Max nodded in agreement. The gap in power between R-grade and N-grade Blessings was like the difference between monsters and regular humans. Without the power of a Blessing, ordinary people had no hope against the creatures, getting killed in just two strikes.
N-grade Blessings only put people on par with the monsters, allowing them to endure a few more attacks. With enough people, they could gang up and beat a monster to death. But Alex, with his R-grade Blessing, was like a god of war—able to kill a creature in three swings, leaving Danny and the others green with envy.
Alex rolled his eyes, unfazed, and casually added, "And just so you know, that elite monster didn't just drop this sword—it also dropped an awakening stone."
Jason blinked, then his eyes widened in excitement. "Wait, you mean a higher-grade awakening stone?!"
Alex retrieved his blade, nodding. "Yep, it's an R-grade awakening stone, with a chance to awaken an SR-grade Blessing."
The room erupted with excited shouting. Tyler, Brian, and a few others who had been planning to stay behind all shot to their feet. "Alex, take us out to hunt some monsters! We want SR too!"
Though the bloodshed had shaken them, it hadn't fully scared Danny and the others away from fighting. With Alex there to back them up, none of them had been in serious danger. Now, with their adrenaline pumping, they quickly cast their fears aside.
One boy, however, hesitated. A bespectacled student, Jeremy, spoke up reluctantly, "I'm sitting this one out... My legs still feel weak."
Jeremy was the class's literature representative and had nearly been left behind in the last battle, suffering several blows from the monsters. Though he wasn't gravely injured, the experience had shaken him, and he wasn't ready to face the fight again just yet.
Alex and the others nodded in understanding. Jason patted Jeremy's shoulder with a grin. "No worries, man. Maybe tomorrow you'll awaken an R-grade Blessing. Then you can really show off."
With the meeting time approaching, Alex and the other eight boys gathered their courage and left the classroom, heading towards the field with their heads held high.
"Hey! You jerks didn't think you could leave me behind, did you?!"
They had barely walked a few steps when they ran into Tina and her group of girls returning from the restroom. Tina's eyes were red, her emotions still unsettled, but her commanding aura as the class queen was still in full force.
The boys exchanged glances. Danny, ever the joker, spoke up, "Hey, Queen, why don't you take a break? We've already got enough awakening stones."
Tina huffed, her expression determined. "Don't underestimate us girls! I want to get stronger too."
It seemed the earlier scene had left a significant impact on her, igniting a fierce resolve. Her demeanor was sharp, catching everyone's attention.
Tina's abilities were powerful, and she had shown impressive composure in the earlier battle. Seeing how resolute she was, Alex and the others didn't argue further. Now, with a group of nine, they all headed to the field to regroup.
Compared to the throng from half an hour ago, the number of volunteers had drastically dropped by more than a third. While some were injured from the earlier battle and unable to participate, it was clear that many had retreated due to fear—afraid they'd be the next unlucky one to die.
During the first call to arms, most knew the risks but didn't fully grasp the reality of death. They understood that doing nothing would only lead to worse outcomes, so many had bravely stepped up. But after the brutal fight, with nearly ten classmates dead, even though the casualties were few, it was enough to make many fear they might be next. After all, luck is fickle.
Given time, it was likely that many would overcome their fear, but for now, the mood on the field was grim, which made Alex frown.
Though he had seemed unstoppable in the battle, Alex knew his strength relied heavily on the support of the large group. One-on-one, he feared no monster and could likely handle an elite on his own. Against a small group of regular monsters, he was still confident. But against too many, even someone as powerful as him could be overwhelmed. Like ants taking down an elephant, numbers could bring him down.
That's why he hadn't chosen to act alone.
"All of you standing here today are once again showing great courage!"
At that moment, Mr. Garcia stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the volunteers. He spoke firmly through a megaphone. "I'm not one for sentimental speeches, but each one of you is strong! These monsters may be terrifying, but we have greater power! I won't say much more, but remember to be cautious. If anything unexpected happens, retreat in an orderly manner!"
With that said, they divided the 1,000 volunteers into five groups, each with over 200 people. Every group would be split into two columns of 100, with smaller teams on the flanks for reconnaissance and defense. The goal was to avoid any surprise attacks and stay alert.
Marching out of the school in well-ordered lines, the five groups headed towards the nearest five monster zones, their spirits both tense and determined.
Alex's group, the third unit, was paired with the fourth unit for this operation. His team, having demonstrated exceptional combat ability in the previous battle, was assigned to the vanguard of the formation, leading the charge, about 30 meters ahead of the main group.
There were 29 people in the vanguard across three teams. Two of the teams consisted of adult males tasked with protecting Alex's group.
At the front of the formation, Danny and Max were buzzing with excitement. Whatever fear they had felt earlier had vanished, replaced by anticipation. They were itching to fight again.
Danny, always Alex's closest friend, walked beside him, looking around nervously yet gleefully. "Man, this is so intense! It's like we're going to war or jumping into a raid party!"