"As for the points," the teacher continued in her calm but authoritative tone, "it's the same as before. You'll earn points based on the monsters you kill and the high-level beasts you tame. Within twenty kilometers of the base, you'll only find beasts ranging from zero to level five. Beyond that, the level of beasts increases the deeper you venture into their territory. But remember," she added, her eyes narrowing slightly, "the deeper you go, the deadlier it gets. Be careful. If you have any questions, ask them now. If not, find a room in this dorm building. There's a smart detection device on every bed—wear it at all times while you're in the Alliance Military. It'll help monitor your health, safety, and even track your progress. It's for your benefit as much as ours."
She paused for a moment, waiting for any questions. Seeing none, she nodded and walked off toward her assigned room, leaving the students standing there in a mix of awe and uncertainty.
Once the teacher disappeared, an unsettling silence blanketed the dorm. The students, now left to their own devices, began to fully absorb the reality of their situation. For some, the weight of being abandoned by their families for material gains hit like a ton of bricks. A few students broke down, sobbing quietly in corners like lost children. Others, however, took it as fuel for their resolve, vowing to prove their worth and metaphorically "slap the faces" of those who had abandoned them.
I wasn't here to wallow in emotions, though. Using my divine scanning ability, I swept through the base, mapping out its every corner in my mind. It was a brand-new facility, everything shiny and pristine, but its location in the wilderness meant danger was just outside the gates. The surrounding land was undoubtedly teeming with beasts, some of which might even see us as easy prey. The irony wasn't lost on me—here we were, sent to tame or kill beasts, but in the grand scheme of things, we weren't much different from prey ourselves.
As I glanced around, I noticed the quiet determination on some students' faces. This wasn't just another test for them—it was a chance to start fresh, to build a new future. Respecting their need for introspection, I decided to give them space. I casually made my way up the dormitory building, found an unoccupied room with a decent view, and claimed it as my own. After a bit of customization to make it feel more "me," I put on the monitoring device without hesitation. It was a sleek piece of tech, capable of tracking my vitals, movements, and even helping in emergencies. Honestly, I didn't mind the surveillance—it was a small price to pay for the freedom to do what I wanted out there.
Not one to sit still for long, I decided to head out into the wild. The idea of slaying beasts to blow off some steam sounded perfect. I'd been building up a lot of pent-up frustration lately, and what better way to release it than by cutting down some oversized monsters?
Stepping past the safety perimeter of the base, I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. The air was thicker, wilder, almost electric with the presence of untamed beasts. As I walked into the wild, I released a small amount of my magical aura. Immediately, the nearby zero-level beasts scattered, running for cover as if their lives depended on it—which, to be fair, they did. I had no interest in wasting my time on them. My target was clear: level-five beasts. Those were worth the effort, both in points and personal satisfaction.
After walking for a while, I found myself in a dense forest. The towering trees were unlike anything I'd seen before, their bark glowing faintly in the dim light. Strange, vibrant plants carpeted the ground, some of them giving off a faint luminescence. The air was filled with the sounds of rustling leaves, distant roars, and the occasional chirping of alien birds. It was both beautiful and eerie.
My first real encounter came when I stumbled upon two massive tigers locked in a ferocious fight over territory. These weren't ordinary tigers—they were easily five to ten times the size of the ones back home, with fangs that could crush steel and claws sharp enough to cut through armor. Unfortunately for them, they'd picked the wrong day to cross my path. With a flick of my wrist, I conjured ice blades and dispatched them swiftly. The device on my wrist beeped, confirming that I'd earned 100 points. It also absorbed their massive bodies into its storage space, though it quickly reached its limit. Annoyed, I adjusted the device's settings to expand its storage capacity—a little hack I'd learned to keep certain data hidden from prying eyes.
As I ventured deeper into the forest, the beasts became more varied. I encountered giant wolves with glowing eyes, crocodiles with armored scales, and even a few creatures I couldn't begin to describe. I took them all down, one by one, earning points with every kill. Most of them were level-five beasts, but I knew the real challenge lay further out, beyond the 20-kilometer mark. Still, I couldn't deny the thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of watching these powerful creatures fall before me. Along the way, I also captured some beautiful birds and adorable, harmless creatures, sending them to my inner world where they'd be safe and well-fed.
After a few hours of nonstop action, I decided to head back to the base. The device on my wrist had logged hundreds of kills, and my point total had skyrocketed to 5,000. The management at the base was impressed—not only did I exceed expectations, but the beast bodies I submitted would also be used to prepare meals for the students and teachers. These meals would enhance their physical stats and abilities, giving them a much-needed boost for future challenges.
Unbeknownst to me, my actions hadn't gone unnoticed. The teachers in the base's control room had been monitoring my movements, watching in awe as I single-handedly took down hundreds of level-five beasts. Some of them had questions—how was I this strong? How did I move so efficiently? But they held back, knowing they'd need to approach me directly if they wanted answers.
For now, I was content. I'd blown off my frustration, earned a ton of points, and cemented my place as a top contender in this little competition. As the other students began to trickle out into the wild, I couldn't help but smirk. They had no idea what kind of standard I'd just set for them.
This was just the beginning.