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.

get

spat as she clenched on the side

performances were currently being displayed

their assigned technical advisor, her face and name was plastered on the same screen

it, the

"Just you fucking wait..."

***

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

E ranks and

of magic emanating from the bodies of the students before

is going

was a high chance that these people before me were the ones I was

they were behaving suspiciously; Staying within the same perimeter for

definitely

a little

one hundred sure about their involvement. Before they made I

was already starting

'”Vrrrrrr! '”Vrrrrrr!

a little bit, my watch vibrated. Twisting

"...yes."

brought the watch near my

"Are you ready?"

the portal

to be in a similar situation

think I've also found them. Tell

the same, then the portal should also be in a similar position

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

briefly paused before

thing is their rank. 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. Who am

my head, my eyes

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

I got five. What

'”Hee...sucks for you.

Kevin's voice became slightly sarcastic.

"You taunting me?"

'”...no.

short pause before he

mocking me in the middle of a serious

Wasn't he supposed to be the serious type of

bastard was definitely

portal should be hidden beneath the ground. Right in the middle of all of the five individuals.

before explaining to me

"You sure?"

Is your situation

"Yeah..you making a move?"

are four people, so I can't afford to be sloppy.

"...Clever."

the initiative and doing a surprise attack was the most efficient way

to start. You

"Yeah."

I quickly took out

guess I should

'”Di! '”Di!

red notification clogged the screen of

engage with the other

message, the edges of my lips

"...talk about perfect timing"

'”Thud!

my feet abruptly

with one of

'”Click!

of the sword, the all too familiar clicking sound

'”Thud.

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

"What!"

"Who's there?"

Already expecting this, dashing forward, I

other people wouldn't just let me attack their most important member. Taking out their weapons, they

at them, my eyes slowly turned gray as

"Stay."

Instantly everyone stopped.

"Ghhh...what!"

"Khhh..."

"S-stop him!"

their bodies could not listen to them, they all took a step back terrified. They could only helplessly watch

"Gyek!"

up the portal took out his weapon and dashed in

me, my feet abruptly stopped. Though confused, the individual before me slashed in my

'”Shaa!

at the incoming blade, I raised my right

'”Snap!