The mountainside had become a slaughterhouse.
Blood stained the rocky branches, splattered across the stones, and dripped from the leaves of trees that had stood undisturbed for centuries. Several sections of the forest had been reduced to splintered wood and shattered rock, while deep gouges scarred the ground where something had struck with enough force to tear through the terrain itself.
A broken weapon lay half-buried beneath a fallen tree.
Nearby, a student crawled desperately through the mud, one hand pressed against his bleeding side. He didn't look back. He didn't even dare to scream anymore. All that mattered was putting as much distance as possible between himself and the woman standing behind him.
Then a shadow passed over him.
His body stiffened.
"...No."
The whisper barely escaped his throat.
A moment later—
PTSHHH!
His voice disappeared beneath the wet sound of blood hitting the ground.
"RUN!!"
"WHY IS SHE DESTROYING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT?!"
"DON'T BOTHER HER!"
"LET'S JUST FIGHT HER TOGETHER!"
"YOU FOOL!! GO DIE IF YOU WANT!"
"FIVE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DIED!"
"IS SHE EVEN A FIRST-YEAR?!"
"DON'T ASK QUESTIONS! JUST RUN, YOU ASSHOLES!"
The remaining students scattered through the mist, abandoning weapons, companions, and whatever plans they had made before encountering her. Some fled along the branches of the enormous trees, while others plunged down the rocky slopes, hoping the fog would conceal them before she noticed.
Nobody wanted to be the next corpse.
And the woman responsible for all of it?
Vexion merely frowned as she lazily flicked the blood from her hand.
Two corpses lay motionless on the rocky mountainside, their deaths so recent that the fleeing students hadn't even managed to put sufficient distance between themselves and the battlefield before another scream rang out.
Vexion sighed.
How am I supposed to make a proper spectacle if everyone keeps running away?
Honestly, it was becoming irritating.
She had expected resistance. Perhaps someone talented enough to force her to exert herself, or at least a group of students foolish enough to believe they could overwhelm her through sheer numbers.
Instead, most people saw her once and immediately fled.
What a disappointment.
She glanced at the destruction surrounding her, then casually stepped over a broken weapon as though the entire massacre had been little more than an inconvenient interruption.
Just as she prepared to leave, her crimson eyes shifted toward two figures who hadn't moved from their positions since the fighting began.
Unlike everyone else, they hadn't run.
They had simply watched.
Calmly.
Curiously.
The mountain range surrounding them stretched endlessly into the clouds. Thick white mist swallowed the valleys below, concealing flooded cities where only rooftops and the upper floors of buildings emerged above the water. Beyond them stood colossal trees whose branches disappeared into the fog itself, their enormous silhouettes barely distinguishable against the pale sky.
Everything felt ancient, silent, and oppressive. The mist never seemed to fade, and even daylight struggled to penetrate its suffocating veil. The entire world resembled an endless, cloudy afternoon.
Vexion frowned.
How is Master supposed to find me in all this?
Nearly nine hours had passed since entering the examination, and she had already begun suffering withdrawal.
Not from battle.
From Dante.
More specifically, his touch.
Not merely a hug or the simple comfort of holding him. No, what she missed was the shameless way his hands wandered across her body while he continued speaking as though nothing unusual were happening.
Her cheeks slowly reddened as she bit her lower lip.
Master... Why are you taking so long?
I need attention...
She hugged herself for a brief moment before forcing those thoughts aside. She had already completed roughly half of two objectives, so there was no reason to complain about her progress. The only real problem was navigation.
This cursed mountain range seemed determined to trap everyone inside it. The mist distorted distances, and landmarks appeared to repeat themselves in different places. Without carefully marking their paths, students could walk in circles for hours without ever realizing it.
Her gaze drifted back toward the two observers, both of whom stood atop enormous tree branches overlooking the battlefield. Neither showed the slightest intention of leaving.
"...Are you two planning on staring forever?"
One of them smiled pleasantly.
He was a young Dark Elf, handsome and dressed in fitted assassin attire that blended naturally with the surrounding forest. Everything about him seemed light and relaxed, yet there was something dangerously effortless about his demeanor, as though he had never encountered a situation that genuinely troubled him.
Standing opposite him was a completely different individual.
A barbarian.
Although, calling him merely a barbarian felt strangely inaccurate.
He possessed the broad shoulders and powerful frame expected of his race, yet unlike most barbarians, there wasn't a trace of recklessness about him. His movements were disciplined and measured, while a pair of twin axes rested across his back, each nearly half his own height. Brown leather armor, crafted from enormous beast hides, wrapped around his body.
His eyes, however, were what drew the most attention.
They never left Vexion.
There was no lust in them, nor any hatred. Instead, he regarded her with quiet anticipation, the kind only warriors possessed when standing before someone they genuinely wished to challenge.
The Dark Elf spoke first.
"I'm curious. Why all the mayhem?"
Vexion placed a hand upon her hip.
"I'm trying to summon something."
The assassin blinked.
"...Summon?"
"A monster."
Realization crossed his face before he chuckled.
"I see. So you're creating enough chaos that something stronger eventually comes looking for you."
"Exactly."
He nodded approvingly.
"That's certainly... efficient."
His smile widened slightly before he continued.
"Unfortunately, I'm actually here to ask for one hundred Academy Points."
Vexion laughed.
"What makes you think I even have one hundred?"
"I don't."
He shrugged casually.
"But considering you've slaughtered this many students and defeated two Cyclops Lords, I'd honestly be disappointed if you had less than two hundred."
She sighed.
"So you've been following me."
He made no attempt to deny it.
"I have. I'm assuming stealing points forms part of your fourth objective."
He smiled.
"It does."
Vexion nodded before shifting her attention toward the barbarian.
"And you? The little barbarian."
The massive man smiled awkwardly.
"...Little?"
"You are."
"Compared to Master."
"..."
"...Fair enough."
The barbarian folded his arms before explaining his intentions.
"I have no interest in his objective. My purpose is simpler. I want to fight you."
His expression gradually grew more intense.
"My blood hasn't boiled like this in years."
He paused before adding, "I'll wait. Finish your business with him, then I'll challenge you tomorrow."
Vexion blinked.
"...That's stupid."
The barbarian stared at her.
"You should simply attack together."
He slowly shook his head.
"I refuse. I possess very few things worth protecting. My pride is one of them, and I won't stain it by attacking alongside another."
The assassin remained silent, half-expecting Vexion to mock him for his stubbornness.
Instead, she nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand. If that's what your pride demands, then I won't insult it."
The barbarian smiled.
"My thanks."
The Dark Elf laughed.
"Interesting. I honestly expected the woman who just tore someone's head off to be considerably less understanding."
Vexion looked at him calmly.
"I only kill people. I don't mock convictions."
For a brief moment, silence settled between the three.
Then the barbarian disappeared.
There was no warning and no explosive burst of speed. One moment, he stood on a distant branch; the next, he appeared beside the assassin, only a few feet away.
The Dark Elf's pupils contracted instinctively.
He hadn't sensed him move.
The barbarian turned toward him.
"You possess poor instincts."
Despite the sudden pressure, the Dark Elf managed to maintain his smile.
"Oh?"
The barbarian calmly returned his gaze to Vexion.
"If you challenge that woman, you'll die."
The assassin remained silent.
"Seven moves," the barbarian continued. "At most."
He paused briefly.
"...Probably fewer."
Vexion couldn't help narrowing her eyes.
Interesting... His perception isn't bad.
She quietly evaluated the barbarian, taking in his movements and the composure with which he carried himself.
Fast. Disciplined. Young.
Level Twenty-Three...? Maybe Twenty-Four.
He was strong enough that even Lexa would need to take him seriously.
The Dark Elf, however, merely smiled.
"I appreciate the warning, but I still intend to take those points."
The barbarian simply shrugged.
"Then make peace with your ancestors first."
Vexion's lips slowly curled upward.
Finally... Someone interesting has appeared.
The barbarian nodded before turning his attention toward her.
"My name is Crush. I wish to meet you again in one day's time. I'll find you myself."
Vexion returned a calm smile.
"My name is Vexion."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Don't die."
Crush simply nodded. Without another word, his enormous figure dissolved into the surrounding mist, leaving the two of them alone.
The assassin watched him disappear, unable to hide his surprise.
He's... strong.
Yet he doesn't fight like a barbarian, nor does he act like one.
Half-blood...?
Pushing the thought aside, he turned back toward Vexion and offered a polite smile.
"To be polite, my name is Xerex."