How To Survive A Calamity

It made sense how Meta, the system was capable of automatically leveling me up on its own.

As i sat still in my seat my thoughts wandered.

At the front of the class, Wrenna's voice became a muffled backdrop of incessantly flapping lips and mouth noises.

"Haa..." Reflexively, i let out a sigh and looked out the window nonchalantly

I was exhausted.

Even now, over many days after the instant level up quest i was still trying to wrap my head fully around the situation.

[Level: 34]

I still haven't had a breakthrough to the next rank.

And the instant level up reward now felt like a dream, days later after it's effect.

The only thing i had left behind that made me sure of that reality was the status screen displaying my level.

I wish i could get another instant level up...

With such desperate melancholic longing, i sighed yet again.

On closer thoughts, perhaps it made sense that Meta could do such a thing as automatically leveling me up.

Thinking back, hasn't such a thing already happened once or twice before in the past?

Back at the Dungeon of Laplace, Meta had forcefully caused my Appraisal Skill to hit level 2 instantly. And there's the absurd burst and rise in my strength and ability when i activate immersion too.

Immersion wasn't on the same level as an instant level up, but it was similar. In some terms, i could even almost say that a short burst of Immersion gave me a higher instant burst of strength and ability than a level up message.

Speaking of which, Appraisal had risen to level 3 during the past year.

Which means i should be expecting a new skill breakthrough?

'Hmm. The last time something like that happened, Appraisal skill was Inspect before hitting level 3.'. which means, my system skills have a level cap of 3 before something happens?

Like a skill evolution maybe?

There was a significant upgrade between Inspect and Appraisal, so I'm kind of looking forward to it.

But the same thing remains that, even if the skill upgrades, it's initial area and range of effects still remains. It's kind of like its core still remains as a one percent.

Inspect let me see into the stat levels of my target.

Appraisal let me quantify and summarise portions of their entire stats.

Both of them required me too look at the target with my eyes.

But as Appraisal rose in level, the range and extent of it's ability gradually increased.

The higher the level the skill became, the wider the chances it was for me to Appraise the stats of a target much stronger than me.

Since i wasn't currently listening in class and was idly wasting time, I let my thoughts run free.

If Appraisal evolved, what next?

As for wether if at all the Appraisal skill even would evolve, i wasn't worried. I was pretty confident it would.

I moved my head which was casually leaning against my palm slightly and glanced at instructor Wrenna who was saying something at the front of the class.

"Status." I called in a soft voice, and an illusionary screen only i could see appeared before my eyes.

====

<SKILLS>

>>>>>

[ACTIVE SKILLS]

{Appraisal}

Level 2

Rank-: Rare

...

{Lock On}

Level 1

Rank: Rare

...

{Immersion}

Level???

Rank-:???

...

>>>>>

[PASSIVE]

{Danger Sense}

[Description: Sense any incoming danger ahead of time.]

Level: 2

Rank: Common

...

====

...

The Appraisal skill's rank is Rare and i had this inkling, like a kind of intuition, that the next breakthrough might raise it to a different rank entirely.

Inspect and Appraisal were both of the same ranks initially, with the same skill set, but different ranges. Despite being the same rank Appraisal is obviously a more better version of the lesser and more inferior Inspect skill until it evolved up.

I wonder what the next evolution or rank up would give me.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Casually, my thoughts had strayed from me initially contemplating the specifics of the instant level up reward, to the evolution of my most used skill.

Speaking about breakthroughs...

Then i thought about my own current progress.

It was there i got depressed.

I've still been unable to make any suitable progress ever since the last quest. The change the instant level up provided me was significant, but that was where it stopped.

'Hey, if you could always level me up that easily, why didn't you just do it sooner?'

[...]

I mumbled inwardly, prompting Meta for a response, but was met with silence.

But at the same time, i heard Instructor Wrenna's voice finally say, tye contents of her words registered to me and garnered my attention.

"And on that note, the first practical field experience exercise is coming up in a few days."

At such words that managed to drift into my ears, my head perked up slightly.

Practical field experience exercise?

What the hell was that?

As if she could read my thoughts, Wren continued to explain in her usual staid manner. The entire classroom was mild with silence as everyone, i inclusive, paid attention.

"The exercise is a mandatory part of your curriculum as cadets of Aegis, and results will be judged according to various factors related to it. In about a little over a week time, one of the Dungeon gates under the jurisdiction of the Academy will be open to all first years for a week long event. The purpose of this exercise is to rasie your experience and awareness with conquering the inverse worlds of Dungeons, Gates and diving." Wrenna swept a cool gaze across the classroom as she explained.

"The practical field experience exercise will have each of you split into random groups as teams spread across an entire week of only five days. For now, this announcement is only a minor reminder, and nore details and information will be disclosed in due time. Do remember ur participation and results will affect and reflect in your continuous assessment."

Wrenna's words made my eyes widened slightly.

A dungeon driving exercise...

Adrienne never mentioned something like this to me.

But wasn't this just what i needed?

A Dungeon.

A Dungeon was a notorious word in this world, and the first thing that came to mind when i thought of a Dungeon was the inheritance dungeon of Laplace.

And that too, brought a few other things to mind.

Giant crabs, decapitation, starvation, zombie bone spikes, and a terrifying nightmaric suit of armour.

But most of all...

Experience points!

"Until then classes will continue as usual. Each and everyone of you are advised to make preliminary preparations and research into Dungeon diving and attending related classes and practical and theoretical lectures. As for the method of assigning groups and team members, you'll be notified at any moment through your bracelets. And from there, it is left for you all to decide what to do until the day of the start of the exercise."

It went without saying, for most of the class, Wrenna's announcement was all of a sudden.

As was already explained, the purpose of the exercise is to introduce the future Awakened Heroes of the World to the experience of Dungeons and gates, which were also intricately tied to the world of Aethoria.

-"Gulp..."

I swept a cursory glance at the pensive faces of my classmates from the corner of my eyes.

The discomfort was clear and obvious in most of their expressions.

I guess it was to be expected. Not many of these kids have ever actually been down a dungeon before.

It was usually a very risky and dangerous matter, as Dungeons were considered high risks in Aethoria.

But as humanity's Awakened, who chose to walk the part of Heroes, it was unavoidable for them to ignore this aspect.

'And this is only the beginning. ' there was still the silent war between the human race, demons, and other races.

But on the bright side, I'm sure the academy would have taken measures to prevent actual deaths during this exercise, right?

Right...?

This is disturbing...

After Wren said all that she intended, the class was dismissed and we were all done for the day.

For better or for worse, the Field exercise was something to look forward to. I was currently in a tight position and such a chance and opportunity arrived before me.

But i wasn't sure wether to cry or laugh.

Have i really gotten to that point... Is my circumstances really that pathetic and desperate for me to long to throw myself in literal danger and precarious situation just for me to level up...?

'Well i already said I'd do whatever it takes to get stronger, by utilizing whatever means necessary...' i reaffirmed my resolve silently once again and stopped walking.

'And on that note...' i turned slightly to the side and stared off at a certain person a few distance away from me.

Alexander with his full pale white hair stood out in the crowd.

The Hero of prophecy.

The so called saviour of this world, but also our doom incarnate.

If i truly continue to let Alex be on his own, and let this world continue to unravel as is, then the future would definitely be even more unavoidable.

I have to remember I'm not trying to deeply affect it or avoid it. All i had to do was survive.

But having the entire world dead in the process isn't exactly optimal.

As i stared at Alex from afar, my thoughts became slightly more colder and an empty sigh left my lips.

Alexander Crossfield was necessary.

Finally...

It was about time i truly began to involve myself with the bastard Hero of prophecy.