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 hands on

as she clenched on the side of the

currently being displayed

screen as theirs. If

thought about it, the greater

"Just you fucking wait..."

***

I stood on top of a tree and observed five individuals ahead

ranks and

faint, the undulations of magic emanating from the bodies of the students before me

going

high chance that these people before

fact that they were in the area that Kevin had told me 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

definitely something

a

made I proper move, I would stay here and

so, I was already starting to

'”Vrrrrrr! '”Vrrrrrr!

my watch vibrated.

"...yes."

brought the watch

"Are you ready?"

the portal and

situation to mine, as

found them. Tell me where the portal

then the portal should also be in a similar position as

but, they don't seem to be straying far from a certain location and I've also found that that they are around rank to rank in

paused

academy. The strangest thing is their rank. It shouldn't be possible for such a low-end academy to have such talented individuals. They are individuals

my head, my eyes

Guess I've got the short end

four whilst I

'”Hee...sucks for you.

reply, Kevin's voice became slightly sarcastic. My brows

"You taunting me?"

'”...no.

was a short pause before he replied. My mouth

seriously mocking me in the

serious situations? Wasn't he

bastard was definitely influencing

portal should be hidden beneath the ground. Right in the middle of all of the five individuals. At least that's

apologized before explaining to

"You sure?"

Is your

"Yeah..you making a move?"

so I can't afford to be sloppy.

"...Clever."

unknown backgrounds was stupid. Taking the initiative and doing a surprise attack was the most efficient

to start. You should

"Yeah."

my wrist, I quickly took

I should

'”Di! '”Di!

A glaring red notification clogged the screen

may now engage

message, the edges

"...talk about perfect timing"

'”Thud!

one of the individuals, my feet abruptly stopped. At this point, I stopped breathing and fully focused on the individual

with one of

'”Click!

the sheath of the sword, the all too familiar clicking sound resounded

'”Thud.

at the moment my sword was about to hit his head, a small protective shield formed around him, saving his life. The impact still caused him to pass out. Although the shield saved his life, it did not reduce the force of the

"What!"

"Who's there?"

sound did not go unnoticed as everyone turned their heads in my direction. Already expecting this, dashing forward, I headed towards the person in the middle.

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

slowly turned

"Stay."

Instantly everyone stopped.

"Ghhh...what!"

"Khhh..."

"S-stop him!"

could not listen to them, they all took a step back

"Gyek!"

was doing, the individual that was setting up the portal

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

'”Shaa!

the incoming blade, I raised

'”Snap!