Integration Rank

The first day of the Inter-Academy Festival came to a close, but the air that lingered afterward was anything but celebratory. Beneath the festive façade, a quiet tension had settled, a palpable unease. As the festivities wound down, the truth became clear: the second-years of the five other academies had decided to band together. Their target was obvious—Mythos Academy. It was always the target.

No one said it aloud, but the unspoken pact hung over everything. Eyes met across the courtyards with subtle nods of understanding. Mythos had to fall.

But for me, that was exactly what I needed.

The time had come. The distractions of the festival's opening day were over, and now, at last, I could focus. I could complete the integration process, finally stepping into Integration-rank.

I walked away from the dispersing crowd, heading toward the quiet private training grounds I had. The transparent roof showed the stars that hung like distant pinpricks of light against the velvet sky. The noise of the festival grew faint behind me, replaced by the steady rhythm of my footsteps.

My thoughts were focused. After everything, the battles, the near-death experiences, and the coma—I was on the brink. The brink of a power I could finally control. I had come so far, but this was the last step. Completing the integration process, solidifying my core into my body, would push me into a whole new realm of power.

I reached the training grounds, where the silence allowed my mind to settle into focus. I drew a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. 

The moon hung low, casting a pale glow on the worn stones beneath my feet, as if even the sky was waiting in anticipation for what would happen next.

I wasn't the same as I was before. My experiences—especially the battle with Drake Namgung—had pushed me beyond my limits. Now, I needed to channel that growth, to crystallize it. Luna's sigils flickered on my skin as I activated Lucent Harmony. The power thrummed within me, a steady beat that echoed in my core.

The process wasn't something that could be rushed. It required focus, complete clarity, and a willingness to confront the limits of your own body and mind. 

I centered myself, feeling the connection between my mana core and my physical form. Every fiber of my being was ready. I had been through hell and back to reach this point, and now it was time to cross that final threshold.

Closing my eyes, I began the process.

The mana core within me pulsed, resonating with the energies I had cultivated over countless hours of training and battle. Slowly, I pushed, guiding the core as it began to expand, to merge fully with my body. It wasn't painless—far from it. A sharp, burning sensation coursed through me as my core reshaped itself, fusing with muscle, bone, and skin.

Sweat beaded on my forehead, but I didn't falter. This pain was nothing compared to what I had endured. It was necessary—a reminder that the path to power was never easy.

As the minutes passed, the searing pain gave way to a steady warmth, a kind of completeness that I had never felt before. My body was changing, evolving. My mana core was no longer a separate entity, but a part of me. Integration.

And then, as the final wave of energy surged through me, it was done. I opened my eyes, feeling the world sharpen around me. My senses were heightened, the mana in the air around me more tangible than ever. 

I had finally reached Integration-rank.

I took a breath, steadying myself as the new power settled. But there wasn't time to bask in the achievement. Tomorrow, the competition would begin. The other academies had already made their move, aligning themselves against us. Mythos Academy would be under siege, and I needed to be ready.

For now, though, I felt a sense of clarity. A moment of stillness before the storm.

Because I knew that, once the battle began, there would be no turning back.

I exhaled, letting the lingering rush of power settle into my bones. The night air was still, but my mind was already running ahead, organizing the pieces on the board. Reaching Integration-rank was only the beginning. The real challenge lay in outmaneuvering the combined forces of the other academies.

As I made my way back from the training grounds, my steps were measured, deliberate. The pathway was dimly lit, the occasional glow of distant lamps casting long shadows across the stone. The festival atmosphere had died down, replaced by an eerie calm. I needed to prepare for what was coming next, to sharpen the strategy that had been forming in my mind.

By the time I reached my room, the adrenaline from the breakthrough was fading, replaced by cold focus. I sat down and pulled up my tablet, quickly organizing the key information. Every advantage counted, and I wasn't going to overlook a single detail.

Jack Blazespout. The only Integration-rank they had. He would be our greatest threat. His presence alone would shift the balance of the battle.

Then there was Seol-ah Moyong. She had completed the first stage of the Integration process and was on the verge of completing the second. Powerful, no doubt, but still not on Ren's level. Though she was clearly a step above Rachel, she wasn't someone to underestimate.

Beyond them, there were the three White-rankers: Aria Gu, Aaron Meriot, and Liora Arundel. Each formidable in their own right, but none at the level that could truly challenge our top fighters.

The rest of their key players were High Silver-rankers: Ava Peng, Naomi Draven, Tobias Grimfeld, and Elara Astoria. I hesitated for a moment on Elara's name. She was the weakest among them. Despite her family's prestige, she wasn't at the level of the top students of Mythos Academy. It wasn't just about raw power; she lacked the refinement and precision that students like Ren or even Rachel had honed over time.

In terms of top-tiers, we were clearly superior.

Lucifer was already at Integration-rank, his strength undeniable, and now, I had joined him. My own breakthrough felt like a solid foundation beneath me, a new kind of certainty.

Ren had completed the second stage of the Integration process and was stronger than Seol-ah Moyong, more seasoned in his abilities. Rachel, though still in her first stage of Integration, had grown immensely since the Sovereign's Tournament. Her progress was steady and dangerous.

Jin was solid at White-rank, his presence always commanding on the battlefield. Cecilia, Seraphina, and Ian were all at High Silver-rank—each formidable, each with the potential to turn the tide of battle if used correctly.

I leaned back, the weight of the situation pressing down but not in a way that suffocated. It focused me. We were superior, but superiority didn't guarantee victory. The other academies would come at us with everything they had, and underestimating them would be a fatal mistake.

But for now, I was prepared. My team was strong. The battle was approaching, and the real games were about to begin.

I closed the tablet and let the quiet of the room surround me, my thoughts drifting once more to the upcoming battle. It would be our chance to prove ourselves—our strength, our strategy, and our ability to stand as the top academy in the world. And I intended to ensure that no one, not even Jack Blazespout, would take that from us.

Tomorrow, it begins.