A deafening sound reverberated throughout the forest, capturing the attention of every student, whether they were hiding or hunting. All eyes turned toward a single direction, where a thick plume of smoke rose into the sky.

A few seconds earlier:

"Should we use it like this?" Rook held the Essence Blaster (EB) in his hands, listening intently to Ayush's instructions.

"First, open the safety pin," Ayush said, casually sipping the drink he had brought. "Since it's a new gun, you need to give your biometric, like your Aura, to keep it locked."

Rook nodded, following Ayush's directions with utmost concentration. He carefully placed his hand on the scanner, feeling a slight tingle as the gun registered his Aura.

"Then, transfer your essence to the gun," Ayush continued, his tone as if explaining to a child. "Once you've done that, use the trigger to launch the attack."

Rook, now fully absorbed in the process, completed the biometric setup. Suddenly, a voice emanated from the gun, reminiscent of Alexa.

"Loading propels… All propels are reading… Auto-targeting propel check, Essence conversion propel check, Rapid attack propel check…"

"Wooow," Rook muttered, his eyes widening in awe as he took in the gun's advanced functions. His excitement was palpable as he started to transfer his essence into the weapon.

In this world, low-level essence began with a blue hue and progressed through yellow, red, violet, and black, with many other levels beyond. Slowly, the blue essence flowed through the gun's intricate circuits, causing them to emit a dazzling glow that lit up the air around him.

"EB ready for your hunting," the gun announced, its voice filled with mechanical precision.

Rook could hardly contain his excitement. He aimed the gun, feeling the power surging within it as the essence transfer completed. The circuits shone brilliantly, casting an ethereal light.

Taking a deep breath, Rook pulled the trigger. A bolt of pure energy shot out, striking a nearby tree with explosive force. The impact created a massive explosion, sending shockwaves throughout the forest and causing the large plume of smoke to rise.

The explosion is more than what Ayush thought as he got a jolt of shock in his spine as that requires the essence of a D tier. But did say anything.

The other students, who had been focused on their tasks, now turned their attention toward the source of the noise. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they saw the smoke billowing into the sky.

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"Did Rook do that?" one student whispered to another, their faces filled with a mix of fear and admiration.

"Looks like he's got something powerful," another student replied, trying to peer through the smoke.

Back at the scene, Rook stood in awe of the gun's destructive power. He glanced at Ayush, who gave a smug smile but with sweat and shaking hands.

Rook grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. He looked at the smoking remains of the tree and knew that with the Essence Blaster in his hands, he could face any challenge that lay ahead.

Rook zeroed in on the incoming goblins. These creatures, in chaotic clusters, were attacking the students with their bone clubs. Some goblins focused on beating up the boys, while one advanced toward a terrified girl.

Rook aimed the Essence Blaster and squeezed the trigger. The pure energy bolt shot out at high speed, hitting the group of goblins hard. The blast shredded several goblins who were somewhat distanced from the students, their bodies torn apart by the energy.

The ground where Rook's attack landed was now charred black, smoking from the intense heat of the blast. Realizing the potential for collateral damage to his classmates, Rook decided to target the lone goblins to minimize the risk. "Rapid propel, activate," he commanded the gun.

Instantly, the Essence Blaster adjusted, drawing more energy from Rook as its circuits began to glow brighter.

As he pulled the trigger, the gun unleashed a barrage of rapid-fire essence blasts. Each shot streaked through the air, emitting a satisfying hum that pumped adrenaline through Rook's veins. The auto-targeting system locked onto each goblin, ensuring that every shot hit its mark.

One by one, goblins fell under Rook's relentless assault. His devilish smile widened as he reveled in the thrill of the hunt. The other students watched in stunned silence, their mouths agape.

"What's that weapon? How is it so powerful? And who is that guy?" they asked in unison, their shock evident. All of them thought that is the power of the weapon but only ayush and few people in that place know whats behind that power.

Despite their awe, Rook didn't let up. The surviving goblins, sensing the threat, turned their attention to him. With loud, guttural roars, they sprinted toward him, their eyes burning with rage.

Rook, undeterred, continued his attack, knowing he couldn't afford to stop. The danger was too great. If this dungeon wasn't cleared, the goblins would eventually break out, causing chaos.

With each shot, a goblin fell, and Rook's confidence grew. He knew that hesitation now could lead to disaster later. The forest echoed with the sounds of battle, but Rook's focus remained unbroken.

The Essence Blaster was an extension of his will, and he wielded it with precision and determination.

The goblins, enraged and desperate, accelerated toward Rook as their comrades fell one by one. Among them, a particularly fierce-looking goblin, clearly the leader, brandished a sharp, knife-like weapon from a makeshift pouch. Its eyes gleamed with lethal intent, fixed solely on Rook.

The students gasped, their fear palpable. Even Professor Arya, who usually maintained her composure, dashed toward Rook, her face tight with worry. She couldn't bear the thought of losing a student, especially in a seemingly low-risk F-rank portal.

The goblin leader closed the distance swiftly, the knife poised to strike. Rook, undeterred, aimed the Essence Blaster, but the goblin was too close. The professor's heart pounded as she pushed herself to reach him in time.

"Can they save him? Or will the F-rank portal claim another life? Find out in the next chapter!"

Is everyone giving their life for mere resources? If not then what's the reason behind it? Stay tuned to upcoming chapters to know more.