The human population had significantly decreased following the Pandemic Era. As Nations fell and boundaries were dissolved, anarchy started to spread its roots everywhere. Without proper administration, all sorts of criminal activities began to take over humanity. Initially, when humanity first started to show signs of evolution, it was chaos everywhere. People didn’t know what to do with this power. It became a curse to some people rather than a boon.

It was the rise of the Corps that stabilized this chaotic situation. Several small corporations who were present since the previous era had brought stability in their regions. But they had no or limited cooperation with each other. It was then that Primus Corp was formed, merging several smaller corps. The parent company details are still unknown though. They initiated hostile take-over of other corps. To prevent this, other Corps started to band together. Thus within a matter of years, 4 Large Corporations and 3 Minor Corporations had taken over the administration.

People started to move towards the Corps-controlled regions for a better livelihood. Corps had erected walls and defenses over big areas later termed as Inner City. This is where the Leaders, Officials, Hunters and people above EQ 50 lived with their families. Entry was restricted for people below EQ 50 without proper permission. So such people started to build small cities and towns adjoining the borders.

Noah and Melv lived in an orphanage in one such small city, RedRock city by the seashore.

2 days have gone by since the announcement of the Field Assignment. A total of 2 assignments, one group and one individual. They have already completed group one earlier.

“This individual assignment will determine your score before the final Battle Simulation this year. So keep that in mind and perform well. Your missions have been sent over your Holo Devices with instructions and details. You need to complete it in 10 days and return safely. As you are venturing outside your comfort zone, please pay attention to your safety. That will be all.” concluded Principal Rufus Beck.

Everyone started checking their Holo device. Some received missions in different towns whereas some received missions in the ghettos outside town. Melv got a mission in a nearby ghetto which was not a friendly area.

“What will I do? It's a ghetto. Damn my luck..” Melv kept cursing.

“Hmm...did you see that it's only us who got tough missions..” said Noah.

“Why where’s yours?”

“NMZ”

Athena Corp was one of the Top 4 Large Corporations. The inner city ranged over 2166 sq km, almost the size of previous Tokyo, the largest city. The outer part, however, consisted of several smaller towns and cities. It was resided by EVOs with less than EQ50. The DREGS lived in ghettos even outside those outer cities but could enter the outer cities if permitted. The total area was over 28K sq km.

There were defense walls set over the outermost perimeter controlled by the Corps Defense Force. They had CheckPosts everywhere. One needed a permit to venture outside the region.

Well outside the walls, it was different. Some places on Earth had become barren, some had rejuvenated their natural growth following lesser trespass by humans. Wild animals and plants had also evolved to some extent. It was called No Man Zone or simply NMZ.

“What? NMZ? How can they give us such a place? We need to talk.” shouted Melv.

They went to find someone in the faculty to talk about the mission. But they could only find that the one in charge of setting missions for Delta class was Professor Hicks.

Remember Hicks, the one in charge of the Mock Battle Simulation.

“What’s the matter? It's a simple mission. The area may be in NMZ but it's not too deep. You can easily complete this mission. It is a danger Zone of C category, not some high level. You beat Ton earlier in the Mock Battle. You can do it. C’mon now. Go and start preparing.” Hicks grinned secretly.

“They set it up. Damn that bastard Ton..” uttered an angry Melv.

“Let’s talk to the principal.”

“Leave it. Let it be. I will complete it...” said a confident Noah.

While returning, their path was blocked in the hallway.

“Let me see that face again….for the last time ”, laughed Ton.

“We don’t want any trouble, Ton”, said Noah.

“What trouble? Even NMZ is not a problem for you right. The great Noah will return victorious.”

Noah moved past Ton and started walking. Taunts never had any effect on him. Melv was continuously blabbering though. Noah dragged him as usual.

“You won’t be lucky this time again Noah. Those bunch of fools could not finish the job that night. Worthless DREGS. But in the wild accidents do happen...oops”, giggled Ton.

“Rest in peace at the NMZ, Noah.”

NMZ was filled with plants and animals. Some of them had high medicinal value. Research teams were still conducting their research on these plants, animals and even some new-type species. But they were not allowed to enter deep inside the forest or underwater. Like Amazon Rainforests, no one knew what type of dangerous beings currently ruled there, as people who ventured there never returned. So it was categorized into zones.

ZONES

COLOR

DESCRIPTION

C

AMBER

Danger = Low |. Wild Beast Level < EQ 20

B

ORANGE

Danger = Intermediate | Wild Beast Level < EQ 40

A

RED

Danger = High | Wild Beast Level < EQ 70

S

BLACK

Danger = Unknown | Wild Beast Level = Unknown

The Assignment Test for Noah was inside Zone C in the NMZ. The mission was to fetch the flower of a special herb, Tears of Anigrides. A wild plant found beside lakes or fountains having rare medicinal value and assisting in curing skin diseases like the stone disease.

Noah spent the whole day in the library studying the rare herb and other plants which would aid him in his survival. 10 days in the wild is a difficult task for someone with an EQ of 11. He was not able to activate the ability he displayed in the street fight again. Maybe it activated because of the dire situation, he thought. So now he could only rely on his wits and some devices he made.

Friday morning, all the students started their Field Assignment.

Noah and Melv journeyed up to a point, upon which Melv would enter his designated mission area and Noah would go further to the outer command checkpost. They bid each other luck and carried on. Noah reached the designated checkpost, the last point in the human territory of the Athena Corps in another couple of hours. They checked his permit thoroughly and let him out of the fortified gate. It was barren for a number of miles before starting the NMZ.

Noah rented a transport to reach the mouth of Zone C of NMZ. A base camp is situated there mostly for the researchers and the herb collectors. It even consisted of a small market, mostly selling smuggled goods or items from the NMZ. Noah bought some stuff and left the campsite. From here on it will be a journey on foot.

With a deep sigh uttered Noah, “Well then, time to go in!”

...