Jack hurriedly back to the dorm, hurdling through the obstacle of students, and almost slamming into the unsealed door. Once he entered the dorm room, he saw Ashe meditating on his bed and Nico feeding Snowy and Junior some manacores. Vincent had been training and absent from the dorm for a couple of days, even missing out some of the lectures.

"Everyone!" Jack cried out to them.

Ashe opened his eyes, looking slightly peeved for being interrupted.

"Yes?" Ashe asked coolly.

"We've made on the shortlist for Professor Clemson's combat team!" Jack shared.

"What!" Ashe sprung up from his bed. "Who is on the list?"

"I said EVERYONE!" Jack repeated. "You, me, Nico and Vincent. Oh, and that Anya girl too."

Ashe was shocked as the combat team was very selective. There were usually only 32 students on the short list, and only twelve students could join the combat team.

"What is the combat team?" Nico turned his head, but his hands were busy petting the twins.

"I have no idea, but everyone seemed to be impressed!" Jack stated proudly.

"Cool!"

Ashe slammed his hand into his forehead, his roommates were idiots. "The combat team is basically the team that represent the Windel Academy in the competition against other academies in Kinbarl. The competition starts in the second semester after summer break."

"So we fight against other students?" asked Nico.

"Yes, against students from our age group. Professor Clemson is the coach of the junior youth division combat team consisting of 13 and 14 years old students."

"So it's a tournament style competition?"

"Yeah, there are solo and group rounds."

"Do we get anything if we win?"

"The winners will receive a Terror Manacore and 100 gold pieces."

Nico didn't feel too excited about the rewards. "Ah, wait, this continent is also called Kinbarl?"

Jack and Ashe both stared at Nico in disbelief.

"Wow Nico, it's no wonder I did better than you in geography and history," said Jack as he slapped Nico in the back. "You should try attending one of the lectures."

"Who the f*** has the time?!" Nico retorted.

In addition to cultivating, Nico had been reading about the different fields of magic, learning different magic spells, working as an assistant to Professor Stance and going off to Arango Forest to study the manacentipede. The only chance he got to sleep was the 3 hours during the Academic lectures.

Geography and history may be useful, but they were the lowest on his priority list.

The only thing Nico had learned during the school year was that the name for the world was called Darbi, after the goddess of creation. However, different empires had different names based on their culture. Nico used the word Mana-Earth to describe the world.

While Ashe schooled them about the combat team, several top rankers in green robes assessed the combat team shortlist. There were the usual suspects in the top 50, but there were also unknown names on the list.

"The Four Heavenly Kings are on the list, surprised, surprised," said one of the green robe students.

The Four Heavenly Kings were the first four rankers of their age group, all foundation staged students.

The Academic Branch set up a stall with information sheets. They sold information for the Academic Branch budget.

"Come right up! Come right up! Get your pamphlets everyone! 5 silver pieces for valuable information!" Cried Xavier from the stall. He was one of five students selling pamphlets for the Academic Branch treasury. "Valuable information on the top ten in the next combat team tryouts!"

Some of the rich students were curious and bought the pamphlets.

1. Hobin Lancet- Dark Sword Warrior - Professor Aseroth

2. Prince Keras Kelsera- Raging Sun Magician - Professor Tessa

3. Sir Ian Camber- Lightning Tiger Warrior- Professor Aseroth

4. Juliana Pinaton- Winter Ice Archer- Professor Aseroth

5. Baron Randall Carrigo- Earth Turtle Magician - Professor Tessa

6. Obi Conway- Metal Hammer Warrior - Professor Aseroth

7. Marcus Yulu- Shadow Dagger Scout - Professor Aseroth

8. Norick Nomer- Green Earth Tanker - Professor Aseroth

9. Princess Toria Gordon - Fire Staff Magician - Professor Tessa

10. Ashe Hartley - Aqua Fox Magician - Professor Tessa

"Hobin and Prince Keras were on the team last year, so it's obvious they will make it in this year," the students speculated.

"Juliana and Sir Ian will likely make the team. This will most likely be a competition between the green robes in Professor Aseroth and Professor Tessa's classes."

"Ooh, that's going to be interesting to watch. When is the tryout?"

"It's a week before the semester ends."

"Who's Vincent, Jack, Anya and Nico? I've never heard of them?"

"Have you been living under a rock? Vincent is the new ace in Professor Aseroth class. I heard he's getting a green robe before the end of the semester."

"Seriously? Well, I'm in the Magic Branch, so it's not like we pay much attention to the Cultivation Branch students."

"Oh right, I have heard of him. He's the one that pissed off Sir Ian the other day?"

"How did that happen?"

"Apparently Vincent took his seat and completely ignored Sir Ian. You know Sir Ian's personality, he has to have it his way, or else."

"Geez, this new kid sure is ballsy, or just dumb to go against the House of Camber. How about the other three?"

"Never heard of them..."

The students in Professor Quin class remained silent. No one wanted to talk about Nico defeating them. It was embarrassing to lose, but to lose against a blue robe student was shameful.

"He's on the list," Corby spoke quietly to Badan. "How do you think he will do against the elite kids?"

"I overheard Professor Quin talking to him about being a berserker," Badan replied. "Who knows how he will do against them."

In a room on the fourth floor of the Duccen Immediate Dorm, a foundation staged student in red robe sat before a large mahogany desk and read through a report. Underneath his red robe was a royal purple tailored jacket lined with gold. Standing next to him was a man in light armor.

A green robe student entered the room and knelt before the desk.

"Your highness, the tryout for this year combat team have been released," said Obi, a tall muscular boy with auburn hair.

"You may rise," Prince Keras, the 4th Prince of Kelsera, didn't seem too interested. "Anyone unusual on the list?"

"There are more commoners on the list."

"Hm?" Princes Keras nodded. "I am assuming Vincent is one of them. He's being trained as a magic knight. It's one of the toughest roles to fill, but it is also the most useful. Professor Clemson will likely add him on."

"What sort of team do you think Professor Clemson will build this year? Last year, from the cultivation branch, we have four warriors, two scouts, one archer and one tank. From the magic branch, we three magic dealers, one support and one healer."

"It will be similar. Professor Clemson favors combat offense and quick victories."

"Your highness, have you heard that there might be a berserker this year?"

Prince Keras eyes shifted toward Obi. "Really? A pure offensive fighter? Professor Clemson is probably thrilled. What's his name?"

"Nico, he's studying the Chaotic Devil Cultivation Technique."

"It will be interesting then. I really want a good team this year."

Obi noticed that Prince Keras was distracted by the report.

"Your highest, you've information from father?" Obi asked.

Prince Keras slowly nodded. "General Tairun has sent spies over to the Teragin Empire camp. So far, they are sending scouts to Mindan Peak. It's one of the most dangerous areas, so he's cautious about sending people out."

"Are you concerned about another beast attack?" asked Obi.

Prince Keras shook his head. "No, General Erju has arrived at Fort Hendrix."

Obi knew that General Erju was the Crowned Prince Kember closest ally. Prince Kember request to send out General Erju was an indicator that they had some intelligence on the Teragin Empire plans. It won't be long before the 2nd Prince Kalvin makes his move. Although Kalvin didn't have much military backing, he had many advisers supporting him.

In an elaborate room across the courtyard, a maid served tea to a princess.

"Princess, you have made it on the combat team shortlist," said Lina.

"Of course," Princess Toria yawned and continued drinking tea.

****

After a week of kiting the manacentipede, Nico had a good idea of its weaknesses. The mana-centipede was weak against Green Wind Talismans and Yellow Fire Talismans. Green Wind could cause a little bit of damage and stun it briefly. Yellow Fire Talismans could cause a large amount of damage.

Nico had prepared a dozen talismans for each of those two types.

Aside from finding its weaknesses, Nico had fully analyzed the structure of the gooey slime ball. He suspected that the acid was poisonous, and wasn't planning to replicate the spell anytime soon until he had an antidote for it. He kept three jars of the acid. The structure of the acid in the jar changed everyday, indicating that its effect was weakening.

Nico left early in the morning on the 7th day of the week.

The contribution hall had officially released a mission regarding the Karkardo, the manacentipede sleeping within Arango Forest. Unfortunately, they had restricted gathering stage students from applying.

Nico walked into the South Launtel Hunter Guild. As a student of the Academy, he was automatically given membership into the Hunter Guild.

The Hunter Guild was created more than a thousand years ago, with the purpose of protecting humanity against manabeasts attack.

The party of hunters reviewed the mission that had appeared recently, the disposal of the Karkardo in the Arango Forest.

Disposal missions were one of the most common types of missions in the hunter guild. The purpose was population control and extermination for city expansion. Since the hunters could keep the carcasses of the manabeasts, the missions were also popular.

"I can't believe there is a terror in the Arango Forest, how are we supposed to hunt with that thing there?" One of the hunters complained.

Manabeast terrors were not taken lightly, and it was the main reason why the Academy had barred parts of Grisham Range from regular people.

Others were thrilled. "This is great! There's only one terror, so it'll be a lot easier to hunt than at Grisham Range. I'm ready to collect the 100 gold pieces."

Many experienced hunter groups hastily prepared to track down the manabeast terror before the Academy could nab the Karkardo. It was rare to find a single manabeast terror isolated from other terrors.

Nico sat by the bar counter.

The Hunter Guild's bar area only sold house ales and information. The registration clerk was the heavy woman named Norma working the bar. Despite her barmaid appearances, she was a 4th stage Foundation expert.

"Hey kid, looking to start work already?" Norma asked.

Norma had registered Nico into the Hunter Guild the week before.

"Yes ma'am!" Nico gave her his best toothy smile.

"What a charmer, but you won't get free information from a smile," Norma commented. "What sort of work are you working for?"

Aside from disposal missions, the Hunter Guild regularly posted mission requests from other members. The requester would give money in exchange for protection, manabeasts parts, and miscellaneous jobs that only practitioners could handle.

"Just looking," Nico scanned through the list of missions.

Nico noticed two men walking in with their faces completely covered. He had seen it before in the streets, and found it odd that no one said anything.

"Is it normal for people to walk around like that?" Nico wondered.

"You will be surprised, but it's common," Norma answered. "Most people like to keep their identity a secret. There are some places that will restrict their access unless they have special identity tokens."

"What sort of identity tokens?"

"One either granted by the kingdom or guild halls."

"I see," Nico found the Karkardo's mission. "Can I register for this one?"

"Pssh!" Norma laughed with amusement. "Are you crazy kid?"

"Is it restricted?" Nico wondered, the Academy Contribution Hall had a restriction.

Norma knew that Nico was thirteen when he gave her his identification document. It wasn't unusual for cultivators to look older than regular folks. The Hunter Guild also had an age limit, but only for registration. Usually, there were no restrictions for the missions.

"It's not, but it's not an easy mission to handle," said Norma. "A party came back heavily injured the other day and another one lost some members."

"So there must be a lot of hunters looking for it already."

"Yep."

"Can I still get a slot?"

Each guild hall had 10 slots available for each mission. Registration for a slot meant that the Hunter Guild officially hired the hunting party to seek and destroy a manabeast. Aside from loaning weapons, information was also shared without the need to pay the guild.

"Unfortunately, all slots are taken," Norma replied with a shrug.

"When is the next slot available?"

"Next one in two days," said Norma. "Deadline is seven days."

"Any party looking for an extra party member?"

Most missions were limited to six members in a party.

Norma hesitated to answer.

There was a party with five members registered, but the party was led by Harrick, who didn't have the best reputation within the city. They were known to steal manabeasts from other parties.

"There's Harrick party, but I wouldn't recommend the party," Norma explained. "They are not the most pleasant people to work with and Harrick is the leader of the Fishman's Gang."

"Fishman's Gang?" Nico had an encounter with them before at the Killo Restaurant Inn. "Is that the guy with a gold tooth?"

"No, that's the vice captain. Harrick is ten times worst. You should avoid them if you can."

"That's too bad, I guess I'll wait until next time."

A week later, Nico loaned out a horse and galloped toward the Arango Forest. It had been only two weeks since he began horseback riding, so he couldn't go to fast. It was still enough to get him to Arango forest around 9am.

Once inside the forest, Nico slowed down and entered the area. He was familiar enough with the location of the small crevice that he didn't need Snowy or markers to lead the way. Nico noticed more markers on the trees.

The rumors of the manabeast terror had enticed more hunters to Arango Forest.

Up further ahead was Prince Keras and his party.

His party consisted of three knights, one magician, a scout, and Obi.

The scout named Oryan led the way, arriving to a crevice leading down to the Karkardo.

Oryan was one of the three Vice Captains of Marsien Mercenary Group. He was hired to lead the Prince into the Karkardo's hideout.

Oryan was an early Knight stage cultivator that specialized in knife combat and reconnaissance.

"Sir Valgan, the Karkardo nest is located below," said Oryan. "We need to brace ourselves for the terror and the other hunters."

Sir Valgan, the knight stage cultivator in light armor, nodded.

Other hunters were often worse than the manabeast terrors.

They prepared their equipment and lowered down into the cavern.

It was daytime, but barely any light made it through to the cavern floor. Oyran lit an oil lamp and gave them to Obi.

Oryan watched the lady magician in the back effortlessly cast a light spell.

She's good, Oryan thought.

Everyone remained silent as they walked through.

The smell of dead carcasses from manabeasts and humans propagated the air. It nearly caused the prince to choke. He wasn't the delicate type, but the odor was strong.

As they continued through the rough path, they noticed debris and cut marks that indicated earlier battles and disturbances.

Oryan stopped the party as soon as he sensed the monster. He had scouted the area before, and knew how dangerous the manabeast terror was up ahead. It was not a simple manabeast terror to handle.