As everyone finished breakfast, more of the monster meat pork served with potatoes and eggs, a luxury from the academy’s storage, the special forces team got everyone motivated to go train their combat skills.

It wasn’t a challenging task, everyone was well aware of their shortcomings. Even those who were too cowardly to fight the first time were eager to train in case they were attacked and unable to run. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Kalli joined the group practicing sword techniques, though she would never be a combat class.

It just seemed prudent.

Even if she wasn’t doing much damage with a melee weapon, she had the bat that would work for anyone, and that meant she could fight, just not nearly as well as a Warrior or mage.

Fortunately for her, there was not only a defensive training module on bat and club use in the special forces’ curriculum, but they had members of the baseball team that could give her helpful tips and tricks.

"No, shift your hands like this, then hitch your hip. You’re going to be swinging high because most of the good targets are at or above your shoulder. Only the rat demons are shorter than you are.

No offence.

See how much harder that swings? That’s what you’re after. I know that the System grants a base amount of damage when you get a solid hit, but it’s more of a sliding scale.

We realized that earlier. A clean hit will deal a certain amount of damage, create a nice deep cut, but if you’re an expert with the blade, you’ll do so much more. There’s some sort of hidden bonus, and it’s not all strength or speed based."

Kalli practiced her swing, and winked at Yara, who was laughing at the sight of her practicing like she was on the baseball team, but in a long robe and using a spiked bat.

Sanchez came over to examine her form. "Well, as strange as it looks, you’ve got a good swing technique. Now, practice swinging at your knees like you’re chasing a slider. The Rat Demons are only waist high, but they’re fast, so it’s best to aim at centre mass, not their head."

"Got it, I will practice low swings as well."

But while she practiced, Kalli opened the System Interface and brought up the Quest creation options.

{Coordinator, do you wish to issue a Quest?} Cost 1 System Point for Easy. 10 Points for Hard. 100 Points for Nightmare. 1000 points for an Epic grade quest.

(3x points cost as reward for completion)

Kalli scrolled through the options, and picked a Hunting Quest. An Easy Mode quest needed 10 rat demons per completion, and could be done as a group of five. But more importantly, it could be completed multiple times, with a limitation of once per person per day.

{Leaving a hunting quest active applies its activation price daily}

That was an interesting fact. She could make a standing quest to clear monsters in the area, and people could go out and clear it every day. The rat demons might just be the key to their early wealth.

{Quest Created} Cost: 1 System Point.

{Quest Issued} Rat Demon Hunting. Kill 10 rat demons before midnight, maximum 5 members per team. Multiple teams may complete this mission.

The notice appeared to all the students and Sanchez at the same time, and instantly practice was forgotten.

"This is perfect. I heard from Reggie that there were rat demons all over the place last night and this morning. If we can find where they’re hiding, we can wipe them out. We just need to build the right groups.

Like in a raid game. Tank, damage and heals."

"Don’t forget crowd control, if you can find some." Kalli added helpfully.

"Right, crowd control. Keep them from running or ambushing us. Alright, everyone, form teams. The more that we work together, the better it will be."

They were all chattering and arguing about their skills when Kalli got a message.

{Quest Complete} 3 System Points awarded (-1 System Point for quest issuance)

{Total System Points} 266

Kalli frowned. None of them had left the compound yet.

Didn’t that mean they weren’t the only ones seeing these messages? When she created a quest, it must be appearing to the other students of the Academy. Anyone with a Hero Class was getting the missions that she issued. At least, in their general area.

While the first students were forming their groups and getting ready to head outside, a small group of men appeared outside the gate.

"Hello? Is someone still in there? The System told us that this is the turn in point for the rat demon quest," a young man’s voice called.

Kalli walked to the gate and waved to them.

"You’re in the right spot. Probably? Let me open the Academy gates for you. Were you students? Sorry if I don’t recognize anyone."

The young man frowned. "I know you, you’re in Class 1A, right? I saw you in the office that morning, getting your class itinerary."

"I am. Kalli De Marimgar."

The young man laughed. "Still going by that name even now? Alright, fair play. I am Niall Kardon. Class 4A Monitor, Student Council President, and now Level 2 Rogue. These are my classmates from the Student Council.

I don’t suppose your class has a healer? None awakened in the Student Council."

Kalli nodded, and opened the latch for the smaller man door in the gate, letting the five in.

As she did, she noticed that while the other four were wearing bulky coats, they were not actually large men, but athletic women in baggy clothing. They all held themselves with the sort of pride that only came with wielding some sort of power, the sort of pride that you found in middle management or human resources managers.

"These are Joanna, Carmen, Anna and Beth, the rest of the Student Council, all Warrior Class awakened students. Now, where do we...

Oh, it’s you. I have to touch you to collect the reward? How does that work?"

Kalli laughed. "My Class is Coordinator. And apparently you have to check in because you left the Academy, and weren’t nearby when the quest started. Good to meet you."

She reached out and shook all of their hands, causing a loot box to appear the moment that she released them.

"You are... amazing. Shaking your hand grants prizes," one of the girls gasped.

Kalli laughed. "Only when you’ve completed a quest. Our teams were just about to head out to start their hunts, we only just got the notice."