DROPPED INTO THE WILD
Chapter 62: Dropped Into the Wild
Kael felt the familiar pull of teleportation magic, his body weightless for a moment before the world snapped back into focus. The dense air of the survival island rushed in, carrying the scent of damp earth, salt from the distant ocean, and something far more dangerous—the presence of predators.
His boots landed softly on the jungle floor, surrounded by towering trees whose canopies cast dappled shadows below. The instant he arrived, his Arcane Sigils flared to life, hovering around him like glowing runes ready to activate at a moment's notice.
This wasn't Kael's first encounter with Mana Beasts. He had spent years training, hunting them under his father's guidance and clashing with creatures that could crush lesser warriors. But here, there were no instructors watching his back, no controlled battles. This was true survival.
And he wasn't alone.
A rustling to his left—feral creatures, twisted by mana, their glowing eyes peering through the undergrowth. A heavier sound followed, deeper into the jungle—a Greater Mana Beast had sensed his arrival.
Kael's lips curled into a smirk.
Good. Let's see how strong I've really become.
Kael's First Battle – Testing His Growth
A large shadow burst from the foliage, revealing a scaled jaguar-like creature, its emerald hide pulsing faintly with mana veins. Its golden eyes narrowed, muscles coiling beneath its sleek form.
Kael had fought variations of these before. Lesser Mana Beasts—fast, deadly, but manageable.
The moment it lunged, he was already moving. His speed, honed over years of combat, left only a blur where he had stood. The jaguar's claws slashed empty air.
Kael pivoted, tracing Crimson Sigils in the air with two fingers. Blood mixed with mana, igniting a burning rune at his feet.
Arcane Sever.
A condensed slash of mana shot forward, carving into the jaguar's side. It yowled in pain, twisting mid-air to avoid a killing blow.
Fast. But not fast enough.
The jaguar retaliated, its tail crackling with electrical mana, sweeping toward Kael. He raised his Arcane Resilience, the defensive rune absorbing most of the shock.
That would have killed a weaker fighter.
He countered immediately. A single snap of his fingers—Arcane Chains erupted from the ground, glowing silver, snaring the beast's legs.
The jaguar's struggles were futile. Kael stepped forward, placing a hand over a new rune forming on his palm.
"This was fun," he murmured before slamming his palm forward.
The sigil detonated. A crimson burst of energy engulfed the jaguar.
When the dust settled, only a smoldering corpse remained.
Kael exhaled, shaking out the residual mana coursing through his body.
One down. Plenty more to go.
The Other Elites – Fighting Their Own Battles
Lucian Eldoria – The Crown Prince of Eldoria
Far from Kael's location, Lucian stood in an open clearing, completely untouched. Around him, the charred remains of Lesser Mana Beasts lay smoking, their bodies reduced to nothing but embers.
A Greater Mana Beast emerged from the trees—a massive, four-armed ape covered in obsidian armor, magma dripping from its fists.
Lucian sighed, rolling his shoulders.
The creature roared, slamming its fists into the earth, causing the ground beneath him to crack.
Lucian didn't move. Not until the last second.
Then—he vanished.
In an instant, a golden inferno engulfed the battlefield, heatwaves rippling outward.
By the time the flames faded, only molten rock remained where the beast had once stood.
Lucian dusted off his uniform. "Pathetic."
Selene Duskbane – The Phantom Dancer
Selene moved like a whisper through the jungle, her spear spinning in fluid arcs as she dodged and countered.
Her opponent, a Void Widow—an arachnid Greater Mana Beast—shifted in and out of the shadows, its many eyes glowing with unnatural intelligence.
Selene knew it would strike from behind. She had already seen it.
Before the creature could sink its venomous fangs into her, her spear was already moving.
A flash of silver. A burst of mana.
The beast collapsed, impaled before it could even register its mistake.
Selene exhaled, cleaning the blood from her weapon.
"Too slow."
Evelyne Grimthorne – The Unbreakable Titan
Evelyne stood surrounded by corpses. Lesser Mana Beasts, their skulls caved in, their bodies broken beneath her overwhelming strength.
But she wasn't done.
The ground trembled as a massive, silver-furred wolf emerged from the trees—a Lesser Alpha.
Her grip tightened on her greatsword.
This was going to be fun.
Darius Zephyrion – The Thunder's Wrath
Darius stood atop a cliffside, watching a serpent-like beast coil in the valley below.
A Storm Viper—one of the fastest Greater Mana Beasts on the island.
Darius grinned.
With a burst of lightning, he vanished.
A single flash.
A single strike.
When he reappeared, the viper's head had already been severed, its body twitching as it collapsed.
"Too slow."
Cassian Duskbane – The Phantom Duelist
Cassian sighed, staring at the beast before him—a massive black-furred panther with red eyes.
It prowled, waiting.
Cassian didn't move. He didn't draw his rapier.
Instead—he smirked.
The moment the beast lunged, his form flickered.
It passed straight through him.
Before it could react—Cassian was behind it.
A single, effortless thrust to the spine.
The panther collapsed instantly.
Cassian yawned, stretching.
"Boring."
Mira Valcroft – Fighting to Survive
Mira panted, blood dripping from a cut on her cheek.
She had never fought Mana Beasts before.
And now?
She was surrounded by four of them.
She adjusted her stance, tightening her grip on her sword.
I won't die here.
With a battle cry, she charged.
Rael Varros – The Phantom in the Dark
Rael moved like a ghost through the battlefield.
His Void Step activated, his body flickering in and out of existence.
Every time he reappeared—a beast fell, lifeless.
Before they even knew they were dead.
Damien Nocturne – A Scheme in the Dark
Damien watched Mira from the shadows, his violet eyes gleaming.
This island is the perfect opportunity.
She had embarrassed him too many times.
His fingers curled, dark mana swirling at his fingertips.
She wouldn't make it out alive.
To Be Continued…
Kael and the others have only just begun their trial.
The beasts of the island are relentless.
But the true danger?
Isn't the monsters.
It's the students themselves.