The Author's POV

"...Where is it?"

Fifteen minutes had passed since I had entered the dome, and I was now alone.

Right after entering the dome, we all split up. Kevin, Jin, and I all went our separate ways.

Nothing needed to be said about Kevin and I since we had something to do, but Jin just naturally left. In all fairness, as an assassin, Jin thrived in this kind of environment so being with a team was useless to him. It would only give away his location.

"...We probably look like fools to the audience."

Moving forwards, a bitter smile appeared on my face.

This was a given though.

In a team game, the first thing we did was split up. This became especially worrisome to the spectators supporting the Lock as everyone knew that the lower-end academies tended to team-up together.

In short, we looked like the third years.

Their result? A humiliating loss. To the audience, we probably looked like arrogant pricks overconfident in our strength.

...but I honestly couldn't care less.

I had different priorities. What did the tournament matter if everyone died?

'”Vrrrrrr! '”Vrrrrrr!

'”Ren, how far are you from the location?

My watch suddenly rang. It was Kevin.

Raising my wrist towards my mouth, I softly whispered.

"I'm almost there."

Following the map that everyone was given at the beginning of the game, I was able to navigate my way towards the location Kevin told me to go to a couple of hours ago.

According to him, that was the place where the portal devices were going to be installed.

'”That's good, I'm almost there too. All that's left is finding the portal itself.

"...easier said than done."

Even though we knew the approximate location of the portals, unlike Kevin, I didn't have a system that would help me detect the exact location of the portal.

Kevin had it, so as long as he knew the general location it was in, he'd be able to find it. Fortunately, I wasn't completely helpless.

After all, there was bound to be a couple of individuals setting it up. All I had to do was find them.

'”Ren, I'm hanging up. I think I've got something.

"Sure."

Disconnecting my call with Kevin, I increased my pace.

Navigating through the dense vegetation, my pace slowed down significantly.

"...Let's not be too obvious."

Realistically speaking, the portal should be protected by at least four individuals.

If I was too brazen about my appearance, I'd lose the element of surprise and be at a disadvantage. Even though I was confident in my strength, four individuals were a lot.

Couldn't just brazenly show up without any preparations. It may end up costly.

***

"What are these idiots doing!"

Inside of the Lock private waiting room. A high-pitched voice sounded across the space.

"Why are they separating from the very beginning? Don't they have a brain?"

Like a machine gun, Emma venomously spat at the TV screen in front of her.

Besides her was Amanda. Though she said nothing, Amanda agreed with everything she was saying.

"Damn it, what are they doing? Did everything that I told them before the match go to deaf ear?"

On the other hand, not far from them, Melissa similarly cursed.

Prior to when the match started, she briefed Ren, Jin, and Kevin, on the strategy that they should've followed in the battle royale to secure first place.

but...

They had completely ignored whatever she had said to them. As though her words went from one ear to the other, the trio separated and did the exact same thing she told them not to do.

This irritated her to no end.

I get my hands on

clenched on the side of the

were currently being displayed on national television.

plastered on the same screen as theirs. If they ended up losing, part of the

thought about it, the

"Just you fucking wait..."

***

as much as I could, I stood on top of a tree and observed five individuals ahead

ranks and three

of the students before me

is going to

percent sure, there was a high chance that these

the same perimeter for an extended period longer than five minutes, and having one of the five individuals sitting on the ground in

was definitely something

a little

involvement. Before they made I

was already starting to

'”Vrrrrrr! '”Vrrrrrr!

a little bit, my watch vibrated. Twisting my wrist

"...yes."

then brought the watch near

"Are you ready?"

portal and

in a similar situation to

think I've also found them. Tell me

the portal should also be in

My targets are four individuals. They seem to be roaming randomly but, they don't seem to be straying far

paused before

It shouldn't be possible for such a low-end academy to have such talented individuals. They are individuals that even the Lock would want. This makes me think that it's them...No.

head, my eyes

got something similar...five individuals though. Guess I've got the short

I

'”Hee...sucks for you.

my reply, Kevin's voice became slightly

"You taunting me?"

'”...no.

short pause before he replied. My

seriously mocking me in the middle of a serious

situations? Wasn't he

bastard was definitely

middle of all of the

explaining

"You sure?"

Is your

"Yeah..you making a move?"

so I can't afford to be

"...Clever."

stupid. Taking the initiative and doing a surprise attack was the most efficient way to win

to start. You should

"Yeah."

call. Lowering my wrist, I quickly took out a few

I should

'”Di! '”Di!

watch vibrated. A glaring red notification clogged

may now engage with

message, the edges of

"...talk about perfect timing"

'”Thud!

Moving behind one of the individuals, my feet abruptly stopped. At this point, I

start with one of the

'”Click!

the all too familiar clicking sound

'”Thud.

ground. Right at the moment my sword was about to hit his head, a small protective shield formed around him,

"What!"

"Who's there?"

direction. Already expecting this, dashing forward, I headed towards the person in the middle. The other ranked

me attack their most important member. Taking out their weapons, they

eyes slowly

"Stay."

Instantly everyone stopped.

"Ghhh...what!"

"Khhh..."

"S-stop him!"

a step back terrified. They could only helplessly watch as I

"Gyek!"

was setting up the portal took out

Though

'”Shaa!

at the incoming blade, I raised my

'”Snap!