"Tsk." A click of my tongue escaped, a reflex of the nervousness growing inside me.
"Are you alright, Evan?"
Jenna asked me.
"Ah, yeah, I'm fine. I think we're almost there," I replied, trying to conceal my unease.
The message I had received from the system was bothering me.
Under the conditions, the word survival unsettled me.
Risking my life so early in my days at Spectra was not part of my plans.
I didn't mind if some things in the story changed because of my presence, but something that put my life at risk and wasn't part of the original story—that was a big problem.
I decided to ignore the mission about the entity that I had received from the system; it didn't say anything about being forced to fight. But I stayed alert.
====
We continued our path toward the forest's center, staying vigilant for any surprises.
The vegetation grew denser as we advanced, but my goal was clear.
I wanted to find a few items to earn some points with the team.
Honestly, I wasn't in the mood to fight for the artifact, but I couldn't admit that openly.
"Remember, we're not just here for the main artifact. There are other valuable items in this forest that can grant us additional points. According to what the professor said in class, some are located near the main artifact."
I tried to say something to shift their focus a little away from the main artifact.
"Sounds like a treasure hunt. Let's keep our eyes open." Jenna smiled.
She was clearly excited about the prospect of discovering treasures in the forest.
Unlike Jenna,
Seraphina frowned; she was clearly unhappy about diverting attention from the main objective.
"That might be true, but we should prioritize the main artifact. Additional items are secondary. First place must be our goal."
Alex adjusted his bow, seeming to agree with Seraphina.
"The highest score comes from the artifact. We shouldn't lose sight of that."
After their insistence, I felt the need to express my concern.
"If we go for the artifact right away, we might run into other teams. If we fight them and lose, we'll end up with nothing. We need at least a few items to ensure we finish the trial with some points."
Seraphina looked at me with slight frustration. She clearly didn't want to fall behind the other teams.
"I see your point, Evan. But we can't waste too much time."
"Evan's right. It's better to secure some points than risk everything and end up with nothing," Jenna nodded, supporting my suggestion.
'At least I'm not alone in this.'
Maya observed us, ready to follow whichever decision we made.
After some deliberation, we finally reached an agreement.
The decision was made.
Although Seraphina preferred a more direct and risky approach, the logic behind the cautious strategy convinced the group.
With a revised plan, we pressed on, keeping our eyes and minds open to all the possibilities the forest might offer.
I wasn't trying to convince them because, as the creator of this world, I wanted to find an easier and more advantageous path.
In fact, if we followed my route, we probably wouldn't even place in the top five for the trial.
What I really wanted was to avoid confrontations as much as possible and conserve energy; after all, I still didn't fully understand what the system's message meant.
Conditions:
➤ Survival: You must leave this encounter alive, regardless of the outcome.
'I can't afford to trust them blindly. I need to be prepared to understand better what this entity wants,' I thought as I glanced at the message once more.
===
When we finally reached the center of the forest, the sight before us was breathtaking.
An ancient structure, hidden by dense vegetation, stood imposingly before us.
This was the place where the main artifact and valuable items were hidden.
"So, this is it."
Seraphina murmured, looking at the ancient structure.
The structure seemed to have an aura of mystery and promise, as if it had been waiting for us for centuries.
We looked at each other. There was a mutual understanding shared between us.
It was time to explore.
"...."
"..."
We advanced toward the structure, ready to face whatever awaited us.
As we approached the structure, the forest's silence seemed to deepen, as if nature itself recognized the moment's importance.
The ancient building, covered in moss and entwined with roots, seemed to tell stories of a forgotten era, now only whispered by the wind through the leaves.
Jenna moved closer to me, her eyes alert, but there was a slight tremor in her voice.
"Wow... This place is amazing and... scary," she whispered, as if the very air around us demanded silence and respect.
Every detail conveyed a sense of mystery and timelessness, as if the place had been frozen in time.
Seeing it, I couldn't help but be amazed once more.
Spectra truly was incredible.
Here's the continuation following your format and style:
It was hard to believe that all of this was simulated, that Spectra could not only replicate environments but create scenarios that felt authentic.
This temple, with its ancient aura, felt genuinely real.
Every stone, every layer of moss, even the breeze sweeping through the temple… all contributed to the perfect atmosphere of mystery.
"Looks like no one's been here yet. Lucky us, huh?"
Alex, observing the perimeter, couldn't help but comment.
Maya was staring at the structure in awe, then turned her gaze toward me, as if equally impressed.
"Evan, you really knew what you were doing, leading us here. Maybe we actually have a chance to find something valuable."
Her tone was one of gratitude, acknowledging the leadership I had taken, even though my true motives were known only to me.
I simply nodded, trying to appear modest.
However, the compliments couldn't pierce the layer of unease that had formed within me since receiving the system's mission.
The shadowy entity and the challenge it represented continued to echo in my mind.
"..."
Seraphina, with her usual serious demeanor, looked directly at me, awaiting guidance.
"Where to now, Evan?"
Her question caught me completely off guard.
'She's actually asking me for instructions?'
It was almost unbelievable.
I stared at her for a moment, wondering if I had heard correctly.
'It hasn't even been a week since she wanted to take my head off in a duel, and now… now she's actually waiting for me to tell her what to do.'
My mind wandered through various thoughts, but Seraphina's gaze was serious, as if saying, "I'm waiting."
And I wondered.
Where should we go?
Which path should we choose?
It was natural for protagonists inhabiting the bodies of characters to know the answers.
But even as the creator of this world, it was impossible to know the correct path.
I took a deep breath, adopting a more serious posture to maintain the facade of a "leader who knows what they're doing."
"Hm..." — I pretended to ponder, analyzing the corridors for a second longer than necessary.
"We'll go this way."
I pointed toward the left corridor, trying to appear confident.
Everyone nodded without hesitation, and I almost laughed looking at Seraphina.
She gave me a questioning look, clearly surprised by the seemingly random choice.
"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism.
"Yes," I affirmed with a confidence I didn't entirely feel.
"Alright, then let's go."
She seemed to consider my words for a moment before nodding, resolute.
The same person who wanted to kill me a few days ago was now following me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
'Is her desire to win first place making her forget everything else?'
Even though the situation was amusing, I prayed my choice had been a good one.
I wanted to avoid premature conflicts and, hopefully, discover additional items that would bolster our score.
Seraphina took the lead, her sword ready for any threat.
Jenna, close to me, remained alert, her eyes scanning the surroundings for signs of magic.
Alex and Maya followed, prepared to use their abilities at the slightest provocation.
===
In the dim interior of the structure, our footsteps echoed against the stone walls, creating a steady rhythm marking our progress through the maze of corridors.
The atmosphere was heavy, laden with a silence that amplified the smallest noises, making our journey even more tense.
Then, the quiet was broken by a disconcerting sound, a mix of scraping and cracking that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
Seraphina, Jenna, Alex, and Maya all exchanged glances, an unspoken question hanging in the air between us:
What was that?
"Author's Note: Image"
Suddenly, a shadow emerged from the darkness, revealing a distorted humanoid figure with a body composed of intertwining shadows and roots, as if it had been plucked from the depths of a nightmare.
"Prepare yourselves!" I exclaimed, positioning myself to shield the more vulnerable members of the group.
"Ahh!"
Jenna, visibly tense, took a step back.
"What… what is that horrible thing?" she murmured, fear evident in her eyes as she tried to stay calm.
"It's a Morbus."
Despite its intimidating appearance, Morbus wasn't an intelligent monster, and its magical power was weak.
It was a test of agility and physical strength.
The monster fixed its hollow gaze on us, a malevolent aura emanating from its presence.
Seraphina didn't hesitate.
She charged forward, her blade slicing through the air with lethal precision.
The monster moved with surprising agility; with hands resembling twisted vines, it blocked Seraphina's strike mere inches from its body.
Jenna, retreating, began chanting words of power, her hands weaving symbols in the air, conjuring spells of protection and reinforcement for the team.
Her magic enveloped us in a shroud of light.
Here's the translation of the scene into English, maintaining your formatting:
Alex, positioned behind Seraphina, prepared an arrow, quickly enchanting it with fire magic. With a fluid motion, he released it toward the monster; the arrow cut through the space between us in fractions of a second.
But the creature dodged it with disconcerting ease.
"He's too fast!" Alex exclaimed, firing arrows that Morbus effortlessly dodged.
"...."
The battle against the monster intensified.
The creature, with its superhuman speed and strength, proved to be a formidable opponent.
Our attacks seemed to merely scratch the surface of its resistance, and frustration began to settle among us.
Seraphina, her eyes burning with determination, faced the monster head-on, but even her swordsmanship seemed insufficient against Morbus's agility.
"Tsk!"
"Damn it, stop dodging!"
She seemed frustrated.
Realizing the group's difficulty, I closed my eyes for a second, focusing on the shadows around me.
'Maybe... if I could shape them differently, more precisely…'
An idea sparked in my mind, and without hesitation, I let the energy flow more intensely.
With a silent command, I summoned the shadows in a different way, requiring a level of control that demanded greater concentration.
To my surprise, they responded promptly, as if they had only been waiting for my permission.
The shadows stretched and writhed like serpents stalking prey, moving with deadly precision and wrapping around Morbus's legs.
For the first time, I felt I had established finer control over them.
The shadows entwined around the creature's legs, forming a dark prison that tightened with force.
The monster, caught off guard, tried to move but was trapped. Its body twisted, and it let out a high-pitched scream of fury, unable to break free from my shadows.
"Now, Seraphina!" I shouted as soon as I saw Morbus bound by my shadows.
Seraphina didn't miss the opportunity. Her sword shone with an intense red aura.
"Haah!"
With a cry, she charged forward, delivering a powerful strike to the creature's torso.
The aura blade left a deep gash.
"Arrghh!"
Morbus roared in agony.
The monster, caught off guard for the first time, staggered from the wound inflicted by Seraphina.
However, the momentary victory came at a price.
Morbus, his eyes burning with fury, fixed his gaze on me as I held him.
In an instant, Morbus broke free from the tendrils holding him and charged toward me with a ferocious attack, every movement brimming with hatred.
I tried to raise a shadow barrier to defend myself, but the shadows were still returning from the last attack I had launched.
My heart raced as I realized I wouldn't react in time.
"Watch out, Evan!"
I heard Seraphina shout, but it was too late.
The impact was devastating.
The creature's fist shattered my small barrier and struck my abdomen with brutal force, hurling me against the stone wall.
The collision echoed through the environment.
At that moment, the air was knocked out of my lungs as pain seared through my body.
My vision darkened for a second, and a metallic taste filled my mouth.
"Ugh!" The sound escaped my lips.
"Gah... huff…!"
Still on the ground, I tried to draw in air, but my breaths came in short gasps, as if the blow had crushed every inch of my chest.
"Evan!"
I heard Jenna's muffled voice in the distance, echoing as if from another world.
She was running toward me.
And with no time to wait, Morbus was advancing right behind Jenna, as if this next attack would take out two targets at once.
Urgency exploded in my chest, and I fought against the pain to stand.
If things got too bad, Spectra would notice through the tracker each student had received and eliminate us from the trial immediately to prevent any life-threatening risks.
For me, it wouldn't be a problem, as the team was competent enough even without me.
But if Jenna were eliminated along with me, that would be disastrous.
Every muscle screamed, but with brutal effort, I managed to get up just as Jenna reached me.
Grabbing her arm, I quickly pulled her behind me, trying to keep her out of Morbus's reach.
My mind raced, but the situation was dire.
Seraphina was right behind Morbus, advancing to intercept him, but she wouldn't make it in time, and Maya and Alex couldn't attack for fear of hitting the two of us.
Morbus was nearly upon us.
With the little strength I had left, I began gathering the shadows around me, shaping them into sharp tendrils that expanded in the air, forming black blades ready to strike.
I closed my eyes for a second, focusing all the energy I had left, fully aware of the cost.
'I'll probably pass out after this, but it's all or nothing.'
"..."
But before I could release the attack, a blinding light cut through the air, slicing the space between me and Morbus.
The blade descended with an intense golden aura, striking the monster with precision.
The impact was brutal, forcing Morbus to stagger backward, letting out a roar of rage.
My surprise deepened as I saw Arthur, Kai, Luna, and Derek taking their positions, ready to attack.
Before I could process what was happening, an unexpected figure stepped between me and the monster.
'That girl.'
The girl wore a determined expression, her fists enveloped in a powerful magical aura.
She was the same girl I had seen in the cafeteria, the stranger who had stared at me with a piercing gaze—a gaze that had unsettled me more than I cared to admit.
And now, there she was, standing defensively just inches away from me, facing Morbus head-on without hesitation.