Suddenly, a thick, greasy, dark smoky aura erupted from Fenn's body, wrapping around him like a suffocating shroud. His eyes rolled back into his head, showing only the whites, and his squat body began to lift, floating in the air, several feet above the counter.

His entire form convulsed violently a few times, a horrifying process of internal shifting and tearing, before going utterly still.

The smoky aura pulsed and tightened, forming a cocoon around him.

Then, the cocoon dispersed.

Fenn's body floated gently down, landing silently on his feet. He was no longer the frightened shopkeeper. When his eyes snapped open, they glowed terrifying crimson, and his pupils were vertical, thin slits, like a predator's.

His voice, when he finally spoke, was not his own. It was a hoarse, rattling sound, deeper than any human could produce, a voice layered with ancient malice.

"I hear one of my soldiers was discovered and killed. How did this blunder happen?" The entity, now wearing the shopkeeper's skin, tilted its head and fixed its chilling red gaze on the hooded figure.

"I apologize lord Rahukin. I had sealed the secret entrance, but somehow it was discovered by the students assigned with the test." The hooded figure bent his waist, apologizing and speaking in a respectful tone.

"I had assigned this mission to you, when you volunteered to take this responsibility upon your head, without interference from the other captains. Should I consider this mistake on your part as your failure?"

"This is just a small hindrance lord Rahukin. The mission is on track. The rest is in its place. The mission will be a success without any doubt." The hooded figure replied.

"You know how important it is for us to recover that child. She is the key. Do not forget that. I had believed in you and didn't interfere, but…since the blunder occurred from your side, I'm sending second captain for assistance. Work with him together. I just want results, nothing else, no matter how."

"I…I understand lord Rahukin. As you command." Though dissatisfied, the hooded figure accepted the command helplessly.

"When will the plan be executed?"

"It will begin in ten days." The hooded figure answered.

*****

"97…98…99…100." Grey counted, seated on the chair in Thorgar's special training room.

In front of him laid three figures, sprawled on the ground, panting. Their shirts soaked with sweat from the intense training.

The three of them were Aeron, Blaze and a new member, joining them in their special training from the C class, Zenon Ashborn, nephew of the legendary hero, Storm Ashborn.

"C-Can this training really m-make us strong? We've been doing it for a week man. My body aches all over, I c-can't even sit in the toilet seat man!" Aeron complained, taking deep inhales as he completed the 100 push-ups.

Before leaving for the cracked lands, the three of them had begged Grey to train him personally. Seeing him one shot Carson, they now had blind faith in Grey. They wanted to grow strong and prove their strength to the higher classes, the one's that scorned upon them.

Though Grey wanted to ignore them, he recalled the bet he had made with headmaster Hamdal. He had to prepare a strong team for the finals, so that they can clinch the title of the overall champion.

Being a MMA professional in his previous life, and also recalling the growth he achieved with the system's help in this life, he gave them the daily mission he had been tortured with by the system.

"Only a bigger vessel can hold more water. Just like that, only when you have a stronger body, greater amounts of aura will flow through the meridians. And for that, basic training is the best." Grey said convincingly.

"I understand. But I'll puke if I have to do this basic training for one more day. There's no form of inspiration here. If I see my growth in a visible form, maybe then I'll be inspired to train more. But right now, I'm just frustrated man." Aeron whined.

Grey went silent. Even Blaze and Zenon supported Aeron with their silence. He knew how boring and frustrating the basic training was. In this world, where aura and mana were prevalent, physical training was not given much priority.

"Though he's just trying to escape the basic training, his complaints are not baseless. I have to help Blaze awaken too." Grey went into deep thought. The three of them kept observing him without a word, waiting patiently for him to speak up. "I guess that would do."

"I understand." Their faces went bright when Grey nodded in their favor.

"Let me give you all a test than. After this week-long training, I can see the growth in you all, and I believe you would be able to complete it too." Grey said with a smirk, raising their curiosity further up.

"There is a dungeon nearby, crawling with warped class eclipse beasts. If the three of you, including Lenore, can clear this dungeon without any help, I'll move on to the next phase of your training. What do you say? You all up for it?" Grey asked with a grin.

A wave of shock passed through them. They looked at each other in confusion. A dungeon was no laughing matter, that too filled with eclipsed beasts. They were filled with skepticism of their own success.

"But… we are no allowed to explore the dungeons in our first year. And, fighting eclipsed beasts…I think it would be too much for us." Zenon said hesitatingly.

"I'll take permission from professor Thorgar, don't worry about that! And as for the case of fighting eclipsed beasts, I think as a team, it wouldn't be that much of a hassle for you all. You people are strong. If you don't believe in yourself, how do you expect others to believe in you?" Grey chided them lightly.

They moved their gazes to the floor in shame. Though they wanted to test themselves, their bottomed-out confidence, was pulling them back to believe in themselves.

"Don't think yourselves as any less. I can see your strength and potential. Since fate has pulled you down, hard work and diligence will lift you all up and power your growth, since that's the only thing you can work on. I'm standing in front of you all as the living proof of that!"

Hope and confidence reignited in their eyes as they clenched their fists tight. A fire burning inside them to prove themselves.

"So, tell me, are you up for it?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" The three of them yelled collectively.

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