Eternal Freedom's Ascension-Chapter 66: Gate Closure (1)

"Kara..."

Kaiser’s eyes snapped open to the morning sunlight passing through the window. He squinted slightly, then adjusted quickly. Still laying on the bed, he willed his shadow to summon someone.

The shadows around the bed darkened, and a figure rose from them. Its figure was feminine, directly identical to the Kara he knew and dressed in her armor. However, one great thing distinguished her from being a human.

Her entire figure had turned shadowy black, with wisps of shadowy fog emanating from her body.

"A shadow... nothing but a shadow."

Kaiser said, feeling a slight dissatisfaction in his heart. After a brief moment of quietness, he dismissed the shadow. Her body seemed to be engulfed in a black flame, burning her until she disappeared into the shadows.

With that out of the way, Kaiser ignored the dream and prepared for the trip. Today, all classes for the first years had been cancelled. The evaluation was going to happen beyond the island, and they weren’t going to return immediately.

’Although it’s only for a month and half, I think I miss the outside of this academy.’

Dressed in a neat blue shirt with black trousers, he pulled up at the assigned location. Five large buses were parked, each responsible for conveying one first-year class.

"Good morning, Kaiser." Liam greeted with a smile, then turned to coordinate the others.

Kaiser nodded back, then ignored the others. Although he felt the eyes drawn to his attractive figure, he didn’t have enough energy to pay attention to him.

While scrolling through his phone, he noticed someone approaching him.

"You seem to always draw attention anywhere you go with that annoying face of yours."

Hazel’s voice was as cold as always, and she didn’t bother looking at him.

Kaiser glanced at her, then looked at Ariel. "You guys have gotten close recently. Could it be what I’m thinking...?"

Hazel scowled immediately, "Are you indirectly asking for a punch?"

Kaiser raised his hands in surrender, not saying anything about it again.

Ariel looked confused, turning to Hazel. "Am I really that undesirable?"

He understood that he wasn’t the most emotive person, but at least he had a face card. In response to his question, Hazel jammed her elbow into his ribs.

He winced dramatically, then cautiously stayed away from her.

In a few minutes, every first-year student had gathered at the park, lining up before their Class Instructors.

"We’ll be traveling to Glass City soon. A connected chain of Nirad Gates have opened over there, and it’s our mission to clear five of them."

Instructor Rina spoke solemnly, her expression stoic.

"Throughout the journey, you are expected to comply to the rules and regulations given by the academy. Do not trespass or cross your boundary."

The whole class nodded, though only a few paid attention. Kaiser looked into the sky, watching as the clouds moved.

"Are you going to ignore all the attention on you?"

Ariel asked curiously, standing behind Kaiser like a bystander.

"Ariel. You don’t pay attention to every insignificant detail do you?" Kaiser replied with his own question.

Ariel thought seriously about it, then spoke. "I do pay attention to some, but not all insignificant things."

’Pays attention to some insignificant details? You’re already lowering your guard and revealing your true self.’

Kaiser smiled slightly. "Then I have no reason to pay attention to them."

The silver-haired boy nodded in understanding, his green eyes shining slightly.

Kaiser looked towards Class-D’s position, but failed to find Maya’s figure among the crowd. Well, it wasn’t like he was going to approach her and talk.

Before long, all the students got onto their respective buses and departed. The five buses traveled down to the shore, then entered a subway tunnel. Everyone was surprised, as they had expected to be taken to the mainland by ship.

Surprisingly, the school had am underwater subway. Gazing at the blue waters illuminated by strange sea creatures, almost everyone was mesmerized.

’This academy isn’t so simple after all. I’d wager they have a Safe Realm expert protecting them. Just Chairman Jonathan isn’t enough.’

"Wow, isn’t that a Titan Squid?"

Seated beside Kaiser, Kiera exclaimed as she spotted a large squid with pink tentacles swimming through the water.

Kaiser took a glance at the creature, then nodded. "It’s an Awakened Beast."

Kiera turned to him, "How do you know that?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Intuition."

"Huh?"

The next moment, the harmless-looking squid shot a jet of ink at the glass subway, its tentacles expanding to reveal massive bone spikes.

It zoomed through the ink-stained water, and lashed out with the deadly tentacles.

Many students were startled, some crouching to brace for impact.

Boom.

The sound wasn’t loud, but it made everyone aware that a collision had occured. The squid had struck the subway but failed to leave a scratch on it.

While everyone was confused, Instructor Rina spoke cooly.

"The subway tunnel isn’t ordinary. It has been reinforced to tank attacks from creatures of the Ascended Realm, even. There’s nothing in this ocean that can threaten it."

Finally, realization dawned on the students, and they heaved sighs of relief. They watched the squid’s attempt to break through several times in amusement, until it ultimately gave up and swam away.

’They’re trying to prepare our minds for the evaluation. The human mind is the most vulnerable when faced with unfamiliar situations.’

Kaiser now understood the academy’s intention for taking them underground.

The buses were very fast, covering the whole journey in less than two hours.

They exited the tunnel directly at the Pegasus Empire’s Naval sector. From there, they began their journey towards Glass City. Thankfully, they were able to pass through the Privilege Road, avoiding any sort of unnecessary traffic.

After roughly half an hour later, Instructor Rina spoke up.

"Welcome to Glass City."

Some students who had been sleeping woke up to look, only to almost get blinded. After a bit of squinting, everyone adjusted and we’re able to get a view of the city.

"Wow..."

"Damn hell..."

Gasps of surprise rang out, expressing their astonishment.

’Unbelievable... a city made almost entirely out of glass?’

Even Kaiser was amazed, looking at the buildings which were either transparent or made to avoid spying from the outside. Almost every building around them was made of glass, with only a little of wood or brick at some places.

’Reflections...’

His eyes narrowed, and a name popped into his head.

’Reverend Mirror Eyes.’

A renowned Transcendent Realm expert who emerged six years ago. His reputation was great, as he had been the only survivor of the annual Death-Game.

’Hm?’

While staring at the city in awe, Kiera thought she saw her reflection smile back at her. She shook her head, then refocused. Nothing strange happened again, and she blamed the earlier misconception on her eyes.

The buses continued on the privilege road, driving into a deserted part of the city. Finally, they stopped at a barricaded site with military officials guarding the walls.

"Get ready to disembark."

As soon as Rina’s voice dropped, the doors hissed open. Every student alighted from the buses, assembling into orderly lines.

Someone came from inside the site to welcome them. He looked young, with a rectangular sunshade glasses covering his eyes.

He exchanged a short greeting with the Class Instructors, then ushered everyone through the gates.

"Oh... my... God!"

Kiera exclaimed as soon as she laid eyes on the seven gigantic gates that had manifested in the world.

They didn’t look ethereal, but like a ghastly wound created by something harrowing and dreadful. The edges were a mix of black and white, swirling with violent essence.

Some students took several steps back in fear, but most were able to withstand the pressure emanated by the gates.

Finally, the young man in formal suits turned to address the students.

"Good morning, cadets of the respected academy. I am Julius by name, and I was once a student like you at the same academy." His face showed a faint smile. "You shouldn’t fear this test, as it is responsible for getting you accustomed to the life of an Awakened."

Raising his hand, he conjured a ball of water. The ball changed shape, becoming an arrow, a mini scythe, and several other weapons.

"What we want is proficiency in your abilities. Take this as an opportunity to further sharpen your skills."

Finally, he signalled to the instructors. They each brought out a wristwatch, then deactivated the limiter on the students’ hands.

"Your time starts now."

Instructor Rutherford said solemnly, and everyone moved immediately. Sparks illuminated the surroundings, and each student summoned their own armor and weapons.

Upon spotting their designated gate, the students split up to their respective class and began entering the gates.

Kaiser was the last to enter from Class-E, and as he passed by Julius, he smirked.

"Is that the limit of seven nodes? That’s poor."

The young man’s eyes widened, and he immediately turned around. Unfortunately, the only thing he saw was a back fading into the gray gate.

’How did he know... that I have seven nodes?’