The Ancient Genes

«Lear: Where are you guys?»

Max was in the spirit world when he received the message. He had a lot of time now that he didn't have to work as a servant and was using this opportunity to train the group of beasts. He had even decided to teach more of combat techniques to Sera now that she seemed a bit smarter.

"Levi, tell me if they start slacking…." Max said to Leviathan who was guiding Twice beside before planning to leave.

Andriel who was missing in the picture was accompanying Lithiya.

Lately, she has been a lot more aggressive for some reason. He literally popped his eyes out when she suddenly walked in on his daily training butt naked.

He couldn't help but gulp thinking about it. Since then he has been careful and would never roam alone in the spirit world.

After leaving the spirit world, Max finally replied to Lear.

«They aren't responding...must have gotten in some trouble….»

He then looked around the room only to find Wilson and Riser watching the competition in his room.

….

On the other side...

Lear had sent messages but didn't get any reply. It seemed the rest weren't in the best condition to pay attention to the messages.

He looked a bit messy to be honest. Escaping from the group of Blood Eating Bats had really been troublesome, but luckily it was still daytime and those b*stards didn't chase him out.

«Ruler: They aren't responding...must have gotten in some trouble….»

Lear looked at the message from Max and suddenly a smile formed on his face.

«Lear: You can watch the competition right? Tell me where those guys are...»

«Ruler: Let me check..you are the one currently being projected from Arcane...those jerks only gave us a single screen….»

«Ruler: Oh...wait...Wilson's saying that Axel appeared on Erina's side… »

«Lear: Ask him to describe the area.»

«Wilson: How long has it been? You already look miserable….» Wilson joined in on the chat.

«Lear: Just tell me what you saw….»

«Wilson: I saw a gas station nearby and rusted vehicles all around. It looked like one of the main roads of the city...and yeah she got into a fight with some beetles….»

«Lear: Fine...I will look around. If you guys see anything… tell me..»

Lear then immediately grabbed the pace and began to look around. But he couldn't find anything that Wilson mentioned.

It seemed he was far away from that place.

An hour or so passed and Lear managed to kill quite a few ferocious beasts as he continued his search.

«Mark: I am towards the Northeast….where are you...»

….

Mark was sweating as he finally found a place to catch his breath. His clothes were bloodied and he seemed to be wounded.

His luck seemed to be the worst among the group. He had just entered the area and found himself in the worst place possible.

He fell right in between two groups of beasts who were having a territorial dispute.

Luckily, this guy had appeared at the right time and they had managed to get away.

"Pass me the supplies I will help you close the wound…" the silver-haired guy said with a smile.

"Thanks…" Mark replied.

"You don't need to worry….we are the same team.... in a different manner."

"Huh?" Mark looked at him in confusion.

"I am Aijin Achilles…" the guy said as he looked at him expecting him to realise who he was….

"Yeah...I know. I am Mark.." Mark nodded, but Aijin frowned...not expecting that kind of reaction.

He looked at Mark a bit unsure before finally speaking again, "I am Mr.cool…."

Mark's eyes widened and a smile emerged on his face, "It's you!!"

Mr. Cool on the other hand almost fainted. It was only now that he realised that those guys never called him by his real name..

«Lear: I am moving towards you..don't move anywhere for now..»

Mark looked at the message, «Fine, hurry up….we should probably regroup before the sun sets…»

….

Axel had been running around as well. With his invisible cloak, he could practically walk right by the low grade beasts.

«Mark: Fine, hurry up….we should probably regroup before the sun sets…»

The message finally popped up in front of Axel and he frowned.

He clearly remembered that he couldn't contact anyone else earlier after he escaped from the Manticore.

But now….

He immediately scrolled upward and found that they had been talking for a while.

"Is there a glitch in the system?"

«I am towards the East….» Axel messaged.

A few seconds later, Lear replied, «Head towards Mark…..we need to regroup...»

«Ok...»

But before Axel could go ahead, another message appeared and Axel's face turned grim.

….

A few minutes earlier….

"Who the hell are you cheering for?" Max asked as he looked at Wilson who was watching Erina on his phone.

"Well, I will watch until she finds her team…" Wilson said calmly. It seemed he was worried for her.

"People are not gonna die...you know…" Max said as he looked at him

"I am afraid she won't forfeit…" Wilson shook his head.

It was true being stubborn might give you lifelong regret. The overseers were allowed to save a student if they felt like it...but if the student kept refusing then a serious injury if not death was bound to happen…

"Are you guys even watching? It looks like she is in trouble…" Riser said as he pointed at the television.

Right now, the random broadcasts were showing Erina and she didn't look good at all.

Her red hair along with half of her face were drenched in blood.

Wilson immediately looked on the phone and it was showing the same thing….

What in hell happened in the split second he looked at Max?

"It's a Manticore...she should probably run….she has to last seven days after all.." Max muttered as he looked at the screen.

If Erina fought with all her strength, the result might still not be in her favor and even if it was...she probably won't be in a condition to do anything after that...even a low level beast might be too much for her…and with her gone, Ocien would suffer..

So the best option for her was to run..

Wilson frowned listening to Max….Escape?... but was it that easy to escape not to mention she already seemed to have taken a heavy hit….

In the end he couldn't help himself but open the chat…

…

Erina cursed inwardly as she faced the beast and that fellow whom she met as well.

A strong beast? This was Death God for someone at Axel's level. How could he say it was just strong?

Erina never thought it would turn out to be a Manticore?

She had put up her guard but she regretted not hiding well enough.

When the Manticore caught onto her, no guard was enough. A single paw had destroyed her mana barrier and busted her forehead.

If she knew it was a Manticore she wouldn't have come. Even if there was a student here, he should have forfeited by now.

She immediately prepared herself for battle while slowly planning to make a retreat.

The next instant, she stomped the ground and immediately bright red flames rose from the ground and formed a huge wall.

Erina immediately retreated without a second thought.

But the Giant Manticore didn't plan to let her go so easily. It immediately opened its mouth and its breath attack tore through the wall of flames almost hitting Erina.

Erina stabilized herself and immediately prepared to meet the beast which was charging towards her.

"Flare!"

Flames erupted from her body immediately setting the whole place ablaze.

The Giant Manticore released a painful scream as its mane was set on flame. It's face contorted in pain. It was a physical but it was nothing in comparison to the mental pain it had just suffered.

Manticores loved their mane more than anything. It was their pride. And now, his pride was turned into ashes by that human whom it looked down on..

It must kill her to regain his pride!!

It's eye immediately turned red as it looked toward Erina who had long run away and release a cry full of hatred before giving her a chase.