บท 14: Raise the Curtains! Assessment Begins!
บรรณาธิการ: Atlas Studios
Thump!
The decelerating Fire Dragon finally stopped.
"Why did we stop?"
"Are we here? Is this the place?"
"Phew… the exam is finally starting."
The apprentice magisters in the carriage began to talk among themselves.
"Brother…"
His sister gripped Austin's hand nervously.
"Don't worry, it's fine."
Austin smiled reassuringly at Catherine, though his heart rate accelerated as well.
Catherine had only sparred with her classmates at the school's training ground.
She had no hunting experience at all.
As for Austin's words, there was no need to say more.
At most, he had helped his mother kill chickens and ducks.
As for vicious beasts, he had never even seen them alive, much less killed them.
However, as the elder brother, Austin must put on a brave face.
He had already practiced killing every beast recorded in the manual dozens of times in his mind.
Austin did not have any magical talent, but there was something about him that made him special.
Austin took a deep breath to calm himself down.
"Phew… The hunt begins!"
"Click—"
The door of the 'Fire Dragon' transport vehicle opened accompanied by a hot white magical wave.
The assistant examiners in the carriages shouted, "Go on, fellow rookies!"
"Return to the station alive at this time tomorrow!"
"The time has come to hunt!"
"Our city's children are no cowards!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Every assistant examiner yelled different things.
But without exception, they inspired everyone in their own way.
Over a thousand apprentice magisters rushed out of the carriages.
Austin left the station with his sister as well.
A few examiners led by Elder Chuan walked out of the 'Fire Dragon' vehicle.
Cass led the way. "Everyone, we shall wait in the control center of Vicious Beast Town."
Hika, the Martian hunter, and Ankti nodded.
…
After leaving the transport station, the town came into view.
Although it was named a town, in reality, Vicious Beast Town covered an area larger than ordinary towns.
There were thousands of ferocious beasts living here!
The only difference was that these beasts lived under the supervision and control of humans.
The apprentice magisters scattered into groups.
Teaming up could effectively increase their chances of survival, or at least that was what they thought.
"Brother, should we team up with others?"
Catherine asked hesitantly.
"No need. No matter how many losers there are in the group, they will still be losers."
"Becoming stronger yourself is the only option!"
Austin's gaze sharpened.
"Catherine, I'm going to start training you next."
Catherine was still a little worried, but she chose to trust her brother.
After rejecting a few waves of apprentice magisters who wanted to form teams with them, they headed towards the streets that had fewer people.
This place was like the world in those doomsday movies—desolate, rundown, and overgrown with weeds.
Abandoned shops lined up along the streets.
From time to time, rotten hounds with festering flesh wandered along the road.
Vicious beasts!
Those were living vicious beasts!
The siblings stopped in their tracks.
Not long after they left the transportation station of Vicious Beast Town, they encountered the vicious beasts that they have only seen in textbooks!
"Growl…!"
Two or three corrosive hounds were biting rotten corpses on the roadside. They turned their heads when they smelled living humans.
Their eyes had a green glow, exposing their teeth while stinking saliva dripping from the gaps between the fangs.
Undoubtedly, the dogs had also noticed Austin and Catherine!
Austin and Catherine instantly tensed up.
Austin was more excited than nervous.
He wondered if it was because of his cell evolution ability.
As a stage four life form, Austin did not feel fear when he saw the corrosive hounds. Instead, he felt a sense of disdain.
It was like a lion seeing a rabbit.
Even if it was a young lion with no hunting experience, the moment it saw the rabbit, it already treated them as its prey and soon-to-be snack.
"Brother… Brother, I think they discovered us."
Catherine said nervously.
When she was on the transport vehicle, she vowed to protect Austin. Yet, deep down, she still relied on her brother subconsciously.
Austin regained his composure and said, "Corrosive hounds are the weakest of the low-level beasts."
"Didn't you say you're protecting me? Draw your dagger and prepare to fight!"
Catherine subconsciously wanted to pull out her magick pistol.
Hearing Austin's command, she pulled out the dagger tied to her thigh instead.
She realized that she should not waste precious bullets on a rotten hound.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
The three corrosive hounds were like mad dogs as they rushed towards them.
Catherine darted in front of Austin and assumed her stance, with her dagger poised in front of her.
Seeing the three corrosive hounds, Catherine became very nervous.
It was their first actual combat!
Austin patted Catherine's shoulder with one hand and smiled. "It's alright. I'm here."
Catherine spat out a mouthful of magic breath as her eyes lit up.
Roar!
One corrosive hound jumped up using its hind legs and pounced on them like a hungry tiger.
Catherine used the footwork that she learned in school and quickly dodged to the side.
She executed the movement perfectly!
Catherine had a solid foundation in her basics.
"Oh no, brother!"
As soon as Catherine dodged, she realized that something was wrong.
Austin was standing behind her.
If she dodged, wouldn't her brother be in danger?
Catherine looked over her shoulder and saw that Austin had already grabbed onto the corrosive hound's throat.
"Stop looking around and keep your focus in battle!"
Austin chided.
He crushed the corrosive hound's neck with his hand, and Austin suddenly sped toward Catherine.
The other two corrosive hounds took advantage when Catherine became distracted and pounced on her from both sides.
Austin's hands arrived like lightning as he grabbed the dogs and slammed them into each other.
Bang!
The heads of the two corrosive dogs broke into pieces like watermelons.
Yellow and white sludge splashed out, covering the ground.
At this moment, the system notification sounded.
"Ding… host has come into contact with a low-level beast, Corrosive Hound. Cell evolution. Obtained Super-Digestive Ability. Gastrointestinal antibacterial enhancement.
"Ding! Host's first kill. Cell evolution. Awakening Hunting Instinct!"
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