A few hours after agreeing to lead the way, Towa led everyone towards what they figure is a demon sword. They decided to proceed with caution as they don’t know what might come out of the trees. Any beast rank six or higher would put them in serious trouble as both Zaraf and Lily are the only fighter than. They can only fight a rank six after going super saiyan, but do to not training for long it burns energy quickly.

“I feel a couple beast around rank four or five west of us. However it they are fighting as their energies are falling and rising.” Lily said as she walked beside Delia and Lyana.

“I feel a cave or hollow spot below us, so it might be worth to check out in the future.” Zaraf said as he sent a pulse through the ground.

“How is that relevant currently?” Lyana asked in a slightly cold tone.

“Well it might hold some treasure so we can check out it out later.” Zaraf said with a slight shrug not caring about her tone.

They continued their progress at a moderate pace not rushing or procastering getting there either. The feeling of being constantly on the alert and sensing the surroundings was a new feeling. Lily and Zaraf were somewhat used to it from their time on Planet Myths as Azure and Pheon would attack at random.

However, for Towa and the other two, they mostly fought in a control environment or had guards to hop in. So they were a little more tense than usual and glanced around or accidentally put more energy into their spells. Only as more time passed did they adjust making him wonder why they didn’t freak out when they first arrive.

Maybe, the thought of going so long without being attack is unnerving them. Zaraf thought as he scanned the ground again.

When the sun finally hit it peak, they finally ran into the next magical beast. They stumbled across a rank three Ironhorn Bellypig which Delia easily put down with a swift attack. She jabbed her rapier into the pig eyes and instantly killed it as it was focused on Zaraf.

So, quickly cleaning and cooking the meat with the help of using elemental magic to speed it along. They ended up having a slightly burnt meal as Towa misjudged her fire control when a bush scared her.

“So, I wonder why we haven’t met anyone yet?” Lily asked as from her research on the mountain, it a hot spot for bandits, assassins, kidnappers, you name it.

“Don’t jinx it, besides I think some won’t attack us due to being in a group of five. A group is more dangerous than one or two.” Delia said.

“I’m sure we will run into a few during our stay here.” Zaraf commented with a shrug.

“I don’t really care as most bandits are weak and aren’t worth the trouble.” Lyana said in her usually cold tone.

“True,” Towa added her opinion in.

The meal and rest time soon ended and they were back on the move. As time passed, and closer to nightfall, they began to sense the beast began to move. It seems that the higher they go on the mountain the more the night life becomes. Only, none of the beast came near them, which they found odd as only a coupe reason could be the reason. They were either in a high ranking beast territory or an expert is nearby and the beasts know they won’t survive.

“Keeps you wits about as we have a high ranking beast or expert nearby.” Zaraf said as he just sensed a peak rank five beast avoid them. It shouldn't have done that as it felt it could win or retreat, not plain out avoid.

“Do you sense something?” Lily asked concerned as Zaraf usually has a good sense for this.

“No and that what bothers me. A peak five beast, just avoided us as if it were scared of something.” Zaraf said confusing Delia and Lyana. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the school sent a higher rank student or staff to keep watch over us. We are quickly rising in ranks and cultivation there.”

“Well, I did find that mage training is easier after pushing my body during warrior training.” Delia said with a slight nod. “Even if I’m not really much of a warrior, it helps.”

“Hmm, true though the benefits will become minimum once you reach rank five as a warrior. Though it does give you a stronger body than ones that only focus on the magus path.” Zaraf nodded.

“Should we attempted to call them out.” Lily suggested.

“No, if it a beast than we are in trouble, but if it a person, than they have a mental issue. They love to follow children around.” Lyana said in an icy tone.

“That a little rude even if it’s true,” Lily commented with a small chuckle.

“Anyways, something off, and we don’t want to be caught with our pants down.” Zaraf said.

“You would like that wouldn’t you,” Lyana said in a very cold voice that was supported by killing intent.

“He means, caught unaware and too late to react.” Lily rolled her eyes at her roommate.

“Then why didn’t he say so,” Delia said trying to hide her blush.

The small they gave at her embarrassment ended the topic, as they continued for another few hours. They waited to see if they would be attack but none came, so they decided to set up camp. Sitting by the smokeless fire, they agreed to mediate instead of sleeping until it is their turn to take watch.

Zaraf, who was on duty, quietly sat there listening to the sounds around him watching to see if anything came near. By the time his turn ended, he didn’t notice anything in the area and his suspicion grew. Though the thoughts of them being followed only increased as he doubted it is a beast controlled area.

Shaking Lyana a little, she grumbled as she took her spot for her watch. Taking his spot in the circle and adding fuel to the fire he began to mediated alongside them. He also began to wonder when they would find a higher rank beast that a challenge. Hopefully they could find a rank five or six to fight since they should be able to prepare traps.

The night passed by fairly quick after that and they were on the move as they should reach their target by noon. According to Towa, arriving in the area is only take a few hours, it finding it the tricky part. Attempting to find the entrance to the underground is going to be tricky and not being mauled by a rank six or higher beast.

“So, it’s true that we are being followed by an expert.” Lily said sighing as she getting traces of magical beast ignoring them.

“I’m picking up tracks of some struggles in the surrounding area, but a very professional level covering. I think it a rank nine who nearign saint level at least to easily destroy his opponent and cover the area without being noticed.” Delia said as she picking up things around her. She and Lily would send out a burst of wind magic with Lily’s being long range and her short range.

“I also smell blood, but it has been mostly removed as if it has been there for a few days.” Lyana commented.

“Well, we need to figure out a way for them to leave or stop interfering. How can this be considered training if we can’t even fight our own battle. I am beginning to feel like one of those spoiled rich brats that more worried on spending money than training,” Zaraf grumbled with all shaking their heads.

After a few hours of searching the area, with them spread out and in the eyes of each other, they finally found the entrance. With the knowledge of someone following them, they processed with caution. Around the entrance of the cave, bushes and vines covered the entrance. They only found it due to the combine earth and wind scanning methods.

Proceeding with caution as they doubt the expert been through and cleared out the beasts. They also, need to be careful they don’t run into a rank six or higher in an enclosed space. That would be either a close call or the end to their adventure in life.

Making the track down the steep cave, they started to come across gems and uncommon metals. They weren't rare by any chance, but they were uncommon in most areas as they are regarded as myths. So, they ignored them for now and decided to collect them later on the way out.

The deeper then entered the cave the wider it became as the uncommon metals began to grow into rarer metals. A part of them wondered if it would turn into legendary metal the closer they got to the end or source. Zaraf was secretly glad he was an earth mage as mining the metals will be easier than with a pickaxe. He could push the metal out of the walls, and the girls can sort and store it in their rings.

After a while they managed to come across some skeletal remains of a couple beasts but could place their strength. After years of decay the bones looked as if they were chipped away at and could turn to dust at any moment.

Finally, they came across herbs and reached the end of the cave. There, they found a long thin purple sword blade that had a double sided saw blade. Upon closer inspection it looked as if it held to gather in parts, making it similar to a wipe and a sword combined.

“Do you want to take the sword?” Zaraf asked Towa who was looking around.

After a few seconds she shook her head, as she noticed a circle pattern around it. There wasn’t a lot on formations in the Ernst Institute library but it did have one on how to spot one. Even if she couldn’t tell what it was or how powerful it is, she knew it would be a bad idea to destroy it currently.

“We can come back when we find a suitable replacement for the sword. Let just collect everything we can find.” Towa said.

“Too bad we didn’t find any legendary metals but we did find some extremely rare metals at least.” Zaraf said as he went collecting.

The next few hours they picked and harvested most of the herbs they could find. They decided to leave the metal collecting till tomorrow as they didn’t know how much time passed since entering the cave. It hard to tell night and day inside a place with no sunlight so they just went at their own pace. All the herbs alone they estimated to be worth in the billions or more alone at how old and amount they held. They had nearly ten wagon full of many different and rare herbs, and for the metal they haven’t guessed.

After an hour of resting and eating they decided it was time to work on collecting the metals. Zaraf being the only Earth mage in the group had to do most of the work. Cutting away rocks while pulling out the metals without collapsing the cave. Towa and Lyana sorted the metals, and Delia and Lily began storing them into different storage rings.

They collected bits and piece of adamantine which was only enough for a sword or a couple of daggers. The rest was some gold, cobalt, iron, tungsten, and a few other metal they couldn’t name. It was a slow and grueling task, but luckily for Zaraf it help improved his warrior and magus path. He managed to break through in a rank five warrior, while his mage side still had a while to go to become a mid rank five.

Lily on one hand was a tiny bit jealous until she did some training during their break and broke through. It was a sad thing to both of them as it wasn’t with the help of fighting that allowed it, but mining and sorting. The other three just shrugged as they knew they were close to a breakthrough also.

Slow and patiently like a well oiled machine, they started clearing out all the metals they could find. In the first hour alone, they managed to collect quite a few tons of the various metals. It was only after he started to run out of energy to pull and split the metals from the rocks did they take a break.

“What are we going to do with all this anyways? None of us are a blacksmith or a merchant.” Lily asked.

“Maybe, Towa would like to take it up. You build and invent things from time to time, and now you could build the parts you need? Besides, it might be easier as a fire mage?” Zaraf said looking towards her with a half of a shrug. He didn’t really care or not if she takes it up, as they could just sell it somewhere.

“I will think about it,” was all Towa said.

“No problem as it doesn’t really matter if you do or don’t.” Zaraf said earning a hateful glare from Lily, Delia and a sigh from Towa. Confused on what he did he couldn’t really think of it. “Did I do something?”

“You just told her she should take up blacksmithing than said you don’t really care if she does or not.” Lyana said rolling her eyes.

“Oh,” was Zaraf said not really sure what to say and decided to stay silent.

After a couple hours of sitting around and light magus training to recharge their energy faster they were back at it. They continued this progress for the next three weeks slowly working their way to the start of the cave. Was it worth their training time fighting against beast, the two saiyans would say no. However the rest would say yes as they managed to rise in rank either as a mage or warrior.

Stepping out of the cave, they were greeted by a thunderstorm and decided to stay in the cave entrance. Creating a small fire, as they wait for the storm to pass, they wonder what to do. Should they actively seek battles, as none want to come to them and how should they fight.

When they fight should it be a solo fight, or a group fight? The question is what type of beast and rank should they seek out. Hundreds of different beast could be on this part of the mountain that stretch thousands of miles.

Sighing as they can’t really plan it, he decided to just wing it and whoever call dibs get the fight. As they thought of their hidden expert they wonder what he or she is doing as it was raining and they haven’t left the cave in weeks. Are they still around and in the rain or left leaving them behind which they don’t mind.

“So, do you think we will be able to graduate in the next couple years?” Delia asked out of curiosity.

“I don’t see why not, but what are we going to do between training and what your goal afterwards?” Lily asked.

“Probably return to my family,” Delia said with a downcast look.

“We could always just travel and stop by your family once in a while? Experiencing the world is better than reading or hearing about it.” Towa said.

“Hmm, probably, but I don’t have any control over it unless I reach saint rank.” Delia said.

“At the rate we are growing I say we will reach saint rank or rank nine in our twenties depending on factors. Such as improving our training methods, training time, and life.” Zaraf said trying to estimate how long. They are already taking a few months to grow through the ranks and estimated a year to breakthrough again.

That would mark them as almost elevenish when they become rank six as they don’t know when their birthday is. The system didn’t help keep track of the date as this universe uses different calendar than dragonball. So, they just pick a day and call it good enough for their birthday.

“I don’t see a problem as it usually takes a few decades to reach rank six. Most of the older students are in their thirties or late twenties I believe.” Delia said.

“Traveling throughout this mountain might be interesting as who knows what treasure or sights it holds.” Zaraf said as thunder roared outside the cave.

“That's nice, but there are saint and rank nine beast at the top.” Lyana coldly said.

“Hmm, so? What is an adventure without a chance of dying.” Zaraf commented ignoring her cold hmph.

“Be nice to each other,” Lily told them.

“Fine,” Zaraf and Lyana answered in sync not sounding convincing as it became a ritual of sorts to them.

“When is the rain going to end?” Towa groaned.

“Should we play a game?” Zaraf suggested.

“Let gamble with our clothes,” Lily instantly side causing everyone to raise an eyebrow at her. What would be the point as everyone is around ten and have nothing to see.

“Let play while keeping our clothes, there is nothing to see anyways.” Towa said challenging Lily with her eyes.

“Fine,” Lily said.

So the game began with games such as chest, to cards, or a slot machine. Why Towa would build one is weird but it her hobby to build so no one questioned it. They ended up playing for hours as the storm continued to rage on with no sign of ending.