The morning was taking its last breaths, and the golden light sneaking through the clouds painted dancing threads over the vast plains. The students gathered at the top of the hill, their breaths carrying a mix of excitement and tension. The wind howled between the rocks, but the sound that covered everything was a deep roar that made the ground tremble.
A few steps away from them, Master "Orland" stood before a colossal creature, its body covered in tough skin that looked as if it was forged from black volcanic rock. Its wings, which seemed as if they could open a new page in the sky, stretched with majesty. Its glowing red eyes radiated an enchanting power, and its feet, resembling massive pillars, struck the ground gently yet enough to instill awe in their hearts.
"This is the Skytheron," Orland said, his voice steady but carrying a note of warning. "It will be our means of reaching the Monster Forest. Do not move too much, or you will experience a painful fall."
The students exchanged glances, some with excited smiles, others with hidden dread. "Milia" was the first to step forward, her eyes gleaming with childlike enthusiasm.
"This is amazing! I never thought I'd get to ride one of these creatures!"
"Don't celebrate too soon," muttered "Jake," crossing his arms. "Just looking at it makes me feel like we're about to become a light snack for it at any moment."
Rex, the tall boy with silver hair, laughed and patted Jake's shoulder. "I think you're going to need a seatbelt... or maybe some backup wings?"
Orland raised his hand, signaling them to board. Quickly, the students began climbing onto the Skytheron's back, where a massive saddle was equipped with ropes and handles to hold onto. Once Orland ensured that everyone was seated, he gently struck the creature's neck.
"Go."
Suddenly, another roar shook the air, and the massive wings began to move slowly, gathering air beneath them before unfolding all at once. The creature lifted off the ground, and the students' hearts sank with the pull of gravity that felt as though it was dragging their souls downward.
"Whooooa!!" Lynn screamed, raising her hands as if she were on a roller coaster.
"Keep your hands on the ropes, or you'll fall!" Jake shouted.
"This... this is terrifying!" said Valerian, his face having turned pale.
Meanwhile, Rex stared at the horizon, his eyes filled with wonder. "Wow... I never thought the world looked like this from above."
Below them, the land looked like an expansive map—the winding rivers like silver threads, and the forests like an endless green carpet. They passed over a herd of strange creatures resembling antelopes, but with transparent wings like glass. They flew in groups, creating dazzling flashes as the sun reflected off them.
"Look over there!" Lynn pointed to a formation of massive birds with shimmering blue feathers, soaring beside them for a moment as if welcoming them before veering off toward the clouds.
"I wonder..." Valerian murmured as he stared downward, "how many of the monsters living there could swallow us in a single bite?"
Leonard chuckled, but his gaze wasn't entirely mocking. "We'll find out when we arrive, won't we?"
At the front, Orland sat firmly, silent, but his eyes scanned the horizon cautiously. Inside, he knew this journey was more than just an adventure. It was a test for them to face fear, to understand the real world beyond the academy's walls.
As for the students, their thoughts wavered between excitement and dread. Would they all return the same as they were now? Or would the forest carve unforgettable experiences into their hearts?
The Skytheron began descending gradually, and the Monster Forest became clearly visible. The trees there were not ordinary their trunks were twisted as if trying to trap anything passing between them, and strange sounds rose from the depths like whispers from other realms.
Everyone felt a chill, even Lynn, the most enthusiastic one, swallowed hard.
Orland sighed and cast a quick glance at them before saying in a calm yet firm voice:
"Alright, get ready. Here, you will face reality."
At that moment, the teams split into different directions, for just as the monsters were dangerous, in the pursuit of victory, humans could be even more so.
The teacher cast a glance at the surroundings and muttered under his breath, "Remember... the forest doesn't joke. If you're foolish, you'll never return from it."
Team One
The first team advanced towards a dense tree-covered area, where the air was saturated with a strange scent a mix of fragrant flowers and deadly poisons. The ground was slippery, as if covered with a slimy layer secreted by unknown creatures.
"Damn, this whole place makes me feel nauseous," Jake muttered, covering his nose.
"What are those?" Freya whispered, pointing to a group of black flowers that released a slow, purple smoke.
"Poison, most likely," Ken said, pulling out his dagger. "Don't touch them, and don't inhale too much."
Lynn walked at the front, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "This is amazing! Maybe we'll find something rare here!"
"Or maybe we'll die before that," Jake grumbled before kicking a small rock only to realize it was actually an egg of an unknown creature, which suddenly began to crack open...
Team Two
The valley floor was covered in black stones, and towering walls surrounded them from all sides. Every step they took echoed countless times, as if the valley was mocking their presence.
"I hate this place," Mira muttered, gripping her spear tightly.
"Lower the noise," Zenith said, his voice low but firm. "This echo could attract something we don't want to face."
Aaron, the red-haired boy with sharp eyes, smirked. "Oh? And what exactly? A deadly echo monster?"
Zenith didn't respond but suddenly stopped, then pointed at the valley wall. Strange carvings were etched into the stone, resembling ancient symbols.
"This isn't an ordinary valley..." he said slowly.
But before he could continue, a low roar echoed through the valley...
Team Three
The fog here was so thick that they could barely see each other. The ground was unnaturally cold, and the trees were coated with a black layer, as if burned without turning to ash.
"I hate this place," Tara said, her voice slightly trembling.
"Stop whining," Drake said, swinging his sword to clear some dangling branches. "It's not like ghosts are going to attack us."
"It's not the ghosts that worry me," Rex said, kneeling to touch the soil. There were strange footprints, as if something had slithered instead of walked.
Eileen looked around anxiously. "We have a problem... There are no bird sounds, no insects... The place is completely dead."
"That means there's a predator in the area," Rex muttered before standing quickly. "We don't move without a plan. We retreat slowly "
But he didn't finish, because something moved in the fog...
Team Four
Valerian's team was placed in the most deceptive area: the peaceful plain. At first glance, the place looked like a natural park, with endless green grass and trees swaying gently in the breeze.
"Okay, this is ridiculous," Alistair said, placing his hands behind his head. "While the others suffer in terrifying places, we're on a picnic?"
Rosalia, always skeptical, narrowed her eyes. "There's no such thing as a safe place in the Monster Forest."
"Finally, someone with a brain," Leonard said with a sideways grin.
Valerian frowned. "So? What's your plan, genius?"
Leonard picked up a small stone and tossed it away. The moment it touched the ground, it vanished completely as if it had never existed.
Valerian froze. "What...?"
Leonard smirked. "Spatial traps, most likely distortions. The next step is easy... we don't walk on the ground."
"Oh, of course, because we can all fly," Alistair said sarcastically.
But Leonard pulled out a rope and pointed at the trees. "We don't need to fly... we'll make a bridge of ropes and move between the trees. This plain is just a giant trap, and I bet everyone will think we're safe here."
Rosalia remained still, just waiting.
As for Valerian, he saw that screen that always appeared to him:
[Name: Valerian Lockard]
[Rank: Human (High)]
[Talent: low]
[Skills: Fate Theft (Level 1), Senses]
That skill gave him the feeling of danger, and now the signal was intense. He focused his gaze on a distant point where he sensed the threat.
"Steal."
[Opportunity successfully stolen]
[Opportunity: Safe Zone]
Now, Valerian smiled. He knew they were safe at least for now as the others worked on building the bridge.
After two days of wandering through the Beast Forest, the teams began emerging one by one exhausted, filthy, but alive. Not everyone was in their best shape; the marks of fatigue and fear were still etched into some of their faces. Meanwhile, others walked out of the forest completely different from the moment they had entered.
The place they discovered was an unexpected surprise: ancient stone ruins, surrounded by half-collapsed walls that still stood defiant against nature and time. A crystal-clear pool of water lay at the center, with massive trees surrounding them like a natural barrier, shielding them from the eyes of hungry beasts.
When the last team arrived, everyone was finally gathered for the first time since the start of the trial. As they exchanged glances, one thing was clear among them all: they were not the same as before.
Zenith sat on a rock, staring at the sword still covered in dried blood, while his teammates were scattered around him, though with a noticeable sense of caution.
Mira was trying to clean her dirtied clothes, but her eyes never left Zenith, as if making sure he wouldn't suddenly move and kill someone without reason. Aaron, who was usually the loudest among them, was silent this time, his eyes widened as if he was still processing what had happened. As for Sam, he sat further away, nervously biting his nails.
"Zenith..." Mira finally spoke, her voice hesitant.
He looked at her, his eyes devoid of any emotion. "What?"
She hesitated, but swallowed and said, "You... killed more than ten beasts by yourself. Some of them weren't even supposed to be in our area."
Zenith didn't reply immediately. He turned the sword between his fingers slowly before saying, "Would you have preferred that we all die?"
"No… That's not what I meant," she said in a low voice, then glanced at Sam, who was trembling slightly. "But the way you did it…"
Aaron finally laughed, but it wasn't a cheerful laugh it carried a nervous edge. "Man, you tore that beast in half like it was made of paper. I swear I could still hear its scream echoing in the valley even after it died."
Zenith looked at him but did not smile. "It had to die."
Silence settled between them until Sam muttered under his breath, "You're not normal…"
Zenith showed no reaction to the words, but he lifted his head and looked at all of them, his tone cold yet steady. "You're afraid of me."
No one denied it, but at the same time, no one dared to admit it outright.
Finally, Mira spoke again, but this time with honesty. "Yes… But we're also relieved that you're on our team."
Zenith blinked for a moment, as if he hadn't expected that response.
Aaron sighed and threw himself onto the ground, closing his eyes. "Damn it, even after all this, I can't deny that we'd all be dead if not for you. So, I'll just think of you as a monster on our side. That's better than you being on the other."
Sam let out a low chuckle, as if the tension was beginning to fade. "Yeah… Even if sleeping next to you feels like staying in a cage with a hungry tiger."
Mira finally released a light laugh. "At least we're lucky enough to be on the team that has this monster on our side."
Zenith looked at them for a moment before simply nodding. There was no need for words, but for the first time, he felt something he had never experienced before: acceptance.