Chapter 293: Panic management
After stepping out of the Void Zone, Kyle made his way toward the arena where the professor had asked him to arrive around half past three.
Some kind of training session was about to begin for the third-year students.
As he walked, his thoughts remained trapped in the conversation he had with Aleda. The realization of Ethara’s situation settled heavily on his chest, filling his mind with regret and concern.
More than anything, he wanted to speak with Ethara, even if only for a few moments. That was why he had already asked the system twice to find a solution as soon as possible.
[Don’t worry, Host. The system has given you its word, so rest assured. Before long, you will receive the task along with its reward.]
Even if it meant fighting another Special Grade, he would do it without hesitation. Right now, he only wanted to hear that Ethara was safe.
Before long, he arrived at the enormous structure housing the indoor arena.
The building itself had a flat roof, but a gigantic dome of dark blue glass rose from its centre, giving it a distinctive silhouette. Combined with the building’s deep, muted colours, it exuded an imposing presence that dominated the surrounding area.
Not a single student was wandering outside. Kyle assumed they were either attending classes or resting in their dormitories.
As he drew closer, sharp cries echoed from within, accompanied by waves of Genesis surging through the air.
"Ah..."
His lips parted in disbelief as the scene unfolded before him.
The entire arena was engulfed in roaring flames. Several people...no, students moved through the inferno carrying what appeared to be humanoid bots, while not a single teacher could be seen.
"Kyle."
Hearing his name, Kyle turned to find Godwin standing behind him with a sheepish smile.
"Come with me. I’ll give you a better view of the situation."
Kyle nodded and quietly followed as Godwin led him around to the opposite side of the dome. They entered through a side gate before making their way up a long flight of stairs.
As they climbed, Godwin explained, "Crisis Management is an exercise our third-year students participate in every so often. It’s designed to sharpen their instincts under pressure and help them recognize their own shortcomings."
"Hmm. So that’s the reason for the flames and all the chaos."
Godwin nodded. "It’s the closest simulation we can create to prepare them for the horrors they’ll face one day."
Kyle let out a faint, wry smile.
"Truthfully, the real horror arrives in silence. By the time people realize it’s there, everything is already over."
Godwin understood exactly what Kyle meant.
Among the faculty, it had become a widely discussed topic that the academy’s special student had encountered multiple high-level monsters and had even brought down a Special Grade criminal Nightwalker. He had seen horrors that no simulation could ever hope to replicate.
There had been countless debates over whether those rumours were even true. But from everything Godwin had observed so far, the boy had undoubtedly lived through things most people could never imagine.
Experiences that left a permanent mark on a person.
A few moments later, they arrived at a spacious observation room. Its front wall was made entirely of thick reinforced glass, offering a clear view of everything unfolding below. Several cushioned lounge chairs were arranged neatly inside.
A handful of people stood by the glass, watching the ongoing exercise. Some briefly glanced at Kyle as he entered, but only one of them stepped forward.
"Kyle."
Christopher greeted him with a warm smile.
"I’m glad to see you as part of the academy."
"Thanks for letting me join." Kyle returned the smile. If not for Veronica’s connection with Christopher, he doubted he could have enrolled in this crash course through ordinary means.
Just imagining himself spending three full years at the academy was enough to make him feel exhausted.
"Well, you earned it. Now, let’s not miss the reason you’re here."
Christopher gestured toward the enormous glass wall.
Kyle nodded and slowly stepped forward.
The moment he looked down, he understood what Godwin had meant by having a better view of the spectacle.
From this height, the entire training ground unfolded beneath him, revealing every moving piece of the exercise.
It resembled a village consumed by disaster.
Homes burned beneath towering flames. Frightened animals sprinted through smoke-filled streets. Monsters prowled the inferno in search of survivors while terrified civilians fled in panic. Amid the chaos, students moved from one danger to another, rescuing everyone they could.
"Are those real people?" Kyle asked, his brows knitting together.
The thought seemed far too reckless. Besides, he distinctly remembered seeing students carrying humanoid robots earlier.
Godwin shook his head.
"They’re illusions. Their purpose is to make the students experience how ordinary people would react in a disaster. Once a student reaches and rescues one of them, the illusion disappears, leaving behind nothing more than a lifeless doll."
Kyle nodded in understanding. It was an excellent approach. The exercise felt realistic without placing anyone in actual danger.
His gaze soon settled on a group of three boys.
One of them was the same obnoxious brat who had tried to pull a prank on him that morning.
Ethan appeared to possess a cloning ability. He continuously created identical copies of himself, sending them in different directions to draw the monsters away while his real body rushed toward the stranded civilians.
His two teammates took full advantage of the opening. One manipulated powerful gusts of wind to drive back the flames, while the other raised walls of earth to contain the spreading fire and protect the evacuation routes.
"Impressive as always."
The voice came from nearby.
Kyle turned slightly and noticed a hulking man standing with his arms crossed. A prominent scar ran across his chin, giving his stern face an even rougher appearance. His eyes never left Ethan as he spoke.
For the briefest moment, the man glanced at Kyle before a faint snicker escaped him.
"..."
Kyle silently hoped he had imagined it.
Next, Kyle’s attention shifted to Charles.
Unlike the others, Charles fought alone.
He cut down monsters with effortless precision, extinguished the raging flames, and rescued stranded survivors without slowing for even a moment. Every movement flowed seamlessly into the next, leaving no room for hesitation or panic.
"Student Charles is a one-man battalion," a woman with neatly cut bob hair remarked with an approving nod. "He can handle every aspect of a crisis without losing his composure."
"True."
The agreement slipped out of Kyle before he even realized it.
The scarred man’s expression darkened, and a frustrated growl escaped him.
He turned toward Christopher.
"I believe this is the perfect opportunity for our newcomer to experience the academy’s Crisis Management training firsthand. One section of the arena is currently left unattended. He would make an ideal reinforcement."
Kyle blinked in surprise before looking at Christopher.
"May I?"
Christopher simply shrugged.
"If you want to."
Kyle nodded and headed straight for the staircase.
He had been eager to test his newly acquired skill ever since obtaining it. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment