"Big bro!" Silvia shouted with tears in her eyes as she burst into the healing ward of the academy.
"Silvia!" Sabro greeted her with a huge smile, he looked much better than he did before. "Are you ok?"
"Is she ok?" Kerori, who had been standing by his bedside, asked slowly, as the temperature of the room dropped. "You were the one at death's door!"
"Blushenko-sensei healed me!" Sabro protested, showing off his body without a single scar. "I am as good as new!"
"As good as new..." Kerori trembled with barely controlled rage, before punching the daylight out of Sabro. "You almost died! I could have lost you... I..."
"Kerori," Sabro murmured sadly, as he watched his intended cry. "Come here," he hugged her to his chest.
"We better leave them alone," Blushenko-sensei said as he watched his students with sadness. He exited the room with the Abnormal Pack following behind, Silvia and Chima decided to stay behind for their older siblings. "Is anyone else injured?"
"From Atori-sensei? No, but Marbas-sensei got me good," Jazz winced, making Blushenko-sensei flinch.
"From the bottom of my heart and in regard of Babyls Demon School Staff, Caim-san and Andro-san, we are deeply sorry," Blushenko-sensei bowed to the two stunned students, before proceeding to heal the whole pack. "This was supposed to be a test, a test for students. The way that Momonoki-sensei and Marbas-sensei treated you was unforgivable. They are now being punished by Kalego-sensei and Headmaster Sullivan-sama put them in probation."
"T-that's good," stuttered Jazz.
"Good to know granpa and mom have things under control," Iruma smiled viciously pleased, eyes shinning red for a second. Blushenko-sensei took a step back before he knew it, recalling how easily the Headmaster's grandson took down Marbas-sensei. "What about Shiida-sensei?"
That was the elephant (or whatever equivalent there was in the Netherworld) in the room. Atori-sensei proved himself to be an enemy when he attacked Sabro with everything he had and almost killed him, he was stopped by Balam-sensei but escaped the teacher and attacked Iruma. The Demi Demon proved to be his objective from the beginning. However, Shiida-sensei got on his way and saved Iruma, before the other teacher came and took him down. Of course, things would not be so easy with them. Amduscias Poro appeared out of nowhere to save the demon and escaped with him from Sullivan and Opera. After that Shiida-sensei was taken into the school's custody and jailed for the time being.
"She has been quite honest and has been telling us what she knows... but..." Blushenko-sensei answered the Abnormal Pack's Alpha.
"But a lot of what she knows has suddenly dissappeared? The same way no one ever knows the real faces of the Six Fingers?" Iruma cut him off with a sigh. "This is starting to get annoying."
"I better get going, the awarding ceremony will be happening soon," Blushenko-sensei practically ran away from his scary student.
"What is happening?" Soi asked his alpha.
"I don't know yet... but I believe that the spy, the enemy we have in the 13 Crowns and the Six Fingers might be connected," Iruma thought out loud, making his pack grimace. This was getting worse by the minute. "For now we better get going, we need to be there for our kohais."
"Yes, alpha!"
"Let's begin with the awarding ceremony," announced a grim looking Kalego-sensei. On stage, the teachers stood in line, while the students that had participated on the Heartbreaker Promotional Test were waiting bellow. The whole thing was being broadcated by the Broadcasting Battora. "We will start with the first years."
"Uzu, Pheene Marianne, Sabnock Silvia, and Zepar Zeze, you all achieved to overload the device during the S.O.S mission," Balam-sensei spoke cheerfuly. "You trusted your sempais and focused on the task in front of you, even with a violent battle happening only a few meters away from you," Momonoki-sensei flinched at the jab from Balam-sensei. "You are all being promoted to Gimmel rank!"
"Amazing! Big bro, did you hear?! I am a Gimel rank!" Silvia jumped on her brother who spun her around with a huge proud smile.
"Caim-sempai! Thank you!" Marianne rushed towards Caim with a beaming smile, her respect for her sempai has grown bounds during the Heartbreaker Promotional Test- even with the rocky start they had.
"Thank you very much, sempai," Uzu bowed politely to Caim- she is Marriane's Security Demon and the other student on Caim's team.
"Not bad Zepar," Alice congratulated his fellow omega with a respectful smile.
"Thank you sempai, I'll strive to do get better from now on," Zeze answered with a respectful bow.
"Marbas F. Yabashi," Balam-sensei continued, making everyone pay attention back to the stage. "You kept your cool under literal fire and worked side by side with your teammates, that behavior is admirable. The use of your bloodline magic was key to the escape of your team against Suzy-sensei, for that your rank will rise from Bet rank to to Gimmel rank!"
"Well done Yabashi-chi!" Clara jumped on her kohai, who blushed under the close attention of his sempai.
"No one else with the Bet rank will be advancing to the next rank," Kalego-sensei's announcement had various students pout and complain, but after such an hectic test they could not really take it to heart. They had so much fin and learned so much from their sempais... they had new ambitions now. They'll get stronger and better soon! Kalego-sensei smirked at the fire in the students eyes, his son has been infecting a lot of people with his positivity. "Now for those with an Aleph rank, Aim Olo and Incu Pamela!"
"Yes, sir!" The two lazy students straightened under the attention and glare of the scary teacher.
"You both began this test believing that relaxing and doing nothing was the same, you told Picero that he had it easy and thought that you would not have to do anything for the whole test," the two students shrunk under the weight and shame of their teacher's words- because he was right, they had said those things. "However, Picero's words changed your view of point! You two understood by the end that to be able to relax you need to train, get stronger, and work hard, to build a safe house, in which you can protect others and relax. You came to the aid of your sempai and worked in seamless teamwork to blind Balam-sensei and his familiar. Which in return gave Team Leid time to get to you and aid your team in your retreat. For that you both will raise to rank Bet!"
"Good job kiddos," Picero floated towards them on his cloud. "Your hard work paid off."
"Se-sempai!" The two of them burst on crying, startling their sempai.
"W-what is happening?!" Picero stuttered in confusion.
"We will work hard from now on! We promise!" Olo wailed.
"We will become arquitects and create homes and safe houses for demons!" Pamela continued.
"So! Let us continue learning from you!" They both finished with determination.
"Kiddos..." Picero murmured, stunned by how much they grew in just on test. "Ok, I will. But you better not slack off from now on! At least, until you've earned it."
"Sempai!" Picero's kohais jumped on him, to give him a strong hug.
"Who would have thought that Picero would one day be motivating others to work hard?" Alice whispered to his mate, who chuckled in return.
"Parpar Shin and Parpar Juju!" Kalego-sensei's voice made everyone turn from the crying and hugging trio, back to the stage. "While your team and the other three teams that participated on the S.O.S mission, were running away from Blushenko-sensei you did not just allowed your sempais to protect you. No, you both used your bloodline magic, Lost Mermaid, creating a sea of bubbles which distracted your teacher and gave your sempais a respite, which they used to get you all to safety. For that, you both will have your rank Aleph raised to a Bet rank!"
"Well done, girls!" IX celebrated with her kohais.
"Sempai! Thank you so much for believing on us!" Shin exclaimed, eyes sparkling with admiration.
"You were so cool fending off Momonoki-sensei!" Juju continued for her twin.
"Does this make it so that we have twenty first years ranking Bet and six students of Gimmel rank?" Iruma inquired stunned. "The year has only started, has a first year group ever starting with so many Bet and Gimmel ranking students from the get-go?"
"Not that I've heard of," Alice answered, stunned by the realization.
"Great! Something new for the school paper to write about!" Iruma moaned in agony just by thinking of it.
"Crocell Chima!" Balam-sensei spoke up, making everyone turn to him stunned. Another promotion? Chima was already Gimmel rank! Will she be Daleth so soon?! "You took the initiative faster than any other student, since the get-go you worked side by side with your team leader. Not once did you behave like you needed someone to defend you, but instead battled for your own safety. The way demons do! Your ice techniques were powerful, fast, and of high level. You aided your team leader by creating an ice platform from which he could shoot his arrow against Robin-sensei, used your ice against both Shiida-sensei and Marbas-sensei without a second thought. Your courage to face of teachers and your initiative, is why we are awarding you with a Daleth rank!"
After a moment of silence, the students burst into excited chatter.
"Wow..."
"So cool!"
"That's so great!"
"Well done, little sis," Kerori congratulated her little sister proudly.
"Thank you, sister," Chima replied, still stunned by what had just happened.
"That's my teammate!" Iruma praised his kohai, which had her blushing.
"So charming..." Alice sighed shaking his head.
Another girl fell for him, Alice thought bemused. How many more will fall? What am I saying?! Iruma is amazing! Of course, many girls will fall for him! They shoudl! But still I am the one he will always return to.
"Crocell Chima!" Kalego-sensei's voice made everyone jump and turn to him with wide open eyes. What does she want with her now? They've already rose her rank! "This decision was not taken lightly, if you show us that we chose wrong, that you do not deserve your rank... you should know that we can take it from you at any moment. So... prove us right."
Chima stared into those deep eyes, eyes that had most demons shivering. But most demons have not seen him being teased by his husband, or fretting over his son, or shouting at the Abnormal Pack while they laugh and run away from him. She now could see the pride and challenge in those eyes.
"I will sensei!" Chima answered to the challenge with determination.
"Good," Kalego-sensei purred pleased.
"Now! For the Abnormal Pack!" Balam-sensei announced, making everyone straighten up with excitement. "You all did incredible! Way beyond what we expected! Not a single balloon was popped! So congratulations to everyone!" Everyone cheered at his words. They've done it! "You've all shown us that you deserve the ranks that were given to you and more! Those with Daleth rank will rise to He rank!"
A pause... then...
"We did it!"
"That's how its done!"
"Whoo!"
"He rank baby!"
"Crocell Kerori and Purson Soi, you both are already on He rank. However, you will not get promoted," Kalego-sensei was quick to cut the celebration of their victory.
"What? Why?!" It was IX the one who exclaimed in shock. "Kerori-chan fought against two teachers and Soi-kun was able to hide two teams from even Balam-sensei's senses!"
"Because you dumb students are allready halfway through," Kalego-sensei sneered, pointing at their He insignias. "Do you think that raising your rank from now on will be easy? It will get much harder! Yes, Kerori battled two teachers, but she had help from various packmates. Not to mention, that she has not been able to use her blood skill in any ingenious way. Not like IX and Leid discovered and experimented. As for Soi, yes his technique was flawless and was of at least Vav rank... but if you take his bloodline magic and espianage abilities, what will be left? He needs to learn how to defend himself and attack, hiding won't aid him to get to Vav rank."
Everyone, teachers, first years students, Abnormal Pack, and those watching the broadcast stared at Kalego-sensei in shock. He was cruel and vicious with what he had said... but he was also right.
"Good thing he will be training under dad with IX starting from tomorrow," Iruma spoke up, unfazed by his mom's behavior. "He will be he best ninja ever!"
"Alpha..." Soi murmured blushing with pleasure at his alpha's praise.
"We will get stronger, so you better get ready!" Kerori exclaimed with passion.
"Wait for it!"
"We will come for you!"
"We will become Vav rank before you know it!"
"Arrogant demons," Kalego-sensei said, but the proud smile on his lips betrayed his real emotions. "Asmodeus Alice!" He turned to his son-in-law. "You showed us the extent of your potential, you invented your own technique, a powerful technique. Amaryllis is something you should be very proud of and battling with a Zayin rank demon for over twenty minutes... for that you've proved that you are worthy of a Vav rank!"
"Vav... like Iruma..." Alice stared in shock.
"Congratulations love!" Iruma kissed his mate, who hugged him back in happiness, as their packmates celebrated around them.
"You were dead right," Alice whispered in Iruma's ear. "Everything you've predicted happened. Will you rank up too?"
"No, I might be powerful but I lost control," Iruma whispered back. "To get to a Zayin rank one needs total control of their abilities, I lost it once I found Jazz all tight up."
"You did the right thing," Alice assured him.
"Of course, I did," Iruma replied. "He is pack."