Night had fallen, casting the trial grounds into a deathly silence. Only the occasional low roars of distant beasts broke the stillness. In the camp, the team rested in exhaustion, while Rein sat alone by the fire, his gaze deep and contemplative.
The Shadow Wolf lay lazily nearby, its tail tapping lightly against the ground, seemingly enjoying the brief peace. Yet its deep voice echoed through the soul link: "A restless presence is approaching. What will you do?"
Rein didn't reply. His eyes rested on a nearby instructor patrolling the perimeter. The instructor's overly deliberate behavior earlier in the day had caught his attention, as if they were hiding something. Rising to his feet, Rein quietly said to the Shadow Wolf, "Follow me."
Rein silently followed the instructor into the forest, with the Shadow Wolf trailing noiselessly. The darkness seemed to thicken around them, each step amplifying the oppressive atmosphere. Holding his breath, Rein moved carefully to avoid making any noise.
The instructor finally stopped in a clearing, pulling out a rune stone glowing with dark red light. They began inscribing a complex array into the ground.
"A Nether Pact array…" Rein's heart trembled. He had seen similar rituals in his past life. The Nether Pact used such arrays to control lord-tier beasts, enhancing their power while stripping them of all reason.
The Shadow Wolf suddenly muttered, "His technique is laughable—not even worthy of being called an array master." Though its voice dripped with mockery, there was a faint edge of caution.
Rein moved closer to uncover the truth, but the instructor noticed him. Turning abruptly, they raised the glowing rune stone. "Who's there?"
Rein didn't flinch. Calmly, he said, "Just passing by—didn't expect to see something so interesting." Before the words fully left his mouth, he leaped toward the instructor.
The instructor clearly hadn't expected to be discovered by a student. They hastily raised the rune stone to defend themselves, but the Shadow Wolf moved faster. Turning into a streak of shadow, it shattered the stone and pinned the instructor to the ground.
"Your speed… how is it this fast?" the instructor panted, their eyes filled with shock. The Shadow Wolf lowered its head, baring its cold fangs. "Because you're too slow," it sneered.
Rein ignored the instructor's struggles and focused instead on the array on the ground. The dark red glow was fading, but at its center, a vague beastly silhouette began to take shape, radiating an oppressive aura. Though indistinct, its presence was terrifying.
"The projection of the Ultimate Beast…" Rein muttered, his eyes flickering with shock and doubt. He vividly remembered the Ultimate Beast appearing in the Nether Pact's final ritual during his past life. But now, during the trial phase? How could its aura be here?
The instructor grinned maniacally. "You foolish students have no idea what you're part of. A trial? Hah! It's merely the prelude to the Nether Pact's sacrifices for the Ultimate Beast!"
Rein's fists clenched involuntarily as the Shadow Wolf's voice echoed through their soul link: "It's strong, but far from a full descent. This is just the beginning."
Rein regained his composure, knocked the instructor unconscious, and directed the Shadow Wolf to destroy the array's core with its claws. The dark red light extinguished instantly, and the oppressive aura dissipated. But Rein knew this was only a temporary reprieve.
"What will you do?" the Shadow Wolf asked, its tone laced with curiosity. Rein raised his head, his gaze resolute. "I need to find more clues and confirm the Nether Pact's plan."
The Shadow Wolf chuckled softly. "How amusing, master. You think you can save this trial ground? Don't forget—I'm only working with you temporarily."
Back at the camp, Rein pocketed the fragments of the rune stone the instructor had hidden and cast a complicated look at his sleeping teammates. He chose not to share what he had discovered but had already made up his mind.
Before turning in, Ava seemed to sense something was off. She walked over and asked in a low voice, "Did you find something?"
Rein looked up at Ava's searching gaze. After a brief silence, he replied, "When the time is right, I'll tell you."
Later that night, the Shadow Wolf spoke again: "Do you realize? That array you destroyed—it's not the only one."
Rein closed his eyes and murmured in response, "I know. This is just the beginning."
Deep within the trial grounds, a far more intricate array was slowly coming to life. At its center, the blurry silhouette of a beast grew sharper, as if mocking Rein's efforts.