[The participants shall proceed to the north edge of the hill for the conducting of the dungeon expedition]
As instructed, Alab and the others were proceeding to the northern part of the hill where the barracks were at.
Tugging open the door, turbulent gusts swept through the face of Girth who conceitedly led the group. The already chaotic air intensified with the frantic flapping of wings of the summoned griffins owned by their neighboring barracks.
The other participants had seen the system notifications sent by the Academia. Similar to their group, they were on their way to the North edge of the hill.
*cough cough*
Girth coughed as dust filled his nostrils and infuriated eyes. Alab could care less and called out for Misery which blocked the entrance of the barracks with its large physique. He then hopped on as he hurried to the stated location.
Anastasia however was different. She pulled out a wipe from her inventory and handed it to Girth whilst Han Seo Yeon summoned his griffin. Like Alab, he didn't give a damn about Girth, shrugging as he walked past him.
Han Seo Yeon's owned an adult griffin whose small and curious eyes suited him. A burnt mark dotted its neck.
Consequently, Anastasia summoned an adult griffin who appeared older than Alab's and Han Seo Yeon's. Its head adorned with golden streaks of hair, was held high as it snorted toward the infuriated Girth, furthering his shame.
Girth could only sob, rubbing his strained eyes.
Anastasia hopped on as she saw that Girth had gradually recollected his composure. Then, they followed Alab who looked like an ant from a protracted distance.
*swoosh*
---
Twenty minutes later, a stretch of honey plants cheered their sight along the sweet aroma which satiated their olfactory. Varying species dotted the place, frantically stomping on the tiny plants in the venue.
Alab rolled his vision as he scanned the surroundings, seemingly in search of something.
Breaths later, he retracted his gaze. He couldn't find the mysterious species he saw at the [Fiery Lion Dungeon].
'Is he using a camouflage skill? Or maybe a stealth skill?'
Alab couldn't dismiss his speculations that the mysterious species was also a participant. He believed that it was most likely using a stealth skill to conceal itself. He then took note to secure an item or skill that could uncover such skills.
As he skimmed through his surroundings, he saw the goblins who appeared dumbfounded, their salivating jaws dropped to the ground with their wire-enclosed bats scratching the honey plants.
Alab traced their line of view and he saw the group of dark elves. It was clear that these goblins were eyeing the young dark elf who was being isolated by the group, loitering in the rear part and 5 meters distance away.
The goblins couldn't believe what they were seeing. The supposed crippled dark elf had now recuperated, his restored limbs making them doubt the past reality.
The young goblin inched into the brother goblin.
"Brother, how is he fine? kri, We smashed his feet, didn't we?", the young goblin whispered.
The brother goblin couldn't believe his eyes either. He shook his head in opposition.
"It can't be. Maybe there is a healer among their group. Krikri, Don't worry, I have an idea.", he removed his grimace from the dark elf as he gathered his fellow goblins for a discussion.
With his deliberations, the group nodded their heads a while later in satisfaction as they then sneered at the young dark elf.
The domineering aura emitting from other dark elves made them reconsider their decision. They could only wait until the dungeon opened up to hatch their plan.
"KRIKRI, I will make sure that we will all survive", the brother goblin vowed.
Meanwhile, Alab glanced at the young dark elf who was only meters away from him. The group of dark elves was focused on the small stage in the center of the expanse, lingering till the proctor of the exam arrived.
The young dark elf murmured.
"Ahmmm, brother, can I join you guys?", he stammered.
A dark elf glared at him and scoffed.
"You? In that state? You are not qualified to hunt with the crowned prince!", he muttered then shifted his gaze to the forefront.
"Sorry, Mr. Felix but you cannot join our hunt yet. Maybe soon?", a woman dark elf solaced.
Turning to the side, she smacked the head of the dark elf who scoffed at Felix.
Felix, the young dark elf, sulked at hearing her words. Saddened he might be, he knew that he couldn't join their hunts yet as he would just be a dead weight.
'It's not enough, I need to get stronger', Felix was reluctant to be let down by this obstacle.
Clutching his wooden sword, Felix looked at the forefront, determined to achieve a satisfying score in this examination.
Looking at him, the woman dark elf had a heavy heart, uncertainty arising in her mind, dubious of the little chance that Felix would survive the upcoming exam. After all, the fact that he ranked 981 was undisputable proof of his deficiencies.
Shifting her solemn gaze, she peered through the image of a tall dark elf ahead, oozing elegance. She was hopeful that her gaze might spark even a little empathy from the crowned prince.
She just couldn't gather the courage to question his decision.
---
Meanwhile, Alab was pushed further to the front as another group of humans arrived at the site. They landed right behind the [Planet Earth] group, squeezing into the little space left.
Though identical species, the two groups remained vigilant toward each other. They remained foreign to each other and lived in different worlds with different norms and cultures.
This wariness toward each other lingered for a while before the appearance of the proctor on the small metal stage washed it off.
A woman clad in an alluring rosy tight dress, accentuating her voluptuous figure that was coated further by the black robe loosed to her calf which failed to conceal her bewitching figure, rose from the circular pattern in the stage.
Her creamy thick hair neck-length haircut hopped with the sweet air as her fierce cream eyes scanned the participants encircling the small stage.
Stepping her red high heels forward, she delicately unzipped her snowy lips after a few steps.
"I am Hazel Pierre, an instructor from the Academia and is assigned to proctor this examination.", she introduced.
Hazel walked circularly to the stage as she eyed the different species. After an abrupt halt in front of the draconian in the forefront just a meter before the stage, Hazel began the deliberations of the rules.
"There are some changes in the second exam. Instead of D-grade, the board members have decided to change it at the last minute. You will be entering a C-grade dungeon for your practical exam", Hazel brought up the last-minute changes. She reckoned that these participants would run wild by her sudden news cause, after all, the impulsive decision of sending these newbies into a higher dungeon could be considered a death sanction to them.
However, the crowd didn't erupt with turmoil at this which came rather unexpectedly.
Hazel scorned them for their bleak reactions.
"Ohhh, it seems that you are not surprised. I guess a prophet is born in this batch, huh, Interesting", Hazel smirked as she licked her snowy lips.
Stepping her heels backward as she turned, she proceeded.
"The test will be conducted for 3 days. You will have to gather as many mana crystals as you can within the given timeframe. A ranking will be shown in real-time and take note that your ranking will determine your status in the Academia."
In other words, they had to kill monsters, and only then could they obtain the mana crystals that would drop from the C-grade monsters and above with a 100% drop rate.
"Attacking and stealing from others is not allowed. Once caught, you will be severely punished. Also, there are traps in the C-rank dungeon so you will have to be vigilant. Lastly...", Hazel paused as she glanced at the rearmost part of the crowd, right at the place where Alab and the goblins stood.
It seemed that she was fully aware of the initial ranking.
"The two who ranked the bottom will be severed of their rights to their life.", Hazel jeered
Felix couldn't help but perked up at her words, clutching his sword tightly.
The goblins tuck their arms into the brother goblin, quivering.
Girth sneered back at Hazel... stretching his middle finger.
"HAHAHA, you are all entertaining. I love that.", Hazel giggled then took another step to the side, drifting her gaze to other species. Girth's action didn't irk her, in fact, she found it amusing that there was someone from the group who had such guts.
With all the deliberations done, Hazel pressed her arms together. The bracelet of beads in her arms emitted light, sucking in the pink mana escaping her body.
The beads grew bright in color, assaulting the eyes of the participants who scurried to cover their eyes. As the light subsided, a system notification filled their lethargic eyes.
[You will now be transported to the C-grade dungeon]
Anastasia held Han Seo Yeon's and Girth's hands. Their bodies began disintegrating into lights. Anastasia stole a last glance at Alab.
"Are you really not going with us?", Anastasia was anxious.
Consequently, Alab nodded.
"If that is your decision. I wish you well", Anastasia bid her farewell then, she nudged Han Seo Yeon and Girth who felt Anastasia's hold getting tensed. The grip was becoming tighter that the two could only do as Anastasia willed.
The two spoke.
"Stay safe"
"Keke"
Before his body fully disintegrated into lights, Alab stole a last glance at Felix who also came on his own, his eyes determined to attain a higher score.
With a speck of their bodies remaining that soon was blown away by the sweet wind, a system notice entered their sight.
[You have entered the Owl Bear Dungeon (C)]