Tuesday, [12:01 AM]...

"You woke up early today as well, huh."

Raven said as he sat up from his bed, his voice low but steady, cutting through the silence of the dark room. His body still felt heavy, his mind not fully rested, yet his eyes were sharper than they should be at this hour.

"Like you're the one to talk."

Curtis replied as he did the same, rubbing his eyes slowly. His tone carried the same tiredness Raven had, but there was also a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

Neither of them were surprised the other was awake again.

They can't sleep well again. Their bodies were restless, their minds unwilling to shut down. On the other hand, Blake and Alec were still out cold, their breathing steady and unbothered, completely different from the two.

But instead of just letting them be like yesterday—

"Let's wake these two up."

Raven suggested that, his tone was calm.

His black eyes glinted faintly in the darkness.

"You get Blake, I'll wake up Alec."

Curtis stated, not opposing Raven's words. He swung his legs off the bed and stood, his body still stiff, but his movements showing no hesitation.

The two of them got out of their beds and approached the two, and at the same time— Raven and Curtis shook their bodies.

"Wake up, Blake."

"Alec... Alec. Hey, bastard... Wake up."

They both tried to rouse them with their voices, shaking their shoulders, but the two didn't even flinch.

Their expressions stayed peaceful, breaths deep, like the world couldn't touch them.

"Ugh, these two don't have any sense of danger in their bodies."

Raven groaned, clicking his tongue in irritation. His patience was thin when it came to things like this.

"Yeah, I know they trust us... But this is still too much."

Curtis followed, his brows furrowing deeply. He was half amazed and half frustrated at their complete lack of caution.

"Whatever, I'll just use a bit of mana."

Then, Raven suddenly said that, his voice calm, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

Curtis asked as his head turned toward Raven, eyes narrowing. And at that moment—

"...?"

He saw Raven's hand raised in the air, a faint glow of mana coating his palm, pulsing lightly in the dark.

The air around his hand shifted, carrying a sharp pressure.

And before Curtis could even ask or say something—

BAM!

Raven slapped the shit out of Blake! The sound echoed like a whip snapping inside the room.

"GAH?!"

Blake's eyes shot open and his whole body jerked up in shock! He was now sitting upright on his bed, completely thrown off balance.

His hands immediately went to touch his left cheek where he was slapped, his face stinging violently. As soon as he got himself together, blinking in disbelief—

"Raven...?"

He looked in front of him, confusion written across his face. Blake immediately realized it was Raven who slapped him, his eyes wide as he tried to process the situation.

And seeing his confused eyes—

"It's nearly time. I was trying to wake you up but you just wouldn't. So I used a bit of mana and force— I figured your body is sturdy enough so you wouldn't mind."

Raven explained that to Blake, straight and simple, like he had done nothing unusual at all.

"..."

Blake looked at him in disbelief, his mouth hanging slightly open.

"..."

Curtis did the same, his expression frozen as if he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.

'This guy is insane.'

The two of them thought of that at the same time, a heavy silence pressing down the room.

"Want me to wake that guy up for you as well?"

Raven then asked Curtis, pointing lazily at Alec as if it was the most casual offer.

Curtis snapped out of his surprise, his lips parting as he was about to say something—

"I-I'm awake now!"

When Alec suddenly sprung up off his bed and declared that loudly, his face stiff with forced energy.

"Huh?"

Curtis looked at him in shock, his eyes narrowing.

"Were you awake this whole time?"

He asked Alec, his tone almost accusing.

Alec shook his head, and in a whisper barely audible—

"That slap was so loud it woke me up..."

He mumbled that, his shoulders slumping a little.

'Uhh... But you didn't wake up when I was calling your name and shaking you...'

Curtis thought to himself, baffled.

Anyway, just then—

Tok- Tok- Tok-

"It's time to line up outside the hotel."

Someone knocked from the outside and said that, their voice formal but hurried.

"We're coming."

Raven responded immediately. Then they heard the sound of the person's footsteps walking away down the hall.

"Let's go guys."

Raven looked at the others and said that firmly, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

Blake, Alec, and Curtis nodded their heads, still sluggish but alert enough now.

Swoosh~

Then they stored everything they would need inside their spatial storage. The shimmer of mana filled the room briefly as items vanished.

Raven went and cast [Cleanse] to himself because he had no time to take a bath. The magic washed over him smoothly, erasing any trace of sweat or dirt.

Though, after seeing that—

Blake, Alec, and Curtis asked him to cast that on them as well. Their eyes almost pleading, not wanting to feel grimy before heading out.

Raven really didn't mind, so he just went on and did as they requested. His mana flowed out once again, neat and controlled, cleansing them in seconds.

*****

After their short preparation—

The four of them went out of their room and headed straight outside the hotel. They encountered a lot of students getting out as well, the halls filled with quiet chatter and the sound of hurried footsteps.

Then, once they got out— they lined up where the other [CLASS A-1] students were already gathering. The cold air brushed their faces, the morning still heavy with darkness.

"Hello!"

Adelle greeted Raven and the others brightly when she saw them, raising her hand with a cheerful wave.

"Morning."

Aoi followed with a soft smile, her tone calm.

"..."

Eve just waved at them lightly, her expression neutral but her presence grounding.

The three of them got outside first because their room was just on the third floor, so they had already settled before Raven's group arrived.

"Good morning, guys."

Alec greeted them back, forcing a bit of energy into his voice.

"I'm still sleepy... And my cheek stings..."

Blake mumbled to himself, rubbing his sore cheek again. His complaint was quiet, but Raven heard it.

While Curtis and Raven just waved at the three as a greeting back, not wasting words.

Anyway, the four boys joined the three and they all waited till every freshman was lined up outside the hotel.

The line stretched out neatly, the atmosphere tense but expectant.

And once that was done—

TAP-

Kendy stepped forward, his presence commanding everyone's attention instantly. His gaze swept over the students, sharp and unyielding.

He wasn't alone— he came with Ruby and other professors, arriving with the last batches of students just earlier. Their combined presence weighed heavy on the group.

"Looks like everyone is here now."

Kendy said, his voice echoing throughout the area because he enhanced it with mana, firm and unwavering.

"I'll keep it brief— in a few minutes, you will all be sent outside the Human Domain. You're pretty much free to do whatever you want; explore, camp, or fight monsters."

He stated. Then—

"You just have two goals— to gain experience... And to survive for two days."

He declared that, his voice carrying weight, pressing into the students' hearts.

This information was already known by every freshman, but hearing the announcement still made them frown, their nerves tightening further.

"There are beasts and monsters outside far stronger than what you encountered inside the Human Domain. Their ranks vary a lot as well because it's not like the outside is a dungeon... There are also low ranking demons and majins lurking."

Kendy addressed. His words were not sugar-coated. They were warning, plain and sharp.

"Yes, there will be some staff stationed near. They will help you in case something happens. But that doesn't mean you can let your guard down— that thinking can kill you."

He continued, his tone stern.

The students gulped a mouthful of saliva in nervousness, some glancing at each other, others staring at the ground, their hands clenched tightly.

"Anyway, that's all I will say— Let's depart now, and good luck to you all."

Kendy finished with that, his words final.

""YES, SIR!""

The students responded in unison, their voices overlapping, trembling yet determined.

And with that—

TAP- TAP- TAP-

TAP- TAP- TAP-

TAP- TAP- TAP-

They all started marching toward the gate, their footsteps heavy but steady, the sound filling the night air.

'Hmm, it's finally starting.'

Raven thought, his face resolute as he walked forward, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

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