Rank Assessment Exam (III)

Once Minerva's orders were heard. They split up into groups of 4. Haruki was grouped up with Marco, Trish and Jacob. They all nervously looked around as Minerva cleared her throat, "I'm sure you're all aware of the Holy Trinity of Adventuring? The one Rochefort explained last week?" As soon as they heard this everyone nervously nodded thier heads.

Haruki shamelessly raised his hand, "Ummm, I wasn't present during the orientation." Minerva stared at him and sighed, "Of course it's you. It's always you." She said earning a giggle from Bellona. She glared at Haruki and started speaking. "Fine since some of you are not present during the orientation I will explain it once more. Because some of you we're too busy drinking instead of actually finding a way to survive." She said as she stared at Haruki dead in the eyes. He scratched his cheeks and raised his hands in the air.

"The Holy Trinity of Adventuring is Divided into 3 main roles. A damage dealer, A tank, and finally a Healer. Anyone can learn how to do these jobs. However since this is only the Rank Assessment Exam, and most of you have no inkling on proper party composition, It's fine if your'e in a group filled with damage dealers or healers, or tanks. This exam will help you better understand the scope and limitations of your ability.

Not only that, this exam will determine your power scale and give a rough estimate on your future adventuring rank. Everyone starts at F-rank, that's the rule. However you could be an F-rank with S-rank potential, provided you don't die in the process."

She snapped her fingers and several blue portals appeared, "Alright talk is cheap. What better way to understand the dangers of adventuring than seeing it your selves? Line up you lot!" She said as she stared at Haruki's group with a smirk, "Don't die now." Jacob scratched his cheeks, "Niichan, I don't know what you did but you got her attention."

Haruki sighed at his words. "I should stop trying to piss her off. She might get attached." Marco chuckled at his words, "Well since we're all damage dealers we should go and clear this quick and easy." Trish looked at them with a serious expression and nodded her head.

The moment they were about to step into the blue portal he gave Minerva and Bellona a sidelong glance. One was exasperated at his antics. While Bellona was smiling at them. She cheerfully waved at them as they entered the portal.

As soon as they did, the scenery changed. From a drab and brown arena to a lush green forest. They looked around and no other team was around them. All there is was a seemingly infinite stretch of lush green. Marco slammed his fists together and said, "Alright! Let's do this."

The leaves rustled and a round blob of made up of blue gelatinous substance jumped out. Haruki raised his eyebrows, "The fuck is that thing?" Marco, Trish, and Jacob all stared at him shocked. "Do you live in a cave? Everyone knows what that is atleast!" Trish said while pointing at the harmless ooze. "Kaz, That's a slime. A staple of fantasy rpg games like Dragon Quest." Jacob rubbed his face, "Marco-san, that reference is way too dated." Making the latter droop down his shoulders dejectedly.

"So? How do we kill it?" He asked them. "Aim for the core." Marco and Jacob said at the same time. Trish on the other hand stepped in front of them. "No!!! It's too cute! I won't let you harm Rimuru!" Haruki raised his eyebrows stumped by what she just said. Jacob on the other hand pointed at Trish, "I knew it! You're an Otaku! You have the audacity to call me a weeb? Pot kettle you mean streak woman!" Trish clicked her tongue, "Shaddup! You weeb!"

Haruki sighed, "Step aside kids." He aimed his bow towards it's core and fired an arrow. It lodged inside the slime and broke the spherical core swimming inside it. It then dissolved into nothing but liquid as it was absorbed by the ground. Then a hologram appeared in front of their eyes.

[Kill count - 1 Slime]

[Time Remaining - 57 Minutes]

They all stared at one another and nodded their heads. "We should get going soon if we want a high assessment." Marco said. They entered deeper into the forest and encountered three slimes this time.

Marco went first as he dashed forwards and covered his hands with violent winds. He delivered a straight punch aimed directly at the slime's core. The moment it made contact the slime exploded away from him. "Oh... Whoops."

Jacob then dashed forwards holding another wooden sword. He held it like a baseball bat and swung it. hitting the core dead center as it exploded away from them once more. "Oh...Well... That was anti-climactic."

Haruki stared at Trish, "Well kiddo? You alright?" Trish exhaled softly and nodded her head. Chains covered in voilet hellfire erupted from the palm of her hands. She held it and spun it around. Instead of wildly swinging it she treated it like a whip. The moment the chains made contact with the slime it immediately evaporated along with its core when it got struck.

Trish immediately dispelled the chains and plopped on the ground. "What have I done? My little Rimuru's!" Haruki chuckled at her antics. "Magus, why can't I absorb them?"

<You are. They're just too weak to make a damn difference.>

As Haruki was thinking, the bushes rustled and three small, grotesque, monstrous creatures with green skin jumped out. They were holding sharp weapons. Their eyes blood red. "Goblins!" Jacob screamed. He tried to attack but it was dodged nimble by the small monsters. The creature slashed at him. If it connected his guts would spill out. Haruki immediately fired three arrows aimed at their heads.

Instantly killing all 3 of them.

"You alright?" Jacob nodded his head albiet a little shaken. He still dusted himself off from the ground and stared at the large forest surrounding them.