The next day had arrived. Just like the previous day, everyone was on edge, wondering how the whole expedition course would work out. All the first year students had been called into the arena. Their population was quite large, but fortunately enough, the arena wad built to be big enough to easily contain the large number of first year students.
Standing in front of them all, was the man whose job was to pass across information to them. Prior to the students being called, a large device had been placed in the room facing all of them. Thr object was a raised platform with a white circular disc in the centre of it.
"Good morning, students. As you are all aware, today is thr beginning of ypur next step in your training, the expedition course," the man started off. "This part of your training is meant to teach you how tp survive and grow your power in thr midst of chaos. I don't want to go into too much detail about this, as i am sure ypu had been taught about it during your abilities classes.
"However, i would like to leave you all with this message. Unlike what most would tell you, i am going to be quite blunt about this whole training," his eyes narrowed. "If you are unable to keep up, then this life just wasn't meant for you. Fall behind, and ypu know what will happen to you."
Hearing this, the students atarted murmuring amongst themselves. Many were already scared about the whole thing, many regretting why thry had even bothered to step into the academy in the first place. But, there were those who didn't seem too nervous about the whole thing.
[Quest Received!]
[The Expedition Course has arrived!]
[This is a chance for you to grow stronger and level up!]
[During this course, a series of smaller quests would be assigned to you that you would need to complete. Complete them in order to receive a greater reward!]
[First Quest: Slay 100 basic grade beasts!]
'I haven't even stepped into the portal, yet this system is already tasking me,' Kayden thought to himself. 'But still, this is good. With the way i am now, i can even slay intermediate grade beasts, so this should be easy.'
Once everything was said and done, it was now time for the students to be transported to the portal that had been selected for the expedition course. The instructors present ordered the students to step onto the platform in groups of five so that they would be transported.
Kayden had stuck close to Paul and Shawn, wanting to enter the planet woth the both of them.
'I need to stick by the people i feel i can trust during this course,' he thought. Although he couldn't be certain whether or not they would betray him at some point, to him, he was better off sticking woth those who had never threatened his life before at the academy.
However, there were two more people who had moved towards them.
"Do you mind if i travelled along with you?" Zain said, moving closer.
Kayden was surprised to see Zain approach him. From what he knew, Zain seemed to hold a grudge against him, so why did he suddenly want to atick close to him? He couldn't think much about it now, as he was still staring at the other person who jad approached him.
"Don't be so surprised, you maingy mutt. Just like you, I can't surround myself with weak people," Kumon said as he approached the group.
Soon enough, it was their turn to step onto the platform. Upon doing so, a bright light shun that forced them all to cover their eyes. Once the liggt had vanished, they all opened their eyes, seeing a change in their environment. They were no longer in the academy premises. Now, there were in a completely different planet, a planet that was ruled by beasts.
"At least, they didn't send us to some desert planet," Paul said, lookijg around at the leaves and vast forest canopy. "This is just like a rainforest, except that i've never seen trees like this before."
The others couldn't help but agree. They were mesmerized by the vast vegetation. However, in the midst of it all, they heard a screech coming from above. Raising their heads, they could see a strange monkey-like beast coming at them. Just as it made its presence known, its body was sliced up into ten different pieces.
"Weak shit," Zain said. "I can't believe i wanted so much mana to that ape."
Soon after, more monkey-like beasts could be seen rushing towards them. Zain and Kumon were the first to act as they spammed attacks at the beasts. Zain with his slashes, and Kumon with his lightning. Seeing this, the others were starting to wonder when these two had gotten so powerful. They didn't even give Kayden the chance to help out in any way.
'I need to complete this quest fast!' Ignoring what the both of them were doing, Kayden transformed abd ran forward, swinging his clawed hands at thr beasts coming before them. He ran in the opposite direction, seeing that the beasts were coming from every direction. Paul and Shawn were also quick to act once they noticed this.
[Basic grade beasts killed: 10]
[20]
[40]
[80]
The numbers were quickly going up. Kayden was making quick work pf the beasts, and after a few minutes, their numbers had significantly dwindled, and now, only a few remained.
[First quest complete!]
Kayden was waiting for a reward to be given, however, he soon realized that he would receive no such thing from the system.
The area was now clear of monkey beasts. But now, they had another issue to deal with, as other kinds of beasts began to appear, rushing towards them. Sure enough, Zain and Kumon seemed like they could keep at it, but the rest had other plans.
"Hey! Do you really think we should be wasting our energy like that?! What if a higger grade beasts comes along and we are too weak from figting these small fries that we can't even defend ourselves. Shouldn't we just focus more on the stronger beasts in order to protect ourselves?
"I think what we should do now is just run away!" Shawn explained, thinking that everything they were currently doing was pretty much hopeless.
"He's right!" Kayden said, swiping his claw at one of the gorilla-like beasts with four arms. "This is a waste of our time. The purpose of this course was us to take on stronger beasts and push ourselves further. What we're doing now is counterintuitive."
Although he was saying this, the main reason why he was in support of what Shawn said was because of the message he had received from the system.
[Second Quest: Kill 100 intermediate grade beasts!]
'Since i started killing these otger beasts, the number hasn't gone up once from zero. That should mean that none of these beasts are of the intermediate grade, so i would just be wasting my time if i choose to keep on attacking them. I need to find and kill beasts of the intermediate grade, only then can i complete this quest.'
He was hoping that the other two would agree. Zain and Kumon looked at each other. Even they knew that they would be wasting their power of they just keep on fighting these weak level beasts.
"Kumon, clear a path for us with yoir ability," Zain said.
Kumon gave him the side eye, bit he did as told. Activating his lightning, he ran forward, killing all the beasts that were around him, while the other ran right behind him, killing any of the beasts that came way too close to them.
They had done this until they had fled the area, though the beasts were still chasing behind them.
"This is getting too annoying," Kumon said, placing both of his hands on the ground. He poured his lightning into the forest floor, sending it right at thr beasts that were closing the distance. The electricity coarsed through their bodies, killing all of the beasts that were still chasing them. "And that settles that."
The others were still quite amazed to see how much powerful Kumon had become, but then, something else had emerged.
"Is that... a mermaid?" Paul asked. "Why... why does it have a fish head and human legs instead of the other way around?"
"You want to ask questions, or ypu want to kill?" Zain produced his slashes, slicing up the beast before it could do anything. "This thing, my attacks didn't go through it as effortlessly as it did the others. I don't think this is another basic grade beast."
'Is that so?' Kayden thought, clenching his fist. 'It's slaying time.'
__________
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. This is the first one I plan on posting today. See you in the next chapter.