Chapter 9: Into the Monster Zone

[Ding! Mission Triggered: Complete your first monster combat training!][Reward: 100 Energy Points. Mystery Shop unlocked!]

The moment he left Azure Dragon Academy, the system's voice rang out in Renji's mind.

A mission, huh.

100 energy points wasn't much, but it was enough to unlock two or three C-rank Wood Release techniques.

"Well... guess it's time to step it up."

What he thought would be a boring trial suddenly became exciting.

If there were rewards on the line, he'd ace this battle.

"Renji, why do you look so fired up?" asked Wei Lin, who was walking beside him.

Wasn't he nervous about fighting monsters?

"Relax. This is just the beginning. Besides, with this many teachers around, what's there to worry about?" Renji smiled.

The students marched toward the outskirts of the city.

Azure Dragon City had four gates. At the central plaza, the teams split into four directions.

Roughly two hundred students and a dozen teachers gathered at each gate.

"All auxiliary teams, time to split up and join your assigned combat classes," Professor Shizuka called out.

"Team One, Elemental Class One."

"Team Two, Elemental Class Two."

"Team Three, Special Ops Class One."

"Team Four, Elemental Class Seven."

…

"Team Eight, Special Ops Class Three."

That was Renji's team.

He, Yuna, Wei Lin, and Zoe Miller.

The moment their assignment was announced, boys in Special Ops Three cheered.

Why?

Because Yuna Hoshizaki was joining their squad.Fighting monsters alongside the school beauty? Sign them up.

"Cut the noise!" Professor Shizuka's sharp voice snapped them back to order.

She wasn't supervising any one class today, but she was leading the team heading to the West Gate, where Special Ops Class Three was stationed.

Ten minutes later, they arrived.

As soon as they stepped through the gate, a wave of putrid, rotting air hit them.

The smell of blood, decay, and death made the first-timers gag.

Renji frowned, scanning the area.

Piled outside the city walls were heaps of monster corpses, stacked like grotesque mountains.

"The smell comes from these monsters. They tried to breach the walls—and died for it," Professor Shizuka explained.

"Look closely. This is the kind of world we live in now. This is what you'll fight against."

The students fell silent, pale-faced.

Tens of thousands of corpses.And probably just as many monsters still lurking beyond.

They stopped a hundred meters outside the city wall.

Before them stretched an open field—and beyond that, a dense, shadowy forest. Faint monster roars echoed from within.

Sunlight glinted off the teachers' gear as they set up a large protective barrier, enclosing the students.

"Classes, find your areas. Teachers, prepare to guide them in battle," called the Special Ops instructor.

Special Ops Class Three was placed at the far-right corner.

Forty students, plus Renji's auxiliary group, making forty-four total.

"Soon, we'll release captured monsters into the training zone. You'll fight them in groups of three. Teachers will coach you through the fight."

"Understood?"

"YES!" half the class shouted.

The rest hesitated—especially some of the girls, who trembled at the thought of real combat.

"Well, if it isn't our so-called genius, Renji Takahashi."

A mocking voice.

It was Eric Cole, the arrogant beast-shifter Renji had clashed with before.

Figures. Eric was also in Special Ops Class Three.

"Got a problem?" Renji asked coolly.

"No problem at all!" Eric sneered. "I just wonder how the mighty 'double S-rank' psychic handles himself when the monster's teeth are this close to his face."

Renji smirked. "You should worry about yourself. I'd hate to see a monster mistake you for lunch."

"Tch. Keep talking. Let's see how tough you are in battle."

Just then, roars erupted from the forest.

The teachers returned, dragging ferocious monsters behind them.

For Special Ops Class Three, it was a Two-Headed Fire Ant—a level one beast, the size of a lion, glowing red-hot, baring two snarling heads.

The monsters were released into reinforced cages.

"Alright, who's going first? Three volunteers."

No one moved.

The Fire Ant hissed, and several students instinctively stepped back.

"...What? No one?" the teacher frowned.

Just as he was about to call on someone, a calm voice spoke.

"I'll go first."

Yuna Hoshizaki stepped forward, cool and composed.

The teacher nodded approvingly. "Good. Yuna's in. Now two more."

"I'm in too!" Eric Cole shouted, eager to impress.

"One more spot."

Eric smirked, glancing at Renji.

"Well, Renji? Got the guts to join us?"