"AHHHHH!" A loud scream resonated around the black void. Everything was covered in a mist of dark smoke, constantly seeping through the center. And inside that place, a reverberated scenery appeared on the front. It was the tragedy that happened in the town of Varga. Inside that buzzy premonition, Rakuen, also known as the red-haired guy with chains and blades on his back can be discerned while grabbing the neck of the old man who happens to be the headmaster and the owner of the place.
"Tell me, where is the Demon Amulet?" Rakuen belligerent confrontation scared the life out of the old man who continued to writhe. He was having a hard time trying to compress and compose himself out of the situation. But even so, Rakuen continued to torture him by clamping his neck with his hands trying to choke him in which the old man had retch.
"I-I won't tell you anything..." He growled as he responded. Rakuen raised his left eyebrow by the time he heard him. He instantly turned his body to stare on the two men who were held captive while shackled within their chains.
"Kill them!" Rakuen screamed as he ordered them. The two members of the mysterious organization didn't hesitate. After they cast a special binding magic skill using the shadow elemental magic, multifarious roots transpired from the ground making its way up to the bodies of the two men.
With the addition of the dark smoke, the veins that were binding them continually seeped through their blood and sucked it causing their body to decay.
With this particular scene from the point of view of a lot of people, several emotions and reactions emerged from their souls. The decaying body was now thrown into the flaming debris, officially claiming that they are not dead and was no longer breathing. Things are absolutely unpleasant and unfavorable for a lot of people.
"I'm gonna ask you again, old man. If you're not going to say anything, I will not hesitate to kill all of them and make you the last meal for tonight, so tell me, where the hell is the Demon Amulet before I blew their heads off." Rakuen's bombardment came into reality with the old man's struggle. His reaction was more spiteful and malicious.
While they are in the middle of an interrogation, a young man abruptly ended their face-off by screaming.
"No! Don't tell them, grandpa–"
Without any intrusion, Rakuen raises his left arm to aim directly on the kid's face.
"Shut up!" Because of his easily agitated characteristic, he blew off the ledge near the boy's position causing him to jump off the hill and hurting himself. The roof exploded adding more burned wood and things to the debris. Fortunately, the boy has survived the explosion and everyone else managed to get away before that happens. Truly an unpleasant scenario.
"Eita!" The old man shouted as he constantly gripped the ground. He dragged his body upward but before he even stands up, Rakuen grabbed his body and threw him down on the ground.
"Now, if you don't want that to happen again, tell me where the Amulet is." He asked again. After a few seconds of thinking whether to sacrifice himself or the whole village for the amulet, he finally came into a verdict that everyone can agree yet will fall under the category of deceit and inconvenience for the rest of the world.
"The Amulet... Is located on Giza..." he muttered in a soft voice. Rakuen was stupefied by his answer. He couldn't hear well the words that the old man had said.
"What? Louder! I cannot hear you!" He grumbled as he forcibly shook the old man's body.
"The Amulet you are looking for can be found on Giza. Specifically, the Giza Cemetery. Melsh's body buried in that place. And because of that, my best bet is that it is hanged on his tombstone." The old man explained the location. Rakuen didn't ask any more questions. He let the old man go and stood up.
"Alright, we are done here! Let's get moving before the reinforcement arrive!" He screamed.
"Yes, Sir!" Numerous people covered with a black cloak responded livelily. All of them have returned in their respective horses and left the place in a displeasing manner. The houses were burned down, the trees and the gates have been destroyed and almost half of them were injured while the rest are dead and no longer living.
It truly is a terrifying involvement.
The reminiscing of this particular scene has come to an end in which the dark shadow that was lurking around the dark place suddenly came across Nile. He then began to tense up, he was panting really hard. The abundance of his sweat was seeping through the pillow and his shirt. He clutched himself as he stroke his face.
It was another bad dream.
Several hours later, the other batch of Astrochist arrived in the mountain as well. Alongside the other grandmasters and guards, Luong has also arrived to see the training goes off. Nile and his fellow Astrochist have gathered on a different path as well as the other section and elemental users. Nile's team were situated on northeast side of the mountain where a couple of dark woods can be found.
Stell's team is handled in the Southeast part of the mountain. In this particular location, a big desert can be located. The temperature on this side of the mountain is not that high due to their appealing altitude.
Aella's team was assigned to venture the Northwest of the mountain wherein multiple deserted places and abandoned shrines and chapels can be seen. The place is pretty appalling and daunting for them because of the intense atmosphere.
And lastly, Adara and his own team are assigned to the Southwest where a waterfall with caves can be discovered. But then, before they go into these places, Pier has explained to them the purpose and what they are going to do for this challenge as part of their training. Since most of them have learned how to cast basic spells and fundamentals skills, it is time for them to actually use what they have learned in a real-life situational level wherein it will test their courage and fighting instincts to hopefully face the real enemies of the world.
Each part of the mountain has various monsters lurking around them. On Nile's location, which is the jungle, several goblins equipped with knives and spiky wooden sticks are mainly inhabited on it. This kind of mob slash monster is weak and slow but they are not the type to easily back down and get killed. This is a perfect opportunity for all of them to gain experience in fighting all while training their body and mindset.
Stell's location which is the desert has high quality dangerous scorpions that strike everything with its tail and claws. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping pedipalps and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous sting.
On the other hand, Aella's location is comprised of the different historical incarnation of necromancers and ghosts. this is very connected to their own elemental powers since most of their consumable skills are coming within their own soul and in compliance with the spell activation, wind magics are most effective within the range of these spirits.
Adara's locations are full of water infernals, similar to magma blockers and lava creatures, these water infernals do have a connection with their own elemental powers as well. Much like Aella's condition, water infernals' flames are engulfed with the essence of water. The flame may be different in colors but they are absolutely more powerful than a normal flame. In order for them to train their resistance, they should face their own elemental enemy.
"Now as you might have known, this mountain is known for its several varieties when it comes to slaying monsters and getting and or earning profit from it. The reason we are here is that you guys need some experience in fighting and developing strategies in the form of a group variation. Most of you are talented magicians, while the rest are still on their own phase, within the time frame, all of you should be able to slay monsters without any problem. Oh and I forgot to mention if you really wanted to be strong, all of you should surpass your limits right here and now." Pier has instructed them.
Judging from the reaction of the Astrochist, some of them are flustered while the others are appalled and scared by what's going to happen. It is not surprising that they will feel this way. The whole mountain training session is going to be a pain, and if they are not careful about a certain thing, the scenario might go its way for the worse.
"Remember, courage is what you have to gain for this training. If you're afraid of the blood then shatter that fear with your own skills. You didn't come in this program to goof off and learn about spells and magics, you came here to develop your own self and to save a lot of people from bad guys. That being said, no one has to get hurt for this training, if you ever saw someone injured, report to me, and we will stop the session and rescue whoever that is. Simple as that. Oh, and you don't have to worry about it because some guards and scouts are going to see your progress." Pier followed his explanation to convince them.
While that worked for a while, the energy that Nile is feeling is exposing itself. Nile was staring at the sky watching the birds fly away. All that aside, his fist was clenched, and his face are scowled and it is full of sour expression. Nile was determined enough to develop his own skills and abilities. And at the same time, the Astrochist are also flared up with their desire to save whoever they wanted to save and their desire of avoiding the end of the world as much as possible.
"Now, before you go, make sure that you have all of the things you guys needed. 2 bottles of mana potion, some bandages, and cloths, a couple of ring of protection, these equipment are going to be essential for your training. As for the mission, I want all of you to slay at least 100 of them before the night."
(What?) Nile suddenly reverted himself back to reality when he heard the mission.
"100 of enemies?!" All of the yanked out as they screamed.
"B-But, that's going to impossible for us, Sir!"
"Yes! It's hard to defeat that a lot especially on our first time here!"
"Please give us consideration!"
Various responses and requests erupted from their emotions. The fact that they need to kill at least 100 of the beings is pretty impossible for newbies like them. But in Pier's mind, he knows that it is possible to even with the slightest chance.
"No more excuses! This is your order! If you guys don't want to join the training just get the hell out of here!" Pier scolded them as he growled. Everyone was scared when he did it.
"Listen here..." Suddenly, to calm the mood down, Syphyl has shown herself in front of them. She smiled as she exhibits herself. All of them were struck by her beauty. Pier has noticed this so he stopped talking and let her have the stage.
"Everyone... you guys don't have to worry about the tasks and missions that he will provide. Because I believe in all of you that you can do it. Even if you think that it is impossible to do it, there's always a small percentage of chance and possibility that you would be able to do it. I mean, why did we learn all of the stuff back from the program center before?" She said. The quiet mood had set off and everyone was listening to her.
Nile stood in the open area, not bothering nor paying attention to what she is saying. With his head laying down. He stared in his hand and clenched his fist.
After a couple of minutes, Syphyl's incredible motivation has finally manifested in their soul. Everyone stood up straightly without any redundant movements and slacked off gestures. As if everyone had been seriously compelled within their field. Nonetheless, it is pretty decent and reassuring to have them gain confidence. This is very important in most fights.
Nile has approached his fellow Astrochist and by the time he lined up, Pier has started talking.
"Alright! The time limit is about 12 hours. All of you will be back at 7 in the evening. Again, the task is to kill at least 100 of the beings and monsters you are assigned. Be courageous, shatter your fears, and fight like this is the last day of your life... that's it, The meeting is over, Dismissed!"
"Yes, Sir!"
And with that, everyone has set off.