Right by the oasis another group had witnessed the whole thing and couldn't help but laugh at Peter's reaction. They were a group of five from a different class. The leader of the group was named Ben, and he wielded a large club on his back.
After having a good laugh at the weak Peter, they continued to watch the group and noticed how easily Aryan and Erin were dealing with the creatures.
"Look at that, they're killing so many of the things." One of them said.
"Yeah and there leaving none for us. If we had an ability as useful as that on the team, we could do the same as well." Ben said.
"Boss watch out!" one of them shouted as a Teethworm jumped from the side.
He reached out for the club on his back and was ready to slam the thing to pieces. Instead, an ice spear came out from the side and accurately stabbed it through its body and into the sand. It wriggled about for a few moments before stopping completely.
"You don't mind if I take that one's beast crystal, do you?" Erin said, walking over.
"Sure go ahead," Ben replied with a fake smile.
While students where busy fighting multiple beasts, it was nearly impossible to obtain the crystals while fighting. It was best for them to fight first until the beasts stopped attacking. Only then would they receive the crystals.
This caused an unwritten rule to be made. If you killed the beast, then the beast crystal was rightfully yours.
The Teethworms were no longer jumping out and attacking, and now they had time to collect the beast crystals.
"How much did we get?" Ben asked.
"A total of four boss."
"Seriously?" As Ben looked over, he noticed that the other group must have obtained over ten, more than double their hall. Then he noticed something else as well.
The boy at the back of the Group, Peter didn't seem to gel as well with the others. In fact, it was almost as if they were treating him as an outcast. They weren't talking to him and would hand him crystals to put in the bag every now and again.
"You're only as strong as your weakest link," Ben said with a smile.
After a successful haul of 15 crystals plus the one that Quinn had obtained. They decided to head back to the Shelter. But instead of telling others of the beast, he had killed. Quinn decided to keep the crystal for himself in the system.
All crystals that were handed into the military base would be counted toward their points. However, the military would keep ten percent of whatever they gave in to be counted. So instead Quinn decided to keep the crystal inside his system, where it couldn't be found and sold later.
Just as Del had said to them. The sun was still burning brightly, and it didn't look like it would set any time soon, but they knew they had been out for at least 6 hours. Travelling to the location and getting ready beforehand, it all took a long time and was quite draining.
They then headed straight for the military base, which was located at the centre of the Shelter. This was square like building that had several different departments, but for the next week, just in front of the building was a small stand for students.
At the stand was a single adult soldier and behind him a large digital screen. They handed the man the crystals they had collected, and after counting them, he took two of the crystals and retuned the rest back.
The digital screen behind him then was suddenly updated. The name Layla could be seen, and the number 15 was displayed next to it. Out of all the numbers on the screen, Layla's name was placed in the middle.
Towards the top of the screen where higher numbers and towards the bottom were lower. Some groups hadn't handed in any crystals yet and had a score of 0.
"Hey, do you see that? Layla said, pointing at the screen. Towards the top, a single group had managed to obtain 30 crystals. Almost double the number of crystals their group had.
Although Erin and Vorden were considered strong, that was only true for their class. This didn't mean they were the strongest out of the first years, there were still several other first-year classes.
While looking at the board, Quinn also spotted Logan's name who was second on the leader board with 24 points. He hadn't spotted him since this expedition but knew he would be here since he was a first-year student.
After finishing up, it was time for them to rest and sleep for the night. The solider behind the counter instructed the group where to go next. They did as he ordered and were led to a building near the edge of the Shelter.
It was a two-story accommodation block that was used just for students during their outing missions. A room had been given to each team.
There were also several blocks nearby for other students, and it didn't seem like there were any residents nearby.
When they entered, they were surprised to see how large the space was inside. It was a lot nicer compared to their rooms at the military school. They each had their own individual rooms, there was also a cooking area and a living room.
The cost of living was cheap on shelters, so they were able to provide bigger spaces for the students. Before they were to head off to sleep for the night or day, they decided that they should have a group meeting on the kitchen table.
The five of them were sat down, and Erin was the first to speak.
"I would like to make a suggestion." She said. "As you all know, my goal is to come out as one of the top teams during this assessment. Right now, we're just above average, and I can't accept that. That's why I think tomorrow we should head into the red zone."
Aryan said lets go tomorrow ,
But i don't take this Guy responsibility.
His eyes are staring on peter .
Lets go guys rest we have lot of work to do
Aryan turn around and stratight goes to his room.
At Midnight.,
---
A sharp breath escaped Aryan's lips as his eyes snapped open. The familiar ceiling of his dimly lit room came into view, cracked slightly from past battles, the cold air thick with silence. He lay there for a moment, staring at nothing, his mind calculating, his senses sharpening.
Then, without a sound, he pushed himself up, his movements fluid yet precise. His long fingers instinctively brushed against the hilt of his sword resting beside him, its icy surface comforting against his skin. He wasn't in danger—he knew that. But the stillness of the night felt unnatural, as if something unseen was shifting in the air.
With practiced ease, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, planting his feet firmly on the cold wooden floor. The chilling sensation barely registered. He stood, adjusting his dark cloak, pulling the hood slightly over his face. There was no need for hesitation. He had a destination.
Moving swiftly yet soundlessly, Aryan made his way to the door. But instead of leaving through the usual way, he turned toward the window. The city beyond stretched endlessly, a mixture of flickering streetlights and neon signs casting an eerie glow. Somewhere within the labyrinth of alleys and underground pathways lay the hidden club—the place he sought.
His body faded into the shadows as he slipped out of the window, landing effortlessly on the rooftop below. The night air carried a crisp chill, but it felt familiar, almost welcoming. Aryan moved, his steps silent as he leaped across buildings, his figure blending into the darkness. He knew every path, every hidden passage. The club wasn't just a place—it was a world of its own, buried beneath the city's surface, filled with criminals, power-hungry beings, and secrets waiting to be unraveled.
And tonight, he was going to walk right into it.
The hidden club pulsed beneath the city like a heartbeat, concealed behind layers of deception. Its entrance was nothing more than a narrow alleyway, leading down a set of worn-out stairs into the underground. The air thickened with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and the unmistakable stench of blood.
Aryan stepped inside, his presence unnoticed at first, masked by the dim lighting and loud music. The place was packed—criminals, black-market dealers, and enhanced beings who thrived in the shadows of society. None of them realized the storm that had just walked through their doors.
He moved without hesitation. Ice spread from beneath his feet, creeping up the walls like a silent predator. Then, before a single soul could react, he struck.
A wave of frozen death erupted from his fingertips. The closest group of people were encased in ice before they could even scream. Those farther away barely had time to pull weapons before Aryan was upon them.
A man lunged with a dagger—Aryan dodged, his sword slicing through the air. A clean cut. The body dropped before it could hit the ground. Gunfire erupted from across the room. He lifted his hand—a wall of ice formed instantly, bullets freezing mid-air before falling harmlessly to the ground. With a flick of his wrist, jagged icicles shot forward, impaling his attackers.
One by one, they fell. Some tried to run, but the exit was sealed under layers of frost. No one was getting out.
Within minutes, silence took over the club, broken only by the sound of ice cracking and bodies hitting the floor. Blood painted the frozen surfaces, steam rising from the corpses. Aryan exhaled, his breath visible in the cold.
Then, a slow clap echoed through the room.
He turned.
A man stood at the far end of the club, unfazed by the massacre. Tall, muscular, with slicked-back hair and a smirk that spoke of confidence. He held a long silver spear, its tip glowing faintly with blue energy. Water swirled around his feet, rising and falling like an ocean in his command.
"You made quite the mess," the man said, his voice calm. "But I wonder... can ice survive against the sea?"
Without warning, he thrust his spear forward. A massive wave exploded from the ground, surging toward Aryan like a living creature, ready to consume him whole.
Aryan's eyes narrowed. For the first time tonight, his opponent wasn't an insect to be crushed. This was going to be a fight.