Chapter 196 — Madman... You’re Back!

"You all remember what I told you at the very beginning of the year. When this many exceptional talents emerge simultaneously, it signals something major approaching. Looking at the past two centuries of Federation history, talent surges always precede catastrophic events."

The classroom atmosphere shifted from pride to concern, students exchanging nervous glances.

Leonard Ashford, who’d been sitting silently in his usual position, nodded with grim understanding. His family’s historical records would have confirmed this pattern.

Damian noticed that both Micheal Thorne and Adrian Murdock were absent – unusual given their consistent attendance.

’Student Council business. Probably dealing with an emergency session about my return or the Kestrel branch massacre.’

Seraphina’s expression became more serious.

"This wasn’t random speculation or abstract philosophy. Recent events prove the pattern is repeating. Damian Valcor exemplifies this perfectly."

Every eye in the room turned toward him.

Damian’s expression remained calm, but internally he was paying close attention.

"Demons crossed through portal security for the first time since their initial invasion attempt two centuries ago. They specifically targeted a civilian train that happened to carry Academy students.

Then... a spontaneous portal opened in a city center – something that hasn’t occurred in years – and pulled in dozens of people including Damian."

Her voice carried the weight of prophecy being fulfilled.

"These aren’t coincidences. They’re warnings. Troubled times are approaching, and you are the generation that will face whatever comes."

Even Damian felt the gravity of her words settle into his chest.

’She’s right. I’ve been so focused on immediate threats – Nobles, the Mafia, protecting my people – that I haven’t considered the larger pattern. But she’s absolutely correct. The world is becoming more dangerous, and not because of human politics.

That’s why I need power. Not for ambition or revenge or empire-building. But for survival... Mine and everyone I care about.’

Seraphina let the silence stretch, making sure her message landed.

"Therefore, the Headmaster and the Federation have made a decision. You will all participate in mandatory military missions as your final exam for this year."

"WHAT?!"

Shocked whispers exploded throughout the classroom, students leaning toward each other with wide eyes and nervous energy.

"But only second-years get battlefield missions!"

"We’re not ready for actual combat!"

"The second-years are all deployed right now! That’s why they’re not at the Academy!"

"This is insane! We’ll die out there!"

Panic rippled through the Noble students, their privileged backgrounds making the concept of real danger almost incomprehensible.

But Seraphina noticed something interesting.

One group showed absolutely no panic!

The Mafia students sat calmly, their expressions ranging from acceptance to anticipation, all of them looking toward Damian for guidance rather than reacting independently.

Their leader sat completely relaxed, hands still in his pockets, face showing mild interest rather than concern.

’Interesting. They’ve already experienced real combat. The reports from Tranquil City weren’t exaggerated – these students have been actively fighting gang members and conducting operations. Battlefield deployment is just a change of venue for them.

Potential military recruits. Every single one of them.’

Then she thought with slight amusement: If they ever leave the Mafia at all. Which seems unlikely given their loyalty.

She raised her hand, silencing the panicked whispers.

"The missions will be completely tailored to your current capabilities. You won’t be sent on suicide operations. Most assignments will involve supporting regular soldiers, providing assistance in controlled situations and gaining experience without excessive risk."

The panic subsided slightly, students exhaling with relief.

Then everyone’s eyes shifted to Damian again.

Because if missions were tailored to capability, and Damian was stronger than even the second-years... his deployment would be significantly more dangerous than anything the rest of them faced.

But Damian’s expression didn’t change. There was no fear or concern. Just calm acceptance of whatever assignment came his way.

’Of course he’s not worried. He survived a damn portal out of nowhere. What’s a military mission compared to that?’

Seraphina began her normal lecture, shifting into theoretical principles and Aura analysis, but the underlying tension remained.

Everyone knew the year was building toward something significant.

****

[Academy Gymnasium - Body Training Class]

Professor Nathan Brock stood at the entrance to the gravitational training room, his tall, bald frame radiating the no-nonsense energy of someone who’d broken thousands of students through physical conditioning.

His eyes immediately found Damian among the arriving students, his expression shifting to something mixing respect and exasperation.

"Madman... You’re back."

His voice carried across the gymnasium, drawing everyone’s attention.

Damian smiled slightly, acknowledging the greeting without comment.

Nathan’s memory of their previous encounter was vivid – watching this insane first-year run himself literally unconscious at fourteen times gravity, then continue running subconsciously with blood streaming from overexertion and a smile on his face.

’Most disturbing thing I’ve seen in twenty years of teaching. And I’ve seen a lot.’

"Everyone inside the gravitational room! Standard endurance assessment!"

Students filed in quickly, having learned that hesitation earned extra laps.

The gravitational room was massive – easily two hundred meters long, with reinforced walls designed to contain the structural stress of extreme gravity multiplication.

When Damian had trained here previously, he’d been alone.

An isolated madman pushing beyond human limits while everyone else watched with horrified fascination.

But today was different.

Today, all thirty-plus Mafia students ran beside him, their formation maintaining perfect cohesion, their expressions showing determination rather than the anxiety visible on Noble faces.

Nathan activated the gravitational controls, starting at baseline Earth gravity.

"BEGIN!"

Thud Thud Thud Thud

Everyone started running, the sound of footsteps echoing through the massive chamber.

Nathan began increasing the multiplier gradually, watching for the point where students would start dropping out.

2× gravity.

There were no changes. Everyone was still running comfortably.

8× gravity.

Minor students were beginning to show strain, their breathing becoming heavier.

9× gravity.

First dropouts appeared. Weaker students from lower class rankings stumbling to the side, gasping.

10× gravity.

More students started falling, their bodies unable to maintain the pace under pressure that made every step feel like climbing mountains.

11× gravity.

The field narrowed significantly. Only the truly talented or dedicated remained.

14× gravity.

Victoria White – sister of Isabelle White, who treated Damian in the medical wing – collapsed, her white hair plastered to her face with sweat, her healing-focused build not designed for physical extremes.

She lay there gasping, her mind racing as she watched the others continue.

’The Mafia students are all still running. Every single one of them. Like this is normal training. What kind of conditioning has Damian put them through?!’

Other students were having similar reactions, their worldviews being challenged by commoners outperforming Nobles in raw physical capability.

20× gravity.

’How are these wretches doing so well?! In the previous sessions, all of them never showed such endurance!’

Ruby Fray fell, her dark pink hair hanging in her face, unable to maintain the balance needed.

’Fuck! I’m done!’

Simon Diserion collapsed shortly after, his tall frame folding awkwardly.

Quinn Xander and Fiona Sigurd lasted three more steps before their legs gave out.

"Hah... Hah... Hah..."

But the Mafia students kept running, their breathing labored but controlled, their determination absolute.

Nathan’s eyes narrowed, tracking the anomaly as he looked at Leonard and Iris struggling as well.

’These commoner students with A rank and S rank talents are outperforming SS rank Nobles. That shouldn’t be possible. Physical capability has limits regardless of determination.

Unless...’