Chapter 62: Elaris Island Exam 2
Mirror Lake was already occupied.
Not by a class, not by students, and neither by instructors.
The lake itself stretched nearly a kilometer across, its surface so still it resembled a giant mirror laid across the earth. Massive stone cliffs surrounded portions of the water, reflecting perfectly upon the surface.
And standing in the center of that reflection...
Was a monster.
"..."
"..."
Nobody spoke.
The creature stood nearly twelve meters tall. Its body resembled a deer, yet every part of it felt wrong.
Black bark-like armor covered its skin. Massive antlers twisted toward the sky like dead trees.
Its glowing blue eyes stared directly into the lake beneath it as if it were looking at its own reflection.
Then, the game-system interface appeared before everyone’s vision, like a huge holographic screen.
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[Island Creature Detected]
Name: Mirror Stag
Threat Level: B
Status:
Territorial
Warning:
Do Not Approach Within 200 Meters
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"What the fuck..."
One of Class-1B’s students nearly dropped his bag.
Even Olivia’s expression froze. "A B-Rank?"
Aiysha frowned.
The academy had warned them there would be creatures on the island. But none expected one this early, one to that extent.
And definitely not one guarding the exact place everyone wanted.
Cassien stared at it. "Interesting."
Ren immediately gasped.
Cassien sighed.
The giant creature remained motionless, just watching and waiting.
Then, a splash echoed across the lake.
Not from the stag, but from the water itself.
Everyone’s attention shifted.
Ripples spread across the mirror-like surface.
One, two, three, more and more appeared.
Olivia narrowed her eyes.
"Something’s wrong."
The water continued trembling until suddenly a creature burst from the lake.
A massive fish-like monster nearly four meters long launched itself into the air before crashing back down.
Then another appeared.
And another.
And another.
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[Island Creature Detected]
Name: Mirror Piranha
Threat Level: D
Status:
Aggressive
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The students stared, comparing them to the gigantic stag, making the fish look harmless.
A few students even relaxed.
"Oh, we’re fine."
"It’s just a fish."
"Those are only D-Ranks according to the system anyway."
"Why was I worried?"
Cassien smiled.
"Natural selection."
One of Class-1B’s students apparently shared the same confidence.
"Relax, everyone. It’s only D-Ranks."
But that was a lie.
The student tossed a small rock toward the lake.
The stone disappeared beneath the surface.
Nothing happened.
"See?"
Then every ripple on the lake vanished.
The entire area became silent.
Even the Mirror Stag slowly lifted its head.
Cassien’s smile disappeared.
"Well... that’s bad."
BOOOOOOOM!
Hundreds.
No, thousands of Mirror Piranhas erupted from the lake simultaneously.
The peaceful surface transformed into complete chaos while water shot dozens of meters into the air.
"What the hell?!"
"RUN!"
The fish weren’t swimming.
They were jumping.
Like missiles.
One slammed into a nearby tree, making the trunk snap in half.
A second later, the Mirror Stag moved.
BOOOOOOM!
Its hoof struck the ground.
A massive shockwave rippled outward.
The nearest piranhas exploded into blood.
Hundreds died instantly, yet thousands more continued leaping.
The stag wasn’t protecting anyone.
The lake was just its territory.
And the students had just disturbed that balance.
"RETREAT!"
Olivia screamed.
No one argued.
Class-1C immediately turned around.
Class-1B did the same.
Students sprinted back through the forest entrance as fish continued raining behind them.
The moment they touched the ground, they began biting everything nearby.
Cassien took a look around him and spotted one that was about to land directly on him.
It was moving fast, but it was nothing Cassien couldn’t handle.
He quickly pulled out his pistol from the holster and shot it, making it explode.
"Nice one!" Olivia yelled.
Cassien blew the smoke coming from the muzzle.
"Thank you, Class Rep."
Another nearly caught Ren’s ankle, but Cassien shot that one as well, cleanly keeping his classmates safe.
"Thank you!"
"Don’t mention it."
Branches whipped across their faces while leaves scattered everywhere.
After several minutes, the sounds finally faded.
The fish had stopped chasing them, and the stag was nowhere near.
Then they reached a fork in the trail.
One path curved west while the other curved east.
Olivia and Aiysha looked at one another.
Neither wanted to continue toward Mirror Lake anymore.
And both still didn’t know who the other had designated as their class leader for the exam.
Aiysha spoke first.
"We’ll head west."
Olivia nodded.
"We’ll take east."
Both classes immediately began moving.
Cassien felt the atmosphere slowly change.
The forest slowly became denser and darker.
Ren frowned.
"Does anyone hear that?"
"Hear what?" Alex asked.
"Exactly... Why is there no sound? Not even insects."
Siv and Audrey stopped walking for a moment.
"Class Rep."
Olivia turned.
"What is it?"
Audrey pointed down toward the ground.
Footprints.
Large ones.
Far larger than any human.
Worst of all, they were fresh.
Alex crouched beside them.
His relaxed expression slowly disappeared.
"Something big passed through here."
Cassien followed the trail with his eyes.
The footprints continued deeper into the forest.
Then Ren noticed something.
A piece of blue fabric caught on a branch.
Class-1B’s uniform color.
Olivia slowly took a look.
A fresh tear.
Blood.
A realization struck every member of Class-1C.
Whoever made those footprints had somehow crept toward Class-1B first.
Cassien moved forward.
"It’s fine. This has nothing to do with us. Whatever happens to the others happens to them. If you guys want, I’m willing to step in as a third party and steal their utilities."
Olivia smacked the back of his head.
"No."
"That hurts, Ms. Rep."
"We are not letting another one of us get into danger."
Cassien rubbed the back of his head.
"Thanks for thinking so deeply about me," he smirked.
Before Olivia could respond, Audrey’s expression suddenly changed.
"Wait."
"Class Rep."
"What is it now?"
Cassien leaned into her ear.
"We’re being watched."
"Huh?"
"And it’s not by a human. Should I deal with it myself?"
Though it was already too late.
Branches began to snap all around them.
And it was coming.
Cassien squinted.
Olivia felt it and immediately raised her hand.
"Formation!"
Everyone understood the drill and locked in.
Weapons were drawn.
Mana began to surge around the mages.
And the game-system message returned.
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[Island Creature Detected]
Name: Grave Maw
Threat Level: B-
Status:
Hunting
Warning:
Extreme Aggression
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