Seeing his friends believing him to some extent, Jake felt relieved.

    Though he sensed something in Ramis''s tone, he didn''t mind it as he could always use his authority as master to silence him.

    After all, they were in a master-slave contract, and the only way for Ramis to break this contract was to defeat Jake in battle, which was impossible. All of Ramis''s achievements would feed back to Jake, so he could forget about breaking the contract.

    Not that Jake would enforce him to do anything against his wishes; it''s merely insurance to ensure that this protagonist wouldn''t turn against him in the future.

    "What of the infernal body?" Sophia asked, licking her lips.

    Jake looked at her and frowned. "You are not allowed to assimilate any male body," he said firmly.@@@@

    Sophia blinked and then apologized to Jake.

    Jake nodded and let it go. "I will try to preserve any female infernal body. You can use their blood to empower yourself," he added.

    Hearing this, Sophia smiled and thanked him. Jake sensed another gaze on him and, clearing his throat, said, "Of course, since Tista is now a vampire, I will also preserve some blood for you."

    Tista smiled and nodded.

    Others looked at them and mentally thought, ''Wish we had this convenient ability too.''

    Mark then shifted his gaze from Sophia and Tista to Jake and asked, "Can you take us with you?"

    Hearing him, the others also looked at Jake expectantly.

    Jake pursed his lips, unsure how to reply. He understood from Mark''s question that they wanted to fight an infernal, but all of them were too weak.

    The gate limit was SSS rank now, but after the ritual, it would increase to Knight rank, while the infernal would be Baron rank.

    Not to mention, infernals were usually a strong species, almost super-geniuses compared to humans at the same realm.

    If Mark and the others tried to fight them, it would be a one-sided slaughter.

    Jake looked at them, then remembered something and said, "You guys can''t go."

    Hearing this, the others nodded bitterly. They tried to smile and say it was okay, but their disappointment couldn''t be hidden.

    "Jake, we want to help," Mark insisted. "We don''t want to be left behind."

    Jake sighed. "I appreciate that, Mark. I really do. But the infernals are on a whole different level. If you''re not prepared, it could mean certain death. Right now, the best thing you can do is train and get stronger.

    There will be a time when I need all of you, but that time isn''t now."

    Shaking his head, Jake turned to Luna. "I''m going to practice until next week, or until the gate opens for exploration."

    "Don''t let anyone disturb me," he instructed before retreating to his room. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    Luna, his faithful companion, nodded understandingly and hung a "do not disturb" sign on the door before settling in front of the TV to indulge herself.

    Despite Jake''s relentless training, his progress remained modest. Despite his unwavering dedication, he could only ascend one minor rank, moving from lower baron to middle baron rank. The disappointment weighed heavily on him, yet he refused to relent, pushing himself even harder in pursuit of greater strength.

    Throughout the week, his friends, concerned about his well-being and eager to offer support, attempted to visit him. However, Luna stood firm, intercepting them at every turn and steadfastly refusing to grant them access to Jake''s sanctuary. Her loyalty to him was unwavering, her determination to protect his solitude unyielding.

    As the days passed, tensions simmered beneath the surface, a silent undercurrent of frustration and concern weaving its way through their group. Despite their respect for Jake''s need for solitude, they couldn''t shake the feeling of unease that settled over them like a shroud.

    ****

    As Jake stood among the group of students bound for the Gate, he glanced back at the Academy, spotting his friends gathered there, except for Ramis, who stood beside him, also chosen for the perilous journey.

    "Don''t worry, mate. You can always make it up to her by returning alive," Ramis attempted a joke, but it fell flat against the gravity of their situation.

    Jake nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the ominous entrance of the Red Hell gate.

    With a determined glint in his eyes, he whispered to himself, "I''ll do whatever it takes to survive and ensure their downfall."

    Facing a daunting decision, Jake knew the stakes were high. With a 90% chance of death within the gate, the odds were daunting. Yet, he also understood that remaining behind guaranteed a 100% chance of demise, leaving him trapped between two unforgiving cliffs of fate, with only the slightly less perilous path ahead.

    If he leaves the gate as it is, the expedition party will die, and the gate''s restriction will break, allowing the powerhouses of Infernals to enter this world. As Monarchs, Jake wouldn''t stand a chance against them.

    His best chance is to face whatever is inside the gate and kill them. Otherwise, certain death awaits him and all the people he loves.

    Ragur and the other chief elders directed the students to enter as the portal stabilized. Their voices carried authority and urgency, cutting through the growing tension in the air.

    "Listen up, everyone," Ragur commanded, his eyes sweeping over the assembled students. "This is a critical moment. You must proceed through the gate immediately."

    The chief elders echoed his directive, guiding the students into the portal with swift, practiced motions. Some of the younger ones hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes, but the elders'' stern gazes and firm encouragement propelled them forward.

    "And remember," Ragur added, his voice rising above the hum of activity, "there will be a ranking for those who perform better. This is your chance to prove your worth and rise in the ranks."

    The promise of recognition and advancement seemed to ignite a spark of determination in the students. One by one, they steeled themselves and stepped through the portal, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them on the other side.

    Jake too stepped inside. The moment he did, he conjured a massive illusion, causing the other students, except Ramis, to fall into a daze. Moving quickly, he knocked them out and imprisoned them in Nyrina.

    "Why do this?" Ramis asked, bewildered by Jake''s actions.

    "For Infernals, any life energy is food," Jake explained as he scanned the landscape ahead. "They can suck their life energy and become more powerful, so I remove them first."

    Ramis nodded, understanding the grim necessity of Jake''s actions. Together, they looked ahead at the alien landscape before them. The ground was covered in red sand, and the sky was an ominous shade of red, dominated by a purple moon hanging eerily above. The atmosphere was thick with a sense of impending danger, and Jake knew they had to stay vigilant to survive the trials ahead.