The school courtyard had become a battlefield. Goblins poured through the gates and over the walls, their crude weapons raised as they rushed toward the six fighters standing between them and the terrified students. Arin's purple aura surged around his body as he disappeared into the shadows, reappearing behind a goblin and striking it down before immediately moving to the next. Kael fought like a living weapon, green energy covering his arms as bones formed around his fists and forearms. Liora's crimson blood threads moved through the battlefield with terrifying precision, wrapping around weapons, pulling enemies off balance and creating openings for the others. Ayla relied on her martial arts, using the goblins' momentum against them while delivering precise strikes to their vulnerable points. Rhett fought more aggressively, combining powerful kicks and punches with whatever weapons he could pick up from fallen enemies.
Elias stood among them, gripping his metal pipe tightly. "I really should have listened when you said to train," he muttered before a goblin charged at him. He raised the pipe and barely blocked the attack, stumbled backward, then swung with everything he had. The blow knocked the goblin down. "Okay... maybe I'm not completely useless."
The Trinity System immediately appeared before the three reincarnators.
[Target Defeated.]
[Experience Acquired.]
[Combat Performance: Acceptable.]
[Trinity System Note: Kael, please stop using your face as a shield. It is not a recommended defensive technique.]
Kael nearly tripped.
"Why is it always me?"
Arin blocked a goblin's club and kicked it backward. "Because you keep giving it material."
"I don't give it anything!"
Liora sliced through another goblin's weapon with a blood blade. "You just did."
Kael looked offended. "You two are supposed to support me."
The battle continued.
The six fought desperately as the goblins surrounded them from every direction. Every victory brought another enemy closer. Arin's breathing became heavier, and the purple aura around him began flickering. Kael's movements slowed as the constant use of his bone abilities drained him. Liora's blood manipulation became increasingly difficult as she tried to control multiple targets at once. Ayla's movements remained precise, but fatigue was beginning to affect her reactions. Rhett's powerful attacks became slower and less frequent.
Even Elias was exhausted.
Yet they kept fighting.
A goblin charged toward Ayla.
She stepped aside and redirected its attack before Rhett struck it from behind.
Another rushed toward Liora.
Kael intercepted it.
Three surrounded Arin.
He disappeared into the shadows and reappeared behind them, but instead of attacking immediately, he stumbled for a fraction of a second.
His body was reaching its limit.
"Arin!" Liora shouted.
He forced himself forward and eliminated the three goblins.
Then the final goblin of the wave fell.
For a moment, silence filled the courtyard.
The six stood among dozens of defeated monsters.
Everyone was breathing heavily.
Kael leaned against his knees.
"Did we... actually win?"
Ayla looked around.
"It seems so."
Rhett dropped his weapon.
"Then we survived."
Elias lowered his pipe.
He was exhausted, but unlike the others, he still had some strength left.
Arin looked toward the system.
[First Combat Phase Completed.]
[Enemies Defeated: 53]
[Survival Condition: Satisfied.]
[Experience Calculation in Progress...]
Kael smiled weakly.
"So we get a reward now?"
The system remained silent.
Arin frowned.
"Something's wrong."
A distant roar answered him.
Everyone slowly looked toward the school entrance.
More goblins appeared.
One.
Then five.
Then ten.
Then dozens.
Kael's smile disappeared.
"No."
Another notification appeared.
[Additional Combat Phase Initiated.]
[New Enemy Count: 41]
[Difficulty Adjustment: Increased.]
[Reason: Tutorial participants demonstrated unexpected survival capability.]
[Trinity System Note: Congratulations. You survived the tutorial's first phase. Unfortunately, the universe has decided that you're having too much fun.]
Kael stared at the message.
"That isn't funny."
[Trinity System Note: I disagree.]
"Stop arguing with me!"
The second wave attacked.
This time, there was no rhythm.
No room to recover.
The exhausted fighters were immediately forced back into combat.
Arin tried to activate Shadow Step, but the ability flickered.
His body refused to move as quickly as before.
Kael formed a bone shield to block an attack, but the impact sent him staggering backward.
Liora attempted to create another blood blade, but her control weakened.
Ayla blocked one goblin and countered another, but a third struck her from the side.
Rhett rushed to help her and was forced to the ground.
Elias tried to assist them, but another goblin intercepted him.
"There's too many!"
Arin gritted his teeth.
"Keep fighting!"
They did.
They fought until their bodies had almost nothing left to give.
One by one, they fell.
Kael dropped to one knee.
"I can't..."
A goblin rushed toward him.
He forced himself up and knocked it away.
Then his legs gave out.
Liora collapsed beside him, breathing heavily.
Ayla fell against the ground.
Rhett could barely move.
Arin tried to stand.
His arms shook.
His vision blurred.
He attempted to summon his shadows.
Nothing happened.
The purple aura around his body disappeared.
He fell to the ground.
The battlefield became a blur of movement.
Only Elias remained standing.
He was exhausted, but he still had enough strength to move.
Arin looked at him.
"Elias..."
Elias turned toward him.
"Help us."
Before Elias could respond, a frightened scream came from across the courtyard.
Everyone looked.
A girl was trapped near the wall.
She had fallen while trying to escape and had injured her leg. She desperately tried to crawl away as an injured goblin approached her.
Arin's eyes widened.
"Someone help her!"
Kael tried to stand.
His arms gave out.
"I can't..."
Liora reached forward.
"Elias!"
Rhett looked at him.
"You're the only one standing!"
Ayla shouted, "Elias, go!"
Elias stared at the girl.
Then he looked around.
More goblins were approaching.
His grip tightened around his pipe.
His breathing became faster.
He took one step toward the girl.
Then stopped.
The sight of the approaching monsters overwhelmed him.
He was terrified.
"I..."
He looked at the others lying helplessly on the ground.
Then at the girl.
Then at the growing number of goblins.
"I can't."
Arin stared at him.
"What?"
Elias suddenly turned around.
And ran.
"Elias!"
Kael shouted after him.
The footsteps disappeared down the corridor.
Liora's eyes widened.
"He left..."
"Once a betrayal always a betrayal"
Ayla's expression hardened.
"He actually left us."
Rhett clenched his fist against the ground.
"That coward..."
Arin could barely move.
"Elias..."
"I thought… I thought… we gave you a chance"
He clenched his fist.
The injured goblin raised its weapon.
The girl screamed.
Arin tried to force his body up.
Nothing.
Kael tried to move.
Nothing.
Liora stretched out her hand.
Her crimson aura flickered weakly.
Nothing happened.
The goblin raised its weapon higher.
The girl closed her eyes.
Arin's heart pounded.
"No..."
The weapon began descending.