Game's Extra: Starting With SSS-Ranked 1000-Death Talent-Chapter 73: Operation: Deep Insertion

Hearing her requirements, Noa sighed.

’Doable,’ he thought cheerfully, but hid his passion. ’I was planning that anyway.’

He was relieved, yet knew it couldn’t last for long, as the mission would be a tough one.

"What do I need to do?" he asked, as if he couldn’t guess their answer.

Tifa didn’t have much of a reaction, her lips parting in a wry smile.

"We want you to infiltrate a military base in the Second Abyss," she said and paused. "That’s all you need to know. For now, concentrate on your first task."

"Sure," Noa answered and got back to the rest of the group.

The entire situation gave off a cozy vibe, filling him with warmth.

Undoubtedly, Sylas and Seren had the most fun, as they enjoyed the bond with older Embers.

They asked countless questions in their usual manner, and surprisingly, Vivi and Caroline were happy to chat with them.

It lasted for hours.

Until the twins became visibly tired and had to sleep.

They had spent the previous night without getting a single wink, and the exhaustion caught up to them.

Seeing their adorable dizziness, the order members decided to leave for the night.

"We don’t have extra beds just yet, and I can’t really offer you to stay the night," Aeris said apologetically.

Tifa declined politely and winked at Noa as she left.

Her actions sent a crawling shiver down his skin, making him shudder.

Even Punchy grinned, as if reminding him of the practice he had promised for so long.

The night was long but quiet.

Only the siblings remained in their house, spending their first dark hours inside.

Noa finally got the chance to relax, his mind numbed by the peace he was experiencing for the very first time.

But the morning came and reminded him of the world he had to deal with.

The first obstacle was the academy.

He swiftly readied himself and hailed a taxi.

’Should I just buy a modest car for myself?’ he pondered and checked the phone.

Waves of messages filled the screen, more than half coming from Dusk.

"Master Zero," he texted. "I dealt with the scene as per your instructions. No one from the association should know what happened."

There was another row of texts he had sent.

"As for their identity, it wasn’t hard for me to find it. These three attackers belong to the underground organization called Almighty Slaves. They have hidden connections with the Arcane Academy chairman."

"What should I do?"

"Please pardon this servant for being too weak to deal with them."

"But I am willing to study their inner circle and gather as much information as I can."

"And the assassination you told me about... I am ready to strike Arnold Swag whenever you wish me to."

Dusk became proactive.

When he checked the corpses, he found Altered and two Returne-grade combatants.

The fact that Noa, as an Evolved 18-year-old, managed to take them down increased his loyalty and faith.

He believed that following Noa would allow him to reach never-seen greatness.

"Good job," Noa replied.

Using sweet words and encouragement wouldn’t work.

It wasn’t like he was raising a dog—even if he wanted the animal’s loyalty.

’Academy practice; diving into the Abyss with classmates and a second practice with Punchy,’ Noa counted the work he had to do in one day.

’And I have to find time and become a Returne?’

As he was contemplating his future, a familiar building appeared in his vision.

His car ride ended, and he was the first one to arrive inside the classroom.

The empty seats didn’t make him lonely.

And knowing how loud it would soon become, Noa was ready for the headache to come in.

Soon, students flocked to the room.

One by one, his classmates showed up—each gaze landing on him longer than usual.

After all, he was a new celebrity and a common topic among the rumors.

Noa cared about none of them.

The bully couple, Tomas and Amelia, didn’t show up, too afraid to show their faces after the assassination attempt failed.

Then, Noa’s attention was piqued by Martha, who sat next to him.

"Good morning, Arthur," she greeted softly, her shyness still existing.

Yet, somehow, she got better at holding eye contact in one day, proving her progress.

’Is she the third character, or am I just overreacting?’ Noa considered.

He had every reason to suspect her, but without solid evidence, his suspicion remained just that—a suspicion.

Others circled him as well, lifting the silence.

"Heyo," Ezra called out and kneeled before his desk.

Rika engaged them in much more subtle ways, stopping at a slight bow.

Arthur was even worse—cold, even—and said nothing, as if the very idea of greeting someone didn’t even exist in his being.

The lively atmosphere lasted for a while, covering various topics and the share of the collective expectations.

Their position was broken by the ringing sound.

According to the curriculum, the first lesson was theory studies.

Practice inside the gym was the second period, and the rest of the day would be spent on Abyss exploration.

That’s why everyone had a hard time concentrating on the lesson.

Barely anyone listened to the old woman with glasses, who was speaking so slowly and quietly that her words made them drowsy.

The next workout routine was no better.

Instructors forced them to lift heavy loads, run tens of miles before exhaustion took their lives, and dodge painful arrows.

’This is tough,’ Noa mused, breathing softly. ’But it’s kinda fun.’

He and maybe Arthur were the only ones having a good time.

But the latter acted like he was on his last breath, clutching his chest tightly.

This was only the third day since the students became Embers, so the actual sparring sessions hadn’t started.

However, even more exciting training was coming.

The bell rang, and Arnold appeared at that exact moment, his face showing the signs of excitement.

Students were easily influenced, as the thrill of battle gripped their hearts.

"Are you ready, my friends?" he announced. "We are embarking on one of the most dangerous journeys. We are entering the First Abyss, and I hope you are ready for the challenge."

He paused shortly, scanning the youngsters before him.

’Here it is,’ Noa thought.

"May all of you survive and come back alive," he added.