The moment the warehouse transformed, Alex didn't move immediately.
The others reacted in different ways—some tensed up, others looked around in confusion. A few even took defensive stances, as if expecting an enemy to appear instantly.
Amateurs.
Alex knew better than to panic. He calmly assessed his surroundings.
The dim warehouse had shifted into a sprawling ruin, with broken walls, debris, and overgrown structures stretching into the distance. The lighting was eerie, casting long shadows.
"Survive until sunrise."
That was the only instruction.
Which meant there were threats hidden in this test.
Alex narrowed his eyes. If he were the one designing this test, how would he ensure that only the strongest, smartest, and most adaptable survived?
Monsters. Traps. Human conflict.
Those were the obvious dangers.
And since they hadn't been told the rules beyond survival, there was one certainty—the examiners wouldn't step in to save them.
"Well, this is going to be fun," Alex muttered to himself, stepping forward.
The test had barely begun, and Alex already spotted people forming temporary alliances.
Some groups banded together for safety, while others exchanged sharp looks, knowing that their biggest threats weren't just the monsters lurking in the darkness—it was each other.
Alex ignored them all. He had no intention of joining forces with random strangers.
Instead, he moved carefully, using his enhanced boots to keep his steps light.
Then, he heard it.
A low growl from the shadows.
A beast.
Alex's gaze locked onto a dark silhouette moving through the ruins. As it stepped into the dim light, he recognized it—a Nightfang.
A wolf-like creature with pitch-black fur and glowing red eyes. Fast, agile, and deadly in packs.
Alex exhaled. "A single one isn't a problem."
He crouched low, fingers brushing the hilt of his enhanced Dagger of Silent Fang.
His plan was simple: End it before it could alert others.
The Nightfang tensed. It had noticed him.
In a flash, it lunged.
Alex moved faster.
With a single precise motion, he sidestepped, twisted his body, and slashed.
The dagger cut clean through its neck.
The Nightfang hit the ground, dead before it could even realize what had happened.
Alex flicked the blood off his blade, unfazed.
Too easy.
He continued moving, keeping to the shadows.
The ruins weren't just dangerous because of the monsters. There were traps.
Spikes hidden beneath unstable ground. Walls rigged to collapse. Runes that triggered explosions.
Alex used his past-life knowledge to avoid them all.
Others weren't so lucky.
Distant screams echoed through the ruins. People were already dying.
He shook his head. If they couldn't even survive this, they didn't deserve to enter Zenith Academy.
However, just as he was about to settle into a safe spot—
A group of five blocked his path.
One of them, a guy with a smug expression, stepped forward. "Hey, kid. Hand over your gear, and we'll let you walk away."
Alex blinked. Then sighed.
Ah. The classic 'give us your stuff' routine.
He adjusted his grip on his dagger. "You sure about that?"
The leader scoffed. "You think you can take on five of us alone?"
Alex thought about it for a second.
Then, he smirked. "No, I think I can take you out before the rest of your team reacts."
The guy's face darkened. "You've got a death wish, huh?"
Alex just shrugged. "Not really. I just don't waste my time on weaklings."
A tense silence followed. The guy's teammates exchanged uncertain glances.
And that's when Alex vanished.
No hesitation. No wasted movements.
His Gale Striders activated.
In an instant, he appeared behind the leader, his dagger already swinging.
Slash!
The leader barely had time to scream before he hit the ground, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
The others stumbled back, stunned.
Alex casually flicked his dagger clean.
"Still want my gear?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
The remaining four hesitated. Then, without another word, they turned and ran.
Alex shook his head. "Pathetic."
He knelt beside the injured leader and rummaged through his belongings.
A few potions. Some basic weapons. Nothing useful.
But just as he was about to leave—
A faint glow caught his attention.
He reached into the guy's pocket and pulled out a small metallic cube.
The moment he touched it, a system notification appeared in his vision.
[Hidden Item Acquired: ???]
Alex's eyes widened slightly.
…Now this is interesting.