Just like last time, everyone was divided into groups; however, they weren't mixed with upper and lower grades.
Previously, they were mixed because of several people participating in the trip, not to mention the other two divisions. Tenth graders were forced to lead the group.
But, now that the overall students only numbered 24 and only consisted of Elite division, the teachers just divided them per grade.
Grade-8s were placed on one team. Grade-9s on the other. The remaining grade-10 students are on the third team.
Grade-8s were accompanied by two teachers, one is their lazy homeroom teacher who is now behaving completely opposite and the other is the sorcerer Uphiar who was usual like himself with no changes of his attire or his beard style.
He was the one who cast a barrier on the rank-3s from grade 8 so that they don't feel the heat.
Meanwhile, Grade-9s were accompanied by their homeroom teacher. The male students in puberty are extremely happy with the presence of beauty like Exea. As for grade 10s, they were left on their own.
Soon, they reached the shore of the island, and the three teams went into separate ways.
While the sorcerer stayed silent, the lazy homeroom teacher acted as a tour guide. From the moment the ship docked till they reached their destination, he never once closed his mouth as if he was possessed or something.
After an hour of non-stop running, the team reached the shores of the lava lake.
It is formed due to the frequent eruptions within the volcano, once per day or two. Whenever it happens, the lava pours down from the mouth of the volcano continuously as if it was a river and ends up at the lake.
For this reason, the lava lake never hardens up.
Looking at the scenery around, Azzy and the others were taken aback in surprise. It looked exactly like the ones they are trained in the illusion that was cast by the sorcerer.
The small island in the middle of the lake confirmed Azzy's suspicions. The other six students also came to the same conclusion.
"Remember the Volcanus, the spiky lava beast that you trained together?" Uphiar suddenly asked them.
Everyone nodded in response. They can't even forget even if they wanted to.
Azzy only faced it once. However, the others faced it many times during the first week. They also experienced the feeling of dying more than a hundred times.
Everyone except for Azzy also felt excited to kill the real one and take their revenge.
"The beast you faced is a native monster that resides within the lake. Usually, they are peaceful beasts along with lava vipers, lava alligators, and other fish-type lava beasts.
Usually, you can find the Volcanus King inside the volcano. The crystals you see all around the mountain are flame crystals. So, those who have the Fire Attribute will be able to take advantage of it.
And finally, today, your mission is to provoke whatever beasts you find and each of you must dig out atleast one flame crystal."
"Eh?" Everyone looked at him in surprise. Teachers usually say to stay away from the beasts and don't provoke them but this guy asked them to do the complete opposite.
"Yeah, he's right." Rubin's comment brought him the attention of everyone.
The majority of them looked still confused.
He then proceeds to explain in a serious tone, "Previously, I mentioned in the class about the monthly tournament.
So, this is the last chance for you to improve your strength, especially you four..."
He pointed at the rank3s who have barriers on them.
Gideon and Lark, you two will stick together. As long as the both of you will not provoke high or peak rank-4 beasts of gold grade, you will be fine."
Both of them nodded in response.
Rubin's eyes then fell on the rank-3s.
"Curtis, Julius, Blaine Fern, and Aegis… the four of you will form a group. You must focus on rank-3 beasts. If the four of you work together, then, probably, facing a beginner rank-4 will not be a problem."
They nodded and grouped together to one side.
Finally, he looked at Azzy. "You aren't in a need of the team and are strong enough to face any monster. Anyway, you are free to explore the region on your own. Send a flare if you require help…"
He handed him a card, which will give them a signal in the sky if he were to use it in crisis.
Lark looked at Azzy in envy. Even though his soul power is slightly lower by about twenty to twenty-five thousand, they are still the same rank.
Yet, the teachers have so much different attitudes towards them and Azzy. They even handed him a signal card too while none of them were given anything.
He didn't know that they did that because each teacher is going to follow one group to look after them.
"Kill as much as you can, however, don't lose sight of your own strength. Remember that unless it is life-threatening, we won't step in." Rubin gave a final warning before telling them to leave.
While the rank-3s took a boat to travel to the shore, so that they can first mine the flame crystals, Gideon and Lark stepped on the latter's flying card and flew towards the small islands that are in the middle of the lake.
Their goal is to battle a Volcanus beast because of their familiarity with its attack patterns.
Meanwhile, Azzy, who parted his ways with them earlier, summoned the black wolf and mounted it on its back.
It started to run on the lava at a high speed. Due to being a top-grade beast, even the 700-degree Celsius temperature of lava didn't affect it a bit, although Azzy was sweating from top to bottom.
After traveling for 15 minutes nonstop, Azzy and the wolf reached their destination. The other side of the shore… Mt. Estrya.
The first thing he did is to pluck a random flame crystal from the ground and keep it in his storage card. Finishing his mandatory mission, Azzy then ordered the wolf to climb up the mountain.
His aim is pretty much clear, the Volcanus king.
The wolf started to rush towards the top of the volcano. As he reached halfway, suddenly, he heard a high pitch shout from above. "You, over there… stop right now."
Azzy didn't think much of it and continued his path.
Suddenly, within a few seconds, a griffin appeared before him, blocking his path.
Azzy and the wolf stopped.
He saw a person on top of it. She was tall, beautiful with irresistible purple eyes. She also wore luxurious clothes, implying that she's definitely rich. She had a scroll in her hand.
However, his attention wasn't on the stranger that stopped him on the way.
He was staring at the Griffin. He felt the intensity coming from it is just as powerful as the one that he sensed from the Galarian king.
As for the rank, he thought it must be a rank-5, considering he can't sense its soul rank.
"Is it a platinum-grade beast?" Azzy asked the Reaper for confirmation.
"Yes… It is indeed… If I'm right, she must be someone a direct descendant with Magnolis surname."
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