"You all stay close to me later. Listen to my instructions and don't run around."
Fenric didn't spare so much as a glance at the classmate who had been spouting nonsense. His focus was on Yuhan, Jitto, and the others he had chosen to protect.
He wasn't the kind of man who cared about the whining of petty nobodies.
Jitto, Yuhan, and the girls nodded seriously. Yuhan's friends, though clearly admiring Fenric, were tactful enough to keep their distance. They could see their friend's unusual closeness to him and didn't dare try to steal her place by his side.
"Fenric, how can you treat your old classmates like this?"
Liang's voice rang out again, thick with grievance. Fenric's indifference only made him more brazen. Several classmates frowned, and the monitor's face darkened.
Fenric finally raised his eyes. His gaze swept over Liang, calm yet chilling. "Are you trying to teach me how to act?"
Liang opened his mouth, but before he could speak another word, the monitor cut him off with a furious bark.
"Liang, shut up! Whatever Fenric decides, he has his reasons. If you don't like it, then go fend for yourself—stop whining here!"
The monitor was no fool. He understood that antagonizing Fenric now was tantamount to suicide.
Liang flushed with humiliation. Though clearly unconvinced, he didn't dare talk back—not with the monitor glaring at him. Everyone knew his father worked under the monitor's father. That was enough to keep him quiet.
At that moment, the ground began to tremble.
The soil churned as though something beneath it was forcing its way out.
It was eerily similar to when the skeleton army had first appeared.
The color drained from everyone's faces. Panic swept through the group, and several students screamed.
Fenric's voice cut through the chaos, calm but commanding: "Don't panic! Everyone, move east—quickly!"
The crowd obeyed at once, running in the direction he indicated.
Fenric himself wasn't afraid of the skeleton monster. He was confident he could destroy it if necessary. But now wasn't the time to waste strength. The future was unknown, and conserving energy was the wise choice. Throwing himself into every fight he saw was not.
Soon, the group had put distance between themselves and the skeletal beast.
The creature emerged from the ground but only watched from afar, making no move to pursue.
Its territorial instinct was clear: as long as they didn't trespass further, it would not chase.
In Hell, every demon god claimed its own territory. Rarely did they invade one another's domains—doing so risked misunderstandings that could lead to devastating conflicts.
"Stop."
Fenric's sharp command halted the group instantly.
Hell was filled with hidden dangers; charging blindly ahead was no different than suicide.
Jitto wiped the sweat from his brow. "Ric, what's wrong?"
Fenric pointed toward the skeletal monsters in the distance. "Look at them. They didn't pursue us, which proves one thing—the monsters of Hell are territorial. If we run blindly, we risk entering another monster's domain. If it's something worse than skeletons, we'll be in serious trouble."
Everyone fell silent, listening intently.
Fenric continued, "These skeleton monsters aren't too difficult to deal with, and we've already learned a little about their behavior. For now, we'll skirt along the edges of their territory. If we run into something unknown and dangerous, we'll retreat back here. At least we understand what we're dealing with."
Realization dawned on their faces. The logic was sound, and it wasn't something any of them would've thought of so quickly.
Jitto's eyes shone with admiration. "Ric, no wonder you've earned the 'super-god' evaluation in dungeon runs. With that kind of insight and judgment, it's only natural!"
Nods of agreement spread through the group. Many cast Fenric looks of genuine respect. His strategy wasn't just smart—it might be the only way they survived.
At least they understood the skeleton monsters. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
Just then, someone noticed a girl staring at the ground ahead.
They had stepped onto what looked like grassland. Black, wiry plants covered the earth, swaying gently though there was no wind.
The sight was unsettling enough.
Then the next horror struck.
From the grass, a shadow darted forward and latched onto a female student.
"Ahhh!"
She shrieked, stumbling and flailing wildly. The creature clung to her body like a second skin, writhing as it searched for an opening.
It looked like a snake—small, black, its scales blending perfectly with the grass.
In the next instant, it slipped beneath her collar.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Her scream cut short as blood poured from her mouth. Her body convulsed, spasms wracking her frame.
Then, with a sickening sound, a mouthpart lined with razor-sharp teeth burst from her lips, dripping with blood as it snapped at the crowd.
The girl collapsed lifelessly to the ground, eyes frozen wide in terror. Her abdomen still writhed grotesquely as the snake-thing burrowed inside, tearing at her organs.
The sight turned stomachs. Several students screamed, some nearly fainting.
And then—
The grass ahead began to ripple.
Shadows moved beneath it, surging toward them.
Countless snake-like creatures slithered closer, a black tide sweeping across the field.
Even Fenric's expression darkened. His sharp eyes could already see it clearly: the creatures weren't just coming.
They had already surrounded them.