On the far side of the grandstand, Logan Barrett and his guild members had found their seats. As the current president of the Shengshi Guild, one of the most prestigious guilds among Kyoto University alumni, Logan had a reputation to uphold. But the tension in his group was palpable.
One of his subordinates grumbled, unable to hide his frustration. "President, weren't you a little too soft on her just now?"
He was clearly still smarting from Jade Walker's harsh words earlier. "She insulted you in front of everyone... Are we really just going to sit here and take that?"
To him, Jade wasn't just rude—she had humiliated their entire guild. Despite her former glory in the National College League, wasn't she being too arrogant?
Logan's face remained unreadable. He gave the man a slow glance, his voice calm yet chilling. "And what? You plan to challenge her?"
His words sent a shiver down the man's spine.
"Try it. Go ahead. Just don't expect to see tomorrow's sunrise."
The subordinate's mouth opened, then quickly shut again. "I... I understand, sir."
Logan exhaled deeply, brushing aside the lingering tension. "That woman's crazy. And when people like her go off the rails, you stay out of their way."
He leaned back in his seat. "If she wants to call me a coward, then fine—she's right. I really don't dare go where she's headed."
That seemed to surprise the younger members of the guild. Logan was respected for his strength, but here he was, openly admitting fear?
"She wants to break into the Mysterious Tower, for God's sake. That place has claimed countless lives. Who in their right mind would follow her in?"
He stared off into the distance.
"You know how many died trying? Even the one with the SSS-Level potential failed back then. If someone like him couldn't do it, what makes her think she can?"
One by one, the fire in their eyes dimmed.
Logan fell silent, the old memories clearly weighing on him. Back when Jade had first joined the university, she too had been an SS-Level Talent, her name spreading like wildfire. Every major guild tried to recruit her—including Logan himself, who had just been appointed president at the time.
But Jade had only asked him one thing:
"Does the Shengshi Guild have a plan to break through the 100th floor of the Mysterious Tower?"
He had been full of ambition then. But when she asked that question, he couldn't answer. He knew the truth: none of the major guilds dared to dream that high.
From that moment on, Jade branded him a coward. And even now, she hadn't changed her opinion.
Over the years, Jade had refused every guild. Instead, she built her own, handpicking talents who shared her impossible dream—to conquer the Mysterious Tower. Her group was small but elite, and now, with every new competition, she came scouting for more.
Logan Barrett knew full well: she was building something that could rival even Shengshi someday.
---
Meanwhile, the square below buzzed with activity. Hundreds of freshmen were forming into teams, eager for the start of the competition.
Amidst the crowd, Lucas stood alone.
While others huddled together, plotting tactics and forming groups of five, Lucas remained isolated, hands casually tucked into his cloak, eyes sharp and calm. His presence was like a blade—silent but deadly.
He hadn't made a single effort to join a team. And that made him stand out even more.
A few students watched him from afar, whispering.
"Isn't that the guy who said he'd rank first this year?"
"Yeah, looks like no one wants to team up with him. Must think he's too good."
Some laughed. Some were curious. Others—like Leon Graves, who stood surrounded by his own carefully formed team—were smug.
Leon had assembled a tight five-person unit over the past month. He had handpicked them for strength, compatibility, and ambition. He intended to take first place in this competition, no matter the cost.
Now, seeing Lucas all alone, Leon sneered inwardly.
"So this is what happens to lone wolves," he thought. "No matter how sharp your claws are, you're still just prey when the pack hunts you."
From his perspective, Lucas had already lost. In a battle of teams, a solo player stood no chance.
But if Lucas was concerned, he didn't show it.
He was actually in a great mood.
"Perfect," he murmured to himself. "I reached Level 25 yesterday. Just in time."
He checked his skill interface. His newest skill was something special.
> Sap – Level 25 Assassin Skill:
A stealth-based strike using the handle of the dagger to knock the enemy unconscious.
Damage: 120% physical
Effect: Stuns the target for 5 seconds
Condition: Must be in stealth and strike from behind
It was a low-damage control skill, but five seconds of stun was more than enough for an assassin to unleash a full burst combo.
If there wasn't a support teammate to purge the stun or a tank to force him off target, his prey was as good as dead.
"I don't usually go for cheap tricks," Lucas smirked, "but if someone pushes me, I won't hesitate."
---
Just as the anticipation reached a peak, the old Headmaster of Kyoto University stepped forward onto a raised platform in front of the students.
All chatter ceased.
His long white beard fluttered slightly in the wind as he raised a hand to address the crowd. His voice was calm, but it carried a weight that made the air still.
"Welcome, new students," he began. "Today marks the beginning of your path as combatants. This year's Freshman Competition will be held in a special format—a Secret Realm Battle!"
A wave of confusion rolled over the freshmen.
"Secret Realm?"
"What does that even mean?"
But up in the stands, the older students leaned forward with interest. They knew exactly what the Headmaster meant.
He continued, "You will be transported into a Low-Level Secret Realm, one controlled and maintained by Kyoto University. Inside, you'll face monsters ranging from Level 20 to Level 40. The deeper you go, the tougher it gets."
The freshmen started to murmur again.
"Monsters?"
"Yes. Not just ordinary ones," the Headmaster clarified. "There are Ordinary-Level, Elite-Level, and even Boss-Level enemies."
He raised a finger.
"Points will be awarded based on the level and class of the monsters you defeat."
> Level 20 Normal Monster = 20 points
Level 40 Normal Monster = 40 points
Elite Monster = 10x points
Boss Monster = 100x points
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
"Ten times?!"
"A boss gives 100x?! That's crazy!"
But the old man wasn't done.
"Teams may consist of 1 to 5 members. You may enter solo or grouped, and all points earned will be shared equally among teammates."
He let that settle in before adding the final, most dramatic rule.
"And lastly... players may engage in PvP. You are permitted to attack, sabotage, or eliminate other teams."
The entire plaza erupted.
"You mean we can fight each other?!"
"That's insane!"
But Lucas's eyes lit up. That was the kind of rule he liked.
"Assassins thrive in chaos," he whispered.
This competition wasn't just about hunting monsters. It was about hunting players.
And he was ready.
---
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