Eternal Freedom's Ascension

Chapter 160: Team Hazel

Just like the first time, the first-year students were transported to the Nirad Realm through the runes set up in the hall.

The target for their arrival had always been the same, and the students had gotten used to the terrain.

"The academy seems to have a large stock of Awakened Nirad Creatures. Else how do you explain the never-decreasing population of the creatures here?"

Charles exclaimed, his eyes wide in awe. The other students around him nodded in agreement, then began summoning their relics.

Sparks manifested around them, armors and weapons materializing into existence.

Since they had been transported to the Nirad Realm, the limiters had been deactivated, and the students were no longer restricted.

The instructors stayed behind while the students spread out according to their classes. Class-E moved east before further stopping to make final arrangements.

Hazel stood in a white and black armor, her feminine figure accentuated properly. She stood in the middle, addressing everyone.

"We’re going according to our earlier plan—move in groups of five. Don’t forget, no kill-stealing, no internal strife, and no betrayals. Let’s ensure we get the maximum benefits from this event."

Her last words lit a flame in their hearts, and they began making compatible groups of five.

Since their divided combat training had started, everyone was now aware of their own expertise and could join others of different expertise to form a complete group.

Astron was made the archer in Liam’s group, while the brown-haired boy himself was made the lancer. Kiera joined him as one of their damage dealers, and Emily joined as a sword user. The last person to join was Ysabella who had an invaluable support ability.

Hazel also formed a group with Ariel, Logan, Alisa, and Charles. The rest formed their groups too, leaving only three people who didn’t join a group at all—Sebastian, Mordica, and Kaiser.

No one reacted since they were known for going solo. Summoning the Asura Vest and Longing, Kaiser quietly slipped away, climbing up the trees and disappearing from the gathering.

"It is beautiful seeing you all create little groups, but I’d very much prefer to enjoy the beauty of this place all by myself."

Sebastian grinned, his long hair billowing behind him. Clad in his golden armor, he rolled his shoulders and walked away.

Mordica left without a word, her eyes incomparably cold.

Ariel’s eyes lingered on her for a moment before he looked away.

’I wonder how she survives with barely any communication.’

Hazel wasn’t surprised by the absence of three students, so she simply asked the remaining two to join any other group of their desire.

Nodding at Liam, she and her group members departed, just like the other groups. They traveled north, heading for a known territory of wild predators.

After walking in silence for a while, Hazel stopped.

"At alert."

Charles looked around obliviously, wondering why she was tensed. It didn’t seem like there was anything around them. At least he thought so—until he heard a soft rustling sound.

Ariel’s eyes shrank. "A three-headed hydra..."

Hazel heard his voice, then felt the ground vibrate faintly.

The next moment, a dark-scaled serpent with three monstrous heads burst out from hiding, striking straight at Alisa. The girl was stunned, but immediately regained composure and reacted.

She twirled the metal rod in her hand, slamming an end against one of the serpent’s heads.

Bang!

The force was heavy, raising the head into the sky as black blood dripped from the broken scales. Before she could be relieved, the other two heads came at her.

’I can’t dodge-!’

Ariel dived in just in time, carrying her out of the creature’s range. It’s two deadly maws snapped shut, catching nothing but air.

By then, its other head had recovered, and it looked down on them from above.

Hiss—!

The three serpentine heads hissed, poisonous tongues flickering as its pairs of large eyes stayed on the team.

Hazel gritted her teeth, her body lighting up with a subtle golden glow.

’This is an Awakened Monster.’

Knowing how dangerous it was, she didn’t hesitate to strike straight at it. She leaped at it from the side, her battle-axe raised above her head.

Bang!

The creature noticed too late, causing her to successfully strike its neck. Her weapon cut halfway through, almost slicing through the neck.

The creature released a pained hiss, the other two heads surging after Hazel’s falling figure.

Logan’s red eyes shone with emotions, and he immediately jumped to save her. He grabbed her by the waist, narrowly evading one of the heads. As soon as they landed, he threw a straight punch at the second head.

Bang! Crack!

Scales cracked under the force of his punch, and the creature recoiled in pain. Hazel muttered a thank you to him, then instinctively yanked his hand away from her waist.

The boy became embarrassed, though he immediately refocused on the creature before them.

"Over here!"

Eric yelled, attracting the monster’s attention. It turned its injured heads to him, making him smile.

"GO TO HELL!"

The boy shouted, his voice producing harsh waves of sound that crashed into the monster. It hissed and screamed in pain, almost tumbling to the ground.

Alisa attacked next, her rod humming with energy. Using it, she flipped into the air to gain a high ground, then threw her weapon straight at it.

The instant the tip of the rod touched its body, the creature bent inward. The force was so great that it crashed into a nearby tree, directly snapping it in half.

"Ha! Take that!"

She grinned, dropping to the ground and resummoning her weapon. They watched as the creature slowly rose again, its heads bleeding and injured.

It bared its fangs at them threateningly, ready to begin attacking them again.

Ariel’s eyes narrowed, and he decided to end its life.

’If it gets into a berserk mode, it will be difficult to dispose without revealing too much of my abilities.’

His ears twitched, catching a faint sound coming closer.

Whoosh~!

A sleek black arrow shot out from nowhere and shot through the three heads of the creature, killing it in one go.

Thud!

The creature’s corpse dropped to the ground, all signs of life lost. The only thing left was a stunned silence from the team.