Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Arrest Chapter 63: Arrest As the days passed, the base bustled with activity, the quiet halls now alive with the hum of visitors.

Civilians from nearby safeguarded cities began to arrive in waves, eager to check on their children after hearing word of the recent expedition and its casualties.

These cities they came from were heavily fortified and designed to serve as safe havens.

They were among the few remaining bastions of normalcy in a world that had changed drastically over the years.

In these safe civilian havens , traditional occupations had become relics of the past.

Factories no longer buzzed with industry, offices had been replaced by command centers, and schools were often temporary setups meant to transition students into survival-based trades.

Guilds and factions now dominated society-hunters who ventured out to retrieve resources, beast crafters who worked with the creatures that roamed the wilds, and scavenger units tasked with reclaiming abandoned cities.

These professions, though dangerous, offered quick credits and status, making them the go-to choice for most civilians trying to adapt.

The parents and guardians who arrived were a mixed lot.

Some came teary-eyed, relieved to find their children alive after hearing of the expedition’s danger.

Others were stoic, their faces lined with the quiet understanding of the times they lived in.

The base’s gates swarmed with people holding onto slivers of hope, waiting for a name, a face, or any confirmation that their loved ones had survived.

This surge of concern wasn’t surprising.

For years, humanity had lived in relative peace, their battles with Harbingers dwindling to isolated skirmishes.

The generation growing up during this time knew little of the horrors their parents had faced.

However, that peace had shattered recently.

The Harbinger threat returned, fiercer than before, driving humanity back into a state of war.

The military call-ups followed soon after.

No longer optional, every citizen turning eighteen was required to serve in some capacity.

Whether awakened with abilities or not, they were handed over to the military for evaluation.

Those deemed fit were sent to the front lines or into guild-affiliated professions.

Those who weren’t often found themselves reassigned to support roles-logistics, medical, or intelligence work.

The message was clear: everyone contributed.

Refusal wasn’t an option.

Deserters faced swift trials, and penalties were harsh.

The military couldn’t afford to make exceptions, not when humanity’s survival depended on every able body.

The laws were strict, but the fear of Harbinger incursions ensured compliance from most.

Families, whether they supported the draft or not, had no choice but to watch their children be swept into the machine of war.

For Noah, these visits were a reminder of what they were all fighting for.

He watched from a distance as class would soon start as parents hugged their children, tears mixing with smiles.

Yet he couldn’t help but feel detached.

His own parents were safe, living their comfortable lives on the Ark far above the chaos.

They hadn’t cared when he was called up, and they wouldn’t care now.

He leaned against a railing, observing the bustling crowd.

‘The world’s gone to hell, and we’re the ones being sent to clean up the mess.’ The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

‘Eighteen, nineteen, twenty years old-and we’re supposed to be humanity’s salvation.

How many of those kids even know how to hold a blade?’ Noah shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside.

There was no use dwelling on it.

Whether he liked it or not, this was their reality now.

Humanity was fighting for its survival, and he, like everyone else, had no choice but to fight with it.

____ As the weeks passed, the academy gradually settled back into a sense of normalcy.

Classes resumed their usual schedule, and students like Kelvin and Cora returned to their seats, though the lingering tension of recent events was palpable.

The halls were quieter, the classrooms less full, a sobering reminder of those who hadn’t made it back.

Miss Brooks, ever the optimist, did her best to keep spirits high.

Her lectures were as vibrant as ever, filled with anecdotes and encouragement to push through the hardships.

She often reminded them of their potential and how their academy stood tall among the most prestigious in the eastern district.

Surprisingly, miss Brooks maintained her usual demeanor, teaching with her characteristic energy and warmth, as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

It was a relief to the students, who had been silently worried about her future after the events on Cannadah.

The whispers in the hallways suggested that the Council had acknowledged her decision to sneak a communication device to Noah during the mission.

It wasn’t standard protocol, and it could have easily been grounds for reprimand-or worse.

Yet, her quick thinking had saved lives.

The device had allowed Noah to coordinate reinforcements and relay critical information, ultimately preventing what could have been a disastrous failure.

Apparently, the Council had seen the merit in her actions, and rather than punishing her, they seemed to have quietly let it slide.

Some said it was because of Albright’s influence, though Miss Brooks never mentioned it.

In class, she showed no sign of the weight she must have carried during that ordeal.

Still, her students noticed the subtle changes.

She smiled a little softer, her eyes lingered on them a little longer, as though silently assuring herself they were safe and whole.

Kelvin, always the one to point out the obvious, leaned over to Noah one morning and whispered, “You think she’s just that good, or did she get lucky?” Noah shrugged, his gaze drifting to Miss Brooks at the front of the room.

“Probably both,” he replied.

But in truth, he knew better.

Miss Brooks was more than just “lucky.” She had risked her career-and possibly her life-for them.

Adrian, the commander’s son on the other hand, seemed to be thriving.

His devastatingly good looks-blonde hair and a face that could have been sculpted by the gods-were now complemented by his heroic display of nuclear ability against the Harbinger.

Although he hadn’t particularly taken down the threat, the girls saw his actions as brave and “hot”.

His fan following had exploded, no longer confined to their class.

Girls from both 1C and 1A now flocked to him during breaks, giggling and vying for his attention.

Adrian, for his part, looked as if he’d rather disappear, but the attention never waned.

For Noah, it was just another regular day.

Miss Brooks was enthusiastically explaining the importance of the major academies in the eastern district, describing how they not only trained future soldiers but had produced some of the most high-ranking officers in the force.

Kelvin, seated a few rows ahead, couldn’t help but murmur commentary as he scrolled through his tablet.

“She’s not wrong, you know.

The academy’s alumni are legends.

Just last month, one of our guys took out a Three crown Harbinger single-handedly,” he whispered to no one in particular.

Noah sighed and rested his chin on his hand.

His attention drifted to the sunlight streaming through the window.

But before he could completely zone out, the classroom door burst open.

Three soldiers, clad in standard military gear with beast weapons sheathed at their sides, strode in with a sense of authority.

The room immediately fell silent.

The lead soldier, a broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar across his cheek, scanned the room before locking eyes on Noah.

“Noah Eclipse,” he barked, his voice echoing off the walls.

“You are under arrest.” Gasps erupted from the class.

Miss Brooks immediately stepped forward, her face barely concealing her fury.

“Excuse me!

You do not barge into my classroom unannounced, disrupting my lesson, without so much as acknowledging my presence.

What is the meaning of this?” The soldier didn’t so much as glance at her.

“This is a direct order from Albright,” he stated flatly, silencing any further protest.

The two other soldiers moved swiftly, striding to Noah’s desk.

One of them gripped his arm, yanking him from his seat with little regard for subtlety.

“Hey, what the hell-” Noah began, but the soldier’s grip tightened, cutting him off.

The entire class watched in stunned silence, eyes wide with confusion and fear.

Kelvin rose halfway from his seat, a mixture of concern and disbelief on his face.

“What are you doing?” he called out, his voice breaking through the tension.

Cora and Lila exchanged nervous glances, both unsure of what to say or do.

Miss Brooks, refusing to back down, stepped closer.

“I don’t care if it’s from Albright or the academy board itself.

This is my classroom, and you will explain why one of my students is being dragged out like a criminal!” The lead soldier turned to her, his expression unreadable but his tone firm.

“This is not up for discussion.

Noah Eclipse is coming with us.” Without another word, they dragged Noah toward the door, his classmates still frozen in place.

Noah glanced back briefly, locking eyes with Kelvin, who looked like he was on the verge of jumping into action.

“It’s fine,” Noah muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

He didn’t want trouble-at least not here, not now.

As the door shut behind them, the silence in the room stretched uncomfortably.

Miss Brooks, visibly shaken, turned back to her class.

“Everyone, remain seated,” she said, though her voice lacked its usual steadiness.

Kelvin slumped back into his chair, fists clenched.

Cora and Lila exchanged another look, this one filled with worry.

Outside, Noah was shoved forward by the soldiers, his mind racing.

What do they want with me now?

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS RetardedCulture That would be all for today!