I opened my eyes—
And found myself suspended in the middle of the air.
Wind rushed past, sharp and immediate.
"…No warning, huh."
As I fell, my gaze shifted, scanning below—
Dense forest.
Dark.
The canopy swallowed the sky whole.
And then—
Far ahead—
Ruins.
Massive. Broken. Rising through the trees like something ancient.
"…What's that?"
No time.
I adjusted mid-air, lightning flickering along my legs just enough to stabilize—
And landed.
The ground gave slightly beneath me. Roots twisted through the soil, the air thick and still.
I glanced up.
No sky.
Only layers of shadow and leaves.
"…Heading to the ruins should be fine."
I moved.
Lightning carried my steps, smooth and controlled, cutting through the forest at speed.
Then—
Something snapped through the air.
My eyes widened.
A web shot past my face—so close I felt it brush my cheek.
"—Tch!"
I twisted sharply, landing a few steps away as the strand slammed into a tree behind me, spreading instantly.
I turned.
"…Vel'Nithra."
The spider-like Void-Born clung to the trunk above, eight crimson eyes locked onto me. Its body shifted slightly, saliva dripping from its mouth.
I took a step—
And froze.
"…Wait."
My gaze dropped.
My eyes widened.
Webs.
Wrapped around my legs.
Tight.
"…When did it—"
The realization hit instantly.
It never aimed for me first.
It aimed for the ground.
The creature moved.
Fast.
Far faster than before.
It dropped from the tree, its razor-sharp limbs slicing downward straight at me.
My breath caught—just for a fraction of a second.
Then steadied.
My hand moved.
The blade came free, frost gathering instantly along its edge.
"Frost Severance."
The slash cut forward—clean and precise—but the moment it left the blade, it expanded into a sharp crescent of ice.
The webs froze—
Then shattered.
The arc continued, slicing across the creature's face.
A sharp screech tore through the forest.
The Vel'Nithra recoiled violently, two of its eyes splitting as frost spread across the wound.
I stepped free immediately, putting distance between us.
"…So that's how you hunt."
My gaze stayed on it.
"…Set the trap first."
The creature shifted again, more cautious now.
"…Smart."
I adjusted my grip.
"…But not enough."
A faint breath left me.
"Let's end this."
I raised my sword.
"Heavenfall Execution—First Form: Judgement Descent."
The blade fell.
The air tightened along its path, frost compressing into a single, precise line before releasing in a controlled rupture. Ice and lightning carved downward together, tearing through the space between us.
The ground split.
The tree behind it cracked—
Then gave way.
The Vel'Nithra—
Split cleanly along the strike.
Silence followed.
A faint glow appeared.
[+400]
"…Four hundred."
A sharp ache ran through my arm.
"—Guh…"
My grip tightened instinctively as a faint tremor ran through my hand.
"…Still too heavy."
I exhaled slowly, steadying it.
"Ogram's Heavenfall technique… isn't something I can use cleanly yet."
The strain lingered, dull but present.
"…I'll get used to it."
I wiped the blade in one smooth motion and lifted my gaze.
The ruins stood in the distance.
Quiet.
Waiting.
"…Let's keep moving."
I stepped forward, lightning carrying me deeper into the forest.
—
Somewhere deeper within the jungle—
Silver Ryker moved alone.
The forest parted around him as he walked, his steps controlled, almost indifferent. A black blade rested loosely in his hand, its edge catching faint light through the canopy.
Ahead—
Two Void-Borns.
Both hovered near D+ rank, their bodies twitching as they locked onto him.
Silver didn't slow.
"…Too slow."
They lunged.
His blade moved once.
Then again.
Two clean motions.
The first fell instantly, its body splitting before it could even complete its attack. The second followed a breath later, its limb severed before the rest collapsed soon after.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Silence returned.
A screen flickered before him.
[+200 points]
"…Not bad."
He flicked his blade lightly as the remains dissolved.
Then checked the leaderboard.
[Survival Exam]
#1 Noctis — 400 points
#2 Samuel— 350 points
#3 Silver Ryker — 300 points
#4 Reina Emberheart — 250 points
#5 Yelena Zephyr — 250 points
#6 Reinheart Verilian — 150 points
#7 Selena Throne — 100 points
…
…
…
#3200 Alyssa Croft — 0 points
His eyes lingered at the top.
"Noctis…"
A faint crease formed.
"Who the hell is that?"
The screen vanished.
He moved again.
—
Elsewhere—
The sound of combat echoed faintly through another section of the forest.
Samuel stepped back as a Void-Born collapsed in front of him, its body dissolving into fragments of fading energy. His breathing was steady, though his gaze remained alert, scanning the surroundings.
Beside him—
Selena adjusted her stance, brushing her hair back as she glanced around.
"Samuel," she called, her tone sharp but controlled, "what rank are you at now?"
He pulled up the screen.
"…Second."
Selena clicked her tongue.
"Tch. Silver's way too fast—what is he even—"
"It's not Silver."
She paused.
"…What?"
Samuel didn't look at her.
"Check again."
She frowned and brought up the leaderboard.
Her eyes scanned it once—
Then stopped.
"…Noctis?"
—
Reina Emberheart stood in a clearing marked by heat.
The ground around her was darkened, faint embers still glowing where her flames had passed moments ago. A few defeated Void-Borns lay scattered, slowly dissolving.
She let out a small breath and opened the leaderboard.
Her eyes moved casually—
Then stopped.
"…Noctis?"
A slight pause.
Her brows furrowed, not in irritation, but confusion.
"Who the hell is that?"
She looked again, more carefully this time.
Silver. Samuel. Yelena.
All names she knew.
All expected.
But that one—
At the very top—
"…Is he from some known guild?"
Her expression stayed composed, though her gaze lingered a moment longer.
"…Strange."
She closed the screen.
"…I don't remember hearing that name anywhere."
A faint flame flickered back to life in her hand.
"…Well, whoever it is—"
She stepped forward.
"—they'll show up eventually."
—
Elsewhere—
Lightning cracked through the forest.
Yelena Zephyr lowered her blade as the last traces of electricity faded. A Void-Born collapsed behind her.
She opened the leaderboard out of habit.
Her eyes scanned it—
Then paused.
"…Noctis."
A brief silence.
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"…That name isn't in any of the records."
She went through it again mentally.
The major guilds.
The prominent families.
Even the smaller factions.
Nothing.
"…And first place…"
Not disbelief.
Just quiet uncertainty.
"…So someone outside the known circles."
She closed the screen slowly.
"…Interesting."
Lightning gathered faintly at her feet.
"…I'll keep an eye on that."
—
In another part of the forest—
Reinheart Verilian leaned against a tree, looking far too relaxed for the situation.
A defeated Void-Born lay nearby, barely acknowledged.
He opened the leaderboard with mild curiosity.
"…Let's see."
His eyes drifted down—
Then stopped.
"…Hm."
He looked again.
"Noctis?"
A small pause.
"…That's new."
He straightened slightly, a bit more attentive now.
"That's not a noble name… not from any of the big houses either."
His gaze moved across the rest of the list.
All familiar.
All expected.
Then back to the top.
"…And he's ahead of all of them?"
A quiet exhale left him, more intrigued than anything.
"…Now that's unusual."
He closed the screen.
"Someone off the radar, huh."
A faint smile formed.
"This might be quite fun..."
—
Far from the chaos—
In a quiet clearing—
Alyssa Croft slept.
Curled up comfortably on the ground.
Pillow tucked beneath her head.
Completely undisturbed.
A faint rise and fall of her breathing the only sign of life.
A screen hovered faintly beside her.
Unnoticed.
Unread.
[Survival Exam Rankings Updated]
A soft breeze passed through the clearing.
Leaves rustled gently.
She shifted slightly, hugging the pillow closer.
"…Five more minutes…" she murmured.
And went right back to sleep.