boys are much closer," she said, glancing at Dax, who leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
"You and Arden are the ones acting soft around him," Dax countered.
Arden pouted. "He’s like the Elite Class’ last child. Our innocent teenager who has officially entered adulthood. His eighteenth birthday has to be celebrated."
"Then let’s do it." Dax approached the door with wide strides, pushing it open and revealing Godfrey doing a handstand push-up with one hand.
He wore fingerless black gloves, and sweat dripped down his hair, leaving lines right down his deep abdon and firm, thick chest muscles.
"1460," Godfrey said with a groan. He had clocked two thousand with the other hand and was already at his limit, but seeing the other mbers of the cohort made him stop.
"My God!" Arden gasped at Godfrey’s exposed torso, which was quickly covered by Dax, who threw the top on the bed right at him, as both won were montarily dazzled by the build of this 191 cm tall young man.
"H... Happy birthday...?" Thalia said in a low tone as Godfrey wore the black top.
"I was wondering when you guys were going to co in. I guess a party before leaving for the orc dungeon wouldn’t hurt."
"It’s your first solo raid. I’m so happy for you." Oliver wiped his eyes.
Dax turned. "Let’s go."
Arden grabbed Godfrey’s wrist and dragged him outside. Godfrey found himself in the do, over two hundred Regulars were here to celebrate his birthday, but of course, this wasn’t high school.
That was the only reason why, when the cake was shared, everyone swiftly took their share, and his was small, though it tasted a lot better when everyone wanted a slice.
"Hey."
Godfrey turned to the voice and found Arden leaning against the iron railing at the top, beckoning him to co over.
He climbed the staircase and leaned against the railing alongside her as everyone watched the battle in the pit.
"You’ll be leaving the dungeon for the first ti in a year to face the dungeon beast that killed your dad. It will be stronger than when your dad fought it."
"I know." Godfrey replied. "It better be."
Arden chuckled. "Good luck then. You’ve been spending everything on mana jade, you must have enough to keep all four of your knights out and at their peak."
Godfrey smiled softly. "I have a decade worth of mana stored within ."
His expression beca solemn. He was going to face a horde.
And he planned to do it with his own golden army. It was ti to co out of hiding and step into the world that now saw him as a criminal.
This ti around, he would have a mask, and not just that, he would bring with him... an army.
Godfrey shut his eyes and appeared in his soul space, right in Lant’s chamber. Raising the tier of higher-tiered summons was much harder than lower-tier ones, but he managed to raise Lant from 9.5 to 10.9.
He evolved Tempest and fed him enough cores to rise to 9.9. Ballista, even after evolution, hit the limit at 8.3, while Mountain stopped at 7.9.
All his knights had experienced great growth, and constant raids had made his personal combat skills soar.
’Usually... it takes a growth of 1.0 or 1.1 to unlock the next door, but it seems I’ll need more for this one.’
Godfrey said as he touched the huge door. Half of it was stone and the other half was wood.
Lant said beyond this door wasn’t a Chief but a Commander, though female, she was higher in rank than all the rest he had summoned.
It was ti to hit the outside world. Was Isolde waiting for him?
It’s been so long.
...
A/N: I really feel like I need a break but the grind continues! We’ve broken another milestone! Over 2,200 golden tickets and 1,900 powerstones!!
Pray I get it together and plan a chunk load of outline. That’s the only way I can mass release. I have headache, I might have drained the last juice my brain had.
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