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 my

on

were currently being displayed on national television. Everyone was

and name was plastered on the same screen as theirs. If they ended up losing, part

about it, the

"Just you fucking wait..."

***

stood on top of a tree and observed five

ranks and three

the undulations of magic emanating from the bodies of the students

is going to be

a high chance

to observe and that they were behaving suspiciously; Staying within the same perimeter for an extended period longer than five minutes, and having one of the five individuals sitting on

was definitely

observe a little

sure about their involvement. Before they made I proper move, I would stay

I was already

'”Vrrrrrr! '”Vrrrrrr!

me a little bit, my watch vibrated. Twisting my wrist lightly, I answered the

"...yes."

the watch near

"Are you ready?"

found the portal and

be in a similar situation to mine, as his

found them. Tell me

portal should also be in a similar position

four individuals. They seem to be roaming randomly but, they don't seem to be straying far from a certain location and I've also found that that they are around

briefly paused before

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

my eyes squinted

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

I got five. What a

'”Hee...sucks for you.

Kevin's voice became slightly sarcastic. My

"You taunting me?"

'”...no.

he replied.

mocking me in the middle of

Kevin joke in such serious situations? Wasn't he supposed

rotten bastard was

Right in the middle of all of

explaining to

"You sure?"

your

"Yeah..you making a move?"

four people, so I can't afford to

"...Clever."

individuals with unknown backgrounds was stupid. Taking the initiative and doing a

I'm about to start.

"Yeah."

Lowering my wrist, I quickly took out

guess I should get

'”Di! '”Di!

glaring red notification clogged the

engage

message, the edges of my lips

"...talk about perfect timing"

'”Thud!

individuals, my feet abruptly stopped. At this point,

with one

'”Click!

of the sword, the all

'”Thud.

sword was about to hit his head, a small protective shield formed around him, saving his life. The

"What!"

"Who's there?"

direction. Already expecting this,

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

at them, my eyes slowly turned

"Stay."

Instantly everyone stopped.

"Ghhh...what!"

"Khhh..."

"S-stop him!"

all took a step

"Gyek!"

was doing, the individual that was setting up the portal took out his weapon and dashed

him come at me, my feet abruptly stopped. Though confused, the

'”Shaa!

the incoming blade, I raised my right hand

'”Snap!