EXT. HERO ACADEMY — FOREST GATE — NIGHT

WEATHER: Cold night. Thick mist rolling low.

SOUND: Wind through dead branches. Distant animal calls.

A massive iron gate creaks open.

Beyond it—

a sprawling, ancient forest. Twisted roots. Endless shadows.

Students stand in teams of three.

An instructor steps forward.

INSTRUCTOR

Final test.

Silence falls.

INSTRUCTOR (CONT’D)

You will survive the night.

A pause.

INSTRUCTOR (CONT’D)

Reach the tower at the forest’s heart by dawn.

Luke tightens his gloves.

Tyler cracks his knuckles.

Liam’s eyes stay on the trees.

INSTRUCTOR (CONT’D)

Teams may fight.

Alliances may break.

The instructor’s gaze hardens.

INSTRUCTOR (CONT’D)

This forest does not forgive mistakes.

THE GATES SLAM SHUT

BOOM.

Students scatter into the darkness.

INT. FOREST OF DEATH — NIGHT

WEATHER: Fog thickens. Moonlight barely reaches the ground.

SOUND: Footsteps, breathing, distant screams.

CAMERA — HANDHELD

Liam, Luke, and Tyler move fast but quiet.

TYLER

This place gives me bad vibes.

LUKE

Stay close.

No unnecessary fights.

Liam kneels, touching the ground.

LIAM

We’re not alone.

POV — FROM THE TREES

Two figures watch.

Smiling.

VILLAIN REVEAL — THE HUNTERS

DONNIE

Blond hair, slicked back.

Sharp grin.

Eyes glowing faint orange.

He spins a knife lazily.

DONNIE

Found them.

WES

yellow hair.  red eyes Tall. Calm. Predator stillness.

His voice is low.

WES

Charlie’s students.

A pause.

WES (CONT’D)

Kill the hope first.

They disappear into the fog.

FIRST ENCOUNTER — OTHER TEAMS

A scream echoes.

Luke throws up a light shield—

A blast hits it.

Another team attacks, desperate.

STUDENT

Sorry—nothing personal!

Tyler slams the ground.

Earth rises, separating teams.

TYLER

Back off!

The other team retreats.

Liam scans the trees.

His hair tips glow faintly blue.

LIAM

That wasn’t the threat.

AMBUSH

WHISTLE.

A knife slices past Luke’s head—

barely missing.

Donnie appears on a branch above.

DONNIE

Reflexes are decent.

Wes steps out behind them.

No rush.

WES

Charlie trained you well.

Luke’s eyes widen.

LUKE

You know Charlie?

Donnie laughs.

DONNIE

Oh, we know him.

FIGHT BREAKS OUT

Tyler summons stone spikes—

Donnie flips effortlessly, dodging.

Wes PHASES THROUGH Luke’s light shield and lands a heavy blow.

Luke skids back.

LUKE

He went through it?!

Liam steps forward.

Northern lights flicker—but controlled.

LIAM

They’re not here for the test.

Wes smiles.

WES

Smart one.

TURNING POINT

Donnie rushes Tyler—

Tyler traps his leg in stone.

TYLER

Gotcha!

Donnie just grins.

The stone CRACKS FROM INSIDE.

DONNIE

Earth breaks easy.

Wes raises a hand—

The ground beneath Liam COLLAPSES.

Liam barely escapes.

WES

You’re strong.

A pause.

WES (CONT’D)

But you’re not Charlie.

RETREAT

Luke flashes bright light—

Blinding.

LUKE

FALL BACK!

The trio retreats into the trees.

Wes doesn’t chase.

Donnie licks his lips.

DONNIE

Let them run?

WES

Dawn isn’t for them.

REGROUPING — DEEP FOREST

The three hide among massive roots.

Breathing hard.

TYLER

Those weren’t students.

LUKE

They were hunting us.

Liam clenches his fists.

LIAM

Charlie’s enemies.

Northern light pulses softly.

LIAM (CONT’D)

We survive the night.

LIAM (CONT’D)

And we reach the tower.

Luke nods.

Tyler grins, nervous but ready.

TYLER

Guess this test just got personal.

Teams fighting.

Monsters moving.

Two hunters stalking.

And three friends running straight toward danger.