24 TO THE SECOND FLOOR

"Cadets you will now be allowed to return. The training Is complete for today? We will be assembling them back within the halls at the same time tomorrow. Your first class for team coordination will be taken here." John Stein spoke up.

"Be well-rested as tomorrow is going to be a brutal day." Drake Gillmore interjected with the help of a mic.

The group was dismissed for the day. They had been doing basic training after wearing their training suits. The training suit slowly adds more weight to the host body which makes it way more difficult to move.

This kind of resistance training was important to improve the hunter's physical capabilities. The first level was the easiest one, but the group was already on the floor panting for breath. There were ten levels. What did the last one signify?

'"The training schedule has been updated and details regarding tomorrow have been sent to you. Please check it."

The next day soon arrived and the group assembled in the main hall. The only instructions for the participants were to gear up with a special suit that was provided to them by the company. The group assembled once they had suited up and began to look around.

The training center was modified for today's events. It looked more like an arena rather than a training ground. There were two separate locations marked opposite in direction to each other, with a flag on each side.

"You have arrived." Drake Gillmore came through the doors. " I am happy to announce that your teammate will be joining us for this exercise." Behind him, another person was walking. It was none other than Joe Shin.

He looked completely healed, but he had an irritated, yet scared face as he looked at Liam as suited up. All the other group members involuntarily looked at Liam too, as they couldn't forget the fight he had with Joe Shin. (It was one-sided domination rather than a fight).

"Go ahead and introduce yourself." Drake insisted Joe carry out the same procedure as every single teammate did.

"Joe Shin. S-class duelist." Joe said with a hesitant tone. Liam didn't even bother to look at him, because he was concentrating on Drake today. He has made up his mind to converse with him about Mia. He needed to find clues about her. Leon asked him to do so.

"You have something to ask Liam?" Drake said.

"We can wait until the end of the training. Can we please proceed with this?" Liam replied.

"Since you are so cheerful today, I would like to introduce you to the first team simulation class. This arena was specifically created for the training of our new cadets. Your objective for today is to implement all the battle strategies we have been talking about until now."

"You people are aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses, and hence will be counted on to devise a plan. Each team will be given a short period of time to discuss your plan and assign positions."

"We are completely open to acting according to your will," Stein said. He was excited to see the results of the training the cadets underwent.

"Who are we facing?" Liam asked.

"You will be facing Alpha-Romero." A group of young hunters arrived. All of them were the same age as that of the group.

"Alpha-Romero, aren't they like the best newbie hunter group in our country," Molly added. She remembered reading about the newly appointed group of hunters by Courageous Dragons who had successfully closed many dungeons.

"We are the Alpha Romero Team-2. I am Hensley, the team captain, and this is my team. I hope to learn a lot from this venture." The team captain came forward and introduced himself. A cheerful, yet disciplined tone could be heard from his speech. This showed that the cadets had been adequately trained by the professionals.

"Alpha Romero is the team which is combinedly trained by all the veteran hunters within the organization. They have been training in the hunting zones since the very beginning. The most important fact is that all of them are ranked below S."

"Isn't that too unfair?" Howard asked. All his group members were S-Ranked hunters.

'We will see." Stein laughed. He then began to lay out the rules of the competition

.........

"Is it really good to do this?" Stein asked.

"They need to understand that rank doesn't mean anything in the real world. Unless you are coordinated enough and are skilled, the rank is just a hollow title." Drake explained. He had devised this plan specifically to break the confidence of the main group.

...........

Unknown Dungeon-

"Just breathe. I need to breathe to train my mana."Leon was not too sure about the instructions.

"Breathing is the best way to regulate your mana properly. It not only helps in mana circulation, but also helps in mana intake, and control. Specific breathing exercises need to be carried out to help increase your mana capacity, as well as help you control the flow of it."

"Once the host can control the flow, you can control the mana output through your body and perform various spells and attacks. More features will also be available as you continue to grow in this sector."

Leon understood and began the breathing exercise. A day passed, then the next day arrived, and so did the third day. He just breathed in and out. To his surprise though, the Mana bar kept on showing progress.

"Mana +1, Mana+1, Mana+1." He could feel his body becoming fuller and more substantial as time went by. The sensation was difficult to describe yet incredible to feel.

"When can I start attacking with mana."

"Only when the Host can realize the proper way to circulate and extrude it from your body could you understand what Mana signifies. The attack training will come after that. There isn't any particular time limit or point which could certain the user's ability to comprehend. You just need to continue your training."

"We can continue this training, but I need to clean the floors too. I am willing to go to the next floor." Leon said.

"Transferring the host to the next floor. Leon soon arrived in front of a large entrance. This was the entrance to the next floor. A message popped up as expected.

"Mission: Hob-goblin extermination

Description: The host has managed to clear the outskirts and made his way to the outer village of the goblin kingdom. The village is ruled by Hobgoblins, who are the advanced versions of the lowest quality goblins the host has encountered. The village is the only access to enter the main goblin kingdom.

Aim: Hobgoblin extermination. Kill all the hobgoblins on the floor.

Objective- 0/10

Rewards: 1000 exp, 3 independent skill points, Key to the next floor, special rewards.

Failure: The host will be electrocuted while being immobile for four days.

Time limit: 1 day."

Leon was no longer amazed by the hunting mission. he knew that the mission was not clearable in the first few tries, and he was sure it would be executed multiple times and even electrocuted by the system.

Leon looks excited to face this new challenge and reap the sweet rewards.

"Let's go level up." he rushed into the gate while holding his sword