The sun blazed mercilessly overhead as Damon, Anaya, and Daveon stood in front of Ex-General Leana, who had come to be known as "Miss Leana" to her wards.
The trio stood at attention, their expressions a mix of anticipation and anxiety, or rather, fear.
They were about to venture deeper into the barren lands of the First Layer of Hell, a place known for its unforgiving conditions and lurking demons. So, it was quite normal for them to feel this way.
Leana's sharp gaze swept over them, her hands resting on her hips. "Listen carefully," she began, her tone firm but not unkind. "This place isn't just dangerous because of the demons."
Leana pointed towards the ground shaking her head. "The environment itself is your enemy. The lack of vegetation, the blistering heat, and the scarcity of natural hiding spots make survival here a challenge in itself."
Anaya raised a hand hesitantly. "Miss Leana, what do you mean by 'natural hiding spots'?"
Leana nodded, glad for the question. "Normally, in any forest or wilderness, trees and thick foliage would serve as cover. Here, the extreme temperature prohibits the growth of most plants. What you'll find instead are dried up trees and skeletons—massive ones, remnants of mana beasts that lived here long ago. Their skulls, in particular, can act as effective hiding spots."
Daveon tilted his head. "Why skulls?"
Leana's eyes narrowed slightly, as if gauging how much they could understand. "The bones of mana beasts retain traces of their essence. It's faint, but it's enough to mask your own magic signature to a degree. Demons rely heavily on sensing essence, so hiding within these bones can give you a significant advantage."
Damon, who had been silent up to this point, frowned. "But these hiding spots must be rare if they're dependent on the skeletons of beasts from who knows how long ago."
Leana smiled faintly. "Exactly. They're scarce, which means you'll have to rely on your wits and instincts more than anything else. Remember, demons aren't mindless. They'll spot you just as easily as you can spot them."
Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of somber seriousness. "And trust me when I say that the demons here are relentless. They'll hunt you down if you're careless and even when you're careful, still try not to fall for their traps. So, stay sharp, stay together, and remember what I've taught you."
After delivering her warning, Leana gestured for the group to follow her. "Now then, shall we go?"
They had spent the previous day resting and acclimating to the intense environment, but now it was time for the real reason they had come here: training.
The trio followed Leana out of the Regulator, the temperature immediately spiking as they stepped into the open wasteland.
"Ugh! It'll take a while to get used to this place." Anaya frowned when the heat attacked her skin once again.
"Does that mean you'll be the last one to adapt?" Damien asked with a playful smirk, his question directed at none other than his girlfriend.
"Tsk, no! Let's just get started." Anaya clicked her tongue.
The land stretched endlessly before them, a scorched and barren expanse dotted with jagged rocks and the occasional skeletal remains of some long-dead beast.
Leana's sharp eyes scanned the horizon, her every movement calculated. As the group walked cautiously, she began to speak, her tone reflective.
"My first time here was... intense," she said, her voice carrying over the quiet crunch of their footsteps on the dry, cracked earth. "I was already a high-ranking military official by then, but even with all my training and experience, this place nearly broke me."
Anaya looked up at her, curiosity lighting her features. "What was it like back then?"
"Hell!" Leana's gaze remained fixed ahead, her expression unreadable. "Back then, this place was teeming with Grade Four and Grade Three demons."
She shook her head as she recalled the events of that period. "The death toll was staggering. We lost people left and right, even the strongest of us. At the time, Grade Four demons were a nightmare to face, and Grade Three... well, let's just say they weren't any better."
Daveon frowned. "But you're strong now. You could probably handle them, right?"
Leana chuckled softly. "Now, yes. I can take on a dozen Grade Four demons without much trouble. But back then? Even one was enough to leave me battered and bloody. I was lucky to survive most encounters."
Damon glanced at her. "What changed?"
"Experience," Leana replied simply. "And a lot of trial and error. The demons here may be ruthless, but they also provide the best training you can get. Their cores are valuable, their scales perfect for crafting shields, and their essence... well, it's like fuel for growth. That's why Grade Four and Three demons were hunted down first. They held the most threat, but also the highest rewards."
Anaya shuddered. "And now they're rare?"
Leana nodded. "Exactly. The demon hunters thinned their numbers significantly. Now, the most common demons here are lower-grade ones. They're still dangerous, but nothing you can't handle if you stay focused."
Daveon smirked slightly. "So, you're saying the odds of us dying are lower than when you first came here?"
Leana shot him a sharp look, though there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "The odds are in your favor. But don't get cocky. This place will kill you the moment you underestimate it."
The group continued deeper into the wasteland, the oppressive heat pressing down on them like a physical weight. Every step felt heavier than the last, but none of them complained.
Leana stopped suddenly, raising a hand to signal silence. The three students froze, their senses sharpening.
"Do you hear that?" Leana whispered.
The trio strained their ears, and after a moment, a faint sound reached them—a low, guttural growl carried on the wind.
"Yes, I can hear it." Damon nodded at their guardian's question while Anaya simply nodded as well.
"Yes," Daveon said with one hand raised into the sky, "that's my stomach growling."
Three pairs of eyes turned to him again and Daveon felt crawling into his own stomach to satisfy that hunger of his.
"Then deal with it before I do!" Leana said with a stare that made Daveon wish he was a stick.