Novel's Extra: The Lost Heir of Dragon Queen-Chapter 61: A Chain Reaction—Carbon bond.

(POV: Shirone)

The grand auditorium buzzed with murmurs and anticipation as all the S-class students of the academy gathered for the announcement.

Shirone sat near the center of the hall, arms crossed, his piercing gaze scanning the room.

Beside him sat his team, a mixture of nerves and excitement visible on their faces.

On the stage, Professor Darius stood, his imposing presence commanding silence.

With a simple gesture, the room fell quiet, save for the occasional rustle of a restless student.

"Today, I announce the selected teams for the upcoming S-rank mission next week," Professor Darius began, his deep voice echoing through the hall.

"This mission will be dangerous, a true test of skill, teamwork, and survival."

Shirone leaned forward slightly, his heart pounding.

He didn’t show it outwardly, but the competitive fire within him burned brighter than ever.

His team has completed all the missing but he didn’t know if they are among top 4 teams.

"The results have been carefully evaluated," Darius continued, "and here are the rankings:

4th position: Nightmare Team.

Leader: Joseph.

3rd position: Admirer Team.

Leader: Lumia.

2nd position: Dream Team.

Leader: Shirone.

1st position: Cream Fillers.

Leader: Kaelin."

A mixture of cheers and groans rippled through the room as the names were called.

Shirone’s jaw clenched for a moment.

Second.

His gaze flickered toward Kael, who sat calmly, his expression unreadable.

Professor Darius raised his hand, quieting the noise.

"The leader for this S-rank mission, chosen as the representative of the top-ranked team, is Kael."

The hall erupted into chatter.

Whispers of jealousy, admiration, and resentment spread like wildfire.

Shirone clenched his fists but quickly unclenched them, forcing himself to maintain composure.

Darius continued, "The selected teams will undergo special training starting tomorrow at 6:00 AM. Report to the training grounds promptly. Dismissed."

Shirone’s Resolve

As students began filing out, Shirone stood abruptly, turning to his team.

"Listen," he said, his voice firm but calm.

"I know some of you aren’t thrilled about this outcome, but what’s done is done. Kael is our leader for this mission. If any of you hold grudges or try to sabotage him, it won’t just cost your pride—it might cost your life in the mission. Do I make myself clear?"

His teammates exchanged uneasy glances but nodded in agreement.

Shirone sighed, his expression softening.

"Good. Let’s focus on proving ourselves out there. Next time, the top spot will be ours."

As his team dispersed, Shirone glanced toward Kael, who was surrounded by his own team.

Despite his calm exterior, Shirone could see the weight of leadership resting on Kael’s shoulders.

After a moment of hesitation, he strode over.

Kael noticed Shirone approaching and turned toward him, his usual composed expression in place.

"Congratulations, Kael," Shirone said, extending a hand.

"Looks like you’ve earned the top spot." Shirone said.

Kael shook his hand, nodding.

"Thanks, Shirone. I know you’re not one to back down. I’m expecting you to give it your all out there." Kael said.

A smirk tugged at Shirone’s lips.

"Oh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have to fight for it every step of the way. Just don’t slow me down, leader."

Both of them shared a rare moment of mutual respect, a silent acknowledgment of the rivalry that pushed them to be better.

As Shirone walked away, he thought to himself, This time, you’ve won, Kael.

But next time, I’ll be the one leading.

.

"Huff… huff… this training is insane!" Aelina muttered as she stumbled through her 10th lap.

Unlike some of the others, her focus had always been magic, and her physical stamina was her weakest link.

The early morning air was thick with the sound of labored breaths and groans from students dragging their bodies across the field.

As Aelina crossed the imaginary finish line of her last lap, she dropped to her knees, her thoughts already drifting to her warm bed and the sweet escape of sleep.

"Finally... I’m done," she whispered to herself, savoring the moment.

But just as her spirit began to rise, a booming voice shattered her reverie.

"Now, 200 pushups!" Professor Darius barked with a sadistic grin, his eyes gleaming with the kind of satisfaction only a tormentor could enjoy.

Aelina’s jaw dropped in disbelief, and a chorus of unified despair erupted from the group.

"Fuuuuuuck!" Every student groaned in unison, their voices harmonizing in a tragic, defeated symphony.

Instead of admonishing them for the outburst, Darius’s smirk only grew wider, as if feeding off their collective misery.

At that exact moment, a single thought flashed through every student’s mind like a warning beacon:

"We. Are. Fucked."

.

As the day’s rigorous training concluded, the academy training grounds emptied with a cacophony of hurried footsteps

Students flooded towards their rooms, eager for rest.

The academy grounds buzzed with chatter, a mix of fatigue and relief washing over everyone.

Yet amidst the hustle, four figures stood apart, refusing to yield to exhaustion—

Marcus, Lira, Shirone, and Lumia.

Each of them, still energized or perhaps driven by personal ambition, chose to stay behind, continuing their individual exercises in silent determination.

Marcus was hammering away at a combat dummy, sweat dripping from his brow as he practiced precise sword strikes.

Shirone was at the far end of the training field, perfecting his mana flow technique, a look of grim determination on his face.

Lumia, meanwhile, pushed herself through advanced mana drills, her aura pulsating like a raging tempest.

Lira was running across the ground.

It was Aelina who first noticed the absence.

Wiping her brow, she looked around and furrowed her brow.

"Wait," she murmured, glancing around.

"Where’s Kael? He wasn’t here the entire session."

Ren, wiping the sweat off his brow, frowned.

"He probably skipped again. You know how he gets when he’s in one of his ’zones.’" Ren said.

"Still…" Aelina’s voice trailed off as her concern deepened.

Something about Kael’s absence felt off to her.

Driven by an inexplicable sense of urgency, she and Ren made their way toward the secluded training rooms.

As they approached the heavy doors, the sound of rhythmic thuds, like a heartbeat of war, echoed faintly.

Sliding the door open, they were greeted by a startling sight.

Kael was there—his shirt drenched, his body shimmering with mana as if it was an extension of his very being.

His movements were sharp, precise, and terrifyingly fast, his strikes obliterating one target after another.

He wasn’t training; he was waging a war against imaginary foes.

"Kael!" Aelina called out, stepping into the room.

He didn’t respond.

His eyes were glazed over with focus, his expression devoid of anything human.

The intensity in his aura made the air heavy.

"Kael," Ren yelled, his voice filled with alarm.

Still, no reaction.

Kael’s sword swung in one smooth arc, obliterating the training dummy in front of him.

His mana surged outward, forcing Aelina and Ren to take a step back.

"He’s fully immersed," Ren said, his tone filled with disbelief.

Aelina frowned.

Kael’s breathing was ragged, his body trembling slightly, yet he didn’t stop.

His training wasn’t just physical—it was as though he was battling some inner turmoil that refused to let him rest.

His exhaustion catching up with him.

As Aelina and Ren saw him —they realized just how much weight their friend was carrying—not just in body, but in spirit

"Kael!" Ren shouted again, his voice trembling with anger.

but kael didn’t listen.

Ren eyes burned with frustration, his fists clenched so tightly that blood began to drip from his palms.

Without another word, Ren stormed off, determination radiating from his entire being.

Ren reached an empty training arena and began to vent his emotions through sheer force.

His strikes were relentless, his magic flaring uncontrollably.

Lightning bolts danced across the walls, and the floor cracked under his stomps.

"We’re going to be strong," Ren muttered, his resolve unshaken.

Watching Ren and Kael, Aveline felt something stir within her.

She clenched her fists.

"If they won’t give up, then I won’t either." She turned sharply and headed to another arena.

One by one, the rest of the students noticed. It started with whispers:

"Is that Ren?"

"And Marcus?"

"Aelina?"

"Even Lira? They’re still training?"

It was as if a spark had lit a wildfire.

The sight of their teammates refusing to give up ignited something primal within the other students.

"Looks like we’ve got no choice," one student said, gripping their weapon tightly.

"If they can push past their limits, so can we," another added.

Soon, nearly all the students selected for the academy’s elite teams found themselves on the training grounds, pushing their limits to the brink.

Swords clashed, spells illuminated the air, and the sounds of grunts and determination filled the halls.

Ren’s lightning-filled arena drew a crowd of awestruck spectators.

They watched as he unleashed attacks with newfound intensity.

"Kael may have led the way," Ren muttered, "but I’ll be damned if I let him bear all the weight alone."

Marcus trained in silence, focusing on refining his swordsmanship.

His movements were sharp, his strikes calculated. His exhaustion was evident, but his spirit was unbroken.

Aelina’s magic erupted in powerful bursts, the ground freezing and shattering under her feet.

She had never pushed herself like this before, but now, something had clicked.

The contagious determination spread like wildfire.

The students, inspired by the resolve of Ren, Marcus, Aelina and Lira, pushed themselves harder than they ever had before.

Their collective effort transformed the training grounds into a symphony of ambition, their combined willpower creating an electric atmosphere that even the academy staff couldn’t ignore.

Far from the chaos, Principal Elowen stood silently, observing the scene with an unreadable expression.

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A faint smile crossed her lips.

"They may not know it yet," she whispered to herself, "but what they’re forging here isn’t just strength—it’s unity."

The sun dipped below the horizon, but the training continued unabated, the grounds illuminated by the brilliant glow of spells and the sharp gleam of steel.

This wasn’t just training anymore; it was a declaration—a shared promise to never be left behind again.....