Chapter 17: Class Mission, Explore the Gate!
"Damn it! Damn it all!"
Skye angrily said while repeatedly failing to absorb Chaos Qi and achieving the requirement to cultivate the Primordial Chaos Qi Scripture. He smashed his fist on the walls to vent his frustration.
"Shit! How long is it going to take me to absorb Chaos Qi! I did everything the book said. Why? Why doesn't it work?! And the dungeon is in two days. I'll just have to give up on cultivating it for now. I gotta use the money I've got into actual strength I can use. Hmm...."
"I'll need some new gear. That last fight really ruined my old one. Sigh. With what I had in mind, the cash I got isn't nearly enough. I guess I'll just have to make do. No way! I think there were some valuable stuff I took from Black Snake and his gang. Maybe I could sell them for some cash." He said with a smile on his lips.
....
Imperial Federation, Diamond Plains.
A large group of people could be seen rushing towards a particular direction, most of them wearing gear of some sort. The one in the lead was a man that looked to be in his thirties and a handsome face. He didn't wear any form of battle armor, instead dressing in tight fitting clothes that highlighted his muscular figure. This was Instructor Leo, leading the students as they approached the Gate at high speeds.
He led the figures behind him as they rushed towards a glowing white portal that shone in the distance. The figures that followed behind him had looks of anticipation on their faces, along with excitement and fear.
Some of them, rather, had looks of nostalgia as they recalled their past experiences. One of them though, had a cold expression on his face that radiated a gloomy aura. Traces of anger, fear and sadness could be seen in his eyes if one were more observing of his face.
He had a head full of short silver hair that reached his neck. His cold blue eyes radiated an intense icy allure that drew people's attention towards him.
He wore a black outfit with silver and white streaks and wore a blue cross shaped earring on his left ear. The nigh indiscernible ring on his finger shone with a faint light.
At the sides of his waist were two holsters that held two obsidian plasma handguns. His silver blue boots looked extremely elegant, complimenting his dark outfit. He had an extremely handsome appearance that stole some of the girls hearts' and made their thighs wet. They looked at him with lust, and then quickly turned away in disappointment.
Some of the other students around him, however, glanced at him with disdain, contempt and hatred. Quite a number of them threw sneers at him while making some snide comments by the side. The target of the hateful looks however, indifferently made his way through the terrain, ignoring the stares piercing through his body from time to time.
In about thirty to forty five minutes, they approached their destination as they took in the size of the 10m tall portal in its full glory. The teens looked at the portal that gave off an intimidating pressure with apprehension in their hearts.
The instructor quickly gathered the students at the entrance of the Gate as he briefed them on the mission details.
"This is a Class Mission. This is an unexplored Tier 1 Gate. Your directives are to expedite this Gate. There have been reports of Green level creatures breaking out of the Gate and wreaking havoc on the nearby areas. You are to exterminate as many beasts as you can. White level creatures will merit 100IP, Green level creatures merit 300IP and Blue level, 700IP. Valuable items that you find can also be used to exchange for Points. There are hidden cameras on your person that will prove the validity of your kills.
I advise you all to do your best. I will also be watching you from the shadows and should in case you are in any danger, there is an enchantment on your badges that will alert me when you activate them. Good luck and— don't die. You are the pride of our future generation. Do your best." Instructor Leo looked at the students, who had visible looks of horror on their faces.
"Sir, you just said that there may be a Blue Level creature present in the dungeon. That's a classification on par with an Advanced Mage. If I may ask, why would such a life form be found in this Gate?
And what makes you think that us, who are mostly a group of kids, with a population numbering in the sixties, would be capable of taking down such a creature if we were to encounter it? Wouldn't we be sending ourselves to the slaughter?
And how exactly can you guarantee our safety?" A slightly thin boy, wearing half rimmed glasses spoke the question that was on everyone's mind. As he spoke, the light reflected off his glasses, causing them to shine. Most of the students agreed with him. Not the kids part though....
[Beasts and dimensional creatures have been graded according to their power ranking, that directly corresponds to the amount of magic energy that they can release and manipulate. Copper, White, Green, Blue, Purple, Red and Black levels correspond to Apprentice, Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior, Epic and Legendary. Mythical and Divine level creatures are referred to as Lord and King respectively.
Beast Territories are also classified by this ranking. Level 1 BT have an upper limit of White level beasts. Level 2 have an upper limit of Blue level beasts and level 3 have an upper limit of Black level beasts.]
"Good question, in all likelihood, you may never run into that creature. And we don't know why such a creature would appear here. But it doesn't hurt to be careful once in a while, and that's what those badges are for!" He said in a gleeful tone.
"About guaranteeing your safety. You don't know whether I can or not. It's also none of your business either. You die, then you die. The Imperial Academy DOES NOT BREED TRASH IN IT'S MIDST! No one will care for your death. Maybe those closest to you but whatever.
So, form teams if you like, do what you please, but do your best to survive. You have only one month. When the time is up, the formation badge will send you a signal. That will be your cue to end. Failure will result in serious consequences on your part. Now—"
As Instructor Leo was about to finish his well prepared speech, a bunch of beasts suddenly swarmed out of the portal.
{AN: I really don't think that was a good speech by Leo there. Don't know about you guys though....(+_+)}
The sudden appearance of the beasts put the students on guard, and some of them quickly readied their weapons. Skye however, had a thoughtful expression on his face.
'A Gate OverClock. As expected. This Gate is quite interesting. I'm guessing this mission won't go down so easy.'
"What the?— a Gate OverClock? What in Gaia's name is going on?" Some of the students asked while a few screamed as the beasts attacked them.
'A Gate OverClock. Curse the bastard that thought of that silly name. When a Gate appears, there are some instances where all sorts of mysterious phenomena that are confined behind the gate are unleashed into our world. This is usually caused by cases where the Gate is too weak to sustain the phenomena beyond it, or the Gate is unstable. Either way, that is not a good thing for us.' Skye thought darkly.
As Skye was lost in his thoughts, a red haired tall young man with a handsome face, black eyes and dignified bearings walked up to him and spoke.
"Hey. Skye. I see you're doing well. Much better than when Layla died. I thought you'd never get out of that pit of grief you were still holed up in."
Skye didn't need to know who the owner of that voice was. There was only one in their class who still remembered Layla's name after her death and treated her with enough decency to call her by name.
"Edward. It seems you're also doing well. Her death didn't completely break you after all."
Edward Vermillion. Distant relative of the Vermillion Family, the family of the Imperial Monarch. He had always been one of the geniuses known in the academy along with Skye. The two of them just had very opposite circumstances. Edward was the beloved, and Skye...well....we all know his story. But strangely enough, the two of them had a deep level of history together. Even before the Academy.
Edward replied with a dark face. "Hmph. I really don't know what Layla saw in you. You never deserved her attention."
Skye replied coldly. "After about 2 years since Layla died, now is the time you choose to speak to me? And the first thing you talk about is how I don't deserve her? Dumb."
Edward trembled with darkness in his eyes, but then he heaved a sigh. "We used to be friends, even before Layla. What happened? It doesn't have to be this way you know?"
"You're right. It doesn't have to. But things have changed. I know that. And you know it too. If you really cared about Layla, you wouldn't have done what you did." Skye said with a cold face.
"It—" Edward tried to speak but was interrupted by Skye.
"Wasn't your fault? Oh please, don't give me that crap. Hiding behind your new family like a coward, and then come here trying to talk about reconciliation? Are you delusional? You know what—"
"I've had enough! Who the hell are you to talk about my choices like that? Layla's death was no one's fault but yours. It certainly doesn't give you the right to throw words at me. Don't forget, I'm better than you. Always have. Always will." Edward spoke in anger. Their conversation had already begun to attract attention from the other students that were fighting the murderous swarm of beasts. Some of them looked at the two, particularly Skye, with dissatisfaction.
"Hey you two! I see you're having your little chat, but I think you might want to concentrate on the job at hand here, killing these beasts— damn! Why are they so many?" Hela said as she shot a lightning spell at a huge bee like creature with a comparatively giant curved stinger disproportionate to its relatively small body. She heaved a sigh as the lightning eviscerated the giant bug.
Instructor Leo just stood by the side, watching the creatures as they attacked the students. When he saw any one of them in particularly mortal danger, he would disappear from his position, save the students involved, kill the beasts responsible, glance at the students with disappointment, and then flash back to his former position.
Edward let out a disdainful snort, and rushing towards a group of panther like creatures that had red paws and stripes with fire faintly burning throughout their bodies, he leapt into the air. His eyes faintly shone with a fiery red glint.
Let me show you how to properly use fire! He roared in his heart.
Vermillion Bird Bloodline Art: Flame Enhancement!
Fiery red flames burned throughout his body in midair, taking the silhouette of a raging firebird. Edward stretched out his hand, pointing it towards the Red Panthers, he said in a cold voice.
"Vermillion Bird Offensive Art: Fire Style— Red Fire Cannon!"
A huge beam of fire shot out from his hand, rushing towards the Panthers and quickly scorching them to ash.
"Whoa! Did you guys see that! That was lit! Literally! He LIT them into ash bro!" A yellow haired boy said with excitement as he shook his friend.
"That was a bad joke dude. LIT–erally. But still....at this rate, he just might leave all of us in the dust. It's no wonder the Vermillion Family accepted him. Even though it's just a trace of their bloodline, his power has increased exponentially. Not to mention, a grade 7 talent to boot. Truly marvelous. His reputation truly precedes him." The guy with glasses butt in their conversation, adjusting his glasses as he spoke, making them shine with a faint glint. He really looked like an anime character right now.
{A/N: I REALLY don't get the jokes here. Do you?}
'It seems like he's gotten stronger.' Skye thought pensively.
'But I really don't understand why he had to shout his attack's name like that. Maybe I should try that some time.' He thought with a laugh.
"Hela, what do you think about him?" A mature busty green haired girl asked an extremely similar looking purple haired girl while wearing a faint smile on her face.
"Hmph, petty tricks. Nothing special." Hela said with a callous look.
"I see. You only have eyes for— him." Nova said with a teasing grin as she pointed at Skye.
Skye watched calmly as three giant wolf like creatures rushed towards him.
'Time to test out these new weapons against something else other than training dummies.' He thought as he held his guns.
He rushed towards the wolves, and jumping on a wolf's head, he rose a few feet into the air and as he floated in the air, it seemed as if gravity had stopped. He quickly drew his guns out of the holsters and aiming it at the wolves, he smirked as he pulled the triggers.
Two beams of light shot out from the guns and flew towards the wolves, who had begun to feel danger from Skye's attack and tried to run away. But the beams of light were too fast, and they quickly landed on the three beasts, stunning them with white sparks that sent waves of pain coursing through their bodies. But just when everyone least expected it, the sparks suddenly sent off an explosion that exterminated the wolves.
Skye ignored the disbelieving and shocked gazes of everyone and took the cores out of the wolves' corpses with a faint smirk.
'These could be useful. I'll keep them.' He thought with a happy grin.
'Though I feel that the power of these weapons do not meet my expectations.' He mumbled with slight dissatisfaction. If anyone of the students present were to hear of his current thoughts, there would, without a shadow of a doubt, slay him for his 'blasphemous' thoughts.
{A/N: Amen! What I wouldn't give for a weapon like that:-)}
For most of them were currently looking at his guns with shocked and greedy gazes. For in a middle sized city like Salem, the 'trash' Skye was 'dissatisfied' with was something that some of them were dying to have. I mean, who'd rather swing a sword than have a gun that can shoot magic beams of electricity?
Meanwhile, Hela was staring at Skye with shining eyes. She looked as if she had been starved for a week and just found a juicy piece of meat. Nova quickly hit her on the head as soon as she saw that Skye's attention was drifting towards them.
"Ow. What was that for?" The purple haired beauty said as she rubbed her head.
"Stop it sis. You look as if your eyes are going to drill a hole into him. Sigh....you should have just told him about your feelings from the start. Even though his talent is quite...stiffling—" Nova looked at Hela'a glare and quickly changed what she was about to say. "Some of the girls like him. They're just afraid to say it."
"What? Those bitches! He's mine! You can't have him!" She almost screamed, but Nova hit her on the head once again.
"Ow. Stop it sis."
"You can't just say things like that. Remember why we are here."
"I know. I know...."
Meanwhile Edward's and instructor Leo's heads were filled with messy thoughts.
'He's gotten stronger. Hmm. What are those weapons? They don't seem to have exceptional power, but the technique of the crafter....
Is definitely exceptional!'
Strangely, both of them had the same thought, but with very different agendas on their minds as they both looked at Skye with a glint in their eyes.
The beasts that broke out of the gate were soon defeated by the students.
"Let this be a warning to some of you—" Leo began to speak one of his long winded speeches, but Skye wasn't paying attention to any of that. Instead he looked into the depths of his soul and inspected his status.
In the real world, it looked like Skye just sat down on a nearby rock and closed his eyes.
'Heaven. Status check.'
I really have begun to get used to saying that phrase anytime I want to see my attributes. He thought.
....
[Name]: Skye
[True Name]: I???
[Titles]: Cunning Killer, Researcher
[Talents]: Primordial Elemental Affinity, Extreme Intellect, Spirit Affinity, Primordial Chaos Spirit Body [Unawakened], Soul of the Ancients [Partially Awakened]
[Skills]: Basic Spirit Manipulation, Intermediate Assassination, Spirit Beam, Spirit Pulse, Mana Burst, Cloak, Basic Strategy, Advanced Combat Spirit Arts, Intermediate Shortsword Mastery, Advanced Dagger Mastery, Advanced Longsword Mastery, Advanced Bionics, Advanced Bio-engineering, Expert Nanotechnology, Master Sciences, Apprentice Refining, Apprentice Enchanting, Apprentice Runesmithing.....
[Stats]:
< Strength: 26 | Agility: 31 | Dexterity: 31 | Constitution: 28 | Spirit: 26 | Will: 31 | Intelligence: 57 >|
[Points]: [...] || [Library]: [...]
...
'Oh! Interesting. Looks like my Agility stat increased. And what is that 'I' at the beginning of the True Name column? Doesn't that mean that my true name begins with an I? I wonder what it is, hehe.'
"Hey Skye!"
"What?"
Instructor Leo's eye twitched. "Do you see anyone here?"
"Oh!" Skye said in realization.
"Get your ass in there!"
"I know. I know. Jeez. So whiny. It's getting annoying old man." Skye said while picking his ear.
Leo's mouth twitched. "You're one to talk. Crybaby."
Skye froze.
'Now I got you.' Leo thought.
"GO!"
"Alright! Alright! I'm going."
Skye rushed towards the portal and disappeared within it.
'This one. He's interesting. That sense of danger I feel. He's worth keeping a close eye on.'
The both of them had the same thought.
.....
{A/N: Hey guys. I hope you enjoyed the storyline so far. I wanna delve deeper into this world of mystery that is my book, and I hope that you can follow me on this journey. Which brings us to a pressing problem. One I can't ignore.
There has been a case of plagiarism of my book. I know that the recent changes in both my book's name and cover may or may not have left some of you dissatisfied with my work, and I respect that. But that's my choice to make. And you guys should respect that too.
I recently changed my book's name. And I found out that some idiot has been using my old book's name to plagiarize my work. While I think that their efforts are quite futile, it's still an enraging thing to find out that someone has stolen my work. My integrity comes first, and I don't want to have someone in the future sue me about a copyright issue over MY own work. So I'll do what I wanted to do later, now.
This is a public announcement. Please if you see my old book's title on any website other than Meganovel, treat it as a fake and report it to the authorities. I have tried to do that but have met with a wall. Thanks for your support on my book. 8K views so far. We're getting there. This is my first novel. It means so much to me. Please continue to support me.
From GrandSky.
P.S: I didn't change the book's title on Meganovel because of some reasons. I'll do what I can to rectify this issue. I also made an edition to my book. (See chapter 12). Thanks for your understanding and I'm sorry for any inconveniences caused.}