Before entering the Hunter’s Academy, they had seen countless images and heard vivid tales about Abyssal creatures and dungeons. Yet, nothing could have prepared them for this moment. Ayden blinked several times, hoping his eyes were deceiving him. But the grim reality remained.

The bright and cheerful atmosphere of the academy had vanished. In its place were dark, oppressive surroundings. The soil beneath their feet was blackened, and the trees and plants around them had withered, corrupted by the Abyss. Even the once-vivid sky had transformed into a shadowy, menacing expanse.

Before them, two massive hound-like creatures snarled and tore at what appeared to be a severed limb. Their guttural growls echoed in the eerie silence, sending a chill down the boys’ spines. Ayden and Julian froze, not daring to breathe. The air felt thick with malice, every sound amplified by their fear.

Suddenly, the snap of a twig under Ayden’s foot shattered the silence. The two hounds immediately turned, their glowing red eyes locking onto the intruders. Their black fur was matted with blood and filth, and their snarls grew louder as they dropped the mangled limb.

Ayden raised his hands in what he hoped was a non-threatening gesture, his voice barely a whisper as he tried to calm them. “Good doggies… don’t move.” His heart pounded so loudly he thought it might give them away.

To his horror, the underbrush rustled, and two more hounds emerged, joining the first pair. The four creatures now formed a semicircle, inching closer with predatory intent.

Julian’s grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white. Ayden, his hands trembling slightly, mirrored his friend, gripping his weapon with growing desperation.

Julian took a deep breath, steadying himself as he exhaled. His voice was calm but resolute. “Be alert... and try to stay alive.”

One of the hounds leaped at them, and Julian stepped forward, blocking its claws with his sword before shoving it away. Another hound lunged at him, but he narrowly avoided it by jumping back. While Julian was preoccupied with two hounds, the others turned their attention to Ayden, drool dripping from their snarling mouths.

The hounds seemed to think Ayden was easy prey, approaching him slowly, savoring his fear. But they didn’t expect the trembling Ayden to suddenly charge at them. His blade flashed, slicing cleanly through the neck of one hound. Blood splattered across the darkened ground as Ayden’s speed left the other hound stunned.

Ayden stumbled back, breathless but exhilarated. “I did it,” he whispered to himself, disbelief in his voice. “I made my first kill!”

Julian smirked and quickened his movements. With one powerful slash, his sword cut through two hounds at once. “Looks like I got my double kill,” he replied, his tone smug as the dark battlefield briefly fell silent.

Three of the four hounds were gone, leaving one still standing. Sensing danger, the last hound began to retreat cautiously, its eyes never leaving them. When it tried to turn and flee, Ayden lunged forward, slicing it cleanly in two.

These hounds were the lowest-level creatures of the Abyss, but even at this level, they were ferocious, hunting in packs and never hesitating to kill. Ayden and Julian exchanged a glance, the adrenaline fading as exhaustion crept in.

“We’re not done yet,” Julian said, his voice steady but his eyes betraying his weariness.

With all four hounds defeated, they pressed on, their footsteps heavy. They had a growing suspicion of what their trial entailed. This was a trial dungeon, and their challenge was clear: they had to fight their way to the dorm.

Athena’s vision shifted from the tranquil, sunlit bamboo forest to a shadowy, ominous woodland. Before her stood an overwhelming number of hounds—far more than what Ayden and Julian faced. Their sheer numbers were daunting for a first-time hunt, and she knew this challenge wouldn’t be simple.

Her opponent had strength in numbers, while she stood alone. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Athena exhaled slowly, grateful for her solitude. She no longer had to worry about maintaining her composed façade.

Now, she could confront the madness she had long suppressed—a wild, unrelenting force she carefully hid from her family. It had clawed at her countless times, yearning to escape. During every training session with her father, it begged to be unleashed, but she always held it back, fearing his reaction.

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Here, in the depths of this dark forest, there was no one to judge her. It was finally time to let the madness within her take over.

She unsheathed the twin swords strapped to her back, the steel gleaming faintly in the eerie darkness. Dozens of blood-red eyes stared at her, filled with hunger and malice. But as she met their gaze, her own bloodlust surged. The killing intent radiating from her was palpable, forcing the hounds to hesitate, a flicker of fear evident in their movements.

Athena moved like a shadow, her twin blades a whirlwind of gleaming steel. Before the hounds could react, their ranks were decimated, bodies collapsing into grotesque heaps. Her laughter rang through the darkness—wild, untamed, and terrifying. For a moment, the remaining hounds hesitated, their blood-red eyes flickering with fear as they faced something far more monstrous than themselves.

“You mutts don’t even deserve to touch me,” she sneered.

The remaining hounds, gripped by terror, tried to flee, but her cold voice stopped them. “Where do you think you’re going?”

With unrelenting ferocity, she pursued them, cutting down each one like a monster unleashed. The forest echoed with the cries of dying hounds, and every low-level creature in her path fled in terror.

While the trials unfolded, watchful eyes observed every move. Principal Sylvester leaned forward, his eagerness evident as he anticipated the surprises awaiting him. Around the round table, professors monitored the trial grounds with intense focus.

The stakes were high—any student who died inside the trial would be sent back to their homeland, disqualified. But the trial wasn’t just about testing strength; it was about discovering who could push beyond their limits. Past trials had seen cornered students break through their barriers, unleashing sealed mana in moments of desperation. Such instances were rare but thrilling spectacles, and the excitement in the room was palpable.

Alfred Leylani, who had joined them after Athena entered the trial, sat with a tense grip on the teleportation rune in his hand. His thoughts were singular: “Kids, you have to win.” His eyes remained glued to the screens, where his three disciples faced their respective challenges.

A timid Ayden, despite his initial fear, surprised everyone by cutting down his opponents. Though lacking in brute strength, his agility was exceptional, and every strike he made was precise. Julian, on the other hand, relied on raw power. His swordsmanship was strong, even if not precise, and his sheer strength allowed him to overwhelm his enemies. Together, the two boys made an impressive duo, complementing each other perfectly.

The Northern prince, while powerful, lacked proper technique. He relied entirely on his overwhelming strength, compensating for his shortcomings in skill. In contrast, cooperation was scarce in other trial rooms. Many participants resorted to using their peers as meat shields to survive, including the Northern prince. While not forbidden, such tactics were looked down upon by the professors, who believed, “Anyone willing to sacrifice others for their own safety will never save a life.”

When they turned to monitor the Alpha trial room, the professors were stunned. Unlike the other trials, what unfolded there was pure carnage. Professor Madeleine, shocked, glanced at Principal Sylvester. “Don’t you find it disturbing that such a young girl could be so ruthless?”

Sylvester stroked his beard calmly. “Not at all. It’s reminiscent of her father at her age, though she has far more opponents to face.”

One professor muttered in disbelief, “It’s more like watching a monster hunt prey than a ten-year-old completing her trial.”

Alfred Leylani, observing the fear in his colleagues’ eyes, held his tongue. In his view, the child didn’t resemble a monster—she was a war goddess, ensuring not a single hound escaped her wrath.

After Ayden and Julian defeated the first wave of hounds, the next wave appeared—much more dangerous. These weren’t ordinary hounds. Their bodies were covered in scale-like armor, with cracks that glowed with a fiery light. Their molten lava-like eyes told them everything—they were mid-level fire hounds. Known for their ability to spit fire, these creatures were far tougher than the last ones.

While Athena sliced through her enemies like a blade through soft earth, Ayden and Julian struggled. The fire hounds' tough, heat-resistant skin made them difficult to wound, and their fiery breath came dangerously close on more than one occasion. Though they knew about mana and runes, as unsealed students, they were almost powerless. Their wounds piled up as they fought relentlessly.

“It’s so tough… Why do they keep coming?” Ayden panted, feeling his muscles protest with every movement.

“Don’t stop,” Julian gritted through clenched teeth. “We’re almost there.” Though his voice was firm, the exhaustion weighed heavily on him, and he couldn’t help but wonder what Athena was facing. Somehow, he knew she was dealing with an even greater challenge.

The fire hounds were no match for Athena; she dispatched the last one effortlessly, while Ayden and Julian struggled. But her next challenge was far more daunting—hell hounds. These upper-level creatures seemed to step out of the deepest pits of hell, their bodies cloaked in darkness. As they moved, they drained the life force from weaker creatures, and their claws were deadly, capable of poisoning their prey.

At first, Athena fought with ease, but the constant battle began to take a toll on her ten-year-old body. She felt herself slowing, exhaustion creeping in. She narrowly avoided death several times, the hell hounds’ claws grazing her more than once.

Ayden and Julian were in the same state. Physically drained, they felt on the verge of collapse, their mental resolve wavering. They wanted to fight, to kill these vile creatures, but their bodies were betraying them. Despair set in as the enemies closed in.

But as the students faced their darkest moment, the professors watched with unspoken excitement. Principal Sylvester, a smile tugging at his lips, spoke, “Ladies and gentlemen… we’re almost there. Keep your eyes wide open.”