The next morning I woke up to the sound of my phone's notification tone.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I groggily reached for my phone to check the message.
[ Dear Students... Unfortunately... ]
Half-asleep, I read through the message from the Academy's administration regarding the cancellation of all classes for a few days due to some 'circumstances'.
'It's most likely because of yesterday...'
Placing the phone back on the nightstand, I muttered while getting out of bed.
Obviously, after yesterday's massacre the Academy received a lot of complaints and pressure from parents and other nobles that supported the institution. Hence, the decision to temporarily suspend classes was likely an attempt to quell the rising tensions and allow time for proper investigation and resolution of the incident
It was the same in the novel, which meant that the plot hadn't deviated that much from the original storyline.
"Everything is going great..."
I thought sarcastically, as I dragged myself to the bathroom to start my day.
As I stood under the cold water of the shower, I opened up my Status Window.
~~~ Status ~~~
Name: Note Enderfrost
Rank: F-
Strength: F
Agility: F-
Stamina: F
Intelligence: G+
Charm: F-
<-- Mastery -->
Swordsman [ Lv. 3 ]
The degree of understanding the user has of the sword.
<-- Weapon Art -->
Frostbite's Blade [ ✪✪ ] - Novice Proficiency
Frostbite's Blade is a weak-level technique that infuses the wielder's weapon with a subtle chill, causing a fleeting numbing sensation upon contact.
[ First Movement { Chilly Sweep } ]
The user coats their weapon in a layer of ice, enhancing its cutting power and freezing potential.
<-- Skills -->
Demon's Veil { G }
A skill honed by demons to conceal their distinct racial traits, rendering them indiscernible from other beings.
Burst { G }
A skill that allows its user to temporarily boost their speed and agility by a minor realm.
~~~~~~~~~~
Just as I thought, after visiting the Mana-Rich dungeon my Rank increased by a minor realm.
It was not bad, really not bad, especially because my talent limit is of E+ rank and the pace of my progress seemed steady.
'I should remove the limit as fast as possible...'
I thought while getting out of the shower and dressing up for the day. I decided to wear a grey hoodie and a pair of comfortable jeans that didn't restrict my movements.
I also didn't forget to grab my sword, strapping its scabbard around my waist before making my way out of the dorm.
The campus was filled with students bustling about. Most of them wore simple clothing, because classes were temporarily suspended and they were planning to go out and enjoy their free time.
It was quite annoying because I had to navigate through the massive crowd to reach the exit of the campus.
'...'
Finally, after weaving through the sea of students, I stepped out onto the bustling streets of the city.
I didn't stand in one place, though.
With quick strides, I managed to go and board an air train within 5 minutes.
It was the third time I stepped into such a vehicle, and each time, I marveled how the hell did the creators of this magical contraption manage to lift such a heavy structure into the air with ease.
This would've been impossible in my previous world.
[ Next Stop, Root Graveyard ]
Bringing me out of my thoughts was the automated announcement that echoed through the train.
I glanced at the screen displaying the upcoming destination before I stood up from my seat.
Whoosh...
The massive aircraft soon began to smoothly descend onto a platform situated on a side of fort-like structure that overlooked the vast expanse of the 'desolate wastes'.
Through the train's window, I could see the eerie landscape of the Root Graveyard. The barren land was covered with twisted, gnarled tree roots that stretched out like skeletal arms, intertwining and creating a horror-like scene.
Tap...
As the train came to a stop and the doors opened, I took a deep breath and stepped out onto the platform.
Along with me, quite a lot of other passengers disembarked the train. I noticed that one thing everyone had in common was weapons strapped to their sides or held tightly in their hands.
I should probably explain why that is.
A few years back this was once a beautiful and thriving city, bustling with life and prosperity. However, a dungeon appeared somewhere beneath the grounds and after some time it went through an outbreak, releasing hordes of monsters that emerged from the ground and rampaged through the city.
Countless attempts to find the dungeon portal and eradicate the monsters had been made, but the efforts had proven futile.
In the end, the city was forced to evacuate and a fortress was built to prevent any further spread of the monsters. Now, the Root Graveyard serves as a dangerous hunting ground for brave adventurers seeking to hunt the menacing creatures that dwell within.
I've come to this place for two things:
To test my Ashen Armor's abilities and to gather valuable resources I can later sell for more profit back in the fortress.
Although, I could just invest in stocks and wait for my money to grow, but why not do both? I could also improve my skills and gain experience in the process.
And why do I need the money... Let's just say I need a lot of them and quick.
In a month's time, an auction will be held in the Sky Palace, a magnificent floating city inhabited by the elves and a prime hub for rare and valuable artifacts.
I intend or rather must participate in that auction and secure a specific item that costs quite a lot.
If I don't…
Let's just say I'm stagnating my growth by more than a hundred times.
'Let's get hunting...'