Around 8K words.
Peace!
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/A few minutes later…/
"I can't say this enough, but this place is truly gorgeous…"
'Is this because I rarely travel? To me, everything looks alien and grandiose. Even the mountains… But enough of this, I can't stop every few steps to look at these plants.'
He pressed on, ignoring everything on his way, taking only faint glances at the students as he passed by them. He even recognized a few… Including the girl he saw in the Dungeon shop a week ago.
She didn't recognize him, however. Regardless, she seemed to be okay. She seemed to be surrounded by friends, all smiling and laughing at each other.
"Well… It's good to see that that at least a few are having a normal school life… Had enough of those brats." He mumbled out loud as he walked deeper into the woods
'Let's see. She should be around here…'
Philip followed the Nexus's instructions and arrived at a secluded area with a single paved path in the middle of the woods.
Further down the path was a bench, and on it was a girl sitting under a metallic lamp…
She turned her head and looked at him. She got up and waved. At that moment, the wind swept her hair, showing her face…
"..."
'Something's strange, is that really her? She doesn't match her picture…'
The girl's exotic purple hair shone under the light as she pushed her large wizard hat down, her face was smooth and not filled with pimples, Philip did notice that there were one or two spread around, but there weren't as many as in the photo.
She held a staff in her hands, it was a red metal rod with three spirals on one end of it, circling an uneven green crystal. It was a magic catalyst, also known as a wizard Staff. It was quite big being 1.5 M tall. It stood over her like a small lamp, casting a dim shadow over her head.
Overall, she seemed slightly older then in her image, it was likely an older one, maybe of when she ingressed in the Academy?
(Image)
"... Huh…"
'For a moment there I…'
He shook his head momentarily as he threw away his disorderly thoughts.
He smiled in reply, waving at her as he approached her.
"..."
And just like Philip gazed at her, the girl also looked at him, evaluating him.
Her unique violet eyes gazed at him from the dark, evaluating his every move, what she thought was a mystery, but her intent was soon apparent:
[Someone has tried to access your Level]
[Scholar Vision has blocked their attempt, how would you like to display your level?]
"!"
A sudden system notification broke Philip's concentration. He almost stopped walking but managed to maintain his composure within a fraction of a second, strengthening his footing as he thought about what to say.
'Hum? Did she try to check me? This never happened before… I've never met someone with the ability to do such a thing. Well… Some of the Heroes could do it, but I don't think we ever directly met during the training month. If we did, then Scholar Vision failed to detect it, which isn't surprising.'
'Multiple Heroes awakened magic-related classes, one of them was even hailed as a Sage. And from what I know, Scholar Vision's line of development is that exact stage.'
'There was once a time I was worried for this and even grew slightly paranoid, but as I drowned myself with things to do, I came to push those worries aside… Like many other things.'
'There are many ways to get information on your enemies. That said, while I had some react to my probing, it's quite novel to be on the other end of the stick. And just as I expected… It's not pleasant at all.'
'As for that system prompt… It doesn't matter. Display my true Level or not, she won't believe it anyway… No one will.'
With that in mind, it was only fair he did the same to her, no? His eyes flashed with light few could perceive, and a notification manifested itself before him:
[Lv 20]
Again, Philip was surprised at such a low level for a highly decorated portfolio… And her reaction was no different. She seemed shaken for a moment before she recovered, albeit now, evidently, tenser than before.
Her emotions, however, were hard to read as if he were trying to look past a foggy mirror. Something was preventing him from accessing her thoughts. All of this only made him that more curious… And more certain she was the one he was looking for.
Only an oddball would own the items he was tasked with retrieving. If not her, then he couldn't imagine who'd fill the boxes.
'Only that?... Really? Well... It makes sense from a few perspectives… People only have so much time on their hands.'
'She must be the type who spends all her time studying and training independently. The System usually compensates for that, but at the same time, I've read this compensation tends to be misleading.'
'At the same time, for an ordinary person like her, she won't be receiving any boosts from leveling anytime soon. The System isn't kind at all to your run-of-the-mill individual. You'd have to prove yourself multiple times to receive its blessing, and repeat that numerous times to garner its attention.'
'She could be hiding her level as well… Or just be really bad at fighting… What is a "level" at the end of the day? Is it a direct representation of one's power? Can someone capable of smithing weapons that can wound Dragons and Demons be as weak as an ordinary person?'
'Well… I suppose the System would reward such a feat. At least that much I can say for certain…'
Thinking about these things, Philip greeted her:
"Nice to meet you, I'm sure you already know, but I'll do it anyway. I'm Philip Vinten, 5th-year student, nice to make you acquainted."
He bowed mid-sentence, a gesture of gentlemanliness. Something shoved onto him so hard during his month at the palace that he'd often do it as a reflex. If not for his years of memories, he might've even kissed her hand.
The girl seemed a bit surprised, but she smiled and said in a low tone:
"Viera Ert Almon, 2nd-year student… A pleasure as well…"
She got up from her seat, performing an awkward but mature gesture.
Philip noticed her awkwardness and acted first, extending his hand to her, which she gladly held. They exchanged a handshake and made each other's acquaintance. She seemed more comfortable with simple gestures like these than exuberant formalities. But it was clear there was something she wanted to ask.
"Since we'll be working together, how about we learn a bit more about each other? You can go first, ask me anything."
"Oh… Okay."
"Then… Why did you, a student from the Fifth year, decide to party up with me? A Second-year student?"
Her face was serious as she asked this, depending on his question, her entire view of him might change. Philip wasn't a social guy, but even this he could tell.
A lie wouldn't work either. But a masked truth?...
"I did not choose you directly; instead, the Nexus just put you on my radar. I've been thinking of participating in the hunt, but I'm not a good fit for groups… You probably know why."
'Let's hope she can't perceive lies since I'll likely throw a few here and there. I wanted to try and act like a charismatic student to drown those in, but I'm just not cut out for it…'
"I understand, but what makes you think I qualify to be in your team?"
"That's a heavy way of putting things, but I can't say I don't understand what you meant… If the Nexus paired us together, I suppose there's no problem?"
"I'm pretty decent myself. And I prefer to be on the frontlines, not much of a mage if I say so myself. So I guess we fit quite well."
She looked into Philips' blue eyes, but she eventually let out a sigh and turned around to grab her staff:
"You're quite the oddball…"
"You're one to talk. You're in your second year and already this strong."
/Chuckle/
She turned back, her staff planted on the ground, she gave him a simple nod, "A smooth way to flatter yourself after everything you said… I'll be in your care then Mr. Vinten."
Philip smiled and did the same.
"The same goes for me, Miss Almon. Although, erm... Call me Philip. No one calls me Vinten."
"I'll do so, and in that case, call me Viera as well, no need for anything else. I bet we won't have the time for those down there."
"Then it's settled… Viera."
"..."
Philip smiled faintly as his attention was drawn again to the weird plants around them. Something Viera noticed from the beginning. How his eyes kept darting around, not in a suspicious manner, but like those of a child's.
This made her know, at least partially, that he held no malice for her, which she couldn't put together why/
Being a commoner wasn't easy, and ever since she came to this place, the only thing she has ever felt was aversion from everyone else. A sense of strangeness from being a place that doesn't recognize you or your efforts, only the name behind it.
She couldn't talk, learn, or socialize with others due to her background, even with those she'd call "her people", given their differences. She preferred to study and train all the time, something few shared. And this only widened the rift between her and those her age.
With her abilities, one would think others would approach her for one reason or another, but that wasn't the case either. Scorn was all that followed, be it from the arrogance or suspicion of more advanced years, or the distaste from those beneath or equal to her. For they saw her efforts as nothing but an attempt at gathering attention for herself.
She had no allies for none wished to listen. No matter where she looked. And even if she tried, she couldn't force herself to become friends with people who couldn't understand her.
She had a friend once, the one who rescued her and taught her much of what she currently knew. Who taught her what she loved to do and what she should aspire to be.
She loved studying and spending time with her master, but they couldn't remain with her forever. Like many before her, they left for their own journey.
"... Ahem!... I don't want to sound too straightforward, but we still have some time, so how about I show you what I am capable of first?"
Philip suddenly cut her thoughts, sitting on the bench next to her
"That's… Is a great idea. But you don't have to try to impress me, I trust your abilities."
Philip shrugged, saying:
"What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't feel, no? Would it be genuine trust if you don't confirm it yourself? Don't worry about me, it's just a demonstration. It won't affect my future performance at all."
She nodded silently.
"Thank you… Firstly, my magic knowledge is barely passable, a third or second year even would do better than I in practice, so I will have to rely on you for that."
"Like I mentioned before, most of my ability comes from my swordsmanship and my body… So I can act as a vanguard for you. I can take quite the beating, that much I'm certain."
"... Alright. You mentioned it before, but I am a 5th Circle magician… An unofficial one since I didn't pass the Institute of Magic's examinations… However, I'm more than capable of utilizing medium complexity spells such as "Thermal Explosion" and…"
She listed a series of spells so long Philip had no fucking idea what half of them meant or did, so he just nodded with a faint smile.
"High Complexity spells are possible, but I need to rely on my staff to do so, and they may take some time, so prepare. You see, I'm not a combat magician… I have no other specializations either."
"As for my body… It's unremarkable; a decently trained ordinary person could beat me, so I'll rely on you to be the vanguard. But don't worry, for I can follow your movements. My body may be slow, but my mind makes up for it."
"I can also act as a support and a healer, but I am not that good in either school of magic… In fact, I was quite humble with my previous description. I'm not just bad with single target combat… I'm terrible."
"I tend to miss the target… So I'm better with just blasting everything… I'm sorry."
The more she talked, the lower her voice became; she was very much so, embarrassed. And he understood why. Mages took pride in excellence, and this was likely the same for her as well, despite her origins.
But in reply, he said:
"Then we'll make a better team than what I originally thought! That's exactly what I wanted. If you were also good at single-target combat, wouldn't that invalidate my role?…"
"Jokes aside though, I'm not that good at dealing with multiple opponents quickly. I can take care of them all in due time, but would it be worth it by then?"
'It's not a full lie since it's true that my full strength only comes in single-target combat, and it's also true that I lack wide destruction moves.'
"That said, I'm not utterly useless with magic. Just thinking that whatever we find down there, it won't cut it. But I will put up a fight with a sword."
"Moving on, I know my way around my body, with or without a sword, the damage I can do remains somewhat even, I also have a strong mental power… That's pretty much it for me."
"Safe to say, I'm pretty fast. Like this."
/Swoosh!/
Philip's arm turned into an afterimage, and before she knew, he was holding her staff in her hands, faint bolts of energy zipping through its frame as it reached for his arms.
"!... You weren't lying…"
'I didn't even see it… Also, how come he isn't flinching?...'
"I've yet to disappoint someone… Ahem…"
'This damn staff is numbing my arms. What the hell is this made out off?... No… Rather, what is it enchanted with? I can feel my arms growing hotter by the second…'
Not noticing the joke was trying to hide, Viera thought for a moment before she nodded and said:
"It's hard to test our strength over here, so let's leave it for when we are down there. We'll have enough time to go through teamwork and everything once we change places… What do you think?"
"I'll be your shield from now on." He said with a smile as he gave her back the staff, looking at his hands as he opened and closed them
"Are you okay? My staff… Has an enchantment against theft. Anyone who grabs it without permission will be blasted by something akin to a continuous third circle spell…"
"So that was what I was feeling… Figured it was something along those lines. Don't worry, I said I was tough, only feel a little numb."
"... You weren't exaggerating…"
"Glad to prove that side of me as well."
Philip was happy everything went well, so he sat on the corner of the bench and started to talk with her in the hopes he could learn a bit more about her.
'... A kind girl with an unusual background… Appearance checks, age checks… Vibe… Checks? That isn't enough to make me commit. If I can confirm it's her this soon, then I can work on getting closer to her over time.'
'It's superficial to do like this, but… People often come together for their own reasons, sometimes selfish ones. And even if this becomes a friendship formed from my own personal interest as the base, as long as it isn't a forced one, what is there to complain about?'
"... Oh yeah, I forgot to ask, did you sign up for any missions? Assignments? Have a commission in mind?"
She nodded, raising her hand, causing the air to tremble as a Nexus window materialized before them:
"Only one?"
"Well, most missions require us to move the bodies of the creatures we take down to the outposts… I figured anything above this would be… A little difficult to handle. But that was me before, with you, maybe we can fit in another mission or two. If you want it, of course."
This made Philip confused.
"Outposts?"
"... You don't know about this?" She asked with a bit of suspicion
"I don't." He replied honestly, not trying to hide it
She looked at him with a surprised face, her smile changing into a faint twirl of her lips as she put her hands over her knees, asking:
"You… Aren't you embarrassed? Most people would try to create excuses by now."
Philip smiled.
"I'm certainly unique and definitely not part of 'most' people. Have you seen my face?"
/Chuckle/
Viera let out a hearty laugh, "I guess so… Not so sure about the face though…"
She thought for a moment before replying:
"Since the main point of the Great Hunt is for the gathering of resources and thinning out the monsters in the underground… Outposts were built all along the underground to facilitate this process. Though not exclusively for the Great Hunt, they've been there well before it became an actual thing, although many continue to be built deeper down into the underground, far beyond any student could reach."
"Not because of a lack of ability, but lack of time. The underground goes far beyond the Academy, some say if you go deep enough, the caverns connect the whole continent."
"Back to the Outposts, they also offer support and other services if needed, and can also act as temporary bases for the examiners on site."
"As for me, what else can I say? Carrying a single monster's body is already a hassle; anything more, and I'd get buried in them halfway back."
"Makes sense, although I don't think that will be a problem for us."
Philip opened his uniform, taking out the small storage box he received from the chains, putting it between them.
"Is this… I see." She said with a disappointed tone as she distanced herself slightly from him
This sudden aversion confused him, but it suddenly hit him.
"..."
'These things are pretty expensive and one of such size would be even more so… Only a few of those Noble kids would… Wait… Is this why she is upset?'
"Hum… This is the first time I saw someone react like this… Is something wrong with my box?" He asked with a faint smile as he looked at the box
"..."
She still didn't look at him. Coming to a decision, she held her staff stiffly in her hands and placed it on the ground before her.
"Are you okay?..."
"I think we should part ways here." She said coldly as she got up, turning to leave without regret
"..."
'That's a sudden mood change. Looks like she has some history with Nobles, or maybe wealthy individuals in question… Either way, time for another plan.'
"Wait! Why are you doing this? It's because of this, isn't it?! I'll be clear here, but I'm no goddamn Noble!" Philip exclaimed loudly as he got up from his seat, too
'If this doesn't work, things will get dicey…'
She stopped, turning around, her expression serious.
"Tone it down! If they hear you, things are going to get ugly for you… And me."
'At least I got her attention again.' He thought quietly as he was hit with a sudden wave of his usual headache, which he replied to soon after:
"Please, don't do this again… I really need a team… I understand the sentiment. Sometimes I feel like doing the same, but not this sudden… Not used to being dumped." He said as he plopped down on the bench
'I somehow fixed this mess…'
Seeing him crash against the bench with a relieved expression made her stiff expression soften slightly, so she walked and stopped before him.
Her arms crossed, a strange aura permeated her, different from the nerdy, borderline submissive bravado she expressed before:
"My master taught me to treat all people alike, but after living in this Academy for two years, I can't say I still abide by those words. So pardon me for reacting like this."
"You either cut yourself out of the net, or get dragged along with it… And I've yet to see an in-between."
"... They do say man is a product of his time…" Philip added as his head dropped down
Viera looked left and right, her eyes flashed crimson before she sat down next to her, clenching onto her staff hard, as if ready to swing it at him at any moment.
"As you said earlier, Nobles are… A bother to associate with most of the time, and even if a good Noble tried to make themselves acquaintances with me, I would just ignore them without a second thought."
"It's childish, but this mentality has saved me from trouble many times."
Philip looked at her with an annoyed expression.
"That was more than just ignoring, it was as if you were breaking up with me after finding out I cheated on you…"
'Seems like she only listened to me because she's naive. In this kind of place, no matter how forgiving and hopeful you are, there's a point at which you just stop believing in others. Especially after they "break" your trust.'
'Things wouldn't have been solved this quickly. I wonder how things will be in the future? Would she have lost all hope in Nobility?'
"D-Don't say it like that again… Wait, are you familiar with that kind of talk?"
She blushed a little, but her expression immediately went cold.
"Not in a direct sense. But I've seen others be dumped like that, thought I could learn a thing or two…"
"Uhum?..."
"Of what not to do."
Viera's expression soothed a little. It was too obvious, her emotions and mannerisms. The actions of a girl far too inexperienced to even notice her own glaring curiosity.
"... Suppose I'll have to believe you this time."
Philip smiled mischievously as he noticed that, and while a rational part of him told him to stop while he was ahead, another part of him seemed to have taken control…
"Want me to prove it to you like before? This one may take a while, though… Don't know how long I'll hang around. But my grandma used to say I'd break many hearts…"
"! N-No need… Jerk."
"Heh."
'Maybe this is how it feels to have a younger sister.'
Her expression remained serious, but she looked away from him in embarrassment. Trying to change the subject:
"In any case, I won't do it again… Still…"
She did not continue her words, but it was clear that she was curious about the item.
"Simplifying the whole story… Someone owed something to another person but could not repay them until their passing. So the burden fell on me after I decided to carry on the mantle."
"If you want more details…"
"..."
Viera was lost in thought before she said:
"No need… It's an interesting story… You were lucky. In these scenarios, people tend to forget their debts and move on."
"... Yeah, you're right… I was lucky…"
This subject ended right there. Viera knew there was more to it, but she didn't pry into his matters, while Philip was happy not to think of an excuse for this was about all he knew about it.
He wondered if Dae had been lazy with his diary or if he knew anything about it. Either way, nothing about the Polters had been written down on it. That said, the whole diary was full to the brim with words, so there's a chance he cut it out for the sake of prioritizing other matters.
Steering the conversation into other topics, the two continued to talk, waiting for the Great Hunt to start...
…
/Around half an hour later…/
It was only now, talking with someone new about random topics, that he realized just how bad he was at socializing. He wasn't a loner back on Earth, but this… Was disgraceful to watch.
Most of his attempts at breaking the ice ended in failure and silence, which made him a bit depressed, as each time, he didn't know how to recover from there.
Maybe the issue wasn't his lack of social skills but rather, his lack of common sense and Viera's unusual background. In the end, aside from some wide-reaching topics, most of what they talked about was magic, and even that was difficult as her knowledge over the subject eclipsed his by miles.
And the worst wasn't even that, but the fact that he had to avoid talking about the academy or risk blowing his cover. At least that wasn't hard… Viera wasn't too keen on talking about the place either.
That said, despite his failures, he was succeeding. Somewhat…
"..."
'It's the first time a guy talked so much with me with such honesty… I don't even know how to reply properly… Master didn't teach me that.'
'He's a bit different from those Noble boys… Just a bit…'
She glanced at Philip, who was looking at the stars at the fake sky, thinking deeply as he'd often mention useless facts he knew from the books he had memorized through the phantom library.
"Hum?"
He noticed her gaze and smiled, saying:
"It's almost time, how about we make our way to the entrance?"
Philip grabbed his silver sword from the ground beside him and gave her his left hand.
This gesture confused Viera, but she soon understood it… She held his hand, and they moved on without issues.
As for his sword, Philip took out the same mechanical saber he used during his one-month training in the palace sometime during their conversation, it was one of his most successful icebreakers.
For now, his other sword, and most of his tools, would all have to be left aside until the right moment given their unusual properties…
With everything there done, the duo moved to the central parts of the Nexus, beyond the tower…
…
/Whispers Whispers…/
Philip and Viera arrived at the area near the entrance, a gaping maw at the edge of the cavern. Because of the illusion cast around the cavern, the entrance was almost like a mountain rising on the horizon.
A large plaza spread in the open field at the edge of the forest. Statues and other large buildings were built with the entrance at their center.
Crowds surrounded the entrance, waiting for the start, just like them.
After confirming their identity with a group of guards another time, they entered the plaza and stuck to its edges, with Philip pointing out, "It's overly crowded."
'And hot... Can't those mages make this place at least a bit more comfortable? Why is this place so hot?'
"We're considerably late, so it's expected. All front positions have been taken already… Everyone wants to be ahead of others, especially those…"
Viera suddenly stopped talking, and noticing her behaviour, Philip tried something else…
"Excuse me for a moment."
"What?...!!"
Philip looked at her and brushed her hair aside, placing his fingers on her forehead as her mind went blank in shock.
{... Speak freely now}
He reached out to her telepathically, startling her even further.
"?!"
Viera immediately looked around in confusion, but before she could ask again, Philip continued:
{I told you I had a pretty strong head… I've connected our thoughts together to facilitate communication. I can't read your inner thoughts, but if you wish, you can cut this communication whenever you wish. Just be careful not to cut it by accident}
Viera calmed down as she took a deep breath, sorting through her thoughts before replying:
{L-Like this?}
{Yes, I can hear you loud and clear}
{...}
Philip could tell many thoughts were passing through her mind, but did not attempt to pry further into them. Even more so when he had difficulty breaching her mind in the first place.
'Something is protecting her mind, and it's powerful… Strangely enough, I felt immense resistance at first, and then it eased. I wonder, does she have an artifact that can sense the intent of the individual? It's powerful enough to block my abilities, so it must be above average.'
{Did you hear what I just said?}
{No, it's pretty easy to hide one's thoughts, especially since this thought bridge isn't meant to go deep into our psyche, so don't worry. Still, from now on, let's try to communicate through this since it's better, faster, and more secure}
{... Isn't it taxing for you?}
{Barely so, although it may break in the heat of the moment as we fight. Either way, since this is a link, it pretty much self-regulates on its own as long as one of us provides it with power}
Viera nodded to him and turned her attention to the crowd… Or at least she tried to, but she was barely over 160 Cm tall, so she couldn't see everything.
Everywhere else was either blocked off or occupied by groups of teachers and students, so they couldn't move to an open area either.
She turned to Philip, asking: {Can you see what is happening?}
{Not much more than you… No, wait… It seems some students are having a bit of a quarrel in the middle of the crowd. Maybe that's why it's so crowded in the entrance, everyone is gathering around to look at them}
This wasn't a surprise for Viera though.
{It's probably the top students and their respective factions, they're always quarreling for literally everything. They're utterly unbearable}
Viera scoffed as she pulled her hat down, hiding her face even more.
{Why's no one stopping them?}
{Why would they? The factions are essentially representations of real political factions. What we see now is nothing but the Dukes and Barons of the future in their younger years. And the respective lords and influential people from beyond the Kingdom's borders}
"Hum…"
{Resources, influence, power, and more. As long as an opportunity arises, a group or an individual will try to make use of it, that's how things are in this Academy}
Philip scratched his chin in wonder, asking, {But what they're doing seems a little counterintuitive. This isnt a race. Fighting not to start a few seconds before someone doesn't make that much sense…}
{It does… And for the reasons you likely already know. First, it represents power. Being at the forefront shows your group has what it takes to have that spot, and for Nobles who are always trying to show off, that makes all of the diference}
{Second, Nobles often operate on justifications. Certain groups do not touch others as it would be beneath them to do so, but in truth, they're just waiting for justifications to wipe each other out. Down there, claiming certain spots first, even if seconds before others would be enough of a justification to attack others in the name of defending what they "claimed".}
{... How cheap}
Philip remained silent, enjoying the show while Viera tried her best to watch it on her tiptoes. With a light tap on her shoulder, Philip lifted her a foot above the ground with telekinesis, granting her sight of the show.
"..."
This time, she remained far more composed, only blushing slightly at his antics. Nonetheless, her focus was soon drawn to the fight between the students.
Several dozen people down the crowd was an open circle, slightly raised above the ground, a podium of some sort.
Philip wondered why there'd be one like that in the middle of the plaza, but these thoughts did not remain in his head for long as his attention was drawn elsewhere:
{That boy… Verimir Ji, right?} Philip asked as he saw a new group arrive at the circle
{Yes}
Three groups were fighting above the podium. One group had all its members hidden beneath black-red robes with sharp lines like circuits adorning their uniforms, another was filled with pretty women in bluish military uniforms, and the third group, who had just arrived, had its members wear fancy white clothes like the ones he had met before.
{Isn't that against the code of conduct?}
{Sigh… Did you forget where we are? The rules are as hard as rubber in this place. They can have their own exclusive attire because they are among the best students of the academy, no one has the courage to complain}
{Uhum… They're certainly unique}
/Chattering!/
"Things are heating up."
"Don't say that out loud!"
/CHATTER!/
The conflicts between the groups continued to escalate, growing louder and louder. Eventually, two more groups arrived, and just like that, all of the top five groups were gathered here.
The most influential and talented kids who frequented the Academy were gathered here.
However, a few were missing… It seemed the other groups in the top ten had yet to arrive.
"Hm…?"
'That girl…'
During this mess, Philip also saw Fabrin's daughter; he kept an eye on her throughout the conflict, and as expected, she was alone.
'She wouldn't accept an invitation to join our group, would she?... How do I even explain things to this girl though?...'
Time passed, but the conflict between them did not escalate into a fight, much to his disappointment, but it seems they had arrived at a solution, which Philip listened to with a grim expression.
"..."
{This is bad}
{What is bad? Did something happen? You lowered me down…}
{What they said is the problem}
{You can hear them? They are rather far… And everyone is whispering to each other. How good is your hearing?}
{That doesn't matter, the problem is what they've agreed on}
{Don't be dramatic then, spill it out}
{It seems they decided to cooperate and stop fighting… And rip off everyone at the same time}
{What?... Can you be more specific?}
{Look… They want to decrease the number of competitors by setting a physical blockage somewhere after the first outpost, preventing others from leaving once they return from the depths by extorting them of whatever they acquired}
{I know conflict is inevitable, but I think this is a bit too much…}
{... It is a bit of a stretch, but it's possible and within the rules as long as some things aren't crossed…}
{But wouldn't that be counterproductive? People would just search for another outpost rather than going back to the surface}
{That's simpler said than done, outposts are scattered around the place, and arriving at one means passing through a series of challenges… The Great Hunt only lasts a day, so people can only go so far, and with this plan of theirs, I wouldn't be surprised if they conquered all nearby Outposts and drained the other students dry}
{This was done in other years, but not to this extent. Last year, I heard one of the groups locked access to a critical outpost, and some students even died due to that since they couldn't pay the toll and weren't allowed access to the medical facilities inside… There was severe backlash, but nothing happened to those behind it}
{That's brutal… What about the Academy's response?}
{What were you doing in the last few years? Even someone hiding under a rock would know some of those things. Even I learned of it before entering the academy last year}
{I don't pay attention to rumors…}
{Sigh… I suppose that's just how we are. People tend to care more about themselves, followed by their immediate companions…}
{The Academy itself handled the affair pretty passively. Just another casualty that happens every once in a while… But I heard it caused some waves outside of it… But you know how little the Academy cares about such things}
{That said, let's try to get as far away as possible from them so we can hunt in peace. Dealing with them would already be a hassle, but the problem lies in the fact itself… Let's not get in their radar}
{No problem, we'll rush past them as soon as the gates open}
…
/CLONG!/
With the loud echo of a bell, the ground at the center of the garden started to move, and like a lid from a box, the ground slowly rose to the sky and it eventually vanished.
People started to move and shout, pushing each other, Philip even saw a poor guy be pushed on the ground and be stomped…
"This is annoying… ?!"
'So that was why they were all on that podium, it was the actual entrance… But what about that cavern entrance? Is it a prop? Some kind of alternate entrance?'
Thinking about the unusual sight, Philip saw his mission target jump in the air and dive into the hole, ignoring everyone else around her.
Some people tried to stop her, but she shot them down… Violently. This made him reconsider how skill compared to the others. Nonetheless, it was also true that many did not do anything even as she crossed them over. Probably from keeping their main enemies in check.
"Let's go, we're going in."
"What…?!?!"
Philip didn't want to be left behind so he grabbed Viera's arm and pulled, carrying her like a princess, he vanished from his position and entered the hole with a puff of smoke and mist…
Several teachers and students saw that, drawing their own conclusions about the nature of this mysterious individual…
Either way, the depths awaited!
…
/Shuaaa!.../
A few seconds after he grabbed Viera, they arrived at the first "floor" after a few seconds of free-falling. At the bottom was a strange pad that cushioned their fall, slowing them down almost as if they were levitating.
The cavern itself looked ordinary, with the exception of the paved ground and artificial lights illuminating every corner.
Tall pillars supported the ceiling, and strange machines, tubes, and wires spread throughout the area like a long-lost mining shaft of an advanced civilization, all leading into the darkness.
This was clearly an area with dense infrastructure…
(Image?)
Once he created some distance from the others jumping or taking the stairs down, Philip gently put her on the ground, saying: "Apologies for being rude, waiting any longer would've put us in a bad spot."
"... It's fine. If I knew you were this fast I would've asked you to do this sooner. Next time though, give me a little warning… Almost left my staff behind."
"Sure thing… Now. Let's get to business."
Philip first tried to access the Nexus to confirm their location, but he saw that it wasn't possible. Confused, he confirmed with his partner:
"I can't seem to be able to access the Nexus…"
"That's normal, you'll only be able to connect to it in the Outposts, another reason why they are so important. If you want to claim your missions or get new ones, you can only do it through them…"
"Very well… So, where are we going?"
"I don't know… My plans changed greatly with your arrival. And considering how many missions we collected, no matter where we go, we'll be able to find one of our targets. So it's up to you, or you can leave it to me. I'm fine with both."
Philip nodded, pointing at a cave, the same one where Fabrin's daughter ran to moments before.
"So how about there?"
"Lead the way."
Viera nodded and grasped her staff tightly, things were about to get tense…
…
/At the same time, somewhere far away…/
"Huff… Huff… HAAAA!"
/Clack!/
"AAAAAAAHHHH!"
/Clack!/
"AHHH… Huff… Haa… I-I can't… B-Brea… HAAAA…."
/Ploft!/
"Fine... Good work, but still, this was less than last time. How come you're worse than before?"
"Urg! And whose fault is it?! You increased the intensity of our routine, and now I can barely sleep!" Petter exclaimed as he tried to move his body on the ground
"It was only a light exercise, though…"
"You call this light? My body is bleeding!... From multiple points!"
"For you, bleeding is the same as sweating, no?"
"..."
The collapsed man's expression twisted before he closed his eyes in pain, a silent but gruesome agreement he'd never verbally accept.
Meanwhile, the other person raised his head to gaze at the distant mountains. Pensive…
"Haaa… Hm?"
The collapsed man opened his eyes and noticed what his companion was doing. With a similar expression, he tried to look at the horizon, but his head failed to comply…
"It's been a week already… how do you think he's doing?"
"A bit more than that even.. Did you hit your head too hard that you've begun to forget things?"
"Answer my damn question…"
"... Hopefully, he has arrived at his destination safely… He should've gotten there by now. But we don't have time to worry about Philip, now, chop-chop! Get up and let's continue!"
'No one should know about our previous exchange. Philip is fast, he definitely arrived within our time. And give what he did before, I don't expect things to derail far from what I wrote him.'
'By now, he should be preparing for the Great Hunt? It would be happening within the next few weeks…'
"Hm? What are you doing? Get up."
But Petter remained unmoving on the ground.
"I can't, my arms and legs are unresponsive, I think they're dead…
"Dying isnt a word in my dictionary."
/Thud…/
/Splash…/
"URG?!"
[DING!]
[You have suffered Fatal damage! You are losing blood at a fast rate!]
[Your Skill, Beaten Dog has activated]
[Bleeding rate has massively decreased]
[Risk Runner has activated. Your injuries are being healed at a fast rate]
[Your Title-related Skill, Death Run LvMax has been activated due to your near-death state. All of your stats have massively increased temporarily]
[You are fighting against a being much stronger than you while in a state of extreme exhaustion!]
[You are at a massive disadvantage!]
[Your Skill, To die the day before has activated! Adversity propels you to be better then before!]
[Your stats have massively increased temporarily]
[To die the day before Lv1 -> Lv2]
[Your body refuses to collapse!]
[Skill, Hyper Regeneration Lv0 has activated]
[Your body us beginning to fall apart due to the pressure!]
[...]
[80,067… 80,068… 80,069…]
[While the countdown is in place you shall not fall. Adversity gives you strength!]
"Adversity… I'm beginning to hate this word… At this point I don't even feel it anymore…"
"Should I stab your heart instead?"
"A Level up is always good!..."
'But its not enough… Its barely enough!'
Petter tried to get up, his body trembling, he hated it all, cursed Dae inside his mind, and wanted it all to end… But he was determined to go through with today's training.
Like he always did and would continued to do.
[A change has been brought forward within your body]
"Haa…"
'Something is happening again…'
[Your Skill, Beaten Dog has broken its own limits!]
[Skill, Beaten Dog has evolved into, To persevere through adversity]
[To persevere through adversity has activated! Fighting for your life enhances your body!]
[Your Stat ratio has increased slightly]
[Your body wants to rest, but your Unshakable will propel you forward]
[Your consciousness wants to disperse, but your Focused mind maintains your thoughts clear]
[You have activated the Ability, Soul Phantasm]
A grayish shadow started to materialize behind him; It gazed at Dae with an annoyed look as it tried to get Petter to move.
[Soul Phantasm has been successfully formed]
[It demands payback!]
[Satiate its desire to get a reward]
"Give me a damn break… What?... Fuck, fucking Hell… So be it, Dae! Today I will get back at you! So prepare to die!" Petter screamed loudly as he punched the ground with his remaining hand…
/BOOM!/
The ground shook due to the force behind it, creating a small crater beneath his fist.
[The Skills, Champion's Determination Lv4, Desperado LvMax, Berserk LvMax, Final breath LvMax, Endure LvMax, and Blood to Power Lv2 have all activated]
[Your powerful Will cannot dissipate, Berserk side effects have diminished]
[Your blood is being burned, increasing your Stats temporarily]
[Your body is beginning to fall apart due to the pressure]
[Only the ground stands beneath you!]
[Skill, Survival Line Lv2 has activated]
/Splurt!.../
Petter grabbed his left severed hand and reconnected it with his arm, his rapid healing almost immediately fusing the two again.
[Your focused Will brings your body to its peak condition despite your mental exhaustion]
Petter smiled and gazed at Dae with bloodthirsty eyes.
[Through constant suffering, you overcame your own fear of injuries and are now a step closer to your true potential]
[You have awakened the Skill, Body Severance Lv0]
[The Skill, Body Severance Lv0 has activated, your physical limits have been partly removed]
Petter's body irradiated a dangerous energy, causing the ground to shake and ground, and making Dae's clothes move slightly as the wind blew through him.
But despite the dangerous situation, Dae smiled gently.
"That's it, barely fit for the Revenger."
'Each day, you come closer and closer to your true potential, but that isn't enough for you isnt it. To grow stronger with every fight, this is the monster you were meant to be… What you will become.'
'But the undying disaster has a fatal flaw…'
"If I were to say, you would be barely capable of fighting Philip the way you're right now."
"Only barely? After all we did?..."
"Sigh, there is far more then just mighty between the two of you. Besides, remember this only happens when you are critically injured and given the time to get up. How many times did we do this again?"
"Now you're counting? Tche…"
"Ahem… Not only that, your body is being pushed to its limits. You won't be able to maintain it for long, even with your enahcendhealing rate. There's a limit to how much leeway the System can give you."
"Philip would've killed you a few times before you even had the chance to hear that of those system notifications, so before you whine on the ground like a little kid, remember what you wish to do."
Dae smiled, remembering their last encounter.
"And this was one week ago… He's bound to have grown stronger."
"Actually, if we talk about time, Philip had less time with me than you, yet he grew more than you did. So why are you whining so much? Philip never whined that much."
'I may say that, but it's already impressive how much stronger he's become… Petter is… Ordinary. Painfully so.'
'Philip was also ordinary, but he persevered through hardships, and with his unique way of thinking, he began threading a path far beyond most's wildest dreams.'
'He is similar to many of the Heroes in that regard… Meanwhile, Petter is… Dumb.'
'He's slow at learning, complains a lot, tends to forget what I teach him, has a lack of focus, his mentality is fragile… He's just not meant for this… Yet… Despite all of that, he continues.'
'Petter is the kind of person that when faced with a hard wall, he'll keep smashing his head against it until it breaks… Or he gives up. I only need to set things up for him so he doesn't stop halfway through it. Even if I have to force him into it.'
'He is growing within the desired rate, more so than originally expected.'
'I've increased my expectations by a lot after everything that happened. As long as he can reach a state where he can maintain this power at all times without damaging his own body in the process… This is the day when the Revenger will be born.'
'Albeit a very weak Revenger… The Revenger is a monster capable of fighting forever against an army that is far stronger than he is… And come out without injuries in the end.'
'But things have changed now. Should I even call him Revenger?... I need a better name…'
/Fwoosh!/
/Clang!/
As Dae thought, Petter dashed forward and swung his dagger down, but Dae effortlessly blocked it with his sword.
"Ha! I think I have a Title for you!"
"What?... "
"Alright, Cockroach! Time for us to continue our training!"
"##!! Where did that come from?!"
/BAM!/
As he blocked Petter's advances, Dae's thoughts drifted elsewhere…
'I also need to step up my own training, else even this guy will surpass me… I can't allow that. I wouldn't be able to die in peace.'
/BAM!/
Petter and Dae continued to train in the middle of the calm forest…
…
.
.
.
Notes
Petter and Dae will stop appearing for a while, or so it was in the original story.
There are still around 10 or so chapters until the Academy arcs ends, a timeskip, and quite a few more battles. But I'll likely extend it all given the way things've been.
That said, thank you all for reading! Goodnight...