Historic Clearance and Stirring Shadows
“Then, we shall proceed with the announcement.”
Dennis picked up the microphone.
The mic was set to broadcast throughout the entire Gate Management Bureau. Reporters and officials alike were stunned, but Dennis's declaration pressed on without pause.
“The Elder Council approves this bill...”
Right now, Dennis spoke as Central's representative. His words were the law.
“...and grants permission.”
Metis and the officials erupted in cheers.
Whoosh.
Zien and the rest of the party emerged through the portal. The dreary gray haze of Rain City had vanished, replaced by the Gate Management Bureau.
It's really over.
Zien smiled, the thrill of accomplishment washing over him.
Even in his past life as a student, he hadn't cleared a 5th-rank gate. What they'd achieved was unprecedented in history. At this growth rate, there was no telling how strong they'd become.
Now, raiding gates for artifacts or skills is within reach.
For a Saber, nothing mattered more than comrades.
Not only was Zien growing stronger himself, but his party members' progress was impossible to ignore.
We'll become the strongest party like none before.
If they kept stacking experience like this, by graduation they'd surpass any active pros. And as party leader, Zien had already reclaimed three skills from his past life.
I can definitely find the rest.
The skills etched into slots four and five—the ones that had made him the strongest in his previous life.
If I reclaim those...
The fifth had come from an 8th-rank gate, earned after slaying the demon king Belial in his final moments. Its power was beyond imagination.
I can't even guess.
8th-rank gates had only manifested twice before. Zien was the first to claim a skill from one. Lost in these thoughts as the warp completed, Amy Rose suddenly shrieked.
“Eeeeek! Party leader! You did it!”
Amy brimmed with energy, unlike the others who looked worn from days of grueling travel. She'd mostly just broadcasted, but her contributions to the raid were minimal at best—yet she stood as one of the gate's biggest beneficiaries.
“Hehe, I'm so proud to be part of your crew! You should've seen the peak viewer count earlier!”
Flashing her saleswoman smile, Amy rubbed her hands eagerly. Demona and Chris awkwardly avoided each other's gazes.
“You cleared it, huh?”
The voice belonged to Isabel, who had dropped out first. Greeting her right away was none other than Kua.
“Isabel!”
“Hey, if you had a skill like that, you should've used it before I died.”
Under Isabel's grilling, Kua sweated and stammered an excuse.
“Ah, well... I can't use it whenever I want...”
“It's fine. We won, that's what matters.”
Kua's eyes sparkled at Isabel's cool response.
“Yes!”
As their brief exchange wrapped up, student council president Camille—handling security—and top-ranked Stella approached Zien.
“I watched it all. As expected of Arcana's grade rep.”
“Thank you, senior.”
Zien shook Camille's offered hand. A subtle smile laced with trust. Adjusting their glasses, Camille added,
“No matter how I look at it, you're perfect material for next student council president.”
“I'll stick to grade rep, thanks.”
“Hm, and humble to boot.”
Camille persisted, prompting a groan from Stella.
“Give it up. He's not interested.”
“Hm... Let me know if you change your mind.”
Camille sounded regretful, while Stella eyed Zien with clear interest.
“That last move, though. Not a magic art, right? A skill?”
Her casual demeanor belied her status as third-year rank one—she'd sensed Zien's true strength.
“Innate talent? Wild. ...Got time for a spar sometime?”
Challenging the strong was Stella's habit.
“I'll think about it.”
“Cool. Looking forward to it.”
The Flash Sword, Stella.
Her rapier magic tool embodied her moniker with blistering speed strikes. Seeing Zien's swordplay inside the gate had her itching for a fight—especially since his tool was also a sword.
“We got sidetracked. Zien, the minister wants to see you. Head over once the other gates clear.”
Camille pointed to the elevator.
“Minister Metis is waiting in VIP Room 1 on the third floor. Cleared it so reporters and officials can't get in.”
At Metis's name, Lucia reacted inwardly.
...Minister Metis himself.
A high-ranking pillar of Central—not someone a mere student should meet.
Even above the family head...
But Zien, who'd met him once before, replied matter-of-factly.
“Got it. We'll stand by with the raid teams.”
Deep underground in the Gate Management Bureau.
A lightless void, far from the glamorous exterior.
“Got bored and watched. That was fun as hell? And all swordplay, you said? Total cheat character.”
Fatal, a member of Desire, cackled as he shut off the screen. They'd been watching Zien's gate raid.
“And that guy in there—doesn't he kinda look like number three?”
Fatal grinned, but Illusion replied coldly.
“What are you getting at?”
“Oh, wait—nah, different case. He didn't survive. Killed himself, even...”
Illusion drew his sword at the provocation.
Clash!
Fatal whipped the chain on his clock weight, clashing midair with Illusion's blade.
Clang!
Sparks flew with the metallic ring.
The hulking Teton stepped in to calm them.
“Enough, all of you. I get the blood boiling, but the op's soon.”
Grabbing Illusion's arm, Teton held firm.
Clora slithered around Fatal with a sultry laugh.
“Always running your mouth. Why pick fights you can't win? Hate kids like you.”
“Shut it. Who's a kid?”
Fatal shoved her hand away, shouting. Amid the chaos, the white-short-haired woman shuffled her cards silently.
“Fortune's good today.”
Her number: four.
Like number two, Teton, and number three, Illusion, she was a 6th-rank master.
“The op will succeed.”
The operation.
The Gate Management Bureau held something Desire had to steal. For their number one leader's sake, success was non-negotiable.
“Hm, with Sisella saying it'll work, I trust it... but...”
Clora glanced at number four, Sisella.
“Dennis is here right now, though?”
Sisella stayed silent, but Illusion bristled at Dennis's name.
“That dog's a lapdog of the complacent elders. Can't compare to our leader, who's waded through hell.”
“Yeah, leader's 7th-rank after all.”
Clora sneered.
The only known 7th-rank Saber to Central and the public was Dennis. Makes sense—the other had died raiding a gate. But what if that was all a lie?
“Leader's orders. Everyone, move out.”
Teton stood.
Desire's members geared up: cloaks, clock weights, shoes, cards, raw physique. Their magic tools varied wildly. Excluding the absent number six, just six members.
But numbers meant nothing to them.
“Right.”
Illusion's voice echoed through the depths.
Calm yet resolute. Though only six strong, Desire was fully primed for a head-on clash with Central.
The VIP room lived up to its name with top-tier furnishings. The sofas, aligned perfectly, showed no strain even with the seven raiders seated.
Arcana and Celia faced each other across the table.
“Guess we'll be splitting up for a while.”
Kua's voice carried regret.
Amy, who'd grown fond in the short time, nodded too.
“Yeah. I could join raids as support, but... getting all seven together again? Tough.”
Amy's angle was different, but her disappointment rang true.
Sigh, got Celia fans in the viewers too...
With parting imminent, Chris forced nonchalance.
“Eh, we'll cross paths again. Zien's so damn good, you'll have to hustle to keep up.”
Lucia smiled at Chris's words.
The time together was brief, but she'd learned much from Zien—not just combat, but something she'd lacked.
“True. Until next time.”
Learning from someone? Rare for Lucia. Before Zien, she was undefeated. But he'd shown her a wall for the first time.
Her boring invincibility now had purpose.
“Next time, I'll win. Zien Russel.”
Zien met her challenge with a faint smile.
“Sure. You just might.”
The warm vibe had Kua nodding vigorously.
“Right! Call me anytime you need help.”
Kua eyed Isabel, who was busy picking snacks from the bar.
“No need to be too bummed.”
As Amy said, Zien's crew were still first-years. Graduation was far off.
“Might get sick of us sooner than you think? Sports fest's in a month, plus off-campus stuff.”
Zien cut in on Amy.
“And gates.”
5th, 6th, 7th-rank.
High-difficulty gates, quiet for so long, were opening steadily lately. Metis's bill had passed because manpower was finally ready.
“Our goal's always real gates. We'll team up again then.”
“Indeed.”
Lucia offered a rare handshake first, with a soft smile.
“Looking forward to it.”
“Us too.”
Zien clasped her hand, smiling.
The others exchanged their own farewells.
“Isabel! Black tea here too—”
“Too sweet.”
Kua and Isabel.
“You ever talk on days like this?”
Chris and Demona.
“Sniff, isn't it touching?”
Amy and her viewers.
As everyone wrapped up goodbyes, the VIP door burst open. Not Metis, but a security officer.
“B-big trouble! Desire's—!”
The gate was cleared.
But for Sabers,
there was no such thing as end.