Just like the crypt Master said. They began to clear the remaining Initiate rank and it was as easy as the breeze invading a room. Each cleared at least six to seven crypt a day and that’s because they really didn’t get any kick out of it. It’s now a boring job to clear the crypt as no challenges were provided.

Most times they don’t even need to use their skills, their essence is enough to deal with the monsters, even the bosses. They don’t need to forge specific body parts when they can just forge all their body at once with still a lot of essence left behind.

"Ah! I’m glad this is the last day of the year. Honestly I can’t believe I actually miss the heart pounding sensation of clearing a crypt where a single mistake can get you killed. I can’t wait for us to start another year of Acolyte crypt hunting." Alex said, he was sitting casually on the floor of the ship, a skull turned plate was filled with meat in front of him.

It’s evening and Catena was once again cooking, and he indeed confirmed that he can taste better with his new rank. He put the rest of the meat into his own plate and nodded at Alex. "I wonder if the meat of Acolyte monsters will taste better because of the difference in essence?"

Azaroth was just eating while he stared out at the sea. He was thinking how much of a challenge the Acolyte rank will be but at the end it matters little. Right now his training has stalled and he’s not seeing much improvement. Because they are not getting better while they fight weak monsters.

"Of course it’s going to taste better!" Alex said as if he’s had it before or he had on good authority that it’s going to be that way, he took several bites from his food before he said anything else. "But that’s nothing compared to when the food is actually prepared well. I hope we have a good facility in the next one! We shouldn’t have to provide for ourselves like this!"

As soon as Alex and Catena got into the food discussion Stallus went to sit beside Azaroth and smiled at him. "Are you looking forward to the next phase of crypt hunting."

Azaroth didn’t say anything for a while but finally. "I only look forward to when I’ll start to clearing an Initiate level myself."

Stallus nodded, thinking. ’That’s just like you Azaroth, always look at things in the way you’ll come at the top’. But before she continued speaking Azaroth interrupted her.

"And you don’t know if we’ll be hunting crypts. Anyway, I will think more about it tomorrow." Azaroth dropped his plate and stood going down the deck.

Stallus watched him go with a thoughtful look on her face.

The next morning they arranged themselves on the ship as they wait for Crypt Master to appear. The sun shone sharply on them and the breeze brought the fresh sour smell of the sea to their nose.

"Ah! You children are ready for the next one huh!" Little bird exclaimed as he was the one to appear first. The small bird like creature floated in front of them.

They ignored it even as little bird zipped around them throwing jabs. But eventually the crypt Master came in a flash of light and he stopped.

The crypt Master is like a beastman today, with the head of a lion but pitch black and sharp yellow eyes. He flashed his fangs. "Congratulations in passing the first stage of your training, four more to go."

Alex couldn’t control himself and he jumped up and down. "Come on! Send us to the next stage already, I wonder if this one will be the desert and if there’ll be as much of a crypt."

The crypt Master focused on him with a small mysterious smile. He’s about to bust their heads. "Unfortunately, you won’t be doing crypt hunting this time."

Alex froze with his smile still on his face and his surprise look was mirrored by everyone except for Azaroth who was looking just as impassive.

"What?" Alex exclaimed.

"Are we doing something else? Like mountain training?" Catena demanded, his yellow speckled eyes shining.

"Are you giving us a task?" Stallus asked.

Azaroth waited, what’s there to ask questions when crypt Master is going to tell them anyway?

The crypt Master nodded and then spread his hands. "Right now what you need best is experience! You are used to fighting monsters but what about humans? Your fellow Awakeners? If your training is going to be complete and for you to be exceptional Awakener then you must have an all round experience."

They were silent now. This is unexpected, even for Azaroth. And now that he have a reason to ask he said. "Are you sending us back to the normal world?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Others nodded to his question. This is something they all want to know.

The crypt Master shook his head. "No. You won’t be able to fight other Awakeners if you are outside now unless you want fight with other Hounds as they will restrict your movement."

"Then how are we going to get experience fighting other Awakener?" Stallus asked, baffled.

Azaroth remembered something then, they once fought a woman before and she said some things about prison. His suspicious then and now is settling an idea into his mind.

The crypt Master leaned forward. "Let me tell you an open secret. This place haven’t always been a training Crypt with a lot of crypts you are seeing now. This place was something basic and simple. A transported and a prison."

"What?!" Three voices asked at once.

The crypt Master nodded solemnly. "Yes. I am the Arc, one of the enchanted tool of the higher ranks that’s aware and have a spirit. Back in the war I was the fastest and safest mode of transport and the unbreakable prison."