After one month of relentless, punishing training that tested every limit of our bodies and minds, the new month arrived—bringing with it something far worse than another lap or Glacier Room endurance test.
Professor Sylvia stood at Ground Zero, the entire first-year class gathered before her.
The wind blew at her cloak as she looked around with serious eyes.
"Tomorrow begins the first quest," she declared.
"You will be tested in the wild."
Whispers rippled through the ranks.
"Your destination is at Blackroot Forest. It appears small and harmless—but do not be deceived. Danger lies in the shadows, and anything can happen."
She raised a scroll in her hand and continued.
"You'll be divided into 20 teams each team consisting of seven, since there are 140 of you. Your mission is to eliminate beasts and earn points."
Her voice turned clipped.
"Point breakdown by rank:
Feral Rank: 5 pointsSavage Rank: 10 pointsDread Rank: 15 pointsMythic Rank: 20 points"
"The color of the beast:
1- Feral Rank will have green color on the forehead, be it any beast, those green represent low ranks.
2- Savage Rank will have red color on its forehead and it's a little bit strong.
3- Dread Rank will have silver color and it requires lots of effort to kill, like a level of grand master level.
4- Mythic Rank will have Gold color and to kill it, it needs god-level strength"
"The team with the highest score will receive rewards, including merit, credits, and also coins."
Just like the novel... I thought, my stomach tightening.
In the novel, this was the arc where something happens.
"What was supposed to be a normal mission—just hunting some beasts for training—suddenly became almost a nightmare."
"One of the strongest teams was caught off guard when a powerful enemy showed up: the Demon Lord's dangerous servant or maybe as an assassin hired by a devil contractor. "
Their presence is rarely known, making them dangerous enemies hiding in plain sight.
"So the team was completely overwhelmed and nearly killed. They wouldn't have survived at all… if a professor hadn't arrived just in time to save them."
But that part always raised a question.
How did the assassins know where the students would be?
Because it had been leaked.
From the inside.
One of the professors was a traitor. A demon contractor, working in secret beneath Arcadia Academy's nose. He served a dark power, feeding it information, laying traps from within.
Actually ,A devil contractor is someone who secretly serves under the Demon Lord, working in the shadows to carry out his will.
They operate silently within human society—often hiding as nobles, professors, or officials—and their main task is to assassinate heroes before they grow strong enough to become a threat. In exchange for loyalty, they receive dark powers or protection.
Their presence is rarely known, making them dangerous enemies hiding in plain sight.
I knew his name.
But not his face.
And even if I told the director or anyone in authority, they'd laugh me off.
No proof.
No evidence.
Just a name I read in a novel.
"So, I'll let this slide. For now."
When Sylvia dismissed us, students flooded toward the notice board. I moved with them and scanned the list until I found mine.
Group 18:
Kaelric MaxvelVeyla MorwynEmberfellRenhalZevirOrionKael Ashford
All were the side characters, I realized. Mob characters, faceless in the original plot.
Except for one.
Veyla Morwyn. A gentle healer who, in the story, helped Jin Halden during a minor arc. She wasn't a fighter. She wasn't even mentioned after that.
"How am I supposed to work with strangers I've never spoken to?"
I sighed.
Well, at least it's a chance. I'm practically broke too.
I looked at Group 1:
Elysia Von ArctriaEdwin LeonhartJin HaldenSeraphinaRonanEvanderLucian
The main characters. The heroes were in the same group.
Then Group 3:
1. Cecelia
2. Darian
3. Silas
4. Caelen
5. Draven
6. Amara
7. Elowen
Looking at group 3, Cecelia was split from her usual companions.
The day ended as usual, running, training and mana class.
Back in my dorm, I packed my things for tomorrow's event.
My body was sore, my mana still recovering. But I had improved a little bit.
Even Astral Severance—I could manage to trigger a weak version of it now. Not consistent. Not controlled. But progress was progress.
After I finished packing my things, I trained little at my own dormitory.
Elysia at her home.
Elysia sat on the edge of her bed, tightening her gloves. Her sword leaned against the nearby wall.
She stared out the window at the moonlit courtyard.
Kael Ashford...
He had gotten stronger. She could feel it during the last few drills, even if he tried to hide it.
He's not the same boy from before.
The one who, in another life, had betrayed them all.
The one who killed her.
That memory still haunted her.
And now... they would be in the same forest.
Same event.
Same moment from the story.
"If the opportunity arises... if he's isolated or exhausted... I'll end it. Quietly."
No witnesses.
No hesitation.
She exhaled, her resolve sharp.
"I'll be ready."
The Next Day
The sun broke over Arcadia like a golden flame, casting long shadows over the east terminal where all 140 first-year students gathered in formation.
We wore our light armor, blades and staves at our sides, potion belts fastened tight. There was a buzz of excitement—and fear.
Professor Sylvia appeared, holding a glowing elixir vial in her palm.
"If you face serious danger, like a life-threatening situation, crushing the beacon will send a signal to the professors or academy staff. Once the signal is received, they will immediately teleport in or pull you out from the danger zone to save you. It's a last-resort emergency item—not something to be used lightly."
She handed one to each team captain.
"Do not try to endure ," she added. "If you encounter something stronger than you... run. This is a mission of survival, not sacrifice."
What she meant was—this test isn't about proving how tough or fearless you are.
It's not about standing your ground at all costs or trying to act like a hero.
If you face a beast or danger that is clearly stronger than you—don't fight it. Don't try to push through just to prove something.
"Run. This is a mission of survival, not sacrifice."
This mission is not meant for students to die.
The academy wants you to learn to survive, to think smart, and to know when to retreat. It's about teamwork, awareness, and making decisions together as a group.
If someone is weak, help them.
If someone is strong, don't leave them to fight alone.
If you fall, your team falls with you.
This isn't just a test of strength—it's a test of collaboration, strategy, and knowing your limits.
"In short, support each other. Know when to fight. Know when to flee. Live to grow stronger together."
Then, they all stepped onto the teleportation terminal.
One by one, teams vanished in bursts of light, blinking into the depths of Blackroot Forest.
Our turn came.
I looked over my group. Veyla gave a small, uncertain nod.
"I feel awkward".
—And we were gone.
Dropped into the shadows of a forest that looked calm.
The test had begun.