The battlefield had now turned into a living hell for the cadets. Dust and smoke filled the air, mixed with the thunderous sounds of attacks and the deafening roars of Metavores that shook their chests. The remaining cadets stood in a tight defensive formation, shielding each other. But their energy was nearly depleted, and the Metavores surrounding them showed no signs of weakening.
The Tier 5 Metavore stood dominantly in the center of the remaining Tier 4 and Tier 3 Metavores. Its golden eyes shone with intelligence, far superior to the other creatures. It was not just attacking randomly—it had calculated everything, forcing them into this situation on purpose.
"We can't keep this up!" Diana shouted, slashing at a Tier 3 Metavore that attempted to break through their formation.
Kael, nearly out of energy, gasped for breath. "Damn it... they just keep coming!"
Ryn stumbled backward, barely avoiding the razor-sharp claws of a Tier 4 Metavore. "If we don't find a way out, we're going to die here!"
Revand tried to stay composed, but he also knew their situation was getting worse. "Hold the line! Don't let them break our formation!"
However, the Tier 5 Metavore had already accounted for everything.
With a low growl, all the Metavores became more aggressive.
Mikhail raised his weapon, but his ammunition was almost gone. "I don't think we can hold on much longer..."
Deren's Gamble
While everyone else was busy fighting, Deren remained silent, his sharp gaze fixed on the Tier 5 Metavore.
From the beginning, he had known that this battle couldn't be won by brute force.
Then—
Without warning—
Deren deliberately lowered his guard.
The Tier 5 Metavore instantly reacted.
With a powerful swing of its claw, it struck directly at Deren.
"DEREN! WATCH OUT!"
Selene's voice pierced through the battlefield.
But it was too late.
The attack landed squarely on Deren's chest, shattering part of his armor and launching him into the air.
His body flew across the ruins, crashing hard into the ground before disappearing behind a pile of rubble.
"DEREN!!"
Kael screamed in panic, trying to step forward, but his body was too exhausted to move.
Ryn, trembling from exhaustion, clenched her fists. "No... there's no way he..."
Selene bit her lip, her eyes never leaving the spot where Deren had fallen. "We can't afford to lose anyone else. Focus on the fight!"
Yet, deep down, everyone thought Deren was dead.
The Shadow Awakens
Behind the rubble—Deren opened his eyes and took a deep breath.
Alright... I guess it's time to get to work.
Hidden from his teammates' view, he reached into a small pouch tucked inside his armor.
Inside was a special set of tools he had prepared in advance.
He pulled out something unusual—
A black mask with an unfamiliar pattern, unlike anything anyone in the academy had ever seen before.
A subtle smirk appeared on his face as he secured the mask over his head.
"Alright... let's have a little fun."
The battlefield had become a complete nightmare.
Revand, Selene, and the others were gravely injured.
Their breaths were ragged, their bodies barely moving, and only their sheer willpower kept them standing.
The Tier 5 Metavore, still completely unscathed, stared at them coldly, as if toying with its prey before finishing them off.
Selene clenched her teeth.
No... we can't lose here...
With every ounce of strength she had left, Selene charged forward alone.
"SELENE! STOP!"
Revand's voice roared, but Selene ignored him.
In her mind, only one thing mattered—
She had to bring down this monster, no matter the cost.
She unsheathed her sword and lunged at the Tier 5 Metavore with every bit of speed she had left.
But before her blade could strike—
The Metavore swung its claw effortlessly.
CRACK!
Selene's armor shattered instantly.
The impact sent her body flying dozens of meters, slamming into the ground with a bone-crushing force.
Blood trickled from her forehead as she lay motionless, her body unable to move.
Her blurred vision stared at the sky, and in her mind, only regret remained.
Father... I'm sorry... I wasn't strong enough...
She remembered her father, a veteran Aether Corps officer, who had always warned her not to act recklessly in battle.
Yet now—she had made the same mistake.
The Tier 5 Metavore let out a low growl, stepping closer with its claw raised high.
It was ready to deliver the final blow.
She wanted to move, to dodge, but her body refused to respond.
This is the end...
But just as the claw was about to crush her—
"You're too slow."
SLASH!
In an instant, the sharp sound of a blade cutting through flesh echoed in the air.
In the blink of an eye, the Tier 5 Metavore staggered backward, its claw—meant to end Selene—severed at the tip.
From the shadows of the ruins, a figure leaped into the battlefield.
The mysterious figure was clad in a sleek, pitch-black combat armor accented with deep blue highlights. A black mask covered their entire face, obscuring their identity.
In a flash, they moved faster than the cadets' eyes could follow.
Their blade gleamed under the dim battlefield light, and each slash was executed with ruthless precision.
A Tier 3 Metavore was cleaved in half with a single strike.A Tier 4 Metavore tried to retaliate but was cut down at its vital point before it could react.
In less than a minute, half of the Metavore horde had been wiped out.
Mikhail, still semi-conscious, tried to process what had just happened. "Who... is that?"
Kael and Ryn wanted to say something, but exhaustion overtook them, and they collapsed where they stood.
Selene, barely conscious, struggled to get a clearer look at the mysterious figure. She couldn't see their face behind the mask, but there was something eerily familiar about their fighting style.
However, before she could gather her thoughts, exhaustion finally took over, and everything faded into darkness.
The Hunt Begins
After confirming that the cadets were no longer in danger, the mysterious figure finally halted their movements.
They activated a scanner, and a small radar display on their armor lit up, showing life signatures scattered in the distance.
One particular signal stood out—it indicated the presence of an unusual Metavore still lurking in the area.
The figure let out a quiet sigh beneath their mask.
Then, a faint smirk appeared on their lips.
Deren smiled.
"Alright... it's hunting time."
The once chaotic battlefield had now fallen into an eerie silence.
The stench of Metavore blood still lingered in the air, mixing with the dust of ruined structures swept by the cold night breeze.
Under the dim glow of the moon, a mysterious figure moved silently, analyzing the scanner on their wrist.
Deren's eyes narrowed as he focused on the strange signal.
One of the radar's signatures remained active—different from any other Metavore.
Damn it. I had my suspicions, but this just proves it.
He let out a slow exhale, stepping forward, his form still concealed beneath his black armor and mask.
Meanwhile, behind him, Selene, Revand, and the others lay unconscious.
They were safe—for now.
But Deren knew the real battle had yet to begin.
A Hidden Threat
Deren moved swiftly, leaping between the ruined structures with near-silent steps.
He followed the signal, moving closer to the source of the last remaining Metavore.
And then—he saw it.
Standing atop a cliff overlooking the battlefield, a lone Metavore observed the aftermath.
Unlike the massive, brute-like Tier 5 from earlier, this one was sleeker, its form sharper, more refined.
Yet, the aura it exuded was far more dangerous.
Deren's gaze hardened. "So... you were the one pulling the strings."
The Metavore slowly turned its head, its glowing blue eyes meeting Deren's.
Then—without warning—
The creature vanished.
Deren Reacts Instantly
Deren immediately leaped backward, dodging just in time as a black claw slashed through the air where he had stood moments before.
The ground beneath him cracked apart from the sheer force of the strike.
It's fast! Deren thought, landing smoothly.
This isn't a normal Tier 3!
Before he could react further, the Metavore appeared again—this time launching a direct attack.
Deren raised his blade, deflecting the strike aimed at his neck.
The impact was powerful enough to crack the ground beneath him.
He gritted his teeth. This thing is different.
An Intense Duel
Their attacks exchanged in rapid succession, each movement so fast that ordinary human eyes wouldn't be able to keep up.
Deren moved efficiently, dodging every lethal strike while analyzing the creature's attack patterns.
But this Metavore was no fool.
Every time Deren attempted a counterattack, it evaded perfectly, anticipating his moves.
Deren leaped backward, keeping his eyes locked on the creature.
"I see now... you're no ordinary monster."
The Metavore didn't respond, but its gaze carried an unsettling intelligence.
Deren tightened his grip on his weapon.
Alright... if you want to play, let's see how long you can last.
He took a deep breath—
And activated his hidden equipment.
His armor pulsed with a faint red glow, shifting into full combat mode.
"Let's finish this."
The Metavore's True Form
Deren raised his sword with a calm yet lethal focus, his eyes scanning every detail of the Metavore before him.
This wasn't just a wild beast.
It was something more.
He could see it from the way it moved, the way it assessed the battlefield, and now, from the way its body changed.
The Metavore's skin shifted, forming a biological armor that seamlessly fused with its body.
Faint blue energy lines pulsed across its form, indicating a highly advanced internal system unlike any Metavore he had encountered before.
"You really aren't an ordinary Metavore, are you?" Deren muttered, activating his wrist device.
His black armor glowed, red energy patterns pulsing faintly—full combat mode was now engaged.
A rush of power surged through his body, enhancing his speed and strength beyond normal limits.
But the Metavore didn't wait.
In a blur of motion, it vanished—then reappeared behind him in an instant.
Too fast!
Deren instinctively turned, blocking the incoming claw strike.
The impact created a shockwave, shattering the nearby ruins.
Dust and debris filled the air, turning the battlefield into a foggy deathtrap.
An Unpredictable Foe
The Metavore struck relentlessly, showing no signs of exhaustion.
This wasn't just a battle of strength—
It was a game of survival.
The creature's tail suddenly whipped around, aiming to slice Deren from the side.
Deren leaped into the air, twisting his body midair, and fired an energy projectile from his wrist device.
The shot landed directly on the Metavore's torso—but then—
BLINK!
The Metavore's armor shifted, absorbing most of the impact.
Deren narrowed his eyes.
It has an adaptive defense system.
This is going to be harder than I thought.
Deren landed smoothly, narrowing his eyes. "So, you can adjust your defenses too? Now this is getting interesting."
The Metavore let out a low growl, its glowing eyes intensifying. Unlike a typical beast, it seemed to be analyzing Deren's movements, searching for attack patterns.
Then, something even stranger happened.
The creature raised its arm, and its body began to shift—forming natural, blade-like weapons fused with its limbs.
"Oh? So you can do that too?" Deren smirked behind his mask. "Alright then, let's go another round."
A Battle of Tactics
The fight resumed at an astonishing pace.
Every slash, every strike, every block—they moved like two hunters reading each other's moves.
Deren was certain of one thing now—this wasn't just an instinct-driven Metavore.
It was thinking. Adapting. Learning.
After several minutes of intense combat, Deren spotted an opening.
Using the grappling system in his armor, he fired a cable that wrapped around the Metavore's leg and yanked it hard to the ground.
The creature lost its balance for just a moment—and that was all Deren needed.
He slashed at a critical point, slicing through its body, leaving a deep wound.
Black Metavore blood splattered across the ground.
Deren expected it to roar in pain.
But instead...
The Metavore chuckled.
Deren froze.
It laughed?
Then, with a deep, resonant voice that sent vibrations through the air, the Metavore spoke.
"Interesting... very interesting..."
Deren's eyes widened in shock.
"You can talk?!"
But before he could demand answers, the Metavore pressed something on its wrist—
And in an instant, a small portal opened behind it.
Deren immediately lunged to attack, but—
Too late.
The Metavore stepped into the portal and vanished.
Its final words echoed in the air.
"We will meet again, human."
Deren stood still, his sword still raised.
For the first time in a long while, he was truly intrigued by his opponent.
His gaze dropped to the Metavore blood still dripping from his blade.
This wasn't just a smart Metavore.
It had technology. It had intelligence. It had a plan.
Deren exhaled slowly, staring at the spot where the creature disappeared.
"This is a first..." he muttered.
He closed his scanner, rubbing his temple.
"So, they're not just evolving... they can communicate too. This is going to be interesting."
He pressed a button on his wrist armor, reactivating his grappling system.
A metallic cable shot up, attaching to a high tree branch, pulling him rapidly into the canopy.
From up there, he could see his unconscious teammates in the distance.
With a flick of his wrist, he deactivated battle mode, concealing all traces of his weapons and gear.
His identity had to remain a secret.
"Alright," he muttered as he descended toward his team. "Time to get back before they wake up and start asking questions."
But deep in his mind, he knew—
This was only the beginning of something far bigger.
The first rays of sunlight pierced through the dense forest, illuminating the battlefield still covered in battle-scarred mist.
The once chaotic examination grounds had grown eerily silent.
Not because the cadets had won—
But because the remaining Metavores had lost their coordination.
Rescue Arrives
Among the ruins, a squad of instructors rushed toward the injured cadets.
Many were in critical condition, their armor damaged beyond repair, their energy completely drained after hours of battle.
Standing at the frontline of the rescue team was Instructor Garret, an A+ ranked officer.
His expression was grim as he scanned the battlefield. His sensor display revealed that many cadets were unconscious but alive.
"Status report! How many are still standing?!" he barked, his voice booming across the battlefield.
A female instructor, Vanessa—A-ranked—checked her data pad.
"Most of the cadets are alive, but they're weak. Some lost consciousness from exhaustion. Medical teams are already evacuating them."
Garret sighed in relief, but his expression remained tense.
Something felt off.
"The casualty count should be much higher," he muttered to himself.
"The Metavores this time were far more coordinated than we predicted. They should have wiped out most of the cadets before we arrived... but instead, they just retreated?"
Vanessa nodded slightly, scanning the battlefield.
"I noticed the same thing. At first, they were moving as if they had a commander... but suddenly, everything fell apart. Almost like..." she hesitated before finishing her thought.
"Like their leader was defeated."
Garret's head snapped toward her.
"By who?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"No cadet here is strong enough to take down a Tier 5. Even if they worked together, their chances were nearly zero. Hell, even our instructors need specialized equipment to handle something like that."
Vanessa bit her lip.
That was exactly what made this so confusing.
No team had reported directly engaging a Tier 5 and winning.
No large-scale weapons had been fired.
Yet, the Metavores suddenly lost their coordination and retreated in disarray.
Something happened out there—
And Garret was determined to find out what.
Nearby, several instructors were also engaged in discussion.
"The remaining Metavores are acting erratic. They're no longer moving in formation, just attacking wildly without any strategy!"
"You're right. Something must have happened to them, but we have no idea what. This isn't their usual combat behavior."
"What makes this even stranger... is the fact that from the beginning, the Metavores used in this exam were carefully selected. We ensured their numbers were balanced and not too powerful. Even the Tier 5 that appeared was pre-weakened."
"Yeah, they shouldn't have been capable of moving like this. Even among Tier 5, advanced tactical thinking and teamwork at this level... it's nearly impossible."
"Unless..." one instructor hesitated before whispering, "...something else was controlling them beyond what we expected."
Vanessa glanced at Garret, concern evident in her eyes. "That's what worries me. If they're capable of more advanced thought than we anticipated... then what exactly are we dealing with?"
Garret nodded gravely. "Agreed. After this, we'll conduct a full investigation. I want to know who—or what—caused this change."
But what they didn't realize was that someone was already moving in the shadows.
A Watchful Observer
Perched high on a massive tree, Deren—still in his secret identity—silently observed from afar.
Behind his mask, his sharp eyes studied the instructors and the rescue teams, watching as they scrambled to make sense of the situation.
A small smirk formed on his lips.
So, they noticed too?
Deren had expected the sudden loss of Metavore coordination to raise questions—but that only made things more intriguing.
It wasn't just the instructors who were confused—
Even the Metavores themselves didn't seem to understand what had happened to them.
Deren glanced at the small screen on his wrist, scanning the last recorded data on the Tier 5 he fought the previous night.
Final signal: Disappeared via an unidentified teleportation system.
He tapped his chin thoughtfully.
They have more than we thought. I need to find out what's really going on...
Opening his combat log, Deren reviewed every detail of the previous battle.
That Metavore wasn't just skilled in combat—it was adapting to human strategies.
This wasn't normal evolution.
This was military-level tactics.
Returning to the Act
Deren remained perched atop the massive tree, overlooking the battlefield as it slowly calmed.
The main battle had ended, but his mind was still flooded with unanswered questions.
He gazed at the holographic screen on his wrist, reviewing the log of his encounter with the Metavore that escaped using teleportation technology.
Technology like that... could it really originate from Metavores?
But before he could dwell too much on the thought, he reminded himself of a more pressing matter—
He needed to return to his original "crash site" so that he could be "discovered" unconscious like the other cadets.
"Alright, time to get back before anyone gets suspicious," he muttered, activating the grappling system on his arm.
With a single pull, he zipped through the treetops, moving swiftly back to where he had 'fallen' earlier.
Once he arrived, he scanned the area to ensure no one was watching.
Then—
He let himself collapse onto the ground in a natural-looking position.
Deren took a deep breath before closing his eyes, preparing to be "found" by the rescue teams.
An Unbelievable Scene
Meanwhile, the instructor team finally reached Revand and Selene's location.
What they found left them speechless.
Surrounding the area were dozens of Metavore corpses—Tier 3s, Tier 4s, and even a severely wounded Tier 5.
The instructors exchanged glances, their faces filled with disbelief.
"How... how are they still alive after this?" one instructor murmured, his voice shaking.
Garret knelt beside one of the fallen Metavores, inspecting its lifeless body.
His eyes narrowed.
"These wounds..."
The precision of the cuts was too clean. Too surgical.
Vanessa, standing beside him, observed the unconscious cadets.
"They're all completely exhausted... most of their armor is destroyed, but their injuries aren't as severe as they should be given the scale of this battle."
"This is insane... even the best cadets shouldn't have been able to survive against these odds!" another instructor exclaimed.
Garret nodded. "They should all be dead... yet not only did they survive, but it seems like someone—or something—helped them without their knowledge."
Vanessa exhaled deeply, struggling to piece together the puzzle.
"So, we lost control of this exam... and now, we're facing something we don't understand."
A Second Discovery
Before they could discuss any further, their radios crackled to life.
"Rescue Team here, we found something strange at another location!"
The voice over the radio sounded urgent.
Garret immediately responded. "What happened?"
"We found another site filled with dead Metavores! But what's even stranger... the signs of battle here are completely different. There are no cadet teams nearby, but the evidence suggests a massive fight took place."
Vanessa narrowed her eyes. "Metavore corpses... like the ones here?"
"No, even stranger," the voice continued. "The wounds on these Metavores don't match any standard weapons used by the cadets or instructors. The attack patterns... they're too fast and too precise. It's as if something—or someone—slaughtered them with terrifying efficiency."
The instructors stared at each other, an uneasy feeling creeping into their chests.
Garret's expression hardened.
"Give us the coordinates," he ordered. "We're heading there now."
As they prepared to move, Vanessa glanced back at the unconscious cadets.
Something deeply unsettling gnawed at her thoughts.
What exactly happened during this exam?
And more importantly—
Who was truly responsible for all of this?