Chapter 57: The Hunt Begins!
💥 FWOOOOOOSH! 💥
The teleportation gates activated.
One by one, the students were warped into the massive AI-generated arena.
Rei's vision blurred as his body felt weightless—then—
💥 THUD! 💥
He landed.
His feet sank slightly into soft soil. A cool breeze rushed past him.
As his vision cleared—he took in his surroundings.
The AI-Generated Battlefield
The arena was a massive, ever-changing wilderness.
✔ Dense forests with towering trees.✔ Rocky cliffs overlooking deadly falls.✔ Ruined cities, filled with collapsed buildings and traps.✔ A freezing tundra, slowing movement and draining stamina.
And somewhere inside this massive world—
The target was hidden.
Rei (thinking, serious): So I need to find the target… while avoiding stronger students.
His eyes sharpened.
This wasn't just about speed.
It was a battlefield.
✔ Other students would form alliances.✔ Some would eliminate weak competitors immediately.✔ And then there were people like Kozuki Renjou—who simply hunted for fun.
Rei exhaled.
Rei (thinking, determined): If I want to survive, I have to move first.
💥 He took off running.
The Bloodbath Begins
💀 SCREAMS. SHOUTS. CLASHES. 💀
The challenge had barely started—and fights were already breaking out.
✔ A group of five students ambushed a lone fighter—only to get wiped out instantly.✔ Two students were chased into the tundra, their bodies freezing before they even found the target.✔ In the ruined city, a brutal one-on-one battle ended when one student was knocked off a building.
🔹 Over 200 entered.🔹 Within ten minutes, nearly 30 were eliminated.
And the real monsters hadn't even started fighting yet.
Rei's Strategy – Avoid Direct Battles
Rei moved carefully through the forest.
Unlike the others, he didn't waste time fighting.
✔ Instead, he used his vision to scan the environment.✔ He analyzed footprints, broken branches, and movement patterns.✔ He listened for distant fights, avoiding them completely.
Rei (thinking, focused): If I can get close to the target first… I can win without fighting.
Then—he heard something.
A rustling sound.
He froze.
Someone was nearby.
Rei crouched low, hiding behind a tree.
Then—he saw them.
A group of three students moving together, discussing their plan.
Other Teams Forming Alliances
Student 1 (grinning): "Alright. We work together until we find the target, then we settle it between us."Student 2 (nodding): "Yeah. No point fighting each other until we get close."Student 3 (grinning): "We should take out small fries along the way. Less competition."
Rei watched carefully.
✔ They were strong—but they had weaknesses.✔ They weren't checking their surroundings properly.✔ They assumed no one was watching them.
Rei (thinking, calm): Good. I'll avoid them and move ahead.
💥 He took a step back—
SNAP!
A branch broke under his foot.
The students whipped around.
Student 1 (grinning): "Who's there?!"
💀 Rei had been spotted. 💀
Rei vs. Three Fighters
The three students surrounded him instantly.
Student 2 (grinning): "Looks like we found someone hiding."Student 3 (mocking): "And it's Rei Kurogane. This is gonna be easy."
Rei stayed silent.
Rei (thinking, calculating): I can't fight three at once. I need an opening.
Student 1 smirked.
Student 1: "Get him."
💥 They charged. 💥
✔ One went for a high kick.✔ Another lunged for a grapple.✔ The third aimed a punch at Rei's ribs.
Rei moved instantly.
✔ He ducked under the kick.✔ He twisted away from the grapple.✔ He redirected the punch, using their own force against them.
But they were strong.
Stronger than Kenji Arata.
Stronger than anyone Rei had faced before.
Rei dodged—but barely.
💥 A punch grazed his shoulder.💥 A kick slammed into his ribs.
He stumbled back.
Student 2 (grinning): "Got him!"
But then—
💥 BOOM! 💥
A shockwave ripped through the forest.
All four of them froze.
A voice echoed from nearby.
??? (grinning): "Man, you guys are slow."
Kozuki Enters the Battlefield
Rei's heart sank.
Because standing just a few meters away—
With zero injuries. Zero exhaustion. And a massive grin.
Was Kozuki Renjou.
💀 The real monster had arrived. 💀
Student 1 (stiffening): "K-Kozuki?!"Student 2 (panicked): "Shit…"Student 3 (whispering): "We're dead."
Kozuki stretched his arms, looking at Rei.
Kozuki (grinning): "Yo, Kurogane. Looks like you're having a bad time."
Then, he turned to the three students.
Kozuki (smirking): "Mind if I cut in?"
Rei froze.
Because now—
The real fight was about to begin.
The Unexpected Outcome – Kozuki's Amusement
The three students panicked.
Student 1 (nervous): "L-Let's just get out of here!"Student 2 (shaking): "Yeah, forget the fight!"
They turned to run—
💥 But Kozuki moved instantly.
✔ He appeared behind them.✔ He struck one in the ribs—knocking him out instantly.✔ He grabbed another and tossed him into a tree.
The third student collapsed, surrendering without a fight.
Rei watched in shock.
Rei (thinking, stunned): He's playing with them.
And then—Kozuki turned toward Rei.
Kozuki (grinning): "Now, what should I do with you?"
Rei's muscles tensed.
He wasn't ready to fight.
But Kozuki just laughed.
Kozuki (smirking): "Nah. Not today."
Rei blinked.
Kozuki (walking away): "I wanna see how much stronger you can get."
Then—he disappeared.
Leaving Rei completely stunned.
💀 Kozuki had spared him. 💀