"Vondrel!!!" Rina shouted.
Unable to suppress her emotions any longer, she ran with speed before jumping on him. "it's really you, you are alive, i thought we lost you" she said while droplets of water could be seen at the corner of her eyes.
Everyone..... "_"
"Do they have a connection before?"
"Are they acquaintances?"
"Where does Rina know this strong guy from? "
"Wow they are so close for her to jump on him that way"
" How does this unknown strong guy, knows the beautiful ice princess."
Multiple thoughts and murmurs was running in the minds and mouths of the students there.
"Hey are you not going to allow us hug our brother?" Sam voiced out, seemly waiting for Rina to let go.
Vondrel dropped Rina whose face was bright red and flushed, she was feeling embarrassed and shy, she couldn't understand what prompted her to act that way to someone she rarely know. She just had to follow her instinct.
' I really did that ' she thought, feeling more embarrassed at her action.
The friends all came together ignoring the many eyes on them.
"So when do you care to explain why you gave the crystal to that boy ??" the female gifted who goes by the name Linda voiced out
"I owe no one an explanation, besides if the crystal is being taken by the weakest group, it isn't a bad thing, moreover it's a waste" Vondrel said.
"We all fought together to defeat the beast, how dare you lowly creature decide who takes the crystal?!!!" Linda screamed her aura bursting out of her figure.
"If you don't get yourself together, I'll have no choice but to help you with that," Vondrel said in a low, measured tone. His voice carried a weight that sent a chill through the air.
As the words left his lips, a sharp, menacing aura began to seep out from him, swirling like an unseen force that pressed against everything around him. The atmosphere grew tense, and the subtle hum of power radiating from Vondrel's figure was impossible to ignore.
His eyes glinted with a cold resolve, and though his posture remained still, the energy emanating from him hinted at the power he held back, waiting to be unleashed..
The girl instinctively took a step back, fear flashing in her eyes as she sensed the icy edge in his words. It wasn't just what Vondrel had said—it was the way he said it, the quiet menace laced through each syllable that sent a shiver down her spine.
The air around him seemed to thicken, his presence growing heavier, more oppressive, as if the very space around him was bending under the weight of his restrained power. A concentrated sharpness radiated from him, subtle yet unmistakable, like the poised blade of a sword ready to strike.
Her heart raced as the chilling aura seeped into the air, wrapping around her, tightening like an invisible grip. Though he hadn't moved, his aura was enough to paralyze her in place, and she realized with growing dread just how dangerous he truly was.
Vondrel's eyes locked onto hers, cold and unyielding, and she felt herself teetering on the edge of something far more terrifying than she had ever imagined.
"Yeah we all did a good work together, but i did the most and i can as well decide that my very own group takes the reward, but still i gave it out, i think that's fair by me" Vondrel said to her while also glaring at her.
Linda felt a chill in her spine, staring at him seems as if he was seeing through her souls, bids of sweats were dripping down her face and she could feel a slight pressure pressing down on her even without him unleashing his full power unlike her, his slight aura was able to cancel her outburst.
'Why am i having this feeling, i only feel this way around my older sister, but why him, he's just a weakling who gets his power from wherever i don't fucking care, why is my body not answering me, if he can do this much, why haven't i heard about him from anywhere, who is he? ' many questions were running through her mind.
"Enough!" A voice suddenly said, all heads turned to stare at the owner of the voice
"We don't have to fight ourselves over something so frivolous, let's all go and take a rest today, we can continue the hunt to the second level tomorrow, we have a long way to go" the white haired guy said as he walked close to the girl.
Everyone began to move and go their separate ways after that declaration from the number one among the first year student in the academy.
"Can i come with you?" a girlie voice said from behind Rina and her group.
Rina Turner round to look at the ownber of the voice.
"Aren't you suppose to lead your group ??" Rina asked
"I just wanna be around you nothing more and moreover our group will be stronger together, I'm sure your group will be a target now due to the handwork of a certain someone " the girl said while stealing glances at Vondrel.
"Well what do you think everyone? " Rina asked her group members.
They all agreed while Vondrel limited himself to shrug. They decided to find a safe place to pitch their tent, when a familiar person came into view.
'PAH PAH PAH '
A clapping sound was heard. "what a nice display of power you got there, i actually thought you died. Tell me, how did you survive the claws of death?" Larry questioned with a huge smile plastered on his face.
"Someone might have saved him back there, because there is no way he could have survived the attack by himself " a member of Larry's group voiced out.
"Larry, what's actually is your problem with Rina, why are you so bent on annoying her? " the leader of the group that formed an alliance with Rina's group inquired.
"Point of correction Andy, i'm not trying to annoy her, i'm trying to put her in her rightful place" Larry replied
"This guy is annoying " Sam whispered.
Vondrel could hear his words clearly due to his now sensitive ears, he could also sense the raging energy in Sam. Placing his hands on his shoulder, Vondrel urged them to move.
"Let's go" Vondrel begin to walk away while ignoring their conversation.
"How dare you walk away from him!!!?" one of Larry's group members shouted before charging straight at Vondrel.
Larry raised his hand to stop the charge but he was too late, the guy balled up his fist, metals grew and enclosed his fist, swinging it outward with full force aiming at Vondrel's head.
Vondrel easily side stepped and avoided the punch then he bent slightly and twisted his fist oddly, sending it forward.
'Bang'
A loud bang was heard coupled by a loud cracking sound, the guy gasped for air, a bit of saliva flew out of his mouth, his whole body was lifted into the air before he flew with an unfathomable speed, cutting through the air and breaking trees apart, before stopping on a tree hundred metres away from his previous position and sliding down from it.
"I won't let anyone who choose to hurt me or my friends go, you should all know your place " Vondrel voiced out without looking back or stopping to check the person he had hit.
'I really pulled back my punch, how come he still flew to that distance, I'm glad he's still breathing ' he thought while staring at his fist and being surprised at his strength, he could hear the heart beat of the guy that's why he was relieved.
"you need to get used to your strength lad, else you'll end up hurting someone " the blade said
"Have you checked the reward for completing the quest? " the system inquired knowing fully well that he haven't spared a moment to check .
"Wait till i get used to it, i'm new to everything" Vondrel responded to the system.
"That was a very hard hit, i hope he survives that" Timmy muttered
"I was really planning to postpone the fight with you guys, but i guess it's time to show you guys your place." Larry said and his aura began to flare
"Don't even think about it" Rina stated with a strong tone and her aura also flared, as if planned Andy aura also flared.
The two female auras clashed against Larry's own, the others had to step back to avoid the pressure that descended on the environment. Cracks spread from underneath them the grounds suffered while the pressure keeps mounting .
"I'll stop here, but this is my warning, you all should watch your backs as from now on, because i'll be after your pitiful asses, including you" Larry said and ended his words by pointing to Andy.
She limited herself to just shrug, while Rina continued to glare at him. He and his group went to take their comrade before leaving the area.
"Shall we?" Rina said after making sure that Larry and his troublesome group weren't lurking around.
..........
While everything was happening a certain someone sat cross leg under a very tall tree with large branches and leaves covering it, the person's eyes were shot as if focusing on something.
System interface....
[Quest complete]
[Defeat an intermediate tier]
[A first time reward bonus for defeating the beast will now be rewarded ]
[15000 Exp has been rewarded]
[Quest complete]
[Defeat an advanced tier]
[30000 exp has been rewarded ]
[All attributes increase one level]
[Abilities increase one level]
[You are now level 5]
[You have gained 20 attributes points extra]
[You have gained 10 skill points]
[You have enough Exp to level up]
[Level up 1]
[Level up 2]
[You are now level 7]...
"Wow this is great, how am i meant to use the attributes and skill points now?" Vondrel thought while his face was all smiles.
"Select which attribute you want the point to be added to, same as the skill." the system said.
"Okay, use one point each for all my attributes and use one skill point each for my skills" Vondrel said in his thought.
[Attributes point and skill point added]
[New attribute available]
[Endurance : self explanatory ]
[Use two attribute points to unlock]
"This is a good offer, use and use 1 attribute point for agility and strength " Vondrel ordered.
[New attribute unlocked ]
[Endurance : 35]
"Add two points to endurance, three to intelligence and the last two to perception " Vondrel said.
[Endurance : 35 + 2]
[Strength : 31 + 1]
[Agility : 41 + 1]
[Intelligence : 56 + 3]
[Perception : 51 + 2]
[skills]
[Ability acquisition : level 3]
[phantom slash level : 5 + 1]
[Slash of furry level : 5 +1]
[Light blast level : 4]
[Dark blast level : 4]
[Jump level : 2]
[Mystic eyes level : 2]
"This should be enough" he said before he opened his eyes, which has been closed for sometime. He could see everyone staring at him oddly.
"What's this air around him, as if he's far more stronger than he was some days ago?" Sam asked.
"As if he isn't actually stronger already." James said
"We are going to find out about that from him, but first let's pitch our tent" Timmy replied.
Everyone settled down after they had pitched a tent for the twelve students available, they sat in a circular form while Vondrel was busy roasting meat with the little seasoning he could get.
"How i wish i was able to come here with seasoning, this will have been better. Aww, this sucks" he kept muttering whenever he tasted the steak.
He was oblivious of the aroma dominating the area around them, making the others to salivate. He kept on searching his old memories and past life for better options trying to make it perfect but without the required seasonings there isn't much he could so about it, Rina was trying her best to assist in preparing the steak.
"Do you mind serving the steak already, my tummy hurts alot " Andy voiced out, not being able to hold it anymore. Her stomach kept growling, though she wasn't the only one, but she couldn't help it anymore.
Vondrel begin to share the steak to everyone with the help of Rina, they all gobbled the steak hungrily, no ome paying attention to eating mannerisms.
When they were done, they all decided to catch up with each other. Andy and her group members narrated their story the same could be said for Rina's group.
"So you mean, you don't know how you survived after that experience?"
"I'm surprised you're still in your right senses after facing death"
"I'm finding it hard to believe "
"If it weren't for them who bared witness, i will think it's a made up story. "
That were the words that came out of Andy's group members.
"I can show you the collapsed maze as prove, what do you think?" Vondrel asked
"Hmm, so how about this powers where did they come from?" Samuel asked.
"Do you need help on what to say?" the system inquired
"Nope i got this, remember i have lived a hard life before, that country NIG is a country full of wise people, cunning people, scamers and intellectuals, it's a world on its own, so i can do this" Vondrel responded
"We are waiting " Sam voiced out impatiently
"Impatient as usual, well it's nothing big, i just got lucky at the point of death. " Vondrel said.
"How?"
"In what way? "
"Try to be self explanatory "
"How do you mean?"
They all asked the questions in their minds.
"I thought you guys will be able to understand just by my earlier statement, okay this is it, my existence refused to die even though I've lost lots of blood, my existence fought hard but i was already giving up, the battle was futile, i just had to give up, but suddenly due to the death experience and the battle against death. It pushed my existence to a new state, my existence won the battle against death which not only saved my life but also helped me awaken my abilities and powers, the last thing i remembered was my blood boiling with intensity and the beast dropping me while running for its life before i passed out and later woke up feeling light and powerful, it was an unforgettable experience. " Vondrel narrated making everyone imagine the pains he might have gone through, the atmosphere became solemn and everyone fell silent.
"Cough, Cough.....we are happy you're alive and back to us, that's the most important thing " Noah broke the silence.
"Let's all get a rest, so we can wake up early tomorrow " James said
"I'll watch the tent alone" Vondrel voiced out
"You need to rest, you have used up lots of energy today" Rina said
"You think so? It will take someone or something that is as strong as an advanced tier to defeat me right now with the energy left in me" Vondrel said with a smirk.
Everyone.... "_"
"Aren't you being cocky?" Timmy questioned
"No i'm not, it's actually the fact " Vondrel replied
"Which means you could defeat the advanced tier alone earlier, why didn't you do that? " a guy in Andy's group inquired.
"Of course i can, but if i do, it will be so selfish of me taking the merit and i'll be tired after taking it out, remember the huge legged tortoise is a strong one even though its a newly advanced tier" Vondrel explained.
"If i heard you clearly, you used the word tired not weak why? " Andy questioned with a confused look
"Hmm...actually the strain will be too much, i don't know what my body can take presently but trust me when i tell you i'm not someone to mess with even when i'm tired " Vondrel said while the smile on his face broadened.
"His smile creeps me out " a guy from the other group whispered.
' Pan'
Suddenly a hard slap resounded around them.
"Just because you are now an awaken doesn't make you immortal. Wipe that stupid grin off your face right now" Sam said with a strong voice .
He had just slapped Vondrel so hard that his hand hurts, but was successful in wiping out the grin off Vondrel's face.
Silence reigned in their midst as no one know what to say that moment.
"Go on and rest, we have a long day ahead, it's remaining two days for the hunt to end. " Vondrel voiced out, he voice low.
After making sure that everyone were resting, he went back to meditate.