Chapter 455:Furious.

Chapter 455: 455:Furious.

The heat was very uncomfortable but his body endured it. Fire Resistance reduced the damage enough that he could continue moving without serious injury.

The system reacted.

[Fire Resistance Passive Lv2 proficiency increased.]

Silver smiled as he stepped out of the flames... And found Ravenna staring at him.

She stood near the center of the street, sword covered in fire, several defeated beasts scattered around her while her squad protected two simulated casualties.

Her white hair was tied back, uniform was dirty and with a furious expression.

"Silver!"

He raised a hand.

"Hi honey."

Ravenna just glared at him before looking at his smoking sleeves, then back at his face.

"Don’t ’honey’ me, you just walk through my fire?"

She quoted in the air when she said honey.

He glanced behind him.

"Technically."

"Technically?" She shouted while throwing her hands into the air. " Are you nuts."

"It was blocking the road."

Ravenna’s eyes widened.

"So you walked through it?"

Silver smiled.

"I have Fire Resistance."

"Your clothes don’t!"

He looked down.

A small hole had appeared near his elbow.

Silver sighed.

"You were right about that."

Ravenna stared.

"Ooh my God, what did I get myself into," she mumbled to herself as she marched toward him.

He remained still clearly trying to not to make her any mire angry.

She grabbed his wrist and inspected his arm. There were a few faint red marks but no serious burns.

Her expression relaxed slightly, then became annoyed again.

"You could’ve called me."

Silver looked toward the flames.

"You were busy."

"Silver."

"Honey."

She narrowed her eyes, before she visibly cringed.

He smiled, acting oblivious.

"Your fire is very warm," he softly added.

Ravenna’s mouth fell open for a second before she smiled in a way Silver didn’t particularly like.

"Oh?"

His smile faded.

"Ravenna."

"You think it’s warm?" She asked.

"That was a compliment," he quietly said.

"I can make it hotter."

Silver immediately stepped backward.

"That sounds unnecessary, this one is perfect."

Ravenna laughed, then she caught his uniform and pulled him closer. For a brief moment, despite the burning street and the assessment, her expression softened.

"You’re okay?"

Silver nodded.

"Completely."

She looked at his clothes again.

"You’re buying a new uniform."

Silver sighed.

"Yeah."

Behind them, Helena called out.

"Ruddington!"

Silver looked back, he had almost forgotten that his squad was waiting.

Ravenna’s squad leader shouted something from the other side.

She sighed.

"We have to go."

He nodded.

"Good luck."

"You too."

She hesitated, then kissed his cheek quickly.

Silver smiled.

Ravenna immediately stepped back.

"Don’t walk through another fire."

"I’ll try."

"Silver."

"I promise to consider alternatives."

She shook her head.

"Idiot."

"I’m yours."

Silver laughed, then returned toward his squad. Behind him, Ravenna watched for another moment before turning back toward her own mission.

Shirley stood several meters away and had seen everything. Her smile remained pleasant but her fingers tightened around her sword.

Silver returned to Helena who stared at his uniform for a second longer before choking out a laughter.

"You’re paying for that."

"I’ve been informed."

Caleb laughed.

Mina shook her head.

"That was ridiculous."

Silver smiled.

"Efficient route."

Helena pointed toward the extraction marker.

"Move."

They moved towards it.

The final stretch became a test of endurance; the injured personnel needed support, the military case was heavy, Caleb’s shoulder was worsening, Mina was becoming mentally exhausted from constantly monitoring vibrations and Helena’s barrier energy reserves had dropped significantly.

Silver helped carry the case when Rowan’s arms began shaking since Primal Strength made the weight manageable.

He also used Short-Step sparingly to scout intersections, checking routes before the others committed.

At one point a Tier Three beast appeared behind them. He considered fighting, then saw the narrow passage ahead.

"Helena, barrier across the street."

She raised her shield and a translucent wall appeared. The beast struck it and the barrier cracked.

Silver added a smaller angled spatial plane beside it.

[Spatial Distortion Lv2 Activated.]

The creature’s second attack was redirected into a nearby wall. Concrete collapsed and the passage became blocked.

Silver smiled.

"That works."

Helena lowered her shield.

"Run."

They ran.

At seven minutes remaining, the extraction zone finally appeared: a reinforced checkpoint, automated gates and academy personnel watching from observation platforms.

Silver could hear simulated gunfire behind them. The injured personnel were exhausted. Caleb was nearly dragging the transport chair. Rowan stumbled but Silver caught the military case before it struck the ground.

"Keep moving!"

Helena was ahead.

"Extraction! Open the gate!"

A warning flashed.

[EXTRACTION ZONE ACTIVE.]

[TIME REMAINING: 05:42]

The gate began opening.

Silver looked backward.

Three Tier Two beasts had entered the street.

He drew his handgun.

[Phantom Draw Lv4 activated.]

Three shots was all it took for the beasts to fall without either of them stopping.

They crossed the checkpoint and the gate closed behind them.

Silence filled the area then the system chimed.

[PRIMARY OBJECTIVE 3 COMPLETE.]

[ALL MISSING PERSONNEL EXTRACTED.]

[SECURED MILITARY CASE DELIVERED.]

[SQUAD FOUR-B: MISSION SUCCESS.]

Silver exhaled. Helena lowered her shield. Caleb sat directly on the ground. Mina leaned against the wall.

Elias finally relaxed his bowstring. Rowan placed the military case down and stared at his trembling hands.

For several seconds nobody spoke, then Caleb started laughing.

"We actually did it."

Helena looked toward him.

"We did."

Silver smiled.

"Good command."

Helena looked at him.

"Good support."

Mina raised a hand weakly.

"Can we celebrate after someone brings water?"

Everyone laughed.

Silver sat on the edge of a concrete barrier. His body wasn’t particularly exhausted but his reserves were lower, his clothes were damaged and his sword had several scratches despite all that, he was fine.

He looked toward the sky.

Somewhere else inside Urban Sector Seven, Ravenna was still fighting, Antony too and all the others

Silver hoped they were doing well.

Then a notification appeared before him.

[Quest Progress Updated.]

[First Major Assessment: Primary Objectives Completed.]

[Optional Objective: Spatial Efficiency - Completed.]

[Optional Objective: Controlled Short-Step Usage - Completed.]

[Combat Support Performance: Excellent]

[Adaptability Performance: Excellent.]

[Reward Calculation Pending Official Assessment Review.]

Silver smiled.

Another prompt appeared.

[Space Slash Lv3 Successfully Integrated.]

[Spatial Skill Synchronization Improved.]

[Current Rank: Rank 2.]

[Rank Development Progress Increased.]

Silver closed the interface.

He wasn’t Rank Three yet but he could feel himself getting closer. And for once, he hadn’t needed to defeat the strongest beast in the assessment to prove he’d grown stronger.

He’d helped five other students and three injured personnel reach safety. That was enough for now.