Capítulo 431: Kingdoms and Calculations
"But what's going to happen to the students?" Rachel asked, her voice tinged with concern. "Many academies were destroyed, right?"
"Many of the students who can afford it will be sent to academies in other continents," Alastor replied, his tone heavy. "Mythos Academy is also accepting sixty additional students, expanding their total student pool from six hundred to six hundred and sixty. Your Class 5-A will now have eleven students."
I blinked in surprise at the revelation, my mind immediately racing. I already knew who the three newcomers would be.
Aria Gu, Ava Peng, and Seol-ah Moyong.
'I wonder if they can keep up,' I thought. It was a fair question. Before, I wouldn't have doubted their ability to integrate into Class A. Especially Seol-ah Moyong, whose swordsmanship had been legendary in the novel. But things were different now. Our class wasn't just strong—it was absurdly strong. Each member had undergone massive growth, shattering the limits I had once thought were insurmountable.
The question lingered in my mind as Alastor sighed, the weight of the East's devastation evident in his expression. "The entire Eastern continent took catastrophic damage," he said. "They've lost their entire southeastern region to the war. Entire cities wiped out. Academies reduced to rubble. It will take decades for them to recover—if they ever fully can."
Rachel glanced at me, her sapphire eyes reflecting both sorrow and resolve. We exchanged a look, a shared understanding passing between us. War had always been a grim possibility, but seeing its aftermath so clearly etched into the lives of others made it all the more harrowing.
"The East wasn't prepared for the full strength of the vampires and the Red Chalice cult," Alastor continued, his tone grim. "They've been at peace for nearly two centuries. They grew complacent, soft. When the vampires struck, they weren't just unprepared—they were defenseless."
Rachel frowned, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "It's not just their fault, though," she said. "No one could have anticipated an attack of that scale, not with how stable the East seemed."
I nodded slowly, though the truth was far more complicated than either of them realized. In the novel, the East had always been a ticking time bomb. Their peace was built on fragile alliances and an underestimation of their enemies. The vampires and the Red Chalice cult had only been waiting for the right moment to strike, and when they did, they exploited every weakness to devastating effect.
Still, hearing about it firsthand was different. The raw scope of the destruction, the lives uprooted—it made the stakes feel all the more tangible.
"They'll recover," I said finally, my voice firm. "The East has always been resilient. They'll adapt, rebuild, and come back stronger."
"And what about us?" Rachel asked, her gaze steady. "With the new students coming in, things are going to change, aren't they?"
"Change isn't a bad thing," I replied, though my mind was already considering the implications. Aria Gu was a fire mage of prodigious skill, Ava Peng specialized in fist arts, and Seol-ah Moyong's swordsmanship was unparalleled in her generation. They were Radiant-rank talents, but talent alone wouldn't be enough to keep up with Class A's relentless pace.
Alastor spoke again, drawing our attention back to him. "Mythos Academy is preparing for the integration, but it won't be seamless. These students are coming from a continent ravaged by war. Many of them have seen horrors that can't be undone. That kind of trauma doesn't fade easily."
I couldn't argue with that. War left scars, and those scars shaped people in ways that were difficult to predict.
As the conversation shifted to logistics and plans, my mind drifted to the future. The new arrivals would bring challenges, both for themselves and for us. But challenges were opportunities. For growth, for understanding, for strength.
Alastor leaned back in his chair, the faint clink of his glass against the polished wood table filling the room as he swirled his drink thoughtfully. "So," he began, his sharp gaze meeting mine, "how long until you plan to overtake the world with your Noctalis?"
Rachel, seated beside me, let out a soft laugh, her sapphire eyes dancing with amusement. "Isn't that a bit dramatic, Father?"
"Not when Arthur's the one involved," Alastor retorted smoothly, his tone carrying both respect and curiosity. "With what you're building, it's only a matter of time."
I took a sip of water, savoring the brief pause to collect my thoughts. "I need a 9-star license first," I said simply, setting the glass down. "Which isn't exactly going to be easy."
Alastor nodded, his expression unreadable. "It won't be. But you could secure it at peak Ascendant-rank. You're already far ahead of where most adventurers are at this stage. If you push the market in about a year—when you're close to peak Ascendant-rank—you can leverage that momentum to secure the license. After that…" He shrugged, as if conquering the Twelve Great Guilds was a foregone conclusion. "You take the throne."
"And then sit above them all?" Rachel teased, nudging me lightly. Her smile was playful, but there was a gleam of pride in her eyes.
"Something like that," I replied, leaning back in my own chair. "But expanding Noctalis isn't just about strength. I need to break out of the Central continent. The Twelve Great Guilds are confined here, and I need other markets if I'm going to truly surpass them."
Alastor inclined his head. "The Northern continent is a good place to start. We can manage that expansion for you. But the West and South? Those will be trickier."
"The West is manageable," I said confidently. "Jin and Kali are crucial there. The Ashbluff family essentially rules the Western continent, and the Luna family's influence is substantial, even if they aren't the ruling faction. With Jin's ties, we have a solid foothold."
"The South, however…" Alastor's voice trailed off, and he glanced meaningfully at me. "That's a different beast altogether."
"The Viserions," Rachel added, her tone contemplative. "You'll need to deal with them. They control the South and have Tiamat's protection. Their strength rivals any of the Central continent's powerhouses."
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck as I mulled over the challenge. The Southern continent was a fortress of its own, fiercely independent and governed by an ancient family with deep ties to dragons. It wasn't a territory one could simply waltz into.
"And then there's the East," Rachel continued, drawing my attention back to her. "They're still reeling from the war. That could be an opportunity."
I nodded, considering her words. "Potions and elixirs," I said. "Their demand for healing items must be skyrocketing after the devastation. Aetherite products could dominate that market."
Alastor leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. "The East is fractured, but it has potential. The Mount Hua sect is one of their two superpowers, and you already have Seraphina as a connection there. If you play your cards right, they could become invaluable allies."
"But it's not just about selling them products," Rachel pointed out. "The East values honor and tradition. If you want to make a real impact, you'll need more than just trade agreements."
I smirked, meeting her gaze. "Good thing I have Seraphina then."
Rachel rolled her eyes, though her smile softened. "You're confident as always."
"Confidence is half the battle," I said, my tone light but resolute. "The East is a long-term play. For now, the West and the South are priorities."
"The South will require more than just strength," Alastor warned. "The Viserions don't trust easily, and Tiamat's presence looms over everything. You'll need to tread carefully."
"I know," I said. "But careful doesn't mean slow. If I can solidify ties with the Ashbluffs and establish dominance in the West first, it'll give me the leverage I need for the South."
Alastor nodded, his gaze calculating. "A sound strategy. But don't underestimate the South—or the East, for that matter. Their value might surprise you."
Rachel leaned closer, her voice softer now. "You're carrying a lot on your shoulders, Arthur. Just… don't forget to breathe, okay?"
I chuckled, reaching out to take her hand. "I'll be fine, Rach. I have you all to keep me grounded."
Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she didn't pull away. Alastor cleared his throat, his stern demeanor breaking for a moment. "Well then," he said, standing. "If you're set on this path, I'll do what I can to support you. Just remember, the world isn't conquered in a day."
"Good thing I'm not in a rush," I replied with a grin, though the fire in my chest burned brightly. Noctalis wouldn't just compete with the Twelve Great Guilds. It would surpass them.
And I'd do whatever it took to make that happen.
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