13

[You have killed a level 28 Fiery Lion (D)]

[Drop item obtained! Fiery Lion's Fur (D)]

The daylight of the 8th day appeared brighter than ever, pricking Alab's eyes that caused him to squint. Or it was most likely because he only took minimal naps in between his fights in the past 3 days making the sunlight appear like a needle pricking his drowsy eyes.

Even with the restless hunt, Alab only managed to acquire 71 items. It was already about time to leave the hunting ground and head back to the barracks yet he was still far from his goal of 100.

Alab could only compromise at the moment as nothing could be done now.

He did his best in the past 3 days, leaving him no space to regret. If there was, he pondered that having a higher rank [Luck] would further his hunt.

It was pointless to think for more. With little 3 hours remaining before the entrance examination started, Alab now planned to head back to the barracks.

But before that, Alab tilted his head towards the deepest part of the hunting ground - the Boss Region.

Alab was currently hunting in the outskirts of the deepest region, wary of the dungeon guardian residing in the core of this dungeon.

In the past 3 days, Alab witnesses several participants lunging to the deepest part. It was needless to say that they were aiming to challenge the dungeon guardian.

He had witnessed retreating groups with missing limbs from the fight, arrogant groups who were humbled by the Boss monster, and even a male draconian who came fleeing out of the deepest region - his wings torn off along with shredded scales imprinted with claw marks.

With that, Alab branded the dungeon guardian to be dangerous - something he couldn't afford a good fight with his current strength.

Now that it came to the last day, Alab aimed to dive into the deepest region and scout the Boss monster.

With the [Skeleton Apprentice] at his side, Alab dived toward the rocky land with pointed boulders protruding from the ground, bloodied as it reflected its thirst for more demise.

---

Meanwhile, in the [Slime Practice Dungeon (E)], the young dark elf heaved a deep breath as he brandished his wooden sword downwards.

"1000th!"

*sigh*

The young dark elf threw his body to the ground, resting against the verdant soil as his sigh harmonized with the humid air of the morning.

His coaly hair danced along the winds whilst his callused hand swept through his sweaty forehead. The dark elf panted for a while, his eyes tracing the daylight that appeared foreign to him.

Like Alab, the dark elf was deprived of sleep, purely devoted to completing 20 sets.

With a last breath of relief, the young elf pulled himself out of the ground as he called for his summoning griffin. He was running out of time and his fellow dark elves could be looking for him now.

"Hary", his soft voice called out.

A griffin who was smaller than Misery (griffin of Alab) emerged before the dark elf.

Unlike the adult Misery, the fledgling griffin was submissive as it lowered its head toward the young elf, letting the latter climb to its back.

Caressing the neck cloaked with orangey feathers, the young dark elf asked Hary to head back to the barracks.

Hary nodded his head discretely as his beak molded into a soft smile.

The young dark elf never used force on him. He was consistent in a humble way of imploring Hary's aid.

Not at once did the young elf treat him with a domineering voice. He was soft-spoken all the time.

With a flap of his wings, Hary flew in the air, heading north to where the barracks were.

Riding in Hary's back, the dark elf muttered to the griffin.

"Do you think they will be mad at me again? I did my best. I completed 20 sets, more than they commanded. They will be proud of me, right?", the dark elf mumbled to the quadrupedal griffin, solemnity was apparent in his cracking voice.

-----

On the other hand, five goblins rode on their respective griffins as they similarly headed back to the barracks. They were all fledgling and the harsh treatment of the goblins made them wail in pain.

Feathers fell from the sky with the vicious plucking of feathers by the goblins who were ignorant of the danger it might cause.

The griffins glided in the air, hastening their speed to free themselves from this suffering at the soonest time. Despite their pleading chirps, the goblins were indiscriminate in balding parts of the griffins.

"KRIKRIKRIKRI, do you think our preparation is enough, brother?", one of the goblins asked, his hands still yanking the feathers.

Brimming with confidence, the brother goblin muttered.

"KRIKRI, it will be fine, that bottom-ranker dark elf must be crippled by now. KRIKRI, we only have to incapacitate another bottom ranker to ensure that they will lose in this examination. KRIKRI"

Hearing his words, the other goblins felt relieved. Much more, the two bottom-ranker goblins couldn't help but get teary at his notation.

They were in distress for a while now as they could die at the upcoming examination. However, the brother goblin had always been supportive of them and dealt horrible deeds to make sure they would survive this challenge.

They couldn't ponder just what would they become without the brother goblin in their aide.

At this thought, the two goblins couldn't help but jump toward the griffin that the brother goblin was riding at, hugging the brother goblin as they drowned in tears.

"Brother, krikri. Thank you", the young goblins expressed their gratitude.

Patting their backs, the older brother goblin solaced.

"Krikri, no matter what. I will make sure that both of you will survive, krikri"

-----

In the barracks with [Planet Earth] signage on it, three humans sat around a pile of items. It was the group of Earthlings led by Anastasia.

There were about 40 items on the floor each emitting no attractiveness. They were leftovers.

The three had equipped themselves with several D-grade items and now they were down to a pile of useless items.

"Kekeke, we should sell them. That would fetch us some coins", Girth was greedy for more coins.

Anastasia disregarded his words as she muttered.

"We should wait for Alab first, he might like something from this pile", her voice turned soft with each word, also dubious at the items' worth.

She doubted that Alab would like even a sole item from this stock. Still, she persisted to postpone selling these items for a while.

Girth rolled his eyes in annoyance at hearing Alab's name. His blood had been boiling since meeting Alab.

He viewed Alab as a snobbish, reckless, and arrogant young boy. His voice was akin to a knife scraping against a bottle to his ears.

"Whatever kekeke", Girth stood up in annoyance as he headed toward his room, laying in the bed as he waited for the commencement of the exam.

Han Seo Yeon just watched Girth leave and closed the room's door. He turned his head, his small eyes looking at Anastasia.

"Do you think Girth will survive in the combat-type exam?", Han Seo Yeon was dubious about Girth's strength.

Anastasia sunked her face at his question as similar to him, Girth's survival in this exam remained questionable to her.

"I don't know", she mumbled.

"I think we should hunt together in the combat battle exam, if it is indeed a C-grade dungeon expedition, then it will be difficult for Girth. He... He could even die", Anastasia muttered as her grayish eyes inquired about Han Seo Yeon's help.

However, Han Seo Yeon was against her decision.

"It is not your duty to save him. You have your own rank to maintain, there could be rewards for those with higher ranks and you will have to get that.", Han Seo Yeon was reluctant to drag Anastasia

"But..."

"If you are really worried about him, then I will help him. I will hunt with him and ensure he survives. Okay?", seeing that Anastasia wouldn't accept letting Girth hunt on his own, Han Seo Yeon made compromises.

At his remarks, Anastasia couldn't help but plaster a soft smile.

Like Han Seo Yeon, she was also wary of the reward for the high rankers. She had to heighten her strength as in their team comprising of two bottom rankers - Girth and Alab, she and Han Seo Yeon were the only ones the two could hold onto.

Besides, improving her strength meant strengthening the group in general.

With a nod, Anastasia agreed to Han Seo Yeon's proposal. She vowed to climb up the ranks this time.

Looking at the closed main door, worried overwhelmed Anastasia as Alab was yet to head back. Only two hours remained before the entrance examination commenced.

-----

Two hours before the clock hit 10 in the morning, Alab delved into the heart of the [Fiery Lion Dungeon].

Hiding behind the pointed boulders, Alab witnessed the dungeon guardian - a Fiery Lion gigantic in size with its entire body submerged in golden fire, battling against a bizarre species.

The species was covered in clouds with dazzling stars dotted on them, obscuring the figure of the entity concealed behind the clouds.

Calling it a battle was an exaggeration as Alab witnessed the obscured entity plucking a star from the clouds encircling it.

The marble-sized star flew at unimaginable speed with a flick of the obscured finger of the entity, hurling toward the gigantic Fiery Lion.

The [Gigantic Fiery Lion (B)] couldn't retaliate as it perished under the star that effortlessly punctured its sturdy membrane deep into its heart.

The dungeon guardian that even the mighty draconian ran from had died before it could even show its might.

The entity shortly levitated in the air as it took the [Fiery Lion Dungeon Core (D)], bringing the dungeon to its destruction.

Cracks slithered on the ground as boulders disintegrated into pieces. The [Fiery Lions] run, leaving the dungeon in turmoil at the destruction of their habitat.

On the other hand, the cause of the havoc, the bizarre species, pocketed the [Dungeon Core] inside the clouds.

Before it left, it made sure to steal a glance at the eyewitness of its deeds.

Behind the boulders, Alab was pinned in the spot as he saw the entity turning its head. Its eyes reflected an endless void, glaring toward him.

"I can see you, la la la", the entity hymn