48. Time Passes Again

"That's so awesome! What do your wings look like? Can you fly? Is that why you also have healing magic?" Jacob suddenly shot off question after question, causing the others to laugh at his excitement.

Aala gently calmed him down and then started explaining how she's keeping it a secret until the 5th year when they have a chance to get accepted to Lotoria Academy, where she would be safer to reveal her proper form.

Jacob nodded as he listened, his excited face replaced by a stern face. Once she finished explaining, he did that chest tap again, "I promise I won't say a word." He smiled.

"Thank you, Jacob." Aala smiled as she pulled her hood back up.

They talked a bit longer before they all separated for their own time and to get used to their chosen items.

------------

Just like this, 18 months passed. At least once every week, the students would go to the Hollow Forest to get real-life fighting skills. Even with the teleportation tokens, there sadly had been a few deaths or bad injuries leading to some people having to drop out of the academy. The 150 students had dropped down to 115 by their 4th year.

They were currently out training once again in the Hollow Forest. They were due to do a level placement test in a week, so everyone was trying to get stronger. So far, in the last three years, Sarah and her friends hadn't managed to get higher than level six, so they had been stuck there. They weren't the top 10 that moved up, but they were never the bottom 10 who moved down. David had moved to level seven during two tests ago, while Krakow and Calie had moved up during the last test.

This time, all of them were determined to get past that barrier. During the last test, they had just barely missed it, coming 11th and down to 15th.

They were fighting a massive bear beast known as the Blood Bear. Its fur was blood red and, when on its hind legs, it stood at 8 foot tall. Its paws were the size of their heads with huge claws.

[[Species: Blood Bear

Rank: C

HP: 122/800

STR: 50

AGI: 35

DEF: 40

Weakness: The hind right leg is weakened due to past injury.]]

As always, Jacob would move in front to take the hit from the bear while Aala covered above it, shooting arrows at any chance she got while also healing Jacob.

Sarah moved in when Jacob had the bear's attention and would cut at its body with her sword or use its Wind Blade skill to send a distance attack at the bear.

Ithil was throwing in Blazing Spears at the bear and also hitting it with Overcharge Orbs, affecting its movements for a few seconds, which allowed Jacob to back off to heal or for Sarah to get extra hits in.

[[Lightning Spell: Overcharge Orb

Rank: D

Creates an orb of overcharged lightning that, when it hits the target, overloads the electric signals in the body, causing the body to stop responding for 5 seconds. It costs 30MP to cast.

Weakness: When used on higher ranks, the spell lasts for less time.]]

Due to the ranking differences, it only affected the bear for 3.5 seconds, but it was enough.

Zion would also rush in to do a few close damage attacks. He wished he had some ranged attacks at this point, it would be helpful. While he hadn't changed much, his level was finally almost at 15.

The bear once again swung at swung its paw into Jacob's shield. '"Sarah, now attack its leg!"' Zion quickly rushed forward and pounced on the bear's head, biting down on its face.

The bear roared in pain as it pulled its arms back from the shield, intending to swat the fox clinging to its face.

Ithil and Aala quickly targeted each paw and aimed a Blazing Spear and an arrow into the left and right paws.

The bear roared in pain again as it pulled its paws back once again. Sarah took this chance to swing at its leg, causing the bear to fall down in pain. Once down, Sarah stabbed her sword into its throat repeatedly until it finally let out a gargle and stopped moving.

[[Blood Bear (C) killed. 50 EXP gained.]]

'50... yes! Status.' Zion was ecstatic.

[[Status]]

Race: Oracle Rainbow Fox

Name: Zion

Level: 15 (EXP: 22/5000) (evolve)

Rank: D

Magic Affinity: None

(Fire: 55% - Red

Water: 10% - Blue

Earth: 68% - Orange

Wind: 16% - Green

Lightning: 23% - Purple

Ice: 0% - Pale Blue

Light: 0% - White

Dark: 0% - Black

Space: 30% - Yellow)

HP: 645/645

Mana: 550/550

STR: 42

AGL: 47

CON: 45

DEF: 42

INT: 55

CHA: 50

...]]

'I finally hit lvl15!' Zions tail wagged softly in his excitement as he saw the evolve option next to his level.

As always, Ithil stored the bears corpse away, "That thing was about to evolve into a Rank B I swear. It was way to strong for a simple rank C beast." He sighed softly.

"It was definitely strong." Aala nodded as she landed and healed Sarah and Jacob from the little injuries they still had.

They sat down to rest for the last few minutes before they were teleported back to the carriages. As always, they gave the spacial bags to the adventures then headed back to the Academy.

Ivan stood waiting for them all, "Okay, everyone listen up. Due to the next test coming up soon, there will be no more forest training for the next week. Use this time to prepare for the test. That's all." Sir Ivan then walked away, leaving all of the 11 year olds in the field as always.