Training Arc (Part 3) - The Slaughter Ground

Ace possessed a serene countenance, yet the persistent pain in his head caused him to wake up abruptly.

"What could be the reason for my insomnia?" he pondered.

Despite his discomfort, he tossed and turned in bed but eventually dozed off.

When he awoke again, sunlight streamed through the window. Unfortunately, the weather was scorching hot, despite it being spring. Ace's head continued to throb with pain.

"Could I be unwell?" he questioned himself.

"No, that cannot be possible," he concluded.

However, the agony persisted, leaving him feeling uneasy.

As he was unable to rest, Ace had no choice but to rise from his slumber. He took a glance outside, inhaling the fresh air of the city.

He soon left his home carrying a device in his hand but was unable to shake off the persistent pain in his head.

"Goodness, what could be causing this?" he muttered, trying to bear the discomfort.

He traveled to his school and encountered a group of students assembled on the school field. He quietly and calmly approached them, concealing his agony.

"Is everyone here?" a teacher inquired a few moments after Ace's arrival.

"Nice to meet you. Today, you will be going on an excursion to a training camp," the teacher announced.

"But first, please return your assistants, as they will be discarded."

Whispers and discussions amongst the students escalated into a louder noise, which the teacher promptly silenced.

"Order! We shall now proceed," the teacher declared authoritatively.

"The reason for returning your devices is that you will be given an even more advanced one in the future," he explained.

Soon after, all the students boarded separate buses and headed towards the aforementioned "training camp".

The area was barren, with ruins scattered all around. The ground was stained with blood, and the air was heavy with a strange energy. The peculiar environment sent shivers down the spines of the students as they disembarked from the buses.

For some unknown reason, the educator remained seated on the bus, quietly observing the students until one of them questioned him.

"Sir, are you not coming with us?" the student asked.

The teacher smiled strangely and replied, "Let me answer your question."

"Firstly, this is a ground that harbors demons. Yes, it could potentially be an Infinite Realm."

"Secondly, this is a training camp, where you will enhance your skills, as you are all supposedly at level one."

Before the student could respond, the car suddenly zoomed.

In a hushed stillness, a mysterious figure emerged, its eyes ablaze in a scarlet hue, and its form draped in the darkness of an empty void. The students marveled at its extraordinary physique, but what truly astounded them was its grade.

"It's Grade 3, how's that even possible?"

"Yeah, the teacher said this could be an Infinite Realm."

"But Infinite Realms only birth Grade 1s."

The students voiced their astonishment, each one completing the preceding proclamation as they steeled themselves for the impending battle.

"No, this is a Slaughter Ground," a student asserted.

Gradually, those who had ventured ahead found themselves drawn deeper into the enigmatic area, unleashing a cascade of Grade 3 demons that commenced their assault.

"Why are they so strong?" A student exclaimed, shocked at their overwhelming physical prowess.

"It must be because the Grade 3 demons we faced were simulations and weren't the real deal," reasoned Ace as he advanced toward a demon.

The other demons closed in, and the air resounded with screams.

"Transport!"

A student urgently cried out to reach Ace, who was on the verge of confronting the demons. They touched the demon simultaneously, causing it to disintegrate. It soon became apparent to Ace that his strength alone couldn't overcome the Grade 3 demons.

"Everyone, 2 or more of you guys have to exorcise the Grade 3 demons at once. They're beyond our capacity," declared Ace and the student Haruto.

Following their lead, the others rallied together, and finally, the demons were eradicated. Yet, in the supposed Infinite Realm, they braced for the likelihood of more demonic encounters.

At the sight of another demon, a fleet of buses arrived, and disappointment echoed among the students who had already faced the demons and witnessed profound fear.

"Don't be disheartened," reassured the teacher, gesturing for the students to board.

"That was a brief encounter. Wasn't it?" Haruto remarked to Ace, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Rest assured, your future battles will not be as brief as this," the teacher spoke confidently as he addressed the student's concerns.

The bus transported the students back to the school where the educator gathered them once again, delivering a serious message.

"Listen carefully," the teacher spoke with gravitas.

"Return to your families and savor your current life, for soon you will be separated from them and face challenging circumstances."

"You will encounter dangerous beasts, while also making groundbreaking discoveries, leveling up your skills, and seeking sustenance."

"This phase of life is merely a prologue to your ultimate destiny. Therefore, make the most of this time and prepare yourselves for the journey ahead."

The teacher imparted his wisdom, guiding the students on what to do and what not to do. The air became tense, and the students' reactions were mixed, with confusion and fear taking hold.

"W-what does he mean?"

"We can't stay at home anymore?"

The students trembled and stuttered, facing the unknown challenges that lay ahead.

"Now you may depart to your respective homes," the teacher concluded.

I'm few seconds, the students began dispersing, eager to process the news that had just been delivered to them.

Although their reactions may seem exaggerated, the reality is that opportunities like these are rare.

Ace returned home to his parents, and sister feeling a range of emotions which he did well to conceal. He pondered the teacher's words as he lay in his bed without his usual assistant, listening to the calming sounds of the trees rustling in the brewing storm.

"I didn't notice, my headaches are gone," he thought in finality, concluding all his thought process, permitting him to sleep.