Multiversal Ascension-Chapter 84: When “Sisters” Cross Paths (1)

Just before leaving, he took a moment to remove the limiter on ALL his stats, fully aware that unexpected situations could arise outside the Academy. He had no intention of finding himself in a life-and-death scenario simply because he was restricting his own abilities.

Of course, he would try to restrain himself and avoid displaying strength that was too disproportionate. However, if the need arose, he wouldn't hesitate to use his full power. After all, what was the point of training and gaining strength if he couldn't even utilize it when it truly mattered?

'And worst-case scenario, I have a "backer" in Amelia's father, so I shouldn't end up on a medical table being dissected just because I'm too strong,' he thought with a wry smile.

At that moment, something occurred to him. 'Wait a minute, wasn't there a quest about getting myself a backer?'

[Quest: Young Master Style completed.

Rewards: 10K LP]

His eyebrow twitched as he noticed the notification. He couldn't fathom why a quest that should have been completed days ago had only just now been marked as finished.

'It's probably tied to the notion that a young master needs to be aware of their powerful background to act on it...' he mused.

'Anyway, I'm getting off track. I should probably get going,' he decided, dismissing the thought and focusing on the task at hand.

After a short walk through the Academy's pristine hallways, Mikael stepped into an enormous open space. The central plaza stretched out before him, its beauty amplified by the abundant greenery and natural elements surrounding it. Lush gardens of vibrant flowers lined the pathways, their colors vivid against the backdrop of smooth stone. Tall, elegant trees with their thick canopies formed natural arches, offering refreshing patches of shade. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flora, and the gentle rustle of leaves created a soft, soothing melody.

In the center of the plaza stood magnificent stone fountains, their crystal-clear water cascading into shallow basins, producing a rhythmic and peaceful sound. Sculptures of mythical creatures stood proudly beside the fountains, their intricate details so lifelike that they seemed to be watching over the students. The plaza radiated tranquility, a serene oasis amid the bustling Academy.

However, this serenity was disrupted by the large number of people gathered there. Groups of students, staff, and teachers filled the space, their voices rising into a chaotic symphony of chatter. Some formed tight clusters, engaged in animated discussions, while others strolled leisurely, lost in their own thoughts. The lively buzz of activity overwhelmed the calmness, transforming the tranquil atmosphere into a vibrant and chaotic scene.

Visit fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce.

Mikael, undeterred by the noise, navigated the crowd with practiced ease. His sharp gaze scanned the sea of faces until he reached the designated meeting spot, where Emily was waiting. Despite the commotion, his focus remained unwavering, his mind cutting through the distractions as he moved with purpose.

Once there, he quickly registered his presence for the optional exam and settled into waiting. It wasn't long before Amelia arrived, positioning herself beside him. The two exchanged a few words before falling silent, finding it too bothersome to hold a conversation amidst the constant background chatter.

"Your attention, please."

The words echoed through the plaza, rising above the chatter and capturing everyone's focus. The crowd instinctively fell silent, their gazes drawn to the elevated platform where a man stood.

He was dressed in gray mage robes, his silver hair and matching silver eyes adding an air of distinction to his presence. Though he appeared to be in his sixties, there was nothing frail about him. His aura exuded strength, a quiet but commanding energy that demanded respect without effort.

Silence blanketed the plaza as he began to speak. "Hello, everyone. I am your principal, Silvius Carius." His voice was calm yet carried a weight that rippled through the crowd, igniting a wave of hushed murmurs.

Mikael caught fragments of conversations around him.

"SSS+ mage."

"The strongest!"

"Mystoria Kingdom's Guardian."

He ignored the whispers, keeping his attention fixed on the man. Silvius Carius was a figure known across Dirarnia, one of the rare SSS+ rankers and widely acknowledged as the strongest alive. As the principal of Central Academy and the guardian of Mystoria Kingdom, his reputation was legendary, his talent was even at the monster level!

At that moment, Silvius continued. "In the following days, you will face something that will test not only your skills but also your resolve. A challenge unlike any you've faced before. This time, it's not just about proving your abilities for a grade or for yourselves. You will be protecting others. Their lives will rest in your hands, and they will count on you."

He paused briefly, allowing his words to sink in. The weight of his statement settled heavily over the students, their focus sharpening.

"Until now, your training has been about honing your own strengths—your tactics, your skills, and your capabilities. But this is different. You'll be defending a town against a wave of beasts, working not as individuals but as a team. This is your opportunity to learn what it truly means to safeguard others."

His gaze swept over the crowd, his tone unwavering. "This experience is not about being the strongest or the fastest. It's about reliability. It's about standing firm when it matters most. You will face difficulties, and not all solutions will come easily. But together, you can overcome them."

His voice softened, though his words retained their weight. "Remember, you are not alone. Lean on your classmates, learn from each other, and grow together. This is your chance to understand the responsibility that comes with strength. When this is over, you will emerge not only as better fighters but as better individuals."

He nodded, signaling the end of his speech. "Good luck, and do your best."

For a moment, the plaza remained silent, the students digesting the significance of what lay ahead. Slowly, the quiet was broken by a smattering of applause, which quickly swelled into a thunderous ovation. The students, driven by a mix of nerves and excitement, felt a surge of motivation at the prospect of rising to the challenge before them.

Mikael stood still amidst the applause, his expression unreadable as he considered the task ahead. Around him, the atmosphere was charged with determination, the air almost vibrating with the collective resolve of the students preparing to protect the towns and prove themselves.

At that moment, the crowd, which had started to lose focus, turned its attention to the elevated platform where the vice principal appeared.

Brendan began addressing the audience. Unlike the grand speech given by the principal, his explanation was far more practical as he detailed how the defense against the beast wave would proceed.

Mikael listened carefully to the information, but what caught his attention most was that the students would be assigned separately to protect 25 towns currently at risk from beast wave. The students wouldn't have a say in choosing which town they would defend.

At least, that was true for the majority of students. For the top ten in each year, they could choose the town they wanted to protect. It was their privilege as the strong.

The vice principal's explanation continued for a while before he concluded by instructing all students to proceed to the designated gathering points for their respective town groups. From there, they would be organized and transported to their assigned locations within 30 minutes.

"Which town do you want to defend?" Mikael asked.

"Does it matter? As long as we pick the same one, we'll be together, and that's what counts," Amelia said confidently.

Mikael agreed with her reasoning but hesitated briefly. "Yeah, I think so too... It's just that I believe we should coordinate with Lyra."

Amelia's eyes widened in surprise. "You want her to come with us?"

Meeting her gaze, Mikael nodded, his expression calm. He could easily discern the unease in her features. It was evident that the prospect of meeting another one of his women in person for the first time, instead of merely hearing about her, was making her anxious.

Amelia took a deep breath and steadied herself. "Alright, I'd like to meet her," she declared, her voice resolute despite the nervousness she felt inside.

Mikael, who knew her well, caught the hint of anxiety in her tone but chose not to comment. "Okay, I'll text her," he said.

He quickly sent a message to Lyra:

Mikael [10:14 AM]: For the beast wave mission, I'd like to be in the same town as you. Is that okay?

Lyra [10:14 AM]: Of course! I'd like that too!

Mikael [10:15 AM]: Just so you know, Amelia will be there as well.

Three minutes passed before Lyra replied.

Lyra [10:18 AM]: Uh... okay, but will she mind me?

Mikael [10:19 AM]: Don't worry, there shouldn't be a problem. And if there is, I'll be there to mediate.

Lyra [10:19 AM]: The situation makes me nervous, but I'll be there.

Mikael [10:20 AM]: (Heart emoji) We'll defend Willowbrook Town. Is that fine with you?

Lyra [10:20 AM]: Yes, I'll choose Willowbrook Town too.

As he slid his phone back into his pocket, he overheard Amelia chatting with Aria about which town to defend. He didn't intrude and stopped listening, patiently waiting for their discussion to end, which only took a few minutes.

Not long after, the two girls finished talking, and Aria went off with Lucas, leaving Amelia to approach Mikael with a wry smile.

"What's with that look?" Mikael asked, curious about her expression. Normally, he could have eavesdropped on their conversation thanks to his enhanced hearing, but he chose to respect her privacy.

"Aria won't come with us to Willowbrook Town," Amelia said.

"Okay... but I didn't know she was supposed to come," Mikael replied.

"She wasn't 'supposed' to. I just thought she'd want to join me for this exam. But when she found out I'd be with you, she took it as a 'date' and didn't want to be the third wheel. So she decided to team up with Lucas instead," Amelia explained, her expression softening into a small smile. She seemed relieved that Aria had finally accepted her relationship with Mikael and stopped trying to convince her otherwise.

Mikael found it odd that Aria would help him in any capacity, given that she hadn't seemed to like him from the start. Not that he cared—Aria's opinion only mattered because she was Amelia's best friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

He kept his thoughts to himself and simply nodded in acknowledgment. Afterward, the two of them approached their homeroom teacher, Emily, and used their privilege as top ten first-years to select Willowbrook Town as their destination.

Emily gave them instructions on where the Willowbrook group would gather. Following her directions, they arrived at a designated area where about fifty students were waiting. Leading the group was a lanky-looking professor Draven Farwynd, to whom they gave their names to confirm their presence.

Once that was done, Mikael and Amelia stood beside each other some distance away from the rest of the group wanting to be alone, chatting while waiting for the mission to begin. Naturally, they drew glances from those around them, particularly because of Amelia's striking beauty.

However, no one dared approach them. Amelia's reputation as the calm and dignified heiress of a duke was well-known throughout the Academy, and even those captivated by her appearance didn't have the courage to interrupt. They could only watch from a distance, seething as they saw her talking so casually with Mikael.

As time passed, the group grew steadily larger, eventually swelling to nearly a hundred students. A few more professors arrived as well, though they clearly operated under the authority of the lead professor, Draven Farwynd. Amid the growing crowd, Mikael's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a familiar head of purple hair making its way toward them.

"She's here," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Author Note:

If you'd like to support me or get access to advanced Chapters, you can find me on Patreon—just search for SDASLUMMY.

Of course, if you'd rather not, I totally understand! (I often do the same when reading novels myself.)

If you want to support me without paying, dropping a few Power Stones or leaving a review means a lot and really helps the story gain visibility.

Thanks a ton for reading—I truly appreciate it!