Even though it was one less tree, based on the experience from the last time they were there, Minx was better able to place the trees for efficiency. The killing took way less time, and they all operated like well-oiled machines. She had been giving lessons to Shalt last time they where there. This time, lessons were not necessary, so they were both able to fight without delays. Within three hours, there was nothing left to fight and no hypolords presented themselves. Minx was quite disappointed as were several others.
"Break time everyone. Midas, Shalt is going to help me cook. Select someone to help you collect crystals in the kill zone while lunch is cooking."
Midas nodded and gave her a thumbs up. She waved the leadership over so they would join them for a meal. "Thank you for not interfering. I caution there could be some coming under the tree while we eat and I would appreciate it if you still not interfere. You are welcome to share in our food, though."
Blip was the first to respond, "do you expect us to believe you brought enough food for all of us? Is that what's in these bags?"
Minx rolled her eyes, "We don't carry much food. It's a waste of space. Though, I did bring some prepared snacks with me. And the meat, of course."
Under the tree, she took out her cube, placed the arrow up and hit the button. As the kitchen built itself, she grew her food. Sam was chuckling at this point. "You are full of surprises."
"Yep, let's pity the weak person."
"I never said you were."
She didn't respond. Instead, she harvested food while Shalt began preparing the vegetables she handed him.
Raven came in and got the meat out and began seasoning it. "Why did you bring this kitchen?"
"Why not?"
"I thought you'd bring the fancy one."
"I did. Midas carried it. This one is to put under the tree. The other is to stand alone once we get permission to stay out all night."
"Where's the super version?"
"In Midas's apartment."
"Can I have it?"
Minx laughed, "I'll put it in your house once we have it built, how does that sound?"
Raven smiled, "Deal!"
They talked as they cooked. The leadership seemed more than pleased but also dumbfounded. Sam looked impressed. Lunch was quickly prepared and served to everyone.
Midas asked Minx, "do you really think we'll be able to abide by the time table you created? If the hypolords don't come, it won't make much difference."
Anger flashed in her eyes, "I need to get as strong as I can so I can get to my planet. I know some think I'm rushing things but I know our strengths and weaknesses. We have this. It's safer to do this the normal way. I don't want to stay here and feel like I'm a burden to Quinn."
Blip looked like he was ready to retort sharply but Sam chimed in. "How does Quinn feel about it?"
"He hates it, quite frankly. At this point, I'm checking in with him daily and I have this mask that is used by us as a communication device. He can contact me any time he wants to and I him. The first two days we went to the same area in case he needed to help but I feel like a clock is ticking, I didn't wait for him today. The reason we are keeping our two groups separate is," she took another deep breath.
Not everyone knew this part and he was hesitant to share but realized she didn't really have a choice. "I bought a planet at the inter-base tournament from the Earthborn Faction. What most people don't know is I currently have a lot of money. I have been paid for commercials as well as a portion of the profits from these portable kitchens. The money I earn is to set up the Botan Family which will be an original family to teach my ability to."
She paused then continued, "Mona Bree from the Bree family is the one that helped me broker the deal with the military. My agreement with her was I would be at least C-rank before going to my planet but if I'm to be a leader, I need at least a B-rank. Something, and I don't know what, is telling me to get there as soon as I can."
Everyone was done eating so Minx collected dishes, put them in the sink. She hit the clean and pack button. Raven was already collecting the rest of the food off the plants as were Aqua and Revlis. Everything was packed up and they were getting ready to leave the area when they heard a noise, like something coming out of the water quietly.
"Shit it's a hypolord!" Minx declared before anyone could hear it. "Get into the kill zone, everyone. Leaders, take our bags to the vehicles. I was planning to go for bugs next."
Bags were handed off quickly, but Nate lingered. The idea of a D-rank going against a hypolord and its entire herd was not something he wanted to contemplate. Sam grabbed him by the arm and told him to hurry up.
As they left the tree, everyone noticed the oak trees were already at work beating up the hypocen. The leaders were impressed and went back to the vehicles. Midas noticed 4 more kills just in the time it took them to walk out from under the willow tree.
The group formed a circle with their backs to each other but the hypolord charged in straight for Midas who put up an earth wall so it couldn't back away. The hypocen would not be able to provide assistance.
Minx threw out several roots at the various hypocen that had entered the kill zone and held them fast while others were being fought by her crew. She knew this wasn't all of them. A herd was 30-40 hypocen and one hypolord.
Needing to understand where the rest were, Minx swung her whip, killed the one in front of her then sprang off it with her hands, flipped in the air and landed on its back. With more elevation, she was able to get a better view. There were many behind the wall Midas had built, trying to break it to get to the hypolord. The kill zone was filling with angry hypocen and they were surrounded. Minx smirked.
She sent a message to the oak trees to hit the hypocen down into the herd with full strength as she swung her whip chopping off head after head. From their backs, it really was easy for her. She saw Aqua was being pressed. She killed the one she was standing one, flipped off him into the middle of her people then put roots down under the one Aqua was fighting.
Dufus was struggling as well. He swung his sword in some crazy way. Minx was afraid he would poke someone's eye out. She ran over and punched its lower jaw adding Qi to her fist. She wasn't trying to steal the kill. She wanted him to have the experience. It worked. Dufus was able to follow the blow with a stab through the upper jaw into the brain.
Minx gave him a wink and moved on. She jumped back on the backs of the hypocen and resumed the tedious job of chopping off heads. No matter how many there were, there were only so many humans and the beasts had to all wait their turns, temper or not.
It took an hour, but the seven friends and two beasts were able to obtain victory. Minx had no idea that Quinn had done the exact same thing in a matter of minutes though his herd had been quite a bit more thinned when it happened to him. Nate and Blip were shocked that first year students could accomplish so much. They had no idea about the amount of training these students had been doing.
Minx withered all the trees and climbed in the vehicle. She napped as Midas and the others collected all the crystals. She slept all the way to the insect hunting ground. The group smiled as they had collected 65 crystals, one being advanced tier, so far for the day and it was just a bit after lunch.