Chapter 48: Targets

“You’re late.” Viola said calmly, though the look in her eyes was anything but calm.

Azazel fought back a shiver.

He cleared his throat then spoke softly.

“We… got lost?”

Viola felt her eyes twitch.

Oh, the nerve the boy had to lie to her face.

“Get in line with the others.” She commanded.

Azazel quickly did as he was told.

Elias and Nathaniel followed.

They seemed relieved but they all failed to see the subtle smirk on her face.

“Caesar.” Viola called.”This year’s batch seems promising, how about we spice the exam up a bit!”

The white haired instructor didn’t utter a sound, instead he allowed his gaze to wander across the crowd.

His eyes met Azazel’s for a second but he continued, similarly Nathaniel caught his gaze but Caesar didn’t linger.

After a quick assessment of everyone gathered he nodded towards Viola who smiled in response.

“There’s been a change of plans in the exam.” She stated.” Now now fret not aspirants, it’s nothing major. Initially eliminating an opponent gives ten marks but…”

She paused, allowing her gaze to drift towards the trio.

“Killing anyone out of those three… gives the one who eliminated them fifty marks.”

Every aspirant in the hall followed her gaze, the atmosphere because heavy with an oppressive silence. It led them straight towards Azazel, Nathaniel and Elias.

The trio on the other hand turned slowly to their back.

When they didn’t see anyone behind them they stared at Viola in unison.

Then towards the crowd.

“Oh, screw me.” Nathaniel muttered with disbelief.

Azazel could already see them marking himself and Nathaniel alongside the Prince as prey.

His gaze returned to Viola with a silent question and an expression that obviously said ’My dad will hear of this when it’s over.’

Viola didn’t spare him a second glance, instead she smiled towards Caesar.

“Caesar, tell me, isn’t there something different about the Prince, he certainly feels… different.”

The white haired instructor brought out a cigar, took a long drag then said.

“He’s awakened now.”

Viola let out a soft chuckle.

“Now that’s interesting, I never thought he would ever awaken, not with that weak constitution he was born with.”

“Well it’s not like it is the first time it’s happening.” A sultry voice chimed.

Viola stared at the newcomer or rather a particular area which drew attention.

“Remove that unsightly thing from my face, Juliana.” She hissed, clicking her tongue with an unpleasant scoff.

“~Oh My My, how offensive, you’re still as adorable as ever Viola.” She teased.

Viola scowled.

“And you’re as annoying as ever.”

She returned her gaze to the crowd below the arena with mana dancing within her palms like a violet mist with shimmering stars.

A playful smile appeared on her adorable face causing the aspirants below to shudder audibly.

They didn’t know what she was doing but somehow they felt like they were damned, utterly damned.

Even Azazel felt it.

So he marked two coins with his mana then snuck them towards Elias and Nathaniel, just to be on a safer end.

“Keep this with you at all times, do not lose it under no circumstances should you lose it.” He said, voice urgent.

From the crowd he spotted Lily who was staring at him with a strange expression.

Something akin to relief and… hunger?

’What’s up with her?’ he couldn’t help but ask within his mind.

She walked towards him with haste.

Azazel understood her intentions, she wanted them to be together.

Beneath them a large circle shimmered into existence.

Azazel quickly tossed Lily a coin as the circle begun to flare.

Another circle manifested right above their head.

Then Viola’s voice boomed across the arena.

“Don’t worry, you won’t die when killed, you’ll feel the pain, your body might remember it but you certainly won’t die, I assure you.”

She paused.

“The exam location is the forest of the damned, I wish you luck students, you’ll need it.”

As soon as the words left her lips, the arena turned white, and then the aspirants disappeared.

****

’Foolish mortal, wake up.’

A cold voice slithered into Azazel’s eyes causing his eyes to flutter with a groan.

“Akathartos?”

’I didn’t permit you to call my name, I never acknowledged you as my master.’

“Guess the freeloader decided to wake up.”

Akathartos didn’t speak, it let the silence linger for a second then asked.

’Do you know where you are?’

Azazel took a moment to survey his surroundings.

Dark tall trees surrounded the entire area with thick canopies shielding the forest from the sun, the forest floor was thick with long patches of grass while a small stream flowed at the far ends southeast.

He stood up slowly, wiped the dust of his pants then brought out his jester’s class exclusive weapon.

His card.

He didn’t activate it but he kept it close, he couldn’t risk his safety, not when he was a walking target and certainly not when he had to get into the S class reserved only for the top twenty aspirants.

“I don’t know, aren’t we in the forest of the damned?” He wondered.

’And do you know why its called that?’ The blade asked.

Azazel frowned.

“Isn’t it because of the forest guardian, I think its name was the accursed fiend but it shouldn’t be awake around this time, it’s way too early isn’t it… right?” he mumbled, growing uncertain by the second.

Akathartos sighed.

’As expected you’re aware of it.”

It didn’t press forward about Azazel’s knowledge, after all Akathartos had personally witnessed Azazel’s knowledge firsthand during the trials it had orchestrated, so it wasn’t surprised.

’Listen up mortal, I’ll only say this once… right now the guardian of the forest isn’t awake because it hasn’t been born yet, what you know as the accursed fiend are the twin ravens, Huginn and Muninn.’

The blade let the words settle, then it continued.

’They are both still in their eggs but if you can claim them, you’ll have a legendary grade bond, in the first timeline it was the mythic grade Ouroborus you bonded with however, it didn’t make it to the regressed world.’

Its voice grew colder.

’So claim the Ravens before another does or before it becomes that aberrant monster.’

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