Preparation

"Hiraya, is he still there?"

After having their lunch and briefing of their plan, the group were now on their way to Center of the wilderness. 

Riding on a Semanticore, Hiraya closed her eyes as she perceived the vision of her tamed [Mutated Rat]. 

[Mutated Rat] is an agile A-grade monster that they find close to the edge of the inner part. It was a 3-inches long quadrupedal monster, clad in green skin that camouflaged suitedly in the green wilderness. 

If not for Semanticore, a monster akin to cat, having a keen eye against this monster, discovering this [Mutated Rat] would be a difficult feat. 

Perceiving its vision, Althea saw the young boy leaving the [Valiant Wyvern]'s nest. With still the transculent golden shield on, the boy walked lively as if he was there to sightsee around the Tutorial. 

"He left the nest and is walking deeper to the Center", Hiraya uttered as she opened her eyes. 

Kevin nodded his head in response. He then looked at the careless duo behind him who were enjoying the ride in the Semanticore. 

"Hey siz! I wonder if they are relative of the Semanticore we killed before?"

"That could be the case, bro! HAHAHA"

'These idiots', Kevin thought as he shifted his gaze from the duo to the wilderness that lied before him. 

They were now on the edge of the Inner part and from their current location, they could already see the Center part. 

They felt the atmosphere continually getting depressing as trees started to wither. The soil seemed to experience a drought as they became rocky and more compact. 

From above, they could feel the dark clouds losing its stability as thunder fell randomly, knocking over large trees. Their body started to feel a burning sensation as scorching heat emanated from the Center. 

Then, they were assaulted by relief as cool breeze made contact with their skin. 

"Can we do it?", muttered Althea as the abrupt switching of condition was making them weary. 

"We have to", Kevin uttered as at last, the structure of the Center part was unearthed to them. 

It was a vast circular wilderness that was further divided into four. In the Northern part, turbulent clouds overcast the area. From these, massive thunder hurled downwards, hitting the ground. Loud explosions resonated the area. 

It was the pure contrary of the Eastern part. Orderly waves occupied its entirety as they brought serenity to the onlookers. However, judging a book by its cover would cost one their life. Deep in the quiet river, sea monsters were awaiting for their ignorant meal. 

Meanwhile, charred smell encircled the Western part as trees continually burn, giving the area a ruddy outlook. 

And lastly, tremors could be felt in the Southern part as endless quakes rammed the ground. 

Looking ahead, the group was facing the Southern part and they could feel the ground trembling from tremor. They doubt that on foot, they would be able to stand the quake. 

If not for the Semanticore's stability and dexterity, entering the Center would be an impossible feat. Still, the Semanticore had its limit. They could never infiltrate the Center as S-grade monsters would slaughter them. 

And that was when their rider come into scene. 

"Remember our plan, we can do it", Kevin assured the group as he saw reluctant flashed on their faces. Dying in the Tutorial was reversible but that would mean forfeiting their reward in the Tutorial. 

No one in this group wanted to exit the Tutorial empty-handed. 

"We can do it"

"Dont worry, I will heal those who will get wounded!"

"Hohojo, just trust in my tamed Semanticore" 

Everyone firmed their resolve as they assured each other. With that, they finally stepped foot into the Center, clueless as to what lies ahead. 

—---

"Life drain!" 

Right after entering the Southern part, the group encountered an S-grade monster, [Agile Black Panther]. 

It was massive in size, about 50 meteres tall but contradict to its size, it moved rapidly, leaving a streak of silhouette. 

Still, as the group had an experience battling with S-rank, they quickly responded. Althea casted her [Life Drain] skill before the [Agile Black Panther] could showcase its speed. 

With its life force being drained continually, the [Agiel Black Panther] dropped into the ground. Seeing this, Althea instantly cancelled her skill. 

After all, their goal was not slaying monsters that they encounter. Having subdued the monster, Alab threw some attacks that seemed pointless as it only left a dark spot in the monster's skin. 

Even with the S-grade sword [Sword of Avarice], the health capacity and defense of S-grade monsters were to be reckoned with. 

After barrage of attacks and its dark fur had turned reddish, Alab finally halted on his attack as Hiraya stepped forward. 

Touching the fur of the subdued monster, Hiraya closed her eyes as she extended her will to the monster. It permeated its head and dived deeper into its conciousness. 

As Hiraya felt her will made contact with the [Agile Black Panther]'s dim consciousness, she then opened her eyes as she uttered her spell. 

"Empress' Taming!"  

She then felt her mana being drained as she felr her connection with the monster getting established. In no time, she had tamed the S-grade monster. 

"Success! I tamed it!", exclaimed Hiraya as she tamed her first S-grade monster. Overwhelmed by her excitement, Hiraya embraced the panther. Her warmth reaching the latter. 

"Althea, heal it", Kevin uttered as Althea nodded her head. 

Being carried by the Semanticore, Althea got closer to the panther. Then, she casted her spell. 

"Life Heal"

Her stocked life force were then transmitted to the panther. Its life force being restored as its skin regained its vigor. Its wound healing in the speed of light.

In just a minute, the [Agile Black Panther] opened its eyes as it looked at Hiraya. Opening its mouth, it motioned its massive tongue to lick Hiraya like a dog being in admiration towards its owner. 

"We made it!", Alab exclaimed. 

"Now the first phase of our plan is fulfilled", Kevin nodded his head as he was satisfied with the outcome. 

Earlier, he had formulated a plan but even after knowing their skills, he couldnt interpret a plan with 100% success rate. After all, there were underlying factors such as the unfamiliar Center part and the unknown strength of the SSS-grade player. 

Not to mention that their skills were mostly five-time use only and each of them possessing only two skills with Alab having only one. 

With that, he then came up with a simple plan of utilizing their strength to reach its maximum output in ensuring a higher success rate. 

In simple terms, Althea would continue stacking life force to assist her healing skill. Hiraya would then tame monsters above A-grade till she reach her maximum number of tameable monsters. 

And lastly, Alab would proceed on stacking his damage which they would utilize on a decisive fight. 

Having achieved the first phase of their plan, Kevin nodded as they had finally tamed their first assist. 

"Hiraya, what do you think? Can you tame more monsters?", Kevin asked as the amount of her tamed monsters would be a winning factor in their upcoming fight. 

"Are you underestimating me? I can tame more than 10 monsters!", she exclaimed as she patted her chest, seemingly boasting her greatness. 

The other three only nodded their head as they once again thought that she was just being conceited. 

However, hours later, their mouth agape at a spectacular scene that unfolded before them… 

In front of them, 13 S-grade monsters were standing proudly, their head seemingly proud of their master. 

"So what do you think?! I could tame one more!", Hiraya exclaimed to the dumbstrucked players.