The Academy’s Practical Training

“Ye Lan, do you know the location of the academy’s practical training exercise?”

“Your Excellency, it stands to reason that the practical training grounds would be in a remote area teeming with magical creatures. My reconnaissance indicates that the mountain forests south of the city have been completely sealed off, with security teams guarding every entrance.”

“This is quite the grand undertaking, indeed. However, for those of us adept in shadow elements, silent infiltration is merely second nature.”

In the forests south of the city, lilies had already begun to bloom.

A large contingent of students, clad in sailor uniforms, continuously streamed through a teleportation gate, their gazes sweeping around with palpable curiosity.

“Is there a priestess available? Our team is short one member!”

“Do you really need a team just to fight a slime? Watch me take it down solo!”

Some were exceedingly cautious, planning to form groups to clear monsters, while others, brimming with arrogance, prepared to charge in headfirst.

One of the mentors observed them in silence, lost in thoughts of their own past, yet quickly reminded themselves that this was no time for distraction. “Friendship first, tests second! If one person is in trouble, aid will come from all directions!”

“Understood! I’ll just eliminate everyone on the other side! That way, no one will be in danger!”

“You’re right, offense is indeed the best defense!”

Upon hearing these declarations, the mentor nearly choked with exasperation; the students’ youthful bravado was startlingly familiar. They too had once been like this—utterly fearless—until they ventured abroad and realized that there were always those stronger, those more formidable…

“Sisters, follow me! Let’s charge!”

“Charge!”

As the Class Leader spearheaded the charge, a throng of devoted admirers followed in her wake, a clear testament to her considerable authority within the class.

“Isn’t this a bit too reckless?”

“What’s there to fear? The Class Leader is far stronger than us. Even if we encounter danger, she’ll act as a meat shield to cover our retreat.”

“You have a point. In that case, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

The few students lagging at the very back, possessing weaker individual strength, planned to trail behind and pick up any scraps. It wasn’t long before the first slime made its appearance!

No sooner had the sky-blue slime poked its head out from behind a tree than it was obliterated into a puddle of viscous goo by a barrage of fireballs and lightning spheres.

“Hey! What was that for?”

“I hadn’t even gotten a chance to feel it!”

“Exactly! I wanted to sit on it and enjoy the softness of a cushion!”

“I also wanted to test its elasticity, to see if it could be stretched as thin as a tentacle.”

A chorus of students, speaking over one another, began to blame those who had instantly launched attacks purely for points. The attackers, however, felt a sense of helplessness. If your purpose here isn’t to fight monsters, then surely you’re not here to study the slime’s properties, are you?

“Alright, stop squabbling! There are undoubtedly more slimes nearby; there’s no need to bicker over every single one!”

The moment the Class Leader spoke, the surrounding area immediately fell silent. To prevent a repeat of the previous incident, many students broke away from the main group, intending to become solo adventurers.

As they delved deeper, the magical creatures they encountered grew in both number and variety: slimes, ice and fire birds, carnivorous plants, elastic vines, burrowing worms, mimic chests…

While these were all low-level monsters, many students still fell victim due to their lack of experience. Some were inadvertently engulfed entirely by slimes, rendered utterly immobile.

Others had an arm swallowed by a carnivorous plant, but because this student was highly sensitive to pain, their defense was exceptionally high. The plant, unable to bite through, eventually spat them out, leaving them to gag with their head bowed.

Another student found themselves bound hand and foot by vines, dangling in the air. Just as the vines seemed poised to drain her, the Class Leader promptly incinerated them, rescuing her. The rescued student outwardly flashed a grateful smile, but the moment the Class Leader departed, her expression shifted, revealing profound disappointment.

One student knelt on the ground, observing bees on a flower, only for an eel-like creature to suddenly burst from the earth, striking her at a vital point. The intense shock sent her leaping to her feet, her body trembling uncontrollably, her legs clamped tightly together.

Yet another student, spotting a treasure chest, rushed towards it with eager anticipation, only for the chest to snap open and clamp around her head, leaving her exposed limbs flailing wildly.

Having personally experienced the diverse array of magical creatures, the students had lost the initial surge of youthful exuberance they had displayed.

“Look quickly! What is that?”

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their heads to find a slime larger than any they had seen before, shimmering with several distinct colors.