Chapter 92
this is a fictional story by realTensai
Alvis and the others were still in the student council office, yet they had already finished their meeting. As they prepared to leave, his phone buzzed. However, it wasn’t just him who got a notification.
“It’s a message from Kris,” Sekki said, being the first one to open up his phone. “He wants to have a class meeting with everyone to discuss what to do.”
So he became proactive.
Earlier this morning they had all lost their nerves upon waking up to two terrible news. Kris was no exception. However, judging by his message, Alvis sensed that he had returned to his old self.
“That’s very Kris-like,” Maya said, nodding. “It’s a good idea. We can use this chance to tell everyone about the student council team.”
“True, I wanted to get the people from our class to join us first, anyway.”
“So it’s decided.”
“Wait, I think it would be best to postpone the meeting.”
Everyone just stared at Alvis, as he was the only one to oppose.
“Why?”
“It’s only half an hour till it’s nine and the new quests will be announced. We should immediately focus on completing them, as this will show that the student council is joining the fray. If we complete the most quest, it would be a show of force and word of mouth will spread that the student council has formed a team which would be the best way to spread the news.”
There was a brief silence as they digested the idea.
“That would be the smartest choice,” Sekki said, being the first to agree with Alvis.“We can postpone the class meeting to later, but we can’t wait too long if we want to complete quests.”
“I also agree. I don’t want other teams to complete the quests and get an advantage over us,” Dane added.
“Okay, I will respond to Kris by saying that we should postpone the meeting to later this day,” Lia said, taking out her phone. She typed in the message and sent it. After she finished, she looked up again, this time addressing everyone in the room. “We are going to try to complete as many quests as possible. Let’s split up into our core groups and spread across the school. We will wait until nine and then immediately head for the quest nearest to us. Understood?”
“Yes!” they responded in unison. With that, their meeting ended, and they went their separate ways.
Alvis and Chao went to the research buildings. There had been a couple of quests there over the week, but not as many as in the main building or the gym, yet they still took the chance.
They wandered around on the now gloomy school grounds as every step of theirs echoed in the blowing wind. Alvis couldn’t see nor hear any students walking around, the normally so lively place now feeling like a graveyard for criminals. With the black barrier trapping them, it really seemed as if they had become imprisoned criminals. Students didn’t dare to step out on their own now that war had been declared. One careless step could mean death.
They are probably also having meetings right now.
Hiding in the dark, they were creating plans to win this survival game.
“Do you think other students will also head for the research facility?” Chao asked, his voice low as his head kept shifting from left to right.
“It isn’t unlikely. Even though it isn’t a key spot for a quest, no, because it isn’t a key spot for a quest, they might target this area hoping for lower competition.”
“Do you think we will have to fight?”
“I would like to say no, but then I would be lying.”
Chao averted his gaze, his hands slightly trembling.
“I’ve only ever learned basic earth spells—barely enough for defense. Just to let you know. Ah, I also don’t have a high mana capacity which closed off the way of a mage since my birth. That’s why I focus so hard on my studies so I can at least go down the academic path. Ha, we dwarves are already known as hardworking, yet someone like me has to put in even more hours. I can’t disappoint my family.”
It was the first time Chao opened up and talked up his motivations. It didn’t seem as if he was uncomfortable, more so as if he was just talking to himself, reminding himself of the reason he joined this school.
Now his behavior also made even more sense to Alvis. He already knew that Chao was one of the best in his grade and that this was also the reason he joined the student council, but he didn’t know about the pressure he had. He left his family and home country to join this school and couldn’t go back without having achieved anything. If he died in this survival game, all his efforts, everything he had worked for so hard, would be in vain. His reactions and behavior throughout the last week now also seemed justified. With an estimated power level of 716, he was weaker than the average student in this school. Yet this school was composed only of the elites, so the average student here was around 1000, which wasn’t the norm.
“You can leave the fighting to me,” Alvis said, trying to reassure him. “Depending on which quest we complete, we might get a weapon as a reward, which you could use as self-defense. We can also save up some coins and buy a weapon from the shop if you want. There is even a discount for teams.”
Alvis opened up the shop.
Shop Interface
Shop Categories:
1. Survival Gear
2. Weapons and Attachments
3. Consumables
4. Cosmetics
5. Special Offers
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
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CATEGORY BREAKDOWN
1. SURVIVAL GEAR
Items:
* Armor:
* Basic Armor Vest (500 coins): Provides standard protection.
* Advanced Armor Vest (1000 coins): Enhanced durability and damage resistance.
* Helmets:
* Combat Helmet (300 coins): Reduces headshot damage.
* Reinforced Helmet (600 coins): Increased head protection.
* Backpacks:
* Small Backpack (200 coins)
* Large Backpack (400 coins)
2. WEAPONS AND ATTACHMENTS
Items:
* Weapons:
* Sword (1500 coins)
* Mana Sword (2500 coins)
- Variations: Elemental Sword (3000 coins)
* Shield (1500 coins)
* Advanced Shield (2000 coins)
* Axt (1500 coins)
* Bow (1500 coins)
* Beam Gun (2000 coins): Standard issue with moderate damage and range.
* Sniper Rifle (2500 coins): High damage, long-range.
* Attachments:
* Scope (300 coins): Enhances aiming precision.
* Extended Magazine (200 coins): Increases ammo capacity.
* Suppressor (250 coins): Reduces gun noise.
3. CONSUMABLES
Items:
* Health:
* Bandages (50 coins each): Basic healing over time.
* Medkit (200 coins): Full health restoration.
* Food:
* Water Bottle (25 coins)
* Standard Food Package (50 coins): Protein Bar, Water, Trail Mix and Canned Beans
* Premium Food Package (200 coins): Five-Star Meal
* Potions:
* Stamina Potion (150 coins): Increases stamina regeneration.
* Speed Boost (200 coins): Temporary speed increase.
* Regeneration Potion (250 coins): Regenerate your health.
* Mana Potion (250 coins): Regenerate your mana.
4. COSMETICS
Clothing:
* Shoes (200 coins)
* Jeans (200 coins)
* T-Shirt (200 coins)
* Jacket (200 coins)
5. SPECIAL OFFERS
Items:
* Bundles:
* Starter Pack (3000 coins): Includes Basic Armor Vest, Combat Helmet, Standard Weapon of your choice, Shield and Medkit.
* Sniper Pack (3500 coins): Includes Sniper Rifle, Scope, Reinforced Helmet, and Speed Boost.
* Team Offers:
* Starter Pack (2000 )
* Sniper Pack (2500 coins)
Now that the survival game had come so far, the shop would be indispensable.
“Let’s first focus on the quests,” Chao said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
They had reached the research facility. It was a technologic advanced building with five floors. Without wasting more time, they entered. However, as soon as they stepped in, an icy chill ran down Alvis’ spine as he felt killing intent directed at them. It immediately faded away, yet he had noticed it.
Someone is here.
With his senses on alert, he felt the presence of four, maybe five, people in the distance watching their every step. Still, Alvis acted as if he didn’t notice them, as he didn’t want to force a confrontation.
Maybe they will back down without doing anything if no quest appears here.
“What’s wrong?” Chao asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Nothing. Let’s just wait until nine.”
Chao nodded, and thus they spent their time waiting. Alvis stared at his phone screen, acting as if he looked at the time, but his attention was still on the people hiding. And then the clock hit nine and their game systems popped up.
However, before they could even read the quest description, the ground trembled beneath them, and the world around them shifted into molten chaos.
The ground cracked apart, revealing rivers of glowing magma that snaked through the rocky terrain, their heat distorting the air like a shimmering mirage. The only thing saving them from falling right into their death were unstable chunks of lava rocks. The air itself seemed to ignite, pressing down on Alvis’ chest like molten iron, each breath scorching his lungs. Walls that had once been steel and stone crumbled into jagged, obsidian-like formations.
“HAAA? What’s going on?” Chao shouted, the shock of this sudden change bringing him to his knees. Yet he immediately sprung up again as the heat burned his hands.
“It seems like we were lucky and got a quest,” Alvis said with a smirk as his sweat immediately evaporated. He had already witnessed how a quest changed the reality of its surroundings back then in the library. He opened up his system to see its contents.
QUEST INTRODUCTION: ASHEN SPIRE TRIALS
Quest Giver: Elder Pyron, Keeper of the Flame Order
Location: Ashen Spire Summit
Dialogue:
“Brave soul, the Ashen Spire stands as the beacon of our flame order, but its essence has dimmed. The Ember Core, the source of its sacred fire, has been stolen by volcanic spirits. You must ascend the summit, face its fiery defenders, and recover the Ember Core to restore the Spire’s light. Will you accept this trial?”
Objectives:
1. Ascend the Ashen Spire
* Navigate through scorching winds and unstable lava rocks.
2. Challenge the Volcanic Guardians
* Defeat fiery beasts that protect the summit.
3. Reclaim the Ember Core
* Battle the Flame Sentinel to retrieve the stolen Ember Core.
Quest Log:
* Quest Title: “Ashen Spire Trials”
* Objective: Recover the Ember Core and reignite the Ashen Spire.
* Rewards:
* Items: Ashen Cloak (rare item that grants fire immunity and health regeneration), Regeneration Potion (x2)
* Coins: 600 coins
* Team Member Limit Increase: +3
It was one of five quests that were released. However, what immediately struck Alvis’ eyes were the rewards. One rare item, two regeneration potions, 600 coins and the most important a team member limit increase by 3.
“We really hit the jackpot.”
However, Alvis wasn’t smiling, as he knew what that meant.
His eyes widened as he sensed a sudden change in the atmosphere. A crackling arrow of pure energy tore through the air, its blinding light casting jagged shadows as it hurtled toward them. Alvis lunged forward, grabbing Chao with one arm, his evasion skill completely taking over. They landed on some burning hot lava rocks, yet the heat didn’t matter right now. Alvis glanced at the place they had just been standing on, only to see nothing left of it. Chao couldn’t even speak up as his eyes widened in horror, realizing just how close he had escaped death.
“I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that you would dodge this attack.” A voice that Alvis had already heard today got carried by the hot wind and reached their ears. Alvis stared in the direction it came from, only to see four guys stepping forward. “I wanted to give you a quick death.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, William.”
The four guys were all fourth graders, two beast-man, one demon, and the one leading them with a bow in his hands was no other than the former student council president William. His short blond hair was well kept and even his shirt and jeans didn’t seem to have wrinkles on them, even though they had already been trapped here for over a week. He had a polite smile on his face that merged perfectly with his blue eyes, and even his voice sounded nice. Yet he hadn’t even hesitated to try to kill them.
“If I’m not mistaken, you are Alvis. And the one next to you should be Chao. Even though I’m not in the student council anymore, I still try to keep a watch on it,” he said, his voice still as friendly as ever. One couldn’t sense any ill will from him, which made everything even creepier.
“Because you are my successors, I will give you one last chance to flee. Abandon this quest.”
“And what if we refute?”
There was a brief pause, as if he didn’t expect this answer. But after a few seconds, his lips curved up even more, and Alvis instinctively took a step back.
“Then be ready to die.”