Chapter 269
"Fifty seconds remaining!" Eric's voice boomed across the dense forest, amplified by a floating green crystal hovering in front of him.
The device projected his command to every corner of the forest, its echo lingering in the air like a ticking clock.
He stood tall before a thick obsidian gate, arms crossed, the shadows of towering trees dancing behind him.
Before him gathered several students, each clutching glowing magical cores—proof of their conquest. They had finished the hunt and now awaited the stragglers.
The first to emerge had been Drey, his eyes glinting with pride. Then came Dave, Dante, Charlotte, Selene, Greg, Scarlet, Lyra… one by one, they arrived, some breathless, others beaming. Eric kept a strict watch, jotting down arrival times with the precision of a ticking metronome.
Some returned within five minutes of entering the forest, their bodies sweaty but confident.
