Fifty minutes had passed.
And I could feel it—The chaos. The madness. The desperation leaking into the air.
The VR battlefield wasn't quiet anymore. The distant sounds of screams, steel, and spells ripping the land apart reached my ears like background music composed by a demon DJ.
It was time.
Then I saw them.
Two girls, stepping into the clearing. Elegant. Deadly. Familiar.
If memory served right—and it always did—they were close friends.
Well… not for long.
A slow, evil grin spread across my face.
One of them, sharp-eyed and cocky, called out:
"Hey, Mr. Exiled. Mind if we have the honor of beating your ass?"
"Sure, Lady Juliana," I said smoothly. "But may I ask something before that?"
"Go on," she shrugged.
I nodded solemnly. Time to set the trap.
"So… I've been hearing some interesting rumors lately. About you. About Prince Eren Whitehound."
She blinked. "What?"
"Specifically… that you're in love with him. Secretly stalking him. Studying him. Taking pictures of him like a high-budget paparazzi."
Juliana's face drained of color.
"You're lying."
"Am I?" I smiled. "You see, a few private photos somehow made their way to Eren. Before the assessment began."
Her voice cracked. "I… how—no one knew. It was between just the two of us—!"
Her eyes snapped to her friend.
The friend immediately said, "He's bluffing! Don't listen to him, Jules!"
But Juliana took a step back, betrayed.
"You… You promised. I trusted you."
I poured gasoline on the fire.
"Maybe jealousy? Maybe spite? Who knows. Girls do crazy things when they compete for the same prince."
Their eyes locked.Magic crackled.Friendship collapsed.
Let them fight.
I stepped back, hands behind my head, whistling casually while they tore into each other. Spells flew. Hair got yanked. Swords danced.
It was glorious.
Eventually, only Juliana stood, bruised, trembling, mascara half-melted in digital rain.
"I—I'm ruined. How can I ever show my face to him again? I'm screwed…"
I gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Don't worry. He'll never see you here…"
I stepped closer, my shadow stretching beneath her.
"Because I'll help you vanish from this place."
Her eyes widened.
BOOM!Shadow bomb exploded at her feet—blasting her across the clearing.
She fell into my trap like a moth into a flamethrower.
I turned away, not even checking if she was still breathing.
[DING! VR SYSTEM UPDATE:]→ 15 Students Remaining
"Nice."
One step closer to the top.
Then—In the distance, I spotted something that made my stomach twist.
Aurelia.
Surrounded. Struggling.
And not just against anyone—but the Whitehound siblings.
Noora and Eren.
The freak duo who could probably turn me into red paste in seconds.
"Damn it…"
I couldn't send Volkin. He was my ace for the final fight. I couldn't risk him.
So do I leave her?Let them finish her off and avoid unnecessary risk?
Then the system chimed in:
[SYSTEM ADVICE MODE: ENABLED]"Aurelia can serve as a tactical counter to Rin.""She has a Lightning Affinity. Rin relies on Water. If terrain and timing are used properly, you hold the advantage."
"Tch… Fine."
"I'll save her. Besides, I've got some old scores to settle."
I crept into position.
The Whitehounds didn't notice me yet—too focused on overwhelming Aurelia.
I summoned shadows.
Silently.
Shape shifting. Building. Bending.
Shadow Creation: Arrows.
Dozens of them.
Each one laced with dark mana.
"Let's make an entrance."
I fired.
The arrows flew like bats from hell.
Slicing through the air. Silent. Deadly.
Two aimed for Eren's left. Three for Noora's blind spot. A cluster above to rain chaos.
Their eyes snapped toward me—too late.
"Round two, Whitehounds," I whispered. "Let's dance."
To be continued…