Chapter 19
Deep within the dense forest, where sunlight barely reached the ground, teams of recruits moved like hunters and prey, all chasing one goal—survival.
Some teams crept through the undergrowth with careful steps, whispering plans of attack. Others charged headfirst, eager to test their strength.
But amidst this chaos, one group moved differently.
They didn't run.
They didn't hide.
They walked as if they owned the entire forest.
At the front was Rayden—a tall, black-haired youth with an unshakable presence, his black sharp eyes scanning the trees like a predator surveying its territory.
Behind him, his two subordinates strolled casually, unconcerned by the danger surrounding them.
"Do you really think anyone will dare to attack us?" asked Koma, the pink-haired youth with mischief in his eyes.
The second subordinate, a lean, sharp-eyed guy named Cyrus, smirked. "With Rayden in our group? Please. They'd have better luck fighting a magical beast barehanded."
Koma sighed dramatically. "So no one's dumb enough to challenge us?"
"Looks like it," Cyrus muttered.
"Then… how are we supposed to destroy crystals?" Koma groaned. "If no one fights us, we can't pass the trial!"
Rayden suddenly stopped.
His head tilted slightly, his piercing gaze locked onto a large tree ahead.
Behind that tree, hidden in the shadows, were six recruits—two full teams huddled together in absolute silence.
Rayden's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"They think they're safe."
With an indifferent voice, he spoke:
"Come out."
The six recruits stiffened.
No one moved.
Rayden sighed.
"Fine. I'll count to five. If you're still hiding, I'll assume there's no one there and leave."
His tone was calm.
But there was an underlying danger in his voice—like a blade pressing lightly against one's throat.
"One… Two… Three…"
The recruits held their breath, sweat forming on their foreheads.
"Four… Five."
Rayden turned around. "I guess there's nothing there."
With that, he walked away—his subordinates following without hesitation.
The six recruits sighed in relief, exchanging glances.
"That was close," a girl muttered.
"Yeah, I can't believe he just left like that," another guy whispered, still shaking.
They had survived.
Or so they thought.
One of them casually reached into their backpack—only for their eyes to widen in horror.
Their red crystal—the key to their passing the trial—was gone.
Completely shattered into pieces.
"Wha—?! How?! When?!"
From a few meters away, Koma grinned mischievously, casually tossing a now-green crystal into the air.
"Oops."
Rayden didn't even look back.
His subordinates laughed.
"Easy win."
.....
Deep within the dense forest, where towering trees stretched their limbs high into the sky, a lone figure in a black cloak stood motionless. His face was concealed beneath the hood, save for a single, piercing blue eye that shimmered like frost under moonlight. His presence was unsettling—silent, unreadable, and unmoving.
Opposing him were three men, each exuding an aura of confidence and aggression. They encircled him like predators stalking prey, their expressions smug as if victory was already theirs.
One of them extended his hand, where water swirled in an endless spiral, droplets flickering in the dim light. Another clenched his fist, and the sound of grinding stone echoed as his arm transformed, coated in thick, jagged rock. The last held out his palm, a blazing fireball hovering just above his skin, its heat distorting the air around it.
Their leader, a man with short, graying hair and an arrogant smirk, stepped forward. "Drop your crystal and leave. Now." His voice was casual but carried the weight of a command.
Silence.
The cloaked figure remained still, his gaze steady.
Then, in a voice as cold as the grave, he muttered, "Ice Shimmer."
A frigid mist exploded outward.
It moved unnaturally fast, engulfing the three men before they could even react. One moment they were poised to attack, and the next, their world turned white with frost.
The water wielder let out a strangled gasp as his control slipped, the swirling liquid freezing mid-motion before his very eyes. He tried to retreat, but the ice crept over his legs, locking him in place.
The earth warrior swung his stone-covered fist, attempting to shatter the frost creeping up his arm. Too late. A thick layer of ice encased his arm before he could even bring it down, the freezing cold seeping into his bones.
The fire user, eyes wide with disbelief, thrust his flaming hand forward. But the moment his fireball clashed with the mist, the flames sputtered and died as if suffocated. A look of sheer horror crossed his face as frost spread up his arm, extinguishing his power completely.
In mere seconds, all three men stood frozen from the neck down.
Their breath came out in shaky, panicked gasps, fogging the ice trapping them. Their bodies trembled as the cold dug into their skin, paralyzing them with an unbearable chill.
The cloaked figure stepped forward, his boots crunching against the frozen grass.
He stopped before them, tilting his head slightly, as if contemplating whether to end them entirely.
Then, without a word, he reached out.
His gloved fingers brushed against the red crystal hanging from the leader's belt.
A thin layer of ice rapidly consumed the crystal, spreading like cracks in glass—until, with a simple squeeze, it shattered into dust.
The leader's breath hitched. His eyes darted between his subordinates, now helpless prisoners in their own frozen bodies.
The cloaked figure said nothing more.
He turned on his heel and disappeared into the mist, his presence vanishing as if he were never there.
The only sound left in the forest was the faint crackling of ice as it settled.
---
Meanwhile, on Blaze's side—
Kaito was grumbling.
"This is boring," he complained. "Where are the weaklings we're supposed to crush? I swear, they must have sensed my presence and ran away."
Akira gave him a flat stare.
Blaze sighed. "Or maybe we are just that unlucky."
Before Kaito could argue, a deep, booming voice cut through the air.
"You're quite the braggart for someone still in the 4th stage of the Foundation Phase."
The group froze.
Turning around, they found three men standing a few feet away.
At the center was a massive, rough-looking warrior, his arms thick as tree trunks. His two subordinates—both confident and grinning smugly—flanked him.
The leader's aura was overwhelming, his presence alone sending a heavy pressure into the air.
The leader immediately analyzed the situation.
He was at the 6th stage of the Foundation Phase.
His subordinates were both at the 5th stage.
Meanwhile, Kaito and Akira were at the 4th stage, and Blaze was…
A Zero.
They were outmatched.
Or so it seemed.
The warrior's gaze locked onto Kaito.
"Come on, show me what you got."
Kaito grinned, stepping forward—
Only to suddenly move aside, gesturing toward Blaze.
"Not me. Him."
The leader blinked, surprised.
"The Zero?"
Blaze cracked his knuckles.
A system notification appeared before him.
[New Quest Received: Defeat the opponent team and break their crystal. Reward: 1000 EXP.]
Blaze smirked.
"Alright, let's do this."
Minutes later—
Three bodies lay groaning on the ground.
Their once confident expressions were replaced with shock and pain.
Kaito strolled toward them, crouching beside the now-defeated leader.
Picking up their crystal, Kaito turned to the man with mock sympathy.
"You see," Kaito said, grinning smugly, "he's not your average Zero."
The leader barely managed to lift his head, eyes still filled with shock.
"I… I didn't expect him to be that strong…" he muttered, barely able to process what just happened.
Kaito crushed their crystal, and Blaze's group's own crystal flashed, turning yellow—signifying their progress.
Blaze, however, remained focused.
"We still need two more," he said firmly. "Let's move out."
The trio vanished into the forest, leaving behind a broken team—and a lingering sense of fear.
Because for the first time—
People began whispering about a new rumor.
"There's a Zero in the trial..."
"And he's stronger than anyone expected."
---
To Be Continued…