Demian clapped his hands sharply, the sound echoing across the ground.
"With this, today's exams are over," he announced. "To those who passed, my congratulations. And to those who failed… try harder next year."
A brief pause. His green eyes scanned the crowd, and a sly smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Now then," he continued, voice dripping with amusement, "the final exam to prove yourselves will begin the day after tomorrow. Be prepared."
This year has some very promising students, Demian thought, watching the excited chatter of the participants.
The crowd began dispersing, each student heading outside to catch a breath after the intense trials. Junyeok followed the flow of students, moving calmly through the bustling crowd.
Nyxara hovered nearby, wings drooping slightly in exhaustion. "I've had enough for today," she muttered, voice weary.
Junyeok smirked faintly, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "Yeah. The next test is really going to be fun."
At least, he thought, that's what I hope.
---
Exam Day
The morning air was crisp, tinged with the scent of pine and damp earth. Students gathered once again under the watchful eyes of Han and Demian.
"So everyone," Han said, yawning as he leaned against a tree, "the exam is about to begin. Get ready."
"Grab your weapons, steady your breathing, and prepare yourselves," Demian added, his tone serious. "The final exam starts now."
"You're loud. Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?" Han groaned.
Demian's lips curved slightly. "You never get tired of sleeping, do you?"
The instructors' banter drew a few chuckles, but the students' focus remained unwavering.
"This time, the rule is simple," Demian said, his gaze sharp. "LAST ONE STANDING WINS."
Demian continued, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.
"Each participant has been assigned to a team of three. You must survive in a jungle filled with monsters. But be warned—the monsters are not your only concern. Your seniors will hunt you relentlessly, appearing anywhere, anytime. Conflicts between teammates are also permitted."
A few gasps and panicked murmurs rippled through the students.
A hush fell over the crowd. Whispers ran like wildfire:
"How are we supposed to beat our seniors?"
"You idiots… didn't you hear? We just have to survive!"
"This is going to be impossible…"
"Don't worry," Demian added calmly, "we will intervene if you are in real danger—but doing so will disqualify you. Every person you defeat among your peers will earn you 100 points. Seniors yield 500 points each. Team wipeouts grant 100 extra points. Each monster kill awards 50 points."
He paused to let the information sink in before continuing.
"The duration of this exam is three days. Rankings will determine rewards: first place—10,000 points, second—5,000 points, third—3,000 points, fourth through tenth—1,000 points, and eleventh through twentieth—500 points. Points from team contributions will be distributed according to individual effort. Keep in mind: only the participant dealing the highest damage to a defeated opponent or senior will receive full credit."
The crowd erupted with a mixture of excitement and panic.
"How are we supposed to find food there?" a student shouted.
Demian's eyes gleamed with a faintly sinister smile. "Oh, did I forget to mention—you must forage for your own food. Shelters and weapons will be provided."
The murmur quickly grew into frantic chatter.
"This is going to be impossible!"
"What do we even do?"
"We're doomed!"
Demian raised a hand, cutting through the chaos. "Oh, and one more thing," he said with a plotting expression. "The MVP of this exam will receive a personal VIP room within the campus grounds."
Energy and excitement surged through the students. Whispers turned into determined declarations:
"I'm going for MVP!"
"No way, I'll win this!"
None of them know, Han thought, glancing toward Junyeok, that a real monster is already among them.
Demian's excitement was palpable, though neither he nor the students realized that a true predator already walked among them—Junyeok, calm and composed, eyes scanning the crowd with quiet calculation. Han's lips twitched in a small smirk.
---
"Let's begin," Demian announced.
He pressed a button, and a soft hum spread through the stadium. "You will be teleported with your teammates to random locations within the restricted forest area."
Junyeok's eyes lit up with anticipation. "This is going to be real fun."
Around him, students whispered nervously. "What's happening?" "Where are we going?"
A sudden blue light enveloped the group. The hum became a roar, and the world around them dissolved into brilliance as the mass teleportation spell activated.
---
When Junyeok opened his eyes, he was lying on the forest floor. The canopy above was dense, sunlight filtering in jagged streams through the leaves. Confusion prickled his mind.
Weren't my teammates supposed to be here? he thought.
Nyxara hovered beside him, wings fluttering. "Whoa… where are we?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Junyeok stretched lightly.
Suddenly, branches rustled above.
"What—"
Something fell on top of junyeok.
Before he could react, a body collided with him, knocking him to the ground.
Warmth. A soft, sweet scent. And impossibly soft…
Junyeok opened his eyes. It was Yun.
I'm getting déjà vu, he thought awkwardly, a nervous smile tugging at his lips.
Nyxara's voice cut through his thoughts. "Are you okay too, Junyeok?"
Junyeok offered a teasing smile. "Hi again, Yun. Not bad, landing from the sky like that."
Flushing red, Yun scrambled to her feet. "It's not like that! I… I just got teleported above the trees and… before I could react, I fell!"
Junyeok chuckled softly. "Most mass teleportation spells are random within a set radius. This is normal."
Yun extended her hand. Junyeok grabbed it, helping her up.
"So… looks like we're on the same team," he said.
Yun smiled, relief and excitement dancing in her eyes. "Yes. I'm glad I'm with someone I know."
Nyxara tilted her head curiously. "Who is she?"
Junyeok replied calmly. "She's my friend. We just met recently."
Yun's eyes lit up as she looked at Nyxara. "Is that… your contracted ecoe?"
Junyeok nodded.
Yun couldn't contain herself—she grabbed Nyxara gently, rubbing her cheek. "So adorable!"
Nyxara wriggled away, flying behind Junyeok. "Get off me!"
Yun laughed, tilting her head. "She even sounds cute—like a baby dragon."
Junyeok's eyes narrowed slightly. So that's how she sounds to others. Normally she only speaks through telepathy…
Shifting the topic, he asked, "Where's your ecoe?"
Yun smiled, her voice steady. "Right here."
She nodded. "Open ecoe subspace.". A glowing portal opened beside her, revealing a small, angelic figure with delicate wings, a golden halo, and radiant blonde hair. Her blue eyes shimmered with calm authority.
"This is my ecoe," Yun said proudly. "Arcadia—one of the Four Great Angels of Heaven. She's a support type at the moment."
Junyeok's thoughts raced. Arcadia… powerful… in my previous life, she was the ecoe of the Battle Holy Maiden Aren. A peculiar ecoe—only selects contractors with purest hearts.
Does that mean Yun…?
His thoughts drifted, imagining her as a holy figure—before snapping back.
He observed her closely: small doll-sized, radiant wings, and a presence that spoke of immense destructive and healing power.
Most ecoes select based on conditions or instincts. Nyxara chose me after my trials… which are special ones.
He snapped back to reality when Yun asked, "So… where's our third member?"
Junyeok's eyes scanned the forest. "They should be nearby. Let's check ahead."
---
They moved forward.
Blood traces appeared on the ground.
A series of bloodstains led them forward.
"Looks like we found him," Junyeok muttered with a grim smile.
Ahead, the impossible scene unfolded: many goblins lay scattered, cut in half and beheaded, blood splattered across the forest floor.
Yun gasped, her hands trembling slightly.
Nyxara hissed, "What could have done this in such a short time?"
Junyeok's gaze fell to the center of the carnage. A girl, katana in hand, stood with katana drenched in blood. Her intense eyes met his for a fleeting moment before locking onto him fully.
Junyeok's lips curved into a grim grin. "Found her."