Chapter 99 - Joint Dungeon
TOK TOK! TOK!
As the whispers continued to flutter around the classroom, Professor Eleanor walked into the room. Her presence commanded attention as she purposefully made noise with her high heels, and gradually, the chatter died down.
"Good morning," she greeted in a firm, no-nonsense tone. "Today marks the beginning of a critical week for all of you. We'll be having a joint dungeon exploration."
CHATTER MURMUR!
Hearing this, murmurs and chatters filled the classroom for a second as the cadets' focus immediately turned to their friends. Joint explorations were a rare event, an opportunity for students from various classes to work together, showcasing their skills and knowledge while also bootlicking some high-ranking students.
'Joint Dungeon Exploration, huh?'
This was one of the big events in the game for Ethan since he would be subjected to ridicule and contempt from the high-ranking students from other classes.
Even though the Hartley Family was a high-ranking family with a good image, they also had a lot of enemies, and quite a fair amount of those enemies had their heirs in this academy.
And one of those heirs from a rival family would be in the same group as Ethan, and he would be the leader.
This was the first event when Ethan would directly confront a human with animosity towards him, though it wasn't that fatal.
However, it was not only about Ethan but also another character.
'Sylvie was on the same team with Mason.'
He was the one who would target Sylvie in this academy, as he also joined the History and Arts club. He will try to sabotage Sylvie, though he won't be successful.
'But, every one of his attempts were actually close passes.' Considering this fact, even a small butterfly effect could have changed the things, and it was better to be careful from the start.
"We've arranged groups with a mix of students from different classes, providing a collaborative learning experience. Remember, diversity fosters creativity and understanding," Professor Eleanor emphasized.
She projected the group assignments onto the screen at the front of the room, and I scanned the list briefly. Our dungeon group wouldn't change, but we would see the group we paired with from another class.
--------------------
Class HA213: Team Irina Emberheart
Class HA219: Team Byron Ward
---------------------
It was a class that I didn't have much idea about, and the names of the cadets didn't seem very familiar either, aside from Byron Ward.
He was also an extra in the game who didn't have any screen time and only appeared as the background character for a little while.
As I was checking the list, suddenly, I felt a sharp gaze on me.
'Hmm?'
This gaze contained a lot more pressure, and it was evident that it came from a person with strong emotions.
Turning my attention, I came across a pair of blazing blue eyes and crimson red hair.
'Irina.'
Her eyes contained strong emotions, and it was clear she was angry. At first, I didn't understand why she was angry since, for me, one month had passed while others had just a day.
And then, I realized why she was looking at me like that.
'It must be because of the last mock dungeon class.'
Considering the words I spoke, it was understandable that the prideful Irina would act like this.
'Not that I care.'
Turning my head to the front once again, I focused on the class that was about to start ignoring her gaze.
"Make sure to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses," she continued, her eyes scanning the room. "You will be a new team, and cooperation will be vital as usual."
The joint exploration was designed to mimic the dynamics of real-world scenarios.
Different classes brought unique abilities to the table, and this collaboration allowed us to learn how to complement each other effectively.
This was also a good way to test the cooperativeness of the leader of each group, though I doubt that Irina was a good cooperative guy.
"Your expedition will begin in the afternoon," Professor Eleanor concluded. "Prepare yourselves accordingly, and good luck. Remember, this is a learning experience as much as it is an exploration."
With that, the class resumed, and Eleanor started explaining the theory of combat as usual….
*******
"Alright, everyone," Professor Eleanor continued, "please head to the dungeon's entrance now, where your fellow teammates from Class HA219 will be waiting."
As Eleanor finished the lesson, students immediately started packing their things up. Since Arcadia Hunter Academy liked surprising the students and making them feel unprepared, after the lesson ended, we were immediately taken to the dungeon entrance.
I also did the same. To be honest, I was quite eager to test my new skill in actual combat. I had tested it on the dummies this morning, but I was still slightly unfamiliar with the skill.
However, as I walked to the dungeon on the way, I still felt gazes on me, especially from those in my class. However, it was now less, thanks to the upcoming dungeon exploration.
When I reached there, I saw everyone was already there.
Byron Ward, a young man with neatly combed hair and a perpetually ingratiating smile, was doing his best to captivate Irina's attention.
He was a known bootlicker in the player's community, always striving to stay in the good graces of high-ranking individuals.
This was how his character worked in the game, as he was just a random bootlicker to make some other characters shine more.
That was why I called him an extra; after all, those extras were what acted as the decorative for the real scene.
"You must be Irina Emberheart….Nice to meet you." He immediately started a conversation, scratching his head. "We have heard a lot about you."
And the first thing he did was to compliment Irina.
"I see." However, she rather seemed disinterested in him, and that was to be expected. After all, this was the Irina I knew, a girl with a hot temper.
"Truly a person befitting the name of the Emberheart Family. I heard you defeated the last boss monster on your own in your first dungeon exploration." Byron continued talking with an excited tone, clearly trying to win her favor.
However, his fawning words only seemed to annoy Irina further.
"Yes."
She acknowledged him with a brief nod but remained mostly silent, her gaze fixated on me, which, to Byron's dismay, was more than enough to unsettle him.
In fact, she had been looking at me this whole time with clear hostility, but I still couldn't understand why.
Turning my attention to Nora and George, I wanted to ask them if they knew something, but just as I was about to approach them, they turned their faces to the sides.
'Hmm?'
And that was surprising.
'I thought I made up with these guys.'
At first, I referred to the last dungeon exploration, but then the reason sank.
'Rumors.'
Of course, it was rumors. Considering my abilities and the way I acted were shrouded in mystery, even my teammates would find it easy to believe those rumors.
Seeing this, I also realized why Irina was looking at me like that. If it is Irina, it is understandable that she would believe the rumors.
Byron, seemingly catching on that flattery alone wouldn't earn him any brownie points, decided to change his approach. He introduced his team members, attempting to demonstrate their competence.
"These are my teammates," Byron said, pointing to each of them. "Meet Erika, our adept mage; Leon, a skilled archer; and Jake, a proficient tank."
Erika gave a small wave and a friendly smile, Leon nodded in acknowledgment, and Jake offered a firm handshake, showing genuine interest in fostering good teamwork. It seemed their party was balanced, even though I heard those names for the first time today.
Irina, despite her earlier annoyance, remained professional as she introduced her team. "This is Nora, our swordsman; George, our tank. And this guy is our marksman."
'I guess the talk we had at that time worked, huh?'
Even though she would probably deny that fact, Irina had already started changing on her own, and that was in a good direction. However, when she pointed at me, she didn't even mention my name at all. It was a clear act of annoyance, and Byron didn't miss that part.
"What is your name?" He immediately came to me and asked, his eyes containing a cold glint.
"Astron."
The moment my name reached their eyes, all of the four immediately seemed to recognize me.
"Aren't you the last rank guy in the academy?"
Immediately, Byron spoke with a clear tone of ridicule. His eyes were saying, how dare you take the attention of her. It seemed the way Irina looked at me made him feel angry.
"I am."
However, what he said was certainly a fact. Thus, I had no reason to deny his words.
"To think you really did exist." The guy who was introduced as the other member's archer chimed in, looking at me like I was some sort of a genuine pig.
"If I didn't, someone else would be the last rank. Are you primal enough not to understand that small fact?"
"Ha?"
"Don't bother with him, Leon; he is just a low-rank bastard. He is not worthy of your attention."
Being the bootlicker and strong against the weak type of character he is, Byron immediately jumped into conversation again.
Clearly relishing the opportunity to belittle someone, he continued his taunts. He had already seen Irina look hostile to me, and it seemed he had changed his strategy.
"A low-rank burden, huh? You should be thanking Irina; she's done a commendable job of carrying such a heavy load."
Irina remained silent, not objecting to Byron's words. Nora and George, my supposed teammates, also seemed indifferent, as if this was none of their business. The reason could be related to rumors, but even then, seeing how easy it was to change someone's perspective over others reminded me of how this world worked once again.
The atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, and I could feel the weight of their judgmental gazes.
"Aren't you upset, Astron?" Byron prodded, attempting to provoke a reaction. "If I were you, I would just drop out of the academy."
I maintained my composure, refusing to let his words get under my skin. "I'm here to complete the mission, not to engage in pointless arguments."
"Of course," Byron sneered, "easier to play the victim and shy away, isn't it?"
Before I could respond, Irina spoke, her voice laced with irritation. "Enough. This isn't the time for this nonsense. Let's focus on the task at hand."
She threw a gaze of annoyance at me but also at Byron.
"You may enter."
And just before the situation could escalate any further, suddenly, the voice of the instructor entered our ears as our team entered the dungeon.
As Irina entered, I followed her steps.
Chapter 100 - Joint Dungeon (2)
The terrain of this dungeon was a cave at the start. It had a similar type of construction to the labyrinth type we had explored last time.
However, different from the labyrinth, the terrain of this dungeon was going to change. Since this was an artificial dungeon, this practical session involved adapting different scenarios. It was not like a staged dungeon, but it also wasn't a normal one either.
However, if you asked the management why they put such a test, the answer you get would be simply, 'We can never know if such a dungeon might exist in the future. It is better to be prepared rather than not knowing anything.'
In any case, the eight of the party walked through the cave, with everyone being alert. The formation was a classic one, with warriors on the front as vanguards, the mages and supporters in the middle, and lastly, we rangers at the back.
The Leon guy threw me some gazes from time to time, clearly annoyed at my attitude at the start. His eyes contained a distinct sense of superiority and contempt.
'His muscles are not well developed, and he is showing symptoms of potion overuse. He is taking supplementary elements, mostly in order to stay in this academy and cope with the expectations. His clothes are clean and neat, but he lacks the sensitivity to keep them in such a manner, so it is safe to assume that he visits his home every week.
From his gears alone, it seems he comes from a middle-grade family, probably a child of a low-mid-rank guild member.'
Finishing my analysis in a matter of seconds, I turned my attention to the front. Since he was not a named character and his rank wasn't that high, he probably wasn't an important figure in the game. Thus, there wasn't any need to waste more time.
We arrived at a fork in the path, and a brief pause settled among us as we assessed our options.
Four paths diverged, each hinting at a potentially different challenge or surprise. This was also quite expected, and each path had its own difficulties. Of course, there was a path that was quite a lot easier than others, and with my eyes, I could see which path it was quite easily.
Thanks to the [Shadowborne], my eyes were not affected by the darkness at all.
After analyzing the options, I turned to face Irina. While she didn't voice her thoughts, her eyes bore a clear sense of expectation. It seemed she wanted to see if I had the judgment and decisiveness to lead us in the right direction.
Of course, she had the expected eyes, but she didn't say anything. And, since she didn't say anything to me as the captain, I didn't say anything either.
"Leon, what do you think?" Byron came to our side and asked his ranger. Since we were supposed to have a good perception, it was a common thing to ask rangers to act as scouts.
"I don't know."
Though, most of the rangers can't see the way I am seeing in this place. The training I had been doing inside the Chrono Groove and my own skills make me pretty exceptional, differing me from others.
"I see," Byron replied, nodding his head, and then turned his attention to Irina. "Do you have any idea, Irina? We can follow your lead if you have one."
By saying that, he was innately implying that Irina was the leader and she would be the one bearing the responsibility.
Though the said person's eyes were still on me, she was still looking at me with an expectant gaze. But I still didn't say anything, refusing it until she asked me on her own.
The staring contest between Irina and me persisted for a few more moments, the atmosphere growing slightly tense. I could sense her irritation, but I held my ground, refusing to acquiesce to her unspoken expectation.
I knew she wanted me to take the lead, but the slight arrogance in her demeanor made me not want to do it.
Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, she spoke, her tone grumpier than I had anticipated. "What do you think? Can your eyes see in the dark, or do they only work on women?"
Her words had an undercurrent of sarcasm coloring them, referring to those rumors. Since there were some rumors about me going to brothels when I had free time, it seemed she heard one of those.
It was clear she was annoyed by me and didn't appreciate being kept waiting, but this world didn't work according to people's feelings but rather worked differently.
"They won't work unless there is a woman worthy. I suggest you bring one if you want them to work ." I had no intention of backing down. Just because of a random rumor thing, we were back to square one now, and it was annoying.
Byron also seemed to sense the tension as he looked at me with a clear smirk.
"What can you even expect from a last ranker anyway? Trash is just trash."
Byron's attempt to undermine me and curry favor with Irina was as transparent as it was expected. He seized the opportunity to belittle my capabilities, using the last-ranker label as a means to assert his superiority.
"If you guys still don't know, I think it is better to choose the right path."
Irina, caught in this battle of egos, seemed to waver for a moment. She looked at me, then at Byron. I could see she was hesitating to follow his lead and wanted me to find the way, but her pride wouldn't allow that.
'This will be your last chance.'
I looked at her and waited for her decision. Is she going to put her pride, or will she choose an easy path?
It was a pivotal moment when I was going to adjust my opinion about her for the future.
"We will listen to you," she said, her tone tinged with frustration, evidently trying to end the brewing conflict. "Lead the way."
And in the end, she chose the wrong one.
Byron didn't waste a moment, puffing out his chest with pride and confidently choosing the path on the right. "Of course, Irina. Trust me; I have a good feeling about this route. Follow me, everyone."
'You wasted it. Don't beg me later.'
Just like that, we started the walk again, and I could see the victorious smirk on Byron's face as if he had achieved something.
'To think he chose the least optimal one, certainly, you can never leave the decision to an extra.'
I shook my head and started following the team without saying anything. After all, with the way I am right now, I certainly have the ability to deal with the monsters inside this place, even though it will be a little hard.
As we ventured down the right path, Byron continued his attempts to impress Irina. He'd share exaggerated stories of his exploits and victories, each tale aimed at capturing her attention and admiration.
Irina, however, seemed disinterested and unimpressed, her mind likely preoccupied with the task at hand.
Lizard-type monsters occupied this path; though slippery, they were not that hard to deal with. Since they were low-ranked mobs, the eight-person party didn't have a hard time. I didn't even move since everyone did my job for me.
Since Byron and his team were trying to impress Irina, they didn't leave much for me.
However, as we advanced down the path, the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon seemed to thicken while encountering monsters every time.
PAT! PAT! PAT!
The walls appeared to close in on us, and a heavy silence enveloped the group. The occasional dripping of water echoed ominously, amplifying the tension that hung in the air.
In fact, it was not only psychologically. The consternation of the oxygen and the mana around us were different.
'A fire-type environment.'
Thanks to my increased mana sensitivity and my magical power, I could feel the different mana around us more clearly now, and it was easy to understand.
Byron, still attempting to maintain an air of confidence, was also growing uneasy.
His exaggerated tales had lost their luster, the bravado fading with each step deeper into the dungeon.
Irina remained silent as well, as she also probably felt the concentrated mana ahead.
With my eyes, I could see the color of red dancing around the front.
'The first challenging monster is here.'
Since the type of monsters we encountered were lizards, and the environment was a fire type, it wasn't hard to refer to what monster lay ahead even without directly seeing it.
'Lesser Magma Wyrm.'
It was a monster of a low-rank 4 level and quite a strong one at that. It was probably the trigger that would make the artificial dungeons change the atmosphere.
Triggers were random things appearing in the dungeon that would make the landscapes change. It was controlled by the dungeon administrators who controlled and monitored this space, and they were special only to the artificial dungeons.
Even though they were supposed to be random, considering the amount of time we had walked and traveled, it was easy to assume that after facing the monster, the dungeon would change since this is the pattern the exams worked.
"This pressure….." Irina mumbled, looking slightly irritated. For her, a fire mage, she must have understood being in an environment filled with fire mana.
Most might think when an environment has the same attributes as the Hunter mastered, it would be good, but that is not necessarily the case.
The monsters in that place would also be evolved according to that mana, which meant they would be actually resilient.
For instance, Time Guardian wouldn't be affected by the Time-related skills that much since it itself evolved from that mana.
This rule is one of the most common ones in dungeons; it applies to monsters with strong defenses. Of course, if the monster is rather an offense type, this won't be too negative, but it is very hard to find monsters with low defenses.
Of course, right now, I can easily inform the party, but why should I?
I gave this girl quite a lot of chances, but she refused to take it. I won't do it once again. I hate it when I feel like all the effort I had put in suddenly became in vain. I really should just find that bastard who spread rumors about me and teach him/her a lesson.
The air grew hotter and thicker as we pressed forward, the fiery aura signaling our proximity to the Lesser Magma Wyrm. I continued to keep my observations to myself, allowing the tension in the party to mount. Irina's irritation was palpable, but I remained steadfast in my resolve not to engage. Since she was a fire-specialized mage, she was also resilient to the fire, making her not sweat as much.
"This is so fucking hot!"
But that wasn't the case for the other cadets. The members of Byron's team were also sweating and losing a lot of water from their bodies.
'They even started showing the signs of dehydration.'
You may think it should not be that easy for a Hunter who has superhuman strength to dehydrate this easily, but the faster or stronger you are, the more calories and water you will burn.
"Fuck this, why is this so hot?"
Same with the people using mana to fight. Thus, Hunters actually need to take care of their meals and water quite frequently, just like any other people.
"Guys, calm down."
Seeing the state of the team, Byron tried to take the lead, attempting to mask his own growing unease.
He constantly looked at Irina, looking for her reaction. Since he was the one to lead us to that place, he naturally knew he was going to be responsible for whatever was going to happen. And I could see his face getting paler when he saw Irina's irritated expression.
"What is this place?"
And finally, we were able to reach the place where the Lesser Magma Wyrm resided.
The corridor opened up into a large chamber, and the intense heat hit us like a wave.
"Get ready for the battle."
It was the time to fight.
Chapter 101 - Joint dungeon (3)
"Get ready for the battle."
With Irina's words, everyone's attention turned to the monster standing there.
The Lesser Magma Wyrm loomed before us, its fiery scales glinting ominously in the torchlight.
"Grrrr...."
Its eyes, a fierce orange hue, were fixed on us, and it let out a deep, rumbling growl.
It was a type of draconic monster that was on the lesser part of the evolutionary tree.
"It's a Lesser Magma Wyrm, alright," Nora whispered, her grip tightening on her sword. "This is going to be tough."
'Ho….It seems she did her homework.'
Even though the academy is cruel when it comes to practical exams, they are also fair. The academy knows not all Hunters excel in combat, and there are several of those that pursue utility in this place. And to test those skills, the monsters we encounter inside this place would always be taught in lessons before entering the dungeon.
But, of course, since we learn about quite a lot of monsters, only those who are either lucky or those who know everything would be rewarded in that aspect.
It seemed like Nora was on the latter side.
Byron, trying to muster his waning bravado, took a step forward. "Fear not! Together, we shall conquer this creature!"
It was as if he had just come from a medieval world-based novel.
"Pffft…."
Even Nora and Erika, the mage of the other party, couldn't contain their laughs at what Byron just said.
"What is so funny?"
"Nothing."
"Tch."
Though, seeing him grumbling, they didn't say anything. And simply pursed their lips.
"ROAR!"
However, someone was not happy at the fact that its space was intruded, and the intruders seemed to laugh at its face. Even monsters somehow had a pride, it seemed.
THUMP!
As the Magma Wyrm released a hearty roar, it lunged, its fiery maw open wide.
SWOOSH
Irina reacted quickly, attempting to unleash a stream of fire, only to see it absorbed and negated by the creature's fiery nature.
"Tch."
The fire mage gritted her teeth, frustration evident in her glare towards Byron. The monster's resistance made her main offensive abilities nearly useless in this battle, and this was what I was implying.
The creatures born in a fire-type field would be harder to get damaged by fire-related skills, and this was the proof.
SWOOSH
However, she immediately turned her attention to the front once again as she dodged the maw of the monster by blasting herself back.
"Nora, George."
Calling Nora and George, she immediately signaled them both with her head.
"Got it." "Yes."
Nora and George moved to the front, expertly coordinating their attacks to distract the creature.
'Ho…..Their teamwork improved…..' Looking at them like that, they were different from the time when I commanded them. It seems they took it seriously when I showed them their weaknesses while training.
THUD!
George's shield crashed with the monster as he absorbed the effects of the attack.
"HA!"
SLASH!
Immediately, Nora jumped over George, her sword slashing the Magma Wyrm's face with her skill activated as mana concentrated on her sword.
SPURT!
And following that, a small wound appeared on the monster's face, blood spurting from there.
ROAR!
The monster released another roar filled with pain.
THUD!
The two immediately got behind George while I distanced myself from the boss.
"Support them!"
Byron shouted as he conjured a small mana barrier to fend off the attack of the boss.
'He is quite good for an extra.'
It seemed even though he was an extra; there was a reason for him to become a captain of the team. The other members were also not bad, as Jake, the tank, immediately went to protect the mage, and Leon increased the distance just like me.
Of course, that should have been like that since they were students of one of the best Hunter academies.
"Jake, join George and take the aggro. Erika, can you use a water-attributed attack?"
"No. I am not proficient enough to damage it."
"I see. Then, make sure to support us from behind. Leon, you will cover us from behind and will look for opportunities to strike lethal points. Clear."
"Yes."
"Good, let's go."
With those words, immediately, Byron grabbed his sword and dashed to the monster just like Nora with Jake behind him.
SWOOSH!
The battle was a noisy one, filled with the struggle of inexperienced fighters coming face to face with a strong monster that countered them.
The Magma Wyrm, with its scorching breath and mighty tail, proved to be a significant challenge for the team that had just grouped up.
Even though Byron and Irina were not that bad at leading, they were still not good enough. The orders they gave sometimes clashed with each other, making it harder to fight.
Moreover, Byron and Nora, though displaying enthusiasm and courage, were far from flawless.
Their attacks often lacked synchronization, leaving openings for the Magma Wyrm to counter. Their swings and strikes were filled with vigor but lacked finesse, at times colliding with each other rather than the intended target.
And there was Irina.
BOOM!
"Tch…..This bastard!"
Irina's frustration grew with every failed fire spell, the creature's resistance destroying her attempts to deal significant damage.
She grumbled in annoyance, her confidence taking a hit as she struggled to find an effective way to contribute to the fight.
"Why is this bastard out of all monsters?"
Of course, it was a response I was expecting from her. As a hot-blooded kid who always did everything she wanted and beat everyone without tasting the defeat, this would be the first time her spells hadn't worked.
However, even though her attacks didn't deal significant damage, they were still quite effective, thanks to the team's efforts.
'Especially that girl, Erika. She is quite good at supporting.'
Most mages had egos and they disliked supporting and they would boast about their attacking spells. But, Erika was pretty good at reading the enemy and adjusting herself for her team.
Whenever Irina tried to hit with a spell, she immediately conjured an ice-attributed spell and attacked the same place where Irina's spell hit. The change of the temperature from hot to cold would always disturb the monster's balance.
George and Jake were also quite good at managing the fighting scene. There was a weird assumption of the tank role being easy, but that is far from being true. As a tank, one needs to know when to take aggro and when to leave it.
And they were doing it quite fine, even though it was still far from being perfect.
And lastly, Leon.
SWOOSH SWOOSH
'To think this guy boasted for being a good archer.'
If that was what the academy offered for archers, the quality was quite low. I now understood why the level disparity was this high for archers.
His arrows were strong, and his mana control was not bad, but he lacked one important thing.
'His intervals for attacking are the worst I have seen so far and his positioning is also questionable.'
For a ranger, that was one of the most important things, and the way to acquire it was not through the status window.
Turning my attention to the fight once again, I observed what Irina was doing. Her eyes were on the blade Nora holding as she sighed.
'The fight will be over soon.'
And just as to prove my point, Nora's blade slowly started shining as she looked surprised.
"What is this?"
"It is an enchantment."
"Enchantment."
"Yes. Be careful, though. It will be quite strong."
As Irina spoke while gesturing to Nora's sword, Nora also turned her attention there, and before her eyes stood a shining plasmic weapon.
'So, you finally understood.'
Every monster has a weakness that could be exploited, and the Magma Wyrm also had one. Even though it was resilient to fire and his skin was tough, once you went past that skin, the body underneath was weak.
And how could you go past behind a tough skin? By concentrating the energy on one point. The fire magic she had used was the most destructive, but that destructiveness didn't focus on one point but rather on a general surface, and this was where her attacks became useless.
Everything in this world can burn; the only important thing is when.
That was the same as Nora and Byron.
Their swords didn't contain enough strength to simply cut through the tough skin of the monster, but that was different now.
"Understood. I will be careful." As she finished assessing her weapon, she looked at the battle. Jake and George were fending the monster off, and it was not that hard
SWOOSH!
Nora, her eyes gleaming with a clear desire and fighting spirit, lunged at the Magma Wyrm with her enchanted blade. The plasmic weapon cut through the air, trailing a shimmering arc as it descended upon the creature.
SLASH!
The blade connected, finding its mark and cutting through the Wyrm's tough exterior.
SPURT!
A spray of molten blood erupted from the wound, and the creature roared in pain, momentarily disoriented.
ROAR! FUSH!
However, the Magma Wyrm was a monster that honed its instincts. Thus, it quickly realized the threat. It first released a loud roar, and following that, it released a wave of vapor, blasting everyone off.
Then, it shifted its massive body, instinctively guarding the vulnerable area and allowing its natural regeneration to start healing the wound.
"It's healing itself!"
Nora exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice. The feeling of elevation from her initial success was tempered by the realization that the Wyrm could heal its injuries.
"It's not over yet," Byron encouraged, eyeing the situation. "We just need to find a way to bypass its regeneration."
He darted in, his blade whistling through the air as he sought to distract the creature, keeping it focused on him.
Meanwhile, George and Jake took turns drawing the monster's attention, using their roles as tanks and diversions. Their coordination had improved, their movements more precise and calculated. They were not ranked in the middle high for no reason.
But, then, even though the group found a way to defeat it, they lacked the strategy.
Despite their efforts, the Wyrm's regeneration seemed insurmountable.
The beast was adapting, becoming more aggressive as it countered their attacks. It was a race against time; they needed to finish the fight before the creature overwhelmed them.
Irina's face looked frustrated as she looked at the wound they had made. She knew her options were limited, and she needed to find a solution quickly.
And she finally looked at me, her face looking annoyed.
"You."
And she called. But of course, I didn't respond. After all, my name was not you but rather something else.
"Sigh…..Astron…."
Understanding what I was doing, she released a sigh, looking at me.
"Can you deal with it?"
It was a phrase containing five simple words, but those words were the ones that showcased she believed in my skills.
"I can. You just need to open the way." I simply replied, looking at the blazing sword in Nora's hand. If she cut the monster, I could easily follow her attack with my arrows, destroying the monster from the inside.
"..."
She looked skeptical for a second, probably measuring the pros and cons of accepting that fact. If she accepted it, she would need to change her attitude probably. But even while she was thinking, she still supplied the magic she was using.
'She really deserves her seat.'
She was doing three things at the same time, and that was why she was ranked this high. For her, using fire magic must be a reflex, just as it should be.
"Come on! Leon just hit him from here."
"I fucking know it. Do you think it is that easy?"
At that moment, her eyes picked up the sound of Leon and Byron chatting. Byron was urging Leon, the archer of the other party, to attack the monster from the place Nora had wounded, but Leon's aim was quite off.
"Tch."
Seeing it, she clicked her tongue as she turned her attention to me.
"Do it."
"Really? I think you should say it like you are talking to a 'person,' not a tool."
"..."
"I will ask you this only once. Do you believe those rumors?"
"…. Shouldn't I have?"
"I am not asking you if you should. I am asking you whether you believe them or not?"
"..."
As she stood there without answering and only looked at me with annoyance, I got my answer.
'In the end, you are no different.'
I thought as I grabbed my bow and nocked an arrow.
"This prejudice of yours…..One day, it may bite; you should be careful."
Eyes of Hourglass.
Dash.
The moment I activated my skills, I felt the time around me slowing down, as well as my body feeling lighter. My head started hurting since information continuously started pouring down from all around.
I focused my vision around on the wound of the monster as I aimed my bow.
SWISH!
With my arrow imbued in the color of green, I attacked the monster from the side.
SWISH!
Following that, the moment the first one hit the mark, I fired the second one, this time using my blue-colored mana.
In a matter of a second, I fired two arrows, each filled with a huge amount of magical power.
THUD!
The first one simply reached the wound, marking it.
THUD! BOOM!
And the second one followed the green tendrils the first one created. The moment the second one hit, an explosion occurred from inside of the monster.
SPURT!
With the blood pouring from the wound.
THUD!
And with a final sound, the monster fell to the ground, its body lying on the ground.
Chapter 102 - Joint Dungeon (4)
"This prejudice of yours…..One day, it may bite; you should be careful."
As Irina heard those words, she couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
'You are just a trash like others.'
Last time, when they finished exploring the labyrinth, Irina understood that she was lacking in terms of party management.
She wasn't suited to be a leader, as Astron showed her the difference between the two.
Even though she knew she was the strongest of the party, there were times when the strength wasn't absolute.
And when she understood that fact, in her heart, she slightly respected him, thinking that he at least deserved to be here.
Even though Astron was annoying and different, she at least started appreciating his different talents.
But all those things crumbled as she entered the school forums. It had already become a habit to check the [ArcadiaSurf] site for her since it was one of the best places to communicate with seniors and learn about the school.
The dungeons, study materials, clubs, assignments…..
The academy life was hard even for a talented mage like her who came from a renowned family.
And thanks to what Julia and Lilia suggested, she started using that site. However, as she was surfing the site, suddenly, she came across something she was least expecting.
That was the title of the post. Normally, she wouldn't even bother with reading such a pointless article, but for some reason, the word 'Last Place' took her attention.
It might have been that guy, after all.
And her assumption was correct.
As she started reading the article, her eyes widened since numerous pictures of that guy, the places he had been, and the people he had talked to had leaked.
His bank account details were leaked, and inside there, the places he had visited could be seen. A lot of money coming from unknown sources could be seen there.
However, that wasn't even the end.
Even a testimony of three girls was on the post.
-He didn't even listen to me.
-He just threatened me, saying he could kill me anytime he wanted.
-He said we would date, but then he suddenly forced himself upon me.
Three articles that made her nauseous – all of them were listed on the post.
In fact, when she read the post, she started comparing his attitude from the past to now.
'I see...'
She realized this after looking at the victims' identities. They were simple, normal citizens who had nothing to do with the Hunter industry.
'He acted cold in front of me since he understood he wouldn't be able to lay a hand on me.'
As his attitude came before her eyes, she looked at the girls on the post. They were all young girls who were just in their prime, and now they were crying, looking sullen.
Unintentionally, her blood boiled, seeing how their future was destroyed. One of them quit their school, and the other ones became depressed and locked themselves.
'You trash-like bastard.'
And in the end, she swore to put this guy in his place.
He was a student who was accepted to the academy. Even though the article said he used personal connections, she knew it wasn't that easy to come here.
But even then, instead of training and making himself stronger, this guy was playing around, making other girls' lives hell. Countless people wanted to enter this academy; countless people tried their best….But this guy was doing nothing but wasting his time doing such acts.
That was the reason why she didn't even talk to him at the start; no, that was the reason why she was glaring daggers at him.
Since she knew if she didn't come from a strong lineage, she would also fall prey to his actions.
However, now, before her, stood something different.
The guy she thought wasn't training stood before The Magma Wyrm that was laying defeated.
She saw it. At that exact one second, that guy fired two arrows consecutively, the first one opening the wound and the second one exploding inside.
"What?"
"H-how?"
Erika and Leon just stood there and watched in a daze as the dead body of the monster lay on the ground. The two knew, as the last ranked student of the academy, there was no way that guy would be able to land a hit on the monster, let alone killing it.
Byron, always quick to let his emotions surface, was the first to voice his thoughts, laced with both awe and a hint of resentment. "Astron... what did you just do?" His tone carried a sense of jealousy and anger. "If you could do such a thing, why didn't you do it from the start."
Astron, accustomed to the skepticism, didn't show any signs of surprise.
He glanced at Byron and offered a vague explanation. "Nobody asked."
Rather than explaining, it looked more like a mocking statement, and Byron wasn't the one to take it lightly.
"You bastard, are you mocking me right now?"
He approached him with an angry expression and was about to grab him from his collar.
SWOOSH
But, with a smooth move, Astron just slipped away.
"Watch your actions. And don't talk to me." His purple eyes looked cold, and most importantly, those eyes looked down on him.
Byron's frustration grew, realizing Astron was simply discarding him as a random nobody, and this was what made him angrier.
The fact that the guy before him had the audacity to ignore him while he was the weakest of the academy.
However, before the confrontation could escalate further, Irina intervened, her voice firm and commanding.
"Byron, stop. It's not worth it. We have a mission to complete." Her gaze shifted to Astron, cold and dismissive. "You used explosive arrows, right?"
"I did."
"I won't ask you why you have not told us about those arrows."
"It is good that you know the answer already."
"Tch…..I really want to smash your face right now."
"What does hold you back?"
"Contrary to you, I am mindful of my grades."
"So, if your grades weren't affected, you would attack me right here?"
"I would."
"I see." With those words, Astron simply nodded his head and looked as if he was saying as expected from Irina.
Seeing him looking at her like that, the anger inside her soared. She couldn't contain her words as she asked.
"What? Wasn't that how you behaved against others?"
"How I behaved, what do you mean?"
However, the clueless expression on his face….
"You!"
It made her angrier and angrier. For him, those acts must have been natural, as if he wasn't doing something bad at all.
"Tch…..You monster."
With those words, she turned her head back and started walking away from the place where the monster was lying.
Since the Trigger had been killed, the dungeon was going to change its inner structure the moment they had left this place, and Irina wanted nothing but to finish this assignment as fast as she could.
Since she didn't want to see his face any longer.
And just like that, the party started walking once again, everyone throwing glances at Astron and Irina from time to time.
*******
"I think this route was the right choice."
"Right? The road had been super easy. I guess Mason was right."
Inside the other part of the same dungeon, eight people were walking while talking among themselves. The tunnel was slightly dark, but it wasn't to the point where no one could see each other.
"But, when are we going to leave this place? It has been dark for a while now."
One of the guys on the side asked, while looking at the front. A girl with short white haired was leading the way, a smile on her face.
"It won't take long, don't worry. We should be there soon." She turned her head backward, her blue eyes shining in the middle of the darkness.
"I see…..Then, we will do as you say?"
The boy asked, looking for confirmation. Since the girl was leading the group, everyone thought she would naturally be the leader.
"I won't say much. We can just crush the monster with our strength, right?" However, the answer they got was not something they were expecting. "Sylvie can heal us while we are fighting? Isn't this how a warrior fights?"
"Well…..As expected from a Middleton Family, I guess. Miss Julia is really a warrior." The boy awkwardly smiled in the response that he was not expecting.
"I-I will do my best," Sylvie said, looking a bit shaky.
For the past explorations, she got slightly comfortable with her team, but she was still afraid of the monsters and fighting.
"I will cover you, don't worry." At that moment, a boy at the back spoke with a hearty tone, his green eyes shining brightly.
"T-thank you." It was a boy Sylvie had known before, as he was someone who belonged to the same club as her.
'Mason Kent from Art and History Club.'
They were matched together in this exploration as a team, and he had been given the position to protect supporters and healers from the back.
However, she was still slightly uncomfortable with others, especially in the dungeon, since her fear was overflowing. Even though in the past times, she only did her job as a healer and supported Julia from back, this time, the monsters were a lot stronger, and they looked more dangerous.
"We are getting close; I can feel a strong presence," Julia informed, and just as they said that, suddenly, everyone heard a long roar coming from the tunnel.
"AUUUU!"
It was the sound of a wolf.
SWOOSH!
And just at that second, suddenly, something flew from the darkness as if it was targeting the members of the party.
"Careful."
SWOOSH!
Sylvie felt a gust of wind rush by her, and she instinctively ducked, thinking someone was jumping towards her. She stumbled, falling a bit forward, and then she felt a strong grip on her arm, pulling her out of harm's way.
"Whoa, are you okay?" Mason's voice came from behind her, sounding slightly out of breath.
Sylvie, flustered and surprised, looked up to see Mason, his face close to hers due to the sudden rescue. For a moment, she misunderstood the situation, thinking he had jumped on her.
"Um, I-I'm fine," she stammered, looking away. "P-please go away." As she pushed the boy, Mason immediately understood and turned his face.
"Sorry…." And gave her the space she wanted.
Then she noticed the arrow plunged into the ground just where she had been standing. Her eyes widened in realization.
"Oh, it was an attack…" she said, her voice trailing off as she understood the danger they were facing.
Mason followed her gaze and spotted the arrow as well. "Yeah, we were almost hit. Good thing you're quick on your feet."
Sylvie felt a mix of relief and gratitude. "Thank you again. I thought…"
Mason grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "You thought I was jumping you?"
Sylvie's face turned even redder. "N-no! I mean, yes, but not like that! I just…"
Mason laughed, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's all right, Sylvie. Let's stay on guard. Looks like we've got some trouble ahead."
Sylvie nodded, feeling slightly happy at the fact that he had covered her at that exact moment. The fear in her heart slightly calmed down as she looked at the brown-haired boy.
She could see the 'pure' feelings inside him, the 'pure' desire to help her, and the fact that he didn't have any hidden agenda made her even happier since she felt like at least she could relax a little now.
Little did she know, as she turned her head to the front, the boy revealed a smirk, looking at the front with a smile.
'I guess this worked quite well.'
After all, he and his group were the ones to put all those traps into this dungeon to gain this girl's trust.
Chapter 103 - Joint Dungeon (5)
Inside the place, filled with countless monitors and holograms, people with white uniforms were running all around the room. The air buzzed with urgency and excitement as the control room of the artificial dungeon at Arcadia Hunter Academy brimmed with activity.
Head of the personnel, Senior Faraday, a stern woman with gray streaks in her dark hair, barked out orders, her eyes darting across the monitors.
"Team Alpha, increase the elemental challenges on Level Five. Let's see how they handle a sudden surge of fire elementals. And patch into the audio feed; we need to hear their reactions."
A technician responded, tapping away at a holographic display. "Elemental levels increased. Audio feed connected. Proceeding with the fire elemental surge."
Down in the dungeon, students of Arcadia Hunter Academy were battling their way through simulated challenges.
However, behind the place, a young woman's hands were shaking as she clutched a small, dark-looking USB drive. Her name was Amelia, a brilliant but conflicted young technician working at the heart of the Arcadia Hunter Academy's control room.
Summoning her courage, Amelia approached one of the central control consoles. Her heart raced as she inserted the USB drive, her hands trembling. The drive contained a carefully crafted program designed to temporarily disrupt the simulated challenges, providing the students with a much-needed respite.
As she activated the program, a subtle change rippled through the control room. The monstrous adversaries slowed down slightly, giving the students a chance to regroup and catch their breaths. The fire elementals became more manageable, and the tree and lizard creatures exhibited signs of fatigue.
Commander Faraday noticed the anomaly on her screen. "What's going on? Something's not right," she demanded, her gaze narrowing at the monitors.
Amelia knew she had to act quickly. She subtly masked her actions by pretending to fix an unrelated technical glitch. "It's a minor system hiccup, Commander," she stammered, her voice betraying her anxiety.
A fellow technician chimed in, trying to cover for Amelia. "Just a momentary glitch in the dungeon's AI. We're resolving it."
Faraday, still suspicious but pressed for time, relented. "Handle it swiftly. We can't afford any disruptions during the testing."
Amelia breathed a sigh of relief, her plan temporarily successful. She repeated her silent mantra, "This is all for my son." She knew she had just taken the first step in a battle for change within the Academy.
Unbeknownst to everyone, the disruption in the system was only a prelude to what loomed ahead. The dungeon's safeguards were flickering, and the simulated monsters were beginning to show signs of a berserk frenzy, their pixelated eyes glowing ominously. The storm was brewing, and chaos was on the horizon.
*****
After the fight with the monster was over, the scenery of the dungeon changed just as I had expected.
The surroundings turned from a hot one to a scene filled with blue marks all over.
'Contrasting Scene, huh?'
HOWL
The cold wind blew through the team's face as our vision was slightly burdened by the storm of snow around.
Of course, that wasn't completely the case for me. I could see the traces of mana even in the storm and could pick up the small marks left by the monsters around us.
'Hmm….Considering the depth of the footprints and the storm, I can say those monsters are quite big. However, some time had passed after they left.'
Since we were in a place where it was snowing, the traces left on the ground would soon be covered by the monsters.
'They must be Snow Tigers.'
On Earth, Lions and tigers were animals habituated in places close to the equator. However, in this world, there were countless different evolutions, and in dungeons, there were monsters like this, who evolved from Tigers in a snowy environment.
'If this is the case, there should be Snow Squirrels as well.'
In the game, the environment of this practical exam would continuously change, and there wasn't a fixed one, but I was slightly familiar with this one.
It was because this one was the route I took in my first playthrough, and that was one of the hardest ones.
"Sigh…..From hot to cold, why are they trying to push us like that…." Byron spoke with a sigh as he clung to his clothes.
"I know, right…..I thought the second environment would also be hot, but they really want us to give up this time…." Leon replied, as he also clenched on his clothes.
These two had been throwing glances at me from time to time with annoyance, but they didn't say anything, and neither did they do. They were probably afraid of Irina since she looked like she was in more of a bad mood after the boss.
'This is why preparing for everything is important.'
"Everyone, come closer."
At that moment, Irina called as she gestured for everyone to come together. However, when she looked at me, her eyes were saying I shouldn't even dare to take one step.
As everyone gathered around her, suddenly, underneath her feet, a small circle of orange color appeared.
"Hmm? It is warm?" Nora was the first one to notice as she looked at the circle.
"This will help you stay warm in this place," Irina said with a proud tone as she continued to move forward. With each step she had taken, the zone around her also moved continuously, supplying the people around with warm temperatures.
The snow around her was melting; even the snow in the air was melting thanks to the high temperature.
From time to time, she threw a gaze at me, filled with arrogance. It was like she was trying to show off or maybe reprimand me, but I didn't care.
I was doing quite fine.
The coat I was wearing right now was doing its work as it was supposed to. I got this one in order to use it in the Chrono Groove, and it was staying on my bracelet.
And thanks to that, now I was quite warm walking around leisurely. If not, I would be the first one to surrender since my body wouldn't be able to stand this cold.
My boots and pants were all supplied by the academy, so they were already high quality, but the coat was doing wonders.
However, our peaceful walk under the storm was soon about to reach its end since the monsters were on the way.
'Just as expected. Snow Tigers and Snow Squirrels.'
I thought to myself, sensing the presence of monsters. Even though I couldn't directly see them, my increased intuition was doing quite well. It was now on the border of rank three and was above average.
And just as I thought about that, suddenly, a bunch of shadows appeared around the party.
"Monsters!" The first one to notice was Leon, as he shouted in order to alert everyone.
-SWOOSH
And immediately, Irina, attuned to the mana around her, quickly identified the approaching Snow Tigers and Snow Squirrels.
"Stay away."
Without waiting for further instruction, Irina took charge, her eyes blazing with irritation and slight anger.
'She must be angry that she couldn't deal with the Lesser Magma Wyrm.'
The Irina I knew from the game would certainly take her anger out of monsters, and that was exactly what she did.
She thrust her staff forward, summoning her fire magic.
SWIRL!
Flames erupted, dancing in the cold air, their warmth a stark contrast to the snowy surroundings.
"Grrrrr..."
As if on cue, a group of Snow Tigers emerged from the snowy surroundings, their white fur blending in with the landscape.
"Quaaaa….."
The Snow Squirrels scurried among the trees, their eyes fixed on the intruders in their territory.
'Hmm….13 squirrels and five Snow Tigers, huh?'
I counted the numbers immediately, as my boy was ready if something unusual happened.
"Die."
SWOOSH!
With a sweeping motion, she directed a surge of fire toward the approaching Snow Tigers.
"ROOOOAAAAR!"
The intense heat engulfed them, their white fur providing no protection. The monsters roared in agony as they were incinerated by the powerful fire magic.
However, she had yet to finish her massacre.
Simultaneously, she channeled her magic towards the trees where the Snow Squirrels had hidden.
SWOOSH! CREAK!
The fiery inferno engulfed the branches, forcing the creatures out into the open. Their attempts to escape were futile as Irina's relentless assault left them no room to evade.
'What a strong power.'
She was even stronger than before as her fire magic simply scorched every monster in seconds. It seems just like me, she was not wasting her time either.
The rest of the team could only watch in awe as Irina single-handedly dispatched the monsters. Her control over the element of fire was masterful, and in this snowy environment, her power was unmatched.
'As expected. The single-digit rankers are surely different.'
There was a reason why she was ranked third in the academy, and now she was proving that. She might not have been able to showcase her talents while fighting with fire-resilient monsters before, but things were different now since almost all of the monsters here were weak to fire elements.
Of course, since the environment was filled with water psions, it was a lot harder to use the fire psions since their density was a lot lower.
But that added more credit to her talent since she flawlessly manipulated fire even in such conditions.
As the last embers faded, the battle was over. The monsters lay defeated, leaving only charred remnants in their wake.
Byron, eager to gain favor, seized the moment to voice his admiration. "Incredible, Irina! Your control over fire is truly remarkable. I've never seen anything like it."
He immediately started flattering her, but even his words were flatter. I could see the genuine appreciation in them. It was clear that he was really impressed this time.
Nora also chimed in, offering her praise as well. "Yeah, seriously. That was amazing! You made short work of them. I knew you were amazing before already, but I guess you are an Emberheart for a reason." Her eyes were twinkling as she approached the corpses. "You have killed 17 monsters already."
However, the moment Nora spoke those words, I suddenly got chills on my body. The number of monsters didn't match the one I counted.
'Don't tell me.'
Not long after, a monster jumped from the flames that were burning the trees; its small fangs wide open, green liquid pouring from there.
SWOOSH!
"Quaaaaa!"
It was a Snow Squirrel; however, one thing was different. Rather than normal black eyes, the monster's eyes were shining bright red.
'Demon Followers.'
I immediately understood the reason why this monster was different, as this was a common scene in the game. There were monsters that were affected by the spells of demon followers. They would become berserk, but as the price, they would be stronger.
'Tch….. You better pay me, you woman.'
Eyes of Hourglass.
After activating my skill, I felt the time slowing around me for a second, and following that, I simply aimed my bow, putting a good amount of mana into the arrow.
SWISH!
As I released the arrow, it went past me immediately.
PIERCE! SPURT!
And stabbed the monster in the air.
"Queeeeck!"
The monster let out a hearty scream with its trajectory changing in the air.
THUD
It fell to the ground, and the pure color of white slowly turned into red.
********
"What was that?"
The first one to notice something was amiss was Irina as she looked into the source of the noise. Her gaze first shifted to the monster.
There, she probably saw the arrow stab the monster from its body, overflowing with mana.
Her eyes widened as she followed the trajectory of the arrow. Her gaze shifted from the fallen Snow Squirrel to Astron, who stood calmly, bow in hand, eyes focused.
There was a mix of surprise and something else in her expression.
'I missed one monster.
She was surprised at the fact that this monster was able to breach her senses and almost landed a sneak attack on her.
'But, how was he able to notice it.'
However, the difference thing was not the fact that she had missed it but rather the fact that Astron was able to sense it.
Byron and Nora were equally astonished by the accuracy and efficiency of Astron's shot. The Snow Squirrel's sudden appearance had caught them off guard, and it was clear that Astron had saved the day.
"That was... amazing," Erika exclaimed as she looked into the squirrel. She had no idea.
Irina, regaining her composure, nodded in acknowledgment. There was a brief moment of eye contact between her and Astron. She recognized the timely intervention and the potential danger that had been averted.
There was a hint of pride in Irina's eyes as she looked at Astron with her gaze squinting. She didn't openly express gratitude but rather frowned. "Not bad," she remarked, but her voice contained irritably.
'I don't know how he did it, but I will never owe this guy anything.'
"After we leave this place, I'll make sure to settle the score with you so no debt remains here." With those words, she turned her head back as she started walking once again.
"Good to know," Astron mumbled as he started walking to the corpse.
"What did you say?"
"I said it was good to know. I didn't do it for free either."
"Tch…."
Clicking her tongue, Irina walked forward while Astron simply reached the corpse and purged his arrow back.
BOOM!
And just as the group walked a little more, suddenly, they heard the voice of something exploding as well as the sounds of shouts all around.
"I guess we reached the boss monster."