The sun blazed over Arkhos Arcadia, its towering spires stretching high into the sky. The academy stood like an unshakable fortress, its ancient stone walls holding centuries of history, power, and trials that had shaped the strongest Awakeners in existence.
Today, 500 hopefuls gathered before the Examination Gate, standing on the edge of either greatness or failure. Only few would make it through. The rest would be sent home, their dreams crushed before they even began.
The air was thick with tension. Some stood tall, confident in their strength. Others shifted nervously, gripping weapons or muttering incantations under their breath. The trials ahead would not be easy—three brutal stages designed to eliminate the weak, pushing every Awakener to their limits.
Among the hundreds of examinees was Katxu, a 16-year-old with sharp blue eyes and wild white hair. Despite his energetic and carefree nature, his movements were sharp, his focus unwavering. This was his first trial, just like the others, but deep down, he knew—
Some would pass. Most would fall.
With a swift leap, Katxu and the other examinees raced toward the starting point, jumping across rooftops, dashing through stone bridges, and weaving through the air with effortless speed. The first trial was about to begin.
For many, this was the start of a legend.
For most, it would be the end.
***
[KATXU'S POV]
As I arrived at the Examination Gate, the air buzzed with energy. The other examinees stood around, each wearing a different expression—some excited, some confident, others stiff with nerves. A few remained completely unreadable, their faces like stone.
I could feel the weight of the moment, the mix of emotions pressing down on me. My gaze drifted across the crowd, scanning every face, until my eyes locked onto him.
A young man, standing at a distance, his dark hair slightly tousled, his black eyes cold and unyielding—like he could kill me with a look alone. A katana rested at his side, and a heavy aura surrounded him, suffocating, oppressive. My body tensed as an unnatural chill ran down my spine.
I should look away. I want to look away. But something about his presence held me there, frozen in place, as if an invisible force had chained me to his gaze.
Before I could even process what was happening, a whisper from behind broke my eye contact.
"Hey, don't look at him."
I flinched, snapping out of the trance.
"What the f—" The half-formed curse slipped from my lips before I could stop it. My head turned fast, eyes landing on a young man—probably around 18 years old, with brown hair and an easy, almost playful smile. He was a little taller than me, and unlike the cold, suffocating presence of the guy I had just been staring at, this one radiated a warm, calm aura.
"I said don't look at him," he repeated, unfazed by my reaction.
I narrowed my eyes. "Why not?"
"His name is Dairon," he said, his voice dropping slightly. "He's a well-known Awakener from the Vampire Clan. There's a rumor that if you lock eyes with him... you become his next target."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
He sighed, glancing toward Dairon before lowering his voice. "Last examination, he was disqualified. They say he lost control... nearly killed the examinees around him. No one knows exactly what happened, but ever since then, no one dares to look him in the eye."
A cold shiver ran through me. No wonder his presence felt so suffocating.
Before I could respond, the guy extended a hand. "By the way, I'm Danryu." Then, his eyes flicked toward the symbol on my bandana, and he smirked. "So, you're from the Soju Temple, huh?"
I raised a brow. "How did you know?"
Danryu chuckled. "That emblem—it's unmistakable. I visit that temple now and then to pray. The monks there won't stop talking about some prodigy training under the Grand Master."
I sighed, adjusting my bandana. "Yeah, that's me."
Danryu grinned. "Figures. Hope you live up to the hype."
Before I could respond, the bells rang, their deep chime echoing across the academy grounds.
"Listen, all examinees! Welcome to Arkhos Arcadia!"
A booming voice echoed across the grounds, carried by magic, filling the air with an almost tangible weight. It wasn't coming from a single person—it surrounded us, pressing down like an unseen force.
"Today, you stand at the gates of the greatest Awakener academy in history. But not all of you will pass. Only few among you will earn the right to step beyond these gates. The rest? You either fail or fall."
A hush fell over the crowd, the weight of those words sinking in.
"This examination has three stages. Each one will push you to your limits. Some of you will break. Some will rise. But before we begin, remember these three rules:"
"First— Survive. If you fall, you fail. Simple."
"Second— Do not kill. This is a trial, not a massacre. Take a life, and you lose yours."
"Third— Don't die. If you die here, you were never meant to make it."
A heavy silence followed. Some shifted uncomfortably, others stood firm. My heart pounded, but excitement surged through me.
Then, the bells rang again, louder this time.
Before anyone could react, the ground beneath us cracked violently, splitting apart in jagged lines. A sudden force pulled us downward, dragging everyone into the abyss below.
I struggled to move, but my body felt heavy, like something was pressing down on me. Even Awakeners with flight abilities couldn't react fast enough, their wings and magic delayed, as if something was interfering with them.
The air twisted around us, and in the next instant—
We were falling.
***
"Ahhhhhh..."
The only sound I could hear around me was the panicked screams of the other examinees.
As I kept falling, a wristband suddenly appeared on my arm, glowing with a faint green light.
At the same time, massive rock fragments materialized above us, seemingly from nowhere. They weren't just falling—they were accelerating, coming at us faster and faster.
Some examinees got hit instantly, their bodies twisting from the impact. Others reacted quickly, using magic to shatter or dodge the incoming debris.
I watched as one Awakener narrowly avoided a boulder—only for it to slam into someone else behind him.
Some weren't just dodging.
They were intentionally hurling the rocks at others.
I snapped back to consciousness just in time to see four massive rocks hurtling toward me.
Two from above.
Two thrown by other examinees from my sides.
They were coming fast—too fast.
My chest locked up. No time. Too fast. Too many rocks. Where do I—?!
My talismans wouldn't work. These rocks were too dense, too powerful to break with them. I had to think fast—or I wouldn't make it.
"Fuck it!" I muttered, realizing I had no weapon on me.
Then, an idea hit. My body moved before my mind could even process it.
I clenched my teeth—and took the hit. The first rock slammed into my ribs like a hammer, but I used the blow to twist midair, flipping sideways just in time—
CRACK!
The other three collided in a midair explosion of stone and sparks.
I forced myself to move. I couldn't just fall helplessly.
I pushed off the rock, using its momentum to launch myself downward. My feet landed on the bottom of the falling boulder, riding it like a platform as it sped toward the ground.
Glancing back, I saw other examinees still fighting in midair, strategizing, attacking, and eliminating each other—anything to get ahead.
I was falling too fast.
The ground was approaching too quickly.
I was going to get crushed.
Then—
"STRANGLING VINES!"
A loud voice boomed from above, familiar and sharp.
Thick vines shot out, wrapping around the boulder above me, stopping it just inches before it could flatten me.
In front of me, another set of vines formed a thick bed of leaves, catching my fall.
"Aaaaah!"
I crashed into them, my body bouncing against the soft leaves before finally coming to a stop. Above me, the rock shattered harmlessly against the vines.
Danryu came falling down right after me, wrapped in vines, using them to slow his descent.
I exhaled, my heart still racing.
"Oh, it was you! Thank you for saving my life, Danryu!"
He grinned, catching his breath. "No worries. I had to save myself too. If I didn't break that rock, I'd have crashed right into it."
"I owe you one!" I said, still catching my breath.
Danryu chuckled, shaking off the stray leaves clinging to his clothes.
I looked around. Examinees were still falling.
Some lay unconscious, sprawled across the ground from the impact. Others were wounded, groaning in pain as they struggled to move. A few stood completely unharmed, as if the fall had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
It was a total disaster.
I hadn't even noticed what happened to the others—I had been too focused on surviving.
I took a deep breath and looked around.
The surroundings were dark, cold, and vast—a massive cave with jagged walls stretching endlessly in all directions.
We were far from the ground. The only light came from a small, distant glow below, barely illuminating the cavern.
A voice rolled through the cavern like thunder bouncing off steel.
"Survived the fall? Good."
From the shadows, a mountain of a man stepped forward. His eyes gleamed like burning coals, and every step echoed like a war drum.
"Welcome to your pre-exam."
"Though, some of you are barely standing."
He scanned the injured, his gaze unreadable.
"By the way, I am the Head of the Armies and the Guardian of the Academy. I'll be your guide for the pre-examination."
"Pre-examination?!" Some examiners muttered in confusion.
The man smirked. "You heard me right. Before you can enter the main stages, you must first pass this pre-examination. Consider that fall your first test."
Murmurs spread across the group. Pre-exam? That wasn't mentioned before.
The guardian raised a hand, and suddenly, something strange happened.
"Some of you didn't survive—and will be eliminated immediately."
One by one, red pulses flickered on wrists across the field—dull glows turning bright as blood.
Then—silence.
Their bodies flickered. Shimmered.
Gone.
A cold chill ran through me.
So, failing meant disappearing.
The guardian continued, unfazed by what just happened.
"Some of you are wounded and can barely move. Let me make this clear—we will not be healing you. If you can heal yourself, do it. Otherwise, you have one choice: quit."
He lifted his wrist, tapping his own wristband.
"To forfeit, simply press your wristband and say 'submit.' Note that no one can force you to quit except yourself."
Silence. Then—
"Ugh... I can't do this..."
An injured examinee groaned in pain, his voice trembling.
Tap.
"Submit."
In an instant, his body vanished—just like the others.
More examinees hesitated, their gazes shifting toward their own wristbands. Some clenched their fists, determined to stay. Others... weren't so sure.
"Seems like there are no more quitters."
The guardian muttered as the remaining examinees stood their ground. No one else pressed their wristband.
His gaze swept over us before he spoke again.
"I see you all understand the three main rules."
The guardian's gaze shifted—sharp, focused, surgical—until it landed on one figure.
A boy with a katana, still as death. Cold eyes. No fear.
The air around him stopped moving. Even the cave seemed to wait.
Dairon.
And the look the guardian gave him wasn't warning.
It was remembering.
We all knew what he had done before.
And so did the guardian.
***
"This cave is so scary..."
A quiet voice muttered beside me.
I glanced down to see a young boy, probably six or seven, with hollow dark eyes, clutching a worn-out teddy bear in his small arms. He walked nervously between me and Danryu, his tiny steps hesitant against the uneven ground.
We were deep inside the underground cave, wandering through its endless tunnels. The air was thick with moisture, and the only light came from faint glowing crystals embedded in the walls. Shadows stretched unnaturally, making the cave feel alive.
Then, my mind drifted back to the moment this trial began.
[A FEW HOURS AGO]
"Your first task is simple—escape this cave and reach the gate on the other side within the time limit."
The examiner's voice echoed through the cavern as we stood before him, absorbing the details of the pre-exam.
"But don't get cocky. Half of you won't even see the gate before something eats your spine."
His sharp gaze scanned the group.
"You'll be facing creatures and monsters that will try to stop you."
A few glanced at each other—some with fear, others with that calculating look that said you're just another obstacle.
One guy clenched his fists. Another quietly edged toward the back, already second-guessing his odds.
"There are no maps."
"You'll have to find the exit on your own."
"There are multiple paths—some leading to the right way, others leading to traps, dead ends, or worse."
A small murmur rippled through the crowd, but the examiner wasn't finished.
"And remember this—monsters aren't your only enemy."
His stare hardened.
"Your fellow examinees can take you down as well."
Silence.
Some tensed. Others smirked.
"You have two hours. When the time runs out... so do you."
More rules, conditions, warnings, and instructions followed.
"Your survival starts now. Or it ends here."
Then, without another word, the examiner pressed his wristband.
"Submit."
And just like that, he vanished into thin air.
---
I snapped out of the memory, just in time to feel the earth rumble beneath my feet.
Reality didn't wait.
Now, it was our turn to find the exit—before time ran out.
"Hey, kid—what do we call you?" Danryu asked, matching pace with the sniffling boy beside us.
The boy was still sniffling, his small hands gripping his worn-out teddy bear. His eyes, hollow and filled with fear, darted around the dark cave.
"Ren," he finally answered in a trembling voice.
Danryu crouched slightly to meet his eye level. "Are you sure you want to continue this exam?"
Ren didn't speak. He just nodded, his lips pressed tightly together.
Before we could say anything else—
"Watch out!" I shouted as the ground beneath us rumbled.
The cavern shifted violently, stone walls grinding against each other as the very layout of the cave changed before our eyes.
A labyrinth.
This wasn't just a cave—it was a living maze, its pathways constantly shifting every fifteen minutes. Finding the exit wouldn't just be hard—it would be impossible if we didn't move fast.
And we weren't alone.
Other examinees were scattered throughout the labyrinth, many of them separated from their original groups as the shifting ground cut them off.
Up ahead, a group of examinees was already engaged in battle.
"Fire Storm!"
"Winter Blow!"
"Hardened Palm Trap!"
Their voices boomed as spells and abilities clashed against the monsters that blocked their path. Flames roared, ice cracked, and stone shattered as they fought desperately to clear the way forward.
Danryu stepped forward, raising his hand.
"Caged Vines."
Thick vines shot out from the ground, twisting around Ren like a protective barrier.
"Stay here, Ren." Danryu instructed firmly. "Let us handle these monsters. Don't step outside, no matter what, ok?"
Ren nodded again, his small frame trembling as the vines wrapped around him like a cocoon.
Danryu turned to me and pulled out a small vial filled with a glowing green liquid.
"Katxu, drink this. It's a power booster potion I made. It'll also close your wounds."
I took the potion and downed it in one gulp. A warm energy spread through my body as my wounds closed instantly.
"Fire Dragon!"
I hurled a set of talismans, and a massive serpent of flames roared to life, twisting through the air before crashing into the horde of monsters.
But they just kept coming.
Big bats, earthworms the size of trees, and massive stone creatures attacked relentlessly, swarming like there was no tomorrow.
"Whip Vines!" Danryu shouted, sending a lash of thick vines that tore through the attacking creatures.
"Tree of Life!"
A glowing emerald light burst from his hands, spreading over the battlefield. The energy washed over us, instantly healing our wounds, but I could see the vines on his arms withering slightly—a sign that the ability had its limits.
"This isn't going to end. We need to get out of here!" I muttered, slicing through a giant bat with a Wind Slash talisman.
"Thunder Snake!" I threw another talisman, sending a crackling serpent of lightning surging through the stone creatures.
Danryu, fighting beside me, suddenly called out, "Wait—you're bending three elements at the same time?!"
He barely had time to dodge an incoming strike before glancing at me in disbelief.
"No," I corrected, throwing another talisman. "I can't actually bend elements on my own. I use these talismans to do it."
Danryu froze for a moment, completely confused.
"Whaaaat?! You don't even have your Fin yet? Then why did you drink the potion earlier?!"
I scratched my head, feeling a little awkward. "Oh... yeah. My bad. I kinda forgot. Hehe."
What is Fin?
Fin is the most basic level of Awakening. It is the foundation of all magical or supernatural abilities—whether controlling elements, enhancing strength, or using unique skills. Every Awakener naturally develops their Fin, unlocking the first step toward their true power.
Except I never did.
I've never awakened.
I'm different from every other examinee here. While most had their abilities unlocked through natural talent or training, my Grand Master had to teach me how to fight without Awakening.
What I Can Do Instead:
I learned how to bend elements through handmade talismans, which let me control fire, wind, lightning, and more—but only as long as my supply lasted.
My master trained my body to withstand extreme conditions, like intense pressure, powerful impacts, and deadly environments.
He taught me to fight without relying on powers, mastering raw combat techniques, enhanced agility, and deadly precision.
I learned how to breathe normally in crushing environments, like when that giant stone earlier almost crushed me, and how to resist pain that would knock most people unconscious.
I trained to be faster, stronger, and more durable than the average person, so even without an Awakening, I could still stand against those who had one.
But despite all that—I was still a Normal.
"Wait, wait, wait—" Danryu cut through a monster before turning back to me, his voice full of shock. "Then how the hell did you even get invited to this academy?! You're a Normal!"
What are Normals?
Normals are people who never awakened—no Fin, no spark, no supernatural anything. Just regular blood and boring stats. The kind of people who get laughed out of a place like this.
And yeah. I'm one of them.
But no, I wasn't sent here by some wise old master.
The truth?
I ran away.
I left the temple in the middle of the night, no grand goodbye, no permission, no big speech. Just me, a half-packed bag, and a stupid idea.
I'd been locked in that temple my whole life—trained, sheltered, ignored. They said I was part of the path. I was tired of walking paths someone else built.
While traveling, I overheard a group of mercenaries talking about the Arkhos exams. Dangerous. Elite. "Only the strong survive," one of them said.
So obviously, I signed up.
Not because I thought I'd win.
But because I wanted to crash their little party.
To walk into the world that told people like me to stay outside.
And prove that they'd been looking at "Normal" all wrong.
I clenched my fists as I dodged an incoming attack.
"Never mind! Just fight so we can get out of here!"
Danryu sounded frustrated, but he had no time to argue. Right now, all that mattered was surviving.
I could tell what he was thinking. It was showing from his face. Two weaklings beside him—Ren and me—were slowing him down.
But he didn't say it out loud. Instead, he focused on the battle.
"Thunder Bolt!"
A spear of lightning shot from my talisman, striking a giant stone monster in the chest.
"Earth Shield!"
A towering wall of solid rock rose in front of him, blocking incoming attacks.
"Water Seal!"
A swirling barrier of water trapped an enemy in place, holding it down.
I scanned the battlefield, my eyes darting between the fighting examinees and the endless swarm of creatures.
Then, I saw it.
A gap in the darkness.
Not just a shadow—something different. Something off.
An exit.
"I see an opening!" I muttered, my heartbeat rising.
I reached into my pouch, pulling out another talisman.
"Lightning Shards!"
A storm of shimmering sparks rained down from above. The enemies flinched, expecting an attack—but my goal wasn't to strike them.
I needed light.
The flashes of electric blue illuminated the cavern for just a moment—but that was enough.
My enhanced vision—a skill my Grand Master had drilled into me through years of training—let me see far beyond what normal eyes could.
There.
A hidden doorway, barely visible in the shadows.
Danryu turned to me. "Where is it?!"
I didn't hesitate.
"In the dark! I'm sure of it. If we can lure the monsters away from that area, I can try opening the door!"
Danryu exhaled sharply. "Then let's make them move."
We had two hours to escape—but at this rate, we wouldn't even last ten minutes.
"We have to do it before the maze moves again!"
"Alright!" Danryu answered without hesitation.
He raised his hands, channeling his magic. "Vines Army!"
The ground trembled as dozens of vines burst forth, twisting and shifting into humanoid forms. The figures mimicked human movement, stepping forward like living warriors, luring the monsters toward them.
Danryu wasn't done yet.
"Everyone, we need to lure the enemies away from that area!" he shouted to the other examiners.
The others caught on quickly.
"Illusion Mirage!"
One examiner created phantom clones, their bodies flickering as they ran toward the opposite end of the cavern. The monsters, confused, snapped their heads toward the illusions and charged.
"Inferno Barrage!"
A massive wave of fire erupted from another Awakener's hands, creating a wall of flames between us and the door, forcing the monsters toward the decoy vines.
"Wind Gale!"
A powerful gust blew smaller creatures toward a specific corner, keeping them grouped together and away from the exit.
The plan was working.
"Go ahead, Katxu! Open that door! We'll handle the rest!" Danryu shouted.
I didn't waste time. I dashed toward the door, my breath heavy as I reached the darkened area.
There it was—a massive metal door, covered in arcane symbols.
I reached out and tried to push it open. Nothing.
I gritted my teeth and threw a punch at it. My fist barely made a dent.
I tried again—nothing.
Then I realized—this was a magical door.
It had a minimum power requirement to open. Only those strong enough could break through.
"I can't open it!" I muttered to myself, frustration creeping in.
I turned back. "I CAN'T OPEN IT!" I shouted at Danryu.
"What?!"
"I CAN'T OPEN IT!"
The second I shouted, I realized my mistake.
The monsters turned toward my voice.
"Oh no! Try to do something!" Danryu yelled.
"The monsters are coming toward you!" another examinee shouted.
I froze. My heart pounded as panic surged through me.
What do I do?!
I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately recalling my Grand Master's teachings.
Stay calm.
Focus.
There's always a way.
But before I could act—
SWOOSH!
A powerful gust of air blew past me, followed by a deafening—
BANG!
The sound of an earth-shattering punch rang behind me.
I stumbled back, instinctively raising my arms in defense.
A massive figure stood in front of me.
A huge teddy bear.
The door was completely shattered.
I backed up quickly, trying to process what just happened.
Then, my eyes snapped upward.
Ren.
He sat on top of the giant teddy bear, his small hands gripping its fur.
His hollow dark eyes stared at me, no longer filled with fear.
"Ren?!" I gasped.
I pointed at the bear, still in shock. "What are you doing?! Is this... your Awakening?!"
Ren didn't answer.
He just stared—silent, expressionless.
The trembling, crying child from earlier was gone.
Is he really that strong...?
The teddy bear shrank back to its normal form, returning to an ordinary stuffed toy. Without hesitation, Ren leaped through the door, disappearing into the darkness beyond.
I turned to Danryu. "We need to hurry!"
The maze began shifting again, the ground rumbling beneath us. The very walls of the labyrinth twisted, reshaping paths, sealing off some exits while opening others.
All the examinees rushed toward the door, some still locked in battle with monsters—and with each other.
Fists, weapons, and spells clashed. Some resorted to sheer physical strength—brutal punches, elbow strikes, knee smashes, spinning kicks—anything to knock others down and get ahead.
One examinee tackled another, slamming him to the ground before sprinting for the exit. Another used a low sweeping kick, knocking down an opponent before stepping over him. Someone else tried to climb onto another's back, only to get thrown off with a shoulder toss.
The surroundings shook violently again, forcing everyone to move faster.
"Danryu, hurry!" I shouted.
Just as Danryu was about to move, a clawed hand shot out from the chaos, grabbing his ankle and yanking him off balance.
"Ahh—!"
He crashed to the ground, getting dragged backward, his body scraping against the rough stone floor.
"Danryu!" I yelled, my chest tightening.
I didn't hesitate. I rushed toward him, dodging falling debris and weaving through fighting examinees.
A stone creature lunged at me, its massive arms swinging down—
I ducked under the swing, twisted mid-air, and slammed a spinning heel into its rocky jaw.
The creature stumbled, chunks of stone flying.
Another monster charged. I threw a Wind Talisman at my feet, using the sudden burst of wind to launch myself forward.
I reached Danryu, grabbing his arm and pulling him up.
"Are you okay?!" I asked, scanning his injuries.
"You have to leave me," Danryu panted. "I can't walk. My feet's messed up—I don't have enough mana to heal it."
I shook my head. "I won't leave you. I owe you, remember?"
Without waiting for his answer, I hoisted him onto my back, gripping him tightly as I continued to fight off monsters using my legs and talismans.
I had to think fast.
"Can you still summon your Whip Vines?" I asked.
"Yeah, but why?" Danryu sounded confused.
"Just do it—give it to me!"
Danryu summoned the Whip Vines, the long, durable tendrils of energy forming in his hand.
I grabbed one end and aimed for a large stone ledge near the door.
With a powerful throw, I hooked the vines around the rock—then gripped it tightly.
I pulled hard.
Not just with my arms, but with every ounce of strength in my body.
My muscles tensed, my feet dug into the ground—then I yanked with all my might.
The force launched us forward with the help of my wind talisman, our bodies accelerating toward the door at an incredible speed.
At the same time, the rock—now loosened from its position—broke off from the wall.
CRACK!
The massive boulder detached, hurtling backward—straight into the horde of monsters behind us.
BOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves through the cave, crushing several enemies in a devastating collision.
With that strong pull, we launched ourselves straight toward the exit, the force sending us soaring through the doorway.
We crashed onto solid ground, landing just past the other side of the exit.
The moment we hit the ground, a deep, thunderous rumble echoed behind us.
I could hear the shouts of other examinees, their voices panicked and desperate as the maze shifted again—the ground moving, the walls twisting, paths sealing shut.
They were trapped.
Cut off from the exit.
Left behind in the chaos.
***
Danryu had fainted.
He was now lying in my lap, his body motionless, his breathing heavy. Around us, other examinees were also catching their breath, exhausted from the chaos of the maze.
Danryu's clothes were torn, the fabric ripped from all the fighting and rough terrain. For the first time, I got a clear look at his physique—and immediately, a thought crossed my mind.
"He really has a weak body... His frame isn't even that built. How does he even fight with this?"
My eyes lingered for a second longer.
"...He's cute though."
Wait—what?!
I felt a sudden chill run down my spine.
I shook my head violently, snapping myself back to reality. Focus, Katxu. This is not the time.
I exhaled, trying to push the thought away. There were bigger problems to deal with.
I looked around.
There were new faces.
Some examinees here weren't from our original group. The maze must have dragged them into this area just like us.
The surroundings were dark, nearly pitch black. The only source of light came from the glowing stones scattered around the cavern walls.
I could barely make out the silhouettes of the examinees. Some were tending to their wounds, others sat in silence, and a few were helping each other recover.
Then, my eyes landed on Danryu's wristband.
It was blinking yellow—a signal.
If he pressed it, he'd be forced to withdraw due to his condition.
But... this also meant something else.
He wasn't fully unconscious.
Danryu was still in the game, just resting.
I sighed in relief.
Then—
A burst of light filled the cavern.
An examinee raised his hands, summoning a floating orb of golden energy above us. The Light Magic expanded, illuminating the area.
For a moment, I felt a sense of safety, like we were finally out of danger.
But then—
We saw it.
It wasn't glowing stones that surrounded us.
A massive swarm of spiders, their bodies made of jagged rock, clung to the walls and ceiling. Their glowing eyes pulsed like embers, reflecting the light cast over them.
And worse—
Right in front of us, resting at the center of the cavern, was something far more terrifying.
A giant, sleeping queen spider.
The air turned deathly silent as realization set in.
We hadn't escaped the nightmare.
We had walked straight into it.
As I sat there, still in shock from the sight of the giant queen spider, something soft and heavy suddenly snatched Danryu from my lap.
I barely flinched this time.
I already knew who it was.
I turned my head and saw Ren standing beside us, his small frame barely moving, his hollow dark eyes staring ahead like always.
"Let me take care of him. Grimm will heal him." Ren uttered in a quiet but firm voice.
The giant teddy bear, now in a human-size form, wrapped its arms around Danryu, pulling him into a tight, warm embrace.
A soft golden glow radiated from its fluffy body, spreading warmth around them like a protective aura. I could feel the soothing energy even from where I sat—Grimm was healing him.
For a moment, I felt relief. At least Danryu would be okay.
Then—
Ren's eyes flickered toward me.
"Don't worry about him. Worry about what's in front of us right now."
I swallowed hard and slowly turned my gaze back toward the swarm of rock spiders and the sleeping queen in front of us.
The small spiders began to swarm, their glowing rock-like bodies crawling out from the cavern walls and ceiling. As the light fully illuminated the space, they launched their attack.
They weren't just biting.
Thick webs made of hardened clay shot through the air, trapping examinees where they stood. Some tried to cut themselves free, while others used fire magic to burn through the bindings.
The spiders kept coming, crawling out from every crack in the stone, an endless wave of creatures, overwhelming us fast.
"Damn it, they won't stop!" an examinee yelled before slashing a spider in half with a flaming blade.
I dodged a web shot toward me, rolling to the side before throwing a Wind Talisman. A gust of air blasted the spiders away, but it wasn't enough to slow the endless horde.
Examinees all around me fought back fiercely.
"Earth Splitter!"
A boy wielding a massive hammer slammed it into the ground, cracking the cave floor and sending a wave of debris flying into the swarm.
"Blazing Arrows!"
A girl leaped onto a fallen boulder, firing a barrage of flaming projectiles that burned through the creatures.
Another examiner moved in close, opting for brute force, delivering rapid punches and kicks to crush the spiders under his boots.
I followed suit, ducking low and sweeping my leg, knocking multiple spiders off balance before crushing them with my heel.
One leaped at me—I caught it mid-air and slammed it into the ground, immediately following up with a Lightning Talisman, sending a jolt of energy through its body.
The battle was chaotic, but one thing was clear—this wasn't going to end unless we killed the queen.
"We really have to kill the queen."
The voice came from behind me—small, but firm.
I turned.
Standing there was yet another kid.
This one was chubby, with long fairy-like ears, but what stood out the most were the small fairy wings on his back.
I stared.
"Ahhh, another kid again?!"
I had meant to say that in my head. I definitely didn't.
The small figure raised an eyebrow.
"A kid? I'm 112 years old, Normal."
"...112?"
I blinked. He was even smaller than Ren, yet he spoke with a confidence that didn't match his size.
Then his words finally registered.
He called me Normal.
My body tensed. "How do you know?" I asked, my voice low.
The fairy-like figure smirked. "I've been watching you since we got here."
He gestured toward my hands. "That vine you're holding? It's from your friend, not something you summoned yourself. And the only abilities you've used so far are those talismans—no natural elemental control."
He grinned. "That's how I know you're a Normal."
I stiffened slightly, but before I could say anything else, he added—
"Although, I have to admit—your combat skills are impressive."
WHOOSH!
A spider lunged at us mid-conversation, its massive legs clawing through the air.
I barely had time to react.
But the fairy-eared boy?
He simply swung the massive stone pillar he had been casually carrying, smashing the spider into the ground with a single brutal strike.
The impact shook the cavern floor, leaving a deep crater where the creature once stood.
I stared.
What the hell is with these kids nowadays?!
The cavern trembled as the giant rock spiders swarmed from every direction. The small fairy-eared boy swung his stone pillar, crushing another group of spiders in a single blow.
I didn't have time to process his strength—I had monsters to deal with.
I grabbed a Flame Talisman from my pouch, activating it mid-air.
"Fire Dragon!"
A serpent of fire coiled through the battlefield, burning through the waves of creatures, but the horde didn't stop.
The heat scorched my eyebrows. My breath came out ragged. Still, I smiled. Burn, you ugly things.
"Wind Slash!"
I leaped into the air, twisting mid-spin, kicking away a lunging spider while launching a cutting wind attack with my talismans.
Around me, other examinees were giving it everything they had.
"Stone Barricade!" One of them slammed their fists into the ground, creating a wall of jagged rocks to block the spiders from overwhelming us.
"Ice Fang!" Another examinee launched a hailstorm of frozen spears, impaling multiple creatures at once.
Danryu was still unconscious, but Ren and Grimm were doing their part.
The giant teddy bear stood near Danryu's body, shielding him with its massive arms, healing him while swatting away any creatures that got too close.
The battle dragged on.
Ten minutes.
Twenty minutes.
Thirty minutes.
We fought without stopping, barely able to catch our breath.
The spiders never ended, crawling from the walls, from the cracks, from the very stone beneath us.
I was getting tired.
So was everyone else.
Then—
A deep, bone-chilling screech echoed through the cavern.
The ground shook violently, knocking some of us off our feet.
I turned my gaze forward.
The Queen Spider was waking up.
I barely had time to understand what was happening when I felt it—a shift in the air.
Something was wrong.
The glowing eyes of the spiders around us flickered, their movements becoming more erratic, more desperate. They weren't just attacking us.
They were trying to stop us.
Then, I realized—
The Queen wasn't waking up.
We woke her up.
Not by accident.
Not by coincidence.
She was being summoned.
I looked at the battlefield again—at the hundreds of spiders still crawling out of the rocks, at the ones throwing themselves at us recklessly, like they didn't care if they died.
This wasn't just a battle.
It was a ritual.
And we had been feeding it.
Every defeated spider, every spell cast, every drop of blood spilled—all of it was part of the summoning.
The Queen didn't awaken because of the noise.
She awakened because enough of her children had died.
And now, she was angry.
Her red eyes snapped open, glowing like molten fire.
The stone-like plates covering her body cracked apart, revealing something far worse underneath.
Her eight massive legs shifted, and the ground quaked beneath her weight.
The moment the Queen's glowing red eyes snapped open, the cavern's air thickened.
Her presence was overwhelming—a predator that had just awakened from a deep slumber.
Her massive stone legs moved in a blur, lunging toward us.
"SCATTER!"
I barely dodged as she crashed into the ground, sending a shockwave of debris and dust into the air.
Some examinees were thrown off their feet, others caught in the blast, hitting the rocky walls with painful grunts.
"Whip Vines!"
Danryu's vines were still wrapped around my arm—I lashed them out, grabbing an airborne examinee before he could hit the jagged ground.
But before I could react—
The Queen attacked again.
"Rock Prison!"
An examiner slammed his hands into the ground, and thick stone pillars erupted, encasing the Queen's legs.
But—
She ripped through them like paper, her strength unnatural, unstoppable.
"Blazing Lance!"
A massive spear of fire streaked through the air, striking her head-on—but it barely left a mark.
She was too strong.
Her legs whipped through the battlefield, sending examinees flying.
Her clay-webbing sprayed through the air, trapping fighters like prey.
We had been fighting for more than half an hour.
We were tired.
But we had no choice but to keep going.
The small, fairy-eared dwarf beside me cracked his knuckles.
"You're all too slow," he muttered before rushing forward.
With a single mighty stomp, the ground beneath him cracked.
He grabbed his massive stone pillar and spun it like a weapon far too light for its size.
"Titan Swing!"
He smashed the Queen's leg mid-motion, the impact sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
She screeched, stumbling slightly, her balance shifting for the first time.
"That got your attention, huh?"
The Queen snapped her head toward him, baring her massive fangs.
She lunged.
He didn't move.
He stood his ground, raising his stone pillar like a shield, letting her attack slam into him directly.
For a moment, I thought he was going to get crushed.
But instead—
He dug his feet into the ground, his small body absorbing the full force of the impact—and stopped her charge.
The Queen twitched, as if realizing her attack had failed.
Then—
"My turn."
He gripped his weapon tighter.
Then—
With a roar, he swung the pillar in an upward arc, striking the Queen's face so hard that her entire body lifted off the ground.
She slammed back down, her stone legs cracking from the impact.
That was the first real damage we had done.
"Damn," I muttered, blinking in shock. "You're actually insane."
He grinned but didn't look back. "Less talking, more hitting."
Seeing the opening, I rushed in.
"Fire Dragon!"
A serpent of flames shot from my talisman, coiling around the Queen's damaged legs.
"Thunder Snake!"
Lightning arced through the battlefield, electrifying the flames, amplifying the heat tenfold.
The Queen thrashed, trying to extinguish the fire—but she was too slow.
"Gale Force!"
I used a Wind Talisman, boosting myself forward at insane speed, twisting mid-air as I prepared my strongest strike.
"Iron Smash!"
The fairy-eared dwarf leaped beside me, raising his stone pillar high above his head.
Together, we descended upon her.
BOOM!
Our attacks hit simultaneously.
The entire cavern shook.
The Queen screeched in agony, her rocky exoskeleton splintering apart, cracks running deep through her body.
She staggered, her legs struggling to hold her up.
Then—
Her shriek cracked the air like thunder.
Then—collapse. A mountain falling. A nightmare ending.
Silence swallowed everything.
We stood there, half-broken, half-believing.
We won.
Or so we thought.
***
The cavern fell silent.
The remaining spiders froze in place, their glowing eyes flickering like dying embers.
The Queen lay motionless, her massive body still.
Something felt off.
I stepped forward cautiously, my breathing heavy.
"Is it... over?" someone muttered behind me.
Then—
A sharp crack split the air.
The Queen's exoskeleton twitched.
Then, it shattered.
A wave of dark energy exploded outward, forcing us to stumble back.
The spiders that had frozen moments ago?
They dissolved, their essence surging toward the Queen's broken body, merging into her.
Then, from the ruins of her former shell—
She emerged.
Her humanoid form stepped forward, shedding the last remnants of her spider body.
She still had eight spider-like appendages on her back, her glowing red eyes unmoving, but now she stood tall, human-like—deadly.
Her obsidian-like armor shimmered, and she tilted her head slightly, as if testing her new form.
Then, for the first time,
She smiled.
And she spoke.
"Finally... a body fit for the hunt."
A chill ran down my spine.
The Queen Spider was never a mindless beast.
She had been waiting for this.
She let us bring her to the brink of death... to evolve.
The air became suffocating, thick with an unnatural force.
The Queen's humanoid form stood tall, her eight spider-like appendages twitching, adjusting to their new state.
Her obsidian armor gleamed, reflecting the dim light from the cavern's stones.
Then—
She stepped forward.
The sheer force of her movement shattered the ground beneath her, sending cracks ripping across the battlefield.
And then she vanished.
Before I could react—
She was already behind me.
I pivoted, barely dodging as her clawed fingers slashed through the air, cutting the space where my throat had been.
Too fast.
Her leg shot out, aiming for my ribs—
I crossed my arms, blocking, but the force sent me skidding backward, my boots dragging against the cracked stone floor.
She was testing me.
Good.
I tightened my fists. She wants a fight? Fine.
While I fought the Queen, the fairy-eared dwarf was holding the front lines.
The spiders that remained, still loyal to their Queen, were endless.
While most of the examinees had collapsed in exhaustion, he was still standing, fighting alone.
His massive stone pillar swung with brutal force, crushing spider after spider.
"Titan Swing!"
He spun, obliterating an entire group in one strike.
"Pillar Drop!"
He leaped into the air, bringing the stone pillar down like a hammer, splitting the ground and sending shockwaves through the cavern.
For forty minutes straight, he had been fighting alone, refusing to fall.
But his movements slowed.
His swings, once unstoppable, became heavy, sluggish.
His body was covered in cuts, bruises, and claw marks.
His breathing was ragged, yet he refused to back down.
And then—
The Queen's leg slammed into him.
He blocked with the pillar, but the force sent him flying across the battlefield, his weapon slipping from his grasp as he crashed into a boulder.
He tried to get up—but his body wouldn't move.
For the first time, he had hit his limit.
His eyes darted toward his fallen weapon, just out of reach.
And the Queen saw it.
She smiled.
She stepped forward, her obsidian heels clicking against the stone, her smirk widening as she closed the distance.
This wasn't a fight for her anymore.
It was a hunt.
"Grimm."
Ren's voice cut through the battlefield, soft, quiet—yet absolute.
The teddy bear moved.
Grimm, who had been standing guard over Danryu's unconscious body, suddenly turned away, his massive body pivoting toward the fallen fairy-eared dwarf.
Then—
He rushed forward.
A blur of unnatural speed, his large arms extended outward, blocking the Queen's path just as she reached for the dwarf.
The Queen halted, her gaze flickering toward Ren for the first time.
"Oh?"
Her curiosity shifted, her expression unreadable.
I was still staring at Ren.
He hadn't moved.
His hollow eyes were locked onto the battlefield, but it was clear—he was controlling Grimm.
The Queen lunged, but this time, she wasn't targeting the dwarf.
She was aiming for me.
I reacted instantly, shifting my stance just as she closed the gap, her clawed fingers slicing through the air toward my throat.
I ducked, spinning on my heel—just as her second strike came from below.
"Phantom Step!"
I twisted my body mid-motion, redirecting my weight, narrowly escaping her attack.
Then I countered.
A brutal palm strike to her ribs, followed by a spinning back kick to her shoulder.
She staggered, but only slightly.
Her appendages snapped forward like whips, aiming for my legs—
I leapt over them, twisting mid-air—
And that's when I saw it.
The pillar.
Still lying near the dwarf, untouched.
I didn't think.
I landed, kicked off the ground—
And I grabbed it.
The moment my hands wrapped around the pillar's surface, the battlefield froze.
For a split second, I felt every pair of eyes on me.
Not just the Queen.
The remaining examinees, the fairy-eared dwarf, Ren, even Grimm—
They all stared.
I saw it in their expressions.
The shock.
The confusion.
The disbelief.
But I didn't have time to process it.
I swung.
The pillar slammed into the Queen's side, the force sending shockwaves through the cavern.
She was fast—but even she couldn't dodge something this heavy and powerful.
Her body crashed into the stone wall, cracks spiderwebbing across the surface as she let out a sharp breath.
But before she could recover—
Ren moved his fingers.
Grimm vanished from his spot.
In less than a second, the giant teddy bear appeared above the Queen, his massive fists glowing with an unknown force.
He struck.
The impact was devastating.
The entire cavern shook, the force of the attack sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
And yet—
The Queen laughed.
As the dust settled, her body flickered.
For a brief moment, her humanoid form shimmered, her figure becoming distorted, as though she were warping between different realities.
Then, suddenly—
She was no longer in front of us.
She had switched places.
With Grimm.
Ren's eyes widened.
Grimm, who had been mid-attack, was now where she had stood.
And the Queen?
She was now right in front of Ren.
Before I could react—
She reached for him.
Ren didn't flinch.
The Queen's clawed fingers wrapped around his throat, lifting him slightly off the ground.
For a second, my entire body locked up.
Then—
Grimm moved.
Not from instinct.
Not from desperation.
But because Ren willed it.
"Now."
Ren's voice was barely a whisper, but Grimm reacted instantly.
The massive teddy bear launched forward, but instead of attacking, his arms shot out—toward me.
Before I could process what was happening, Danryu's vines wrapped around Grimm's wrist.
The same Whip Vines that I was still holding onto.
My chest tightened as I realized what Ren was doing.
This wasn't just Grimm fighting the Queen.
This was both of us.
Together.
I tightened my grip on the pillar, feeling a strange, unfamiliar surge of power course through my arms.
"Pull."
Ren's voice echoed in my head, and without thinking, I did exactly that.
I yanked the vines, sending Grimm hurtling forward with terrifying speed—his massive form now a living projectile.
The Queen's eyes widened.
She tried to move—
Too late.
Grimm's fist collided with her, the force warping the air around us as the impact tore through the cavern.
The ground ruptured beneath us, cracks splintering outward from the sheer weight of the attack.
The Queen let out a guttural shriek, her body slamming into the far wall.
Dust exploded into the air, blinding everything.
But I was already moving.
I felt the weight of the pillar, the rush of momentum still carrying me forward.
Grimm had opened the way—
Now, I had to end it.
I let go of the vines, adjusting my grip on the pillar as I leapt forward—
A final, full-force swing.
I could feel everything in me channeling into this one strike.
Every technique my Grand Master taught me.
Every battle I had ever fought.
Every instinct, every movement—
Everything.
The pillar struck.
The impact was unlike anything I had ever felt.
A deafening BOOM erupted through the cavern.
And then—
Silence.
The Queen's body hung in the air for a second, unmoving.
Then—
She collapsed.
Her humanoid form shattered, her obsidian armor cracking apart like fragile glass.
Her appendages twitched once—
Then went still.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
No one moved.
The cavern was eerily quiet, except for the sound of my own ragged breathing.
I could still feel the weight of the pillar in my hands, my muscles burning from the sheer force of the final strike.
Grimm stood motionless beside me, his massive arms lowered, his glowing eyes unreadable.
Ren?
Still silent.
I turned my gaze toward the Queen's fallen body.
Then, finally—
She stopped breathing.
I wanted to rest, to drop my aching body to the ground, but—
We didn't have time.
The cavern was still shifting.
The exit could close at any moment.
I moved quickly, reaching for Ren first. His small frame was unnaturally light, but as I pulled him up, Grimm shifted, his massive form shrinking instantly, returning to his small teddy bear state.
Without hesitation, I hugged Grimm against Ren's chest, securing them both in my arms.
Danryu was still unconscious.
With no other choice, I lifted him too, my body screaming under the weight of exhaustion, injuries, and the adrenaline still fading.
But I kept moving.
Behind me, the remaining examinees who survived followed, their steps hurried but silent.
I noticed someone else had grabbed the fairy-eared dwarf, carrying him despite their own injuries.
We didn't speak.
We didn't look back.
Then—
A light hit us.
The faintest glow ahead, cutting through the cavern's darkness.
The exit.
We had made it.