CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  "You made a lot of wrong moves," Alexandri stated, his gaze cold and unyielding as it bore into the two young warriors before him. "Shin, you took advantage of the wyvern’s lightning breath to manifest your ability. That was commendable, but still lacking. You should be able to manifest it at will, without relying on external factors."

  He then shifted his attention to Al. "And Al, you relied too much on magic. That dependence will become a crutch, one that an opponent will exploit when you least expect it. The moment you face an enemy who can disrupt or nullify your magic, you’ll be left vulnerable. You must learn to fight without it, to stand on your own strength."

  The two boys stood in silence, absorbing the harsh criticism. Alexandri’s words carried the weight of experience, and though they stung, both knew he was right. They had survived, but survival alone was not enough. They needed to be better, stronger, more adaptable.

  "For the upcoming competition, you’ll fight without magic. Only aura. No excuses. I need to see that you have the discipline to fight without relying on an endless pool of energy. I don’t think you have a choice since you need to conceal your abilities." He crossed his arms, his sharp gaze unwavering. "That being said, your movements weren’t entirely sluggish."

  His eyes rested on Al once more. "And Al, you attained something new, didn’t you? The ability to sense your surroundings. It’s a vital skill, but it won’t be enough. If that assassin hadn’t been careless at the end, you both would have been dead. Your bodies are tougher, your stamina has improved, but what you lack is experience in real combat situations."

  Alexandri’s words settled over them like a heavyweight. "Al, you think quickly and can formulate solutions on the spot. The same can’t be said for Shin."

  Shin exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening at the remark. "He wasn’t dumb," he muttered, his pride prickled at being the weaker strategist of the two. But there was no point arguing. Alexandri had already dismissed his response, his attention shifting as he turned and walked forward.

  They followed him without hesitation. The deeper they went, the darker the terrain became. Soon, they arrived at an unfamiliar place where the sun barely reached the ground, its dim rays struggling to penetrate the thick canopy above. The air was a little heavier and dirty, carrying a damp, almost suffocating scent of decaying leaves and hidden predators.

  Alexandri had brought them here not just to test their skills, but to push them to the edge, to force them into situations where instinct would have to override hesitation. The arena would not grant them time to think, and neither would this place. This was where they would learn to make decisions that balanced the knife’s edge between survival and slaughter.

  Alexandri then turned to survey the landscape, his voice taking on a grim tone. "This part of the marsh is unlike any other. It is an unforgiving domain where only the most adaptable creatures thrive. Many who venture here—whether beast or man—fail to return.”

  He continued, “The terrain shifts unpredictably, with unstable ground that can swallow the unwary, hidden predators that lurk in its thickness and the further in they went the thicker the smell of death was present, they stepped on bones and skulls of dead creatures and sights of decaying skin. Even the creatures that live here are locked in an eternal struggle for survival.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Those ranked at level two are the apex predators, ruling through brute force and cunning, while the level three beasts lurk in the shadows, striking at the moment of weakness. There is no mercy in this place, only the law of the wild. If you cannot adapt, you will perish."

  "For the next week, you’ll train and survive here on your own," Alexandri declared, his voice unwavering. "The creatures here are attuned to darkness, mostly level two and three. The dominant monster in this region is the Rock Serpent. They are venomous, with hardened rock-like bodies that cannot be pierced by a normal steel blade unless imbued with a well-refined aura."

  He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "They are not slow, as their size might suggest. They possess incredible speed, striking before their prey can react. Their bodies blend seamlessly with the rocky terrain, making them nearly invisible until they move. Many who enter this forest never realize they are being hunted until it is too late."

  His tone darkened as he added, "What makes them truly fearsome, however, is their ability to sense their surroundings. It is almost as if they possess echolocation, combined with an unnerving sensitivity to heat signatures in the air and ground. They lock onto their prey with terrifying precision. And once they do, they will not stop until they have captured it. Running will only delay the inevitable."

  Before Al or Shin could ask any questions, the rustling of undergrowth alerted them. Small rat-like creatures, their fur mangy and their crimson eyes gleaming with malice, burst from the shadows, moving with surprising agility. Four lunged at Al, their sharp teeth gnashing in hunger. But his blade flashed, cutting them apart in an instant, their bodies falling in limp heaps at his feet. Shin mirrored his efficiency, his sword dancing in fluid motions as he swiftly dispatched his own attackers.

  They turned back toward Alexandri, expecting further instructions, but the space where he had stood was empty.

  He had vanished without a trace.

  Al’s grip on his weapon tightened as reality set in. "He really left us... that’s not surprising"

  Shin scowled, kicking one of the lifeless rat creatures aside. "Of course he did. He wasn’t going to babysit us."

  A tense silence settled between them before Al finally broke it. "We need to establish a plan."

  Shin exhaled through his nose, reluctant but aware that Al was right. "Fine. First, let’s secure shelter. We don’t know what else is lurking here."

  They took a moment to scan their surroundings. The darkened forest was teeming with unseen threats. The challenge Alexandri had set before them was clear—survive, learn, and grow stronger.

  A low, guttural growl echoed from the darkness ahead, followed by the wet slap of something heavy dragging itself through the muck. The boys froze, hands tightening around their weapons, their breathing shallow. Alexandri didn’t interfere as he watched from a distance concealing his presence; this was their fight. The marsh did not coddle the weak. If they failed here, they were never meant to step into the arena in the first place. The ground trembled slightly as the creature emerged from the shadows, its blackened hide glistening with moisture, hollow eyes fixated on its prey. The boys had seconds to react. Not enough time to plan, barely enough to act. A test of instinct, of sheer will. This was a moment where even the slightest error could lead to their deaths, they had to overcome this—not just as fighters, but as survivors. And Alexandri would either walk away with two warriors or leave two more corpses to sink beneath the cursed waters of the Hollow Marsh.

  A week in the darkness had begun.

  The first two days were a relentless test of endurance. Al and Shin barely found a moment to rest as they were constantly under attack by creatures lurking in the shadows. Giant centipede-like beasts, their venomous fangs dripping with poison, lunged at them from tree branches. Packs of shadow hounds stalked them through the mist, their glowing eyes and eerie growls setting their nerves on edge.

  The ground itself proved to be an enemy, with unstable marshes that threatened to swallow them whole. Sleep came in brief, uneasy intervals, taken in shifts while the other kept watch. They learned quickly—every sound, every movement in the undergrowth was a potential threat. Their weapons barely left their hands as they carved a bloody path through the darkness. By the second night, exhaustion had set in, but neither dared to let their guard down.

  Just when they thought they could catch a break, a new nightmare emerged. A beast unlike any they had faced before prowled into their temporary refuge. Its hulking form moved with eerie silence, its purple eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence. It was a Stalker Lynx, a predator known for hunting its prey for days before striking at their weakest moment.

  The battle that followed was desperate. They fought through exhaustion, their movements slower, their reactions dulled by fatigue. The Lynx’s claws tore through the air with deadly precision, nearly gutting Shin before Al managed to drive his blade through its flank. But before they could even recover, an ominous rumble filled the air. The ground trembled, and then, from the shadows, it emerged. The Rock Serpent.

  Its massive, scaled form was menacing, its rocky hide gleaming under the dim light. Its golden slit eyes locked onto them with terrifying focus. It had chased another creature into their location, but now, it had found new prey. Al and Shin barely had time to react before it struck, its enormous body coiling with terrifying speed. It had sensed them. And now, it would not stop until they were devoured.