Chapter 8 – Paths Cross

  The gunshot rang out.

  Chaos erupted instantly.

  Applicants surged through the massive gates of Aegis Academy like racers leaving a starting gate. Some sprinted straight toward the heart of the forest, while others shoved through the crowd, desperate to gain an early advantage.

  Several cores flared immediately.

  Wind burst from one boy’s legs as he launched himself deep into the forest.

  Another ignited flames along his arms as he rushed forward.

  Oscar stayed within the crowd, but he didn’t rush.

  His instincts told him something important.

  I can’t activate Dead Man’s Intuition in public. I need to be alone first… or I’ll draw too much attention.

  Once he moved far enough into the forest, the atmosphere changed.

  The air felt heavier.

  Corrupted beasts lingered in the woods.

  Oscar could sense them.

  Finding them wasn’t the problem.

  Defeating them while staying stable…

  That was.

  I sense one about 150 meters ahead.

  Might as well activate it now.

  “Combat Move: Dead Man’s Intuition.”

  The skeletal figure of a fallen man appeared behind Oscar.

  For a moment it hovered there silently.

  Then it merged into his body.

  Oscar exhaled slowly.

  “Let’s get this over with.”

  He crouched low.

  Clenched his fists.

  And launched forward.

  The beast came into view.

  A corrupted wolf.

  It looked just like the one from the corrupted lands. The same violent eyes. The same murderous intent.

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  The only difference…

  A glowing jewel embedded in its neck.

  Oscar rushed forward and threw a punch aimed at its head.

  The wolf reacted instantly, leaping back before countering with a vicious bite.

  Oscar didn’t think.

  Trust your instincts.

  His body moved before his mind could.

  He slipped past the wolf’s jaws and drove a punch into its side.

  The impact launched the beast through several trees.

  That should be enough.

  Oscar’s expression hardened.

  The wound in the wolf’s side…

  Was already healing.

  You’ve got to be kidding me.

  This one too?

  The wolf lunged again, claws slashing toward Oscar’s stomach.

  Energy surged through Oscar’s entire body.

  Space twisted.

  Then he vanished.

  For a brief moment, the air distorted—

  And Oscar reappeared above the beast.

  His leg rose high into the air before crashing down.

  His instincts screamed.

  Dead Man’s Intuition: Gravefall Kick.

  BOOM.

  The wolf slammed into the ground with crushing force.

  Oscar didn’t stop moving.

  “I’ll kill you before you even have the chance to regenerate.”

  He clenched his fist.

  Blue energy surged into his right hand.

  Then he drove it downward.

  The wolf’s head shattered under the blow.

  Silence returned to the forest.

  Oscar crouched beside the corpse and tore the jewel from the wolf’s neck.

  Each corrupted beast carried one of these jewels. They were the only things that counted in the entrance exam.

  The more jewels an applicant collected…

  The better their chances of passing.

  Not bad.

  I can’t believe Haruto’s training actually helped me this much.

  He sighed.

  “If I ever thank him, he’d probably never shut up about it.”

  As Oscar stood up, he heard the sound of battle somewhere in the distance.

  I wonder how the other applicants are doing.

  Oscar ran toward the noise.

  By the time he arrived…

  The beast was already dead.

  Oscar’s eyes narrowed.

  This guy’s core…

  It’s incredibly stable.

  He had only seen cores that stable before.

  Haruto’s.

  And Elaina’s.

  “You enjoy the show?” the boy asked casually.

  “You finished the fight before I could answer,” Oscar replied.

  The boy turned and shrugged.

  “Not trying to pry or anything, but your core is unstable.”

  Oscar sighed.

  “Y’know… I’m getting really tired of hearing that.”

  The boy laughed.

  “Yeah, I bet. Especially if that’s the first thing people say to you.”

  Unlike others, the boy didn’t ask about Oscar’s past.

  He didn’t treat him differently.

  He simply stuck out his hand.

  “My name’s Aster. Nice to meet you.”

  Oscar stepped forward and shook it.

  “Oscar.”

  “I’d love to chat,” Aster said, “but I’ve got to keep moving.”

  Oscar nodded.

  Aster turned and began walking away.

  Then suddenly—

  A massive explosion echoed somewhere deeper in the forest.

  A scream followed.

  “ANYONE, PLEASE HELP ME!”

  Aster and Oscar looked directly at each other.

  Neither said a word.

  They both started running toward the sound.

  It was clear to Oscar…

  The exam had only just begun.