Chapter XII: The Awakening of the Crucible“The ceremony begins. We shall first welcome the Headmaster to deliver the inaugural address.”Ryan’s eyes lifted sharply, curiosity pricking his senses. His current instructor was the vice headmaster, a stern woman known as Pearl, but Ryan had never seen the academy’s true principal. What form would this figure take?To his shock—and the wide-eyed astonishment of the entire assembly—the figure who strode confidently onto the stage was none other than the same grizzled janitor who had nonchalantly pointed him toward the ceremony hall earlier.Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd.“Wait—no way…”“Is that really him?”Among the first-years, reactions scattered like autumn leaves in a storm. Some shrank back, a spark of fear flashing across their faces as if they had accidentally broken a sacred taboo. Others stared with reverence, disbelief coloring their expressions, having never imagined the legendary Headmaster would mask himself behi

Chapter 14: The Rite of Sphinx’s AscendanceIn the heart of the sprawling arena, Ryan and Raivan stood locked in silent anticipation, their figures dwarfed by the towering stone walls surrounding them. The throng of Kuma Academy students had eagerly gathered, a sea of curious eyes fixated on the impending clash. The air crackled with tension and whispers, a mixture of doubt and fascination buzzing through the crowd. Everyone wondered what the so-called “commoner” Ryan could possibly pull off against Raivan, a noble whose familiar was notorious for its dark menace.Despite Ryan’s blunt and occasionally infuriating personality, none could deny the raw, brutal strength of Raivan’s summoned creature. The shadows of doubt lingered heavily — the wraith was feared for a reason. It embodied the very essence of necrotic Ena, a swirling nightmare of skeletal horror and malevolent intent.“The filthy peasants always fancy themselves the chosen ones, daring to defy us nobles,” Prince Author mutte

Chapter 16: The Forest Queen’s Reckoning“Why the hell did you smash him that brutal?” Pearl’s voice was sharp, her right hand shielding her eyes as if to block out the memory of the scene. “You think you’re some kind of badass just because you wrecked him?”Ryan frowned deeply, weighing her words carefully. This wasn’t merely a scolding — it was a litmus test. He needed to see what kind of mentor Pearl was, what kind of person would shape him next. Strength alone wasn’t enough. If she was the sort to abandon her ward at the first sign of trouble or spout empty hypocrisy, Ryan knew he had to draw a line and keep his distance.“I flattened him to send a clear message,” Ryan replied, voice calm but firm. “It’s not about looking cool or basking in glory. It’s about erecting a barrier so no one wastes their time fucking with me. I get it—Sphinx isn’t a typical humanoid familiar, but that doesn’t mean I’ll tolerate pointless bullshit just because of it.”Pearl lifted a single finger, her g

Chapter 18: The Silent GambitRyan extended a hand, clutching a neatly folded parchment. "I've penned down everything," he said calmly, passing it over to Chaollete Ashley.Chaollete's eyes flicked rapidly over the scrawled text, her brow furrowing deeper with each line. The perspectives laid bare on the page unsettled her—not just because they diverged from the usual rote answers, but because they revealed an entirely different angle on summoning mastery. The more she absorbed Ryan’s thought process, the clearer it became why Pearl, the enigmatic Forest Queen, had so readily taken him under her wing.“Well then, I suppose I should get moving,” Ryan muttered, turning to leave, as if brushing off the moment. He hadn’t expected Chaollete to block his path in the dim corridor outside the summoning classroom, standing like a sentinel preventing his escape.Her body stiffened as she suddenly blurted out, "Wait. Before you go... What about your reward? How do you want me to compensate you?"

Chapter 20: The Crucible of Endurance — Dioki’s Harsh BaptismDan stood before the gathered novices on the sprawling open grounds of Kuma Academy, where a colossal rune-etched circle shimmered faintly beneath the spring sun. His gaze swept across the restless sea of students, their faces flushed with anticipation and dread alike.“There’s going to be a hunting expedition shortly,” Dan announced with a commanding tone, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade through silk. “You’ll spend an entire week tracking and battling those alien beasts that have plagued our world for centuries. A seasoned instructor will accompany you, ensuring your safety—but understand this clearly: the students who return with the most Dioki cores will be handsomely rewarded.”He paused, allowing the weight of the challenge to settle on the eager faces before him.“And two weeks after your return, you will face your second summoning ritual. The number of cores you harvest from this hunt will directly