The forest grew darker as Kaelen and Allan moved deeper into the Forest of Trials.
The tall trees blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only small rays of light breaking through the thick leaves above. The air was cooler here, and the sounds of insects and distant animals echoed around them.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Both were carefully watching the ground and the trees around them, making sure they did not step into any hidden traps.
After walking for several minutes, Allan finally broke the silence.
"Have you noticed something strange?" he asked.
Kaelen nodded slightly.
"There are fewer students now."
Allan looked around again.
At the beginning of the exam, hundreds of students had entered the forest. But now, the area around them felt strangely empty.
"That means many already failed," Allan said quietly.
Or worse, Kaelen thought, but he did not say it out loud.
Suddenly, they heard weak voices ahead.
"Help… someone help…"
Kaelen and Allan quickly ran toward the sound.
Behind a fallen tree, they found three injured students sitting on the ground. Their clothes were torn, and one of them had a bleeding arm.
Allan rushed forward.
"What happened to you?"
One of the injured students looked up with fear in his eyes.
"A beast… a huge one… it attacked us from nowhere."
Kaelen's eyes became serious.
"What kind of beast?"
Before the student could answer—
A deep growl echoed through the forest.
Grrrrrr…
The ground slightly vibrated.
The injured students immediately panicked.
"It's back!" one of them shouted.
From the bushes nearby, a massive creature slowly stepped forward.
It was a giant forest wolf, much larger than a normal wolf. Its dark fur was covered with scars, and its sharp claws dug into the ground as it walked closer.
Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto the group.
Allan stepped in front of the injured students.
"Looks like we can't run now."
Kaelen nodded calmly.
"Stay focused."
The giant wolf suddenly roared and charged forward.
The injured students screamed and backed away.
Allan quickly raised his hand.
"Water Style!"
Water gathered from the moisture in the air and the ground, forming a fast-moving stream.
"Water Wave!"
The wave shot forward and slammed into the beast's side, slowing its charge.
But the wolf was stronger than expected.
With a powerful leap, it jumped through the attack and aimed directly for Allan.
"Watch out!" Kaelen shouted.
Allan barely rolled to the side as the beast's claws smashed into the ground.
The impact shook the earth.
Kaelen moved instantly.
His body shot forward with incredible speed.
The harsh training with Razen had made his movements fast and precise.
He dodged the wolf's next attack and landed a powerful kick against its side.
The beast staggered but quickly turned toward Kaelen with anger.
Its claws slashed through the air.
Kaelen jumped backward just in time.
"That thing is tough," Allan said.
The wolf growled again and prepared to attack.
Allan raised both hands.
"Water Style: Flowing Chains!"
Streams of water wrapped around the beast's legs, slowing its movement.
"Now, Kaelen!" Allan shouted.
Kaelen ran forward.
His muscles moved with perfect control as he jumped onto a nearby rock and launched himself into the air.
He focused all his strength into one strike.
His fist slammed into the wolf's head.
BOOM!
The beast crashed into the ground and slid across the dirt.
For a moment, everything became quiet.
The wolf slowly stood up again, shaking its head.
But now it looked cautious.
After staring at Kaelen for a few seconds, the beast turned and ran back into the forest.
The danger had passed.
Allan sighed and sat down on a nearby rock.
"That was close."
Kaelen helped the injured students stand up.
"You should leave the forest," he told them. "Your injuries will only slow you down."
The students nodded gratefully and began heading back toward the exit.
Meanwhile, high above them, hidden among the tree branches—
Someone had been watching the entire fight.
Ryuzen.
He leaned against the trunk of a tree, his sharp eyes focused on Kaelen.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"With that speed… he might actually survive this exam."
Ryuzen then jumped down from the tree and disappeared deeper into the forest.
Back on the ground, Kaelen looked toward the path ahead.
The tower was still far away.
And the Forest of Trials was only becoming more dangerous.
"Come on," Kaelen said.
Allan stood up and nodded.
Together, they continued deeper into the forest, unaware that even greater challenges were waiting ahead.
The deeper Kaelen and Allan moved into the Forest of Trials, the more dangerous the forest became.
The tall trees grew thicker, blocking most of the sunlight. Only thin rays of light reached the ground. The air felt heavier, and strange sounds echoed from different directions.
Both of them stayed alert.
Every step had to be taken carefully.
After several minutes of walking, Kaelen suddenly stopped.
"Wait."
Allan froze immediately.
"What is it?"
Kaelen pointed toward the ground ahead.
Hidden beneath a layer of dry leaves were small metal plates placed across the path.
Allan crouched beside him.
"A trap?"
Kaelen nodded.
"If someone steps on one of these plates, something will trigger."
Allan looked around the trees carefully.
"What do you think it is?"
Before Kaelen could answer—
A sudden gust of wind rushed past them.
WHOOSH!
Leaves scattered across the ground as something moved incredibly fast through the trees.
A voice came from above them.
"You two are being very careful."
Kaelen and Allan looked up.
Standing calmly on a thick tree branch was a tall boy with silver hair. His clothes moved slightly in the wind, and his eyes looked sharp and confident.
Allan frowned.
"And who are you?"
The boy jumped down lightly from the tree and landed in front of them without making a sound.
"My name is Kaito," he said calmly.
Kaelen studied him carefully.
His movements were smooth and light, almost like the wind itself.
Kaito pointed toward the trap on the ground.
"If either of you stepped there," he explained, "large spiked logs would swing down from those trees."
Allan looked up and noticed the heavy logs hidden between the branches.
"Good thing we stopped," he muttered.
Kaito smiled slightly.
"You're more careful than most students here."
He then looked directly at Kaelen.
"You must be Kaelen."
Allan blinked.
"How do you know his name?"
Kaito shrugged.
"Word travels fast during exams."
He crossed his arms.
"I heard you were one of the strongest students in the academy."
Kaelen answered calmly.
"Rumors are often exaggerated."
Kaito's smile widened slightly.
"Maybe. But strength shows itself eventually."
For a moment, the forest became quiet.
Then Kaito stepped forward.
"Let me show you something."
Suddenly—
WHOOSH!
Kaito moved.
In a flash, he dashed across the trap field.
His body moved so quickly that the leaves barely had time to move.
In just a second, he reached the other side of the path without triggering a single trap.
Allan's eyes widened.
"That guy is insanely fast."
Kaito looked back at them.
"Speed is important in this forest."
Before Allan could reply—
The ground suddenly began to shake.
THUD… THUD…
Kaelen immediately turned toward the sound.
"Something big is coming."
A loud crash echoed through the trees as a massive creature burst out from the bushes.
It was a giant forest boar.
Its body was covered with thick armor-like skin, and its long tusks looked sharp enough to pierce stone.
The beast roared and charged toward them.
Allan stepped back.
"That thing looks dangerous."
Kaito immediately jumped backward.
"Move!"
The boar slammed into the ground where they had been standing moments earlier.
The impact shook the earth.
Allan raised his hands quickly.
"Water Style: Rising Wall!"
A powerful wall of water formed in front of the beast, slowing its charge.
But the boar smashed through the water with brute force.
Kaelen dashed forward.
He moved quickly, dodging the creature's tusks and landing a strong kick against its side.
But the beast barely moved.
Kaito raised his hand.
"Wind Style: Cutting Gale!"
A sharp blade of wind shot forward and struck the beast, leaving a deep cut on its side.
The boar roared in pain.
Allan followed immediately.
"Water Style: Pressure Stream!"
A powerful jet of water slammed into the creature's head.
The combined attacks finally pushed the giant beast backward.
The boar growled angrily but slowly stepped back.
After staring at the three of them for a moment, it turned and ran back into the forest.
Silence returned.
Allan exhaled deeply.
"That was intense."
Kaito looked at Kaelen again.
"You're stronger than I expected."
Kaelen nodded slightly.
"So are you."
Kaito smiled.
"Maybe we'll meet again near the tower."
Without another word, he turned and began running deeper into the forest.
Within seconds, he disappeared between the trees like a gust of wind.
Allan crossed his arms.
"So now we have another rival."
Kaelen looked toward the direction Kaito had gone.
First Ryuzen.
Now Kaito.
The competition in the exam was becoming more serious.
But Kaelen only felt more determined.
"Let's keep moving," he said.
The tower of the first test was still waiting somewhere deep inside the Forest of Trials.
And the real challenges had only just begun.
If you enjoy the story, please add it to your library and leave a comment."