The mages of the War God Mage Academy continued with their daily lives as if nothing had happened, although the academy now felt more empty without the first-year students going around.
Meanwhile, Orion emerged from a space passage with his team, with a conversation sparkling among them.
"I'm sure your position in the Earth Board Ranking has risen now that you've finally stabilized your realm," one of his follower remarked.
"I don't really care about the Earth Board Ranking anymore, I've realized that not every monster is shown there as they aren't interested in it, so it's just for show."
" What I want to know is where I stand in the Captain ranking, not that's where I'll find real competition and see how far I am from the best, as that ranking doesn't lie" Orion replied, clenching his fist as he recalled a encounter that happen recently that made him change.
Their discussion was interrupted by a commotion happening in the square.
"Come see the board has been updated! And there's a new captain in the rankings!" someone shouted, prompting everyone to rush to the leader board.
The crowd anticipated discovering the identity of the new Tier 5 Mage as they rushed there to check the captain ranking, it was rare for a new captain to emerge.
The last captain addition to the ranking had been six months ago so when they heard there is a new Captain they were really curious,
But when they set sight on the name of the newly ranked Mage in the captain bracket , they were shocked.
As they knew it was not easy for lower rank mages to accumulate the required one hundred thousand points before they would be promoted to the captain ranking.
Orion and his team were taken aback when they saw the name on the board, as they were all speechless for a few seconds before Orion break the silence.
"Remind me, who am I supposed to fight before the Blood Moon next month?, Is it not Alec Gordons?, Terran's disciple" Orion asked with a steely expression.
"Yes, that is his name, Alec Gordons, but wasn't he just a Tier 2 Mage the last time we saw him?, How did he enter the Captain ranking so quickly?"
Another one of Orion's followers asked, sparking the curiosity of a passer-by who overheard their conversation and chuckled.
"It seems like you guys have been away for a while in the Abyss and have missed out on what's been happening at the academy, Alec is now a Tier 3 Mage, and not a Tier 2 anymore, at least, that is his realm when last he appeared in public," the passer-by informed them.
" Him entering the Tier 3 Mage realm is understandable, but it seems like there is a mistake for him to be in the captain ranking, he couldn't have accumulated that many achievement points as just a Tier 3 Mage,"
One of Orion's followers remarked, as Orion pondered the situation with his hand propped under his chin.
" Well last time Alec made a public appearance, he was in the Tier 3 Mage realm and battled a Tier 4 genius Mage from the Royal academy who was had being in the academy for the student exchange program."
" The opponent he fought happened to be the strongest of all of the Royal academy and he was also a member of the Dragonmir clan," the passer-by explained, eliciting gasps of shock from Orion's team and other teams just returning from the Abyss and were unfamiliar with the mage called Alec Gordons.
" So how did he lose?" Orion inquired, as he didn't even entertain or thought of the idea that Alec had triumphed in a battle against a member of the Dragonmir clan.
"Well, that's where you're mistaken, Alec actually defeated him and not only that, he had already triumphed over all the other mages sent from the Royal academy before taking on the Dragonmir clan member, Despite being just a Tier 3 Mage so in layman terms he single handed saved the Academy's face "
" So if he eventually has entered the Tier 4 Mage Realm and now has the battle power of a Tier 5 Mage, I wouldn't be so surprised," the passer-by confidently stated, to which Orion let out a disbelieving snort.
"Do you think fighting across rank battles are that simple?, This isn't the lower ranks again; we're talking about the mid ranks here, Fighting above your realm isn't something to be taken lightly," Orion said, unconvinced that Alec could now match a Tier 5 Mage.
"Well, like I said, if he's in the Tier 4 Mage Realm, I doubt any Tier 5 would stand a chance against him as his golems are just as formidable as he is," the passer-by added as Orion and his team made their way out of the crowd in anger.
"That boy seems to be growing stronger at a faster rate than anticipated, we need to rein him in quickly!, and make it look like an accident" one of Orion's team member remarked.
"Don't worry about me. I'll ensure he is taken care of when that time comes," Orion assured as he exited the scene.
General Edward Wolf Dunce and Major Selene were positioned atop the city walls, overseeing the commencement of the Blood Moon battle, Selene turned her gaze towards Edward with a quizzical expression.
"Frankly, I didn't anticipate finding you still here, I believe as a general of the prestigious War God Mage Academy, your presence on the battlefield is always in demand, so why have you chosen to remain up here?" Selene probed her fellow warrior.
Edward emitted a hearty chuckle in response to her inquiry.
"Ah, my disciple seems convinced she's found a worthy successor to take over her as the next top army ranker at the academy just when she is about to graduate, and you don't want me to watch and discover what you really see in him, Nah, it's not happening like that, I want to see if he has the same ruthlessness as you." He elucidated.
"You may be pleasantly surprised by his capabilities," Selene interjected with a sly smile before refocusing her attention on the unfolding skirmish below.