"Out of all the 90 applicants, I want to congratulate the 20 of you that made it to the third stage. This means that 20 of you have now earned a spot in the Recon Corps, and those who wished to still proceed with the third stage, please step forward."
The students knew the stakes. Elson had made it clear after the second stage results were posted: making it this far guaranteed recruitment, but each squad within the Recon Corps had its own demands. Those who chose to proceed with the final stage would have the chance to join the Extermination Squad.
Surprisingly, of the 20 finalists, only 7 students stepped forward. Reno, Kiera, Ardiel, Anton, Kristan, Keero, and Minho. After the second stage, the standings were jumbled, with Reno and Kiera sharing the top spot while Ardiel sits at third place.
"Wasn't Minho 16th in the standings?" said one of the students who noticed that Minho's the only one outside of the Top 10 that decided to proceed with the final stage.
"Yeah, he barely scraped through the second stage, but he was 9th after the first."
"Ow, then why is he?"
Minho, usually a background figure, was suddenly at the center of attention. He was a first-year magister in Class 2, but there was something different about him—something that didn't quite fit the typical magister mold. His performance in the first stage had been remarkable, almost like an Auror, despite the fact that, unlike Ardiel, he didn't possess a mana core.
"Interesting," a fourth-year student remarked, now responsible for overseeing the final stage. "The rest will be assigned to the Scouting and Surveillance squads, but these seven will be tested to see if they're fit for the Extermination squad."
As murmurs rippled through the crowd, a professor from the spectator's gallery stepped forward. Her presence was immediately striking—pink glasses perched on her nose, and a matching pink ponytail bobbing as she moved. She was known for her fierce demeanor, a stark contrast to her innocent appearance.
"In this final stage, you'll be tasked with hunting Low-rank beasts. A Rank 1 beast is worth 10 points, a Rank 2 beast is worth 25 points, and if you're lucky enough to find one, a Rank 3 beast is worth 50 points."
The idea of facing a Rank 2 or Rank 3 beast might sound thrilling, but after battling lower-ranking beasts, the students knew this final test would be a true challenge. It would come down to stamina and strategy—qualities that were far more important than raw power in a real fight.
The pink-haired instructor moved to the center of the field, where the obstacles had been cleared away. She crouched and placed her hands on the ground, her fingers brushing the earth as if whispering to it. A hushed awe fell over the crowd as the air around her seemed to shimmer with magical energy.
Without warning, the ground began to pulse with a vibrant green glow. The terrain undulated and shifted as if it were alive, breathing in sync with the rhythm of the magical energy. Towering trees sprang up from the ground with breathtaking speed, their trunks expanding and branches stretching outward in an almost choreographed dance.
Within moments, the once-open field had transformed into a dense, verdant forest. Leaves unfurled in a riot of color, and the canopy above wove into an intricate tapestry of green, casting dappled, shifting shadows on the forest floor.
"Wow, Instructor Duna is amazing."
As the leader of the Scouting team, Duna was adept with the use of Plant Magic and utilizing it to safely traverse, explore and map out the surrounding area of the academy.
As the crowd marveled at the transformation, another professor stepped forward. Before anyone could react, five large magic circles flared into existence around him. From each circle, a swarm of low-ranked beasts materialized, emerging from the circles like dark, writhing clouds. The creatures moved with a chaotic energy, their eyes gleaming with a mix of menace and curiosity.
The dozens of beasts found their way inside the small makeshift forest which will serve as the hunting ground.
"I feel like I've seen an Ice Sting Hornet among the beasts." said one of the students who was scared of insect-type beasts.
"Say that when there's also a Rank 3 Golden Mamba and Snow Saberfang among the summoned beasts."
"Instructor Pedro seems to be rich."
"Of course he is. He's from the Fitzroy family, who manage the mounts for the Dragonhearts and their knights."
"The participants have a maximum of 2 hours in the hunting ground. Magic devices are scattered throughout to record your performance and calculate your points. Instructors Duna and Pedro will supervise to ensure your safety if you're in grave danger."
The seven students stepped forward, ready for the challenge. This would be a battle of points—the kill count didn't matter unless it involved Rank 2 or Rank 3 beasts, which carried heavier weight in the point system.
"At the count of 3…2…1…"
BANG!
As the shot echoed, all seven students sprinted into the mini forest without hesitation.
Each of them taking different directions to avoid a direct encounter, this way, they would have more room to hunt without getting entangled with the others.
Ardiel was the first to break away from the others, heading straight for the heart of the forest. His eyes flickered with a cold resolve as he activated Light Step, his movements becoming a blur as he navigated through the undergrowth.
The moment he was clear of the others, he activated Gravity Well, feeling the familiar weight of his magic press against the ground. His senses were heightened, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs amplified as he prepared for the hunt.
It didn't take long for Ardiel to encounter his first prey. A pair of Rank 2 Jeogor emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. The creatures were massive, their lean bodies covered in matted, white fur that bristled as they caught sight of Ardiel.
Ardiel didn't flinch. He'd faced Snow Jeogors during the Beast Tide and knew exactly how to deal with them.
As the first beast lunged at him, he sidestepped with inhuman speed, his body a blur of motion. The Jeogor almost slammed to the ground by surprise, the ground beneath it suddenly heavier as Ardiel's Gravity Well took effect.
With 64% proficiency in his Gravity Well, he was able to increase the gravity by 19% within his range, making their movements heavier and adding an element of surprise. This might seem like a minimal change, but for anyone who suddenly had their weights increased almost instantly, they would come unprepared.
The beast roared in frustration, its movements sluggish as it tried to adjust to the increased gravity. But Ardiel didn't give it a chance. He swung his arm with deadly precision, his blade slicing through the air with a cold hiss. The blade met flesh with a sickening crunch, cutting deep into Jeogor's throat. Blood sprayed in an arc, splattering across the forest floor in a gruesome display.
The beast gurgled, its snarls turning into wet, choking sounds as it struggled to breathe. Ardiel yanked his blade free, and the Jeogor collapsed in a heap, its lifeblood pooling around its body.
He didn't pause, didn't waste a moment. The second Jeogor was already upon him, its eyes wide with rage and fear.
With a swift motion, Ardiel slashed his blade across the beast's side, the steel biting deep into its flesh. The Jeogor let out a howl of pain, stumbling as its blood poured from the gaping wound. It tried to retaliate, swinging its massive claws at Ardiel, but its movements were clumsy and slow under the weight of his magic.
Ardiel moved with ruthless efficiency, dodging the attack and driving his blade into the beast's chest. The Jeogor let out a final, pitiful whimper before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching as life drained from it.
"That's two down," Ardiel muttered, wiping the blood from his arm. The coppery scent of blood filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest, creating a heady, nauseating mix.
A small floating device appeared, scanning the two dead Snow Jeogor. The soft hum of its machinery was a stark contrast to the violent scene it observed.
"Magic engineering is truly fascinating," Ardiel mused, though his expression remained cold. Magic Technology and Engineering might not have been his passion, but he couldn't deny their efficiency.
Elsewhere in the forest, the air was filled with the sounds of battle. The other students were encountering their own prey, each struggle more intense and brutal than the last.
Minho, who had ventured deeper into the forest, suddenly found himself surrounded by a pack of Lixycon. The Rank 2 beasts were small but vicious, their sleek, cat-like bodies moving with terrifying speed as they circled him. Their eyes glowed with a malevolent intelligence, and they hissed in unison, the sound echoing eerily through the trees.
Minho stood his ground, his expression calm but with an underlying tension. The Lixycon were known for their pack mentality, attacking in swarms to overwhelm their prey.
"Cute cats," Minho muttered, a smirk playing on his lips, "but I've got a stronger one." He spun his silver mana ring, and a large magic circle appeared in the air above him, glowing with an otherworldly light.
From the circle, a small white ball of fur dropped to the ground, immediately drawing the attention of the Lixycon. The creatures hissed louder, sensing the sudden shift in power.
"Baekho, show them how it's done," Minho commanded.
The small feline beast, Baekho, began to grow, its body expanding until it was waist-high to Minho. What was once a cute ball of fur now resembled a striger, its white coat rippling with muscle.
ROAR!
Baekho let out an ear-splitting roar, the sound reverberating through the forest like a thunderclap.
The Lixycon hesitated, their confidence shaken by the sudden appearance of a larger, more powerful predator. But their instincts told them to fight, and they lunged at Baekho, teeth and claws bared.
Baekho moved with lethal grace, its massive paws slashing through the air with blinding speed. The first Lixycon didn't stand a chance—Baekho's claws tore through its body with a wet, ripping sound, spraying blood across the forest floor. The creature let out a high-pitched scream as it was brutally eviscerated, its body crumpling into a lifeless heap.
The rest of the pack faltered, their advance momentarily halted by the sight of their fallen comrade. But Baekho didn't give them time to regroup. With a snarl, the massive feline lunged forward, swatting another Lixycon with enough force to send it crashing into a tree. The impact shattered bones and the creature slid to the ground, leaving a trail of blood smeared across the bark.
Minho watched with grim satisfaction as Baekho decimated the pack. The forest was filled with the sounds of ripping flesh and the dying screams of the Lixycon. Baekho's fur was soon matted with blood, its eyes gleaming with a savage intensity as it tore through the remaining beasts.
Within minutes, the once fearsome pack was nothing more than a heap of broken, bleeding bodies. The ground was slick with blood, the earthy scent of soil mixing with the metallic tang of fresh kills. Baekho stood amidst the carnage, panting heavily but victorious, its eyes scanning the forest for any remaining threats.
"Great job, Baekho," Minho said, his voice low but tinged with a quiet pride. He stepped forward, placing a hand on the beast's bloodied fur. Baekho let out a soft purr, its massive form shrinking back down to its original, much cuter size.
But just as Minho was about to savor the victory, Baekho shimmered, turning into a ball of light before disappearing back into the magic circle from which it had emerged.
"Only five minutes," Minho sighed, a hint of frustration in his voice. He was just a Rank 1 Magister using Spirit Summoning, and his ability to maintain Baekho in Berserk Mode was limited. But for now, he thought, it had been enough.
A small floating device buzzed into view, recording the scene with cold detachment. It scanned the mangled bodies of the six Lixycons as if the gruesome violence it had just witnessed was nothing more than data to be logged before floating back up.
Outside the forest, on the sidetrack platform where the students and instructors watched, everyone stared in wide-eyed shock at Minho's first display of magic.
"He's using Spirit Summoning, not just Spirit Magic," Albert muttered, still trying to wrap his head around it. Sure, it was only a pack of Rank 2 beasts—he could have obliterated them with a flick of his fingers. But seeing how Minho had handled them, he couldn't help but feel a grudging respect.
Magisters who practice Summoning Magic, like Pedro, have different ways of summoning beasts. The most common method involves capturing them from the wild using a special mana spell called Beast Bind.
Another method is by establishing a connection to Wild Haven, or also known as the Beast Plane, a dimension teeming with countless creatures. But the rarest and most coveted form of Summoning in this era is Spirit Summoning.
One must know that Spirit Magic and Spirit Summoning have been the most sought magic in recent times, with the sudden emergence of Magisters who could use Spirit Magic. Unlike Spirit Magic, which merely borrows the spirits' power, Spirit Summoning brings the spirits themselves from their realm.
"That pet of his," Monika, seated just behind Albert, chimed in with growing interest, "It must be at least Rank 6. For that boy to summon it, even if just for five minutes, they must have a mutual contract. That allows the Spirit to bear half of the burden the Magister would normally carry."
Minho's gaze shifted to the small floating device hovering nearby, where the real-time standings of the participants were displayed:
1st: Minho - 150 points, [Rank 2 (6)]
2nd: Ardiel - 120 points, [Rank 2 (4), Rank 1 (2)]
3rd: Kiera - 95 points, [Rank 2 (3), Rank 1(2)]
4th: Reno - 90 points, [Rank 2 (2), Rank 1(4)]
4th: Anton - 90 points, [Rank 2 (2), Rank 1(4)]
6th: Keero - 70 points, [Rank 2 (2), Rank 1 (2)]
7th: Kristan - 65 points, [Rank 2 (1), Rank 1 (4)]
A grin tugged at the corner of Minho's mouth as he sat down, focusing on recovering as much mana as he could to summon Baekho once more. He had been sitting at the back for the past months, and not once had he shown much to garner other's attention aside from side glances.
He was a foreigner after all, hailing from the distant land beyond the sea in the southeast, Nakwando, known for its ancient traditions and mystical heritage, where the art of magic is deeply intertwined with their cultural history.
"Let's maintain our top spot Baekho," he muttered before closing his eyes as he absorbed the mana from nature.
The forest, now eerily quiet, seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next chapter in this brutal test of survival.