Chapter 12 A turn for the worst

As the inspectors struggled to gather the students, another announcement boomed across the forest. The inspector with the projection ability shouted, "After you have gathered or formed teams, or even if you have not been able to find any other students, whatever you do, go towards the entrance of the ancient forest! We are setting up a team that will go there and receive the students. So, everybody, stay calm and move towards the entrance of the ancient forest!"

Some students, hearing the announcement, began to move towards the entrance. Others, still panicked, fought off creatures while trying to survive. Kaito's group, however, was far from the entrance. The forest was teeming with mutated beasts, and the number of warrior-level creatures had increased exponentially.

"What's happening?" Vincent asked, firing beams of energy arrows from his energy bow. "Why are there so many warrior-level creatures?"

Kaleb, transforming his hand into claws, confronted the creatures, his speed and strength increased. He held them off, allowing Vincent to deliver the final blow. Kaito, meanwhile, was in a better condition, his bandages cutting across the air as they wrapped around creatures, breaking bones, and absorbing lifeforce

Miguel hid in the shadows, protecting his teammates from ambushes. Balls of condensed darkness flew around, blasting creatures into masses of dark flesh. The battle raged on, with everything happening at breakneck speed.

As they heard the inspector's projected voice, Kaito's group realized it was time to move towards the entrance. They prepared themselves, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Kaito's group fought off the warrior-level creatures with ease. These creatures, once mere servant-level beasts, had transformed but lacked the strength and abilities of true warrior-level creatures.

Meanwhile, an inspector stumbled upon a commander-level creature in an unexpected area. His eyes widened as he realized this was a new creature, not one of the original commander-level beasts.

A chilling thought dawned on him: if servant-level creatures had become warrior-level, then warrior-level creatures must have become commander-level. His face pale with panic, he rushed to find the inspector with the broadcasting ability.

"James, I need to report something," he said, urgency etched in his voice. "I've encountered a new commander-level creature."

The James expression turned grim. "This is big. Something is definitely wrong here. The students can't fight commander-level creatures at this point."

He knew he had to make another announcement, but he couldn't alarm the students. "If you encounter any opponent that you cannot defeat... It's best to retreat while covering for each other," he said, his voice somber.

The announcement echoed through the forest, leaving the students to wonder what horrors lay ahead.

As James voice echoed across the ancient forest, the students slowly regained their composure. Some found other students and formed teams, inching closer to the entrance. Others, however, were overwhelmed by the monsters and met a tragic end.

A pink-red mist began to spread across the forest, initially ignored by the students. But as it formed a cloud above the forest, a sinister change took hold. Every monster in the forest went berserk, their eyes fixed on human prey.

The students were caught off guard, unable to react as the monsters attacked with reckless abandon. Inspectors tried to intervene, but even they were struggling to keep up. The progress made towards the entrance halted, and panic set in.

Amidst the chaos, Kaito's group pressed on, killing monsters and navigating the treacherous terrain. They encountered the girl with the blade-like limbs, and Miguel asked, "Do you want to team up?"

The girl's response was pragmatic. "What else can we do? There's strength in numbers."

Together, they carved a bloody path through the monsters. The girl's fighting style was a marvel to behold – fierce, elegant, and deadly. Her limbs transformed into blades at the perfect moment, slicing through monsters with ease.

Kaito's bandages whipped across the air, piercing and slashing monsters with ruthless efficiency, leaving behind dried husk for corpses. Miguel watched their backs, preventing ambushes and protecting his teammates. Kaleb worked in tandem with Annabelle, holding back monsters and setting up Vincent or Kaito for the final blow.

As they fought, the mist continued to spread, casting a bloody glow over the ancient forest. The students were trapped in a desperate struggle for survival, with no end in sight. Luckily the students haven't encountered any commander-level creatures yet.

Amidst the chaos, a group of figures emerged, clad in robes of red, green, and brown. Their faces were hidden behind masks, concealing their identities. The brown-robed figure stood out as the leader, his presence commanding attention.

The bizarre beasts rampaged around them, yet strangely, the creatures seemed oblivious to their presence. The brown-robed leader spoke in a low tone, "Phase one of the plan is complete. Now, it's time for phase two."

He paused, surveying the carnage around them. "We'll give them hope. Let them think they can survive this. And just when they feel that glimmer of hope, we'll crush it – into a million pieces."

The figures in red and green robes whispered among themselves, their voices barely audible over the din of the beasts. With a nod, they dispersed, vanishing into the chaos like ghosts.

Outside the ancient forest, people desperately tried to break the barrier. Elijah and the Outpost's commander unleashed their abilities and weapons, but the barrier remained impenetrable.

As they watched, students stumbled out of the forest, battered and bruised. Some had lost limbs, while others were crippled or bleeding profusely. The onlookers were powerless to help, their hearts heavy with sadness and despair.

Yet, amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope emerged. More students began to escape the forest, some relatively unscathed. The sun rose over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the scene, but the chaos within the forest persisted.

Monsters rampaged, students screamed, and others hid, praying for survival. Many had lost hope, but some refused to give up. They fought on, driven by the promise of safety at the forest's entrance.

Outside, reinforcements arrived: the army from the fifth base main city, the Wasser family's elite troops, and Monster Tech's soldiers, armed with cutting-edge technology. Each group attempted to breach the barrier, but failed.

Trey Trevor, the Monster Tech branch owner, appeared on the scene, his eyes glowing with blue light as he examined the barrier. He realized that this was no ordinary barrier, but one created by an uncanny ability.

Trevor's gaze swept the area, his mind racing. "The ability user must be nearby," he muttered. "But it's impossible for them to be outside the forest..." His eyes narrowed, focusing on the surrounding landscape.

Trey Trevor, the Monster Tech owner, furrowed his brow, perplexed. "Why would anyone endanger the lives of students and cause such chaos?" He pondered several reasons.

The Wasser family head joined Trey Trevor, and together they attempted to breach the barrier. However, their efforts were in vain. The ability user responsible for the barrier was still at large, and the fact that they were inside the forest made it impossible to track them down.

Meanwhile, students continued to stumble out of the ancient forest, some successfully making it to the entrance while others were gravely injured. The inspectors and a few individuals with knowledge of herbs provided temporary aid, but the lack of proper medical equipment hindered their efforts.

The atmosphere in the makeshift camp was heavy with despair. Students were heartbroken, shocked, and traumatized. Some suffered mental breakdowns, while others were left stunned and speechless.

Kaito's team slowly emerged from the forest, their faces etched with exhaustion and relief. Others followed, some on a stretcher, others supported by their peers. The temporary treatments they received would not be enough; they needed proper medical attention, and fast.

Kaito's eyes scanned the makeshift camp, his gaze falling upon familiar faces, some of whom had lost limbs or were forever scarred. Others were nowhere to be found, their bodies covered in white sheets or their own uniforms. His anger simmered, but he was confused and unsure where to direct it.

A commotion nearby caught his attention. A student confronted an inspector, his voice choked with tears. "Why did this happen? You said it was just an exam, that you had everything under control. Why are there so many high-level monsters?"

The inspector's face was etched with regret, but he had no answers. The student's accusations hung in the air, a painful reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded. The Inspectors were actually soldiers stationed to protect the students in case of emergencies yet...so many casualties.

At the entrance of the ancient forest, students gathered around the barrier, their attempts to pass through it thwarted. The inspectors stood guard, protecting the students from the monsters that lurked beyond the perimeter.

As night fell, the inspectors continued to fight off monsters, ensuring the students' safety. But as the hours ticked by, no more students emerged from the forest. The soldiers didn't give up, searching for survivors and managing to find a few.

As the perimeter was closed, the same group of robed figures reappeared at the forest's edge. The leader in brown robes spoke, his voice low and ominous. "I think it's time for the next phase of the plan."

The figures nodded in unison and vanished into the darkness, leaving behind an air of foreboding.