The gunshot rang out. Chaos erupted instantly. Applicants sprinted toward the forest like racers leaving a starting gate. The sound of hundreds of footsteps shook the ground as people pushed forward. Voices overlapped from every direction while energy rushed across the crowd. Some sprinted straight toward the heart of the forest, while others shoved through the crowd, desperate to gain an early advantage.

Several Traits flared immediately. Wind burst from one boy’s legs as he launched himself deep into the forest, kicking up dirt and loose leaves behind him. Another ignited flames along his arms as he rushed forward, leaving scorched footprints across the ground. A third slammed his hands into the ground, causing stones to rise beneath his feet and carry him forward faster than anyone nearby.

Yudo moved with the crowd, but he didn’t rush. His eyes stayed sharp and his breathing steady. His instincts told him something important.

I can’t activate Dead Man’s Intuition in public. I need to be alone first or I’ll draw too much attention.

The deeper he moved into the forest, the quieter it became. The sounds of the crowd faded behind him. The energy changed and the air felt heavier. The trees surrounding him blocked much of the sunlight, casting long shadows across the forest.

Corrupted Beasts lingered in the woods. Yudo could feel them. Multiple signatures scattered throughout the forest. Some were faint, while others were dangerous.

Finding them wasn’t the problem, but defeating them while staying stable was.

His eyes narrowed slightly. I sense one about twenty meters ahead.

The presence of the beast pulsed erratically and aggressively.

Yudo glanced around him. I should activate it now.

“Combat Mode: Dead Man’s Intuition.”

The skeletal figure of multiple people, molded into one, appeared behind Yudo. For a moment, it hovered silently, watching. Then it merged into his body. A faint crack echoed through the air as the energy settled.

Yudo exhaled slowly. His senses sharpened instantly. The world slowed. Every movement, sound, and shift in energy was clear to him now.

“Let’s see how much I've really improved.” 

He crouched low, clenching his fists. He launched forward until the Beast came into view.

A Corrupted wolf. Its body was twisted by dark energy. Veins of black and red covered its fur, and its eyes burned violently. Corrupted saliva dripped from its jaws as its claws dug into the ground beneath it. 

The only difference from before was the glowing jewel embedded in its neck.

Yudo eyed it closely. Remember the training with Shujiro.

Yudo didn’t hesitate. He rushed forward and threw a punch aimed at its head.

The wolf reacted instantly. It leaped back then countered with a vicious bite aimed straight for his throat.

Yudo didn’t think. Trust your instincts. His body moved before his mind could.

He slipped past the wolf’s jaw and drove a punch into its side. The impact launched the Corrupted Beast through several trees. The trees splintered from the impact. Leaves rained down from above.

Yudo’s expression hardened. That should’ve been enough.

The wound in the wolf’s side was already healing. Its muscles stitched themselves back together. Skin sealed like it had never been hit.

You’ve got to be kidding me. This one too?

The wolf let out a distorted growl and lunged again. Faster this time. Its claws slashed toward Yudo’s stomach. 

Yudo barely shifted in time. The claw grazed his side, clipping his body just enough to remind him this wasn’t training.

His eyes narrowed. Energy surged through his body. 

Space twisted. Then he vanished. For a brief moment, the air distorted and Yudo reappeared above the beast.

His leg rose high into the air before crashing down. His instincts screamed.

"Dead Man’s Intuition: Gravefall Kick."

BOOM!

The wolf slammed into the ground with crushing force. The earth cracked beneath it. A crater spread outward from the impact.

Yudo didn’t stop moving. “I’ll kill you before you even have the chance to regenerate.”

He clenched his fist. Blue energy surged into his right hand, condensing tightly around his knuckles. Bones reinforced his knuckles.

The surrounding air shimmered from the concentrated energy. Then he drove it downward. The wolf’s head shattered under the blow.

Silence returned to the forest. For only a moment, a gentle breeze drifted through the trees as dust slowly settled around the dead body.

Yudo crouched beside the corpse and tore the jewel from the wolf’s neck. The faint glow dimmed as it left the body.

Yudo stood slowly. Not bad. His breathing remained steady. "I can’t believe Shujiro’s training actually helped me this much." He let out a quiet sigh. “If I ever thank him, he’d probably never shut up about it.”

For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, but the forest didn’t stay quiet for long. The sound of battle echoed through the trees. Steel clashed and energy burst, with sharp impacts following afterwards.

Yudo’s head turned. I wonder how the other applicants are doing?

A sound of water rushed through the forest. Yudo ran toward the sound of the attack. Branches whipped past him as he moved through the forest.

By the time he got there, the Corrupted Beast was already defeated. Its body lay motionless on the ground.

This guy’s energy… Yudo was shocked. It’s so stable.

Yudo had only felt energy this stable from Shujiro and Elaina.

“You enjoy the show?” the boy asked.

“You ended the fight before I could even watch.”

The boy turned and shrugged. “Not to pry or anything, but your Trait signature is unstable.”

Yudo sighed. “Y’know, I’ve been getting told that by everyone that has talked to me.”

The boy laughed. “Yeah, I bet that can be annoying if that’s something you've heard a lot before.”

The boy didn’t care about why his Trait was unstable. He didn’t threaten or ask further.

The boy stuck out his hand. “My name is Ryukai. It's a pleasure to meet ya.”

Yudo walked forward and shook his hand. “Mine's Yudo.”

Ryukai’s grip was firm but relaxed. “I’d love to chat but I have to get going, Yudo.”

Yudo nodded and Ryukai started to leave.

Then a giant explosion echoed somewhere in the distance. The ground trembled. Birds scattered from the treetops.

A loud scream echoed through the forest. “ANYONE, PLEASE HELP ME!”

Ryukai and Yudo looked directly at each other.

Neither hesitated and headed to save the person.

It was clear to Yudo that the true dangers of the exam…

Were starting to unfold.