The projection of the Shadowfang faded.
Professor Veyron snapped his fingers, and the classroom lights returned. Most students looked pale—some fascinated, others nervous. A few, like Valen, looked entirely too confident.
Kite didn't react.
Not outwardly, at least.
[New Beast Data Acquired: Shadowfang - Class 2]
[Qi-Venom Compatibility Risk: 68%]
[System Note: Target ideal for Blood XP gain with minimum 3-unit group efficiency.]
Professor Veyron's eyes scanned the room. "Theory is a waste if your nerves fail in practice."
That silenced even the confident ones.
Veyron raised his hand. A seal on the floor pulsed red.
The classroom trembled.
"No use delaying it. Every initiate batch is tested on day one. You will enter the simulation chamber and face the beast you've just studied. You will not kill it. You will survive it. If you do, you earn your real class schedule."
He waved a hand and added, "If not, we clean up your remains and forward your regrets to your next of kin."
Nobody laughed.
Minutes later, they stood outside a tall chamber lined with beast bones and cultivation arrays. Two heavy doors glowed with pulsing runes.
A group of six students stood before them, gear provided by the academy—basic reinforced leather, an emergency Qi pill, and one Class-1 weapon per student.
Kite held a slender crimson dagger with a rune-etched hilt.
Valen gripped a Qi-threaded rapier, still smiling.
Lilith… wasn't there.
He didn't know if he was relieved or disappointed.
"Step forward," a voice boomed.
Professor Veyron waved his staff. "Group 3—Kite Nocturne, Valen Aerden, Nara Feng, Gorik Dray, Theo Marnes, and Reina Solari."
Kite moved with the others, not speaking.
The doors opened.
Inside was not a room.
It was a biome.
Dense trees, jagged rocks, low mist. A shifting, dark forest set under an artificial crimson moon.
[Simulated Environment Detected]
[Bloodlust saturation: 17%]
[Caution: System suppression field active – basic assistance only.]
Kite's screen flickered for a second before stabilizing.
"Remember," Veyron's voice echoed from nowhere, "you survive. Not by hiding—but by fighting well enough to be spared."
Then silence.
Nara, a dark-haired girl with twin daggers, whispered, "Do we stick together?"
Valen glanced around. "Depends. Anyone here slower than me will just get eaten."
"Noted," Kite muttered.
The growl came next—low and guttural. From behind the mist.
Then, they saw it.
Eight feet tall, covered in black fur and laced with glowing red cracks. Its jaws dripped shadow instead of saliva. One of its eyes was completely blind. The other burned like a forge.
[Beast Identified: Lesser Shadowfang – Simulated Type]
[Kill Threshold: 45% Team Coordination / 30 Seconds Survive Required]
[Blood XP Gain Potential: High]
It charged.
Kite didn't hesitate.
He moved left, baiting the creature's flank. The others reacted—Nara flanked right, Reina channeled a flame Qi bolt, and Valen—
Valen didn't attack.
He stood back. Watching.
[Observation: Valen Aerden – Delaying Action. Prioritizing safety over contribution.]
[Note: Tactical withholding detected.]
Kite's instincts flared.
He wasn't just fighting a beast. He was being watched.
The Shadowfang lunged at him. He rolled beneath its leap, carving upward with his dagger—but it only grazed fur. No blood.
A tail came whipping. He raised his arm to block—but too slow.
Someone tackled him aside.
Theo, the broad-shouldered brawler, grunted. "Watch the damn tail!"
"Noted," Kite spat, rolling upright again.
The others began coordinating. Fire bolts. Blade flurries. The beast roared and lashed out, clearing trees, gouging stone.
Thirty seconds had never felt so long.
Then—
A critical opening.
Its paw caught in a root trap Nara had set.
Kite saw the moment.
He surged in.
The dagger drove deep—into a soft fold just beneath its armpit. Not enough to kill. But enough to make it shriek.
[Blood XP: +10 – Weak Point Exploited]
[+1 Strength | +1 Vitality | +1 Bloodlust]
[Simulation Threshold Met – Auto-disengage activating…]
The red moon above began to fade.
So did the beast.
Everything shimmered.
And then—
They were back.
Lying on the cold floor, breathing hard.
Some were bleeding. Most were gasping.
Valen sat untouched.
Kite looked at him. Said nothing.
Valen smiled.
"I see why she's curious about you."
Kite turned his head.
"You keep talking about her like she's a prize."
Valen leaned in. "No. Like a legacy. Some bloodlines aren't meant to be touched by trash."
Kite smiled faintly.
[New Rival Status: Hostile]
[System Note: Conflict Detected – Rivalry Tier 1 Unlocked]
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Predator's Insight Lv.1]