A Grim Battlefield

It was dark—not even a glimpse of light can be seen… Until…

In a sudden flash, light burst forth, revealing an expansive battlefield: towering trees loomed overhead, massive boulders dotted the terrain, and rivers carved their way through the vibrant ecosystem.

Encircling the said battlefield, is a translucent barrier—shielding students from harm. Not only from external threats, but also from sustaining fatal injuries within. Blows were dulled, spells were softened, and any serious harm was instantly mitigated by the barrier’s enchantment.

When they arrived, they were given weapons based on their affinity. Swords for those with Swordsmanship Affinity, Staffs for those with Magical Affinity, and Bows for those with Archer Affinity.

Then, with a low chime, the sky above flickered.

A massive, semi-transparent screen projected itself high up the arena, displaying the remaining players that needs to be eliminated. No matter where each group had landed, the screen remained visible—looming in the sky as a constant reminder of the trial’s stakes..

It glowed with faint golden light, numbers shifting across its surface.

Remaining Eliminations: 50.

Everyone gasped, realizing the scope of this test. Though no one will truly get eliminated, It’s not just an exam for an academy—But for survival, using your raw strength, intelligence, and ability-usage.

Fortunately, those who had formed groups beforehand were transported together—though each team was scattered into separate regions of the battlefield, isolated from one another.

Funnily enough, almost all groups were composed of five members—meaning that in this exam, ten full groups would need to be eliminated.

***

Luciel’s group landed in a dense forest, surrounded by thick foliage, accompanied by the distant rumble of flowing water—most likely a river. The air was tense, yet calm, giving it an eerie feeling that just hung in that atmosphere—Like a storm waiting to break loose.

“Lilith, can you check the map?” Luciel said, scanning the treeline for possible eliminations.

A small orb embedded in Lilith’s gauntlet lit up, projecting a holographic map of the area around them—likely part of the exam's standard equipment. It displayed the overall terrain of the area, but no indication of other students.

“Our priority should be getting a food source. We don’t know how long this exam will last.” Lilith suggested.

“Then we should head up north then, taking control of this river would be vital.” Anneliese added.

Cedric then chimed in, adding his own thoughts into the plan. “Me and Arvan should take the high ground—Not just from the treetops.”

Luciel, thoroughly scanning them map, suggested, “Then we should head north-east, taking over the river, and the mountain over here as well.”

Arvan, noticing the amount of time has passed, “We should act fast, ten minutes have passed already. There’s a high chance that fellow students would be there already.”

“You know, for being an airhead back then, you actually became a smartass.” Cedric commented.

“Shut it! You just kept hogging all the work back then—”

Luciel then pinched his ear, dragging him away from Cedric. “Just proceed with the plan, no need for bantering.”

With nods of agreement, the group rose to their feet—geared up, focused, and ready. Without skipping a beat, the group headed north-east—toward a mountain they had spotted faintly on the map projection. A river curved along its base, snaking through the terrain like a natural guide.

The journey was quiet at first, the sounds of rustling leaves and distant birdcalls filling the forest. Shafts of golden sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, casting fleeting shadows on the ground as the team weaved between trees and over moss-covered stones.

“We’re close.” Lilith said, as she regularly monitored the holographic map.

Luciel then raised his hand, signaling for them to halt.

Rustle… Rustle… Tip-tap…

Footsteps—But it wasn’t theirs.

The team quickly scattered, with Luciel hiding by the trunk of a wide oak, eyes narrowing. Then, two silhouettes emerged from the foliage—students, armored lightly, weapons drawn but not yet raised.

Luciel then whispered, “Even though we’re not experienced just yet, we can out-perform them.”

“How so?” Cedric asked.

Luciel’s gaze flicked to one of their teammates. “Hey, Arvan—you’ve got Divine Affinity, right?”

Arvan stiffened slightly. “Yeah… why?”

“Cast a blinding spell. Right in front of them. The moment they flinch, me and Cedric will rush in and take them out.”

There was a pause. Arvan hesitated, glancing toward the scouts—then at Luciel. His fingers twitched.

“Tch… fine,” he muttered, feigning annoyance. “Just make it count.”

With a sharp flick, a burst of radiant light surged from his palm—exploding between the two enemy scouts.

Cedric and Luciel moved like shadows, striking with swift precision. In a matter of seconds, the two scouts were down—silenced before they could even scream.

Luciel knelt beside one of them, as they were slowly fading—literally.

He quickly checked their items, for supplies, and signals from their fellow teammates.

“Nothing special,” he murmured. “But we’ve confirmed it—others aren’t far.”

Cedric nodded, wiping his blade clean.

48—The number pulsed once—sharp and cold.

Across the battlefield, scattered students looked up, some startled, others grim. The silence that followed was heavier than before. They all knew now.

The exam had truly begun.

Moments later, the counter shifted again—48… 45…

And just minutes after—45… down to 30.

In just twenty minutes, twenty students were eliminated. Even from within the safety of their individual zones, the weight of each number drop was undeniable. The air grew heavier, the forest quieter—as if the very ground understood the bloodless brutality unfolding beneath the enchanted barrier.

Luciel’s group paused, eyes fixed on the glowing screen floating above the sky. They quickly took cover by a cave, next to a river they spotted beforehand.

“They’re dropping fast huh…” Lilith muttered.

“It’s either chaos… or a few groups are going all in early,” Cedric replied, tightening his grip on his sword.

Luciel looked ahead, toward the river that shimmered at the base of the mountain. “Either way… we need to reach high ground before we’re next.”

Slowly, they recouped, eating bread that Lilith packed earlier, and fish Cedric and Arvan caught by the riverside.

“You know, this is a nice reset from our previous life…” Luciel mumbled, kneeling by the campfire.

“Considering you were a fantasy-novel geek, this must be heaven for you.” Anneliese chuckled, leaning on Cedric’s soldier.

“Not necessarily heaven, since we’re eliminating players—Well not literally.”

As they continued to laugh, the screen flashed—showing the eliminated players watching the battle unfold, which made everyone sigh out of relief, knowing that even if they “die,” in the arena, they will return back safely.

And then, in a soft flash—the counter flashed back once more.

Remaining Eliminations: 20.

“Well that was quick,” Arvan said, as he ate the freshly grilled fish.

Just then, as they were sharing laughs with each other, they heard a scream, west of their location.

Luciel and Cedric quickly scouted the location, and there they found an eliminated person. But unlike those that they eliminated beforehand, they did not fade away like when you get eliminated from a video game—but what remained, was a lifeless body.

Meanwhile, Vectus, watching from the control platform, noticed the anomaly. He frowned, quickly checking the respawn area, but the eliminated person did not return.

He narrowed his eyes. “Something’s wrong…” At once, he summoned the professors and scholars of the academy, his tone sharp and urgent.

Back on the battlefield, Luciel knelt beside the body. His eyes narrowed as he spotted something burned into the skin—on the shoulder, a pentagram-shaped mark, etched deep.

“Someone bypassed the barrier,” he muttered grimly. “This isn’t part of the exam. No one’s safe anymore.”

Cedric stepped back, shaken. “Then… what do we do?”

Luciel stood, eyes cold. “We find the one who did this—and eliminate them.”

His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword.

Author Note: Looks like the arena isn't as safe as it seems! See you tomorrow for the next chapter.

Chapter 6: The Green-Hooded Reaper
Release: July 20th, 2025 GMT +8 3pm