Raven woke up with a startle, as an alarm blared through the whole residential area. He jumped out of bed, and immediately went to freshen up, he wore the academy uniform but his tunic had white bands around the arms.
He opened the door and walked out, coming face to face with Elizabeth who was just leaving her room. "I haven't acknowledged you yet, as my roommate, once you've survive the Wildlands exploration, then you deserve to share the same room with me"
Having said her piece, Elizabeth walked out of the room leaving a confused Raven who immediately shook his head and shrugged. Getting to the down floor, he received several gazez from people around as they pointed at him and whispered to one another, causijg Raven to raise an eyebrow.
"You survived your first night?" Zhang Que's voice asked behind him, Raven turned around and saw the boy smile still with his eyes closed.
"Survived?... more like I walked past death" Raven sighed before he received a pat on his back.
"Because of that, you have become quite popular, since you're the first guy to stay a night without being beaten up by the Ruin Princess..." Zhang Que's chuckled.
"And?" Raven knew Zhang Que had more to say. Zhang Que looked at him and grinned.
"You have the Golden boy on your tail now"
"Golden boy?" Raven asked in confusion as they walked into a large auditorium, and Zhang Que nodded. "Yes, Hiro Sasaki... He has been chasing Elizabeth since they got admitted here, so her allowing a male to stay with her, wouldn't go down well with him"
"What the hell... I've just resumed and I already got a target on my back" Raven said as black lines appeared on his face. Zhang Que wanted to say something that was when three boys stood before them, Raven and Zhang Que had taken their seats by this time.
Raven looked at the boys and couldn't help but frown, the guy in the middle had a look out disdain as he looked down at Raven to which he didn't like. "So you're her roommate?"
"Hmm?" Raven's frown deepened as stared back at the guy whose lips immediately curled up, "nothing special... I was worried for nothing.... A good reminder, don't die in your exploration"
The guy turned and walked away, leaving Raven confused,.Zhang Que saw Raven's confused expression and told him that the guy was Hiro Sasaki. Raven just shook his head and didn't mind it, "how snobbish", he muttered.
A man in tuxedo walked up to the stage in the middle of the auditorium, he tapped on the mic across him causijg everyone in the auditorium to look towards him.
"My name is Dr. Zeckfred, today I would be in charge of the first years' wildland exploration, and when I mean first years, I mean the people who were brought in yesterday"
"This exploration would be taking the whole day, and you will be graded based on the number of kills you make and the time you return, so that means you are going out there to kill or you will be killed'
"Isn't that sending us to our deaths, I thought we were meant to be a able to harness our abilities, here?" Someone voiced a complaint which caused others to bring up their own complaints.
Dr. Zeckfred chuckled and his wrinkes shook, "if you are before a berserker or a beast, would you kill it or let it kill you?"
"Isn't it better to run away?" A girl said as she pouted causing the man to laugh heartily which confused the crowd.
"Once you turn your back to run, that is the moment you die, besides this exploration is based on choice, you can choose to do it and choose not to..."
Hearing his words, many people stood up to walk out of the auditorium, and Dr. Zeckfred's eyes twinkled, "Just so you know, once you don't do this exploration, you would be forced to go to a red planet, and when I mean red planet, it's a planet where the races develop only from killing others"
The people who were about to walk out, sat back in their respective seats as they grumbled. "We aren't sending you to your death, once your health point is at 15, you'll be immediately recalled back to the academy, since the Wildlands is a world created by an A order Space mage"
Most of the people witted sighed in relief after the man's words. "...but death us inevitable, there are beasts who could make an instant kill, so you need to be very careful"
Raven looked at the expression of those around him, some had fear, while some were excited, he turned to look at Zhang Que who still had his smile on his face, he was shaking in his seat. "I'm not scared, I'm just shaking in excitement at being able to finally go free abs slice with my sword"
Raven smiled when he heard that, he didn't know how he felt, he was both excited and scared at the same time, that's the thrill in it right?
"Let's make a bet, whoever has the lowest kill has to grant a wish of the other, what do you say?" Zhang Que said as he looked at Raven who thought about it a little, and nodded.
"The kills would be a combination of both beasts and berserkers right?" Raven asks and Zhang Que nodded.
Some minutes later, at the northern side of the school, all the first years gathered around as before them wete two pillars which acted as an entrance as a portal swirled in the middle. Dr. Zeckfred was beside it.
"I wish you all good luck in your exploration, you can use whatever means to get a kill, but I advise you not to die, once your health Points is down to 15, double tap your wristband and you'll be teleported back here" Dr. Zeckfred said as the first years began to walk in a single file into the portal. As Raven was about to enter, he felt an intense gaze on him, turning around, he saw Hiro and Elizabeth standing with each other as they looked at him. He shook his head and walked into the portal.
"Do you think he would last long there?" Hiro said as he looked at Elizabeth who showed no expression on her face.
"That would depend on him, if he dies, he dies, if he survives, he's worthy to be my roommate!" Elizabeth turned and walked away leaving Hiro who had his fists clenched.
He unclenched his fists and smirked, "I've made preparations"
*********
Raven suddenly felt gravity lessen and noticed that he was falling from the sky, he didn't panic as he saw some others falling also, though they were far away. When he was hundred meters to the ground, he backflipped and landed properly. As soon as he stood upright, he was stunned.
"Did I sign a contract with death today?"
End of Chapter 7