"Nice to meet you. I hope we can work together to change the fate of the auxiliary department," Yan Yue said with a faint smile. Her expression was warm, almost divine, like a healing light that could soothe any wound.
"Well… yeah, let's work together," Smith replied, a bit awkwardly.
But deep down, he was puzzled. Change the fate of the auxiliary department? Wasn't that something Yan Yue had said during the Awakening Ceremony?
He had no such lofty ideals.
After saying her piece, Yan Yue turned and walked away gracefully, leaving Smith scratching his head.
Why did she say that to me of all people?
Is it because I'm handsome?
The more he thought about it, the less it made sense. So in the end, he simply shrugged it off and went home.
---
The first day of training had been exciting for everyone. But as the second day began, the mood had shifted.
Tension hung in the air.
Because tomorrow, they would leave the safety of Huaihai City and face real monsters for the first time.
That looming reality put everyone on edge. Anxiety, fear, and uncertainty were written on every face.
"Brother Smith," Wei Lin whispered nervously, "why do we—auxiliary students—have to go out there and face monsters? Wouldn't it be better if we just stayed back and became useless agricultural workers?"
Smith chuckled. After yesterday's interaction, they had become quite familiar with each other.
"There are too many people in auxiliary classes for all of us to stay inside. And besides, monsters are everyone's problem, not just the combat classes'. Sooner or later, we all have to face them."
Unlike his classmates, Smith was actually looking forward to the combat training.
He was eager to test the effects of his Sharingan and Wood Release in real battle.
---
"Alright, everyone, gather around."
Sun Shuyu's sharp voice cut through the morning murmur. The students quickly gathered.
"First of all, let's be clear: none of you in the auxiliary class currently have the strength to face monsters alone," she said bluntly.
"Therefore, starting tomorrow, you will be divided into teams and inserted into combat classes. You'll work alongside combat teams to face the enemy. This will also be how future missions are structured."
"In other words, auxiliary students will be embedded into combat squads for real battle support."
"There are thirty-two of you. You'll be divided into eight teams of four."
Sun Shuyu was nothing if not efficient. She picked up a list and began calling out names immediately.
"Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Wu, Wu Liu—you're Team One."
"Xiao Qi, Jiang Ba, Lin Jiu, Qian Ling—you're Team Two."
...
"Yan Yue, Zhao Mei, Smith, Wei Lin—you're Team Seven."
After assigning the final group, she looked up.
"That's your team. Now go home and prepare for tomorrow. We meet at 7:00 a.m. sharp. Understood?"
"Yes!"
After she left, the class erupted into activity as everyone hurried to find their teammates.
"This is awesome, Brother Smith! We're in the same team—and Yan Yue too!" Wei Lin grinned brightly.
For someone as introverted and timid as him, having familiar faces on the team was a major comfort.
Smith nodded, glancing toward the approaching figures of Yan Yue and another girl.
"Hi, I'm Zhao Mei. Looks like we'll be teammates from today," the girl next to Yan Yue said cheerfully.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Smith."
"I'm Wei Lin," said the smaller boy beside him.
"Hello," Yan Yue said with a calm nod.
After a brief round of introductions, the four of them said their goodbyes and headed home to rest.
Tomorrow would be the real test—and everyone needed to be ready.
---
"Dad, I'm home!"
Smith stepped inside his small but tidy apartment.
"Welcome back, son! Go wash your hands—dinner's ready."
His father, Smith Lei, had already laid out a lavish spread.
There was braised lion's head, spicy chicken, boiled pork slices, white-cut chicken, and pig's feet stewed with peanuts.
"So much food?" Smith's mouth watered as he sat down.
Smith came from a single-parent household. His father, Smith Lei, had raised him alone.
Outside the home, Smith Lei was a formidable fifth-tier A-level Lightning-type mutant, known across Huaihai City. But at home, he was simply Dad—warm, dependable, and an excellent cook.
"I know you're heading out of the city tomorrow for your first monster hunt," Smith Lei said, placing more food in his son's bowl. "So I made something special. Eat well. Do your best out there."
"Don't worry, Dad. I won't embarrass you," Smith said with a grin, biting into a juicy pig's trotter.
"I know you won't. And don't worry about safety either. Your teachers are capable. But I need to tell you something—I have a mission tomorrow too. I'll be leaving Huaihai City."
Smith looked up. "Where are you going?"
"Xiahai City. The monster activity there has increased. Reports say a fifth-level beast has appeared. Xiahai's local academy has asked us for help."
Xiahai was a small city about 50 kilometers east of Huaihai. Compared to Huaihai, it was underdeveloped and weaker. It only had one fifth-level mutant in the entire region.
Smith frowned. "A fifth-level monster? Will you be okay?"
"What's there to worry about?" his father said with a laugh. "I'm not some green rookie. Even a sixth-level monster would think twice before fighting me."
He wasn't exaggerating. Smith Lei, while technically just at the entry-level of Tier 5, had extraordinary combat strength due to his lightning ability. He had once fought three mid-level Tier 5 monsters at once—killing one and escaping unscathed.
Smith nodded. "Okay. But still… be careful."
"You too. Take care of yourself tomorrow."
The father and son continued their meal in quiet understanding, enjoying the calm before their respective storms.
---
The next morning arrived quickly.
Both father and son woke early, geared up, and met at the door.
"Do your best, son!"
"You too, Dad!"
They gave each other a thumbs-up, then parted ways, each heading toward their own battlefield.
Smith walked briskly toward Huaihai College. As he arrived, he saw that all students were already gathered, many wearing anxious expressions.
Today was the beginning of their true path.
Because of the importance of the exercise, eighty percent of Huaihai College's teachers were accompanying them. Each group of students would be followed by multiple instructors, ready to intervene if anything went wrong.
Principal Wang Daochuan stood before them with a solemn look.
"Students, today marks your first step into actual combat."
"I know many of you are afraid. And that's okay. Fear is natural."
"But don't let it control you. Remember this—monsters aren't invincible. You've trained hard. Your teachers will be beside you. You are ready."
"All we ask is that you give it your all."
"And we—the staff, the school, and I—will be waiting for you to return safely."
The students stood still, many clenching their fists as his words sank in.
Then came the final command:
"Let's move!"
With that, hundreds of students began marching out of Huaihai City in tight formations, their teachers guiding them at every step.
For them, this day marked the beginning of their first transformation—from student to warrior.
From safety… to survival.
---