Chapter 36: Huai’en’s confusion, glory is the warmest spiritual race

Given that over 60% of the competition area was forest, Melina’s team remained entrenched within its dense cover.

Even though they had been relentlessly pursued by the Hollow Soldiers, they had never once ventured out of the woods.

After all, the forest, with its numerous obstacles and intricate terrain, offered far better opportunities for evasion and maneuvering.

Wyn had previously explored the desert and lake regions, but the expansive, open terrain and excellent visibility there had prompted many teams entering from those areas to quickly relocate to the forest.

Melina and Wyn each held a token; while Sephylia’s departure to report likely counted as a forfeit, their team would not be considered eliminated as long as the two of them remained within the competition grounds.

At that moment, they were discreetly hidden at the edge of the safe zone, slowly moving towards the center as the circle contracted.

“The ten-minute mark is almost upon us; this is the third circle,” Wyn stated, his voice low. “Once the full-map scan activates, holding two tokens will undoubtedly make us targets.

We must relocate immediately after the scan concludes.

Can you… manage?”

Wyn eyed Melina with a hint of uncertainty.

Melina had transformed Merrow into a golden longsword, which now hung at her hip.

However, the blade, which should have been pristinely clear, was now marred by a thorny black pattern.

That dark pattern coiled around the sword like a cursed black serpent, dulling the golden blade’s luster and making it appear somewhat grimy.

“I’m fine, but… I apologize.

I’m afraid I won’t be able to assist you in combat.”

Melina spoke with an apologetic tone.

For this competition, she felt she was merely making up the numbers.

Sephylia and Radiance were undoubtedly the primary attackers, while Wyn and Shadow Abyss consistently confronted the most formidable and troublesome foes, all while diligently performing their scout duties, reconnoitering the surroundings for enemy presence.

Even then, Wyn had performed admirably.

Even Merrow could now fight independently without her, having single-handedly dispatched the Hollow Soldier that none of them could defeat.

Only she felt useless.

Though she hadn’t been entirely idle—she had contributed to the Salamander Corps before the competition and delivered a crucial blow during the match, helping Sephylia overpower and defeat two opponents simultaneously—

she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was the most expendable member of the team.

She was acutely aware that everything she possessed stemmed from Merrow.

This included both her courage and her combat prowess.

Yet, knowing was one thing; accepting it was another entirely.

A part of her resented her own inability to be stronger, even if it meant merely alleviating some of Merrow’s suffering.

“Time’s up,” Wyn announced.

As he spoke, the 3D map unfurled, revealing the few remaining red dots.

“Only eight teams left, astonishing.”

The intense competition, coupled with the Hollow Soldiers’ recent rampage, had drastically thinned their numbers.

Even though the safe zone had only just begun its fourth contraction, very few teams remained.

“There’s a team nearby; we have to move immediately.”

With that, Wyn melted into the shadows, moving away from the detected team’s location.

Hearing this, Melina nodded with a grave expression and quickly followed suit.

****

They traveled a considerable distance until Wyn, judging the area to be safe, finally halted.

“Alright, we shouldn’t be discovered here.”

“Discovered by whom?”

However, a voice instantly sent a chill to the pits of their stomachs.

“How is that possible!” Wyn exclaimed, turning in astonishment towards the source of the voice.

He never imagined that anyone in this competition could evade his perception and reconnaissance!

It was common knowledge that 【Shadow Abyss】 Spirit Masters were not merely assassination experts; they were also masters of reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance!

In this “clash of rookies” where resonance rates rarely exceeded 25%, he was confident that no one could escape his senses.

Yet…

“You little rascals run quite fast,” the voice remarked.

The newcomer was a single individual, clad in a dark blue uniform that accentuated their shapely figure.

A cascade of long, dark blue hair, matching the uniform, was neatly tied into a single, slender ponytail that fell down their back.

Unlike Merrow’s high, thick ponytail, this woman’s was a thin, naturally trailing tie.

The woman slowly emerged from the shadows, and upon seeing her face, Melina instinctively lowered her guard.

“Oh? It’s Officer Kacywell.”

Wyn, however, remained vigilant, unsure of the woman’s sudden appearance or her intentions.

‘Could it be…’

He subtly glanced at the golden longsword at Melina’s hip.

“Heh, no need to be so tense,” she chuckled. “I’m not here for the competition.”

Wyn’s heart sank, but he maintained a placid exterior, his internal guard rising even further.

In truth, he had never truly cared about this competition; his primary objective was always to eliminate other 【Shadow Abyss】 Spirit Masters.

Yet, Merrow’s situation was far more critical than the outcome of this match.

‘Radiant Knight.’

While Sephylia and Melina hadn’t explicitly told him, he wasn’t blind, nor was he a fool!

Others might be easily misled, but he had personally witnessed Merrow blast a Hollow Soldier into smithereens with a single light cannon.

How could he *not* piece it together?

‘How did Merrow suddenly appear right after the “death” of the Radiant Knight? And not only is Merrow a 【Radiance】 spirit, bearing the Kiss of Thorns, but he can also fight independently of a Spirit Master?’

Too many coincidences converging like this ceased to be mere chance.

Therefore, Merrow’s performance had very likely attracted the attention of others.

Such as the officer standing before them.

Wyn’s gaze instinctively flickered to the long blade, 【Shimmering Spirit】, at the officer’s waist.

The Shimmering Spirit clan was a unique lineage among the Spirit Races.

None of their individuals ever manifested in human form; instead, all appeared as identical, standardized longblades, and each was named Shimmering Spirit.

Furthermore, even including the Heavenly Sword, the 【Shimmering Spirit】 clan was the most fiercely combative among all Spirit Races.

Compared to other Spirits with their diverse abilities, the 【Shimmering Spirit】’s greatest and sole characteristic was its sharpness!

Utter, absolute sharpness!

No blade in all the world could remain unbroken before them!

And the Spirit Masters bonded with 【Shimmering Spirit】s possessed nearly identical traits.

Swiftness!

Ruthlessness!

Decisive killing intent!

Kacywell hadn’t cleaved Lien outside the arena only because Lien’s background was too influential, and taking action would have caused far more trouble.

Had Lien lacked such powerful backing, she would have struck him down without hesitation.

Now, this woman had appeared within the competition grounds, clearly heading straight for them.

It was almost certain she was here for Merrow!

Kacywell’s gaze swept over Melina briefly before settling directly on the knight’s longsword at her waist.

With the longsword sheathed, the thorny black pattern was invisible from the outside, allowing Melina to breathe a sigh of relief.

However, Kacywell’s brow soon furrowed, and her gaze shifted instantly to Wyn.

“Hm? Little brat, I told you I’m not here for the competition, yet you still harbor such intense hostility towards me.”

She glanced at Wyn’s right hand.

Her keen intuition had detected the dagger hidden within Wyn’s sleeve.

“A 【Shadow Abyss】 Spirit Master? But I’m not a 【Shadow Abyss】 Spirit Master.

Even if you killed me, it would be pointless.

Besides… you can’t kill me.”

In that instant, a sharp, formidable killing intent surged forth.

【Shimmering Spirit】s never feared battle!

【Shimmering Spirit】s craved combat more than any other Spirit Race!

【Shimmering Spirit】s were born for battle!

In the past, the 【Shimmering Spirit】s had been the sharpest blade wielded by the Spirit Races against the Abyss!

Even though their numbers were now few, no one had the right to underestimate them!

And as a Spirit Master of a 【Shimmering Spirit】, she would certainly not tolerate such blatant killing intent.

“You belligerent brat,” she declared. “If you’re looking for a fight, I wouldn’t mind a spar.

However… don’t expect me to go easy on you just because you’re a child.”

“Wyn, calm down.”

At this moment, it was surprisingly Melina who was soothing Wyn.

She quickly moved to Wyn’s side, shielding him with her body, and apologized to Kacywell with a contrite expression: “My apologies, Officer Kacywell, my companion is merely a bit on edge.

Please pay him no mind.”

Melina’s intervention diffused the tense atmosphere somewhat.

Wyn sighed, a sense of confusion washing over him.

‘How did I… become like this?’

‘No, I’ve seemed a little off ever since I joined this blasted competition.’

‘Why do I care so much about this teammate?’

‘We barely even know each other.’

Wyn gazed at the back of the girl shielding him, a profound sense of bewilderment stirring within him.

‘I shouldn’t… be someone who cares about companions.’

‘No, every individual of 【Shadow Abyss】 should be a solitary being.’

As a 【Shadow Abyss】 Spirit Master, he was naturally destined to walk the path of slaughter alone.

‘But…’

‘It’s truly laughable.’

‘Being a 【Shadow Abyss】 Spirit Master, his teammates were, unexpectedly, two 【Radiance】 Spirits.’

“Shadow Abyss, tell me, isn’t this strange?” Wyn asked through the soul network.

“But Master is happy,” Shadow Abyss replied faintly.

Wyn froze once more.

‘Happy?’

‘Me?’

“What about you, Shadow Abyss?

Aren’t 【Shadow Abyss】 and 【Radiance】 supposed to be adversaries?” he couldn’t help but ask again.

“【Shadow Abyss】 are only enemies to other 【Shadow Abyss】, ” Shadow Abyss responded. “【Radiance】 are the warmest of the Spirit Races.”