Chapter 36: Scouting
After scouting from his elevated position, Draco made the strategic decision to head toward an open field he had spotted during his scouting up the hill.
The Midnight Bears were naturally slower than him, especially considering his 44-point agility when using Hyper-Sonic. Operating in an open field would grant him significant advantages, allowing him to fully utilise Zephyr’s superior vision and speed capabilities without the constraints of dense jungle terrain.
Open ground means I can see threats coming from a distance, and there’s plenty of space to move if I need to retreat or reposition.
On his way to the field, Draco encountered another Midnight Bear wandering aimlessly through the forest. The creature appeared to be following some kind of route, completely unaware of the danger approaching from behind.
Perfect opportunity for an ambush.
Draco moved with silence as if it were his long-lost friend.
His high speed allowed him to close the distance without alerting his target. The bear continued its leisurely pace, occasionally sniffing the air but showing no signs of detecting the threat stalking it from behind the trees.
[Master, he has no idea we’re here. This is going to be easy.] Zephyr whispered from his high position above the canopy.
When Draco reached striking distance, he coordinated a simultaneous attack with his companion. Both moved at the same instant, Draco appearing behind the bear with his sword ready, while Zephyr dove from above with his claws extended.
The bear had no time to react or defend itself. Zephyr’s razor-sharp talons raked across the creature’s eyes, instantly blinding it and sending it into a panic.
ROAR!
At the exact same moment, Draco’s blade plunged deep into the bear’s heart from behind, piercing clean through to emerge from its chest.
Like a bear kebab, Draco thought grimly as he watched the creature’s life drain away.
The Midnight Bear let out a single, choked roar, wanting to retaliate against its aggressor before life left its body. Draco immediately withdrew his sword and backed away several meters, having learnt that dying creatures could sometimes lash out with unpredictable, erratic movements that might catch an unwary fighter off guard.
[You have killed a common-rank beast, Midnight Bear]
Once he was certain the bear was completely dead, Draco approached the corpse and efficiently extracted its beast core. He opened the chest cavity, spotting the core near the heart, before removing it cleanly and storing it in the examination ring.
Two down, and the day is still young. At this rate, I should be able to accumulate a good point total.
The reason that Draco did not go all out in finding different bears and killing them was because he knew that everyone was bound to meet each other at some point. So he would meet fellow students, who would not be friendly, and he would simply take their points.
Of course, he still planned to hunt, but he wasn’t overly worried about accumulating the cores.
Continuing toward his chosen destination, Draco soon arrived at the open field he had identified from the hilltop. The area was exactly what he had hoped for, a large, relatively flat space with excellent visibility in all directions and minimal cover for potential ambushes.
He didn’t spot any other students in the immediate vicinity, which was slightly disappointing.
Better to maintain my independence for now. I can handle these bears efficiently on my own, and I don’t have to share the rewards.
[Master, the field looks clear, there is nobody in sight.] Zephyr reported after completing a quick aerial scouting of the area.
As Draco continued walking through the field, he noticed that large hills rose on both his right and left sides, creating a natural corridor that forced movement through this particular area.
This could be an excellent hunting ground, but it also means I’m more likely to encounter other students. I’ll need to stay alert for both opportunities and threats.
The path ahead seemed to lead deeper into the gate’s centre, potentially toward areas with higher concentrations of beasts or more valuable resources. Draco decided to continue forward while maintaining his vigilance and keeping Zephyr airborne for early warning of any approaching threats.
Meanwhile...
In a completely different section of the massive gate, Glade had been fortunate enough to spawn in what he immediately recognised as an advantageous location. Where many students might have found themselves lost in a dense jungle or exposed on barren hillsides, he had materialised near a clear, flowing river surrounded by two protective mountains on his flank.
This is perfect, Glade thought with satisfaction as he assessed his starting position.
For someone with his capabilities, it was a blessing. For weaker students, that would have probably meant their doom.
The river environment offered many advantages, and Glade’s training as the heir of the Ashblades had taught him how to spot and exploit each one. Water sources were natural gathering points for all forms of life within the common-rank gate environments, meaning this location would attract the highest concentration of huntable beasts.
Monsters need water just like everything else. They’ll come to me instead of forcing me to track them through terrain.
The surrounding mountains provided excellent defensive positions and multiple escape routes if he encountered multiple enemies that were beyond his current capability to handle. Although he doubted that he would, considering that he was incredibly powerful within the common rank.
More importantly, the elevation offered views of the river valley, allowing him to use it for scouting. He would be able to spot beasts or other students long before they detected his presence.
Glade’s A-rank talent and training made him confident that he could handle all common-rank threats he might encounter near the water source.
Let’s see how many points I can accumulate before that bastard even dares to come out of his hiding shell.
Glade hadn’t been notified by his mother, Lady Vivienne, that Draco had entered a common-rank gate and succeeded in leaving.
Drawing his sword, Glade began moving along the riverbank. His goal was simple: establish dominance over this territory and eliminate as many beasts as possible before spotting other beasts.
By the time that bastard Draco figures out effective hunting strategies, I’ll already have an insurmountable point lead.
The examination had begun in earnest, and both brothers were pursuing their respective strategies.
Glade spawned at point ’B’. Whereas Draco spawned at point ’I’. (Check A/N)