Chapter 50: Let the hunt begin.
The massive display behind Belle flickered to life. The crest of the academy, a silver lantern spilling light across a dark backdrop, shimmered against the wall. Then, a number appeared below it.
10.
The crowd’s murmur shifted into a tense buzz. Some students straightened up, others whispered prayers, a few idiots were still checking their hair in reflective surfaces.
9.
I glanced toward Nora. Her posture was perfect, hands folded neatly over her lap like she was about to sip tea instead of be thrown onto a monster-infested island.
"Good luck," I said.
She arched a delicate brow. "I don’t need luck. I have preparation."
"Right," I muttered. "Tell that to the giant lizard that tries to eat you."
She smirked faintly, the corners of her mouth twitching. "Then I’ll make a fine meal."
6.
Belle’s voice rang out, clear and commanding, cutting through the rising noise. "Before you are transported, remember this: you may form temporary teams if you wish. Collaboration is permitted."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, people already whispering names, alliances forming at lightning speed.
Belle continued, her tone unchanging. "However, remember that only personal points will determine your score. You may fight together, but your success will not improve your partner’s standing. In the end, only one thousand of you will pass."
Her words hung in the air like a death sentence.
4.
She paused. I swear, for a fraction of a second, her blindfolded gaze turned directly toward me.
"Good luck," she said, a demonic smile appearing on her face.
That almost made my heart stop.
Nora noticed too. "Did she just—"
"Yes," I muttered quickly. "Don’t make it weird."
{Oh, it’s definitely weird,} Bastard snickered. {You’re her favorite chew toy.}
’Shut it.’
Sacha shifted on my head. ’Papa, are we going to the scary island now?’
’Seems like it.’
2.
All around us, the air shimmered with rising mana. The pressure built, thick and heavy, like the whole room was holding its breath.
1.
The blue light burst from the crest, brilliant and blinding sweeping across the hall like a tidal wave.
For an instant, I caught one last glimpse of Belle standing at the podium, calm and composed, the faint smile still ghosting her lips.
Then the world dissolved into blue.
Everything folded in on itself light, sound, even thought.
And just like that, I was gone.
The world snapped back into focus in a flash of blue.
The air hit me first, heavy and damp, carrying the smell of salt and iron. When my eyes adjusted, I found myself standing in the middle of what looked like a forest straight out of a nightmare.
The trees around me shimmered in strange shades of blue, their trunks gleaming faintly under the sunlight. Their leaves, however, were blood-red, like every gust of wind carried a soft whisper of violence. The ground beneath my boots was dark gray soil streaked with veins of glowing silver.
"...Well," I muttered, glancing around. "That’s unsettlingly pretty."
A soft whirring noise came from behind me.
I turned to find a elegant black drone hovering a few feet in the air, its lens pointed straight at me. A small light blinked red, tracking every move I made.
’Papa, is that a bird?’ Sacha asked from her spot on my shoulder, tail flicking curiously.
’No, that’s a snitch,’ I replied. ’It’s how they’re watching us. Smile for the nice people back home.’
I flashed the drone a peace sign, just to be petty.
Then something buzzed in my pocket.
Pulling out the card Belle had given me a few days ago, I pressed my thumb to it. The air shimmered as a holographic screen projected upward, displaying a leaderboard titled Astralis Academy Entrance Examination.
And there it was.
1. Kent Takeahint — 5 points
2. Nora von Velkaris — 5 points
3. Xavier Evernight — 5 points
4. Hugh G. Rection — 5 points
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
"It’s been five seconds."
{They move fast, I’ll give them that,} Bastard said dryly. {Meanwhile, you’re standing here gawking at trees like you’re on vacation.}
’Shut up, I’m processing.’
I stared at the leaderboard again, rubbing my temples. "Kent Takeahint? Hugh G. Rection? Who names these people?"
{Parents with a vendetta against dignity.}
’Sounds about right,’ I muttered. ’If I had to grow up introducing myself as Hugh G. Rection, I’d start killing monsters instantly too.’
Sacha tilted her head. "Those are silly names. Sacha doesn’t like them."
’Yeah, me neither.’
She puffed up proudly. "Sacha’s name is cooler."
’That it is,’ I said with a faint smirk.
I sighed and slipped the card back into my pocket. "Five seconds in and I’m already behind the psychos and pun names."
{You could catch up,} Bastard said. {Or you could keep whining. Both are valid life choices.}
’Thanks for the encouragement.’
Sacha’s tail flicked eagerly. "Let’s go, Papa! Sacha wants to freeze something!"
I chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let’s make some ice sculptures."
The drone’s red light blinked again, probably zooming in for a close-up.
"Smile," I said dryly, cracking my neck. "Wouldn’t want to disappoint the viewers."
And with that, I started walking toward the crimson-lit forest, Sacha perched like a queen on my shoulder, ready to begin the hunt.
A low rumble shook the crimson forest.
The silver grass around me swayed as something massive moved between the glowing blue trees. A guttural growl followed low, throaty, and way too close for comfort. Then, out from behind a cluster of warped trunks, a creature crawled into view.
It was roughly twice my height, skin black and leathery, like someone had wrapped muscle over stone. Its arms were long, ending in claws sharp enough to carve through steel, and its mouth split open to reveal rows of crooked, translucent fangs.
The drone behind me whirred louder, its lens focusing.
Sacha’s tail twitched. "Papa... that thing looks ugly."
’That it does,’ I said, keeping my tone even.
The monster snarled again, its glowing red eyes locking onto me - a predator’s gaze, primal and hungry. I rolled my shoulders and cracked my neck, feeling the tension melt into focus.
’Sacha,’ I said calmly, ’you know what to do.’
"Okay!" she chirped, her small body suddenly glowing.
In a heartbeat, she dissolved into a swirl of blue mist that wrapped around my arm, coiling like a living ribbon of ice. When the light faded, the glass sword rested in my hand clear and sharp, its edge glimmering like a shard of frozen starlight. Mana pulsed through the blade in time with my heartbeat.
The monster roared, the ground trembling beneath its weight.
I smirked, raising the sword to eye level.
"Let the hunt begin."
And with that, the forest held its breath.