Two weeks had passed since Michael enrolled in the Evolver’s academy.
During those two weeks, their training sessions had become progressively more explosive. Every training method was doubled, the intensity doubled, even the difficulty for clearing the sessions doubled. Day after day, Vance pushed them further than before.
All of it was in preparation for one single moment, and now that moment was before them.
"Alright, pay attention." Vance began, demanding for all ears as they stood in the academy’s courtyard.
"I’m sure this past two weeks have been difficult for many of you, but that difficulty has now earned you a chance that wasn’t possible for Class C. The academy has approved your appraisal, you are now qualified to join Class A and B in entering the Abyss."
"For real!?"
"Yes!"
As the members of Class C celebrated with their voices filled with excitement and relief, Vance just watched them with a blank expression. He didn’t disregard their celebration, but he felt worried for what was to come.
"However." A single word shut them up.
"The appraisal was just the easy part, the hard part is-"
"Yeah, we know Mr Vance." A student cut him off, slamming his fist into his other palm with a grin. "Surviving the Abyss."
"Mr Vance, these past months you’ve taught us everything you could." Another chimed in.
"You helped us develop our Nature Arts, taught us how to combat the beasts of the Abyss. If after everything you’ve done for us and we we are scared to survive, we’ve wasted your efforts."
"Yeah." Silva stepped forward. "You’ve done your part Mr Vance, now it’s our turn. Right guys!?"
"Right!"
Mr. Vance looked at each student of Class C, taking in their faces filled with hope, anticipation, and most importantly, drive.
For a moment, he was slightly shocked by the determination in their eyes. Then his blank face slowly softened, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Very well." He cleared his throat. "Class C... Make me proud."
"Yes sir!"
One by one, the members of Class C made their way towards the bus and climbed aboard, their excitement still lingering in the air, they were all equipped with the academy’s standard armory and sword for protection and defense.
All except Micheal who just took a sword and left the armor because it slowed down movement.
Michael was the last to approach, and as he stepped into the bus, Mr. Vance watched him closely, a hint of worry returning to his eyes.
Out of everyone in the class, Michael was the one he worried about the most. Even now, Michael’s origins remained a mystery to him. The academy knew nothing about the kind of Origin he activated, nor did they understand his Nature Art.
It didn’t take long before the bus arrived at a secluded area. Before them stood a massive building surrounded by enormous walls. The entire place felt heavily secured, with several armored Evolvers stationed at massive gates that enclosed a portal.
Each of them was equipped with weapons of the highest grade, or at least close to it.
"Alright Class C, this is it, make me proud."
All the members of Class C headed towards the massive gates, and after obtaining the necessary permission, the gates slowly creaked open, revealing a large, spiraling purple portal beyond them.
One by one, the students of Class C stepped into the portal, disappearing into its swirling depths.
"Finally..." While others took this as a chance to prove to the academy they have what it takes to make it to Class B or A, to Michael, this was the first step in his vengeance. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
[You have been transported into the Abyss.]
..
Michael emerged from the other side of the portal, completely alone, despite stepping into it alongside several of his classmates. He found himself standing in an unfamiliar location with no one else in sight.
He looked around carefully, his eyes scanning his surroundings.
Somehow, their transportation into the Abyss had split them apart, spawning each student to in different location within the unforgiving realm.
"You’ve got to be kidding me." Out of all the members of Class C, Michael had the worst possible scenario.
He hadn’t mastered his Nature Arts, and he wasn’t given the chance to properly practice it. After witnessing what his technique had done before, Mr. Jin deemed it far too dangerous for Michael to practice or attempt to master his Nature Art on academy grounds.
Because of that, Michael was forced to wait until he entered the Abyss before he could try again.
For now, he had nothing but street instincts he honed all those years in captivity to rely on.
"Damn it."
[Welcome to New Genesis!]
[You have been selected to partake in the trials of the Abyss.]
The system panels from before flashed in his sights.
[You have entered the first level.]
[You have only one aim.]
[Survive.]
Michael’s pupils shrank as he immediately clamped a hand over his nose.
The familiar, repugnant smell filled the air, causing the atmosphere around him to change swiftly. Above them, the clouds turned blood-red, growing thick and heavy as the stench of blood intensified.
But there was a difference this time.
"If it were the old me..." He tightened his fist and stared at it. "I’d be shaking in my boots right now, but now..."
He took a determined step forward, ready for whatever was coming for him. "Just wait a little longer Raph, I’ll get stronger, then I’ll send them to you to perish for all eternity."
Michael ventured deeper into the thick, blood-red forest when the sudden sounds of clashing blades and piercing screams immediately caught his ears.
He stopped, then turned sharply towards the direction of the noise, before carefully approaching it, using the tall, thick trees as a cover to hide himself.
As Michael finally drew closer to the source of the noise, he slowed his steps and carefully peeked around the trunk of the tree.
His eyes widened, and his brows jerked upward in surprise.
[You have encountered the D-tier beasts — Abyssal Jackals.]
Before him, four people were locked in combat with several Abyssal Jackals. Two girls and three boys fought desperately, their weapons flashing as they effortlessly cut down the Jackals.
"Ronan!"
"On it!"
One of the two boys glanced forward, and his eyes widened as they met with the remaining four jackals that descended his way. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
"Spatial Nature Art: Spatial Gateway!" The other boy, Ronan, stretched his hand forward, and a spatial rift suddenly opened between the first boy and the Abyssal Jackals. Before the Jackals could reach him, they fell straight into the rift and vanished.
The first girl stretched her hand forward, and a emerald green energy engulfed the first boy’s body. The grazed, small cut on his arm closed up quickly, and the slight stinging pain he felt faded.
Another spatial portal appeared above the second girl, and as the Abyssal Jackals fell out of it, sne stretched her palms forward. "Elemental Nature Art: Tempest Canon!"
Her Nature Energy gathered in her palms, gathering wind energy from her surrounding.
Then she thrust her hands forward.
The energy burst out in a violent torrent of wind, rushing straight at the four Dark Jackals hitting them head-on, sending their bodies hurtling through the forest.
"A—Amazing..." Michael’s eyes wavered as he marveled at their teamwork and coordination, it was flawless! The perfect blend of compatible Origins and Nature Arts working together.
As one of the girls took down the last Jackal, then let out a soft sigh, she lowered her weapon. Then almost by instinct, she turned around.
Her eyes immediately landed on Michael, who was still peeking out from behind the tree.
"Who are you!?" The girl instinctively raised her sword, pointing its blade directly toward the tree Michael was hiding behind.
"Busted huh." Michael let out a quiet sigh before stepping out from behind the tree with his hands relaxed at his sides.
"That uniform..." The girl’s expression softened and she lowered her blade as she saw the emblem of the Evolver’s academy on his chest. "What class are you fr-" Her brows jerked slightly before her eyes suddenly widened in alarm.
"Look out!"
Michael’s eyes shot wide open as he felt a hot breath brushed against the back of his neck. His body stiffened, and a chill ran down his spine.
Then almost instinctively, he pivoted sharply to his side, dodging danger just barely.
The jackal landed heavily on all four feet, its claws digging into the blood-red earth. It barely paused before immediately pushing off the ground and dashing toward Michael once more.
Then, his eyes darted forward at the Abyssal Jackal that charged at him.
’I still don’t know what my ability does, but my system says I awakened the SSS Talent didn’t it? If that’s the case testing the First Genesis skill on a D-tier will be a waste.’ He had no idea what his First Genesis was all about, but showing his trump card to people he didn’t trust was risky.
"In that case..." His eyes narrowed as the Abyssal Jackal’s fangs hovered right above him, but just before the wolf clamped down on his head, Michael instinctively pivoted to his side once more.
’Huh?’ His expression changed as the Jackal’s fangs moved slowly passed him. ’It slowed down?’
Without thinking, he unsheathed the sword prepared for each student, then stabbed it into the Jackal’s stomach.
Michael’s strike went in with tremendous force, the blade tearing deep into the jackal’s body. The impact was so powerful that its insides were violently ruptured, sending blood spraying from the wound as the creature’s body convulsed.
The jackal’s eyes widened in shock, its pupils trembling for a brief moment before its eyes rolled upward and turned completely white.
Its body went limp.
A second later, the massive beast crashed heavily onto the ground, kicking up dust as its lifeless form lay motionless.
For a moment, no one moved as blood splattered past them. Then they all turned to look at him, their shock clear on their faces.
[You have Slain an Abyssal Jackal.]