Chapter 24: Darkness in the Corridor
The announcement of the new mission got the Oni panic, and the Tank General is about to explain how the mission will go.
"The hunt will be a training for you as well as a Test, the more monsters you hunt the better, for that you have to form groups," said Godfrey.
"Sir Godfrey, don't magical beasts require an army to defeat them?" asked Damian.
"That's correct, magical beasts are fierce, but each of you is trained only to become a general, if you can't even survive this, then it's a waste to train you any further!" said Godfrey.
"But we might die out there!" said Damian.
"Correct again!" replied Godfrey, everyone panics, thinking they will just be sent to their demise.
"What?" shouted Damian, the Oni are discussing this new mission that sounds too dangerous.
"The Palace has only a few of the best and strongest artefacts on this land, but there are too many of you, we never had this many Oni at one time, maybe we were going too easy on you brats!!" said Godfrey.
"Please tell us the details about the mission!" said Aetos, who seemed determined to prove her worth, and Nox realizes her determination.
"You will not be hunting beasts in dangerous areas, there's a hunting ground where the highest level is somewhat manageable with your level, teams should have at least 6 members, If you gather the highest number of magical cores, you will be first place, your group will get one S rank artefact and 4 high-level 'A Rank' artefacts," said Godfrey, the Oni can't resist the temptation of the 'S Rank' artefact.
"The 'S Rank' artefact will be mine!!" "No way!! It will be mine..." debated the Oni.
"The second group will get 2 'A rank' artefacts, as for the last group... will get nothing!" said Godfrey.
"Not only it's a dangerous mission where they might lose their lives, but they don't even get a thing if came last," said Raunos.
"They?" asked Aurora.
"Haha! Of course, it's not us who will be the last group right?" said Nox and smirked.
"I like the confidence," said Aurora.
Aetos approached Nox's party and slammed the table with her hand.
"I wanna join the group!" said Aetos.
"Did you think about what I told..." said Nox, but gets interrupted.
"I don't need your protection!" shouted Aetos.
"Then what value will you bring to the group?" asked Nox.
"I'll show it to you after 4 days!" said Aetos.
"Then I'll have to trust you this time," said Nox.
"Not so fast, what value would you bring to the group?" said Aetos.
"Good question, I also wanna know," said Aurora and teased Nox.
"I too wanna know that," said Valerius
"You sly bastards, you just wanna know my trump cards," said Nox.
"No, if you show us what you're capable of, no one will ever object to you being the leader of this party," said Lucia, who rarely ever talks, has now spoken.
"I also agree that you must show us what you've got Nox, " said Raunos.
"So it's like this," said Nox.
"You've well shown us how good you are at commanding, and strategic manoeuvres, you're already a natural leader, but we need to see your power, strategy alone won't bring the team members together," said Raunos.
"Haha! alright then, in 5 days, I'll show you all what I'm made of," said Nox.
"I believe you will surprise us," Aurora.
"But if you don't, we'll see a new leader to the party, because after all..." said Aetos.
"It's an 'S rank' artefact..." said Valerius, they are clearly declaring a challenge.
"Alright then, see you all in 5 days, I'll make you pay for questioning your Leader's power," said Nox.
"Do your best Nox," said Aurora and blows a kiss.
"The 5 of you come with me!" said Godfrey, he called over Nox, Raunos, Aetos, Valerius and Lucia, and went together somewhere else after the class is dismissed, they are at the entrance of a storage room.
"Nox, Raunos, Aetos, Valerius, Lucia, you five passed the entry test, and in this storage room lies your reward, which is an "A rank" artefact, be it a weapon or a piece of gear, it's your choice," said Godfrey, the five got excited, because they almost forgot that after they got admitted to the Oni, they are rewarded an Artefact, and now is the time to get it.
"Each one of you enters when the other gets out, however, there's a heavy pressure inside the corridor, the closer you get to the end of it, the harder for you to move forward, so if you can't go all the way to the end, don't push it," said Godfrey.
"Can't we force ourselves in?" said Raunos, and then Godfrey unleashed a frightening aura, the air becomes so heavy, the 5 Oni can barely stand, and then he withdraws his aura.
"If you think you can withstand this pressure, feel free to get to the end of that corridor," said Godfrey.
"I see..." said Raunos while sweating, he smirked out of excitement.
"Then I wanna go first!" said Raunos.
Raunos got into the storage room, so many artefacts are put in magic containers, the containers have a slot where the Oni can put their badges and get the artefact that they want, there are artefacts of all classes, and all are 'A Rank'.
(I feel no pressure at all, well I gotta keep going forward, the good stuff is probably around the end of this corridor) thought Raunos, a few minutes later, a dark pressuring aura begins to flood in, Raunos feels the heavy pressure and can't move a single step forward, he then spotted a Greatsword that looks like a shark.
"Damn it, it's so strong, I'll have to get an artefact from here, I can't keep going or I'm gonna get crushed here," said Raunos, and he puts his Oni badge in the slot on the magic container, it opens and grants him the artefact that he wanted.
(I already got a good shield, so now this Greatsword is what I need to achieve a breakthrough) thought Raunos, the greatsword matched him perfectly, and he Powered Up!! H then got out of the storage room.
"So you got a Greatsword;"
"It fits me perfectly," said Raunos, (That brat, didn't expect him to tame such a troublesome artefact) thought Godfrey.
"Then I'll enter now!" said Aetos, and a few moments later she got out but was holding no artefact in her hands.
"Did you hide your artefact in your spatial ring?" asked Raunos.
"You'll see it 5 days later!" said Aetos.
Lucia only looked at General Godfrey and entered the storage room, and a few moments later she got out and left without saying a word.
"That weird girl," said Nox.
"Haha she's just too sincere, I'll enter now if you'll excuse me," said Valerius.
"Sure!" replied Nox.
"You're not worried that the good stuff will be taken because we're from different warrior classes?" asked Raunos.
"Yes, what about it?" replied Nox.
"There are artefacts that don't necessarily belong to a class and can greatly boost your stats," said Raunos.
"I doubt anyone would choose what I'm looking for," said Nox, (I need an artefact that will help me control my energy, so that I can flow it through the dark areas of my body) he thought.
The door of the storage room opens and Valerius got out injured, Nox and Raunos rush to check on him since he looks like he's deeply injured.
"You didn't listen to my advice, Valerius!" shouted Godfrey.
"What does that mean?" asked Nox.
"He tried to force himself through the dark Aura, he must be tired of living!" replied Godfrey.
"Look, he's got an artefact, at least he managed to get this," said Raunos, looking at Valerius holding an artefact in his hand, (Was that really an artefact from our storage room? Well, I don't really care) thought Godfrey.
"He needs to be treated," said Nox.
"Take him to the medical tents at the Oni training ground, they'll take care of him," said Godfrey.
"I'll take him, you go get your artefact but be careful of the dark Aura, even my strong physique felt like it was pierced by a thousand needles when I got halfway through!" said Raunos.
"Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it in mind," replied Nox.
"Nox, you're up next!" said Godfrey.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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