My Trash Talent Is Actually OP!-Chapter 29: First Raid [4]: Laziness?

Yumiko stared at her for a while, then smiled softly and spun the orb floating above her hand. When she did, the barrier's color shifted from red to purple, and she gestured for Emma to move.

She didn't hesitate. No, in fact, the weak, timid-looking first-year didn't have a single ounce of fear in her.

Shocking every single person on the field.

Never judge a book by its cover, they always said, and she was proving that to be true.

She walked into the barrier and approached a massive boulder, about nine feet tall.

Using a vine she created, she pulled herself onto it and stood on top, overlooking the wide expanse of sand and dry grass, as well as the beasts that moved toward her once they caught her scent.

She exhaled deeply and sat down on the boulder, folding her legs into a lotus position before pressing her hands flat against the ground.

Silence.

Then, the earth rumbled.

A thick green vine slithered from the ground, curling around her waist, legs, hands, and finally, her eyes, locking her in place. It glowed faintly, as if lightning pulsed through it.

Asher's brow furrowed. He had seen her use her abilities before, for transport, but never like this. He had underestimated her a lot.

Aeron, a fellow member of her guild, stepped into the barrier. With a single leap, he landed beside Emma on the boulder.

As soon as he got comfortable, he lifted his hands, and a gust of wind spiraled around them, forming a transparent barrier.

As the wind moved, it created a soft howling sound, a sound Aeron knew would keep Emma focused and block out distractions.

At the same time, the wind moved fast enough to protect her from any sudden attacks.

Then, the ground split open.

Massive vines shot up from beneath the earth, stretching toward the sky, twisting and coiling like living creatures.

Fresh green trees erupted from the ground as if they had always been there, their thick branches spreading outward to form a natural network above, creating platforms to stand on.

The battlefield transformed in seconds, from a lifeless desert to a lush forest.

Some students flinched. Others gasped. They hadn't expected someone like Emma to execute a large-scale attack like that.

The field even looked like an ocean with moving tentacles.

A few members of the combat guild grinned and immediately sprang into action. They leaped onto the thick vines as soon as they passed through the barrier, using them as bridges to close the distance between themselves and the dungeon's entrance.

Since the vines moved, they served as transport for the combat guild members.

The assassin guild wasted no time either. They vanished into the branches, moving like shadows between the trees, taking their positions, ready for attack.

Tay's guild, known for their agility and precision, followed next. They specialized in scaling walls and climbing impossible surfaces, so the sudden appearance of trees worked to their advantage.

Snipers adjusted their weapons, perching themselves on the highest branches and at the tops of the trees.

Tay himself moved differently.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

A figure in his guild, one of the Elemental Arcanists, but specialized in combat unlike the others, placed a hand on a boulder, extracting liquid metal from within.

The silver substance shimmered as it floated in the air and molded.

Tay reached for it, and the metal responded instantly.

Long tendrils formed, extending around his arms like extra limbs.

He didn't even pause. He grabbed onto a thick vine and launched himself forward, the tendrils lashing out and wrapping around trees and his wrist to pull him further ahead.

He moved with grace, and silently too.

Asher stood frozen for a moment, watching it all unfold.

The way they moved, the way they controlled their abilities, it wasn't just normal.

To him, it felt like they had done this before, maybe when he wasn't around.

He wondered how long they had possessed their abilities, or if they had known beforehand and trained.

A small smile formed on his lips.

He had spent so long thinking of himself as the outsider, too focused on not drawing attention, that he had fallen behind.

Too far behind.

He couldn't even use his abilities to the fullest, or even half, as Emma did.

But seeing them like this, so in sync with their abilities, made him realize just how much farther behind he was.

He clenched his fists.

No. He wasn't here to compare himself. He was here to prove those who mocked him wrong, and he was sure to do that.

"Come on," he said. "No time to stand around."

Asher exhaled and followed as the Outcasts moved forward.

They approached the glowing runes, stepping past the boundary where Yumiko stood. She barely acknowledged them, too focused on her drink to even glance at the barrier.

The moment Asher crossed into the barrier, a strange sensation washed over him. The air inside felt cold, too cold, and it was an immediate and drastic change.

Then, the sky darkened. Not just the sky, everything within the barrier, the sand was black as well, or maybe that was how the sky made it look.

The sunlight that had once covered the battlefield vanished. Darkness spread across the area like ink, covering the sky above them entirely. Yet, outside the barrier, everything remained normal.

Two screens appeared before him.

[Catalyst Activated]

[Environmental Adaptation: Darkness Required for Full Capability.]

[Effect: Boosts Energy Conservation and Increases Ability Output.]

The screen faded, and Asher exhaled. At least his ability was wide-range, and he could use it effectively in the dark, since it focused mainly on shadows and darkness.

The Outcasts spread out around him, visibly unaffected by the shift in the environment. In fact, they nodded at him, murmuring, "Well done," already answering his unspoken questions.

They obviously knew a Necromancer could do that, while he couldn't.

And it was annoying.

Sinnett was the first to move, before the others followed suit.

His long locs stretched out. They twisted and curled like tendrils, growing twice their size.

They moved like extra limbs, gripping onto trees and rocks, pulling him forward. Unlike the others, he didn't run, he swung, glided, and flew through the air, changing direction with ease.

A 4ft' wolf beast with two heads burst out of the forest, heading straight for the source of the green energy.

Sinnett's hair lashed out. It wrapped around one of its necks while other locs coiled around its limbs, and yanked the beast to the ground, forcefully, creating a cloud of dust, before the beast could react.

He clenched his fists, to control his locs and, then the beast exploded, splattering green ichor everywhere.

Asher watched with a small smile, then sighed. He was surprised at how Sinnett used his abilities.

An Invoker, Beast Aspect, with the ability to shift his form, and he chose his hair as his weapon. Unusual, but highly effective.

He was curious about what else Sinnett could do, but he had his own fight to focus on.

"Alright," Asher waved his hand, and Elena appeared before him with a smug look.

"Hey."

Elena frowned. "What is it that you desire, child master?"

"I..." He exhaled, refusing to say anything because he had no time, so he simply gestured at the battlefield. That brought a smile to her face.

"Wipe out the larger and useful beasts, especially the ones that are stronger and those with human type forms, but remain hidden."

Elena smiled and bowed before pulling a skull mask over her face. "I'll bring back heads for you, Master," she uttered before vanishing in a black cloud.

Asher groaned as he ran a hand through his hair.

"This seems like too much work," he muttered to himself, then glanced at Emma. "She must be exhausting a lot of mana for that."

"Ahh..." He ruffled his hair, and let out a sigh, "I don't want to do anything. I just want to relax like I used to."

"Maybe I should send all the soldiers out and do nothing?"