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“It seems like a dangerous situation.”

Control Room.

Whispers spread among the gathered professors.

“Have there been no updates from the professors who went out for field support?”

Unlike other places on Volta Island, the central island can only track the location and stamina of students wearing bracelets.

About half of the students who entered the central island have been eliminated. Naturally, anxiety began to spread among the professors gathered in the control room.

“There is still no news.”

“… Too many students are being eliminated right after entering the central island.”

“In this case, we should…”

Violet also joined in that silence.

The owner of the central island, a third-grade dangerous species, the Crimson Grizzly.

Also known as Urugios.

The promotion exams of Lichten Academy have been held on this Volta Island several times. However, the island’s owner has never personally appeared until now.

“… It can’t be.”

“Yes?”

“This monster has never left its nest before. It’s a strict territorial creature. It wouldn’t leave its crater to wander now.”

He spoke firmly.

Violet quietly tapped her lips from her seat.

His words were credible. As the head of the Reconnaissance Department, he had considerable knowledge about dangerous species.

But accidents always happen where they are least expected.

What if someone deliberately provoked Urugios?

If they have reached the central island, they are already among the top students in this exam.

For about half of them to be eliminated one after another?

It’s not a situation where one can simply think someone had a good strategy and move on.

“We should be more cautious.”

Violet spoke up.

This Volta Island is a place full of various mysterious phenomena.

Even if one believes in the abilities of the students of Lichten Academy, it doesn’t mean they can be blindly trusted.

Above all, Violet was suspecting one possibility. The mysterious artifact operating on this island, the ‘bracelet’.

Despite the intuitive and convenient system of the protective shield’s stamina, it might be misleading people.

“If a high-ranking dangerous species like Urugios appears, we must consider the possibility that the bracelet might not function properly.”

The critical rationality unique to wizards questioned that as well.

If any student gets seriously injured, it would be problematic for Lichten Academy.

Even now, professors are not actively dealing with students who have reached [0].

They trust the protective function of the bracelets.

But if that premise were to be shattered, the current approach of the professors would be complacent.

It could potentially lead to fatalities.

However, other professors dismissed Violet’s concerns as unfounded.

“Of course, I expected the ever-critical Professor Violet to say something.”

Engelgard from the Knight Department spoke up.

“It’s an unlikely scenario. Injuries and fatalities have occurred for various reasons already. Even if the bracelet’s efficacy drops, it’s something the students have to handle.”

They must handle death.

Engelgaard certainly had a strict educational philosophy.

Violet shared that as well.

She simply disliked standing by and watching preventable incidents.

This was purely a matter of efficiency.

‘… I am also worried about Ian.’

For some reason, Ian is involved in most major incidents whenever they occur.

Hopefully, nothing major happens this time.

Violet murmured briefly.

◆

Suspicious.

The further they went while hunting monsters, a faint sense of unease tickled their skin.

“… It seems there are fewer monsters than yesterday.”

Danya murmured.

“There are also no increasing traces of students.”

“Indeed, it’s different from yesterday.”

The party members each added a word.

This persistent sense of incongruity.

It’s not something that can be dismissed as a mere hunch, as everyone feels something similar.

Therefore, it should not be ignored.

The feeling of unease is a warning of danger etched into their instincts.

Ian spoke up.

“I have a rough idea. It’s possible that the island’s owner, the Crimson Grizzly Urugios, is wandering around.”

Urugios.

The most notable feature of this creature is its ‘ferocity.’

And it makes sense.

“Come to think of it, thousands of uninvited guests have invaded its home and turned it upside down under the guise of an exam.”

No, it’s not even human.

Considering its size, it would probably see the students as nothing more than a swarm of mosquitoes.

Trying to rest while surrounded by buzzing mosquitoes.

… He’d have his rage gauge maxed out too.

‘Why am I empathizing with the monster?’

Ian shook his head to dispel the distracting thoughts.

Understanding the enemy’s psychology is essential.

The monster’s ‘rage’ is a crucial point to exploit.

Its attack patterns depend on its level of anger.

When first encountered, it primarily uses straightforward attacks.

Swipes and actions similar to those of an ordinary bear.

But as things don’t go its way, its patterns become more varied.

Biting, grabbing and throwing, body slamming, and so on.

The problem arises in the final phase when its rage is maxed out.

After a long battle, failing to catch the buzzing mosquitoes in front of it, its fur turns crimson with rage.

The so-called ‘Berserk’ state.

At this point, the patterns actually simplify.

However, each attack’s power and speed increase drastically.

“… Hmmm.”

Of course, there are strategies to defeat it. Assuming it’s in its den.

But if it’s roaming outside its lair?

‘We must be careful not to encounter it.’

Elena and Danya murmured.

“… Somehow, I smelled blood.”

“There were traces of holy power everywhere. Were those defensive marks?”

It seems we need to be mentally prepared. Ian gathered his party members.

Elena fidgeted anxiously.

“Th-That Urugios must be incredibly strong!”

Danya also had a worried expression, but Lina comforted them with a bright smile.

“Don’t worry too much, Elena. We have Ian with us.”

Hmm.

While it was nice of her to reassure them, even Ian didn’t have a special method if it was Urugios.

He did know its weakness, though.

“If we encounter it, aim for its eyes. Use Danya and Lina’s elemental attacks to trigger a ‘Burn’ reaction. That should be enough to make it pause for a moment.”

“And after that?”

Gulp.

Lina swallowed hard and looked up at him, expecting a brilliant strategy.

“We run away.”

“…What?”

“Taking it down directly is too much. Its physical capabilities are overwhelming. Ideally, we would use the swampy terrain near its lair, but if it’s roaming around, that method won’t work either.”

He had planned to defeat Urugios and obtain the hidden piece in its lair, but…

‘…Wait a moment.’

Ian suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Maybe there’s a way.

By utilizing the ‘Super Regeneration’ and ‘Berserker’s Shield’ passives he recently acquired, it might be possible.

After all, it’s a skill that multiplies his damage by ten.

But he quickly shook his head.

‘There’s no need to be greedy.’

The promotion to Aether was a crucial element for advancing the scenario.

He had to play it safe.

Thus, Ian’s party continued to hunt monsters cautiously, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings.

For a while.

“Help, please!”

A voice called out from beyond the bushes.

“Brother, over there…!”

“I heard it too.”

Beneath a tree marked with deep gashes from a massive bear, a student lay sprawled on the ground.

“What should we do? Should we help?”

“Or maybe…temporarily take their coins for safekeeping wouldn’t be a bad idea either!”

Ian calmed Lina and Elena before stepping forward.

“Everyone, stay here.”

He didn’t plan to help the fallen student unconditionally.

However, if the student had valuable information, he could consider it worth the effort.

Ian cautiously approached the female student.

‘It doesn’t seem like a trap.’

There were no noticeable elements around.

The tree she leaned against was bare of leaves, indicating no one was hiding there.

Beyond that was a cliff about 10 meters high.

“Are you alright?”

The student responded urgently.

“P-please help me. I can’t move my leg.”

A wound was etched into her leg.

While the bleeding wasn’t severe, it seemed like the tendons had been struck, rendering her leg immobile.

“What happened?”

“A…a giant bear-like creature!”

“What did it look like?”

“Its surface was covered with something like hard, crimson armor.”

…So it is Urugios. Ian let out a small sigh.

“Where did the bear go?”

“I-it jumped down there!!”

The student pointed to the bottom of the cliff.

It was an area dense with trees, stretching for dozens of meters.

‘So Urugios is wandering down there?’

They just needed to avoid descending into that area.

“My companions are down there…”

The student murmured sadly.

However, Ian spoke firmly.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help with that.”

With that, Ian approached the student.

He had obtained the information, so he should offer some help.

As he turned toward the cliff to approach her.

“…?”

A sudden, chilling sensation struck him.

What had he missed?

Why did the height of this cliff seem so familiar?

At the end of that question, he let out a small sigh.

“Oh.”

It was similar to the height of the school rooftop where he first fell.

Back then, the sunset was just like this.

And when he turned around at that moment…

— Thud!

Something collided with Ian.

He described it as ‘something’ because it felt like he was pushed by thin air.

As he was pushed toward the cliff, Ian reached out towards the invisible presence.

There had to be something there.

Swish.

He felt a fabric-like texture.

He pulled it.

Is it an invisibility cloak?

As the cloak was pulled away, the figure became visible.

“…How did you!”

A man stared back at him, wide-eyed in shock.

Ian recognized that blond face.

“So, it was you, Dave.”

A knight from the Priest Department.

And.

The Guardian Knight of Aria Lumines Bell, the saint candidate.

Recognizing his face, Ian tumbled down the cliff.

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