Magus Supremacy - Chapter 149

Chapter 149: Time to hunt a student!
Chapter 149

Stepping out of the portal, the first-year squad was immediately greeted by the harsh terrain beneath their feet—rugged, crimson-red earth riddled with craters and jagged ridges. Behind them, the portal remained open, shimmering faintly, a comforting reminder that their exit was still accessible.

With that assurance, they finally raised their heads to take in the world that would serve as their home for the next week—and were instantly struck by the atmosphere. The air was so thick and oppressive it felt as if a gravitational spell was pushing down on their shoulders.

‘How did I not feel this earlier?’ Grey thought, struggling to lift his foot, let alone walk.

This was Planet Verrar—a wild, untamed world brimming with danger. Towering crimson forests loomed in the distance, dense and seemingly alive. Massive rock formations hovered in the air, suspended by invisible forces. Above them stretched an eternal twilight sky, where the sun never fully set, casting the land in an eerie orange-purple hue. A dense mist veiled the landscape, limiting visibility and casting long shadows.

The very air vibrated with a subtle, haunting hum—a sign of the planet’s overwhelming mana saturation. Bioluminescent flora pulsed gently, casting faint glows across their path, while rivers of deep indigo liquid flowed quietly through the terrain. Rumors claimed that drinking from them could enhance one’s mana ever so slightly.

The atmosphere was clearly denser than Arondale’s—something they could all now feel in their bones. Their movements were sluggish, almost laborious, as though they were wading through invisible mud.

A loud grunt drew their attention behind. Arthur and the poison user were locked in a battle with gravity, barely able to lift their feet, yet still pushing forward with grit.

‘Hold on… I might have something that can help,’ Grey thought as he closed his eyes, focusing inward. A moment later, a faint, soft red glow shimmered across his skin—his mana skin activating silently, nearly imperceptible to those around him.

He took a step. Light. Controlled. Effortless.

A grin spread across his face. “Much better,” he muttered.

The others could only gawk.

“I give up!” Raze exclaimed, dragging his feet forward. “At this point, no matter what this guy pulls out, I’m done being surprised.”

The others grumbled as they struggled to keep pace, each step draining what little energy they had left. Their breathing grew heavier, sweat drenching their robes as though they had run a marathon.

Taking in a deep breath, Grey smiled and remarked, “Beautiful planet, isn’t it?”

He turned around to face the others, his smile widening at the sight of their exhausted forms. “Not like any of you can relate though.”

“You…” Scarlet growled, fists clenched, but even talking was a chore.

“Has Instructor Von lost his mind?! How could they send us here when we can barely walk, let alone fight beasts?!” Raze barked.

“This is what you signed up for. Either endure it, or quit,” Greg snapped, though the strain in his voice betrayed how close he was to collapsing.

“Like hell I signed up for this!” Raze retorted.

“Shut up, you idiot! Want to attract beasts already?!” Vince hissed, then forced himself to calm down.

“C’mon,” Grey said, already walking ahead, hands casually tucked in his pockets. “Let’s find shelter first. Then we can talk about how we’ll be hunting these beasts—assuming you’re not all too pathetic by then.”

“Like hell I’m moving a step forward with you,” Scarlet shot back.

“Suit yourself. But I’m curious how you plan to run when a beast charges at you.” Grey chuckled, not bothering to look back.

The others groaned and reluctantly followed, dragging their bodies behind him. Scarlet hesitated for a moment, then clenched her jaw.

‘If this was back home, I could face down a level 3 beast without flinching. But here, with this cursed atmosphere, I wouldn’t even last long enough to cast my third spell,’ she thought bitterly, before forcing herself to move forward.

Behind them, the portal flickered—then out stepped a young man with vibrant orange hair, hands tucked into his pockets. His eyes gleamed with quiet malice as he scanned the alien landscape.

“What an interesting planet,” he murmured. The weight of the atmosphere slammed against him, but his mana skin flared to life instantly, forming an invisible barrier that let him walk with ease.

“It’s almost like this place was tailor-made for me. With this kind of pressure, my target will barely be able to walk—let alone fight.”

A cold smile spread across his lips. “His little twin affinities won’t be of any use here.”

Then came a low chuckle.

“Oh, this is going to be fun… Time to go hunt a loudmouth fool,” he whispered, stepping away from the portal and into the thick mist, following the distant traces of the squad ahead.

Meanwhile, the first-years were completely drenched in sweat, struggling to remain upright. Grey, on the other hand, strode effortlessly ahead, hands in his pockets, whistling a soft, cheerful tune.

‘Noir was right,’ Grey mused. ‘I won’t be able to take down the Emperor or face the otherworlders alone when that time comes. I’ll need a strong force beside me—people I can trust to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me.’

‘That means these idiots will have to improve. And fast. So this hellish world is perfect for them.’

“Hey! Will you stop that annoying whistling?!” Jay snapped. “It’s driving me crazy!”

Grey didn’t stop. “Don’t like it? Stay behind,” he replied casually.

Then suddenly, Grey stopped walking, causing everyone else to halt with ragged breaths.

“Wh… What is it? Why did we stop?” Arthur managed to gasp, on the verge of collapse.

Grey didn’t answer. He crouched down, placing his hands on the rocky ground. Sparks of lightning crackled from his palms, racing out in every direction—slithering across the terrain like glowing veins.

“What was that?” Greg asked, blinking in surprise.

“A type of mana tracking,” Grey replied. “Using my lightning affinity, I can spread my mana across a large area to sense the presence—or absence—of mana and lifeforms. I’m searching for a place with the least mana flow, where we can rest.”

“Awwn! You do care,” Raze smirked.

“Tch. Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t want weaklings slowing me down in battle,” Grey scoffed, then stood up and pointed ahead. “That way.”

With no better options, the group silently followed him once more, their footsteps echoing softly through the strange, alien world.