Very quickly, all the students were divided into different groups of ten.
They were grouped based on their abilities, and the Vice Principal did a good job of ensuring each group had an equal starting point. By making sure each group had a healthy number of students with gene skills, he balanced their prowess.
Well… except for one.
He gathered together students he judged to be well above the rest in strength, skill, and experience, forming an elite team.
The group was mostly made up of class presidents and their vices, but three among them didn't hold that status. They were Seth, Jack, and—
"Hehehe! I knew we'd end up on the same team, big bro!" Brandon called out, grinning excitedly as he swung an arm around Seth's shoulder.
Brandon's eyes burned bright as he continued. "I saw the quest event, big bro. What do you think? I saw the rewards—even though I don't know how valuable they are. Depending on the difficulty, they might be worth a lot."
Though annoyed, Seth had to agree. These rewards were important, especially the evolution crystals at the top of the list.
I have to find a chance to secretly inquire more about them from the Oracle, Seth thought.
Across from him, a figure stood discontent, glaring in Seth's direction.
"Why the hell was he grouped with us?" Roderick spat, his expression twisting with irritation.
Eyeing Elaine, Uriel, and Brandon beside Seth, he sneered. "He's just riding on their coattails. When it comes down to it, he'll drag us down. Then we'll see what he has to say."
Helen, standing nearby, had been admiring Uriel's figure when Roderick's voice cut in, making her frown.
Her brows furrowed as she glanced at her vice, eyes flashing with disdain. "Don't you ever shut up?" she rebuked.
Roderick turned his cold gaze on her. "What? Are you falling for his crap too?"
Helen's brows creased deeper. Of all people, why did she have to end up with this douchebag as her vice?
"All you do is talk out of short-sighted envy. Yes, he got into Class A despite his apparent lack of qualifications, and you didn't.
If you used your brain for once, you'd realize the reason is obvious—he has something you don't. And at this point, I'm beginning to acknowledge what it is… a functional brain!"
Letting out a pent-up breath, she walked away, unwilling to deal with him further.
Roderick's expression stiffened. Did she just scold me?
His eyes flashed with rage, directed toward Seth.
Because of him, two girls he admired now saw him as an eyesore.
"When the time comes, I'll show you all what I'm capable of," he muttered, eyes burning as he stared at Seth. "And you… I'll make sure you don't come back alive."
---
"Alright, everyone, gather up!" Mr. Cromwell called.
The students moved with more order this time, each with their teams.
Pointing at a sketch of the school's map behind him, he began. "Here, I've divided all areas evenly for each group."
He called out each group, assigning them their areas. The nine surviving staff, including himself, weren't left out—they also had duties.
"Now that all that's said…" He pointed at the clearing before the grand gates of the school.
"Regardless of circumstances, we all rendezvous here by high noon tomorrow. Once the sun begins to set and you're nowhere to be found, you will be assumed dead."
After making arrangements for the other groups, only the elite team remained.
He turned toward Seth and the others, gazing meaningfully, his eyes pausing on Seth. "You guys have a more complicated task."
The groups scattered, spirits high, chattering loudly.
"Hehehe, just watch me rack up the highest kills!"
"Highest kills? My stats are already way higher than yours!"
"Can't compare to mine. When I switch up my gene skills, those monsters are nothing but porcelain dogs and paper chickens in my eyes!"
Suddenly—
Crash!
Another monster crow lunged through the ceiling, letting out a terrifying screech.
But this time—
"Hahaha, take this ugly bird!"
"No, no, no, this kill's mine!"
"F* you, first come, first serve!"
The monster was quickly bombarded to death.
With bright eyes, the students exited the auditorium, ready to fulfill their missions.
Vice Principal Cromwell observed with a pleased smile. Glancing at Seth and the others, he chuckled. "You see that? They're not completely hopeless. They just need a nudge in the right direction."
Glancing at the gaping holes in the ceiling, he continued, "Well then, let's be quick before more demon birds fall on our heads."
He walked into the meeting room, the ten following closely behind.
The moment the door shut, the Vice Principal turned toward them and bowed, shocking the group.
The elderly man pleaded. "I'm sorry we have to do this, but there's no other option. If the others accompany you, they'll all die—or worse, be a distraction."
"What do you mean, Vice Principal?" Harold Hughes, class president of 11A, asked nervously.
The Vice Principal sighed, remaining silent.
Seth stepped forward. "It's obvious. He knows where the Corruption Seed is and is about to send us there. I'm curious how that happened."
"Corruption Seed?" Jack and Brandon, who hadn't attended the earlier meeting, questioned in unison.
The others' expressions changed, apprehension flashing. Seth had described the horrors guarding such seeds. The thought of facing them sent chills down their spines.
"I have no choice. The rest aren't strong enough… we aren't strong enough. You are our only hope," Cromwell explained, downcast.
All ten students remained silent.
Sighing, he continued. "Even though these old bones are useless, I managed to awaken a skill. Not very powerful, but resourceful."
He tapped the large conference table. A pulse of bright green flashed.
"It's a Leader-grade gene skill called Scouting Radar."
Before their eyes, a bright green holographic construct of the school and its surroundings appeared.
Red dots littered the map, moving — the corrupted. Blue dots clustered, some moving, some static — the students and staff.
Suddenly, everyone's eyes turned to a section where a black dot stood, surrounded by deep red clusters.
Instinctively, they knew that was their target.
The Corruption Seed… and its abominable defensive army.
Seth's gaze flickered. "So we're headed to the field…"