CHAPTER 79: DISCIPLE CULTIVATION SYSTEM CH79 RED NIGHT PT2.

The academy doors stood open, allowing the first years in their masses.

Situated at the very top of the highest building on campus, Cassandra looked down on her students with a profound gaze.

Their numbers were large... far greater than it had been decades ago.

Before the creatures of the Rift arrived almost two decades ago, the world had no real enemy.

Sure, there existed terrorists and a few rogue demons, but nothing pursued wielders of the two energies enough draw them to this academy or anything of the other pillars.

Most were satisfied with their daily lives.

And unless one belonged to a noble lineage or had a desire for true power, this place was worthless.

Back then, it would have even been a miracle to find more than a thousand first years to enroll. But now, they almost surpassed 10,000.

All courtesy of the Abyss.

In a world raided by Rifts that poured out cursed abominations onto the planet, a degree in law or accounting wasn’t going to save anyone.

To survive, one had to adapt, one had to embrace the gift they had been given and make sure they utilized it well.

That was the essence of the four pillars.

It wasn’t just a battle academy to train the next batch of soldiers... well, it wasn’t supposed to be.

Things have changed over the years, especially with mankind’s desire to explore the unknown.

To explore something they didn’t understand, they needed powerful individuals—not just from the present, but those of the future.

Hence, the existence of the rank system was made.

It allowed executives at the top of the Awakeners Commission to carefully handpick students with the most value, groom them during internships, and take hold of their destiny.

Even Saints weren’t immune to this rule.

They were tricked... coaxed into believing becoming puppets of the Commission was for the right cause, while in truth the higher-ups merely sought to explore and conquer.

The Mages assocation was no different.

"I always wondered how this world has made it this far."

Humans, demons, dragons, and even elves.

They were all self-destructive in one way or another, and yet this world was still standing.

If she could put her thoughts into an analogy, it would be like handing an egg to toddlers.

The egg was fragile and weak—it stood for the planet.

As for the toddlers, they were the residents of the planet.

Naive, irresponsible, and clumsy, and yet not once did the egg leave their hands.

It tilts sometimes, definitely has a dent or two, but never does it crack to reveal its yolk.

"Are we that lucky, or is there something else at play?"

"Maybe fate just loves this planet."

A voice interrupted her, but she merely gave off a sly smirk and shrugged.

"Or it’s just leading us to an even worse tragedy," she commented, leaning toward the edge.

The voice behind her grew silent, a bit put off by her sudden nihilistic view of life.

"Do you have anything for me? Since you’re not one for visits!"

Choosing a more demanding tone, Cassandra spoke, addressing the now silent voice.

"I do, old friend. I caught a glimpse into your future... this will be your last night as Cassandra."

A dead silence followed right after.

Cassandra grew expressionless, something she hadn’t experienced for decades.

She prided herself on being ever positive, but being told this was her last night wasn’t something she could take lightly.

This wasn’t because she was scared of death, but because if she fell, she wouldn’t just lose her students... she’d lose something even greater.

Something she cherished more than she even wanted to admit.

"If you’re thinking of recalling this party... it’s useless. Your enemies have already blended in..."

"That should be impossible!" Cassandra snapped in denial.

The barrier around the campus had been encoded to memorize the mana and aura signature of all enrolled students.

No outsider could enter unless—

"Hehehe, of course. A traitor."

Grabbing her forehead with an almost cynical expression, she giggled, remembering that accursed possibility.

The academy had lots of enemies, be it Resistance demons who wished to cripple the next generation of heroes, the corps of the Awakeners Commission, and the most notorious of all—the Pathfinders.

Each year, she made sure to kill at least dozens of them before they escaped with viable information, but it seemed she might have missed one.

"Who is it?" she said coldly.

It wasn’t a demand but a threat.

One she wanted the voice behind her to answer by all means, or else...

"Old friend, I might be a prophet, but I am no omniscient being. The world only shows me what I must know. Your traitor isn’t one of them."

The owner of the voice admitted, their tone treading the lines between disappointment and sorrow.

"Raviel!"

Yet Cassandra was convinced.

With a swift turn, her body ignited into lightning, and time came to a halt.

Even still, the owner of the voice had already disappeared, leaving behind a trail of dark smoke, motionless from her speeding perspective.

To avoid lashing out, she brought her right hand’s thumb to her lips and bit it hard.

The pain brought her back to her senses as she returned to gazing down at her students.

The intruders were far too skilled for her to track now, and yet she didn’t want to accept it.

Her pupils, flickering with sparks of golden lightning, searched through the hundreds—maybe even thousands—but not once did she notice an anomaly.

Whoever they were, she had to admit they were good at hiding.

She couldn’t also trust anyone enough to ask for their aid.

As of now, everyone—including students and teachers alike—were suspects, and she couldn’t let her guard down.

Of course, she wasn’t completely helpless, if the so-called intruder decided to show themselves.

After Valaria’s resident incident, she, with the collaboration of Instructor Art and Grim, had put in countermeasures in case a situation like this ever happened.

Those two were currently unavailable, but she still had a basic rundown of what to do.

"Everything will be fine... yes, everything will be fine," she whispered frantically, still biting her thumb, remiscant of her days as a helpless child.