Chapter 75: SSS Rank A/N
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The sky above Blackridge was grey. Not cloudy—just... stained. Like something had burned the blue out of it. The sun was rising slow, but its light didn’t reach here. Only a cold kind of gold that touched nothing.
The gate loomed ahead like a wound in the world.
Tall. Twisted. Its surface shimmered with warped reflections, like it was breathing slowly, waiting. A jagged black ring encased the portal, with glyphs carved deep into the earth around it—old, faded runes that pulsed with red-orange flickers. The wind around the area didn’t move right. It circled, like the air was confused. Wrong.
Class Zero stood at the edge of the gate’s boundary.
Everyone was fully geared.
Evelyn wore lightweight battle-armor—a combat weave modified with thin circuits across the ribs and gloves for spell-casting sync. Vyn was in full dark robes, cloak over her shoulders, black eyes steady as ever. Reia had her tactical blades slotted into her suit’s back rings. Silas wore a coat reinforced with plated cores, and his arms were already humming with energy nodes.
And then... there was Lucian.
Plain black shirt.
Loose dark pants.
No armor.
Not even gloves.
He looked like someone heading out for a walk. Or maybe a nap. His hair wasn’t even combed properly.
Athena turned from the gate and looked at him.
"...Lucian."
He raised a brow.
"You planning to die pretty, or you gonna wear your gear?"
He tilted his head, smirked faintly.
"I’m wearing it."
Athena blinked.
"Doesn’t look like it."
He just shrugged. "Give it a second."
She exhaled and turned back toward the gate. "I swear to god, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to stress me into an early grave."
The rest of Class Zero stood just behind her. No one said a word. The wind carried the gate’s hum now, a low sound like something distant growling in its sleep.
Athena turned to face them all. Her eyes scanned each one carefully.
"You’re not cadets anymore," she said.
Her voice was clear. No softening. No lecture tone. Just real.
"I don’t care what rank the academy gave you, or how many drills you’ve passed. After today, you’ll either be Hunters... or names carved in stone."
Silas rubbed the back of his neck.
"You think that’s supposed to be encouraging?"
She didn’t smile. "No. It’s supposed to be real."
Her eyes moved to Reia.
"You’re the brain. When everyone else loses their mind, you’re the one that has to keep moving. Think. Adapt. You lead not by shouting—but by staying upright when others stumble. Don’t forget that."
Reia nodded once, silent.
Athena looked to Vyn next.
"You’re quiet. But you’re never blind. Watch their backs. That’s your job. No one in this group dies unless you say it’s okay. If anyone breaks formation, drag them back. I don’t care if they scream."
Vyn said nothing. Just locked eyes with her.
"Vyn," Athena said next, softer. "You scare me."
Vyn blinked.
"Don’t lose yourself."
"...I won’t."
Athena nodded, then turned to Silas.
"You’ll want to crack jokes. You’ll want to play it light. But if you hesitate, even once—"
"I know."
"Do you?"
Silas looked serious now. "Yeah. I do."
Athena didn’t say anything for a second. Then she finally turned toward Lucian.
The wind moved again.
"You’re the outlier."