Manna’s insane plan didn’t work out. Unlike what they had expected, the remaining three runs were kinda shaky due to Manna not being accustomed to her new weapon type. Renma even protested, but Manna insisted that the new weapon type would be useful for them.

This caused Tier to work extra hard with his [Misdirection]s since Manna’s attack with her pollaxe often missed. He was actually quite annoyed with Manna’s insistence, since she could have trained to use the weapon outside the dungeon. Tier would have gladly accompanied her no matter how many hours it takes. However, doing it inside a higher levelled dungeon and endangering everyone else’s chance of survival was something that drove him to his edges.

Nubram bailed out right after the end of the 4th run when he finally got his final piece for his item set.

“I’m too sleepy,” Nubram said with a clearly made up yawn. Tier knew exactly that a truly sleepy Nubram would barely make any noise nor would he talk. This was just an excuse to get away from Manna.

Luckily, the others already got their item set complete before Nubram. Therefore, no one would be at loss even if they didn’t go on any more runs.

Because they finally didn’t.

Renma suddenly said he was too tired right before they re-enter the dungeon for their fifth run. Tier couldn’t blame him because his job as a healer really got more tiresome due to Manna’s and Flick’s antics. Further, losing Nubram meant the next run would take longer and be more dangerous.

The still enthusiastic Flick taunted Renma to no avail. The rogue finally continued to play alone around the dungeon area for a bit.

On the other hand, Manna was kind of sulking because they had to stop halfway. Thus, Tier accompanied her to finish a couple of missions because he himself was not that sleepy. Also this would help Manna get more accustomed to poleaxe type weapons - which she suspiciously kept on using to trip her opponents - and thus she would impose less danger to herself and any of her teammates in the future. Nevertheless, Tier did kind of agree with Manna’s choice on her weapon.

As far as Tier was concerned, it was not a mistake for a paladin to take one of the most versatile and deadliest melee weapons in mediaeval history.

Tier himself also started to wield and train using the battle staff that just dropped from the dungeon earlier. Both Renma and Nubram refused the staff because they were using different types of weapons. While for Tier, he got some ideas due to the stats given by the staff being mainly intelligence and dexterity.

By the end of their gaming session, both Tier and Manna reached level 52. And the girl clearly seemed a bit happier.

Tier wondered if this was the kind of madness that caused Eggi to seem so tired when dealing with Mana.

Pras didn’t play much on Sunday because his parents were watching him closely since he said something about the upcoming quiz in the following week. He did, however, entertain Mana a bit through chat whenever the girl asked about studies or some Zurefgar related stuff.

Despite Fathan having included her in their group chat, Mana had an unusual tendency to reply to a comment or chat privately to Pras instead of just answering it in the group chat. Pras wondered if she only did that to him or if such behaviour was because she was rather lonely as an only child and devoid of parental love in the last few years.

The morning of Monday, on January 29th, was relatively fine since rain suddenly dropped right after Pras reached school. That meant that he was still dry and there would be no flag raising ceremony.

The extra time he got before the first lesson was well spent by playing card games with Ega. They also spent a bit of time talking about their character builds.

“Your turn. By the way, I still don’t understand the aim of your build,” Ega said as he gestured for Pras to take a turn. “I got what you said last Saturday, but is the effect of intelligence really that much? And also the Predator’s Tactics thing… isn’t Hawkeye better overall?”

“Yes, intelligence has quite a beneficial effect for Predator’s Tactics. Other than crit chance, the stat also affects my instinct stability and also poison effect,” Pras explained while setting some card combos. “Though, I can’t deny that Hawkeye is definitely a better path… for DPS….”

“Awh, sorry.” Ega shook his head. “I forgot about that. But I do think that… you would be at a severe disadvantage if you are alone with your current build. I mean, those damage amplifiers are insane. But, wouldn’t it be better if you yourself could deal more damage?”

“Maybe getting a very good companion beast would help,” Pras answered as he pictured the snow jaguar in his mind. “An offensive type with main stats on dexterity would definitely be helpful for both me and the beast.”

“Because you will get bonus dexterity from the beast while the beast would gain benefit from your other stats?”

Pras snapped his fingers and pointed jollily at Ega. “Now that’s a rare moment, to see you that sharp.”

“Ahahaha. Once in a blue moon moment.”

“Anyway, I equipped this little dragon to my dragon buster swordsman, now you can’t summon anything from your extra deck. Your turn.”

“Ah come on,” Ega groaned. “Not that combo again.”

Ega grumbled as he drew his card from the deck and just stared blankly at their playfield. “You know, about the dexterity based pet you said earlier. I actually wonder how much it affects your actual speed? I don’t really feel the effect as a spellcaster.”

Pras frowned. The topic was also a bit unclear for him. “And here I thought you’re supposed to feel some effect because of the stat. For me, I do feel like I can aim easier and faster when my dex increases. Not that much on melee or avoidance though.”

“Ah.” Ega nodded. “Now that you mentioned it, yes, if I take a closer look, it does make it easier for me to aim my spells. And I think it helps a bit with the casting time.”

“Probably, that’s why it is being split. Dex for ranged based class like us while agility for melee. Maybe the melee ones got a better boost in evading, weapon swinging speed, and parries?” Pras mused.

Ega nodded again. However, he does let out a confused sigh. He said, “I can understand if the likes of Fathan can block attacks because he has better agility. But Mana? She parried a freaking shot. Isn’t a paladin supposed to have low agility? To be honest, that was kind of OP.”

“Owh, to put it simply, because dexterity and agility are special,” answered an ever bored but soft voice.

“Ugh,” Ega groaned in protest to Mana. “Can you stop appearing and answering suddenly like a ghost?”

“A ghost?” Mana retorted softly as she put her bag and sat on her chair. She continued with a holier-than-thou tone clearly aimed to provoke her adversary, “Alas, I was not the one who left my comrades behind and ruined the whole plan.”

“Excuse me?” Ega protested. “Four runs weren’t enough for you? It was already late and Pitoy left first. I don’t think we can last without Pitoy’s damage.”

“Owh, so you do not have faith in your teammates?”

“Other than Pitoy and Pras, no.”

“Ahem,” Mana cleared her throat. “Was it Pitoyo who saved you from Lyra and Slicer? Or was it the three people who you left behind last Saturday?”

Pras was not in the mood to let the debate between Ega and Mana continue. Before Ega could retort back and cause a longer chain reaction, Pras interrupted, “Anyway, what did you say about the agi and dex being special?”

“I see.” Mana turned at Pras, raising her chin up. “So, deskmate, you have decided to take the side of your ex-deskmate instead of your current deskmate?”

“Yes,” Pras answered plainly. His infatuation was not enough to keep his annoyance away. He was about to defeat Ega in a card game duel. Yet, Mana’s insistence to pick on Ega due to last Saturday’s incident had delayed the whole process.

Mana let out a proud sigh. She chuckled, “I shall let such an unfathomable choice slide this time.”

“Well, thank you, please continue your explanation,” Pras said cynically. He turned at Ega, “And you better continue or conclude the turn.”

“Alright, alright, geez.”

Mana let out a long proud sigh once more before finally explaining while raising her index finger, “In short, the effect of agility and dexterity are not just for another stat or simply to give you better aim or speed. The stats actually increase someone’s natural agility. Therefore, someone who is really agile in the real world would be superbly agile if they have higher agility in game.”

Ega squinted with a rather annoyed expression. He commented, “To conclude, you’re just showing off that you are naturally agile, thus making your paladin also very agile?”

“My, my, Ega.” Mana shook her head with an ever knowing proud yet cynical smile. “Showing off and being too full of yourself is not wise, you know?”

“Ugh….”

“Is that why you also didn’t “show off” about being a division leader?”

Another actor had decided to enter the fray in delaying Ega’s inevitable defeat. It was Eggi who questioned Mana while leaning on the neighbouring table. He was staring at her rather furiously.

Mana tilted her head questioningly, “What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that you’re already a division leader in Clashing Realms. How long have you been playing in Zurefgar?” Eggi questioned again with a more intense fury burning in his eyes. He then alternatively eyed Pras and Ega. “You know, man?”

Ega scratched his nose. “Well, sort of when Lyra or Slicer said something about that.”

“Damnit, Ega, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Bro, I don't even know what that means!”

“Argh,” Eggi groaned. His eyes turned to Mana. He said, “In Clashing Realms, players are divided into divisions that have different roles in areas they are assigned to. These divisions have their group leaders and as the name implies, division leaders are the head for these group leaders. This kid here was one of them. That means she had been playing Zurefgar for quite a long time. Long enough for her to have the reputation and skill to be appointed to that position.”

“Wow, that’s awesome,” Ega said abruptly. He turned to Mana. “I didn’t know you were that great.”

“My, my, you do not need to praise me that much.”

“That is not the problem,” Eggi hissed.

Ega frowned. “Then what?”

“The problem is…..”

“You guys know what the REAL problem is?!” Pras growled menacingly. He finally snapped. Silence fell to the other three students who were arguing before.

With his pent up fury finally unleashed, Pras roared, “I almost defeated this lazy boar and you guys just decided to bring your useless debate to delay the inevitable!”

Ega nodded. He squeaked, “Geez, calm down bro, I give up, I give up. Can’t do anything anyway. It’s your win.”

Pras let out a long sigh while putting his cards back to his deck and shuffled it.

He said calmly, “Good, at least you know your place.”