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

she clenched on the side of the

displayed on national television. Everyone was

her face and name was plastered on the same screen as theirs. If they ended up losing, part of the blame would

it,

"Just you fucking wait..."

***

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

E ranks and three

emanating from the bodies of the students before me

going to

high chance that these people before

within the same perimeter for an extended period longer than five minutes, and having one

definitely something going

a

made I proper move, I would stay here

already starting to make

'”Vrrrrrr! '”Vrrrrrr!

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

"...yes."

brought the watch

"Are you ready?"

portal

be in a similar situation to mine,

also found them. Tell

the portal should also be in a similar

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

paused before

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 I

my head, my eyes squinted

though. Guess I've got the short

whilst I got five. What a

'”Hee...sucks for you.

my reply, Kevin's voice became

"You taunting me?"

'”...no.

a short pause before he replied. My mouth

mocking me in the middle of a serious

joke in such serious situations? Wasn't he supposed

rotten bastard was definitely influencing

be hidden beneath the ground. Right in the middle of all of the five individuals. At least

apologized before explaining to me

"You sure?"

your situation

"Yeah..you making a move?"

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

"...Clever."

the initiative and doing a surprise attack was the most

to start.

"Yeah."

wrist, I

guess I should get started

'”Di! '”Di!

A glaring red notification clogged the screen of

may now engage

the edges of

"...talk about perfect timing"

'”Thud!

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

one of

'”Click!

the sword, the all too familiar

'”Thud.

targeted fell face-first on the ground. Right at the moment my sword was about to hit his head, a small protective shield formed around him,

"What!"

"Who's there?"

my direction. Already expecting this, dashing forward,

their most important member. Taking out their weapons, they all instantly dashed towards

my eyes slowly turned gray

"Stay."

Instantly everyone stopped.

"Ghhh...what!"

"Khhh..."

"S-stop him!"

not listen to them, they all took a step back terrified. They could only helplessly watch as I neared

"Gyek!"

up the portal took out his weapon and dashed

abruptly stopped. Though confused, the individual before

'”Shaa!

the incoming blade, I raised my right hand and

'”Snap!