Five forty in the morning.

  Henry was already engaged in his daily training on the drill grounds.

  "Feeling more spry this morning, esteemed Rank 3?" Jacobs' booming voice echoed across the field.

  "I was expecting you." Henry replied, resting his sword across his shoulders.

  "Starting five minutes early today, are we? You're getting awfully confident." Jacobs chuckled wryly.

  "Let's begin. I require no rest." Henry immediately shifted into a defensive stance.

  "As you wish. Today, I shall wield my trusty greatsword." Jacobs said with a grin, drawing his familiar weapon.

  Mystic Sense enveloped the training grounds, now allowing Henry to scan a seventy-meter radius while maintaining it throughout the day. This was his first sparring match with Jacobs while possessing Mystic Sense. He was eager to gauge the extent of his newfound strength.

  "The repair bill today will be substantial." Jacobs announced, initiating the bout with a powerful downward swing of his greatsword towards Henry.

  Visually, it seemed the blade would miss, but Mystic Sense painted a crimson line extending from the sword's tip directly to the wooden training dummies behind Henry. Trusting his enhanced perception, Henry leaped sideways an instant before Jacobs' greatsword slammed into the earth.

  Thoom! Thoom! Thoom!

  "Rupture Breaker!" A devastating shockwave erupted from the point of impact, blasting towards Henry's former position, leaving a long, jagged furrow in the ground and shattering the wooden figures.

  "Just the first strike, and you're already trying to take my head off?" Henry laughed, a thrill coursing through him.

  "If you were that easily felled, you wouldn't be standing before me now." Jacobs retorted with equal enthusiasm.

  Henry moved swiftly, closing the distance with Jacobs in a sweeping, arcing motion. He didn't charge directly or erratically, but flowed in a smooth curve.

  "Impressive," Jacobs thought to himself. "Forcing my hand into a horizontal sweep, is he?"

  With this fluid movement, a powerful chop or thrust would be ineffective. Henry was leveraging his lighter weapon and superior speed to counter Jacobs' heavy, forceful attacks.

  As he completed nearly a third of the circle, drawing closer to Jacobs, Henry abruptly changed direction, lunging towards him. With lightning-fast reflexes, Jacobs unleashed a powerful horizontal slash.

  Henry halted his advance for a fraction of a second, just enough for the greatsword to whistle past his abdomen, mere inches away. In that fleeting instant, Jacobs twisted his torso, reversing the momentum of his swing into an upward arc, forming a deadly 'V' shape. The initial sweep had been a feint; this was the true strike.

  However, Henry once again surprised Jacobs. He had already bent low, anticipating the second strike with uncanny precision. Mystic Sense had painted the two dangerous lines of the 'V' attack before his very eyes, allowing him to react flawlessly.

  Henry compressed aether into his sword, preparing to unleash a devastating blow upon Jacobs' exposed back, left vulnerable by his missed attack.

  "Piercing Fang!" A thrust imbued with high penetrative force, a concentrated mass of aether focused at the tip of his blade.

  In the split second before Henry's sword made contact with Jacobs' armor, he perceived a crimson aura enveloping Jacobs' form. Unable to retract his strike in time, Henry was violently thrown back over ten meters by a powerful counterforce.

  "Iron Reversal!" A surge of potent aether reinforced Jacobs' body armor, a high-level defensive technique that would reflect the full force of an insufficient attack back upon the attacker.

  Henry rose, brushing dust from his clothes. He yelled out, "That's not fair! How am I supposed to hit you with all those defensive tricks?"

  "Well, that's the difference in Rank, kid. You'll just have to deal with it. Mad? Go whine to the General and file a complaint." Jacobs retorted provocatively, deliberately trying to rile him up.

  Frustration simmered within Henry. It was indeed infuriating. The power disparity between Ranks grew exponentially with each step. When he was Rank 2 and Jacobs was a peak Rank 3, they could still exchange blows, parry, and counterattack. There was still a sense that he could potentially defeat his superior with enough skill and power.

  But now, with Jacobs merely at Rank 4 and himself at Rank 3, the gap had widened to an almost insurmountable chasm. He couldn't withstand a single direct hit from Jacobs; every strike felt like a killing blow, forcing him to rely solely on evasion. Even Jacobs' defenses were formidable. A full-force Rank 3 thrust had been utterly ineffective.

  Frankly, when a Rank 4 like Jacobs focused on employing his defensive skills effectively, a Rank 3 like Henry had absolutely no chance of victory. He would either need to be fast enough to prevent Jacobs from activating his defenses or exhaust Jacobs' aether reserves. But expecting a Rank 3 to deplete a Rank 4's aether was simply ludicrous.

  Afterwards, Henry continued to spar with Jacobs, but this time, Jacobs incorporated wide-sweeping attacks that Henry couldn't fully evade, forcing him to barely parry at weak points to avoid immediate defeat.

  The six o'clock bell tolled, and Henry collapsed onto the ground, his two swords – he'd had to switch to a fresh one mid-spar – broken and useless. Jacobs stood unscathed, only slightly winded. He had likely expended a considerable amount of aether as well.

  "You're quite resilient, lasting a full twenty minutes." Jacobs said with an encouraging grin.

  "Just one Rank higher, yet the aether reserves, techniques, and combat system are all so much stronger. It truly makes one's eyes green with envy." Henry admitted, genuinely impressed.

  "Go get changed and grab some food. You'll probably need triple your usual intake today." Jacobs said, extending a hand to help him up.

  In the mess hall, Henry proceeded to pile his plate high with bread and stew, this time adding a generous portion of mashed potatoes.

  "Does leveling up a Rank also increase your appetite by the serving size of another person?" Daniel joked.

  "Captain beat me into a pulp this morning. I need to refuel if I'm going to be able to work." Henry replied with a wry smile.

  "It's just one Rank difference, surely it's not that bad?" Torsan wondered.

  "It's even worse than that. Before, I still felt like I had a chance, but now I can't find a single opening to win." Henry said, shaking his head in exasperated amusement.

  "Just one fight and Captain crushed Henry's spirit. Rank 4 is truly terrifying. If I ever reach Rank 4 like Captain, I'll be that strong too." Lumos exclaimed in awe.

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  "Eat quickly, boys. I have a very important announcement to make to everyone today." Jacobs said, his tone suddenly serious.

  The group exchanged puzzled glances. Unless they were dealing with a particularly difficult mission, Jacobs never used such a stern tone during normal times. A sense of apprehension settled over them.

  The first day wielding the Sanctuary Seal, despite his utter defeat against Jacobs, Henry felt an exhilarating surge of confidence. He now possessed a newfound belief in his own capabilities. His combat prowess had significantly increased, and Mystic Sense proved exceptionally useful for investigations, promising to enhance his work in the future.

  The entire squad assembled at the designated meeting point. Jacobs was already waiting, his expression unusually grave, casting a heavy atmosphere over the team. Everyone gathered, greeted Jacobs, and took their positions, awaiting their captain's announcement. Once everyone was settled, Jacobs spoke calmly:

  "I have something to inform you all. As of today, I am no longer the captain of this seven-person squad."

  The six members of the squad froze, their minds reeling. Their captain was no longer leading them? Were they being split up? Was Jacobs taking on a different assignment? Would there be a new captain?

  Various speculations raced through their minds. An unspoken silence descended upon the meeting, thick with individual anxieties and thoughts. Seeing their reactions, Jacobs offered a small smile, dispelling some of the tension.

  "I have officially become the captain of a twelve-person squad. We have gained five new members. This meeting is to introduce the new additions to the team, and we will also discuss the first mission for this expanded group."

  A collective sigh of relief swept through the squad. So, this was good news, not the dire situation they had imagined. Jacobs' serious demeanor and choice of words had merely been a playful attempt to unnerve them. The atmosphere of the meeting quickly lightened, filled with congratulatory remarks for Jacobs and half-joking accusations of teasing the entire team.

  Jacobs stepped outside and invited the new members into the barracks to join the meeting. Five individuals entered, four men and one woman:

  Larm – 25 years old, Rank 2, possessing a muscular build with neatly tied grey hair. His weapons were a pair of large battleaxes. He exuded the air of a seasoned veteran, his sharp eyes hinting at survival through many bloody battlefields.

  Egran – 24 years old, Rank 2, tall and lean, with a quick, agile demeanor. His weapons were a short sword and combat gauntlets. He appeared taciturn, but his eyes constantly darted around, as if analyzing everything.

  Mia – 22 years old, Rank 2, specializing in ranged attacks. She carried a longbow slung across her back, her gaze sharp but softened by a hint of gentle reliability when she smiled.

  Doug – 20 years old, Rank 1, with a lively and energetic presence. He had short-cropped hair and eyes that shone with youthful enthusiasm.

  Mark – 20 years old, Rank 1, quieter than Doug, but with a resolute glint in his eyes. He carried a long spear and a small shield.

  This addition clearly helped to balance the squad's composition. Previously, only Jacobs was a Rank 3 with strong close-quarters combat capabilities. Daniel and Sophia were mages. Henry and Lumos were capable in melee but not truly exceptional. Melly was also a mage. Torsan was a marksman but still young and low in Rank.

  This imbalance had hindered their progress for quite some time. It seemed that after the Lake Loknezt mission, Jacobs had resolved to change himself and the team, embracing challenges to become stronger. The addition of these five members was a testament to that determination.

  After the initial greetings, Jacobs began the meeting:

  "For this first mission, we have a significant undertaking. In the Danit region, over 170 kilometers east of Aerion, there is a graveyard. Recent reports indicate the emergence of an undead army there. According to the records, there are over fifty skeletons, including five skeleton warriors and knights, and one skeleton commander. In addition, there are over seventy zombies, including five dread zombies, and approximately twenty wraiths. This is a complex mission."

  Sophia quickly inquired, "Have we identified the Rank of the summoner? Is it possible they are still inexperienced or attempting to learn necromantic arts?"

  Jacobs nodded. "Excellent question. Based on the residual aether signatures, the summoner is a Rank 4 Necromancer. It appears they have only recently reached this Rank, and their abilities are likely still developing."

  Nearly every member of the group was surprised by Sophia's quick and insightful response. How had she so rapidly grasped the crux of the issue from such limited preliminary information?

  Melly asked in astonishment, "Sister Sophia, you know about undead armies like this?"

  Sophia nodded slightly. "I know some information. Depending on how they appear, their size, and the ratio of different undead types within the army, we can analyze the basic capabilities of the Necromancer."

  They stared at Sophia, wide-eyed. During the Lake Loknezt mission, with just a few traces at the scene, she had identified the origin of the creature responsible with almost ninety percent accuracy. In fact, in numerous past missions, Sophia had demonstrated similar analytical prowess.

  The older members were aware of this. The new members had a basic understanding, having researched the team before joining. Sophia was often described as a "living encyclopedia" of Jacobs' squad. But to possess such extensive knowledge and grasp situations so quickly was truly remarkable.

  Henry watched quietly, a multitude of emotions swirling within him. He understood why Sophia studied so diligently – it was for him. Her knowledge and intellect had been and continued to be invaluable in the missions they undertook together. His respect and admiration for her efforts deepened even further.

  Jacobs seemed to sense the admiration emanating from the team members.

  "Sophia, please elaborate on the information regarding undead armies. Your analysis for this mission will undoubtedly be very helpful."

  "Yes, Captain." Sophia nodded before beginning her analysis.

  "By examining the location of their emergence, the scale of the army, and the types of undead present, we can deduce the Rank of the summoner. A Necromancer typically seeks locations with a high concentration of corpses – such as graveyards, mass graves, or uncleaned battlefields – to summon the largest possible number of undead. This supports the enhancement of the army's quality, thereby creating higher-level undead."

  Sophia continued, providing historical examples of powerful Necromancers summoning tens of thousands of mid-to-high-level undead, while others summoned fewer than a hundred, with relatively low Ranks. This was the basis for categorizing the summoner's level. A high-ranking Necromancer would never go to a small graveyard to summon only a few hundred undead.

  When they acted, they typically summoned formidable armies. With the number of undead reported in this mission – approximately 140 – it was highly likely to be a lower-ranking individual.

  Furthermore, among the three common types of undead, skeletons are the easiest to summon but also the weakest. Wraiths are the most difficult and also the strongest. Within the same Rank, a wraith is significantly more powerful than a skeleton. There have been records of a Rank 3 Wraith Lord annihilating a Rank 1 army of over a hundred individuals, while also holding its own against two Rank 3 and five Rank 2 adventurers.

  In contrast, a single Rank 3 adventurer is usually sufficient to defeat a Skeleton Lord. Therefore, if the Necromancer were skilled, they would prioritize increasing the number of wraiths in their army, rather than having such a small number as reported.

  From this, we can eliminate two unfavorable possibilities: that the enemy is Rank 5 or higher, or a highly experienced Rank 4. This helps to assess the mission as less complex.

  When Sophia finished her explanation, Daniel raised his hand, posing a question.

  "But isn't it possible that they deliberately misled the scouting party to make us underestimate them, using a weaker force to defeat us and then obtain our corpses to upgrade their undead army?"

  Sophia nodded, calmly explaining, "That is why I needed to ask the Captain for confirmation of the information, to verify my deductions."

  Sophia continued with what she knew, stating that while the possibility of misdirection existed in the records, it was very low.

  This was because undead armies did not possess high mobility, making them difficult to conceal. Once summoned in such large numbers, the summoner would almost certainly be detected.

  After summoning, a Necromancer would be temporarily depleted of aether and vulnerable in terms of self-defense. They would not risk using all their magic only to wait to be ambushed. Furthermore, the longer undead existed and the greater their numbers, the stronger the resonating death energy became, making them even more powerful.

  Therefore, Necromancers typically tried to summon the maximum number of the strongest undead possible each time they used their magic.

  Jacobs smiled in satisfaction and said, "Very good. Sophia's analysis puts our minds at ease. But do not let this lead to complacency. This mission will be the first important test for our new team composition."

  The atmosphere in the meeting room temporarily subsided, replaced by a quiet contemplation following Sophia's sharp and logical analysis. Her expression remained calm, her golden eyes radiating a steadfast confidence.

  Admiration began to turn towards her, especially from the younger Rank 1 members. Even the seasoned Rank 2 soldiers couldn't help but show respect for her vast knowledge.

  It seemed that Sophia had thoroughly studied and mastered countless texts on monsters and threats, allowing her to deduce and draw accurate conclusions in a remarkably short amount of time.