Part Two

We're all running across a vast field, the dampness of the two-foot-deep water a minor obstacle. I sigh, Biana practically snoring in my ear as I carry her like a sack. We're walking on top of the water, not in it, thanks to Isabella. She's spread her mana, vibrating it just right to create a solid surface. Not a big deal for me, given Ilka's training in using aura for shallow water walking, but for the others, this is a real save from an annoying struggle.

Flora halts abruptly. "Um... the grass just told me to be careful... there's a big monster up ahead." Her voice trembles a bit, echoing the grass's warning.

Aira unsheathes her sword with a heavy breath, her eyes scanning the horizon. "I don't see anything," she declares, her stance ready for combat.

Liam can't help but grin, seizing the moment. "Ah, my stupid sister. How can you miss something so obvious?" He saunters over to me. "Even V knows, isn't that right V?"

Tsk, these two and their games. Aira's ready to slice through the monster, craving the spotlight, while Liam tries to play the wise guy, dragging me into their sibling spat to vouch for his nonsense. Stupid fuckers... whatever, I need to get past this anyway.

I point down, keeping my tone even. "We're about to enter the deep end." The words are a double entendre, not just about the water, but the danger lurking beneath the surface.

The group's focus shifts to where I'm pointing. The water's getting deeper, and whatever Flora's grassy friends warned us about is likely lurking there, hidden but hungry.

I scan the area, my thoughts already racing ahead. They should be here soon, and I bet she's fuming about the loss. No rush though, since the Gloomshell — that's what I'm calling the monster — is patiently waiting. It's not exactly a walk in the park to deal with; even Isadora would struggle with its high magic/aura resistance and nearly impervious hide. And with it guarding its eggs, it's going to be more aggressive than usual. If we engage, we're bound to draw unwanted attention, and that means getting swarmed by other teams.

With a decisive move, I drop Biana, who lands with a thud, causing a slight vibration on the water's surface but still staying atop as if it were solid ground. She's out cold, oblivious to our predicament.

Turning to Isabella, I ask, "How long can you do this for and how much weight can you carry?"

Isabella blinks a couple of times, probably surprised by my direct question. "I can do this for a couple more hours," she replies, confidence in her tone. "As for the weight... I can handle whatever the hell you plan to do."

A grin spreads across my face. I really like the new Isabella. No matter how much she might want to throw barbs my way, she's a woman of her word. And since she's not about to start complaining now...

I reach into my pouch, pulling out what seems like an endless supply of items: pots, pans, a portable stove. In moments, I've got a whole kitchen setup, complete with a dining table large enough for all of us. "Alright, who's hungry?" I announce, my tone light, almost teasing.

Lysandra is the first to plop down at the makeshift table, her impatience clear. "Oi V! Hurry it up!" she calls out, a playful demand in her voice.

Ugh, that damn bastard. Always so impatient. Flora and Kaida join her, their spirits light. "This is fun~ I never thought we would eat on top of water," Kaida says, her voice tinged with excitement.

Flora grins, adding, "The last time we ate your food, it was really good~" Her enthusiasm is infectious, and I can't help but smile a bit.

Liam sits down without a word, his silence a stark contrast to the others' chatter. Oliver, Rai and Arin take their seats next, with Rai eagerly asking, "Can we eat that thing you call pizza?"

Aira sits next to Isabella, both of them quiet, a wordless understanding between them.

Hmmm... Pizza, huh? It's been a while since I made some, and Rai just made me crave it. I start gathering ingredients, my mind already mapping out the process.

I turn my head and find Isadora silently staring at me, holding some of the ingredients with her typical expressionless face. "Coconut?" I ask, holding one up to her.

She shakes her head. No coconut? Then what? My gaze follows hers, landing on the knife in my hand. "You want to help?" I ask, slightly surprised.

She nods. This is new. She's never shown interest in cooking before, just eating.

-

Exhausted, I finally take a seat, releasing a heavy breath. Fuck, I'm done. Cooking with Isadora is a nightmare. She's horrendous in the kitchen, and I had to fix everything she touched. She plops down next to me, munching on the pizza that I practically had to remake from scratch.

Lysandra, on her third slice already, seems in her element. I made 16 pizzas just for her. Will that even be enough? Ah, whatever.

Biana, finally waking up, yawns and slumps next to me. "Give me fooooooood~," she whines, laying her head on the table and opening her mouth wide. I click my tongue in mild irritation, "Eat yourself, you lazy bitch," I retort, stuffing a slice into her waiting mouth.

Her face turns red, trying not to react to the burning hot pizza. I can't help but grin. "What happened, sleeping beast? Thought you were hungry," I tease.

Oliver slides a potion toward me with a note: [Put this on her next slice]. A mischievous smirk crosses my face as I wait for Biana to finish her first slice.

Once she's done, I pour a bit of the potion on the next slice and shove it into her mouth. Her reaction is instantaneous. Her face turns beet red as she leaps up. "Oh fuck, oh fuck! What the fuck is this!?" she exclaims, grabbing my collar, her face an inferno of heat.

Still grinning, I hand her a jug of milk. "Here you go~," I say, trying to contain my laughter. Hahahaha! This is exactly what you deserve. 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rushing through the dense forest, Azura and her group push their limits. The fresh scent of the forest fills Azura's nostrils, a smell she relishes. She's at the front, her pace relentless. "Keep up you fuckers, If you don't keep up you're going to train with me for two months," she calls out, her voice firm yet playful. In one hand, she firmly holds Eliot, practically dragging him along. His feet barely touch the ground as he struggles to keep pace.

Knox, matching Azura's speed, is burdened with Sylvie and Zephyr. He manages to keep them both steady, his strength evident. "Hey, dude, can we take a break?" he asks, gasping for air.

Azura glances over her shoulder, her expression incredulous. "Huh!? What did you say, Knox? Are you telling me you're tired just from a few hours of running?" Her tone is mocking but not without a hint of concern.

Knox lets out a heavy sigh. "No way, but the others don't have as much stamina as us," he replies, his concern for his teammates clear.

"If you can't keep up, you'll get a beating," Azura retorts, half-joking, half-serious. Her style of motivation is unconventional but effective in its own way.

They continue their run, pushing through the forest until they emerge into an expansive field of damp, grassy water. Azura, with a grin on her face, takes a leap, landing effortlessly on the water's surface, causing no ripple. Her balance and control are impeccable.

Azura stands confidently on the water, her cold eyes scanning her team still up in the trees. "What are you waiting for?" she shouts, her voice echoing across the open space. Her gaze is icy, expectant, daring them to hesitate.

Knox, perched above, sighs heavily. 'I can do it, but if the others can't stand on water, she'll lose it...' He glances at his teammates, gauging their readiness.

Zephyr, usually more reserved, seems annoyed by Azura's attitude. In a rare display of initiative, she decides to intervene, spreading her mana out over the water to create a stable surface. 'Let's just get this over with,' she thinks, her mana flowing seamlessly.

As everyone cautiously jumps down to the now-solid water surface, Azura's attention is abruptly drawn to something in the distance. "The fuck?" she mutters under her breath, squinting her eyes.

Knox, following her gaze, enhances his vision with aura. 'How can she spot that without aura?' he wonders, his curiosity piqued. His eyes widen in surprise. "That's the cook and his team. They're from class A," he announces with a chuckle, finding the situation amusing.

Azura's eyebrows knit together in confusion and irritation. "You couldn't beat any of those jokes?" Her fists clench, and a malicious grin spreads across her face. "If those fuckers are weak, every single one of you will be punished, that includes you, Zephyr. You're not getting out of this one," she declares, her voice laced with a threatening excitement.

The team exchanges uneasy glances, knowing full well the weight of Azura's words. There's a palpable tension in the air, a mix of fear and anticipation. Even Zephyr, who usually keeps to herself, seems to brace for what's coming.

Knox looks back towards V's team in the distance, his mind racing with strategies. 'This is going to be interesting,' he thinks, a smirk playing on his lips.

-

As we run across the water, my eyes lock onto the Class A group in the distance. They're just sitting there, eating. "Are they not going to react? Are they eating... what the hell is that?" I mutter to myself, unable to hide my disbelief. This is a competition, not some casual picnic!

Then I see him, one of their group - the ugliest one - grinning like an idiot. It instantly lights a fire in me. How dare he look so carefree and smug in a situation like this? It's like they're not even taking this seriously.

Knox, keeping pace beside me, seems mildly entertained. "Looks like they're having a picnic or something," he comments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Isadora instinctively reaches for her sword, eyes fixed on the approaching group. Everyone else, except for Biana and Lysandra, seems ready to jump into action. I let out a sigh, feeling the tension rise. "Everyone sit down, there's no need to fight yet," I say calmly.

Aira raises an eyebrow, questioning. "What do you mean?" she asks, her hand still on her sword hilt.

I can't help but smile, knowing what's about to unfold. Here it comes... And then, boom! Out of the water, right in front of Azura's group, erupts this colossal monster. It's a nightmarish spectacle – dozens of writhing tentacles, each the size of a tree trunk, flailing wildly. Its body is a mass of dark, slimy flesh, with eyes that gleam like sickly pearls. The thing is an amalgamation of every deep-sea horror story, magnified and brought to life.

Oh shit, that's bigger than I expected.

Isadora halts, her sword half-drawn, as she stares at the behemoth in front of them. Even from a distance, I can see the surprise on her face.

Biana, who's been half-asleep this whole time, suddenly perks up, her eyes wide. "What the hell is that thing?" she blurts out, momentarily forgetting her usual laziness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

As we approach the other group, I'm ready for anything. Well, almost anything. Out of nowhere, this colossal monster bursts from the water right in front of us. Shit! It's a mass of tentacles, each one as thick as a tree, writhing and thrashing around. Its skin is dark and glistening, and those eyes... like some sick, twisted pearls. It's straight out of a nightmare.

Instinct kicks in. I grab my sword and brace myself, blocking the first tentacle that comes slamming towards us. The impact is massive, sending a shockwave through my arms. Tsk, what a pain. 

"Fuck!" I curse under my breath. The others are scrambling, trying to get a grip on the situation. Eliot looks like he's seen a ghost, frozen in place.