Gardener of Eden

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Undisputed First Place

The massive brass chime echoed through the cavernous rafters of the Great Hall, cutting off all chatter in an instant. Hundreds of cadets scurried to their designated squad sections, leaving the central aisle clear as the heavy oak doors at the back of the hall slammed shut.

High above the floor, standing upon the raised obsidian dais, Head Dean Sterling stepped forward. His long, silver-threaded cloak billowed slightly under the ambient mana radiating from the hall’s enchantment arrays, flanked on either side by the Academy’s Senior Instructors—including Monitor 07, whose stoic gaze swept across the crowd.

”Cadets of the Academy,” Dean Sterling’s voice thundered, amplified by a projection rune that echoed clearly in everyone’s ears. ”Today, we conclude the Mid-Term Tower Expedition. Over the past week, you were tested against real-world mana threats, subterranean terrain, and tactical stress.”

With a sharp wave of his hand, a massive, translucent golden projection flickered into existence above the dais, displaying the official Academy leaderboard.

”Scores have been tabulated based on rift clearance efficiency, tactical coordination, elite enemy kills, and extraordinary contributions,” Sterling continued, his piercing gaze sweeping over the audience. ”Before we declare the top honor, we begin with the runner-up squad.”

Malakor puffed his chest out, a confident smirk spreading across his face as he nudged his teammates.

”In Second Place,” Dean Sterling announced, ”with forty elite monster clears and three Floor 2 boss chambers conquered—Squad 01, led by Cadet Malakor.”

The scoreboard flashed, placing Squad 01’s crest in the silver slot. A wave of stunned whispers immediately broke out across the hall. Malakor’s smirk froze mid-smile, his face draining of color as he stared up at the screen in disbelief.

”Second...?” Malakor muttered under his breath, his eyes darting toward the empty gold slot atop the board. ”How is that possible?!”

Dean Sterling raised a hand, commanding absolute silence.

”Taking First Place in the Mid-Term Expedition,” Sterling proclaimed, his voice ringing with absolute authority, ”is a team that did not merely fulfill the parameters of their assignment—they smashed baseline records.”

The gold slot on the projected scoreboard ignited in brilliant sunlight-yellow runes:

EXPEDITION CHAMPIONS — SQUAD 07

Squad Leader: Rowan Vance (Farmer / Domain Cultivator)

Members: Seraphina Vane (Alchemist), Caelen Thorne (Swordsman), Mirei Thorne (Archer), Barney Ironforge (Vanguard/Blacksmith)

Key Achievements:

- Discovery & Flawless Clearance of an Unmapped Floor 2 Hidden Zone

- Record-Breaking Floor 2 to Floor 3 Transit Time

- Identification and Containment of Synthetic Leyline Toxicity

- Zero Casualty & Zero Equipment Loss Ratio

The Great Hall exploded into a roar of astonishment. Senior cadets turned in their seats to stare at the back row, where Squad 07 stood calmly shoulder-to-shoulder.

”An unmapped Hidden Zone?!” a third-year vanguard gasped. ”They cleared a hidden zone on Floor 2 and pushed to Floor 3?!”

”And look at their squad composition! A farmer led them to first place over Squad 01?”

Dean Sterling looked directly at Squad 07. ”Squad Leader Rowan Vance and the members of Squad 07, step forward.”

Rowan adjusted his Enchanted Straw Hat, resting the Hoe of the World-Tiller comfortably against his shoulder as he led his team down the main aisle. Beside him, Barney carried the pulsing Aegis of the Sunken Bastion, Caelen walked with the spatial blade Edge of the First Warden at his hip, Mirei carried her sleek Breeze-Striker Longbow, and Seraphina wore the glowing Crucible of Eternal Transmutation proudly at her belt.

They stepped onto the dais, facing Head Dean Sterling as he presented five velvet-lined boxes. Inside each rested a gleaming medallion forged from white gold and etched with a silver sword crossing a blooming shield.

”For extraordinary tactical merit, initiative under pressure, and invaluable service to the Academy’s research sector,” Sterling declared, pinning the first medal onto Rowan’s uniform, ”Squad 07 is hereby awarded the Silver Cross of Merit, along with priority access to Floor 3 deployment rights and five thousand Academy Honor Points per member.”

Barney grinned ear to ear, barely holding back a victorious roar. Mirei and Caelen exchanged a subtle, proud nod, while Seraphina held her head high, casting a fleeting, cool glance back at the humiliated Squad 01.

Rowan met Dean Sterling’s gaze, receiving the medal with a calm, composed smile.

”Congratulations, Squad 07,” Sterling said quietly, offering a rare nod of genuine respect to Rowan. ”The Academy expects great things from you in the upcoming Exhibition Tournament.”

***

Following the grand assembly, the buzz around Squad 07’s victory echoed throughout every corridor of the complex. While most cadets gathered in the training grounds to discuss the expedition rankings, Rowan made his way toward the subterranean levels beneath the Central Spire, where the Sol-Aethel Academy Treasury was located.

The entrance was guarded by twin adamantine doors inscribed with heavy anti-intruder runes and two heavily armored Sentinel Golems. Rowan approached the access reader and tapped his student pass—freshly updated with the 5,070 Honor Points awarded from the expedition, adding to his existing balance of 70 Honor Points for a grand total of 5,100 Honor Points. The runes flashed bright green, permitting him entry.

Inside, the treasury stretched into a vast, cavernous hall filled with glowing stasis display cases. Rowan bypassed the weapon and armor racks entirely, making his way straight to the botanical wing housing rare seeds and terra catalysts.

Approaching the automated treasury terminal, Rowan inserted his student pass. The screen lit up, recognizing his credentials and displaying his balance of 5,070 Honor Points.

The terminal chimed softly as the magic arrays unsealed the dispenser tray, projecting the official receipt onto the screen:

1. Solar-Starlight Wheat Seeds

Rank / Type: Rank-B Spirit Crop

Cost: 1,500 Honor Points

Description: Absorbs day-night mana cycles; yields ultra-pure vitality grain.

2. Liquid Earth-Core Essence

Rank / Type: Grade-A Soil Catalyst

Cost: 2,000 Honor Points

Description: Permanently elevates topsoil mana density by 200%; ideal for domain expansion.

3. Dormant Celestial Lotus Pod

Rank / Type: Unranked / Ancient Seed

Cost: 1,500 Honor Points

Description: Requires extreme purity cultivation; unknown properties.

Rowan’s eyes lingered on the Dormant Celestial Lotus Pod. The moment his hand passed near the stasis display, a faint pulse radiated from The Virgin Soil domain within his core, signaling an intense resonance with the ancient seed. Combined with the Solar-Starlight Wheat to bolster Eden International’s commercial yields and the Liquid Earth-Core Essence to further enrich his land at Sunny Vale, the selection was ideal.

”I’ll take all three,” Rowan said, tapping his student pass against the terminal to authorize the 5,000 Honor Point transfer.

The terminal chimed softly, deducting the funds and displaying his remaining balance of 70 Honor Points.

Ignatius blinked in surprise before bursting into a short laugh. ”Spending five thousand honor points purely on seeds and soil enrichment... You really live up to your title, Vance.”

The old keeper processed the transaction, unsealing the stasis barriers and handing over three fortified, rune-sealed containment cases.

Rowan accepted the containers, feeling the rich, unrefined vitality humming through them. With these Grade-B seeds and the Earth-Core Essence, Sunny Vale’s production capacity was about to skyrocket—and his personal sanctuary within The Virgin Soil would soon unlock its next evolution phase.