The stone forest ahead might appear ordinary at first glance, but it was actually a carefully designed formation set up by Huaihai College. Its true purpose was to serve as a tactical retreat zone for students on missions during emergencies.
"Roar!"
The advancing beast tide didn't halt just because Qingyun and the other four students chose to stay behind to hold them off. Although a large portion of the monsters were delayed, there were still hundreds more charging forward, relentless in their pursuit of the fleeing students.
"Don't stop! Keep running!"
Teacher Du, who was leading the class, shouted with urgency as he guided the students into the stone forest. Without hesitation, he stopped at the forest's edge, turned toward the oncoming monsters, and pressed his palm firmly onto the ground.
"Earth Element: Lifelessness!"
Boom!
Towering earth walls rose instantly, creating a massive barricade between the rampaging beasts and the fleeing students. The barrier slowed the creatures just long enough for Teacher Du to act again. Slamming his palm onto a nearby stone pillar, he channeled his spiritual energy into it.
BOOM!
The entire stone forest lit up with blinding light. Each stone pillar erupted with a pillar of fire, shooting straight into the air and raining destruction upon the beasts. The sound of explosions echoed like thunder.
…
Meanwhile, Smith and the other students had been sprinting for nearly five minutes without stopping. Their lungs burned, their legs trembled, and their pace slowed with every step.
"No good... If I keep running like this, I'm going to collapse before anything even catches me," gasped Wei Lin, coming to a halt.
"I can't take another step," panted Zhao Mei, stopping just behind him.
Gradually, more and more students began slowing down and stopping altogether. Once exhaustion set in, it was nearly impossible to recover momentum.
Seeing this, Smith and Yan Yue hesitated briefly but then stopped as well, catching their breath.
"We can't stop here! We need to get back and inform the school of the situation. Otherwise, the teachers' sacrifice will be for nothing!" Yan Yue urged, sweat dripping from her forehead as she tried to rally the others.
Despite her determination, her words didn't have the intended effect. Once people stopped, the desire to rest overpowered logic and duty.
"Wei Lin, if you really can't run, then walk. But don't just stand there!"
Taking a deep breath, Smith grabbed Wei Lin's arm and helped him forward step by step.
"Zhao Mei!"
Yan Yue called out again, and Zhao Mei turned with a groan. "Yueyue, wait for me!"
Though reluctant, she forced her body into motion, trailing behind the others with effort.
"Oh, right! I just learned a healing skill that can ease our fatigue!"
Zhao Mei's eyes lit up as she remembered her recently acquired ability. As a water-element mutant, she had access to basic healing techniques. Without wasting time, she summoned a soft, watery-blue halo from her palm, enveloping the four of them in a soothing glow.
Almost instantly, Smith felt his fatigue lessen. Though still tired, he was no longer on the verge of collapse.
Other students took notice and followed suit. While most of Class Three consisted of members from special departments, a few were from the water element track—or were dual-specialists. Soon, multiple water-element users activated similar healing techniques, bringing brief relief to the group.
"ROAR!"
Suddenly, angry roars echoed from behind. A group of monsters had already caught up!
"Chiu!"
Above, several large flying monsters circled low in the sky, letting out high-pitched screeches to alert others of the students' location.
"They're gaining on us—RUN!" someone shouted.
Panic set in again. Everyone took off, sprinting with whatever energy they had left.
"ROAR!"
Hot on their heels was a pack of corrupt wolves—first and second-level monsters known for their speed and brutality. Without someone to hold them back, the students had no chance of outrunning them.
"AHHH!"
The cries of those caught were gut-wrenching. Several students were bitten down, their screams piercing the forest.
Smith and the other three were near the front of the fleeing group when a powerful gust suddenly swept through the trees.
Whoosh!
A fierce wind roared past them as several enormous Storm Eagles landed in their path. They flapped their massive wings, unleashing blasts of wind that snapped trees in half and blocked the way forward.
"There's no way out!" someone cried.
In front of them stood four Storm Eagles. Behind, the corrupt wolves were catching up. To the left, the dense jungle was already crawling with monsters. To the right, a cliff dropped into a violent, churning river—and even that wasn't safe, as a few Storm Eagles hovered overhead, circling the cliff.
Surrounded on all sides, the students had no path to escape.
"Screw this! Let's fight!" Xu Kun shouted, rage overtaking fear as he charged at the corrupt wolves.
"Fight back!"
The rest of the students finally snapped into action. If they couldn't run, they might as well fight!
They weren't helpless—they were superpowered students trained to face danger!
"Stay calm! Work together—don't fight blindly!" Smith called out, forcing himself to stay composed. "Follow a strategy, or we're finished!"
Ding! Mission triggered: Break out of the siege and escape danger.
Reward: 100 energy points, one lottery draw.
Under normal circumstances, Smith would've cursed the stingy system. Only 100 points for something this hard? Even that crook Zhou Baopi is more generous!
But now wasn't the time to complain. He couldn't afford the slightest distraction.
The biggest threat were the four Storm Eagles—each one a first-level intermediate monster. Flying beasts were always more dangerous than ground ones of the same level due to their speed and agility.
"You three, focus on holding back the other three Storm Eagles. I'll handle the fourth one as fast as I can, then come help you."
Smith wasn't being arrogant—he truly had the strength to take on one of them solo. But more than one was beyond his current limits.
"Got it," Yan Yue nodded firmly.
"Go!"
Smith drew the dagger from his back and charged toward the nearest Storm Eagle.
"Chain of Holy Water!"
"Wood Element: Entanglement!"
"Chain of Holy Water!"
Yan Yue and the others moved in sync. Water chains burst from their hands, lashing out to bind two of the Storm Eagles. At the same time, Wei Lin summoned thick vines from the earth, coiling around the third bird.
Smith sprinted toward the fourth Storm Eagle.
Chiuuu!
With a shriek, the giant bird flapped its wings and swooped toward Smith, slicing through the air with gale-force winds.
"Sharingan!"
Smith's eyes turned crimson. The powerful insight granted by his Sharingan revealed the movement patterns of the wind and the eagle. Spotting a small blind spot, he ducked low and charged through the opening.
The eagle, realizing its wind assault had failed, lifted its talons and swiped at Smith with deadly precision.
But in Smith's eyes, the massive claws moved in slow motion. Reacting just in time, he rolled forward, the talons narrowly missing him.
"You missed!"
Smith lunged. His dagger flashed in the air as he stabbed with all his strength, plunging the blade deep into the Storm Eagle's neck.
Screeech!
The eagle thrashed violently, flapping its wings in agony, but Smith held on tight, driving the blade deeper.
Thud!
The giant bird collapsed, twitching briefly before going still.
Smith stood, panting, blood splattered across his arms. "One down."
Now it was time to help the others.
pàtréóñ(Gk31)