บท 26: Task
-Training Camp-
*CLANG CLANG* Loud banging noises woke the students up.
Like a crazy old lady shouting, "Wake up! It's time! Get your ass right here!" Wai sure likes to annoy the students.
Panicking, the students prepared as fast as they could and gathered in front of Wai. Shin and the others are already out driving the stronger magical beasts away while trapping the weaker ones for the student to hunt. It's a good thing that Shin is here as it helps the training pretty well.
Ai looking at his team members dead asleep, 'Jeez... I guess using unsealing art on them had a side-effect like this. Stressing their Qi core gave them a power boost but it also means that they could only fight in a short period of time. Still... it's too short and if we fail to kill the target, it would be a disaster.' Then, he realized, he has to wake them up soon.
Shaking every member, "Get up, get up..." He did everything he could but they couldn't wake up so...
He went outside looking for something... and then *SPLASH*
Furiously getting up, "GYAAAAH! What the hell?!" All of them stood up after getting wet. Ai really have thought of a great plan to wake them up.
"It looks like you guys are all awake now. Let's go, Teacher is waiting for us. Don't bother changing your clothes, I don't think we have time to spare." Angry as they may be, they realized what happened last night.
Runi, 'Shit... How did we get here? I could remember fighting with Swon'du... But still... shit! The teacher is going here!' seeing that Wai is getting angry for waiting, they rushed grabbing their things and stood up.
Wai glaring at Ai, without saying anything, Ai and the others knew they have to assemble with the others.
...
"Alright guys, it seems everyone's ready. I have only one task for you guys and it's to hunt a 2-star Magical Beast. Be careful as this place is infested with 1-Star Magical Beast and there are enough 2-Star Magical Beasts for you to hunt. Don't underestimate those 1-Star Magical Beasts, even a Peak Disciple Rank have a hard time fight one alone. This test has a time limit of 3 days and the supplies you need can be found throughout the forest. Get the hell out of here because I won't answer any questions." Wai as usual eager to end the speech because she has to do something important.
'Jeez... couldn't even give us more details... Still, this won't be an easy task if we have to kill a beast within 3 days. It's too long so it only means that a 2-Star Magical Beast is not something we can kill in a single fight.' That's enough thinking, we have to move.
Ai started walking ahead with the others heading north of the forest. The forest isn't big so going too far means they could meet stronger monsters. So they have to move slowly.
After walking for several hours...
Coming closer, "Leader, we have 3 days, can somehow make a camp nearby? We need to have a proper meal and better preparation." Wu'of is right.
'Their Qi should be unstable up until now and it would be suicide to fight a 2-Star Beast with how we are now.' Ai made up his mind. "I'd say that's a good idea. Let's stop for now and set up camps."
Everyone stopped within a small open area to set up a camp. A simple campfire to cook food, tents with bedrolls inside, and containers with dried foods inside including meat and fruits. They prepared for a heartful meal as they haven't eaten anything since yesterday. Thankfully, they have Lai'li who can cook making their life easier.
While they're having their meals, "So... My memory is hazy but I'm sure we were able to defeat... Swon'du, a teacher of Black Sting Academy. I don't know what you did to us but you saved our lives. So... Is there a way you can teach me more about Petal Arts?" Runi who hated Ai's guts before swallowed his pride to get stronger.
"Yeah, I can't hide this any longer but I saw you... kill other students from Sting Clan and I am not in the position to judge what happened. It could be self-defense or whatever but I want to get stronger too so..." Even Wu'of wants to know how Ai did that.
No idea what is happening, "Please don't pester our... leader... I'm sure he's busy..." Di'er who's shy and scared of what they just said about Ai.
Anren, stepped in, "Stop being a pussy, Di'er. We were useless last night and I'm not going to be the same guy. Leader, I want to learn from you as well! I have one goal in life and I will do everything to reach that goal, to bully the weak!" Uhh...
*Sighs* Letting out a long sigh, 'They're going to pester me for a long time if I don't agree. It's not like there's another way. Teaching the people I hated the most with the Arts from my clan... Well...
"I don't think it's possible to teach you guys what I know but if you guys can kill a 2-star Magical Beast without my help, then I guess I can change my mind..." Giving them an impossible task, this is the only way he can escape from this awkward moment.
Their eyes widened and thought that the task is impossible without their leader. Even if they're only 1 level rank away from their leader, they know what he can do. They know that without his Art last night, they could have died. Even so...
Smiling like an idiot, "Then it's a deal!" Wu'of approved the deal.
"It's not like there's another way to change your mind and this idiot already agreed with this task so... we'll try!" Even Runi decided to agree.
'Huh... idiots' Even Ai knows that it's impossible.
...
After a couple of hours of rest, they are about to head out. The sun is high and the forest is quiet.
'It's weird. Hours have passed but I can't sense any battle anywhere nor Intimidation Qi from a Magical Beast. It's too quiet.' Ai is trying to analyze the situation but it felt like the place is empty.
Looking at his team members while walking, "Wu'of, can you use your heightened senses and try to scout the area? If you can feel that you're in danger, get back as fast as you can." Wu'of and nodded.
Crouching in four limbs, "WHITE TAIL ART! HUNTER'S SENSE!" Wu'of Qi flowed through his body and started moving so fast around the area.
"Let's go ahead. He can sniff his way to us." Ai ordered and so they moved on ahead.
They went ahead but the farther they get, the atmosphere is getting more thicker. The forest became foggy and it's like the place is full of death.
'This is bad...' The death isn't from a long time but it's fresh. Everyone can sense that.
His team members started to panic. "Shit... What the hell is this place? Did we go too far?" Even Ruri felt it.
"Shhh... Don't talk too loud..." Ai can't let their location be easily spotted.
Looking back... Ai's ability to see started to blur... like there's no way back. 'Shit... we're screwed.'
*SWOOOOSH* Finally, Wu'of arrived but his face shows that he saw something cruel and brutal...
"Hey... why did you take so long? It almost got us worried." Arnen seems to be still clueless about what is happening.
"I... I saw our classmates... dead bodies..." Wu'of saw a slaughter, something he wouldn't expect.
Holding Wu'of's arms, "Where are they? Maybe we can still save them... show us the way." Runi is still trying to be rational.
"No, we stay still." Ai interfered.
Runi's expression changed, thinking their leader might be from another Clan but they are still their classmates, "What do you mean no? We should help them! That's what friends do!"
"Even so, if the others couldn't handle their attackers, what do you think we could do? We're the weakest team, remember? And if they're really dead, what do you think we can do?" Runi, from anger, became worried. He knows that Ai has a point.
'Kin, where the hell are you?'
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