Later that day, the group arrived at a dark, secluded stream. There, the next challenge presented itself.
A pair of monsters leaped from the water. They were a pair of three-colored giant frogs. Their mottled skin was a grotesque patchwork of gleaming yellow, blue, and red colors. They were enormous... for frogs. Comparable to the size of a normal lion.
"Alright Kids! Spread out!" Jack took command again. "Don't get hit! They are very likely poisonous."
The frogs were quick. Their jumps covered impressive distances. One's long tongue lashed towards a student. But Nick, reacting instantly, had cast the [Lesser Ward] spell in front of the student. Deflecting the tongue lash.
Allena projected a couple of [Magic Missiles]. Striking the inside of the giant frog's opened mouth twice. Choking the frog. Striking it off balance.
Chloe, meanwhile, used her [Shadow Walk] and [Vicious Taunt] on the other frog. Locking it in confused state. Allowing the other students to send barrage of [Magic Missiles] to pierce the monster's weak points.
The students had learned to anticipate and to react as one. They were no longer just individual combatant in a battle. They were now a small, highly coordinated unit. A working battle squad.
The frogs were formidable. But there were only two of them. And they lacked the pack tactics of the lynx monsters. They were easy targets for the students.
The teenage Mystic Scholar apprentices seized the advantage. Coordinating their attacks. Numerous [Magic Missiles] pelted the two creatures body. Targeting specific points like eyes and mouth. Soon, the giant frogs lay still. Their vibrant colors were now crumpled on the ground. Unmoving.
Jack nodded. The students were getting good. Very good. They had moved from raw recruits to competent combatants. Their skills were sharpening. Their instincts were honed by constant danger. This realm was a harsh teacher. But it was an effective one.
They traveled for another hour...
But, just as they decided to make a temporary camp, another threat emerged. It burst out from an amber-leafed thicket. A pink-scaled boar.
It was monstrous creature in size and appearance. Its tusks were long and curved like scimitars. Instead of fur, it had thick scales. Glistening like hardened armor. And, its pair of eyes seemed to be burning with a mindless rage. This was a brute. Pure and simple. And it charged with terrifying momentum.
"Brace for impact!" Leon Drake yelled. He looked ready to step in. His draconic armor had already covered his body.
But, he held back. Like Jack, he wanted to see how the students handled sheer, blunt force.
The boar was fast. But the students were faster. Harold Mason, with surprising speed, had cast a [Lesser Ward] in a tricky low angle. It broke into pieces right away as the boar's front leg step on it during its charge.
But, it managed to deflect the hoof. Making the charging beast wobbled off balance and slipped. The monster's body slammed to the ground. Its momentum forced it to slide forward.
The students quickly scrambled away. Chloe grabbed the slowest girl to move and activated her [Shadow Walk]. Taking them into the shadow to avoid the sliding body of the beast.
The students quickly activated their bread-and-butter spell. The [Magic Missiles]. Striking at the beast's eyes, mouth, snout, ears, and joints... points where the creature's scales couldn't protect.
Three students in three different directions rapidly cast [Vicious Taunts]. Locking the pink boar into confused status effect. The boar bellowed. Trying to shake off the effects. But it was too late.
The students were working with practiced fluidity. They focused their attacks. Numerous [Magic Missiles] had struck the beast's weak points.
The fight was even shorter than the previous ones. A testament to their improved coordination. The boar bled profusely from multiple wounds. It eventually collapsed. Its heavy body lay still on the crushed amber-colored leaves.
"Alright. Good job Kids!" Jack praised. "Let's move a little further away before setting up a temporary camp. Keep your vigilance."
The students, though exhausted, moved with purpose. They were no longer surprised by the realm's dangers. They were prepared. They were hardening. Transforming from sheltered scholars into seasoned explorers.
They moved further and spent the night in a tense, watchful silence. The sounds of the alien forest was a constant, unsettling symphony that accompanied them.
...
The next day, they continued their eastward trek. The forest gradually thinned. Giving way to rolling hills. A place covered in a low, tough crystal-leafed scrub and rocks that looked like iridescent gemstones.
The air grew drier, and the amber-leafed bushes became scarcer. Replaced by strange, iridescent grasses that shimmered like it was made from glass.
Rune, who had been darting ahead, suddenly emitted a series of rapid, intense emerald glows. It was her signal for a discovery. Something significant.
"What is it, Rune?" Jack asked in a low voice.
The mechanical fairy zipped back. Then flew in a large circle. Her pulsing glows were still in emerald color. She pointed towards a cluster of rocky outcrops ahead.
Jack adjusted his leather jacket. His eyes narrowed. "Looks like she's found something. A good thing."
They cautiously approached the area Rune indicated. They found two massive, dark rock formations. They looked almost like natural bastions. Between them, lay a hidden hollow.
The entrance was narrow. Easily defensible. And, it twisted into a small, bowl-shaped depression. Within the hollow, the ground was relatively flat. Covered in a patch of the iridescent grass. And crucially, it offered a clear view of the surrounding terrain while being largely invisible from a distance.
A small, trickling spring emerged from one of the rock faces. Providing fresh water source.
"A perfect camp site." Reina murmured. Her eyes were assessing the natural defenses. "Secluded, protected, with water. Good find, Rune."
Rune responded with a proud, bright series of emerald and gold flashes.
Jack surveyed the location. "Indeed. This will be our base."
He pointed to the eastern horizon. The landscape there shifted even further. Jagged peaks of what looked like pure crystal glinted under the purple sky. The Crystal Hills. They had seen the dangers there through Reina's Silver Hawk drone.
"Let's not look for trouble. We don't need to go to the Crystal Hills." Jack announced. "The Crystal Monkeys are numerous. We don't know how aggressive they are. But their king... looks like as troublesome as the Eyeball Monster we've seen on the swamp. We have no business challenging him."
The students exchanged relieved glances. The idea of clashing with a powerful monkey king with its army of numerous beasts was... terrifying. They readily agreed. Their objective was to gather samples and data. Not to engage in a species war with a primate monarch.
The team established their camp. Tents were set up. A perimeter was established. And the natural choke points were reinforced with minor mystic wards.
For the next several days, the camp became a hive of methodical activity. The students ventured out in small, supervised groups. Jack, Reina, and the other guardians maintained a constant vigilance. Patrolling the perimeter and accompanying the student teams on their excursions.
The days blended into a routine of exploration, cataloging, and vigilant defense. The students returned safely each time. Laden with various samples and recording of various mystic energy signature.
They had faced no major threats since the pink-scaled boar. Largely due to Jack's stringent security measures and the natural defensibility of their chosen camp. Minor creatures were dealt with swiftly by the students themselves. Further solidifying their confidence.
The two-week deadline for the expedition loomed. Then, they had silently passed. They had gathered enough data. Enough samples to fill dozens of dissertations. Their mission was complete.
On the final day, Professor Enderson approached Jack. His face was etched with a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration.
He meticulously unrolled a parchment scroll. Its surface was intricately woven with glowing runes. It hummed with contained energy. Definitely a powerful magical item.
"It's time." The professor said. His voice was steady despite the significance of the moment. "This is a consumable [Teleportation Portal Scroll]. One use for a direct return to Lonestone Academy's Portal Hall. We must gather everyone."
Jack nodded. He signaled the other hired guardians. They quickly assembled the students. A quiet excitement rippled through the group. They were going home.
Professor Enderson laid the scroll on a flat, smooth rock near the center of the camp. He began to chant. His voice was resonating with ancient power. The runes on the scroll flared with an intense, blinding white light. The air around them crackled with raw energy.
A circular distortion began to form above the scroll. Just like a shimmering ripple in water. It expanded. Growing larger and deeper. Until it became a swirling vortex of golden light.
Through its depths, Jack could just make out the familiar, practical architecture of the Lonestone Academy's Portal Hall. The familiar scent of Lonestone filled the air.
"The portal is open! Everyone, move in! Quickly and orderly!" Professor Enderson called out. His voice was a little strained from the mystic energy expenditure he exerted.
Organized by Dr. Crafton, The students began to file through the shimmering gate. Each one paused for a moment at the threshold before stepping into the familiar reality of their home world. Jack could see a mixture of relief and lingering awe on their faces.
Dr. Crafton and Professor Enderson followed them. Then the other hired guardians.
Reina took Jack's hand. "Let's go, Dear. A bath, a hot meal, and a soft bed await." She said. Smiling widely.
Jack could understand her perfectly. Going on an adventure was great. Returning home safely after such adventure was even greater.
He gave the Purplesky Realm one last, comprehensive look. He looked at the unnatural neon purple glow of the sky, with its signature green streak. He remembered the amber-leafed forest, the red grassland, the elven village near the orange swamp, the distant crystal hills...
This realm had been a savage, unpredictable place. A place that tested limits and forged resilience. But it also gave him plenty of things to experience and learn.
He felt the subtle thrum beneath his skin. The echoes of the realm's unique energy signatures. Settling into his being.
With a final, silent nod of acknowledgment to the treacherous beauty of the realm, Jack stepped through the shimmering portal. Reina was by his side. Rune was a silent glow who floated near his shoulder.
The silvery light enveloped them. And then, in less than a heartbeat, they were gone. The portal pulsed for a final moment. Then it collapsed in on itself. Leaving only the quiet, alien view of the Purplesky Realm behind.
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