Chapter 458:Rankings.

Chapter 458: 458:Rankings.

The screen displayed recordings from different squads; students carrying injured personnel, beasts attacking barricades,contractors using abilities, and squads retreating through damaged streets.

A familiar wall of fire appeared briefly.

Silver smiled.

Ravenna noticed.

"Don’t."

"I didn’t say anything."

The instructor continued.

"Your missions were designed around the same three objectives, comparable environmental conditions, equivalent resource restrictions and standardized scoring criteria. However, individual encounters were not identical. Your performance was therefore evaluated according to the challenges you actually faced, not simply how quickly you reached extraction."

Silver nodded slightly.

That made sense.

A squad encountering a peak Tier Three beast couldn’t be judged solely against another squad that had faced ordinary Tier Threes.

The instructor continued.

"Of the participating squads, most successfully recovered at least one missing personnel. A smaller percentage completed all three primary objectives. Several squads demonstrated exceptional combat ability but failed due to poor resource management, communication breakdowns or unnecessary engagements."

The screen changed.

[FIRST-YEAR ASSESSMENT SUMMARY]

[Primary Evaluation: Mission Completion]

[Secondary Evaluation: Combat, Teamwork, Adaptability, Resource Management, Command, Support]

[Individual and Squad Rankings Updated]

The instructor looked around.

"Remember that these rankings reflect performance during this assessment and your recorded academy development. They are not permanent measures of strength."

The screen changed again, and this time, squad rankings appeared.

Silver leaned forward.

First-Year Squad Rankings - Assessment One

Rank Squad Result

1 Class 1 — Squad A Mission complete

2 Class 4 — Squad B Mission complete

3 Class 2 — Squad C Mission complete

4 Class 4 — Squad A Mission complete

5 Class 5 — Squad B Mission complete

Silver eyes widened.

Second.

Helena stared at the screen, frozen. Caleb’s mouth fell open. Mina grabbed Helena’s arm and shook her excitedly.

"We’re second!"

Helena looked genuinely surprised.

Silver smiled.

"Congratulations, Leader."

She turned toward him and burst into laughed.

"Don’t start."

"I’m serious."

She looked back at the screen, her expression softening.

"Thanks."

Ravenna leaned toward Silver.

"Second place?"

He nodded.

"Apparently."

She smiled.

"Not bad."

"Where’s yours?"

"Fourth."

Silver looked toward the display again.

Class Four Squad A.... Ravenna’s squad.

He smiled.

"Good."

Her narrowed her eyes.

"You’re enjoying being above me."

"A little."

She elbowed him.

Silver laughed.

Behind them, Antony leaned forward.

"Third!"

Silver turned to look at him.

Antony was grinning.

"Class Two Squad C! That’s us!"

Rebecca crossed her arms.

"You’re being loud."

"We’re third!"

"I can read, you’re embarrassing us."

Antony ignored her.

Silver smiled.

"Good work."

He nodded proudly.

Then the instructor continued.

"Several squads deserve particular recognition for their decision-making under changing conditions."

The screen displayed Squad Four-B.

Silver recognized the moment immediately. It was during the fight with the over sized bear.

The instructor spoke.

"Squad Four-B successfully recovered all personnel and the secured case despite encountering a peak Tier Three beast approaching Tier Four evolution. Their initial engagement was necessary to secure the final personnel, but the squad disengaged once its objectives were achieved."

The recording showed Silver’s Space Slash striking the bear’s rear joint.

Several students murmured as they pointed at the two.

Ravenna’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She hadn’t imagined it to be this gruelling. Silver had talked as though it was nothing much.

The instructor continued.

"Of particular note was the squad’s ability to preserve resources, redistribute responsibilities and maintain command cohesion despite injuries."

Helena sat straighter.

"Squad Leader Helena Seer demonstrated excellent defensive coordination and delegation."

Her face reddened slightly. Mina grinned and lightly elbowed her on the side.

The instructor changed the recording.

Class Two Squad C appeared.

Antony stood near a damaged transport vehicle, shouting instructions while several students moved injured personnel through a narrow street.

"Class Two Squad C experienced a command disruption when its original squad leader became a simulated casualty. Acting Leader Antony Braille assumed command, reorganized the squad and successfully completed the remaining objectives."

Antony froze.

Rebecca smiled.

Silver turned toward him.

Antony slowly leaned back, then whispered, "That’s me."

Silver laughed quietly.

The instructor continued.

"His performance demonstrated strong situational awareness, flexible decision-making and effective use of teammates with different combat specialties."

Antony looked as though he might float out of his seat.

Rebecca leaned closer.

"Don’t let it go to your head."

"Too late,I can’t help it."

Then another recording appeared.

Fire spread across a commercial street.

Ravenna.

Silver immediately recognized her.

She stood in front of three approaching beasts, sword covered in flames, while Shirley moved through a nearby building under Light Refraction.

The recording showed Ravenna deliberately splitting the street with controlled fire rather than simply burning everything in front of her.

The beasts were forced toward a narrow passage.

Shirley emerged behind one and immediately killed it. Another squad member struck the second. Ravenna intercepted the third and the beast collapsed.

The instructor spoke.

"Class Four Squad A demonstrated particularly strong combat performance. Ravenna Arkland received one of the highest individual combat evaluations among all first-years."

Silver smiled.

Ravenna remained quiet but he noticed the satisfaction in her eyes.

"Her improvement in fire control and physical combat integration was especially notable. Rather than relying on excessive destructive output, she used her abilities to control enemy movement, protect injured personnel and create openings for teammates."

The recording ended.

Silver leaned toward her.

"Not bad."

Ravenna looked at him.

"Not bad?"

"Very good."

She smiled.

"Better."

Silver laughed softly.

Then the screen changed again.

[INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT RANKINGS]

The auditorium became silent as names appeared.

Top First-Year Individual Rankings - Updated

Rank Student Standout Performance

1. Silver Ruddington | Adaptability, Combat Support

2 Dillian Vale | Combat, Tactical Execution

3 Ravenna Arkland | Combat, Ability Control

4 Antony Braille | Leadership, Adaptability

5 Jude Dero | Tactical Control, Teamwork

6 Helena Seer | Command, Defensive Support

7 Rebecca Vale | Combat Coordination

8 Gareth Holler | Combat, Physical Performance

9 Elias Thorn | Reconnaissance, Accuracy

10 Mina Cole | Detection, Team Support

Silver stared at the screen, he was still first. But what interested him more was the category beside his name.

It felt surreal to be put as a good support instead of leadership.

He smiled.

That felt right.

Dillian remained second.

Ravenna third.

Antony had jumped from fifth to fourth. Helena had climbed significantly. Mina and Elias had entered the top ten.

The instructor continued.

"These rankings reflect combined academy performance and the most recent assessment. Students outside the top ten should not interpret their absence as failure. Many demonstrated substantial improvement, and several performed exceptionally well in specific categories."

Additional rankings appeared.

Shirley had improved in reconnaissance and infiltration. Caleb received recognition for defensive combat despite his injury. Rowan’s equipment reinforcement and casualty transport support were noted.

Silver was pleased that his squad hadn’t succeeded because he’d carried everyone. They’d succeeded because everyone had contributed.