Chapter 24: The Final Hour – The Hill of Despair
The battlefield was in chaos.
The King of the Hill exam had begun.
Every team fought desperately to capture the high-value target's location—but this was no ordinary challenge.
Exam Official (coldly): "This test is not just a battle. It is survival. If you are too weak, you will be crushed."
Rei (thinking): This isn't a test anymore… this is a war.
And only the strongest would survive.
The Battlefield – A Nightmare of Blood and Steel
The final battleground was a ruined fortress built atop a crumbling mountain.
✔ The ground was unstable—one wrong step, and students fell to their elimination.✔ Acid rain fell from the sky, burning anyone who wasn't careful.✔ AI combat drones hovered above, sniping down students at random.✔ The high-value target stood at the peak, surrounded by an energy shield, forcing teams to fight until the final minute.
This wasn't just a test of strength.
It was a death trap.
Souta (gritting his teeth): "What the hell is this?! This isn't a normal exam!"
Akari (breathing heavily): "This is Aether Academy's true level… and we have to survive it."
Rei's heart pounded.
This wasn't just about him.
His team—**even Souta and Akari—**were struggling.
And if they were struggling… then what about everyone else?
Other Teams Start Falling – The Battle Narrows
In just twenty minutes—half the teams were eliminated.
🔥 Kenji Arata's team collapsed under the relentless attacks.🏹 Mika Fujiwara's team was overwhelmed by a surprise ambush.⚔️ Lina Veras fought until the end, but her team was wiped out.
One by one—the battlefield was clearing.
And in the end—only two teams remained.
🥇 Team Kozuki Renjou – Untouched. Unstoppable. Unchallenged.🥈 Team Rei Kurogane – Barely standing. Desperate. Outmatched.
The final battle had begun.
Kozuki's Team – The True Monsters of Aether Academy
Kozuki didn't even move.
He simply watched.
Because his team was already winning.
🔹 Daigo Shiranui's sword cut down everything in his path.🔹 Elias Krow tanked every attack, never taking a step back.🔹 Mika Fujiwara's arrows shut down every possible counterattack.
They weren't just strong.
They were perfect.
Kozuki (calmly): "This is the difference between us, Kurogane."
Rei (breathing heavily): Damn it… even with my strategy, we can't break through!
The Final Clash – Rei's Team Gives Everything… and Loses
Souta attacked first.
💥 He moved faster than anyone could track.
He **blitzed past Daigo's sword—**barely dodging a fatal strike.
He went straight for Kozuki.
But—
WHAM!
Before his attack could land—Kozuki caught him.
With one movement, he slammed Souta into the ground.
💥 Souta was down.
Kozuki (calmly): "Fast. But not fast enough."
Akari moved next.
⚔️ She dodged every attack.
She found an opening in Kozuki's stance.
She struck—aiming for his ribs.
But—
CLANG!
Her attack was stopped instantly.
Elias Krow had stepped in front of her strike.
She looked up—stunned.
Akari (wide-eyed): "…You predicted me?"
Elias didn't even respond.
💥 With one massive punch, he sent Akari flying.
She collapsed.
💥 Akari was down.
Rei (horrified): No… we're losing…
Rei vs. Kozuki – The Absolute Difference
And then—Kozuki turned to Rei.
Kozuki (calmly): "You're the last one left, Kurogane."
Rei couldn't move.
He had no strength.No speed.No power.
Rei (whispering): "I… I can't…"
Kozuki's golden eyes stared down at him.
And then—
💥 Kozuki struck.
One blow.
And everything went dark.
DING!
🥇 1st Place – Team Kozuki Renjou (The Absolute Champions)🥈 2nd Place – Team Rei Kurogane (Defeated, Broken, But Survived)
The exam was over.
Kozuki had won.
And Rei had lost.
Again.
The Aftermath – Rei's New Resolve
When Rei opened his eyes, the battlefield had disappeared.
The exam was over.
Souta and Akari were already awake, but silent.
And Kozuki?
He was walking past Rei.
Kozuki (calmly): "This wasn't just about the exam. This was reality."
He looked down at Rei.
Kozuki: "This is the gap between us. Get used to it."
And then—he walked away.
Rei clenched his fists.
This wasn't just a loss.
This was a crushing defeat.
Rei (thinking): I trusted my teammates. I gave everything.Rei (gritting teeth): And it still wasn't enough.
For the first time in his life, Rei felt truly powerless.
But then—
Souta (grinning weakly): "Hey… we still made it to second place, right?"
Akari (softly): "We still won the scholarship."
Rei blinked.
They were right.
🥈 They had lost.🥈 They had been crushed.🥈 But they still survived.
They were still in Aether Academy.
And Rei knew—this wasn't the end.
Rei (clenching fists): "This isn't over."
He looked up at Kozuki's retreating figure.
Rei (thinking): One day… I will surpass you.
And this loss?
This crushing defeat?