Sarah and Johnson eventually caught up to Fai after his battle, their expressions unable to conceal the shock and admiration written all over their faces. Johnson, in particular, made no attempt to hide how impressed he was. His eyes lingered on Fai as though he were looking at someone entirely different from the boy he had first met. Sarah, on the other hand, was far more composed. She was surprised, there was no denying that,but she refused to let that emotion fully surface. If anything, she masked it behind her usual calm demeanor, as though what Fai had just done was merely expected.
Fai's breathing was heavy, his body still trembling faintly from the aftereffects of the fight. Without saying much, Sarah stepped closer and gently draped his arm over her shoulder, allowing him to lean part of his weight against her. She did it naturally, without drawing attention to the gesture, and together the three of them moved forward. Before them lay three different paths, each stretching into uncertainty. After a brief exchange of glances, they chose one and proceeded without hesitation.
As they walked, Fai reached into his pocket and retrieved the remaining coins he had gathered. He extended them toward Johnson without ceremony. The metallic clink sounded louder than usual in the quiet of their steps.
"This should be enough for you to complete the assessment," Fai said calmly.
He was fully aware of what that decision could mean. Those coins were not insignificant. They had been hard-earned, fought for, and protected. There was a chance,however small that giving them away could affect his own quest. But Fai had already made up his mind. He was willing to take that risk.
Johnson had proven himself.
Even though Fai could not claim to trust him completely,not yet, not a hundred percent,he had seen enough to know that Johnson was not a bad person. Johnson had honored their agreement. More than that, he had stepped in during the fight against the copper opponents. That action alone had carved out a small place for him in Fai's guarded heart. It was not a large space, not one built on blind faith, but it was there. And for Fai, that meant something.
After handing over the coins, Fai instinctively checked his system interface. His eyes scanned the familiar display, half-expecting to see some reduction, some penalty for what he had just done. Yet nothing had changed. The numbers remained exactly as they were before. Not a single coin deducted from the quest requirement. Not even a tiny fraction of experience points had disappeared. It was as though the system still acknowledged the total amount he had obtained earlier, regardless of the physical coins he had given away.
A wave of relief washed over him.
The system still considered his achievement intact.
For that, he was grateful.
The trio continued their journey, their footsteps echoing faintly as the path gradually widened. Eventually, the narrow passage opened into a vast space that immediately drew their attention. It was enormous—an open area surrounded by tall walls that rose like silent guardians around it. What stood out the most was not the size of the place, but the bold sentence written repeatedly across the walls.
"No fighting is allowed in this area."
The words were impossible to ignore. They were painted in large, striking letters, repeated over and over in every visible corner. There was no way anyone could claim they had not seen it. No excuses would be tolerated here.
Stationed along the walls were military personnel, standing at precise intervals. Their posture was rigid, their expressions unreadable. They were clearly not decorations. They were there to enforce the rule. Anyone foolish enough to violate it would undoubtedly face immediate consequences.
Within the open space itself, students were scattered everywhere. Some stood in small groups, whispering among themselves. Others paired off, speaking in hushed tones. Very few stood alone. It was almost instinctive—no one wanted to be isolated, even in a so-called safe area.
"I guess this is a safe zone," Johnson said, scanning the area carefully.
His eyes met those of other students as he looked around. Some faces were familiar, likely individuals they had crossed paths with earlier. Others were strangers, their expressions guarded and calculating.
"Finally, we can move without worrying about someone jumping on our backs," Johnson added, his shoulders visibly relaxing for the first time since the assessment began.
Before Fai could respond, Sarah suddenly lifted her hand and pointed straight ahead.
"Guys, look."
They followed the direction of her finger.
Directly in front of them stood a massive metallic wall. Unlike the stone walls surrounding the safe zone, this one was constructed entirely of metal, its surface smooth and imposing. Embedded within it were five large doors, evenly spaced. Each door was guarded by two military personnel—one positioned on either side—bringing the total number stationed there to ten.
Students were approaching these doors one after another. When a student reached the front, they would hand over five coins to one of the guards. Once the coins were inspected and accepted, the guard would step aside and allow the student to pass through the door.
"I think that's the finish line," Sarah said quietly.
She wasn't wrong. Everything about it suggested finality. The guarded doors, the required payment, the controlled entry—it all pointed toward the conclusion of this stage of the assessment.
But as Fai observed the scene more carefully, confusion crept into his thoughts.
If those doors marked the end, why were so many students still lingering in the safe zone instead of leaving? Why hesitate when the goal was right there?
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Thanks a lot for the vote
sheikh ,
Anna Grace
Has recibido 1 .
And thanks for evyone who has been reading so far
I appreciate all the support you guys have been giving the novel .
Trust me , It's all the motivation I need .
Sorry for the lack of updates . I've been too occupied lately , normaly I do have reserved chapters for situations like this but my reserves weren't enough. Also unfortunately the contract for "THE FAIRY SYSTEM" was rejected , so I'm working on a new novel .
"THE RISE OF THE ILLEGITIMATE HEIR "
I hope you guys check it out when it drops.