**Chapter 8: Shadows in the Forest**
The forest loomed ahead—dense, misty, alive.
The vast arena used for the first tournament trial had been transformed. Projectors and illusionary magic replicated a real monster-infested forest. The Adventurer's Federation called it the **Forest of Attrition**, and it was the first real test of the combatants' survival instincts.
Kairo, standing among his dojo peers, glanced around. Other dojo teams, each with matching cloaks and insignias, waited tensely at the line. A shimmering barrier pulsed before them, separating them from the wild simulation.
"This is not just about raw power," Instructor Shun from Addson Dojo said quietly beside Kairo. "The Federation judges you on strategy, kills, stamina, leadership, and survival. Remember that."
Kairo nodded. He was dressed in simple training gear, a cloth wrapped around his arm with the Addson Dojo crest—one of the few teams without enchantments or gear-enhancing talismans.
A loud voice echoed through the floating orbs above the arena.
> "Round One: **Forest Elimination Trial.** You will be judged by the total number of confirmed monster kills. Top 1000 participants will proceed to the second trial. Portal activates in 10 seconds."
Kairo's heart thumped.
> 3… 2… 1—
The shimmering barrier vanished.
The flood began.
Hundreds of teens, warriors-in-training, and S-class prodigies stormed the forest. The illusionary ground felt real—the smell of damp bark and rot, the chill of mist, and the sudden snarl of beasts.
Addson Dojo had agreed to split into pairs. Kairo was with Reeva, a quiet girl who specialized in perception magic.
"We stick close. You cover my blind side. I'll be the bait," Kairo said.
Reeva nodded, scanning with her **Eagle Sight** ability.
They didn't have to go far.
Out of the shadows, a **Direwolf**, two meters tall and dripping with spectral energy, lunged.
Kairo side-stepped. Its claw sliced air. Reeva flicked her wrist, launching a glowing dart.
Kairo didn't wait. He clenched his fist.
> "\[Mission Detected: Defeat the Direwolf.]"
> Reward: 10 EXP. 1x Random Elixir. Martial move (Grade C) unlocked if you defeat without injury.
Evalof's voice chuckled in his mind.
> "You've got this, kid."
Kairo dropped low and delivered a precise palm strike to the beast's jaw. It stumbled.
Another fist to the side. It howled.
Reeva's dart pierced its eye. The beast disintegrated into black mist.
> +10 EXP. \[Vitality Elixir obtained.] \[Grade C Technique: Flowing Serpent Style unlocked.]
"Did you see that?" Kairo grinned.
But there was no time for celebration. Reeva pulled him down as another shadow moved.
They kept fighting, moving, dodging other teams. Many fights were chaotic—some teens losing control and even attacking others for kill steals.
The hours passed. Mist grew thicker. Screams echoed deeper in the woods.
---
At the main control tower, tournament officials watched from monitors.
"Subject Kairo from Addson Dojo… He's rising fast," said one official. "Over thirty kills in six hours. And his energy levels are still stable."
"Isn't that the boy with zero mana output?" another asked.
"Yeah, but he's on fire."
---
As night fell, Kairo and Reeva stumbled into a glowing clearing. An ancient beast stood ahead: a **Crystal-Tusk Bear**, easily five meters tall. Only two others from prestigious dojos were present.
And they didn't look pleased to share.
"You? From Addson?" scoffed one of them, a fire-spear wielder from Duskwind Dojo. "You can't even summon mana. Get lost."
Kairo didn't answer.
Evalof's voice whispered:
> "\[Mission: Last Hit the Boss Beast.]"
> Reward: Bonus 100 EXP. Rare Item: Shadowstep Sandals. + Perception boost.
Kairo narrowed his eyes.
"Reeva," he said, "can you distract the bear?"
She smirked. "Born ready."
The fight erupted.
Two Duskwind elites tried dominating the fight, but Kairo's agile movements and perfect timing stole the final blow. With a flying kick enhanced by **Flowing Serpent Style**, he crushed the bear's skull.
It shimmered into light. Everyone froze.
> +100 EXP. \[Shadowstep Sandals acquired.]
The Duskwind boy was stunned. "That bastard…!"
Kairo only smiled. Evalof's voice returned, satisfied.
> "Perfect timing. You're finally using your body as it should be."
---
By the end of the trial, Kairo was ranked **92nd** out of a thousand.
Addson Dojo had made it.
They had qualified for Trial Two: The Stat Trials.