Seeing his friends believing him to so extent, Jake felt relieved.
Though he sensed sothing in Ramis's tone, he didn't mind it as he could always use his authority as master to silence him.
After all, they were in a master-slave contract, and the only way for Ramis to break this contract was to defeat Jake in battle, which was impossible. All of Ramis's achievents would feed back to Jake, so he could forget about breaking the contract.
Not that Jake would enforce him to do anything against his wishes; it's rely insurance to ensure that this protagonist wouldn't turn against him in the future.
"What of the infernal body?" Sophia asked, licking her lips.
Jake looked at her and frowned. "You are not allowed to assimilate any male body," he said firmly.
Sophia blinked and then apologized to Jake.
Jake nodded and let it go. "I will try to preserve any female infernal body. You can use their blood to empower yourself," he added.
Hearing this, Sophia smiled and thanked him. Jake sensed another gaze on him and, clearing his throat, said, "Of course, since Tista is now a vampire, I will also preserve so blood for you."
Tista smiled and nodded.
Others looked at them and ntally thought, 'Wish we had this convenient ability too.'
Mark then shifted his gaze from Sophia and Tista to Jake and asked, "Can you take us with you?"
Hearing him, the others also looked at Jake expectantly.
Jake pursed his lips, unsure how to reply. He understood from Mark's question that they wanted to fight an infernal, but all of them were too weak.
The gate limit was SSS rank now, but after the ritual, it would increase to Knight rank, while the infernal would be Baron rank.
Not to ntion, infernals were usually a strong species, almost super-geniuses compared to humans at the sa realm.
If Mark and the others tried to fight them, it would be a one-sided slaughter.
Jake looked at them, then rembered sothing and said, "You guys can't go."
Hearing this, the others nodded bitterly. They tried to smile and say it was okay, but their disappointnt couldn't be hidden.
"Jake, we want to help," Mark insisted. "We don't want to be left behind."
Jake sighed. "I appreciate that, Mark. I really do. But the infernals are on a whole different level. If you're not prepared, it could an certain death. Right now, the best thing you can do is train and get stronger.
There will be a ti when I need all of you, but that ti isn't now."
Sophia leaned forward. "What about you, Jake? How are you planning to face them alone?"
Hearing this, Ramis looked at her dumbfounded. He said to her, "You might as well worry about the infernals."
The others looked at him and asked, "What do you an?"
"He killed an S-rank Eldritch when he was just B-rank," Ramis explained, "and the Eldritch was taken down in one shot. Plus, the Eldritch race is a lot more powerful than the infernals. Not to ntion, this ti he will be fighting them at the sa realm."
"So, it's the infernals who should be sorry for themselves with Jake there," Ramis concluded.
The group fell silent, processing this new information. Jake, trying to downplay his accomplishnts, shrugged and said, "I had a bit of luck on my side."
Mark nodded slowly. "Still, it's reassuring to know you've got a strong track record."
"Staying in Nyrina still keeps us accessible. Whenever you require our aid, a re summon will bring us to your side," Mark continued, his gaze unwavering, leaving Jake little option but to nod in agreent.
As Jake pondered silently, he couldn't help but entertain a somber thought. 'Even in death, I wouldn't beckon you. If I fall, it's certain none of you will stand a chance.'
Jake nodded superficially in response.
"I understand your concern about protecting us, but would we remain the sa if we learned you died while safeguarding us?" Emily, noticing his expression, directly addressed the question that had been weighing on Jake's mind.
Unable to find the words to respond, Jake faltered, his silence answering Emily's inquiry.
"I... I just didn't want you guys to suffer when I could have prevented it," he finally murmured softly.
"So, you think your death is acceptable?" Emily's voice wavered with emotion as she confronted him.
Jake nodded silently.
Slap!
Stunned, Jake instinctively covered his cheek, his gaze eting Emily's tear-filled eyes as she delivered a resounding slap.
"How dare you think like that?" Her voice cracked with anger before she stord out of his house, leaving Jake speechless and remorseful.
"Are you not going after her?" lina inquired gently.
Jake shook his head, his eyes fixed on Emily's retreating figure. Without saying another word, he watched as the others slowly departed, promising to address the situation later.
[Don't worry, it's probably for the best,] Nexus reassured.
"Yeah, who would've thought even achieving Baron rank ans a 90% chance of death," Myne added bitterly.
Earlier, on their way ho, Jake had jokingly used the Pathfinder to peer into the depths of the Red Hell, only to receive a pitch-black response indicating certain death instead of treasure.
Shaking his head, Jake turned to Luna. "I'm going to practice until next week, or until the gate opens for exploration."
"Don't let anyone disturb ," he instructed before retreating to his room. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire
Luna, his faithful companion, nodded understandingly and hung a "do not disturb" sign on the door before settling in front of the TV to indulge herself.
Despite Jake's relentless training, his progress remained modest. Despite his unwavering dedication, he could only ascend one minor rank, moving from lower baron to middle baron rank. The disappointnt weighed heavily on him, yet he refused to relent, pushing himself even harder in pursuit of greater strength.
Throughout the week, his friends, concerned about his well-being and eager to offer support, attempted to visit him. However, Luna stood firm, intercepting them at every turn and steadfastly refusing to grant them access to Jake's sanctuary. Her loyalty to him was unwavering, her determination to protect his solitude unyielding.
As the days passed, tensions simred beneath the surface, a silent undercurrent of frustration and concern weaving its way through their group. Despite their respect for Jake's need for solitude, they couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over them like a shroud.
****
As Jake stood among the group of students bound for the Gate, he glanced back at the Academy, spotting his friends gathered there, except for Ramis, who stood beside him, also chosen for the perilous journey.
"Don't worry, mate. You can always make it up to her by returning alive," Ramis attempted a joke, but it fell flat against the gravity of their situation.
Jake nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the ominous entrance of the Red Hell gate.
With a determined glint in his eyes, he whispered to himself, "I'll do whatever it takes to survive and ensure their downfall."
Facing a daunting decision, Jake knew the stakes were high. With a 90% chance of death within the gate, the odds were daunting. Yet, he also understood that remaining behind guaranteed a 100% chance of demise, leaving him trapped between two unforgiving cliffs of fate, with only the slightly less perilous path ahead.
If he leaves the gate as it is, the expedition party will die, and the gate's restriction will break, allowing the powerhouses of Infernals to enter this world. As Monarchs, Jake wouldn't stand a chance against them.
His best chance is to face whatever is inside the gate and kill them. Otherwise, certain death awaits him and all the people he loves.
Ragur and the other chief elders directed the students to enter as the portal stabilized. Their voices carried authority and urgency, cutting through the growing tension in the air.
"Listen up, everyone," Ragur commanded, his eyes sweeping over the assembled students. "This is a critical mont. You must proceed through the gate imdiately."
The chief elders echoed his directive, guiding the students into the portal with swift, practiced motions. So of the younger ones hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes, but the elders' stern gazes and firm encouragent propelled them forward.
"And rember," Ragur added, his voice rising above the hum of activity, "there will be a ranking for those who perform better. This is your chance to prove your worth and rise in the ranks."
The promise of recognition and advancent seed to ignite a spark of determination in the students. One by one, they steeled themselves and stepped through the portal, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them on the other side.
Jake too stepped inside. The mont he did, he conjured a massive illusion, causing the other students, except Ramis, to fall into a daze. Moving quickly, he knocked them out and imprisoned them in Nyrina.
"Why do this?" Ramis asked, bewildered by Jake's actions.
"For Infernals, any life energy is food," Jake explained as he scanned the landscape ahead. "They can suck their life energy and beco more powerful, so I remove them first."
Ramis nodded, understanding the grim necessity of Jake's actions. Together, they looked ahead at the alien landscape before them. The ground was covered in red sand, and the sky was an ominous shade of red, dominated by a purple moon hanging eerily above. The atmosphere was thick with a sense of impending danger, and Jake knew they had to stay vigilant to survive the trials ahead.
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