Earth's Greatest Magus

The short 5 vs 5 match left a lasting impression on the acolytes, who were awestruck by their master's abilities and his remarkable way of handling the situation. Witnessing his prowess erased any lingering doubts they may have had about their choice.

The atmosphere among the acolytes was electric, their voices buzzed with enthusiasm and newfound confidence.

"You see, our master could defeat a magus one realm above him so easily."

"I can't wait to learn from him!"

"I think advancing to the middle, or even to the high hall, is possible!"

Their words reflected the unanimous sentiment among the group, each one more convinced than ever of their inevitable success under their master's tutelage. They exchanged stories of the match, reliving each moment with fervor and awe.

However, amidst the jubilation, a figure stood apart from the rest. A silver-haired girl, her expression inscrutable, observed the conversation with a quiet intensity. Despite the excitement around her, she remained composed with a hint of skepticism.

When she finally spoke, her words cut through the animated chatter like a knife. "With the way you are, it will be fortunate to advance into the middle hall this year."

Her comment drew immediate attention, some exchanged puzzled glances, and a few showed unfriendly gazes. Sensing the tension, Dillion stepped forward and politely asked for her perspective.

As all eyes turned to her, she spoke with a calm authority, her gaze unwavering.

"I mean no offense," she began, her tone measured, "but you need five strong acolytes to compete for middle hall advancement, and I only see three dependable acolytes to depend on."

She gestured towards Dillion, Damo, and Kat, singling them out as the reliable pillars of their group. However, her next words were a sobering reality check for the enthusiastic acolytes. Shinta explained that even with five strong fighters, they still needed additional backup to account for injuries or adapt to different opponents' strategies.

Her words weren't revolutionary; some of the senior acolytes had already been mulling over the same concerns. While there were promising talents among the first-year students, rushing their advancement could prove detrimental. Additionally, the top fighters were all third-year students, their time to assist the group drawing to a close.

Shinta's straightforward assessment cast a shadow over the optimistic atmosphere, but Dillion's unwavering confidence served as a beacon of hope, reigniting their spirits. "Don't worry, we'll make it," he declared, his voice carrying a reassuring tone that resonated with his fellow acolytes.

Meanwhile, Damo approached Shinta, acknowledging the validity of her words. "Your words are spot on. We need more talent," he admitted, extending an invitation for her to join their hall. Shinta's gaze turned to Emery, her expression was conflicted as she hesitated to respond. Caught between her emotions and her decision, she murmured, "I... I am still thinking about it... I'll give it some more thought."

Before Emery could interject, she expressed her gratitude for their hospitality and swiftly departed, leaving a sense of uncertainty lingering in the air.

As the tension eased, Ashaka approached Emery with a grave expression, voicing his concerns about potential retaliation from the Nephilim. "I don't think the Nephilim will stop. What happened today might provoke them to escalate further," he warned.

"I understand," he replied solemnly.

#####

As expected, despite the strong impression Emery left on the acolytes, the next day brought an unexpected turn of events. Not only did no new applicants show up, but four of their members also failed to appear for practice. These four were among the senior group. Their absence raised immediate concern among the remaining members of Hall 120, leaving a palpable sense of unease lingering in the air.

Then, the next morning, amidst the collective anticipation for news regarding the missing acolytes, the silver-haired girl returned to Hall 120. Her presence, however, was not to seek out the hall 120 instructor; instead, she sought out Damo, whom she considered Emery's closest disciple. The monk greeted her warmly, his excitement evident. "Have you decided to join us?" he asked eagerly.

Her response was unexpected. "No, not yet," she replied with an inquiry. "I heard about the missing acolytes, and I'm curious about what happened."

Ha Ron, observing the interaction with a cold gaze, interjected sharply. "How did you know about this so quickly?" he demanded, suspicion lacing his words.

"Well, you are the famous hall 120 now, so many people talk about your hall," she continued with more inquiries "The rumors said that you messed with a powerful faction. Is this true? How is your master handling this? Hhmmm, he really should not have fought that magus yesterday..."

The acolytes exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of how to respond to Shinta's probing questions. Damo managed a smile as he replied, "I see you're sincerely concerned about our master."

Ha Ron, however, reacted differently. His suspicions were piqued, and he regarded Shinta with a wary gaze. "Yes, why is that?" he pressed, his tone betraying his distrust.

Swiftly regaining control over her emotions, Shinta maintained her composure. "Nothing," she replied evenly, though her eyes betrayed a hint of concern. "I... I promise to give this hall some thought. If your master has a powerful enemy, this would affect my decision. Please do not hide it!. Tell me the complete story."

####

At noon, instead of receiving news from the absent senior acolytes, Emery received notification that they had dropped their applications.

[Applications received - 22]

The sudden turn of events departed the hall in turmoil, Kat, the protective elder sister of the group, was the first to voice her fury. "What is going on? I am going to drag them back right away!" she exclaimed, her voice reverberating through the hall, drawing the attention of all the acolytes present.

At that moment, two other seniors dismissed to their knees in the yard, facing the hall. They were Norm and Dave, the two senior acolytes who had fought in the match yesterday. Their expressions were filled with deep sorrow as they trembled, expressing their desire to withdraw their applications.

"What? You two as well?!!"

Kat's rage threatened to boil over, her frustration manifesting in a desire to lash out at the two kneeling acolytes. But Dillion intervened, stopping her.

Emery calmly emerged from the hall and neared the two kneeling seniors, asking if they were willing to share their reasons for dropping their applications.

He listened intently as Dave and Norm poured out their reasons for dropping their applications. Their voices quivered with emotion as they recounted the challenges and threats their families faced back home.

Dave's clan, a vulnerable entity, had been targeted by a superior faction upon learning of his intention to change halls. The repercussions were severe, with Dave facing not just reprimands but potential danger to his family.

Similarly, Norm's situation was dire. His family's trade dealings, vital for sustaining millions of lives, had been abruptly halted by a powerful faction's interference. The consequences of this disruption were catastrophic, placing immense pressure on Norm.

Dillion stood before Emery, revealing that he had in fact got a message from the absent acolytes, all four had succumbed to the same overwhelming pressures.

Suddenly, Dillion sank to his knees in a gesture of humility and remorse. His apology, laden with guilt for keeping the truth from Emery and failing to dissuade his friends from quitting, he then added.

"Please master… don't blame them…" the words echoed through the silent hall.

The scene unfolded before the watching eyes of the acolytes, each grappling with their own emotions in response to the unfolding crisis. Some felt a surge of indignation at the injustice faced by their peers, while others experienced a gnawing sense of unease as they realized the extent of the pressures imposed upon their hall by external forces.

Emery's heart weighed heavy with empathy as he surveyed the somber faces of the three kneeling acolytes, each grappling with their own turmoil. His own experiences with the Nephilim back home had taught him the harsh reality of being an acolyte from the lower realm, the external pressures, and the difficult choices forced upon them.

The timing of these events couldn't have been more suspicious. It seemed all too clear that these departures were orchestrated by the Nephilim.

Emery couldn't shake the weight of responsibility that settled on his shoulders. It was because of him that these acolytes had been targeted with threats and coercion. With only a single day remaining before the application deadline, there was little he could do to help them.

He addressed them, his voice tinged with empathy and understanding. "Don't be sorry, There is nothing more important than protecting one's home."

With a heavy heart, Emery bid farewell to those who chose to leave, offering what assistance he could for their future endeavors. Yet, as the departures continued, it became clear that the situation had only served to exacerbate the hall's divisions. Alongside the departing two seniors, three first-year acolytes, unwilling to become entangled in the turmoil, quietly withdrew their applications.

[Application got - 17]