Alex wiped the blood off his sword, breathing heavily as he surveyed the massive serpent's lifeless body sprawled out before him. The creature had been formidable, a towering serpent with scales as hard as steel and fangs that dripped with venom. Its last hiss echoed in the forest, but now, silence reigned.
He glanced down at the band on his wrist, the device given to all students for tracking their progress in the VR survival test. The screen displayed the details of his latest kill:
Serpent King
- Level: 25
- Points Awarded: 2
Alex noted the level with mild interest. The serpent had been four levels above him, but it had still fallen. The points were modest, but they added to his tally. Without wasting another moment, Alex sheathed his sword and moved forward, the dense forest closing around him as he disappeared into the shadows.
Three Hours Later
The scene shifted to another part of the VR forest. Leon stood in a small clearing, breathing heavily as he eyed the three opponents surrounding him. They were a diverse group: an elf girl with shimmering green eyes who clutched a glowing staff, a demi-human with the sharp features of a tiger and the strength to match, and a human swordsman whose eyes blazed with intensity.
Leon gripped his sword tightly, his mind racing as he calculated his next move. The elf girl was a healer—he needed to take her out first.
"Don't think you'll get out of here alive, Mr. Famous" the human swordsman sneered, his blade pointed directly at Leon. The demi-human growled low, circling him with predatory intent.
The fight began in a blur of motion. The demi-human lunged first, his claws extended as he aimed for Leon's throat. Leon parried, the force of the blow sending vibrations up his arm. He quickly sidestepped, delivering a swift kick to the demi-human's side, but the opponent was fast, recovering almost instantly.
Behind them, the elf girl began chanting, her staff glowing brighter as she prepared a healing spell. Leon knew he couldn't let that spell go off—if the demi-human was healed, this fight would drag on, and his stamina was already waning.
The human swordsman charged, his blade slashing through the air with deadly precision. Leon blocked the attack, their swords clashing with a metallic ring that echoed through the forest. Sparks flew as they exchanged blows, each strike more intense than the last.
Leon saw his opening. As the human swordsman pulled back for another strike, Leon pivoted, dodging to the side and delivering a powerful upward slash. His blade cut through the swordsman's armor, sending him staggering backward with a cry of pain.
"Now!" Leon thought, his gaze snapping to the elf girl. She was mid-incantation, her staff glowing as the healing spell began to take form. With a burst of speed, Leon sprinted towards her, his sword aimed for a killing blow.
But the demi-human was faster. With a roar, he leaped between Leon and the elf, his claws slashing downwards. Leon barely managed to raise his sword in time, blocking the attack. The force of the blow pushed him back, but Leon grit his teeth, refusing to yield.
The demi-human grinned, his tiger-like eyes gleaming with malice. "You're strong, but you're outnumbered. Give up!"
Leon didn't respond. Instead, he let out a battle cry, channeling every ounce of his strength into his next attack. His sword glowed with a faint light—a special move he had been saving. With a swift, powerful strike, he cut through the demi-human's defenses, slashing across his chest.
The demi-human roared in pain, staggering backward, clutching his wound. But before Leon could finish him off, the elf's healing spell took effect. A soft, green light enveloped the demi-human, mending his wounds at an alarming rate.
"Damn it," Leon cursed under his breath. He needed to end this, and fast.
The human swordsman had recovered, and he charged at Leon once more. But this time, Leon was ready. He sidestepped the attack, using the momentum of the swordsman's charge to pivot and deliver a powerful slash to his back. The swordsman crumpled to the ground, eliminated from the test.
The elf's eyes widened in fear as Leon turned his attention to her. She began chanting another spell, but Leon was already upon her. With a swift, precise strike, he knocked her staff out of her hands and delivered the final blow. She vanished, her form dissipating as she was eliminated.
Only the demi-human remained. Leon could see the fear in his eyes now. He was no longer confident in his victory. With a final roar, the demi-human lunged at Leon, but his movements were sluggish, his strength waning.
Leon dodged, countering with a powerful strike that cut across the demi-human's chest. The demi-human staggered, then fell, his body vanishing as he was eliminated.
Leon stood alone in the clearing, breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He had won, but it had been close—too close.
Back at the academy, several teachers watched the fight on their screens, their faces showing varying degrees of interest and concern.
"Impressive," one of them commented, noting Leon's performance. "He's got potential, but he needs to work on his stamina."
"That demi-human almost had him," another added. "But he's got a good head on his shoulders. He took out the healer first—smart move."
"Keep an eye on him," a senior instructor said, his gaze focused on the screen. "He's going to be a key player in this year's class."
As the screen shifted to another part of the forest, the teachers continued their observations, silently noting their students' strengths and weaknesses.
Leon sheathed his sword, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over him. He had survived the encounter, but the test was far from over. As he moved deeper into the forest, he became more excited.