Rocky read Karna''s letter and let out a deep sigh. Ever since Liam''s death, his emotions had been in turmoil, but the letter gave him a moment of rity.


    "The finals start in 14 days and willst for 7 days. To join the floor 21 attack alongside the Elites, I need to clear floors 18, 19, and the ascension test on floor 20 alongside Erin and Buhara—all within the next fourteen days.


    Plus, I need to prepare as best I can for the finals and receive the highest evaluation in it toplete the system quest I recieved at the start of the semester.


    Finally, my work with Sophia also needs to reach its conclusion. I have to use all the faith she''s built in me to my advantage," Rocky thought, as his mind cleared of useless emotions, focused on the tasks ahead within a tight timeframe.


    With the final exams being preponed and the floor raid being preponed as well, Rocky''s initial n of settling into his new fighting style and taking his time in manipting Sophia was now thrown out of the window as regretfully he did not have much time anymore toplete his goals.


    While he did learn a few new tricks and was making fast progress as a fighter in his spars with Principal Maven and Professor Mae, he was still far from perfectly settling into his new style of fighting as while he had improved his defense, and movement to some degree, his offense still solely relied on his natural strength and swordsmanship which was by no means ideal.


    He was in desperate need of a proper mentor, someone who could shape him into bing a proper fighter, however unfortunately, he was not going to meet that figure within the university, as with principal Liam dead and the semester approaching its end, his days within the university were unfortunately numbered.


    *********


    ( Within the boys dorm )


    "So let me get this straight, you want us to attempt the floor 18 raid Tuesday, floor 19 raid Thursday, and be done with the tier promotion test on Sunday?" Erin asked, as he felt a little bbergasted about attempting three floor raids within a single week, including a tier promotion test.


    "Yes… it''s the only way, because we need to prepare well for the final exams too-" Rocky said, as he reminded his friends that they were really pressed for time and had no other option but to go hard now.


    "But even if weplete this, Sophia is only at floor 15. She won''t be able toe with us to the floor raid anyways" Erin said, as he pouted and pointed out a w in Rocky''s nning.


    "Don''t worry, Sophia was born on floor21 and can return to it at will. Although she can''t climb to floor 22 without clearing all the floors leading up to floor21, she can return to that floor any time she wishes to-" Rocky said, as he reminded Erin that unlike themselves, Sophia was actually a tower born girl who could return to her home anytime she wanted to.


    "But will she even help us…?" Erin asked, as Buhara tried to intervene in the conversation at this point, however, both Rocky and Erin ced their palms towards him, signaling him to shut-up while the elders talked.


    "She should…. I''ll tell her that I have confirmed reports that my sister is being held there…. She should definitely help us" Rocky said, as although he did not share much details he tacitly nodded his head for Erin to take the cue.


    "Alright then, if you''re confident Sir Rocky then I''m with you…. I will do everything I can to help save your sister" Erin said, as Rocky felt his heart warm up hearing those words.


    "Buhara will help as well… whichever despicable force has captured your sister, Buhara will fight against them with you" Buhara said, as Rocky burst into a smile when he heard this.


    Although he only had two reliable friends as of now, both of them were true gems that he could count on with his eyes closed.


    ***********


    ( Meanwhile Sophia )


    After a hard day of declining duel challenges and facing verbal abuse from all her peers, Sophia decided to visit the only safe spot in the university, the leisure garden, where she hid herself amongst tall bushes, which had be her go-to spottely to spend some alone time.


    "I''ming in–" a familiar voice said, as she wasying down on the grass, as Rocky made his way through the bushes andid down beside her in the grass.


    "Hey~" Sophia said weakly, as her voice itself depicted the fatigue she was carrying, as she really wished that the semester could be over as fast as possible, so that she could return back home.


    "Hey Sophia, we are friends right?" Rocky asked, having already made up his mind to use their connection with one another to get what he wanted today.


    "Huh? Why that question all of a sudden?" Sophia asked, feeling surprised as to why Rocky suddenly brought up such a question as she gazed into his eyes which looked slightly watery.


    "Just tell me… are we friends or are we not" he said, as Sophia thought about the question for a second and then looking at Rocky''s emotional mood, decided to nod her head as she said "You''re my only friend here.."


    "Okay…" Rocky replied emotionally, as he bit his lips and looked up towards the sky, leaving Sophia to ponder for a moment as to what was going on.


    "Is everything alright?" She asked eventually, when the awkward silence bothered her, as Rocky let out a deep sigh and pretended to contemte about asking her something difficult.


    "If I ask you for a favor…. Will you help me?" Rocky asked, sounding serious, as Sophia immediately got the vibes that whatever Rocky was going to ask was probably going to be something difficult for her to answer.


    However, with her connection to family strained and her life in a mess, the only friend she genuinely had was Rocky and hence although she did not wish to do him a favor, under the duress she was in, she did not wish to lose him either as she said "Sure…"


    Giving Rocky the chance to ask what he wished to know the most.


    "I got a letter from the True Elites Guild, they are nning a raid on your brother…. It seems like they have received a confirmed report that my sister is being held in the prison of floor21.


    I know that you are not your brother and if my previous interactions with you have been a sign for anything, I feel like you''re nothing like your brother and detest him as much as I do, which is why I''m candidly confiding in you today.


    I''m going to join that raid Sophia…. I''m going to try save my sister.


    So please tell me everything that you know about the underground prison system… my friend…. Please do me this favor" Rocky said, in the most demanding and emotional voice, as Sophia was taken aback by his candid admission of ns.


    —-----


    /// A/N - This bonus chapter is sponsored by Patron TheBossIsBack via PayPal. Please thank him in thements for the same. ///