Early in the morning, the sky was still a pale blue-gray, with a few lonely stars clinging to the canopy as if reluctant to depart.
All of Ikerite Academy lay sleeping in profound stillness.
A heavy mist hung in the air today, cool, damp, and fresh.
The three members of the Civilized Role Models Squad had gathered as planned. Having finished breakfast, they strolled leisurely along the broad campus avenues shrouded in early dawn.
"This time, the three of us are going to slaughter everything in our path."
"...The two of you can do the slaughtering. I'll cheer you on."
"Hyperion, you've got to protect me properly! Frey won't look after me!"
None of the three seemed to mind the five-in-the-morning silence of the campus or the crisp air.
Over the past month and more, the newly joined Frey had developed a fine rapport with Lanqi and Hyperion.
Although Lanqi and Hyperion spent most of their time together on days with classes in the School of Sages, whenever they headed to the student council room after class, they were almost certain to run into Frey.
Sometimes Frey would sit on the sofa reading newspapers or magazines; sometimes he would play chess with the president; other times he would disappear without a trace.
Lanqi often joked with a smile that their squad had finally assembled the classic iron triangle of warrior, mage, and priest.
Hyperion, on the other hand, felt they were more like rogue, hunter, and shaman.
She herself had basically turned into a stealth utility rogue.
Frey's combat role was neither tank nor warrior-assassin; to her shock, he was a trap-focused hunter.
As for Lanqi, that inhuman menace would just summon a few disgusting aura-emitting creatures and stand there, exactly like a shaman.
Hyperion still found it a miracle that the three of them could work together at all to tackle a Shadow World.
As for student council affairs, whenever President Monaster entrusted them with an errand, Hyperion would always start off like a polite bank clerk, explaining the student council's business to the other party.
Usually at this stage, once the lower-year students caught sight of Lanqi and Frey standing not far behind her, they became remarkably friendly and cooperative.
As for those eccentric students who still refused to cooperate...
Hyperion would step back and keep her distance,
leaving Lanqi and Frey to do the "communicating."
To date, their work had never received a single complaint or negative review.
The president even remarked that they operated quite normally.
Hyperion just couldn't understand why rumors of a "Royal Capital Tyrant Trio" had begun circulating through the academy...
Two months had quietly slipped by since enrollment, and it was now November.
On this late autumn morning, a chill hung in the air, as though every trace of warmth had been frozen by winter's advance guard.
Although it was Friday—normally a school day—it was still early, and few souls were out and about on campus.
Only an occasional groundskeeper could be seen, along with a few odd students hauling various party and camping supplies toward Jera Memorial Square.
The three exchanged puzzled glances, thoroughly bewildered.
Soon, the trio arrived at the very heart of Ikerite Academy—
Even in the early morning, the cube-shaped deep-blue iron walls—sealed by layers of potent barrier spells surrounding the Void Gate—radiated the stern isolation of a heavily fortified sanctum. Members of the Royal Knights on duty patrolled the perimeter, vigilant and fully prepared.
Arriving at the first security checkpoint by the entrance, the three used their student wristbands and registered challenger licenses to pass through the main gate, followed by checkpoint after checkpoint.
"In two days, the academic delegation from Aloran Academy will arrive at our school for a two-week exchange," Lanqi said softly in the corridor, his voice echoing lightly in the vast, solemn hall.
"I wonder how long we'll end up staying in the Shadow World,"
he continued with a tinge of guilt in his eyes, as though lamenting that he wouldn't be around to contribute to the upcoming visit.
Even though the president had told them to focus on conquering the Shadow World without worrying about student council duties, Lanqi still cared deeply about the campus's harmony and tranquility.
While the three of them were in the Shadow World, the student council would maintain at least three people on duty, with the secretary returning to put in overtime.
The president and the secretary were clerical staff from the School of Alchemy and didn't need to challenge Shadow Worlds. Vice President Asna, on the other hand, was an exceptionally powerful psychic mage, but her tier differed too greatly from that of the three freshmen to form a team.
Besides, she had admitted she couldn't keep up with the trio's rhythm; even if their tiers came within two ranks of hers in the future, teaming up would hardly suit her, as she was far more accustomed to coordinating with the president.
At Lanqi's sigh, Frey nodded.
"If it's like your last Shadow World that finished within a single day, we can take a day's rest after returning and then head over to help the president,"
he answered in an even tone, smiling faintly as if he, too, genuinely wanted to lend a hand to the president.
The duration of a Shadow World was always hard to predict.
Although duration generally correlated with its tier, the variance was immense.
"We'll most likely be able to return early. Neither of you needs to worry."
Hyperion listened to them talk, intending to keep quiet, but in the end let out a helpless sigh.
She honestly wished the Shadow World would last longer.
Lanqi and Frey—these two "masterminds"—in no way represented the average or normal standard of the Hutton Kingdom, let alone Ikerite Academy.
If the two returned to the real world as student council officers to handle official business with the Aloran Kingdom Academy's academic delegation, Hyperion was terribly worried their foreign guests would get a horrifyingly warped impression of the Hutton Kingdom's civic character.
And even though Hyperion was consistently the only civilized human being among them, she was dragged down every single time! Her already precarious reputation was now in a nosedive straight toward non-human monstrosity!
Under the lamps, the three shadows stretched straight down the quiet corridor until they finally stepped into the building's interior.
In the distance, profound starlight still drifted across the mirrored surface of the colossal gate leading to another Shadow World.
"Frey, did you bring our Civilized Role Models Squad's team card?"
Lanqi asked their new teammate, eyeing the final checkpoint counter ahead and glancing around the empty morning hall.
All they had to do here was register their challenger licenses, have the staff verify that their [Shadow World Recording Program] was properly equipped, and they could proceed to the Void Gate for matchmaking.
If they wished to use the [Shadow World Synergy Program] to challenge it as a party, they also needed to register their squad details.
"Right here."
Frey produced the Civilized Role Models Squad's team card, a confident smirk touching the corners of his mouth.
Though this was his first time challenging a real Shadow World, nothing about his demeanor resembled that of a novice.
The three then handed over their licenses along with the two utility magic cards to the staff member at the counter, waiting as the Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association personnel finalized their registration.
Because a premade party brought trust and coordination, the collective strength generated by a team was far greater than that of strangers matched together; thus, as party size increased, the difficulty surged compared to solo challenges.
"All set! Once you come out, just hand the [Shadow World Recording Program] back to me for a scan, and you can retrieve your challenger licenses."
The young woman smiled, handing the utility magic cards back to the three diligent, high-spirited students before opening the gate in front of them.
Thanking her, the three took back their cards and headed straight toward the Void Gate.
About a hundred paces away, they chatted and laughed easily until they stood before the portal opening into the void.
The Void Gate resembled a bottomless black hole. Merely standing before it, one could feel an invisible pull, as though it sought to draw every approaching creature into that endless, unknown world.
"Ready, team?"
Lanqi stretched his arms overhead with a yawn, turning to ask Hyperion and Frey.
"With you here, I'm not afraid."
Hyperion smiled. The quiet fear and hesitation she had harbored during her very first Shadow World were long gone.
"Can't wait."
To Frey, the Void Gate seemed just as exhilarating as the entrance of the Ikerite Crown Casino.
With those words, they stepped through the watery surface of the Void Gate.
Next came a total sensory-depriving blackness—nothing could be seen, and not even the sound of a heartbeat could be heard.
As if countless gears were interlocking and turning, a mechanical roar reverberated across the pitch-black void.
[Blood Moon Cataclysm: Node 2/4, historical projection "Beginning of the Holy Rite" unsealed.]
Chapter 121