MONSTER HUNT

A loud alert flashed across every screen: 'Monsters detected! Remain vigilant.'

Task 2. Hunt monsters [0/100] 

Panic rippled across the students as they looked at each other in stunned disbelief. The atmosphere grew thick with unease, and hushed voices filled the air as they tried to make sense of the ominous warning and its implications.

A loud thump echoed from behind the students, causing them to turn around in a panic. Their eyes widened with fear as they faced the unexpected sight. To their astonishment, the so-called "monster" was nothing more than a large, undulating slime, its gelatinous form quivering as it oozed slowly across the meadows. The initial terror began to dissolve into confused relief as they took in the surprisingly benign nature of their supposed adversary.

A relaxed smile spread across some faces, replacing their earlier panic.

"It's just a slime," one student said, letting out a sigh of relief.

"What do you mean, 'just a slime'? It's still a monster," another student protested.

"Come on, slimes are among the weakest monsters out there," a third student chimed in. "It's basic knowledge."

"How do you know that?" asked another, still wary.

"It's in the basics of monster lore," the student replied confidently.

"But slimes usually aren't this big," someone pointed out, eyeing the oversized creature with apprehension.

As the conversation continued, students huddled together, discussing the unusual size of the slime and debating their next steps.

Natalie's voice cut through the murmurs, sharp and commanding. "Everyone, listen up! We need to form groups—going off alone is too dangerous."

Her words ignited a sense of urgency among the students. They quickly rallied, their previous panic replaced by a newfound determination. Conversations buzzed with strategic planning as they began to organize into teams, ready to tackle the challenge together.

"Everyone knows that sticking with Luis is the safest bet since he's the strongest one here," one of Luis's goon declared. "Why bother forming groups? We should just stay together so Luis can protect us."

The students turned their gazes toward Luis, hoping he would take them under his wing. However, Luis was surrounded by his entourage, clearly uninterested in offering help to anyone else.

"Do whatever you want; I don't give a sh*t to it," Luis said dismissively, his annoyance evident. His tone left no room for negotiation, and it was clear he was fed up with the situation.

"We have 61 people here," Natalie announced decisively, "so we'll form 12 groups. One group can have an extra member if needed."

The students glanced at Samuel with unspoken agreement, as if he were an extra burden.

"If anyone's getting left behind, it's going to be Samuel. Everyone knows that" one student remarked pointedly.

Natalie, unfazed, responded, "Alright, it's settled. Form your groups, start hunting the monsters, and call for help if you need it."

The students scrambled to form their teams, eager to align themselves with strong allies and avoid being part of the weaker groups. The urgency in the air was palpable as they moved quickly, each trying to secure their place in the most capable group possible.

The students moved as a group, their weapons poised and ready for battle. The rhythmic swoosh and slash of blades echoed through the area.

"These slimes are so weak. I could handle dozens of them on my own," one student boasted.

"Shut up and deal with them quickly. We need to get out of here," another replied urgently.

"Hey, Luis, leave some for the rest of us!" Jake called out.

Luis grinned and sliced through a slime with ease. "These slimes are better as punching bags than squid," he said, cutting down another.

"Look at Luis—he's fighting them like he's in a movie!" one female student exclaimed.

"Yeah, he's so cool. Too bad he's into Natalie," another remarked.

"Check out Ethan too. See how he handles that spear," someone pointed out. Ethan, with his tousled black hair and intense blue eyes, expertly hurled his spear, taking down slimes with impressive accuracy.

Ethan's spear cut through the slimes with precision, his movements fluid and confident. Despite this, Natalie too wasn't falling behind.

"Natalie-sama is the strongest among us. Just look at how fierce her arrows are," a male student admired.

"Only Natalie deserves to lead us," another agreed.

Meanwhile, Samuel, who had lost his weapon, tried to hide from the monsters. None of his classmates had taken him in.

"What am I even doing here? I'm going to die. Isn't it better if I just accept it—death by monster?" he muttered to himself.

"No, I don't want to die by a monster," he added, his voice quivering.

Just then, a slime appeared near Samuel. Terrified, he scrambled away, only to trip over some tall grass.

"No, no, don't come any closer!" he shouted, backing away on his knees.

The slime inched closer, its slimy appendages reaching for him. Just as it was about to engulf him, a sword plunged through the creature, splitting it in half. A hand reached out and pulled Samuel to safety.

"Are you alright, Samuel?" a voice asked. It was Grace, one of his classmates who had shown some pity towards him.

"Thank you," Samuel replied, his voice shaking and his hands trembling from the encounter.

Before Grace could respond, a system notification popped up:

Task 2: Hunt Monsters [100/100]

Task 3: Hunt the BOSS

The previously unknown Task 3 was now revealed. The students, who had been separated into groups, reunited and began discussing the new boss monster.