With their plan in motion, everyone scattered.
It seemed abrupt to leave so suddenly after getting the news, but the whole point of the academy's creation was for them to be able to handle matters like this at the drop of a hat, whenever and wherever danger raises its ugly head.
As the grandmaster said, he'll take Old Hou, Endo, and Haru.
He also allowed disciples to tag along, but it would be up to the 3 elders to pick them out.
Each person was to pick no more than 6 people... Making a total of 18 disciples.
Amongst the chosen 18, was Jung Hou, old Hou's son... Wei Gia, old Gia's son... And Ghu Dwo, Old Ghu's son, who was also Sota's father.
Don't look at Sota at 17 and think his father was old.
Ghu Dwo married at the age of 18 and had Sota at 20.
In turn, Old Ghu and Old madam Ghu had a love that bloomed from their young youth, marrying early too.
Thus, they birthed Ghu Dwo far back before their friends, Old Gia and Old Hou, had married and had children.
For the Ghu's, their grandson was similar in age to Dorian. But for the Hous and Gia, their grandchildren were around 2~9 years old.
Who asked Old Gia and Old Hou to marry far late after their 20s, while Old Ghu married at 18?
So yes... Jung Hou, old Ghu's son, was 31 years old, but Ghu Dwo was almost 38.
Wei Gia, old Gia's son was 29 instead.
Amongst the group going, the one called Ajin, was also going. He was the person who escorted Dorian, Butler Sheng, and Chan-ki to the Academy's island via chopper back then when Dorian had just bought the island.
Though he had fought several strange, peculiar creatures on the academy grounds since becoming an exercise, this would be his first real battle with the enemy.
How did he feel?
Ajin took in deep breaths, putting his talismans away.
He already felt passionate about Talisman's wanting to be a Talisman master!
Mind you, Talismans, Arrays, and formations were similar in that to make an array, one must know how to make talismans and inscribe appropriately.
.
For formations, they were a combination of at least 3 arrays.
So a formation could be triangular, rectangular, and in many shapes that were all balanced and equal.
In this sense, Talismans, Arrays, and even formations had the same basic and borderline principle, linking them together.
But why was being a Talisman master different from being an Array/formation master?
That's because there was also more to them than what the basics could show.
Only after one chooses a particular one can they start seeing their differences.
Of Course, from day 1, he and every other disciple know that as they grow stronger, they would have to take up more professions that match their strength.
As he advances his exorcist tank, he must keep adding his professions.
He could be a 2-star alchemist, as well as a 1-star beast tamer in future.
Again, his exorcism rank also tells how many professions he should take up.
A no-rank exorcist isn't required to take up or study a profession.
But from H-rank ascending to A, he will have to keep adding his profession every step of the way.
From H to E, he was required to have mastered at least 2 professions, taking exams and earning a 2-star title from both professions.
To move from E to a D-rank exorcist, this was a must.
And from D to B, he would have to master 2 other professions, having the minimum title of 4-star level in both, including the initial 2 he studied earlier.
So at that level, he could be a lot-star Blacksmith, 4-star Talisman master, 5-star Alchemist, and 4-star Beast tamer.
.
Moving on... After entering A grade, he has to master another profession, as well as all his other professions, to at least 5-star level.
But do you think this is all?
No!
From S-rank, Double S-rank, Triple S-rank, Divine Rank, and Celestial rank, he would have to take up more professions and raise his profession level.
For professions, this was how they were ranked, from 1-star to 9-star, before advancing to:
?Novice Master
?Unparalleled master.
?And finally, Venerated Master!
So one could be an Unparalleled Potion Master, A Novice Master Teacher, a Venerated Puppet master, and so In.
It would shock many to know that the Academy had a total of 30 primary Professions.
Of course, the academy didn't expect them to learn all these progressions.
No...
Even if they did reach the Divine Exorcist rank, they might only take up 9 professions, with some taking up only 8.
Yes!
It's true that after breaking out from their mortal shells, their brains were more flexible, and they could recall everything at the drop of a hat, with remarkable memories that could recall everything, as though they were holding physical books in their hands.
But that didn't mean their comprehension and abilities were limitless. So the academy's system was created to assist them in growing.
For now, Ajin was only to learn 2 professions and not to jump and take up 6 or 12 because he could.
Only after he becomes a D-rank Exorcist could he take up more professions.
One must first learn how to crawl before one can walk.
Of course, before he could choose what he liked, they did give them a feel as to what the other professions were. And Ajin felt his affinity for 2 jobs... Being an Appraiser and Talisman master.
A Talisman master can also be called a Calligraphy mashed or Paint Master.
They can invite string forces from the talismans and paintings they conjure.
He can shoot wind out a single paper, conjure up paintings to come alive, and attack his enemies.
This was different from a formation/array master's work.
Ajin took in deep breaths, carefully placing his talismans away.
He also had his ink brush and rolled-up canvas.
These were his fighting weapons, he knew best to use.
.
Like so, the chosen disciples realized themselves for the battle ahead. But they weren't the only ones gearing in for the killing.
In Vardos Country, many had solemn faces.
"What do you mean you can't find a thing? LOOK HERE, Dammit!... I want every single cop on the case! I don't care what it takes, but get me some evidence! Anything, even a thread from a shirt! Or are you telling me they just vanished in thin air?"
Boom!
The police report smashed his palms on his table furiously, causing many to recoil. But they dared not say a thing.
"Wastes! You all are a waste of taxpayers' money! I've seen little girls who do a sh** load more than you lot. What's the use of training your worthless asses if you can't find anything substantial? What's it gonna take to get a DNA sample here?"
Ghaaahhh!
The deputy was breathing heavily. "Do you know what they're calling us on Tv? God Dammit!"
The Deputy took off his hat, slammed it on the ground, and ruffled his hair in frustration.
"Look at it! The press already has a field day with this one. This news will be front line on the papers, mocking us for years to come if we don't turn this thing around!"
Everyone's heart was thumping loudly, their foreheads drenched in sweat. Who can tell them or at least give them a good lead to cracking this case?
Never have they seen such a bizarre case like this one.
The place was cleaned up too well by the criminals, making it hard for them to find any single thing.
Indeed... It was as though the missing people never went to the mass graveyard.
How to say it? It was as though after the group reached the narrow Stony stairway, they vanished without even ascending towards the Gravesite.
At least that's how the clues seemed. It led to a dead end.
Again, the small building on the gravesite showed no signs of a break-in.
Honestly, if not for the love broadcast that showed the group breaking in, they would've never believed it.
The criminals who kidnapped the group should be highly skilled and professional.
How did they do it? How did they eliminate and manage so much in such a short period?
You have to know that after the group lost contact, their audience quickly contacted the police for them.
In under 2 hours, a search was conducted on the Gravesite that same night... Or should they say early morning since it was past midnight.
So within that time, these criminals managed to kidnap the group and take them out while burning the evidence.
They didn't escape by air.
So, could there be some hidden tunnel they were unaware of?
(?~?)
Dammit.
The deputy was going crazy, seeing how fruitless their efforts were.
"I don't care! No matter what, we must find them all before these foreigners do... One more thing. We must find the mysterious stranger with the slasher wound on his face!"
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