Day 16
The crisp morning air was broken by the steady beat of powerful wings. A large brown owl circled above an open clearing; its mottled feathers blended perfectly with the landscape as its sharp talons extended, landing softly on the damp grass.
With one last flap, Miranda's form shimmered, and in a flash of energy, her body shifted. Where the owl had been, now stood a short, slender girl. She adjusted her rectangular glasses with a quick gesture, the lenses catching the morning light for an instant. Her straight bob of jet-black hair framed her cheeks neatly as she walked forward, steps purposeful, heading toward the figure dominating the center of the field.
Victoria Knight stood there. Tall, broad-shouldered, her presence alone commanded attention. She trained relentlessly with her golden spear, each movement precise yet brimming with raw power. The dawn light danced along the weapon's shaft with every thrust and sweeping strike, while her blonde ponytail swayed behind her in rhythm. Her sharp blue eyes never wavered, locked in a focus that made the world around her seem irrelevant. The spear whistled through the air, each arc carrying the weight of both elegance and authority.
Miranda stopped a few steps away, waiting until Victoria finally lowered the weapon. Then she spoke, her voice soft but steady:
—No sign of the group Duke, Natalie, and Jason attacked —she reported, pushing her glasses up with one finger—. I checked the area thoroughly. There were no traces of other groups nearby, either.
The last echo of the spear's swing faded into the clearing. Victoria stood still for a moment, her golden weapon planted firmly against the ground. Slowly, she turned her head, her gaze as sharp as blades.
—Tsk… looks like word has spread —she said at last, her tone low and edged with distaste—. If they know what we're doing, they'll avoid us.
She lifted the spear again, spinning it effortlessly before driving the end into the earth.
—Perhaps it's time to shift our focus. We've already built up more than enough points to secure the top. From here on, hunting beasts is the smarter play.
Victoria stood tall, the spear gleaming in the morning light, her eyes steady and unshakable as they fixed on Miranda. The girl with glasses met that gaze quietly for a moment, then gave a slow, wordless nod.
Victoria was about to give an order. Her cold, calculating gaze locked on Miranda, who still stood in front of her, waiting for instructions. But before she could speak, the sharp crack of a gunshot tore through the air.
The bullet struck Miranda's shoulder with brutal speed. The impact threw her backward, a stifled cry escaping her lips as she fell to the ground, one hand clutching the bleeding wound.
Victoria barely had time to turn toward the direction of the shot when the shadow of something massive swept over the clearing. A deafening roar accompanied the descent of three monstrous figures that fell from the sky as if waiting for this precise moment.
The first slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash. Nearly three and a half meters tall, its body was covered in gray plates over red, pulsating muscle fibers, like living machinery. Every movement made a metallic snapping sound, as if the creature were part flesh, part steel.
The second hit the ground with agility that belied its size. Its black-lilac skin shimmered in the sunlight, and in its hands were two black sabers that seemed to devour the light itself. It crouched low, ready to strike, eyes glowing with a deadly gleam.
And finally, with a roar that shook the nearby trees, the third appeared: a giant brown bear, its massive silhouette bristling, mouth open to reveal bloodied fangs. The ground trembled with each thunderous step.
Tension filled the air. Victoria gripped her spear tightly, her eyes fixed on the three beasts that had landed before her.
The hunt had begun.
Marcus hit the ground with a solid thud, the impact shaking the earth beneath his feet. Without missing a beat, he rolled forward, softening the landing, and sprang to his feet in a fluid motion. In his hands was the four-pointed shuriken he had been preparing for days: gray, the size of an arm, perfect for his monstrous form. He hurled it with precision toward Brad, who had already transformed.
Brad, a towering 3.70-meter figure draped in a brown cloak that covered almost his entire body, reacted instantly. He invoked his first trait, summoning a bow in his hands, aiming to intercept the projectile. But the shuriken struck his thigh squarely, sending a jolt of pain through him and breaking his focus for a moment.
Without hesitation, Brad fired an arrow straight at Marcus. Recklessly, Marcus thrust his shoulder forward, deflecting the projectile without losing momentum. Closing the distance, he faked a punch; Brad responded by smashing the bow against Marcus' face with crude force. Marcus ducked swiftly and used the motion to lever Brad to the ground.
He didn't waste a second. Marcus landed atop him, delivering a brutal, precise series of punches to Brad's face. Four strikes connected before Brad's bracelet began glowing red, signaling he was at his limit. Marcus rolled aside and, without pausing, moved into the second phase of the plan
Victoria barely had time to react. Her blue eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the scene: a team—and not just any team—had dared to counterattack. She hadn't expected anyone to have the audacity to organize, plan, and strike at her, the class leader, in the open field. Every movement was calculated and synchronized; the aggressiveness of Marcus and his group was clear, and though she had faced many battles, this caught her completely off guard.
Her heart raced, not with fear, but with excitement and tension. Her mind immediately began evaluating possibilities, anticipating attacks, and seeking openings in the enemy's advance. She had never been caught off guard like this, and the adrenaline made every fiber of her body tense.
With a fluid, decisive motion, Victoria transformed. Her monstrous form rose at 3,70 metres and majestic, dominating the clearing. A golden helmet covered her face, allowing a long blonde mane to flow freely behind her. Golden bracelets adorned her muscular arms, and a golden chestplate protected her torso. A skirt and red cape completed her silhouette, while golden greaves and leather sandals in Spartan style armored her legs, giving her the presence of a legendary warrior ready for battle.
Before she could adjust her strategy, Rylan appeared, charging directly toward her, moving with the speed of a predator and the strength of someone accustomed to combat. Victoria raised her golden spear, gleaming under the sun, prepared to meet him. Rylan did not hesitate: in a swift leap, he struck with a brutal double-sword attack, aiming straight at her torso.
Victoria raised her spear just in time, holding it horizontally as Rylan's twin blades came crashing down.
The impact was deafening — steel clashed against enchanted metal, and a burst of sparks exploded between them, scattering bright flashes across the field. The force of the collision pushed her back several steps, boots digging into the dirt as her red cape flared behind her.
A sudden red bubble shot toward Victoria's back. She twisted just in time, planting her spear horizontally to block the impact. The sphere struck the edge of her armor with a sharp thud, sending a ripple of force across her shoulders.
Liora stood at a short distance, her monstrous form towering at 3.42 meters. Her skin was deep blue, sleek and smooth, and her slender frame moved with precise agility. She wore a dark blue dress that hugged her torso and flowed loosely below the waist, her lips the same shade as her outfit. Above her face, a translucent orb shimmered faintly, reflecting the battlefield. Her stance was grounded, ready for anything, muscles tensed and balanced.
Rylan crouched beside her, low to the ground. His claws dug into the dirt as he prepared to charge, eyes fixed on Victoria, measuring the distance.
Victoria's golden helmet caught the sunlight as she shifted her stance, gripping her spear tightly. Her expression was sharp, calculating, and for the first time since the attack began, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.
—"You think you can take me on together?"—she hissed, spinning her spear to guard against the next attack.
Liora's gaze didn't waver.
—"We won't waste time,"—she said, voice calm but firm.
Rylan's claws scraped the dirt as he lunged forward, ready to strike, while Liora prepared another precise bubble aimed at Victoria's side. The three of them moved as one, their coordination silent but deadly.