Neo took a deep breath.
‘It’s Do or Die.’
[Quest accepted.]
He heard Elizabeth calling out to him while he was staring at the screen.
“Neo Hargraves, are my words so useless that you think they aren’t worth listening to?”
“I apologize, professor.
“I was wondering who will be the leader of the S-rank mission.”
His words touched the topic everyone was trying to ignore.
Three teams and three Corners.
Clearly, each team would handle one Corner.
However, a single failure could jeopardize the mission.
All of them had to work together for the mission to be successful.
A mission leader was necessary.
Harrison was about to speak when suddenly Mars stepped out.
“The mission leader will be Neo.”
“What!?”
“Why would he be the leader? He is one of the weakest guys here!”
Mars glared at the members of Zeus clan when they opposed his decision.
“It’s about Strength.
“Our team is the strongest out of all three teams.
“It’s a given our team leader should be the mission leader.”
The students, about to refuse, noticed Leonora and Mars.
Two of the monsters were in Team Umbra.
It was without a doubt the strongest team.
‘He hasn’t forgiven Zeus Clan for the phoenix’s death.’
‘I better not let him know I was the one who allowed them do it.’
Neo smiled bitterly.
“I agree with Mars decision,” Lucas stepped up. “Neo should be the team leader.”
He looked at Arthur.
“What do you think?”
“…I’m okay with it.”
After the mission leader was decided, Elizabeth gave them the necessary equipment.
A gas mask, three vials of healing elixir and Divine Energy elixir each, and a vial of black ink.
“It’s Shadow Ink.
“You will be able to harm the Shadow monsters if you coat your weapons in them.”
Shadows could not be killed normally.
Neo recalled the trouble he had to go through during the ranking tournament due to the Shadow monsters summoned by Nathan.
The students opened the Shadow Ink vials and used it on their weapons.
Lucas, Arthur, Neo, Nathan, Jack, and Leonora did not open their vials.
“Why are you six not using the item?”
“I have Holy Affinity, professor.”
“I awakened mine during the missions.”
“I can use Aura Slash with Death element.”
Lucas, Arthur, and Neo answered.
Listening to them, Elizabeth nodded and stared at the other three.
“I have Shadow element.”
“Same.”
“H-holy affinity.”
Shadow Ink was created by combining poisonous substances with Shadow Elementals.
It was harmful for Shadow monsters.
Since they could fight shadow monsters with their affinities, they saved the ink for later use.
Everyone decided to suit up.
They wore the gas masks and checked their gears.
Neo opened the small case with elixirs and noticed he had two extra vials.
The liquid inside them was darker.
There was a note next to them.
—One vial of Healing Elixir and Divine Energy Elixir. They are highly potent with strong side effects. Use them only if you have no other choice.
—Stay safe and don’t die.
The elixirs were potent enough that consuming two at once would destroy Neo’s body.
He would be knocked out after digesting even one.
Their effect was, however, similarly effective.
They would show instantaneous effect unlike normal elixirs.
Neo raised his head and met Elizabeth’s eyes.
‘Thank you.’ He mouthed.
Elizabeth nodded.
She seemed to have a lot to say, but she remained quiet
“What are you thinking about?” Christian asked.
“I was just….”
Neo shook his head.
“Never mind. It’s nothing.”
“I’ll protect our team. It’s my job as the tank. So stop making that worried face.”
Christian patted his shoulder and wore the gas mask.
Neo nodded before he did the same.
The three teams gathered.
“Should we ask the academy staff to send us into the window?” Felix questioned.
“It’s fine. Lucas can do it.”
He looked at Lucas and received a nod in return.
Lucas joined his palms and rotated them into opposite directions.
“Open.”
Broken shards of silvery light flickered.
They formed a swirling portal.
The shards suddenly condensed into a single point.
A beat later, they spread out and formed a portal that opened inside the Window.
The view of the other side was hidden by shadows.
Dense shadow elemental rushed out of the portal.
“Hurry!”
Lucas muttered while he focused on maintaining the portal.
Neo waited for everyone to enter the window.
When he was about step to the other side, the portal closed.
“Why did you do that?” Neo asked.
“I wanted to talk to you alone.”
Lucas turned to Elizabeth.
She pursed her lips and left.
“Now…”
Lucas stared at Neo.
“I apologize for everything I did.”
“Why?” Neo frowned.
“I’ve heard about your Bloodline.
“It was unbecoming of me to regard you, a kin of death, as nothing more than an insignificant bug.”
“…Who told you that?”
“I can’t reveal my sources.” Lucas smiled.
Neo clicked his tongue.
“Is this all you had to say?”
“No, I wanted to ask about our mission….” Lucas puckered his lips. “How many will die?”
Neo looked at up at the Window.
He took a moment to answer.
“I can’t predict death that far in the future. It’s the domain of Fate affinity.”
“You should still be able to see something.”
Neo couldn’t.
However, it was an opportunity.
‘As I thought, this guy was able to find my bloodline.’
He knew who leaked the news.
He revealed his bloodline to his teammates since he knew Lucas would find out about it.
‘It was a good everything worked as I wanted.’
Lucas’ cooperation was necessary.
If lying would get him that, he would comply happily.
“Most of us won’t return.”
“I see.” Lucas’ eyes clouded. “Again, I apologize for my previous actions.
“I hope we can put our differences aside and work together.”
Lucas raised his arm to shake hands.
Neo smiled.
“That’s a good idea.”
He held Lucas’ palm.
After the reconciliation, Lucas reopened the portal.
The two entered the Window.
“Why were you guys late!?”
“Hey, did something happen!”
“Are you okay!?”
The students surrounded them.
“There was no problem. I just couldn’t maintain the portal and had to close it for a short time,” Lucas answered.
Suddenly, their watches rang.
“It’s the alarm for our Shadows.”
Neo swept his gaze to see how many among them would have a Shadow.
