Embrace of the void

The bustling halls of the academy echoed with the lively chatter of students and teachers. Though the world of Aetheria was less technologically advanced than Michael's previous world, the abundance of mana more than compensated for this disparity. The school resembled a larger version of a typical middle school, with classrooms filled with eager students.

In one particular classroom, a teacher stood at the magic board, explaining the fundamental principles of their world to attentive pupils. After concluding the lesson, he settled into his chair and addressed the class.

"There is just one week until the final exams," he announced. "I know many of you are eager to leave school behind, but it's crucial that you study diligently to perform well. Admission to an academy requires not only talent but also success in a written and theoretical exam.

You should consider which academy you wish to join. The prestigious Astral Nexus Academy is an excellent choice, though it is a mixed-race institution. or the Celestial Academy located in the Imperial Capital. If anyone wishes to take all their exams in one day, they may apply accordingly. I understand you're all excited to train and prepare, but I urge you to give your best effort.

You can all leave now, Lily stay a little longer. I need to talk to you for a moment."

Lily was surprised by the teacher's request and asked her friends to wait for her outside. as the other students filtered out. The teacher leaned forward . "Michael Nightshade requested a leave of absence to focus on his awakening over a month ago, but he has yet to return. Do you have any news about him? "I understand that you were friends and neighbors."

"Yes, teacher. Michael has successfully awakened, but I'm not sure why he hasn't come back to school. He might be avoiding the bullies," Lily replied. "I saw him returning from the forest; he's been training hard."

"Could you send him a message? He needs to return for his exams. He can complete them in one day. I'll fill out the necessary forms for him."

Lily hesitated but nodded. "Okay, teacher. I'll let him know."

After leaving the classroom, Lily found her friends waiting outside.

"What did the teacher want?" John inquired, curiosity evident in his tone.

"He asked me to deliver a message to Michael," Lily replied.

"What? Why do you have to do that? Let this loser go to hell," John retorted, irritation creeping into his voice.

"We agreed not to make fun of him again, remember?" Lily shot back.

"We have a dungeon raid planned today With my brother and Shawn, and you better not be late," Alexa chimed in, attempting to shift the mood.

"I won't be late. Bye for now!" Lily called as she departed, heading toward Michael's house while her friends went their separate ways.

Lily arrived at Michael's house, hesitating for a moment before pushing open the patio door.

*He still leaves the door unlocked,* she thought, exhaling a sigh. It had been a long time since she had visited.

As she stepped inside, she surveyed Michael's home. The yard was spacious and well-kept, dotted with trees and a small storeroom. At the center stood Michael's two-story house, seemingly unchanged since her last visit.

Approaching the front door, she knocked softly but received no answer. After a moment's pause, she knocked again, this time a bit louder. Still, there was no response. *It seems he's not home. I'll come back later,* she concluded, turning to leave.

Just as she was about to step away, the door swung open, revealing Michael. He stood there, clothes drenched in sweat from his rigorous training, hair disheveled and streaked with dirt. Lily was taken aback by his appearance.

Michael regarded her with an icy stare. "What do you want?" he asked flatly.

Feeling a flutter of nerves, Lily replied, "The teacher asked me to deliver a message to you."

His expression remained unchanged. "Okay. What does he want?"

"He said you need to come back for your exams. He will fill out the form for you to take them all in one day. The exams start next week."

"Thank you. You can go now," Michael replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

Annoyed by his curt response, Lily turned and walked away in silence.

Once she was out of sight, Nixar emerged from the shadows cast by Michael's figure. "We need to install several surveillance devices in this courtyard," he said, his tone serious. "We were so engrossed in training that we didn't even notice her knocking."

Michael shook his head. "We'll handle that later. Right now, I feel like I can break through to E+ rank today if I push myself."

"Okay, I'll aim for a mid-D rank breakthrough," Nyxar replied, and the two retreated inside to prepare for their training session.

Michael and Nyxar continued their rigorous training until Michael sensed he had reached his limits, poised on the brink of a breakthrough.

 He took out several mana cores from his ring, settling into a focused meditation to absorb mana with fervor. After several minutes of concentrated effort, he felt a significant shift within himself as he broke through to the E+ rank. A rush of magical energy coursed through him, enhancing both his magical prowess and physical strength. Testing his newfound abilities, he clenched his fist and exclaimed, "Damn, this feels incredible. It's almost addictive."

From the shadows, Nyxar emerged, nodding in agreement. "I wholeheartedly concur," he replied with a grin.

 "Did you manage to break through as well?" Michael inquired curiosity evident in his tone.

Nyxar smiled broadly, "Of course! Did you think I would allow you to surpass me? Keep dreaming."

The two friends burst into laughter, celebrating their achievements together.