The forest was alive with chaos. Birds screeched in panic, and the wind carried a mix of mana and monster growls. By now, the weaker competitors had already fallen, some crushed by falling rocks, others swallowed by the countless predators hidden in the trees and underbrush.
Cael moved through the forest like a shadow, silent and deliberate. Every pulse of life, every heartbeat, every twitch of mana-infused energy around him was known. He did not run. He did not panic. He controlled the battlefield before it could threaten him.
Behind him, the Frostveil heiress moved carefully, her ice sigils forming protective barriers with every step. She watched him, fascinated. Every time a monster lunged her way, it seemed Cael's presence intervened without direct contact, redirecting the creature or neutralizing it entirely.
She had already realized that this boy—this junior—was no ordinary competitor. But what puzzled her most was that he did not acknowledge her presence, did not offer guidance, nor spoke more than necessary. It was infuriating and captivating at the same time.
First Rescue
A massive wolf with crystalline fangs leapt from the shadows toward the Frostveil heiress. She barely managed a defensive ice barrier, but it cracked under the wolf's momentum.
Before she could react further, a crimson thread shot through the air, slamming into the wolf mid-leap. The beast twisted, redirected violently, and crashed into a tree, stunned but alive.
The heiress looked up, wide-eyed. Cael had not moved toward her. He simply extended his will, his blood reacting instinctively, protecting her without effort.
"Thank… thank you," she whispered, unsure if he even heard.
Cael continued walking, voice barely audible. "Focus on surviving."
Her interest deepened. His indifference was as deadly as his power.
Subtle Family Interference
Elsewhere in the forest, the Top Ten Families began to flex their influence. They had watched the opening hours of the hunt with growing concern. One junior had survived longer than anyone expected, and his abilities had begun to draw attention.
The Crimson Order: The descendant watched with hatred boiling beneath his calm facade. He began sending subtle illusions and minor curses toward Cael, aiming to test the boy and humiliate him in front of observers.
Stormveil House: A lightning prodigy attempted to disrupt paths with controlled storms, hoping to slow down competitors from other academies.
Ironheart Union: Agents attempted to fortify certain zones to trap unsuspecting students in deathly zones of mana exhaustion.
Cael detected them all. The subtle interferences were too obvious for him to ignore, and he manipulated them effortlessly, turning traps into distractions for rival students while keeping himself untouched. Every failed attempt against him only highlighted his mastery.
Second Rescue
The Frostveil heiress stumbled across a venomous serpent lying hidden in the underbrush. Its body shimmered with shadow, blending perfectly with the forest floor. It struck before she could react, fangs aimed to pierce.
In a flash, Cael's blood surged, forming a crimson barrier between her and the serpent. It struck the barrier, twisting in pain as the threads constricted its movement, then slamming it into the side of a tree.
She fell back, amazed. "You… you saved me again…"
Cael didn't pause. His crimson eyes flickered slightly, scanning the area. "Move faster," he said flatly, turning away without waiting for a response.
Her pulse quickened, not from fear, but from fascination. Every time she saw him act, she felt the tension in the forest—the calm, predatory energy of someone who could control life itself—and it drew her in more and more.
The Crimson Order Descendant Intervenes
The descendant of the betrayer had grown impatient. Minor interference had failed. Cael was untouchable, moving through traps, monsters, and subtle curses like they were nothing.
He appeared from the shadows, his aura dark and turbulent, and targeted Cael directly. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a crimson-choked mana blade aimed at cutting through him in an instant.
Cael sensed it immediately. Threads of blood shot out, intercepting the blade midair. It spun harmlessly into the dirt, and the descendant froze, realizing his strike had failed.
"You persist in mocking your betters," Cael said quietly, crimson threads extending like whispers around the man's limbs. "Do not waste your effort."
The descendant struggled to break free but only managed to stagger. "You… you're just a junior…" he spat, hatred burning in his eyes.
"Just a junior?" Cael's voice was flat. "I think you've already learned that labels don't matter."
Chaos and Strategy
The forest erupted into chaos. Monsters swarmed across multiple paths. Rival students panicked under pressure. Subtle interference from elite families began to escalate, but Cael remained a calm center in the storm.
He moved with purpose, saving competitors only when necessary, and always ignoring the Frostveil heiress unless she was in immediate danger. Each time he acted to protect her, it was precise, efficient, and without fanfare. She could feel it—every intervention was deliberate, every movement instinctive, every gesture devoid of attention or recognition.
It made her pulse quicken. She began to anticipate danger, trying to stay near him—not because he wanted her nearby, but because she could not help herself.
Other students noticed this dynamic and whispered behind her back:
"Why does he ignore her completely?"
"And yet he protects her when needed… what is he?"
"No one behaves like that. He's… dangerous."
A Test of Blood and Ice
By late afternoon, the forest had become a battleground. Monster attacks intensified, rival schools' interference grew more blatant, and the first serious casualties began to appear.
Cael paused near a clearing, scanning the area. He noticed the Frostveil heiress being surrounded by a pack of smaller mana wolves. The ice barriers she had created were effective, but the pack was overwhelming her.
With a flick of his wrist, crimson threads erupted from his veins, weaving a deadly net. The wolves were snared, neutralized, and sent flying harmlessly into the forest. The heiress could only watch in awe as he acted again—efficiently, silently, without looking at her or saying a word.
"Why… why does he not look at me?" she whispered to herself, voice trembling slightly.
Cael continued forward, unbothered by her gaze. Focus on survival, he reminded her once more, though she was far more aware of him than he would ever be of her.
Setting Up Future Rivalries
The Crimson Order descendant watched from a ridge, teeth clenched. He had already realized that brute interference would not succeed. Cael was untouchable—not just strong, but predatory, precise, and calm under every assault.
The other families, sensing a potential disruption to their dominance, whispered to each other. This junior—this boy—was drawing attention and breaking the expected hierarchy. Plans would need to be escalated.
For now, however, the Blood Immortal moved silently through the forest. His red eyes glimmered faintly beneath the canopy. He had no interest in admiration, no desire for alliances, and no care for the curiosity of a Frostveil heiress.
And yet, despite his indifference, he had begun changing the flow of the entire competition, marking the start of a tournament that would leave an indelible mark on the continent.