Movement

The glistening, morbid edge of a blade sliced through the air, slicing apart a Rank F lower daemon.

Quickly, Izumi rushed forward against another saber-wielding daemon. Adding mana to the weapon, he slightly dodged a direct punch and slipped underneath the creature.

The daemon, which looked exactly like an ogre of average proportions, only felt Izumi's saber pierce just below its ribcage and slightly tear the skin. Izumi threatened to attack again, but turned to the side and gave Erik an opening.

Precise and powerful shots hit the daemon, finishing it off completely.

[Erik Von Berta]

[18 years | Spades Suit]

[Rank: D]

[Erika used the spell "Ruins of Freedom"]

Looking to the side, Izumi watched her companion suspend a daemon with a chain of black mana, the tip of which had a sharp blade.

[Erika Von Berta]

[18 years | Diamonds Suit]

[Rank: E]

[New data has been added to the "Glossary"]

A notification popped up as soon as Erika finished the daemon. The three stopped to look at their new achievements.

[You leveled up!]

[Izumi Kairen]

[Affiliation: Michizane Clan]

[Rank: E (Emerging)]

[Potential: 30]

[Level 2]

Izumi put the saber away in her inventory and stretched with her arms up.

[Glossary]

[Grey Orc - Rank F]

[You have defeated three rank five Gray Orcs. {Beware!} This species tends to be violent toward those who carry traces of their deceased comrades' energy. They are a formidable and close-knit society, usually led by a Rank E {Blue Orc}.]

'Indeed, the demons are beyond… I'm an E-Rank, which should definitely be enough to defeat Gray Orcs. But, if it weren't for the twins… I would probably be in trouble.'

Izumi should have had it easy as a Grade Three Sword Apprentice (last stage of apprentices, intermediate level). He had worked hard to reach that level in over thirteen years of training; however, Orcs below his own rank were posing a danger.

The abysmal difference between those born to be strong and those born to be forgotten was glaring.

But, this is due to the fact that even Rank F Daemons have a growth rate 2x faster than a Rank F Sefira. Something that only Rank E Sefiras, like Izumi, have.

'It's no use. Now that I have access to the System, I have to evolve my status from a mere Grade Three Sword Apprentice to the Sword Graduate level…'

The minimum requirements accepted by Sword Masters to evolve a Sword Apprentice into a Sword Graduate were at least level 30 in their given Rank and over one hundred and fifty points in dexterity.

At that moment, it was nothing more than a dream.

"Izumi…" Erik called. "This is going to take a while…"

"Yes," Izumi agreed.

They had fought for ten minutes with three Grey Orcs, a group considered small. The next ones would certainly have between seven and fifteen members, which could cost them time they didn't have.

The best option was to head to some local event… Be it a Virtual Shard or a dungeon.

That was Izumi's first idea.

Opening a location screen, he utilized a function that allows all members of his group to view the same functions as the host.

"Shakal Island is divided into four peninsulas, which follow the cardinal directions. Except for the southern peninsula, where we are, all of them have a unique event: either a Virtual Shard or a dungeon," Izumi explained, showing the map to her companions.

The twins watched Izumi's explanation.

They knew that going for a Virtual Shard would be the best option for a number of reasons.

"Going to the dungeon in the Seraphim Range is not feasible. Besides the distance, which is on the other side of the island, a dungeon is much more dangerous than a Virtual Shard…"

Virtual Shard is when an Einstein Rosen Bridge connects the Kings' domain to the human world, bringing daemons into what should be the Safe Zone. Military bases are formed around what they call the portal, waiting for the daemons to emerge so that direct conflict can occur.

It is a long-lasting process that can take days. If the Sefiras are unable to contain the corruption that runs through the Virtual Shard, a so-called Territory Rupture occurs.

The corruption of Kings crosses the barrier created by the archangels and dominates small regions; depending on the Rank of the demonic noble responsible for that Virtual Shard, they can corrode entire cities.

When this Territory Rupture occurs, the dominated territory is soon named Dungeon. A place corrupted by demonic forces, where daemons can emerge spontaneously or cross the Einstein Rosen Bridge.

The duty of the Sefiras is to reclaim these corrupted territories.

In that situation, where they couldn't get past level two, a raid on some Virtual Shard was the best option for them.

"The northern dungeon is dominated by Green Orcs…" Erik said, analyzing the map. "They'd be like… Rank C, right? The angels aren't messing with us…"

"It doesn't matter that much to us… The other aspirants will definitely go to that dungeon, it will be a battlefield dominated by them" commented Erika "We have to remember to stay close to the southern peninsula, in case any embarrassment occurs."

"Yes. If we return to that square if anyone is hurt, we can return to our world and continue the exam another time. But…"

Izumi was intrigued by how they would get to the southern peninsula.

"It will take us a long time to get there…"

"Look." Erik said, pointing at the system screen, a little ahead of where they were. "It's an abandoned city. It should take us until midnight to get there, if we leave now. It's also a Virtual Shard…"

"That's our next objective." Erika stated, without waiting for her friends to finish the conclusion. "But first…"

Izumi's eyebrows jumped.

Erika was the first to notice, through intuition, the footsteps that were hidden in the shadows of the forest. Countless demonic presences were affecting the local ecosystem, consuming the landscape with a dark and morbid intent.

He - Izumi - was in disbelief for not realizing it before. When he looked back, they were already a few meters ahead, separated only by the breeze.

The trio of aspirants materialized their weapons and stood guard.

"I think we found the group of those three…" Erik said, nervous even though he was joking.

[Grey Orcs]

[Rank E Group | 12 members]

"This one is dangerous…"

[Registered daemon has been located.]

Behind twelve Grey Orcs, there was one hidden by the barrier of muscles of his own subjects. With blue skin and a disproportionate jaw, his lower tusks were exposed, above a large beard of black hair.

Armor made of twigs and wild animal skulls covered only the waist.

[Blue Orc Shaman]

[Rank F | Level 20]