SSS Cultivation: I Can Conquer Earth's Rank System
Chapter 66: Beast Lessons

Chapter 66: Beast Lessons

"Uh-huh!" Leo said.

"I agree," Rosa said.

Amanda squeaked, still Hamster.

"I didn’t know we were going on a Beast Hunt."

"Like I said, you’re always sleeping in class, so it’s a no brainer that you missed that information. Hunter Man told us two weeks after we got here. Mrs. Black told us few weeks ago too. I don’t know how you missed both," Rosa complained.

"Okay. Okay. Don’t drown me just yet. What was said about these beasts we’re going to hunt? Is it compulsory? Can I back out if I want?"

"You can never back out," a voice boomed. Amanda is now a handsome young man with nicely trimmed beards and an oily hair. He’s really handsome. The only comical thing about him is Amanda’s feminine dress he wore.

"Amanda, you know it’s illegal to take the form of a person, especially popular people," Rosa frowned at this new muscular man. Amanda took the form of a popular action movie actor.

"I know. Just can’t help it. One minute." And again, she’s back in her beautiful girl form. Her hair was now red.

"Okay, you were saying something earlier when you morphed into your celebrity crush," Leo said in an indifferent tone.

If Amanda was embarrassed, she didn’t show it. Leo noticed that her looks never really reveal much. "Ahem! I was saying you cannot back out since it’s part of everyone’s compulsory course here. There has never been a history of anyone sitting behind while his mates are out hunting. Everybody is hyped up and excited about this adventure and the only thing you’re thinking of is backing out. You should cover your face."

Rosa made a face. Leo frowned in response.

"Will you tell me about these beasts or should I go find out myself?" Leo was tired.

"Of course, we will," said Rosa.

Amanda walked to stand opposite Leo. She began,

"Just like anything with levels and tiers in new Earth, the beasts are of seven ranks. From F-rank all the way to S-rank."

"Wow."

"Wait, you didn’t know that as well?" Amanda was surprised.

"I value my sleep. That’s all," Leo said.

Rosa grunted.

"That’s good to hear. At least you value something," Amanda said, "and as you might or might not have known, these beasts are not abundant here on Earth. Well, you might see some roaming or flying about, but they are mostly one of those beasts that wandered or flew out of the Northern Earth where the Xollantes are colonizing. The Xollantes came here with a lot of beasts, but most of these beasts didn’t survive the harsh condition of Earth.

"As nobody will send anybody to the Northern Earth to hunt these beasts, there are only a few options left, and that is; first, planet Luxus E-75 the blue planet, planet Omarlia which is the red planet, or the white planet which is planet Alkhansi. Those are the planets approved for Hunting for now.

"Luxus has different beasts with different ranks. The most common being the F to C rank. From B upward, you have to search dangerous caves and nests to encounter them. But since only freshmen are going for now, the higher rank beasts are not to be bothered. The last set of freshman visited Luxus for their Hunting. It might not be so for your set.

"Planet Omarlia is only known for low rank beasts from F to D. Some rangers said they’ve encountered C-rank beasts on Omarlia before, but it is not confirmed yet. This might be the location for this year’s adventure if the academy is to reduce the risk of death among students.

"Planet Alkhansi on the other hand, has the widest variety or species of beasts. Of course, most of them are lower ranked also, but the number and the different type of beasts there are numerous. It is a densely populated planet for beasts. This might come as a major disadvantage for you freshmen because even if you can easily take down the beasts, their number might wear one out. Most of the beasts there attack in groups," Amanda concluded.

Leo didn’t know what to ask first. But above anything, he really wished it was planet Luxus the academy picked for the hunt. For one reason, he had been there, same as most of the students who weren’t born with quirks here. And for another reason, he really wants to see Loca again. If nothing but to ask how or why they haven’t been communicating since he left the planet for earth. The only time he heard Loca was earlier today, and it was a short and brief communication which ended too soon for Leo. He didn’t even have the chance to say anything.

Planet Omarlia sounded safe enough for the hunt since it’s full of low ranked beasts with the highest being D.

But planet Alkhansi was creepy to him. Going where everything there are hideous beasts is not sitting right with him. The hunt better not be on this planet.

"I really wish it is Luxus. Alkhansi would be a danger zone, don’t you think?" Leo said.

"Well, I think so too. But we need many beast cores to perform well in the hunt test. This hunt is in group if you don’t know. The more beast you kill and the more cores you extract, the more score you get. What better planet is there for good marks than Alkhansi?" Rosa said.

"Don’t sound like only a group will be at an advantage there. If your group kills many beasts for marks, so will other groups too. I mean everyone will be surrounded with beasts all the same. Plus you might run out of energy if they are too many. Sometimes, number matters," Leo countered.

Rosa made a face that screamed, "you’re just a coward."

"Don’t give me that look. I’m not scared."

"Yes you are. See the way you yelped when Amanda turned to Slimeboy?"

"That’s the name of the beast? Slimeboy?" Leo thought.

"That was a jump scare. It would have gotten anybody. And if I was scared of the hunting, why didn’t I wish it was Omarlia since it’s the softest one here?"

"How should I know what’s on your mind?"

Amanda jumped in. "Yes, we all agree Alkhansi is the most dangerous here. But arguing about it won’t change the academy’s decision. All you have to do is wait till an official announcement is made."

"I just wish it’s Luxus," Leo said, "but Amanda, why are you saying ’you freshmen’?"

"Because I’m not a freshman, dufus."

"Yes, she’s not a freshman. She’s not even a student, Leo. She’s an academic staff. The librarian, remember?"

"Mm. I forgot," Leo replied.

Rosa tuned to Amanda. "Shall we start or you still have some information for our sleepy head here?"

"No. I don’t think I have anything to say again. He can find out the rest from his colleagues. Let’s begin."

Leo dreaded the thought of what they were talking about. He knew what they were about to begin and he hated it with all his being.

"Is anybody forcing you to do this, Amy? Do you have to morph into a beast to train us? Don’t you feel used?"

"No, not at all. Changing my form is so fun to me, especially when it’s a savage beast," she replied getting ready to transform again, "and thanks for calling me Amy. You’re such a darling."

Leo scoffed.

"Which one are we doing first?" Rosa asked.

"I would have suggested the Water Glider but there’s no water here, so I think we should start with the Winged Lizard, the most common land beast on Omarlia."

"I don’t mind," said Rosa, "as long as I find something to prepare myself for the hunt."

"Okay, let’s have it," Amanda said before her form started getting disfigured. Leo blinked only once and he missed the process.

Landing on all fours was a large lizard four times bigger than earth’s Komodo Dragons. Its scaly skin was of distinct colour, catching the light in the room and bouncing them brilliantly all over the place like it’s in a mating season and trying to show its beauty to a female lizard.

Deep yellow eyes with black slit looked dead on at Rosa. Leo could feel that cold stare even though he wasn’t the one standing in front of it. That eyes looked really dangerous and intimidating, but that wasn’t the most intimidating features of this lizard. What stood out best was its wings.

Golden underneath but scaly and dusty brown on the surface. It flapped the wings twice and the thin sheet of skin blew up like a parachute.

Before the standoff, those yellow eyes rolled in Leo’s direction as if Amanda was going to change her mind and come for him instead of Rosa. Leo took a few steps backwards to show he wasn’t ready. The image of this strange creature has not been fully accepted by his brain yet. It was as if he was seeing a real life Dragon. What more? Maybe it will spit out some smoke now.

"Fight me first, Wingy Lizzy baby," Rosa sang. She was posed and ready.

Leo took more steps backwards till he found a safe space with a safe distance from Amanda lizard and Rosa.

The lizard opened its mouth wide to reveal its forked tongue, fangs and over-pink inner slimy mouth.

Leo was by a wall now.

"Grab a popcorn," someone said beside him. "Amanda doesn’t fight like a human when she’s turned to a beast." It was Jade.