Chapter 18: The Northern Beach Reckoning
Valantine's voice echoed through the observation chamber once more.
"The word he is an Elite-level Rune Wizard can't go outside," she said, calm but firm.
Every teacher froze for a moment, absorbing the statement. On the surface, it seemed like a simple observation—a warning.
But the truth was far more cunning.
Valantine wanted the information to leak. She knew the other instructors would spread it. Why?
Because monsters were approaching. Dangerous, unpredictable threats. And Nero Crimsonflare, the boy who carried the
weight of three parents, would need help surviving. She wasn't just protecting him—she was preparing others to respect the
reality of this new danger.
Every teacher in that chamber understood the underlying meaning. The ones who were jealous, fearful, or envious suddenly
became greedy. A power like Nero's wasn't just rare—it was an opportunity. And greed can make even the most cautious
reckless.
Meanwhile, on the northern beach, chaos reigned.
Unlike the tranquil southern beach, the northern coastline was a battlefield. The waves crashed violently against jagged
rocks. Gigantic crabs scuttled along the sand, their pincers snapping like steel. Strange, monstrous forms surfaced from the
water and darted among the trees. The smell of salt, blood, and magic hung heavy in the air.
At the center of it all stood a young man with golden hair shining like sunlight, golden eyes sharp as blades. He surveyed a
slain wolf monster, its blood seeping into the sand.
"Ha," he muttered, sheathing his sword. "With this, I have 5,000 points. I can be sure I'll take first place in this exam."
The boy's name was Leon Sundawn, heir to a fallen empire, now trapped in a web of obligations he could not escape. He
had to survive, not just for glory, but for his people and the family he had lost.
Suddenly, the sand trembled. A colossal crab emerged from the shallow water, its eyes glowing with unnatural intelligence.
Its massive pincers swung toward him with devastating force.
"Divine Sun Sword Art: First Form—Eternal Sun Slash!" Leon shouted.
He swung his sword in a precise upward arc. A golden trail of sunlight followed, splitting the crab in two. Its shell shattered
like glass.
Leon inhaled sharply, feeling the surge of adrenaline. "I can't die here… I have to rebuild the kingdom," he muttered to
himself, remembering his father's pride and his mother's quiet suffering. The memory weighed heavily on him. His father
was dead, his mother bound in service, trapped in a life that was more duty than living. And now he was tethered by two
chains—Luna Moonslayer and Sally Shadowless—his official wives.
He looked at them both, their expressions a mixture of pride and rivalry.
"How about my two wives' point count?" he asked, forcing a smile to mask the pressure.
Luna smirked, confidence in her posture. "4,000 points. Am I better than you, Sally?"
Sally's lips curled in a mocking grin. "4,200 points. Naturally, I'm always better."
Luna's face twisted in irritation. Their rivalry had only intensified since being bound to a single husband, each refusing to
relinquish her pride.
"Alright, alright," Leon said, raising his hands to calm them. "Stop fighting. Let's head into the deeper forest. There will be
more valuable hunts ahead."
The trio moved cautiously, hunting monsters and avoiding weaker cadets along the way, their skills honed from years of
training. Night approached, and they began to set up camp in the forest, the faint glow of magic illuminating their protective
wards.
Elsewhere, deep in the forest,
the air turned icy. A figure emerged from the shadows, his gaze fixed on the moon. His eyes were dull, lifeless—like dead
fish—but they burned with an intense, predatory focus.
The aura around him was suffocating, a tangible sense of dread.
"This so-called hero… where is he? Where is that damned fool?" he screamed into the night.
This was the serial killer of Nero Crimsonflare in the original story, a man whose name struck fear into anyone who knew of
him. Every movement radiated menace. Every shout carried the weight of countless brutal acts.
He was looking for Nero. He would not stop. And this was only the beginning.
Back on the northern beach,
Leon glanced over his shoulder at the dark forest. His golden eyes narrowed. Somewhere out there, enemies were watching,
hunting, waiting for a mistake.
But for now, he allowed himself a brief moment of calm. A warrior could never afford to be unprepared. Every monster slain,
every point gained, was a step closer to survival. A step closer to reclaiming what was lost.
The northern beach was quiet now, but it was only temporary.
Storms were coming, monsters were prowling, and the elite—and the Elite-level Rune Wizard who had gone unnoticed—were
about to change everything.
Nero Crimsonflare's presence in the academy entrance exam had already shifted the balance of power. And soon, the world
would begin to feel the consequences.