*CRISTOPHER’S POV*
The next morning, I was getting ready for classes. While putting on one of my sets of Cadet’s Uniform, my smartwatch suddenly sounded twice with an alarm.
[This message is for all cadets T-T. Has anyone seen Seungyeon from World Class? I haven’t been able to contact her since yesterday T-T]
[This message is for all cadets T-T. Has anyone seen Seungyeon from World Class? I haven’t been able to contact her since yesterday T-T]
“…The bastard made another move huh…*sigh…*”-I say as I read the message that came.
If I’m not mistaken, there’s still a little bit of time until we can actually move. Or well. Until Hajin actually moves.
“…Though… Being honest… I think I’ll talk to Kim Hajin. I’ll be the one to end him. Not Kim Suho.”
Thinking it a little bit careful, owning the ‘Devil’s List’ makes me kind of interested in fighting Djinns. After all, I’ll be adding their Devil’s name to the list. And I’m not that sure, but having that list on my laptop, does mean that something will happen with the Devils. So, I better start adding as many names to it as I can.
{Also… I still don’t have any idea of what the other spaces are for… I guess I’ll either have to fight a few more servants of Zepar or look for the guy himself to find out.}
“*sigh…* Whatever. I’m not doing anything by worrying about it. Better let’s go to classes, I’m almost out of time.”-I said while getting out of my room.
***
Today’s classes started the Combat Training classes. And I know that an event is going to happen in this mock Dungeon Trial.
A funny thing about Cube is that it is surrounded by fake environments, truly fantastic actually, from fake volcanoes and snowy mountains to enormous caves and jungles. Though, today, we were in front of a really big and dark cave.
“Today’s combat training is a bit special.”-Said the instructor. “Today, you’ll be entering this cave with another class.”-He said while another class came to wait in front of the cave. “But different than the last time different classes got evaluated at the same time, this is a joint training exercise, a team from each class will join together to form a single team.”-He ended while looking all around.
This made all the cadets from both classes look at each other, with some uncertainty not knowing with who they will be placed. Something normal if you take into account that your evaluation and final score also depends on another team you don’t even know.
“Now, get in your usual teams.”-Declared Kim Soohyuk, to which all the teams from both classes started to group themselves.
“Yo!”-Said Mark while coming towards me.
“Hey man, what’s up?”-I said hi to him.
“Nothing much, just hoping we are kind of lucky…*sigh…*”-He says while sighing.
“Why would you depend on luck? Just make the extra effort to finish in whichever place you want to…”-I said to him while tilting my head. “It’s not like we have a bad team, we have the freaking third place. That’s an insane advantage.”-I finish with a chuckle, not really knowing while I’m praising the shy and introverted girl.
“…”-Mark looks at me blankly. “It’s not because of that…”-He says after a little bit of thinking who knows what.
“Then?”-I ask, this time kind of intrigued.
“I just don’t want a group of total assholes, you know?”-He murmurs while looking around.
“Oh… Right…”-I answer, just in time for Rachel and Park Min-Ho to join us at the same time. {Guess the guy is still trying to approach her somehow. He’s persistent. I’ll give him that.}-I thought while raising my hand to both of them.
“Hi, Cristopher-ssi, Mark-ssi.”-She says while slightly nodding to us. {I don’t know who’s worst… Rachel or Yoo Yeonha… Well, at least Rachel does have a background that makes her be this polite towards almost anyone.}
“Hi.”-Park Min-Ho barely says hi while raising his hand, after which he just stays quiet.
“Next, we’ll announce your team pair. For the record, the cadet with the highest grade was chosen to be the team leader.”-Said Kim Soohyuk once all 200 cadets made 50 groups, which was fairly quickly considering the number of people on site.
Though, sensing a little bit around, I noticed an irregularity. Two teams were made of three cadets, not four. Both of them were from the other class. There was also a little bit of a gloomy atmosphere from some cadets, including those in the three man’s teams.
With the groups made he projected a holographic screen from his smartwatch, which quickly displayed the teams’ list which probably only Hajin and I could read.
[TEAM 1 – Veritas Class Team Kim Suho / World Class Team Jo Yoon-ah]
[TEAM 2 – Veritas Class Team Shin Jonghak / World Class Team Kaine]
[TEAM 3 – Veritas Class Team Chae Nayun / World Class Team Sven]
[TEAM 4 – Veritas Class Team Rachel / World Class Team Choi Minseo]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[TEAM 8 Veritas Class Team Yoo Yeonha / World Class Team Jayden]
[…]
[…]
“Mmm… So it was that…”-I murmur to myself unconsciously.
“What was what?”-Mark asks, while the other two also look at me.
“Nothing, I just remembered something.”-I say while waving my hand in front of my face.
“You sure?”-He asks again.
“The teacher started announcing the teams.”-Said Rachel, while somewhat giving us a “please quiet down” signal.
The teacher quickly starts reading the list of teams one after the other, while the groups mentioned would then join together.
I, of course, was currently thinking about something funny. That being the mere coincidence of having a joined training with World Class. The same class that has lost 2 of its cadets.
What’s weird is, teachers just don’t seem to care. I mean… I know that there are some risks while attending Cube… But dude… In less than a week you’ve already lost two people to seemingly no reasons… And from the same class at that.
{Such an idiot that bastard… Just thinking with his fucking dick, or whatever shit he has down there.}-I thought
“Team 4, Veritas Class Team Rachel, World Class Team Choi Minseo”-Said Kim Soohyuk while I was in thought.
“It seems they already spot us.”-Said Rachel.
“Of course they would…”-I murmur. Having THE princess, a true beauty and royalty, and even rank 3, sure has its advantages, like not having to look around for your new teammates.
Coming towards us was a group of four people. On the leading, a girl, beautiful as almost every female cadet here. {Really… Why does every cadet here look more like a model? It’s this some idol academy? *sigh…*}-I thought.
“Hi. I’m Choi Minseo.”-Said the girl shortly while putting her hand up towards Rachel. I’ll be honest. She’s a beauty. She has black shoulder-length hair, completely straight, dark brown eyes, and thin lips in a beautiful face that looks more mature than childish. Sadly, I can’t say too much of her body. While she does have curves, it isn’t anything that impressive, though, she does have long legs. She carries two daggers on her hips.
“Nice to meet you Choi Minseo-ssi, I’m Rachel.”-Said Rachel while grabbing the other girl’s hand with her normal unexpressive face.
“I’m Park Min-Ho, the sharpshooter of the team, nice to meet you miss Choi Minseo.”-Quickly jumped Park Min-Ho to say hi with his hand extended.
“…”-The girl looked at him briefly while accepting his handshake with an inexpressive face. “Nice to meet you too. I’m kind of like a supporter. Debuffing the enemies.”-She shortly answers before retracting her hand.
“I’m Adrian, sharpshooter, nice to meet you all.”-Said a guy from their team, African-American, brown eyes, and with really short hair. He carried a bow on his back.
“I’m Mark. Supporter and mid-range. Nice to meet you all.”-Said Mark while raising his hand.
“Hi! I’m Lee Ha-Yun! I’m a warrior and I use this!”-Said a girl with long and pink-dyed hair tied in a ponytail, and a somewhat bubble personality while showing us her weapon, which was a spear. She was also cute, with light-brown eyes.
“I’m the other warrior from the team, Ro Ji-Sung, I use an ax and a shield.”-Said a tall guy with a muscular frame carrying a big shield and an ax a little bit bigger than your regular hand ax.
While this introduction took place, I was looking around at the rest of the teams, especially the one with Chae Nayun. After all, Sven, the leader of the team from World Class will probably become a Djinn. Also, I was looking at the teams with only three cadets. They were somewhat gloomy, as did the paired teams that joined them from the Veritas Class, having less man-power would sure be bad during this Mock Dungeon Trial.
Funny thing is, Olivia got one of those teams to join her, her team having only 7 members on it. {I at least hope they're competent. Though she has been training a lot, she should be fine if she doesn't go for one of the highest leveled paths.}
I was lost in thought when I felt someone nudge at my arm.
“Mm?”-I turn to look at Mark, the one to nudge at me. Everyone else was also looking at me.
{Ah right, where were my manners?}
“Cristopher. Warrior. I use this.”-I pointed to the scabbard hanging at my side. {Also… The sword is about to break… I hope nothing irregulars happens close to me…}-I thought while going back at looking towards the rest of the teams.
“He’s a man of few words. Don’t worry too much about him”-Mark said.
“Everyone, get ready.”-Sounded Kim Soohyuk words, stopping all interaction in the team. “Go in one by one starting from Team 1.”
“Let’s go!”-Shouted Kim Suho while leading his time inside the cave.
“We should prepare ourselves to go in.”-Said Rachel while looking towards the cave before glancing at us. Everyone nodded at her words.
***
Once inside, we walked in a normal formation of 3 2 2 1 (three warriors at the front, supporters next, followed by the sharpshooters and the last warrior defending the rear). After a little bit of time, we got in a big space with a total of 8 passages leading to the fake dungeon.
Each passage has a difficulty according to its order. This means passage 1 has a difficulty level 1, while passage 8 has a difficulty level 8.
{If I’m not wrong, Chae Nayun took the 6th path, the same one Hajin would take. While Kim Suho probably went for the 8th one. What I’m not clear if everyone apart from Hajin or I knew about the difficulty level…}
“What path should we take?”-Choi Minseo asked while turning towards the two sharpshooters.
They both look at each other and started looking through the eight paths. It seems no one else knew about it. I just stay there waiting for them to make a choice, and that’s when Rachel actually comes towards me.
“Which path you think we should take, Cristopher-ssi?”-She asks me.
“Mm? Why would you ask me?”-I said to her.
“Well… You have good eyes.”
{Touché. She does have a point.}
“Let the sharpshooters look for one. Does it even make a difference which one?”-I ask back. Actually, it really didn’t make any difference. At much, we would be graded better for just taking and succeeding the 8th path, which would have been taken by Kim Suho. But it would be the same with any other path, at least for me.
“We couldn’t find anything useful…”-Said Adrian after coming back with Park Min-Ho.
“…”-Park Min-Ho just look at me, as if waiting for something.
“*sigh…* Fine… Let’s go through the 7th path.”-I finally said while walking towards the 7th path and standing in front of the entrance for the rest of the team to make their choice.
“Why would you listen to a warrior? And, with no offense, to him that’s so below in the ranks.”-Choi Minseo asks. Which made Park Min-Ho avert his eyes, while Mark scratched his head.
“He has good eyes. And he can be a great pathfinder. He showed it to us in the last combat training.”-Answered Rachel.
“Mm? The labyrinth one? Which place did you take?”-Minseo asks while raising an eyebrow.
“First. Now would you all hurry up and decide?”-I answer her before Rachel could open her mouth.
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“…”-She blankly stares at me, stupefied, before turning at the rest of my team to look at them nodding to answer the obvious question in her eyes. “Well… Fine for me…”-She finally says while the rest of the team starts walking into the 7th path, with Rachel, Ro Ji-Sung, and me at the front and Lee Ha-Yun covering the rear.
I basically took out anything below the sixth one. We have Rachel, what would she do in a low-level difficulty… Also, I didn’t want to interfere between Chae Nayun and Hajin, while at the same time I also didn’t want to have anything to do with Kim Suho.
True. I hate bastards like Yun Hyuk, but I also hate goody-two-shoes like Kim Suho, they’re the total opposite sides of the same spectrum, but at the same time, another type of problematic character.
All heroes are the same, or even worst in some cases, as the villains. They are unreasonable in the way they act, ‘perfects’, incapable of anything bad, carriers of justice. Or at least, carriers of THEIR justice. Imposing themselves on anyone they deem is going through the wrong path, with force if necessary.
Heck… They even have that freakish toxic positivity of theirs sometimes… Of course, that’s only my biased opinion, but still. I’m not getting close to anyone like that unless really necessary.
I know that Kim Suho is not strictly like that. But whenever I can evade him, I will do it.
We were walking for a little bit, until I stopped, alerting them of the first monster. The one triggering the change of space we would go through to truly start the Mock Dungeon Trial.
“In front. Roughly 500 meters. Salamander.”-I didn’t need to sense it first. As we were in what was basically a straight path leading towards the monster, I could notice it really fast. I saw it long ago, but I chose to tell them once we were a little bit closer.
Just as Hajin’s, or probably just as each one of the paths from fifth to eight, the trigger monster was a Salamander. A low-intermediate rank 6 monster that can use the fire element.
Though this one was just a mana puppet, an instrument to test cadet’s attack power and then calculate the damage that cadets could do to the real monster. A mana puppet damage was almost always one or two ranks down the original creature. Meaning that this mana puppet wasn’t even low rank.
“You sure?”-Mark asks as he gets his chained sickle ready to fight.
“Yeah.”-I answer while walking forwards. The rest of the team following me.
“Mark-ssi. You'll trap its tail first. A salamander can’t use fire breath if its tail is trapped or cut”-Said Rachel while also walking forwards by my side, Ro Ji-Sung following closely behind.
“Roger.”-Answered Mark.
“It must be the switch, let’s end this quickly.”-Said Choi Minseo while walking behind us and taking both of her daggers in a reverse grip.
{So rogue-like.}-I think while sensing how she grabs her dual-daggers.
When we were at the range, Mark immediately grabbed its tail, while Rachel, Ro Ji-Sung, and I raced towards it. Shield-guy got in front to receive a headbutt with his shield, while Rachel and I flanked the creature to cut it. A bolt and arrow also came for its eyes once Ji-Sung was out of the way. Finally, the rogue-like girl threw her daggers towards the monster.
All in all, it was overkill. Really. Why are so many people attacking the poor salamander? It died instantly, only able to react with a headbutt.
*swish*
*swish*
Just when I was thinking about the poor salamander, arrows shot toward me, who was at the front, and the rear, that was still covered by the pink girl. I reacted on reflex.
I threw my sword towards the arrow going for the girl and grabbed the one coming towards me.
“W-what!?”- Lee Ha-Yun got scared when she saw the sword and stepped back. “What are you doing!?”-She shouted at me.
“Ye-yeah m-man… Don’t throw a sword so sudden toward y-your teammates…”-Said a pale Mark, after all, the sword went past him really close.
“Sorry, was a reflex.”-I said to both of them while looking at the arrow in my hand.
“Why did you throw the sword? And what’s… that…?”-Said Rachel while coming closer.
“Oh, this? An arrow, obvious right? It seems some trap activated when we killed the switch monster.”-I said while showing them the arrow. “Someone wants it? It’s poisoned. Though I’m sorry if you wanted both arrows, the other one was destroyed.”
“Both…? What both?”-Asked Park Min-Ho while looking at the arrow.
“Yeah, this, and the one going towards pinky over there.”-I said while pointing towards the broken arrow close to my sword that was embedded in the ground.
“Who’s pinky!?”-Shouted pinky.
“You. Obviously. Didn’t see your hair’s color?”-I said while shrugging.
“This guy! Have you seen yourself in a mirror!?”-She shouted.
“Sure, how else do you think I comb my hair?”-I don’t. I use my hands, but she doesn’t know that.
“Your hair is weirder than mine!”-She points at my hair.
“That’s rude, you know?”-I said while walking towards my sword. “But don’t worry. I forgive you.”-I pick up my sword and put it in the scabbard.
“…”-She just stared at me with a slightly open mouth.
“Come on Lee Ha-Yun, it’s just a little nickname, don’t fuss over it. He saved you from the arrow we couldn’t see.”-Said Adrian while trying to calm everything down. "Also... I would like to have the arrow."-He ended while scratching his head.
“*hump*”-She just snorted while looking to another way.
"Sure, have it."-I gave the arrow to him as I don't have any need for it.
“Stop playing around. Let’s go.”-Announced Choi Minseo to reassume our march. “Also, thank you for protecting my teammate. You do have some great eyes and perception, being able to look and react like that.”-She said while looking at me.
“Yes, I couldn’t even detect it coming, and I was close to pi-… Lee Ha-Yun…”-Adrian said after looking at the arrow for a bit.
“You were about to say pinky right!?”-Shouted an overly excited pinky.
“No problem. She’s my teammate too, at least for today.”-I shrugged. Having an insane perception and being able to sense Natural Energy sure helps to evade sudden traps like this, even more, when your reaction-time is almost instant.
"*snort*"
After that, we all reassumed our formation 3-2-2-1 and started going further into the cave while I was ignoring the snorting and glaring pinky. Once we went past the dead monster, the scenery changed completely around us.
We all could see a big desert surrounding us from all sides. The heat was coming from what could only be an artificial sun right over us, and little to no wind passed through these dunes. Even the little wind that blew was hot.
“I hate sand…”-Mark said after looking at the sand around him.
“Why?”-I ask him.
“It gets everywhere…”
“…”-I look at him while lifting an eyebrow.
“What?”
“It’s not like you’re going to roll on it, do you?”-I ask him, somewhat confused.
“Of course not. But I just hate it.”
“Stop. Do you see anything?”- Quickly interrupts Choi Minseo.
“Yeah.”-I answer her.
“What? Where?”-She asks a little surprised.
“There.”-I answered while pointing towards one part of the desert, where a little sandstorm was coming towards us. “There’s like 15 Fire Slashers and 3 Salamanders coming here in a rush.”
“Why didn’t you say that before!?”-Asked one angry Choi Minseo.
“You didn’t ask before, and they’re still a little bit far away.”-I answered while shrugging.
“…”-She just stares at me with a slightly opened mouth.
“Okay, stop. We need to plan. They’re coming towards us, and as he says, there’s still time. So, any ideas?”-Said Ro Ji-Yun while putting a hand towards his team’s leader.
“Yes!! I do!!!”-Suddenly shouted pinky while raising her hand.
“And what would that plan be?”-Asked Mark with a little surprised face. I’ll not criticize the guy. I’m also confused here as I didn’t think that the pink-haired, easily angered and bubbly warrior girl would be one to plan things… But hey, that was just me being some judging asshole.
“Well, we start attacking them from long-range, evading any fire breath from the salamanders and making them separate. We then separate our group. Two of us, a warrior and a supporter, will go attack the salamanders, while the rest basically stays back taking the attention of the slashers. What do you say?”
Okay. That’s a simple plan. Simple, but perfectly doable. With Rachel's strength and Mark chained sickle, it would be easy to take care of the Salamanders. Meanwhile, the rest could easily defend against the slayers. The bastards do have worrisome attacks, but no way to defend themselves efficiently. A few attacks and they’re done, even faster than the salamanders.
“I approve.”-I said while raising my hand.
"I don't care about your approval!"-She said while glaring at me. She's still angry, poor pinky.
“Me too.”- Said Mark, it seems he also sees it as a doable plan.
“I also approve.”-Said Rachel.
“So? Who are the ones hunting the salamanders?”-Asked Ro Ji-Sung.
“I propose Mark and Rachel.”-I say.
“Mm?”-Rachel lifted her eyebrow.
“Why us?”-Mark Asks.
“Well, Rachel is the strongest here, she’s also fast and has a great ability when it comes to fighting. While Mark can keep their fire breath out of the game. So, it is like an obvious choice, right?”
“I think that’s a good idea.”-Intervened Choi Minseo
“I also think Rachel-ssi should be the one to go.”-Said Park Min-Ho next.
“Well? Time’s ticking.”-I said while looking towards the approaching monsters before turning to glance at Mark and Rachel.
“Good for me then.”-Answered Mark while raising both his arms.
“I also don’t have a problem with the plan.”-Said Rachel while nodding.
“Perfect! Then wait for us to grab their attention first before going after the salamanders!”-Said the pink-haired girl.
{Well, would you look at that? She’s really destroying my first impression of her.}-I thought while taking the sword out of my scabbard. “Well then, I guess we should prepare ourselves to receive these guys.”-I said while stretching a little bit and walking in front of the guys towards the incoming monsters.
“I know, you weird hair.”-Lee Ha-Yun answered just before moving forward too. “Let’s go!”
"My hair is normal though."-I said while shrugging.
"As if!"
“Okay, okay, stop."-Ro Ji-Sung cut between us. "I’ll be in front. I can at least stop a few slashers with my shield and strength.”-He said while walking to the front of us.
“Sharpshooters. Whenever you have them in range, attack. Separate the salamanders from the slashers.”-Said Choi Minseo right behind us.
And just like that, we all took our positions. With Rachel and Mark staying behind, while the rest of us walk further towards the monsters.