CHAPTER 155: VACATION

Chapter 152: Vacation

The morning after the final match wasn’t heralded by the usual Academy bells, but by a campus-wide notification chime that resonated softly from every student’s smartwatch.

[Ding~ Mid-Term Examination Final Rankings Now Available.]

I was already awake, sitting by the window of my suite, watching the early sun paint the sky in pale strokes of pink and gold.

My body still felt heavy, the phantom aches from the tournament a dull reminder of the battles fought. But my mind was sharp, clear, the exhaustion replaced by a low hum of anticipation.

I tapped my watch. The holographic screen unfolded, displaying the official, cumulative rankings based on the Subjugation Trial, the Labyrinth of Echoes, and the Tournament of Champions.

✦ First Year - Final Semester Rankings ✦

#1 – Michael Wilson (Class A)

Subjugation: 1st

Labyrinth: 1st

Tournament: 1st

Overall Score: Perfect

#2 – Eric William (Class A)

Subjugation: 2nd

Labyrinth: 3rd

Tournament: 2nd (Finalist)

Overall Score: 98.5

#3 – Leon Lionheart (Class A)

Subjugation: 3rd

Labyrinth: 2nd

Tournament: 3rd (Semifinalist)

Overall Score: 97.8

#4 – Maria Frostheart (Class A)

Subjugation: 5th

Labyrinth: 4th (Shared)

Tournament: 4th (Semifinalist)

Overall Score: 95.8

#5 – Selena Veylan (Class A)

Subjugation: 4th

Labyrinth: 2nd

Tournament: 5th (Quarterfinalist)

Overall Score: 95.1

#6 – Aurelia Miller (Class A)

Subjugation: 7th

Labyrinth: 4th (Shared)

Tournament: 6th (Quarterfinalist)

Overall Score: 93.9

#7 – Aiden Stromfang (Class A)

Subjugation: 6th

Labyrinth: 5th

Tournament: 7th (Quarterfinalist)

Overall Score: 93.0

#8 – Elara Moonshade (Class A)

Subjugation: 8th

Labyrinth: 5th

Tournament: 8th (Quarterfinalist)

Overall Score: 91.5

#9 – Chris Blackthorn (Class A)

Subjugation: 10th

Labyrinth: 2nd

Tournament: 9th (Round of 16)

Overall Score: 89.8

#10 – Lyra Braveheart (Class A)

Subjugation: 9th

Labyrinth: 5th

Tournament: 10th (Round of 16)

Overall Score: 89.1

...

#32 – Alex Vonstel (Class C)

Subjugation: 29th

Labyrinth: 1st

Tournament: 17th (Round of 32)

Overall Score: 75.3

I stared at the glowing numbers, my own name sitting starkly at the top. Perfect Score. The system’s reward for not just winning, but dominating each phase, especially the hidden objective within the Labyrinth.

A slow smile spread across my face. It wasn’t just about the rank; it was about the message it sent. Unassailable.

Undeniable. Even with noble interference, even with the inherent biases of the system, the results spoke for themselves.

My eyes scanned the rest of the list.

Eric, despite his team’s lower Labyrinth rank, had clawed his way to Rank 2, his exceptional individual performances in the Subjugation and Tournament clearly outweighing the teamwork penalty.

Leon, consistent but ultimately falling short in the semifinals against me and ranking slightly lower in Subjugation, landed at Rank 3.

A significant blow to the Lionheart pride, no doubt. Maria, Aurelia, Selena, Aiden, Elara, Chris, Lyra – the expected names filled out the Top 10, their positions shifted slightly based on their overall consistency.

And then, Rank 32. Alex. He had clung to the bottom edge of the qualifiers, his Labyrinth performance boosting him just enough. Seeing his name there, solidified, brought a quiet satisfaction.

He hadn’t just survived; he had officially earned his place among the recognized.

The Academy grounds, which had been simmering with tension yesterday, now erupted in a different kind of noise. Smartwatches chimed across dorms and common rooms.

Shouts of celebration mingled with groans of disappointment.

"Rank 1 again! That commoner is untouchable!"

"Eric William took second! The William Family prevails!"

"Leon dropped to third?! Unbelievable! He lost to Eric overall?"

"Alex made it! The shield guy from Team 4 actually ranked!"

The finality of the rankings settled over the student body. Privileges were confirmed, resources allocated.

For the next semester, these numbers would dictate everything from dorm assignments

(though the Top 10 remained in Supreme Hall) to access to specialized training facilities and mission priorities.

My own privileges were now absolute. Top resource allocation, priority access to all facilities, even a small personal research grant from the Academy – symbols of my solidified position.

I closed the ranking screen, the ’First Year Monarch’ title feeling heavier now, less like a boast and more like a responsibility.

The vacation had officially begun, but my work was far from over.

_________________

I spent the rest of the morning packing. Not just clothes, but essentials.

My training sword, spare mana potions (a fresh batch purchased discreetly using funds Victor had funneled), and the encrypted data chip containing Denzo’s evidence against the corrupt instructors.

The Shadow Stalker’s Cloak hadn’t arrived yet – delivery was scheduled for later today. I’d have to pick it up from the Academy’s secure delivery point before heading to the station.

As I closed my suitcase, a knock sounded at the door.

Knock. Knock.

I opened it to find Leon standing there, looking... more than subdued. He seemed genuinely thrown.

His usual bright energy was significantly dampened, his expression a complex mix of frustration and forced composure. Rank 3 clearly stung more than Rank 2 would have.

"Michael," he began, his voice tight. "Congratulations. Again."

"Thanks, Leon," I replied, leaning against the doorframe.

"You fought well too. Ranking third among this year’s monsters is still impressive."

He managed a wry, almost pained smile.

"Third isn’t second. And second isn’t first." He looked down at his hands for a moment, then met my gaze again, his eyes serious.

"That final move you used. The phase-step. What was it?"

I kept my expression neutral. "Just a desperate move. Combination of skills. Not something I can replicate easily."

The half-lie felt necessary. Revealing the true nature of Space affinity was still too dangerous.

Leon seemed to accept it, though a shadow of doubt lingered.

"Well, whatever it was, it worked." He paused, then asked, "Are you heading home for the vacation?"

"Yeah. Back to Selorn City."

His expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through. "My family has business near there next week. Maybe we could... spar? Properly, this time."

The offer was genuine, but the undercurrent felt different now – less friendly rivalry, more a desperate need to prove something, perhaps to himself. I smiled faintly.

"Maybe. Send me a message if you’re in the area."

"Will do." He gave a final, stiff nod. "Until then, train hard."

"You too, Leon."

He left, and I closed the door, a thoughtful frown on my face.

Sparring with Leon outside the Academy’s controlled environment... it could be valuable. But his current state felt volatile. Dangerous.

Later, as I was heading out, suitcase in hand, I ran into Maria near the Supreme Hall entrance. She was dressed in simple travelling clothes, a small, elegant bag over her shoulder, looking ready to depart.

"Leaving already?" I asked.

She nodded, her pale blue eyes meeting mine.

"Home calls. Family responsibilities." Her tone was clipped, formal, the warmth from yesterday seemingly vanished under the weight of the rankings and the impending separation.

But then, she hesitated, her gaze softening almost imperceptibly as she glanced back towards the main Academy building.

"Michael... about the evidence you gathered. Be careful how you use it. Some roots run deeper than you think."

"I know," I replied quietly. "But rot needs to be cut out, no matter how deep."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t argue further.

"Safe travels, then. Don’t cause too much trouble back home."

"No promises," I said with a smirk.

She rolled her eyes, but the faintest hint of a smile touched her lips before she turned and walked away, disappearing into the flow of departing students.

My final stop was the secure delivery point near the West Gate.

After a quick mana signature check, a small, discreetly wrapped package was handed to me. Inside, folded neatly, was the Shadow Stalker’s Cloak.

It felt impossibly light, cool to the touch, and seemed to drink the surrounding light, its black fabric deeper than any shadow.

I quickly stored it in my dimensional inventory (a small benefit of the Space affinity I could manage).

With my weapon secured, evidence in hand, and the Academy shrinking behind me,

I walked towards the Arcadia Central Station. The train platform buzzed with students heading home, laughter and farewells echoing under the high, vaulted ceiling.

I found my seat on the mana-train heading south, settling by the window as the carriage began to hum, preparing for departure.

The whirlwind of the first semester – the entrance exams, the demon attack, the political games, the brutal Mid-Terms – replayed in my mind. I had survived. I had risen.

But the cost had been steep, and the enemies I’d made wouldn’t simply forget.

Home. Selorn City. The Willson Guild. My parents.

It felt like stepping back into a world I barely recognized anymore, armed with power and secrets they couldn’t possibly understand.

The train lurched forward, pulling away from the station, away from the Academy’s towering spires.

___________

The Homecoming Arc had begun. And the quiet vacation I might have hoped for felt increasingly like a distant, improbable dream.

Author Talk: First of all thanks you to all my readers who were patiently reading continuously my novel. I know had make many mistakes like unreasonable plot, fast paceing the storyline etc. I take full responsibility on it that it is me who not writing properly and I will try to improve.

It take me to complete my First Arc ...so let’s move to the next Arc to explore Michael personal life for while.

-------Thank you for support 💛