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.

wait till I get my hands on

on the side of

performances were currently being displayed on national

advisor, her face and name was plastered on the same screen as theirs. If

more she thought about it, the greater

"Just you fucking wait..."

***

I stood on top of a tree and observed

ranks and three

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

is going to be

there was a high chance

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 the ground in the middle pretending to fiddle with the

definitely

observe a little

I still wasn't one hundred sure about their involvement. Before they made I proper move, I would stay here and

so, I was already starting

'”Vrrrrrr! '”Vrrrrrr!

a little bit, my watch vibrated. Twisting my wrist

"...yes."

brought the watch near

"Are you ready?"

the portal and the

be in a similar situation

them. Tell me where the

same, then the portal should also be

be straying far from a certain location

paused before

all seem to come from a lower-end academy. The strangest thing is their rank. It shouldn't be possible for such a low-end academy to have such talented

my

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

four whilst I got five. What a

'”Hee...sucks for you.

became slightly sarcastic.

"You taunting me?"

'”...no.

before he replied. My mouth

mocking me in the middle of a serious

Kevin joke in such serious situations? Wasn't

was

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

apologized before explaining

"You sure?"

your

"Yeah..you making a move?"

people, so I can't afford to be sloppy. I'm setting

"...Clever."

fighting against four individuals with unknown backgrounds was stupid. Taking the initiative and doing a surprise attack was the most efficient way to win against

about to start.

"Yeah."

ended the call. Lowering my wrist, I quickly

I should

'”Di! '”Di!

glaring red notification clogged

now engage

the message, the edges of

"...talk about perfect timing"

'”Thud!

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

with one of

'”Click!

on the sheath of the sword, the all too familiar clicking

'”Thud.

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

"What!"

"Who's there?"

their heads in my direction. Already expecting this,

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

slowly

"Stay."

Instantly everyone stopped.

"Ghhh...what!"

"Khhh..."

"S-stop him!"

them, they all took a step back terrified. They could only helplessly watch as I neared my

"Gyek!"

that was setting up the

at me, my feet abruptly stopped. Though confused,

'”Shaa!

I raised my right hand

'”Snap!