Chapter 27: Sharks in the Schoolyard

“Beaten up???”

Before the trainees could even process it, another roar interrupted them.

Four staff members stood outside the four iron fences of the training ground, each pressing a button.

Steam first burst from the gears atop the iron fences, which then began to turn.

From within, four three-meter-tall magical beasts emerged…

“This… What is that aaaaaaaah!”

Several trainees were so terrified they froze in place, eyes wide.

“Are you kidding me!!!”

It was a creature with a body shaped like a lizard but a head like a shark.

Its eyes were ferocious, and blood still lingered between its sharp teeth.

Its claws were long and deadly; each step carved three deep scratches into the ground.

“This is called a Landshark, currently lv.10, a required subject for the Bronze-to-Silver warrior promotion exam.”

“But because this creature was too savage and killed too many Bronze warriors, it was eventually replaced by other species.”

“This… Such a dangerous creature! Why use it on newcomers who’ve never even been on an adventure!”

A student complained.

“Yeah! Don’t play with our lives! Damn teacher! Do you even know who my mom is!!!”

Kail watched the students’ protests without reacting.

She took a sip of wine before slowly speaking:

“If you knew it was dangerous, you shouldn’t have come to Morning Sun Academy in the first place.”

“Or to the Warrior Academy.”

The handsome, cool beauty gazed coldly at the trainees before her.

“Morning Sun Academy trains the nation’s best warriors, not pampered princesses.”

“The fools who got bitten to death by Landsharks when advancing to Bronze only got eaten because they fought them one-on-one.”

Kail looked over the group.

“There are about fifty of you standing in front of me, facing only four Landsharks…”

Kail brushed her bangs behind her ear and spoke challengingly.

“I don’t care who your parents are…”

“But…”

“Morning Sun Academy never raises cowards. If you die, obediently become Landshark fodder.”

Kail’s indifferent eyes made it seem as if she didn’t even see the trainees as people.

“By the way, since Landsharks are level 10, killing one will instantly promote you to Full Bronze Rank, level ten.”

Full Bronze Rank…

That’s a level an ordinary person would spend five years training to reach…

Hearing this, Anya couldn’t help but grip her sword tightly…

“Do your best, everyone.”

Having explained everything, Kail waved her hand and went to a quiet, shady spot to sleep.

Only fifty-odd students remained…

Facing four Landsharks, each three or four times their size.

“Hey, hey… This isn’t funny…”

One trainee shrank back, staring at the enormous Landshark.

“What’s there to be scared of! I’ve wanted to reach Bronze level ten for ages!!”

Another loud trainee grabbed her sword.

“My mom’s taken me on plenty of hunts and adventures—creatures like this are nothing to me!”

With that, she charged at a Landshark, sword in hand.

“Full Bronze Rank! Here I come!!!”

The Landshark saw her charging and raised its massive claw, smashing down.

“Too slow, too slow!!!”

The trainee grinned wildly, dodged the attack, and slashed the Landshark’s leg.

“Splurt!”

Blood sprayed from the Landshark’s wound.

“Whoa! Not bad!!!”

Watching from the sidelines, other trainees suddenly felt inspired, cheering the bold one on.

“Heh, it’s still early…”

The trainee struck a pose with her sword, pointing at the Landshark.

“Heh, foolish monster… I am called…”

“Roar!”

Before she could finish, the Landshark opened its jaws and swallowed her whole.

“…”

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaah!!! She really got eaten! She really got eaten!!!”

The trainees nearby erupted in panic.

On the Landshark’s side, things got even wilder—the taste of human flesh only whetted its appetite, and it charged the crowd with gaping jaws.

“Wow? The first one already…”

Kail, hearing the commotion, took another swig from her flask and continued to nap.

“Te…teacher!!!”

A student ran up to Kail, voice trembling.

“If this keeps up…someone will really die!!!”

She cried desperately.

“My…my mother is the current City Commander. I’ll pay you—please, let me out of here!”

“I only became a warrior to go through the motions! My mom made me captain just by saying so!”

“…”

Kail said nothing, simply pointing behind the student.

“Rrr…”

Hearing a chilling growl, the student turned.

A Landshark loomed over her, baring its terrifying fangs.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!”

The student screamed, trying to run, but her legs had gone weak.

“ROOOOOOOAR!!!!”

The Landshark lunged, jaws wide, ready to swallow her whole…

At that moment, Anya jumped out, pulling the student to safety.

As she dragged the student away, the Landshark’s head crashed into the ground, smashing a deep pit.

The student was left trembling—if…

If she hadn’t been saved, would she have been…

She let out a long breath and turned to thank Anya.

“Um…thanks…classmate…”

Anya didn’t respond, instead glaring at the lazily reclining Kail, gripping her sword tight.

Why…

Do Entia Kingdom teachers treat their own students and people as nothing…

How could such dangerous creatures be allowed inside an academy…

Anya looked around at the other Landsharks.

Each one, with gaping jaws and sharp claws, was mauling the trainees—some unlucky ones had already been swallowed.

At that moment, Anya suddenly thought of a familiar boy…

Where’s Joey???

Joey didn’t need Anya’s protection…

As the Demon King, he and Chiyang were still roughhousing nearby.

Earlier, a Landshark had tried to approach them, but was scared off by the dangerous aura radiating from the two.

Anya, searching around, didn’t see Joey, and in her distraction, failed to notice a dangerous Landshark right beside her…

“Anya! Watch out!!!”

A female student nearby shouted a warning as the Landshark swung its deadly claws at Anya.

“!!!”

Anya snapped back to her senses and dodged—

“Riiip!!!”

The sound of flesh being torn echoed.

“Ugh!!!”

Anya groaned.

She hadn’t escaped in time; her left arm was slashed by the Landshark…

The stern beauty clutched her arm as blood poured from the wound…

This is bad…

Anya panicked inside.

She knew about Landsharks…

Once they smell blood, things only get worse…