5

Chapter 2

- 1 year later -

As we entered the school for our final year of highschool we were pleased with our progress,from our group of 5 we had grown into a group of 17. We had tried to be as balanced as possible,not leaning too much into certain classes that we could recruit later on. We decided the points amongst us 5.

3 Farmers
3 Blacksmiths
3 Construction
2 Melee
1 Tank
1 Range
1 Mage
1 Summoner
1 Healer
1 Holy

The first day of our final year had arrived,the school was the same as always,our group in it's corner talking about the most useless shit imaginable,yet,it was never boring. Every person recruited either matched our energy or our ideals,which led to minimal conflict between us. My stats had come along nicely but since reaching lvl.10 my grinding speed had slowed significantly and without the items that came with the cracks,my speed would continue to do so. I had but one option,actual kills. Up till now all we did was train to get experience. Train our bodies,our techniques,martial arts,we did everything we could to increase our physical state but it would only take us that far. While the cracks were open,animal kills counted towards experience,so hunter classes quickly rose to one of the most sought after classes. But that's where it stopped. The longer the crack was open,the more mutated the animals became and the less of them the hunters were able to hunt. With the animal population being at its peak now,would they still count towards experience? So far,insects hadn't counted a single experience point,so I have my doubts,but it's worth trying. With my grandfather's farm still accessible,I put my plan into action. The attack classes would join me on the farm and we would go hunting,if they gave experience,it would be extremely beneficial,if they didn't,it would still count as a bonding experience for what we called "The Strike Squad" the closer our bonds the more our team synergy buff would multiply and the better its effects would be. Both equally beneficial,both can be used without the other. If both were acquired it would be the best outcome. So I organized the event. It took about 2 weeks to get everyone on board with it, especially the girls who were not so on board with hunting as the guys were,what I hadn't told them is that if it didn't reward any experience,we would simply be drinking and smoking to build up our poison resistance and abnormal status effect resistance. Which was also beneficial. We went through the day as normal and everyone,including me,couldn't wait to leave this damn school. "So,what's the play?" Nathan asked. "What do you mean?" I retorted. " I mean,after this year. What will all of us do? Stick together? Share a flat again? I don't think that flat will hold 17 people." I sighed and chuckled a bit. "Nathan,I saved up every last cent I could these 4 years of highschool and all of us have little jobs that give good tips. Once we all finish college we will have the income of 17 people and not just 5. This time,we go for bigger. We only spend on what's absolutely needed. We will focus mostly on tools and equipment needed to survive that hell hole. That's the play." I answered. "You've  really thought of everything,haven't you?" . "Only untill the end of college,I have no clue what we are going to do after that. I think we stay on the same path but prepare enough to survive on our owns without really having to face off against the demons,but we will need levels when it starts,so I'm a little torn between what we should do." °Loud siren blares° "Guess it's time for lunch." I say standing up. "Can't believe it's only the end of 4th period,I might die before the cracks". " We agree on that". Timothy adds as he joins us on the way out of the classroom. "But,even with all our prep,it won't help if we don't have plans,I think we should vote for a leader" Tian adds. "Maybe your right...but I think it shouldn't be just one person,we should have multiple brains working on the same solutions" I respond. " Who do you have in mind?" Nathan asks. "The 5 of us" I say while pointing to them. " So we go on a voting system between us 5,whichever decision or solution has the most votes,is the one we go with. Anyone oppose?" We all agreed to this. Over the 20 years we spent in the hell hole,we had learned more of each other's way of thinking,we were brothers,not by blood,but by choice. If the end of the human race and even our deaths couldn't separate us,nothing could,we all believed that and it's what we based our plans off. Even if everyone else left or died in battle. We would always stick together.

Name: Ricardo
Age: 18
Height: 190cm
Birthday: 19 April

Lvl. 15
Exp. 9839/18000
Skills: (Stab)
            (Slash)
            (Parry)
            (Mana blade) consumes 2 mana every 10 seconds

Status: normal

Stat Window:

Str. 40
AGI. 25
Int. 20
Mana. 1000/1000