The bloodbath has been going for around 30 minutes now, only four hundred students remain.
Feeling satisfied by this outcome, the Lord of Sword claps his hand, resulting in a sonic boom that echoes throughout the entire field, marking the end of the bloodbath.
The students were shocked, blood washed and exhausted. Some even refused to stand up again as they clutched their heads and cried.
But the others decided to gather again in the middle, some carries log, plank, or a weapon, all bloodied.
"Hahahaha well done! Well done!"
Gen Musashi assumes a cheerful face and bellows out a satisfied laughter while the students are looking at him with malice and hatred.
That is what he wanted anyway, for him to be the vessel for their hatred, for him, this is the correct choice.
But still, forcing them to do this, mere children even. Not even an adult could do this willingly.
But the worst has passed, or at least that is what they think.
Soon, they will realize just how bad things can be.
Musashi Gen then clapped his hand with thunderous boom, dissolving the barrier and the crimson glows that come with it.
"Now…"
He then rises from his seat, prompting a lot of agitated responses from the students.
"Begin the next phase, all of you will be here until there is only 200 of you left…"
He said dropping his cheerful charade as he turned his back from the students.
"Do whatever you want to stay alive…"
He spoke.
"…And good luck"
With those last words, he vanished in an instant, followed by the same deafening sound that sends them here.
The students then looked at each other, before one-by-one, they started to split up into a small group or alone.
.
.
.
"Shit! What kind of academy is this?"
A boy with short hair growls as he walks carrying a bunch of dry sticks.
"I mean, it's a prestigious academy that can boost your fame just by attending it"
Another boy with white robe said as he carries the same amount of dry stick.
"But still, this Academy is savage huh? They didn't even spare the noble kid."
The short-haired boy exclaimed with a mocking smile.
"Yeah! It is funny seeing their arrogant face drop when they realize that their status meant shit here"
The blue robe boy comments as he twirls a stick in his fingers.
They both trail down the forest into their group camp, there are about thirty-five students here, all having their own tasks such as cooking, building camp, standing guard and other miscellaneous things.
The students here had already formed their own group to survive and make others not able to survive.
While there are students out there who prefer being alone, most stick together to increase their chance of survival.
Who knows what kind of danger that might lurk around in a Forest? Jiangshi will pounce during the Dark Hours, malicious Spirit might kidnap them during the Dim Hours and worse.
Tiger and Pekung might eat the students alive.
"We got the firewood"
The short hair boy reports to a boy commanding the construction of the tent.
"Ah, drop it in that pit. And Roy!"
He exclaimed as he points to a wood pile.
"You dropped yours there!"
He said.
"Alright"
The blue robed boy, named Roy comply.
"How's the situation Ni Len."
A boy wearing a black robe then shows up.
"Boss! The tent is almost complete; the pit and the food are ready!"
The boy named Ni Len reports with militaristic voice towards him.
It was Wu Chen that led this group.
He does not do anything to recruit the other students, somehow, the students just began following him and decided to form a group with him as the leader.
One of these boys is Ni Len who claimed to be the biggest fan of the Demonic Prince.
'But how could this boy know I was a Demonic Prince?'
He suspects him, but he overlooked it after seeing his excellent leadership in commanding another.
Other than Ni Len, the other prominent figure in his group is a bunch of other Noble kids.
Wu Chen didn't really bother controlling them.
Also, there is a girl named Gu Tian.
Like Ni Len, she has admirable leadership skills and being quick-witted.
Wu Chen just stumbled into her, got into an argument and then she just decided to enter his group to annoy him.
He really cannot make anything out of this girl, and the way she acts really irritates him for some reason.
And it doesn't help that she is a member of the Gu Clan, and not just that she is a celebrity in the West, something about her being this generation Stars something.
Wu Chen didn't really like Noble; it's the reason why he seldom interacts with the Noble of his own group.
But her capability allows him to overlook the irritation because right now, he wants to create a safe place for his siblings, especially the twin princess.
'The preparations are complete, I just need to find him in due time, and we will be unstoppable!'
Right now, the only one who could threaten his group is Nanming and Wu Yuen, and both have the potential of being his ally, hence the need to complete this camp.
'To be honest, I did this to entice Wu Yuen. Nanming will just enter my group once he finds out about it anyway. Or will he?'
He thinks about the possibility of conflict with Nanming, the chances are low, but it is there. The fact that he could be an enemy to Nanming is terrifying.
"There you go again, murmuring like a madman"
A soft voice mocks him, it was Gu Tian who finished her works of doing nothing.
"What are you doing here?"
He said with annoyance.
"Nothing much, it's just that you look silly"
She smirks as she teased him.
"Tch"
Chen clicks his tongue in growing annoyance, this girl becoming more irritating as the time goes on.
"Great timing, I'll teach you a lesson for annoying me all this time!"
He said as he pulls out a Red Herper flower, it was famous as the 'Paralyzing Flower.'
Gu Tian face turns dry.
She pulls out another Red Herper.
Both just stood there, admiring their connection, and growing annoyance at the connection.
They soon began chasing each other, determined to rub the Red Herper before the other have the chance to do so.
All the while the rest of the students just watched in amusement at their action.
"Hahaha! Come on boss! Defeat her!"
One student's shouts.
"Stay safe Gu!"
Another is concerned about this situation.
But it cannot be denied that their actions are what bringing this group together.
Originally it was the prospect of being able to serve the Demonic Prince, over time it grew as if it was just another friend group.
"But still, Boss is pretty amazing, isn't he?"
A boy said.
"Yeah, he is really easy-going, cheerful and he didn't look down on us"
"Exactly!"
the boy said in enthusiasm.
"To be honest, I still doubt that he is one of the Demonic Prince. But now, I don't even care anymore, he's a good leader Demonic Prince or not"
He said as he watches Chen being held down by Gu Tian as he screams.
"Yeah, a good leader"
The night pass on peacefully in Chen groups. But the same cannot be said for another group.
….
"Where the hell did, he come from?"
A boy with a sword shout in terror, as a figure with purple glowing eyes cut them down mercilessly.
"Shit! Retreat! Aghhh"
Another one was stabbed in the heart as the figure, which can only be seen by the glow of its purple eyes, dashed around killing everyone.
"Mother! Mother! Save me"
One curled up as he cried his mother's name, he was then beheaded.
"Retreat!"
Around five students run in the night, each screams a terrified shouts as they hear their friends killed one by one.
One was stabbed in the heart when he wanted to save his friends.
The one he tried to save was killed by a sword inserted from her mouth into her abdomen.
Others were split in the middle, as their guts and lungs fell outside their body.
One has their upper jaw as well as their skull, violently detached from their body as they limped away before collapsing.
And the last one dies of shock and terror as he bleeds out from having his hip severed.
Until there are none
The figure eyes glow purple as his sword is covered with their blood as it glistens sickly red.
He is sweating profusely and frantically looking around.
KILL
'Loud'
He thinks as if his eyes darted around chaotically.
KILL THEM ALL
'So Loud!'
He searches the area, looking for something that doesn't exist. Overturned every stone, scoured every bush in search of the non-existent.
They are at Fault!
'Shut up!'
He clutches his head, then his heart. He disrobes his upper body. Revealing a pristine body that is both chiseled and scarred, as if there is a wound that cannot be seen.
There is a hole in the place of his heart, he puts one hand inside, searching for something, anything to make the voice disappear.
MAKE THEM PAY FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE
"SHUT UP!!!"
He shouts into the night sky as he frantically pushes aside his organs, seeking something.
He doesn't know what, but he knows that it exists, he knows it.
Then the voice stopped
He pulled his hand out, sweating profusely as the hole vomits blood and a black liquid that smells disgusting.
His hand was smeared in this jumble of liquid, both textures and smells are weird, alien, and filthy.
He doesn't scream anymore; his eyes stop glowing purple and his overall form eased up.
His eyes bleed, it tingles with sharp pain, but he doesn't react.
The hole was smoking from within, the organ regenerated itself from the abuse.
He looks down at the mess he made, the mangled corpse strewn around like a scene of massacre.
"…What a mess, who did this?"
He said as he looks down on his sword.
"…"
He thinks for a moment, closing his eyes he tried to scour his memory.
"…Did I… Kill them again?"
He said, voice etched in terror as he cast down his gaze towards his bloodied hand.
KILL
Before his madness returns.
His eyes glows purple again, as if possessed his form begins to shed black ash-like flakes.
His form blackens before his screams turned guttural; he had become a Fallen.
"…I shall Slash everything that exist…"
Day 2, students remaining: 352.
The morning came with chilly air; everyone is either sneezing or curling up in whatever position they can to keep themselves warm.
In Chen camps, he was patrolling the outskirts of the camp, marveling at the log wall everyone had been building yesterday.
It's almost complete, but Chen told them to rest this day until the air stops being so chilly.
He wasn't affected by cold since he can control his own Demonic Energy to keep himself warm, but the air stings, nonetheless.
'It's probably due to the Cloud burst.'
Chen thinks as if he saw a massive hole in the cloud formation ahead.
"The cloud Is weird huh?"
Gu Tian suddenly shows up, she is shivering but otherwise, she looks as energetic and annoying as ever.
"They say it happens cause of Cloud burst, you know. When a Divine Spirit descend, they will rip the sky open making the Moon Energy rain down towards the land"
She explained the phenomenon as her breath condensed into chilly air.
"Lan Hian said it was because of a phenomenon called the Extreme Moon Cycle"
Chen argues, his are more scientific.
"Ah, the same one who proposed a theory that the Tribulation Storm is a doorway to the Abyss? Yeah, no I'm not buying it"
She said as she rubs both of her arm.
"How dare you! He is the wisest and most knowledgeable scholar out there! Lan Hian is unparalleled in the field of research!"
Chen said with irritation, his face inches closer to her.
"Lan Hian is a fraud! He is no scholar! He is a fanatic!"
Gu Tian argues, she inches her own face closer to him as both argue back and forth about the great Scholar Lan Hian,
"He is a genius not a fanatic!"
"Oh yeah? I soon believed that the Moon is white then to believe him!"
"But Moon is white"
"No it's not."
"Yes, it is!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
But their argument was stopped by Ni Len who runs towards him with a neutral face as always, Nanming immediately ceased his bickering.
"Boss, Gu Liang is here, he wanted to meet you"
He said with stern voice.
Wu Chen face remained as it is, calm as water.
But Gu Tian heart sank the moment her brother's name was mentioned, though she maintains her calm face.
"...Lead me to him"
Wu Chen said, his voice is as calm as it could be.
But there is an underlying feeling inside him, nervousness.
….
There, is a man with handsome face, the kind you only see in painting, in fact, he is an artwork. Sculpted body so perfect it's as if Gods created him personally, the so called chosen one, Gu Liang.
His fame exceeds him; Wu Chen knows more about him than his sister, Gu Tian.
Wu Chen approaches Gu Liang, smiling as usual.
With both hand stretches out as if welcoming, but immediately he sensed something about him, he can't fully describe it but its…irritating.
"Gu Liang! What's up?"
He said casually, but in truth, he forgot to speak formally due to the irritation.
"…Right"
Gu Liang said after a bit of a pause.
"I was here to seek your help, in truth, my group is having some…difficulty."
Gu Liang speaks, his voice is carved, perfect in both intonation and vocal, this somehow infuriates Wu Chen more.
"…What sort of difficulty?"
Wu Chen asked, maintaining his smiles though his voice edge darker.
"Oh, you will know…"
"…Please, I must trouble you"
"Not at all, it's just that this place is… Unsuitable"
"…"
Wu Chen smiles, smiles and smiles.
But the current inside his heart is about to explode, he cannot understand why it's so displeasing seeing that face, hearing that voice, being in the same place as him.
Furthermore, he dares insult this place as unsuitable? the groups pride- No, his pride was trampled, by this… thing, nonetheless.
'…faint voice'
"-?"
Wu Chen was confused by the sudden voice, but he quickly went back to focus on the conversation.
"…Alright"
He responded, yet his smiles and friendly demeanor didn't change one bit.
He hates him, he hates him so much that he doesn't even bother saying nor expressing it.
The more time he spends on this thing will have an immediate effect the longer it goes.
"When is the appropriate times and place for us to meet?"
Wu Chen gives a wry smile, for a second, before it completely vanishes.
"Then I assume that you agree to help me?"
Gu Liang responded with the same smile he had earlier.
"…I consider it once I know"
"Alright then, fair enough"
Gu Liang extends his hand, in which Wu Chen took some time before he shakes his hand, he doesn't show it, but he really wanted to crush that hand
"I'm looking forward for our meeting"
He said before leaving the camp with his escorts that Wu Chen failed to notice.
'…I'm getting lax.'
Wu Chen mumbles, to think he failed to notice the escort. He then prepares to head back before Gu Liang calls out to him.
"Oh, and please bring my little sister…"
He said as he turned his back towards him, not expecting any answers.
That was the last straw; Wu Chen explodes, his heart was torn as the entire blood inside him boils.
To order him? He ought to know his place, and to dare bring up Gu Tian. Chen didn't know, but they have a tumultuous relationship that he can't fully describe.
'how dare he'
'to not know of one place, arrogant'
'prideful'
'strangle him, behead him'
Wu Chen descends into madness, his head was filled with nothing, nothing but the thoughts of violence he will inflict upon him.
'his hubris will be a pleasure to see'
"Gee that stuck up Noble kid, he ought to know his place."
Ni Len said, his tone is different from his usual stoic self. More woman like, somehow.
Wu Chen was reeled from his madness the moment he heard that uncharacteristic voice and tone Ni Len just said.
"Agh, i-im sorry boss, I'm out of line!"
He bowed deeply, realizing his mistake.
"…Its fine, I don't really mind actually"
Wu Chen reassures him while patting his shoulder.
Ni Len looks at him with relieved, thinking that Wu Chen might've been angry due to Gu Liang actions.
"Okay then, I'll take my leave"
He said, his voice returns to becoming more stoic and deeper.
When Ni Len disappeared from Wu Chen views, he started to mumble.
"What was that voice earlier?"
It's so cold, deep and lonely.
But Wu Chen pushed that thought asides, maybe he was getting tired.