Chapter 145: The test of survival begins
After the brief battle between Izul and Reza, the trial had already begun some time before. They then rejoined their teams with the help of their respective captains.
The captains' task was to ensure the students didn't kill each other and to protect the students if any issues arose, like wild animals that were too powerful for the academy students to handle suddenly appearing. If they couldn't manage, Agis, who was currently in the tent, monitored everything that happened.
Inside the command tent, Agis sat comfortably in a large chair, surrounded by advanced equipment that allowed him to oversee the survival trials in the wild that the Magic Academy students were undergoing.
In front of him, a large hologram displayed dozens of small screens, each showing various teams of students scattered throughout the rainforest island. He calmly bit into an apple, occasionally moving his hand to zoom in on one of the displays.
On one screen, a team of students was seen working together to build a shelter from tree branches and large leaves. Two students were designing a simple foundation, while another agile student climbed a tree to keep watch.
"Hmm... good. They know what they need to do," Agis murmured, nodding slightly. "But those fools, if they make the shelter too close to the river, they'll get attacked by crocodiles tonight."
On another screen, a group of students were building a fortress from large stones and clay, encircling their area for protection. The team captain led firmly, ensuring all members followed instructions properly. Some of them also set up traps around the fortress perimeter.
"Now this is pretty smart," Agis commented, looking at the screen with a sly smile. "But if your traps are too shallow, do you think the monsters here will wait? They can easily leap over such small traps."
He switched to another screen showing a team of students who had assigned two scouts to monitor the movements of opposing teams from the treetops. The two students were highly alert, noting every movement they observed.
"They finally understand the importance of reconnaissance," Agis said with a hint of admiration. "But staying too long on the trees could backfire if a predatory bird passes by."
The next screen showed a team of students facing a pack of forest tigers. A large tiger pounced at them, but the students quickly formed a defensive formation. One student raised a magical shield to block the tiger's claws, while others launched attacks from a distance.
"Not bad," Agis chuckled lightly. "But that tiger isn't serious yet. Wait until it gets angry."
On another screen, a different team of students was being overwhelmed by a group of aggressive large forest monkeys. Some monkeys jumped from tree branches, attacking with incredible speed. One student fell, but others quickly assisted, shielding them with magic barriers while others counterattacked with fire.
"Idiots, against fast monkeys like that, why are you using slow fire magic? Think about your tactics!" Agis grumbled in frustration, shaking his head.
Suddenly, Agis's attention was drawn to a screen showing a group of students battling a giant snake. The snake coiled around one student before others arrived and cut its body with a large sword. The student survived but looked exhausted.
"Ah, finally, someone did something right," Agis nodded, looking somewhat pleased. "At least you have guts."
Every action by the students in the field did not escape Agis's sharp observation. He praised them when they did something right but also didn't hesitate to mock or scold them when they made mistakes. His task was to ensure that they learned from their experiences, for in the future, they would face challenges far greater than merely surviving in a rainforest.
***
"Welcome to World Market Store, please come in," said a woman with a friendly smile, standing in front of a ten-story grand building.
The building towered high, looking sturdy and elegant with a modern, futuristic design that radiated unmatched luxury. The woman wore a black uniform with the World Market Trade logo on her chest, indicating she was part of the store's welcoming team.
In front of her stood a middle-aged man wearing a white robe with red accents on the edges. The man exuded a calm and wise aura, as if he had been through many adventures and battles. His sharp eyes scrutinized the building before him, seemingly curious about the store's reputation.
"They say this store belongs to the World Market Trade alliance," the man murmured softly, his voice low but firm. "I hope I can find the item I'm looking for here."
With a slight nod to the woman at the entrance, the middle-aged man stepped through the automatic doors of the building. As he passed through the door, his world instantly changed. An extraordinarily grand and sophisticated view filled his sight. The room inside the store was far larger than he had imagined, seemingly exceeding the physical boundaries of the building seen from outside.
With a vast space of about 200 x 100 meters, the room felt like a boundless expanse, filled with stunning items and advanced technology.
In front of him stretched thousands of rows of transparent blue shelves, all neatly arranged. These shelves glowed with a soft light, giving a futuristic and modern impression. Each shelf was about 100 meters long, displaying various items and materials with different variations. Nothing appeared dusty or forgotten; everything was neatly arranged and ready for use.
There were magic items, combat gear, rare materials, and much more, all categorized in their respective racks.