I go to the camp as the sun sets. It seems we males got a separate camp. I find Cyrus inside a tent.
Zed [Level 1, Rank ???]: Cyrus, you won't believe what I found.
Cyrus [Level???, Rank ???]: I wanted to talk to the rest of the students about it.
Cyrus leaves the tent and gets to the middle of the campsite.
The other students then surround Cyrus and expect some good news, but what happens next would be life-changing for them.
Random student: This forest is unsettling. I want to go home.
Another random demon [ Level 0]: Yeah. Not all this walking. I hope we leave early tomorrow morning.
Cyrus silences the crowd by raising his hand.
Cyrus [Level???, Rank ???]: You'll all go home, but not so fast.
Cyrus's expression becomes serious.
Cyrus [Level???, Rank ???]: Right now, there is a war going on.
Puzzled students: What?! I thought we made a truce with the demons.
Cyrus [Level???, Rank ???]: This isn't a war between demons. It's a war between Ancients and humans. Your homes are being cleared now, but the chaos has risen, and the wild is the only safe place. The only way to see your parents is if you train as my students and get strong enough to fight for them.
I've never seen Cyrus so serious, but I knew it would end up this way considering what I know.
Some students start to run from the camp but are stopped by soldiers.
Cyrus [Level???, Rank ???]: Outside this place is a warzone. It is suicide.
Students are dropped inside their tent. Some cry, but others are content to stay.
Cyrus [Level???, Rank ???]: I'm sorry I lied to you.
Captain: I believe you did the right thing for them.
Zed [Level 1, Rank ???]: Actually, there is something I have to do in the wild.
Cyrus [Level???, Rank ???]: At this hour?! It's getting dark.
Zed [Level 1, Rank ???]: Yeah, but it won't be long.
After that, I head to the dark path to who knows where. It gets darker, and I think it might just be the sun fully set.
I end up bumping into a few trees, and my face begins to bleed again after colliding with branches. Blood drips on the ground.
Zed [Level 1, Rank ???]: Damn!
I know I'm almost there. It's been an hour.
Zed [Level 1, Rank ???]: Huh?! Found it!
I hide behind a tree and see the sight ahead of me. It's an entire empire, but not the one I saw before. I recall getting hit by an arrow, and I expected something here. I just had to find it. I see some people, but I don't recognize students. I see their outfits and behavior. Rich. Extravagant. Then there is a noise. I look back and my heart stops. I get kicked out of my hiding area.
Zed [Level 1, Rank ???]: Oof.
I look up and notice that I've been caught. I see archers and chivalry. No way to escape it seems. I get jabbed in the back by chivalry and realize they want me to go somewhere. I obey as I want to know more. I look in the distance and I see a ring. Oh, not again. I see that my opponent on the other side is a demon.
I might have just gotten the greatest idea. I enter the ring and notice the Demon is high-level. The demon charges at me throws a punch and I dodge the attack. When a kick comes my way, I block. The demon keeps attacking. I keep defending. Soon, this begins to annoy the audience. A few minutes later, the high-level demon's attacks get lighter and lighter. I leave the ring, and the demon charges once again. The chivalry arrives once more to stop the fight only to get grabbed by the high-level demon and swung in the air. I catch the chivalry and throw them at the archers. The battle is now in our favor. The high-level demon starts to throw chivalry at the archers.
Zed [Level 1, Rank ???]: Want to get out of here?!
High-level demon: Not yet! My family is still here!
We run toward the empire's gates, but more guards arrive. This hypes the audience. The guards get confused, and we run past the empire's gates like a relay race.
[Back at camp]
Cyrus [Level???, Rank ???]: Why isn't he back yet?!!!