The Simulation Room hummed faintly as mana surged through the chamber walls, building toward activation. I stood in the center, heart steady, waiting.
Just like James, the world around me began to dissolve. The metallic walls melted into darkness, the sterile air giving way to the earthy scent of wet soil and moss. A cool breeze brushed past my skin.
Then I realized—this wasn't the same forest he'd fought in.
Above me stretched a velvet sky, threaded with faint starlight. The moon hung low, silver and solemn. Its pale radiance draped the forest in a soft glow that breathed life into the shadows.
I exhaled, quietly impressed. They really replicated night. Even the faint chill in the air was there. I crouched low, scanning the underbrush. My instincts were sharp now; the darkness didn't bother me. It felt natural—almost familiar.
A rustle ahead.
I drew my bow, sighted, and fired.
The arrow cut through the air with a faint hum, embedding itself between the eyes of a gnoll before it could even snarl. It fell without a sound, the simulation registering the kill with a dim flicker of light.
So it wasn't goblins this time. I smiled slightly. Adaptive difficulty. Nice touch.
I pressed on through the forest, picking off gnolls one after another. Each one moved with predatory precision, but my shots were cleaner—tighter. The rhythm felt right. My breathing, my draw, my release—they flowed together.
Eventually, the trees gave way to a cave mouth yawning open like a wound in the earth. Dark, damp air rolled out from within. I hesitated at the threshold. If this were real, I thought, this would be where most hunters turn back.
But I wasn't most hunters.
I drew in a breath and stepped inside.
The cave opened into a wide underground cavern. The light from outside couldn't reach this far; only my faint mana glow painted the rock in shades of blue-grey. Then—movement. Dozens of eyes glimmered in the dark, catching the light.
So this is their nest.
A chorus of low growls rolled through the cavern.
Without hesitation, I nocked an arrow and poured mana into it—elemental energy coiling around the shaft until it shimmered with radiant light. I released.
The arrow struck the center of the horde and exploded, flooding the cave with blinding brilliance. For an instant, the gnolls' snarling faces were illuminated—feral, twisted, and countless.
Then I moved.
Drawing in quick succession, I fired a Rapid Ricochet Shot. Bolts wreathed in my mana cut through the darkness, bouncing off the cavern walls in flashing arcs. Each impact sent shockwaves of light scattering through the gloom, arrows curving at impossible angles to find their marks.
Gnolls screamed as the shots struck home, clutching at their eyes and throats. I weaved between stone pillars, the echo of their cries chasing me as I reloaded. My bolts gleamed faintly, leaving glowing trails in their wake—a storm of light and motion amid the shadows.
A deep, guttural roar froze me in place.
Then I saw it—massive, nearly twice the size of the others. The alpha gnoll. Its matted fur was marked with scars, its claws as long as daggers.
I loosed a Charged Shot—the gnoll ducked low, the arrow whistling past its ear. I followed up with another, a plain bolt this time, but it swatted it aside with its arm like it was nothing.
The thing was fast. Smarter than the rest. Its eyes tracked every twitch of my muscles, reading my rhythm.
Fine. Let's change the tempo.
I drew another bolt and poured mana into it until the shaft pulsed with light, the air humming faintly around my fingers. This one wasn't meant to pierce—it was meant to tag. I aimed for its chest and released.
The arrow hit true. No visible damage, but a faint mana signature flared where it struck—a glowing insignia that clung to the creature's fur like embers.
Mark planted.
I smirked, exhaling slowly.
"Got you."
I stepped back, channeling mana into the next three bolts. They crackled with light as I fired them in rapid succession—Rapid Fire. The first missed, only to arc mid-air and strike from behind. The other two slammed into its chest.
The beast staggered, roared, and finally collapsed in a heap of dark mist.
Silence.
I took out the rest methodically. When the final gnoll fell, the world around me pixelated, fading until the metallic room returned.
The instructor motioned toward the observation window. "Next."
I joined James behind the glass as Natasha stepped forward.
The simulation formed differently this time—sunlight bleeding through a horizon of orange and gold. Dusk. The perfect transition between warmth and cold.
Natasha stood alone in an open field, her bow in hand. Even from here, I could see how still she was—every motion controlled, every breath measured.
James leaned forward slightly. "She's calm," he muttered. "Like she's done this a hundred times."
I nodded. "She probably has."
The grass rippled, and then—fire. Three Inferno Wolves emerged from the edge of the simulation, their bodies flickering with embers. Their growls echoed low and rhythmic, circling her like predators playing with their meal.
Natasha's mana flared, visible even through the projection. She didn't panic. Didn't even move. Then, without warning, she released her first Elemental Scatter Shot.
Ice bloomed midair, splitting into a storm of bolts that blanketed the wolves in frost. For a second, they froze solid.
But the temperature shifted. The air shimmered as steam began to rise—their heat breaking through her spell. The ice shattered.
James tensed beside me. "They're adapting fast."
Natasha didn't falter. She shifted stance, channeled mana into another arrow, and released a Charged Shot straight into the chest of the nearest wolf. It yelped, flames sputtering as the impact sent it tumbling into the dirt.
The other two bounded toward her, claws wreathed in flame. She moved gracefully, sidestepping with Frost Step, leaving patches of ice wherever her feet touched. Her next arrow pierced one wolf's leg, freezing it mid-lunge. She spun, fired again, and shattered it completely.
The last one—massive, larger than the rest—let out a furious roar. Heat waves rippled from its mane.
Natasha raised her bow again, calm as moonlight. Her next arrow shimmered faintly blue, mana gathering like frost condensing on glass. She fired—not at the wolf, but at a nearby tree.
The wolf dodged, snarling triumphantly—until the arrow ricocheted off the bark and curved mid-air, slamming straight into its exposed flank.
The moment it struck, a shockwave of frost erupted from within. The Inferno Wolf froze solid from the inside out, ice spreading through its veins until it became a statue of frozen flame.
Silence fell. The simulation flickered and vanished.
James let out a low whistle. "Remind me never to piss her off."
I couldn't help but grin. "Yeah. She doesn't miss."
When Natasha exited the chamber, her composure was as steady as when she'd entered. The faint sheen of sweat on her forehead was the only evidence she'd just fought a small army of flaming monsters.
The instructor gathered us and said, "Next month, the difficulty increases. You'll face creatures resistant—or immune—to your affinities. Adaptation is key. Don't rely on comfort."
We all nodded, the weight of his words sinking in.
Afterward, James and I grabbed our daggers and headed to the upper field for sparring. The clash of metal echoed through the open air, rhythmic and sharp. His movements were tighter—more deliberate.
He mentioned a new art he'd picked up from the library, something about flow-based combat. I could see it in his strikes. There was grace behind the aggression.
He lunged hard. I reacted without thought—instinct driving my body before my mind caught up. I twisted sideways, slid into his blind spot, and jabbed the training blade against his ribs, just enough pressure to mark the hit.
James froze, blinking. Then laughed. "That… was clean. When did you get that fast?"
I shrugged. "Didn't think. Just moved."
Later, in my room, I opened my Status Window.
Under Vein Piercer, a new branch flickered into view:
Drift Fang
The user sidesteps an attack and slides into the opponent's blind spot, delivering a rapid stab that leaves minimal resistance.
Effect: High critical chance. Double damage when dodging into position.
A grin tugged at my lips.
Now that's a skill worth keeping.