Chapter 26

The comprehensive exchange competition was only a month away.

It felt like the academy’s entire schedule revolved around that one day a month from now.

The pressure on the top ranks, in particular, was intense.

The results achieved at the exchange competition would directly influence future Hunter market values.

Because of this, whether they were top-ranking cadets or international students, everyone approached their training with utmost seriousness.

Except for one person.

“Over here, sponsors! Right this way!”

Kwak Dohyeong, boasting about completing performance tests for his latest product developed in collaboration with Berserker, led his research investors straight to the training ground.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t illegal.

Even the overseer, Han Se-ah, simply looked on with a disinterested gaze and left them alone.

As a result, the training ground was divided into those focused on their training, the somewhat deflated international cadets still recovering from their confrontation with Kang Han, and Kwak Dohyeong enthusiastically conducting business with his sponsors.

Watching from the side, it was hard not to wonder what on earth was happening.

“How bold is that guy?”

“So that’s what Dohyeong is like.”

Even Ira Sol, who was known to go to any lengths for talent acquisition, looked a bit exasperated. It seemed she had met someone who exceeded her in brazenness.

One month remained.

There wasn’t much time left before the terror incident would begin.

If I wasted time without knowing what was coming, the day would sneak up in the blink of an eye.

I carefully brought up the topic.

“Ira Sol, how are things on your sister’s end?”

“We could meet her at any moment.”

Ira Sol’s expression was dark. It wasn’t just because the lights in the training ground didn’t shine on her spot.

There was always a certain atmosphere.

Whenever her sister was mentioned, Ira Sol’s mood would subtly darken, creating an invisible shadow.

“But it’s better not to meet her. If you walk into the trap my sister has prepared, you won’t even have a chance to fight back before being caught.”

“So we have to wait until she comes to us?”

“Yes, but by then…”

“It’ll be on the day of the exchange competition.”

Whether I liked it or not, the plan would proceed under tight deadlines.

I didn’t know how strongly the heretic mark would bind me, when it would activate, or how large the scale of the terror attack would be.

The initiative was entirely in the hands of the villains. Of course, the academy wasn’t foolish.

Knowing the global attention on the exchange competition, they had thoroughly prepared for the potential impact of a successful terror attack.

The resources spent on hiring Hunter forces alone were substantial, and with the addition of magical defenses, it seemed more than capable of preventing an attack.

Nevertheless, the heretics had covertly declared their intention to terrorize.

Naturally, the defending side could only prepare for the worst.

“Everything will be fine, Ira Sol.”

“Yes.”

Ira Sol forced a smile.

Her wavering gaze landed on Kwak Dohyeong, busy selling his product, and Ganghan, who was struggling to keep up with him.

On the surface, there didn’t seem to be any major problems.

It was just another ordinary day of diligently following the schedule.

On the day of the comprehensive exchange competition.

It wasn’t just cadets from around the world who had gathered.

Reporters speaking in every imaginable language and their crews lugging heavy cameras were enough to fill a truckload.

However, their presence was overshadowed by the overwhelming crowd that packed the massive stadium.

It felt as though the entire world had turned into one giant cacophony of noise.

[Waaaaah!]

Hearing the excitement through the screen, Jin Mugyeol, who had been warming up in the waiting room, smirked.

“The time for heroes to make their nation’s name known has come.”

“Don’t let your guard down and end up paying for it.”

“Whatever, weakling.”

“Are you seriously arguing over names?”

Kang Han and Jin Mugyeol had become accustomed to bickering lightly. It felt like just yesterday that Kang Han had pummeled Jin Mugyeol during their first meeting, but perhaps men really do bond through fights.

I watched them leisurely from behind.

The more characters supporting the protagonist, the better.

After all, even I couldn’t stay by the protagonist’s side forever.

It was during these thoughts that she arrived.

“Are you ready?”

Overseer Han Se-ah entered the waiting room, decked out with various operator devices.

She looked as if she had to communicate with countless people simultaneously due to the sheer number of tasks she managed.

“The main event will begin shortly. Please proceed to the waiting room for your assigned event.”

Han Se-ah glanced over the cadets before speaking lightly.

“Today’s results won’t be determined by who you are now, but by who you’ve been all along. The dice have already been cast, so just throw yourself in. That’ll serve you better than unnecessary nerves.”

Leaving those words behind, Han Se-ah disappeared.

The remaining cadets started moving one by one to their respective positions.

Amid the commotion, my gaze met Kang Han’s from afar.

Do well.

Good luck.

That was probably the message exchanged. Our voices, however, were drowned out by the surrounding noise.

The highlight of the comprehensive exchange competition was undoubtedly the one-on-one duels between cadets.

It was the longest event and had already drawn unparalleled attention.

Of course, the main reason was Kang Han.

As a Berserker, his unique ability to take on hundreds at once in his weight class had turned him into the centerpiece of the competition.

This was his stage to prove himself against top talents from around the world through numerous duels.

However, duels weren’t the only events.

Like appetizers before the main course, there were various smaller events.

My event was one of those.

Flag planting.

In this event, cadets started from the edge of the arena, navigating different routes to reach key points and secure rankings.

Along the way, they could encounter various monsters or traps.

It was no coincidence that I, Joo Yidam, known for adapting flexibly to any situation, was chosen for flag planting.

Looking at the participants, none of the names seemed familiar.

“So, no big names in these minor events.”

The important figures were likely saving their appearances for the duels, the true main event.

And I had a strong intuition that the moment attention peaked, the terror attack would unfold.

“Let’s warm up a bit first.”

I stretched lightly, raising my body temperature.

The looming terror threat, Kang Han’s survival, the unity of the top-ranking cadets, Ira Sol and her sister Ira Yeon — a storm of thoughts swirled in my mind.

I exhaled deeply, clearing my head, and focused.

The match was about to begin.

As always, moments before the buzzer sounded, everything fell silent.

It was the calm before the storm.

Thump. Thump.

The sound of a heartbeat—mine or another cadet’s—filled the air, as though it resonated across the world.

Waiting for the buzzer, I tensed every muscle in my body.

And then—

Beep!

As the buzzer sounded, the arena plunged into darkness.

The terror attack had begun.

The arena hosting the comprehensive exchange competition was, in essence, a giant simulation room.

Whatever happened inside was nothing but an illusion.

The effects didn’t extend to the audience seats—only within the arena itself.

Thanks to this, no matter who got hurt or fell in the arena, it was merely a projection.

Scouts could evaluate cadets without worrying about fatalities, and spectators experienced a mix of chills, excitement, and thrill.

But then, people in the audience began collapsing one by one.

This was no simulation.

At first, the darkness was dismissed as part of the spectacle, but soon, the thick, metallic scent of blood permeated the air.

Screams erupted as people fled in panic.

The stands were soon littered with abandoned belongings and items left behind by those who had run for their lives.

The chaos was overwhelming, leaving no time to focus on the discarded objects.

Masses of people surged toward the exits, only to find them blocked.

As the realization spread, the venue became a vortex of madness.

Everyone now understood that the terror attack had begun.

Meanwhile, the Hunters were stunned.

“How did this happen?”

The Hunters, strategically stationed throughout the audience, had detected no signs of the attack.

Powerless, they could only watch as people collapsed one after another.