Clover sat quietly inside a small cave beside the river.
He was reading a book while playing with a small stone in one hand. Using his fingernail, he scratched around the stone until it formed into a blade, no bigger than a needle.
He already knew that only nine of them remained after the headmaster's announcement, but as long as no one found him here, he didn't have anything to worry about.
Just as he turned a page of his book, he immediately sensed a presence approaching him.
Because of this, he closed the book, hid it in his pocket, knelt on one knee, and placed his palm on the ground. He wanted to know who this person was.
The cave he was hiding in was part of the path leading to the bridge across the river, so the footsteps passing by were directly above him.
The steps were soft and calm. Very light—so faint that you wouldn't notice them unless you paid close attention.
Clover could also feel that it was just a student at the 5th Grade Wolf level. And he was right, because the person who passed above the cave was none other than Prince Lucien.
He walked with his hands in his pockets. He wasn't with anyone, and it seemed like he was simply wandering through the forest with no clear direction. They were all like that—except for Emrys.
Clover waited for Prince Lucien to move far away. He barely breathed or moved at all.
His concealment was successful because the prince had no idea he was close by.
When he was sure Lucien was gone, Clover left the cave and quickly headed toward the densest part of the forest.
He needed to find another hiding place, because there was a high chance someone would find her next.
But he hadn't even gotten far when two students suddenly appeared—one in front of him and one behind.
Both grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled in opposite directions.
The moment they did, Jin Dui appeared behind Clover with lightning speed, reaching for the badge at his waist.
But in the same instant, the three students were kicked and sent flying in different directions.
Two crashed into trees and vomited from the impact. Jin Dui managed to block with his arm before being thrown back, so he wasn't badly injured, though he still felt the sting.
Clover fixed his wrinkled clothes and faced the only student still standing. Jin Dui exhaled sharply as blue lightning flared around him. His eyes locked on the teacher before dropping to the badge at Clover's waist.
Without a word, he dashed forward again and reached for the badge, but Clover simply moved it out of reach.
Jin kept trying, clearly not intending to give up. No matter how he moved—whatever angle he came from, even strengthening his lightning—he still couldn't grab the badge.
He took a kick to the stomach, several punches to the jaw, another kick to the temple, yet he kept standing even after being thrown again and again.
Clover grew impatient, combed his hair back, and rested a hand on his hip.
"Stop it. Give up so you won't get hurt anymore. You've done everything you could, but what else can you do in that situation? You're weakening, kid."
But Jin just spat blood and ran toward him again.
He reached for the badge, only for his arm to be slapped upward. His other hand shot forward, but he was kicked in the chest. He rolled across the ground, yet in the middle of the roll, he sprang back to his feet, determination burning in his eyes.
Clover then swept his hand upward. More than ten spears made from earth rose into the air, and with a flick of his fingers, they launched at Jin with lightning speed.
Jin took a deep breath and charged toward them. With the speed of his steps, he dodged all the spears—spears that cut through and felled trees along their path.
But Jin still reached Clover and again went straight for the badge.
Because of this, Clover met his face with a powerful punch—but unexpectedly, Jin moved behind him with lightning speed.
Clover's eyes widened. When he turned, Jin had already grabbed the badge—but Clover was faster, striking Jin in the face and slamming the back of his head into the ground, creating a huge crack and a burst of air.
Jin Dui's face was buried in the ground, and he lost consciousness. But Clover noticed the tight grip on Jin's hand and sighed.
Even unconscious, Jin Dui was holding the badge—and he had successfully pulled it from the teacher. Jin was the remarkable winner of the fight.
But before the headmaster could announce it, a hand snatched the badge from Jin's unconscious grasp.
And that hand belonged to Sai.