Chapter 51: Abnormal

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Abnormal

As twilight began to blanket the marshlands of Layer 2, Rowan signaled for the group to halt in a clearing surrounded by high mudbanks.

"We stop here for the night," Rowan said, stepping into the center of the site.

He gripped his Rank C Hoe with both hands, channeling earth mana into its polished shaft. Adjusting his new Enchanted Straw Hat, he struck the damp earth, sweeping the blade in rhythmic, circular motions.

[Skill Activated: Terra Tilling]

Instead of merely churning mud, Rowan manipulated the earth mana to raise four thick walls of compacted stone and dirt around the perimeter. With another precise upward stroke, he shaped the rising soil into a seamless, reinforced earth dome overhead, leaving only narrow vents near the apex for ventilation.

Within minutes, a sturdy, weatherproof subterranean shelter took shape. The reinforced walls were thick enough to mask light and dampen sound, blocking out the cold marsh wind and hiding their presence from roaming beasts.

"Step inside," Rowan said, resting the hoe against his shoulder. "It’ll hold against any low-tier patrols."

Barney ducked into the entrance, running a heavy hand along the smooth, stone-hard dirt wall. "You built a fortified bunker in under three minutes with a farm tool. I’m never building a campsite by hand again."

Seraphina set up a small, smokeless mana stove in the center of the dome, casting a warm, golden glow across the dirt interior. Caelen unrolled his sleeping mat against the curved wall, while Mirei set up a light perimeter trap at the entrance before taking the first watch spot near the doorway.

Safe within the earthen dome, Squad 07 settled in for the night, ready to tally their day’s gains.

***

Perched high in the damp canopy of a towering marsh tree, hidden deep within a blanket of high-tier concealment mana, the third-year monitor rested against a sturdy branch.

She pulled a leather-bound evaluation journal from her inner coat pocket and flipped it open. The faint light of a muffled luminescent stone illuminated the blank page as she tapped her pen against her chin, contemplating how on earth to phrase the report she was about to submit to the academy board.

[SQUAD 07 - SECOND FLOOR DEPLOYMENT EVALUATION]

Monitor: Senior Cadet [Classified - Stealth/Assassination Division]

Target Unit: Squad 07 (First-Year)

Observations:

Team Dynamics & Formation:

Excellent cohesion and front-line discipline. Cadet Barney provides solid tank support with a single heavy tower shield. Cadet Caelen maintains strong vanguard cover, while Cadets Seraphina and Mirei execute efficient crowd control and long-range focus fire.

Squad Leader Performance (Cadet Rowan):

Anomaly Detected. Weapon of choice: Rank C Hoe (Agricultural Tool).

Leveraged support-class farming skills with alarming offensive efficiency.

Executed a large-scale AoE earth ability ([Earthbreaker Plough]) that instantly eliminated a 1,000-slime swarm in a single strike.

Maintained tactical control during the Level 5 Field Boss (Slime Lord) encounter. Rotated debuffs, armor-shattering strikes, and earth manipulation without drawing unnecessary party casualties.

Utilized agricultural terrain techniques to construct a fully fortified, sound-proof earthen dome within three minutes, ensuring zero party fatigue and optimal camping security.

Overall Assessment:

Combat Efficiency: S-Rank

Resource Management: S-Rank

Intervention Required: None (0 instances)

Note for Deans: Recommend re-classifying Cadet Rowan’s threat level and support classification. A farm tool should not be doing this much damage.

Closing the notebook with a quiet snap, she slipped it back inside her leather coat. She looked down through the dense fog toward the seamless mud dome below, where the soft, warm glow of a mana stove flickered through the ventilation slits.

She pulled her face mask back up, leaned her head against the trunk, and let out a soft, amused sigh before blending back into the shadows to keep watch through the night.

***

At first light, Squad 07 broke camp and made their way through the morning mist toward a clear, running stream running alongside the northern boundary of the marsh.

After refilling their water canteens with fresh water and rinsing the dried mud from their faces, the group split up to wash. Rowan, Barney, and Caelen bathed downstream first, taking a quick, refreshing wash in the cold mountain runoff before heading back to clear out their night quarters.

Back at the campsite, Rowan raised his Rank C Hoe, channeling a smooth reverse pulse of earth mana into the ground. With a soft hum, the reinforced mud dome collapsed back into fine, tilled soil, leaving the clearing completely smooth and leaving no trace of their camp.

Meanwhile, upstream near a secluded bend hidden by tall reeds and overhanging willow branches, Mirei and Seraphina waded into the crisp water.

As Mirei leaned back into the current to wash her hair, a gentle shimmer rippled across the air above a sturdy tree root. Their third-year monitor quietly stepped out of stealth and descended to the bank.

Without saying a word, she unbuckled her twin obsidian daggers, laid her dark leather coat over a dry stone, and stepped down into the clear stream alongside the girls.

Mirei offered a small, polite nod. "The water’s cold, but it clears the fog right up."

The monitor gave a subtle, silent nod of agreement, dunking her head beneath the surface to wash away the grime from a night spent in the humid canopy, content to take her time in the quiet stream before the day’s exploration resumed.

Upstream, Mirei glanced over as the senior assassin rinsed her long hair, the cold stream water carrying away the residue of a full night’s vigil. Seraphina sat on a smooth river stone, splashing fresh water onto her face before carefully placing her alchemy kits back into her belt pouches.

Meanwhile, back at the cleared campsite, Rowan adjusted his Enchanted Straw Hat, leaning on the haft of his Rank C Hoe while Barney and Caelen finished repacking their gear straps.

"Place is completely cleared," Barney said, double-checking his tower shield straps. "No tracks, no camp residue. If anyone walks past here, they’ll just think it’s a freshly plowed field."

"Good," Rowan replied, looking back toward the tree line where the stream flowed. "We give them a few more minutes, then we move out."