The Hunters in the university had their spirits down. It seems reality had sunk in, and Silas was surprised to see them training harder with the help of the different guilds altogether. Jesters were now being aided by Demoniacs, Heaven's Blade, Guardians and Predators were now at the university to help with the training.
The Paladins from the Guardians and Swordsmen from Heaven's Blade was now teaching them about combat intuition and sword techniques. The Predators and Demoniacs were teaching the others about survival techniques. Instead of going to an actual dungeon, they were now using special arenas that were newly designed with mana cores. Granting more changes to simulate an actual dungeon environment.
Silas was excluded from the training because the Guild Leaders made it clear to the members who were here. That Silas was stronger than them and the Guild Leaders along the Association Chairman had faced them all together. The Hunters that were present were able to see the presence of the Seraphs that were hiding by Silas's shadows.
The 13 Seraphs, led by One Wing and second in command, Final Judgement. Out of Silas's familiars. Their strength was beyond the norm. Even surpassing the Ancients that Silas had in his possession. Seijuro was a summon, but Silas still had to pay a lot of money for him. 1 million was enough for a knife to be thrown by him. To use anything else, Silas had to make a gamble.
Pay him the right amount and he will grant you his power. Despite the Familiars going on jobs, Silas was earning a steady amount of money but nowhere near enough. The currency he has from the other Worlds were useless here, but he did rent out the M-Frames as Support firing units. All that they have to do, is literally fire into a portal where the designated enemies were.
Turning the Lions of Pride Rock into summon crystals was interesting to say the least. They would appear for a few attacks, then fade away. Silas did not need to worry about such things, they were already his Familiars. He'd want to monitor Jensen's progress, this time through the eye of Iacus.
Showing Jensen improving well. He was facing E-Ranked enemies without much hassle. Working with the Guardians as a Collector but still holding his ground quite well. He helped to cover the apprentice paladins of the Guardians where their cover was exposed. Focusing on protecting the ones who was focused in using mana. Throwing knives to cut through the bodies of the enemies with magic casting abilities. Being a hybrid of both Iacus's techniques and Donovan's swordsmanship. The perfect mage killer.
Even using Donovan's sword breaker to break the weapons, then going in for the kill. Truly his brother's dangerousness was going to reach greater heights. No defense, all offense. Jensen used his blade to block an attack, a shoulder charge to push the hobgoblin swordsman back. A fast swing to free the head from the body. Keeping the swing's momentum as he went for a fast piercing attack to the heart. Freeing the blade away as his blade searched for the next enemy to harm.
Jensen's development was going fast and it was going well. Silas on the other hand was currently in the library. Just reading details into the classes. To learn more about them. The many unique classes that were available. Spellbinder, Wind waker, Clairvoyant Inspector.' Silas took a moment to look at the Hunter Trading group. Seeing more weapons with the Thorn and Garden prefix.
'Thorn : Can only be used by the person the weapon deems worthy.'
'Garden : A weapon that cultivates with the user.'
The prefixes meant that the weapons were unique and they even had random points for the weapons if it has been mastered. Having 10 ranks of mastery for each, with a random prefix that may give benefits. The weapons were now increasing in the list. Most of them were at Mythic rarity. Being sold at low prices but leaving remarks 'It's too hard to use. Anyone wants it?'
The remarks meant that they don't have much in its own right but if Silas had taken it. Maybe it would be different. Silas looked at a few weapons. One of it was the Silenced Thorn that he had seen the other day, along with a few other Thorn weapons.
Gracious Thorn, a blade that resembled a long sword but its sections can be separated and strike at others like a serpent.
Barraging Thorns, a light machine gun. Under barrel bayonet, using the large magazine with an ammo belt to be placed into the feed. Silas decided to get the three Thorn Weapons for his use. Paying a collective price of 70 thousand dollars. The system was confirming payment as Silas received the Silenced Thorn first.
The Silenced Thorn.
ATK : 50
Weapon Rank 0.
STATUS
Silenced : Shots fired by the pistol will not be heard by anyone else.
Stagger : The shot has a 50% stagger chance.
Elemental surge : The side of the pistol slide will show the elements that have been loaded into the pistol. By combining multiple elements. You can unleash an elemental frenzy. However, do note that combining too many elements will cause the pistol to jam. Elements will last one magazine and has to be reset every time for reload.
Locked weapon ability : Requires for weapon to reach Ranks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 to unlock 5 new abilities.
Thorn : (Random Effect Generated) The weapon has a piercing factor of 3.0 will be upgraded as time goes on. It will pierce 3 parts of unarmored targets.
Silas thought about his Lord of Thorn's weapon set and this one. Did he actually named them? Maybe he'll call it the 2nd Thorns Weapon Set or rather the Sylvanus Thorns. The Silenced Thorn will be part of the new Gates Weapon set. Silas had it put to his side. After his trip to the library, Silas went back to join the other students in a simulation.
"Why is Silas always excluded from the training? What? Is he considered to be that good?" Hardin was the first to voice his thoughts along with the students who joined to protest it.
"Silas. You up for this?" Hardin was grinning, cracking his hands at the thought of being able to fight against Silas in this.
"I'll take them all on." Silas said, it was not about confidence but rather. To teach them a lesson.
"Okay. So here's the thing. We're gonna put you into a challenge. All of you will be facing Silas in the next dungeon. This is a test of skill against another Hunter. The rules are simple. You need to whittle Silas's health to Zero. But if you are defeated, you will be kicked out of the dungeon." Julie was explaining the rules while Silas was putting on his gear. His hoodie was now able to optimize its colours to suit the optical camouflage of the entire area.
Silas then checked his other weapons. When he held his glove the weapons that had manifested in his heart. Glaives, throwing glaives, sabers, spears, guan daos, double sword staves, a pair of claymores conjoined together.A pistol, a revolver ,a shotgun, a carbine, a sniper rifle and a light machine gun.A gatling gun, a howitzer. Midnight Squall appeared to Silas where it began to float. Fanged gauntlets, daggers. A variety of weapons that Silas had in his hands.
"Silas, you okay with this?" Denver asked to confirm with Silas.
"It'll be fine. I won't set up traps but I will be fighting at my best." Silas said as they see a spear form to his hands, then raising both hands as a pair of Gates Magnums appeared by his sides. Letting them go as a pair of sharp gauntlets appeared.
"You could get hurt!" Caroline spoke up where Silas shook his head.
"When you're ready Silas. Head inside the dungeon simulation." Silas went inside, he would need to survey the land as he stepped inside. Silas was now standing in the ruins of a city that had been destroyed. The ruins of a city that felt familiar. A rough sight but such things didn't matter as Silas leaped up to a building.
This time preparing himself with a sniper rifle. 300 versus 1. How long would he be able to last? Taking his positions in the ruined buildings, Silas's class was a Grunt on paper. He was going to fight them with his current strength. Both sides have mana and health potions that can be brewed at all times. With a 30 second delay. While the students were preparing Silas was taking his time to brew whatever potions he had. The sniper rifle he was wielding was a high caliber sniper rifle.
Positioning himself in a building with a good vantage point. Silas needed to assess his first few threats. The other students moved in as they looked around the environment. Taking a moment to try and learn the lay of the land with what they could. Silas's finger was on the trigger. A gentle squeeze as he laid eyes on Hardin who was with his team.
"Silas." Julie was on the radio.
"I hear you. What's this about?"
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"The other guild members want to see you do the impossible. Do you think you can win against them?"
"When do I start?"
"You may start when ready." Silas took a deep breath as he adjusted the aim, looking at Hardin that was walking casually. A head shot was all that he needed. Pulling the trigger. The other students heard the gunfire, Hardin's helmet took the hit, but Hardin fell unconscious. He was going to lay down continued sniper fire. The mages began casting 'Arrow Deflect' to stop the bullets from hitting their intended targets. The relentless sniper fire was slowly whittling down their arrow deflect.
One student, the student Council President Jenny Reese was beginning her orders. Calling for snipers to ready their aim at Silas's position. They were firing their guns to rattle Silas, trying to spook him from his location. The students began to break away from each other in smaller groups. Silas fired a shot at Jenny, who was defended by a Berserker who wielded a large shield. It looks like they understood that Silas was trying to cut them off from their leader.
The mages switched to unleashing their magic spears at Silas's position. Firing off a few shots before reloading, Silas was able to take out a few of the mages. A single shot to the head, not the heart. 7 mages had fallen. A few more shots as Silas whittled them down, but they managed to make their way into the city ruins.
Silas stopped firing, this time he was going to go for hit and run attacks. Fighting this many enemies with this much disadvantage? What's not to like? Silas was moving between the alleys, avoiding detection as well as he can. This time swapping the rifle for a katana, he was running to the direction of Caroline and the others.
'Katana Skill : The Second Movement, Azure Tide.' Silas had locked into their position, the team of 15. He just needed to ready the attack. Running up the walls of a building, then leaping into the sky. Caroline looked up to the sky where the draw of Silas's blade was all that she could see. He saved Caroline for last, because as a Songstress. She didn't have much attacking abilities. Not yet anyway. Slashing through them first, as Silas dodged the oncoming gunshots by a rifleman. An upward slash, but his attack was cancelled out as Jenny's team arrived. They began to provide support while Caroline began with her buffing. This time she was a threat, Silas leaped back. Dodging the gunfire and magic element spears being launched at him. Swapping over to the Gates Magnum. Firing off a few shots which struck Caroline's abdomen. Stopping her from singing, but she kept on going despite the pain. A mage was healing her.
Two assassins went after Silas, giving chase. Whereby Silas pulled out a grenade, pulling the pin. Unleashing a thick cloud of smoke, then throwing another grenade to where Caroline was. The loud flash was enough to stop her singing, the assassins readied their daggers to strike Silas from the sides. Clashing into each other, only to hear a click. They glanced over to see a pair of Gates Magnums pointed to their face. Silas fired off a barrage, sending them both flying out from the cloud of smoke.
Time to pull out, Silas began reloading the pair of Magnums as he left the scene. He needed to get a radio from them, where he found another team that decided to move in teams of 3. A rifleman on the rooftops, all that Silas needed was a radio frequency to hear their movements. The lone rifleman was busy looking down his scope. Not hearing Silas's footsteps at all. Knife in one hand, Silas covered the rifleman's mouth,a stab to the throat as the rifleman went limp.
Silas put on the earpiece. This time he could hear the communication.
"We got two assassins down. Caroline's been hit! Caroline's squad is gone. Anyone got an update?" Jenny's voice was overshadowing the others.
"This is Luke from Hardin's squad. Hardin's still unconscious. Whatever that Silas was firing? That thing was dangerous. A blue rarity helmet had protected him but it's not enough." Silas was listening in as he looked at the 3 man teams moving in unison. They were moving in a complex of damaged buildings all around them, it would protect them from sniper fire but it would leave them open for sneak attacks. Silas had his gauntlets ready, this time moving through the buildings. Throwing stones at different surfaces to rile them up. They began looking around trying to focus on the target. The team leader was Xiao who was a ranger.
"He's on out 3 o'clock!" Launching an arrow at a building where Silas was for a moment. Silas leaped out from the side. That was a detection arrow, if he didn't do anything that arrow would have detected him and Xiao would have enough time to alert other people. Silas went after him first, leaping out as he clawed through Xiao's body. The two Hunters that was with Xiao were easy pickings. No melee combat potential. Silas went after one, piercing his hand through the chest. Throwing a dagger into the head of the 2nd Hunter.
"Xiao!? Xiao!?" Xiao was gasping for air as he fell to the ground, looking at Silas that left him there.
"He's... He's here!" Xiao spoke as he turned limp. The body was left behind as Silas prepared for his next attack. This time taking a mana potion to restore his MP. The Azure Tide was strong but the mana cost was an issue. A sure fire way to take down most enemies but using it in succession was not that good. He kept brewing potions but this time also listening in to the radio. Placing explosives within Xiao's shirt. Silas was now using a long bow, carrying the bow and preparing himself for the bait.
It was Xiao's other teammates along with Jenny's team of 15. His teammates went to check over Xiao's body with 7 of them who formed a defensive line with shields. Leaving a narrow gap that Silas could shoot through. Drawing the string to be near his face, letting go as the arrow pierced through the targets. Letting the string go, as the arrow struck Xiao's body.
"Ignite." Silas said as Xiao's body exploded killing the other 7 Hunters, while leaving a large cloud of smoke around Jenny's team. Caroline began to sing, trying to keep her team as buffed up as possible. The buffs will last 60 seconds, and Caroline will need to take a break before she can continue her singing.
Her MP was already draining and the others were still antsy.
"Where is he? Rangers. Confirm his lo-" Jenny watched the head of one of her teammates be impaled by an arrow. It went right through the gap of the armor. Silas readied his bow, infusing ice and fire elements to it. It may be a low tier spell, but it will be enough. Silas tied a few smoke grenades to the arrow, pulling the pins as he knocked it off from the bow.
Striking their position, Silas drank a potion. Enough for one 'Azure Tide attack.' He had already locked onto them as he leaped upwards, drawing the blade as he cut through the groups altogether. The smoke slowly cleared, Jenny and Caroline could only see the katana that went after them. Slashing them down.
With this, Silas had taken out roughly 50 out of the 300. Fatigue was present, but Silas already had measures for that. Making some of his own potions to lose all the fatigue away.
The losers who were outside were watching with their Hunter Instructors.
"50 people within 10 minutes. What is he? A monster?" Julie asked looking at some of the other students who were traumatized by the encounter.
"This may be too much for them. I thought the kid was cocky." Denver said as he scratched his head.
"Our concerns were unwarranted weren't they? He's stronger than an F-Rank. He's got those stats, but watching how he fights.It's as if he's been fighting for all of his life." A paladin spoke to them.
"Smoke grenades, flashbangs. Putting them onto arrows. He's thinking outside of the box, but the Hunters may be traumatized but now they will understand why he's never part of the training. I doubt even we can teach someone like him. His stamina is unreal. It's like he's not even tired. He's only used MP potions. Not a single hit so far." A Ranger from Demoniacs pointed out to the others.
"His thinking? That's not a normal person's way of thinking. He changes weapons on the fly. I've seen those gloves. Tricky to use, but its part of the new tech that just emerged. They call them Storage Gloves. You can use them to store weapons and potions. It even has an autorepair function if you get one at the Divine rarity." A rifleman from Predators said, showing his glove.
"Why is it tricky?" Julie asked.
"It's linked to intent. If you intend to kill an enemy, do you want a rifle? It'll bring out the rifle you want, but if you got multiple rifles? How do you keep track? He's doing it seamlessly when I struggled like a bitch."
"Kid's a monster."
Within an hour, only Hardin was left. The other students watched as Silas broke Hardin's arm. Placing a knife at Hardin's throat, a gentle slit as he watched Hardin slowly bleed out. Silas fell to his butt. Popping a cigarette to his hands as he lit it up. His stamina was already lost. Barely being able to feel his fingers and his stamina potions had run out.
It was casual, like it was just another day on the battlefield for Silas. The look of emptiness that was in his eyes, the way the other students looked at him. He didn't want to stand out, but sometimes. The best way to remind others is to put them down where they stand. Silas stepped out, where he found Ferno just waiting for him. Perching over his shoulders.
"Hey Ferno."
"Hello! Everyone looks tired." Ferno then used his flames to coat everyone in a healing circle. It was slowly making them lose the clouded judgement of their thoughts and being able to stand on their feet. Some of them could look at Silas in the eye.
"There's a reason why he's exempted from training. You all have seen what he's capable of haven't you?" They turned to see Loren who walked in to see Silas.
"Guild Leader." The Guardians knelt before Loren.
"Why did you take up the challenge, Silas? There's no need for you to prove your skill?"
"It's because somethings can only be understood when they see it. If I was a Hunter who truly wanted them to suffer. I wouldn't have been as kind. This is training, and in today's training they might just learn the difference between a Hunter who knows his limits and a Hunter who understands his limits." Silas's answer earned a nod from Loren.
"I hope you understand when we tell you why Silas is exempted. If you think stats are the contributing factor, then you're mistaken. It's also the combination with the weapons that he uses. He's also the one who mastered the Inventory Gloves that you see before you. Not even using Midnight Squall this time?"
"Wasn't needed. Now, if you'll excuse me. I.." Silas checked his phone. It was an unknown number.
Silas picked it up, just hearing a person continuing to breathe for the next 30 seconds.
"I have your grandfather. You will need to prepare an amount of 10 million to secure his safety." Silas let out a sigh as he heard that.
"Are you sure that's my grandfather you have in your room? It might be something else." Silas hung up, where he looked through the eyes of Iacus who was seeing Ericson reading the daily newspaper. Looking over elsewhere the man in the room was not Ericson but Lopt who had been waiting for an opportunity.
"How shall I proceed, Master?"
"Torture them until they give out the information to who wanted to mess with me." Silas used telepathy as he tapped the ash of his cigarette.
"See you, Loren. I'm going home. I need to rest." A simple farewell, Loren looked at the other Hunters who were still in a daze. Loren casted his own set of spells to help ease the trauma away. They were terrified but Loren understood. If he had sent his own members into such a battle. It would have been chaotic. It would have been disastrous and most of them would have retired from hunting altogether.
"If he's that strong... Do you think he'd help me?" Caroline popped the question.
"What was I lacking? Was it because I didn't think through?" Jenny spoke up. At least in such a group, those two who had witnessed the other Hunters cut down had not lost their spirits.