The air in the trial grounds was thick with an ominous pressure, as if an unseen shadow was closing in. Standing in the center of the field, Rein watched as the Shadow Wolf's dark mist swirled faintly around it, warning of an impending crisis.
Suddenly, a dull tremor came from the depths of the trial grounds, followed by the loud clang of metal breaking. The iron cages rattled violently, and in the next moment, adolescent beasts broke free, charging wildly at the surrounding students.
"What's happening?" a startled examiner shouted. "Everyone, stay alert and summon your contract beasts for defense!"
Rein's gaze darted around the field, which had descended into chaos. Students scattered in all directions—some tried to control their contract beasts to fight back, but most were helplessly screaming.
The Shadow Wolf coldly observed the scene, its blue eyes filled with disdainful indifference.
"Shadow Wolf," Rein said quietly, "you know this isn't an ordinary uprising, don't you?"
The Shadow Wolf's ears twitched slightly, but it didn't reply. Instead, the dark mist around its body began to thicken rapidly.
An adolescent beast lunged at Rein, its sharp claws aimed at his chest. He leapt back just in time, narrowly avoiding the attack, but there was no room left to retreat.
"Do something!" Rein barked.
But the Shadow Wolf remained rooted in place, its eyes filled with indifference, as if Rein's predicament had nothing to do with it.
Rein clenched his fists but knew this wasn't the time to argue with the Shadow Wolf. He rolled out of the way of the next attack, barely deflecting the beast's bite with his short blade.
At that moment, the Shadow Wolf finally moved. With incredible speed, it lunged forward, crushing the beast's skull with a single swipe of its claws. The black mist consumed the beast's body in an instant.
The Shadow Wolf glanced back at Rein, its cold voice resonating through their soul link. "I won't let you die so easily. After all, your failure is my failure too."
As time passed, more beasts poured out from the depths of the trial grounds, far exceeding expectations. Rein noticed that their eyes were filled with a strange frenzy, as if they were under some kind of control.
"These beasts… aren't normal," Rein muttered.
Scanning the area, he spotted a mechanism in one corner of the trial grounds that had clearly been sabotaged. Scattered parts bore traces of strange runes.
"This is…" Rein's pupils narrowed, and a familiar name surfaced in his mind—the Cult of the Nether Pact.
At that moment, an examiner rushed over, shouting orders. "Everyone, gather in the central area! Quickly!"
Amid the chaos, a student's voice caught Rein's attention. She stood on the other side, trying to calm a group of frenzied beasts. Her voice was clear and gentle, each syllable resonating like a conversation with the animals.
"Easy now, don't be afraid…" Her voice carried a strange rhythm, and several of the frenzied beasts actually paused, the wildness in their eyes slowly subsiding.
"She can control the beasts?" Rein frowned slightly, his curiosity piqued.
The girl was Ava, a rare talent gifted with Beast Speech, the ability to communicate directly with beasts through rhythm and tone. However, her power had yet to fully awaken, and she couldn't sustain it for long.
"What are you doing?" Rein asked coldly. "If you can't control them, don't take the risk."
Ava turned and glared at him. "If I don't try, what do you suggest—stand here and wait to die?"
Rein was momentarily speechless, but the Shadow Wolf sneered from the side. "She's more interesting than you."
Under the examiner's orders, most students retreated to the central area, but a few were still trapped on the outskirts. Rein, Ava, and several other students formed a temporary team to break through.
"We need to divide tasks," Rein said decisively. "You use your Beast Speech to calm the beasts as much as possible. The Shadow Wolf and I will clear their attack range."
"I'll do my best," Ava nodded. Though her face was pale, her eyes remained resolute.
The Shadow Wolf sneered from the side. "You give good orders—hope you live long enough to see them through."
Rein ignored the Shadow Wolf's taunts and quickly led the team forward. With their coordinated efforts, several trapped students managed to retreat safely.
However, just as they prepared to withdraw to the central area, a deafening roar erupted from the depths of the trial grounds. The sheer force of it made standing difficult, and the air was heavy with immense pressure.
The Shadow Wolf's gaze sharpened instantly as it raised its head, its blue eyes glinting with both excitement and danger.
"It's finally here…" the Shadow Wolf murmured.
Rein's expression turned grim. He knew this aura couldn't possibly come from an ordinary beast.
"Everyone, fall back!" the examiner shouted, but his voice lacked confidence.
Rein clenched the contract mark on his hand and said quietly, "Are you ready?"
The Shadow Wolf chuckled darkly. "I've been waiting for this. But make no mistake—none of this is for you."
The roaring grew louder as the shadows in the depths of the forest spread. A pair of crimson eyes emerged from the darkness—the awakening of a Lord-class beast.
"This… isn't a normal trial!" Rein murmured.
The Shadow Wolf licked its lips, baring its chilling fangs. "This is a worthy opponent."
Rein took a deep breath, tightening his grip on his short blade. His gaze briefly met the Shadow Wolf's.
"This time, we have no way out."