Free Web NovelChapter 70: The Announcement
The tent fell into silence for a few seconds.
Lian stepped aside and let Selina and Liana enter.
Both entered and sat on the simple metal chairs next to the bed.
But unlike usual, there were no jokes from Liana, no occasional smiles or sarcasm from Selina. The atmosphere was heavy, heavier than even Lian had expected.
He could see that these two probably thought he was very sad and heartbroken about the deaths, and maybe even thought he was scared.
’But they are probably the ones who are scared. I doubt any other student would dare to enter that city now,’ he thought to himself.
A few moments passed with no one speaking. Finally, Selina broke the silence.
"We are sorry about Andreas and Sarah’s deaths." Her voice sounded a little sad, with worry hidden behind it.
"We probably can’t imagine what you went through, but if you need a hug or someone to talk to, we are here." Liana also looked at him with her beautiful eyes and said.
"Thank you for your concern, but there’s no need. This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced something like this, and my mental and emotional state is stronger than that." Lian smiled. freeweɓnøvel.com
The two girls looked at each other and nodded. They had come because they were worried about his mental state, and now that he seemed fine, there was no need to talk about this subject.
"Can you tell us exactly what happened in that city?" Liana then changed the subject.
Lian looked at her.
"The whole base is talking. Some say you fought a level 20 monster. Some say an unknown monster appeared."
"I even heard that you fought hundreds of monsters and you killed them all using a powerful item and escaped."
"Of course, rumors are just rumors." Lian gave a faint smile, but his smile quickly faded.
He thought for a few seconds.
Then he said quietly.
"None of the rumors are completely true."
Both girls waited for him to continue.
"But one thing is true. The situation in that city is much worse than everyone thinks."
Selina’s face became more serious. They and all the students had thought this trip was going to be a cool training mission, but it seemed they were all wrong.
Lian continued.
"The monsters we saw were not normal. Their behavior was not normal. Their numbers were not normal. And there is something in the city center that even the commanders don’t know exactly what it is."
Liana unconsciously clasped her hands together. For the first time, fear could be seen in her eyes. Not fear of monsters, but fear of the unknown.
"And those government bastards sent a few students to such a dangerous place." Liana’s eyes then filled with anger.
"What if something happened to Lian? I would become an unmarried widow!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Selina’s face suddenly turned red from embarrassment and immediately pinched her friend’s side hard to silence her.
"Ow—ow—what are you doing? Stop!" Liana snorted but fell silent.
Lian watched their antics and felt some of the pressure lift off him.
A few minutes later, the topic of conversation changed.
"How is Cassian?"
Lian was quiet for a few seconds.
"He blames himself." He then answered.
The room fell silent again.
That answer was enough. Everyone knew what he meant. Cassian was the team leader, and he had a personality truly built for leadership.
And a leader is always the last person to forgive themselves, even if they are not at fault, even if there was nothing they could do.
Still, they blame themselves.
"But it wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t any of your faults." Selina said quietly.
"I know, but he doesn’t accept that. And Claire is not in good condition either."
"Physically?"
"In every way. She still hadn’t processed the shock of Sarah’s death and blamed herself for not being able to heal her, and then Andreas’s death was added to that."
No one said anything.
For the first time, the reality of Sarah and Andreas’s deaths was fully felt in the space. Just a few days ago, they had walked beside them.
They had eaten beside them. They had laughed beside them. And now they no longer existed.
After a long silence, Selina suddenly asked another question. A question that made Lian raise his gaze.
"Lian..."
"Hmm?"
"Are you really level ten?"
The tent suddenly fell silent. Even Liana raised her head. It was clear both had been thinking about this for a long time.
Not out of malice, not out of jealousy. Just curiosity. Because what had happened in the city did not make sense.
A level ten should not have such power. Even during training battles at the Academy, the power gap was clear.
Lian stared at the tent ceiling for a few seconds.
"Well, I’m actually not level ten." He then said quietly.
Selina looked at him for a few moments, and even Liana’s eyebrows rose in shock.
"I knew it! I knew you weren’t really level ten and you’re much, much higher!"
"Tell us, what level are you really?"
"Well, I’m level eleven." Lian said quietly.
"..."
Both girls’ faces twisted. They felt like they had been cheated... What kind of answer was that?
Just as they were about to say something, a loud voice echoed throughout the base.
"Attention!"
"All students and hunters present at the base, gather immediately in the central hall."
The announcement was repeated twice. Liana and Selina looked at each other. Lian stood up.
"Let’s go."
Ten minutes later.
The base’s central hall.
Almost everyone involved in the operation had gathered there. Hundreds of people. Students, hunters, soldiers, officers.
But unlike the first day, the atmosphere of the hall was cold and heavy.
No one spoke loudly. No one laughed. Everyone understood that the mission had gotten out of control.
On the main platform, Commander Gareth stood. Next to him were Rina and several senior officers.
Gareth waited a few seconds for complete silence.
Then he began to speak.
"We suffered losses yesterday."
The hall remained silent. Everyone already knew this, but hearing it from the commander’s mouth was different, and it caused fear to multiply and spread among the students.
"The mission has been harder than initial predictions. The area is still not secure, but the operation will continue."
Quiet murmurs spread through the hall.
But Gareth continued.
"However... anyone who wants to withdraw from the operation will face no consequences."
Silence.
A heavier silence than before.
A few people looked at each other. Everyone understood that this mission could end in death, and that was terrifying.
Very terrifying.
No student wants to die. They all have their own hopes and dreams.
"The number of monsters in the city is higher than our initial estimates, and it is predicted that a very powerful monster, possibly even a Fallen one, is present in the city."
"If you want to return to the Academy, inform my deputy. Everyone will be sent back by tonight." He had decided to tell part of the truth and let the students decide for themselves.
Clearly, they could not be forced to do anything.
And the students exchanged fearful looks. They did not want to be involved in such chaos. They did not want to die. They wanted to live!
It was clear that most of them—if not all—were going to leave tonight.
The meeting ended a few minutes later.
People slowly began to disperse. But suddenly, they saw Cassian.
Unlike yesterday, when he was nearly dead, he was now fully healed, though his face looked tired.
But he was standing on his own feet. Everyone assumed he would go straight to his quarters, but he chose a different path.
He walked straight toward Gareth.
A few people were surprised. Even Rina raised her eyebrow.
Cassian stood in front of the commander. A short silence formed between them.
"My group has not withdrawn." He then said.
The hall fell silent again.
Even Gareth was surprised for a moment, because everyone knew what this boy had lost.
Two of his friends. Two of his team members. But despite everything... he still had no intention of retreating.
Gareth looked at him for a few seconds. Why had he made such a decision? He thought these kids would be the first to pull out.
Then he quietly nodded but said nothing.
Apart from him, the other students, even Liana and Selina, were surprised... Only Lian seemed to have an understanding look in his eyes.
Slowly, everyone was leaving the hall, but suddenly Gareth’s voice rose again.
"Cassian."
"Marcus."
"Lian."
"Claire."
Then his gaze fixed on two others.
"Liana."
"Selina."
Both girls were surprised.
"Us?" Liana even pointed at herself.
"Yes."
"You stay too. I’ll be right back."
Gareth said this and left the hall with several officers. Everyone looked at each other in confusion.
Moments later, only a few people remained in the hall.
Cassian.
Marcus.
Lian.
Claire.
Selina.
And Liana.
"What do you think is going on?" Liana quietly came to Lian’s side, and Selina also stood next to him.
"We weren’t even part of their group."
Lian was quiet for a few seconds.
"I don’t know." But the truth was that he had a guess. His gaze remained on Cassian and Marcus, then for a moment he looked at Selina and Liana.
Probably to fill the empty spots of Sarah and Andreas. Probably to form a new team. But only probably... he was still not sure.
So he said nothing. Minutes slowly passed. Finally, the door at the end of the hall opened.
Gareth entered.
Rina moved beside him. Several senior officers also accompanied them. Everyone unconsciously stood straight.
No one knew what was going to happen. No one knew what decision the commander had made. No one knew what the next order would be.
Gareth stopped in front of them. His gaze moved over each of them.
"Well..."
