Darius let out a low chuckle. "That’s a twist worthy of a thriller novel."
The professor leaned back slightly, tone still calm but with a flicker of humor in his eyes. "And second: the randomness of elimination. When Hunters fail, twenty percent of their group are culled at random. It doesn’t matter if you fought bravely or held back—it could be anyone. That unpredictability forces every Hunter to give their best, because no one wants to gamble their life on hesitation."
Selene leaned toward the camera, her voice hushed. "So this round pushes teamwork—but also tests nerves, luck, and even character."
"Well said," Veylin replied warmly. "It’s not just strength on display. That is why this round is so fascinating."
On the broadcast display, a panel shimmered again into existence, reorganizing into something structured. Across the battlefield feed, a massive glowing table appeared with a map. Names arranged themselves into three distinct columns
[HUNTED] Unlucky participants marked in crimson.
[HUNTERS] – dozens of names aligned with each hunted target, glowing in sharp gold.
[FREE] – the fewest column, white text listing the unassigned participants free to move as they pleased.
As for what the participants saw based on their role.
For Hunters, a map flared across their vision, dotted with glowing markers.
A timer ticked down from 30:00 followed by a rules.
Every two minutes, their Target’s location would be revealed on the map.
For the hunted, their panel were simpler. Every oneminute, their map would reveal the positions of all ten Hunters pursuing them.
For Freemen, their screens flashed with a single incentive: "Each Hunter slain grants 1 to all attributes."
The map for them was blank save for their immediate surroundings, leaving them to decide how to shape their actions.
Back in the real world.
Selene’s breath caught audibly, her tone hushed with wonder.
"So that’s how it works. Viewers, you can see it—each role sees the battlefield differently. Hunters chase, the Hunted runs, and the Free... they can bee wild cards."
Darius leaned forward with an incredulous grin. "That’s... genius. Imagine you’re Free. Do you help the Hunted? Betray the Hunters? Or hunt the Hunters yourself just to rack up attributes? It’s like tossing oil on fire."
Professor Veylin nodded, his voice measured but intrigued.
"It introduces layers of unpredictability. A Hunted might survive not just by running—but by luring their Hunters into ambushes from opportunistic Freemen. And those Hunters, in turn, can’t waste too much time. Every minute is pressure."
One the scene, as the table of names solidified, several immediately stood out.
Selene’s sharp eyes caught the details first.
"Professor, look—names like Akihara Renji, Svetlana Morozova, and Luis Andrade. These aren’t our country style of naming. These should be foreign candidates."
The broadcast flickered to show their images briefly.
Darius gave a low whistle. "So it’s confirmed—the Federation pulled candidates from across Aurora. We’re not just watching Dawn’s finest, we’re seeing a collision of cultures."
Professor Veylin held a faint smile.
In Bright Academy’s cafeteria, voices overlapped in gossip and excitement.
Lily, however, leaned forward, eyes narrowed. Her friends were whispering excitedly about exotic names, but her focus locked onto one thing: the glowing list.
By luck, Lily caught a name in the freeman column.
Michael Norman.
The broadcast panned wide across the cliffs and valleys, a haze of fog rolling between jagged ridges. Small lights flared above each participant’s head, color-coded to their role—gold for Hunters, crimson for the Hunted, and white for the Freemen.
Selene leaned closer to her monitor, narrating for the public:
"Viewers, what you’re seeing now are the system’s designations. Each of them may tilt this battlefield in ways we can’t predict."
Darius chuckled, shaking his head. "The Freemen might be the most dangerous of all. They’re not bound by rules. Just chaos walking."
Professor Veylin adjusted his glasses, his tone calm.
"At first, it may take time before eliminations begin. The Hunted will run, the Hunters will circle and coordinate, and the Freemen will test the waters. Expect cautious probing first."
His words carried an authority that quieted even the buzzing cafeteria at Bright Academy. Students leaned forward, waiting to see if he was right.
And then—
The broadcast ticker flashed suddenly.
[Active Participants: 498]
The reduction was instant, two names fading from the glowing table. The mentators jolted, voices overlapping.
Selene gasped. "Two already?!"
Darius leaned in. "Professor, you said it would take time!"
The feed shifted, replaying both eliminations.
The first recording zoomed in on a lone Hunter creeping along the cliffs, golden light marking his head. His eyes were locked on his map, attention fixed on the pulsing crimson dot of his Target.
And then the fog shifted.
From above a figure dropped..
The camera caught sight of a figure slipping from the mist like a shadow, spear in hand. He moved without hesitation, his spear thrust piercing through the Hunter’s chest before the boy even had time to raise his weapon.
The golden light blinked out instantly as the body vanished into bits of light.
[Michael Norman – Freeman kill]
Selene’s voice trembled with awe. "Already?! This Michael Norman takes the first blood of the round—and against a Hunter, no less. That’s an attribute point to all of his stats."
Darius gave a low whistle. "So much for testing the waters. He’s hunting the hunters."
The second scene flashed crimson.
Unlike the Hunter mob scenes viewers expected, this one was more startling. The Hunted wasn’t cornered, wasn’t desperate. He had simply been close when one of his assigned pursuers tried to flank him.
With a sudden, fluid movement, the Hunted’s blade cut across the Hunter’s throat. Golden light blinked out, leaving crimson burning brighter in the fog.
The system froze the replay on the Hunted’s face.
The camera zoomed closer.
If Michael was seeing this, he’d have been surprised.
Because this was a familiar face.
Brian.
His classmate.
The one who bore the rare dual classes.
He was also here.
****
A/N: Please vote to support and thanks for reading today’s Chapters!
User Comments
0 comments from readers