Chapter 51: Bishop Entrance [Part 2]
Dark clouds covered the afternoon sky as small droplets of rain began to fall over the forest.
Alden and his team seamlessly passed through the remaining traps without a single hurdle, dodging everything with practiced ease! Ronan proved to be the most useful person among them while crossing the dense woods. Thanks to his high affinity for Nature Magic, he could easily detect any hidden trap, acting as if he was having a literal conversation with nature itself to gather information.
But as the group neared their final destination, they started to feel something was off. Even after crossing such a long distance to reach Spot 4, they still had not seen a single beast or monster!
For Alden, he might just chalk it up to his overpowered luck, but the others felt the situation was weird. Soon, they could see Spot 4 in the distance. Large trees covered the wooden tables under their thick shade, preventing the remaining flags from getting wet in the rain.
"We are just a few steps away! Let’s go faster!"
From the other side, a short distance away, Edwin’s team was also heading toward the exact same direction.
"Let’s go, everyone! We will head for first place!"
As Edwin cheerfully encouraged his teammates to push forward, he noticed Alden’s team had also reached the spot. He felt surprised. They were at the very back of the pack just an hour ago, yet they had crossed this huge distance and reached here in no time!
’Well... I shouldn’t underestimate the other teams.’
Without wasting more time, he gestured for his team to move faster.
Both teams reached the tables at the same time. Without wasting another second, Ronan searched for their flag, found it immediately, grabbed it, and gestured for his team to leave.
Edwin also found his flag and prepared to go. But before either team could take a single step forward, the ground started to tremble!
The tall trees around them began to shake violently, as if a massive storm was brewing hidden inside the forest. The loud sound of rapid footsteps echoed through the air—dozens, hundreds, maybe even thousands of them!
From behind the designated spot, right where the trembling of the ground started to grow larger, giant trees were uprooted and crushed! A massive horde of monsters and beasts started to run straight toward their direction!
A sharp chill ran down their spines as they looked at the huge number of monsters. There were hundreds, maybe thousands! All of them were lesser-rank monsters, but the sheer number alone made everyone raise their guard. As the monsters closed the distance with quick steps, both teams got into their battle stances, ready to face the overwhelming army!
But to their shock, the monsters rushed right past them! It looked as if they were not coming to target the students in the first place.
Alden stood cautious as the horde ran past him and his team without hurting anyone. The beasts looked desperate, as if they were running away from something—or someone!
As thousands of monsters passed through the area, ignoring the students and disappearing behind them while breaking through large trees and spreading destruction, everyone stood there shocked and confused. The forest that was silent just moments ago had turned into a total mess!
Just as the last of the monsters disappeared, the students looked at each other. Ronan was the first to speak up.
"What the hell just happened? Why did they suddenly run away? Everything seemed normal... Then why?!"
Edwin and his team walked closer to them.
"Hey, do you know what just happened here? Why did such a huge number of monsters suddenly run in bulk?"
He frowned, looking around and finding no obvious reason for the stampede.
Behind him, Sion looked at his team, and his eyes quickly fell on Alicia. The moment their eyes met, he hastily looked away. The coldness inside his body started to rise again, and he shivered in fear.
Alden looked at the path from where the beasts had just run.
’Something must have made them frightened enough to abandon their territory... What could lead them to run away in such panic? Did a strong monster enter their zone? Or is something else the reason?’
Before he could comprehend what was happening, he suddenly felt a pull on his sleeve. He looked sideways to see Alicia staring at the path ahead. Something was coming toward them with incredible speed—something that made every alarm in their bodies ring with caution!
"What is that... Why is such a heavy killing intent coming from there?"
Before anyone could answer, a lone person walked through the forest, passing under the dark canopies of the trees. He had messy violet hair. His intense violet eyes stared at everyone present, scanning them as if analyzing which prey to hunt first!
Edwin couldn’t help but stare at him in surprise.
"Kaelian?"
Kaelian’s eyes flicked toward him. A maniacal smirk curved on his lips as he looked at Edwin with dark, intense eyes.
"Hehe... I brought a gift for you, Edwin. Here, take this!"
Before Edwin could even react, Kaelian moved with incredible, inhuman speed! He appeared right before Edwin in a flash. Dark, chaotic energy coated his fist—it was wilder and more dangerous than before! His fist connected directly with Edwin’s chest!
*BOOOOOOM!*
Edwin was launched backward like a broken ragdoll! His body crashed helplessly across the forest ground, bursting through several thick trees and making them fall over. His battered body finally halted as he smashed into a final tree trunk along his path.
*Thud!*
He fell to the ground, unconscious. That single attack alone broke several of his ribs and knocked him out cold!
Everyone’s gaze snapped to Kaelian, who now stood in the exact spot where Edwin was just seconds ago. Edwin’s teammates fell back in pure terror!
Sion and Leon looked at each other, not understanding why their friend suddenly looked like a ruthless executioner instead of a fellow student.
"Kaelian, what happened? Are you feeling okay?"
Kaelian’s intense eyes flicked toward them. Before either boy could react, he was already on them! His fist connected hard with Sion’s body, launching him backward! Turning with a fast step, Kaelian kicked Leon straight in the chest, sending his body flying back as well!
"F*cking bastards! Calling me your friend while abandoning me! You deserve to die!"
Lusa backed away in fear and started running for her life. Kaelian ignored her. His eyes turned toward Alicia. As he met her gaze, there was no hint of kindness left in his eyes.
He looked at her coldly and stepped forward.
"You betrayed me to the core, Alicia! You should have stood beside me, not him! You deserve to suffer! You deserve to feel the exact same amount of pain that you gave me by breaking my heart!"
He burst forward from his spot! His eyes darkened as a maniacal smile stretched across his face. A long, sharp spike made of pure dark energy materialized in his hand! He thrust it forward, aiming straight for her, and the spike pierced squarely into her chest!
The whole surrounding area fell silent. Only the sound of the falling rain echoed in the background. Everyone stared in horror as the dark spike rested inside her chest.
Kaelian pulled back, wearing that same victorious, twisted expression. But suddenly, his smile faltered!
Thick cracks started to appear on her body. In a flash, her ice clone shattered into tiny pieces, the frozen shards disappearing into the cold air!
"Do you really think a trick like that is going to work on me?"
Alicia appeared right behind him! She casually tapped the back of his head, making him stumble forward. He spun around and glared at her!
"You—!"
A small, imperceptible smile tugged on her lips, creating a chilling contrast to her cold, glowing eyes.
"Now, it’s my turn."