[Welco Student! Please relax until we finish the checking procedure!]
[Fingerprint scan... completed!]
[Retina scan... complete!]
[DNA scan... completed!]
[Full body scan... completed!]
[Mana core rank scan... completed!]
[Storage ring scan... completed]
[Objects inside storage ring scan... completed]
[Full checkup complete. Student ID recognized.]
[Rank 1786, first-year student Noah Eldritch from Class A-1, do you wish to start Link?]
[Speak Yes or No.]
Noah did not know how long the scanning process continued, but he heard each step being announced and completed.
When it asked him to answer yes or no, he quickly responded.
"Yes!"
Of course, he was growing more and more excited as ti passed. After all, inside this place he could kill people, yet they would not actually die. This was going to be an amazing experience for him.
[Starting Link...]
As soon as he replied, a blinding bright light flashed across his vision.
Even though his eyes were closed, he could still see the light.
Finally, after a few long minutes, when the light subsided and he slowly opened his eyes,
He blinked a few tis.
What ca into view was a completely different place. He found himself standing on the terrace of a tall building.
With curiosity, he began to look around and noticed other mbers of his class standing there, probably waiting for the remaining students to spawn.
Noah finally observed the city where they had spawned.
It was filled with partially destroyed buildings, so still emitting smoke, broken roads, and vandalized vehicles.
Everything about this place scread that it was a city ruined by war.
"Interesting."
Noah observed the entire city from the terrace.
It was a huge city, now left in ruins.
Then he looked at his own hand. He closed his fingers into a fist and then opened them again,
Trying to understand how it felt inside the virtual reality.
His eyes widened. "This feels so real!!"
Currently, they were not wearing academy uniforms. The academy had provided separate outfits for training and exercises.
Similar to how schools have outfits for physical education.
So everyone was wearing black pants and a blue and white jersey.
Even his clothes felt completely real.
"What if I hit myself?" Of course, Noah did not hit himself.
But he still pinched his forearm.
"Ouch!"
He stopped pinching and rubbed the spot.
"Hehe! This is so real. It hurts just like outside."
"Noah is here. He’s 87th."
Hearing his na, he turned to look around.
There stood Damien in the middle, counting the students, checking how many had arrived and who were still missing.
Others were helping him.
Noah turned around and walked closer to the edge of the terrace, near the railing.
The wind hit his face, and it felt oddly cold.
"This scene really feels adventurous."
"You think so?" A sweet feminine voice ca from the side.
"Of course. I used to watch a lot of action movies and play gas, so places like this feel adventurous," he said while looking at the person beside him who had co closer.
There stood a woman with a mature and athletic figure. Her golden-blonde hair was tied in one long, thick braid. She was wearing the sa outfit as him.
But there was one striking difference between them.
She was wearing light armor over it. A matte-black breastplate covered her chest. Her shoulders were protected by compact pauldrons.
On her arms, light vambraces wrapped around her forearms, secured with dark leather straps. Her legs were protected by sleek greaves and thigh guards, fitted close enough to not hinder her speed.
Most students had chosen this kind of light armor rather than heavy armor, as if preparing for real war.
While Noah? Well, he did not have any.
He had spent his money on healing potions and mana recovery potions.
Armor would only be useful if it was of good quality, but unfortunately, it was out of his budget.
’Not like this is reality.’
"You like to watch such movies? I’m more into romance and calm movies."
She stood beside him, tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ear.
"Romance, huh? It would be a lie if I said I don’t watch romance movies. I actually enjoy them as well. Personally, I lik—"
Before he could continue, Damien’s loud voice interrupted him.
"Everyone has spawned now. Since we are all here, it’s ti to discuss the tactical roles we will have during this mock war," he said in a clear and confident voice, fitting for a leader.
Noah and Lyria walked closer to him.
"First, we will need two strategists. For that, I have already chosen one. Arisha will be the strategist. Does anyone have a problem with that?"
He asked the group.
Arisha stood beside Damien with her arms folded under her chest. Her long violet hair was tied in a high ponytail. She was also wearing battle gear.
"Now we need to choose the second one. I already have a few people in mind. But if anyone wants to be a strategist, feel free to raise your hand."
A few students raised their hands.
Not many, just around ten.
"Please, all of you co to the front."
He called them forward from the crowd. Noah raised an eyebrow when he saw a familiar figure. A beautiful woman with long dark midnight color hair.
’Ophelia? She really thinks she’s smart? What a delusion.’
Damien asked them a few questions, trying to understand their capabilities.
Then he announced who he wanted as the second strategist.
"The one I was going to appoint was Kaelan Nightfall."
As soon as his na was called, most of the others withdrew from consideration.
Ophelia looked slightly displeased and even clicked her tongue, but she also stepped back.
Obviously, Kaelan was intelligent. There was no question about it.
"Alright then. Kaelan and Arisha will be our two strategists," Damien announced.
"Now next, we are going to assign roles to everyone. For that, let’s understand what each of you specializes in," Damien’s voice lowered slightly toward the end.
Since there were more than a hundred students, it was difficult to assess each one individually.
But he was smart in his approach.
Instead of asking every single person what they were good at, he instructed them to form groups.
Those skilled in healing, buffs, and support gathered on one side.
Those proficient in long-range combat moved to another.
And those who excelled in close combat ford a separate group.
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