Vol.01: Ch.11: Chasing Legends - The Elusive Vampire Race

As Darell gazed at the historical records before him, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he attempted to decipher the name of a unique being whose powers remained shrouded in mystery. Finally, his sharp eyes caught the word: "Vampires."

Despite the excitement that surged through him at the discovery, Darell couldn't help but notice that the analysis and interpretation of the vampire's abilities were disappointingly lacking. Unlike the richly-detailed accounts of other legendary warriors and mythical beasts, this entry was woefully sparse, leaving him with more questions than answers.

He read that this mythical race had never been seen by anyone. Of course, he knew better than to take such a statement at face value. There were undoubtedly those who had caught a glimpse of this enigmatic group, only to meet a gruesome end before they could share their knowledge with the world.

Despite the inherent dangers, Darell felt a growing sense of excitement and curiosity. He simply had to learn more about this elusive race, if they indeed existed. It was a seemingly impossible task, but he refused to give up. Even if the chances of discovering a clue to their whereabouts were slim, he would not rest until he had exhausted every lead and possibility.

As Darell's heart raced with excitement at the mere possibility of being the first person to meet an individual from the elusive vampire race, he failed to acknowledge the true source of his passion. It wasn't simply the prospect of achieving something that no one had before - deep down, he possessed an innate drive to seek out this elusive race.

Darell was so engrossed in his research that he barely noticed the hours passing by. As the afternoon sun began to cast long shadows across the library, he reluctantly closed the books before him and returned them to their designated spots on the shelves.

As he carefully slid the last book into its place, he suddenly felt another hand on top of his. He looked up in surprise, only to find himself face to face with the silver-haired girl he had spotted in the dining hall earlier.

To his confusion, the girl scowled at him before snatching the book from his grasp and walking off without a word. Darell was taken aback by her sudden rudeness, but he could sense that there was something more to her behavior than simple bad manners.

Nonetheless, he thought, 'Too rude!' as he gathered his belongings and made his way out of the library.

Darell strode purposefully towards the arena where the day's combat classes were set to take place. However, his confident stride faltered when he caught sight of Abel and his posse approaching from the opposite direction. Darell knew all too well that Abel was likely to try and provoke him, or even worse, physically attack him.

With a sinking feeling in his gut, Darell looked around nervously, scanning his surroundings for any possible escape routes. But as he realized that he was cornered, a sly grin crept across his face. Perhaps there was another way to deal with Abel and his cronies...

Abel's cruel smile only grew wider as he caught sight of Darell standing before him. With a quick whisper to one of his underlings, the underling nodded and launched himself at Darell, his fist raised in a menacing punch.

But much to Abel's surprise, Darell did not bother to defend himself against the attack. Instead, he simply shouted, "Good Morning, Instructor Lin!", the instructor who oversaw the combat classes.

Abel and his minions were suddenly struck with fear, their bravado crumbling in the face of the unexpected interruption. Even the subordinate who had been running towards Darell stopped abruptly, nearly losing his footing in the process.

Their fear was not unfounded, as they soon heard the sound of Instructor Lin's approaching footsteps. The imposing figure strode towards them, his gaze fixed sternly on Abel and his group. But when he caught sight of Darell, his expression softened.

"Ah, Darell, there you are!" he said with a nod of recognition. "You're heading to the arena, I presume? Come with me, then."

When Darell smirked at the defeated-looking Abel, the other boy gritted his teeth in impotent rage, his attempts at intimidation thwarted by the unexpected intervention of Instructor Lin.

Following Instructor Lin, Darell made his way to the arena. But as he entered, he was suddenly tackled by Emma. The girl hugged him with all her might, squeezing him so tightly that Darell struggled to catch his breath, even though he knew his physical strength exceeded hers.

After what seemed like an eternity, Emma finally released him, her face beaming with delight. "I missed you so much!" she exclaimed, planting a kiss on his cheek and linking her arm with his.

When Darell and Emma made their way over to the rest of their group, he couldn't help but notice the envious looks of the other boys in the class. But he tried his best to ignore their jealousy and instead focused on chatting with his friends as they waited for the lesson to begin.

Instructor Lin ascended the platform in the center of the arena, his commanding presence immediately drawing the attention of the students. Clearing his throat, he spoke in a calm yet authoritative tone that demanded respect.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I am Instructor Lin," he announced, his words ringing out loud and clear. "For the next few hours, I will be holding combat classes for all of you. Let me make it clear that I have high expectations, and anyone who fails to meet them will have to face the consequences."

Pausing for a moment to let his words sink in, Lin's eyes scanned the faces of the students, his gaze unyielding. "That consequence," he continued, "will be a life-and-death duel with me."

The students were caught off guard by Instructor Lin's harsh words and the threat of a life-and-death duel. Outrage and protest rose from the crowd, but Lin's sneer showed he was unimpressed.

In a show of power, Lin lifted his hand, conjuring a fireball that was bigger than any they had ever seen before. The students were struck silent, eyes wide with shock and fear. It was clear that Instructor Lin wasn't one to be trifled with.

Looking down on the students with disdain, Lin spoke once more, his voice laced with contempt. "If any of you dare to question my orders, feel free to test the power of this fireball," he declared, his words echoing through the arena.

The room was silent for a few tense moments before Lin continued. "I will not tolerate weak-willed students," he said firmly. "Those who cannot meet my expectations are nothing more than cannon fodder. Our kingdom needs strong soldiers, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that you become the best that you can be."

The students nodded their heads in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation and the importance of being strong for the kingdom.

Instructor Lin then guided the students to a spacious hall adjacent to the arena. It was the weapons hall, where students could purchase various weapons in exchange for academy points. Lin explained the rules and regulations to them, emphasizing the importance of being well-equipped for their combat classes.

"To help you get started, each of you will receive a rank 01 weapon of your choice for free," he announced, gesturing towards a wall of weapons. "But if you wish to acquire more powerful weapons, you must accumulate academy points by completing quests or excelling in events and tournaments. Keep in mind that the better your weapon, the greater your chances of success in battle."

The students' excitement was palpable as they learned that they would each receive a rank 01 weapon of their choice for free. For many of them, the thought of the weapon's monetary value was the only thing on their minds. They knew that a rank 01 weapon would fetch at least 50 copper coins in the market, which made the Academy's generosity all the more surprising.

Lin could see the avarice in their eyes, but he didn't let it bother him. He had more important things to focus on - training them to become skilled warriors who could defend the kingdom against all threats.

Lilith's eyes sparkled at the sight of the rank 01 Ice Sword. Without hesitation, she picked it up and felt its coldness. Emma, on the other hand, opted for a rank 01 Light Dagger, admiring its sleek and elegant design. Eric chose the Earth Gauntlets, as they seemed sturdy enough to withstand his strength. Ariel went for the rank 01 Sound Chakra, intrigued by its ability to create sonic waves. Darell, on the contrary, took a basic sword, not feeling the need for a fancier weapon.

Then, as the students returned to the arena, they were greeted by the sight of several training halls, each with its unique features. Lin's voice echoed through the halls as he explained the rules.

"You have the choice to train alone or with friends, but regardless, you must reach level 05 by the end of the month. Failure to do so will result in severe consequences," Lin said with a stern expression. The students were filled with fear, knowing that Lin was not someone to be trifled with.

Lin then turned his attention to Darell and his friends. "As level 05 students, you must reach level 20 in three months. You have a responsibility to maintain your strength and stay ahead of the others. Train hard and do not waste your time."

Darell and his friends nodded, determined to meet Lin's expectations. They entered one of the training halls together, ready to begin their rigorous training.

When they stepped into the training hall, the group of friends was immediately transported to a seemingly different world. The air was heavy with an eerie mist, and the surroundings were cloaked in darkness. It was then they realized that this was a rank 08 Illusion spell.

As they looked around in wonder, a humanoid figure appeared before them. The figure greeted them and led them to a dungeon entrance. Excitement coursed through Darell and his friends as they prepared themselves for the challenge that lay ahead. Despite being aware that it was all an illusion, they couldn't help but feel a sense of thrill and anticipation.

The dungeon entrance was marked with a sign that read 'Abyss of The Scorched Ravens'. They learned that the dungeon comprised 25 floors in total.

When Darell and his friends stepped into the first floor of the dungeon, their senses were immediately heightened by the deafening screeches echoing. They looked up and saw a flock of 20 Scorched Ravens swooping down towards them with their talons and beaks ready for battle.

Without hesitation, the group readied their weapons and braced themselves for the incoming attack.

As Darell waited for the Scorched Ravens to make their move, he suddenly heard a distinct sound that echoed in his mind.

[DING]

It was a notification, and Darell knew it was a quest. Excitement coursed through his veins when he closed his eyes and read the details.

[Quest - Kill 5 rank 01 Scorched Ravens]

[Reward - 50 XP]

"Perfect," Darell thought to himself.

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