Chapter 85: Group Class Raid 1
"The power of that item is... impressive."
Lindy Crowe’s voice was low, but the disbelief in her tone was sharp enough to cut glass. Her eyes stayed fixed on the dissipating magical storm, the spot where Kael Vi-rel had stood moments earlier. "But how the hell did he come up with this?"
She had seen countless cadets, countless experiments, and even dangerous weapons tested within these hyper-secure walls. Yet none of it compared to the sheer audacity of what Kael had just pulled off. He had stood in the dead center of that storm, no barrier, no protection just himself and the raw, unrefined power of a controlled spatial collapse.
"I thought he was a genius who’d need careful management," she muttered under her breath, a cold bead of sweat tracing a path down her temple. "But this... this is something else entirely. This is a fundamental deviation from known magical physics."
The explosion earlier hadn’t just been destructive it had been refined, purposeful, and self-contained. If Kael could weaponize something like that, he was capable of slaying monsters that even veteran S-class heroes struggled against. With a single detonation, he could sweep away entire armies. More terrifyingly, he could dismantle entire operations.
Her hands tightened against her arms as she crossed them. No, more than that. Even among the hero elite, some powers were too dangerous, too unpredictable to fall into the wrong hands. Watching Kael today, she realized that his abilities weren’t limited to the flashy tricks he’d shown online. Those videos had only been the surface, a child’s plaything compared to the mastery she just witnessed.
"He even has the ability to control mana itself at a level that survived that..." she whispered.
Her heart skipped a beat as the thought settled in, solidifying her strategy. If she was right, then his potential didn’t just place him among the elite. His talents were easily S-rank or above. And yet... he was still just a cadet, a boy who thought in terms of game strategy.
The weight of that truth pressed on her chest. She exhaled slowly, steadying herself. No. For someone like him, force is not the answer.
If she tried to tie him down, he’d break free and worse, he’d turn into an enemy who held the key to her entire operation’s downfall. That was a risk she simply couldn’t afford to take. No, she had to make him an ally, no matter the concessions she had to make.
She clasped her hands behind her back, her eyes softening despite the storm inside her chest. "Please..." she whispered faintly, a prayer not even she expected to leave her lips. "Please don’t become my enemy, Kael Vi-rel."
Her thoughts scattered as his casual voice cut through the heavy silence, bringing the high-stakes confrontation back down to Earth.
"Oh, Mrs. Crowe. I have to go back now. I have a class in the afternoon."
He said it so casually, like he hadn’t just brushed shoulders with death and achieved a profound statistical evolution.
"O-Oh, okay." She forced composure into her tone, straightening her back and offering him a curt nod. "We’ll talk more next time. I think we have much to discuss."
"Sure," Kael replied simply, nodding as a security guard came to escort him out of the testing grounds and back into the mundane world of academy schedules.
Group Class and a Charisma Boost
By the time I reached the academy, the adrenaline and the lingering tingle of pure mana exposure had faded. The buzz of cadets filled the lecture hall, their chatter restless as the instructor clapped his hands for attention.
"That’s all for the theory," the teacher said, his voice ringing out clearly. "Now let’s move on to the basics of dungeon raiding. For today’s class, form groups and prepare for practical training in the simulated dungeon environment."
A murmur ran through the students.
"Remember this," the instructor continued, pacing before them. "While your individual strength is important, raiding is about teamwork. Heroes must learn to synchronize, to cover each other’s weaknesses, and to bring down opponents that would be overwhelming alone. The basic structure requires a Tanker to absorb damage, Dealers for offense, and Assistants for utility and support."
As the room stirred with anticipation, I noticed something new. Whispers. Not about the raid, not about strategy, but about me.
"Wow, Kael Vi-rel looks really handsome today," a girl whispered a few rows behind.
"You’re right. Did he... did he get plastic surgery or something?" another muttered, giggling.
"He’s exactly my type," a third chimed in, dreamy-eyed.
I froze mid-step. "Hoo..." A faint, self-satisfied smirk tugged at my lips. "Finally. Looks like the charm potion is working its magic."
I quickly glanced at the invisible status panel only I could see. My current Charisma Stat read 14.
Ding!
[Charm: 15]
"Ah. Perfect timing," I thought, feeling a burst of inner validation. "Fifteen. Not bad. That’s a good, solid average number now. At least I’m not hearing people call me a goblin anymore."
A notification box instantly unfurled in my mind, as if the system itself decided to lecture me on my sudden aesthetic improvement.
Charm Stat Explanation
– 0–10: Goblin-tier. Considered unpleasant or unappealing.
– 15–20: Considered attractive. People start noticing you and react positively to your presence.
– 40+: Comparable to actors, idols, or models.
"So that’s the benchmark, huh? At least I cleared the goblin stage," I chuckled inwardly. My satisfaction, however, immediately wavered as my gaze swept across the room and landed on the person standing immediately to my side.
Selene Whitmore was standing right there.
Her golden hair caught the fluorescent academy light, and her poise was impeccable the flawless beauty of a Rank 8 student. She was one of the most talked-about cadets in the academy, her presence like a brilliant star others naturally orbited. Her charm stat, if I remembered correctly, was a dazzling 40.
"Come to think of it..." I muttered under my breath, tilting my head slightly. "Selene Whitmore’s charm is 40, right? The system says she’s model-tier."