Chapter 11

All the students of Class C-1 were gathered at the entrance of the academy's training ground, which spanned an estimated forty kilometers in an irregular circular shape. The academy's training ground was divided into three major sections: the desert, the rainforest, and the ruins. These sections were modeled after the environments scavengers encountered the most, ensuring recruits were effectively prepared for the challenges they might face.

Each area hosted specific types of monsters and hordes, creating unique challenges for trainees. To simulate real-world conditions, the academy captured monsters from these areas and placed them in the training ground. This approach significantly improved the efficiency of ranker training, leading to fewer casualties and more successful missions.

The students of Class C-1 stood under the blazing sun as their commander, a tall, muscular man with a sour expression and a scar running dangerously close to his right eye, addressed them. The scar made it appear as though he had narrowly avoided losing his vision. The commander wore a light blue badge with the letter "A" engraved on it, clipped to his belt, alongside twin revolvers that gave him a cowboy-like appearance. His military-grade cyber suit, jet black and reinforced, was topped with a sheriff's hat bearing a star emblazoned with the letter "S."

"The training grounds contain monsters ranging from E-class to A+," the commander began, his deep voice carrying authority. "Unfortunately for you, your assignment will be in the rainforest, where the highest-ranked monsters are B-class."

This statement startled the students. Even Zain, who often appeared unfazed, found himself momentarily tense.

'This commander is insane—how can he call that unfortunate?' Zain thought, his gaze shifting toward the commander.

Despite his scrawny build, Zain stood out. His green eyes, sharp with observation, contrasted with his greying brown skin, a result of years of malnutrition. Though smaller in stature compared to most of his peers, he carried himself with a confidence that many of them lacked. Unlike the other students, whose white badges signified academy-issued ranks, Zain's light blue badge, denoting an actual C-rank, drew both admiration and envy. This distinction placed him among the top students, standing close to the commander.

Some students cast angry glances at him, their resentment palpable. Zain noted this briefly before focusing on the commander's instructions.

"You'll be split into four groups: the Recon Squad, the Hunter Squad, the Alpha Squad, and the Scavenger Squad," the commander announced. "This is a surprise test. Your skills will determine whether you pass or fail."

The mention of a surprise test caused an uproar among the students, save for the top-ranked individuals and Zain. One of the students mustered the courage to voice the collective anxiety.

"Commander, we're still dormant humans. How are we supposed to fight monsters in there?"

The others echoed their agreement, prompting the commander to flash a dark smile.

"You don't have to worry," he said. "You all drank the monster blood issued last year, right?"

All the students, except the top-ranked individuals and Zain, nodded. The commander paid no mind to the top students, as they hailed from influential clans that provided their members with custom monster blood to accelerate their development. Zain, however, was an anomaly and had been explicitly instructed not to consume monster blood yet.

"Good," the commander continued. "Now, listen closely. I'll distribute weapons powerful enough to kill A+ monsters. If you manage to kill a C-ranked monster or higher, you are allowed to collect its blood—but don't drink it until instructed by a scientist from the Ascension Department."

This announcement sparked excitement among the students. The prospect of advancing ranks before officially becoming scavengers was a rare and thrilling opportunity.

"Now, here are the group assignments," the commander said, displaying a hologram listing the group names and members.

The forty students were split into four groups, though the numbers varied:

Recon Squad: Tasked with scouting for suitable camp locations, identifying monster territories, and assessing enemy numbers. This group had six members, including Zain. Coincidentally, the other five were members of the Pentagon, the most influential clique in the class.

Hunter Squad: Comprising ten members, evenly split between boys and girls. Their mission was to eliminate monsters that posed threats to the scavenger squad.

Alpha Squad: Also made up of ten members, mostly female with only two males. This group managed the base of operations, distributing tasks and organizing collected resources.

Scavenger Squad: The largest group, responsible for gathering useful items and completing the primary mission objectives.

"Once you see your name, step forward and choose a weapon!" the commander barked.

The students hurried to examine the hologram, excitement and nervousness etched on their faces as they anticipated their assignments.