Morning light struggled through the thick, gray air as tension clung to every corner of the Academy's training field. Noah stood among hundreds of Iron Rank students, each one outfitted in standard combat gear that looked as worn as the determination on their faces. There was a wild mix of expressions, some showed fierce determination, others revealed fear or reckless excitement and a few bore the quiet resignation of those who had long accepted their fate.
Some students stretched out stiff limbs in a clumsy attempt to shake off the morning chill, while others meticulously sharpened their weapons, their eyes reflecting both hope and anxiety. A small group huddled together, murmuring quiet prayers or wishes for survival.
Lucas, ever the early riser in his own irreverent way, stood right beside Noah and let out a loud yawn that broke the silence. "Man, they really make us rise early for this," he said with a hint of humor in his tone. "I barely had time to enjoy our awful Academy breakfast." His voice carried a mix of sarcasm and genuine disbelief at the Academy's rigid schedule.
Noah merely watched the bustling crowd, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he mentally calculated how soon someone might start screaming for their life.
Lucas nudged him teasingly, "What, nervous?"
Noah replied with a cool smirk, "Not nervous. Just wondering how long until the first cry for help." Lucas chuckled, "I'd put my money on five minutes."
Before they could exchange more banter, a deep, thunderous voice boomed across the field, slicing through the murmur of anticipation. "All Iron Rank students! Step forward!"
At that moment, every eye turned toward a massive Iron Rank instructor. The man was built like a mountain and his expression was cold and impassive, offering no hint of empathy or concern.
In unison, Noah and the other students moved forward, forming a neat line until they halted just before the marked starting line.
The instructor's voice, measured and authoritative, filled the silence. "Today, your trial will take place in the Abyssal Forest. Your goal is simple, survive for twenty-four hours. And if you want to earn a high score, bring back an Abyssal Core."
His words sent a ripple of murmurs through the crowd as students exchanged anxious glances. Noah felt Lucas tense beside him, even his friend could not mask a flash of concern.
"Abyssal Core?" Lucas murmured under his breath. "That means fighting the Abyssal Beasts."
Noah nodded in agreement. These beasts were not mere creatures; they were fierce, unpredictable, and driven by raw, untamed hunger.
The instructor continued, his tone turning stern. "Remember, the deeper you venture into the forest, the stronger the beasts become. It is your choice how far you go, but be warned, this is not a game. The Academy will not rescue you if you make foolish decisions." As his gaze swept over the assembled students, it lingered a moment longer on Noah, a silent reminder that his reputation had already been tarnished. Noah sighed inwardly; he was already marked as a troublemaker, and today would only confirm that label.
In a low whisper meant only for him, Lucas asked, "So, should we stick to the edge and play it safe?"
Noah's eyes sparkled with mischief as he replied, "Do you really think Edgar and his noble friends will let us be?"
Lucas groaned, shaking his head, "Right, I forgot about that."
With a deliberate crack of his knuckles, Noah declared, "Then we might as well go deep and make this interesting."
Lucas stared at him for a long moment, and then with a resigned sigh admitted, "I really regret choosing you as a partner."
Before either could settle their debate, the instructor raised his hand high, signaling an end to the chatter. Then,
BOOM!
In that instant, a loud signal exploded in the sky.
"BEGIN!"
The call roared, and in an instant, chaos ensued. The students burst into action. Some sprinted off toward what they hoped were the best hunting grounds, while others hesitated, caught in the grip of uncertainty. Amid the rush, Noah maintained his composure and walked calmly forward, his steady pace a quiet defiance of the frenzy around him.
Lucas, running alongside him and still catching his breath, panted, "Not in a hurry?"
Noah shrugged, his tone light yet resolute, "Why rush? Let the fools brawl over the easy targets. we're after the real prize."
Lucas sighed, a mixture of admiration and exasperation in his voice, "I knew you'd say that."
Together, they moved away from the chaotic start and into the dense, foreboding forest. The towering trees formed a canopy overhead, blotting out much of the weak morning light, and casting long, eerie shadows on the forest floor. The deeper they went, the quieter it became. Only the distant echoes of roars, panicked screams, and the clash of battle reached their ears, sounds that bore the mark of other students already locked in combat with the wild beasts.
Lucas shivered as a cold wind stirred the leaves, and he muttered, "Welp. That was fast."
Noah's smirk deepened as he replied, "Told you. Five minutes, just as I predicted."
Lucas rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, yeah, you were right. Now, where do we start?"
Noah halted and scanned the dense undergrowth, his eyes catching every movement.
CRACK!
Suddenly, a sharp crack broke the silence, a branch snapping under some unseen pressure.
Lucas froze mid-step, "Uh… was that you?" he asked, a note of concern in his voice.
Noah slowly shook his head, and in the next heartbeat, a low, menacing growl rumbled from the nearby bushes.
Lucas leaned in, whispering, "Oh great. We found our first beast."
Noah's lips curled into a confident smirk as he remarked, "Or maybe it found us." In an instant, the bushes erupted into chaos as a massive, black-furred creature burst forth. Its red eyes shone with a predatory glow. It was a Bloodclaw Panther, its lean muscles rippling beneath its sleek coat. It moved with the lethal grace of a panther, exuding an aura of raw danger and hunger.
Lucas yelped in surprise, "That thing is bigger than I thought!" The beast crouched low, its muscles coiled like springs, before, with a sudden explosive movement.
BOOM!
It lunged forward.
Noah's reflexes kicked in instantly. He twisted his body with precision as the panther's razor-sharp claws sliced through the air just inches from his chest.
Lucas, acting on instinct, dove sideways and narrowly escaped the deadly swipe. "Okay, this thing is FAST," Lucas gasped as he scrambled to regain his footing, his heart pounding in his ears.
Noah didn't break his focus; his eyes remained locked on the panther as it circled them, its movements calculated and testing. "Lucas," he said in a calm tone, "how good are you at distractions?"
Lucas frowned and muttered, "Why do I feel like I'm about to be used as bait?"
The panther lunged again with a ferocity that left no room for error. Noah sidestepped gracefully, but Lucas, was caught off guard by a hidden root.
Thud!
He stumbled forward , landing face-first in the dirt with a loud thud.
Noah paused, his eyes narrowing as he watched Lucas struggle to get up. The panther, now momentarily distracted by the fall, halted its charge and tilted its head as if puzzled by the clumsy act.
Lucas groaned from the ground, "I hate everything."
In an odd twist that neither expected, the panther then did something bizarre, it sat down, almost as if contemplating its next move.
Noah blinked in disbelief, then he murmured. "Uh…"
While Lucas, dusting himself off, stuttered, "Wait. Did I just confuse it?"
The beast stared at Lucas for a few heartbeats, then, as if making a decision, turned its attention back to Noah, clearly deeming him the real threat.
Noah sighed softly and said, "I think you disappointed it."
Lucas grumbled, "Even the monster thinks I'm pathetic."
The panther crouched once more, its eyes narrowing as it prepared for another attack.
In that critical moment, Noah acted with lightning speed. With a sudden burst of energy , he charged forward. He twisted midair, his fist connecting solidly with the panther's jaw.
BOOM!
The force of the blow made the beast's head snap back violently, its body momentarily staggering from the impact. Not stopping there, Noah grabbed a fallen branch from the ground. He flipped it in his grip, taking a deep breath, and swung it with all his might.
CRACK!
The branch met its target, and the panther crumpled to the forest floor, unconscious.
Lucas stared in astonishment for a moment before exhaling, "Of course. You make it look so easy."
Noah casually tossed the branch aside and replied, "Not easy, just fast."
Lucas wiped the dirt from his face, shaking his head as he added, "Well, I almost died, so let's call it even."
Noah couldn't help but smirk, "You tripped on your own, remember?"
Lucas threw a stick at him in playful retaliation, and Noah dodged it with a light chuckle. The moment of danger had passed, but the thrill of the encounter still pulsed in their veins.
With the adrenaline slowly subsiding, Noah looked ahead into the deepening gloom of the forest. "Come on," he said, his voice low but determined, "we need to go deeper if we want that Abyssal Core."
Lucas groaned, his voice laced with reluctant humor, "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?"
Noah grinned, a spark of wild excitement in his eyes, "Because you will."
Together, they plunged further into the forest, leaving behind the brief battle and the fading echoes of their encounter.
As they advanced, every rustle and distant howl made their hearts pound faster. The forest was alive, not just with beasts but with the promise of danger and the thrill of survival. Every step brought them face-to-face with nature's raw and untamed power, and every breath reminded them that this was not merely a trial but a fight for their lives.