Awakened as a Support Mage, I Built the World's Strongest Te

Chapter 3

Adrian stared at the parchment. The words TEAM TERMINATION NOTIFICATION seemed to warp and shimmer, dancing before his eyes. He laughed, a short, sharp bark of disbelief that echoed hollowly in the silent room.

"Is this some kind of initiation, Darius?" Adrian asked, his voice steady despite the sudden, sickening drop in his gut. "We just cleared the highest-ranking exam in the academy. We’re finally being scouted by the major guilds. Why the theatrics?"

Darius didn't laugh. He didn't even blink. He leaned back in his leather chair, steepling his fingers with the detached calm of a man closing a bad business account.

"It’s not a joke, Adrian," Darius said softly. "It’s a strategic necessity."

Adrian felt a prickle of cold sweat break out along his spine. He looked to Serena, waiting for her to say something, to tell Darius he was being an idiot, to tell him that they were a team, that they belonged together. 

But Serena just kept her eyes locked on the grain of the oak table.

"Strategic?" Adrian repeated, his voice rising. "We have worked for twelve months to build this synergy. I’ve tuned my Resonance to your fighting style, Darius. I’ve memorized your timing, your weaknesses, every flaw in your guard. We are the most efficient squad in the academy because of the link I provide."

"You were," Darius corrected, his tone sharpening. "But the ceiling is too low, Adrian. I’ve spoken with scouts from the Iron Vanguard. They want to see peak performance, and frankly, an F-Rank support ability like Resonance is a bottleneck. We’ve already signed a contract with Elara Vance. She’s a B-Rank Buffer. Her mana-amplification is three times what yours could ever be, and she brings her own combat utility."

Adrian felt the air leave the room. He looked at Serena, his chest burning. "You knew? You knew about this and you didn't say a word?"

Serena finally looked up, but her eyes were glassy, defensive. She wasn't looking at him; she was looking past him. 

"Darius told me yesterday," she whispered. 

"Yesterday," Adrian repeated, the word tasting like ash. "We spent last night celebrating, Serena. You were laughing with me. You were thanking me for shielding you during the Hound fight."

"Because I didn't want a scene!" she snapped, her voice breaking. She leaned forward, her face etched with a mix of guilt and cold-blooded resolve. "Adrian, look at the reality. You’re a support. You have no direct combat ability. In every mission, we are effectively fighting with one less person because you have to stay back and hide. When the difficulty spikes, you become a liability we have to protect."

"A liability?" Adrian felt a vein throb in his temple. "When you were bleeding out in the Grey Tunnels, who drained their own core to keep your vitals stable? Who took the curse-burn so you could keep casting?"

"That’s exactly my point," Serena said, her voice dropping to a low, icy tremor. "You’re a good person, Adrian. You’re kind. But I don't want to spend my future carrying someone who cannot stand on his own. I want to be a legend. I want to be a pillar of the kingdom. I can’t do that while I’m constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure my boyfriend isn't dying."

The silence that followed was absolute. 

Adrian felt the world shrink. The room, the table, the faces of the people he had trusted with his life, it all felt alien. The girl he had shared his late-night study sessions with, the girl he had held when she was terrified of the dark, was looking at him like he was a broken tool she was finally tossing into the bin.

"We’re over," Adrian said. It wasn't a question. 

Serena turned her head away, a small, tight nod her only response. 

"Darius," Adrian turned, his hands trembling, not from exhaustion now, but from a burgeoning, white-hot fury. "Fine. If this is how you want to play it, I want my cut of the dungeon rewards. The black-market value of those Shadow Hound fragments alone is enough to cover my tuition for the year."

Darius chuckled, reaching into his desk drawer and tossing a small, thin envelope onto the table. It slid across the wood and stopped at Adrian’s fingertips. 

"Your share," Darius said. 

Adrian tore the envelope open. His eyes scanned the figures. He looked back up, his face flushing red. "This is a pittance. This isn't even ten percent. We agreed on an even split for all rare materials."

"We agreed on a split based on contribution," Darius countered, his smile cruel. "Since you didn't land a single physical blow on that Hound, you provided no combat value. You were just a background factor. I’ve already registered the materials under my name and the team’s new designation. It’s done."

"You thief," Adrian hissed, his voice trembling. 

"I’m an opportunist," Darius stood up, his height imposing. He looked down at Adrian with utter contempt. "You should be thanking me. I’ve carried you for a year. I’ve let you bask in the reflected glory of my victories. But you’re an F-Rank, Adrian. That’s your ceiling. You’re nothing without us. Go find some other group of losers who are desperate enough to take on a charity case."

Darius walked toward the door. Serena followed him without glancing back. As they passed, the other two team members, the ones Adrian had spent countless hours training with, avoided his gaze, their shoulders hunched in shame and relief.

Adrian stood in the empty room, the termination paper fluttering as the door clicked shut.