Chapter 44: Ranchi Prepares for His Debut

t the corner of the street—actually, there were many creatures huddled up.The shivering, frail creature looked very vulnerable because of the cold.Ranche continued walking toward that place, he could...Chapter 44: Ranchi Prepares for His Debut

In the bustling heart of the Icterus Academy, a gigantic structure stands tall. [Google search]

This is the center of the entire campus, surrounded by the areas belonging to the four faculties.

The various classical and modern buildings in the academy, though each with its unique charm, seem somewhat eclipsed by the sheer magnitude of the central building.

It's not just because of its immense size, but also because its existence stands in stark contrast to everything around it.

Compared to the Gothic or Renaissance buildings that surround it, which exude a sense of history, this place looks more like a military fortress.

Its walls were a deep blue, hard as iron, surrounded by layers of powerful barrier runes. A soft golden glow enveloped the building, forming visible magical protective barriers.

For students, simply feeling its presence from afar is like an invisible pressure bearing down on them.

Only those with proper identification can enter this building through the single authorized entrance after undergoing several security checks.

Around this barrier, many armored and noble knights of the royal guard patrolled.

They are not ordinary academy guards, but elite knights sent by the King of Heston. If anyone dares to break in here, they will surely have no return.

Everything, every single thing, is only because this building's interior is a void that serves as a gateway to the Shadow Realm.

To prevent cultists or criminals from entering the Shadow Realm, all fixed void portals located in the Southern Continent are under the highest level of defense and control by the Shadow Realm Management Association and the Southern Continent United Council.

The Hulton Kingdom, where Lance resided, had five large Void Gates in total, and one of them was located within the Ikereth School of Magic.

Or perhaps, this academy was built around this very door, converging into a center of intense learning and research.

As the sun is about to set in the west.

The Hekate Academy was covered in a molten gold hue, forming a tranquil yet dreamy vista.

Lanche and Huberlian's two figures walked straight through the building's security check, their shadows stretching long, laid out directly on the wide road.

... until they finally stepped inside the building.

In the vast expanse before him, there stood only a single, immensely colossal door of the void.

Its appearance was eerie and mysterious, yet it possessed a beauty akin to the artistry of a creator. The frame was composed of a material resembling meteorite, its surface smooth as a mirror. Along the edges flowed a light that resembled liquid starlight, its color constantly shifting between deep purple and shimmering silver.

The entire door was flowing with a faint purple light, like the deepest glow in the night sky. It flickered continuously, appearing and disappearing mysteriously, as if countless stars were swirling gently in a vortex.

What's the name of the team

Huberly glanced at the final security checkpoint ahead of them, its empty work station, and the vast, echoing arena. "So," she said to Lynch.

You just need to register your Challenger License here, and have staff check the [Reality Record Program] device you are wearing, then you can go through the Void Gate ahead to participate in a matching challenge.

If you would still like to use "Team Cards" for team challenges, you will also need to register your team name.

The "Team Card" is another kind of tool magic card, full name 【Shadow World Cooperative Program】.

Ranch thought about it and felt that it didn't matter what he filled in.

So, let's talk about their characteristics as a team after they partnered up.

"Just fill in the Civilized Model Squad then."

Ranche replied.

Hubert hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded.

She felt like she had a lot to say, but decided against it.

Just let him be happy...

Next, the two handed over their licenses and two types of tool magic cards each to the security checkpoint counter, waiting for the staff to process them.

"Once you enter the Void Gate, the Shadow Realm on the other side will automatically match challengers with a suitable existing Shadow Realm. This is beyond human control. Even when matched, don't leave the Void Gate casually, or you might be separated. You should know that, right"

Staff in military uniforms registered them with handheld magical devices while noticing that their challenge counts were all 0. They briefly explained some basic precautions.

Understood.

Both nodded.

Because many challengers from other ports around the world will also be matching at the same time, if your two ranks are low, you generally won't have to wait long.

The staff member stared intently at the magic device's crystal screen while also explaining common occurrences to the two of them.

Even though Ranch and Huberlian were familiar with this knowledge, they still listened attentively.

In the real Shadow World, lower-ranked challengers are easier to match successfully. After all, low-ranked Shadow Worlds appear frequently and in large numbers.

...the frequency of high-tier shadow worlds appearing is often low, and even if challengers are willing to fight, there may not always be a shadow world available for them to challenge.

As for when the Association detects the appearance of a disaster-level shadow world at level seven or higher, the Southern Continent United Council will issue a warning to all countries. Multiple countries will begin negotiations and dispatch the most powerful and suitable challengers and teams.

The higher the echelon of the film world, the more severe the consequences of failure.

If the failure of the second and third-order shadow world only leads to small disturbances in the real world, then once a seventh-order or higher shadow world fails, it will usher in a truly major natural disaster.

Therefore, the high-level shadow world is something that any country or power would treat with great caution.

This is also the reason why the identity and status of challengers in the high-end film world are so lofty.

They not only have a voice in their own kingdom, but also in the South Continental Union!

As for wanting to put a fixed challenger combination into the same film world, there are two ways.

Either those top-tier challengers, due to their small numbers, have few suitable shadow worlds for them. As long as they enter simultaneously, they will basically be matched up together.

Another solid option is to carry a "team card"—

The Shadow World Cooperative Program

Category: Spell Card

Grade: White Standard

Class: 1

Passive Effect: It will match with a companion carrying the same number of coordinated programs into the same Shadow World.

Note: Team card 891852279

This is the team card that Ranch and Huberlyan purchased at the registration desk upon entering.

This is a team-building tool card produced by the South Continent Shadow World Management Association and the Card Maker's Association. It uses natural team-building functions sourced from the Shadow World to create replica cards.

> The larger the team size, the harder it is to match into the Shadow World, and the longer you'll have to wait. Additionally, compared to tackling challenges individually, there is a certain increase in difficulty when teaming up.

However, if it's only two people on a team, the negative impact is minimal.

"Okay, when you come out, just read the [Shadow World Record Program] to me again, and you can get your Challenger License back and leave."

The staff returned the two's tool magic cards to them, and then the gate before them opened.

He waved his hand, signaling that the two could go in.

Lanche and Huberlian received the tool magic cards and thanked them, then walked toward the void gate.

Hundreds of steps later, the two said nothing along the way, arriving before this gate of nothingness.

"Are you ready"

Lanche tilted his head and smiled at Huberlian.

Of course.

Hubert also nodded.

Unlike the artificial portals created by human technology, a true void portal is a bottomless black hole. Just approaching it, you can feel an invisible force pulling you in, as if trying to draw your very soul into this endless unknown.

But Ranch did not hesitate, charging straight ahead, as if stepping into water and sinking through.

Suddenly, sound, sight, awareness, even time vanished in that instant.

What you can feel is only the breath of the universe, the infinite stars, and the fathomless void.

It was as if two worlds were weaving together, interdependent and shaping each other. After everything was turned upside down, they finally arrived in a completely new world.

A story of interwoven shadow and reality, today, is unraveled anew.

Check out my friend's book! The protagonist transmigrated into the public enemy, but instead of becoming the leader of the highest council, he started a rebellion in southern Cybertron. Currently, they are fighting a civil war on Cybertron.

(End of chapter)

{ } was nearly hidden, each passing minute and second seemed to stretch endlessly.On the snowfields a hundred miles outside of Dundrum City, an endless night of black and white swept across the land. Sno...