"The physical mid-term exams are canceled?" Ren exclaimed, his voice louder than intended after the sudden announcement by our professor.

"Yes," Nero confirmed with a nod, "Only theory exams will be conducted. For now, focus on the upcoming end-of-year festival."

'Another deviation from the novel,' I thought, my brows furrowing. 'Is this because of the demon attack?'

The end-of-year festival at Mythos Academy was a global event of significant importance. With such an occasion, the security would be far tighter than during the mid-terms. Powerful families from around the world, whose children were participating, would come to show their support.

Even though my friends' parents, being -rankers, wouldn't make it due to their high positions, their relatives would. This influx of powerful figures would bolster the security, making an attack during the festival highly unlikely.

Conversely, the mid-terms were more vulnerable, and an attack had already occurred during the last ones, heightening the Academy's wariness. The fact that demons had appeared within Mythos Academy was kept under strict lockdown.

All individuals aware of the demon's presence had to sign confidentiality agreements, ensuring the information wouldn't be exposed. This was essential to prevent widespread panic.

However, the forces around the world were undoubtedly preparing for the demons. The last time demons attacked humanity, they had dealt significant damage, single-handedly ending the Golden Age. And that was without a direct assault like the one going to occur in the future. They had used the Demon Sect to strike Murim and other regions during a time when humanity was dominating the dark species, causing tremendous damage.

I sighed, feeling the weight of the future pressing down on me. 'The knowledge I have will become less useful,' I mused. 'I knew this would happen because I would be changing the plot for the better, but with the demon attack completely outside the scope of changes possible from my actions, I'm not sure if this is better.'

The demon attack was a harbinger of doom, a stark reminder of the formidable enemies humanity faced. Even while embroiled in a war with another interstellar species, the demons could dispatch a force powerful enough to push back the Slatemark Empire and gradually plunge humanity into decline.

'I can't dwell on that now,' I reminded myself. 'That's a worry for later.' I had plans to help deal with the looming threat, but first, I needed to become stronger. That was my immediate goal.

The tension was palpable among my friends. As heirs to powerful families and many having faced the demon who attacked us, they understood the looming danger. It wasn't an immediate threat but an undoubtedly imminent one.

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'If the demons attack sooner than expected,' I thought, 'I need to execute some of my plans earlier.'

Reaching -rank as quickly as possible was crucial.

As th, murmurs of disbelief and concern filled the room.

"Do you think the end-of-year festival will be safe?" Jin asked, turning to me with a stoic expression, yet I could see his lips pursed in worry.

I gave a reassuring smile, though my thoughts were far from calm. "With all the added security, it should be. Plus, the Academy wouldn't risk our safety."

Lucifer leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look on his face. "It's not just about safety. It's about the message it sends. Canceling the mid-terms means they expect something."

Rachel nodded in agreement. "And that 'something' is what worries me. We've faced a lot already, but demons... that's a whole different level."

"Do you think they'll attack during the festival?" Ian asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Considering they attacked during the mid-terms, it's possible," Ren replied, shrugging. "They sent a sizable force back then, didn't they?"

Lucifer leaned forward, his expression serious. "We need to be prepared for anything. The festival could be an opportune moment for them to strike again."

The tension among us was palpable, each of us silently acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

At the same time, we couldn't do much currently. We didn't have the capability to do much about this.

So all we could do was be careful and grow stronger for now.

Soon, it was time for the mid-term theory exams.

They were just as brutal as expected, a real test of endurance and knowledge. By the time we finished, everyone looked like they had just survived a battle.

Ren was mumbling to himself, "The weak point of the Ice Titan, the weak point of the Ice Titan," over and over, his face drained of color like he'd seen a ghost.

The rest of us weren't faring much better.

Seraphina's brows were knitted together in deep thought, Jin's expression was stone-cold, but his clenched fists gave away his stress. Cecilia seemed frozen in place, and even Lucifer's usual confident smirk was nowhere to be seen.

Ian, on the other hand, was staring up at the sky with an oddly serene look. "Life is all about struggles," he mused, sounding like some kind of wise old sage. "Each struggle helps us grow."

Ren snapped out of his daze long enough to jab his elbow into Ian's side. "Shut up," he muttered as Ian doubled over in pain.

Ian looked at Ren, placing his hands together in mock serenity. "I forgive you, my friend, because I believe in peace." His overly calm tone only made Ren more annoyed, sparking a new round of bickering between the two.

I exhaled, letting their argument fade into the background as I replayed the exam in my mind. There were quite a few questions I hadn't nailed. Honestly, it seemed ridiculous to cram so many exams into one year, but complaining wouldn't change anything.

A sudden giggle broke the tension.

Rachel.

Everyone turned to look at her, causing her to freeze. "W-what?" she stammered, clearly caught off guard.

"Why are you laughing?" Cecilia asked, her red eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Rachel scratched her cheek, trying to play it off. "I was just thinking about something funny. No point in staying down all the time, right?"

We all stared at her for a moment before shaking our heads, too drained to argue. With spirits low after the exams, we didn't hang out long and soon headed back to Ophelia Hall.

As Rachel was about to enter her room—her door conveniently located according to her rank—I stepped closer and whispered, "Congratulations, genius."

She stiffened, looking at me in surprise, but I caught the faintest hint of a smile curling at the corners of her lips.

I shook my head as she giddily stepped into her room.

Another perfect score for Rachel Creighton.