The Aegis Academy's Trial II

Spears of ice flew into the air, impaling a large gorilla-like creature, riddling it with holes. The beast roared, swinging its massive arms to shield itself from the icy projectiles. But the endless barrage was relentless, eventually killing it, leaving the corpse as a grotesque pincushion.

"Eleanor, you are so amazing!" a female teen cheered, her voice a mix of awe and relief, along with the other teens who watched on. Eleanor's white hair swayed gently as she let out a fogged breath, stopping her outstretched hand. It wasn't just the gorilla that lay dead; numerous other creatures littered the landscape – leopards that could scatter electricity, large hedgehog-like creatures whose needles could pierce through multiple trees, and many stranger, monstrous forms.

"An S-rank ability is so powerful!" the female C-rank muttered, shaking her head. "I can only manipulate plant matter a few times before my head starts to get dizzy."

"It's not just S-rank, it's Eleanor who is amazing!" the male A-rank, a tall boy, corrected. "My A-rank ability is nowhere near the level of Eleanor, despite its power."

Eleanor turned to them, her calm gaze sweeping over the group. "How is everyone?"

The male D-rank, still catching his breath, sighed. "Two died, a D and a C Rank. We're now down to five people in the group."

"That stampede came out of nowhere," the male A-rank added grimly. "And we couldn't flee either."

The male C-rank, who had yet awakened his own ability, nodded vehemently. "Yeah, if it wasn't for Eleanor, we wouldn't have survived." The other students nodded in agreement, solemnity replacing their earlier awe.

"Let's find a safe place to rest," Eleanor suggested, her voice clear. "Night is approaching, and it might be a lot more dangerous outside."

"We should collect some meat from these monsters; we need to eat," the male A-ranker pointed out, eyeing a fallen beast.

The male C-rank added, "With Eleanor's ice, we have a steady supply of water for survival."

As night approached, they found a suitable spot. They set up a rough shelter, its back facing a rocky outcrop for protection against ambush. Using survival knowledge one of the members surprisingly possessed, they built a campfire. Another member expertly roasted chunks of monster meat over the flames.

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The group, now consisting of Eleanor, one male A-rank, one male C-rank, one female C-rank, and one male D-rank, settled around the fire.

The male D-rank bit down on his roasted meat. "Whoa, this tastes really good."

The male A-ranker nodded enthusiastically. "I know right? It tastes better than any meat I've eaten before. If all monsters tasted this good, I might become a gourmet hunter of sorts in the future."

Eleanor ate in silence, but finished her portion quickly, a testament to how good it tasted despite the simple cooking method, especially considering the various high-quality cuisines she had eaten in her life.

"Hey, save some for me!" The female C-ranker, who had returned from keeping watch, grabbed a skewer roasting over the campfire.

The male A-ranker chuckled. "This feels like a camping trip, if not for the whole 'survival with monsters roaming about', and the 'if we were successful in surviving for three days, we'd join the government as supernatural agents' part."

The male D-ranker pondered aloud, "If we were to join the academy, what would day-to-day look like? Would it be like Harry Potter, where we attend classes about supernatural stuff, or something?"

The female C-ranker shrugged. "Who knows? It's probably going to be about surviving, investigation, and fighting monsters, as well as developing our abilities."

"Yeah, that sounds about right," the male A-ranker agreed. "What about you, Eleanor? You're an S-rank after all, what do you think?"

Eleanor considered this. "I don't think I'll be treated any differently just because I'm an S-rank."

"I'm not sure about that," the male D-ranker countered. "From analyses I saw online, there seemed to be less than a handful of S-ranks compared to A or B ranks nationwide. So you're likely going to be an elite member of the Academy and probably receive specialized training."

The male C-rank, who had just returned from his watch, commented, "I think so too. Oh, it's your turn on watch duty, A-rank."

"Already?" the male A-ranker said, getting up. Eleanor quietly thought about it a bit, as the group chattered on, the flickering firelight casting long, dancing shadows. Soon after, they took turns sleeping and keeping watch, the alien world around them settling into their reality.

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Ethan, after his harrowing escape, found himself at an oasis. Lush, vibrant greenery erupted from the sand, surrounding a shimmering pool of water. Yet, the creatures that populated this sanctuary were anything but ordinary. Giant buffalo-like beasts from before grazed calmly alongside a strange bird monster resembling an ostrich with vast, colorful wings. A massive rhino creature, layered in earthen armor, lumbered by. Most frighteningly, a predator-like creature lay camouflaged against a bizarre tree, while smaller fox creatures nibbled on colorful fruits that had fallen to the ground. Even the very wolf pack he'd just fled was here, drinking peacefully from the pool.

Despite their predatory nature or sheer size, none of the animals attacked him. It was as if an unseen rule governed this place, prohibiting conflict and overwriting the brutal laws of survival that reigned outside. Predator and herbivore coexisted in a temporary truce.

Suddenly, the animals scattered, stepping aside with a collective awareness, as if welcoming an arrival. The ground beneath Ethan's feet began to tremble, and he instinctively joined the other creatures on the periphery. The wolf he'd faced earlier let out a low growl at his proximity, and Ethan quickly mumbled an apology, pressing himself closer to a towering buffalo.

The tremor intensified, growing into a powerful vibration. From the far side of the oasis, a creature of majestic beauty approached. It walked on all fours, yet possessed the head of a bird and immense, colorful feathered wings that dwarfed any other living thing in the oasis. Its sheer size was breathtaking, making the large rhinos appear like mere calves.

As it neared the body of water, the colossal creature abruptly paused. Its long neck slowly turned, its bird-like head tilting, and its large, intelligent eyes fixed directly on Ethan. The intensity of its gaze was unnerving, freezing him in place. All the other animals around him also watched him.

Then, a voice spoke directly into Ethan's mind, clear as if it were his own thought. "Oh, a human? Are you part of those otherworlder groups that come every so often?"