The entrance to the forest was only a small, bricked sidewalk that was divided from the main ones. It was created so that only humans could pass through. No one could’ve noticed it if not for the sign that said, “This way to JAYA NORTH FOREST.”

Tek led them to a clearing in the forest. There was a small building right next to them that was most likely only enough for one person.

“Hello everyoneee~!” A short-heighted teacher exited the building, “I’m Magister Lavery. I’m the caretaker of Jaya North Forest and the teacher who’ll assist you with your first test of the year!” Lavery was wearing pajamas with a cute pattern of pandas and bears on her outfit, coupled with some bear sandals on her feet. Her long brown hair was messy, looking as if she just gotten out of bed.

She yawned, “You should be receiving your quest anytime now.”

“Couldn’t you have worn something proper…? It’s not becoming of a teacher at this academy,” Tek exasperatedly reminded her.

“What do you mean? No one cares at all,” Lavery said.

Suddenly, Adrian and the others’ status bands vibrated altogether, prompting them to open it as the black slate screen was filled with a red alert message that said:

NEW QUEST!

It showed them more details upon pressing the screen and opening it. Their professor, Tek, gave them only a few minutes to read the quest details for themselves.

NEW QUEST REGISTERED:

First Year Assessment Test

LOCATION:

Imperial Elem Academy - Jaya North Forest

Quest Rules and Objectives:

· Each student has two minutes to enter the forest before the next student enters.

· Bring back one other students’ status band to the teacher to be considered a winner.

· Find the hidden stash of D-Coins in the forest jurisdiction to win alternatively. Those who win this way will be awarded 250 additional D-Coins in addition to the 75 D-Coins winning prize. Only two persons may win the prize.

· You will automatically fail if you return without your status band.

· Winners will be awarded 75 D-Coins to your bank balance.

· Failing to accomplish this quest will deduct a total of 75 D-Coins from your bank balance.

· All status bands must be returned to their owner after the quest.

Win Conditions:

· Bring back one status band.

· Find the D-Coin stash.

· Do not lose your status band.

Time Remaining:

1:30:00

“Master Tek, what would happen if we run out of D-Coins?” Rancent asked, “Are we able to get them back soon?”

Tek squinted his eyes at Rancent, before shaking his head in response to him, “I suppose you don’t understand the gravity of the situation. And what I mean by that is the amount of money you’ll lose.”

He continued speaking, much to the anxious anticipation of everyone, “A gold coin may be worth a month’s worth of salary for a clothes merchant outside, but this society is oversaturated with nobles, no?” He said.

“A single meal here is worth 4 D-Coins. Unless there are events where you can earn money, as I said, you might as well wear an apron and hold a ladle instead of a spoon during lunch.” Tek said condescendingly. He wasn’t joking after all—there was no special treatment for those who weren’t powerful enough to beat higher-ranked individuals.

Adrian didn’t feel anything but the need to win.

Tek demonstrated how they can steal status bands, “You can steal your classmate’s status bands by putting two fingers on the screen,” He showed his wrist with the status band to everyone. As he pressed his index and middle finger together on the black screen, the status band loosened from his wrist.

“Then, you can attach it to yourself for safekeeping,” He followed as he put back his status band back to his wrist.

“One important reminder. Do not attack these Vision Cores,” Tek announced as he showed them a floating cross-like gadget with a metallic sphere on its vertex. It effortlessly moved through the air, making no noise as it flew over their heads.

“These vision cores generate a real-time projection of what’s happening all over the forest to my location.”

“This must be how the school can surveil students, through these vision cores?” He thought.

Adrian used what few minutes he had left to strategize.

Should he try to steal two status bands? But he doesn’t know the scope of his classmates’ power levels and skills, so it might be too risky to start a fight when his power level is drastically low compared to those he looked at.

Meaning, he had to particularly avoid Flare or Maki Feister. To be cautious, he had to avoid everyone and go for the alternative win conditions.

The quest details were vague as well. Other than Tek’s reminder to not attack the vision cores, he didn’t specify what the D-Coin stash looked like.

“I guess there’s only one way to win, hmm?”

His classmates were now starting to enter the forest in two-minute intervals. To avoid those who entered first to get a headstart, a quarter of the forest is still locked down, indicated by hundreds of floating vision cores lined with each other.

Tek loudly said, “Next student, enter!”

Adrian ran towards the forest, embedding himself deep into the shaded darkness, away from everyone’s sights.

“I don’t have any intention of giving up. That D-Coin stash is mine!”

As soon as all the others have entered the forest, another notification was sent to everyone’s status bands.

Time remaining:

1:29:59

The First Year Assessment Test has started.