“Since we have a lot of teams, we’ll need to thin the numbers. Your first task as a group will be to survive. Do not worry—despite the infamy we have as the Black Tower Academy for being far more… realistic in our approach to danger, there will be no deaths. In the case of mortal danger, a teacher will intervene to save the student,” Olim announced, his voice echoing through the Colosseum. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, lingering for a moment on Ludwig and Kaela before moving on.
He clapped his hands, and the ground beneath them began to shift. The arena trembled as the terrain transformed, the stone floor giving way to patches of grass, sand, and rocky outcrops. A massive, translucent bubble-like structure manifested around the arena, enclosing it in a swirling fog that obscured the outside world. The air grew thick with anticipation, and the faint hum of magic buzzed in Ludwig’s ears.
“Explaining the details of the event would be quite boring,” Olim continued, a sly grin spreading across his face. “As a great man once said, ‘Show, don’t tell.’ You’ll all have to see for yourselves what the teachers have in store for you. To all participants, please walk up to the dome and enter.”
The crowd murmured, a mix of excitement and unease rippling through the students. Ludwig exchanged a glance with Kaela, who nodded firmly. “Let’s go, Ludwig,” she said, her voice steady but with a hint of urgency.
Ludwig followed her, his boots crunching against the shifting terrain. Just as they approached the dome, a black streak shot down from the top of the colosseum. Before Ludwig could react, the black cat—Sabrina—landed gracefully on his head, her weight surprisingly light.
“So, you’re Ludwig,” the cat said, her voice dripping with amusement.
Ludwig sighed. “I suppose you’re Sabrina.”
“Use your feet, you lazy slob,” Kaela snapped, glaring at the cat.
Sabrina’s tail flicked lazily. “Would you like me to use your head as a resting spot instead?” she replied, her tone smug.
Kaela’s hand twitched toward the hilt of her sword. “Try it, and I’ll cut you in half!”
Sabrina only snickered, clearly enjoying the exchange. “Ludwig, be a dear and carry me through this event. I’m really not a fan of fighting,” she purred, settling comfortably on his head.
Ludwig couldn’t help but sigh. “Fine, it’s fine. Let’s keep going,” he muttered, resigning himself to his role as a glorified carriage. He stepped forward, Kaela at his side, and approached the dome. The fog swirled around them, cold and damp against his skin.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen inside, so stay on your guard and stay close,” Kaela said, her voice low and serious.
Ludwig nodded, his grip tightening on the communication crystal in his pocket. “Got it.”
“Easy there, I almost fell,” Sabrina complained as Ludwig adjusted his stance.
“My bad,” Ludwig replied, though he was starting to feel slightly irritated.
“Less shaking, more moving,” the cat quipped.
Ludwig took a deep breath and stepped through the dome. The world around him shifted instantly. The weight on his head disappeared, and he found himself standing in the middle of a lush, green forest. The air was thick with humidity, and the scent of damp earth and vegetation filled his nostrils. Towering trees with massive, fan-like leaves stretched toward the sky, their canopies blocking out most of the sunlight. The underbrush was dense, with vines and ferns crowding the forest floor.
“Kaela?” Ludwig called, his voice echoing through the trees. There was no reply.
Suddenly, his pocket vibrated. He pulled out the communication crystal, its surface glowing faintly. “Ludwig, it seems like we got separated. Where are you right now?” Kaela’s voice came through, tinged with frustration.
“I don’t know. Big forest area, no visible landmarks, large trees everywhere,” Ludwig explained, scanning his surroundings.
“Damn. Different biomes. I’m in a desert,” Kaela said. “Let me add Sabrina to the call.”
A moment later, Sabrina’s voice crackled through the crystal. “Luuuuudwiiig, where are you? It’s freezing here!” she whined, her teeth audibly chattering.
“This is awkward. Each of us is in a different biome,” Kaela said. “Just stay safe for now. We don’t know the content of this trial.”
“It’s a survival trial,” Ludwig said. “Olim mentioned it. We should be careful and vigilant.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, a loud explosion echoed through the forest, shaking the ground beneath his feet. Ludwig’s heart skipped a beat.
“What was that?” Kaela asked, her voice tense.
“Someone’s fighting,” Ludwig said, his eyes narrowing. “I’ll check it out.”
“Don’t. You should stay in cover and hide,” Kaela urged.
“Then we’ll have no understanding of what’s going on. Survival isn’t about who can hide better—it’s about who has a better understanding of their surroundings. I’ll call you if anything’s up,” Ludwig said, cutting the connection before Kaela could argue further.
He moved cautiously through the dense vegetation, his senses on high alert. The forest was alive with sounds—chirping insects, rustling leaves, and the distant calls of unseen creatures. After about fifteen minutes, he reached the source of the commotion.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ludwig muttered under his breath.
Lying on the ground was the half-burnt corpse of a reptilian creature. Its long, sharp mouth was frozen in a snarl, and its short arms and powerful legs suggested it was built for speed. Ludwig’s stomach churned as he recognized the creature. It wasn’t a lizardman—it was far worse. This was a predator known for its pack-hunting tactics and relentless pursuit of prey.
“A raptor…” Ludwig swallowed hard, his mind racing. “Why the hell is a raptor here?”
“Raptor? What’s that?” Thomas’s voice echoed in his head, startling him.
“Jesus Christ!” Ludwig blurted, clutching his chest. “Don’t do that!”
“That’s a first—seeing an undead panic,” Thomas said, his tone amused.
“Not panic. Surprise,” Ludwig corrected, his voice tight. “Regardless, we call this a raptor…”
“I don’t know about that. That’s a Velkryn. They’re pretty weak alone,” Thomas said dismissively.
“Yeah, but they never hunt by themselves,” Ludwig replied, his eyes darting around the forest. He crouched low, scanning the underbrush for movement. “Now that I’m taking another look at this forest… these leaves are absurdly large. And these are Cyatheales…”
“Cyawhat?” Thomas asked, clearly confused.
“Tree ferns. Just very old plants,” Ludwig explained, his mind racing. Two hundred and thirty-million-year-old plants…
“Also, shouldn’t you be hiding? I’d probably hide,” Thomas said.
“Yeah, that would be the best way to serve myself as bone soup to these things. Their sense of smell is better than a dog’s. Hiding is useless. This was never about who can hide better,” Ludwig said, his voice low. He froze as he heard the rustling of leaves behind him. “This was always about who can run longer.”
In an instant, three raptors burst from the foliage, their hisses sharp and menacing. Their eyes locked onto Ludwig, and their powerful legs coiled, ready to pounce.
“Are you going to fight them?” Thomas asked, his tone almost teasing.
“Fight?” Ludwig smiled grimly as he backed away. “That’s the best way to sign your own death certificate.” With that, he turned and bolted, the raptors hot on his heels.
For most contestants, three Velkryn wouldn’t be much of an issue. They could easily be taken down with a few well-placed spells—just like the one that had left the first corpse Ludwig had seen. But this was a survival event. Wasting mana or risking injury without reason was a surefire way to lose.
Ludwig, however, wasn’t like most contestants. He was an undead, and the best part about being one was that he didn’t need to use his mana. He didn’t need to use his strength, he didn’t need to risk the fight, as an Undead he had infinite stamina. After all, the undead don’t tire.