Chapter 117: The Shadow Over the Hunting Ground

The Shadow Over the Hunting Ground

Leon nodded.

"Apparently."

Evelyn’s expression brightened.

"Then that’s good."

She stepped closer and lightly tugged his sleeve.

"You have to keep getting stronger."

Leon looked down at her hand.

Then he smiled.

"I intend to."

Selena walked over as well.

"Leon."

"Hm?"

"Don’t push yourself too hard."

Leon looked between the two women.

"You’re both worried about me?"

Evelyn immediately answered.

"Of course."

Selena nodded.

"You’re our master."

Evelyn added softly, "And you’re Leon."

Leon smiled.

"Then I’ll make sure I don’t disappoint either of you."

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

In the middle zone, explosions and the screams of beasts echoed from every direction.

The ground shook beneath their feet.

Neither the Phantom Blood Bats nor the Shadow Leopards that had joined the fray were any match for Selena and Evelyn.

Evelyn—so highly praised in Aurelia City—was reduced to a support role beside Selena.

She knew it.

That was the frustrating part.

Her venomous webs were powerful.

Her control was excellent.

But Selena could simply walk into the middle of a horde and destroy everything with overwhelming physical strength.

Watching Selena carve through the horde, Evelyn’s face flickered with envy.

She quickly hid it.

Leon noticed anyway.

"Darling Evelyn."

"I’m fine."

"I didn’t ask anything yet."

Evelyn froze.

Then she puffed her cheeks slightly.

"You were going to ask."

Leon laughed.

Selena looked over.

"Evelyn."

"I’m really fine."

Selena’s eyes softened.

"Then keep improving. One day, I’ll have to rely on your strength too."

Evelyn looked at her for a moment.

Then she nodded.

"Deal."

The Heavenly-tier hunting ground was under the spotlight.

Provincial education officials, teachers and students from every martial high school, and universities across the nation were watching.

Massive screens displayed the scores and live footage.

Every major university was paying attention.

Selena was undoubtedly the most dazzling presence in the entire Bellemont Province arena.

Suddenly—in Leon’s soul detection vision—several mountain-sized figures appeared.

His smile disappeared.

The creatures were enormous.

They had green skin, eyes the size of footballs, and thick, powerful limbs.

Frog-like beasts.

Their bodies were covered in rough, damp skin, and every jump caused the earth beneath them to tremble.

Leon narrowed his eyes.

[Grey Mist Giant Frogs]

[Level: LV.28]

[Rank: Boss]

"East—about six of them. North—eleven more!"

Leon called out their positions.

Evelyn immediately reacted.

"Got it!"

She raised both hands.

Venomous energy gathered around her fingers.

Hundreds of strands of sticky web shot into the air.

RIP!

The web spread across the battlefield like a massive net.

Several Grey Mist Giant Frogs were caught.

But instead of being pinned down, their muscles suddenly bulged.

The creatures crouched.

Then they jumped.

BOOM!

Their enormous bodies tore through the web.

Pieces of venomous silk snapped apart and fell through the mist.

Evelyn’s expression changed.

"What?!"

The frogs landed heavily.

The ground cracked beneath their feet.

They immediately leaped again.

Many beasts had immense toughness and power.

S-rank abilities were beginning to show their limits.

And Evelyn was only Level 20...

"Selena—giant frogs. They’re strong enough to break through Evelyn’s webs."

Leon kept his eyes on the approaching creatures.

"They have high toughness and strength," Leon warned.

Selena nodded.

"Then I’ll handle them."

"Wait—there are more in the distance. About twenty."

Leon suddenly stopped.

His soul vision pushed farther through the fog.

"No... more than that!"

His expression became serious.

Leon’s vision showed even more mountain-sized figures approaching from afar.

The thick scent of blood was drawing in more Shadow Leopards and Phantom Blood Bats.

Even further away, other creatures were being attracted as well.

The situation was changing.

What had started as a battle was becoming a beast tide.

Several kilometers away—

Steffan had just entered the mist zone with Victoria.

Steffan’s blonde hair was slightly damp from the moisture hanging in the air.

His green eyes moved constantly.

He had learned one thing during the examination.

In a place like this, blindly fighting wasn’t always the smartest choice.

"South-east... favorable. Head southeast. These beasts are too dense here—it’ll hurt our score."

Victoria nodded, following Steffan’s lead.

"Understood."

They changed direction.

As they moved, the monsters became sparse.

Victoria’s strength was formidable.

The black robe covering her body moved with every attack, and her golden eyes remained cold as she tore through one beast after another.

She killed five or six beasts in a row before finally slowing down.

Her breathing became heavier.

Steffan noticed.

"Let’s rest."

Steffan sat on a large rock.

Victoria wiped sweat from her forehead before sitting nearby.

"All these creatures are boss-level. Good thing my soul skill can predict fortune. If we’d run into a beast tide, things would be bad."

Victoria nodded.

"Exactly. Other students don’t have that advantage. The middle zone is usually a major scoring area—but the beast density makes it exhausting."

Steffan looked toward the mist.

For a moment, everything was quiet.

Then—

ROAR!

A series of furious roars echoed from the north.

Steffan’s expression tightened.

"What’s happening?"

Victoria looked north.

"Someone might have triggered a beast tide."

Steffan immediately activated his soul skill.

Golden-green spiritual light flickered faintly around his eyes.

He searched for the flow of fortune.

Then his expression shifted.

"I’ll check the danger level... huh?"

Victoria leaned closer.

"Steffan—how bad is it?"

Steffan was silent for a moment.

Then he answered.

"Great calamity."

Victoria’s face became serious.

"This beast tide is huge."

Her fingers tightened.

"A boss-level beast tide—that’s no joke!"

Steffan shook his head.

"It’s fine. The proctors are watching. No one will die—but their score might take a hit."

Victoria looked toward the distant mist.

"What a shame."

"Yeah. Let’s keep moving. We got 8th in the placement matches. We need a good score here."

Steffan stood.

"Maybe we can’t beat that guy—but provincial runner-up is still within reach."

He thought of a certain figure.

Then he sighed.

Leon.

That name had become a shadow hanging over the entire examination.

In the Bellemont Province Heavenly-tier hunting ground—

Two proctors— a man and a woman— were rushing toward Leon’s location.