Eternal Freedom's Ascension-Chapter 46: Nirad Raid (2)

Liam’s team wasn’t the only one doing well. A team led by Apollo from Class-D were also facing a small horde of creatures. They looked like scorpions, but had thick legs reminiscent of a crocodile.

Each of their blows was powerful, and their stinger was even more deadly.

However, the students from Class-D outnumbered them. Countless abilities swarmed the beasts, forcing them into a disadvantage and reaping lives.

In particular, Apollo was the most dazzling. His sword crackled with purple lightning whenever he struck the creatures. His strength was high, capable of overpowering them. Under the barrage of the students, the beast group was eventually annihilated.

[You have slain an Awakened Beast, Scaled Scorpion]

The last scorpion fell to Apollo’s blade, and the surroundings turned silent. Apollo turned to look at his classmates, his eyes narrowed.

’14 injured. These fools... even when we outnumber them, you get injured?!’

He cursed inwardly, but didn’t waste his time shouting. He hadn’t allowed any division in the class, and had ordered everyone to move together. Although some students complained about wanting to go solo, he had crushed every form of resistance.

"Dig out the soul crystals."

He said authoritatively, then watched as they immediately set to work. His lips curled slightly, revealing a chilling smile.

’Hehe... it doesn’t matter. I’ll kill for the thrill.’

...

Although the forest was huge, the instructors sent to monitor the students were able to have an overview of the whole terrain with a single relic.

"Your students are quite united, eh?"

Steve smiled as he watched the students of Class-B divided into three groups with ten members each. Their cooperation and cohesion was great, as they moved like a well-trained team.

"Heh? Is that right? I simply taught them well..."

Natalie giggled softly, her expression mock shyness. She was Class-B’s class teacher, and was responsible for them.

Her pink eyes glistened with mischief. "However, isn’t your Class-D a bit too chaotic? Moving as a whole... hehe... I can only imagine how stupid this is."

Steve remained unfazed by her words. "Hmm. That’s a shallow view. You’re underestimating that kid called Apollo. I believe he’s trying to train his classmates rather than let them uselessly waste time and accumulate injuries."

Natalie snorted, but couldn’t refute him. Class-D’s method might look crude and funny, but it was effective.

Steve looked at the projection showcasing the students, then commented. "Class-C is unlike their instructor. So organized and conservative. Their level of cohesion can rival Class-B and Class-A."

The Class-C instructor, Instructor Myke, smiled sheepishly. "Those kids are too straightforward for my liking. Although I don’t mind their focus on training."

He knew how devoted his class was to their training. The other instructors didn’t argue with him, but focused on another set of students.

"Class-A..."

At that whisper, everyone turned to the middle-aged silver-haired instructor who was leisurely resting on a tree branch. His eyes were closed and a small smile played at his lips. Among the first-year instructions, he was the strongest, and the most scheming instructor. There was a reason why he had retained the position of Class-A’s Instructor for years.

Seeing that he didn’t even move, they all turned back to the projection. Class-A’s movement was similar to Class-D. However, they were more organized and moved like a coordinated army. At the back of the formation, Adela Lincoln walked leisurely. Her classmates moved like a military troop, hunting Nirad Creatures with ease. Although there were some injuries, those with healing abilities immediately healed their mates.

"Such precise control. She already has such a clear grasp of their abilities..."

One of the assisting staffs praised, awed by the lilac-haired girl.

While they were focused on her, Instructor Rina had her eyes on her students.

’Hazel and Ariel...’

Those two were outstanding despite going solo. Here, it was clearly displayed that Hazel’s strength wasn’t mere words. She was able to hunt down three beasts all by herself without getting any serious injury.

As for Ariel, his display remained unremarkable. He avoided troublesome beasts, and took down strong ones effortlessly.

’The way he does it... it makes one wonder if the creature is weak. Wait! That place?!’

...

’Standing out too much would be unfit. I should just kill a few beasts and retire.’

Ariel thought as he scanned the surrounding with wary eyes. The forest was unnaturally silent, as if not a single living being was around.

His body tensed subtly as he felt the air turning strange. Had he entered the territory of something stronger?

His guess was spot on.

Grrr-!

A large shadow loomed in the distance, as large as a vehicle. Without even waiting for it to reveal itself, Ariel bolted. He knew he might be able to fight it, but he didn’t want to. With the instructors watching? It’d be a problem if he suddenly got popular, he thought as he ran.

Unfortunately, the enormous creature was fast, catching up to him in less than a minute.

Ariel took a brief glance at the creature, then frowned. Unlike the other beasts which looked like local animals from Earth, this one was an abomination.

It had the body of an ostrich. However, in place of its wings were two tentacles that had thorns decorating them. The head had eyes, but three in number.

’A true Nirad Creature.’

A Nirad Creature wasn’t just called that. They were normal animals which had been twisted and mutated over time, creating abominable species that differed from one another. This ostrich had to be one of the oldest creatures in the forest.

’I can’t outrun it. I have to kill it somehow.’

He ignored the sensation of the third eye staring at him and turned sharply. His figure blurred through the trees, and he reappeared at the creature’s side.

As if already expecting him, a tentacle crashed down towards him. Seeing the humongous flesh approaching, he didn’t panic and steadily summoned a sword. The blade gleamed under the sunlight, then hacked towards the falling tentacle.