Team 0’s personal training room had always served as a sanctuary. Even during the most chaotic hours, it protected its inhabitants and provided all one could possibly want. It was where the team honed their skills, pushed their limits and formed the bonds that made them not just colleagues, but a family of sorts.
Today, however, the training room's atmosphere was tinged with excitement and gravity. They had gathered not for their usual training session, but for an important meeting with their teacher. The topic at hand was their recent promotion to G-rank and the weighty responsibilities it entailed.
James, Maria, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Lauren sat in the parlor area, their expressions a mix of pride and apprehension. Miss Walker stood before them, her demeanor serious yet somehow conveying encouragement even with her mask on.
“First of all, I wanted to say: Congratulations on achieving G-rank. I can’t say I expected anything less from you, considering what you’ve accomplished while H-rank.” Miss Walker began, her voice carrying her pride in their result. “But this is still a significant milestone in your careers as Awakeners. It also comes with responsibilities and expectations you must be prepared to meet.”
The masked woman, somehow, managed to transmit an air of strong amusement, even with half her face covered. “I can tell you that the bigwigs were quite impressed with your performance. They had hoped not to get shown up by the Guild teams, but you put up the best performance in a long time. Some were gloating! That does not happen often."
She paused, ensuring she had their full attention before continuing. "As G-rank Awakeners, you'll have access to the respective dungeons. These are far more dangerous than anything you've encountered so far. The challenges within will test not just your strength and skill, but your teamwork and decision-making under pressure. Now, who can tell me the differences between a H and a G-rank dungeon?”
Maria raised her hand automatically before blushing and clearing her throat when she realized she looked like an eager schoolgirl. “The number of enemies one can find, on average, is much higher. The category is not as well defined as the difference between the Awakening tiers, but we should still expect better tactics, more powerful opponents, and harsher conditions.”
Miss Walker nodded in satisfaction. “Now, you might have already experienced some of these changes even in H-rank dungeons, but that doesn’t mean you should expect to be well prepared. The Saratoga Springs one is the closest approximation to what you’ll find, but even that is not enough. Adverse weather effects, poisonous gases, intelligent enemies working in vast numbers. All of this is why we have a delineation between the two lowest ranks.”
James nodded solemnly, thinking back to the research they had gone through. "We understand, Miss Walker. We've been preparing for this and have trained harder than ever.”
Miss Walker eye-smiled faintly. "I know you have, and I have every confidence in you. But there's more. You must also respond to alerts about monsters roaming outside dungeons. These situations can be unpredictable and require quick, decisive action.”
Ezekiel leaned forward. "We'll be ready for that as well. We all passed the rescue mission without any trouble, after all.”
Thinking back to the agitation and panic he had felt from his shorter friend during his turn with the golem, James hid a smile.
“Good." Miss Walker replied. "And finally, as G-rank Awakeners, you are authorized to arrest individuals who are behaving dangerously around dungeons. This delicate power must be exercised with the utmost discretion and judgment. You are technically Federal Law Enforcement, but you should still be as cautious with it as possible, since the press loves to run stories about abuse of power.”
Daniel furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "Arresting civilians... that's a big responsibility. We'll need to ensure we're well-versed in the legal aspects of this authority.”
Man, he’s always so serious. I doubt we’ll ever have to do that; people know not to get too close to dungeons. All the idiots who thought it’d be cool died already.
Miss Walker nodded approvingly. "Exactly, Daniel. You'll undergo additional training to familiarize yourselves with the legalities and protocols involved. It won’t be as intensive as the lessons you had to take when you first started, but it’s still necessary. Remember, any misuse of this power can have serious repercussions, not just for you but for the AA as a whole.”
Lauren sighed, seemingly unconcerned with the weight of the responsibility. “I understand being cautious, but cops receive way less training than we do, and they can arrest people on a whim, basically. I doubt we’ll do worse than them.”
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James snorted, amused. “We don’t have the uniform, and the reflectors are on us. I agree that it seems a bit much, considering how sparingly we’ll ever have to use this power, but it’s kind of necessary if we want to avoid bad press.”
Miss Walker's gaze swept across the group. "I'm glad that you seem to understand. Now, we need to discuss the current situation in New York following the terror attacks.”
The team's expressions turned somber upon hearing the topic. The recent attacks had cast a long shadow over the city, and the fallout was still being felt in every corner. People had returned to their lives with little hitch, but a sense of anger was still palpable everywhere.
“Because we needed to withdraw some teams from ordinary operations to supplement the force being raised in Washington, the Guilds have slowly filled the empty space.” Miss Walker explained. "They're stepping in to fill the gaps left by the AA's diminished capacity. While their support is helpful, as some very sensitive tasks were left unattended, it's also, unfortunately, causing a shift in the balance of power and influence.”
James interjected, his expression concerned. "Does that mean that our operations have been for nothing? Are they already clawing back the territory we took?”
Miss Walker sighed, the weight of the situation evident in her posture. "Not entirely, James. Our operations have made a significant impact, and Brooklyn, the territory we secured thanks to you guys, remains under our control. However, the Guilds are indeed capitalizing on the situation. They're using this opportunity to bolster their public image and expand their influence. It's a delicate balance we're struggling to maintain.”
Maria leaned forward, her brows knitted in frustration. "So, even after all our efforts, we're still in the same stall with the Guilds?”
"It's more than just that, unfortunately.” Miss Walker clarified. "It's about the perception of power and influence. The Guilds are adept at playing the public relations game. They're stepping in and offering help in highly visible, low-risk situations, which boosts their image in the eyes of the public.”
Ezekiel, who had been quiet, spoke up with a thoughtful tone. "So they're essentially avoiding the real dangers while the AA is kept busy by the preparations for the response to the attacks?”
“Exactly.” Miss Walker affirmed. "And that's why your role becomes even more crucial now. We can't allow the Guilds to overshadow the real work that the AA does. We need to demonstrate our capabilities and our importance in the city's defense and public safety. And to do that, what better way than to employ a team of fresh-faced rookies that just managed to clinch the fastest rank up in years?”
Daniel nodded, understanding the larger picture. “So you want us to be more visible. To take up the slack for the absence of the high-rankers.”
Miss Walker eye-smiled “Exactly. The general public doesn’t really care if it’s a C-rank dungeon or a G-rank that has been cleared, as long as it was done without collateral damage. If you can do a few successful dives in short order, it will help with the general perception. A couple of stories like that every once in a while really help.”
Seeing that they all understood, she clapped once. "Right. Now, let's shift gears a bit. I want to see how you've been progressing with your abilities. How about a friendly spar? Show me what new tricks you've learned.”
The team exchanged excited glances. Sparring with Miss Walker was always a highlight; she’d find new flaws in their skills and would push them until they had found a counter. It was grueling, but no one could doubt the efficacy.
They moved to the sparring area, each team member preparing for the mock battle. Miss Walker stood opposite them, her stance relaxed yet ready.
"Remember, no holding back. I want to see everything you've got.” She instructed with a challenging squint of her eyes.
They all spread out, trying to keep the dangerous woman in the middle to force her to constantly move. James stepped forward first, eager to test his newest discovery.
A bit of fiddling with the ‘barrier’ he had come up with had revealed that while it was undoubtedly useful on the defensive, it also increased his destructive power.
While the operation against the Radiant Guild might not have brought much in the way of levels, it had given James some much-needed control. His struggles against Callum and Mettermeier had allowed him to reach a level he hadn’t known was possible, and now he could shift mana inside himself with barely a thought.
His right arm was filled with much more mana than he had been capable of before, so much so that it created a softy glowing barrier of dense energy. He punched forward, the strength and speed of it moving the air around the room, and found his blow was met with a shadowy barrier.
With a grin, he let go of all the contained mana and enjoyed his teacher’s shocked look when he was able to severely crack her shield. She immediately reforged it, and he had to retreat, lest he get caught in the tendrils of darkness coming his way, but it was more than he had ever managed.
Next was Daniel, who had enhanced his shield bash technique. With a roar, he charged, his shield extending in a halo around him. The move was powerful and unexpected, forcing Miss Walker to step around him through the shadows.
Maria was there when she came out, a barrage of explosive fireballs aimed at where their teacher had reappeared, keeping the pressure high.
Even more surprisingly, Ezekiel jumped in, the telltale glow of his buffs covering him as he tried to thrust his knife into Miss Walker’s ribs. She easily avoided the attack, but it still managed to send her into direct collision with Lauren, who had used the moment's chaos to get close.
Again, the masked woman was forced to use her shadows to escape, and they resumed the chase. The spar was intense and exhilarating, with each team member pushing themselves to the limit. Miss Walker was a formidable opponent, her experience and skill a constant challenge. She was still leagues above them, so far ahead that they couldn’t possibly touch her if she didn’t want them to, but it was clear that Team 0 had grown stronger, more skilled, and more cohesive.
As the mock battle came to a close, Miss Walker nodded in approval. "Impressive, all of you. I can tell you haven’t slacked off. Your hard work and dedication are evident. Keep honing your skills and you'll be more than ready to face the challenges of G-rank dungeons.” Then she winked, adding. “And I expect to see you guys preparing for the E-rank exam sooner rather than later. I have a bet on you doing it before a year from your matriculation, and I don’t want to lose!”
Everyone laughed, if with a touch of hysteria. It would take a while before they got there, but they knew their teacher wasn’t lying when she said she wanted them to get there as soon as possible.
Alright, so we have a few Guilds we need to show up. Can’t say I’m not happy about that.