As they digested the cost of the errors they had made, Layla and the others heard a sudden impact a few feet away from them.

  Four figures descended from the sky, their descent releasing a small dust cloud that blinded everyone. Just then, a male voice echoed throughout the island, with a sinister laughter and delight.

  "All players are gathered. Good... Welcome to our playground, Teachers, Sentinels, and if I may say, future Sentinels."

  None of teachers and Layla hesitated. In the blink of an eye, they vanished from their initial position which was a few feet away from the students to now standing in front of them.

  They were each standing upright, but their muscles were tensed, ready to counter any sudden movements at any time.

  "Lian..." Layla called her name, glancing back at the students.

  Lian didn't need more. She immediately understood the assignment. She conjured up barriers with two layers around the students like a dome, glowing under the sunlight.

  Now they all fully set their attention on the dust clearing up in front of them. As the haze began to settle, the figures ahead came into view.

  The first figure who came into view was a man with broad shoulders and spiky long black hair that extended all the way to his lower back. His build was quite bulky, bigger than Garrion's. He looked like a character brought directly out of a street fighter game.

  The only thing he had on was a loose white pair of flared trousers that clung to his legs. His chest was bare, revealing a black snake tattoo coiled around the left side of his chest, its head resting just above his heart.

  On his right side, stood a woman wearing a white kimono designed with red flowers. A parasol shaded most of her face, hiding her eyes in shadow. Only her lips showed and they were painted with a vivid red lipstick.

  A slightly taller woman stood next to her. She wore a tight black dress that had high splits on both sides. She lifted her head up, the sun bouncing off her sun glasses. In contrast to the current situation, she looked more like a woman on a solo vacation touring around a city.

  And then came the final two.

  A man with messy blonde hair and a woman with short red hair. Both wore black jackets, fitted jeans, and black gloves that reached their forearms.

  Merely by looking at them, one could instantly tell they were dangerous.

  The blonde man spoke first, voice filled with something between contempt and amusement.

  “So… we're supposed to kill these guys? And they're supposed to be... Challenging?" He chuckled lightly, as if it were a joke. “Interesting.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  He scanned their faces slowly, letting his gaze settle where it wanted. Then, without moving his head, his eyes darted towards Garrion.

  “Which of them do you think is the A-Rank we were supposed to be wary of?” he asked aloud, tilting his head slightly. “My bet’s on that one.”

  "What did they call you again?" He rubbed his head, looking down like the answers were written on the ground.

  "Jeez..." He sighed, looking back up. "This image protection spell really is troublesome?"

  "But then... You're really more impressive in person, Garrion"

  They were instantly taken aback by the mention of Garrion's name. Not just Astrovia, but every continent on Cynerion had a rule they followed. There were certain individuals with high reputation, that warranted an identity cloaking spell being placed on them.

  The effects of this spell ranged from instantly making one forget their faces the moment they stopped seeing them and also making their images appear blank in pictures.

  The only individuals who could recall their images clearly where people who they consciously want to remember.

  This was the root of shock that took root in the minds of Layla and the others. Who exactly were these people and how could they bypass the effects of the spell.

  But they couldn't let this destabilization reflect in their demeanors.

  Garrion didn’t respond to the man's words. Rather, he simply smiled, and maintained eye contact with him, refusing to falter.

  "Well, you all took that well..." The blonde-haired man shrugged, his tone casual. “Why don’t you take him, then? It’s clear I wouldn’t last a minute. What do you think, Darius?”

  "We have to wait for—"

  Darius was about to respond when a voice interrupted him. It was the same voice that had echoed across the island earlier. Another mystery for Layla and the rest.

  “There’s no need to decide just yet,” it said, in a smooth and unhurried pace. “Let’s not forget who’s really in charge here.” It was deep but calm and sounded like it belonged to a young man at the very least.

  “Then stop dragging this out,” the blonde-haired man said, keeping his voice leveled. “Give us the rules. Or the quest. Whatever this is and let’s get it over with.”

  “Impatient, are we?" The voice responded. "Well, since you're all so eager... Let’s begin.”

  He paused again, just long enough to stretch the tension to melt into the air.

  “Well, firstly, Layla, that's what they call you right" the voice continued, “I think it would be nice for me to let you know there are homunculi stationed all across the island. And a few minutes ago, they were activated.”

  Gasps slipped from some of the students.

  Reinhart’s eyes widened. He took a step forward, instinctively, ready to bolt into the trees and search for his students.

  But before his feet could leave the ground, the voice returned.

  “Don’t.” it commanded in a firm tone.

  Reinhart froze instantly.

  “I wouldn’t recommend running,” the man said. “Not unless you’re ready to watch one of your students die... in real time.”

  “So I'd advice you to calm down a bit” he added, low and composed. It sounded like the speaker was relaxed, but his voice carried a sadistic aura which unnerved them.

  "One wrong move, and I might just have one of them killed. You can’t be sure some of my homunculi haven’t already found your precious students.”

  They were all boiling with Rage but couldn't act on it

  "What are your terms?" Layla queried sharply.

  Principal of Rakuzan or not, she knew panic wouldn’t help them. Her voice had to carry more than strength—it had to carry hope. And as their leader, even if the rest were in disarray, she had to step up and fill in those gaps.

  “I like you, Principal."

  “Take a look at the men standing before you. When I give the signal, they’ll head into the forest… and hunt your students.”

  They were uttered in the most causal manner but the words dropped like stones on a glass surface.

  “They're not doing it for fun,” the voice continued. “They’re acting as support for the homunculi I already set loose, and your role here is to Intervene."

  "But I can promise you one thing," it dropped into a lower tone. "If they get to any of them before you, their death is assured."