Chapter 169: Casualties!

Moss had never seen Red Spider behave that way before. He knew things were not looking too good.

“Deputy Chief Instructor Red Spider, I should warn the others,” Moss suggested.

“Let’s split up. You head northwest while I go northeast. Be sure to rendezvous here in an hour!” Red Spider pointed at the flashing red dots on her monitor as she confirmed her plans with Moss.

Red Spider wanted to reject Moss’s suggestion, but she agreed when she sensed Moss’s strong will to protect. She also praised him inwardly and trusted his instincts even more. She felt that Moss was too much like her sweetheart, Black Spider.

“Yes, Instructor!” Moss replied with a solemn expression before dashing out.

Red Spider could not help but nod as she watched Moss leave. Then she headed toward the northeast.

…

“Come in, come in, this is Instructor 003! We’re in danger. A student is injured and needs assistance!”

“Emergency call, this is Instructor 005. We are also in danger! One of my students is severely injured!”

A moment later, Instructor 013 also sent out an emergency call.

The sudden situation caught the instructors off guard.

Flying Wolf immediately left his group with Instructor 009 and flew toward Instructor 005’s marked location.

Five minutes later, Flying Wolf arrived at the scene and saw Red Spider casting Advanced Healing, trying her best to treat the severely injured student.

Flying Wolf used his icicles to disperse the Magical Beasts still attacking. At the same time, Red Spider stood behind the severely injured student to fight while retreating to a safer location.

She noticed the injured student was on the verge of death and used her Advanced Healing again. Still, she began to tear up when she sensed the student’s pulse. “Flying Wolf, he can’t hold on much longer! Take him to a safer place while I go and rescue Instructor 003 and 013’s groups!”

Then Red Spider dashed toward the southwest.

…

Meanwhile, the instructors anxiously counted the students at the gathering point as an overwhelming odor filled the air.

“Group 001’s students have returned! One of them has minor injuries!”

“Group 003 has reassembled. One is severely wounded!”

“All students from Group 005 have returned. One is dead, and three have minor injuries!”

…

“Retreat!” Flying Wolf thundered with grief and resentment after accounting for all the students.

No one spoke a word on their journey back to the training camp. Only rustling and healing sounds came from the healers.

Everyone felt a sense of security when they got into the vehicle. The students felt a little relieved from their pressure as they discussed in small groups of twos and threes.

“That was too dangerous. I was scouting when a rift overflowing with energy appeared nearby. Then a Tyrannical Tyrannosaurus emerged and bit off one of the other student’s arms as he was scouting. I was shocked.” The bespectacled student patted his chest with lingering fear.

“I saw the rift you mentioned when I saw scouting too. But it kept disappearing and reappearing.”

“I finally witnessed what the Magical Beasts realm is. It’s terrifying.”

Moss fell into deep thought when he heard the students’ discussions.

Everyone was well prepared, and the instructors were the first to rescue the students when the horrifying situation arose. Still, the rifts caused one death, three severe injuries, and ten minor injuries.

Moss had done well. He helped the others get safe even after completing his mission. Red Spider praised him for that.

However, Moss still thought he could do more when faced with inevitable casualties. He pondered about the spatial rifts and Magical Beasts that emerged from them.

Suddenly, he recalled the situation when he was on the bus to the training program and the appearance of the Explosive Wolves and robbers.

‘Some Explosive Wolves appeared at the city’s border. I wonder if the wolves have a connection to this situation. Is something terrible really going to happen?’

At that thought, he looked at the Guardians and asked, “Guys, did you see the rifts those students mentioned when you were scouting?”

“No, I haven’t,” Alan answered quickly and confidently.

“I haven’t seen them either, Moss.” Mill was confused, but considering her expression, she did not doubt the existence of those rifts.

Baylon and Bass also shook their heads to show they had not seen the rifts either.

…

When everyone finally arrived at the training camp, under Old Mur’s leadership, the teachers, instructors, and students held a memorial ceremony for the student who died on the Magical Beast territory.

They added the student’s serial number to the list of those who had also died during the previous training programs.

Afterward, Old Mur, teachers, and instructors immediately held a joint meeting. Thirty people filled the conference room as they sat on both sides of a large table. Everyone had solemn expressions on their faces.

“My dear colleagues, please express your thoughts.” Old Mur’s expression was severe, and his voice was low. His emotions made the initially solemn atmosphere even more depressing.

“It’s typical for casualties to occur during the training program.”

“But casualties only happen during the final segment of the third phase. It’s still relatively rare in scouting missions, not to mention there were instructors in the surrounding area.”

…

After listening to the teachers’ words, Flying Wolf said, “That situation was sudden. Although I didn’t see a spatial rift, some students and other instructors saw them. They also saw Magical Beasts emerging from them.

“The existence of these spatial realms is limited, and some even disappear after a while. Still, I think it’s a sign of things to come.”

Flying Wolf was unsure whether or not it was a terrible thing, but he knew it was crucial to report the situation to the higher-ups.

“My student reported the same thing to me. He also reported some strange occurrences he witnessed along his travels here. We can verify now that it also happened during the training program.

“What should we do to avoid or reduce casualties? There is still the last phase of the training camp, so we must devise a plan as soon as possible,” Red Spider eagerly expressed her thoughts because she did not want to see this incident reoccur.

Afterward, many teachers and instructors expressed their views and suggestions before finally deciding on a straightforward plan.

They would report the incident to the higher-ups, then explain the reality of the situation to the students before asking them to decide whether or not they want to stay in the training program.

If there were any remaining students, the teachers and instructors would increase safety levels and add an instructor to each group. The instructors would then monitor the entire process during the final assessments.

…

After the meeting, Red Spider and Flying Wolf gathered the students at the first opportunity. Then they informed the students about the elite training camp’s decisions.

Regarding this, the students started a heated discussion. In the end, forty-five students decided to give up and leave the elite training program. Still, those who left could make it onto the local elite student catalog and obtain participation certificates.

Although those who left could not obtain a graduation certificate, it was already promising that they could obtain a participation certificate and a spot in the local elite student catalog.