First class in the new year was up. Instructor Kelinald welcomed them to Monster Bestiary II. They were to undergo further training in this field to strengthen their knowledge of the monsters that lurk the Lost Lands. A few of the class were eager to see. Avryn was one among them. What manner of monster he would face against, he thought. He clenched his fist at the thought of it.
A few minutes after the lecture came the practical part of the class. They proceeded to the simulation chambers. Kelinald gave the usual rundown. The class would face the gauntlet: an army of Corpses. Then, at the end of the gauntlet, a battle against their alpha variants of Corpse bear, boar, and eagle. This would be a great undertaking two squads would work together.
Kelinald announced the teams. Avryn’s squad was paired with another strong squad led by Fyllbar Howesman. Avryn recognized Vyktria and Roshin were members of his team and looked forward to this collaboration.
Minutes went by, a lot of the squads had passed their tests. A lot of them barely. Avryn and Fyllbar were on the same wavelength on strategy. They would adapt to whatever challenge the gauntlet gave them. All eyes were on Leifren’s and another’s squad. They cleared the gauntlet within six minutes, a new record. They came out of the simulation room with heads held high. Harver, especially.
“”Well, well. Now that’s a good record,” Avryn praised.
“I got good advice recently,” Harver replied.
“Must’ve been a wise, and great man,” he joked.
Harver gestured towards the simulation chamber,
“Your turn now.”
Fyllbar raised his hammer,
“Aye, it is our turn now. Come, my comrades,” he marched confidently.
Vyktria turned to Avryn as they walked,
“Hopefully with the semifinalist on our side, we should handle this no problem.”
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Avryn smirked, turned to his squad mates, and nodded. They were transported to the familiar training grounds. It had been redone to house the gauntlet. A horde of boars was their first hurdle. All the frontliners charged in up close, causing the chaos. Backliners would take care of the stragglers and covered for the frontliners’ backs. Avryn and Vyktria were on synergy. Their styles complemented each other. Avryn set her up by sending the boars up high. She came in for the kill, her rapier pierced the beasts’ brain from under the jaw.
Piles of boars laid across the violet-bloodied battlefield. The commotion had summoned the eagles early, with the bears not far behind. Fyllbar raised his hammer and slammed it on the ground, sending laser-powered shockwaves around him.
“Hold fast, my friends. We can take them!” he exclaimed.
“Stick together, and our line will hold!” Avryn added.
Valoche used his newfound speed to handle multiple Corpse bears at once. Avryn, Fyllbar, and Roshin linked together with him. A flurry of attacks handled the bears. Meanwhile, the backliners’ shots were on point. The Corpse eagles were no much for such accuracy. Bullet casings and bird feathers littered the ground as the gunshots echoed in the air.
They had finished the first part of the gauntlet in four minutes. They were on pace for matching the record. A moment of respite was afforded to them all. It was ended with vibrations from the ground. A giant boar had emerged from the forest. Steam escaped from its nostrils as it reared up to charge.
Another gargantuan creature appeared from behind them, a Corpse Alpha Bear. Scars decorated its hide and face. Its face was enraged. Its claws were itching to swipe. The final creature descended from above. Its wingbeat moved the very grass and tree leaves below it.
“Vyktria and I can take the boar, rest of you get the bear and bird,” Avryn commanded.
“Hammer!” Fyllbar screamed ahead.
He swung his hummer with such force, it landed square on the bear’s jaw. The attack sent it flying high in the air and it landed back on Fyllbar. They all shared a collective look at each other.
“That’s your leader, huh,” Avryn turned to Vyktria.
They continued the onslaught. Vyktria and Avryn worked together on the Alpha Boar. Razor spikes decorated its hide, making it a more dangerous opponent for any person. Avryn carried its attention with his twin pistol shots. Vyktria waited for an opportune moment.
Meanwhile, Valoche helped Fyllbar get back on his feet, dodging several swipes from the Alpha Bear. Roshin took the bear one on one as the rest tried to recover. He hit the bear with a jab, then a quick uppercut to its jaw. He pulled back as Fyllbar finished recovering.
“The bear’s jaw is broken, one more should do it,” he told him.
Valoche was already on it, bringing his battle axe up, cleaving the bear’s jaw in two. He brought it further up right into its brain.
“Well done, friend!” Fyllbar exclaimed.
He was about to join back the fray before the Alpha Eagle nabbed him. He was hoisted up at least one hundred feet in the air. Beneath the eagle’s grasp, Fyllbar struggled. Its talons were completely wrapped around his arms.
“If it is a battle in the air you wish, then you shall have it!” he taunted.
Tvira lined up her shot. Her arrow flew and lit up as it became a flying flame. It hits its mark, right on one of the eagle’s wings. The feathers were set ablaze and the eagle was forced to drop Fyllbar and land.
“Nice shot,” Rinna came up running to the eagle.
Her halberd was enough to chop it through the other wing. Daurin came soon after and finished it off. His glaive clearing the Corpse eagle’s neck clean through. The boar was the last enemy standing.
Avryn’s forearms were victims to the boar’s spines. The toxins started to seep in his body. Roshin attempted to pull him back but he refused. Something stirred within him. His fighting spirit started to manifest within. Lerosa heard it and hummed with power again and almost took over Avryn’s body. He raised the blade up high,
“I’ll blast you away,” his eyes were fierce.
The power from within shot up from the blade and high up through the gray clouds, almost forcing them away. This would be his moment.
