Chronicles of Forgotten Extra-Chapter 169: Start of Chaos? Academy Trip.

Alden stood in front of a grand teleportation gate.

It was easily ten times larger than the standard portals inside the teleportation hub. The academy only used it for large-scale student trips.

One of the major arcs of the novel was finally here—Chaos at the Ancient Ruin.

It had been a few days since Alden became a member of the Luminous Accord.

So far, he hadn't done anything for the organisation, though he'd received dozens of messages from Vanyaa asking why he disappeared without saying a word.

He responded with a single line: I was busy and had something to do.

In the time since, he'd checked in on the items he'd commissioned.

First—not even Cipher could uncover anything about Nyx's background. Her file merely stated she'd appeared at an orphanage one day and passed the academy test.

That was it.

Strange.

Second, Alden received all the potions he ordered, including several stat-boosters.

But after testing one booster, he discovered a cold truth—he couldn't use them.

He drank one a few nights ago, shortly after returning from the Accord.

The result?

A single system screen blinked into existence:

[Skill: Voidheart rejects the stat-increasing potion.]

Perplexed, he cut his finger and drank a healing potion. It worked as expected. Mana potions worked, too.

Only the stat boosters were affected.

After combing through several ancient books, Alden discovered why.

Stat-increasing potions contained trace toxins—tiny amounts that accumulated over time. Most people either didn't notice or accepted the trade-off.

Voidheart, however, rejected even the smallest impurity. Its immunity to poison nullified the potions entirely.

Alden sighed. It was disappointing, but not devastating.

After all, stat potions could only take someone so far.

Right?

He was still caught in that thought when a hand landed on his shoulder.

"What are you thinking about, bro?" Aziel's voice rang out, nosy as ever.

Alden scoffed. "Do I have to start paying taxes for thinking now?"

"Yeah, didn't you know?" Aziel grinned like an idiot.

Alden gave a sly smirk. "You remember the bet we made? About Zephyr and Lucien's match?"

Aziel froze. "Haha, bro... why so serious? I was just joking."

"But I wasn't joking. Pay up."

Before Aziel could retort, a small group arrived—Cecilia, Nyx, and Amyra.

Over the last few days, Amyra and Nyx had blended naturally with Cecilia and Aziel.

A casual, chaotic little group had formed around Alden without him even trying.

"Bullying Aziel again?" Cecilia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It must be Aziel who started it," Amyra added in her flat tone. It was hard to tell if she was joking.

Alden, however, was starting to catch the micro-expressions she hid behind her stillness.

"No way, it's totally Alden," Nyx chimed in, glancing at him with a grin. "He gives off prime bully energy."

Despite everything going on, the rumours around Alden hadn't died down. If anything, they'd grown worse.

Fan clubs stalked him daily, demanding a "final answer" about who he liked.

Every time, he slipped away using increasingly ridiculous excuses.

Once all students arrived, Professor Sorin scanned the crowd. Nine other professors stood beside him.

The trip included all first-year students, including those from other classes—but none talked with each other.

If anything, they glared at students from other classes like rival gangs.

Even Alden felt several hostile stares directed at him.

Well… "several" was putting it lightly.

But they couldn't do anything except glare.

None of them could actually lay a scratch on him, so he didn't even bother acknowledging them.

Soon, the professors took attendance.

Sorin led most of the briefing, as expected. His status as the homeroom teacher of A class gave him seniority.

Alden had to admit Sorin's dedication stood out to him.

He was really faithful towards his work.

Unlike other professors, he didn't feel like he was teaching for money or prestige.

He genuinely cared for his students.

Alden greatly respected him for that.

"Each class will follow their respective teacher," Sorin began. "We will first travel to the city of Lustra. It's the closest city to the ruins. You'll stay there one day before proceeding to the site."

Alden wasn't surprised. He already knew.

Lustra—the city of glamour and indulgence. Known for gambling halls, neon towers, and nightlong festivals.

"Form groups of five to ten," Sorin continued. "You'll be operating in teams at the ruin site."

"Enter the gate one by one."

Alden didn't even need to try.

He already had a group—Aziel, Cecilia, Nyx, Amyra, and himself.

Aurelia and Dain had already paired up with Lucien and Seles.

So they weren't going to join Alden's group.

As students began stepping through the teleportation gate, Alden waited his turn.

Finally, it was time.

He stepped inside.

The world twisted.

Light bent. Sound vanished.

A moment later, he arrived—smooth and unharmed.

Around him, dozens of students stumbled or fell to their knees.

Even Aziel felt dizzy until Cecilia supported him. Alden wasn't sure if he was faking or just being dramatic.

Amyra stood still, unfazed.

Nyx blinked, completely unaffected– well, she used the space element, so it was natural.

They had arrived inside the city of Lustra. After completing the formality, they exited the teleportation hub of the city.

The city was just as it was mentioned in the novel. It was bustling and lively.

Many casinos stood in the distance.

The lights danced across the city even brighter than sunlight.

Alden could even hear music from distant rooftop bars.

The city looked loud and vibrant—almost dreamlike.

Then Alden blinked.

And the world changed.

The beautiful cityscape twisted, completely melting into ruins.

The soft music warped into many screams.

Skyscrapers crumbled and were broken.

Fires raged across broken streets.

The air was thick with smoke. Blood. Shattered glass.

The once-lively city was now dead—like something straight out of some forgotten war.

And through it all, he could hear crying. Not distant. Not imagined. Right there. Like someone just behind him.

His body froze.

The vision felt too real. Not like an illusion. More like… a memory that wasn't his.

His eyes widened.

What the hell is happening?