The air inside the arena felt heavier than before. The dense forest and moss-covered ruins created a foreboding atmosphere. In the distance, low growls echoed from different directions, signaling that they were not alone.
Selene gripped her sword tighter, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings with heightened vigilance. "We need to keep moving and find a safer position. Don't let ourselves get surrounded."
Mikhail checked the scanner on his armor. "I'm detecting several heat signatures approaching. At least three Tier 1 Metavores and two Tier 2s within a fifty-meter radius."
Orvan sighed, adjusting his grip on his weapon. "Alright, time to start hunting."
Diana adjusted the visor on her helmet, her eyes carefully monitoring the surroundings. "If we act quickly, we can take them down without wasting too much energy."
At the back, Deren stood idly, yawning slightly as if this were just another ordinary day for him. He watched as his team prepared themselves, but he couldn't help but feel that they were overreacting.
Why are they so serious? Wouldn't it be better to just let the Metavores come to us?
Before he could continue his thoughts, Selene shot him a sharp look.
"Deren, don't just stand there. We need everyone in this fight."
Deren shrugged. "Alright, alright. I'll join... but don't expect me to rush to the front lines."
Selene clicked her tongue in irritation but chose not to argue further. "Fine. We attack together. No one moves alone."
The First Encounter
The growling grew louder, and within seconds, shadows emerged from the trees.
Three wolf-like Metavores with jet-black skin and glowing red eyes stepped into view, their movements predatory and aggressive. Behind them, two larger Metavores stood strategically, their bodies covered in crystalline blue armor, indicating their higher Tier status.
"Tier 1s in front, Tier 2s in the back!" Mikhail shouted.
Without waiting for further orders, Selene dashed forward, her sword igniting with Core energy as she sliced through one of the wolf Metavores in a single swift motion. The creature collapsed instantly, letting out a dying snarl.
Orvan and Mikhail fired energy rounds, keeping their distance to avoid getting surrounded. Meanwhile, Diana moved to the rear, ensuring they wouldn't be ambushed from the sides.
At the back, Deren remained still, watching the fight with an indifferent expression.
One of the Tier 1 Metavores rushed toward him, its fangs bared, ready to strike.
Deren simply stepped aside with a lazy movement, effortlessly dodging. Then, without haste, he drew his pistol and fired a single precise shot at its vital point.
The Metavore collapsed instantly, unable to even make a sound.
Orvan, who had witnessed it, gawked. "Are you serious? Just one shot?"
Deren shrugged. "If you know where to shoot, you don't need to waste bullets."
Diana eyed him with suspicion. "You sound like you've done this before."
Deren only smiled casually, offering no explanation.
A Bigger Threat Looms
While his teammates continued battling, Deren's attention shifted.
In the distance, standing atop the ruined structures, a Tier 3 Metavore was watching them.
Unlike the others, this one did not immediately engage. Its piercing gaze analyzed the battlefield, studying their movements carefully.
Deren narrowed his eyes.
That... is not an ordinary Metavore.
"Deren! Help us!" Mikhail's voice snapped him back to reality.
But his mind was already working on a different problem.
The Metavore watching from afar was too intelligent.
And if there was one golden rule of survival, it was this—
Never ignore a threat that hasn't attacked yet.
A Cold and Unsettling Calm
The wind rustled through the dense trees, carrying a faint chill through the battlefield. Sunlight barely pierced through the canopy above, creating shadows that danced ominously across the forest floor.
The cadets' footsteps were careful and deliberate, their breathing slowly steadying after the intense fight. Some still felt the adrenaline pumping through their veins, while others struggled to calm their nerves.
At the back, Deren walked casually, but his gaze remained locked on the distance.
The Tier 3 Metavore that had been observing them was now gone.
Yet, the uneasy feeling in his chest lingered.
For the first time in a long while, Deren did not feel at ease after a battle.
Instead, something felt... off.
As if a greater danger was hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
This wasn't normal.
In all his encounters with Metavores, Deren had never seen a lower-tier creature with this level of tactical intelligence. Normally, a Tier 3 would either charge recklessly or flee when outnumbered.
But that one?
It didn't act like a typical Tier 3.
Its movements were too calculated, its positioning was too strategic, and—most suspiciously—it had chosen to observe rather than engage.
A Difference in Priorities
"Alright, we need to keep moving," Selene's firm voice snapped everyone's attention back to her. She radiated confidence, a stark contrast to Deren, who just wanted to get out of this situation as soon as possible.
Deren glanced at her briefly before letting out a long sigh. "Honestly, we've already gathered enough points. Why don't we just head back?"
Diana looked at him, confused. "You want to quit now? This is our chance to earn extra points."
Mikhail nodded in agreement. "With just a bit more effort, we could hunt a Tier 4—or even a Tier 5. That could boost our final ranking significantly."
Orvan also seemed excited. "If we take down a higher-tier enemy, we could draw the instructors' attention. This is a rare opportunity."
But Deren remained unconvinced, still wearing his usual lazy expression. He couldn't see the point of staying here longer.
"You know what's more valuable than a high score? Leaving this place in one piece."
Selene folded her arms and stared at him coldly. "I didn't think you were the type to play it safe. I thought you were tougher than that."
Deren shrugged, unbothered by the provocation. "It's not about being safe or not. It's about logic. I just think something isn't right here."
Diana squinted at him. "What do you mean?"
Deren glanced toward the ruins, where the Tier 3 Metavore had been standing earlier.
"That Metavore. It wasn't an ordinary one."
Mikhail furrowed his brows. "It was just a Tier 3, right?"
Deren sighed, already expecting this reaction. "On the radar, yes. But in combat? I'd bet it's much higher. I've seen creatures like that before, and my instincts are telling me we need to leave before things get worse."
As expected, his warning was dismissed as paranoia.
"Then we'll just be careful," Selene replied, unsheathing her sword. "But I won't pass up the chance to take down a stronger Metavore. If you want to go back, go ahead. But we're moving forward."
Deren rubbed his temples. Of course, they wouldn't listen...
A Predator in the Shadows
Unbeknownst to the cadets, something moved between the trees.
The soft rustling of branches and the barely audible low growl hinted at a presence lurking in the shadows.
A black figure flickered between the trees, moving at a speed no ordinary Tier 3 should possess.
All around them, Metavores were beginning to move in coordination.
Every step the cadets took was being watched.
Every decision they made was being anticipated.
The creatures were waiting for the right moment to strike.
A Larger Threat Looms
Elsewhere in the arena, other teams were already being eliminated one by one.
Some didn't even realize the power gap between these Metavores and the ones they fought in the previous exam.
Many ran out of energy before they could gather enough points to pass.
Deren, despite his outward calmness, could feel something was wrong.
Every now and then, he glanced at the trees, trying to catch sight of whatever was watching them.
If his instincts were correct, they were already caught in a much bigger trap than the others realized.
Elsewhere in the Forest Arena...
Kael and Ryn sprinted through the dense foliage, their breaths ragged, their bodies covered in scratches from the previous battle.
Their armor was still active, but its energy reserves were running dangerously low.
"How many more?" Ryn gasped between breaths, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of movement.
Kael glanced at the scanner on his armor. "At least two Tier 3s and one Tier 4 nearby. They're not moving yet, but they're definitely watching us."
"Damn it..." Ryn muttered. "We should've never strayed too far from the main team. If we had stayed in formation, we wouldn't be in this mess."
Kael swallowed hard. "They came in greater numbers than we expected. I even saw some other teams go down before they reached their targets. This isn't a normal exam..."
Truthfully, they shouldn't have been separated from their squad.
Initially, they were part of Revand's group, engaging in an intense battle against a Tier 4 Metavore.
However, amidst the chaotic fight, the Metavores suddenly changed tactics—
They shattered the terrain around them, splitting the battlefield and forcing their team apart.
Now, Kael and Ryn were stranded, cut off from their team.
They finally stopped behind the ruins of an ancient building, partially overtaken by tree roots.
The sunlight that had once filtered through the trees was now obscured by a creeping mist, amplifying the eerie atmosphere.
The wind whispered through the branches, but the forest had fallen eerily silent.
It felt as though something unseen had already claimed control over this entire area.
The Ground Trembled with Heavy Footsteps
A deep rumble echoed through the mist.
Kael and Ryn exchanged glances.
"They're coming!" Kael shouted.
From the fog emerged a massive Tier 4 Metavore, its rock-like body covered in hardened plates. Its glowing red eyes burned like embers, while its razor-sharp claws dug into the ground with each step. Behind it, two smaller but much faster Tier 3 Metavores moved in predatory formation, ready to tear apart their prey.
"This is Worse Than We Thought."
Ryn tensed up, raising her weapon. "Okay... this is bad."
Kael clenched his teeth. "We can't run anymore. We have to fight."
Wasting no time, Kael raised his energy pistol and fired several shots at the Tier 4 Metavore. But as expected, the bullets barely scratched its outer shell, doing almost nothing to slow it down.
"Aim for the weak points!" Ryn shouted, dodging swiftly as one of the Tier 3 Metavores lunged at her. Its claws slashed through the air, missing her by mere inches.
The battle began.
Ryn used her sword to deflect attacks, waiting for the perfect opening to strike back. Meanwhile, Kael provided cover fire, trying to keep the enemies distracted.
But then, they noticed something terrifying—
These Metavores were moving in perfect coordination.
Normally, Metavores attacked instinctively, driven by raw aggression. But these ones?
They fought like an organized unit.
"They're Not Fighting Like Normal!"
Ryn parried another strike, barely avoiding a lethal hit. "They're reacting too quickly!" she shouted. "They know how we're going to move before we even do!"
Kael, panting heavily, barely dodged a massive tail swipe from the Tier 4 Metavore. The attack smashed into the stone ruins behind him, shattering them instantly.
"I know! It's like they're predicting us!" Kael replied, reloading his weapon with urgency.
Their situation was growing worse.
Ryn was getting exhausted.
Kael was running out of ammo.
And then—
A loud sound echoed from afar.
Reinforcements Arrive... But Is It Enough?
Both Kael and Ryn turned their heads, their eyes widening as they saw a familiar sight.
Selene's team had arrived.
Selene, Orvan, Mikhail, Diana, and Deren stood at the edge of the battlefield, watching them with cautious expressions.
"Looks like we showed up just in time," Selene remarked, drawing her sword.
Deren sighed internally, already assessing the disastrous state of both teams.
But one thing bothered him more than anything else—
The Metavores were still in control of the battlefield.
"Where's Revand and the Others?"
The fight had only just begun, yet Deren could already tell—
This was no ordinary exam.
One question echoed in his mind—
Where is Revand and his team?
Because if his hunch was right...
They might be in an even worse situation than this.
And that meant—
Everyone was in far greater danger than they realized.
"What Happened?"
Selene, gripping her sword, turned toward Kael and Ryn, both still catching their breath.
"Why are you two separated from your team?" she demanded.
Ryn wiped the sweat from her forehead. "We were with Revand and the others... but then the Tier 4 Metavore we fought suddenly changed its strategy."
She gritted her teeth, recalling what happened.
"They broke our formation, destroyed part of the battlefield, and forced us to split up."
Kael nodded grimly. "We tried to regroup, but there was no sign of them. They're probably still fighting off an entire pack of Metavores somewhere."
Deren massaged his temples.
Of course. This is getting worse.
Diana's Scanner Picks Up Something...
Diana checked her scanner.
Her face went pale.
"I'm detecting something..." she whispered.
Everyone turned toward her.
"Not far from here, there are several large heat signatures."
She paused, then her voice became strained.
"There are... over fifteen of them."
"Fifteen?!"
Orvan's eyes widened.
"That's not just a normal attack. If that's true, Revand's team must be completely surrounded!"
Selene tightened her grip on her sword.
"Then we need to get there before it's too late."
Deren exhaled heavily.
"And here I was hoping to take it easy in this exam..." he muttered, but still followed the others.
But before they could move toward Revand's location,
a deep growl rumbled through the trees.
Ambushed Again
From the shadows, several Tier 3 Metavores emerged—
Accompanied by one massive Tier 4.
Their glowing eyes fixated on the cadets.
"They must be the ones who were chasing Kael and Ryn!" Mikhail yelled, raising his weapon.
Selene gave a sharp order.
"Don't let them slow us down!"
"Take them out quickly!"
"We need to reach Revand's team before it's too late!"
The Fight Resumes
Without hesitation—
Selene charged forward, her sword slicing through one of the Tier 3 Metavores with perfect precision.
The creature roared in agony, but never got the chance to retaliate.
The battle had begun again.
Orvan and Mikhail fired energy bullets toward the Metavores attacking from the right. Blue flashes lit up the air as some Metavores were blasted back, but they quickly got back on their feet.
Despite their exhaustion, Kael and Ryn joined the fight. "I'm sick of these creatures!" Kael shouted, aiming his energy pistol at the eye of a Tier 3 Metavore, making it howl and collapse.
Diana, guarding the rear, ensured no enemy could attack them from their blind spots. "Watch out, the Tier 4 is moving!" she warned.
The heavily armored Tier 4 Metavore raised its massive claws and slashed at Selene, but she swiftly dodged to the side. "It's tough, but it must have a weak point! Aim for its joints!"
Deren, who had been observing the battle, finally drew his pistol.
If we don't end this soon, we'll waste too much time.
With a precise shot, he hit the joint on the Tier 4's hind leg.
The Metavore stumbled, exposing an opening for Selene, who leaped forward and slashed its neck with full force.
In just a few seconds, the battle was over.
The remaining Metavores crawled away, but no one chased them. Their main focus was reaching Revand's team as quickly as possible.
Selene sheathed her sword and exhaled. "Alright, this is done. We need to move now before Revand and his team get overwhelmed."
Diana checked her scanner again.
"They're still fighting... and the number of Metavores surrounding them hasn't decreased. This won't be easy."
Everyone exchanged glances, realizing the next battle would be much harder.
Deren gazed toward the distance, where Revand's location was marked.
Deep down, he felt something bigger was happening.
And none of them realized this was just the beginning of something far more dangerous.
The Battlefield in Chaos
The forest, once filled only with distant battle echoes, had now turned into a warzone of pure panic.
Dust and dirt filled the air as the clash of weapons and razor-sharp claws echoed between the trees. Roars reverberated through the battlefield, making it clear how brutal the ongoing fight was.
Finally, Selene's team arrived at Revand's location.
The sight was far worse than they had imagined.
Revand and his three teammates stood in the middle of a ruined structure, their armor badly damaged, their energy nearly depleted.
Around them, more than ten Metavores—Tiers 3 and 4—moved in a coordinated formation, blocking every escape route.
Selene wasted no time. "We help them now! Don't let the enemy keep pushing them back!"
Orvan and Mikhail fired their energy bullets toward the Metavores surrounding Revand, creating a series of small explosions that were enough to grab the creatures' attention.
Diana moved swiftly, throwing energy blades at the weak points of the Tier 3 Metavores, while Kael and Ryn charged into the battle, clearing a path toward Revand's team.
Revand, who had barely managed to stay standing after blocking an attack from a Tier 4 Metavore, gave a faint smirk as reinforcements arrived.
"You guys showed up at the perfect time. I was starting to think this was the end of me."
Ryn laughed as she sliced through a Tier 3 Metavore trying to flank them. "You can't die yet. You haven't shown off enough first."
But this fight was far from over.
Amidst the chaos, Deren remained at the back, silently observing the battlefield.
Just as I thought... these Metavores are way too coordinated.
They weren't moving like a mindless horde.
There was a pattern. A strategy.
Without drawing attention to himself, Deren acted in silence.
Whenever a Metavore tried to ambush a teammate, a silent bullet would pierce its vital points.Whenever someone was about to take a fatal hit, something always happened—a piece of rubble would suddenly collapse, or a Metavore would suddenly lose its balance.
None of them realized that an invisible force was helping them from the shadows.
Selene and Revand fought side by side, leading the charge to push back the Metavores.
Despite their exhaustion, their will to fight remained unbroken.
However, just as they thought they were gaining control...
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
The air around them grew heavy, as if an invisible pressure was crushing them down.
A deep rumbling sound echoed in the distance, accompanied by small tremors that grew stronger by the second.
Deren narrowed his eyes.
What now?
Then—
From the ruins beyond the battlefield, something massive emerged.
A Tier 5 Metavore.
Its body was pure black, red glowing patterns pulsing across its frame, while its golden eyes gleamed with an icy menace.
And it wasn't alone.
On either side of it stood two more Tier 4 Metavores—like royal guards protecting their king.
Diana gulped. "We just finished dealing with Tier 4s... and now the boss shows up?"
Kael let out a long sigh. "I have a bad feeling about this."
Revand clenched his fists. "If we fight them in this condition... we won't last long."
For the first time, Deren knew—
This fight couldn't be won with brute force.
If they wanted to survive...
They needed a different approach.
And for the first time in this exam—
Deren considered taking this seriously.