Chapter 18: Tactical Combat – The Test of Adaptation

Chapter 18: The Hunters Become the Hunted

The virtual island stretched endlessly in all directions, a vast and unforgiving battleground. The thick jungle pulsed with life—rustling leaves, distant roars, and the unmistakable sounds of combat echoing through the trees.

I moved carefully, my steps light against the damp earth, leaving behind no unnecessary noise. Over the past hour, I had hunted strategically, eliminating isolated monsters while keeping my presence minimal.

Everything was going smoothly.

Until I felt it.

That unnerving sensation of being watched.

My instincts flared, and before I could react—

Whoosh!

An arrow sliced past my cheek, close enough that I felt the wind pressure, cutting a strand of my hair.

Ambush.

I barely had time to roll to the side before another arrow zipped through the spot I had just been standing. The second my boots hit the ground, I unsheathed my sword, eyes locking onto the shadows shifting in the trees.

Four figures emerged from the dense foliage.

They weren't monsters.

But from the way they grinned at me, they sure looked like predators.

A tall, sharp-eyed student with a scar across his nose twirled a dagger between his fingers, tilting his head as he observed me.

"You're pretty good at sneaking around," he mused, his voice carrying a mocking edge. "But the test isn't about hiding—it's about hunting."

To his right, a muscular axe-wielder cracked his neck, his massive weapon resting casually against his shoulder.

"Hand over your points," he said with a smirk. "Or we'll take them from you."

I sighed internally. Wannabe thugs.

---

Analyzing the Threat

My mind raced, breaking down my opponents at a glance.

Archer. The one who fired at me. Precise but reliant on distance.

Dagger-wielder. Fast and nimble, specializing in close combat.

Axe-user. Slow but powerful—high strength, low agility.

Spear-user. A balanced fighter, good at keeping opponents at bay.

This was tricky. Not because they were strong—individually, none of them were a real threat.

The problem was my restrictions.

No Eclipse Vision. If I used it, my movements would become too unnatural, raising suspicion.

No Five-Star Sword Art. Too powerful—it would make me stand out.

Only basic techniques. I needed to fight like a regular student.

Still, even without my full power, I was confident.

---

The Battle Begins

The archer moved first, nocking another arrow.

Big mistake.

Before he could even draw the string back, I exploded forward, dirt kicking up beneath my boots.

His eyes widened—too slow.

CLANG!

With a precise swing, I knocked his arrow aside mid-air, closing the gap between us in an instant.

I stepped in and—

Slash!

My sword tore across his forearm, forcing him to drop his bow. He stumbled back, cursing.

Three left.

The dagger-user lunged at my blind spot, his blade a silver blur aimed at my throat.

I barely tilted my head, the knife whistling past my ear.

Fast. But—

Not fast enough.

I countered instantly—shifting to his weak side and delivering a clean, horizontal strike.

CLANG!

He barely blocked, but the sheer force of my attack sent him staggering. His stance broke, and I pressed forward—

Until the axe-user charged, closing the distance with terrifying speed.

Damn, he's fast for his size.

His massive weapon came down in a brutal overhead swing—enough force to split me in two.

I twisted my body at the last second—

BOOM!

The ground shattered where his axe landed, dirt and stone erupting into the air.

No time to counter.

The spear-user was already moving in, his weapon snaking forward like a viper aimed for my ribs.

I pivoted, parrying the spear tip just enough to deflect the strike.

But the moment I did, the dagger-wielder recovered and lunged again.

Then the axe-user swung horizontally, attempting to catch me mid-dodge.

Three attacks. No time to evade them all.

I exhaled sharply.

"Alright. Let's wrap this up."

---

Turning the Tide

The axe-user was the biggest threat. Too strong, but too slow.

So I used his own power against him.

I baited him into another reckless overhead strike—then stepped just outside his attack range at the last second.

The moment his axe swung down, his momentum carried him forward—his balance completely exposed.

I lunged in, quick as lightning.

SLASH!

My sword tore across his leg.

He roared in pain, collapsing onto one knee, his massive frame crashing into the dirt.

Two left.

The dagger-wielder hesitated. The spear-user took a cautious step back.

They weren't so confident anymore.

I smirked. "Still want to continue?"

The dagger-user gritted his teeth—then lunged, desperation in his movements.

I shifted my stance, my footwork becoming smoother.

Not flashy. Just efficient.

A precise step. A quick arc of my blade.

His dagger went flying, and my sword was at his throat before he could react.

He gulped. "I… I surrender."

One left.

The spear-user weighed his odds—then turned and bolted into the trees.

> Combat Victory! +1500 Points

---

An Unwanted Audience

I exhaled, rolling my shoulders.

"That was a decent warm-up."

As I sheathed my sword, a slow, deliberate clap echoed from behind me.

I turned—and froze.

A girl stood there, watching me with mild amusement.

She was stunning—crimson hair flowing behind her like silk, golden eyes sharp with curiosity.

Alicia von Rosenheim.

One of the main heroines.

More importantly, one of the strongest sword users in the academy.

She took a step closer, her gaze never leaving mine.

"You held back."

A chill ran down my spine.

She noticed?

I forced a chuckle. "I don't know what you mean."

She tilted her head slightly, studying me with that piercing gaze.

Then she smiled—a small, knowing smile.

But she didn't push further.

Instead, she unsheathed her own sword, letting the silver blade gleam under the simulated sun.

"You're interesting," she murmured.

Her golden eyes shimmered with excitement.

"Let's see how much you're really hiding."