Chapter 46: Chapter 46- Small Kill, Giant Step

Going on a solo training trip was a very risky idea considering how dangerous the world outside was. Monsters were evolving extremely quickly, especially in the past few days when Talon had seen level 8 monsters.

It was safe to say that after an entire day of not killing monsters, they probably evolved even more and became even more of a threat to Talon.

However, there was a single thing that made all of that risk worth it. Something that Talon wanted to learn from early on and hone well enough so that in the future he won't find a problem with it and that is to learn how to survive completely on his own.

It was true that forming a group of survivors would boost his chances of survival, however, Talon knew that he wasn't going to find his people around him all the time. He already knew that he would have to enter other dimensions at some point.

What if they can't come with him? What if he loses them there and has to fend off monsters and other things on his own? Those were a few of many possible situations where Talon would be alone.

'If I can survive on my own and hunt monsters alone, I will be able to handle any situation that I face.' He thought to himself.

Acrypha knew that too and she didn't stop him. Talon needed that experience more than anything else.

***

Walking through the corridor, Talon found himself inside the main area of the gymnasium where many students were busily moving around, getting ready for what was about to happen.

Talon could feel the palpable tension in the air as clear as day. Even though they were ready to leave, the fear of what could happen was still weighing on their minds. After all, they had never killed anything before in their lives. Not to mention the danger that comes with doing this.

Looking around him, Talon noticed many students shaking visibly as they tried to keep themselves composed as much as they could while some tried to look normal but their pale faces and their eyes that kept looking all over the place revealed their true thoughts.

"None of them seem mentally ready. If they leave now, they will die." Acrypha said coldly.

Her words were harsh, but they were true and Talon agreed with them. So, he decided to do something about it.

"Where is Hyun-Jae?" He murmured as he looked around.

The girl was nowhere to be seen.

"Psst, hey, you. Do you know where Hy- Ehem, the president is?" Talon asked a random student he saw. The latter flinched at first when being called but when he saw that it was Talon, he visibly relaxed.

"Mmm, I saw the president near the entrance checking the area." He replied.

"Thank you." Tapping the student on the shoulder, Talon turned around to leave. However, at the last second, he stopped and turned around to the scared student.

"Are you ready to slay some nasty monsters?" He asked with a confident grin.

The student was surprised at first when he heard the question but then, he smiled and nodded his head as he felt a surge of confidence.

"I'm ready!"

"Good. That's the spirit, friend. As long as you have that look, you will be fine."

After that, Talon made his way to the entrance of the gymnasium. There, he found the person he was looking for standing outside, writing on a piece of paper.

"Hey..." Talon quietly greeted her not to take her by surprise.

"Hm? Ah, hey, good morning." Hyun-Jae raised her eyes from the note and looked at Talon with a small smile. "Did you sleep well?"

"As good as new!" Talon grinned as he flexed his arm.

"Good. We will need to work extra hard today."

"What about you?"

"It was a not-bad night," Hyun-Jae replied in a mysterious tone.

"Hm?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Look here, I mapped the entire area with the potential number of monsters we can find in each route we could take to the cafeteria."

"H-Hwang Bong, sir!"

"Good, Hwang Bong, you're going to kill that thing using the metal bar in your hand."

"W-What?!!" Hwang Bong and everyone around him were taken aback. "But, I don't know how to fight, sir!"

"Just come here," Talon said as he pointed at his position. "You will kill it."

Hwang Bong looked around him hesitantly before he sighed and stepped forward. He had no other choice but to comply.

When he reached Talon, he found himself facing the monster and his fear kicked in. However, Talon grabbed his shoulder and stopped him from retreating.

"See that thing. It's weak. You're stronger, faster, and smarter than it. Now tell me, how could that clearly inferior thing kill you? The only way it can kill you is if you let it kill you." He said as he pointed at the monster with his spear.

"..."

When the monster reached them, Talon simply stopped it in its tracks with the handle of his weapon effortlessly.

"See? It's easy enough. Now, give it a good hit to the head." Talon said as he held the monster in its place.

Hwang Bong stared at the Dimension Walker nervously. He was terrified, but, when he saw how easily Talon handled it, he felt a surge of courage rush through his body. It did seem weak in his eyes too.

'Come on! I can do it!'

Steeling his will, Hwang Bong grabbed the steel bar with both hands before he yelled at the top of his lungs and swung it.

*BANG*

The weapon hit the monster right in the head, making it fall.

"Come on, finish it off," Talon said as he stepped aside. "You need to knock that core out of its head to kill it."

Hwang Bong nodded his head and approached the monster. Then, he swung the bar down, hitting the monster's core precisely. When that happened, the core was knocked out of the monster's head.

"Hah... Hah... Hah..." Hwang Bong Heaved up and down as the rush of excitement filled his body. What was that feeling? For a second there, Hwang Bong felt invincible.

Then, notifications started appearing in front of his retina one after the other, taking him aback.

"Wha..."

Talon noticed that and smiled. He tapped him on the shoulder.

"Congratulations on your first kill. You were great there." He said.

"T-Thank you..." Hwang Bong replied in a daze.

"How was it?"

"It was amazing!!"

"Haha, it was, wasn't it?"

Then, Talon turned around to everyone and spoke. "See? Did that look hard? Of course not! Your friend Hwang Bong was able to do it and so do all of you. Your first step might be terrifying, but once you take it, everything opens wide to you."

Talon's words sent chills down the students' spines. They had seen with their own eyes what happened and that was more than enough to completely change their thoughts. They were scared and yet they were now far more excited and eager to do it than before.

"Who wants to go next?"

When Talon asked that, immediately, hands started rising in the air with little to no hesitance.

(A//N: Thanks to everyone who supports the book with power stones and golden tickets, you guys are the best:) )