Lian was walking through the academy, determined to grow stronger. There were only a few students present at this time of year. He was heading to the training area to better understand the powers his weapon possessed.
All magical weapons had unique abilities, but it was up to the user to learn how to control them. These abilities had allowed humans to prevail against monsters. When monsters were defeated, their magical energy condensed into stones called magic crystals. These crystals could strengthen magical weapons or even awaken them, if one was lucky.
Lian stopped in front of a room with a sign above the door that read: "Practical Hunting Training Room."
"How can hunting training be practical? Don't you need a lot of monsters for that?" Lian wondered aloud, finding it a bit strange.
The room was sealed by a large metal door, with a panel beside it. Lian was not well-versed in advanced technology; where he grew up, they only had the essentials.
"How does this work?" Lian murmured, touching the panel.
"Lian Alvarez, Class A student, access granted," the panel announced in an automated voice. Lian flinched slightly but found it fascinating. He had only ever seen such technology on television.
The large door slid open, and Lian stepped inside. The room was bright white, with a medical area where a woman was sitting, engrossed in her phone, oblivious to his arrival. The room also had four metal doors, each marked with a letter from B to E.
Lian didn't understand what they were for, so he decided to approach the woman in the medical area to ask. As he reached her, he placed a hand on her shoulder, intending to get her attention. But before he could say anything, the woman let out a startled scream and spun around like lightning.
She had blonde hair and greenish eyes, looking quite young, probably around 25 years old.
"Are you trying to kill me, kid?!" she exclaimed, placing a hand over her chest as she caught her breath.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just needed some information," Lian replied, looking apologetic for startling her right after meeting her.
"Alright, I accept your apology. It's my fault for not paying attention anyway." She then looked at him closely, as if trying to remember something. "You're new here, aren't you? I don't recall any Class A or B students who look like you."
"Yes, I just joined the academy yesterday. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Lian, and I'm a new Class A student," Lian replied, extending his hand for a handshake.
The woman stood up and smiled as she shook his hand. She was about 1.70 meters tall, reaching Lian's shoulder.
"Nice to meet you, Lian. I'm Vida, the head healer of the academy," she said cheerfully.
Lian was impressed that she was the head healer despite looking so young, but he set that thought aside and got straight to the point.
"So, Vida, I was hoping you could explain how this training area works," Lian said, pointing to the doors.
"As you're new, it's natural not to know. Behind each door is a dungeon portal, ranked from B to E. You can use these portals for practical training," Vida explained with a smile.
Lian's eyes widened in surprise as he realized the academy had the power to provide such resources to its students.
Noticing his expression, Vida added, "It's normal to be impressed. Moving portals to specific locations is incredibly difficult. But this is the best military academy in the world!" She spoke proudly, clearly proud of being part of the academy.
Lian simply nodded as Vida continued to brag about the academy. Meanwhile, he was deciding which door to start with. "I've never faced monsters in my life. Even though I know how to fight, I can't let that get to my head and underestimate what's behind these portals. Better to take it one step at a time," he thought.
"Vida, what kind of monsters are in the Rank E portal?" Lian asked, looking toward the door.
"Goblins, hobgoblins, goblin shamans, and a goblin king. Why? Are you planning to enter the Rank E portal?" She seemed a bit confused. Even though she didn't know how strong he was, if he was in Class A, she assumed he could handle Rank D, even as a novice.
"Thanks for the information. I'll test my abilities there. Thanks, Vida. See you later," Lian said as he approached the door and activated it the same way as the previous one. Inside was another bright white room with a light blue portal in the center.
He waved goodbye to Vida and stepped through the portal. Before he could think, the scenery had changed completely. He was now in a lush, beautiful forest.
"How does this work?" he said, admiring his surroundings and the portal's capabilities. "Am I in another dimension? Another galaxy? This is fascinating."
While exploring the forest, Lian spotted a small green creature. It was bald with pointed ears and wore only an animal hide as clothing, carrying a small knife in its hand.
Lian hid behind a tree, watching the goblin from a distance. A faint smirk crossed his face. He summoned his sword and dashed forward. Before the goblin could react, Lian decapitated it in an instant. Its small body collapsed to the ground.
Lian watched as energy rose from the goblin's corpse, condensing into a small stone above the body. He picked up the stone.
"How do I use this?" Lian wondered aloud. He knew the crystals could enhance weapons, but he didn't know how. As he examined the stone, he felt his weapon pulse. Somehow, he could sense what his sword wanted. Trusting his instincts, he pressed the magic crystal against the small purple gem embedded in his sword. The crystal was absorbed, and Lian felt a surge of power.
He looked at his sword and smiled.
"Let the hunt begin."