Way of the Knights

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In the middle of the large and spacious room of the Mission Hall, many students were gathered and were waiting for something.

All of them are clad in a battle gear with weapons at hand, things that they received from clearing out missions or just by exchanging Mission Points at the Exchange Hall.

Most these students knew each other, though the Heavenly Cloud Academy is huge, it's classes allow them to meet new people and connect with each other. They tried asking each other about the reason why they were called but none of them knew the reason why. All they could do is wait until the time that someone comes and explain why there was an emergency gathering.

Armond, Raven's assistant, walked inside the Mission Hall, his presence was only noticed by a few students. He stood in front of the crowd and gathered their attention by clearing his throat loudly.

"Do I have everyone's attention?" Armond asked as he gazed at the students. "If so, then I'll start telling you the reason why you lot were called here."

The students remained silent and waited for his words. Armond then began explaining why they were gathered.

"Listen up. The Beast Domesticating Center had an accident. The beasts that were kept inside suddenly became violent and started rampaging out of control." He said loud and clear for everyone to hear. 

The students felt shocked upon hearing this accident. They then turned solemn and are now starting to realize as to why they were gathered here.

"I'm sure that some of you had caught up already, but for those who still don't understand listen closely. The Academy is offering you an Emergency Mission. Your task is to apprehend the rampaging beasts in order for the facilitators of the center to calm them down."

"This mission has no rank. Rather, it would depend on how many beast you managed apprehend. And since this is an Emergency Mission, the Mission Points that you will earn will be at the maximum amount according to the end result of your team's performance."

"Apprehend 5 beasts and that would be equal to clearing up a C-rank Mission. Apprehend 10 and that would be a B-rank Mission, so on and so forth."

As Armond's words were heard by the students, their eyes suddenly lit up. They then broke in to chatters and talked to their teammates about how they're going to perform on the mission but they were interrupted by Armond.

"Just a reminder for everyone. Though this is an Emergency Mission, the Academy is not forcing any of you to participate." Armond reminded, "Remember that you will be dealing with rampaging beasts so expect that this mission would be filled with danger. If any of bite more than what you can chew, your gains might be completely nullified or superseded by your loses."

"You will be given ten minutes to decide. Those who wanted to participate shall remain here, those that doesn't want to participate may leave. Your ten minutes starts now." Armond announced as he stepped away from the crowd.

The teams that were called then started discussing matters with each other. They all considered Armond's words and carefully weighed their options. While it is true that this is a great opportunity for them to amass Mission Points, it also had a considerable amount of danger. 

It had to be known that most of the teams that were called here, were the top performers of the batch. They worked together in harmony and were already showing great teamwork together. Of course, they have to consider each other's opinions, which leads to some teams debating with each other.

This, is also a part of their growth. Their very interactions as of this moment is being recorded secretly and would be a critical part of their future in the academy. 

Some teams already left while majority remained. In the end, they wanted to prove something. 'No risk, no rewards' as some might say. Some Leaders informed their members that they will eventually head into danger in the future. There's no difference in experiencing it early nor late. All they need to do is to remain vigilant and watch over each other's back. If they work as a team, there is a high possibility that the dangers they would face will lessen. This is something that their Instructor Raven once said.

As for those who left, none mocked them nor laughed at them. They understood their decisions and respect it. Not all teams are the same. Maybe they really aren't ready to face such dangers for now due to their weak cultivations. And if that's the case, then they only needed time and patience until they catch up. 

Once the ten minutes were done, Armond returned and asked the students to follow him towards the Beast Domestication Center, which required them to leave the Academy. 

Some felt giddy to be out. They had this sudden urge to run back towards their home but they prevented themselves from doing so since that's not the reason why they went out, plus they would be punished once they do so. 

The Academy is not far away from the Beast Domestication Center. It didn't take them long until they arrived. 

On the premises of the center, some students could already hear the roars and grunts of the beasts inside. Some felt nervous and some even feel like backing out, sadly their chances already passed and they have to do this now. 

Once they entered the Beast Domesticating Center, the students saw the wide destruction that the beasts did. Bits and pieces of broken rooms, shards of glass, rubbles and some bloody stains on the floor could be seen. The whole center is in chaotic mess. At a distance, they saw some people trying to apprehend the beasts only to find out that there are too many, causing them to run away.

Armond faced the students who came with him. He then said: "We're here. Remember to be extra careful and do not bite more than what you can chew. Work as a team and your survival might increase. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir!" The students replied.

"Good! Now go! Return to me once you decided to submit and end your mission." Armond said as he waved his hand and sent the students away.

The teams then dispersed under his orders and started closing in on the beasts. Some teams decided to form battle plans as they moved along while others decided to search for a hiding spot first and plan ahead.

Unbeknownst to any student present, some people are standing on top of the Beast Domestication Center. All of them are properly in stealth, and only those who are at least at the Warrior Realm and above could sense them. 

These are obviously the Instructors of the academy. Well, most of them not all since there are also some important figures watching over the students as well.

All of them were gathered here to observe the students perform under pressure. Which means that this whole event is orchestrated by the Academy.

This idea was from Paul and Mark. Both of them think that the students need some field experience in order to temper their growths and give them a chance to polish their combat skills in a real battle. 

Sure, the rooms that are linked with the Formation Core could re-create the intense scene of battle, which in turn could make the students believe that they actually are in a real combat. But most of those rooms are powered by illusions, and illusions could never beat reality. Which in turn gave birth to this orchestrated event. 

Of course, they won't allow any student to die. Which is why most of them are on stand by and ready to act as soon as a student's life is danger. The reason why they were hiding, is because they didn't want the students to act carelessly, which would help them greatly in due time.

It took a good amount of convincing in order for Professor Maddock, the Chief Director of the Beast Domesticating Center, to agree to this. In the end, he felt like it was such a waste for these beasts to be used according to the Academy's whim. He only agreed when Raven personally stepped in and reasoned out with him. 

Plus, the mission was to apprehend not kill. Which means that the students only needed to pin down the beasts and wait for the personnel of center to inject a sleeping drug on the beasts in order to calm them down. 

Maddock didn't care about the destruction of this place, this is an old base anyway. The current base of the Beast Domesticating Center had been moved to a different place, and some of the more precious materials and beasts are moved in that location as well so none had any qualms at the destruction of this old site.

What's more important is that, the students could experience a live battlefield and learn from their experiences in them so that they will grow up into capable Knights that could protect the Kingdom's safety. 

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