Annual Battle Ceremony (2)

Vincent stood at the corner of the training field, his mind adrift in thought. The recent changes he'd been experiencing gnawed at him, a constant presence just beneath the surface. Ever since he had absorbed the strange black marble, something had shifted. His emotions felt foreign, as though they were no longer his own, influenced by something dark and unfamiliar.

"What the hell is that marble, really?" he muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the bustling field. The ceremony would begin soon, and all the awakened students were gathering, their excitement palpable in the air.

Vincent's gaze drifted toward the far end of the field. "Alex… that old man might know something. I'll ask him once this ceremony is over."

As he stood, lost in his thoughts, the sound of footsteps approaching snapped him back to the present. A confident voice, smooth yet laced with arrogance, cut through the noise around him.

"Vincent Magnus."

Vincent turned to see Lin Feng, a young man with long black hair that cascaded down his back, standing a few feet away. Dressed in light blue martial clothes with a sword at his hip, Lin Feng exuded an air of superiority. 

He had been one of the first to awaken in their batch, and Vincent could sense that the boy's pride came as much from his family name as it did from his power.

Vincent's eyes narrowed slightly, and with a thought, he activated his Heaven Eyes ability. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise. Lin Feng had already reached Tier 1, 4-star.

How are they improving so quickly? Vincent wondered, his mind racing. Even for someone from a prestigious martial family, the speed at which Lin Feng had progressed made no sense. 

His C-rank talent, Swift Speed Ability, enhanced movement and attack speed, but the experience required for such rapid breakthroughs should have been astronomical. Something about it felt off.

"Yes?" Vincent's voice was terse, betraying his lack of interest.

Lin Feng's smile widened. 

"You know who I am, don't you?" He didn't wait for an answer. 

"I'm Lin Feng. And unlike that idiot Greg, I'm not someone you can just defeat so easily."

Vincent sighed internally. Why does every world have people like this? Arrogance like Lin Feng's was as predictable as the rising sun.

"What do you want?" he asked, his tone flat, clearly not in the mood for a drawn-out conversation.

Lin Feng took a step closer, his tone turning demanding. "When you're on my team, you'll follow my orders. Understood?"

Vincent glanced past Lin Feng at the two other students standing silently behind him—a boy and a girl, both looking uncomfortable but unwilling to voice their concerns. 

The weight of Lin Feng's family name loomed over them, and Vincent could see it in their eyes.

He turned to them, his expression neutral. 

"How about you two? Are you okay with this?"

The boy, Van, shifted uncomfortably under Lin Feng's glare, his eyes flicking nervously between them. The girl, Shaina, remained silent, her posture stiff. Neither dared oppose Lin Feng openly, and after a tense moment, they both nodded quickly.

Vincent shrugged. "Do whatever you want."

The truth was, the ceremony didn't matter much to him. His goals were beyond these petty rivalries, and he could grow faster in the Origin World regardless of the outcome. He had no intention of getting involved in a leadership dispute with Lin Feng. He'd win in the end, regardless of who called the shots now.

Closing his eyes, Vincent sat down, his posture relaxed, signaling the conversation was over. Lin Feng, clearly annoyed by his nonchalant response, clenched his jaw before turning to his followers.

"You two! If you want to win, follow me!" he barked, storming off with an indignant huff.

Soon after, the deep voice of Dean Thorne echoed across the field, commanding the attention of all the awakened students.

"All awakened students, preparations are complete. Please proceed to the training field!"

Vincent stood and began making his way to the field along with the others. The training ground had been transformed into an enormous arena, the size of a football field. A large podium stood at the front, surrounded by rows of spectators—students, their families, and various influential figures from across the region.

On the podium, beside Dean Thorne, sat several notable individuals, their presence radiating authority. Vincent recognized a few faces from news reports, the kind of people whose power and status were often mentioned in whispers.

The excited chatter of the crowd filled the air, their voices a mix of awe and anticipation.

"Are those recruiters from the big organizations?"

"They must be! I feel weak just looking at them. They're stronger than our Dean, I bet."

"That woman there—see her? That's the Snow Princess. She's got an A-rank talent!"

"No way… She's here at our battle ceremony?"

Vincent's curiosity piqued, and he instinctively activated his Heaven Eyes to observe the podium more closely. What he saw startled him. He couldn't discern Dean Thorne's power level, nor that of the visitors seated beside him.

They must be above Tier 4, Vincent realized. He could still make out Councilor Carlos's power, who was at Tier 3, but the rest were beyond his ability to read.

As his gaze moved across the figures on the podium, a woman with long blue hair and a short, form-fitting dress suddenly turned her head in his direction. Her sharp, ice-blue eyes locked onto his for a split second, and Vincent quickly averted his gaze. 

The woman was none other than the Ice Princess—an elite member of the Bronzehaven Legionnaire Corps, one of the few Origin Warriors who had awakened an A-rank talent in their Arc.

She's even more dangerous than I thought. That sharp sense...

Dean Thorne noticed the exchange and leaned toward her, his voice low but clear enough for those nearby to hear. 

"What's wrong, niece?"

The Ice Princess continued to stare in Vincent's direction, her face impassive. "Nothing, uncle."

Satisfied, Dean Thorne stepped forward to address the students, his voice carrying across the arena. 

"Students, as mentioned earlier, the first phase of the ceremony will be the Primal Hunt. You will be transported through the portal to a designated location. The rules are simple—the ten teams that hunt the most primals will advance to the next phase and earn a special prize that will aid your cultivation."

He raised a small wrist device. 

"For your safety, instructors are stationed throughout the area. If your team wishes to withdraw, simply activate the bail button on this communication device. You'll each be given one before entering the portal. It will also track your primal kills. And remember, killing other students is strictly forbidden!"

The students erupted in excitement, their voices rising in a collective cheer. Vincent stood with Lin Feng, Van, and Shaina. Lin Feng shot him a quick, irritated glance before addressing the group.

"Let's go."

They received their devices in silence, and Vincent glanced down at the two-hour countdown timer. Group 24 was up.

As they stepped through the portal, the world shifted around them. The brief sensation of vertigo passed as quickly as it came, and within moments, Vincent found himself in a dense wilderness. 

Towering trees stretched skyward, their thick canopies casting deep shadows over the underbrush. The air was humid and thick with the scent of moss and damp earth. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of unknown creatures.

The communication device on Vincent's wrist buzzed softly, and he glanced down to see a holographic map materialize above it. The map showed a birds-eye view of their current location, represented by green triangular icons. 

Other purple icons marked the positions of nearby teams, and several large red dots indicated the locations of high-tiered primals scattered across the hunting zone.

Vincent remained quiet as he studied the map, already planning his strategy. He had no intention of sticking with Lin Feng and his team for long. The sooner he could break off, the better. Lin Feng, on the other hand, had other plans.

"Let's go!" Lin Feng barked, his voice brimming with authority. His eyes flickered toward Vincent, narrowing slightly. 

"And as for you," he added, his tone sharp, "I don't like your attitude. You're out of the team."

Vincent raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching into the faintest hint of a smile. Well, that was quicker than expected.

Van, clearly startled by the abrupt decision, stepped forward. 

"W-Wait, Lin Feng! You can't just kick him out. We need all the help we can get if we want to qualify for the next round."

Shaina, equally concerned, nodded in agreement. Her gaze shifted uneasily between Lin Feng and Vincent, not daring to voice her thoughts but clearly troubled by the sudden exclusion.

Lin Feng shot Van a look of pure disdain. 

"Do you think I'm an idiot? I have my own plans. You just need to follow my orders. Or maybe you want to join him?"

Van's expression faltered, and despite his obvious discomfort with the situation, he shook his head quickly. Though he hated Lin Feng's arrogance, he wasn't confident that Vincent could outmatch him. He chose the path of least resistance, stepping back without further protest.

Vincent, unsurprised by the turn of events, gave a casual shrug. He didn't have the energy to argue or convince them otherwise. If they thought kicking him out would benefit them, he wasn't going to waste his time trying to change their minds.

"Suit yourselves," Vincent said simply, turning on his heel and walking off into the dense forest. He didn't bother looking back as he vanished into the shadows, leaving the group behind.

Lin Feng watched him go, his jaw clenched in irritation. "Good riddance," he muttered before turning to Van and Shaina. 

"Now, let's move. We don't have time to waste."

Meanwhile, Vincent moved deeper into the forest, his senses alert as he navigated the terrain. He wasn't concerned about being alone. In fact, he preferred it that way. 

Lin Feng's impulsiveness would only get in the way, and Vincent knew his own strength better than anyone else. The Primal Hunt was just another obstacle, one he would overcome on his own terms.

As he continued forward, his communication device buzzed again, signaling the proximity of a primal beast. He stopped, scanning the area with his Heaven Eyes. The faint outline of a creature appeared through the dense foliage—a large, hulking beast covered in thick scales, its eyes glowing faintly with primal energy.

Vincent's lips curved into a smile. 

Finally.

He moved silently through the underbrush, positioning himself downwind of the creature. 

The primal was a Tier 1, not particularly dangerous, but strong enough to pose a threat to those who were careless. For Vincent, however, it was perfect practice.