The rumbling deepened, like the earth itself was growling in anger. Trees shivered violently, their branches creaking as if they were desperate to pull away from what was coming. Birds took flight in terrified flocks, vanishing into the sky. And then, from the blackened depths of the forest, something massive emerged—a monstrous silhouette that radiated raw power.
At first, my gut clenched, thinking it was another Golem, because—well—one was already enough to ruin my day. But no, this thing was different. And worse. Way worse.
Its entire body was jagged and brutal, like someone had taken a mountain, punched it into sharp shards, and then lit the whole thing on fire for fun. Veins of glowing magma snaked across its rocky frame, pulsing like it had a heartbeat fueled by hellfire. Each step it took sent waves of heat rippling through the air, distorting the forest around it. Massive claws, sharp enough to slice through stone, scraped across the ground, leaving burning trenches of molten rock in its wake.
"Great," I muttered, the dry sarcasm barely hiding the dread curling in my gut. "A walking volcano. What's next? A blizzard? A tsunami? Might as well complete the elemental apocalypse."
The beast let out a deafening roar—a sound so deep it seemed to vibrate inside my skull. Steam hissed as molten rock clashed against the cool forest air, sending plumes of vapor rising into the sky.
The Forest Golem—its bark creaking and groaning like an ancient tree coming to life—turned with slow, deliberate movements. Its emerald veins pulsed brighter, like a warrior readying itself for one final battle. It stood taller, broader, as if the presence of the magma beast had rekindled its ancient, dormant fury.
And then it happened: they charged at each other, titanic forces colliding in a thunderous crash that sent tremors rolling through the ground. I stumbled, nearly faceplanting into the dirt from the sheer force of their impact. It felt like standing too close to an earthquake—everything shaking, the air itself shuddering under the weight of their presence.
The Golem swung its arm with the force of a battering ram, bark and stone creaking as it slammed into the magma beast's chest. The impact shattered nearby trees, sending splinters flying in every direction. But the beast barely flinched, retaliating with a vicious swipe of its molten claws.
Searing chunks of bark and stone peeled away from the Golem's side with a sickening sizzle, glowing embers embedded in the wounds. The forest air stank of scorched wood and molten rock, a combination that screamed danger to anyone with half a brain cell.
They clashed again and again—brutal, primal, and unrelenting. Every hit was a small cataclysm: the ground trembled, trees shattered, and shockwaves blasted through the forest like cannon fire. Sparks flew as molten rock splattered against bark, hissing and burning. The Golem fought with the resilience of an ancient guardian, but the magma beast was relentless, a force of destruction that refused to be denied.
I crouched behind a boulder, heart pounding, watching two giants wage a war that made everything else feel insignificant. It wasn't just a fight—it was nature and fire battling for dominance, a clash of ancient forces that had no care for the tiny human cowering in their shadows.
And me? I was trying really, really hard not to get crushed in the crossfire.
I took the only logical course of action a sane, self-preserving person would—I dove behind the nearest boulder and prayed to every god, ancient and new, that neither of those titans noticed me. There was no universe where I'd play referee between a flaming mountain and a walking tree. I wasn't that brave, and I wasn't that stupid.
Crouched low, chest heaving, I tried to steady my breath. Every muscle in my body ached from dodging, rolling, and running for dear life. Adrenaline buzzed in my veins, but I knew it wouldn't last much longer. I'd need to move soon. Think, Lucius, think...
That's when it hit me—this might actually be the best chance I'd get. If these two giants kept bashing each other into mulch and gravel, one of them would eventually drop. And judging by the sounds of splintering bark and sizzling magma, the Forest Golem was on the losing end of that bet.
I peeked out from behind my rock, just enough to catch a glimpse of the battle.
The Golem was struggling, no doubt about it. Its joints groaned with every movement, like rusty hinges on a door too old to open. The heat from the magma beast was drying out its bark, cracking and splintering it along the limbs. Slow, jerky movements—like it was running on fumes. And that was my opening.
If I could land one good strike—one clean, precise cut—I might just finish the job.
I clenched my fists, forcing the exhaustion out of my limbs, and summoned the last scraps of mana I could find buried deep inside me. My mana reserves were bone dry, but I managed to wring out just enough for one more summon. My sword materialized in my hand with a dull hum, the familiar weight reassuring but tinged with fragility. This was a one-and-done shot. If I missed, I'd be monster chow—or worse, smashed between two titans like an unfortunate pancake.
Keeping low, I moved through the underbrush, inching closer. Every step sent my heart pounding louder in my ears. The two beasts were locked in a brutal, unrelenting clash—wood and stone versus molten claws. Neither of them noticed me slipping into the shadows beneath the trees.
The Golem's movements had grown painfully slow. It swung a heavy arm at the magma beast, but the effort left it open. The beast roared in triumph, claws raking across the Golem's torso, tearing a gaping wound through wood and stone. Magma spilled onto the bark, sizzling and cracking deeper into the forest guardian's body.
This is it. No hesitation.
The Golem stumbled, one of its legs buckling under the relentless assault. The light in its green veins flickered, dimming like a candle in the wind. That was the sign I'd been waiting for.
Go now or die waiting.
With a silent breath, I shot forward, sword in hand. Time slowed, each beat of my heart dragging against the seconds. I closed the gap in a blur, my boots skimming the forest floor. The Golem's veins glowed weakly, exposed and vulnerable, like cracks in armor that had seen too many battles.
I raised my sword high—and with every ounce of strength I had left, I brought it down in one fluid arc.
The blade sliced clean through the glowing vein, cutting deep into the Golem's core. Bark shattered. Magic hissed. The whole forest seemed to groan as if it felt the death of its guardian. Light sputtered from the severed vein, flickering once—twice—and then snuffed out entirely.
The Golem let out a low, mournful sound, a final groan of defeat, and its massive body began to crumble. Bark split. Stone cracked. Chunks of its form collapsed into dust and debris, falling like the remnants of an ancient temple lost to time.
I didn't wait to watch the grand finale. As soon as the cut landed, I pivoted and sprinted, adrenaline surging through my tired limbs like a second wind. The moment the Golem hit the forest floor with a thunderous crash, I was already halfway gone.
Behind me, the two monsters were still locked in battle, but the Golem's death throes had weakened it beyond recovery. The magma beast roared in triumph, tearing into the remains like a predator savoring a kill.
And me? I wasn't sticking around to see who got the final bite.
I bolted through the forest, weaving between trees, dodging fallen branches, and jumping over roots like my life depended on it—because, well, it kind of did. Every step felt heavier, exhaustion dragging at my heels, but I refused to stop until I reached the safety of my camp.
When I finally stumbled back into the familiar clearing, the remnants of my campfire greeted me like an old friend. I collapsed onto the ground, panting and shaking, every muscle screaming for rest.
"Made it..." I whispered, half-laughing, half-wheezing.
For once, the forest was quiet—no monsters, no chaos, just the sound of the wind through the trees and my own ragged breath. I threw my sword back into my magic storage with a flick of my wrist and leaned against my backpack, too exhausted to care about anything else.
Sleep hit me like a brick to the face, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I welcomed it.
The sun was already blazing overhead when I shot up from the grass, blinking groggily.
"Ah, crap." I bolted upright, rubbing my face. "How long did I—? Oh no, oh no, please don't tell me I missed something important!"
I scanned the area, heart pounding. No signs of the magma beast, no bloodthirsty classmates lurking behind bushes ready to ambush me for points. Just the eerie calm of the Valaria Forest after an eventful night. My muscles ached like I had fought a dragon in my sleep—or maybe just wrestled with bad decisions.
Then I spotted it: the shimmering leaderboard floating high above the treetops, the glowing letters flickering as the event points finalized.
This was it. Time to see if my crazy plan paid off.
I squinted at the board, scanning for my name, then—
[Leaderboard Update]
1st Place: Team Dorian – 810 points
2nd Place: Team Zephyr – 640 points
3rd Place: Lucius – 530 points
4th Place: Team Aldric – 520 points
5th Place: Draven & Knox – 470 points
6th Place: Team Luna – 450 points
"Third place?!" A grin exploded across my face, and I actually let out a little cheer.
"YES!" I pumped my fist, practically vibrating with excitement. "Top three, baby! I knew I wasn't just some magma beast's dinner!"
Sure, I didn't clinch the top spot, but third place was more than enough to stay on the leaderboard—and more importantly, survive without ending up on a stretcher. Now I just had to wait for the official end-of-event announcement. But the system reward for reaching top three? That was the cherry on top.
I flopped back onto the grass, my arms spread wide. "All that's left is to kick back and wait for Instructor Seraphina to tell us how great we are." I smirked. "Well, some of us."
Instructor Seraphina's voice echoed through the forest like a sonic boom.
"All students, return to the main point immediately. The event is now over."
"Showtime," I muttered, dragging myself to my feet.
As I approached the designated meeting spot, the forest gradually gave way to a large clearing right outside Valaria's edge. Students trickled in from all directions, some limping, others with their heads hanging low. I noticed a few healers working on injured participants, patching up cuts and bruises. There were even academy guards stationed along the perimeter, ready to step in if necessary.
I knew better, though. The real security had been lurking inside the forest the entire time—magicians concealed by stealth magic, tracking every move. The academy liked to make these events dangerous, but not deadly. If anyone got in over their heads, those hidden magicians would step in quietly.
Of course, I already knew all of this. After all, I'd read the original novel. I just had to act like it was a mystery, like the rest of these poor fools. Otherwise, they might start wondering how I knew the academy's little secrets.
Students hobbled into the clearing in clusters. Some surrendered halfway through the event, while others were carried back on stretchers, battered and bruised. Those who gave up or got injured lost out on valuable points. The real competition boiled down to the survivors still standing—those lucky or stubborn enough to endure until the bitter end.
And somehow, I made it to the top three.
Instructor Seraphina stood tall at the front, her arms folded, radiating an aura that screamed: 'Get your act together, children.' Once the stragglers finally assembled, she gave us a curt nod.
"Well done, everyone. This year's camp event was especially..." She trailed off for a second, glancing in my direction with an arched brow. "Eventful."
I gave her my best I-have-no-idea-what-you're-implying grin.
With a flick of her hand, the final leaderboard reappeared in the sky above us, locking in the scores.
[Final Leaderboard]
1st Place: Team Dorian – 810 points
2nd Place: Team Zephyr – 640 points
3rd Place: Lucius – 530 points
Seraphina clasped her hands behind her back, her voice ringing through the clearing. "As promised, the top three participants will receive their rewards."
She turned toward Team Dorian, who already wore matching victorious grins.
"Each of you will receive a Rune-Forged Weapon—enhanced with embedded magic that aligns with your elemental affinity. These weapons will grow with your abilities, and yes, they're as rare as they sound. Handle them with care."
Dorian's team practically radiated smugness, no doubt dreaming of showing off their new weapons in the next combat class.
Next, Seraphina shifted her gaze to Team Zephyr, whose excitement hadn't dimmed one bit.
"For your efforts, each of you will receive a Tome of Spells—you'll be able to choose one tome that matches your magical discipline. I expect these tomes to be put to good use in the next term."
Zephyr's group exchanged looks of glee. No doubt some of them were already fantasizing about using their new spells to blow something up—or someone, knowing them.
Finally, Seraphina turned to me, her tone lightening just a bit.
"And last but not least, Lucius… your prize is a rare mana potion—and I recommend using it sparingly. It might save you from exhaustion again one day. Oh, and a bit of rest, too, if you can manage that."
I gave her a cheeky grin. "Can I trade the potion for more rest?"
Her eyes narrowed playfully. "Don't push your luck."
I gave her a lazy salute. "The real reward is peace and quiet, if you ask me."
Seraphina rolled her eyes, though I could've sworn there was a flicker of amusement behind them. "Just try not to sleep through the next big event."
As soon as the rewards were announced, the students gathered around in clusters, their conversations overlapping in a chaotic hum. Some were congratulating each other, others lamenting their performance—and then there were those whispering about me.
"Did you hear? Lucius took third alone! No team or backup—just him."
"Third place... by himself? How's that even possible?"
"Must've taken down some massive monster for those points."
I caught a few glances from nearby students—half awed, half curious. Normally, I'd let it slide, but... maybe gloating just a bit wouldn't hurt. Before I could think too much on it, Dorian's crew approached, grinning ear to ear.
"Top three all by yourself?" Dorian clapped a hand on my shoulder, clearly impressed. "You sure you aren't secretly two people in one body?"
I smirked. "Nah, just really good at being efficient."
Leon chuckled, flicking some dirt off his sleeves. "Honestly, I thought you'd get yourself killed out there. Didn't expect to see your name up there, not like this."
Claire folded her arms, shaking her head with an exasperated smile. "You're insane, you know that? Who even thinks about soloing this event?"
Fiona raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "I guess 'reckless' is a skill of its own."
"Reckless? Try 'legendary,'" Selene said, her cool gaze giving way to a rare hint of amusement. "People are going to talk about this for weeks."
Lucas gave me a small nod, his expression as serious as ever. "Well done."
I shrugged, trying not to look too smug. "Honestly, it wasn't as hard as it looked."
"Sure, sure," Dorian drawled with a laugh. "The guy who probably had to fight something twice his size says it wasn't hard."
We began the slow march back to the academy, the tension of the event ebbing away with every step. The path felt lighter, the forest less foreboding now that we weren't being hunted by oversized beasts.
As we trudged along, I allowed myself a moment of reflection.
Third place. Not bad. The reward was nice, but what really mattered was surviving—and not ending up in the 'I-got-crushed-by-a-monster' club. The system notification would hit me soon, and I couldn't wait to see what it had in store.
I glanced around at the other students, exhausted but alive.
"Hmm... the next episode is right around the corner, isn't it?" I muttered under my breath. "Illegal stimulants... enhanced mana boosters. Right after this event, too. That's when things are really going to heat up."
I sighed, stretching my arms behind my head. "Guess I better start preparing."
Just as we reached the academy gates, the system window flickered open in front of me, hovering in the corner of my vision.
[System Notice]
You have placed 3rd in the Camp Event.
Calculating reward...
I felt a shiver of excitement run down my spine. Here it comes.
[Reward Pending]...