They ran toward the safe zone, boots hitting the cracked ground again and again.
It felt like forever, the poison creeping closer from the edges.
Jax kept his pace steady, while Kai panted beside him.
Then a robotic voice echoed above everyone.
"Congratulations to all students still alive. You have made it to the top 200. The battle for the ranking begins."
The sky flickered, turning into a shade of bright green. It wasn't ugly it was almost beautiful, glowing like emerald glass stretched over the ruins.
Kai's voice broke the silence. "Yey! We made it! We did it! We're in the academy, baby!"
He laughed, throwing his arms up even though his lungs were barely keeping up. "Oh, and thank you, buddy. I couldn't even say it properly since you didn't give me the chance."
Jax stayed quiet.
Kai didn't stop. "You were so cool back there, you know? Bam! Bam!" He swung his arms like he was holding a sword, making ridiculous stabbing noises. "Helping a damsel in distress! Wait, wait sorry. I just go with the flow." He coughed twice. "Ahem. Ahem."
Jax finally looked at him. "Of course you were deep in the act damsel in distress."
"tsk… okay, okay, I get it. But don't mention that again."
Jax ignored him. Deep inside, though, he thought saving Kai had been a wise move.
He knew exactly what kind of character Kai was.
A fool. A clown.
A so-called comedic relief.
But his importance in the story wasn't small. His web touched every heroine, every major event. That made him useful. Too useful to throw away.
It wasn't about sticking to the game's storyline anymore. Jax had already thrown that away.
He would change things however he wanted.
Ahead, chaos exploded. Nearly a hundred students were fighting, weapons and skills flashing across the battlefield.
The shrinking zone had forced them together. There was no place left to hide.
Jax narrowed his eyes, scanning the fights. Then he froze.
Far in the chaos, a chain lashed through the air. It wasn't just any fighter. It was her.
[Avatar Name: Veyra – Chain Whip Fighter]
[Name: Kiera Rayne]
[HP: 900] [MP: 400]
Kiera's whip spun in a spiral, slicing through the air. "Rending Spiral!"
The spinning chain shredded through three girls who had teamed up.
They didn't even have the chance to scream before their HP bars dropped to zero and their bodies scattered into fragments of glowing light.
She didn't pause. She pivoted smoothly and lashed toward the next group. Another elimination. Then another.
Her HP bar didn't move. Her MP lowered, but each kill refilled it back, letting the cycle continue endlessly.
Students began retreating at the sight of her. Groups scattered, singles bolted away.
Others acted like they were chasing different opponents, pretending not to see her. Nobody wanted to be her next target.
But Jax's eyes didn't stay on Kiera for long.
They slid across the battlefield, landing on another figure.
Another heroine.
[Avatar Name: Ravenna – Blood Reaper]
[Name: Ava Bennet]
Her crimson aura burned against the green sky.
Kai saw her too and almost squealed. "Look there, bud! There she is! Ava Bennet! The prodigy! The one most expected to win this whole thing!"
Jax smirked. At least the fool had useful info sometimes.
Kai kept babbling. "She's the only one with no backing. Nothing. She came from a nobody family. Her mom makes handmade jewelry. Her dad helps her sell. And still—look where she is now! Pure talent, man. Pure talent."
Jax thought, Who are you even telling this to? I know everything already, idiot.
But in his head, the thought twisted darker. She's also your future wife.
A future heroine who pulls you into her messy love triangle.
Three relationships, one fool. This world is so stupid.
He knew. He had played the game. Ava was destined to win this fight. It was written into her route. But that was before he arrived.
"Sorry, Ava," Jax muttered under his breath. "Your glory ends here."
"Huh?" Kai tilted his head.
"Nothing. Talking to myself."
On the field, Ava moved. Blood-colored wings burst from her back.
"Blood Wings!"
She dashed through the air, closing the distance in a blink. Her scythe gleamed.
"Crimson Slash!"
Her blade sliced through a girl's chest, draining HP while healing Ava's own bar.
The girl's body shattered into light. Ava didn't stop, her blood-red energy burning brighter as she turned to her next victim.
Jax leaned on his sword, a small grin curving across his face. "This will be interesting."
The green sky glowed above, the ground cracked with poison pushing inward, and the stage was set.
The battle of prodigies had only just begun.