Ethan slammed his fist on the table, causing the goblet in front of him to wobble dangerously. The dimly lit room seemed even darker, shadows flickering across his face as he seethed in frustration. Liana, with her sharp, golden eyes, watched him from across the room, leaning casually against the wall, her arms crossed. Mira stood near the window, gazing out at the night sky, her expression thoughtful yet distant.
"That damn auction," Ethan muttered through gritted teeth, his voice barely above a growl. "I spent almost everything I had on that spear. It was like... I had to have it. Something about it felt... off. I couldn't let it slip away."
Liana's eyes narrowed slightly, her voice calm yet laced with concern. "It's not like you to lose your composure, Ethan. You're usually more calculated, more in control."
Mira turned slightly from the window, her reflection faint in the glass. "Whoever that other bidder was, they knew exactly what they were doing. It felt deliberate—like they were pushing you, testing your resolve. And then, at the last second, they backed off. Why?"
Ethan's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. "I noticed. But what I don't understand is why. Why target me? What did they gain from it?"
Liana pushed off the wall, her boots clicking softly on the floor as she approached him. "Maybe they see you as a rival, someone who needed to be weakened before the next challenge. The academy isn't just about learning; it's a battlefield for reputation and power. Every student here is a competitor."
Mira fully turned from the window, crossing her arms as she joined the conversation. "And tomorrow's survival run is just another stage in that competition. You need to be ready, Ethan. There's no room for mistakes."
Ethan's frustration began to morph into a cold determination. He nodded, more to himself than to them. "Yes, you are right."
Liana smirked, her tone teasing but with a sharp edge. "Just make sure you don't get taken down by the first beast that crosses your path."
Ethan shot her a glare, but there was a softness in his eyes. "I won't be the one who gets caught off guard. You two better keep up."
Mira exchanged a glance with Liana, both nodding in silent agreement.
Morning light filtered through the high windows of the academy's training hall, casting long shadows across the gleaming rows of VR capsules. The room buzzed with a mix of excitement and nervous energy as the students gathered, their faces set in determined expressions. Professor Gerald stood before them, his presence commanding and authoritative.
"Today's challenge," Gerald began, his voice echoing in the large hall, "is the survival run. You will each be thrown into a simulated forest within the VR world. Your starting points will be scattered, ensuring that no two students begin in the same location. Your objective is simple: survive."
The professor paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. "Time in the VR world flows differently—one hour in the real world equals one full day in the simulation. You'll face various beasts, and possibly each other. Defeating a beast will earn you points, depending on its level. If you choose to engage another student and emerge victorious, you'll gain half of their points. But remember, this isn't just about points; it's about survival. Learn quickly, adapt faster."
The students began moving toward the capsules, some with grim determination, others with an air of confidence. Leon walked alongside Alex, the two exchanging a look that spoke of mutual respect and readiness.
"You sure you're ready for this?" Leon asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Alex gave him a small, reassuring smile. "I'll be fine. Just keep your head in the game."
Leon grinned, clapping Alex on the shoulder. "Same to you. Let's get through this in one piece."
As they approached their capsules, Lila hesitated slightly, glancing nervously at the others. Alex caught her eye and gave her a nod. "You'll do great, Lila. Just trust your instincts."
She nodded back, her resolve hardening. "Thanks, Alex. I'll do my best."
With that, Alex stepped into his capsule, the door sliding shut with a soft hiss. The world around him faded into darkness, and for a brief moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, with a sudden jolt, the simulation began, and Alex found himself standing in the middle of a dense, ancient forest.
The forest was alive with sound—the rustling of leaves, the distant calls of unseen creatures, and the faint hum of magic that permeated the air. The trees were towering and twisted, their roots forming a labyrinth on the forest floor. Shafts of light filtered through the dense canopy, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move on their own.
Alex took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. The forest was thick with danger, and every sense in his body was on high alert. He moved cautiously, his footsteps silent on the soft earth. He knew he had to be careful—this was not a place for mistakes.
As he navigated through the forest, he suddenly felt a subtle shift in the ground beneath him. The earth trembled slightly, and the distant sounds of the forest seemed to fade. Then, from the shadows, a monstrous serpent slithered into view, its scales shimmering like dark emeralds in the dim light. The snake was massive, its body as thick as a tree trunk and at least thirty feet long. Its eyes gleamed with a cold, predatory intelligence, and its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air.
Alex tensed, his hand instinctively going to the Celestial Shifter at his side. The sword, sensing the imminent danger, began to shift, elongating into a sleek, curved blade perfect for the close-quarters battle that was about to unfold.
The serpent struck with blinding speed, its jaws wide open, aiming to swallow Alex whole. He barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the snake's fangs struck the ground where he had just been standing. The force of the impact sent dirt and debris flying, and Alex quickly regained his footing, his eyes never leaving the massive creature.
The snake recoiled, its body coiling as it prepared for another strike. Alex tightened his grip on the sword, his mind racing as he calculated his next move. The snake's size was both its strength and its weakness—while it was incredibly fast, its large body made it difficult to change direction quickly.
The serpent lunged again, its body whipping through the air with terrifying speed. But Alex was ready. He sidestepped the attack, his blade flashing as he slashed at the snake's side. The sword struck true, slicing through the thick scales and drawing dark, viscous blood. The serpent hissed in pain, its eyes narrowing in fury as it whipped around, trying to catch Alex with its tail.
Alex leaped back, avoiding the tail by mere inches. The snake's tail slammed into a nearby tree, splintering the wood with a loud crack. Alex used the momentary distraction to his advantage, dashing forward and delivering another quick slash to the snake's exposed underbelly.
The serpent let out a deafening screech, its massive body thrashing wildly as it tried to dislodge Alex. But he was relentless, moving with the precision and speed of a seasoned warrior. He dodged another strike, this time from the serpent's jaws, and countered with a powerful upward slash that drove deep into the creature's flesh.
The snake, now severely wounded, attempted one final, desperate attack. It reared back, coiling its body in preparation for a deadly strike. But Alex was already in motion. He dashed forward, closing the distance between them in an instant, and with a swift, decisive strike, he drove his blade into the serpent's throat.
The snake let out one final, pained hiss before collapsing, its massive body going limp as its life force drained away. The forest fell silent, the only sound being Alex's heavy breathing as he stepped back, his sword still gripped tightly in his hand.
As the snake's body began to dissolve into pixels, a clear sign that the creature had been defeated, Alex took a moment to catch his breath. A notification appeared in his vision, confirming the points he had earned for defeating the beast.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and sheathed the Celestial Shifter, which reverted to its default form—a simple, elegant sword.