Chapter 11: The Hidden Trail
The laughter between them slowly faded.
The forest returned to its usual eerie silence.
Aurelia rested her spear on her shoulder.
"So..."
"Should we travel together?"
Vee thought for a moment.
Traveling with the Crown Princess had its advantages.
She was strong.
Intelligent.
And despite stealing his kill...
She was surprisingly easy to talk to.
But...
He shook his head.
"I don't think we should."
Aurelia raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
"Because this is an entrance examination."
"If we stay together, we'll start relying on each other."
She considered his words before nodding.
"That's... a fair point."
Besides...
Vee couldn't tell her the real reason.
He knew something she didn't.
Or rather...
He remembered something.
The novel.
A fragment of a memory surfaced in his mind.
"During the Academy entrance examination..."
"The protagonist discovered a hidden treasure deep within the western forest."
"It wasn't on the main path."
"Almost everyone missed it."
Vee's heart skipped a beat.
"That's right..."
"The treasure..."
He had nearly forgotten.
Aurelia noticed the change in his expression.
"What are you thinking about?"
Vee smiled casually.
"Nothing important."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're a terrible liar."
"So I've been told."
She sighed before extending her hand.
"Then..."
"I'll see you after the examination."
Vee shook it.
"Try not to steal anyone else's kills."
She grinned mischievously.
"No promises."
The two laughed.
Then they turned and walked in opposite directions.
Neither looked back.
---
Once he was certain Aurelia had disappeared into the trees, Vee stopped smiling.
His expression became serious.
"If my memory is correct..."
He looked toward the western side of the forest.
"...the treasure should be somewhere beyond the Blackwood Ravine."
He adjusted his bag and began moving quickly.
The further he traveled...
The stranger the forest became.
The trees grew older.
The sunlight became dimmer.
Even the air felt heavier.
No students could be seen.
No monsters appeared.
It was as though the forest itself wanted people to stay away.
After nearly an hour of searching...
Vee reached a narrow cliff.
Below it flowed a dark river.
"This is it..."
He looked around carefully.
"The novel said..."
"...'Only those who refuse the obvious path will find what was hidden.'"
His eyes swept across the rocky walls.
Nothing.
Just stone.
He frowned.
"No..."
"I'm missing something."
He closed his eyes.
His mother's training echoed in his mind.
"When your eyes fail..."
"Quiet your heart."
Taking a slow breath, Vee listened.
The rushing river.
The wind through the leaves.
A faint...
Almost imperceptible...
Drip.
His eyes snapped open.
"There!"
Hidden behind a curtain of vines was the sound of falling water.
Vee pushed the vines aside.
Behind them lay a narrow cave entrance, almost completely concealed from view.
A smile spread across his face.
"I found it."
He stepped inside.
The cave was cool and silent.
Blue crystals glowed faintly along the walls, lighting the path ahead.
Far in the darkness...
Something shimmered.
Not gold.
Not jewels.
Something far more valuable.
Vee instinctively tightened his grip on his sword.
"Whatever's waiting in there..."
"I have a feeling..."
"...it won't let me take the treasure without a fight.".
The Cave of Death
The cave grew colder with every step.
The blue crystals embedded in the walls flickered like dying stars, casting long shadows across the stone floor.
Drip...
Drip...
The sound of water echoed endlessly.
Vee tightened his grip on his sword.
"...Too quiet."
His instincts screamed at him.
Turn back.
Leave.
Whatever treasure lay ahead...
It wasn't meant for someone his level.
But Vee continued walking.
Finally...
The tunnel widened into an enormous underground chamber.
His eyes widened.
At the center of the cavern stood a golden pedestal.
Resting upon it was a crystal the size of a human heart, glowing with soft azure light.
"So that's the treasure..."
Before he could take another step—
GRRRRRRRR...
A deep growl shook the cave.
The walls trembled.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Vee slowly turned.
His heartbeat stopped.
Two crimson eyes stared back at him from the darkness.
A massive lion emerged.
It was over four meters tall.
Its mane burned with dark crimson flames.
Each paw was the size of a shield.
Ancient scars covered its body.
Its gaze alone made breathing difficult.
The System window flashed violently.
---
WARNING!!
Enemy Detected
Name: Crimson Flame Lion
Rank: C
Threat Level: Lethal
Survival Probability: 0.8%
Recommendation: RUN
---
"..."
Vee stared at the screen.
"...Zero point eight?"
He laughed bitterly.
"So you're saying..."
"...I'm dead."
The lion roared.
ROOOOOOOAR!!
The shockwave blasted Vee backward.
He slammed into a stone pillar.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
"So..."
He forced himself to stand.
"...Guess talking isn't an option."
The lion disappeared.
"What—"
BOOM!
Its paw crashed into Vee's chest.
The impact launched him across the cavern.
Stone shattered.
Several ribs cracked instantly.
Vee gasped for air.
His vision blurred.
"So..."
"...Fast..."
The beast wasn't merely stronger.
It completely outclassed him.
Still...
Vee stood.
He wiped the blood from his lips.
"I didn't come this far..."
"...to die without fighting."
Blue aura erupted around him.
He charged.
His sword flashed toward the lion's neck.
CLANG!
The blade struck...
And bounced off.
"What?!"
The lion's scales hadn't even been scratched.
Its tail whipped through the air.
CRACK!!
Vee was sent crashing through another pillar.
His left arm went numb.
His sword slipped from his fingers.
Pain flooded every nerve in his body.
Yet...
He crawled toward his weapon.
"No..."
"...I'm not done..."
The lion slowly approached.
Every step echoed like a death sentence.
Vee reached his sword.
He struggled to his feet.
His legs shook uncontrollably.
His breathing became ragged.
Blood dripped onto the stone.
He smiled.
"...Come on."
The lion charged again.
This time...
Vee met it head-on.
He poured every ounce of mana into his blade.
The sword glowed brighter than ever.
"BLUE... MOON... SLASH!"
A brilliant crescent of blue energy exploded forward.
It struck the lion directly.
Smoke filled the cavern.
Hope flickered in Vee's eyes.
Then...
The smoke cleared.
The lion stood exactly where it had been.
One tiny scratch marked its cheek.
Nothing more.
The beast looked almost... offended.
"Oh..."
Vee laughed weakly.
"...That's embarrassing."
The lion raised its claw.
Vee couldn't move.
His body had reached its limit.
He closed his eyes.
"So this is how it ends..."
"Mom..."
"Dad..."
"I'm sorry..."
The claw descended.
Then—
DING!
A mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
---
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
A Divine Being has witnessed your battle.
The God of Life has taken interest in you.
Compatibility Analysis...
Beginning...
---
Vee's eyes widened.
"...A..."
"...God?"
His vision faded.
The last thing he saw...
Was a brilliant emerald light descending from above.
Then...
Everything went black.