Morning arrived at Astra Dominion Academy with unusual energy.
Students across the campus were already gathered in the main training hall. The large circular arena in the center of the building was surrounded by stone seats rising like steps in a stadium.
Normally the atmosphere during morning training was casual.
But today it felt different.
After the monster attack yesterday, everyone was tense.
Instructors stood around the arena discussing something seriously.
Inside Dormitory D, Kai burst through the door in excitement.
"WAKE UP!"
Leo slowly opened his eyes.
Ryu groaned and pulled his blanket over his head.
"Why are you shouting this early…"
Kai ignored him completely.
"Emergency announcement!"
Milan looked up from his book.
"What happened?"
Kai held up his academy communicator device.
"It's from Instructor Kael."
Leo sat up quietly.
Kai cleared his throat dramatically and began reading.
"Due to the recent monster attack, the academy will begin early field training missions."
Ryu sat up instantly.
"Field missions?"
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
He continued reading.
"All first-year students will participate in controlled training missions outside the academy."
Milan frowned slightly.
"That's earlier than usual."
Kai continued.
"Teams will be formed, and students will be sent to nearby low-level monster zones for practical combat experience."
Ryu grinned.
"Finally."
Kai pointed at Leo.
"And guess what?"
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You're on my team."
Leo blinked once.
"Am I?"
Kai nodded proudly.
"Team Three."
He looked around the room.
"Members are: Leo, Kai, Ryu, Milan…"
He paused dramatically.
"And Luna."
The room became silent.
Ryu whistled.
"Rank one?"
Milan looked surprised.
"That's an unusually strong team."
Kai scratched his head.
"Maybe the instructors want balance between strategies and combat."
Leo simply stood up.
"Then we should go."
---
The main training hall was already full of students.
Teams were forming while instructors explained the rules.
Instructor Kael stood in the center of the arena with a large holographic map floating behind him.
"This mission is not a competition," he said firmly.
"It is training."
He pointed toward several marked areas on the map.
"These zones contain D-rank and C-rank monsters."
Students whispered nervously.
Kael continued.
"Each team will enter a designated zone and eliminate monsters."
"Your objective is survival, teamwork, and combat experience."
Instructor Mira stepped forward next.
"Remember something important."
Her voice was calm but serious.
"Real battles are unpredictable."
"Do not act recklessly."
"Follow your team leader."
Kai whispered to Leo.
"I bet Luna will be leader."
Leo nodded slightly.
That seemed obvious.
Just then Luna walked into the arena.
Many students turned to look immediately.
Her calm expression hadn't changed.
She walked directly toward Team Three.
Kai waved awkwardly.
"Uh… hi."
Luna glanced at him briefly.
"Hello."
Her eyes then moved to Leo.
For a moment she studied him silently.
Then she looked away.
Instructor Kael's voice echoed across the hall again.
"Teams will depart in ten minutes."
"Prepare your equipment."
Students began gathering weapons and armor from the academy storage room.
Kai grabbed a spear.
Ryu picked up a large sword.
Milan took several small devices used for strategy and scanning monster energy.
Leo chose a simple short sword.
Kai stared at it.
"That's it?"
Leo nodded.
"It's enough."
Kai shrugged.
"If you say so."
Luna carried a staff carved with glowing runes.
Even without releasing power, it radiated quiet strength.
Soon the teams were standing near the academy gate.
Large armored vehicles waited outside to transport them to different training zones.
Instructor Mira approached Team Three.
"You will enter Zone 17."
She pointed toward the forest area marked on the map.
"It contains several C-rank monsters."
Kai gulped slightly.
"C-rank…"
Mira noticed.
"Don't worry."
"Your team has strong members."
She looked at Luna.
"You are the leader."
Luna nodded.
"Yes."
The academy gate slowly opened.
Beyond it stretched the outside world.
A world that had changed drastically in the last two hundred years.
Collapsed cities stood in the distance.
Massive forests had grown over abandoned highways.
Monster territories covered large parts of the planet now.
Humans lived inside protected zones like Astra Dominion Academy.
Team Three boarded their transport vehicle.
The ride was quiet.
Kai tried to break the silence.
"So… first mission."
Ryu grinned.
"Let's hunt some monsters."
Milan checked his scanner device.
"We should stay cautious."
Luna simply watched the forest outside the window.
Leo also remained quiet.
Inside his chest, the divine blood pulsed faintly again.
Something about today felt… strange.
After thirty minutes, the vehicle stopped.
Instructor Mira's voice came through the communicator.
"Team Three, you've arrived at Zone 17."
The door opened.
A dark forest stretched in front of them.
Tall trees blocked most of the sunlight.
The ground was covered with thick roots and fallen leaves.
Kai swallowed.
"This place looks creepy."
Luna stepped forward.
"Stay close."
Her voice was calm but firm.
"We move together."
The team slowly entered the forest.
Every sound suddenly felt louder.
Branches cracking.
Wind moving through leaves.
Distant monster growls echoing somewhere deeper inside.
Milan checked his scanner.
"Multiple energy readings ahead."
Ryu tightened his grip on his sword.
"Good."
Kai whispered nervously.
"Let's start with something small."
Suddenly the bushes ahead began shaking violently.
Everyone stopped.
A low growl came from the shadows.
Two glowing yellow eyes appeared between the trees.
Then another pair.
And another.
Several wolf-like monsters stepped out of the darkness.
Their bodies were covered with dark fur and sharp bone spikes.
Milan looked at his scanner.
"Spike Wolves."
"C-rank monsters."
Kai took a deep breath.
"Well…"
He raised his spear.
"Here we go."
The monsters lowered their bodies and prepared to attack.
Behind them, Leo watched silently.
Because something about this forest was bothering him.
The divine blood inside him felt restless.
Almost as if…
Something much stronger was hiding deeper inside the woods.