Chapter 185: Chapter 185 : Shock

The Zenith Academy—regarded as the most prestigious academy in the entire world, holding the number one spot for years.

Its auditorium brimmed with activity, second-years and third-years filling the seats, their chatter echoing under the dome-shaped ceiling.

Above them, a massive holographic screen flickered, projecting a live feed of the First-Year Dungeon Survival Exam—the notorious “Forest of Nightmares.”

This wasn’t just a test. It was considered the most difficult trial in the first-year curriculum. Survival here was a rite of passage.

The rules were simple yet cruel:

Each cadet had 24 hours to reach the center of the forest.

Monsters ranging from Low-Rank Predators to Expert-tier Beasts roamed freely.

Only one exit existed—at the dungeon’s heart. Whoever reached it first would claim the highest rank.

The audience whispered about the terrifying ecosystem inside.

Shadowfang Lycans – wolf-like predators that stalked in packs, known for their speed and ability to tear through steel.

Boneclaw Mantises – insectoid killers with scythe-like arms that could shred through shields.

Venomfang Vipers – snakes as large as trees, their fangs dripping with acid venom.

Direhorn Basilisks – towering reptilian beasts whose roar paralyzed weaker prey.

Ebon Treants – corrupted trees with vines that crushed even Expert-rank hunters.

And worst of all, the elusive Nightmare Chimera—a monster so powerful it could tear apart an Expert-ranked hunter in seconds.

The professors had carefully calibrated the dungeon, but everyone knew—inside the Forest of Nightmares, luck mattered as much as strength.

It had been only ten minutes since the trial began, and already many first-years were lost, their faces pale with panic, struggling to even pick a direction. For them, this was no test—this was hell.

But among the chaos, the prodigies of this batch stood apart.

The screen zoomed in on a boy with golden hair and golden eyes.

Ethan Williams.

He moved through the dungeon like a blade cutting through fog, his presence radiating sharp confidence. In the six months since the kidnapping incident, Ethan had ascended to Master (Low)-rank.

Not just that—he had smashed every academy record. Records once held by Alicia, Evelyn, even the legendary Seven Shades. His victories and talent made his name resound not just in Avaloria, but across the world.

Now, his aura was not only that of a hero but also a terrifying monster in his own right.

With a single slash of his sword, he cleaved a Boneclaw Mantis clean in half. The insect shrieked before collapsing, green ichor spraying the ground.

A Shadowfang Lycan leapt from the bushes, but Ethan’s blade flashed again, decapitating it in an instant. His movements were so fast they blurred, golden light tracing his path as he sprinted toward the dungeon’s center.

The second-years and third-years watching from the auditorium gasped and murmured.

“As expected of him…”

“He’s not even trying, and he’s untouchable.”

“That’s the hero for you.”

But Ethan suddenly slowed, his sharp senses flaring. His golden eyes narrowed.

’Someone’s fighting… that’s the sound of battle.’

A short distance away, he saw him.

A boy with short brown hair, standing alone against a horde of high-rank monsters.

These weren’t foes cadets were meant to fight head-on. They were apex predators, capable of butchering Expert-rank hunters.

And yet—

The boy wasn’t overwhelmed.

If anything, the monsters were the ones screaming.

Alden von Crestvale.

He raised his hand, black flames igniting along his sword and surging outward like a storm. The fire was unnatural—it clung, devoured, refused to die until it consumed everything in its path.

A Direhorn Basilisk charged, its maw wide.

Alden clicked his tongue and swung once. The beast’s body ignited mid-roar, collapsing into ash before it hit the ground.

A pack of Shadowfang Lycans tried to encircle him, but the black flames spread like a living tide, eating them alive, their cries echoing through the forest.

In seconds, the battlefield was silent. All that remained was smoldering ash.

Alden straightened, his brown eyes locking with Ethan’s golden ones. For a moment, the two prodigies stared at each other across the clearing.

Alden clicked his tongue in irritation.

’Tch. That bastard’s ahead of me.’

More cadets began emerging from the forest trails.

Lilith moved like a phantom, her darkness affinity swallowing monsters whole before they could even reach her.

Wolves, serpents, mantises—all disappeared into her abyss with muffled cries of her void darkness.

Her movements were wild, feral, like an unchained beast.

Behind her came more familiar figures—Elaria, Charlotte, Seraphina, Aurelia, and Thalos.

Elaria, the elf princess, looked as though she was walking through her birthplace. The forest bent to her will—trees shifting, vines moving aside, animals hesitating before letting her pass. With a smirk, she glanced back at Charlotte and Seraphina.

“You guys struggle so much in my home turf. Try to keep up, will you?”

Charlotte’s eyebrow twitched. A vein popped on her forehead.

’Did this pointy-eared elf just—’

Her gravity affinity surged. With a flick of her wrist, her speed accelerated, her sword cleaving apart the beasts blocking her path.

A Venomfang Viper tried to ambush her from the trees, but she crushed it into the ground with raw gravitational force.

Seraphina lagged slightly, her icy blue hair glittering as frost spread around her feet. She exhaled sharply, her voice cold.

“No way in hell am I ranking behind them.”

Her ice magic spread like wildfire, freezing a swarm of Boneclaw Mantises mid-leap before shattering them with a kick. She accelerated, her speed rivaling Charlotte’s as she cut her way through.

Further back, Aurelia and Thalos, the fairy princess and prince, advanced steadily. Illusions shimmered around them, confusing monsters before they were obliterated.

Thalos swung his massive hammer, reducing beasts to pulp, while Aurelia’s ethereal familiars ripped apart enemies with claw and fang.

Thalos glanced at the frontrunners, grim determination in his gaze.

“They’ve gotten stronger… stronger than us. Looks like we’ll need to train even harder, Aurelia.”

Aurelia nodded softly.

“You’re right, brother.”

He patted her green hair, and she smiled faintly as they pressed on.

Alden noticed the others gaining ground, his irritation rising. He clenched his sword, muttering,

’No way in hell I’m letting him take the top rank.’

Black flames erupted around his body as he activated his skill:

’Thousand Steps of Wind.’

His speed blurred as he dashed ahead, chasing after Ethan.

Ethan, however, only smiled, murmuring,

“They’ve all grown so much in just six months. Especially Alden… his growth rate is terrifying.”

In his head, a voice rang.

[Of course it is. The god who chose him as an avatar is no ordinary god. In terms of standing… he’s the same rank as me and Solara.]

Ethan’s eyes sharpened.

’The same rank as you… and Solara? Then what about Aurora?’

A pause followed.

[…]

The voice finally returned in Ethan’s mind.

[You should ask her yourself. Even I don’t know the true extent of her power, nor does Solara. But know this—among the gods, Aurora is feared as someone not to be trifled with. Some even say she is on par with the Primordials… perhaps even surpasses them.]

Ethan’s golden eyes widened slightly.

’On par with the Primordials… and possibly beyond? Just what kind of being is she…?’

But before he could even process that revelation—

SLAM!

A force like a meteor crashed into him, hurling his body through the forest. Trees shattered like matchsticks, the ground ruptured, and he finally rolled to a stop, his breath knocked out of him.

Ethan staggered to his feet, scanning the area. His sword was ready, golden energy swirling around it.

’What the hell was that? A monster? But… no presence… no killing intent… just leaving lightning in its wake.’

His eyes narrowed, but before he could probe deeper, two figures approached.

Alden. Lilith.

Seeing them, Ethan suppressed the thought with a frown.

’I’ll think about that later. Right now, I can’t let either of them surpass me.’

He exhaled, and with that—

FWOOOSH!

From his back, magnificent black wings erupted, glowing faintly like an angel fallen into shadow. The air rippled as Ethan launched skyward at terrifying speed.

Alden looked up, his jaw tightening.

“Tch… the bastard can fly.”

Dark flames surged around his body as he boosted forward, tearing through the forest canopy in pursuit.

Beside him, Lilith emerged from the shadows, keeping pace with a sly smirk.

“Are you in a hurry, Alden?”

“Shut up,” Alden growled, pushing himself harder.

The three prodigies streaked through the forest, speed and killing intent trailing behind them like comets. Monsters didn’t even get a chance to roar before they were cut, burned, or devoured into nothing.

But despite their efforts, Ethan stayed ahead.

Finally, he broke through the treeline—

At the dungeon’s heart stood a giant glowing magic circle, pulsing like the beating heart of the forest. The end goal.

Ethan dived straight toward it, his wings folding as he landed with a heavy thud. Glancing at his watch, he clicked his tongue.

“Twenty-five minutes and forty-five seconds. Tch… a shame. I couldn’t beat my sister’s record this time. But first place is still mine.”

He stepped forward—

Only for blood-red chains to erupt around him, binding his limbs and torso.

Ethan’s head snapped up. Lilith’s voice purred from behind.

“You look like you’re in a hurry, Mr. Hero.”

Ethan smirked, flexing his muscles. “Yes, I am.”

With sheer brute force, his aura exploded, shattering the chains into shards of blood mist.

Lilith’s eyes widened.

’He broke them… with nothing but strength?’

Without hesitation, Ethan stepped into the circle.

And vanished.

Lilith’s smirk returned as she followed.

“He’s gotten a lot stronger than before.”

Alden arrived moments later, fury burning in his eyes. His flames roared, scorching the grass beneath him.

’Dammit… third again. Second or third—always behind them!’

A voice whispered in his head.

[You will catch up to them at the rate you’re growing.]

“I know,” Alden muttered bitterly. “But it’s frustrating when this happens every single time.”

He clenched his sword and stepped into the circle.

—

On the outside—

The auditorium was silent. Not a murmur, not a whisper. A pin could have dropped and echoed.

Alden stepped out, expecting cheers, applause, or at least recognition for being the third to finish.

But instead—Ethan and Lilith were already standing there, their expressions grim.

Confused, Alden’s eyes flicked upward to the massive holographic screen. His breath caught in his throat.

His name glowed: Alden – Rank 4.

Ethan – Rank 2.

Lilith – Rank 3.

The auditorium buzzed with disbelief, students muttering in shock.

But the most jaw-dropping part—the leaderboard.

At the very top:

1st Place – [ ]

Time: 12 minutes and 29 seconds

The name was blank.

—

Meanwhile—

In a quiet, empty corridor, far from the noise, a black-haired boy removed a ring.

His form shimmered, the invisibility breaking.

Alex ran a hand through his black-dyed hair, muttering with a satisfied grin.

“That was fun.”

SMACK!

A hand smacked the back of his head.

“You idiot! What the hell were you thinking, participating in the test?!”

Alex staggered forward and turned, finding Selena Vega glaring at him like a furious goddess.

“N-Nothing serious,” Alex stammered nervously. “I just came here to talk to you!”

A vein popped on Selena’s forehead.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want anyone to know about you? And what do I find? You competing in the academy’s most public trial!

Do you have a death wish? Did I not leave you with piles of work?!”

Alex’s mouth twitched. He forced a smile.

“Well… my classmates were having fun. I thought, since I’m technically a student too… why shouldn’t I? You know… join in?”

Selena pinched her nose, looking like she had a splitting headache.

Alex quickly added with a sheepish grin,

“…It was a bad idea, wasn’t it? Please punish me gently.”

Selena groaned, running a hand through her hair.

’This brat is going to give me gray hairs before my time.’

———

A/N:

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