The silence that followed the Swamp Hydra's death was heavier than any sound. Jonah lay collapsed on the inflatable raft, his breath coming in ragged, painful gasps. A hollow pain echoed through the Essence Link where Shard had once been, an ache that felt like a piece of his own soul had been torn away.
"Jonah?" Seraph's voice cut through the haze, tight and urgent. "Report. Are you okay?"
He managed a weak thumbs-up, not trusting himself to speak. The world was a dizzying swirl of murky water and grey sky. The victory felt less like a triumph and more like a wound.
The extraction chopper arrived a few minutes later, its pounding blades breaking the swamp's heavy silence.
The ride back to the Academy was quiet. The other Elites, who were usually loud and laughing after a successful mission, didn't say a word. They kept glancing at Jonah, their expressions a mix of awe and a newfound respect. He hadn't just defeated a monster; he had weaponized creation itself, and then paid the price for it. They had seen something that day that went beyond tactics and training manuals.
Upon their return, the entire team was commended. A stern general with a chest full of medals praised their courage and efficiency in dealing with two legendary-tier threats. Seraph was promoted to Captain on the spot, her face betraying no emotion. The other Elites received hefty bonuses in Academy credits and official commendations that would look very, very good on their records. It was a hero's welcome, but it felt hollow. The official report was a sanitized version of events, a clean story for the files.
The real debriefing happened later.
Jonah was summoned not to a standard debriefing room, but to the Headmaster's office. He wasn't alone. Seraph, in her new Captain's uniform, and Vanessa, looking worried, were waiting for him. They were ushered into a small, silent antechamber. A single scrying orb floated at its center, humming with restrained power. The Headmaster would appear through.
"He is ready," Seraph announced to the orb.
The air grew heavy, and a voice, ancient and powerful, filled the room. It wasn't loud, but it seemed to vibrate in their very bones. "Jonah of Cinderfall. Your performance on this mission has exceeded all projections."
Jonah stood a little straighter, the hollow pain still throbbing at the edge of his mind. "Thank you, Headmaster."
"This was more than a simple extermination mission," the Headmaster continued, his voice resonating from the orb. "It was a test. A test of your abilities, your judgment, and your potential. You have proven that you are no longer a student in training."
Jonah's brow furrowed. "Sir?"
"A student follows a curriculum. A strategic asset is given a mission. From this day forward, you are a strategic asset of the Mystic Pheonix Academy."
Vanessa gasped softly beside him. Seraph's expression remained unreadable, but a hint of pride showed in her eyes. This was what she had been fighting for, what she had recognized in him from the very beginning.
"The standard ranking progression is for students," the Headmaster declared. "It is a path, not a cage. For those who demonstrate extraordinary value, exceptions are not just made; they are required."
The air in the room shimmered. A small slot opened in the wall, and a tray slid out. On it sat two badges. One was Jonah's simple, worn Rank one badge of a common student. The other was something new.
It was a badge made of a dark, obsidian-like material that seemed to swallow the surrounding light. In its center, a single, stylized phoenix was etched in what looked like polished silver. The Rank Three (Ultra Awakened) badge.
"Your personal physical power may not yet match that of your peers," the Headmaster's voice explained. "But your overall combat and strategic value far exceeds that level. Your mind, and the Progeny you command, are a force multiplier unlike any we have seen in a generation."
Jonah stared at the Ultra Awakened Badge. He was skipping ranks. He was being officially recognized not just as an Elite, but as an Awakened in his own right, an honor that students normally spent years of brutal training and life-threatening missions to achieve.
He reached out and picked it up. It was cool and heavy in his hand, heavier than its size suggested. He unclipped his old White Badge, the symbol of his desperate hope to escape undercroft of Cinderfall, and replaced it with the new one. The Rank three Badge settled on his chest, a dark mark against his uniform.
It felt less like a reward and more like a weight.
"This promotion grants you access to new levels of resources, information, and authority within the Academy," the Headmaster stated. "But it also paints a target on your back. You are no longer an unknown quantity. You are a power. Other powers will react accordingly. Be prepared."
Jonah nodded, his throat tight. He understood. He was no longer just a special project hidden away. He was now a known player in a very dangerous game.
"Now," the Headmaster's tone became even more serious, shifting from pronouncement to command. "To your final task. The reason for this accelerated promotion."
Jonah's attention sharpened. "Sir?"
"You have faced legendary beasts. You have uncovered lost knowledge. You have proven your worth. The time for practice is over. The war against the Demonic Beasts is eternal, and we are losing ground. We need more than just soldiers; we need miracles. We need weapons that can turn the tide."
The Headmaster paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"Your next long-term goal is hereby assigned. Use the Primordial Geode you retrieved and the Artificer's knowledge you absorbed. Use your own genius, which has surpassed all our expectations."
The scrying orb pulsed with a faint, golden light, and Jonah felt the Headmaster's gaze on him, intense and unyielding, even from miles away.
"Create a Progeny that will change the course of the war."