Alright… I think I finally understand who the Fourth Master could be," Ray whispered to himself, doubt flickering in his eyes. "But maybe… maybe I'm wrong."
Just then, Master Magnus stepped forward, his sharp voice cutting through the silence.
"Gary. Gen. You two had the highest number of kills so far… I expected this answer from either of you," he said, looking disappointed. "But you stayed silent. Being the strongest doesn't always mean you're the smartest student in the room. And today, once again, that's been proven."
A heavy pause. Then he continued, "Look—none of us need to be only strong, or only smart. Because a master can't afford to choose between the two. What we need… is balance. Only when both qualities move together can someone become extraordinary."
He looked around the room.
"So? Is there anyone who wants to speak up about who the Fourth Master might be? If you have any doubts—say them."
A moment of tense silence.
"Making a mistake isn't the crime," Magnus said, his voice calm but firm. "The real mistake is hiding it. Because if you hide it today, and tomorrow it costs you your life, then you won't get a chance to learn from it—or fix it."
Ray slowly raised his hand. "Excuse me, Master Magnus. May I say something?"
"Of course. Go ahead, Ray," Magnus said, his expression unreadable. "So what do you think? Have you guessed who the Fourth Master is?"
"I'm not sure…" Ray said carefully. "But… there's one thing that made me suspicious."
"And what is that?" Magnus asked, intrigued.
"You said we're 20 in total, right? And even Master Harry confirmed—15 boys and 5 girls. But…" Ray hesitated, then continued, "Yesterday, when Gen introduced everyone, there were six girls. Nova, Olivia, Ember, Emi, Rose… and one more. That's six, not five. So, I believe…" he took a deep breath, "...the Sixth girl must be our Fourth Master."
A quiet smile curved on Master Magnus's lips.
"I never thought… that this answer would come from you, Ray. I'm surprised. And you know what?" He chuckled slightly. "I like surprises."
He turned to everyone.
"There's a sorcerer among you, named Ray, whose observation is absolutely correct." He nodded. "One of those six girls is indeed our Fourth Master. And that person is… Master Emi."
Gasps filled the room. Ray's eyes widened, but a proud smile crept onto his face.
"Congratulations, Ray. I'm proud that someone guessed correctly."
Master Magnus stepped aside as the four Masters took their places.
"Now your four masters have been revealed—James, Emi, Ava, and William. All of them are B-rank sorcerers and among the best we have. From now on, any missions assigned to you will be done under the observation of these masters."
He raised his hand as if dividing the air into four pieces.
"Let me now assign your teams."
Team One:
• Gen
• Ray
• Max
• Ember
• Sam
Master: James
Team Two:
• Gary
• George
• Henry
• Olivia
• Ben
Master: Ava
Team Three:
• Oliver
• Lucas
• Alex
• Denny
• Nova
Master: Emi
Team Four:
• Denial
• Park
• Simon
• Rose
• Sofia
Master: William
"We had originally decided that each team would have four boys and one girl," Magnus explained, "but Team Four has two girls. Don't take that to mean they're weaker. They're led by William, who is not only the strongest among the four but nearly equivalent to an A-rank sorcerer."
He looked over the group, scanning each face.
"Each of you has now been given a team. Start building connections with your master, because trust and teamwork are what will help you survive in real combat. You'll only succeed in raids if you move like one body, not five people."
He turned to Master Harry.
"Harry, keep an eye on every small movement. Send me reports daily on each sorcerer's performance."
"Yes, Master Magnus. Understood."
"Good. I'll be leaving now, Master Magnus said .The four doors in front of you will lead to your assigned areas. Follow your master and begin your initial planning. Missions will start tomorrow."
With that, Magnus walked out. The teams, still processing everything, each followed their respective masters through the doors.
Inside Team One's Room – Master James
"Alright team," Gems said, standing confidently, "you must already know my name. I'm James, a B-rank sorcerer."
He glanced through the file in his hand.
"I've seen the reports. Not just yours—everyone's. But honestly? I think I got the best team."
He smiled.
"We've got two of the strongest attackers—Gen and Ember. That's a huge advantage. Sam, Ray, and Max—your coordination is fantastic. You three work well under pressure."
He turned toward Sam.
"Sam, listen carefully. You won't always have someone protecting you. From now on, you must learn to defend yourself."
"Yes, Master. I understand," Sam replied firmly. "I'll give my best and protect myself and my team."
"Good," James nodded. "That's what I expect from you, especially in real battle."
He turned to Ray.
"Ray, you're doing well. You've got potential. But don't let the past consume you. You're here to protect others now, remember what you told Master Cyrus?"
Ray lowered his head respectfully. "Yes, Master."
"Then remember your own words and move forward."
Now to Max.
"Max, you need to stay alert. Just because you're fighting one opponent doesn't mean another isn't coming from behind. There won't always be someone there to protect you."
"Yes, Master. I understand," Max said seriously.
James looked at Ember.
"Ember, you're sharp and quick-thinking. Keep pushing yourself to be stronger."
"Yes, Master. I'll improve," she replied confidently.
Finally, he turned to Gen.
"Gen, I love your humor. But during a fight, stay focused. You're the strongest in the team—and somewhere, everyone here is more emotionally connected to you than to me. If you fall, they might too. So your strength is crucial."
Gen gave a small smile. "Understood, Master."
"Good. I hope everything is clear now."
He looked at them all, his voice turning firm.
"This is the advantage of a team—you know each other's strengths and weaknesses. You grow stronger together. And starting tomorrow… we fight together." James continued
His tone shifted, serious again.
"Clones are increasing in number daily. And the Soul Devourers—they're unpredictable. No one knows when or where they'll strike, but they're hunting every day."
He moved closer to the group.
"There's no solid strategy yet. But remember one thing—if during the fight one of you is injured, don't panic. No matter how bad it looks, the rest of the team must stay calm and focused."
He pointed toward the team's positions.
"Gen, you'll stay at the front with me. Ray, you provide backup from behind. Ember, you stay last to cover everyone. Sam, behind Ray. Max, behind Sam."
"We'll try to follow this formation, though real fights rarely go as planned. Still—we'll try."
James stepped back toward the door.
"Alright. I'll be back soon. Until then, get some rest or head to the training room. See you all shortly. Take care."
With that, he left the room. The team stood silently, the weight of the upcoming battles settling in.