Chapter 21: A Prologue
It took a while before the high-ranked Exorcist who had led them there returned.
As he stepped into the Oramon's room, the entire class fell silent, waiting for instructions.
The high-ranked Exorcist had left instantly upon hearing the Queen's command and had now returned with updated orders.
Originally, this was supposed to be a one-week-long test—an endurance trial where they would hunt beasts and evil souls for as long as they could. However, with the sudden shift in circumstances, there had been a drastic change in plans.
The Exorcist cleared his throat, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
"Now that you are all gathered, I have a short announcement to make."
He let the words settle for a moment before continuing.
"Unlike what you were previously informed, this will no longer be a week-long hunt and scavenging expedition. Instead, it has been reduced to two days."
The room erupted in complaints.
"What the hell?! How are we supposed to gather enough in two days?!"
"This is bullshit!"
"I already made up my mind—I'm staying out for a week!"
"Oh, come on!"
The noise grew louder as frustration filled the air, but it was all brought to a halt in an instant.
"Silence!"
The high-ranked Exorcist's voice boomed across the room, unwavering and far surpassing the noise of the class. The rain of complaints died down immediately.
"The number of cores or charms you can collect in that time is not the issue. Instead, I advise you to go after stronger opponents. Get more powerful on your own. You only have two days, so there's no time to waste on anything unnecessary. This is not a luxury trip, after all."
With that, he gestured toward a set of scrolls on a nearby table.
"Over here are maps of the place you will be sent to—a forest far beyond the Exorcist Kingdom. It is filled with irregular creatures and other beasts."
Irregular creatures?
Asher's eyes lit up. This was golden information.
In the game, irregular creatures were beings that took humanoid forms but with various distortions in size, appearance, and behavior. Goblins, orcs, and ogres were prime examples.
The difficulty assessment for this would be high—given that irregular creatures hunt in packs. And this... this is before the apocalypse even begins.
The high-ranked Exorcist continued.
"Now that you understand the situation, all you need to do is place your hand on the crystal, and it will transport you to the designated checkpoint."
His gaze swept across the gathered students.
"Do your best in this expedition, and I hope to meet you all—"
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the air. The sheer force of the sound sent shockwaves through the room, disorienting everyone.
As the blast rang in their ears, a second shock followed—this one even worse.
A searing gust of wind, carrying a visible red-hot energy wave, surged through the air. It was like the aftermath of a massive bomb detonation. The moment it brushed against Asher's skin, a sharp burning sensation spread across his body.
"K-Keeuk! What is this—?"
Before he could finish his thought, an answer surfaced in his mind.
{Your prediction is off, Asher Vance.}
His throat went dry. A sudden, overwhelming pressure pressed down on him—on everyone. The weight was crushing, suffocating.
Even the high-ranked Exorcist struggled against it.
Above them, the sky began to change. The clouds, once white, were now turning a deep, bleeding crimson. The air thickened, making it harder to breathe.
"What is happening?!"
"I can't breathe! Is this an attack?!"
Panic spread rapidly. Students clutched their throats, struggling to inhale. Even the most experienced among them were left in confusion, unable to grasp what was going on.
But Asher knew.
This was just the beginning.
---
Meanwhile...
High above, within the now-crimson clouds, a figure loomed. Her presence was undeniable, an oppressive force raining down upon the kingdom.
She stood atop a massive, skeletal dragon, its body composed of jagged rocks and fragments of ancient bones.
A dark, tattered cloak billowed around her decayed form. Her flesh was melted, barely clinging to her bones, giving her the ghastly appearance of a walking corpse. Hollow eye sockets burned with a malevolent glow.
The skeletal dragon beneath her let out a deep, reverberating growl.
Her gaze fell upon the city below—the Exorcist Kingdom.
She scoffed, her voice thick with guttural venom.
"The Exorcist Kingdom?"
A chuckle escaped her, dry and hollow throat.
"A kingdom built on nothing but death and fear."
She raised a bony hand, fingers stretching toward the ground below. The energy around her coiled and crackled, as if the very atmosphere resisted her presence.
Then, with a voice that echoed through the heavens, she declared—
"Today is your day of carnage."
A single pause.
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And then, with finality—
"Let the Deity Game begin."