Birth Of The Crafts-God

Eretre has four continents with thirteen city-states spread across them. The Groeten continent had five city-states, of which Baylands city-state was one of them.

However, the territories of all five city-states only added up to roughly sixty percent (60%) of the continent's landmass, averaging twelve percent (12%) per city-state. The remaining forty percent were occupied by desolate beasts, with the Wastelands being the largest of them all. It was rumoured that the Wastelands was equivalent to twenty percent of the continent's landmass, the estimated.

The remaining twenty percent were various other danger zones and arid regions devoid of civilisation. They were occupied by desolate beasts, abominations and banished individuals.

The Bayena Plain was one such region. It was home to a few desolate beasts and abominations. Abominations were strange creatures that weren't desolate beasts, but they couldn't be defined as an alien civilisation either.

Abominations weren't exactly a species, but a general term used to define a group of monsters.

Once upon a time, the Oklo Dynasty as well as some other powers had conducted experiments on desolate beasts. There were also some underground organisations and terrorist groups who experimented on hyumans, humans and other intelligent lifeforms in a bid to produce something novel and powerful.

However, all the experiments, whether they be those by the legal authorities or the illegal factions, all ended in failure and resulted in the creation of abominations.

Compared to desolate beasts, abominations were much weaker and usually used as training targets. As they bordered between intelligent lifeforms and desolate beasts, abominations were a more challenging opponent. But their weak stellar energy prowess made them less dangerous than their desolate beasts counterpart, which was why abominations were seen as good training dummies.

The Bayena Plain was a well known hotspot for abominations and the average level of desolate beast here was lower than the fourth level. Even the third level desolate beasts were rare.

"That's what the introduction manual says." Wally projected a document using a wristband-type communicator.

The students were still on the Sare and had yet to reach their drop-off point as it would take forty minutes from the academy. If they were using a light rail train, it would have been faster, but such a medium of transport was somewhat costly. Most especially, it was needless.

While the students waited, many of them had already grouped themselves and were discussing the strategies they would take.

"There are five levels in the Body Strengthening stage. The Flesh Refining level, Muscles Refining level, Bones Refining level, Organ Refining level, and the Blood Cleansing level."

"Whoever named the levels of the Body Strengthening stage is really lazy." Astar muttered, interrupting Wally's briefing. Even though he knew the levels even before his freshman year, Astar was confident that he had a better naming sense than whoever did it.

"Hey, hey, at least we didn't get a Blood Refining level." Klein smiled.

"That's enough." Wally sighed at his friends who had interrupted him just to crack a joke.

"As I was saying, apart from the first three levels, we get points for killing abominations from the fourth level and above, and desolate beasts. 1 point for an Organ Refining level abomination, 3 points for a Blood Cleansing level abomination or desolate beast. 5 points for abominations at the first level, but 10 points for desolate beasts.

15 points for abominations at the peak of the first level and 20 points for desolate beasts on the same level. 30 for abominations at the second level and 50 points for desolate beasts at the second level.."

Desolate beasts were born at the peak of the Body Strengthening stage, unlike hyumans and humans who have to strive for that level. In fact, this situation was common in other alien species. Hyumankin and the human race were much weaker in comparison.

As for why there was a stark difference in point between desolate beasts and abominations at the same level, this has to do with the fact that desolate beasts were stronger and had more stellar energy than abominations; even though the latter had more fighting patterns.

"It's advised not to go after second level desolate beasts though." Wally added.

"Of course we know that. The addition of second level beasts to the scoring system is probably due to the Heavenly Trio." Astar sighed.

"Indeed. The academy is probably trying to spur them to go all out." Klein laid out his thoughts.

"Regardless. That has nothing to do with us. We should set our sights on the peak Body Strengthening stage monsters and first level. We all have vestiges so it should be okay to handle those." Wally said.

"Let's use this time to get ourselves together and rest. The test would last for three days after all."

With that said, the briefing came to an end. There were still murmurs and whisperings here and there, but the trio tried to not concern themselves about it. They did some final checks for their supplies and decided to rest for the remainder of the journey.

Twenty minutes later, the Sare shuttle had finally reached the drop-off location in the Bayena Plain.

"The test officially begins today. Students, you have 72 hours to survive in the wild and accrue at least twenty points, otherwise, you will be determined to have failed this try. I wish you good luck."

One of the teachers in charge of this trip said.

'Twenty points. That's twenty abominations at the fourth level of the Body Strengthening stage, the Organ Refining level. Or two desolate beasts of the first level of the Apertures Opening stage. Even if one is going for the easiest method, three days should be enough.' Wally thought.

'But that's not enough. I'll do my best and shine as much as possible in this. I don't only have my family depending on me, but Mr Lucas. He's put so much faith in me; I can't just end this with a mediocre score.'

"Wally, let's go." Astar's voice sounded, waking him up from his thoughts.

"Hmm."