[Mission in progress...
Objective: Death looms around the corner. Survive until tomorrow [00:17:34:32].
Reward: An affinity.
Failure: Death.
Respawn: 2/5]
Shit. I'm completely screwed.
"The principles of mana liquidation are essential in the study of fusion and relic creation..."
The monotonous voice of the teacher barely registered. Once again, I found myself right back in the same place after yet another failed attempt. It felt pointless. I had just burned through another respawn, and for what? Nothing.
*Tsk.*
I hadn't even made it to the staff quarters before I hit a wall—literally and figuratively. Students in the Standard Zone weren't allowed to leave without permission. The academy, as I was starting to fully grasp, was divided into three main zones:
- **The Genesis Zone**, for first to fifth-year students.
- **The Standard Zone**, where I currently was, spanning years six to eight. We were in our final year here, with the promise of a break soon—our first in eight years. Reuniting with our families was supposed to be exciting, but most students were terrified of failure.
- **The Upper Zone**, where things got serious. Years nine to eleven. Real expeditions. Real danger. For now, we only got a taste of that through VR exams and practice.
But enough about that. The fact was, I couldn't leave. I nearly died trying. The restriction collar around my neck, meant to keep us in line, had almost strangled me when I ventured too far out of the Standard Zone. But that wasn't what killed me this time.
No, something else did.
After my plan to find a teacher crashed and burned, I decided to change tactics. I aimed for the rooftop instead. It made sense, right? All I had to do was survive until tomorrow. Hiding out on the roof seemed like a safe bet—isolated, quiet. I figured the teachers would track me down eventually because of these cursed collars. That was the plan, anyway: wait for them to find me and escort me to safety. From there, I could think of a new strategy.
It didn't work.
I was killed before I even made it to the roof. The elevator didn't go that high, so I had to take the stairs. Big mistake. Whoever's after me—my assailant—they were waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
It happened so fast. Too fast. I barely saw anything, but this time... I caught a glimpse of something—a weapon. A whip? It happened in the blink of an eye, and I was dead again.
*Sigh.*
And now, I'm back at square one.
*Ding. Ding. Ding!*
Lunchtime again.
I need to stay calm. There's something I've been overlooking. There has to be a clue buried in all this chaos. All these deaths... they can't be for nothing. What am I missing?
Wait.
What have I been doing the same in every single retry? There must be a pattern, a constant. Think, Leo, think—
"Leo, can I borrow your notebook? I didn't copy anything down," Jayden said, scratching the back of his head like he always does.
"Um... Su—"
Wait. This is it.
**THIS IS IT!**
How could I have missed this every single time? Jayden asking for my notebook—that's one thing that's happened in every retry. It's been staring me in the face, and I didn't see it.
Time to try something new.
"Oh, sorry, someone else asked for it first," I lied, standing up quickly before he could respond.
"....."
Jayden said nothing, just stared at me. Was that a frown?
I heard someone call out beside him, and then I noticed the girls sitting nearby.
"!?"
Wait—were they always there? I had been so wrapped up in my own mess that I completely missed them.
"...Sure, let's go, Anna. You coming, Emy?" Jayden said.
Of course. The heroines. They were here the whole time. But why did Jayden always try to get my notebook if they were with him? It didn't make sense. Something wasn't right.
Whatever. I needed to move. Now outside the classroom, I mentally ran through my options.
'Okay, where should I hide next—'
[Mission in progress...
Objective: Death looms around the corner. Survive until tomorrow [00:17:34:32].
Reward: An affinity.
Failure: Death.
Respawn: 2/5]
*Ding!*
[Death Evaded]
[Mission Complete]
"What...?!"
[Reward: Shadow affinity]
[Do you wish to exchange your weakened light affinity for a shadow affinity?]
[Yes] [No]
Hold on... Does this mean... Jayden was trying to kill me?!