Racing Against Time

Alex wrecked his brain in search of a way out as the chances for them making it were slim.

It was an emergency that came too suddenly for comfort.

Based on the navigation device that has received the pick-up location shared by the instructors, both of them are about an hour away. Obviously, this is a bad spot to be in, the carriage pods would leave in under 30 minutes.

Death of aspirants is not uncommon in this trial.

All aspirants have already agreed on paper to surrender their lives to the academy's decision.

Nobody would be able to complain even if they were abandoned due to that.

In an emergency situation like this, the harsh reality states that the lives of many are more important than the few. Knowing this fact intensifies Casper's fear. Even his legs began to shake, the prospect of being left behind haunted him.

Casper knew that the academy wouldn't hesitate to leave them behind.

Ultimately, a team from the academy would be sent to check and collect them later, although the precise timing remained uncertain. Furthermore, those who had been left behind would have to survive against the beast horde first before even hoping to be rescued.

Due to the beast horde, the survival chance is close to nil.

Throughout the academy's history, not even one managed to survive after being abandoned.

"W- We need to hurry...!" Casper exclaimed.

In contrast to Alex who was pondering this matter with a cool head, carefully deliberating their options, he was panicking. Even his expression has already turned pale, showing that he was succumbing to the heavy stress.

Alex ignored him and glanced to the side, "Just a moment, I need to get something"

Advancing toward the already weakened and paralyzed beast, he retrieved the knife that was flung away earlier due to the beast's rampage. Taking a swift, decisive motion, he put an end to the beast's suffering, delivering a thrust to its neck that killed it instantly.

[Type-2 beast killed, you have obtained 100 points!]

Following that, he quickly cut open the beast's stomach in search of its robust heart.

He needed mana if he wanted to deal with this situation.

"Casper, toss me your shield generator" Alex commanded, his tone low and serious.

Upon hearing this, Casper didn't hesitate and followed Alex's lead, even though he wasn't entirely sure of what Alex was doing. However, he understood that asking questions at this moment would waste precious time.

Additionally, for some inexplicable reason, he felt an odd sense of trust in Alex.

Just like before, he devoured the beast's heart to replenish his exhausted mana to full.

Of course, he did this facing away from Casper.

Alex only ate a fourth of the heart as this is a Type-2 Beast's heart, it has enough life essence to replenish his mana multiple times. Carefully storing it in the bag, he then strapped the bag on his body and nodded his head, the preparation was finished.

"Let's go, we'll try outrunning the beast horde first"

A moment later.

Like two rabbits that were chased by a wolf, the two sprinted with all their might.

Essentially, the two of them need to go in the southeast direction where the pick-up point is located while the beast horde is going to come in their direction straight from the north. It's a disadvantage for them and an advantage for the beast horde.

Coursing through the dense forest, maneuvering over the roots and trees, the two sprinted.

No beasts obstructed them along the way.

Seems like what the two thought earlier was wrong, the Type-2 Beast they killed earlier was not the top dog of the food chains, instead, the reason for the devoidness of beasts was caused by the incoming sudden beast horde.

Along the way, Casper steals a glance at Alex and finds him expressionless.

It was almost as if he was not worried at all.

But seeing that he was focusing on the way, moving his legs to sprint despite the climbing fatigue, he should also be worried inside. However, unlike what Casper expected, Alex was focused more than worried right now.

Alex was multitasking, moving his legs while also circulating his mana.

Judging from the way he circulates his mana, he seems to be performing a trial and error.

"I don't think we're going to make it!"

[9:13]

Checking the remaining time before the carriage pods abandoned them, they were alarmed to discover that it was already under 10 minutes. On the other hand, they still had approximately 20 minutes of travel left before reaching their destination, and fatigue began to take its toll.

Despite the adrenaline, their bodies couldn't keep on going infinitely like this.

"Stop overthinking and run, you'll slow down if you do that"

"O- Okay!"

Upon picking up the pace to reach the pick-up point, the two suddenly gazed down when the ground began to shake. It was clear that the beast horde was approaching, and this would be the detrimental moment.

Running sideways while the beast horde is running straight to them, it's looking bleak.

A couple of minutes went by again.

But this time, the growling sounds of the beasts could already be heard in the distance.

At that moment, despair started to creep in as Casper began to slow down, there was absolutely no chance that they could reach the pick-up point when the beast horde was already nearing them quickly.

However, Alex sensed this and quickly headed over to him.

"W- What are you-?!"

"Don't struggle. Close your eyes if you're scared"

Out of nowhere without any warning, Alex carried him on his shoulder.

Casper initially regarded the idea as absurd, there was no way Alex could carry him and simultaneously outpace the horde of beasts. Yet, in the very next moment, Alex took a big step and then forcefully anchored his feet into the snowy terrain.

In that fraction of a moment, he exhaled and emptied out his lungs.

Gazing forward as his eyes glistened with white mana, he took a deep breath and chanted.

"Dash!"

Swoosh!

"Eh...?" Casper gasped in shock as he felt the biting cold wind rush against his skin with renewed intensity. His eyes widened in surprise as he realized that Alex was now sprinting even faster than before. "EH...?! How in the world...?"

Looking down at Alex's legs, he could see that it was moving like a blur.

'Has he been lying this whole time? His speed is almost as fast as those who already received the full initial modification serum. I know that Xander came from an influential family, so he must be hiding his strength all this time' Casper pondered in disbelief.

Other than that, he doesn't know what could explain Alex's speed.

Contrary to what he was thinking, Alex remained silent throughout the journey because he was practicing a neutral spell called Dash that would help him move faster. He was hoping that he would be able to cast the spell before the beast horde caught up.

Surprisingly, a few minutes earlier, he could feel that he was able to cast the spell.

Due to that, he only needs to wait for the perfect time to use it.

Roar!!

Upon hearing a growl from the side, Alex saw a big panther-like beast intercepted them.

However, his mind is sharp, and his body reacts quickly.

Grabbing the back of Casper's environmental suit, Alex threw him forward across the snowy ground before he leaped in the same second. Because of that, he managed to dodge the panther-like beast's advancement and used its head to propel him forward with a kick.

Roar!

A furious roar came from the back, the panther-like beast seemed to be angry at him.

Just like that, Alex grabbed Casper again and kept on running without slowing down at all.

It was a feat that no aspirants or even some veterans could do.

Casper praised his quick thinking, quick reflexes, and the confidence within his moves which should only be present to those who have experienced the war. An aspirant shouldn't be able to move the way Alex did.

Unknown to him, Alex has not only experienced the war, but he was also a captain.

It wasn't the last time that some of the swifter beasts crossed their path. Before long, multiple beasts started to emerge from their right and fixated their attention on Alex and Casper who were desperately struggling to reach the pick-up point.

Driven by instinct, they relentlessly pursued the duo, attempting to catch them.

[1:04]

However, the precious second chance that was given by the unknown entity has more weight than this measly beast horde that he could cut through back in his original body with a swing of his sword.

'Nothing is going to stop me from achieving my revenge, Nothing!'

Shouting inside his head, Alex avoided the huge hand of a beast that was trying to grab him before he dashed forward and turned his body around. Gathering his mana, he then uses the Soundwave Gloves and infuses it with his wind element.

Clap!

Swoosh!

Acting as a propeller, the soundwave he created blasted him and Casper away.

"Wait, Xander! Look out!"

In the process of being propelled like a bullet, Casper pointed forward at a lizard beast that was hanging on a tree with its tail, equipped with a cleaving blade swung toward them. Alex reacted late and got slashed on his shoulder.

Splash!

"Arggh!"

[Warning!]

[Suit compromised! It is recommended to patch the suit to avoid being exposed!]

[Medical evaluation is advised!]

The collision with the lizard beast sent the two tumbling and rolling across the snowy terrain, their bodies jostled roughly before finally coming to a halt. Grunting in pain, Alex exerted effort to push himself up and discovered that they arrived at a clearing in the forest.

About a hundred meters away was the last carriage pod already rising from the ground.

"Casper! We're here! Let's keep moving!"

"R- Right!"

On the other hand, the instructor standing at the door of the carriage pod saw the two.

Both of them ran with all their might as dozens of these relentless beasts poured out of the forest. Motivated by their bloodlust, the creatures emitted savage growls and raced menacingly toward Alex and Casper, closing the distance rapidly.

In return, the instructor, Ms. Joselyn bit her lower lip and threw out boarding steps.

"Leave me, I can't reach that" Casper mused weakly.

Despite his own strong desire to survive, Casper wasn't willing to be selfish at the expense of their collective survival. He recognized that, despite the injuries, Alex should still have the strength to reach the boarding steps.

However, Alex didn't listen and grabbed Casper again, "Hold on tight"

Swoosh!

Casting another Dash spell, both of them soar high into the air, but there is still some distance from the boarding steps. Similar to before, Alex claps his hands again and propels the two of them toward the boarding steps.

Ms. Joselyn was surprised when she saw this, it seemed the two were going to make it.

Since Casper was higher, he was the one to reach out for the boarding steps.

'Reach it! Reach it!'

In the extreme rush of the moment, Alex repeated those words inside his head multiple times, hoping that this would be enough. He was exhausted of his mana again, and it would be all over if the two of them fell to the ground.

But to their relief, Casper managed to reach the end of the boarding steps.

"YES!" Casper celebrated, supporting the two of them as the carriage pod flew higher.

Even Ms. Joselyn couldn't help but smile when she saw how the two fiercely fought their way to safety. However, her expression was drained from all colors when she saw the figure appearing right behind Alex.

In return, Alex felt a creeping sense of dread as he glanced over his shoulder.

'Ah, fuck...'

Alex was greeted by the sight of the same panther-like beast from earlier, which had somehow managed to reach him. In a swift and brutal motion, the creature swatted at him with its sharp claws, causing him to lose his grip on Casper's hand.

Swoosh!

Crash!

Following that, he was sent crashing downward once more, into the forest again.

"XANDER!!"