Mr. Patrick stood before his students donning the same neutral look on his face that he already developed a reputation for.
"Welcome back to WLD 201".
"Fat man!" A familiar voice called from among the students.
Mr. Patrick's face twitched and he reacted like he didn't hear it.
"So, like I told you last week, we have only 2 classes for WLD 201…"
"Fat man!"
Mr. Patrick's face darkened.
"Hehe," The students chuckled in muffled tones.
Mr. Patrick's face twitched furiously. 'You're really asking for it today, huh?' He glared at him. 'You'll get it!'
Snap!
BAM!
100g gravity!
A crater was created where Ramon sat just a moment ago as this student disappeared, having been made to kiss the ground as retribution for his sins.
This time, Ramon truly regretted taunting his instructor.
He felt like a frog stuck in a battlefield of Lions who was finally trampled by the casual stomp of an alpha male Lion.
Kissing the ground, he felt his bones creak. His joints protested like they would give way the next moment, all his blood rushed to his brain, Ramon felt like he would die any moment if he dared to breath.
Ramon panicked, he feared for his life.
"Pwetsesh…!" It took all his strength as an Evolver to beg.
Mr. Patrick glared at him, leaving him like that for 5 seconds before he finally released him as Ramon coughed blood, grievance painted all over his face.
"Next time you try me, you won't live to tell the story".
Ramon wiped his tears, yet he refused to apologize.
Mr. Patrick's eyes twitched again. 'Stubborn brat!'
He continued his class.
"So, like I told you last week, we have only 2 classes for WLD 201 per week and that one class will be for theory while the other class is for practical."
"Finally, it's time for practical".
"Beware though, practical takes a lot of time".
"Yes!" The students cheered excitedly.
"Silence!"
The hall quietened down the next moment, a pin drop would be heard.
With a stern gaze, Mr. Patrick looked round his students. "As second years, you're finally eligible to move inside the periphery of a wilderness".
"But mind you, 90% of recorded student deaths every year is due to deadly encounters in the Wheat Trye Wilderness".
The class quietened down even further as he spoke.
"The remaining 10% is to astral travelers".
"The Wilderness is a dangerous place, you have to be prepared before going, both physically and mentally".
"On this expedition, there's every possibility of death".
"Only those who are ready to die ventures into a wilderness".
Mr. Patrick's eyes became even sterner. "If you're not ready to die, withdraw now and leave my class, or forever keep your peace".
Mr. Patrick finally saw hesitation in some of his students' eyes as their hearts wavered, they kept on looking at each other, perhaps looking for the first deserter.
In the end, no student left.
"I hope you don't later regret your choice".
Mr. Patrick turned to leave. "Follow me".
Following the HOD of the wildlife department, the students finally went to the academy's armory that was located toward the big Eastern gate for the first time since they got admitted into Centerpoint Astral Academy.
Opening the armory, the students were exposed to a reservoir of weapons.
Countless catalogues of weapons were arranged in specially made shelves and racks for as far as their eyes could see, the large hall was filled to the brim with different weapons.
"We already deliberated on the mental and physical aspects," Mr. Patrick looked ahead. "But to survive, you also need to be properly equipped to fight astral beasts".
"You have 5 minutes to choose any weapon of your choice".
"Meet me outside".
With that, the excited students started making their choice. Making his way to the blade catalogue of the armory, Ramon was exposed to a lot of swords and bladed weapons but in the end, he picked none.
All of them were weapons crafted for Legionnaire Stage Warriors, none of the swords present held a candle to Ramon's Storm Breaker.
"Won't you pick a dagger at least?" A random student suggested. "It can be incredibly useful in the wild".
Ramon looked at the daggers, he didn't feel the same resonance he felt when looking at swords. He shook his head. "Nah, my sword is enough".
5 minutes later, all the students gathered again before Mr. Patrick outside.
Mr. Patrick was no longer alone when they met him again, alongside him were 6 other instructors of the wildlife department, all Knight Stage Warriors.
"For this expedition, the 6 of them shall be my co-protectors".
"We're not going to the wilderness so I can teach you how to hunt astral beasts, I already taught you that in the class".
"You are the ones that will hunt, our job is to supervise from the dark," His eyes gleamed. "And to also protect".
"Despite the fact that we're going to a 1st level area of the Wheat Trye Wilderness, nothing is set in stone, it's the wild afterall".
"Even in 1st level areas, different reasons can motivate General Stage Beasts and even at times, Commander Stage Beasts to stray there".
"Our job is to protect you in the case of an encounter against these beasts".
Mr. Patrick's face turned stern again. "Remember, if you can't kill a Legionnaire Stage Beast, your fate is to die".
"I nor my fellow instructors will waste our energy to save you from a beast of your realm". He glared at the students. "This is your last chance to withdraw from the expedition".
None of the students withdrew, they already made up their mind.
"Good". Mr. Patrick nodded. "Lastly, to increase your chances of surviving in the wilderness, you are to be separated into pairs of 2".
"Choose a random teammate to pair with as your partner".
"Together, you'll navigate the dangers of the wild".
Instantly, the students started choosing their partners.
"Umm, please, can I be your pair?" A beautiful red-haired female student asked shyly as Ramon turned to look at her.
He shook his head without hesitation. "No".
She was stunned. "Umm, w-why? Sorry, can I know why?"
"I already have a teammate". Ramon looked squarely into her eyes. "He's currently hospitalized, he'll join me in our next expedition".
"Oh, ok". She bowed shyly in apology.
As she left, this beautiful red-head smirked. 'Arrogant fool!'
'Fools like you die quickly in the wild'.
A few more minutes later, all the students were separated into pairs except 2 students. Even Elmas found a pair, the only 2 students without a pair was Ramon Brenden and a slim timid-looking student who wielded daggers.
The student begged Ramon who refused his advances. In the end, he did not take the risk. He became the only student to withdraw from the expedition.
Mr. Patrick looked at Ramon once before averting his gaze.
"This expedition will last 3 days, try to keep up with me". Without saying another word, Mr. Patrick climbed his mount, a white and black wild Hound before taking the lead as the journey out of the academy started.
The instructors also followed on their mounts.
The students kept up by jogging after them.
The journey took 20 minutes after which they arrived before a thick forest with trees that seemed to grow all the way into the skies, and thick grass that oozed evil and malicious intentions of wanting to engulf the students in its embrace.
"This is one of the 1st level entrances into the Wheat Trye Wilderness". Mr. Patrick spoke from on top his mount.
"Another fact to note before the expedition starts. Any beast that you kill in there is yours, you can keep it in the space ring that you took in the armory and sell them for contribution points in the academy if you survive".
Ramon's eyes brightened. 'That's what Shaggy meant'.
But his heart fell the next moment, he raised a hand guiltily.
Mr. Patrick's face twitched. "What?"
"I didn't take anything from the armory".
"That's your business…, wait, what?" Mr. Patrick's face darkened. "You didn't take a space ring?"
"…" Ramon just looked innocently.
Mr. Patrick closed his eyes, taking deep breaths, trying to calm his nerves but it didn't work. "You fool!" He roared.
Bonk!
"Ouch…!"
Rubbing his aching head about a minute later, Ramon finally slotted Mr. Patrick's spare space ring into his finger. A space ring that was far bigger than the small space ring that any of the other students got.
Mr. Patrick looked ahead into the thick wilderness. "The expedition…, starts now".
"Goodluck, don't die".
The students finally entered the thick wilderness.
Their journey through the astral world truly began today.