The next morning came with a gray sky and a drizzle that painted the academy grounds in a sheen of silver. Damian sat at his desk near the corner of the lecture hall. The rain outside was soft, yet every droplet against the window seem to echo strangely in his ears.
He never liked when it rain. The noise.
A new professor soon entered the class hall, the room's idle chatter stilled.
The instructor drenched in rain with a faint tear on his coat sleeve as if a beat's claw had tried and failed to cut through. His eyes were sharp, predatory, the kind of gaze that had weighed and buried countless.
"Today" his voice rang out, rough, like stone grinding against stone "you'll learn about creature that will kill you, If you ever forget how weak and pathetic you all are" The man said in an angry and disgust tone.
'Is he mad because he got drenched by the rain' Damian wondered inwardly as he listened and observed t instructor.
A flicker of his hand and a thin, metallic disk at the center of the room activated, projecting an arc of shimmering light into the air. The illusion unfolded into a furred creature- around 4ft tall it's eyes a pale, soulless blue, it's jaw lined with far too many tooth.
"This" he said. "Is a feral- a basic tier beast. It looked just like a black wolf. The lowest form of the wild. Unrefined, mindless, relying only raw instincts of threat and hunger. This is what you will face, kill it and maybe I'll consider you all more than just filth"
A few students - especially the noble borns, leaned back in their seats with arrogant smirks. It was obvious these are no threat to them.
Damian simply watched, studying the creatures legs, the width of its stance, the subtle tension in it's projected muscles. His mind wasn't in how fearsome or ferocious it looked or might be but where it's movement might be weakened and how to kill it.
" Inspite the beats violet nature, it's weakness is basically everywhere, it's skin. Even the lowest type of weapon can easily cut through it like butter, as a matter of fact it skin is so soft that with just enough force, you can cut through it and let it bleed out, as a flicker it's movement should be easy to read so this is basically not a problem for you"
Those student who where worried at first hearing this instantly relaxed. The professor moved his hands again. The image shifted- this time to something smaller, the beats looked exactly like the previous beats but smaller, with long hooked claws and a tail that whipped like a blade which the previous beats did not have.
" Next, same specie but this is at the secondary rank, at this stage they are no longer called ferals but lurkers. Agile, intelligent enough to know when they're out classes and take cover, plus they are known for dragging prey into darkness to devour them but don't worry this is your first class, you won't fight them first" his gaze swept across the room as his hand moved again the projection morphed again and again and again and with each change, he explains the rank and traits.
He explained that just like the shade ranking there are 6 types of beats. Basic tier beast, Advanced beast, disaster beast, Noble beast , Mythical beast, Ancient beats. However while basic, advanced and disaster, indicate the strength of a beats in order. Noble, Mythical and Ancient may vary.
The room was in silence as they saw the terrifying beast images even Damian was shook and this was just a projection... Not the real deal.
" Understand this, beats couldn't care less about your noble status, your family's wealth or your affinity. They can about food and eliminating whoever they perceive as a threat, and you are everyone of those 2. Rank shows a beast strength capacity, doesn't determine your victory. No matter how trained you are one little mistake could cost you your life. If you underestimate even a basic tier beast , you'll loose your throat before you can scream, Do you understand!?"
His words were met with stiff postures. He wanted to make this young bloods scared and it was working, I mean they were only 15 even damain was shook but he tried his best to calm down
' fear isn't useful unless it teaches you something ' he thought
The instructors voice soon dropped a note lower as he said
"You've studied names, now you'll study blood"
The room was silent
" A class battle Royale will begin, a dungeon has been prepared for you all, your goal is to kill as many ferral beats as possible.
You must return with prove of your kills by removing the beast core. The more core you have the better for you"
Mururers spread as the students were confused not expecting to enter a dungeon the 2nd day in velcrid.
" Silence!, since this is your first hunt you're allowed to be in groups, however each group must not exceed 4"
Damian was caught off guard, he did not expect there to be any form of grouping. Others already rushed towards the nobles hoping to team up with them, knowing that nobles have undergo special training and have probably killed such beats countless times.
" You won't be rewarded as a group" the man said "grouping you is just to make it easier for you to hunt, you have 10min to pick your group partner"
Damian hadn't seen this coming, he doesn't know who t approach and being an introvert it's even more difficult to socialize. He suddenly remembered that he had seen at the Nexus Assessment room that there where 4,000 freshers, each assignment to 4 hall. Each hall containing 1000, which means 240 groups in a hall, even if he doesn't move he will be added to the 240th group.
"Are you sure about this, we already have this guy"
" Yes follow me.."
" Hey" some said in a soft voice "have you found a group yet"
Damian turned to a beautiful silver haired girl, a shy boy with glasses and a black haired girl who seem rather arrogant and judgemental