"Finally, we've got our team!" Gen exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I'm so pumped for the upcoming missions!"
"Hmm, you're right," Max nodded, flashing a confident smile. "Now that we're a team, we'll always protect each other and complete every mission successfully."
"Yes," Ember added seriously, her expression calm but focused. "But we'll need to get stronger. These missions… they won't be what we imagine. They'll be harder—a lot harder. We have to stay extremely alert."
"So, what do we do now?" Sam asked, looking at the others.
"I think Ember's right," Ray said thoughtfully. "Why don't we head to the training room and practice? It'll improve our coordination and help us understand each other's movements better. That way, we can react properly in combat. Sometimes, during missions, you don't get time to say anything… but a glance or gesture can give your teammate the right cue. Once we master that… we'll have a huge advantage" ,Ray completed .
"I totally agree with Ray!" Ember chimed in quickly. "Let's not waste any more time—let's go!"
"I'm with you guys," Gen said with a confident nod. "Let's do it!"
Without another word, the team headed toward the training room, determination in their stride.
Meanwhile, from a short distance away, Jamesstood silently, watching his team. A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Looks like they understood what I was trying to say," he muttered under his breath. "They're smart… just like Master Magnus said. These new recruits… there's something special about them."
Just then, a familiar voice called out, "What are you staring at so silently, James?"
James turned, surprised, "Master Cyrus! It's been a while. I thought you were away on a mission?"
"Not quite," Cyrus chuckled. "I wasn't away on a mission. I was out… looking for a bride. It's about time I get married, don't you think?"
James laughed, "You haven't changed a bit. Always joking!"
"Joking? Why does everyone think I'm joking? I'm human too—I have the right to get married!"
"Absolutely! You should!" James grinned.
"Come on, let's go. The meeting room's waiting for us," Cyrus said, and together, they made their way to the main council room.
Inside, the room was filled with some of the strongest sorcerers—A and B Rank alike. Master Magnus and Master Harry were already present, along with all the elite members and their head, Master Yoyo.
As soon as the room settled into silence, Master Yoyo stood and addressed everyone.
"Welcome, team. Last week, we deployed two units for a mission. Each unit had six members—two elite sorcerers and four A-Rank sorcerers. Together, these units achieved something remarkable. They eliminated a total of 100 clones... and more importantly, they managed to kill one Soul Devourer."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"This may sound like a small achievement," Master Yoyo continued, "but it's far from it. Previously, the ratio was one Soul Devourer per 500—sometimes or 1000—clones. But now… just 100 clones. This could be luck… but I don't believe in luck. I believe this is a shift. A signal."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"It's likely their population is growing. Which means… they are preparing to execute their main plan soon. The chances of encountering a Soul Devourer in the next 10 to 12 raids have skyrocketed. They're not hiding anymore… they're emerging."
The atmosphere in the room turned heavy, serious.
"I don't know why this change is happening," Yoyo admitted, "but one thing is certain—it's not good.
Not at all. And the Soul Devourer encountered on the last mission… was the strongest we've ever seen. Both units had to join forces to bring it down. Thankfully, no one was fatally wounded. But the danger… it's real."
Everyone sat in tense silence as the gravity of the situation settled in.
"I want you all to take a moment to appreciate and congratulate Cyrus, Kevin, Ana, and Samuel—they led the two units that uncovered this critical intel. Because of them, we now have a clearer idea of what we're dealing with. Killing one Soul Devourer doesn't just reduce their numbers—it also helps us understand them better. Each encounter gives us a glimpse into their evolving strength and tactics."
Yoyo's tone turned grim.
"The Soul Devourer we just killed—by our current assessment—was likely the weakest among them. Imagine what the stronger ones could be like…"
A deep silence fell again.
"That's why we must grow stronger. Smarter. Sharper. Starting
tomorrow, raids will begin officially. We now have 5 units, each with 20 newcomers and their assigned master. That's a total of 100 recruits. I hope, as Magnus mentioned earlier, this generation of newcomers will perform better than ever."
Master Magnus nodded. "Yes. I've observed them closely. They show promise."
"Then that's all for today," Master Yoyo concluded. "Good luck for tomorrow's raids. That will be all."
The meeting ended. Applause filled the room for Cyrus and his team. One by one, people began exiting the chamber, until only a few remained.
"Cyrus?" Magnus called.
"Yes, Master?"
"Can you show me the Soul Devourer's body? I'd like to examine something. There's something I need to confirm."
"Of course," Cyrus replied. "I'll take you to the lab."
The two sorcerers left the meeting room, their footsteps echoing down the silent hall, toward the lab where the dark secrets of the Soul Devourers awaited.