The tallic clink of the unlocked chanism echoed faintly across the Beast Fence’s dim interior.
Kaigaku’s breath was sharp, visible in faint.
The Frost Fang Direwolf had already slipped out from the shadows, its hulking C-rank body moving like an icy nightmare through the foliage, heading directly toward the cluster of unsuspecting first-years deeper inside the Beast Fence.
Kaigaku didn’t watch it for long.
He knew the danger.
And he also knew he couldn’t be seen.
Not after what happened with Kael.
His hands were still trembling.
"That bastard..." Kaigaku whispered under his breath, face twisting in frustration. "He made lose. In front of everyone."
The image of the younger boy’s fist slamming into him over and over replayed in his skull like a curse.
He clenched his jaw.
"If the academy sees chaos among the first-years... if the monster hurts enough of them..."
Kaigaku muttered, "they’ll bla the weakest crowd. They’ll bla the ones not prepared."
He smirked bitterly.
"And Kael will get dragged into it too. Perfect."
He glanced again at the path the Direwolf had taken.
Ti to leave.
Kaigaku turned and took his first step away from the Beast Cage area—quiet.
But the Beast Fence wasn’t a simple open yard.
It was practically a forest inside the academy walls—dense trees, thick grass, uneven ground, and narrow paths woven between boulders and containnt fences.
Kaigaku had explored enough during previous training days to know the quietest routes.
He slipped behind a cluster of overgrown bushes first, ducking low.
The leaves rustled faintly around him, but he controlled his breathing.
Every tiny sound felt magnified, especially knowing the Frost Fang Direwolf had just awakened its hunting instinct.
He stepped slowly, keeping to the shadows.
Behind him, a distant scream echoed.
"Aaaaahhhhh!!"
Kaigaku stiffened for a mont.
"That must be the first years..."
Then another scream.
"Help!! Soone call a professor!!"
Kaigaku clicked his tongue.
"No professors are supposed to be here today. Perfect timing."
He kept moving.
The path forward was dim—light barely filtered through the canopy overhead.
Kaigaku wrapped his cloak tighter around himself and continued.
His escape had to be flawless.
He crouched lower when he heard voices nearby—a group of first-years running between trees, panicked breaths echoing.
He imdiately hid behind a thick tree trunk, pressing his body against the bark.
"D–Did you see its fangs?!" one first-year cried.
They kept running blindly, not even looking around.
"Good."
The more chaotic things got, the more excuses he would have.
Once their footsteps faded, Kaigaku resud his route—staying near the fence walls. He traced the periter carefully, keeping his head low and senses sharp.
Far away, he heard a loud crash—sothing massive slamming into the ground.
Then more screaming.
The Frost Fang Direwolf had begun its hunt.
Kaigaku didn’t turn back.
Instead, he moved with even more caution, weaving between stone obstacles, ducking beneath low branches, stepping lightly across fallen leaves to avoid making noise.
But then—
Crack.
A twig snapped under his foot.
He froze.
For a mont, the forest went dead silent.
Kaigaku held his breath.
If the Direwolf heard that—
A chilling breeze washed by, creeping along the trees.
His heart tightened.
A second passed.
Then five.
Then ten.
No movent.
Kaigaku exhaled silently and continued—this ti slower.
He finally reached the narrow pathway he’d planned to use—one that skirted along the backside of the Beast Cage area.
Hardly anyone passed here because the ground dipped downward like a trench, filled with thick roots.
"Perfect for disappearing."
He slid down carefully, gripping roots to prevent a fall.
The trench was quiet, isolated.
"Almost there..." he whispered.
He picked his way along the winding ditch, sotis crouched, sotis almost crawling.
Above him, he could still hear chaos.
"S–Soone fainted! Carry him!"
"Run—run—run!!!"
"Don’t go that way! The frost beast is there!"
The panic was spreading.
Kaigaku smirked again.
"That’s right... scream. Panic. Make the professors think the monsters are malfunctioning."
He climbed out of the trench once he reached the far end and wiped off the dirt from his clothes.
He was now close to the back gate—the small maintenance exit rarely used, one that led outside the Beast Fence and into a narrow corridor behind the Training Grounds.
He looked around.
"No one."
"Good."
He approached the rusty gate, the one he had unlocked earlier before sneaking inside.
He glanced once more over his shoulder—not in guilt, but in satisfaction.
"Kael... let’s see how you handle this."
He pushed the gate open just enough for his body to slip through. The tal creaked faintly, but there was no one around to hear it.
He exited the Beast Fence.
The outside corridor was empty.
Kaigaku exhaled in relief.
He couldn’t help the smirk creeping onto his lips.
"That should stir things up."
His body relaxed slightly now that he was away from danger.
He dusted mud off his knees, adjusted his clothes, and began walking toward the main academy path.
But he wasn’t careless.
He stayed near walls, avoiding open spaces, moving silently like a shadow. His footsteps were steady.
He reached the long stretch of stone pathway that connected to the first-year training hall.
From here, he could already see students running in panic out of the Beast Fence’s main entrance on the opposite side.
Everyone would assu he’d been training elsewhere.
He blended into the crowd just as so second-years ran past him shouting:
"There’s a beast loose!!"
"A frost one! Rank C!"
"Soone hurry and bring a professor!"
Kaigaku widened his eyes, acting surprised.
"What? A beast escaped?" he said loudly.
"Yes! It’s attacking first-years!"
Kaigaku gasped dramatically. "What?! That’s insane—how did it get out?"
They didn’t question him. They were too panicked.
Kaigaku walked alongside them for a few seconds... then slowly drifted away into the outer courtyard where fewer people stood.
He leaned against a pillar, crossing his arms.
"I escaped unnoticed," he muttered.
"Good."
He watched the chaos spreading across the academy grounds.
Students leaving classes to look toward the Beast Fence. Others run toward teachers.
So were frozen, shocked.
Kaigaku chuckled softly.
"All because of one brat."
He imagined Kael fighting that Direwolf alone, struggling, bleeding.
A twisted satisfaction filled him.
"Let’s see how long you survive this ti."
He turned away and walked toward his dormitory, hands tucked in his pockets, expression calm—like nothing ever happened.
Behind him, the panicked shouts only grew louder.
But Kaigaku didn’t look back.
He disappeared into the paths between buildings, walking casually, blending into the confusion and noise.
His escape was complete.
And inside the Beast Fence—
The Frost Fang Direwolf continued rampaging.
While Kael Ashford ...was still unaware that soone had unleashed death right behind him.
The screams of the first-years beginning to rise behind him only fueled his twisted satisfaction.
"Let them panic... Let them suffer. Let that arrogant Kael see what real fear feels like", Kaigaku thought, biting his lip as he moved deeper into the trees.
He didn’t run openly across the paths. Instead, he slithered between bushes, stepped over fallen logs, avoiding every dry leaf and twig that might crack.
This wasn’t just experience—Kaigaku had trained in stealth techniques used by field scouts. He was good at hiding... especially when doing sothing he shouldn’t.
But as he neared the outskirts of the Beast Fence, one major problem lurked behind him:
The Frostfang Direwolf’s roar echoed across the academy grounds.
GRAAAWWWWRRRR!!!
"That should keep everyone busy," he whispered to himself.
He wiped sweat from his forehead, adjusted his broken sword at his waist, and took another step—
But then he froze.
Kaigaku ducked low, slipping behind a thicket of tall grass. His heartbeat sped up.
"Who’s here? No one should be near the Beast Fence besides those idiot first-years..."
The footsteps ca closer. The branches parted.
And then Kaigaku’s eyes widened sharply.
Nathan.
Rank 1 of Third Year.
Nathan walked with casual ease, hands behind his head, humming to himself. He didn’t seem stressed at all.
He wasn’t here because of the beast.
Nathan paused near the fence gate and frowned.
"...Why is this open?" he muttered.
Kaigaku’s blood turned cold.
Nathan lowered his head, inspecting the broken latch. He looked around the ground—footprints, signs of disturbance, frost spreading unnaturally across the dirt.
Then... Nathan slowly raised his gaze toward the woods.
Directly toward the area where Kaigaku was hiding.
Kaigaku held his breath.
Nathan narrowed his eyes.
"Soone was here."
Kaigaku stayed still like a statue. He didn’t dare blink.
Nathan took a slow step forward.
Another step.
And one more.
"Does he see ?! No... No, calm down. Nathan might be strong, but he’s dull minded unless it’s combat. He won’t—"
Nathan suddenly stopped.
He tilted his head slightly.
"...Huh. Did soone just co from this direction?"
Kaigaku’s heart dropped.
He wasn’t discovered—but he wasn’t safe yet either.
Nathan stared into the shadows, analyzing the forest in silence. Leaves rustled lightly, and the faraway screams of panicking students echoed faintly.
Nathan tapped his chin.
"It’s probably nothing, but..."
His voice sharpened.
"...why do I feel like soone sneaked out of here?"
Kaigaku swallowed.
Nathan’s intuition was terrifying.
Kaigaku slowly shifted his body weight, preparing to slip away deeper into the woods. Just one distraction... one noise from sowhere else... and he could escape.
And thankfully—
The Frostfang Direwolf howled again, louder than before.
GRAAAWWRRRR!!!
Reviews
All reviews (0)