Since the mute spell was still in effect, no one could discuss anything. So they promptly vacated the classroom, leaving only the top 50 students behind.

The professor began.

"Now, what I am about to say is specifically for students ranked 11 to 50. So those concerned, listen carefully."

"While the other students' job is simply to investigate and hunt down specific groups or individuals to save the majority of the innocents, your job is to save a specific number of people and hunt the majority of the demonic forces."

"Yes, the city you are about to be sent to is nearly 60% to 70% under demonic influence, while the rest are fiercely fighting back. When you arrive, your job is to help people in distress and rescue them safely. After that, destroying the city is optional in case the corruption is irreversible. But if you do destroy the city, you will receive bonus rewards because you made the Academy's job easier."

"Next up, the difficulty level."

The professor raised his hand, holding up 3 fingers.

"High 3-star and Peak 3-star. That's it. It doesn't mean there is an individual at that level you need to deal with. We know that's impossible for you. What 'High' and 'Peak 3-star' mean is that the collective strength of all the demons is either High or Peak 3-star. And just so you know, the groups of 20 students to which you will be assigned will have the collective strength of Pseudo 4-star and Low 4-star, respectively. So don't disappoint us."

"Students ranked 11 to 30 will form one group, and students ranked 31 to 50 will form the second group. That's it. Now, those students may leave."

Soon, only the top 10 students remained in the classroom.

"Now, the pride of the Academy—Marco, Lyra, Dhalia, Tavian, Ronan, Aaron, Uraan, Lily, Leon, and finally... Leo." The professor met each of their gazes one by one.

"Your mission is far simpler and, in some cases, even easier if you look at it from a certain angle."

All of them listened intently to the professor's words... or rather, they had no choice because of the mute spell.

"You will infiltrate the city like an ordinary person coming to explore, take on commissioned work, or do anything that suits you. Then, when you are drugged into unconsciousness..." The professor gave a casual shrug.

"Or simply pretend to be unconscious and let yourselves be taken to a sacrificial site or altar, you only have to raze the entire place to the ground."

All of them frowned. The explanation was far too vague.

The professor waved his hand dismissively.

"If that's too complicated, then let me put it simply—your end goal is the total destruction of the city. The entire city has been corrupted to its roots, and its people only pretend to be normal so innocent outsiders remain unaware that they are being used as sacrifices to bring more demons from the Abyss into our world."

Then he swept a curious glance across each of them.

"Low 3, Low 3, Mid 3, High 3, Mid 3, Mid 3, High 3... and the monsters... nearly Low 4, High 4... almost High 4."

1. Leo - High 4-star

2. Leon - Low 4-star

3. Lily - High 4-star

4. Uraan Hurricane - High 3-star

5. Aaron Stone - Mid 3-star

6. Ronan Virex - Mid 3-star

7. Tavian Gridfall - High 3-star

8. Dhalia Renner - Mid 3-star

9. Lyra Noctis - Low 3-star

10. Marco - Low 3-star

Since people couldn't sense Leo's base stats and could only perceive the feedback from his beast—2900 across all attributes—they assumed he was at the cusp of High 4-star.

When the professor revealed everyone's strength, all heads snapped toward the trio seated in the middle.

Though they couldn't say anything, it was obvious how jealous and incredulous they felt. Especially Uraan, who had always wanted to surpass them one day.

Previously, most had simply dismissed the fact that they couldn't sense the trio's strength, believing they must have been using some kind of equipment. But the truth was entirely different—they were simply too strong for the others to perceive.

The professor continued.

"The danger levels are not that high—just High 3-star, Peak 3-star, and Pseudo 4-star, respectively. Yes, with just 10 of you, three groups will be formed."

"First group: Marco, Lyra, Tavian, and Uraan—dealing with High 3-star danger. Second group: Dhalia, Ronan, Aaron, and Leon—dealing with Peak 3-star danger."

Leo and Lily both raised their eyes upon hearing the groupings, but the professor continued.

"These groups haven't been arranged according to your student rankings because those are meaningless here. Marco and Dhalia are both ice users; it doesn't make sense for them to be in the same group. As for moving Uraan down, it's to balance things out. Two High 3-star units in one group make it much safer, and Leon covers Uraan's absence with his Low 4-star strength in the second group."

Finally, he looked toward Leo and Lily.

"Though it's obvious, I'll still say it. The third group—or in this case, duo—consists of you two. Just the two of you will be dealing with the Pseudo 4-star zone." Saying that, the professor snapped his fingers.

"Yes!!" Lily immediately covered her mouth and glanced around when she realised the mute spell had been released. Her excitement had been revealed to everyone.

"And here I was thinking I'd be getting complaints..." The professor shook his head with a knowing smile.

Is this the reason Brant and Vice Principal Tarun put them together? The professor wondered inwardly.

Throughout the Academy's history, not a single starter mission had ever been assigned to a duo. Especially one without a shadow team's protection.

Well, I guess this term's students really are special, the professor mused, recalling that this was the first generation to become this strong in their very first term.

Normally, the top 10 would form a single group and be sent to cities with danger levels of merely Pseudo 3-star or Low 3-star. But now, that sort of mission had been given to the top 50 students, while the top 10 were dealing with High and Peak 3-star threats despite having fewer members.

And then there was this special duo, tasked with handling a Pseudo 4-star danger zone.

Why did Brant specifically tell me never to separate them? The professor pondered, remembering how strongly Brant had emphasised those words. Not to mention that when Brant and Tarun discussed it privately, even Tarun had supported the decision.