Chapter 206: The Ironvale Formation

The Ashen Crown Hunting Grounds swallowed the students almost immediately.

Within minutes of the starting signal, the seven academies had disappeared into different sections of the enormous wilderness.

Some had chosen speed. Others had chosen caution.

Ironvale Academy had chosen formation.

The moment they crossed the boundary, the nine participating students moved as though they had rehearsed the maneuver countless times.

At the very front walked their captain, Lucian Veyr.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried a massive black spear across his back. His dark brown hair was tied into a short ponytail, while a faint scar ran from the corner of his left eye down toward his cheek.

Several meters behind him walked Selene Arkwright, the academy’s strongest student.

Her long silver hair was tied into a high ponytail, and a pair of thin black swords rested at her waist. To her right was Kael Draven, a muscular young man wearing reinforced gauntlets.

The remaining students spread themselves around the formation. Nobody spoke for the first thirty seconds.

Lucian suddenly stopped.

"Hold."

Everyone halted. The forest was quiet- too quiet.

The Ashen Crown Hunting Grounds had been designed to simulate a genuine monster-infested environment, yet there wasn’t even the sound of birds.

Lucian slowly raised one hand.

"Something’s wrong."

Kael glanced around.

"What?"

Selene’s eyes narrowed.

"We’re being watched."

One of the students looked upward. Several observation drones hovered between the branches.

"By the organizers?"

Selene shook her head.

"No."

She pointed toward the surrounding trees.

"Monsters."

Then she pointed behind them.

"And probably the other academies."

One of the students sighed.

"So we’re surrounded."

Selene smiled.

"Good."

Kael looked at her.

"You sound happy."

"I am."

"You haven’t even fought anyone yet."

Selene’s smile widened.

"Exactly."

Lucian sighed.

"Please don’t start."

Selene looked at him.

"You say that every time."

"And every time you ignore me."

"Because you’re usually wrong."

"I am the captain."

"Unfortunately."

The other students immediately looked away. Nobody wanted to get caught between those two.

[Ironvale Academy]

[Active Participants: 9]

The academy had sent nine participants into the City Qualifiers.

Their captain was Lucian Veyr, an A-Rank defensive combatant whose ability, Iron Dominion, allowed him to manipulate metallic substances and reinforce his body with layers of hardened metal.

Beside him stood Selene Arkwright, an S-Rank swordswoman.

Her ability was Phantom Blade, allowing her to create ethereal blades capable of cutting through physical matter, energy, and certain defensive abilities. There were many more, but details didn’t matter here.

Kael Draven was an A-Rank close-combat specialist. His ability, Titan Fist, drastically amplified his physical strength and durability.

The remaining six were: Mira Voss- A-Rank, Barrier Manipulation; Leon Hart- A-Rank, Beast Enhancement; Iris Vale- B-Rank, Sound Manipulation; Noah Crest- B-Rank, Wind Manipulation; Tessa Rune- B-Rank, Healing Arts; and Gideon Cross- A-Rank, Chain Manipulation.

And Ironvale Academy wasn’t considered the strongest academy in City B. That alone demonstrated how ridiculous the competition was.

Lucian looked toward the forest.

"We need information."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Already?"

"Yes."

Lucian pointed toward the three paths ahead.

"The organizers deliberately concealed the objectives. That means the first phase isn’t about rushing toward a target."

Mira nodded.

"Reconnaissance."

"Exactly."

Selene leaned against one of the trees.

"So we’re splitting."

Lucian nodded.

"We’ll divide into three groups."

Selene immediately smiled.

"I want the western section."

Lucian glanced at her.

"Why?"

"Because something strong is there."

"You can sense that?"

"No." She pointed at herself. "I just have a feeling."

Lucian stared at her.

"That’s not reassuring."

She shrugged.

"It usually works."

Lucian sighed.

"Fine." He pointed toward the western section. "Selene, Kael, Gideon."

Selene nodded. Then he pointed toward the eastern section.

"Mira, Tessa, Noah."

The three nodded.

Finally, Lucian looked toward the northern path.

"I’ll take Leon and Iris."

Kael frowned.

"Splitting the strongest members?"

"We need coverage."

Lucian looked around.

"If another academy is moving toward us, we need enough people to respond without exposing our entire formation."

Selene nodded.

"Reasonable."

Lucian looked directly at her.

"One more thing."

She raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Don’t fight unnecessarily."

Selene stared at him. Then she smiled.

"No promises."

"Selene."

"I’m joking."

Lucian narrowed his eyes.

"You’d better be."

She turned toward the western forest.

"Let’s go."

The three groups separated.

Lucian and his team headed north. Mira, Tessa, and Noah disappeared into the eastern forest. Selene, Kael, and Gideon moved west.

They had barely traveled two hundred meters when Gideon suddenly stopped.

"Wait."

Selene looked back.

"What?"

Gideon raised his hand. His expression had changed.

"Something’s moving."

Kael immediately clenched his fists.

"Monster?"

"Definitely."

Selene smiled.

"How strong?"

Gideon closed his eyes. His ability activated. Thin chains of energy spread through the ground beneath them.

He could feel vibrations. Something massive was approaching.

"Strong."

"How strong?"

Gideon’s eyes opened.

"A-Rank."

Selene’s smile widened.

"Perfect."

Kael sighed.

"You’ve been waiting to hear that."

"Of course."

The forest suddenly shook.

BOOM!

A massive tree collapsed. Then another. Something was charging toward them. Kael immediately stepped forward.

"Formation!"

Gideon summoned several chains. Selene drew one of her swords as the ground suddenly erupted.

ROOOOOOOOOOOAR!

A gigantic creature burst through the trees. It looked like a monstrous rhinoceros covered in overlapping plates of dark metallic armor.

Four massive horns protruded from its skull, while glowing red veins ran across its body. A crystalline growth protruded from the center of its forehead.

Gideon’s expression became serious.

"A-Rank Ironhide Ravager."

Kael cracked his knuckles.

"What’s its ability?"

"Metal Assimilation."

Gideon pointed toward the creature.

"It can absorb surrounding metals and incorporate them into its body."

Kael looked around. The hunting grounds were filled with artificial structures- metallic trees created specifically for the environment.

His expression changed.

"That’s a terrible matchup."

Selene stepped forward.

"Only if we let it absorb anything."

The Ironhide Ravager roared, and the ground shook. Selene disappeared.

BOOOOOOM!

She crossed the distance almost instantly, her sword flashing. The blade struck the monster’s shoulder, and a deep cut appeared, but the creature barely reacted.

It swung one enormous claw; Selene ducked.

WHAM!

The claw smashed into the ground where her head had been moments earlier.

Kael charged.

"MY TURN!"

His fists became surrounded by a dense golden aura.

TITAN FIST!

He punched the monster directly in the ribs.

BOOOOOOM!

The creature staggered. Several trees behind it collapsed from the shockwave. Gideon raised both hands.

"Chain Dominion!"

Dozens of black chains erupted from the earth. They wrapped around the Ravager’s legs, torso, and neck, causing the monster to roar in struggle.

Selene appeared above it, her silver hair fluttering in the air. Her eyes sharpened.

"Stay down."

She brought her sword downward.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The forest erupted.

The observation drone above them immediately zoomed in. Millions of viewers watching the tournament saw the battle. The commentator’s voice rose in excitement.

"Ironvale Academy has already encountered an A-Rank monster! And they’re handling it incredibly well!"

But Selene suddenly stopped. Her expression changed. She looked beyond the monster and the trees, toward the distant horizon.

Kael noticed.

"What?"

Selene slowly smiled.

"Someone else is here."

Gideon immediately turned.

"Another monster?"

Selene shook her head.

"No."

She lowered her sword.

"People."

Kael’s expression hardened.

"Another academy?"

Selene’s smile widened.

"Looks like it."

The three Ironvale students looked toward the forest. For several seconds, nothing happened. Then, a branch snapped. Someone was approaching.

Gideon summoned his chains, Kael raised his fists, and Selene stood at the front. The Ironhide Ravager was still recovering behind them, and from the trees ahead, several figures slowly emerged.

Another academy had found them.

The City B Qualifier had officially entered its first true confrontation, and this time, the opponents were human.