[new mission]two
# take a life
Main scenario: take the life of any creature.
difficulty level: F
reward: 200 mana stone
upon failing: death
time: 1 day left
The sun began to rise, casting a warm, golden light towards Rose High School. Under the bunker, Ryu, Kato, Remi, Jin, Akio, Amaya, and Sara stepped forward towards the main bunker door. With a clear purpose in mind.
Some students stared at the group with hope, as if these people were their last line of protection, their final shield against the chaos outside. Others eyed them with envy, their gazes lingering on the polished weapons and reinforced gear. The thought was written plainly across their faces:
If I had weapons like that… maybe I'd have a chance.
And then some looked at them with quiet resentment.
After all, these weapons were purchased with the contributions of their mana stones. Yet only Kato's faction held the best gear, while the majority didn't even have enough to avoid the worst weapons in the inventory; people still technically "under" the group were stuck with the most basic, common weapons.
Most of them carried F-rank equipment: sharp enough, functional enough, but not special. Their durability hovered around three hundred, usable, but not impressive.
Jin, the biggest among them, had chosen a metal gauntlet. The knuckles were crowned with iron spikes, and the durability sat comfortably at 270. He looked eager for violence, almost hungry.
Amaya stood beside him with nothing but a weak goblin-made blade. She hadn't purchased anything, not a weapon or armor. It was obvious she hadn't taken any mana stones from the group's communal fund.
Sara, the second girl in the group, held a wand. Aiko had helped her unlock her affinity for magic, and although her fire spells were still weak, at least she could defend herself. With Kato beside her, she looked secure, maybe even a little proud.
Aiko himself carried a wand as well, along with a new mage's robe that increased his magic attack by five percent. The robe was flimsy, but it gave him confidence, enough to mask his fear.
Remi stood at the end of the line with a long spear. The craftsmanship was average, but the durability, 400, made it reliable. For someone trained in spearwork since childhood, it was more than enough. He was certain he could kill plenty of goblins with it. This was the handpicked group preparing to head outside, armed and empowered by the contributions of everyone else.
Ryu looked around the bunker, something cold brushing the back of our minds.
"…Something feels off," we muttered.
Kato, Jin, and Aiko, busy chatting moments ago, fell silent. They noticed it too. The atmosphere had shifted. Students who had cowered last night were suddenly smirking. Others no longer avoided eye contact. A quiet confidence radiated from them, as if some invisible shield now protected them.
Kato's expression tightened.
Before anyone could comment further, a sharp thwip echoed from the far wall.
All eyes turned.
A student stood alone near the concrete, firing bolts into the wall with a crossbow, calmly, casually… as if he had always owned such a weapon.
The student seems to be practicing how to use this weapon.
The sight made Kato freeze.
Aiko murmured, "That's… not one of ours."
Jin didn't hesitate. He strode across the bunker with heavy steps. The student looked up too late—Jin seized his shoulders, spun him around, and slammed him to the ground.
"Where did you get this weapon?" Jin growled.
Kato rushed over, glaring down at the trembling boy.
"I I-I bought it!" the student stammered. " Twenty mana stones!"
"Twenty?" Kato snapped. "From where? Who sold you this?"
The boy hesitated. Jin's stare made his lips tremble.
"K… Kaga," he finally whispered.
Their faces changed instantly.
"…Kaga?" Kato repeated, voice low. "How could he have a weapon?"
Kato swallowed. He had upgraded multiple times and still never noticed the weapon-transfer feature that Kenji had unlocked first. Realizing that Kenji could pass weapons to anyone through the system explained everything, and none of them liked the answer.
"How many has he sold?" Jin muttered.
Kato's eyes shifted to the back of the bunker.
There, surrounded by a growing group of students, stood Kage, laughing, talking, already being treated like someone important. Approaching him now would spark a confrontation, and with tensions this high, any wrong move could turn the bunker into a battlefield.
Kato clenched his jaw. He wanted to drag Kaga out and interrogate him, but he didn't dare.
Not today, not when they were planning to head outside for the first time.
From a distance, we watched the scene unfold.
Kage delivered the news faster than expected to Kenji, who was resting above, bathing in the sun. He glanced at what he was doing and smiled.
"he's already sold all the weapons I sent him, even making a deal with the other faction to protect him, and he will keep supplying them with weapons…"
Kenji smiled at how Efficient and useful Kaga is.
Ryu clicked his tongue after realizing what was going on.
"So Kenji benefited from this first; with Kaga's help, he might have lotted a lot of the school storage."
"A snake with ambition… I'll give him that. damn you, Kenji,"
"hmmmm, but well, I expected something like this,"
"There are still other places in the school you won't be able to loot even if you know about them."
Ryu finally forced Jin and the others to regroup.
"We're leaving," he ordered. "The longer we stay in here, the more someone else gets ahead of us."
Ryu's gaze flicked once more toward Kage, then away.
The group tightened formation, checking their weapons, their armor. Then they stepped out of the bunker, heading into the unknown, while behind them, Kenji's business quietly exploded.
They moved down the hallway in a distinct formation, each member aware of their role.
Kato took the lead at the center, exuding calm confidence. Ryu and Amaya flanked him on either side. Remi gripped a spear tightly in his right hand, its point glinting in the morning light. Amaya held a worn goblin blade, its edge jagged and chipped, looking as if it could shatter at any moment.
Behind them, Sara and Akio walked in the middle. Their hair flowed like shadows. It hinted at their strong affinity for mana. Both had the skills of a mage, capable of unleashing long-distance attacks. Together, Mana Missile was their limit, but it was enough for the journey ahead.
At the back of the formation, Jin and Remi took on the role of guardians. They scanned the surroundings keenly, ready to shield Akio and Sara from surprise attacks. Their presence added a layer of security to the group, ensuring everyone could focus on their mission.
As they moved forward, the camaraderie between them was palpable. Each member had a distinct purpose, and together, they formed a formidable team.
Suddenly, six goblins burst into view, their eyes glinting with a savage hunger as they charged toward Kato and his crew. Kato instinctively readied his blade, but before he could react, Amaya surged ahead, her expression fierce and determined.
Ryu immediately followed her lead, a flash of resolve in his eyes. The closest goblin leapt into the air, aiming to strike Amaya, who was now within striking distance.
Amaya swung her worn goblin blade with swift reflexes. The clash of steel echoed through the hallway as Amaya's blade met the goblin's weapon, and fierce determination etched across her face. The goblin snarled, its twisted features a mask of rage, but Amaya held her ground, pushing back with all her might.
Ryu moved swiftly, his goblin dagger thrusting forward toward another goblin. The dagger sliced through the air with deadly accuracy, finding its mark in the chest. A surprised gasp escaped the goblin as it staggered backwards, the ferocity of Ryu's attack catching it off guard.
["Congratulations, you have killed a low-ranked goblin."]
["Congratulations, you have killed a low-ranked goblin."]