Chapter 16: The Frozen Cliffs Showdown
The entrance exam was nearing its peak.
The battlefield had already pushed the students through dense forests, treacherous mountains, and brutal ambushes—but now, they arrived at one of the hardest zones yet:
The Frozen Cliffs.
A terrain where speed was dangerous, footing was unpredictable, and the cold drained stamina.
As Rei Kurogane's team reached the icy expanse, they weren't alone.
For the first time since the exam began, the strongest teams had gathered in one place.
The battle for supremacy was about to begin.
The Order of Dominance – Kozuki Renjou Takes the Lead
Until now, Rei's team had been advancing first—but that changed the moment Kozuki Renjou arrived.
Unlike others who fought for checkpoints, Kozuki's team simply took them.
There were no unnecessary battles. No wasted energy. Opponents fell before they realized what happened.
Kozuki (calmly): "Speed means nothing if you never see the attack coming."
His team had already secured the Frozen Cliffs checkpoint before anyone else.
DING!
[Checkpoint Secured: Team Kozuki Renjou]
Rei's Team – No Longer First
Rei, Souta, and Akari arrived moments later.
Souta was the first to notice.
Souta (grinning, but slightly annoyed): "Well, well… looks like someone finally passed us."
Akari (serious): "It's Kozuki's team… I had a feeling this would happen."
Rei stayed silent, analyzing the battlefield.
Rei (thinking): We've been moving smarter, but Kozuki… he's beyond efficient. He doesn't just win. He removes the possibility of losing.
For the first time, Rei had found an opponent he couldn't immediately predict.
The Other Powerhouses Catch Up
Kozuki's overwhelming dominance lit a fire under the other strongest teams.
Even Lina Veras, the fastest student in the exam, was frustrated.
Lina (gritting teeth): "How?! Even at my top speed, he still got here first?"
Kenji Arata, the brutal striker, punched a wall in frustration.
Kenji: "I don't mind getting beat in a fight… but getting outrun? That pisses me off."
Elias Krow, the immovable tank, let out a slow exhale.
Elias: "This changes things."
Zayne Alistair, watching from a distance, smiled slightly.
Zayne: "Kozuki Renjou… so you're the real king here?"
In that moment, a shift occurred in the competition.
No longer was it about just surviving. Now, everyone wanted to surpass Kozuki.
The Frozen Cliffs – The Ultimate Test
The environment itself was the greatest enemy here.
The ground was pure ice, making every movement risky. The temperature was dropping rapidly, sapping stamina. Visibility was poor, with blinding snowstorms reducing reaction time.
This wasn't just a battle. It was survival at its peak.
Akari: "We can't afford to make mistakes here."
Rei: "Agreed. One wrong step, and we're out."
Kozuki's Team – No Wasted Motion
While others struggled with the terrain, Kozuki's team moved like ghosts.
Not a single wasted movement. No hesitation. Perfect precision.
An enemy team tried to ambush them—
Enemy 1: "Get them!"
Before they even got close—
SLASH.
A flash of movement.
The attackers collapsed instantly, unconscious.
Kozuki hadn't even turned his head.
Kozuki (calmly): "We don't have time for distractions."
His team continued forward, undisturbed.
Souta Leads the Charge
Meanwhile, in Rei's team, Souta stepped forward.
Souta (grinning): "Alright, nerds. My turn to lead."
Akari sighed. "And your strategy is?"
Souta: "Speed."
Rei: "…On ice?"
Souta: "Trust me."
Before they could stop him, Souta sprinted ahead.
But instead of slipping, he used precise footwork to stay balanced, gliding effortlessly across the frozen ground.
Rei (watching): "…He's using the ice itself to accelerate. He's faster than before."
Akari: "That idiot's a genius when he doesn't think about it."
Souta's momentum carried them across the cliffs at record speed.
Thanks to his leadership, they quickly caught up to Kozuki's team.
Final Showdown – Kozuki vs. Everyone
As the strongest teams all reached the final checkpoint, tensions hit their peak.
They all knew one thing—only one team could finish first.
And right now, that team was Kozuki's.
Rei's team, Lina's team, Kenji's team, and Elias's team all arrived at the last checkpoint at the same time.
For the first time, every top competitor was face to face.
Lina (coldly): "I don't like losing."
Kenji (grinning): "Me neither. Guess we're about to change that."
Elias (calmly): "No matter what, Kozuki's team must not win uncontested."
Zayne Alistair simply smirked.
Zayne: "Things just got interesting."
Kozuki? He simply sighed, as if already bored.
Kozuki: "You all think you can stop me?"
Kozuki (calmly): "You can try."
The final battle of the exam was about to begin.