-Asher Frostblade's point of view:
Night fell quickly as we hid behind some trees about ten meters away from the monster village.
Deliberately attacking the monster village was not the best way to deal with them.
I glanced briefly at the cadets behind me and then focused my attention once again on the large number of monsters in front of me.
If I initiated the full-scale attack, everything we were supposed to have come for would be ruined.
The best option was to be discreet.
If you go in and start a massacre so easily, all the monsters will be all over you.
There were at least more than 30 monsters, as the village was quite large.
Monster hunting had several ways to start properly.
Don't destroy everything like a madman.
Do it with strategy.
The last half is more about this.
It's not about large-scale battles, like two powerful mages fighting at the same time.
No.
It's not.
For some reason, the last semester is in a dungeon, right?
Then...
I looked at the others and spoke.
"We'll attack when most of the monsters are asleep."
"Asleep... How long will we have to wait?"
"Most monsters usually sleep at midnight, so let's wait five hours while we plan the ambush."
The cadets nodded.
I soon began to explain the details to them.
"Okay, now I'll tell you what you'll have to do."
***
-Scene change.
-Julian Reinhard's point of view:
Rumbling.
The ground vibrated as sparks flew everywhere and lightning struck a monster.
"Haaa... That's all of them."
"I guess so."
By chance, I ran into Emilia.
It was quite unexpected, but I didn't hesitate to join her and combine forces.
There was just one problem though.
"We need supplies."
Food and water were the most necessary things at the moment, especially water.
Thirst was extreme in this place, so the first thing was to look for water urgently.
Still, Julian and Emilia continued to fight the hundreds of monsters they encountered for the rest of the day.
"I need a place to rest."
"Yes, but..."
I looked out into the dense vegetation, where several eyes reflected for an instant.
Crack.
I quickly swung my arm and lightning struck the nearby monsters, making them scream in pain as they were electrocuted on the spot.
Emilia cast fire magic, creating a storm that lit up the place as the flames engulfed the nearby monsters.
However, Emilia did not stop.
The wind whirred freely and the flames grew even larger as Julian watched in surprise.
It really had gotten stronger.
The flames slowly changed to a blue hue, reaching a new level of power.
I did not lag behind.
I cast several electric spells.
Several spears of purple electricity appeared and smashed into the monsters, causing an explosion of purple sparks that filled the air with red flashes.
"Haaa..."
With accumulated fatigue, Julian relaxed, leaning back.
Emilia looked at him and then spoke.
"Don't rest yet."
I laughed, but she was right.
More monsters emerged from nowhere, leaping out of the dense vegetation.
Minutes passed quickly, yet nothing changed.
The monsters kept appearing no matter how many died.
Julian collapsed in exhaustion as Emilia continued to struggle.
It was so exhausting that standing was dizzying.
But it didn't matter too much.
He vaguely felt a very powerful mana.
It was that of a nearby professor.
Although the professors used to change positions constantly to keep an eye on the areas where the cadets were.
Because of that, and because if too many monsters attacked at once, it didn't matter much, as the professor would intervene if we were in danger. Because of this, Julian didn't feel fear; rather, he was exhausted.
"I will continue."
He quickly continued to struggle as time slowly passed, until finally....
"Finally."
I looked around and the monsters stopped appearing. I finally fell to the ground, so tired I couldn't stand.
Emilia followed me.
"This is exhausting."
"Yeah."
Everything was in tatters as I looked around.
The fire was burning brightly as the bodies of the monsters were slowly being burned.
It was really impressive.
There was a huge amount of monsters.
Getting to the temple would be like an eternity, but not impossible.
Therefore, I made sure not to let my guard down completely.
I may have killed all the monsters nearby, but more could still come. Especially the mutant monkeys, which used to throw large rocks every time they appeared. It was annoying.
"It's still quite a lot, isn't it?"
"Yes... And a lot," I answered without hesitation.
For a moment, I looked at Emilia. Our relationship was still not completely defined. All because of a single promise.
"When we're 18 we'll be a real couple."
It happened almost four months ago. A promise motivated by our young ages. It wasn't the right time to be a couple. We just had to wait a few more years, just long enough to officially be one. And yet...
"It's a long time away."
"Yes."
We both responded immediately.
"What will you do once we finish the academy?"
"I'll look for my father."
"..."
It was true. Julian would do it too. However, he wouldn't be stupid enough to go to a Grade 0 Dungeon as soon as he left the academy. No. If he did, he would die immediately. Because 16 ninth-circle mages, among them the strongest in the world, didn't even make it out of that Dungeon alive.
While it is true that all the mages have not yet been confirmed dead in the raid, death is possible.
"Let's wait a little longer."
"I know what you mean."
They had to be ninth circle mages, at the very least, to enter the Dungeon. The Mengral realm did not allow eighth circle mages to enter. They had to be ninth circle mages with quite a bit of experience at that level. Because if you were a mage just promoted to the ninth circle, you would not be allowed to enter the Dungeon; it would be like dying immediately with just a breath. And that was true.
"Do you think we'll make it to ninth circle in five years?"
"Julian."
"Yes."
"If we want to save our parents, we must be strong enough, even stronger than the headmaster."
"...."
Because it was true. The only way to survive was to be the strongest of the strong. But how long would it take? Even so, getting to the ninth circle, no matter how talented you are, takes at least nine years. It takes a great deal of resources to advance as quickly as possible.
"I'll use all of my family's resources when we leave the Dungeon."
"What?"
I looked at Emilia in surprise. That meant she was determined to reach the ninth circle as quickly as possible. Then.
"If you do it, so do I."
Because my father was also lost somewhere in the Grade 0 Dungeon.
"We'll make ourselves as strong as possible."
However, Julian then wondered one thing: how long would it take for them to get to the ninth circle as fast as possible, using all available resources?
"Do you think we'll make it?"
"No."
A quick answer. Because of the time it takes to get to the ninth circle. However.
"Let's train in a dungeon where time is slower."
"..."
It was then that it dawned on me. If we enter a slow time Dungeon, several years will pass inside, but outside the Dungeon only a few months or even days will pass.
"I know a Dungeon with the slowest possible time."
"Ah."
I was surprised when Emilia spoke up.
"Even though four years will pass outside, inside the Dungeon it will be ten years."
Isn't that still a long time? Even so, there were few Dungeons with such a slow time. Therefore, the Dungeon mentioned by Emilia was the slowest she knew of. Of course, there are Dungeons where a year inside is equivalent to a single day outside. That's why.
"So we'll get out when we're 23, right?"
Of course, we weren't sure if it would really take ten years to reach the ninth circle.
"Don't be so sure, Julian."
"Hehe, well, it was just a thought."
What we were most hoping for was only seven years at most, and at best five years.
"Do you think Asher will have an overwhelming growth spurt when we get out?"
The question left Julian thinking.
"I'm guessing he'll be in the ninth circle even before we are."
"You're right, haha."
Because they were sure that would be the case, they had no doubts about it.
Crack.
Suddenly, the branches snapped as the ground shook violently. They were monsters.
"Shit."
I cursed silently as a pack of wolves suddenly appeared, their jaws full of gaping teeth.
"I guess we won't rest all night."
Emilia spoke in a mocking tone, and I laughed before lashing out....