Solitary Path to the Knight's Cave

Zien wandered across a vast plain dotted with sparse trees.

Whoosh—

The wind rustled the grass, creating waves of fresh green that rippled like the sea. In stark contrast, Zien's black martial robes stood out even more sharply.

"Beautiful."

A pure exclamation of admiration, yet Zien's voice remained dry. He wasn't heading toward the cave through the plain to savor the scenery.

The arrow-blocking cape artifact he'd obtained from the factory. As soon as he draped it over his shoulders, the system explained its detailed options to him.

The Wind's Blessing boosted evasion against ranged attacks.

Whether due to its name or some underlying principle, whenever a gentle breeze swept across the plain, the cape seemed to charge up, absorbing even more mana.

But with the peaceful atmosphere came a sluggish pace.

Amy frequently sent texts.

Compared to shopping districts or urban areas, food item drops were scarce around here. If mana drinks were fuel for fighting, food was the fuel that kept participants fighting—hunger levels were the reason.

He'd lowered it earlier with biscuits, but hunger built up steadily throughout the game. Over 50% brought pangs of hunger, 60% dulled concentration, and past 70% inflicted physical debuffs.

'Though sanity would be gone long before that.'

Just a bit ago, when Zien's hunger ticked past 50%, it felt like two days without food.

In truth, the hunger system weeded out participants who hid without farming.

"Yeah, biscuits are still enough for now."

The small starter ration of biscuits didn't reduce hunger much, but with eleven collected from human hunting like Zien had done, it was a different story.

Amy had explained Battle Survival to him just a day ago.

Yet Zien was far too seasoned.

Time and ration management, terrain knowledge, combat—Zien missed none of the tiny details Amy overlooked.

But it wasn't because Zien was a game pro, as Amy assumed.

'It's Zone 1 anyway.'

Battle Survival's unmanned maps were mostly modeled after Zone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠1. In his past life, Zien had cleared up to Rank 8 gates as a master, countless Zone 1 gates included.

However.

"First time."

Zien's reply held no hesitation.

It was his first game, after all.

With that, Amy's messages quieted as she focused on broadcasting. Zien began his calculations.

'One hour to airdrop.'

Too long to hunt the boss mob in his destination, the [Knight's Cave], but too short to find teammates.

Teammates and item coordination would make the boss fight safer and faster, but with Celia having ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already taken down School's Witch, a standard clear wouldn't draw viewers.

But soloing Knight's Cave? No other participant could pull that off.

'Worth the risk. No, I have to take it.'

A one-on-one melee with the boss mob defied common sense. Success would ignite viewer frenzy.

** **♦

VIP seats in the Central Dome.

Reserved for government officials or at least Rank 6 Sabers.

Selphis, as Arcana's principal, sat there confidently. But even in such prime seating, his mood soured.

"Selphis, you look sour. Main cam ignoring Arcana for Celia again? Het het het!"

The culprit: Celia principal Raymond, seated beside him. Ever since Celia grabbed main cam, he'd been needling Selphis nonstop.

"Didn't you say Celia would win?"

"Just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the pre-event stuff."

"Even pre-event, Celia beating Arcana makes no sense. Het het het."

"Don't get cocky just 'cause cams favor you. Forgot Zien's factory rampage?"

Selphis grumbled.

Raymond sneered.

"Your instincts have dulled."

Raymond shifted his gaze to Lucia on screen.

"Lucia's from a hero lineage. Sending an orphanage kid as your school's rep? Not like you."

Selphis had judged students by skill and background too. He couldn't retort.

'This bastard...'

Still, Selphis fumed.

'Shut up during Zien's highlights!'

Once enemies, Zien now represented Arcana. Bashing him slighted the whole academy. Selphis's eyes blazed.

'...Raymond!'

It wasn't just today.

Raymond and Selphis's grudge ran deep.

Rivals in love at the academy.

Guild rivals in their pro days.

Now clashing as principals over prestige. Neither tolerated defeat from the other.

But if Zien lost to Lucia?

'Never!'

Selphis's plump cheeks quivered. This gloating over main cam was bad enough.

'Raymond... if that scrawny prick's school takes first!'

Raymond wouldn't let it slide.

'We have to win! No matter what! Can't lose to Celia—or Raymond!'

Selphis glared at Raymond.

Battle Survival was no longer a mere off-campus event for him.

It was all-out war for honor against his nemesis.

❄ * * * ❄

"Where the hell is Zien?!"

A forest far from the cave.

"Huff huff! This is insane!!"

Chris fled.

Three enemies. He'd shaken pursuers so far thanks to Zien's gift, the [High Wind] artifact. But limits loomed. They skillfully tightened the net, cornering him.

"Haa, haat! Why are these guys so persistent?"

Hidden behind a tree, Chris caught his breath. Something was off. This effort for just him?

'What the...'

A voice from the side.

"Grass is flattened. He's close. Arcana party—stay sharp."

"Heard the leader? Search!"

"Move fast. Knock him out before they link up."

The snake-like man called "leader" answered Chris's question.

'Link up? Zien?'

Puzzle solved.

Top contenders Celia and Arcana.

Celia, linked up, now checked Arcana.

'To stop Zien meetup!'

Rustle.

Chris swallowed hard. Footsteps nearby. The man passed without spotting him.

'Hng!'

Holding his breath, minimizing presence. Grateful for his small frame today.

'Even with High Wind... fight?'

Three foes.

One swordsman, two archers.

'...No chance!'

Terrible matchup.

Plus, his dagger disadvantaged multi-foe fights.

"Not here?"

"He's around."

Voices everywhere.

Chris sighed.

'Damn, just hold till airdrop...'

Standard was set meetups by place/time. But solo-confident Isabel and Zien skipped it.

Overwhelming talent.

Most foes no match. Late linkups fine with pre-planned farm routes per start zone. Optimal efficiency, but Chris griped.

'Think of us normals too!'

Sulking, he pressed against the tree.

'Sniff, endure. Freakin' endure.'

Pledging reunion with Zien and Isabel, Chris curled up.

❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄

40 minutes to airdrop.

Academies entered lull like calm before storm.

Top viewer Celia fortified school base for airdrop.

Varied reactions stemmed from Zien's odd moves.

Heading cave-ward, opposite urban. No airdrop prep. Party would suggest boss, but he was solo.

Unlike openly prepping Celia, Zien sparked anticipation and curiosity. Amy grinned smugly.

'Viewers climbing, hehe!'

Amy subtly baited.

"Hmm, where's he heading? No farm spots this way."

Only [Knight's Cave], boss spawn ahead. Viewers bit.

Slow but steady viewer rise. Proof of hype for Zien. Amy smirked slyly.

'Perfect setup. Sponsorship gold!'

Peak viewer hype.

Other academies idle.

Shine now, main cam till airdrop.

'Plus solo boss? Best highlight yet.'

Amy grinned, lost in greed. Second place no longer enough.

But Zien ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt the same dissatisfaction with second. Before millions, screen-Zien spoke.

[Knight's Cave] resembled ancient ruins, not a mere cave.

A colossal 20-meter structure overwhelmed.

Here, Zien's intent was clear.

Ignoring worried, hyped chats.

Zien raised his sword at the entrance.

That brief declaration set viewers ablaze.